Vampire Royalty [Season 2]
49.
Empty -
It was literally like entering a giant vent.
As I stepped forward, a thud, a humming sound filled my ears. It wasn't a pleasant sound, and the listeners' brows furrowed slightly.
김석진 (27)
"I hate hearing this so much."
김태형 (25)
"...The sound is like that, but it's definitely a strange place. Let's go in. Everyone, don't let your guard down and be careful."
Taehyung's group continued walking in the direction Hoseok had claimed was "the direction Baekhyun was heading." They were pressed for time, not knowing when or how Baekhyun might be in danger, so they continued walking without stopping, looking for a place to rest.
But then, what caught my eye was a cave with a strange, almost bizarre appearance. I thought it was a natural cave, but when I actually stepped inside, it was practically an artificial tunnel.
It was too nerve-racking to be in the middle of a forest. Taehyung habitually muttered a warning to everyone to be careful as he led the way.
황은비 (23)
"But there is something."
김태형 (25)
"huh."
황은비 (23)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Eunbi, why? What do you have to say that makes you hesitate so much?"
황은비 (23)
"... Oppa, that Baekhyun... my younger brother... will he be okay?"
Stop -
김태형 (25)
"..."
Taehyung, who had been walking smoothly, suddenly stopped. Eunbi's question, purely out of concern for his safety, continued to gnaw at his heart. At the time, she thought it was the best choice, but she regretted it.
In some ways, I could have saved him. If I had pushed him a little harder, if I had just pushed him all the way, if I hadn't gone first and waited... But then, Baekhyun wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
Taehyung bit his lip. His clenched fists gradually became slack. Eunbi, flustered, began to ramble, wondering what was wrong with her question.
황은비 (23)
"Oh, no, I was just curious, really. Nothing else!"
김석진 (27)
"Kim Tae-tae, why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Are you sick? If we're going to save Baekhyun, we have to come to our senses. What if we lose our senses?"
김태형 (25)
"No... no, no. I'm fine. Let's go."
황은비 (23)
"..."
김태형 (25)
"Don't worry, Eunbi. I promised myself that I could save you. I will definitely save you, Baekhyun."
Because he was Eunbi's last living blood relative. Because he was the younger brother who had saved the child who now stood dazzlingly beside him. Taehyung once again resolved to save Baekhyun, no matter what.
Dang -
Several soldiers were seen pounding water-filled jars with all their might, making a roaring sound. The surroundings were enveloped in menacing flames, and the space looked like a vast room.
And at the center of it all, Jimin, Seungwoo, and finally Baekhyun, tied tightly to a wooden board and unable to move, sat three people.
Baekhyun's body, which was once so transparent and white, was red, as if he had been hit and burned several times and was in chaos, and cold sweat was dripping down his forehead.
But it didn't end there. His dark blue wings were mercilessly torn from his back and thrown to the ground, while blood of the same color flowing from his back spurted from his mouth.
His pale lips, barely visible through the blood, and his waist, wrists, and ankles, tightly bound and tortured by ropes—Baekhyun's body was utterly ruined. The only sign of life was his still-stern gaze. Aside from that, everything else seemed mortal.
변백현
"Cough!! ... Ugh, ugh!"
한승우 (27)
"..."
한승우 (27)
"You're really tenacious. Shouldn't you be able to do something at this rate? To be able to hold on to this much mental strength despite being tortured to this degree... I have to admit, you're truly remarkable."
변백현
"Hehe, I don't accept anything like recognition!!"
Even amidst the constant barrage of interruptions, Baekhyun still managed to say everything he wanted to say. Seungwoo looked at him as if he found it laughable. He also added a look of triumph to his gaze.
한승우 (27)
"It's still a shame, our Baekhyun. He was quite capable in many ways, but now he might not be able to do that either."
변백현
"..."
"Let's solve this."
한승우 (27)
"Why me?"
변백현
"I told you to let me go."
한승우 (27)
"Oh, so why do I have to do that?"
변백현
"..."
변백현
"What do you plan to do with me?"
한승우 (27)
"Does this mean that if you just add "yo" after hearing something, it becomes an honorific?"
