"Haa…haa…"
'…How did it come to this?'
Heo Kyi-on's breath shuddered as he cradled a bloodied man in his arms, his chest pierced with a sword. He nervously tried to put pressure on the wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding but to no prevail, it didn't help. The injuries he sustained were far too severe.
[Apleireon's Venom]
A deadly poison that came from Heo Kyi-on's skill after defeating the boss from the S+ dungeon raid, it can kill even the strongest hunter to exist and enough to harm even its own user if not careful. The sword that pierced the man's chest were fully covered with it, as if making sure that the person it is intended to be used for will die without fail.
"H-hang in there, I'll get some help."
His voice cracked as he frantically looked for a way to save the man. Potions, nothing. Magic stones, nothing.
Did he already used up everything he have?
What about healers?
Right, Sae Jin is a healer...No, what was I thinking? He's already dead, everyone is dead. There's no one on our side now.
As his mind continues to spiral into darkness, the man coughed out blood that had turned into deep black and purple before managing to speak weakly,
"Kyi-on…don't blame yourself for what happened...It was my decision to save you"
He immediately snapped back to reality. He wants to scold him for daring to comfort him even though he's the one who needs it the most, after all it's only a matter of time before death takes him because of the injuries, and the poison from his own skill.
"Fuck...Shut up, conserve your energy. You'll survive. You have to."
"You're cursing"
"Yi-jun."
"Hyung"
Hyung. The same word Yi-jun always uses when he wants Heo Kyi-on to listen to him—almost like a magic word that Heo Kyi-on always falls for,
"It's unfair to call me that now after everything that happened"
Heo Kyi-on clenched his fist tightly
Yi-jun's right hand trembles as it moves towards Heo Kyi-on's left cheek, caressing it and pressing a special attention to the mole under his eye. Blood smeared on Heo Kyi-on's cheek from the action but the man paid no attention to it. He's only confused as to why Yi-jun were doing such thing — Heo Kyi-on put his hand on top of Yi-jun's in response
"I've always loved this part of you, hyung"
"You're saying unnecessary things again"
"Can't I?"
"Yi-jun, stop wasting your breathe…"
Heo Kyi-on's plead were only met with a soft sigh from the man in his arms.
"Hyung, I love every expression that you make but please don't give me that look, please?"
'Damn it'
Despite the deadly warning coming from the system, both hunters paid no attention to it. For Heo Kyi-on, the man in his arms is the most important being than anything else and in any minute or worse, seconds — the world will also take it away from him.
"…Please take care of yourself, hyung"
Heo Kyi-on's eyes met Yi-jun, this time he's finally able to get a proper look at him. Those golden fluffy hair that is always neatly combed and taken care of is now messy, his blue eyes that always shimmered whenever their gazes met almost looks dull in color alongside the dark circles under it where exhaustion is prominent, and his skin that had turned deathly pale — blood from Heo Kyi-on's poison staining it.
It's a vast difference from what Heo Kyi-on knows.
"…"
"I still have a lot of things that I want to do with you, hyung"
"…"
"Go on plenty of dates in the most expensive or worn down restaurants with you, visit your favorite places, have a mukbang with you...Maybe create a video of it too just like Baek Woo-ri said that we make"
Yi-jun's words were interrupted when a huge explosion from a distance were heard, with a few rapid footsteps and panicking voices that came along with it.
'Please stop talking'
"I want to travel to different countries and buy plenty of souvenirs for the guild... and I also want to swim in the ocean with you but since I can't swim, I trust that hyung will come save me like always"
'Like always? I can't even save you right now'
"I want to kiss you plenty of times and do it with you too"
"…"
"Hyung?"
"Me too…I want to do all of that with you too"
"Pfft, really? Is it because I'm dying that you're agreeing to whatever I'm saying?"
Heo Kyi-on's grip on Yi-jun's hand tightened from which the other man noticed, his expression turned from playful and into a bitter smile
"Hyung, please promise me you'll keep on living, surely the mess after this will be troublesome but I know you'll be able to handle it, you always makes everything looks easy after all."
The man on Heo Kyi-on's arms momentarily paused to cough out another blood, his body is failing rapidly and there's nothing much he can do but watch like an incapable person.
"Yi-jun...you'll survive."
"Things are much better this way too, hyung. Thank you for making me happy, for giving me reason to keep on living and for-"
"What nonsense are you spouting now?! I won't allow you to say those words to me! You won't die, do you hear me?"
Heo Kyi-on completely lost it, his breathe came in huffed, Yi-jun also looks shocked at seeing the other man lash out like this but he didn't back down,
The countdown flashed before everyone's eyes, a timer of their doom, their fearful death that caused this entire mess.
"There's no more time left… Hyung...I'm sorry..."
Yi-jun coughed up more blood which caused Heo Kyi-on to try and do whatever he can at the last minute even though it'll do nothing now
"Yi-jun, please. I don't care what happens, just don't die. I can't live without you"
Heo Kyi-on's reputation of always being composed no matter the situation has started to shatter in this moment, his eyes blurring from the tears that fell from it, Yi-jun wanted nothing more but to wipe it away but he stopped himself.
'It would be better if Kyi-on can just forget about me and live happily'
"I love you…Kyi-on"
"Yi-jun?"
The man's hand fell from his cheek to the ground without a warning, Heo Kyi-on's breath hitches as he stared at Yi-jun's face whose eyes are now closed as if he's just sleeping peacefully after an entire day of exhausting work
"Yi-jun."
He called out once again, but there's no response.
"Honey...?"