By Zephyria 
The hunger that had been surging violently due to emotional turmoil calmed slightly just by thinking of the child. Jeil Heon gauged the twenty-two years he had lost against the child who had grown up safely. A child who had grown with a heart so upright that he worried for the well-being of others even while trapped in an Aberrant Realm. The bright smile blooming on that face.
It was enough. That was all that mattered.
It was a fair price. Even as he thought so, his hands felt empty, aching for the things he had missed and lost. No, had he not lost everything? Jeil Heon bit the inside of his lip to suppress the hunger and murmured.
Jiha.
You really are all I have left.
* * *
A few days had passed since the vacant duty room was given to Jeil Heon. During that time, Jeil Heon had not once stepped outside the room, and the contamination levels measured from the outside remained unchanged. This meant that, at the very least, he had not mutated or played any tricks inside.
Kang Suk-young gave a bitter smile at the reality that she had come to doubt a Sunbae she once trusted enough to entrust her life with, and then she knocked.
“Sunbae, it’s me. It’s time to go.”
Jeil Heon emerged from the duty room and greeted her as usual, as if the security personnel—who were tense and wary of him—were invisible.
“Looking sharp. Did you shave?”
“I don’t know whose it was, but there was a disposable razor.”
“And here I thought there was no longer any need for me to shave my beard or clip my nails.”
A tense atmosphere flowed among the security staff at his blatant probing, but Jeil Heon calmly pointed inside.
“I figured you’d think that, so I left traces of the shaving. Tell them to check it later, Suk-ja.”
“My grandfather just passed away, so I changed my name. Call me Kang Suk-young from now on.”
“Why change a good name that cost a lot of money to pick?”
“If you were me, would you like a name like Jeil-sik?”
“I can’t change mine because my cousin’s name is Jeil-sik.”
Unlike the peaceful appearance of the two engaging in light conversation as they walked, the corridor they headed down was empty, with only the muzzles of the security officers’ guns following behind them.
The headquarters of the Water Abnormality Worship Management Bureau occupied a vast area on the outskirts of Seoul. To reach the entrance, the car Yoo Jiha was in had to pass through the vehicle recognition system five times.
Assistant Manager Jang guided Yoo Jiha to a place called the Measurement Center. He explained that on the surface, they measured the contamination levels of the entire country to search for victims who had entered Aberrant Realms, and underground, they measured the contamination levels of Aberrations or Contaminated Entities generated within Aberrant Realms.
“The central headquarters is basically safe because there is a barrier that rejects the contamination of anomalies, including Aberrations, but there are gaps. Rarely, there are Aberrations capable of concealing their contamination levels, and there are times when an Aberration that entered with the barrier’s permission goes berserk.”
“…!”
Yoo Jiha’s pupils trembled as he recalled item number five of the visitor’s guidelines.
“Even so, the security department will handle it before it ever reaches the ears of a guest like you, so as long as you don’t let reckless courage lead you to ditch me and wander off alone, you’ll be fine.”
“Do I have to go with you even to the restroom?”
“I will accompany you to the door. Returning to the explanation, if we get help from the person who maintains the barrier, a more precise measurement of contamination is possible. As it happened, that person was absent previously, so we are only now measur—”
Before Assistant Manager Jang could finish his sentence, the door opened, and the face of a young child appeared.
“You have arrived already. Have I kept you waiting?”
While Yoo Jiha doubted his ears at the sudden historical drama speech, a sight followed that made him doubt his eyes. Assistant Manager Jang bowed his waist a full ninety degrees to the child.
“I hope Your Highness has been in good health and spirits.”
Seeing the rigid greeting of a corporate employee, item number four of the guidelines came to mind. There was indeed a mention to treat the child, who looked to be in the lower grades of elementary school, with politeness, but was there anything about using historical drama speech?
If possible, he wanted to hide behind Assistant Manager Jang, but the child was already directing a gaze full of curiosity toward him.
“Is this the one my Lord requested?”
“Uh, yes, that… I am Yoo Jiha, I mean, I am.”
He didn’t exactly understand what was being said, but he guessed based on the context.
“A Yoo… What is your clan’s seat?”
“Excuse me?”
“He is asking for your ancestral home.”
“Ah, my, my ancestral home! I am of the Musong Yoo clan, I am.”
