DB Vol 4 Part 9
He might change his mind again after experiencing the famous cold of the North this coming winter, but this solitary leisure, enjoyed without anyone’s interference, was exactly what he had wanted. However, as they say, every blessing has a price. The joy of peace did not last long.
“The ramen is soggy.”
The guest who had come to visit Sang-cheon delivered a harsh critique while looking at the ramen Sang-cheon had personally boiled and served.
“Why are there so many green onions, and why are the eggs like this?”
Hey, then don’t eat it! Sang-cheon barely suppressed the urge to scream. The owner of this safe house was that damn bastard in front of him. To be precise, it belonged to the Gye Family, but since that damn bastard was the Vice Head, he held a certain amount of stake.
Sang-cheon was wealthy, with nearly ten billion won in his bank account, but out of conscience and timidness, he couldn’t spend a single penny of it. That was why it was hard for him to leave a living space he had obtained for free. Because of this pathetic reason, he asked the homeowner with as much patience as possible.
“Then should I just eat it all?”
“Are you a pig?”
It wasn’t even a severe insult, but it was incredibly wounding to his pride. While Sang-cheon trembled, Gye Yoon picked up his chopsticks and slurped the ramen loudly. Judging by the appetizing way he ate, he looked like the person who loved soggy ramen most in the world.
With a mind toward achieving enlightenment, Sang-cheon glared at him once and then grabbed his own chopsticks. Gye Yoon had appeared out of nowhere just as Sang-cheon had boiled his own portion of ramen because he was hungry. Then, looking at the ramen, he had shamelessly demanded:
‘Me too.’
Because he had to boil ramen for Gye Yoon, Sang-cheon’s own ramen had bloated like udon. And yet, he was complaining just because his unauthorized copyown ramen was a bit Read on Read BL Novelssoggy. Sang-cheon thought he might become more human after receiving guiding from Won-woo and having his pain decrease, but he was still as rude as ever.
Sigh, that brute. Sang-cheon shook his head inwardly, clutching his stomach which was aching from hunger. It was just as he lifted a mouthful of ramen—which still made his mouth water despite being bloated—that it happened.
Clack!
Suddenly, Gye Yoon set his chopsticks down on the table with a loud noise and glared at them. What? What’s wrong? Did he chew on an eggshell by any chance? Wondering if he had made a mistake, Sang-cheon asked cautiously, gauging Gye Yoon’s mood.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
Contrary to his answer, he had already emptied almost all the noodles in just a few bites. Sang-cheon’s expression soured, but the uninvited guest with no appetite only let out a deep sigh. He looked as if he had some serious worry, so Sang-cheon looked at him gravely. Between his sudden appearance and everything else, could something have happened to Won-woo? Sang-cheon, who was the incarnation of a worry-doll, lowered his voice again.
“Is something bad happening with Won-woo-nim?”
“What are you calling me, mister?”
“No. It’s not that, but…”
“Nothing bad is happening. If anything… it’s more like things are good.”
The added mutter sounded somewhat lacking in confidence, but Sang-cheon was just relieved that Won-woo was doing well for now. Then why was that brute sighing like a man with worries? Sang-cheon tilted his head and asked again.
“Is the situation at the Gye Family bad?”
“It’s good.”
“No other problems?”
“Mister. Do you want my family to collapse? Why don’t you just pour out some curses?”
At the arrogant remark, Sang-cheon decided to transform from a worry-doll into a curse-doll, just as he’d suggested. If nothing else, he would definitely curse this brat. He decided to ignore the guest and the brute and just eat his ramen. Indeed, he hadn’t even had a single spoonful of broth yet.
However, just as he lifted the noodles with his chopsticks to put them in his mouth, a question followed. He had no intention of entertaining anything Gye Yoon said, but this time, things didn’t go as planned. The question was too absurd.
“Mister, have you ever had guiding sex?”
Sang-cheon froze with the noodles suspended in mid-air and looked at the other man. Noticing Sang-cheon’s eyes shaking in shock, Gye Yoon raised an eyebrow.
“You haven’t?”
Do you think I have? Sang-cheon was so appalled that he couldn’t even speak properly. He just wondered if the kid had gone crazy. He was neither an Esper nor a Guide, so how on earth would he have had guiding sex?
“How could I do that?”
When he finally managed to utter the fact, Gye Yoon tilted his head to the side.
“What have you been doing with your life up to this age?”
I boiled ramen for you, you brat! Sang-cheon set his chopsticks down with a clack and took a deep breath to avoid getting angry at the homeowner.
“You’ve never had guiding sex either, have you? Right?”
Gye Yoon shifted his gaze silently. Sang-cheon, wondering what was happening, observed him. Was there a problem with guiding sex? But guiding was only possible with Won-woo-nim anyway… Huh?
“No you can’t, you thief!!”
With a clatter, Sang-cheon stood up from his chair and shouted, pointing his finger at Gye Yoon.
“How dare you have guiding sex with Won-woo-nim!!”
“I haven’t yet.”
“Ah, really?”
Sang-cheon paused as he sat back down, feeling awkward.
“Then you plan to in the future?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“No. I’m against it. Won-woo-nim is a hundred, a thousand times too good for you.”
Sang-cheon shouted his opposition, prepared to be kicked out, but the homeowner didn’t show any particular displeasure. Instead, the corners of his mouth curved silently as if he were pleased. That made Sang-cheon’s skin crawl even more. It looked as if he were happy after confirming that his prey was of high value.
“Look, I don’t know why you suddenly asked about guiding sex, but…”
“I was curious about how Guides feel.”
