The Unbelievers

Chapter 85

“What’s so funny?”

“I laughed because what you said is absurd. Logically, what male would reveal his mating partner to another male? Especially a seed bearer that might appear once in a thousand years, not something found on every street corner. How much do you think Chairman Yoo wants to give it to his son? With that, the Yongse Pacheon Church and the group would all become theirs in one go. Is that all? If anything comes of it, he’d become a god. This isn’t just about owning a company, is it?”

Yoo Siwoon’s eyes twisted slightly with contempt as he looked at Lee Joon-seung, who referred to Eunseong as a “seed bearer”. He didn’t respond further and stood up, politely greeting the meeting participants.

“Then everyone, please return safely.”

Yoo Siwoon left the lounge first. The sound of chairs being pushed back faded behind him.

After finishing the wrap-up, Director Nam headed towards the elegant main building of the hanok, but upon confirming Siwoon’s absence, he changed course to the greenhouse.

As Director Nam had expected, Yoo Siwoon was in front of the greenhouse. He stood there, staring through the glass. Inside the greenhouse, flowers and bonsai were blooming out of season, maintained at a constant humidity and temperature similar to a temperate climate, regardless of the outside weather.

Director Nam approached him. Sensing his presence, Siwoon glanced back briefly before returning his gaze to the greenhouse. Inside, jeokdan was growing. It was an herb said to ensure the birth of sons when consumed, a medicinal plant that only selected members of the Seongha family could grow and eat. Consuming it was said to open one’s spiritual eyes to recognize the ‘Great Gap’.

Since seeing Eunseong’s reaction to jeokdan, Yoo Siwoon hadn’t touched it, even now that Eunseong had returned home.

Yoo Siwoon was a non-believer. He no longer wanted to do the dirty work the family demanded, nor could he ignore what they were doing. He couldn’t tolerate young Eunseong being used by them under the pretext of prophecy. Yoo Siwoon had made all these plans to take control of the Yongse Pacheon Church and Seongha Group. He had turned key personnel to his side, built up his power, found their weaknesses, and collected evidence of corruption.

He was disgusted by the idea of using some unknown being born from a man’s womb to ravage the world in the name of a god. He hadn’t believed it was possible in the first place. Yet before Yoo Siwoon’s eyes appeared the ‘Great Gap’ that matched the prophecy. In a form that left no room for doubt.

Yeosinyeosiseong-ui (汝信如是成矣)

“It shall be as you believe.”

If Yoo Siwoon hadn’t had even minimal doubt, if he hadn’t had a weak faith and eaten the herb to find Eunseong, he might have sent Eunseong abroad and never seen him again. Without knowing what Eunseong was.

The person who might be the companion he had waited for his whole life… he might not have recognized him due to lack of faith.

He was chilled by that thought. The more he reflected on his past self who couldn’t recognize Eunseong, the more dizzying it became.

Director Nam, observing the quiet Yoo Siwoon, spoke, referring to the recent meeting:

“Even though you say Eunseong isn’t the one from the prophecy, everyone seemed skeptical.”

“Do you know what percentage of possibility people mean when they say ‘no way’?”

Director Nam looked at Yoo Siwoon questioningly at his sudden query.

“I mean, do you know what percentage of possibility people have in mind when they say ‘no way’?”

“Well, maybe 20, no, 25%?”

Director Nam pondered before answering.

“They say it’s less than 1%. Everyone’s talking about a possibility of less than 1%. Would you believe that?”

Just as I didn’t believe.

If he hadn’t met Seo Eunseong, Yoo Siwoon wouldn’t have believed it until his death. He would have just said “no way” even with his companion right in front of him.

“Less than 1%, huh. Well, just like you and I did, CEO. Even if it were true, we wouldn’t have believed it.”

“…”

Yoo Siwoon neither denied nor agreed with his words. His expression was downcast.

While it was true that Eunseong was the ‘Great Gap’, that was merely a prophecy. It had only happened twice in that long history. And that was just what was written in the prophecy book. Eunseong had only shown a reaction to jeokdan, but Yoo Siwoon hadn’t seen the mark that Seo Jeong-gi was so certain about. As of now, there was no way to know if pregnancy was really possible and if a child could be born, and Yoo Siwoon couldn’t accept that prophecy.

“Are you worried about what Team Leader Lee Joon-seung said? Don’t let it bother you too much. You know how his colleague died, don’t you? He’s a man with nothing but revenge for his friend in his head.”

Director Nam seemed to think that Yoo Siwoon was dwelling on Lee Joon-seung’s words. Yoo Siwoon, who had been staring at the jeokdan beyond the glass with thoughtful eyes, spoke:

“Isn’t it human nature to want to take the easier path?”

