By Zephyria 
“So, how have you been lately?”
After staring outside for a moment, Park Young-chan quietly asked about his recent wellbeing.
Mu-hae almost gave him a look of surprise, but then realized that since returning to the defense force, he had rarely spoken with him privately.
They exchanged pleasantries whenever they crossed paths, of course. But he had never gone out of his way to start a conversation outside of class.
Neither he nor Mu-hae were the chatty types, and besides, just as Mu-hae did, Park Young-chan had been getting his news through Joo-oh.
“Nothing much. It’s been peaceful, which is nice.”
“That really is the best.”
“…….”
“…….”
When it came down to it, they had nothing to talk about outside of work and training.
Mu-hae quietly stared at the back of Joo-oh’s head. Sensing the gaze, Joo-oh whipped his head around and, with a beaming smile, called out to Park Young-chan.
“Is Dada-bu doing well?”
“Huh? Ah… yes, I left him in my room.”
“Did you eat Fruit Tornado?”
“Ah, um. It was sweet.”
“Which one did you get? Purple? Green? Blue?”
“Pink.”
“Same as mine. But the one I gave you is handsomer, right?”
‘What a complete waste of breath.’
However, if it could melt the awkward atmosphere, Mu-hae didn’t mind listening to anything, whether it was tinkle friends or a medley of candy names.
He gathered the glittering plastic trash into his bag and checked the map. He felt as if the planned destinations were appearing vividly before his eyes.
Jin Mu-hae felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity with himself and clenched and unclenched his hands several times.
Barely a year ago, he had been nothing more than a mercenary. A laboring machine that carried out assigned requests and never let any other thoughts enter his head.
Every time a plausible plan emerged from a mind he thought had long since hardened, it felt refreshing. He found himself repeatedly confirming the footprints he had left behind.
“We’re here. Let’s get out.”
The car came to a smooth stop as soon as they reached the first point. After admiring the new model of the Hover Car, whose engine noise had faded to almost nothing, Mu-hae was the first to open the door.
“Um, I don’t mean to rush you, but is it really necessary to plan the route yourself?”
Park Young-chan asked cautiously while packing his things. Mu-hae walked ahead without answering.
Of course it was necessary. Not for Park Young-chan, but for Mu-hae. He swallowed the words he had no intention of uttering and gestured, and Joo-oh nimbly followed.
By now, Joo-oh skillfully listened for distant sounds even without specific instructions. Only after a nod—a signal that it was okay—did the three of them begin their rugged outing.
“Jin Mu-hae is smart.”
Joo-oh suddenly muttered, a familiar emotion blooming in his eyes. As Mu-hae casually measured the path where the Hover Car could travel without issue, he murmured dismissively:
“Don’t take pictures.”
“Che.”
Only Park Young-chan, not understanding what they were talking about, looked slightly bewildered.
“Jin Mu-hae. The terrain has changed.”
“If it’s that way… it must have collapsed during the last rain.”
“Go around?”
“Exclude it entirely.”
Perhaps it was because he had gained some experience, but he and Joo-oh communicated quite well regarding mercenary work.
Whenever Joo-oh spoke without even pointing, Mu-hae understood immediately and adjusted the plan. Just by hooking a wire to the tip of a tree, Joo-oh checked the condition of the ground without even asking a question.
Somehow, Park Young-chan was the only one left out, drifting on the periphery. He was clearly trying his best to understand the information being exchanged.
“Bird.”
“Pardon?”
Snap!
At the third point, Park Young-chan stumbled forward as a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
Near the wild grass where he was about to step, a bird with a long black beak fluttered away. Visible between the yellowed, dried leaves was a piece of red flesh. It was a chick whose feathers hadn’t fully grown.
The mother bird was circling around the chick that had fallen from the nest to protect it. Judging by the mutated appearance of its feathers, if he had stepped closer, it would have pecked out his eyes or his head.
“This… shouldn’t be a bird that comes out this far to breed.”
“The environment changes frequently starting from that valley. Even by Company standards, records from a week ago likely haven’t been updated yet, so once you cross the designated zone, you must observe the surroundings broadly.”
Jin Mu-hae added a formal explanation as he leaped across the rocks. He felt a bit disappointed that he couldn’t set a more stable route through here.
Perhaps hearing a click of the tongue, Joo-oh subtly shifted direction. While Park Young-chan’s gaze was diverted, Joo-oh licked his hand and rubbed it against a tree.
Rattle, the rough bark fell away, revealing white flesh underneath.
“Jin Mu-hae.”
“What.”
“You can put this in now.”
What did you do? Mu-hae barely managed to swallow the question. He scanned Joo-oh with suspicious eyes before tapping his Link Watch.
He had probably done something, but as long as Joo-oh said it was fine, it was fine. This was a rule he had followed and trusted even when he didn’t know Joo-oh’s true identity.