“Well, I heard Guides enjoy it too. They say if you have sex while guiding, sensitivity increases, so the pleasure increases along with it. No, that’s not what I meant!”
When Sang-cheon, who possessed a wealth of random knowledge, answered instinctively, Gye Yoon’s eyes gleamed.
“Are you sure?”
“…No, I’m lying.”
“Then I’ll just have to work harder.”
As a pleasant determination appeared on Gye Yoon’s face, Sang-cheon’s anxiety grew.
“I said no, no. Guides actually become like stones. I’m telling you, they feel no pleasure at all. And what exactly are you planning to work hard at?”
“Everything.”
Everything what? Whether he knew Sang-cheon was worrying in front of his soggy ramen or nostolen [stolen content]contentt, Gye Yoon muttered lowly.
“I need to go into a rampage as quickly as possible.”
Bullshit, total bullshit. Sang-cheon was deeply worried about the future of the North. What on earth is inside this crazy bastard’s head?
“…Did you come to see me today to tell me about your rampage plan?”
“No. Ji Won-woo told me to pass a message to you.”
“What? What message?”
“He’s going to do something important soon, and he wants you to provide backup.”
So, what is that important thing?
“He’s going to wake up the monsters in the Yang and Hong family farms to cause a commotion. He wants you to hack the CCTV and monitor it.”
Me? A shocked Sang-cheon froze with his mouth open, then blinked.
“If your skills aren’t up to it, don’t do it.”
“No, my skills are certain. Well, if you just give me some time to prepare…”
Gye Yoon nodded as if telling him not to worry about that.
“You have time.”
Really? For CCTV, some places will probably use an intranet, so there are places where I’ll have to tap the lines directly, and I’ll need to investigate the geographical conditions and internal personnel, so I’ll need at least a month…
“I’ll give you three days.”
…Excuse me?
“You’re executing it in four days?”
Seo-na spoke for the first time after hearing the explanation of the situation in the small conference room where the Head of the Gye Family was. Min, the general secretary, Chief Jung, and Won-woo were also present. It was said that within the Gye Family, only Gye Yoon and these people knew about this plan.
Waking up monsters. For an Esper, it was a terrible operation that betrayed one’s conscience, but fortunately, she was not such a conscientious person. Since she had already heard that chaos had been caused in the North using Mutant Seeds from below, she thought it was actually a decent operation. However, since she preferred precision, she wanted to clearly address any parts that felt slightly off.
“Is the information that Ji Geun-oh will scatter the Mutant Seeds in four days certain?”
“No. We only grasped that it would be around then. However, we have definitely confirmed who the person scattering the Mutant Seeds is. It’s the spatial teleportation Esper of the Yang Family.”
The one who answered was Chief Jung. Seo-na looked at him and asked again.
“Weren’t we planning to move in accordance with the other side causing chaos in the North?”
“That’s correct. But the chaos doesn’t necessarily have to be created by them.”
Seo-na frowned, trying to grasp his words, then nodded with an ‘ah’.
“You intend to capture the Yang Family’s spatial teleportation Esper in advance.”
“Yes. What they want is chaos in the North, so we just need to make it look that way. It’s easier to control if we create it ourselves.”
Seo-na asked a few more questions about the operation, and the conversation continued with Chief Jung and the general secretary primarily answering. However, Min was watching Won-woo more than the conversation. He had been focusing on a certain document for a while.
Before today’s meeting, Won-woo had requested a separate investigation into certain Guides, and the material in his hand was exactly that. He looked through the data meticulously, tilting his head at first, and later his eyes turned serious.
“What’s strange?”
At Min’s sudden words, Seo-na, the general secretary, and Chief Jung, who were discussing the operation, stopped talking and looked back at Won-woo. Won-woo, still unable to take his eyes off the documents, spoke slowly.
“Yes. It’s a bit strange. All the Guides I asked to investigate have either had ambiguous whereabouts since nine years ago or are mostly listed as deceased.”
“That’s right.”
“I wonder what on earth happened nine years ago?”
Suddenly, the room fell silent. When Won-woo looked up in curiosity, Min answered in a cold voice.
“Nine years ago, my parents, the previous head of the Gye Family, passed away due to a rampage. Most of the Guides belonging to the Gye [unauthorized copy]Family also died or disappeared.”
The misfortune of the Gye Family, known to everyone, flowed out indifferently. At those words, Won-woo muttered ‘nine years’ and asked again.
“Why nine years ago?”
“I don’t know why, but there was one person who suddenly changed as if they were a different person back then.”
“Who is it?”
Min’s eyes held a murderous intent as she thought of that person, but she spoke the name normally.
“Yang Cheon-hyo.”
“A person changed?”
Yoon-im had actually agonized until the end about whether she should bring up Won-woo’s story while coming to meet Yang Cheon-hyo. The only thing Yang Cheon-hyo cared about was his partner, Ji Geun-oh. His goal of taking over the Yang Family was also intended to spend time with Ji Geun-oh without anyone’s interference and put the power he desired into his hands.
In a way, it was truly romantic, but because the foundation of that romance was the pleasure of guiding sex, those who knew the circumstances found this love disgusting. However, Yoon-im was a bit different. Whether Yang Cheon-hyo regarded his father as merely a living dildo or not, she could tolerate and support anything as long as it helped solidify her own position.
Therefore, she tried her best not to offend Yang Cheon-hyo. In particular, he hated wasting time on useless stories. That was why she was cautious even while reporting about Won-woo.
