"It's a common symptom from overworking."
Actually, blurry vision was not common, but something that happened when a hunter used their skills excessively. Of course, usually it is impossible to use more powers than one has just through sheer will, so hunters became like this when certain monsters sucked mana and vitality from them.
"I only need rest and not a healer."
It was probably a temporary sight stat decrease, but I might have to get glasses if this was permanent. If I raised my level, there might be a slight improvement.
"What made you work so hard?"
Yoohyun glared at Hyunjae Sung with eyes that said he knew who the culprit was. While he was at fault, I also had to take half the blame for not controlling myself.
"I went overboard using my mental skill on Hyunjae Sung."
"The Sesung Guild leader is the one to blame then?"
"Well, strictly, he might not be, but let's say he is."
The cause was because Hyunjae Sung was too sensitive. He seemed to have memories before the return, but as he remembered them during the fight, it was probable that the parts he said he had absorbed were not thoroughly mixed or had disappeared.
I wanted to ask him things, but Hyunjae Sung was someone far above me in terms of ability. I might have to search for someone who had a hypnosis skill.
"Why did you change your clothes? Your hair is also wet."
"Someone dragged me with a chain up to the third floor and dropped me in the aquarium."
Yoohyun swept my bangs stuck on my forehead as an answer. The fire-lizard had climbed on my brother's shoulder, and I saw flames rolling over it. I hurriedly stopped Yoohyun from taking out his inventory sealing bracelet, thinking I might have said things a little too truthfully.
"Hey, we're inside, and taking out your weapon means that the building will fall. Think of the Sesung's general staff."
I calmed him down and turned around to look at Hyunjae Sung, who was also dripping wet.
"Anyway, you're alright because of me. I helped you despite almost drowning, hey Yoohyun, calm down."
"I honestly am sorry to say that I don't remember."
"Don't think of not paying me back by saying you forgot everything, track down the monster honey distribution route. Also, you must have a hunter who can gain information from a corpse. Please send one to Haeyeon."
I had to confirm the truck driver's corpse, and Hyunjae Sung took out his phone at my words.
"Things will go up in flames when we get them."
"I had not thought of burning them down to a pile of ashes. I want this to end by only setting fire to an old roof, so I won't have to tire myself out. I also need clothes for my brother and me."
"As you ask."
Hyunjae Sung was amazingly useful, and that was why I swallowed down so many things.
I went to the bathroom to wash my muddy feet before changing my clothes. The poor tropical fish had met the wrong owner.
"Brother."
Yoohyun had taken a quick shower because of the muddy water that had splashed all over the place and called me when he came out.
"Do you still think of me as young?"
"What are you talking about, you're young."
"I mean, as someone you can lean on."
"I trust my blood and flesh more than anyone else."
Yoohyun seemed dissatisfied with my answer.
"If something difficult to solve came up, who will you call first?"
"That would be-"
"Tell me the truth."
Yoohyun stared at my eyes, and I found myself speaking honestly.
"I would not bring you in."
I would call Hyunjae Sung or the depraved, or perhaps Simyeong Seok or Taewon Song first.
"Not only you, but Yerim, Mr. Noah, and Myeongwoo. It's not that I don't trust you, but I don't want you to be mixed up in trouble."
They were only kids despite being S class hunters, and I felt I did not need to worry the children if S class adults could resolve it. I wanted them to conquer dungeons after graduating from college, as if they were finding work if possible.
I especially thought of Yerim because although she had to become stronger since who knew what would happen, she was still too young. Yerim seemed to find dungeons more interesting than going to school, but she was missing too many classes.
"I don't like your way of thinking."
"Yoohyun."
"I'm stronger than you, and I'll be safer whatever happens. I won't be hurt until things go extreme. I can protect myself, and you seem too worried about me."
Was I? If I had been overprotective, I would not have let him go into dungeons as he wanted.
"You're my brother, and, naturally, I worry about you."
"I think the tables had turned sometimes, like when I deceived you because you might be in danger. Was this because I avoided you-"
"It's not that. I don't blame you."
We were not at the period when things went wrong between us, and while I had been shocked because Yoohyun had left and ignored me, there still was hope left. Things became irreparable between us when the Awakening Center was established.
"You're the most important person to me no matter what others say, and I admit that I hover over you more as a result. However, you act the same while trying to protect me, which led you to leave me."
"That's true."
"So, please understand my position. I will try to tell you everything as much as I can. I know that you're anxious because Irin told me."
"Irin told you?"
Yoohyun looked down on the lizard wrapped around his wrist in surprise.
"I used a mental skill that's a step above the teacher's skill."
"What did it say?"
Yoohyun's expression became rigid like he thought the lizard revealed a secret.
"It told me to be more affectionate to you, and you'll calm down."
"That's all?"
"Yes. Do you have any other secrets?"
This had to have been an invasion of privacy because Yoohyun and Irin were together all the time. Maybe it was about personal tastes, which I was a bit curious about. He might be a fan of a celebrity while pretending he had no hobbies. Did Yoohyun play any games? Yerim said she played a game in which she decorated things.
