“It’s just gone for a moment, only a moment. It’ll return to normal, and she said she’ll make it so. So neither of you worry. I’m really fine.”

The ribbon seemed to have little effect. I wanted to claim I was intact enough ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ to do such a pointless thing.

“Y-yes. It’s common enough for hunters, I suppose.”

Yerim said, trying to steady herself. Riet chimed in.

“Limbs are fine. As long as your head’s safe, that’s what matters. S-ranks don’t die easily. For you, Sweetie, you’ll have to guard against bleeding out or going into shock—your stats are lower.”

“Nothing dangerous happened at all. I didn’t stand a chance of dying in this match to begin with.”

I doubted he’d cover reduced lifespan from overexertion, but at least I hadn’t risked my life this time. And as Riet said, limb loss isn’t unheard of among hunters. Of course, for mid-rank or lower hunters losing an arm is disastrous—but prosthetics cost connections or money.

Despite my excuses and Riet’s words, Yuhyun showed no reaction. He simply stared at the empty spot where my arm had been. His deep eyes were steady and calm, which only worried me more.

“It’s just an injury, Yuhyun. I’m a hunter too.”

“I know.”

My brother’s voice was dry.

“But... it still feels unpleasant.”

“Of course it does. Hey, I’d be angry and sad if you lost an arm too.”

“...It’s a little different.”

Just then, Rin bounded over to me.

—Brother! Yuhyun acts that way because he likes you so much!

“...Huh?”

“I should have eaten it.”

Yuhyun said quietly. Riet, lounging on the living-room floor, straightened up. Noah tensed on her toes, ready to spring. Amid the growing tension, Yerim called out.

“Han Yuhyun! What nonsense are you spouting! Mister, please come this way.”

Yerim beckoned, but I felt no inclination to move.

“Yuhyun wouldn’t harm me.”

“...That may be so.”

She could threaten to lock me up again, but Rin circled on my shoulder.

—You see, brother! Exactly! If someone devours the cherished food you saved, you’d be angry, right? You’re more precious than food, though!

“Hmm, that would make one angry.”

If it were Yuhyun or Yerim, sure—but a total stranger? I thought I should have eaten it more quickly. Granted, it wasn’t food, but from Yuhyun’s perspective it was different.

—Yuhyun really held it in!

If you planned to give it to someone, you should have let your brother have a piece... This was getting weird. Regardless, Yuhyun still held back. His face had gone pale. His jaw clenched firmly.

“Yuhyun.”

I reached out to hug him as usual—then froze. I had only one arm. I could hug him with one arm, but it would be awkward. Hesitating, I looked at Yuhyun, and he blinked at me. His expression had shifted—slightly dazed, as if confused. Then:

“Brother, I’m really okay!”

Tears filled his eyes in an instant and fell with a plop. Oh dear.

“I said it’ll be fixed soon. It’s okay.”

“...Sob.”

I heard not only Yuhyun’s sob but Yerim’s as well. Yerim raised her hand to cover her eyes.

“Yuhyun’s crying, that’s why!”

No, you two. I flicked my gaze between them in bewilderment.

“I’ve been hurt plenty of times. Losing an arm for a moment doesn’t mean my body’s broken! I might even be healthier than before—I ate a tonic, you know. Seriously!”

“...It feels weird, brother.”

Yuhyun said, tears falling silently.

“No matter what you look like, I like you. But... even when there’s no danger to your life...”

He struggled to sort his emotions.

“You’ve been hurt... so many times...”

I had even thought he was dead. He’d been shocked then, but now it felt different. I wrapped him in one-armed embrace. I’d have embraced Yerim too, but I only had one arm. Seeing that, Yerim sniffled and turned away.

“Even if you recover, still! As a hunter, I—Yuhyun—cried first!”

“Yeah. Cry if you want. It’s okay—blub—”

“Don’t apologize for cutting it off on purpose!”

...Well, I did cut it off, technically. Riet shrugged and gave Yerim’s back a light pat.

“Don’t worry. I know the Saintess Sister. If the arm can’t be fixed, I’ll introduce you.”

Oh? Riet must be a well-known S-rank in those circles. Noah offered Yerim a handkerchief.

“...Honestly, if someone else had lost an arm, I don’t think I’d worry so much. I was startled, but they seemed alright. And the ribbon is pretty. ...It’s because Yuhyun cried. Tears are contagious, you know.”

Yuhyun, eyes wet, reached out and touched my intact hand. It did feel strange. Even the initial shock of injury is intense, but when it changes your daily life... that brings a different kind of pain. Losing the ability to do routine things hurts more than the injury itself sometimes—and can last far longer. I heard it can be a lifelong struggle, harder than the moment of the accident.

When my vision worsened, Teacher’s Skill covered me and no one noticed. But now I couldn’t perform the simplest actions. I, with my Fear Resistance, was fine, but the kids clearly were not.

“...I thought it would be fine as long as you were alive.”

My brother, who once threatened to lop off my limbs, said softly. His hand still toyed with my one good arm.

“Of course it’s more important that you live than that your limbs stay intact. Even so, I’ll care for you well.”

His drooping eyes fluttered.

“I never imagined that you not being able to hug me properly would feel... this weird. No matter what form you take, you’re still my brother.”

“No matter how we both change, my love won’t.” I smiled as I squeezed his hand. “Because you love me so much, you want to do more for me—and you want it in return. At one time, you gave up receiving. But now you have desires too. That’s why it hurts more. From ‘as long as you live’ to ‘I want to live alongside you.’”