If it hadn’t been for Geon-young, whom she met here, she might have hesitated until the end and not said anything. But once she actually told the story, Yang Cheon-hyo’s reaction was unexpected.
“Changed as if they were a completely different person?”
He asked again to confirm. When Yoon-im nodded, Yang Cheon-hyo reached out his hand. Yoon-im froze for a moment, but soon obediently placed her head slightly under the hand he extended. Then, a strong grip painfully seized Yoon-im’s head.
As a psychic ability user, Yang Cheon-hyo could manipulate people’s thoughts, and the effect was much better when his hand touched the head directly. That was why he moved his hand directly when hearing an important truth. Naturally, no one could refuse that command.
“Tell me properly. Without lies.”
During this process, the person whose head was grabbed writhed in agony from the pain.
“Ugh, gasp! Ch-Chairman… please… aaagh!”
Yoon-im groaned, clenching her teeth. Soon after, in a pleading tone, she poured out all the facts she had heard. When no more words came from Yoon-im, Yang Cheon-hyo let go and pushed her head away strongly. Yoon-im, who was pushed back so far she almost fell over, quickly regained her posture and tidied her disheveled hair with an expressionless face, as if she were used to it.
“Fuck, if everyone who met Ji Won-woo said with one voice that he changed, you should have reported it in advance.”
His voice growled low, as if boiling. While wondering why he cared so much, Yoon-im observed him sharply. She had never heard the reason why he had suddenly changed nine years ago. Therefore, she thought that if someone similar appeared this time, she might find out the reason.
“Is there something about Won-woo’s change that concerns you?”
“Concerns me? Ha.”
Yang Cheon-hyo spat out irritably along with a curse.
“The problem is that the bastard happens to be a Guide.”
Yang Cheon-hyo. Won-woo nodded, as if everything had been solved by this one name. The question regarding the list he had been viewing. Min, noticing this keenly, asked.
“Who exactly are the Guides on that list?”
Won-woo looked down at the list in silence before speaking.
“People who might be the same as me.”
Not here, but in the original world, they were the same. The same Purifiers. However, in this world, all of them had been listed as dead or missing since nine years ago. It was as if someone had intentionally disposed of everyone who had the potential to become a Purifiers.
“Changing into a completely different person? That’s impossible unless you are reborn.”
The person who had changed more than anyone else claimed this. That’s why Yoon-im felt more doubt at Yang Cheon-hyo’s words. Why was he so certain? As if he himself were a reborn person.
“I heard he miraculously survived the monster Farm. There is a possibility he changed after experiencing death.”
At Yoon-im’s words, Yang Cheon-hyo frowned and threw out an unexpected question.
“What about the old man?”
The old man. It was a term referring to Family Head Yang, who had been so inactive that rumors circulated that he might be dead.
“I received a report this morning that he is always the same.”
“Are you sure?”
At the sharp question, Yoon-im nodded firmly. If nothing else, she could answer this one thing with confidence. It was a task Yang Cheon-hyo had entrusted to her as a top priority, but it was also something Yoon-im considered most important. Yoon-im didn’t know exactly where the Family Head was or what he looked like, but she received reports every day from the person guarding him.
“Yes. I am sure.”
“Still the same?”
“Yes.”
Only after confirming twice did Yang Cheon-hyo release the tension in his brow and lean comfortably back into the sofa. Then he muttered words with an unknown meaning.
“Then he hasn’t crossed over.”
Crossed over from where? Who? Won-woo? Yoon-im had many questions, but irritation was beginning to show in Yang Cheon-hyo’s eyes.
“No. Still, I have to check. The meal is practically cooked now; I can’t let a trivial mistake throw ashes on it.”
Yang Cheon-hyo revealed his anxiety by clicking the tips of his well-manicured long nails together. He sometimes failed to hide his anxiety even in front of his subordinate, Yoon-im.
Ji Geun-oh, who had known him for a long time, had once mocked Yang Cheon-hyo for being a coward who trembled like a child over trivial matters. Yoon-im agreed with this to some extent. No matter how much a psychic ability user’s physical strength might drop, how could he take over the Yang Family while staying shut inside the house like this?
Meanwhile, his vigilance only increased, and Yoon-im’s workload always multiplied. But this time it was a bit much. To Read on Read BL [stolen content]NovelsEND: Read on Read BL Novels -->move Family Head Oh just for the sake of Won-woo. It was excessive compared to the situation.
“One week. If you can’t find him within that time, contact Family Head Oh and tell him to find Ji Won-woo.”
He’s going to call the Oh Family? Although the condition of one week was attached, Yoon-im barely suppressed her desire to oppose it. The Oh Family had been loyal to the Yang Family for a long time, but they were not well-known to the public. This was because Family Head Oh, who led the family, hated facing people, so they lived with their doors closed to the point of being reclusive. However, the ability he possessed was excellent for tracking something.
The problem was that he only followed the orders of Family Head Yang. Yoon-im didn’t know what method Yang Cheon-hyo had used, but he had brought such a Family Head Oh to his knees. This also happened exactly nine years ago. Since then, Family Head Oh had been working secretly under Yang Cheon-hyo’s instructions.
However, since Family Head Oh had not fully given his heart to Yang Cheon-hyo, Yang Cheon-hyo was also cautious in using him. As far as Yoon-im knew, the last time he had moved was several years ago.
Yang Cheon-hyo had been desperate to capture specific Guides as much as he wanted to take over the Yang Family, and in cases where even skilled trackers couldn’t find them, Family Head Oh eventually stepped in. But to use that precious card now just to find Won-woo.
