There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 706: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 41

"Has something...happened?" Laurel looked at his son and ’supposedly’ son-in-law.

There was something different between them, a different vibe that made the dinner table seem...tense. It was not usual for Radia to be quiet ever since Han Joon returned from the hospital. Laurel knew it was his effort to hold back from getting too close to Joon and unconsciously crossing the line.

This time, however, the tension was coming from Han Joon.

Laurel hadn’t seen the boy since his afternoon run. All she knew was that Radia suddenly came home, and they talked, and Han Joon had been very quiet ever since. Of course, Han Joon was reserved by nature, but he was also very good at conversing at the dining table and had been letting himself go more or more.

And so, it was very apparent when aside from ’good evening’ and ’thank you for the food’, the boy hadn’t said anything. It was almost as if he reverted back to how he was when he just woke up as a seven-year-old.

The answer, however, came from an unexpected source. "Joon found out about what happened in the Western Republic."

"Grandma..." Radia sighed.

Laurel widened her eyes. "What? Oh..."

Han Joon promptly stood up and bent his waist, speaking solemnly. "I’m sorry to cause you all the trouble."

"Not this again," Laurel frowned and pulled Han Joon down again. "Joon, I’m going to get angry, okay?"

In response, Han Joon only smiled stiffly. "I know, but please understand."

"You look like you’re angry at yourself," Calix remarked from across the table.

Again, the only response Han Joon gave was an empty smile. The already tense dinner table got even quieter until Radia put his utensils down and confronted Han Joon in frustration.

"I told you we can’t do it now, and I told you I won’t leave you behind once the time comes, so what are you being angry about?"

Laurel blinked. That was the problem? The boy sulked because he couldn’t do anything to get revenge?

How...adorable.

"Ah..." Han Joon stroked his lower face. "I guess...I had used up all of my patience before I got sick."

"At any rate, we can’t do it now," Radia sighed harshly, before adding in annoyance. "I would rather do something about that lab that had messed you up."

This time, Han Joon blinked in confusion for a while. "...the lab?" he tilted his head, and then added in surprise. "Did I tell you about it?"

"Yes," Radia replied sharply. The ball of anger had shifted from Joon to Radia. "I have no idea how you could talk nicely about them, but I want them to be gone."

"Ah, well..." Han Joon rubbed his nape awkwardly. "I’m not sure about the moral of their activities, but...the researchers were kind to me."

From the way not only Radia, but also his parents and grandmother, frowned slightly, it seemed like they all knew about the artificial awakening lab. And it was clear that they did not like it.

But, well...what could Joon do?

"They spoke kindly and always made sure I was comfortable--ah, they even allowed me to play with some toys while waiting for the experiment," Han Joon elaborated.

He had never been allowed to have toys before, so Joon couldn’t help but like it. Sometimes, the researchers also gave him chocolate milk. Of course, he knew that it might be nothing more than a part of the experiment; the chocolate milk might also be spiked with something. But did he care?

He didn’t. He didn’t want to. Even if it was fake, he loved the pat on his back, the brief hug, and the praises he received after the experiment. He was just...craving it too much.

If it had happened when he was a bit older, it might not have affected him. He would face it with cynicism. But when he was a child? He ate it. He was actually disappointed when he got awakened because he knew he wouldn’t go to the lab again afterward.

That kind of feeling, just like how Radia’s words affect him, carried over to his adulthood.

"I don’t know about their bosses, but the people who take care of me were rather nice, and they believed what they were doing would help the world," Han Joon shrugged.

Radia held his head and sighed heavily, cursing so many things inside his head. "Haa..."

"But if you want to get rid of them, I won’t prevent you," Han Joon continued calmly.

Radia raised his head, blinking. After talking so fondly about them?

"...are you sure?"

Han Joon smiled sweetly. So sweet it actually started to make Radia blush. "You can do whatever you want, Dee," the young incubus in an adult body spoke in a soft, slightly bashful tone. "I’m just happy you get angry on my behalf."

