By Zephyria 
Since it was the long-awaited day of the sortie, it wasn’t the time to dawdle. Besides, Kwon Rae-i was already dressed.
He was wearing a black turtleneck that came up to his neck, with a leather jacket layered over it. His pants were also black, and he was wearing gloves to cover his hands, so that no skin was exposed. And on the table over there, there was even a black motorcycle helmet.
“It’s 4:32. PM.”
“You were waiting for me to wake up? You could have just woken me up.”
“I did wake you up.”
“Is that so.”
Tae-hwon jumped lightly in place and shook his body. Only then did Kwon Rae-i regain his smile. He smiled as if relieved and approached Tae-hwon, hugging him tightly from behind. He felt a heavy weight and a feeling of being squeezed all over.
“So, how are you? Are you ready?”
He held Tae-hwon and checked his intentions again.
“You don’t have to go if it’s too hard, Tae-hwon. A new safe house has been prepared, too.”
“…”
“Just hide there for a while. I’ll take care of Kwon Hyeon-oh and the old men quickly and come back. Huh?”
“No.”
Tae-hwon shook his head. He thought to himself that he should change the bandages and replied.
“Are you going to stay away at a time like this? I’m going with you.”
“Are you really going to be okay with that?”
“Of course, I’ll be a burden. I’m not confident that I’ll be an asset. But…”
Tae-hwon released his arms, turned around, and faced Kwon Rae-i. The expression reflected in his blue-gray eyes was firm. The hesitation had disappeared from Tae-hwon’s black eyes. He looked straight ahead with a determined gaze.
“I have to trust.”
“Tae-hwon.”
“You, and me.”
In fact, Woo Tae-hwon was also worried. Whether it was the right choice to face Kwon Hyeon-oh again.
He was worried about what would happen if his memories came back when he saw him again, and what would happen if the bomb in his head exploded in the middle of a fierce battle and he became a disastrous hindrance. But it wasn’t something that could be solved by holing up and avoiding it forever.
“Rae-i, you gave me confidence. That you would hold onto me no matter what happened. That even if my memories came back, you wouldn’t give up on me and would be with me until the end.”
Therefore, Woo Tae-hwon also had to make a decision.
“You held onto me, who was hesitating and wavering. With your own hands. So I have to take on the resolve.”
What will happen to Woo Tae-hwon when he faces Kwon Hyeon-oh again?
What will happen to Woo Tae-hwon when he faces the conflict between the Jeun Faction and the Gyeongjeong Faction?
Nothing has been revealed yet. There is only endless anxiety and fear. The unknown terror crawls up from his toes and gnaws at his mind. So, he had to take action before he became even more terrified.
“I’ll entrust myself to you. Take me with you.”
After all, this was just the beginning.
Once the war with the Gyeongjeong Faction began in earnest, there would be many more battles like this. There would be countless fierce battles, and he couldn’t ignore them all. Woo Tae-hwon had no intention of throwing only Kwon Rae-i into the jaws of death and holing up in a safe corner.
Tae-hwon had to move forward. To the future.
“I’ll try.”
Woo Tae-hwon is a hard worker. He had to try his best.
“I can move without getting in the way. I can follow any instructions. I’m good at manual labor. I’m confident.”
“…”
“Besides, I have a debt to repay to Kwon Hyeon-oh. And Han-seon’s life…”
“…”
“So take me with you.”
Tae-hwon finished speaking, and silence fell in the room.
It was comfortable when they were kissing and sucking in the hotel room. Although his body was tired. He was able to forget everything by opening his eyes to the excitement and pleasure that came with dating and Dick. He thought it couldn’t be helped if he lost his judgment because he was completely out of his mind.
In fact, he could have stayed in Kwon Rae-i’s arms as a foolish simpleton.
He could have lived a good life, losing his memories, unable to use a knife, waiting quietly while the conflict between the Gyeongjeong and Jeun continued, locked in a Separate House with iron bars.
