PASSION Chapter 3 part 2

They arrived after dinner, exactly when the clock struck eight.

Jeong Tae-ui pondered when in his life he had ever felt such a menacing atmosphere so viscerally. Never. Not even when he and Kim, the junior officer, had fought so fiercely that their quarrel escalated into a brawl between platoons, and the very next day they had to go on a full-gear march together. It wasn't this bad then either.

When they came down to the sixth basement level after a brief orientation in the second basement's large lecture hall, the atmosphere in the hallway was truly terrifying. A dozen or so men, particularly those with a grudge against the European branch, stood guard in the hallway, glaring at them fiercely and silently. The newcomers, who had rushed down the stairs, also stared back with grim faces.

Jeong Tae-ui, who had no desire whatsoever to get involved in that standoff, had already anticipated such a situation and decided to stay quietly in his room when they arrived. Unfortunately, he ran into them just as he was coming out of the bathroom after finishing his shower.

Seeing a group of unfamiliar men rushing down the stairs, Jeong Tae-ui thought, "Ah, they've finally arrived." When he saw his colleagues standing their ground in front of them, he quickly slipped through the gap and headed for his room. He instinctively started to go to his own room but then changed direction, turning towards Tou's room where he would be staying for a while.

Only Maurer, Tou's roommate, was in the room. They were from different teams but had seen each other and talked a few times, so it wasn't awkward.

"Looks like you’re here?"

Maurer mumbled, engrossed in his puzzle magazine and chewing on his pencil. Jeong Tae-ui replied, "Oh, you’re here," and sat down on the bed, shaking his still-damp hair with his hand.

At least this man, Maurer, didn't seem to harbor much resentment towards the European branch. Tou had said it was because he had only been there for a few months and hadn't had the chance to experience the European branch's tyranny. However, Jeong Tae-ui, who had only been there for a few days, found it easier to empathize with Maurer, who only showed a normal level of competitive spirit, rather than with Tou, who vehemently hated the European branch.

"Where's Tou?"

"Bathroom. He took a comic book, so he probably won't be out for a while."

Jeong Tae-ui nodded, listening to Maurer's reply as he mumbled without taking his eyes off the puzzle.

The guy who had been so hyped up about those bastards coming, was actually in the bathroom when they arrived. But even if he was in the bathroom, he might rush out immediately if he sensed their presence.

Even inside the room, I could clearly feel the ominous atmosphere outside. Even if there wasn't a direct fight, I could occasionally hear jeers, curses, and shouts, as if daring them to fight.

"Man, at this rate, it wouldn't be strange at all if a full-blown brawl broke out. The atmosphere is killer."

"A brawl……. I don't like that."

"Yeah. I'd rather pass too. ……If Tou heard us say this, he'd probably jump up and down and grab us to give us a long lecture."

Jeong Tae-ui glanced at Maurer and grinned. Maurer smiled back.

"That Tou, he's a good guy, but he's a bit hot-headed."

Instead of answering, Maurer shrugged in agreement and turned his attention back to the puzzle.

Jeong Tae-ui began to unpack his belongings. There wasn't much to unpack anyway. I had hardly any luggage when he first came to this branch, so there was no reason why I would need a lot of luggage just to move rooms temporarily for a few days. It was enough to carry it in my two hands without even needing a bag.

"Is it okay if I use an empty toothbrush holder?"

"Yeah, go ahead. Just don't make it confusing. Before, Toh bought a new toothbrush that was the same color as Thích Nhất's, so for a while, they fought every day about whose was whose."

Jeong Tae-ui nodded, listening to Maurer's consistently diligent replies even though he was engrossed in his puzzle. He subtly checked the color of his own toothbrush and placed it in the bathroom. And when he put his underwear in the dresser, he heard a similar anecdote and checked his own underwear again. I regret bringing plain white underwear that could easily be mistaken for someone else's.

As I tried to close the dresser drawer, it wouldn't close properly, as if something was caught inside. After repeatedly opening and closing it a few times, Jeong Tae-ui frowned and pulled the drawer all the way out.

"Why wouldn’t it come out……. Huh."