Damn it! Radia had to lower his head again to hide his gritting teeth.

"Phew~" Laurel patted the boy’s back. "Strong game, Joon."

"Thank you, Mother."

She gasped and turned her head to the side quickly. "What did you just call me?"

Han Joon tilted his head; a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "What do you mean, Ma’am?"

"Oh, come on! Don’t tease me like that!"

* * *

While the tension unraveled well during dinner, Han Joon retreated to his room restlessly. A lot of stuff jumbled in his head; knowing more actually made him question a lot more. There were glimpses of scattered information he got while searching for the kneeling incident that had him confused more than anything.

Like how people were questioning the identity of Radia’s ’husband’ or the mention of an apparently very significant ’operation’ in the East. He also did not know the existence of this man called Ramsay who dared to make his darling kneel--which meant they probably met later, past this period he managed to remember.

Haa...it was frustrating. His head was throbbing from all the questions. Perhaps the doctors did know what they were talking about; too much information could cripple his mind.

When the throbbing sensation did not wane while he was writing the journal, Han Joon decided to go to bed early, wishing for the headache to vanish once he woke up.

No such thing.

He was assaulted with piercing pain invading his head. It was as if several goblins were running around in his brain and struck their hammers there. Even when his eyes were open, Han Joon could barely see anything. His vision seemed to be tunneling, framed with red haze.

For a while, all he could see was red. His reality and his nightmares were overlapping cruelly and he couldn’t figure out which was which. Was he alive? Was he dead? Was Radia...alive?

"Haa...haa..."

He gripped the sheet hard to bring himself back. Feeling the fabric that was far too comfortable from the one he should be using in his bedroom told him that his reality had been warped, and it released him from the paralyzing sensations.

Right away, he bolted toward the bathroom and poured the contents of his gut inside the toilet. His eyes were red and glazed, his head filled with nightmares.

Staring at the advanced closet and neat, luxurious bathroom woke him up further. This is the future. Yes. He had dinner with Radia last night. Radia was alive.

Radia was alive.

Gradually, Han Joon managed to get a hold of himself and breathed evenly. He let the faucet run after washing his face, letting the sound soothe his agitated mind.

But it wasn’t an easy thing to do.

"What the fuck..." he cursed quietly, before slamming his hands on the side of the sink. "What the fuck?!"

Feeling it wasn’t enough, he chucked his clothes off and stood under the shower, letting the cold water pour over his head. The freezing cold did not even register in his mind, but the feeling of being cut off from the world gradually calmed him down.

"Haa...okay, calm down," he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, again and again. "Radia is okay, that man is dead, so..."

He muttered this over and over again while showering in cold water. Only after he was sure he had regained his composure did he step out of the shower.

Was his death had something to do with this? Han Joon frowned as he dried himself and put on a bathrobe. He didn’t have the time to think deeply about it, however, because Badri was already in the room, looking at the bedsheet.

It was wet from how much he was sweating. As someone who had been taking care of Joon for almost two weeks, it was easy for the man to spot the irregularity in Joon’s unchanging morning schedule.

"Young Master Joon," he greeted with a polite bow as usual.

"Ah, good morning."

And then continued with a concern. "Is there something wrong, Sir?"

"...no, but can you do me a favor?" Han Joon asked while walking toward the wardrobe.

"Anything, Sir."

Han Joon stared at the row of unfamiliar yet familiar clothes, scanning for a neat shirt rather than a sweater. "Can you ask the matriarch if I can see her?"

"...now, Sir?" Badri asked in surprise. It was slightly past dawn, and the matriarch usually had woken up already. Still...who would ask her for a meeting before breakfast?

"Well...just ask her first, and let her decide the time."

"Yes, Sir."

Han Joon took a deep breath while Badri left for his errand. Even though his request might not be granted, he still decided to wear the shirt just in case, even checking his appearance. He had used to meet with her in a casual outfit while staying there, but...

This wouldn’t be a casual meeting.

Surprisingly, Ludya Mallarc agreed to meet him right away.