변백현
"There is no reason to speak politely to your master with sincerity."
한승우 (27)
"You've done it until now. What has been the reason for you until now?"
변백현
"Are you telling me that I'm crazy, Master?"
한승우 (27)
"What should I say?"
Seungwoo smiled brightly and revealed the shape of a dagger from under his clothes.
한승우 (27)
"If you don't tell me, I'll eliminate your sister right away. So tell me your reason. The reason you had no choice but to obey me."
변백현
"If I tell you, you'll threaten me again?"
한승우 (27)
"I don't think I need to explain further since I'm in a bit of a hurry."
변백현
"Why on earth are you doing this, why!!!"
한승우 (27)
"My head is pounding. It's annoying, so lower your voice. If you don't do as I say from now on, I'll deal with your sister first, without regard for consequences."
Baekhyun's gaze, which had seemed to momentarily lose its composure, softened, and he straightened his posture. Seungwoo, who had been quietly watching, nodded slightly and muttered.
한승우 (27)
"It's not that I didn't expect it, but I also thought it wouldn't be the case. As expected, the reason was your sister."
변백현
"..."
한승우 (27)
"Okay, then listen carefully to what I say from now on. If you, Baekhyun Byun, show even the slightest bit of resistance here, this will all fall apart immediately. Your sister's balls will be blown off."
변백현
"..."
한승우 (27)
"There's someone I want to kill."
"You're quick-witted, so you've probably figured it out by now. Your Majesty, you know that the man who rules this world, Kim Taehyung, is the one I want to kill, right?"
"There's only one thing I ask of you, Byun Baekhyun. This will be my final command. If you carry it out safely, I will guarantee the safety of your sister, yourself, and the others, and I will release you."
"Kill Kim Taehyung."
"I just got word that some rats have gotten in here. It's Kim Taehyung and his group. They're probably here to rescue you, right? Don't worry about it. Just do your job."
"Kill Kim Taehyung and save your sister. If you don't kill Kim Taehyung, your sister will be beheaded. And of course, you too soon."
"Choose wisely, Byun Baekhyun. But I told you, it's either Kim Taehyung or your sister."
김태형 (25)
“But doesn’t it seem like the temperature here has gotten a little higher?”
정호석 (27)
"Wow, I'm not the only one who feels this way! I was feeling a little hot just now, too."
김예원 (23)
"I can smell something burning. Could it be a fire?"
문 빈 (23)
"Fire... Huh? Hey, don't you see something like a bright light over there?"
김태형 (25)
"..."
김남준 (27)
"Taehyung."
전정국 (22)
"brother."
김태형 (25)
"...let's go and see."
Taehyung quickly moved towards the light. A massive door blocked their path. If he opened it, would Baekhyun be there? Taehyung gestured for everyone to lower their posture and held the handle firmly.
Save.
I will definitely save Baekhyun.
...
...Kuk -
변백현
"Is there a reason you're doing this?"
한승우 (27)
"Rather than having any outstanding reason, the reason I'm like this is because I have a strong desire to have this world in my hands."
한승우 (27)
“That’s why I hate Kim Taehyung even more.”
변백현
"..."
변백현
"...Okay, I understand."
한승우 (27)
"Then I'll leave the hospitality to you."
Seungwoo, rising from his seat, entered a hidden room unseen from the outside. Baekhyun stared blankly at the large door in the middle of the space, which Jimin had also left, following him.
박지민 (25)
"..."
박지민 (25)
"Good luck."
Taehyung's voice seemed to come from afar. Jimin, staring at the almost-turned doorknob, quietly muttered to Baekhyun as he closed the door to the room where he and Seungwoo were hiding. He smiled slightly, then quickly hid himself.
변백현
"..."
변백현
"Good luck, Ira."
Which direction will be lucky for me?
bang-!!!!!
"Baekhyun!!!"
변백현
"..."
Baekhyun carefully observed each and every face of the crowd that streamed in. They all looked equally exhausted. Had they come all this way for me?
He looked at Taehyung's face, then scanned his body. He had no other weapon, only a dagger slung lightly at his waist. It was something he'd never seen before, but he seemed to have gotten it from somewhere.
