By Zephyria Sa-young, who had been caressing the prominent shoulder blades and back muscles, took his hand away and tapped the arm that was embracing him. Eui-jae slowly released his hold. Sa-young picked up the mask that had fallen to the floor and handed it over.
“Sorry for dropping it, Hyung.”
“It’s fine. It was made by a madman, so it must be sturdy.”
Eui-jae dusted off the mask. The face that had looked like it was about to cry had already regained its usual cool expression. Should I have watched a little longer? Sa-young ignored the rising regret and watched as the red-tinged eyes disappeared under the black mask. He wanted to touch him a little more, but there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Sa-young glanced at the door where the light was coming in and said.
“Let’s go, Hyung.”
“Don’t you need to investigate more? This place seems quite large.”
The distorted voice asked. He savored each syllable. How much he had missed this voice. Sa-young smiled, narrowing his eyes with his hands behind his back.
“Well… the investigation is already over. Seo Min-gi took the data.”
“What about the remaining data?”
“I left it on purpose. For you to see, Hyung.”
Sa-young reached out and touched Eui-jae’s finger as if urging him. But he didn’t move. Sa-young stared silently at the black mask. It seemed like he had something to say. After a long silence, Eui-jae asked.
“The story isn’t over yet.”
“……”
“What kind of experiment did you undergo? How did you end up being dragged there?”
“……”
“How did Prometheus take you from the hospital….”
Crack, the sound of grinding teeth was heard from behind the mask. Even though it was an expected question, there was no sense of accomplishment in guessing correctly. He just felt sorry. Cha Eui-jae is kind and upright. To the point of being foolish.
‘He doesn’t even know that his kindness is eating away at his life….’
Sa-young, who had been silent, lowered his eyes. Long eyelashes fluttered. He intertwined his gloved fingers with Eui-jae’s. The firm hand flinched. Sa-young lowered his head and muttered.
“I don’t want to talk about it here. That’s….”
“……”
“Can’t I tell you later? Hyung.”
Eui-jae didn’t answer. Instead, he firmly grabbed Sa-young’s hand with his strong hand. The other hand wrapped around the back of his head. Stroking his hair soothingly, the distorted voice said in a gentle tone.
“Okay, tell me later. Let’s go.”
Sa-young closed his eyes, feeling the hand gently stroking his hair. Giving an answer that was completely different from what he was thinking.
“Okay.”
No.
“I will….”
This is a story you don’t need to know.
A week later. The Hanover Soup Restaurant at dinner time was as crowded as ever.
People managed to squeeze into the narrow seats, and people lined up in front of the kimchi and side dish automatic self-service bar. The Mana Stone embedded in the kimchi and side dish automatic self-service bar sparkled and endlessly spat out kimchi into the empty bowls. Hands were raised everywhere.
“Two Hangover Soups here!”
“Yes, just a moment.”
“Excuse me! Can I take out soju?”
“Take out only one bottle. I saw you drinking one bottle earlier.”
“Our part-timer’s eyes have gotten better since he became a Hunter.”
The Hunter who got up from his seat grumbled and headed for the commercial refrigerator. He chose an inefficient method of going around the tables instead of going straight, and the reason was clear.
“……”
Because Gas mask was sitting with his legs crossed at the next table.
Perhaps Lee Sa-young had developed a conscience. Unlike in the past when he occupied the central table, he took a seat in the corner where the entire store could be seen. The problem was that it wasn’t just a day or two, but he had been stamping his attendance every day for some time.
The regulars were furious. Isn’t the 2nd ranked in Korea busy? Why is he stamping his attendance at the Hangover Soup Restaurant instead of the Wave Guild! And they desperately looked at the part-timer. With all their hearts, they wanted him to kick that guy out. Because the absolute power in this Hangover Soup Restaurant was the part-timer.
But the part-timer, Cha Eui-jae, who would have said something in the past, was quiet even in the face of this outrage. Instead of confronting him with a ladle, he even exchanged eye contact with Gas mask as he came and went. Gas mask also waved his hand whenever he received eye contact.
‘That’ part-timer and ‘that’ Lee Sa-young!
Who is Lee Sa-young? Wasn’t he the most unwelcome guest? How could he be so friendly to him?
“Ah, I can’t stand to watch.”
Clang! The chopsticks pierced the exact center of the diced radish. Three people were sitting around the green table. Bae Won-woo, who had already emptied two earthenware pots, Team Leader Han, whose glasses were covered in steam, and Honeybee, who was tormenting the innocent diced radish.