Jeong Tae-ui pulled out a piece of metal that was sticking out from among the underwear.

It was a Beretta.

Feeling the cold sensation of the gun fitting snugly in his hand, Jeong Tae-ui glanced at Maurer. Maurer, who had his back slightly turned towards him, was still absorbed in his puzzle.

Personal weapons were prohibited within the branch. Even if they turned a blind eye, it would only be to knives or non-lethal guns. Sometimes, a guy who was a gun fanatic would secretly carry a gun and get caught, only to futilely insist it was a toy gun when it was confiscated. But the feel of this in my hand was real.

Jeong Tae-ui held the Beretta and lightly tapped the grip twice against his other palm. The magazine was full. I could shoot it right away if I just unlocked the safety.

Just then, Maurer, who had been twirling his pen, turned his head without any particular intention. And then he saw it. The Beretta in Jeong Tae-ui's hand.

His expression instantly changed. He jumped up in surprise and rushed over to try and snatch the Beretta from Jeong Tae-ui. Jeong Tae-ui instinctively stepped back.

Slowly, Maurer's face changed as if stung by a bee. Jeong Tae-ui muttered "Aha" to himself and smirked.

"Is this yours? This is a violation of the firearms control law."

"Give it back, you jerk! I went through a lot to get that model!"

Maurer shouted with a sulky face, holding out his hand.

Come to think of it, I vaguely remember hearing about this from Tou before. He said that the guy sharing his room was a gun enthusiast and kept model guns all over the place.

Since someone like Tou wouldn't mistake a real gun for a model gun, he probably does keep model guns all over his room. So this gun maniac I'd only heard rumors about was this guy. He's always buried in puzzles, what an unexpected hobby.

"You have to remove the magazine at least."

Jeong Tae-ui readily handed the gun back to him.

That's how it is. This place was full of surprisingly dangerous guys everywhere. Trying to survive in a place like this, I couldn't help but worry about the future.

Jeong Tae-ui suddenly grabbed Maurer, who was grumbling as he received the gun, and pulled him close. Then he reached inside his vest and fumbled around. Maurer let out a strange sound and flinched.

"Hey! Watch where you are touching me!"

"What's the big deal, we're both guys anyway, just stay still. ……Aha."

"Hey, hey! Speaking of which, I heard you have feelings for Xinlu! Hey, don't touch me, I'm pure! I'm not into guys!"

"I have zero desire to do that with you either……. More importantly, what's this?"

Jeong Tae-ui grinned and pulled out a small metal object that Maurer had kept in a specially made pocket inside his vest.

"Oh ho, a Colt .22……. It's so cute. What do you plan to do with something like this?"

"Give me back my baby! Why do you keep messing with my babies!"

Maurer snatched the Colt from Jeong Tae-ui's hand, looking agitated. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue as he readily let go of the gun.

It seems there's always one of these guys wherever you go. Back in the day, one of my classmates was obsessed with guns and decorated his entire house with model guns. When I asked him with admiration, "Won't you get caught like this?", he glared at me and threatened, "You won't get caught unless you go around blabbing about it," so I obediently shut my mouth.

Regardless of whether they actually use them, Jeong Tae-ui had seen about two people in the past who were completely obsessed with the allure of firearms themselves. And now I've seen yet another one here.

"You said you're Instructor Jeong's nephew, right?"

Maurer glared at Jeong Tae-ui with fierce eyes. Jeong Tae-ui hummed and then laughed.

"If I were to say that the guy in the same room is crazy about guns, you'd probably shoot me before your uncle even stormed into this room, right?"

"Of course! I'll kill you if you go around telling people!"

Maurer, making a threat that was clearly just bravado, tucked the Colt back into his vest.

"Do you always carry that around every day……. You'll get caught."

"Just keep your mouth shut!"

Maurer snapped and went back to his desk. He glared at Jeong Tae-ui once more, and the way he roughly unfolded his puzzle magazine again showed his irritation.

Jeong Tae-ui chuckled and resumed organizing his belongings. However, calling it "organizing" was an exaggeration, as it was finished almost instantly.