“Since the Ji Family managed Won-woo in the first place, I believe the Ji Family should take responsibility until the end.”
“The person in charge is lying in the hospital like a living corpse.”
Yoon-im’s expression stiffened for a moment as she thought of her eldest brother, but she replied calmly.
“As you know, Seong-hyeon is temporarily in charge of the Guide Center. However, he hasn’t even been able to properly handle the simple task of finding one person. That said, Father will be getting busier with the People’s Committee, so he won’t be able to oversee the Guide Center.”
Yoon-im paused to hide her nervousness, then added naturally.
“If it’s alright, I would like to help with the work at the Guide Center.”
“No.”
Yang Cheon-hyo rejected her flatly. Yoon-im’s eyes wavered, but Yang Cheon-hyo remained focused on looking down at his well-maintained long fingernails, picking away a piece of debris from the tip.
“Your role is to be my hands and ears within the Yang family. Focus only on that until I have completely taken control of the Yang family.”
In the past, Yoon-im would have given up her persistence and agreed, but a strange sense of unpleasantness pushed her forward.
“I am already doing my part sufficiently. There is no reason I would neglect the Yang family’s affairs just because I take on some of the work at the Guide Center…”
“That’s why I told you to take care of what you already have.”
Yang Cheon-hyo looked up, showing his irritation.
“Leave the Guide Center to Seong-hyeon. He’s doing fine, so why the hell are you stepping in?”
Only then could Yoon-im guess the reason for her unpleasantness. He’s sleeping with Seong-hyeon. No, even if he didn’t go as far as sex because he was mindful of her father, he must have engaged in the acts that follow. When did that happen? She wondered, but realized it was meaningless.
Ji Geun-oh had been throwing parties every day recently due to the People’s Committee work. And the one who took charge of that was Ji Seong-hyeon. As the saying goes, even a slug has its tricks; Seong-hyeon knew better than anyone how to play. Approaching people through those means was his specialty.
Dong-hyeon, who had previously been in charge of the Guide Center, was rigid and only did things by the book, so he never dared to approach someone like Yang Cheon-hyo, her father’s counterpart. But Seong-hyeon seemed to be entirely different.
Yoon-im realized that no matter how much she used her head behind the scenes, met people, and strove to build trust over a long period, she could not beat a brother who approached through alcohol and pleasure in just a few days. Even in this state, fearing that Yang Cheon-hyo would dislike it if she showed her emotions, Yoon-im bowed her head slightly. Then, a slightly softened, soothing voice reached her.
“Seong-hyeon hasn’t been in charge of the Guide Center for long. He’s bound to be clumsy since it’s his first time. Wouldn’t [stolen contentRead on Read BL Novelsstyle="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]it be great if you took over Ji Won-woo’s matter and helped your brother? This is all for your sake. You know, right? In the end, I will leave the Yang family to your son, who carries the blood of the Ji family.”
“Thank you.”
When Yoon-im answered obediently, Yang Cheon-hyo looked at her expressionlessly once before returning his gaze to his nails.
‘Do I really have to hide my identity to this extent?’
In the original world, Won-woo’s identity was considered highly confidential, so he had once asked a high-ranking official this question. The answer was simple: the fewer people who know a secret, the higher its utility.
‘There are still many psychic Espers over there. Those who know your identity could become targets and be sacrificed. In war, the goal is to save even one more person on our side, and that leads to victory.’
“People who might be like you?”
At the sharp voice, Won-woo snapped out of his thoughts and looked around, his gaze stopping on the Head of the Gye Family.
“People who awakened like me and surpassed the rank of a Guide.”
Won-woo is already like a monster, and there are others like that? Everyone looked at Won-woo in surprise.
“How do such people come to exist? And does this mean they aren’t here now? Why?”
When no answer came from Won-woo for a moment, Min calmed her excitement.
“If it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to.”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just that it’s a story that’s hard to believe.”
Won-woo shook his head and immediately stated the fact.
“There are many people like me. At least in the world I came from.”
What does that mean? As the people stood there dumbfounded, Won-woo added a brief explanation.
“I came from another dimension, likely a parallel world. A world where everyone here lived exactly the same. However, the situation over there is completely different from here. There were many Guides who awakened new abilities like me, and they were called Purifiers. The position of Espers was also different from here. Well, very different. Because a war broke out between Espers and Anti-Espers.”
Still, no one responded. Won-woo gave them a small smile.
“I told you. It’s a story that’s hard to believe.”
“Yes. Indeed. I don’t believe it at all.”
Chief Jung barely managed to respond, sounding appalled. Following him, Min’s cold voice was heard.
“Why did you tell us a story that’s unbelievable so readily?”
Seo-na, being an outsider, frowned slightly, wondering if the Head of the Gye Family was picking a fight, but upon Won-woo’s following answer, she realized it was a question that hit the nail on the head.
“Because I think I’ve found evidence.”
Won-woo tapped the list of Guides with his finger.
“Everyone on this list was a Purifier in my world. Later, the identity of Purifiers became classified for protection, but the people I wrote down were already known to the world. They are people who had been active for that long.”
Won-woo’s explanation didn’t continue, but anyone could deduce what came next. There is someone else who knows that list. As if they crossed over from another dimension, just like Won-woo. And a certain person came to everyone’s mind. ‘Like Won-woo.’ The answer was in those words. A person who had changed into someone else.
“Yang Cheon-hyo.”
Min spat out the name as if chewing it. No one knew why Ji Geun-oh had suddenly betrayed the previous Head of the Gye Family. They had only found out through investigation that Yang Cheon-hyo had been manipulating things from behind Ji Geun-oh.
