By Zephyria 
Jeil Heon’s Corruption Level had once again crossed the Critical Point.
The transformation of a Bearer generally follows the nature of the Aberration mixed within them. The Aberration mixed into Jeil Heon had lost its reason as it went mad, which actually lowered its danger level, but until then, it had been a fox demon evaluated at the Catastrophe Grade. Not only that, it was an entity that could not soothe its extreme hunger even while incessantly devouring humans. If Jeil Heon, of all people, were to become an Aberration without going mad, what would be born? The mere thought of it was chilling.
All available Enforcement Division Agents were mobilized. Due to the large-scale movement of troops, the police were contacted to control traffic around Pilgyeongdang.
An agent analyzing the screen transmitted by a drone swallowed hard.
“Not just the Corruption Level, but human body temperature is also being detected via thermal imaging. The body temperature is abnormally high.”
That meant he was still wearing a human shell. …And Ji-hwan had not exploded either.
The time for deliberation was short. Leaving behind warnings that it was dangerous, Kang Suk-young entered Pilgyeongdang at the head of the agents. As the Enforcement Division agent opened the door, a wave of heat, like a sauna, rushed out. It was only then that the fishy scent of blood could be smelled.
Jeil Heon lay collapsed on the floor, where blood had pooled deeply. Where his skin touched the ground, blood sizzled and evaporated; more blood fell from him than could evaporate, and as soon as the blood fell, the flesh repeatedly healed itself.
Outside an Aberrant Realm, a Bearer’s recovery ability is significantly diminished. Such an abnormal recovery speed proved that he had stepped beyond the realm of humans. At the same time, Kang Suk-young saw that the blood flowing from his body was red, just like a human’s.
“…Sunbae, it’s me.”
The curled-up face barely managed to tilt upward. Pupils slit vertically like a beast’s emitted a vivid light. Kang Suk-young reacted with deliberate exaggeration.
“Fuck. What’s up with this guy’s eyes?”
「…….」
The thinly parted lips moved slowly, but no human voice emerged from within. Long, sharp fangs were glimpsed between the lips.
“I’m curious if a tail will grow on your ass, Sunbae, but I don’t actually want to see it. I’ll give you the restraints, so put them on yourself.”
Kang Suk-young threw a bracelet-shaped restraint, a Refinement, next to Jeil Heon’s face. It was a Tool used for isolation, but if worn voluntarily, like Ji-hwan did, it exerted a more powerful deterrent. Of course, an Aberration driven to the point of isolation never voluntarily wears a Refinement to obey a human.
Though she didn’t show it, Kang Suk-young was tense, as were the agents aiming their guns. Depending on this single action, they would determine whether to treat him as an Aberration and act hostile, or judge that some humanity still existed and take him into custody.
The time it took for Jeil Heon’s hand to reach out, staggering over the pool of blood, flowed agonizingly slow. Only after the crisp sound of the Refinement clicking into place did Kang Suk-young finally manage to exhale.
The contamination that had been radiating outward was gathered back inside Jeil Heon, and the agents helped him up with polite gestures. Staggering as if he had exhausted even the strength to walk on two feet, Jeil Heon whispered in a low, growling tone as he passed by Kang Suk-young.
「…Please. Don’t contact Jiha.」
Naturally, Kang Suk-young had no intention of granting his request. When there was a means to stabilize Jeil Heon immediately, why would she not use it? He was likely worried about the mental shock Yoo Jiha would receive, but why should she care? To Kang Suk-young, Jeil Heon—as both a teacher and a Sunbae—was far more precious than whatever shock the boy might suffer.
As soon as she returned to the Management Bureau and finished the preliminary procedures to isolate Jeil Heon, she called Yoo Jiha.
Hello?
However, upon hearing that pure voice, completely unaware of the current situation, Kang Suk-young realized. Jeil Heon did not want this innocence to know his true nature and be defiled.
Kang Suk-young, who had intended to summon Yoo Jiha to the Management Bureau immediately, had no choice but to end the call after merely requesting a phone contact.
Even while knowing what agony Jeil Heon would suffer without Yoo Jiha.