Jeong Tae-ui sat on the bed and looked around the room. Unlike himself, who had a room to himself, this room was filled to its capacity of three people. Moreover, Jeong Tae-ui, who naturally disliked having many things, had very few belongings, making his room almost empty. In contrast, this room was so full of miscellaneous items that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was completely packed.

Jeong Tae-ui suddenly chuckled. It didn't feel unfamiliar, but rather nostalgic.

When I was at the military academy, and even when I stayed at the BOQ—Bachelor Officer Quarters—in the army, I always shared a room with his classmates or colleagues. Back then, there was always someone among my roommates who couldn't throw anything away and lived surrounded by their belongings, filling the entire room. Eventually, another roommate couldn't stand it anymore and yelled at him to throw some things away, which led to some friction before it was resolved.

This room has a lot of stuff, but it's much better compared to that time. You could even say it has just the right amount of clutter to feel like someone lives here.

Even as Jeong Tae-ui was slightly immersed in nostalgia in the unfamiliar room, the noisy and violent sounds from outside continued without ceasing. Occasionally, the sound of cans clanging or something metal being kicked could also be heard. It wouldn't be surprising at all if a fight broke out at any moment.

Soon after, it seemed the ominous sounds in the hallway subsided for a while, perhaps because the European branch members had entered their assigned rooms. Although the men's rooms on the same floor were shared, the branch's guards, not wanting to create unnecessary sparks of conflict, had appropriately divided the area, assigning the side closer to the east stairs to their own branch members and the side closer to the west stairs to the European branch members.

So, Jeong Tae-ui had thought that since the bathrooms and toilets were separate, there would be fewer chances for them to run into each other, but it seemed his thought was naive. This was a situation where even if they just met at the far end of the hallway, they would point fingers and shout, and then, unable to contain their anger, they would rush over and tear each other apart.

There should be someone to stop them, but their relationship was so bad that there didn't seem to be anyone willing to even pretend to mediate. The guards or officers would formally try to stop them, but if a real fight broke out, it seemed like it would be impossible to control.

"I just need to be careful not to get caught in the middle of this whale fight……."

Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and muttered to himself. Maurer glanced back at Jeong Tae-ui, perhaps having heard him. He nodded his head emphatically, as if agreeing, and then went back to engross himself in his puzzle.

Jeong Tae-ui chuckled. I’m tired of seeing the simple-minded habit of men who would burn with the desire to cooperate and defeat a common enemy, and while I didn't dislike that kind of atmosphere, I rarely actually participated in it. The only times I could think of were lighthearted events like sports days. So, it was only natural that I wouldn't feel like joining this fiery atmosphere where people actually got hurt.

Joint training starts in earnest tomorrow, and it's already like this from the first time we've met face-to-face, so I'm not really looking forward to it.

Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head roughly, recalling his uncle's words, which were less of a blessing and more of a prediction: "You probably won't die."

Well, the highest number of deaths in any past joint training was six. So, if you calculate six out of a total of ninety people, that's about 1/15, or 6.7%. Rounded up, it's 7%.

You never know, but still, what are the odds that I'd be among those unlucky six or seven people? Besides, that was the worst case in history, so it'll probably be less than that this time.

Jeong Tae-ui patted his slightly heavy stomach. Then, he turned his gaze to the bookshelf that filled one corner of the room. Thích Nhất, who shared a room with Tou—and who was now in the South American branch—was rumored to be a bookworm, and indeed, there were quite a few books. On the side designated for Thích Nhất, the shelves were packed tightly with books, some stacked two or three layers deep. I wouldn't be bored for lack of reading material while staying in this room.

"……Ah."

Just then, Jeong Tae-ui frowned slightly and muttered abruptly.

Why did I forget about it until now? Some things you just can't forget, and seeing the books reminded me. I left the book I borrowed from my uncle in my room. That 3500 dollars—my uncle had said I wouldn't pay up to 3500 dollars for that book, but in my mind, all the books on my uncle's shelf were worth 3500 dollars—

I had been reading it last night and had just left it on the desk. Since it was mixed in with other books, it probably wouldn't get particularly damaged, but still, it was the most valuable item among my belongings, and since it wasn't even mine, the weight of responsibility felt heavy.

