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Jeong Tae-ui hesitated for a moment longer but soon gave up and shrugged. The man wasn't trying to harm me, nor did he seem likely to do anything to my comrades—the direction he was heading was the opposite, for one thing. In that case, it was best not to be curious about unnecessary things. Jeong Tae-ui cleared his mind again and turned his steps back in his original direction. As he expected the sound of water to grow closer, it wasn't long before his view opened up and the sea appeared. The night sea is pitch black. Utterly black without a single light, the sea, if not for the sound, would be a gaping maw of black darkness, impossible to guess if it was a sea or what it was. Black darkness. The sound of waves. The smell of the sea. The damp wind. All of it wrapped around his eyes, ears, nose, and skin. That's why Jeong Tae-ui had always liked the night sea. Hoo, he let out a long sigh. His breath mingled with the sound of the waves. Suddenly, he felt better, and a clear smile played on his lips. Should I bring Xinlu next time? Although it's a little dangerous at night due to the many snakes in the forest, I thought that if we were properly prepared, there wouldn't be anything to worry about after seeing it one day. In this vast darkness, how wonderful would it be to hold the warmth of another person's body in my hand? ……Actually, it didn't have to be Xinlu, anyone would do. The ground beneath his feet was unstable. The seashore, piled high with large rocks instead of sand, was difficult to walk on comfortably like a stroll. There were large holes in places and gaps between the rocks, making it precarious. However, Jeong Tae-ui tapped the rocks lightly with his heel, tapping, and smiled. When I was a kid, my parents were often busy and I was sent to my maternal grandparents' house, which was by the sea. So, I would play by running around on the rocks of the seashore. Thinking about it, my Hyung seemed to have already been talking about the process of rock erosion due to high salinity seawater back then. Walking on the rocks as if on flat ground, Jeong Tae-ui softly hummed a tune. The pitch-black darkness, the cold, damp wind – it all felt good. Perhaps because I was reminded of my childhood memories, I suddenly missed my Hyung. It would be nice if Hyung were walking with me right now. He surely would have been happy too. Jeong Tae-ui stopped, a hint of regret in his smile. A lighthouse stood in the distance. A couple of streetlights near the lighthouse were illuminated. Their light didn't reach brightly here, but they cast a faint glow on the surroundings. Perhaps I should head back now. This is far enough. One more step and this pleasant darkness would end, replaced by a dim light. Ending his night walk here and slowly returning to his comrades would probably align with his watch duty time. Jeong Tae-ui looked at the sea for a moment longer, then turned around. He looked at the way he came and gauged a shortcut. Going diagonally to the right would be faster. Confident in his sense of direction, he started crossing the rocks, deviating slightly to the right from the path he had taken. One, two, there were some quite large rocks, so he changed direction slightly as he made his way back. But at a certain moment. At a certain moment, I ignored that small sound that could have been, thinking that it’s mixed with the sound of the wind. Jeong Tae-ui's steps slowed. Tilting his head slightly and gradually slowing his pace, he finally stopped altogether. It was because he hadn't misheard the sound that was coming intermittently. The sound was coming from below the rock.  It was a large rock blocking Jeong Tae-ui's path—truly as big as a house. Deep within the rock, which seemed to form a shallow cave hollowed out inwards with a hole in the ceiling, I can continuously hear a lewd sound. It was a sign of a person. Someone was inside. Jeong Tae-ui realized that if he took just a few more steps, he would come face to face with the person inside. Perhaps it was someone who had come out to the beach in their sleep during the night and was relieving themselves in a secluded spot. However, I knew well that this was unlikely. It was quite a distance from the forest where they were camping to here, after all. Or perhaps it was the person I had glimpsed in the forest earlier.  Recalling that person who had seemed suspicious, Jeong Tae-ui inwardly clicked his tongue. Whatever it was, I want to avoid getting caught up in troublesome matters. Isn't it better to secretly turn back now? Hesitating for a moment and listening to the presence, Jeong Tae-ui soon realized that there was more than one person inside. No voices were heard. However, the short, sharp sounds and the sounds of movement were not those of a single person.  Probably two. Mixing with the sound of the waves, there was the sound of water. At first, Jeong Tae-ui thought it was the sound of water. But he soon felt a sense of incongruity. It was a sound of the same kind as water, but it was different from the sound of the sea or a puddle in a cave.  The sound was more sticky and wet, more lewd on the side. "...—." Jeong Tae-ui, who had been rubbing his chin and tilting his head in confusion, suddenly covered his mouth without realizing it. A look of embarrassment appeared on his face. It was a sound Jeong Tae-ui knew. It was a wet, lewd sound. To be exact, the sound of licking and sucking on wet skin.  And mixed in between those sounds were gasping, tearful breaths and low growling breaths. Occasionally, short moans of pleasure could be heard. ……Oh dear. I've come at an awkward time. Who on earth are these energetic fellows? I never would have dreamed that there would be people enjoying themselves on the beach in the middle of the night. This wasn't some resort beach, and I couldn't believe there were guys fooling around like that on the beach of an island full of nothing but men. Jeong Taeui scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. Should I go back and take the long way around? It would be a long detour, but if I passed by here and made eye contact, that would also be awkward. But to go around, I'd have to climb over the rocks behind me, which looked quite steep. It seemed a bit difficult to do with bare hands without tools. And if I went back the way I came and went lower down, it would be too much of a detour. Jeong Taeui examined the path ahead, lost in thought. The darkness, barely touched by the lighthouse's dim glow, pooled in the crevices of the rocks. The rocks were hollowed out in places, carved by the waves.  If I lowered my body and passed through there, I might be able to get by without being noticed, if he was careful. Well, in this darkness, and especially while completely lost in pleasure, it would be hard for them to sense someone's presence. Besides, well…… if push came to shove, I could just consider it an interesting sight. Though I probably wouldn't see anything. Jeong Tae-ui crept down into the gap between the rocks, muffling his steps. Clack , his foot struck a stone, but the sound was small enough to be lost in the sound of the waves. It's okay, I wouldn't be caught with this much noise. Come to think of it, even if I was caught, there was no reason for me to flinch. If they, who were trying to enjoy themselves secretly here, were startled and flinched, that would be another matter. I wasn't intentionally trying to peek, so why should I? Jeong Tae-ui patted his chest and moved forward. He lowered his body and passed in front of the hollowed-out rock. The fleeting glance he cast in that direction as he passed was not out of a desire to peek. It was merely to check if his figure would be visible to them. From inside the rock, a very faint light was leaking out. Perhaps one of the people inside had brought a portable temporary flashlight or something. But even that wasn't very bright, only lighting just enough to see around. There were two people inside. One person was crouched and bowed between the legs of a man sitting leaning against the rock. With both hands wrapped around the sitting man's genitals, they licked the tip. Then, moving down the shaft to the base and further down to the sac below, they licked and sucked as if entranced. Sticky, wet sounds continuously leaked from between the legs. The person crouched with their face buried between the man's legs seemed excited by that alone, shaking their hips and waist, lost in their desire. Occasionally, as if unable to bear it, a hand reached out to rub their groin, wet and glistening in the faint light. At the same time, short moans, as if they could no longer endure, burst out. And before him, the man sitting leaning against the rock was looking down at the man burying his face between his legs, lost in pleasure. With a placid yet openly desirous, languid face, he looked down upon the one faithfully serving him. The moment Jeong Tae-ui saw that expression, he felt a jolt in his chest. It was a combination of shock and dread. The man's eyes were exceptionally cold. Yet, they were infinitely hot. He was reacting hotly and passionately to his own desire, but it was not a longing for the person between his legs. He was enjoying merely the act itself, without the slightest trace of emotion towards the person performing it with him. And Jeong Tae-ui quickly realized who the man was. The face, whose outline emerged faintly in the darkness, was one he could not mistake. Riegrow ……Damn it. Why do I keep running into this guy everywhere I go? He's the last person I want to run into. He should be quietly sleeping at this hour. Why drag someone out to this beach to do this kind of thing? Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. It would’ve been fine had I not known, but now I’m stuck. I feel like I would be discovered if I moved even a single finger. No, maybe I had already been discovered. Jeong Tae-ui stood there as if frozen, holding his breath. How can I get out of here?  