However, even after investigating for a long time, nothing came up regarding why Yang Cheon-hyo wanted to destroy the Gye Family. But what if the reason wasn’t in this world? Min suddenly remembered one of Won-woo’s statements.
“You said there was a war in your world? Which side was the Gye Family on?”
At Min’s question, everyone except Won-woo looked at her with puzzled eyes. Could she actually believe Ji Won-woo’s words? Even if there were commonalities in the list, the suspicion that Yang Cheon-hyo was from another world had not yet been firmly verified.
Honestly, even Seo-na couldn’t believe Won-woo’s words. Moreover, it was absurd to ask which side the Esper-led Gye Family was on. But Min was staring intensely, as if Won-woo’s upcoming answer was the solution to a long-standing, unresolved grievance. Won-woo looked at her quietly before opening his mouth.
“They were on the side of the Anti-Espers.”
“Ji Won-woo-ssi.”
When Won-woo left the Gye Family’s room, Chief Jung, who had come out with him, called him. unauthorized [visit our site]copycopy -->Since only the general secretary remained in Min’s room, Seo-na, who had also come out, looked back at Chief Jung.
“I cannot believe your words, Ji Won-woo-ssi.”
Chief Jung spoke honestly, yet left a small possibility open.
“However, I do not know all the laws of the world. Therefore, from now on, I will act on the assumption that your words are correct. But if it turns out everything was a lie, no matter how great a benefactor you are to the Gye Family, I will make you pay the price.”
Before Won-woo could nod in acknowledgment, Seo-na stepped forward and spoke to Chief Jung.
“I guess you’re only a ‘great benefactor’ in words. Seeing as you’re threatening him like that.”
Chief Jung bowed to Won-woo as an apology, but his determined eyes shone firmly. Looking at him, Won-woo became curious for a moment. Did this person survive in the world Won-woo lived in? No, he felt that this person probably died along with the Gye Family. That’s why he wasn’t angry.
“It’s alright. It was a story that no one would believe. Still, don’t worry. There will be no reason for you to demand a price from me.”
Chief Jung looked as if he had much to say, but he pressed his lips firmly shut and barely managed to bring up one thing.
“Why did you tell us something that no one could believe? No, forget it. It must have been a necessary story to explain the situation.”
“Not necessarily.”
Won-woo tilted his head with an ambiguous smile.
“I thought that if I shared a secret, you would be able to keep it.”
“Keep what?”
“My side. I have to save everyone.”
Chief Jung froze in surprise, forgetting to even blink. Seo-na felt she could somewhat understand Chief Jung’s feelings. Anyone would wonder ‘Why?’ upon suddenly being told they are on someone’s side. However, Seo-na had already harbored that same question toward Won-woo before. Why did he help me?
“Did you know me in your original world?”
At the thoughtless question, it was clearly visible that Won-woo’s eyes wavered. Seo-na felt a sense of surprise and her eyes widened. Won-woo was slowly nodding.
“Yes. I worked with Han Seo-na-ssi.”
“Was I… on the side of the Anti-Espers?”
After asking, Seo-na questioned herself. Well, I didn’t necessarily need to stand on the side of the Espers, did I? What did they ever do for me?
“No, you don’t have to answer. Either way, it feels good to know I was on the winning side.”
She didn’t see Won-woo’s gaze sink and tilted her head curiously. Then, remembering something, she asked Won-woo.
“Did you know Gye Yoon too?”
At this question, Chief Jung also pricked up his ears and looked back, curious. Won-woo kept his gaze in the [stolen content]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[visit our site]air and remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“No.”
When Gye Yoon returned to the main house, a lot of news awaited him. All of it was unbelievably surprising, yet it fit together so well that it couldn’t be dismissed as a mere lie. However, whether Won-woo came from another world or Yang Cheon-hyo came from hell, it didn’t matter to Gye Yoon. He was simply irritated that he was being hindered like this and couldn’t see him as soon as he arrived. However, it was hard to ignore Chief Jung, who followed him and chattered incessantly.
“Isn’t it surprising? Han Seo-na-ssi and Hwang Sang-cheon-ssi are being helped because they were acquaintances in the original world, but the Vice Head is being helped even though he wasn’t someone he knew.”
Gye Yoon stopped abruptly. He looked at the hallway expressionlessly for a moment and asked.
“He said he didn’t know me?”
Chief Jung nodded vigorously.
“Yes, he said he didn’t. If he had known you, there’s absolutely no way he would be helping the Vice Head in this world.”
Hah, Chief Jung was so surprised by his own words that he took a large step back. His true feelings had leaked out unconsciously.
“I said that meaning it’s a relief.”
He tried to fix it belatedly, but words once spilled cannot be taken back. He stepped back further, breaking into a cold sweat, fearing that the brute might start a sword dance, but Gye Yoon simply walked down the hallway with the same expressionless face. Only Chief Jung, left behind, blinked in surprise. Why is he acting like that?
Usually, people say rooftops are great because the view is far and the wind blows, but at least by Won-woo’s standards, the height didn’t matter much. As long as the surroundings were lower, it was fine. Then one could enjoy an open view and unobstructed wind.
In that sense, the Gye Family’s rooftop was one of Won-woo’s favorites. Even Won-woo, who prided himself as a rooftop expert, stolen content]aria-label="stolen content">stolen contenthad never seen a place so open in all directions that the horizon was visible. Moreover, it was well-decorated like a garden with trees, grass, and a pavilion.