Of course, it was a decision difficult to explain to others, so he ignored Park Young-chan’s questioning look.
From that moment, his calm mood felt a bit uplifted. The thought that he was the only one who understood Joo-oh’s words and actions to this extent.
Damn it. Anyone watching would think he was someone who lived and died by the other’s reactions.
A slight frown creased his expressionless face.
“Hold on.”
“I can jump on my own.”
“If water splashes, you’re the one washing the clothes.”
“Then I’ll hold on.”
Um… can I move by stepping there? The question he couldn’t ask, pushed aside by the atmosphere, lingered in Park Young-chan’s head.
Splat. Behind the two of them chatting amiably, he shook his wet clothes with a weary face.
‘Based on the data I just sent, you can slot in the external schedule on the third day. I will organize and send any additional items after returning home, so please contact me if there are any parts you don’t understand.’
Unlike the initial expectation of half a day, the journey poking around the vicinity of Goryeo City ended in less than five hours.
As expected, the difficulty of traveling with a seasoned defense member versus a civilian with zero combat ability was entirely different.
He declined the offer to be escorted all the way to Jaegang District and parted ways with Park Young-chan at a small stop. Though he wasn’t keen on it, he bought a few hot dogs there and handed them to Joo-oh, who was sniffing the air.
By the time he returned home, showered, checked his equipment, tidied up, sent the emails, and cleaned, it was suddenly 9 PM. Meanwhile, Joo-oh, despite having swallowed the hot dogs, was ravenous and munching loudly on crackers.
They began a late dinner with a pile of sandwiches bought on the way back. They were meat sandwiches that had been held in Joo-oh’s hand for a long time.
Around the time Mu-hae had finished half a sandwich and Joo-oh had finished two, vrrr— his left wrist vibrated.
[Instructor Jin, did you get home safely? This is Member Park Young-chan. Thank you very much for taking such precious time out of your busy schedule. I have checked the files you sent and utilized them as you advised. Furthermore, I apologize for contacting you so late, but I have something to tell you, so I inevitably….]
“He talks too much.”
“Who? Park Young-chan? Park Young-chan doesn’t talk much.”
Ignoring the voice that cut in despite knowing nothing, Mu-hae skimmed through the long-winded introduction and expressions of gratitude.
Finally, in the middle of the message, which was as heavy as a brick, he found the main point sent despite the rudeness of the timing.
[…I did not mention Instructor Jin’s name, but his father suddenly asked me to ask the Instructor if he would have time.]
Of course. Mu-hae’s lips curled up slightly at the desired content. He had left those traces for exactly this reason. There was no way that cunning old man wouldn’t have noticed.
Did he prepare it immediately upon returning? He thought a response would come tomorrow or the day after, even if they were in a hurry, but he hadn’t expected to be contacted before a single day had passed.
“That was fast.”
“Jin Mu-hae is faster.”
The fellow added another comment without even knowing what was going on. Slorp, he sucked on a sauce-covered finger.
Staring at those chewing red lips, Mu-hae somehow felt annoyed and replied curtly.
“I’m not fast.”
“You are.”
“I said I’m not.”
Seeing the guy tilt his head, Mu-hae wondered what he was doing and quickly stopped.
“I’m going to see Park Tae-sun.”
“When?”
“Probably the day after tomorrow. You wait here.”
“……Why?”
It was a meeting to indirectly make a suspicious request to an old man who was difficult to deal with. No matter how good Joo-oh’s impression was, it felt wrong to bring him along.
Of course, he didn’t intend to leave him at home entirely. Wasn’t this guy someone who acted as if something terrible would happen if they were separated?
If he sat him down in a restaurant or cafe and only stepped away during the actual contact, it would probably end with Joo-oh just feeling a bit discouraged and sad for a moment.
“I’m coming in with you.”
“No.”
“See Park Tae-sun together.”
“I’ll buy you something delicious instead, so eat it nearby.”
It was a fairly plausible proposal, but it didn’t seem like it would work. Joo-oh, who had been eating the sandwich with a bright smile until then, suddenly stopped chewing and stared at Mu-hae.
An inexplicable anxiety and urgency surged in those red eyes. For a moment, he felt a chill so sharp it made the back of his neck prickle.
“I don’t need to eat. I’m going to be with Jin Mu-hae.”
“Then don’t eat and just wait. It won’t take long.”
“I won’t wait. If you leave me behind, I’ll follow you.”
The guy, who had passed the stage of just drooling and following him and was now capable of some compromise, was stubbornly insisting to an odd degree.
“I’ll drool.”
“Are you crazy?”
“I’ll break the chair.”
Contrary to the moronic words, the air floating around his neck was stifling and ominous.
As Mu-hae frowned, clutching his thumping heart, those fierce red eyes drooped sadly.