“I know you’re not that kind of person, CEO.”

“…What would you do if I were that kind of person?”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

Yoo Siwoon shook his head, saying it was just a slip of the tongue and not to worry about it.

A chilly silence fell. Director Nam observed him carefully before speaking, as if to change the heavy atmosphere.

“About Eunseong’s study abroad issue. I heard you told him he doesn’t have to go if he doesn’t want to. Is that true?”

“You told me to placate him. If we try to force him, it seems like he might run away again.”

“What if he really insists on not going?”

“I’ll take him with me. If I’m going with him, he won’t say he doesn’t want to go.”

Director Nam realized there was such an easy solution and clapped his hands together, saying “Ah.”

“…Take him somewhere warm to let him adjust, and then…”

Yoo Siwoon muttered as if talking to himself.

Take Eunseong to a place with a mild climate, where no one knows him, where no one can track him. Once all those with ‘opened spiritual eyes’ are eliminated, Eunseong will be guaranteed safety and live peacefully there.

And after that…

Even if everyone was eliminated, as Team Leader Lee Joon-seung pointed out, Yoo Siwoon was also one of those qualified as a breeder born of this family’s bloodline, and he felt Eunseong’s identity with his whole body.

Whether he felt Eunseong with his whole body or was aware of it, that was Yoo Siwoon’s situation. If he distanced himself from Eunseong, if they parted, all problems would be simply solved. That was the right thing to do. As originally planned, the target would be hidden and evacuated abroad. Then they would stage a coup and send Chairman Yoo and his group to prison. If that was impossible, they would not hesitate to commit murder.

That was their plan. Yoo Siwoon knew he was wasting energy on unnecessary thoughts.

“It’s late, you should go home now.”

Yoo Siwoon found Director Nam’s scrutiny of his complexion bothersome. Even though he told him to leave, Director Nam refused.

“I’ll stay here until Eunseong departs.”

“It’s uncomfortable for me.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I stay? Who knows what might happen?”

“Go inside.”

Yoo Siwoon was too tired to speak at length.

“…I understand. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Director Nam was a perceptive person. Sensing that Yoo Siwoon wanted to be alone, he didn’t add anything more, bowed his head in farewell, and left.

After standing still in front of the greenhouse for a long time, Yoo Siwoon finally made his way to the main house. Eunseong was sitting alone in the spacious living room, waiting for him. He had fallen into a light sleep, curled up in a corner of the sofa with his phone in his hand. Upon discovering the dozing Eunseong, Yoo Siwoon carefully sat down beside him.

Eunseong was napping with his cheek resting on his knee. One side of his cheek was pressed, making his lips protrude like a bird’s beak.

When Yoo Siwoon lightly touched the protruding lips with his finger, Eunseong finally opened his eyes. He checked the time on the phone in his hand and looked at Siwoon.

“…Is it over now?”

“Did you wait long?”

“Over two hours. Where’s Director Nam?”

Eunseong looked around and asked.

“He left. I told him to go home and rest comfortably.”

“Ugh, you did well.”

Eunseong grinned, relieved that the intruder had finally disappeared.

“I used your card a lot yesterday, did you see?”

“I heard from Director Nam.”

“I spent lavishly, is that okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Yoo Siwoon casually permitted it, not as a special generosity for Eunseong, but as if it were everyday life.

“About me studying abroad. Director Nam was talking like I have to go. But you told me before that I don’t have to go if I don’t want to, right?”

“If you don’t want to go, don’t go.”

“But why does Director Nam keep saying I have to go?”

Just as Yoo Siwoon felt anxious, Director Nam had also grown fond of Eunseong and was worried about him. Although being abroad didn’t guarantee Eunseong’s safety, it would be more advantageous than here to completely erase Eunseong’s existence from records and hide him where he couldn’t be found.

“Because it’s safer there.”

“Please tell me clearly, ahjussi. I’m not going. Director Nam was tormenting me earlier, trying to make me study English. He scolded me for not even knowing the basics.”

“You should know the basics…”

“I don’t need to know the basics if I’m staying here, right? I’m going to stay with you.”

The hand that had been nervously gripping the phone now grasped Yoo Siwoon. It seemed Eunseong had wanted to contact him when he was late but had held back.

The one who wanted to prevent Eunseong from leaving if he said he would go was Yoo Siwoon himself. There was a way to not send Eunseong away, using the excuse that there was no need to hide him anymore if his relatives qualified as breeders were dealt with.

As Team Leader Lee Joon-seung said, there would be no idiot who would reveal a mating partner that might appear once in a thousand years to a competing male. Once Yoo Oseon, who knew this fact, was eliminated, Eunseong could become entirely Yoo Siwoon’s.