The F-Class Healer Omega is a Villain [BL]
Chapter 25: Who made the protagonist emotionless?

Chapter 25: Who made the protagonist emotionless?

Both of them had slept through the day, only stirring when the sky outside had already deepened into dusk. Cheon Areum blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to the dim light—and the very first thing he saw upon waking was Rian. The boy sat cross-legged near the wall window, hunched over a stack of papers, diligently working on his drafts. Rian’s brows were drawn in a tight line of concentration, his lips slightly pursed.

"Rian, do you want to be a fashion designer in the future?"

Cheon Areum asked, in a sleepy voice. Rian’s hand paused mid-sketch. His eyes flicked over to him and lit up instantly upon seeing him awake. A smile bloomed across his face, genuine and bright, and his eyes sparkled with the kind of excitement only children could express so openly.

Rian dropped everything without a second thought. Wrapping his arms around him, he snuggled close, his cheek pressed softly against Cheon Areum’s chest. He nodded.

"Yeah... just like Mom."

Just like Mom?

A surge of anxiety washed over him. Connecting the dots in his mind, he nervously spoke, hoping that wasn’t the case.

"I wore the purple suit today. It fit perfectly."

Rian lifted his head enthusiastically, confirming his suspicions.

"That’s because Mom was the one who gave it to you!"

His heart dropped.

"Rian, you continue to draw. I want to wash up."

He got up as Rian obediently obeyed, rising from his body. Cheon Areum clutched his phone as he made his way into the bathroom connected to the bedroom. He hurriedly called Yoon Seoyul. It rang for a few seconds before the call was picked up.

"Hey, where’s my suit? The one I was wearing this morning."

"Oh, that’s at the dry cleaners. Do you need it right now?"

Exhaling the held breath, Cheon Areum patted his chest.

"No, it’s okay. I’ll get it myself tomorrow."

"That’s all?"

"Yeah... Are you still working? If you’re tired, come over. I’ll let you sleep here."

"That won’t be possible. I have another S-Class gate scheduled for tonight."

Two S-Class gates in a day?

"Is there a sudden rise of S-Class gates or what? Why are they working you to the bone?"

He said in an unserious tone. The event of S-Class gates multiplying had happened at the same time as Cheon Areum’s reawakening in the book. This time, however, he had triggered the reawakening ahead of time, before that event had occurred, but it seemed his reawakening had still set the event in motion.

"We did get assigned to three S-Class gates today. Usually, it would be one a month. Are you certain you want to register your reawakening right now? It would be better to wait until the situation gets better. After you join the guild, we’ll get assigned to more S-Class gates, and it will be inevitable for you to avoid them."

"No, it’s okay. I need to clear as many as I can."

The more gates he cleared, the earlier he would be able to get the money. He needed to get as rich as he was before transmigrating to properly provide for Rian.

"Alright..."

"..."

An awkward silence stretched. Cheon Areum lost his chance to say goodbye—now it was just plainly abrupt to end the call.

"Should I come straight to your office tomorrow?"

"Hmm..."

"Okay, then. See you tomorrow."

There was no response from the other end. He waited a few moments. Just as he was about to cut the call, a low voice came.

"Good night, Areum."

Hearing that, he thoughtlessly pressed the red button on the screen. Why was it so weird to hear Yoon Seoyul not call him by his full name?

"What good night? I already slept so much, I’ll probably be awake all night playing games."

He muttered to himself as he remembered that all his games were on his previous phone.

*

Cheon Areum spent the night setting up his phone. Thankfully, all his data was accessible through the internet—he just needed to download some apps and add his information. The moment he checked his digital wallet, he saw the notification. He had received 10 million won for the S-Class gate. Gleefully staring at the extended zeros, he had splurged all the money on clothes for him and Rian.

Barely managing six hours of sleep, he made his way to the guild’s building, but the moment he entered, all eyes turned to him.

"...?"

Skipping over everyone, he walked to the elevators. The news of him clearing yesterday’s S-Class gate seemed to have spread through the guild, as the looks he received were more on the side of terror and shock. While the elevator came down, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Areum!"