That was the only thought in his head. Riegrow, whether he was aware of someone's presence or not, was engrossed in the act. Looking down at the young man between his legs, who was moving his mouth and wriggling his tongue as if ravenous, he suddenly grabbed the young man's hair. And roughly yanked that head close to his groin. "Swallow deeper. Harder. ……Can't you suck it right?" He lightly grabbed the young man's chin and shook it. Then, clicking his tongue, he gripped the young man's head and immediately began thrusting. The young man let out choking sounds and gasped for breath. Riegrow, who had been roughly moving his hips against the young man's mouth to the point where it seemed he would suffocate, then pulled out as the choking young man struggled, and lightly slapped his cheek. Though called a light slap, a dry, resonant sound rang out quite forcefully, and the young man's head snapped to the side. "Do it right, I said. Lick every inch, suck hard. Then I'll thrust into you as much as you crave. You're making a face like your hole is itching to be fucked, yet you're not putting in any effort." His voice was hoarsely excited. Dripping with lust and expelled with ragged breaths, his voice escaped hotly. The young man again frantically rushed between his legs. Soon, violent and urgent sounds echoed. Jeong Tae-ui could feel his own face hardening. My chest is heating up and I feel suffocated. This was not only because of this abnormal situation of peeping at another's act. Nor was it due to the fact that it had been a long time since I had relieved myself. Riegrow, this overwhelming man, was radiating energy as intense as his tyrannical might. He was the strongest male, one that would make any ordinary man tuck his tail and run away. Any woman whose primal instincts were alive would instinctively offer herself to him, and men wouldn't even dare to stand before him. It was inadequate to describe this as mere sexual charm. The scent of a male that would overwhelmingly draw others emanated from his entire body. So that anyone bitten on the neck by those cruel fangs would lie prostrate, unable to even contemplate resistance. The color drained from Jeong Tae-ui's face. I felt threatened by the very presence of this man, who was difficult to contend with as a male. Dangerous. Mustn't get close.  Just as someone entering a stronger male's territory instinctively flees that place, Jeong Tae-ui felt a suffocating sensation from the man, like primal threat and fear. Just then, Riegrow, who had been looking down at the young man with lowered gaze, lifted his eyelids. Those jet-black eyes unhesitatingly turned towards here. As if he had known from the beginning. Jeong Tae-ui was completely still, as if frozen. He could only face that man, as if confronting the gaze of a beast staring him down. From where Riegrow was, Jeong Tae-ui shouldn't have been visible. No, even if he felt a presence, he shouldn't have been able to discern at least who was standing there. Because the light didn't reach that far. Riegrow cast a chilling gaze towards where Jeong Tae-ui was. Then, at one moment, he subtly twisted up his lips. A sneer, or a threat. As if telling a weakling like me, hiding and frozen there, to quickly get lost. Twitch, Jeong Tae-ui curled his fingertips. Then, his body moved as if a person released from sleep paralysis. His heart, vigorously pumping blood, was pounding so fiercely it hurt, as if sensing danger from the instinctive threat. I would better go now. I must get out of here. I wanted to leave this spot quickly. I couldn't bear this suffocating intensity any longer. If I disappeared quietly now, that tyrannical beast wouldn't target my throat and chase after me. In that case, leaving now was the best move. Riegrow. This damn guy. Doesn't that guy ever get tired? Rolling around all day, then coming on a forced march at night without rest, he should be lying down quietly and sleeping. Why is he having this crude fun in a corner of a beach like this? Along with surging anger that welled up, Jeong Tae-ui felt anxiety subtly rising from within. Although I couldn't see properly in the faint light, I suddenly had a feeling that the young man giving his body to Riegrow might resemble Xinlu. Relatively narrow shoulders and slender limbs, the smooth lines of his body flowing down. Rather than the body itself, the image those features created was similar to Xinlu's. A soft-feeling body. Damn it. If he clearly has a partner, he should keep his eyes off Xinlu, I'm saying. This unfaithful immoral madman. Jeong Tae-ui chewed curses silently in his mouth and moved away without a sound. After walking ten or so steps, only reaching a place he felt was a little far from them, did he steal a glance back that way. Now their forms were hidden in the shade, and only flickering shadows on the rock could be seen. "My luck isn't going well lately, seriously…….." Jeong Tae-ui grumbled slightly and sighed. And it was just as he was about to turn back and leave. On top of the large rock where they were hidden, I thought I saw a shadowy figure moving slightly. Jeong Tae-ui stopped his turn and sharply turned his head.  I hadn't seen anything wrong. Clearly, one person was lying prone on top of the rock, moving cautiously. That person, who seemed not to have seen me, was giving all his attention to the person below the rock—probably Riegrow. And Jeong Tae-ui saw. The outline of that shadow's hand, faintly illuminated by the dimly reflected light from inside the rock. There, a large and seemingly heavy crossbow was held. Jeong Tae-ui gasped. Holyzone…… no, maybe it was Steck. Although it was dark and hard to see, the crossbow held by that shadow was more than enough to shoot and kill one person. Furthermore, especially like now, if the tip of the crossbow was aiming at the head directly from above. Jeong Tae-ui could soon make out that figure. It was the man I had seen earlier in the forest. That man I had given up following, although I had thought his behavior was somewhat strange, was now targeting Riegrow from up there. The man's index finger was on the trigger. If he pulled just a few more millimeters, the heavy and sharp bolt would pierce Riegrow's head. There was no time to think or move. Almost instinctively, or exactly according to the reflexes ingrained in his body since childhood, Jeong Tae-ui snatched up a fist-sized rock he could grab and threw it. The sound of it cutting the air ripped the night's silence. And at the same time, a snapping sound was heard from the man's wrist struck hard by the rock. "Ugh!!"  At the unexpected strike, the man's cry rang out. In that moment, pulling the trigger, the misfired bolt left the bowstring. And that bolt, as luck would have it, flew towards Jeong Tae-ui. " Gasp ...!"  Jeong Tae-ui drew a sharp breath. He reflexively dodged the moment the crossbow turned towards him due to the rock's impact, but the bolt was just as fast. The bolt he avoided by a hair's breadth barely grazed Jeong Tae-ui's elbow and passed by, embedding itself right where Jeong Tae-ui had been standing just a moment ago. Jeong Tae-ui broke out in a cold sweat. If I hadn't instinctively twisted my body, I would have been seeing the afterlife by now. I had almost died instead, while trying to save a person. Only after seeing the bolt embedded in the ground trembling did his mind, which had barely regained a little composure, sigh with a hint of regret. Why did I help? If I had just left him alone, I might have been able to see that ominous and dangerous man disappear from the world. Furthermore, perhaps the man with the crossbow wasn't he just trying to do what was rightfully needed? If you think about it, it's much more likely that Riegrow is the wicked one than that man. However, probably even if the same thing happened again—and even if the person changed—I would have done the same thing. In any case, I wasn't the type of person to just watch someone die before his eyes. While Jeong Tae-ui was steeped in countless regrets and worries during a short span of less than a few seconds, Riegrow's response was instantaneous. Pushing aside the young man crouching between his legs without hesitation, he picked up a suitable rock that was rolling on the ground. And half raising his body, he hurled it towards the head of the man on the rock gripping his wrist. The rock flew with perfect accuracy, striking the man's head, which broke open and spurted blood. Letting out a low single groan, he collapsed on the spot as if unconscious. Without even looking at the young man, who was screaming in belated surprise and frozen stiff, Riegrow picked up the crossbow that had rolled down from the man's hand. And from that crossbow, he saw the bolt which had flown just a moment ago and was embedded in the rock crevice. Finally, he turned his gaze to Jeong Tae-ui, who was next to it. When their eyes met, Jeong Tae-ui, feeling needlessly awkward even though he hadn't targeted him, raised his two hands to show them. Riegrow's gaze coldly came down towards Jeong Tae-ui's hands. "That wasn't me. ……No, actually, if you look at it, I helped you. There's no reason to glare at me like that."  Jeong Tae-ui mumbled, feeling a bit wronged. Riegrow said curtly, "I know." Then, clicking his tongue with displeasure, he just stepped forward. His steps approaching Jeong Tae-ui were unhesitating. Facing him who was approaching with large strides, Jeong Tae-ui instinctively wanted to step back, but because it was all rocks under his feet, he couldn't backpedal in his unstable state. "I keep telling you it wasn't me. Besides, I don't even know who that guy is. And his business has nothing to do with mine." Hearing "I told you I know" repeated, Riegrow muttered as if bewildered. Jeong Tae-ui glared at him with wary eyes. He won't suddenly attack the person who helped him, will he? But why is he walking towards me? No, I don't care, just put some clothes on. As the naked man approached without hesitation, Jeong Tae-ui felt extremely uncomfortable. However, Riegrow stopped about four or five steps away, completely unconcerned and with a calm expression. He then bent down and picked up the arrow stuck in the crevice of the rock. Examining the tip of the arrow, he tapped it a couple of times with his fingertips and chuckled. "If that had hit my head, even I wouldn't have been unharmed." Jeong Tae-ui corrected him, mumbling with a frown. Riegrow's gaze, which had been examining the arrow, fixed back on Jeong Tae-ui's face. Jeong Tae-ui flinched, twisted his lips, and made the same excuse for the third time. "It has nothing to do with me. ……Ah, really. Stop glaring at me like that. Why are you trying to give the person who saved you a heart attack?" Suddenly feeling a surge of indignation at receiving such a sharp glare after helping, Jeong Tae-ui complained. Riegrow raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "I wasn't glaring, but did it seem like that? I know who that man is. He's one of my team members. I know why he tried to kill me, and I know it has nothing to do with you, so don't get so worked up. ---Besides, even if I were holding a grudge, would I do anything to you in this situation, right after you helped me?" He chuckled as if it were amusing. However, the sturdy arrow spinning between his fingers like a twirling pen couldn't help but look extremely dangerous. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. "You're very calm for someone who almost died. I guess this isn't the first or second time this has happened." "Well, I experience it about once or twice a month." He spoke calmly, as if making small talk about worldly affairs. He tapped the arrowhead again and muttered. "That guy, too, if he gets a hole blasted in his head with this, just like I was about to, he'll probably come to his senses." "I don't care, but I'd appreciate it if you'd do it out of my sight. Preferably not where I am, either. ……Even better, if you could take care of it after you've gone back to Europe." Jeong Tae-ui grumbled with a look as if he'd bitten a bug. I absolutely did not want to get involved in troublesome matters, no matter what. I had no desire whatsoever to be a witness at a death scene. Damn it. Why do I keep getting entangled with this guy? I should have just pretended not to see and left. I'm an idiot. Whether it was due to the chilly sea wind or the man in front of him, Jeong Tae-ui felt a sudden chill on his arm and rubbed it with his palm. Then, feeling a sting, he rubbed it with his palm. He then noticed a long wound a little further down. Only after seeing the torn skin and bleeding did Jeong Taeui realize for the first time that he was injured. He muttered, "Uh," in confusion, then soon realized it was a wound from the arrow he had narrowly avoided when the crossbow flew at him just moments ago. "Wow……. incredible. To be this much just from a slight graze, if it had hit properly, it would have been a real goner……. That guy also needs to copy the UNHRDO Disciplinary Regulations ten times for violating weapons possession rules." Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and muttered. It seemed to be cut quite deeply, as the bleeding didn't stop easily. Hearing that, Riegrow suddenly burst into laughter. The low but cheerful laughter didn't stop for a while. As Jeong Tae-ui looked at him with a displeased face, Riegrow gradually stopped laughing and said. “Ahaha, right. As you say, I’ll deal with him after he copied the Disciplinary Regulations ten times. Alright, while I'm here, I'll tell him to copy the regulations, and I'll handle it after I return to Europe. The person who saved my life tells me to, so of course, I must obey.” Riegrow continued to chuckle softly for a while, then lifted Jeong Tae-ui's arm, examining the wound. “The cut is a bit deep, but not severe. Once the bleeding stops, there's nothing much to worry about. ……I'll give you this to wipe it.” Saying that, Riegrow took off the glove he was wearing. Jeong Tae-ui agitated with a groan. Surely he wasn't telling me to wipe the wound with that glove, soaked in the blood of countless people? If he wiped it with that, it felt as though the grudges of all those people would cling to me. “You really are completely different from your brother. Even for fraternal twins, it's rare to be this different. That's fine though. It's not bad at all.” Riegrow whispered in a tone that still held a trace of laughter. Jeong Tae-ui, who had hesitantly reached out to take the glove he offered, paused for a moment. I feel like I had heard somewhere before. Although subtly different, I had definitely heard something with similarly like that recently. And who I had heard it from was--. Seeing Jeong Tae-ui just holding the glove and staring at him without moving, he tilted his head, took the glove back, and gently wiped Jeong Tae-ui's wound with it. His bare hand holding the blood-stained glove was remarkably white. Receiving the hazy moonlight under the sky where the fog was beginning to lift, his hand was unusually pale. Fingernails that sparkled neatly like glass. Long, delicate fingers. A white and beautiful hand. It was a familiar hand. So familiar that it seemed more accustomed to me than my own hand. Riegrow, who had finished wiping Jeong Tae-ui's wound, seemed to have noticed his gaze fixed on his hand. He suddenly raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Oh my," as if troubled, then clenched and unclenched his hand. That movement was also familiar. "Do you like my hand that much?" He asked Jeong Tae-ui, who couldn't take his eyes off his hand. Jeong Tae-ui raised his head and stared intently at the man who was smiling faintly in front of him. Damn it. What is this? Only that thought came to mind. His mind was blank, and no thoughts surfaced, but at some point, a sudden anger welled up. "If I say I like it, will you cut it off and give it to me?" When Jeong Tae-ui spoke gruffly, Riegrow laughed aloud. The tone of the electronic voice he had heard recently overlapped with his laughter. Thinking about it, even his way of speaking was similar. "If you want it. Your own hand suits you, but if you want it, I'll give it to you. After I die." "I don't need it. It doesn't make sense for me to ask for them now that I said I didn't need them until recently." Jeong Tae-ui's voice became increasingly displeased. His mood became as unpleasant as his voice. Riegrow was smiling in front of him. The smile that creased around his eyes subtly looked down at Jeong Tae-ui. Jeong Tae-ui glared at his hand again. There couldn't be two such hands in this whole world. Such a beautiful hand. "Which is your last name and which is your first name?" Jeong Tae-ui asked sullenly. A question he had never thought of before suddenly popped into his mind. Riegrow looked at Jeong Tae-ui, smiling subtly, then after a brief pause, he answered. "Riegrow is my last name." "I see. ……Which do you prefer to be called?" "Whichever is comfortable for you." "Fine. But I don't really feel like calling you by either, Ilay Riegrow." Jeong Tae-ui spoke, overtly revealing his unpleasant feelings. The man in front of him just sighed and laughed. I now had one more reason to resent my uncle. *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

8.   As if to tease Chae Yoo-jeong, who was very nervous ahead of the most important moment of his life, Yoo Ji-han went into the bedroom bathroom and washed up.   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was sitting on the bed listening to the sound of water coming through the door, could hardly calm down. The red tips of his ears showed how excited he was.   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was staring at the closed bathroom door while holding down his trembling fingertips, hurriedly got up when a flash of thought occurred to him.   ‘That’s right. I should prepare in advance.’   Chae Yoo-jeong hurriedly walked to the nightstand next to the bed, opened the bottom drawer, and took out the items he had purchased in advance. It was a condom and gel.   It was a necessity prepared by hand for this day. Chae Yoo-jeong has been studying hard. If you’re with men, you definitely need gel, and it’s good manners to wear a condom... Things like this.   ‘Can I do well?’   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was anxious, soon held his chest, with his lips closed.   You absolutely have to do well. Because it will be my first sex with Yoo Ji-han.   It was at that time when Chae Yoo-jeong had a bright red face and was steeling his resolve. Click, the bathroom door finally opened and Yoo Ji-han walked out, his hair wet.   “Did you wait long?”   “Ah, no!”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was startled and answered loudly without realizing it, covered his mouth with his hand and bit his tongue.   Unlike himself, who was extremely nervous, Yoo Ji-han returned to his normal self while he was washing up. The difference was somehow embarrassing.   Although not similar to Chae Yoo-jeong, who was filled with tension and excitement, Yoo Ji-han was feeling a somewhat unfamiliar feeling. Even though I had to go to work tomorrow, I was amazed at how I had come this far with only the desire to see Chae Yoo-jeong.   ‘I’ll have to go to work tomorrow wearing the same clothes I wore today.’   When I think about it now, even though it was very inefficient and inconvenient, I didn’t feel any regrets.  Even if I go back in time and go back to when I passed the flower shop earlier, Yoo Ji-han would make the same choice.   ‘Well, it’s just clothes.’   If I thought it was the reward for clearing up his misunderstanding with Chae Yoo-jeong and having the sex I so desperately wanted, I could wear the same clothes to work a hundred more times.   Yoo Ji-han approached Chae Yoo-jeong, lightly brushing away the thoughts from his head, and soon discovered the items placed on the nightstand next to Chae Yoo-jeong. Yoo Ji-han’s expression became strange when he saw the neatly placed condom box and gel.   “Ah, this is……I-I bought it because you said you needed it.”   Chae Yoo-jeong quickly opened his mouth, fearing that Yoo Ji-han might feel rejected. Yoo Ji-han, who was blinking as if he was thinking about something at the explanation that seemed like an excuse, turned his gaze to Chae Yoo-jeong.   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   “Yes.”   “You said earlier that you had a lot of dreams about sleeping with me.”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes shook greatly when he saw Yoo Ji-han asking him if he had dirty dreams about him. However, he did not deny it and answered calmly.   “Yes…………”   “How was it?”   “Uh, how was it… ?”   “Did it feel good? Are you satisfied?”   Chae Yoo-jeong was at a loss to answer a question that felt somewhat unexpected. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was hesitant and unable to make eye contact with Yoo Ji-han, quietly nodded.   “I guess? Sorry.”   “Why are you apologizing again? Do you think you’re the only one who had dreams like that? I also had a dream like that.”   Yoo Ji-han, who had appeased Chae Yoo-jeong with a joke, reached out and touched Chae Yoo-jeong’s lips with his thumb.   In a split second, complex emotions passed through Yoo Ji-han’s black eyes. But he soon whispered with a deep, relieved smile as if nothing had happened.   “Let’s kiss, Yoo-jeong-ah.”   “…….”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was looking at Yoo Ji-han as if he were fascinated, kissed him without hesitation.   After kissing deeply, Yoo Ji-han pulled Chae Yoo-jeong onto the bed. Contrary to Sunday night, Yoo Ji-han’s back fell onto the bed first. The heat that had died down was rekindled with one kiss.   “Hu, ugh…ha…………….”   Chae Yoo-jeong couldn’t help but moan at the thrilling sensation of his tongue rubbing against each other. He held on to Yoo Ji-han’s top with his slightly trembling fingertips.   When Chae Yoo-jeong whined, unable to kiss and undress at the same time, Yoo Ji-han laughed and lifted his waist. The clothes he borrowed from Chae Yoo-jeong were slowly taken off by Chae Yoo-jeong’s hands.   After safely taking off his top, Chae Yoo-jeong’s hands went straight to his pants. His hand gently moved from his waist, grabbed hold of his pants, and pulled them down.   “……!”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was busy taking off his clothes with both cheeks stained red, suddenly noticed something, and opened his eyes. Since the reaction was clearly visible, Yoo Ji-han spoke with his lips next to Chae Yoo-jeong’s ear, smile remaining intact.   “You only lent me clothes and didn’t give me underwear, so I thought you were telling me not to wear them.”   “Ah, Hyung………………”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was embarrassed because no matter how much he pulled down his pants, his underwear did not come out, bowed his head after hearing Yoo Ji-han’s words. The tips of the ears exposed through the disheveled hair were bright red.   “It’s okay because you’re going to take it off anyway.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, whose shoulders were shaking, glanced at Yoo Ji-han, who kept teasing him. For some reason, Chae Yoo-jeong started moving his hand that had stopped.   When his pants were pulled down to his thighs, his bare skin was truly exposed. Between his firm thighs, he could see his penis was half erect.   Yoo Ji-han, who didn’t seem particularly embarrassed even though his bottoms were taken off, continued to watch Yoo-jeong’s trembling actions. Chae Yoo-jeong licked Yoo Ji-han’s half-standing penis with his tongue.   “What the, Chae Yoo-jeong!”   Yoo Ji-han, who called him by his first name and last name, must have been so surprised that he hurriedly tried to raise his upper body.   Chae Yoo-jeong pressed Yoo Ji-han’s waist tightly and kissed the roots. Chae Yoo-jeong felt an exhilarating feeling after finally succeeding in embarrassing Yoo Ji-han.   “There’s no need to do something like that. Come up.”   “I want to do it, Hyung.”   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   Yoo Ji-han frowned and spoke soothingly, but Chae Yoo-jeong was adamant.  I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, how can I give up?   Chae Yoo-jeong begged again, rubbing his white face against his stiff penis.   “Please let me suck it.”   “…….”   “Please, Hyung”   I never thought I would live to see Chae Yoo-jeong begging to be allowed to perform fellatio. Yoo Ji-han, who was shocked and disgusted at the same time, let out a laugh.   Chae Yoo-jeong, who quickly realized that Yoo Ji-han would not refuse even without proper permission, stuck out his tongue again and licked the tip of his penis.    Ha, I could hear Yoo Ji-han exhaling hot breath above my head.   Feeling more confident, Chae Yoo-jeong opened his mouth and swallowed his penis first. Yoo Ji-han’s penis, which was much larger than average, quickly filled his mouth. Chae Yoo-jeong paid no heed and pushed the penis into his mouth, following his greed.   “Whoa………”   The feeling of the hot mouth spread to his genitals. Blinking his eyes slowly, Yoo Ji-han, who was feeling the pleasure of coming up, stretched out his hand.   His hand brushed Chae Yoo-jeong’s forehead and then firmly grabbed his head. His brown hair was gently tangled as it touched Yoo Ji-han’s long fingers.   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   Yoo Ji-han, who raised the corner of his mouth, grabbed Chae Yoo-jeong’s chin with his free hand, and pulled him further.   “If you want to swallow it all, you have to open your mouth wider. Make sure it doesn’t touch your teeth. Yes, that’s right…….”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was new to sucking someone’s dick, was able to get more of his penis into his mouth thanks to the help of Yoo Ji-han.   Chae Yoo-jeong began to move his head back and forth, holding back the gag reflex that came up reflexively every time the glans touched his uvula. Every time Chae Yoo-jeong held back his nausea, he reflexively narrowed his throat and squeezed Yoo Ji-han’s penis.   “Ha…………….”   The hot, wet stimulation applied to his penis made him feel ready to cum. Yoo Ji-han thought he might make a mistake and tried to push Chae Yoo-jeong’s head.   “Yoo-jeong, stop.”   Chae Yoo-jeong lifted his gaze from the state where he was sucking his dick as his hand pushed him away. But he didn’t spit out the penis in his mouth even when he was told to stop.   Chae Yoo-jeong, with his eyes sparkling, moved his tongue more actively, as if he had been waiting for that. Yoo Ji-han’s hand holding his hair trembled as his tongue pressed against the tip of his glans again and again, sucking him like a candy.   “Gasp, ah……………!”   With a thud, Chae Yoo-jeong pushed his penis harder and deeper into his throat than ever before, accompanied by the squelching sound of his cock being thrust into the wet mouth. In the end, Yoo Ji-han could not stand the strong stimulation and his eyes twitched.   Chae Yoo-jeong swallowed every last drop of semen that poured into his mouth. Chae Yoo-jeong had finally achieved what he wanted, licking his glans with his tongue until the end.   “It’s fishy.”   Then, if the semen is dirty, it must be delicious.   Chae Yoo-jeong was dumbfounded as he said things that were obvious, so Yoo Ji-han let out a helpless laugh while he was lying down.   HM: My brain went up in flames….   --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

7.   03. Younger heart   -I’ll be there soon.   After finishing the phone call with Yoo Ji-han, Chae Yoo-jeong jumped up from the sofa with a very flushed face.   ‘Hyung is coming to my house now!’   I thought Yoo Ji-han wouldn’t be able to see me on weekdays because he was so busy with work, but he suddenly came to visit! Is he saying that he wants to see me and is coming in person?   Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been circling the living room with a happy smile on his face, suddenly raised his head.   ‘Wait a minute, I can’t greet Hyung like this.’   He quickly looked at his outfit. A loose-fitting T-shirt and gray training pants. Hair that has just been washed and is slightly wet at the ends and slightly stretched out.   It looked like a normal person resting at home, but he was a little nervous about showing it to Yoo Ji-han. Chae Yoo-jeong rushed to his bathroom, straightened his messy hair, and checked the condition of his face again.   He was greedy and wanted to dress neatly, but he held back because he thought it would be strange for someone who stayed at home to wear outside clothes.   After he left the bathroom, Chae Yoo-jeong walked back and forth around the house for a long time. He was moving and couldn’t stay still even for a moment. It wasn’t any other day, and with Yoo Ji-han, who had met his friend and had a drink– Chae Yoo-jeong expected him to go home right away, so he was nervous since he felt like he had received a surprise gift.   About 40 minutes had passed since he waited anxiously with his heart pounding. The doorbell rang signaling Yoo Ji-han’s arrival.   Since he knew the door lock password, he could easily press the button and come in. Feeling once again that Yoo Ji-han’s manners were good in minute details, Chae Yoo-jeong hurriedly ran to the front door and opened the door.   “Hyung, welcome……..!”   Chae Yoo-jeong opened the door with a wide smile and was so surprised that he could not finish his sentence.   The strong scent of roses came over Chae Yoo-jeong along with the outside wind. With the sound of rustling from the wrapping paper, bright yellow gypsophila and white roses filled Chae Yoo-jeong’s field of vision.   “Gift.”   Yoo Ji-han smiled deeply as he placed a bunch of roses in the arms of the surprised Chae Yoo-jeong.   Only then did he realize that he had received flowers from Yoo Ji-han, and his neck and his face gradually turned red. He looked at the bouquet in his arms for a long time as if he couldn’t believe it, and soon his eyes were filled with emotion.   “It’s a little late, but it’s a gift to congratulate you on winning.”   “T-than… Thank you, Hyung. Too… great. I really like it.”   Was the reason he suddenly came to my house was to give me a bouquet of flowers?  Chae Yoo-jeong thought that if he became overly happy, he might faint.   As he closed the front door, he looked at Yoo Ji-han, who came inside and stretched out his hand and gently touched Chae Yoo-jeong’s cheek.   “Actually, I have something to talk about besides this.”   “What do you want to talk about?”   “Let’s go in first.”   Yoo Ji-han had just returned from an appointment after work, so he was wearing a white shirt and black suit pants. It was also Chae Yoo-jeong’s favorite outfit of his.   Chae Yoo-jeong followed behind Yoo Ji-han, who was walking towards the living room, and suppressed the desire that threatened to burst out at any moment. Just looking at his slim shoulders, straight waist, and legs stretched out underneath them was so sexy that it made his heart flutter.   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   Yoo Ji-han, who had no idea how sinister Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes were, stopped in the middle of the living room and called out to him.   “Yes?”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was secretly peeping at the strong arms exposed under his rolled-up shirt sleeves, suddenly came to his senses, and answered.   “Listen and don’t misunderstand.”   “Yes.”   “First… um……”   Yoo Ji-han looked unusually embarrassed, wondering what he was talking about. Chae Yu-jeong tilted his head and waited calmly without urging him to continue.   “The bouquet is just a gift to celebrate winning and has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m going to say from now on. So, don’t be swayed by the gift and tell me your opinion.”   At this point, Chae Yoo-jeong couldn’t help but become suspicious. Chae Yoo-jeong looked at Yoo Ji-han’s stern expression for a moment, even feeling the tension, and then nodded his head.   “Alright.”   “Good.”   Yoo Ji-han took a short breath, composed himself, and immediately opened his mouth.   “Yoo-jeong-ah, we drank together last Sunday.”   “We did.”   “Then d… Do you remember crying?”   “Ah.”   Only after hearing those words did Chae Yoo-jeong understand what Yoo Ji-han was trying to say. Chae Yoo-jeong, who glanced at him, lowered the corners of his eyes, and apologized sullenly.   “Sorry.”   “At the time… Uh, what?”   “Sorry. I was so drunk that I couldn’t control my emotions and cried.”   “No, why are you apologizing for that?”   When Yoo Ji-han questioned with an expression of astonishment, Chae Yoo-jeong was equally embarrassed.   Isn’t this it? But it would be right to apologize. Chae Yoo-jeong wondered if he had made a mistake, so he quickly added an explanation.   “Actually, I tried to apologize for what happened when I met Hyung. I broke the mood by getting too drunk and crying. I’m so sorry too...……………”   “No no. wait a sec.”   Yoo Ji-han, whose expression was even more determined than before, pointed to his forehead and covered Chae Yoo-jeong’s mouth.   “Please, Yoo-jeong-ah. I’m not here to find fault with you.”   “But………………”   “You didn’t do anything wrong. The problem is me in that situation. I don’t know if you feel burdened by skinship, but I..….”   “What? Hyung, wait a minute.”   This time, Chae Yoo-jeong was surprised and stopped Yoo Ji-han.   “What do you mean? Are you saying I find skinship burdensome? I’ve never felt burdened before!”   “What? But then you… You cried.”   Chae Yoo-jeong experienced being speechless for the first time in a long time. Seeing Chae Yoo-jeong astonished with his mouth open, Yoo Ji-han seemed to be misunderstanding something, and held his shoulder with a gentle expression.   “Yoo-jeong-ah, this is not a problem that you can say no to without paying attention to myself. Even if you find skinship difficult, I have no intention of breaking up and I can fully understand. So, please tell me honestly.”    “No… Hyung, I really……”   “This is your first time being in a relationship. I should have taken that into consideration, but I think I acted a little hastily.”   The more Yoo Ji-han spoke, the more Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes narrowed. Chae Yoo-jeong looked at Yoo Ji-han with his brows slightly furrowed, with a deep look of dissatisfaction.   “From now on, let’s do skinship whenever you want… Ugh.”   In the end, Chae Yoo-jeong, who could no longer bear it, lowered his head, and kissed him before Yoo Ji-han could even finish his sentence. When he suddenly started kissing Yoo Ji-han, his eyes widened.   Chae Yoo-jeong started the kiss first, and his kiss was very rough. In front of Yoo Ji-han, he could not help but recall Chae Yoo-jeong’s always gentle personality.   Unlike Yoo Ji-han’s kiss, which focused on his strength, control, and pleasure, Chae Yoo-jeong’s kiss was very urgent, like someone who had starved for several days. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was kissing Yoo Ji-han while tightly hugging his waist, kissed his lips a few times as he had learned from Yoo Ji-han, then took his lips away.   “I never lied. I never lied to Hyung.”   “…….”   “The reason I cried at that time was because I was truly so happy. I had dreams of sleeping with Hyung countless times. How could I feel burdened by skinship like that? I feel like I’m going crazy because I’m so happy right now.”   Yoo Ji-han, who was quietly listening to Chae Yoo-jeong, laughed. Then the lower body was brought closer together.   “Okay. I guess I misunderstood.”   “……!”   “You’re hard down there, Yoo-jeong-ah.”   Yoo Ji-han kissed Chae Yoo-jeong’s reddened cheek, conscious of the feel of his semi-erect penis clearly felt through his training pants.   “If skinship is definitely burdensome, I couldn’t make it happen with just one kiss.”   “Hyung……….”   When Yoo Ji-han wedged his thigh tightly on Chae Yoo-jeong’s genitals, Chae Yoo-jeong began to tremble and become even more restless.   Yoo Ji-han, who giggled and laughed at his raw reaction, pressed his lips on Chae Yoo-jeong’s lips again, as if stamping them, without moving his thigh away.   “Are you going to sleep with me?”   “…….”   “Hyung, are you coming after washing up?”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who heard the last whisper, closed his eyes tightly with an expression that said he couldn’t hold out any longer. Then, after a while, he answered with difficulty in an exceptionally deep voice.   “I’ll wait... so go wash up quickly.”   ***     HM: no wonder people told me to not expect much from +19 side stories…. There’s not going to be many scenes after this. This is rather a reward that I had completed TGITG.   --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

The first thing that came to him was the rich scent of flowers that sweetly touched his lungs. The next thing that caught his attention was a large bouquet of flowers in full bloom. His voice softly flowing into his ear. "Did you sleep well?" "……Wow." It was only after a while that Yoo-shin realized that the only answer he said was a blank exclamation. "I really like the scent of flowers. But why the bouquet?" "This is our first date since we started dating." Hyeon Gyuha didn't seem to have any particular awareness that he was on his way to work. In Yoo-shin didn't care about such trivial matters either, but he felt a little dizzy. This was the first time he received a bouquet since his graduation from the monks as a congratulatory gift. "Thank you. I'll place it well...… ." The words coming out of In Yoo-shin’s mouth, who raised his head while holding a bouquet of flowers that were heavy even with both hands, faded like a groan at the end. Not only his mouth, but his head also became empty in an instant. His vision was obscured by the abundant bouquet of flowers, so he could only see them now. A refreshing ivory three-piece suit with a vest, a handkerchief on the left chest, and a collar bar with delicate decorations. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had even neatly combed his light-colored hair that was usually messy, tapped the floor of the hallway with his shoe and bent his waist to a sharp line. "I tried hard today, but how do I look?" In Yoo-shin, who had been staring blankly up at him with his mouth wide open, barely managed to come to his senses at those words. It was a self-evident fact that there was a halo on his face, and he had thought he had gotten used to his good looks, but he was wrong. He had been amazed just by the fact that it wasn't a familiar riding jacket, but the elegant fit of the suit that hugged his sleek, muscular body made him shut his mouth. "You look awesome......" Even he thought it was a hopeless vocabulary. It was such a thing that came out of his quivering lips. But that simple quiver made Hyeon Gyu-ha smile. “That’s the best compliment.” He was about to sweep his bangs back as a habit, but his half-gloved hand seemed to stop in midair and then he vaguely lowered it. The poorly made hamster-shaped ring, a quirky detail on his otherwise formal suit, confirmed that the person in front of me was indeed Hyeon Gyu-ha. His mouth finally opened when he saw the ring. In Yoo-shin took a deep breath and hid his flushed cheeks with the bouquet. I had been wondering how to greet Hyeon Gyu-ha today, but I never imagined that I would be met with such beauty that left me speechless. “It’s the first time I’ve seen you in a suit.” “It’s my first time wearing one, too. When I’ve been invited to parties or events, I’ve just worn my usual clothes or something. I’m relieved that it’s not weird.” “Why have you become so cool…….” “It’s a little uncomfortable.” Hyeon Gyu-ha unconsciously touched the cuff links on his dress shirt with his fingers as if he wasn’t used to it. The diamonds set closely together must be real, not fake. In Yoo-shin’s mind briefly felt dizzy as he imagined Hyeon Gyu-ha putting on cufflinks in front of the mirror. "But since Master likes it, I’ll wear it everyday from now on." "No, that's a bit……………………" In Yoo-shin took a deep breath. "If I see this every morning, I think I'll have a heart attack and not live long." It was a serious answer, but Hyeon Gyu-ha covered his mouth with his hand and smiled slightly. The hamster ring was cute. Earlier, it felt unbalanced with the suit, but now that I look at it, even the hamster was perfect. “Then I’ll wear it sometimes. Specifically, when I need to attack Yoo-shin- ssi  with my face, that’s okay, right?” “I’ve already been attacked……………….” In Yoo-shin was certain that if he attacked with that face, he would fall in less than a second. If I had been born as a king in my past life, wouldn’t I have been bewitched by Hyeon Gyu-ha’s face and sold my country? It was a morning when he truly understood the true meaning of a beautiful person. “Squeak!” 8- se  also let out a joyful sound from his pouch, perhaps because the scent of the flowers was pleasant. After leaving the bouquet on the table and greeting the 6- se , he left the front door. I thought only the scent of flowers was fragrant, but the faint scent of perfume also gently wafted to the tip of my nose. “I’ll change my perfume every day, so if there’s one you like, tell me. I’ll only use that.” In Yoo-shin licked his dry lips with his tongue. I didn’t know much about perfume, and the scent Hyeon Gyu-ha wore today was not irritating and had a refreshing feel, which was nice. But I could say this one thing for sure. “Even without perfume, you smells good……. Ah, n-no, you can use it as your favorite perfume.” As he was talking, the nuance felt strange, so he quickly tried to fix it, but Hyeon Gyu-ha’s lips had already turned red. The scent seemed to be getting closer. Hyeon Gyu-ha bent down and left a short kiss on the skin around his earlobe, then nuzzled his nose against his neck. The hairs on his neck stood on end. “I like your body scent better, Yoo-shin- ssi . I wish I could rub it on me.” Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled slightly at him, who reflexively rubbed his reddened neck in surprise, and held out a hand as if to escort him. “Then shall we go, Master- nim ?” All of his single-person jitters surged again as he walked alongside him. I don’t know why it looks so dangerous today, even though I’ve climbed up and down the stairs hundreds of times. I felt like he would notice the cold sweat on my palm as I held Hyeon Gyu-ha’s hand, and I felt like I would misstep because the steps were so high, and I felt like I would fall over the railing. “Since it’s our first day of dating, if you’re nervous, should we do a concept?” “What’s that?” “A couple in a political marriage.” “What?” I wondered what he was talking about, but it was a more specific concept than I thought. “Yoo-shin- ssi  is the Grand Duke of the North who has been able to tame hamsters for generations, and I’m Yeong-ae who got married in a political marriage. We pretended to be a good couple on the outside after getting married, but now we finally have a connection.” I don’t know what he’s saying, but as I listened to his voice calmly spouting off embarrassing nonsense like usual, my nervousness melted away. I can’t be sure what’s real and what’s fake, but for now, I think I can just accept this moment completely. ‘It's not entirely... but I think I'm getting a little used to Gyu-ha- ssi  in a suit, and there won't be any more surprises.’ I knew it was a hasty decision as soon as I got down to the front of the house.  The bike that always greeted him was nowhere to be seen, and a stylish sports car that didn't fit in with the old residential area was parked there. It looked luxurious at first glance, and it seemed to be a limited edition car made using byproducts of the devil. “There was a car like this in our neighborhood?” At that scene that felt uncomfortable, a local resident walking to work muttered to himself and glanced at him. In Yoo-shin asked, half in disbelief. “Is this Gyu-ha- ssi ’s car……?” “I brought him here today, instead of Gap-sik, but we haven’t named him yet. Will you name him?” “Um, uh……………. I’ll think about it slowly.” It's a relief it's not a name like Samdol, but when it comes down to it, I couldn't think of anything for the humanoid god either. ‘Well, if you wear a suit and ride a bike, your outfit will get messy.’ There wasn’t a single scratch on the shiny, dark blue body, as if it was a brand new car that had just been purchased. The emblems of both companies’ cars were also shiny and glossy. “I didn't realize you had a car. I didn't see one when I visited your place before.” “It's not something worth taking you to the parking lot to show you. It's not like I bought it myself; Kkeut(끝녀)-nyeo noona sends me one of each color whenever a new car comes out.” It seems someone around the head of sales at both car companies is a fan of Hyeon Gyu-ha. By the way, Kkeut-nyeo is quite a classic name. Hyeon Gyu-ha would be able to call even a 100-year-old grandmother as her sister, so In Yoo-shin, who had been nodding, suddenly raised his head. Yang-sa and Keut-nyeo. It was a familiar combination. “Keut-nyeo, doesn’t she have a 5-year-old daughter…?” “She has an ugly 5-year-old.” “She divorced her husband and are now living alone…………….” “Her ex-husband was a very useless person.” “Her last name is……” “Min. Min-keut-nyeo.” “…….” The third generation chaebol Min-keut-nyeo he had known all this time was the successor and vice president of the Yang-sa Group, and Gong Tae-seong’s ex-wife. And now, she was the one who was giving Hyeon Gyu-ha expensive cars. Although the two companies were famous for supporting Hyeon Gyu-ha since long ago, he only thought of it as a public relationship to scout him to Anpang, their guild. However, 'that Hyeon Gyu-ha' was close enough to call him 'Noona'. It might also be related to the incident 14 years ago when Kang Seok-woo was murdered…... In Yoo-shin just gave up on the idea. My mind was already saturated. If there was a third generation chaebol who spent a lot of money among her acquaintances, it would be good for Hyeon Gyu-ha. “Can I ride in the passenger seat?” “Feel free to sit on my lap.” Hyun Gyu-ha opened the passenger car door. It was the first time he had actually seen a car with a door that opened upwards. “I’ve never had anyone in the seat next to me, so don’t worry.” He got into the car, looking around the interior in amazement. Hyeon Gyu-ha also circled the hood and opened the door on the driver’s side. “I’ll put on the seatbelt……………….” Hyeon Gyu-ha’s eyes were filled with disappointment, so In Yoo-shin quickly unbuckled his seatbelt. He smiled and bent over to the passenger seat, stretching out his arms. The scent of perfume flowed strongly, and his arms lingered close as if he was hugging him. The nerves that had been loosely relaxed pressed against his heart. The breath mixed with perfume slowly brushed the back of his neck. His fingertips shrank. When he chewed his sigh in his mouth, Hyeon Gyu-ha's hand had already moved away. In Yoo-shin swallowed a sigh of regret that he couldn't express for some reason. "Then I'll go." Hyeon Gyu-ha started the engine. It didn't start. It started successfully on the fifth try. In Yoo-shin, who didn't have his own car and had never paid attention when getting a ride, didn't notice anything strange. However, his heart pounded slightly at the sight of him turning his body diagonally to back up the parked car and holding onto the back of the passenger seat headrest with his right hand. He just realized it, and he had a black, glossy watch on his left wrist that he had never seen before. The car that was backing up slightly hit a telephone pole. Kong . The body rattled a little. 'It was as clean as a new car, so it must have gotten scratched. What a shame.' The sports car that came out of the road at a different angle moved forward. Kick, thump. This time, it was the sides. Judging from the sound, it must have left a very long mark. “If you say that you got scratched by the collision, tell Yoo Byun to charge you for the repairs.” Even then, he should have realized something was wrong and gotten out of the car he was driving right away. HM: start of lovey dovey arc ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M, eteryl If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

"The weather is truly awful. They said it would clear up from tonight, but 'clear up' my foot. Those weathermen should all be fired." A grumbling voice was heard from ahead. By the voice, it seemed to be Tou. Although they were only a few meters apart, they could be distinguished by their voices. It wasn't just because it was night. It wasn't just because there were many obstacles in the forest obstructing their view. The fog that had started to descend in the evening had settled thoroughly in every corner of the forest. It was so thick that as they pushed through it, their collars had become damp without them realizing. "Forget about the weathermen, I want to strip the uniforms off all the instructors who make us do a night march in this kind of weather." The one muttering a little behind Tou was Ching. The sound of laughter next to him was Carlo. "I can tolerate the nighttime ruck march, but I absolutely cannot forgive the way they drained all our energy with the sparring all afternoon and then immediately told us to leave without any announcement in advance." This voice sounded unfamiliar, so it must be someone from a different team. Listening to the voice speaking while grinding his teeth, he seemed to still have plenty of energy. Jeong Tae-ui chuckled to himself, thinking that his uncle would definitely say, 'sounds like you wumps aren’t worn out enough.’ If I heard that, even though I myself found it amusing.  Maurer, who was walking right beside him, looked at Jeong Tae-ui and grumbled. "Are you in the mood to laugh? My legs are about to give out." "It's just one day like this, so what's the big deal?" "It's not just one day. When we finish the march and go back, it's immediately extreme training, you idiot. There's no time to rest." Maurer grumbled, spitting out his words as if he was annoyed. This guy also seemed energetic enough to need less rest for a while. Jeong Tae-ui chuckled unseen, but his laughter soon disappeared. Indeed, there was no time to rest. The days were a continuous series of tension, and in the afternoons, they mostly engaged in group sparring, spending time that was almost no different from a brawl with the European branch members. Today, too, they listened to lectures in the morning as usual—though after a few days, they were even verbally sparring and engaging in metaphorical sword fights during lecture time—and spent the entire afternoon in sparring. It must have been the same for other teams as well, not just my team. It was sparring where even if you knocked them down and knocked them down again, the next opponent would keep coming at you. If they were doing it among their own teammates, they might have rested a bit, sensing the mood, or sparred moderately easily and even lost on purpose. But if the opponent was a European branch member, like an irreconcilable enemy, that wasn't the case. Most of them thought that even if they felt like they were going to die of exhaustion, they had to throw that guy down coolly and break an arm or something. Jeong Tae-ui didn't have a reason to hold such grudges and wanted to go easy on each other and take it easy, but it was just regrettable that the opponent didn't think the same way. It was impossible to quietly offer his arms and legs to guys who lunged at him with the intention of practically devouring Jeong Tae-ui. The regular schedule ended, and he barely managed to finish the day. Just when he thought so, the instructors suddenly called them to a halt as they were tidying up and about to leave. And they announced. That there would be a 20-kilometer nighttime ruck march tonight, so they should go to the cafeteria right now, eat, and reassemble within 30 minutes. At that moment, Jeong Tae-ui was probably not the only one who wanted to immediately throw the headgear in his hand at that instructor. The sense of accomplishment that they had finished another day, despite being tired, was instantly frozen into a chilling atmosphere. 20 kilometers wasn't such a deadly distance that you would make such a grim face. That distance, which would take them about half a circle around the island, was a distance we could complete the march in about five hours. Normally, we would have walked it casually, chatting and laughing, feeling like we were on a picnic. However, they were exhausted. Even during the mere 30 minutes allotted for dinner, they couldn't properly chew and swallow their food because they were collectively condemning the correctional officers upon hearing the sudden, unannounced news of the nighttime ruck march. What was even worse was that we had to embark on the march in full gear. Uncle. You said this wasn't the military. But what is all this? Why are we marching, and why the full military gear? Jeong Tae-ui inwardly showered his uncle with curses, unable to count how many times he had done so since coming to this island, as he bore the entire weight of the heavy pack pressing down on his shoulders with his whole body. "If the instructors can't take off their clothes, I'd rather take off mine and throw myself off this corner of this island." It was just then, when someone grumbled from up ahead. "If you want to take them off, take them off after the joint training. And the guy who wants to strip me of my clothes, I’m happy to oblige, so come find me anytime after the march." This voice, lively without any sign of exhaustion, came from behind Jeong Tae-ui. A sudden, icy silence fell. Not only did the men who had been chatting in the front fall silent, but those in the back were also startled as if they would jump. They had never dreamed that an instructor was mixed in among the people around them, whom they hadn't properly observed. Jeong Tae-ui flinched, startled by the unexpected, familiar voice coming from so close by. Even though there was no way his silent curses could have been heard, he felt subtly self-conscious for no reason. "Uncle……, Instructor Jeong, you’re coming with us?" "How could I possibly sit around in the instructor's office and do nothing? How would I know what kind of accident might suddenly happen and when? Besides, we'll start running into other teams within an hour or two." His uncle mumbled as if bothered—he definitely wasn't there at the time of departure—from who knows when. As he said, they had started separately, but after wandering through the forest for this long, it was about time they started running into other teams. It wouldn't matter if it was a team from the same Asian branch, but if not, it would become troublesome. "With the fog this thick, if we went a little deeper, you could kill someone and bury them secretly, and no one would know. I bet if you dug up this whole forest, you'd find several bodies anyway." My uncle said it casually, like a joke, but also like the truth. Jeong Tae-ui glanced at his wrist, thinking maybe it really was the truth. About an hour had passed since they started. "We must have come about 3 or 4 kilometers now. If it's 20 kilometers, even if we finish quickly and head back, it'll be midnight." He scratched the back of his neck, muttering, wondering if they'd even be able to find their way back, in that dark night. It was already pitch dark all around. Because the forest was so dense, it was already dim even