After barely managing to answer thanks to Assistant Manager Jang’s whisper, the child stroked his chin with satisfaction. It was a gesture as if he were stroking a beard that didn’t exist.
“So you are a descendant of Lord Chungjeol (Yoo Geum-pil, the famous general of Goryeo and founder of the Musong Yoo clan). It was a pity that no one of great distinction emerged from the Musong Yoo house in our dynasty, but I am gratified that our paths have crossed here.”
Who is Lord Chungjeol?
The atmosphere felt as if he should perform a full prostration in gratitude for the kind words, but the child in historical speech held out his hand like a Westerner. While he was shaking hands in a daze, a light knock was heard.
Before Yoo Jiha could brighten up at the sight of Jeil Heon’s face appearing through the opening door, the child ran toward him.
“Head of Department Je!”
Unlike the child who had been acting poised and leisurely, he now displayed a loud excitement. Jeil Heon’s eyes widened slightly, then he naturally switched to historical drama speech.
“Has your imperial body been in peace?”
“In such a safe place, how could I have been harmed! And you, are you well? Where have you been for twenty-two years!”
It didn’t seem particularly surprising that a child of about ten years old seemed close with Jeil Heon, who had gone missing twenty-two years ago. More than that, he had been worried because he heard Jeil Heon was being treated as an Aberration, but he was relieved that his movements weren’t restricted by handcuffs or similar means. Though he did like bondage play…
Kang Suk-young, who had been observing silently with a sharp gaze, bowed to the child.
“Your Highness, I understand your desire to share your feelings, but perhaps it would be best to move first? I shall escort you.”
“One must not delay official business. Lead the way, Director Kang.”
Yoo Jiha ended up trudging along, unable to even properly exchange a nod with Jeil Heon. He signaled to Assistant Manager Jang with his eyes to ask who that child was, but the manager ignored him. Is his name ‘Your Highness’? No, since he’s using historical speech, he wouldn’t be called by his name… It must be a title, but he couldn’t quite recall who exactly was addressed as ‘Your Highness’ (Jaga).
Upon entering the corridor, he saw security personnel, who hadn’t been there before, waiting in full gear. It wasn’t an atmosphere of protection. It was one of vigilance. The corner of his heart, which had been relieved to see Jeil Heon unrestrained, turned cold again.
The distance to the destination wasn’t long. In the center of a large room, a complex pattern mixed with Chinese characters was engraved, and security personnel surrounded it. At the edges, people in white coats, looking like researchers, were adjusting equipment.
During a brief lull in the final preparations, Jeil Heon approached him first.
“Jiha. Does your ankle still hurt?”
“It’s completely fine now.”
“Did you not miss me during that time?”
“Not at all.”
Determined not to be teased this time, he attempted a counterattack, but the man instead gave a bright smile. As if he couldn’t feel the gun muzzles pointed at his back even at this moment.
“Mister was very lonely because he missed Jiha so much. It’s so good to see you in person.”
“….”
Yoo Jiha’s lips parted blankly. He didn’t know how to respond. Since the man was very playful, he thought this too must be a joke, but his mind went blank. Only that smile, blooming brightly like a flower, lingered distantly.
Just as he was barely recalling the term ‘honey trap,’ a voice announced that preparations were complete. He startled and regained his composure.
“Do… do you not need your comfort doll?”
“Right, I called you here to hold my hand.”
Jeil Heon grabbed Yoo Jiha’s awkwardly raised hand and interlaced their fingers. Then, he shook it lightly up and down.
“I’m holding your hand.”
The playful whisper tickled his ear. For some reason, it felt childish, and his cheeks flushed, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.
Of course, others who saw the sight did not feel the same.
“Sunbae, just get the measurement done already.”
“You only use formal language when you really want to swear at me.”
“If you know that, then shut up and come here.”
“I’ll be back, Jiha.”
Giving a final squeeze to their interlaced hands, Jeil Heon walked toward the center. Yoo Jiha followed with an anxious gaze, clutching the lukewarm warmth remaining on his palm. What if it’s proven that he’s really not human?
As Jeil Heon stood upon the central pattern, an eerie silence descended upon the room. In a silence so tense that one could almost hear a pin drop, the child spoke.
“We shall begin.”