"Damn it……. I have to go get it."

Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head and clicked his tongue.

I doubted there was anyone so idle as to harm a book, but still, the thought of something that wasn't mine being left unattended for two weeks made me uneasy. Especially since it was a 3500 dollar book that I couldn't afford to replace even if I were to pay for it.

I didn't know who might be occupying my room, but surely they wouldn't start a fight just because I briefly returned to my room. No matter how terrible the relationship between the branches was, surely they wouldn't go that far. Besides, when you think about it, it was originally my room.

Jeong Tae-ui felt a bit uneasy as he recalled Tou's words about trespassing and the ominous atmosphere that permeated even through the walls, but he decided to relax and stood up. If things went south, I would just grab the book and run. Surely they wouldn't follow me all the way to this room and cause trouble. That would inevitably lead to a gang fight, and he could only hope that they weren't stupid enough to cross such a dangerous bridge.

It couldn't be. They were—though I often forgot this fact, or rather, almost always forgot it—after all, these men who had joined UNHRDO were, first and foremost, kind and highly skilled individuals.

Jeong Tae-ui patted his chest a couple of times to reassure himself and was about to get up to return to his room when he heard the sound of the door opening. Tou was entering. Immediately after, the door slammed shut with a loud bang.

"……What's wrong? Did you fall in the bathroom and land in the toilet or something?"

Tou didn't answer Jeong Tae-ui's question, only glaring at him with fierce eyes.

The way he stormed in, full of murderous intent, made him look like someone who had just been beaten badly somewhere and had returned, seething with anger, unable to vent his frustration.

"Why are you glaring at me like that? It's scary. ……Did you have a run-in with the European branch?"

When Jeong Tae-ui asked casually, Tou's face contorted with anger, becoming even fiercer. It seemed I had hit a nerve.

It hadn't even been half an hour since the instructor had told them not to cause any trouble after the European branch members arrived, but as expected, it seemed to have been in vain. Or maybe this guy, who had been holed up in the bathroom, would argue that he hadn't heard any such warning.

"Those bastards deliberately bumped into people as they passed by. So I grabbed one of them to punch him, but wouldn't you know it, the instructor showed up right then. ……Ugh, should I have just punched him first and asked questions later, instructor or no instructor?"

"It's okay, you handled it well. What good would it do to cause a commotion on the first day? You'll have plenty of chances to sneak in a punch later, away from the instructor's eyes, right?"

Jeong Tae-ui patted Tou's shoulder and smiled reassuringly. Tou still looked displeased, but he seemed to have calmed down a bit.

It seems having a bad relationship with Lieutenant Kim's platoon is helpful in times like this. I should have tried to soothe my subordinates once or twice. Although, in the end, I was the one who caused a big incident and got discharged.

Jeong Tae-ui sighed and moved his feet. Tou, who had taken out a beer from the refrigerator and was gulping it down, looked at Jeong Tae-ui and asked,

"Where are you going?"

"Um……. ……To the bathroom too."

If I said I was going to his room to get something, Tou would definitely insist on going with me or try to stop me through gritted teeth. Neither of those were what I wanted, so after hesitating for a moment, I gave the most innocuous answer he could think of. Tou then finished his beer and gave him a piece of advice.

"If some bastard bumps into you, you immediately smash his face in before the instructor shows up."

"Oh…… I'll keep that in mind."

Jwong Tae-ui didn't even turn around as he waved his hand and left the room.

Indeed, the moment he stepped into the hallway, he could feel the tense atmosphere on his skin. He saw groups of two or three men standing menacingly in various spots along the hallway. Some were from their branch, and some were from the other branch. They were glaring at each other and whispering, and it felt like a fight could break out at any second.

"They get along even worse than I imagined…… Looks pretty cozy."

Jeong Tae-ui muttered with a sigh under his breath as he walked.

The distance from Tou's room to Jeong Tae-ui's room was quite considerable. A distance that he didn't normally think of as particularly short felt even longer in this atmosphere.

"Hey, Tay. Where are you headed?"