during the day, but now that it was night and the fog was thick, it was even darker. It wouldn't be strange to get lost like this. "Well, it's not that big an island anyway, so even if we get lost, it'll be somewhere around here." To Jeong Tae-ui, who added the muttering, his uncle replied as if asking what he was talking about. "We can't go back by midnight. We'll sleep in the forest tonight and go back tomorrow." "Huh?" "We'll go about 10 more kilometers and set up camp somewhere suitable. I told you to bring a sleeping bag. Didn't you bring it?" "No, I brought the duffel bag as it was, so there's probably a sleeping bag in it, but that's not the problem. You're saying we'll sleep in the forest and go back? We're going to sleep outdoors?" "Hmm. Sometimes a person needs to sleep outdoors a bit to train themselves. We'll also take turns standing guard and keep the campfire going." "I heard there are poisonous snakes here, poisonous snakes!" "That's why I said we're going to have a night watch. You should be able to trust your comrades and fall asleep." "No, there's no way you just make people sleep in a forest where poisonous snakes come out at night!" "Even if it's a poisonous snake, the venom isn't that strong, so even if you're bitten, if you treat it properly right away, you won't die, I think I told you that." "That's not the problem, Uncle. There are things more dangerous than snakes rampant here—" Jeong Tae-ui shouted as if he was about to go wild with just a few more words, but there was no reaction from the others. Only after seeing their attitude, showing no surprise as they had experienced this several times before, did Jeong Tae-ui keenly feel that this was not a joke but reality. Jeong Tae-ui had slept outdoors countless times. I had slept under the stars, slept in the dew, and even slept in places where snakes and centipedes rustled. But those snakes weren't poisonous, and the people I would be sleeping outdoors with weren't enemies constantly aiming for my neck. "Ah, right, you did have a reason to be on your guard. But…… I saw some unfamiliar handwriting while looking at the notebook you gave me. Whose writing is it?" Suddenly, his uncle said with a subtle smile. Jeong Tae-ui closed his mouth. If I said, "It's that guy," and burdened that guy with the weight of ten volumes of transcriptions too, we would have less time to encounter each other. It felt a bit embarrassing to openly tell on him like this. However, just as Jeong Tae-ui was about to open his mouth to increase his own safety, his uncle spoke first. "But you know Tae-ui. While there might be some correlation between that guy's free time and the duration of your life, didn't you consider that ultimately your life would be in greater danger due to your actions?" Jeong Tae-ui closed his mouth again. It wasn't very surprising that my uncle had already figured out the owner of the handwriting. I’m no longer surprised by anything this uncle knew, given his ability to instantly sort and process a mountain of documents. However, what his uncle said was something Jeong Tae-ui had slightly considered himself. When the slight help that Reigrow had given Jeong Tae-ui turned into poison for him, he wondered if it might actually have a counterproductive effect. "Think wisely and give me your answer by the time we return to the branch tomorrow." His uncle said with a smile. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue bitterly. At this rate, I could either have to insist it was my own handwriting to the end, or quietly accept the burden of writing ten more volumes. The forest grew denser and denser. The sound of his colleagues ahead repeatedly breaking off twigs and saying, "Ugh, I wish we could just burn all these damn trees," could be heard. It seemed that branches and such kept scratching their faces every time they stepped into a place where there wasn't a proper path. Thinking it was at least good that he was walking behind, Jeong Tae-ui, who had been walking silently, suddenly asked quietly. "But that man, they say he even killed an instructor." Just then, his uncle, who was walking right behind Jeong Tae-ui, replied casually. "Hmm. He did that early the year before last. That instructor made a foolish mistake. That instructor's younger sibling was also a member at the same branch, and ended up bedridden for life by Rick's hand. It happened during training, so there was no particular basis for punishment and it was overlooked, but that instructor felt it wasn't enough. Well, of course, that instructor probably wasn't trying to kill Rick, but the result was—" His uncle stopped speaking at a point where it could be guessed without hearing the end. Jeong Tae-ui grimaced. I knew that laws and rules were originally designed to be flawed enough to have loopholes, but I felt that in that man's case, the degree was severe. However, at the same time, he recalled the attitude of the European branch members towards Reigrow. That wasn't the attitude one would have towards a close colleague. Awe, fear, and anxiety were much more prevalent. Considering the man's personality and the kind of stories circulating about him, it seemed quite likely that Riegrow had many internal enemies. Nevertheless, remembering the man who freely wielded his abilities to kill and operated without a care, Jeong Tae-ui unconsciously stiffened his face. "He must have a really serious backstory……" As Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, unable to understand, and tilted his head, the column suddenly stopped. From the front of the halted column, as if an obstacle had appeared, short, unpleasant shouts erupted almost simultaneously. The shouts quickly doubled, then tripled. "Oh no. I expected this, but I did  hope we could avoid this kind of situation." His uncle muttered from behind Jeong Tae-ui and stepped forward. Even without hearing my uncle's words, the rough noises from the front were enough to make it abundantly clear. They had encountered another team on the march, specifically a team from the European branch. There had been one rule from the start: teams that encountered each other along the way would march together. Because of this, everyone hoped that if they did meet a team, it would be one from their own branch. There were even people who openly declared that if they marched with those guys from the European branch, four or five heads would roll overnight. Jeong Tae-ui, sensing that they would be staying in that spot for a while, leaned against a nearby tree. He rested his bag against the tree and lowered his body slightly to relieve the weight of his luggage. His shoulders felt a little lighter. After a moment, the commotion from the front died down. At the unnatural and sudden decrease in noise, Jeong Tae-ui turned his head in that direction. The fog was still thick, and there were many obstacles blocking my view, so I couldn't see what was happening in front, but I had a feeling that something might have occurred. However, even after waiting a little longer, no more ominous sounds were heard. Instead, there were sporadic grumbles, quieter than before but still rough. "What's wrong? Did someone get into a brawl up ahead or something?" When Jeong Tae-ui asked Ching, who had been standing in front of him, the latter, who had gone ahead and then returned with a heavily creased face, opening his water bottle, shook his head. "That guy's there." "Huh?" "That bastard who deserves to be torn to death. We have to march with the team that has that guy in it. Damn it, are they crazy? What kind of horrible sight are we supposed to see in the middle of the night with that lunatic bastard……." At Ching's words, Jeong Tae-ui's face crumpled. Amidst the murmurs about how they wouldn't get any sleep tonight and that one night watch wouldn't be enough, Jeong Tae-ui looked ahead with his face still creased. It seemed the situation upfront had been somewhat sorted out, as they were showing signs of starting off again. And unfamiliar faces walked towards the back, mingling here and there among the groups. Of course, their faces were equally grim, as if they had bitten into a bug. "It would be better to enter a snake pit than to run into these bastards……." "Hmph. If we go with guys tougher than snakes, the snakes won't come." Conversations laced with hostility were exchanged here and there. With the European branch members interspersed among them with savage looks, Jeong Tae-ui pulled his hat down low. He also raised his neck high and lowered his head. The crowd began to move forward again. Glancing back while walking towards the rear, he could see a chilling back of a head in the distance, barely visible through the fog. The moment he saw that head, which was a head taller than others, it felt utterly menacing, and he knew instantly. Further and further away, Jeong Tae-ui fell back until he was at the very rear of the crowd. Though mixed, the front and middle of the crowd were mostly filled with members from the Asia branch, while groups of men from the European branch walked from the middle to the back. Jeong Tae-ui realized that most of the men walking around him were from the European branch, but he had no desire to move forward and just kept walking.  In any case, hardly anyone paid attention to me, walking alone and practically hiding my face. At this distance, it was quite a ways off, and the location where that chilling head had been was obscured by the fog, no longer visible. Seeing it appear and disappear in the fog only intensified the eerie feeling. Thinking about it, wasn't this situation a perfect opportunity for that man? The fog was thick. They were deep in a forest. They were even going to spend the night here. Moreover, it wasn't a situation where they were completely surrounded by enemies. In other words, if I put my mind to it, it was a situation where I could kill someone without a trace, bury them in the forest, and pretend not to know anything. "Damn it. We got stuck with the Asia guys. We have to spend the night with those filthy bastards?" "Don't joke around. Anyway, we have to divide the area and make sleeping arrangements. How can we sleep mixed in with those bastards? It's already nauseating just walking a few meters away like this." "Just our luck. There's really nothing useful that's happened since I came to this damn Asia branch." He could hear the muttering of the European branch men walking nearby. Jeong Tae-ui couldn't help but let out a small laugh.  