Transformation or Death

Chapter 138

My Home Has Disappeared

Han Jae-jung doesn’t like the smell of hospitals. The distinctive air mixed with medication makes him feel dizzy whenever it enters his nose. He can’t help but dislike it when visiting to heal his body actually makes him feel worse.

In fact, this aversion might be learned rather than instinctive.

Because hospitals have always been places where bad things happen.

Even now, it was the same.

While continuously stroking Ah-yoon’s head as she trembled in his arms, Han Jae-jung swallowed dryly.

Yoon Seol-hwa’s gaze toward Han Jae-jung was abnormally warm. She showed no displeasure at his actions. Her look suggested that he had done nothing wrong and that whoever made him act this way was at fault.

Her tilting her head in confusion after telling a crying person to leave, while looking lovely due to her beautiful appearance, gave off a slightly eerie feeling.

“She’s crying right now, Seol-hwa.”

This isn’t right no matter what. Han Jae-jung opened his mouth to answer her question. At that, Joo Ah-yoon’s shoulders in his arms slightly flinched.

“Uu… *hiccup*, I-I’m not crying….”

To maintain her pride even in this situation, Han Jae-jung went beyond being dumbfounded to feeling impressed.

“Hmm….”

Yoon Seol-hwa stared at him quietly before breaking into a gentle smile. Her soft head movement was an expression of humble acknowledgment.

“Ahaha, right. I guess I was too hasty. I didn’t properly observe my surroundings.”

“…?”

She backed down faster than expected. Han Jae-jung, who had been prepared for an argument, felt his tension dissolve.

“I’m sorry, Ah-yoon. You must have been as shocked as I was. I wasn’t considerate enough.”

Soon her hand gently stroked Joo Ah-yoon’s head. Though her body temperature might be cold, her touch was nothing but warm.

“…It’s fine.”

Though Joo Ah-yoon accepted the touch without much issue, having heard something, she showed a sharp reaction due to her pride.

Usually, she would have awkwardly smiled and moved aside, but now she couldn’t do that because she had too many grievances.

‘She clearly saw me crying but told me to move aside…?!’

There was definitely a moment of anger. Her already hurt feelings from Han Jae-jung became even more wounded.

‘Finally became a man-obsessed woman…!’

To neglect her sister because of a man, how thoroughly disappointing. Next time she comes to the cafe, she’ll feed her concentrated bitter espresso.

While pledging such revenge, she hugged Han Jae-jung’s back even tighter.

‘H-how about that! Are you jealous?!’

Glance. Joo Ah-yoon swallowed her tears while side-eyeing Yoon Seol-hwa. A jealousy-inducing strategy she would never have attempted normally.

Though it was even childish, the hurt Joo Ah-yoon didn’t care about her dignity anymore.

However, contrary to her intention, Yoon Seol-hwa’s reaction was indifferent.

“…Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Ah-yoon?”

“N-no, just… Wish brother would lose some muscle. Unnecessarily big and hard.”

“Hey, that’s my pride, can’t get rid of that.”

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Joo Ah-yoon was perplexed. Yoon Seol-hwa had always envied when she and Han Jae-jung were close.

‘That Yoon Seol-hwa who held hands well enough before dating but trembled while holding them after starting to date?!’

There’s no way she wouldn’t be envious of the hug. Isn’t she the one who even drank alcohol and came running just to get a single hug just a few days ago?

However, no matter how much she looked, Yoon Seol-hwa’s expression showed no discord between her inner thoughts and outer appearance. Her eyes, like a quietly frozen lake, showed not even a single ripple of disturbance.

“Then just comfort her and she’ll contact you.”

“Of course.”

“Wait a minute, are you treating me like a three-year-old kid…?!”

“Well, you’re pretty similar.”

“Coochie coo, our little Ah-yoon. Should big sister give you milk?”

“Get out!”

Just as she said, Yoon Seol-hwa left.

Leaning against the door outside the hospital room, she slowly caught her breath. Unlike her quiet breathing, her heart was beating wildly. In her mind, she could still see Joo Ah-yoon being held in Han Jae-jung’s arms.