One of the guys in the group standing in the hallway greeted him. It was someone from a different team who usually didn't even acknowledge him, let alone say hello. But it seemed that the presence of an external enemy naturally fostered internal unity, as he greeted Jeong Tae-ui very warmly in this situation where enemies were lurking throughout the hallway. While being aware of the fierce gazes of unfamiliar faces standing a little further away, Jeong Tae-ui also casually raised his hand.

"Bathroom,"

"But the bathroom is right there."

The guy who had spoken first asked back, sounding puzzled as Jeong Tae-ui walked past the bathroom right in front of them. Jeong Tae-ui shrugged.

"I can't do my business unless it's a familiar toilet near my room. I'm a bit sensitive, you know."

"Ahahaha, what a weird guy."

He laughed as if he couldn't believe it, but didn't say anything more.

Jeong Tae-ui lightly put his hand in his pocket and continued walking. He passed by the group of European branch members. Just as Jeong Tae-ui walked right in front of them, one of them made a move to step forward, but then two or three guys from their branch who had been watching from a short distance showed signs of approaching immediately. They looked ready to fight if anyone even laid a finger on their guy.

The European guy who had tried to approach Jeong Tae-ui hesitated for a moment, but after exchanging glances with his colleagues, he crossed his arms again and stepped back. Then, the colleagues who had been ready to help Jeong Tae-ui also retreated.

This is just great……. It's one thing if I'm in danger myself, but being a potential trigger for a fight makes it hard to walk around comfortably.

Jeong Tae-ui inwardly clicked his tongue. The camaraderie of colleagues he wasn't even close to felt awkward and made him force a smile, as if they were wearing ridiculous clothes.

After experiencing such things a couple more times, Jeong Tae-ui was finally able to reach his room.

Perhaps because it was located deeper inside the hallway, the area became deserted as he approached his room. Neither his own colleagues nor the men from the other side were visible. He noticed a European subordinate looking at him from a short distance, but that person didn't seem to have any intention of approaching and picking a fight. Rather, he was staring intently at Jeong Tae-ui with a very strange expression.

Jeong Tae-ui returned his curious gaze and opened the door.

"Good grief……, even a thorny path would be better than this."

Jeong Tae-ui, letting out a sigh and clicking his tongue, muttered to himself and braced himself as he opened the door.

Their relationship was so strained that even just passing by in the hallway could become a cause for a fight. What would happen if they met in the same room? Tou's talk about territorial infringement might not be a joke. Seriously, if things got bad, I might just have to grab a book and run.

With a mix of anticipation and apprehension about what kind of rough-looking hulk would be using his room, Jeong Tae-ui stepped inside, only to stop in his tracks upon seeing the person inside.

There was one person in the room.

The man was lying sprawled out on Jeong Tae-ui's bed, flipping through the pages of a book as if he had lived there for ages. He only glanced up at Jeong Tae-ui when he heard the door open.

That book you're reading right now costs $3500. You shouldn't handle it so carelessly.

However, those words caught in his throat and didn't come out. It was because he recognized the man at a glance.

Jeong Tae-ui's gaze was fixed on the man's face.

His face, so pale it seemed translucent, was almost sickly. His delicate features were clearly visible even behind thick-rimmed glasses. He could have been mistaken for a diligent and gentle researcher quietly dedicated to his work in some laboratory, but when Jeong Tae-ui met his narrow eyes that looked straight through him, a chill went down his spine.

Jeong Tae-ui knew this man. A vivid, crimson mark was etched in his memory.

It’s Riegrow…… Rick.

The image of that innocent face, smiling as he drenched another man in blood, surfaced into my mind.

Lost in thought as he stared at him, Jeong Tae-ui closed the door behind him, only to regret it after hearing the click. Why did I close the door? It wouldn't mean much, but still, leaving it open would have made me feel slightly more at ease, connected to the outside. Or perhaps it would have been better for making a quick escape.

Now I understand the meaning of the strange look the European guy had given me when I entered this room. That guy already knew who would be staying in this room.

You damn bastard. Even if we Asians from the Asia branch are your sworn enemies, shouldn't you at least care a little if a fellow human being's life is hanging by a thread?