Perhaps it was a place where Hwan-i often played, as there were play structures like a children’s slide and a swing. Since it was a place the Head of the Gye Family’s daughter visited, safety would have been carefully considered, but Won-woo did not forget his habit of scanning the surroundings like a meerkat.
Thus, he keenly noticed the sound of the iron door clanking open and someone stepping onto the rooftop. Since not just anyone could enter the rooftop, there were only a few people who could come. Won-woo had been granted access to the rooftop, but he did not raise his body, which was hidden between the railing and the trees. Instead, he slid further into the shade.
It was an instinctive action. The tension in his fingertips, ready to attack at any moment before confirming if the person was an ally, was a remnant of a long-standing habit. However, the opponent did not hide their presence or footsteps, making it obvious who they were. The sound of footsteps walking on the stone-paved floor approached Won-woo, step by step.
Even though he couldn’t see the person, Won-woo felt he could tell who the owner of that sound was. Perhaps it was just intuition. Small goosebumps rose on his skin as he became conscious of the opponent who hadn’t even arrived yet. This was completely different from the unpleasant, breathless tension felt when encountering an enemy.
Rather, his heartbeat quickened slightly. A delusional expectation spread—that the opponent might have searched the house for him and finally climbed up here. That’s why he couldn’t step out. He wanted to confirm if this misconception was correct. Won-woo had never felt such a wicked streak toward someone, so it felt awkward in a way. Realizing this, he felt a bit embarrassed and tried to step out of the shade, but a voice reached him first.
“I don’t really like it here.”
A soft, infinitely low, and attractive voice drew Won-woo in like the scent of a flower. As soon as Won-woo emerged from the shade, he saw him. He was perched on the edge of a flowerbed about the height of a child, looking at the sunset sky.
His face was expressionless, but the eyes looking at the sky were dark and sunken, making Won-woo hold his breath for a moment. No matter how different the face was, those eyes were truly the same as his. Belatedly, Gye Yoon looked back at the motionless Won-woo, and Won-woo approached and sat down beside him.
“Why don’t you like it?”
Fortunately, his startled heart calmed down quickly, allowing him to ask in an ordinary voice.
“Because it’s a place my family all liked. If I come here, I can meet my parents or my Noona.”
“Is it bad to meet them?”
“Nine times out of ten, I just get nagged.”
Won-woo cast his gaze toward the sunset with an ambiguous expression, unsure whether to laugh or not. Even without Won-woo’s response, the low voice continued the confession.
“Even aside from that, I’ve liked being alone since I was young. I made my own hideout in a place only I could go and made sure no one could enter. Because I hated the sound of people so much. I hated that I could hear sounds too well, so sometimes I wished I could just lose this ability and not hear anything at all.”
“….”
“Ah, there’s that look again.”
At Gye Yoon’s words, Won-woo stiffened his face and looked back at him.
“What look?”
“The look that says I’m pitiful and miserable.”
“You’re mistaken.”
When Won-woo coldly denied it, Gye Yoon asked back expressionlessly.
“Then how do you see me?”
“I don’t have any particular thoughts.”
As Won-woo shifted his gaze to the floor and tried to stand up, a large hand grabbed his. Unlike the act of interlocking fingers and gripping tightly, Gye Yoon’s voice was infinitely soft.
“Before, that answer annoyed me, but now it’s not bad.”
Gye Yoon turned his head and deliberately looked Won-woo straight in the eyes.
“As long as the emotions you occasionally project onto me aren’t directed at someone other than me.”
Won-woo knew he shouldn’t react, but he held his breath. He wanted to turn his gaze away from those eyes, but the low voice stopped him.
“No matter who it is, I cannot forgive you for looking at someone else through me.”
Won-woo knew he should answer ‘you’re mistaken’ this time as well, but his mouth wouldn’t open. Gye Yoon gripped Won-woo’s hand even tighter. The force was so strong it felt as if it would break, and a scream almost escaped. Even in the rapidly darkening vision, those dark, shining eyes were directed terrifyingly only at Won-woo.
For some reason, Won-woo felt a momentary chill. And as if reading that fleeting emotion, Gye Yoon twisted the corner of his mouth. Unlike the smile, his eyes did not laugh as he looked down at Won-woo as if to swallow him, muttering.
“Yes, it’s better that you’re afraid of me.”
No matter how much a Purifier was the natural enemy of an Esper, they didn’t always face them in peak condition, so preparation was necessary. Since they were no different from ordinary people, they could be injured, and they could be brought down by drugs spread by enemies, primarily through food.
Therefore, one of the training sessions for those joining the fight for the first time was how to cope if captured and tortured by the enemy. Won-woo had finally taken this training after delaying it repeatedly, thanks to an administrative staff member getting very angry. In the end, he was forced to endure the boring education.
‘If you are captured by the enemy and feel that you cannot endure style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[stolen content]the pain, just spill everything you know from the start.’
At the training instructor’s words, a few people in the room burst into absurd laughter, while others frowned in dissatisfaction. Perhaps because most of the trainees were ordinary people participating in the war, one person raised their hand and asked complainingly.
‘Is it really okay to just spill everything? Shouldn’t we hold out?’
Small laughter spread. The instructor shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
‘If you can endure it, go ahead. But in the end, you’ll end up telling them everything you know. So, for the individual, it’s better to reduce the pain as much as possible.’
‘But if you think about your allies, isn’t it better to endure it?’
‘Correct. It’s better for us if you endure. But the person being tortured will eventually die, and it’s miserable to die in agony.’
Everyone was puzzled by one of the instructor’s remarks.
