There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 689: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 24

Hurriedly, as if he didn’t want to lose even a single second, Radia entered the portal that Nyx made. Unfortunately, as a critical infrastructure, the area around hospitals was designated as a no-motion zone, so the portal couldn’t be generated there.

Thus, Nyx opened the portal to the rooftop of Mortix Holdings, where a helicopter had waited for him. There, Laurel Mallarc welcomed his son with a tight embrace.

Naturally, she had watched what happened in that Plaza. But for Radia’s sake, she held her emotions back. "Oh, sweetie," she held her adult son, whose whole body had turned cold despite the heat retention coat.

Even then, Radia did not seem to care.

"We don’t have time," he said anxiously. He just received a report that Han Joon had a heart attack an hour ago. "We--"

"I know," Laurel stroked the red hair, wet and cold from the snow. "Bassena is going to the Tower and Zein is talking to the Saintess."

"The Eastern Sun--"

"Your grandmother had talked to her. She’ll be there shortly."

Finally, Radia seemed to be able to breathe again. He closed his eyes and let his mother hold him, leaning into the warmth of the embrace. "Mother, I..."

"You did well," Laurel kissed the wet hair, the trembling crown. Holding back her tears while tightening her arms around her sweet Dia. "You did well, sweetheart."

Because, what mother would not hurt seeing his son kneeling and begging in front of someone else? What mother would not agonize over the fact that her child was being humiliated in public?

If she could, she would rather be the one kneeling in her child’s place. But that wasn’t possible, so she could only watch the event unfold with a broken heart. She felt guilty and useless for failing to bring the artifact, and had to subject her son to such ordeal.

It must have been hard for him. It would be hard for anyone. And yet, looking at those crimson eyes, who only looked at one thing and one thing only--the hospital--even while staying in her embrace, she had an inkling that it wasn’t so hard for Radia.

Anything was probably easier than losing his Joon.

"I’m angry," Laurel could hear her own voice shaking in fury and pain. "But I’m proud of you."

Radia bit his cold lips and held the artifact tightly the way his mother embraced him. "Nothing..." his voice, hoarse from the cold, sounded more determined than anything. "Nothing is more important to me than Joon."

But even so, he had done something that might put the family, the corporation, and the guild to shame. He didn’t mind stepping down if it was necessary, but the damage might be non-reversible. Thinking about the hundreds of thousands of people relying on him and his reputation...it was still heavy. It was especially heavy without his sturdiest pillar supporting him.

But Radia’s umbrella was not made of that single pillar only.

"I know," the pillar who brought him to this world said gently. "We all know. We understand. No one will criticize you for it."

"I don’t care what people said about me, but the company and the guild..." Radia frowned; he hadn’t glanced at his commlink except to check for any update from the hospital, but he was sure the whole continent would have a field day talking about him kneeling in a Plaza, begging in tears.

"Don’t worry," Laurel whispered tenderly. "I’m sure nothing bad will happen."

She said it like it was a consolation, but she was actually sure about it. Would someone truly criticize someone who lowered themselves for their beloved one? In fact, this incident might be good.

"But don’t you think about it," she stroked the cold cheek, warming it with her love. "Just focus on your darling husband, okay?"

"Yeah," Radia closed his eyes briefly, allowing himself two minutes of respite before the helicopter landed at the hospital. "Yes. Thank you, mother."

* * *

In the coldest of winter, the white zone did not acknowledge seasons. The sun was still sunny and the plants were lush. It was during such a day the first Saint-class healer in the Eastern Federation was born.

Even so, Han Shin did not have a leeway to feel happy about this achievement. Different from his usual cheerful self, he came out with a stern and determined expression--which faltered slightly when he saw someone familiar.

"Bas?"

Before the flash of cameras and the swarm of reporters could get to him, Bassena already grabbed his hand. "Let’s go."

In a blink, Han Shin found himself in the aircraft parking space, right in front of a helicopter with no logo. It was a small one, only for one passenger beside the pilot, but was made for speed. The healer frowned slightly as he climbed to the back seat and fastened his seatbelt.