Jeong Tae-ui, who had always ignored Tou and other colleagues' countless complaints about the European branch members, felt a fierce resentment towards them for the first time.

"The owner of this book?"

Just as Jeong Tae-ui was mentally cursing, Riegrow's quiet voice spoke.

Jeong Tae-ui halted.

It was a low, quiet voice. The strange sound, which seeped into his ears like water, was something I had never expected or imagined. Moreover, I had never even considered such a feeling when thinking about the voice of this man, Riegrow.

Holding up the book and asking quietly, he showed no signs of suddenly lunging forward to slit Jeong Tae-ui's throat or cause bloodshed. On the contrary, the faint smile on his lips almost made him look pleasant.

"No…… I borrowed it. It's a rare book, so I need to treat it with care and return it. I came to get it."

"Are you going to take it back now?"

Riegrow asked back, sounding regretful. He looked disappointed, as if he had been reading a very interesting part.

"I think I can finish it in about two or three hours. Could you wait a little?"

"……It's okay."

Jeong Tae-ui replied with a strange feeling.

Somehow, it was different from what I had imagined. Just exchanging a few words like this made it feel like I was dealing with an ordinary person. Could it be that I misremembered the face of that madman? The video quality wasn't very good, so maybe it wasn't even that face. ……No way.

Watching Riegrow smile broadly and say, "Thank you," Jeong Tae-ui briefly doubted his memory, but his eyes had never been wrong about people before. Especially not about someone with such a striking appearance.

"Well, he's not a complete lunatic. Even a crazy person can't be in full abnormal mode 24 hours a day."

"Unn? What did you say?"

Jeong Tae-ui, who had been muttering to himself with lips barely moving in a voice too quiet for even himself to hear, almost jumped at the sound of Riegrow's question.

"Unn? What?" Jeong Tae-ui feigned ignorance and shrugged. Riegrow looked at him intently for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Come to think of it, waiting for two or three hours would be boring. Here, I'll give it back."

Riegrow closed the book and held it out to Jeong Tae-ui, shaking it lightly as if to tell him to take it.

"No, it's okay. I can just come back later, so you can keep reading. It's annoying to stop in the middle."

"I read it a long time ago, so I know the story. I just missed it when I saw it again. It's okay, take it."

He said, shaking the book slightly again. His voice was languid and pleasant to listen to, but there was an undercurrent of something precarious. Jeong Tae-ui felt a hazy disorientation, as if he were being pulled down into deep water.

Jeong Tae-ui felt it was silly to keep refusing, so he shrugged and approached him. With each step he took, a subtle tension settled at the tips of his toes. It feels as if you are approaching a hungry beast.

"This author's books are hard to find, aren't they? Have you read any others?"

The moment Jeong Tae-ui took the book, Riegrow asked casually. Jeong Tae-ui paused and looked at him. Riegrow's languid gaze softened as it met Jeong Tae-ui's eyes.

"I know a very capable rare book dealer. The one he wrote after this one is even more interesting, but it's hard to find. However, if it's that person, he'll probably be able to get it for you, even if it takes some time. I can introduce you if you want."

"……The price would be considerable, wouldn't it?"

"Well, I think it'd be around two or three hundred dollars. Ah, or you could go to Berlin and check the English section of the foreign books at the German National Library. I saw it there about five or six years ago."

While the price of one book is by no means small, it feels incredibly light compared to $3500, Jeong Tae-ui thought, while also looking at the man with a rather peculiar feeling.

Something was different from what I had imagined. It wasn't that I had pictured a bloodthirsty killer who would grab and kill anyone he saw, but I certainly hadn't expected him to be the kind of person who could talk about books so normally—or perhaps a little maniacally. Moreover, the eerie and chilling feeling he had gotten from the video was nowhere to be found. Instead, he seemed like a cheerful and neat young man. His social skills, easily striking up a conversation with a stranger, were also remarkable.

Looking at him now, he seemed very ordinary, and if he hadn't had any preconceived notions, he could even be seen as a quite likable and charming young man.

"You’re Riegrow……, right?"

Jeong Tae-ui asked hesitantly. Riegrow looked slightly surprised, then chuckled and nodded.