It was Kim Ryung, who smiled upon seeing him and walked over to him.

"Sorry for yesterday."

Cheon Areum apologized, but Kim Ryung quickly waved his hand in the air.

"No, no, I personally quite enjoyed it. It’s an honor to have an S+ Class join the guild, Mr. Cheon Areum."

"Just call me Areum."

"Yes, sir."

They both entered the same elevator as they talked. He pressed the button for the 10th floor, but Kim Ryung didn’t press any buttons.

"You’re also going to the 10th floor?"

"Yes. I need to get a sample of your energy and send it to verify your reawakening. Normally, you’d have to go there personally—in the case of S or S+ Class, you just need to confirm, and they’ll issue your new Hunter identification card. I’ll deliver the sample and get your card for you today."

Kim Ryung steadily explained as they arrived on their destined floor.

"Did Yoon Seoyul get any sleep? He had another gate scheduled, right?"

"I believe he didn’t."

"Really? Give the guy a break, why don’t you? Keep him company so he can sleep more often."

"...Why would I do that?"

"I mean, he can’t sleep without a person’s presence in the room. Shouldn’t you help him out a little?"

As his right-hand man, it was only natural for him to be the sacrificial goat. Besides him, the only one who could do so would be Joon, who definitely would consider resigning before accepting to watch Yoon Seoyul sleep.

"Did he tell you that himself?"

"Yeah. Why, does he only tell this to his closest friends or something?"

Cheon Areum jokingly said. Kim Ryung paused his steps briefly but continued walking again without saying anything more.

"Ah, tell Haeun to grab lunch with me sometime."

"Why?"

"What do you mean? I would like to be friends with him. He’s nice."

"He seems to be scared of you. I don’t think he’ll accept the offer."

"Is that so?"

Kim Ryung was definitely the protective type. He never thought he would be outrightly rejected by him. He probably wouldn’t even tell Haeun that he had received such an offer.

Joon was on a call with someone, so they passed by him, following Kim Ryung into the office. He entered without knocking and saw Yoon Seoyul sitting behind his desk, going through documents.

"Master Cheon Areum is here."

Cheon Areum saw the couch he was stuck on the last time he visited. He chose to sit on the opposite one that faced the door.

"Areum, press on this and release a bit of your energy."

In front of him was a clear box with a small ball inside it. Kim Ryung held the box open as he took out the ball. He transferred a sliver of his energy into the ball, putting it back inside the box. Kim Ryung closed the box, locking it, as he nodded.

"I’ll be on my way, then."

"Call me if something goes wrong."

"Yes, Master."

Sitting sideways on the couch, Cheon Areum put his chin on his hand as he glanced in Yoon Seoyul’s way.

"Have I joined your guild yet?"

"Yes. Your new Hunter card will have the guild name Brutavernum."

"Yes, but nothing more?"

Finally abandoning the documents, Yoon Seoyul looked up at him.

"What more do you want?"

"Treat me to dinner tonight."

Cheon Areum grinned, tapping his fingers on his cheek.

"I’ll try."

Giving a short reply, he continued to work. Cheon Areum watched Yoon Seoyul, not taking his eyes off him. He silently gazed at him. Even after scrutinizing his face for a while, he couldn’t read his expression—it was always the same unreadable guise, which irritated him sometimes. Would it kill him to be a bit more expressive?

"Yoon Seoyul."

"What is it?"

"Try smiling."

"..."

As always, he heard it from one ear and discarded it from the other, not wanting to address it. Well, whatever. He was never the type to smile anyway—not even in his own book had he ever smiled, maintaining his mulish yet gentle appearance.

"Come here for a second, Yoon Seoyul."

Beckoning him with his hand, Cheon Areum moved and made space for him to sit beside him. Sighing but complying, Yoon Seoyul sat down on the couch.

"Here, I’ll give you my lap. Sleep."

Yoon Seoyul frowned questioningly.