“Yeah, you could say that.”“…Then why didn’t you tell me?”Was Uichan the only one who thought there were still complicated issues between them that needed to be resolved? That only made him feel more resentful and hurt. After all the chances Hyde had had, he still never once seemed willing to speak first.“If a person has even a shred of conscience, he should have something to say, shouldn’t he? Why… just keep pretending you don’t know anything?”Hyde silently met Uichan’s accusing eyes. They were red-rimmed, on the verge of tears, but Uichan only breathed unevenly, stubbornly holding them back.“Uichan.”“Why did you lie to me?”He pushed away Hyde’s leaning body with both hands and bit down on his lip, striking his shoulder hard.“You didn’t have to deceive me too.”Since the age of eighteen, ever since they met, there had never been secrets between them. When they reunited after Hyde’s revenge in that abandoned building, he had looked completely different — a man Uichan didn’t recognize. And yet, he had known at a glance that it was Hyde.But now Hyde stood there wearing the face everyone knew as La Épée. Only his eyes, silver-gray with the Big Dipper etched in them, would make anyone realize instantly who he really was.“Your name. Hyde’s real name… it was Dan Yeonhu?”“…Yeah.”Dan Yeonhu. Funnily enough, when you reverse the initials, it reads as “H-Y-D” — Hyde.Even during his glorious past, the name “La Mute” had never been publicly known. So this was the first time Uichan learned that Hyde’s real name was Dan Yeonhu. The irritation surged back, and he struck Hyde’s shoulder again. A dull thud sounded, but Hyde didn’t even flinch.“You could’ve just told me you were La Épée. It’s not like I’d have blamed you for it. Even if you had told me, I would’ve kept my mouth shut. Have you ever seen me run around talking about Hyde to anyone?”Hyde clenched his jaw as he looked at the furious Uichan. Uichan had always had a tendency to treat most things lightly — this way or that, he stayed calm.But whenever it came to his “brothers,” he would throw himself into danger to save them without hesitation. Hyde had always hated that about him. That was the only reason he hadn’t said anything.“La Épée” had been his game and his safety net — an identity he could discard at any time, one that wouldn’t make Uichan worry even if it died.But after that night, trapped in the earthen beast and lying with Uichan, everything had fallen apart.“You didn’t tell me either, so me hiding the pregnancy evens us out. You hid it first.”So Hyde had no right to scold him for keeping his own secret. Uichan glared at him with reddened eyes, and tears finally spilled over. Hyde brushed his thumb lazily along the wet track on his cheek.“…You’re right. I was awful. I should’ve told you sooner.”Uichan wiped at his eyes with his arm, but when Hyde caught that arm and pulled it down, he had no hand left to hide his face. His reddened eyes still held defiance.If he ended up being hated, it would only be his loss. Hyde smiled faintly as he wiped away the tear marks.“There won’t be a next time. I promise. I was wrong.”Hearing Hyde admit his fault so easily made Uichan’s expression soften. He knew Hyde always kept his word once given, so he let the tension drain from his eyes and nodded hesitantly. Watching Uichan melt so quickly, his cheeks warm and flushed like a peach, Hyde tapped that soft skin lightly.Uichan frowned and wiped his own cheek with the back of his hand. Hyde’s lips curved upward, but his pale gray eyes gleamed coldly, distant.Yeah. Why had he ever put that brainwashing on himself?The hypnosis he had cast to separate himself from La Épée had turned into a chain around his neck. When he erased the Big Dipper, he had placed a restriction on his own mind: forget Ha Uichan completely. Erase from memory that Under Doom and that man were the same person.The condition for release was when “In the Hell” members were captured or wounded by heroes. Until then, La Épée and Ha Uichan were strangers — complete strangers.But on the day of the collapse, when the earthen beast swallowed them, something went wrong. The brainwashing and the restriction tangled, and an error occurred. When Uichan was in danger, Hyde’s brain tried to lift the seal, but the hypnosis was too strong.That conflict caused a catastrophic malfunction. Between the error and the seal, Hyde’s mind broke. The pain was unbearable — his head felt like it would burst — and yet he couldn’t stop touching, tracing that familiar warmth with desperate, instinctive hunger.