CHAPTER 259: NOH YUNO

"NOA HYUNG-NIM, please let me work for you as your bodyguard."

Moon Noa almost choked on his coffee.

He was having breakfast with Leehan (formerly Lee Hansol) and Nam Sori when Leehan suddenly dropped his request.

What is this kid thinking?

"Leehan-ah, I don’t need you as my bodyguard," Moon Noa said bluntly. He realized that it might have sounded mean, so he explained. "Ryu Sungbin is often by my side anyway."

And I can protect myself.

"I know that, Hyung-nim. But I want to dedicate myself to you," Leehan said in a serious tone. "You’ve helped our siblings from the Death Camp settle down in a safe environment. You built a village where they can sustain themselves. The government is too busy cleaning up after the mess that the Lab created to care about the victims of the Lab."

Right.

The people from the Death Camp were Guides and Espers discarded by the Lab.

Leehan and Nam Sori created a rebel group to be free from that hellhole.

After the chaos was over, the government prioritized fixing its strained relationship with the neighboring countries.

Particularly Japan since Haru-nim was pissed at our country because of what happened.

Anyway, Moon Noa had the money and resources to support the survivors, anyway.

I’m richer than the government.

"It was only you who cared enough about us, Hyung-nim," Leehan said, and it was obvious that the kid was being sincere and sentimental. "So, please let me serve you. I want to be of use to the person who saved my found family."

"I accept a simple ’thank you’ as long as it’s sincere, kid."

"Hyung-nim, please let me work for you."

Aigoo.

"Do whatever you want," Moon Noa said, sighing while shaking his head. And then he turned to Nam Sori. "Are you going to ask for the same time?"

The mansion was once filled with kids from the Death Camp.

But after Moon Noa built the village, the kids left except for Leehan, Nam Sori, and Noh Yihun.

I don’t mind, though.

"No, I have no intention of staying here, Noa-ssi," Nam Sori said while shaking her head. "I’m planning to return to my other family."

The ’other family’ in question was the Rogue Clan— a rebel group.

Moon Noa didn’t care that Nam Sori was a literal criminal, but it was easier to play dumb when they didn’t talk about it directly.

So, the kid was being vague on purpose.

"But I have a request, Noa-ssi."

"Tell me."

"Please let Noh Yihun stay here."

"I actually don’t mind. In fact, I’d like it if Noh Yihun stays with me. As a fellow Guide, I want to look after him."

Moon Noa was being sincere.

He had already brought Noh Yihun to different doctors. And, yet, the diagnosis had remained the same— the reason the boy couldn’t talk was simply because he refused to.

It’s trauma.

"But are you sure Noh Yihun wouldn’t come with you, Sori-ssi?" Moon Noa asked. "I can tell that Noh Yihun is attached to you. That kid only listens to you."

Noh Yihun acted like a zombie, but he would follow Nam Sori without a fuss.

"As Noh Yihun’s best friend, I can’t bring him with me. After all, as a rebel Hunter, it’s inevitable for me to live in a violent world. And violence is the last thing that I want Noh Yihun to experience again," Nam Sori said, smiling sadly. "I want Noh Yihun to live a quiet life. That kid is good at drawing."

"Really? But I haven’t seen him pick up a pen... right, he doesn’t have his art tools," Moon Noa said, pausing for a moment. "Should I buy him art materials? Is he a traditional artist? I heard digital art is also a trend these days."

"Noh Yihun draws traditionally. The Lab had forbidden him from owning a drawing tablet. Actually, the Lab didn’t allow its victims to own a device. If they did, everything was cloned," Nam Sori explained. "I have Noh Yihun’s sketchbooks and old art materials with me. I tried to give it to him before, but he just looked at it. I was afraid that he might throw them away, so I just kept them in my Inventory."

"Can I have them?" Moon Noa asked. "I’ll try to return them to Noh Yihun and convince him to go back to drawing. Having a hobby might be good for him."

***

I APOLOGIZE in advance, Noh Yihun.

Moon Noa was aware that most artists hated it when other people looked at their sketchbooks— especially without permission.

But whatever.

He was alone in his study while flipping through the third sketchbook.

The first and second sketchbooks only featured studies of human anatomy.

But the third sketchbook?

Moon Noa smirked while leaning against the backrest of his seat. "Noh Yihun, so you like drawing stuff like this?"

***

YIHUN didn’t really want to leave the house.

Leehan left home because Moon Noa sent him on an errand while Nam Sori had already returned to the Rogue Clan.

He tried to follow his best friend, but she refused to bring him with her.

"I would if you were stable— but you’re unwell, Yihun-ah. Get better first. I asked Moon Noa-ssi to take care of you."

"Yihun-ah, are you excited to see my present for you?"

Haaah.

Yihun wanted to roll his eyes at Moon Noa, but he didn’t have the energy to do that.

Sitting in the backseat of the car with the S-Class Guide was already tiring. Hence, he didn’t want to lose more energy by getting upset.

"Sir, we’re here."

The car stopped after the driver announced that they had already arrived at their destination.

But why here?

The car actually pulled over to a busy street.

"Yihun-ah, look at the interesting billboards around us."

Hmm?

Yihun took a peek outside, not really interested...

Wait, that looks familiar.

The biggest billboard looked eerily similar to his original characters— two male (and gay) characters in a BL story that he wanted to draw before.

His heart thumped hard and fast against his chest.

After all, it wasn’t just one billboard.

Yihun immediately got out of the car.

Much to his horror, all the billboards around them featured all the BL porn that he had drawn before.

What kind of company allowed such obscene drawings to be plastered on billboards?!

Yihun felt embarrassed when he saw and heard people around him talk about the very suggestive images on the billboards.

Many were even taking pictures of it.

"Did you like my present, Yihun-ah?"

Oh.

Of course.

Moon Noa wasn’t just an S-Class Guide— he was a chaebol richer than their government.

He has the whole country in the palm of his hand!

"Oh, don’t worry. I put proper credit on your masterpieces," Moon Noa said, smiling like the fox that he was. "Look— I put your name on each one of them."

Haaah.

Yihun clenched his hands tight and, before he knew it, he was already yelling at the top of his lungs.

"DO YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS A JOKE, YOU CRAZY BASTARD?!"

Moon Noa looked surprised, even taking a step backward...

... only to laugh in the end.

"It’s nice to hear your voice again, Noh Yuno."

Yihun wanted to curse Moon Noa again, but he realized one thing. "Noh ’Yuno?’"

Moon Noa smiled and nodded. "That’s your new name, kid."

***

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