Hoo, Honeybee, who took a short breath, turned to Bae Won-woo with a fierce look.
“Shield Guy, tell me honestly.”
“Ah, don’t call me by that name. What is it?”
Honeybee shouted in a low voice.
“What did your Guild Leader do?”
Bae Won-woo rolled his eyes while diligently mixing rice into the soup. There were so many things he had done that he couldn’t figure it out. Eventually, Bae Won-woo, who gave up filtering, replied gloomily.
“It’s not like he’s only done one or two things… What exactly are you talking about?”
“Please don’t pretend you don’t know and tell me honestly. Didn’t we agree among ourselves behind the store?”
Team Leader Han also pushed up his cloudy glasses and chimed in.
“This situation is a violation of the agreement no matter how you look at it. Cha Eui-jae is quiet without saying anything even though the Wave Guild Leader is interfering with business like that. What kind of conditions did he offer behind the scenes?”
“What conditions?”
“He must have offered to rebuild the Hangover Soup Restaurant or something.”
“Oh, what kind of conspiracy theory is this?”
“What on earth happened between the two of them that they’re like that….”
“Ah, I’m telling you, I don’t know….”
While Team Leader Han started to argue, Honeybee glanced at Lee Sa-young. Lee Sa-young was not only waving his hand, but now he was making a flower pose with both hands and observing every action of the part-timer.
‘What is he doing?’
The moment Honeybee pretended to vomit, their eyes met. Lee Sa-young folded the hand that was making the flower pose and raised only his middle finger high. His skill in cursing while making a flower pose was top-notch.
Not to be outdone, Honeybee raised her middle fingers with both hands in return. But that was only for a moment, when the part-timer came out of the kitchen, the black hand instantly reverted from a curse to a flower. Honeybee leaned her cheek crookedly and watched them.
The part-timer with a tray on his side approached Lee Sa-young. The two began to talk quietly. There was nothing special about the conversation. Should I give you a bowl of Hangover Soup, are you okay, when do you finish work? It was a normal conversation like that. But the part-timer was smiling softly, which was rare.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile like that….’
A short laugh burst out. The atmosphere was different only where the two were. Honeybee pouted and watched them. What on earth happened that they became so inseparable?
But that was only for a moment, her bright brown eyes narrowed. The sharp senses that had saved her several times were telling her. There was something hidden inside the kind shell. Don’t be fooled by that appearance.
Honeybee blinked. What was hidden under the smiling profile….
‘Tension…?’
11:53 PM. It was well past the quitting time, and even though the date would change soon, the office of Field Response Team 1 of the Awakened Management Bureau was brightly lit. There were almost no empty seats. Since the team leader himself was sitting at his seat with his head in his hands, other people couldn’t get up easily.
From the beginning, they couldn’t even think about leaving work. Because the entire Awakened Management Bureau was on emergency alert.
‘A Hunter belonging to the Awakened Management Bureau was replaced, leaving only the shell.’
It was an unprecedented situation that had occurred for the first time since its establishment. It was certain that it was the work of Prometheus, but they didn’t even know when or how he was switched. Since there was not even a clue, they couldn’t properly conduct an investigation. Fortunately, Lee Sa-young processed one research facility and sent the data….
“Hoo….”
There was no proper information there either. Only a mountain of experimental records that needed to be checked were piled up.
Another long sigh burst out. The Hunters sitting in their seats shrugged their shoulders slightly. The team leader of Field Response Team 1, Jung-bin, was holding his hands together as if praying, and his forehead was resting on them.
With his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the face of the man who always had a gentle smile was full of worries. A long scar remained on his right arm where the cast had been removed.
Then, the cell phone rang. Jung-bin groped for the cell phone without looking and immediately pressed the call button. He rattled off a mechanical response in a tired voice.
“Yes, this is Jung-bin, the team leader of Field Response Team 1 of the Awakened Management Bureau. What’s the matter?”
“Jung-bin.”
A strangely distorted voice. It was a little different from the voice in his memory, but the way he called him was very familiar. He felt like the hair on the back of his neck was standing on end.
“Can I talk to you for a moment? I have something to say.”
A polite but somehow cocky tone. As far as Jung-bin knew, there was only one person like this. As if to drive a wedge into it, a strange voice flowed out.
“Ah, it’s J. Just in case you’re confused.”