Being whisked away from the crowds was something he was thankful for, but the tension in Bassena’s back was palpable. There was not even a single congratulation, and Bassena was clearly in a haste.

Something cold crawled along his spine. "Bas, hyung--"

"Did you look into your commlink yet?" Bassena asked instead.

"Not yet, I--"

"Turn it off, don’t look at anything," Bassena said firmly. "I need you to concentrate fully and maintain your emotional stability."

Han Shin frowned deeply for a second, before nodding and turning off his commlink. He took it off his wrist and shoved it inside his storage ring so he wouldn’t be tempted to turn it on again. Anyway, his hyung was alive, so he could take anything.

Feeling the healer staring at his back, Bassena told the man straight away. "Joon is in a coma."

For a few seconds, a blast of mana filled the interior, making the helicopter shake slightly. This was why only Bassena came to fetch the healer--regular pilots would be shaken by the pressure and an incident would happen.

Of course, Bassena did not only come with bad news. "Radia got the relic."

"Oh..."

The mana pressure finally went down to normal, and Bassena continued further. "The Eastern Sun is already at the Peak, and Zein is fetching the Saintess. Once we all gather, we’ll start the process."

Han Shin exhaled slowly, managing his emotions. Alright. Alright, his hyung was still alive. Everything they prepared had come to fruition. They had prepared everything they could, so it was all in the execution.

And by Gods--he would immediately rescind his status if he couldn’t do this right.

"Just rest for now so you’re in your best condition," Bassena said. "Have some sleep or something."

"Why would I? I’m already in my best condition."

"What?" Bassena almost turned around in surprise. "Aren’t you exhausted from the trial?"

"Well...I did," Han Shin tilted his head. "But the administrator gave me a drink and all the exhaustion disappeared."

Bassena blinked and the healer tilted his head the other way. "What? Did you not get the VIP treatment?"

Bassena almost hurled a string of curses when he remembered what happened a decade ago. He felt like dying when he came out that he couldn’t even face the reporters and association without scowling. Because of that, people always thought he was menacing and arrogant, ready to slap people to oblivion if they were as much as bumped into him.

But in the next second, he burst out laughing that Han Shin thought the man was going crazy from envy. What Bassena said next, however, stunned him.

"So that Old Snake knew," Bassena smirked. "I guess that was His way of saying good luck."

At the stunned healer, he added.

"Then, it must be working well, right?" Bassena stared at the horizon. "It must mean we’ll succeed, right?"

Han Shin bit his lips and nodded quietly.

Yeah, they would succeed. Everything would be alright.

* * *

With determination, Han Shin and Bassena arrived at the hospital and immediately headed toward the presidential suit.

"Dada!"

A high-pitched, cheerful cry welcomed him in the lounge, and a little girl ran wobbly toward him. "My princess!" Han Shin picked up his baby, who had become so much bigger during his absence. "You’re so big already! You can walk!"

His hyung was right. He would be so heartbroken if he wasn’t there during Nari’s first six months. At least, her daughter could recognize him immediately.

"Don’t worry," Reina chuckled. "I recorded her first step, so you can see it later."

"Noona," Han Shin called out softly, before planting gentle kisses on his two girls. "I’m sorry for leaving both of you..."

"Well, I’ll be upset if you end up failing," Reina pinched the healer’s cheek. "But you succeeded, so I forgive you."

Nari giggled and pinched the other cheek following her mother, before kissing her father’s reddened cheek.

Han Shin hugged his princesses tightly. "Thank you."

"Well, it’s not over yet, is it?" Reina took Nari from Han Shin’s arms, before pointing at the closed, white door. "Go on, they are already inside."

Han Shin kissed his wife once again before heading to the door with Bassena. Inside, Radia was sitting while clutching a white lantern, still in his all-black, slightly wet clothes. Across from him was Mago’s Saintess and the Eastern Sun, while Joon’s Doctor, Laurel, Ludya, and several nurses were around another table. frёeωebɳovel.com

The moment he entered, all eyes were on him, before moving to Zein, who was standing up right away.

"Very well," the guide clapped his hand once. "I’ll explain the process, and we’ll start right away."