"That's right. I'm the only one in our branch with that name. Looks like you've heard something about me somewhere?"

"Unn, a little."

"Haha, I'm curious what kind of rumors they are."

"I think you probably have an idea already."

Riegrow fell silent at Jeong Tae-ui's words. Then he stared intently at Jeong Tae-ui. His eyes were pitch black. Those unfathomable eyes gazed steadily at Jeong Tae-ui before he suddenly burst into a cheerful laugh.

"Roughly. But sometimes rumors can be exaggerated, don't you agree?"

Shaking his head and clicking his tongue with a bitter expression, Riegrow said, "Honestly, it's quite troubling." He really seemed like a kind young man suffering from baseless rumors.

He had a fair and neat, attractive appearance. His voice was soothing, and his speaking skills were smooth. He had it all.

"…….I guess, but the video I saw wasn’t exaggerated, but I'll admit that rumors tend to be exaggerated." 

Jeong Tae-ui muttered unconvincingly as he sat down on the empty bed across from him. He didn't seem like a completely insane person, and it seemed like they could have a conversation. Moreover, his ability to lead the conversation pleasantly was something not everyone possessed. Although I was still wary, I kept my guard internalized and sat down. A smile flickered across Riegrow's fair and neat face.

"Video? Ah, come to think of it, there was a camera I ripped off back then. Yeah, the recording would still be there. Goodness, why would they film something like that and make someone look like a weirdo?"

Watching him mutter to himself as if he understood, Jeong Tae-ui reaffirmed, "Yeah, this guy is definitely him."

Looking at him like this, he seemed perfectly normal and easy to talk to. Did his personality change only when he was on the battlefield? Or perhaps he had a dual personality? Or maybe he was just temporarily out of his mind and went on a rampage when that video was taken?

Jeong Tae-ui rested his chin on his hand and stared at him intently for a moment before letting out a sigh.

Either way was fine, as long as it didn't threaten my comfortable life for the next six months. Besides, maybe he wasn't such a strange person after all.

"Ah. And there's another book with a completely different perspective on that. Charles Campbell wrote that book criticizing the other one just six months later, and it caused a huge debate at the academic society back then."

Just as Jeong Tae-ui was about to stand up, Riegrow pointed at the book and said casually. Jeong Tae-ui paused and sat back down.

"Are you by any chance talking about '1337, The Beginning of Flanders'?"

"Oh, have you already read it? It must have been hard to find."

"No, I haven't read it. I've heard of the title before. What's that book like?"

"It's interesting. The content itself isn't very fresh if you read it now, but it's kind of funny to see him constantly nitpicking at Joey Moyers in various parts. Still, it's worth reading. If you want, I can probably get that one for you too, although it might take some time."

Watching Riegrow, who told him to just say the word if he wanted to see it, Jeong Tae-ui couldn't help but be impressed. Wow, this guy was quite the maniacal literature enthusiast. While I myself had been stuck with Jeong Jae-ui since childhood and had no choice but to get used to flipping through books—though I was still less so than Jeong Jae-ui—it wasn't easy to do that while being in this kind of industry.

However, remembering his uncle, Jeong Tae-ui changed his mind, thinking, ‘No, there might be surprisingly many people like him.’

Jeong Tae-ui suddenly felt pleased. It wasn't easy to find someone in a place like this to have this kind of conversation with. Maybe he could even become a pleasant friend.

Jeong Tae-ui smiled and opened his mouth to say something.

However, just before he could speak, a tremendous noise erupted from the hallway. It was a loud sound, as if a door was being torn off its hinges or a wall was being deliberately smashed.

‘These bastards are so weak, I was just feeling sorry for you guys and letting it slide, you see!’

‘You've got to be kidding me! Look at you barging into our branch as if you own this place and causing trouble!’

‘Hey, everyone out here! Looks like these guys need a good beating to shut them up!’

‘Yeah, let's fill up the infirmary this time, with you guys!’

Behind Jeong Tae-ui, separated by a single wall, loud shouts and violent thuds followed one another.

Jeong Tae-ui closed his mouth, which he had just opened, and simply blinked as he looked at Riegrow. Riegrow also just looked back at Jeong Tae-ui with a calm smile.