Even after he had barely managed to put on the Refinement and be isolated with the sliver of reason he was weakly clinging to, Jeil Heon could not easily be freed from the pain.
Then, a sound was heard.
It was a phone ringtone. An idol song that didn’t suit him at all. A ringtone that the child had changed for him, saying, ‘I’ll set the calls I make to this sound, so make sure you don’t get confused and answer,’ unable to stand the bland default tone.
The child was calling. His shoulders heaved violently. He wanted to answer. He wanted to hear the voice. He craved the voice calling him ‘Ahjussi.’ But he must not answer. The ringtone, which had sounded for a long time, stopped. It rang again. It stopped. It rang again.
Kang Suk-young answered the phone for him and held it to his ear.
Ahjussi, did I call while you were busy? Should I call back later?
Ah.
The searing pain that had been burning through his entire body quickly subsided. The hunger vanished as if being washed away, and his twisted five senses were corrected. His voice, which had been closer to a beast’s growl, returned, and his consciousness became vividly clear.
He became human again.
“…Jiha?”
Only this child allows him to live as a human.
The short call ended quickly, and Jeil Heon simply let out heavy breaths, lying collapsed on the floor.
“Want one? It’s a tasteless cigarette that you hate, Sunbae.”
“…Yes.”
Kang Suk-young, who had been crouching beside him, put a cigarette in her mouth, lit it, and handed it over. Jeil Heon blankly puffed on the cigarette she held to his lips.
“Isn’t it about time you honestly told me what your relationship with Yoo Jiha is? Until right before you answered the phone, you were nothing more than an Aberration in human form.”
“…Suk-ja. Can it still be called love if it harbors a selfish heart?”
“Are you going to spout that nonsense about love creating miracles again?”
Kang Suk-young grumbled as she took out a new cigarette. For a while, only two streams of cigarette smoke rose toward the ceiling in silence.
“I re-examined you this time, and there’s no difference from the exam you had right after leaving the Aberrant Realm. Sunbae, your physical growth and aging have completely stopped, right?”
“Yes.”
“Damn, you hid it so well until now, yet you admit it so readily. You’re stable now thanks to Yoo Jiha, but no matter how long that kid lives, he’ll die before you, who doesn’t even age. What are you going to do after that?”
“I don’t know… Maybe I’ll become an anomaly that cooperates with the Management Bureau and just lounge around like an unemployed person…”
“Unemployed my ass. I’ll shove you into a research lab.”
Muttering words she didn’t mean mixed with curses, Kang Suk-young stood up.
“You don’t need food, right? I’ll put in plenty of power banks, so make sure you answer Yoo Jiha’s calls. I’m already getting a headache because of the Ten Thousand Waves Flute, so stop making me worry.”
“Have you still not found the next Sealed One?”
“If it were up to me, I’d want to snap that damn flute in half.”
Following the sound of the door closing, the isolation room soon became quiet. Jeil Heon took his eyes off the fireproof ceiling and walls and closed them.
Jiha. Perhaps there was a way to protect you secretly from behind without being close to you. Even if I turned into an Aberration, the light that is you would not fade within me.
But I wanted to be by your side. I wanted to have your time, by the side of you who had grown up safely. I wanted the more than 17 years of your time that I could not enjoy. As a human, not an anomaly, I missed your voice, your gaze, and your smile directed at me with the clear trust of childhood.
My selfishness has committed a sin against you.
Is this, too, love?
Do I dare give the name of love to this hideous selfishness?
The child returned to Pilgyeongdang earlier than his vacation schedule. The reason he couldn’t answer the phone was that he had been fallen into a deep sleep. Since the day before yesterday, he had even eaten a small amount. Like a human. As the short calls continued and as he touched the child, Jeil Heon was reconstructed as a human.
“Ahjussi!” At the smile and the welcoming voice, the depths of his Heart’s Depths writhed longingly, like a surging hunger. Jeil Heon still could not give a new name to this thing that had discarded its name.
As the second semester began, the child became very busy. There were more days when he went to work alone, but it was okay. He knew that when he returned home, the child would be waiting for him.
However, the one who had changed was the child. Unlike him, who remained stagnant, unable to take a single step since the day he was rejected, the child was already taking new steps forward.