Chapter 143 A Shard Within (5)

The door across the miniature portal opened without any confirmation. Yoohyun Han took off his glasses and put it in his inventory since Hyunjae Sung would notice right away.

While the house was large, it was not difficult to find where Yoojin Han was as his spirit would lead him there. Yoohyun Han woke Irin up as he walked, and he could see what Irin saw when he assimilated some of his senses with it.

Yoojin Han was sleeping, and his face was noticeably pale. The place was different than before, while his brother was still unconscious. What happened to him?

"I thought as much, but it's you."

Yoohyun Han clenched his teeth when he stopped in his tracks. His senses dulled as he searched for his older brother through Irin. When his senses came back he could see a small interior garden and an aquarium filled with waves of clear blue water, and Hyunjae Sung was there across the room.

Yoohyun Han showed his anger without any hesitation, and Hyunjae Sung's lips twisted into a smile at Yoohyun's cool glare.

"I want to be able to say nothing happened, but it's such a blatant lie. You seem to have realized it already."

"What did you do?"

The questioning voice was a growl, as if Yoohyun would bite Hyunjae Sung's head off at any moment. Hyunjae Sung's voice still kept its airiness.

"I don't remember it well."

Faint cracks showed under Yoohyun Han's feet with a breaking noise. The reason Yoohyun did not attack Hyunjae Sung was that he felt responsible for letting Yoojin Han enter alone without any protection.

"Stop saying nonsense. I'll be leaving with my brother."

"Isn't Yoojin Han the one who will find it bothersome if you leave like this? He must have had a reason to come all the way here."

Hyunjae Sung's pale eyes narrowed with a smile.

"I believe it would have been a request that was too much for you."

Yoohyun Han let out a short breath.

"Are you picking a fight with me?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

Hyunjae Sung walked slowly, and feet that were wearing slippers stepped on the path that traversed through the garden.

"We won't need you for long."

"You're still young and will grow more powerful. However, there's another thing."

Hyunjae Sung looked at the almost too young hunter. It was evident that Yoohyun Han was barely suppressing the urge to rush at him.

"You would still be his younger brother, someone he has to protect and nurture."

Yoohyun Han's hands tightened.

"That's the reason you're leaving me alone since your beloved older brother needs someone to share his burden with and lean against. Yoojin Han has a bad habit of blindly protecting those who he considers his."

"…It's only for a while."

"I'll repeat it. You'll always be only a younger brother since Yoojin Han is a stubborn man. So, don't do anything overboard. Just remaining a younger brother would be better-"

There was a loud crashing sound despite the fact that only a fist met a palm. Yoohyun Han knew that Hyunjae Sung would block him easily, but it did not stop his frown. He wanted to rip the guy's throat out. Hyunjae Sung was right in front of him, but Yoohyun knew more than anyone else that it would be impossible.

"Soon, when my older brother does not need you anymore, it would be best for you to leave amicably."

"Killing the dog after hunting? That's too harsh. Well, if you keep acting cute like this, you will not be able to replace me for a long while."

Hyunjae Sung could hear Yoohyun's teeth grind. Yoohyun Han knew that Yoojin Han's attitude would not change quickly, no matter how upset he was by it. Yoojin Han worried over Yoohyun more than ever, even though it would be difficult for his younger brother even to have a flesh wound.

Yoohyun felt his older brother's attitude was endearing, yet upsetting, and it bothered Yoohyun more than he expected.

"Don't you think dividing up the parts is a good idea? I'm saying that I'll do some of the work for you."

What's with all the thorns? Flames gathered around Yoohyun Han as he could not bear Hyunjae Sung's composure any longer. Yoohyun wanted to call Irin and burn his face and show it to everyone if he could.

"That's why you're still young. While I wish I could accommodate your heat, fire is strictly forbidden in the garden.

A moment later, the water from the aquarium poured over both of their heads.

***

'One is more than enough, so why are there two of him?'

I do realize that he has only one real body. What is going on with Hyunjae Sung? I thought they would merge together, but they are still separated here.

"Umm…for the moment, Mr. Hyunjae Sung?"

"I'm not whole, but yes."

The one speaking to me was probably Hyunjae Sung before the return.

"May I ask what happened?"

I thought the one who dropped me in water was the part of his memories before the return that appeared while the Hyunjae Sung of this time was unconscious. However, now he seemed to be actually divided.

"I heard that you'd be merged, though you might feel strange if you're sensitive."

"I could say it was resisted due to the overwhelming difference."

"Yes?"

"The me right now and the one from before the return both felt a strong resistance towards the two worlds combining together, so we separated like this. Of course, the divide was not perfect, and I'm more of a collection of pieces."

Hyunjae Sung looked like his ego had been bruised, which was an expression one did not often see. Did he refuse himself because there had been an unbearable difference? I thought that he took things too far, but that was the norm for Hyunjae Sung.

"Then, will this state go on like this?"

"No."

His displeased face was definitely younger than his current self. There was no difference in his physique because he was a guy who had looked the same ten years back and would look the same ten years after.

"I will be swallowed up. I still do not have many memories of the five years before the merge. I have most of mine up to this point but the other 'me' has them all."

"That's why you seem younger."

"Younger?"

"Like you're that age. The late thirties is not that old these days, anyway."

He was at his prime, and there would not be much trouble if they merged.