Where once only “Han Yujin” lived in my heart, now “Han Yuhyun” had made his place. It was natural to feel more complex emotions than before. He must have been concerned about me being harmed—but now he mourned the loss of part of our everyday routine.

“Yerim.”

“Because of Yuhyun. I’m fine. He said it’ll return to normal.”

“If either of you two gets hurt, I’ll jump about. I’d be even more upset.”

“But I’m an S-rank hunter.”

“My career is five times as long as yours. S-rank or F-rank, it’s natural to worry when family is hurt. Riet and Noah would cause a racket if hurt.”

“That’s true, right?”

Riet nodded to Noah.

“I’d kill everyone.”

“...You’ve hurt me the most, sister.”

“But I never meant to harm you. Really.”

“Still, you were hurt.”

Riet’s eyes reflected her embarrassment. She looked at me as if to ask what to do—but it was her karma. No matter her intent, the victim feels the harm. “I did it for your good~” doesn’t change that.

“Even S-ranks aren’t made of stone. It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes.”

“I am not weak.”

Yerim insisted stubbornly.

“I’m strong. Truly.”

“Being strong doesn’t mean you must always stay strong.”

“But I’m okay.”

Yerim wiped her tears completely with a tiny conjured water droplet. Brave, but... I worried that she still tried not to rely on adults too much.

“Yuhyun, redo the contract.”

My calmer brother said. Contract?

“What contract?”

“The one where if you suffer a mortal wound, my hand gets a scar.”

“What? You want to redo that? That was undone?”

When had that happened? When I nearly died... during the Chatterbox raid, maybe. It was ambiguous to call it a mortal wound, but my very existence almost vanished, so the contract effect would have triggered. Reflexively I looked at Yuhyun’s hand—of course it was intact. It had been ages ago.

“I’m safe now anyway. Since I won’t die, there’s no need to make you anxious. Let’s do it after this is over. Actually, I’d reverse it and give my arm to you... but that’s hard with Curse Resistance.”

And I couldn’t turn my skill off. Yerim, slipping close, made a water droplet for Yuhyun to wash his face. Then she gently smoothed the ribbon on my arm.

“Is it Myeong-woo oppa? Or Mister Sesung?”

“Of course Myeong-woo. His skill shows he’s a craftsman.”

“Mister Sesung is good at this too, I hear. Soyeong-unni says he’s great at flower arranging.”

Where did that come from? Still, he probably would be good.

“...Does it really not hurt?”

“I took painkillers and got healed. It just feels hollow. But I’m glad for the ribbon—covers it so well I barely notice.”

With the grand ribbon and frills, you’d barely realize my arm was gone at a glance. Yerim peered at me, clutching the ribbon in silence. Perhaps I shouldn’t have called her over. Even if the world has changed... my heart tightened.

“When will it return?”

“The Mermaid Queen said she’ll restore it next match.”

“Hunter Noah.”

Yuhyun looked at Noah. She cannot regenerate missing limbs—

“Could you transplant someone else’s arm?”

“Hey!”

My voice rose before I caught myself. That brother of mine! But Yuhyun continued calmly.

“I know that if the body part is the same, healing is easier. And as brothers, our genetics are close.”

“Our blood types differ. And even if I can live without an arm, you can’t! I’m a support-type, you’re a combat-type—melee focused!”

What crazy nonsense was this? My brother met my glare and answered quietly.

“I have one too. And I’d be less inconvenienced than you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You use both hands.”

Most elite combat hunters are proficient with both hands, but Yuhyun was practically ambidextrous as a child. Moreover, having one hand makes a massive difference in combat.

“It’s impossible.”

Thank goodness Noah shook her head briefly.

“Even if you have a severed limb, to reattach properly you need healing plus regeneration and purification skills of a high rank. I only have simple healing.”

“You said as much.”

“How about top-tier potions?”

“Yuhyun, you can’t use my potions rashly.”

“Is top-tier really off-limits?”

“No. There’s no benefit to receiving more healing skill. Would you consume your life just to reattach an arm?”

At my words, Yuhyun relented. Why would he even think to graft my arm onto his?

“If your arm was severed, I’d be upset too!”

“That’s true—Uncle would definitely cry.”

“...If it could be treated, I wouldn’t cry, but still—cherish your body, Yuhyun.”

“I just thought it better that Uncle’s arm remain. Compared to me, it matters less. And she said it’ll be returned next match, not just repaired—could even be a reward for victory. So if there’s another match where the sub-team leads, maybe I’d lend you my arm temporarily—”

“No, still not an option.”

I cut him off.

“It’d feel more awkward than anything. Look at the size difference—length too.”

“Then perhaps mine—”

“Yerim.”

“Just kidding~. I was only saying. Uncle’s grown so much. And he’s O-type too.”

“Don’t say that even as a joke.”

They kept spooking me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll reclaim my arm soon. If all else fails, there’s Riet’s connections. For now, rest up. We don’t know what they’ll throw at us next.”

“I’ll help you bathe.”

Yuhyun volunteered. I can manage alone, though.

“Sweetie, shall I help too?”

“What do you mean ‘help’! Get away! Don’t follow me!”

“I once bathed my brother—”

“Sister! That was when I was little! Really little!”

Noah called out urgently. Riet, the troublemaker. I dashed into the bathroom and slammed the door.