‘I’m jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous… Jealous….’

Although she could act composed on the outside, her inside was different. Even now, she felt like she would go crazy with jealousy.

As she kept dwelling on her jealousy, she fantasized about being in his arms instead of Joo Ah-yoon.

“Hehehe….”

Just imagining it made dopamine surge through her body. Even the doctor and nurse walking toward the hospital room were startled when they saw her.

“Um, excuse me….”

“Ah, I’m sorry….”

Yoon Seol-hwa moved away from the door and quickly left her spot. Her face turned red with embarrassment.

“…Ugh.”

She felt like dying of embarrassment. With that feeling, her innocent legs moved vigorously for no reason. Following the rule of no running in the hospital, she rushed down the corridor with the fastest possible quick steps.

Realizing her pathetic reality, she was filled with self-loathing and abandoned her fantasy, letting out a long sigh.

“Hah….”

Regret lingered in her deep breath.

‘Wh-what should I do?!’

Han Jae-jung wasn’t the only one surprised in the hospital room just now. So was Yoon Seol-hwa.

When she quickly finished her work and returned, she found that Han Jae-jung, who had been unconscious, was awake and sharing a deep embrace with Joo Ah-yoon, whom she had been helping to take care of.

From Yoon Seol-hwa’s perspective, it was utterly baffling.

Usually, she would have focused on Han Jae-jung’s awakening, but today, uniquely, she focused on the embrace shared between Han Jae-jung and Joo Ah-yoon.

Yoon Seol-hwa was well aware that Han Jae-jung cherished her like a real sister. In fact, Yoon Seol-hwa had played a major role in forming their relationship.

After all, it was none other than Yoon Seol-hwa herself who had introduced Joo Ah-yoon as a benefactor who should be treated preciously.

Their skinship was particularly uninhibited, and a hug for comfort wasn’t anything unusual. Yoon Seol-hwa, who had observed them most closely, knew this better than anyone.

‘Jae-jung must have been very surprised? Wh-what if he’s disappointed? If he starts to hate me…….’

Just as Yoon Seol-hwa had observed Han Jae-jung and Joo Ah-yoon, they too had observed her.

They must have realized that she was acting strange today, not just herself.

Her greatest fear was none other than hatred. Even if she couldn’t be loved, she didn’t want to be hated.

Hatred was the most fatal value to her, who transformed love into magic through alchemy.

Just as Samson in the Bible lost his strength when his hair was cut, Yoon Seol-hwa felt like she would lose all her power the moment she was hated.

Yoon Seol-hwa didn’t want to be hated by Han Jae-jung. That feeling was even bigger than love.

Her love was infinitely altruistic and also selfish.

That’s why she hadn’t searched for Han Jae-jung for almost a year after he ran away, and why she didn’t show as strong an obsession as her heart felt when he returned. Why she didn’t actively put surveillance on him when he was in danger.

She didn’t want to become a thorn bush to her loved one. A thorn bush might prevent him from going down dangerous paths, but it would also prevent him from approaching her existence.

The reason Yoon Seol-hwa respected Han Jae-jung’s freedom was because she feared being hated by him more than she feared him falling into danger.

She was so afraid that today’s hasty behavior might provoke his hatred.

However, she must overcome this.

“…I shouldn’t be like this.”

She can’t be like this anymore. When comparing his life and these selfish feelings, the former obviously holds overwhelming value.

A villain is targeting him. This is now an undeniable fact.

He was kidnapped by Libra, shot by the Sagittarius villain, and has been involved with various other villains in many ways.

If Red Vega hadn’t been around during this bombing incident….

The sensation that made her spine shiver just by imagining it made Yoon Seol-hwa strengthen her resolve once again.

“For Jae-jung’s sake… Now, I need to steel my heart.”

She clenched her trembling hands, afraid of being hated, into fists.

She must protect Han Jae-jung. Repel all villains who approach him. No, prevent them from approaching in the first place.

That was her only thought.