"Then, I'll be leaving. Have fun."

Let go of my wrist and let me leave. However, Mr. Young Shards did not let me go but actually pulled me in. If he only had a few memories before the return, I might win. However, another part of me whispered that I would find myself in the afterlife.

"You're heartless."

"You tied me up with a chain and dumped me in water the first time we met. I would lose any affection I had for you before."

"I dragged you out, dried you, and changed you. And I also accepted you inside me."

"That was to save you-"

"That was not me, Yoojin Han."

He was right, and the eyes that bent down to me looked foreboding. Hyunjae Sung seemed to be in a foul mood. Well, if he were at the brink of being swallowed whole, even Hyunjae Sung would not be confident, and he was younger mentally.

"Should I apologize?"

"Give me something else instead."

"Like what?"

"My body."

"I'm sorry, but that's impossible. Play rock, paper, and scissors between the two of you. I can be the judge."

It would be fun to watch, while the current Hyunjae Sung would win in all probability. The shard smiled at my words.

"It's impossible for me to take my current body. However-"

The end of his finger gently tapped my chest, and he traced my wound hidden under clothing with it.

"You have something that can replace it."

"What? Wait."

Was this bastard really after this?

"It's a combination of an SS class magic stone and a cracked one that's at least an L class."

"That's nice."

"I can't give this to you even if you give the entire Sesung Guild!"

I would never be able to get the Diarma one. What was only a shard who could not even pay thinking?

"The magic stone will not wake properly in the present situation."

Hyunjae Sung spoke with conviction.

"How do you know that? You said you don't remember."

"I did not lose them all. I remembered a bit about that foolish lizard."

Was he telling the truth? I was suspicious but had no way to confirm it. However, the fact was that the combined magic stone did not respond after all this time.

"So what? Would a Hyunjae Sung replica spring out if I give you this stone? That's horrible! Damn!"

It was a sight that made me curse just by imagining it. I really did not want it to happen, and it would be better to not open the wound and take out the stone. One Hyunjae Sung was enough in my life. While he would be useful, he was still a Hyunjae Sung.

"You'll hurt my feelings. While I would like to be shifted like that, it's impossible."

That was expected. If it was possible…actually, there might be a way. I shook my head to get rid of all foolish thoughts.

"I would become a different person, something like a beast."

"Then, just be swallowed now and here."

"It's not in me to give up so easily."

The face that smiled at me looked like the current Hyunjae Sung. He was the same person. I furrowed my brow for a moment and opened my mouth.

"Will you help me succeed in completing the beast?"

"I'll make sure of that. Your problem is that the higher class magic stone is not whole. Magic is faintly leaking out of it now."

Hyunjae Sung spoke that the beast would be complete in at least a month if he supplemented it. While I was weary, I did not just want to lose these stones for nothing. Also, while he was a shard which had no memories before the return, Hyunjae Sung was Hyunjae Sung, and there was a high possibility of the beast stats increasing.

Of course, what irritated me was that he was Hyunjae Sung.

I did not think for long, since I wanted as many cards as possible.

"I'm in. What should I do?"

"You only have to return there and take me with you. I can move onto the stone by myself."

"You won't take my body for your use?"

"If it were possible, I would have asked you to find a stronger one."

I apologize for having a weak body, even though I thought I was above average.

I turned off the skill with Hyunjae Sung's shard. I blanked out for a second before my eyes opened again.

"Uhh…"

My vision was blurry. I took out a mana potion, but I still could not see well. My eyesight seemed to have decreased, and I hoped it was a temporary condition.

I also ached everywhere, and it took a few vitality potions to get on my feet. The magic stone in my chest seemed to be the same.

'I'm going to die.'

I could not speak well, and as I woke up on a bed instead of a sofa, Hyunjae Sung seemed to have returned properly. Then why couldn't I see?

The question was on the tip of my tongue when I heard the sound of water falling from far away. I did not know what happened, but I immediately thought of that massive aquarium. I stumbled out of the room, and Irin popped out from somewhere and led me after a glance.

It was Yoohyun, and there was no one else anyway.

I nearly fell from the stairs while I was following Irin. There must be an elevator around somewhere. I saw that the aquarium had disappeared, and the two drenched men as I stepped into the garden.

"Yoohyun!"

"Hey, are you all right?"

Yoohyun looked back at me as he let go of Hyunjae Sung's collar. The ground became muddy because of the water, and cleaning would be hell. Why did Hyunjae Sung have something like this in his house? There was a lovely floating garden right over there.

"Why did you come in? You should have waited for a bit longer. You're dripping. Shouldn't you manage your household facilities better?"

"I managed to avoid a fire."

My brother seemed to have been a little agitated. However, he had a reason to be. Was not burning down the garden a bit trivial compared to what Hyunjae Sung did to me? I did not know whether Yoohyun knew that.

"Anyway, Yoojin Han."

Hyunjae Sung suddenly lifted his fingers toward me.

"How many fingers do you see?"

"Three."

I can distinguish that much, although things were a little blurry.

"You're wrong."

"Yes? There are definitely three."

I grabbed Hyunjae Sung's hand and pulled it close against me. He was holding three fingers up.

"Why are you lying?"

"Your vision is compromised since you had to pull me closer to check."

The clever snake spoke, and Yoohyun stared at me with surprised eyes. Hyunjae Sung complicated things.