"No, I have none."
"Really? Your face says otherwise."
"I don't."
Yoohyun turned around, and his reaction said that there was something. While family members had to respect each other's privacy, I wondered what his secret was. I hoped he was going on dates without telling me.
I took out my phone to find Taewon Song's number. Not being able to see well was inconvenient, so maybe I should get glasses as a temporary measure. He probably bought a new phone or connected a different one since he answered. Taewon Song told me that he was where the dungeon break had occurred when I told him I wanted to meet him concerning yesterday.
"Then, can I come over there?"
"Yes, but it will not be a comfortable meet up."
While there had been almost no casualties, things would be uncomfortable since it was an accident site. I was going out of the room after ending the call when Yoohyun grabbed my arm.
"You said you couldn't see well. I'll help."
"I'm not blind, and I can get around."
While I stumbled a few times on the stairs, I could manage myself on even ground.
"If you can't see…"
"Yes?"
"It's nothing."
While my brother had mumbled, I could understand what he was thinking. While it had not happened yet, he had not healed my leg.
"I need to see because I want to see you and everyone else."
Most of what I lived for would disappear if I could not see the children since I was feeling the strain of not being able to see Yoohyun clearly. I should get a pair of glasses on the way.
Soyoung Kang and other Sesung hunters, were waiting when we went outside the miniature portal. Their faces were filled with dread and worry since Hyunjae Sung had sent them to bring us clothes.
"Nothing…happened, right?"
Soyoung Kang asked with an expression that she desperately wanted an affirmative answer. While many things happened, I could not say anything specifically.
"The aquarium had burst."
"Oh! The aquarium will not burst under normal circumstances…"
"We used it to put out a fire in the garden below due to light refraction."
"Oh, all right…"
I wanted things to go over smoothly, but Soyoung Kang and other hunters continued to glance at Yoohyun. He must look like Minyui Kim to them, and I wondered if something went wrong with the effect on the glasses.
Odd gazes followed Yoohyun, or Minyui Kim until we got out of the Sesung Guild building. They did not approach us but followed him with observant eyes.
"Did you do something while I was gone?"
"No, nothing happened. I went to Sesung Guild leader's house with his permission."
Then why were Sesung hunters acting like that? Was it because of the accident on the road? He had organized the site too easily for a supporting hunter.
"Hello, Hunter Minyui Kim. If it's not too much trouble, would you receive this card?"
I met another guild employee who was giving out his card in the parking lot, although it was rude to approach a hunter who already belonged to another guild. A fight might ensue against a high-class hunter, but since Minyui Kim was a B class supporter, others could try to reach him.
People might really be thinking that Minyui Kim did not have B class supporting stats because of what happened at the accident site. The guy would be mixed up in some complications when he came back.
We politely refused the card and got a pair of glasses at a store before heading to the dungeon break site. The surrounding area was off-limits since there still might be monsters around.
While the site had been chaotic at night, it was a battleground at midday. While the rain had stopped, it was still cloudy, and with the building ruins and cracked roads looked eerie like a scene from an apocalypse film.
Well, the end of the world as we knew it might come for real.
"You came."
Taewon Song came to us, and his gaze stopped on my face.
"Are those glasses prescribed?"
"Yes, things happened."
"What had…"
Taewon Song stopped speaking and looked around.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
"The convenience store is unlocked and empty since the employees were not able to lock it up before escaping. Let's go there."
There were tables and chairs in the store, and while large debris had fallen around, the glass walls were fortunately intact. I placed a wet bill on the counter after choosing a coffee.
"Is this much all right?"
I asked as I handed a coffee to Taewon Song. It cost less than two thousand won because of a two-plus-one event, although I had left a ten thousand won bill for it. Taewon Song asked what had happened as soon as we sat on the chairs.
"It's nothing."
"It's because of the Sesung Guild leader."
Yoohyun revealed the culprit as he sat next to me, and Taewon Song's brow furrowed at the same time.
"Is it because of what happened last night?"
"No, he escorted me home without any problems. I had gone to his house today-"
"Yoohyun Han had gone there alone and suffered the consequences."
My brother spoke in a sulky voice.
"You went there alone."
Taewon Song sighed, and the two stared at me with similar eyes. So what? I could allow Yoohyun to look at me like that, but Taewon Song's gaze was too intense for my tastes.
"I'm alright except for my eyes. Actually, I was going to track you down because of yesterday's dungeon break."
I continued as I put a straw in the coffee.
"Will you cooperate, interfere, or observe us?"
Taewon Song ripped the plastic wrapping from the straw as he stared at me. He drank a sip before opening his mouth to speak.
"I already said that I would protect you."
So, he would be on my side if my safety were on the line. I would welcome the protection anyway.
"I have something to ask you."
I did not want to be forward, but I could not stifle my curiosity.
"If you gave the Sesung Guild leader something precious as a present before you died, why would you do so?"
"What?"
Taewon Song stared at me like I was crazy, and Yoohyun looked at me as if I were sick. How do I explain this?