One Day, a Villain Fell into My Wardrobe

21

In the mountains of your house

Wow, even someone who doesn’t know would recognize him as the male protagonist.

Yeon Ji-ho marveled inwardly. It felt like watching a movie being filmed right in front of him. A handsome emperor looking down at his people while sitting on a pure white horse.

However, aside from the wonder, there was also a sense of alienation. Seeing Hadad in person, looking so much like a protagonist, made him feel more like a character from a novel, unlike the set that felt much closer.

“Ji-ho.”

“…….”

“Ji-ho?”

“Ah, yes.”

Yeon Ji-ho, lost in admiration, finally turned his head at Set’s urgent call. Then he noticed Set’s odd eyes.

In fact, Set also had an unusual face. As the mastermind in this world of the novel, he had a strangely sparkling odd eye along with a handsome face. The scars from a knife and burns gave him an air of authority that made it hard to approach him carelessly.

Yeon Ji-ho found Set’s appearance, which exuded a somewhat dangerous vibe, slightly more appealing than Hadad, who looked like a pretty idol. He swallowed his thoughts, unable to say it directly to his face.

“……We will leave the capital, Astera, right now.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“So we need to move immediately. We have to take the back roads, so follow me.”

Set, unable to hide his anxious demeanor, grabbed Yeon Ji-ho’s wrist and moved.

Well, with his rival Hadad right in front of him, he couldn’t just stay there. Yeon Ji-ho realized why Set looked anxious and hurriedly matched his pace to follow.

However, the wrist Set was holding throbbed. It seemed he was unaware, but unlike usual, he was gripping Yeon Ji-ho a bit harder. At first, Yeon Ji-ho held back, but soon he couldn’t help but let out a groan after just a few steps.

“Ugh….”

“Ji-ho?”

“Um, I’m sorry, but my wrist hurts too much. Set.”

“……!”

Startled, Set quickly released his grip and took a few steps back. It seemed he was more surprised by the fact that he had been holding on too tightly without realizing it than by Yeon Ji-ho’s reaction. Yeon Ji-ho awkwardly smiled and gently rubbed his now reddened wrist.

“I’m sorry…….”

“You didn’t do it on purpose. I know.”

Set had always sung about how ‘fragile’ Yeon Ji-ho was, so the difference in their strength must have been enormous. Moreover, Set was someone who had always been with knights. He probably had never dealt with an ordinary person like Yeon Ji-ho.

Yeon Ji-ho, feeling that Set seemed more surprised and flustered than himself, spoke kindly.

“Shall we hold hands instead of our wrists? That might work.”

Yeon Ji-ho quietly extended his hand first. His reddened wrist caught Set’s attention.

Set hesitated several times, unable to bring himself to take that hand. Finally, after Apophis, who was leading the way, urged them to catch up, he was able to grasp Yeon Ji-ho’s hand.

“Ji-ho, how is it now? Is this painful……?”

“No, it’s just ticklish.”

Yeon Ji-ho felt a bit awkward, unsure whether to say they were holding hands or just touching. He understood that Set was surprised by how red his wrist had turned from just that one grasp, but still, this was too much.

Set was holding Yeon Ji-ho’s small hand, which was much smaller than his own rough hand, as if it were an egg.

Hmm, while contemplating, Yeon Ji-ho suddenly slipped his fingers between Set’s and then tightened his grip.

As they held hands firmly, the two intertwined their fingers.

“This much is fine.”

“……Okay. If it hurts at all, let me know.”

After that, as Set walked with Yeon Ji-ho holding hands, he looked down at their joined hands several times. It seemed he felt like Yeon Ji-ho’s thin, white fingers caught between his thick fingers might break, as he occasionally raised his other hand to check if everything was alright.

***

“Mr. Ji-ho.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I’m really sorry to say this.”

Apophis, who had just stepped away, returned with two horses while Set and Yeon Ji-ho were waiting in an alley where no one was around.

“Due to the circumstances of being pursued, we cannot use the village’s movement gate. So from now on, we will have to travel on horseback.”

“Ah, yes. That’s fine. I was prepared for it.”

“Thank you. However, until we leave the capital, staying at an inn is also a risk.”

The capital where Emperor Hadad was staying was a place regularly patrolled by vigilantes and knights. It would be unreasonable to sleep comfortably in an inn in such a place.

Moreover, they were currently with Set. Almost no one in the Astera Empire would not recognize Set Gorgon’s face, and if he appeared in the capital, he would be immediately wanted.

“So it seems we will have to camp out for a few days starting tonight. I apologize.”

In fact, camping was something Apophis and Set were very familiar with. During the war, just leaning against a tree to catch some sleep was considered a blessing.