A safe prison. In it, he could date Kwon Rae-i, love him, and ignore and postpone everything else…
But in the end, he couldn’t do that. He shouldn’t have done that. Woo Tae-hwon couldn’t tolerate such a weak self. Above all, he couldn’t leave only Kwon Rae-i to face death. Even if he had to carry the danger on his back, he had to go out to die with him.
If the battlefield he went to with Kwon Rae-i was his grave, he would gladly throw himself into it.
“…I knew it.”
Kwon Rae-i muttered quietly after hearing all of his strong intentions.
Although it was barely noticeable, his voice contained a faint nostalgia and was trembling slightly.
“Woo Tae-hwon is really amazing.”
“What…?”
Tae-hwon asked cautiously. His reaction was unusual.
“Tae-hwon doesn’t break. Nothing can dare to defile that will.”
“…”
“It’s really amazing to be able to hold your head up and stand up for yourself even when you’re at the very bottom, in a difficult and miserable situation. I’ve seen countless people who easily kneel and become cowardly in the face of power and authority, so Tae-hwon shines even more.”
“…”
“It’s always been like that. You don’t get any benefit, and you’re only going to be treated unfairly, but if you think it’s right, you’ll step forward without hesitation. Like when you jumped into the pond to save me when I was young.”
Kwon Rae-i smiled gently and reached out his hand. He slowly grabbed Tae-hwon’s hair and swept it behind his ear.
“I like Tae-hwon’s consistent personality. And that unwavering gaze.”
“…That’s not true. I betrayed Chairman Kwon, and even abandoned you…”
“Well, you must have thought that was the right thing to do at the time.”
Kwon Rae-i replied calmly and exhaled. He lightly pulled Tae-hwon’s hair back and met his eyes even closer.
“I can understand. That Tae-hwon wanted to leave this world. Because it’s full of terrible monsters here.”
“…”
“I’m one of them too.”
“…”
“I’m planning to catch Kwon Hyeon-oh and kill him today. I won’t let him live. I’m going to give him the most miserable death, and I’m going to cut his body into pieces and throw it to the worms.”
Kwon Rae-i, who let out a faint breath, kissed Woo Tae-hwon’s forehead.
Unlike the ruthlessness of predicting murder, his kiss had a warm side to it. Along with the caution that he couldn’t treat Woo Tae-hwon carelessly, there was a feeling of affectionate love.
“I’ve been holding back for quite a while. Kwon Hyeon-oh, that son of a bitch. I wanted to go and kill him that day… Haha, I’ve been gritting my teeth and waiting for this day.”
If it was a plan, was he waiting for the five old men of the Gyeongjeong to gather?
Tae-hwon stared at Kwon Rae-i. Then he lifted his chin and lightly kissed his lips. Maybe he was right.
Whether it’s the Gyeongjeong or the Jeun, this place is full of terrible monsters. Kwon Rae-i is one of them too. Betraying and murdering Chairman Kwon Jung-il, who took Woo Tae-hwon in, may have been because Chairman Kwon was the pinnacle and ringleader of this terrible world.
But in the end, Woo Tae-hwon was also bloodstained.
He’s not the only one who’s clean.
He was one of the swarming monsters, and he was going to become a member of it again.
“I think it’s right for me to follow you now.”
“Okay.”
“And I have to watch Kwon Hyeon-oh’s end.”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m going to crush the Gyeongjeong in the end…”
It already seemed like he could hear the screams of many people. He could see the red blood splattered on the floor and the men falling. Kwon Rae-i and Woo Tae-hwon were now going to trample over those corpses. To the night streets where morality is distorted and justice disappears.
“If that’s Tae-hwon’s resolve, I’ll gladly welcome it. Let’s be together until the end.”
Kwon Rae-i hugged Woo Tae-hwon tightly.
His chest was touching, and his heart was beating violently. As if he had heard a great love confession.
And Kwon Rae-i smiled and whispered.
“Tonight, there will be a showdown.”
The arms that hugged Woo Tae-hwon so tightly were very hot. He was throwing himself into hell, willingly, with the raging storm in his eyes. Kwon Rae-i had long been prepared to do anything. So he was just welcoming Woo Tae-hwon, who had followed him.