Horizon (traitor) //ateez ff

name

"You're leaving? I only suggested this unknown person you let in to leave, not with you!"

"I need to come back to my village, and repay my sins by giving my life to the new manslaughter of my home."

The butler was now contemplating with his own thoughts. Would it be worth it to say? Worth trying? But then, he suddenly let out every hesitation lingering on his skin.

"I am a noble samurai, living at the birthplace of shadow warriors like Takara," The butler shifted his sight at the waiting ninja behind him.

"The nobleman turned into a man-slaughtering machine because of a dark past. First, my deed was pure kindness, which horrifyingly turned into pure evilness."

He honed his katana with the blood of his victims. But who are his victims? He then later, very, very late, realized what he has just done with the sword his mother personally made with blood, sweat, and tears, only to know that that sword took also the blood, sweat, and tears of its victim in a villainous way.

The butler only realized it when one witch cursed him.

A curse wherein he could never put any type of blade, dagger, or sword in his right hand, if he does so, his own hand will be pushing that blade straight to his heart, like the stray souls of his victim would grab his hand and push it with a never-ending, flaming agony attached to the skin of its silver tip.

And coincidentally, Yunho's father saved him while raiding a certain place near the village of Iga. A weird way of saving, Yunseok chopped the hand of the butler and replaced it with a dark oak wood hook like a typical hand prosthetic of a misfortunate pirate.

And indeed. The curse was broken because there is no right hand for him to hold the tsuka or handle of his katana.

Yunseok took care of him and even made him the quartermaster for eight solid years.

But as time passes, also the kindness of Captain Yunseok fades away.

Yunseok began to be more reckless and arrogant, to the point where even his family members are deeply affected by his new actions. The butler tried talking to him, a piece of friendly advice, but,

"You are merely a worker who stayed too long by my side."

.

.

.

Of course, it hurts his feelings. Eight years. And the relationship his Captain still sees him is just a co-worker...

But even with the hurtful comment, as a noble samurai before who finally quitted his slaughtering life, he stayed loyal to his Captain and began to be the head butler of 2 small kids after being told that there will be a new, stronger, emotionless person to handle his position as the quartermaster.

"And 19 years with you, I have served for Jeong family for 27 years, taking almost half of my life. I have grown soft with you, my young master... That is why I had a hard time finding myself with the courage to speak to you about leaving."

The butler spoke, with his voice slowly fading, but still firm to speak every little fact to his young master.

"Grown... Soft? " Yunho asked, with his face again resting in its dull state.

The butler felt a big thud at his chest with his heart thumping so loud that he felt it beating up until his throat. The butler felt a pang in his chest as Deja vu comes in.

"You are just a butler."

.

"I don't even know your name."

.

Tsk.

Doubling the years and experience, the pain also hits harder than before, than the arrogant captain, than the young master's father.

Seeing this fine man grow from his tiny self to a man taller than his own father is like a father who is watching his silent child. Yes, not watching him silently, but rather watching the silent.

The butler laughed with tears while holding back the ninja dressed in black, whose fists are ready to charge at the face of the cold prince.

"I am really sorry, but the safety of my village is at stake. With or without your answer I'll be ending my service as your personal butler, here, young master Yunho." There was no sound of hesitation nor fear in his voice as the butler concluded the last piece of his speech.

The butler already readied his things and weaponry by his side, bidding the last, last, last goodbye, he'll be giving to the Jeong family, particularly to Jeong Yunho of Gwangju.

"This is not right."

"I'm really sorry, young master Yunho."

Yunho avoids the contact the butler wanted to share with him with such fury. It's not that he wanted company, but who would talk to his maids and other butlers when he needed it? He hates interaction and the head butler is the only person he talks to except for Mingi who is outside the mansion.

But is that really the reason?

Is Yunho really not craving any love and care?

What about the remedies?

Who would make those goods?

What if the remedies experience shortage and this unknown illness became worst?

Yunho had those thoughts loud in his mind but sealed in his mouth. It was nerve-racking for him.

"About your remedies, I told John Suh about it, young master. He is my trusted right hand so there won't be any problems with your self-being." 

Even with the silent shout of Yunho's thoughts, The butler could decipher it even with the dullest or the angriest face his young master has. That is the special thing he acquired for over 19 years of looking out for his young master.

Yunho never had a long conversation with any of the authorities inside the mansion, except for the 

"Here is your breakfast/lunch/dinner young master" or "Alright, Mr. Jeong.". Yunho never called them by their names, and addressed them by the word "you". Yunho never shared contact with any of them. Yunho only did that to one person...

But Yunho didn't want any of this, this is not right, he feels so "victim" in a way wherein no one can understand.

He locked the strands of his dark curls in between his fingers and started screaming like a mad man. Everyone was alarmed, even with the same scenario repeated for 15 years. It's like a year adds to his life, also adds pain to his heart, that every scream of a mixture of sadness, fear, anxiety, and anger just swallows him deeper in the lava of hatred, abuse, and loneliness.

It was so sad to witness the authorities living inside the mansion, but what do they do, Yunho doesn't even care about them, much worse, knows their names.

The butler was already at the edge of the cliff named helping, but for him, it was better to leave and not give him empathy with regret. He needs to do his duty, but now, the duty is not about that silent kid, it is now for the safety of his fellow villagers of Iga.

"I am really sorry, Yunho..."

There, the doors went open, welcoming the same soft moonlight from the outside, and again was covered,

With sorrowful darkness as the front door closes.

It felt like Deja vu. For the butler? Yes. Even for Yunho.

"So long, my young master."

"Jeong Yunho."

"No, Shinta!"