However, they knew it would be an unfamiliar experience for an ordinary person like Yeon Ji-ho. As Apophis lowered his head with an apologetic expression, Set stepped forward. His massive frame was cloaked in a large black robe.

“Ji-ho. I can take you to an inn. But we cannot enter, so you will have to stay alone.”

“Staying alone at an inn is more uncomfortable. Let’s just go together.”

With that, the sleeping arrangements settled, the three hurriedly mounted their horses. Of course, since Yeon Ji-ho had never ridden a horse alone, he had to ride in front of Set.

As the horse started moving, Yeon Ji-ho tensed up and straightened his back. He hadn’t realized it while watching on TV, but actually getting on a horse was quite high. Set, noticing that Yeon Ji-ho was tense all over, spoke softly from behind.

“Relax your body, Ji-ho.”

“What if I fall off?”

“You won’t fall. I’ll hold you.”

Set held the reins with one hand and then wrapped his other arm around Yeon Ji-ho’s waist.

Feeling the touch on his abdomen, Yeon Ji-ho gasped and inhaled sharply. Unaware of this, Set pulled Yeon Ji-ho’s body closer to him. The distance between them closed in an instant.

“You can lean comfortably.”

“Y-yes. Okay.”

As Set’s voice almost whispered in his ear, Yeon Ji-ho swallowed hard. How long had it been since he had been this close to someone?

Thus, while Yeon Ji-ho remained tense, Set began to move naturally, even though it had been a while since he rode a horse. After about thirty minutes, Yeon Ji-ho gradually leaned his head against Set’s solid chest.

Apophis was already far ahead and out of sight. Just as Yeon Ji-ho was getting used to the horse and slowly breathing easier.

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes?”

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

Set was handling the horse more carefully than usual, thinking about Yeon Ji-ho being with him. He wanted to hold him tightly around the waist while riding, but he couldn’t dare to touch his body, so his fingers merely twitched.

He brought up the topic because he felt that Yeon Ji-ho seemed a bit more at ease. So, he finally let out the question he had been holding since they arrived.

“Earlier…….”

“Earlier? When?”

“When you faced Hadad.”

“Oh, Hadad.”

As the man he had forgotten came to mind, Yeon Ji-ho nodded. Remembering his face, he couldn’t help but think how handsome he was.

“Why…… were you looking at him so intently?”

“What?”

Yeon Ji-ho blinked at the sudden question. Then he quickly turned to look at Set. Set couldn’t bring himself to meet Yeon Ji-ho’s gaze and only stared straight ahead.

“Do you perhaps have a crush on him?”

“What? I just looked because he’s handsome…….”

“Handsome?”

“Yes.”

Set’s mouth closed again. An uncomfortable expression rose on his face. Unaware of this, Yeon Ji-ho straightened his head and said.

“I’ve never seen someone like that in my life.”

“Is that so…….”

Chuckle. Chuckle.

Every time Yeon Ji-ho made a comment about Hadad, Set felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles. It was so uncomfortable that he unconsciously furrowed his brows.

“I think I understand why he’s the protagonist. Even though I only saw him in writing, I knew right away that he was Hadad as soon as I saw him.”

“…….”

Set felt himself gripping the reins a little tighter. After asking the question himself, he almost wanted to say he didn’t want to hear the answer anymore. He bit his lip and endured.

“Is that why Gliese fell for him?”

Gliese.

At the mention of that name, Set felt a sharp pang. It felt as if a nerve had snapped.

He remembered that woman. The most noble flower of the academy. The one who never even glanced at Hadad, whom everyone loved.

Yet even that Gliese eventually fell in love with Hadad. During their time together, she loved him unwaveringly, no matter what hardships came her way.

And Hadad took her love for granted. At least, that’s how it appeared to Set.

It wasn’t that he was thirsty for the love of a woman named Gliese. It was just that Set had curled up alone in his dorm bed, pondering time and again.

What exactly was the difference between him and Hadad? Why was there no one by his side, not even a single person like Gliese who would genuinely care for him?

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes?”

Set finally couldn’t hold back and wrapped his arms around Yeon Ji-ho’s waist. He then buried his face in Yeon Ji-ho’s shoulder, his breathing ragged.

“Ji-ho, Ji-ho…….”

Unable to endure any longer, he hugged Yeon Ji-ho but had nothing else to say except for calling his name. He couldn’t tell him to stop talking about Hadad or to only look at him. That wasn’t Set’s place.

Yeon Ji-ho, surprised by the large man clinging to him, didn’t mind it. So instead of pushing him away, he continued with a hesitant, “Um, but I think Set’s face is more to my liking.