Baek Raehwan didn't hesitate to barge inside his brother's room and hugged him as tight as he could. Right after he got the news about Baek Haemin and the dungeon rank changing, he made sure to get back to Korea as fast as he could.
He had to leave his secretary in New York to handle the remaining business because his brother fainted. It's been years since the last time it happened to Baek Haemin, so he couldn't just let the other guild members handle it on their own.
Baek Raehwan knew he had to make sure that what happened this time wouldn't happen again. When he saw his little brother suffering from a fever that couldn't be relieved by any medicine or healer, his blood boiled and his insides churned.
Baek Haemin screamed in agony when healers tried to get close to him, and even hunters with ice-related skills couldn't relieve his pain. Raehwan couldn't understand why this beloved little brother of his, who does anything he wants and hardly uses his power to help people, would do what he did.
How very unlike him.
Baek Raehwan's eyes squinted as he smiled at his little brother.
"Minmin, how are you feeling? Still feeling hot?"
Haemin flinched at the unexpected warm greeting. He had to think for a moment before answering,
"I, it's still a bit hot, but it's not that bad. I can manage, hyung."
It made Baek Raehwan gasp out loud, his eyes widening. He stared at Baek Haemin, making the latter nervous.
What? What's with that face? I didn't say anything wrong, did I?
"...What's wrong?"
Raehwan's silence made him uncomfortable.
"Ah, my bad. You calling me hyung caught me off-guard."
Raehwan brushed the hair off his face.
W, was I not supposed to? What to do? I don't know anything about these brothers' relationship at all!
Baek Haemin had nothing to base on aside from the few lines that Shiro wrote in the novel, and it was not even the most reliable. He couldn't let himself get caught here, though.
He smacked the man's hand on his shoulder before speaking.
"What's surprising about that? Making a big deal out of it…"
He rolled his eyes to the left and scrunched his face.
Since Haemin is supposed to be a brat, then this much should be fine, right? Ah, dammit! I don't know anymore! Is it okay to act like this to him? Knowing this guy, he could kill me simply by a nudge!
Look at me, I'm being moody, right? Please, give me space and get out of here already!
He glanced at Baek Raehwan who was staring at his hand that was pushed away. Raehwan sighed before smiling.
"That's true. I thought you'd still be mad at me even when you woke up, so I didn't expect you'd call me hyung now."
Raehwan leaned closer to him, and touched his cheek.
"You must have forgiven me now, right? I felt so bad leaving you here for my business."
He continued to caress his little brother's face, making Haemin's hands tremble under the blanket.
H, he's too close…
Haemin finally snapped out of it, and removed Raehwan's hand from his face.
"We're not kids anymore, so…"
"That's also true. However, Haemin…"
Baek Raehwan's eyes looked at him as if he were silently inspecting every inch of his body until he grabbed Haemin's hand.
"Why would you go inside a dungeon, hmm?"
"W, why?"
Haemin tried to pull his hand away but Raehwan's grip was way too strong.
Raehwan's red eyes glowed as he leaned even closer to him, with the corner of his lips curling.
"My Minmin would never go inside a dungeon of his own accord. Tell me, what prompted you to go there, hmm?"
Baek Haemin's mouth opened, his lips trembled at the pressure emanating from Baek Raehwan.
T, this guy. He's staring at me like a maniac, even though he's smiling.
Ding!
[System:
{Warning! Immense pressure detected!}
Skill: Soul Calming Cleanser (L)
Activated.]
The sound of the system's message made him snap out of his thoughts. Haemin forced himself to smile.
"What are you getting so worked up for? You're the one who agreed for me to accept a commission at least once every other month. It's not that strange, is it?"
"Hmm…"
Raehwan looked at him up and down before continuing.
"You're right. But an A-Rank dungeon? Not to mention, healing hunters each day you were there… That's something you normally wouldn't do. Could you imagine how shocked I was when I heard that?"
"Is that so? Then, you should get used to it. Because I'm going to start doing that a lot."
Haemin smirked at him, making Raehwan's eyes squint.
Baek Raehwan opened his mouth without saying anything. He sighed heavily, and pulled away from Haemin.
"Was it because of that guy, Ryu Jinmu?"
"What?"
"You accepted the job because of him, right? After all the fuss you made last time… Is this your way of rebelling against your hyung? Even though I already warned you to stay as far away from him as possible."
He told Baek Haemin that? Last time, he said… Now that I think about it, he said Baek Haemin was mad at him last time too, right? Is that why he got mad, then? Because Baek Raehwan told him that?
He wanted to ask why he would warn him about Ryu Jinmu, but decided it would be better not to. Asking that would be giving away too much that he has no memory of it.
Baek Raehwan folded his arms while frowning.
"Listen, Minmin. That man is no good for you, understand? Sure, he's an SS-Rank Hunter, but there's nothing else good about him."
He came close to him and kissed his little brother's forehead.
"Listen to your hyung, okay? I only want the best for you. I'll be at the guild for a while, so you should get ample rest here."
Raehwan waved his hand before exiting the room with a smile on his face, leaving behind a stunned Baek Haemin.
He put his hand on his forehead.
T, there's seriously something wrong with that guy! Who the fuck does that to their 22-year-old brother?!