There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 681

Chapter 681: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 16

"If I say I’ll go to the Tower, will you get angry again?"

As expected, a frown immediately formed on Han Joon’s forehead. "You’re going to leave your daughter?"

"No--not now, I mean...not right away," Han Shin quickly shook his head while grabbing his hyung’s arms. Really--Han Joon’s angry face was scary, but not because it looked menacing. More than anything, it was because Han Shin felt like he would disappoint his older brother if the ever-patient man got angry. "I have talked about it with noona, and she gave me permission."

There was nothing coming out of the older brother; no answer, no expression. Quietly, the man stepped back and walked to the window, staring at the bustling city and the garden outside.

Han Shin pressed his lips and stared at the quiet back. The solid back that had been shielding him from the bad world. That solid back looked exhausted, and Han Shin desperately wanted to support that shield of his.

He took a deep breath and started his persuading. "Hyung, Zein said we’ll need a high level of healing, didn’t he?"

After much deliberation, they finally told Han Shin about the steps they would take to solve Joon’s problem. Destroying the core, however, was a dangerous step even without the cold energy. It was akin to destroying someone’s heart and severing all the nerves. It would be painful, and the process might damage other organs.

Not to mention, they were looking for an artifact that could eat the cold energy; it would mean turning Joon’s body into a battlefield. Damages would be impossible to avoid, so a rapid and precise healing process that couldn’t be achieved by medical equipment would have to take place.

"Honestly, I can’t trust other people to do it," Han Shin frowned deeply, gripping the edge of his shirt until it wrinkled.

How could he, when he was a healer himself? And he knew he was one of the best, so how could he let others take over? It wasn’t about pride; it was just...Han Shin didn’t think he could face himself if he shirked away from curing his brother. If something went wrong, he would probably blame that healer no matter what.

Wouldn’t it be better to blame himself, then? At least, he wouldn’t be haunted by the thought of not doing his best for his one and only brother.

"Hyung, let me do it," Han Shin carefully--ever so carefully--held the edge of his brother’s sleeve. He stepped closer and pressed his forehead on the solid upper arms. "I want...I want to heal you."

Still, there was no answer. The drifting cloud obscured the sunlight and Joon’s expression in the window, and Han Shin had no courage to look closer.

"Please?" his persuasion turned into a plea. "You know, don’t you? I was awakened for you, hyung--to heal your wound."

Han Shin bit his lips as he once again gazed at his brother’s back. He still remembered it vividly, the memory of his awakening. The day he cheerfully barged into Joon’s room and saw his brother’s back covered in blood and bruises, curling and shivering on the floor.

The fear and desperation he felt at that time managed to awaken him. And the same fear and desperation had been haunting him ever since his brother collapsed in the summer.

"What’s the point of me being a healer if I couldn’t do it in the end?"

The sorrowful voice managed to make Joon twitch and finally turned his head. Han Shin did not waste the chance and grabbed his brother’s arm.

"I promise that I’m not being reckless. I’ve thought about it again and again, talking it out with noona and her family," he said earnestly. "I...I want to grow old together with you, hyung."

The sharp black eyes rippled at the weakening voice behind the hopeful request.

"I want Nari to grow up seeing her Uncle."

Han Joon closed his eyes and sighed inwardly. How cunning, bringing his only niece who looked like his only sister like that...

Han Joon sighed, this time audibly. "Let me talk to her first."

Han Shin nodded with a bright smile. "Okay!"

Letting out another sigh, Han Joon entered the bedroom and asked the others to leave him alone with Reina, including his darling. At that time, the twins came to visit and with Asa called out ’Nayi! Nayi!’, Han Shin pushed the bassinet out of the bedroom while laughing, leading everyone to the sitting room.

Tilting her head, Reina watched Han Joon’s slightly darkening face and easily deducted what caused this sudden face-to-face request.