변백현
'That should work.'
김태형 (25)
"Baekhyun, Baekhyun!!!"
전정국 (22)
"Brother, how long are you going to keep yelling!! You have to let him go first!!"
Seokjin and Jeonghan, who had quickly rushed over, were already untangling the ropes entangled around Baekhyun's body, one by one. The bindings were so tight that blood oozed out even as they untied him. At that moment, Eunbi, who had been pulling out a few pieces of cloth from her pocket, cautiously spoke.
황은비 (23)
"...Byun...Baekhyun... did you say that?"
변백현
"Huh, huh?"
Baekhyun, who had been shutting his eyes tightly and suppressing the pain, suddenly flinched in surprise at the sound of Eunbi's voice. Did his sister recognize him? No, her memories were clearly erased.
황은비 (23)
"..."
황은비 (23)
"Thank you, Baekhyun."
변백현
"... uh?"
황은비 (23)
"Thank you."
김태형 (25)
"I told you roughly everything."
변백현
"..."
황은비 (23)
"I don't know the full story yet, but I just wanted to say thank you for being my little brother."
변백현
"..."
전정국 (22)
"What are you doing, Byun Baekhyun? Are you crying? You're crying... Why are you crying like an idiot, you little punk? Are you so touched that we came to save you? Seriously, me. Bye. Where are all the guys who did this to you? We need to catch them and beat them up."
김석진 (27)
"Doesn't it hurt? Will I be able to walk at this level?"
김남준 (27)
"Should I carry you? I'm still in good shape."
문 빈 (23)
"Baekhyun, just put some strength into your legs. I'll lift you up."
김예원 (23)
"Jeonghan, help me untie this rope!"
윤정한 (14)
"(Nod)"
Everyone was busy moving around in front of Baekhyun. It was Baekhyun himself who was frozen, unable to do anything. It couldn't be done. He had repeatedly struggled to keep himself from doing it.
Was he crazy enough to have gotten used to this warmth already? How long had it been since he'd been with them that he already wanted to be immersed in their warmth? Baekhyun squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lips.
변백현
"..."
변백현
"taehyung."
김태형 (25)
"Yes, Baekhyun."
Taehyung, who was wiping Baekhyun's forehead with a towel, answered with a hoarse voice. "To be so hung up like that? Apparently, they didn't have enough water to get here."
Baekhyun slowly looked back at the people bustling around him. And the person whose gaze lingered the longest was, of course, his sister. After repeatedly expressing his love for her with his eyes, Baekhyun finally continued speaking.
변백현
"Come closer."
김태형 (25)
"yes?"
변백현
"Come and see."
김태형 (25)
"..."
Everyone froze. It was a simple request to come closer, but when Baekhyun said it, it sounded different. Taehyung seemed taken aback for a moment, but then slowly bent down and approached him.
김태형 (25)
"why?"
변백현
"..."
Hwaak -
전정국 (22)
"Rice, Baekhyun!!!"
Liquid -
Phew - .
Chaengrang _
...
As everyone began to gape at the sight before them, the soldiers who had been hiding in the space they were in were already starting to fill the space one by one.
Of course, with a full arsenal of weapons.
Hello, Sunsets. It's like summer rain :) You disappeared for a while, saying you were taking exams, and then you came back after a whole month. If there's anyone who's been waiting, I bow my head and apologize.
The exam went well. I was satisfied with the results and felt good. But after it was over, I rewrote the short story I'd promised, and... it didn't quite work out.
So, this time, I wrote and erased it several times. This volume is about 5,000 characters long, and since you've been waiting so long... I tried my best to fill it. I hope it turned out well. ^^
There are quite a few parts of the content that I don't like, so I'm a bit hesitant. Still... I'd appreciate it if you enjoyed reading it... ㅠㅠ
It was a huge encouragement to me that no one left while I was gone. A month is definitely not a short time, so thank you so much :)
I guess everyone is just waiting for summer vacation these days. I'm the same way.. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Then, have a nice evening everyone :) I'm so happy to see you all after such a long time.