I forgot for a second. In fact, this man and I were practically enemies. Even if we started fighting right here, no one would find it strange, not even I.

"Um……. ……Are you planning to be involved in that?"

The object, "that fight," was omitted. I just wanted to wait quietly in this room for that rough time to pass.

However, after a moment of silence, Riegrow betrayed Jeong Tae-ui's expectations.

"They’re very noisy."

The gentle light disappeared from his face as he spoke with slight annoyance. The moment he wiped away his smile and spoke coldly, his expression changed surprisingly.

Cruel and ferocious.

Leaving the momentarily stunned Jeong Tae-ui behind, Riegrow abruptly stood up and strode towards the door.

Just as Riegrow's hand reached for the doorknob, Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and stood up.

The moment that door opens, it's a battlefield. If I was unlucky, I might have to grapple with the man closest to me, which was not something he desired. What should I do?

Letting out a sigh and clicking his tongue, Jeong Tae-ui still shook his wrists and prepared to move. Anyway, even if I was going to get hit, I should at least loosen up my body so I wouldn't get injured ridiculously.

Thinking that, Jeong Tae-ui followed him out the door, but unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—there was no place for me to step in.

Riegrow, standing his ground as if blocking Jeong Tae-ui's path, silently watched the hallway for a moment.

The hallway was already a mess. Members who had poured out of every room were punching and kicking each other indiscriminately, and there were more than a few guys rolling on the floor in a wild brawl.

He wondered if the instructor would come down again, but looking at this scene, it wasn't a situation where they would obediently put down their fists even if the instructor shouted.

Riegrow glanced at a metal pipe that had flown from somewhere and rolled to his feet, then kicked it up with his toe and caught it in his hand. The metal pipe, only slightly thinner than a baseball bat, fit perfectly in his hand, as if it had been made for him. It was hard to imagine that same hand had just been holding a book.

Suddenly, Jeong Tae-ui's gaze stopped on his hand.

Out of habit, he was still wearing gloves. But they were different from the ones in the video. The thin, dark blue fabric gloves had a neat and composed look.

The moment he thought, That metal pipe in his hand looks so out of place—

Riegrow moved. And his gaze settled on two men in the middle of the brawl, who were unfortunately in a relatively close position to him, grabbing each other by the collar and slamming against the wall, making the most noise and commotion.

"Shut up……."

His muttering voice, as if speaking to himself, was drowned out by the commotion and barely audible. In the indistinguishable chaos, he lifted the pipe with a bored yet irritated look.

And at the same time.

—Crack.

Even in the pandemonium, that sound stood out exceptionally.

It seemed it wasn't just Jeong Tae-ui who heard it.

That chilling silence, perhaps louder than any scream, continued as the metal pipe mercilessly struck down several nearby men, making horrific sounds over and over again.

The sounds of flesh tearing and bones breaking followed in succession.

"Coming all the way out here was annoying enough, so why are you people causing such a scene?"

It was Riegrow's languid and quiet voice that broke the silence.

The end of the pipe, which he had swung indiscriminately at friend and foe alike, was soaked with glistening blood, dripping down. It seeped into his dark blue gloves, creating black spots. As the spots spread, the gloves gradually became completely black.

"Th-that bastard……."

Someone blurted out. The end of their sentence trailed off with a faint tremor. But that voice became the starting point.

As if wanting to shake off the fear that had spread through the air in an instant, shouts and screams erupted, engulfing the hallway.

“Kill him! Kill that demon!"

However, despite the shouts that erupted like screams from all directions, no one dared to approach him first. Even the members of the European branch stepped back several paces from him, their faces filled with unease.

Twirl. Riegrow swung the large, heavy pipe around as if it were a pen. Then he chuckled and leaped forward.

What followed was hell.

At the end of the hallway, where corpse-like bodies lay piled up, Jeong Tae-ui could only stare blankly at Riegrow's back.

I wondered where such a madman had suddenly sprung from, only to realize a moment later.

That man was the same person who had been smiling gently and talking about books with me just moments ago.

***

------

Credits:

Translator: Hoshi Miya

Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago

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