‘Eventually die? Do you mean they die because they can’t withstand the torture?’
‘That could happen, but the moment an allied soldier is captured, we execute a plan for total annihilation, not rescue. Because the only way to protect the secrets a soldier will eventually spill under torture is to kill everyone.’
Silence fell among the trainees. Someone raised their hand again and asked.
‘Are you saying we kill our own side?’
‘Yes, to save more of our allies.’
‘Even so, you’re saying we ruthlessly discard comrades we fought alongside? No matter how much of a war it is, no place treats its own allies as consumables like this.’
‘Then go somewhere else.’
‘…….’
‘The people gathered here are here to win the war, even if it means becoming consumables.’
Silence fell once more. Then, another person asked.
‘Then doesn’t it matter whether they endure the torture or not? If they’re going to die as consumables anyway.’
‘No. It does matter. If they endure the torture, they buy that much more time for their allies.’
And then, the instructor’s earnest training began. How to endure torture. According to the instructor, people surprisingly endure physical pain well. He said it was psychological factors that broke a person. The instructor described this as a hairline crack in a solid wall. What creates that crack is not the pain of having fingernails pulled out or being branded with fire, but the hidden past that the enemy drags out.
Won-woo felt as if he could hear that hairline crack snapping wide open inside him right now. He was not afraid of Espers due to his long history of fighting. He had always exercised and developed his fighting skills to compensate for the physical weaknesses shared with ordinary people. Therefore, he had been confident that even if captured by the enemy, he could be a consumable that endured.
But now, he couldn’t pull his hand away from the Esper’s grip. Gye Yoon wasn’t even using his abilities. If he had used his abilities, Won-woo would have reflexively drained the opponent’s energy and broken him, but he was using no ability at all, simply holding Won-woo’s hand tightly.
However, it felt as if Won-woo’s past—his sole guilt, which Gye Yoon had ruthlessly dragged out—was exposed in its rawest form, leaving him at a loss. He couldn’t hide the emotions leaking through the hairline crack in the solid wall.
Instinctively wanting to escape, Won-woo tried to pull his hand away, but the other man wouldn’t our site">visit our sitelet go. Instead, he forcibly lifted the hand and pressed his lips against the back of Won-woo’s hand. Yet, his eyes persistently held Won-woo’s gaze.
“Does it hurt?”
He asked while holding the hand he had gripped tightly, but he didn’t loosen his strength. However, his voice was sweet, almost tender. Since Won-woo’s lips were still frozen shut, he flicked out his tongue and licked the back of Won-woo’s hand. A shiver shot through Won-woo’s mind like a warning light.
“Let go if it looks like it hurts.”
Fortunately, a proper voice came out. But his eyes might still have been shaking. That was why Won-woo felt a strange sense of shame as he looked into those black eyes capturing him. He felt anxious, as if the other man was piercing through his current instability.
“What if I let go and you run away?”
“Why would I run away?”
Since his voice was still fine, Won-woo tried to put strength into his eyes, bluffing. He attempted to pull his hand away again, but the difference in strength was overwhelmingly helpless.
“Because you’re afraid of me?”
He lifted his head and smiled again. But because his eyes remained expressionless, Won-woo tensed up once more. Part of that tension was self-loathing. He was a pathetic coward. To avoid acting like a fool in front of Gye Yoon, he should have honestly confessed his past and admitted his mistakes, but he couldn’t.
“I’m not afraid.”
“Then you’re running away because you hate me?”
The flat murmur made Won-woo feel a chill.
“You talk very strangely. I don’t hate you, and I’m not going to run away. Just let go of my hand.”
“You said you don’t hate me.”
“I don’t like you either. And it hurts.”
“If it hurts, I want to let go even less.”
As Won-woo frowned, amusement finally spread through Gye Yoon’s previously expressionless eyes.
“Because if it hurts, you’ll develop some kind of emotion toward me.”
“…….”
“Still, I won’t make it hurt too much.”
This time, he loosened his grip slightly. However, knowing that if he pulled his hand away now, he would just be caught again, he remained unable to move.
“What if I end up hating you, Gye Yoon-ssi?”
“What if I say it doesn’t matter as long as I get my hands on you, Won-woo-ssi?”
At the dry response, Won-woo lost his words and stared at him. Won-woo didn’t know his own expression, but he thought [visit our siteclass="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">visit our site]he might have revealed visit our sitea momentary flinch. The cruel light in Gye Yoon’s eyes, which had been fixed on Won-woo, vanished. Then, he lowered his gaze to the hand. He gently stroked the back of Won-woo’s hand with his other hand, letting out a soft voice.
“I’m joking. Don’t be nervous.”
Gye Yoon even smiled, but to Won-woo, it looked like a lie. Still, he didn’t have the courage to maintain this tension and press for the truth. He just wanted to run away for a moment. He felt that way even more because he was the biggest fool in this situation. Won-woo also looked down at his own hand caught between the two.
“My hand is going to wear out.”
He sighed and grumbled. When there was no response, he looked up to find the man smiling silently. It seemed Won-woo’s reaction had pleased him.
Because his eyes reflected the sunset, the emotions contained within them were visible with an almost burdensome clarity. As if he liked Won-woo even more for not running away and talking back. For a moment, Won-woo regretted it. Should he have acted like a coward and said that the other’s words were creepy and scary? Then, a proposal filled with amusement reached him.
“I’ll let go if you give me somewhere else.”
Somewhere else? Won-woo immediately frowned, thinking of a body part Gye Yoon could hold instead of his hand.
“My foot?”