‘Ah… who is this?’‘Hmm, that’s our Uichan, isn’t it?’‘Uichan…? Who’s that?’‘Why’s the youngest here…?’‘Who the hell is this that feels so familiar to my hands?’‘Ha… looks delicious. Just like our Uichan.’‘So then— who the hell is Ha Uichan?’Even through the agony of overload, Hyde’s body had acted on instinct. If he’d been in his right mind, no one else would’ve touched Uichan that night. He would’ve torn their throats out and peeled their skins himself.But in the end, they lived — and Uichan had spent that night with three men.A god’s cruel joke, perhaps. The result of one night’s madness was the life now growing in his belly. But Hyde couldn’t deny his share of fault in it.Because of that grave mistake, he had released every hypnosis and seal he had placed upon La Épée. And now—“The little ones… I’ll protect them. Don’t worry about anything, Uichan.”Hyde’s low voice rumbled as he pressed his lips to Uichan’s white shoulder. The moment their skin touched, Uichan flinched. Sweet warmth surged like a tide against his skin. Hyde drew in a long breath, heavy with drowsy languor, and closed his eyes.Even the scent of him was sweet.***Chirp— chirp, chirp!Uichan woke to the sound of birds outside. His morning sickness, which had quieted for a while, seemed to be returning; he had thrown up everything he’d eaten last night after only a few bites. He’d spent half the night groaning, lulled to sleep only by Hyde’s hand rubbing his back toward dawn.“Sleep a little longer.”As he stirred, a low voice came from behind. Only then did Uichan realize a large hand was still resting over his belly. Hyde’s palm was warm, as if it had been there all night, rubbing softly.“It must be Mother Ship.”“Mother… Ship?”Hyde rose, tucked the blanket carefully up to Uichan’s shoulders, and stepped out of the room. Through the briefly open sliding door, Uichan caught a glimpse — a small sparrow, Mother Ship’s familiar puppet. The door closed, and he was alone again.His body felt ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) heavy, drained from the night’s sickness and restlessness. His eyelids fluttered, half closing again. He let them fall, unable to move, and Mother Ship’s voice drifted faintly through the walls.—Hyde, how long are you planning to keep the youngest there? Are you insane? What, trying to drain his life force?“If you came all this way just to say that this early in the morning, I’m honestly disappointed, Mother Ship. So tell me. Why did you send your little bird here?”—…Haah. Why the hell did I ever join you. I’m not sure the kid’s even going to survive. Fine, I’ll keep it short. The item you left with me — I think the goblins have caught on. They tried to breach my stomach again this week. Second time already.“They tried to breach you? And the intruders?”—Of course I killed them. I ripped out their souls and made them my ferrymen. Should’ve twisted their guts for good measure, the bastards!“Shh… Uichan might hear. I told you to use nice words around the babies.”—Ugh, fine. Podo’s having fun tormenting the new ferrymen anyway. Totally delighted. Hyde, didn’t you drag a goblin to the dungeon last time? Maybe that’s where the leak came from?“…Could be. I can’t guarantee it. We shouldn’t talk here — I’ll change the place.”—What about Uichan? You sure it’s safe leaving him alone?“Mother Ship, what do you think this place is? I’ve set a restriction.”A sharp click — and then both of them vanished without a trace.By that time, Uichan had already drifted back into a shallow, exhausted sleep. He didn’t notice the faint tingling that pulsed beneath the thick blanket, deep in his lower belly.Not long after, a massive shadow fell across the sliding door.Tap— tap, tap.Half lost in heavy slumber, Uichan furrowed his brow. The sound — tap, tap-tap — felt like someone knocking. His eyelids fluttered open. Through hazy eyes, he saw the outline of Hyde tapping on the door.“Uichan, can you open the door?”He frowned and pressed a hand to his temple. Why was he knocking? Why not just come in?“Hyde… you could just come in.”“Ah, well… I set the restriction too tight. I can’t enter myself. You have to open it.”

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