“…I, must do it.”

If she officially protects someone, it’s obvious there will be various controversies. Even if she protects him secretly, rumors might spread from somewhere.

She can’t receive help from the association.

Therefore, this protection must be carried out entirely privately and discreetly. Fortunately, Yoon Seol-hwa has the capital to execute this plan. What she lacked was execution power, but that too was filled as she steeled her heart this time.

[Are you serious, Guardian…?]

“Yes, of course.”

The guilt of not being able to be close when he was in danger? The sadness of not being the first one by his side when he woke up? The jealousy of wanting to be comforted with a hug too? She doesn’t need to feel these emotions anymore.

“Because I’m going to make sure you can’t leave my side now…!”

Clap clap. As if making a pledge, she slapped her own cheeks.

A nurse walking nearby was startled seeing her.

“Ah, s-sorry…!”

She made a tearful face and quickly rushed down the corridor again. Of course, with quick steps.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“AAAGH! Bokuno iega (My house)…!”

Haru fell to her knees at the construction recovery site, letting out a roar.

“Just now?”

“Just now…? JUST NOW???!!!!!”

“Ah, you startled me.”

“Do you people have no blood or tears! You devils!”

“De…vils…?”

“How does it matter WHEN someone gets shocked about their house collapsing!”

When Baek Ah-hee and Ara expressed doubt, Haru became angry instead. Ara felt wronged.

‘So is it normal to cry about a collapsed house only now?’

She was here doing rescue work during the incident, so isn’t it strange to suddenly shed tears now?

There’s a limit to missing the timing. It felt like watching someone suddenly burst into tears three days after watching a sad movie.

“Time isn’t important… What’s important is the fact that I’m shocked… If I were to compare my pain! Ah soo (Ah right). It feels like I’m bungee jumping with an endless fall!”

“Your vocabulary has improved. Though the metaphor is somewhat strange.”

Haru gathered concrete dust in her hands while trembling.

“Khuhuheuk… My sweet home sweet home…!”

“Why are you acting like this when you’re rich? Oh right, I heard the association is giving support money because your house collapsed.”

“UWAAAAAH! Tonight is YAKINIKUUUU!!!”

At the news of support money, Haru suddenly bent backwards and started cheering.

“Living like that must never be boring.”

At least every day would be interesting. Ara shook her head at the mood swings that even inspired awe.

“But Haru, where will you live while you’re looking for a house?”

“Hmph.”

At Baek Ah-hee’s question, Haru rummaged through her clothes for something.

“Look at this! I’m going to live luxuriously now! Ah, what a celeb life! Is this what being an influencer means?!”

What she showed was a brochure for a luxury hotel. Baek Ah-hee just laughed ‘haha’ seeing it. She too was overwhelmed by these mood swings.

“O-oh? That’s great, Haru.”

“If Jiknyo looks favorably on me, I might let her stay for a night! How about trying to call me Haru-chan this time?!”

“Ah right… I’m good….”

Even though Baek Ah-hee politely declined, Haru continued to flirt, begging her to add ‘chan’ after her name.

Ara watched their banter and thought.

‘Huh? Why did someone with such wealth live in a place like this?’

Thinking about it, it was strange. This was a place where lower-class people who had no money but didn’t want to be homeless gathered to live. It was vulnerable to attacks from villains, and far from the association, so even if reported, it would take a long time for magical girls to arrive.

It was an unsuitable place for a magical girl who amassed enormous wealth by risking her life.

But until now, no one had questioned it.

‘…Well, she must have her own circumstances.’

Ara didn’t think too deeply about it. Being a magical girl, she figured she must have her own complicated story and let it go. Instead, she thought of someone else.

“Even if Haru’s living situation is solved… Then, what about Mr. Han Jae-jung?”

“Ah.”

“What?”

It wasn’t just her living in this rundown apartment, there was also Han Jae-jung.

“I mean Mr. Han Jae-jung. Where should he preserve his noble self?”

Right now, the person who would be most troubled by having no house wasn’t Haru but him.

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