“……Your lips.”
Ah, lips. He must have meant touching his lips. Well, he didn’t say ‘hold.’ Lips were a surprising part, but he figured it was better than a foot. Feet are a bit… you know? They aren’t washed, and they’re damp from being trapped in shoes all day. As Won-woo felt a strange sense of relief, a voice mixed with laughter was heard.
“Actually, I thought you’d think of your genitals.”
Won-woo’s eyes widened.
“Unless I’m crazy, why would I just dangle my genitals out in the rooftop garden and hand them over to someone else?”
Unlike the appalled Won-woo, Gye Yoon burst out laughing the moment he heard it. It was funny to imagine the situation, but Won-woo, the party who would be giving up his genitals, was serious.
“You saw me as too much of a pervert.”
“No, it’s not that… hahaha, ah, damn it.”
Gye Yoon found it hard to stop laughing once he started, even bending his waist before finally calming down. However, the remnants of laughter remained on his face, and his eyes sparkled as he looked at Won-woo.
“Since that’s where you have the strongest reaction when I touch you, I thought you’d think of it first.”
“Maybe it’s because the place with the strongest reaction in my body isn’t my genitals.”
The smile slowly vanished from Gye Yoon’s face. Won-woo observed with curiosity the heat that suddenly filled the other’s eyes. The deepened color of those eyes told him what he was thinking. Won-woo felt as if he were stripped naked and spreading his legs in front of him. The gaze looking at Won-woo became thick with desire. His low voice asked.
“Where is it?”
Won-woo didn’t give the answer, wanting to be spiteful for no reason.
“It’s not my feet.”
Fortunately, perhaps because of the pleasant memory from a moment ago, Gye Yoon didn’t grow impatient with the desire occupying him. While the conversation continued calmly on the [unauthorized copy]surface, he seemed [visit our site]style="position:absolute;left:-9999px;font-size:0;">[visit our site]to want to enjoy this precarious dialogue, like walking a tightrope, a bit more. Thus, a playful smile played on his lips.
“But I do like feet.”
“No, I hate it.”
“Are lips okay, then?”
Won-woo looked at the other’s lips for a moment, then slightly lifted his gaze to meet his eyes. Perhaps the courage that had retreated had returned along with the lightened atmosphere, as he was able to respond in an indifferent voice.
“Based on experience, it wasn’t bad.”
“Your scoring is stingy.”
“I can’t just do it half-heartedly, can I?”
Though he spoke informally in return, Gye Yoon seemed to enjoy it even more, showing his teeth in a smile. Won-woo felt he should back off here. Conversation with Gye Yoon was like riding a rollercoaster—unstable yet exciting.
Gye Yoon was now holding his hand loosely, but Won-woo didn’t think about pulling it away. He had simply grown accustomed to being held. Pull your hand away, stop the conversation. A sense of vigilance rose, but it was hard to give up those eyes full of pleasure. Because those eyes were sparkling entirely because of him.
“It seems a lot of practice will be needed.”
Gye Yoon spoke slowly and tilted his head to the side. With his gaze fixed on Won-woo’s lips as if he were about to kiss him, he asked.
“Can I suck it?”
At the unexpectedly suggestive word, Won-woo asked reflexively.
“Where?”
Gye Yoon’s lips curved silently again. He thought, He’s smiling too much today, but first, he had to handle the words he had just uttered. Won-woo added, trying to sound nonchalant, as if it were a joke.
“Ah, I know you’re not talking about sucking my feet.”
“Can I suck your cock?”
“…….”
“I won’t do it half-heartedly. Just let me hear your sounds properly.”
Before he had even given permission, Gye Yoon stood up and attempted to kneel in front of Won-woo. Startled, Won-woo tried to jump up from his seat, but Gye Yoon pulled the hand he was still holding. As soon as Won-woo sat back down, Gye Yoon crawled on his knees and dove between Won-woo’s legs.
A flustered Won-woo tried to push his shoulder away, but he didn’t budge, like a concrete pillar. Contrary to his solid body, he stroked Won-woo’s thigh with a ticklish touch. Although it was a touch over the trousers, a chilly shiver spread down to his lower abdomen.
“We have to test it, don’t we?”
Gye Yoon threw out an excuse as if providing a breathing hole. Thus, Won-woo’s hand, which had been trying to push him away, hesitated. When he looked down, their eyes met as if they had been waiting.
“I’m confident I can do it well.”
Contrary to his calm tone, his gaze was intense, as if it would devour Won-woo. Perhaps because of that, although the change in perspective from him moving down meant Won-woo was looking down at him, he didn’t feel like he held the upper hand.
It was strange. He had never been swept away by anyone, but with Gye Yoon, he couldn’t even be firm, and he felt as if he were being dragged along exactly as the other wanted. Pathetically, this didn’t hurt his pride.
His voice, constantly demanding and wanting him, felt as if it were filling Won-woo’s thirst. Like cold water filling a well that had completely dried up after everyone died and he was left alone, euphoria rippled.
That was why it was hard to shake off this temptation this time as well. But some reason still remained. He was aware of where he was. As Won-woo looked around the quiet rooftop garden, a sweet proposal reached him.
“Shall we move?”
Gye Yoon’s touch moved slowly between his thighs. Won-woo inhaled sharply and tightened his grip on the other’s shoulder. Yes, it’s a test. Using a crude excuse as a shield, Won-woo leaned his head toward him.
“It’s dark, so what…”
Before their lips touched, Won-woo whispered to him.
“First, make mine stand up.”
-Continued in Volume 5-
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