I had already heard the exact same words, just with "Asia" replaced by "Europe," from the other side. It seemed everyone was equally uncreative when it came to cursing. "But I'm more worried about Simon than the Asian guys……. Is that guy really okay?" One of them suddenly muttered. His voice held a hint of unease and worry. "Yeah, I know. I didn't even see him. Where did he go?" "He went ahead earlier. Right behind Rick. Is it really okay to leave him like that? I'm really uneasy." "Hmm……. Still, surely not. That guy knows of the consequences, so what could he possibly do?" "You never know. What can't a person do when they suddenly snap? If he loses his mind at some point and just stabs him in the back, the game's over." "Nah. Even if he tried a surprise attack, Rick wouldn't be easily stabbed. It would be something if he even grazed him." "Even if he were stabbed, would the blade even go in? I doubt a single drop of blood would come out. Has anyone here seen Rick's blood?" "You'd have to bleed to see it. That guy definitely doesn't have blood flowing in his body." Even as they spoke like it was a joke, they didn't laugh. At most, they twisted their lips into a bitter smile. They were cautious and uneasy, as if just talking about it could bring bad luck. Walking a few steps away and listening to their words, the same anxiety and subtle restlessness that they felt spread within Jeong Tae-ui's chest. I knew immediately who they were talking about. It was that man who inspired awe and unease not only in people from other branches but also in those from his own branch. Riegrow, also known as Rick. "Ah, damn it. I don't care if Simon tried to kill Rick or not, but I just hope it doesn't happen while the Asian guys are around. What good is there in showing those bastards our internal issues?" "That's true. But if I were Simon, I would have wanted to kill Rick too." "Even if I weren't Simon, I don't particularly like that bastard. Why are we even on the same team as a guy like that? All we see are unpleasant things day after day. Ah, damn it, can't we switch teams?" "Ever since I got on the same team as that guy, chunks of meat don't look ordinary to me anymore. I swear I'm going to become a vegetarian against my will." "Honestly, we should be thankful that we're at least in the same branch and the same team. Just imagine if we had to face him as an opponent in sparring or as an enemy in joint training." Jeong Tae-ui felt a subtle bitterness at their grumbling words. I felt as though I had starkly realized what kind of person Riegrow was. He was a man who couldn't blend in even within his own team, sticking out and drifting alone. Everyone felt a sense of relief and simultaneously an uneasy fear at the fact that he was on their team. He was someone you absolutely did not want to get close to, but also someone you couldn't afford to have as an enemy. I couldn't understand why I felt sad. It was probably something Riegrow himself wouldn't care about in the slightest, yet it left a bad taste in my mouth. Well, it would be even stranger if they weren't afraid of such a crazy bastard. Jeong Tae-ui didn't want to hear their conversations anymore and quickened his pace. As he put some distance between himself and the rear, he could see Riegrow's figure some distance ahead again. There were few people around him, as if a barrier had been erected. A wry smile appeared on his face at the sight.  Indeed, for a man who had earned so much grudges to the point that enemies who went after his neck were scattered even within the same branch, it would be even funnier if people gathered around him as if nothing were wrong. If someone were to try and kill that man right now, I wouldn't even help him. This was even more true when I thought of the cold yet overflowing gaze of desire that he had directed at Xinlu. Dangerous. Threatening. Overpowering. He was a man one could never be around with a comfortable heart. Even more so if he coveted or belittled something precious to me. It was then. Suddenly, it seemed like Riegrow slowed his steps. Jeong Tae-ui, who had been watching his back, also inadvertently paused his steps. He looked back. Jeong Tae-ui instinctively lowered his head slightly to avoid his gaze. It seemed like nothing significant, as he said a few words to the person coming behind him and then turned his head forward again. Sighing, Jeong Tae-ui pressed down and bent the brim of his hat, pulling it even further down. They stopped after walking for another three or four hours. Judging by the faint sound of the sea, the ocean seemed not far away. Hearing the sound of the sea naturally reminded Jeong Tae-ui of Xinlu, and he unconsciously relaxed his expression. "The fog is so thick here and with the sound of the water too, it's just amazing." "Does 'amazing' mean amazingly good, or amazingly bad?" Following the instructors' words, the men who had stopped walking knew that this was where they would spend the night and began to clear the ground appropriately. There was a not-so-wide clearing in the middle of the forest. Even calling it a clearing was a stretch; there were bushes and rocks here and there where trees didn't grow, so clearing the ground took quite a while. The instructors also seemed reluctant to cross the dangerous bridge unnecessarily, so the men from the other team moved to a clearing a little further away, with a few trees in between. Even so, if you just turned your head, you could see each other immediately, but in terms of location, we were all separated. "I'll take the very corner spot……, yeah, that spot below the rock looks good." Jeong Tae-ui quickly went to the place furthest from the European branch, a spot where a large rock cast a shadow, and settled down. The rock blocked the view. "Snakes and bugs tend to crawl into a spot like that." Tou, who was clearing bushes, saw Jeong Tae-ui and advised him, but Jeong Tae-ui shook his head.  There was someone over there I wanted to be further away from more than snakes and bugs. As if understanding his feelings, Tou didn't say anything more. Having chased away a lizard crawling in the rock's shade and settled down, Jeong Tae-ui listened to the distant sound of the sea. The water sound, faintly heard amidst the hazy darkness created by the fog, felt a bit strange. While Jeong Tae-ui was lost in the sound of the water, his comrades gathered dry branches and other things and built a bonfire in the center of the clearing. Seven or eight men formed a circle around the fire, decided on the order for the night watch, and, despite being tired from the whole day and able to fall asleep, they were instead murmuring and chatting. The other group across the grove was the same. They didn't seem to be chatting harmoniously, but they too seemed to have found their spots and were sitting around their bonfire. There was a sense of caution, wondering if a fight might break out during the night or if something nasty might happen under the cover of darkness, but neither side seemed to have any intention of being the first to ignite the spark of trouble. Even with the detestable and tiresome group right next to them, their own physical fatigue and exhaustion came first. In fact, Jeong Tae-ui wondered what the point of a night watch was, but knowing it would be useless to say anything, he didn't bring it up at all. I knew that if I did, I would clearly just hear something like, 'Can't you see those hostile enemies right next to you, eyes wide open, watching for an opportunity?' It was better to just not get yelled at and spend mh turn on guard duty resting appropriately when it came. Suddenly, Jeong Tae-ui felt a gaze and raised his head. His uncle was sitting on the rock where Jeong Tae-ui had taken his spot in the shade. Sitting on the rock, which looked uncomfortable due to its uneven surface, his uncle slowly looked around and then finally directed his gaze towards Jeong Tae-ui. "Aren't you uncomfortable sitting there?" "As the leader, I should at least sit where everyone can see me." His uncle said, smiling, half in jest, half in earnest. A captain attached to his uncle was also visible standing a few steps away. Jeong Tae-ui chuckled lightly and got into his sleeping bag and lay down. His turn for the night watch was the third. Thinking he would wake up vaguely around one or two in the morning, stay awake for about an hour, and then fall vaguely back asleep, Jeong Tae-ui closed his eyes with a quiet sigh. Not falling asleep right away, he either listened to or let pass the distant sound of the water and the low murmuring voices of his comrades. "I wonder where the other teams are. And which team they met." The languid voice was Carlo's. He had likely spoken to the uncle, who muttered "Well..." from the rock and then laughed. "They'll all be pretty similar. As if anywhere could have met opponents worse than ours." As the uncle made a joke, quiet laughter rose from here and there. Perhaps because it was a tiring night, the laughter was somewhat subdued. Jeong Tae-ui, who was starting to feel sleepy, also let out a soft chuckle. "I saw recently that Instructor Crimson's team was doing quite well. It seemed their sparring results were pretty good throughout this week." Someone else asked. His uncle replied, "This week's results were like that. But you never know, there's still one more week left." Jeong Tae-ui tilted his head with his eyes closed. Results, huh? It seems they are scoring which team gets better results even during the joint training. Now that they mention it, I thought I might have heard something like that before. "Last time the joint training prize was a week's vacation for the whole team, right? I wonder what they'll give this time." "The time before that, the team bonus was $30,000. They'll probably keep it around that level." "I'd prefer vacation over money. The way I feel right now, I'd like to quit everything, just collapse, and rest for exactly three days." 'But you only get that if your performance is the best, do they give it to just anyone? ……Ah, let's work hard next week.' They talked in voices that weren't particularly loud. Jeong Tae-ui nodded, thinking, 'Yeah, I'd prefer vacation over money too.' Judging by the context of the conversation, it seemed that after the joint training ended, they would evaluate the results and reward the best team. "I'm not hoping for first place, but I do have a wish for us to get better results than Instructor Crimson's team, at least." When his uncle muttered this, pretending to let out a deep sigh, a short burst of laughter followed. "Well, yeah, recently Instructor Crimson and others seem to be under some tension……. Isn't his promotion evaluation date approaching, by any chance?" Carlo said this with a laugh, as if joking. His uncle also laughed and replied, "When you say it, it doesn't sound like a joke." Promotion, huh? Come to think of it, I had almost forgotten, but the six-month period was ultimately about that. How are things going? His uncle's superior was Rudolf Gentil. The talk was about pushing that man up to the position of chief. I wondered if things were going well. However, upon reflection, Jeong Tae-ui couldn't understand why he was specifically dragged to this place. Even if I was considered someone who would be lucky enough to survive till the end, from what I had heard since arriving, the atmosphere didn't seem so harsh that everyone was dying off. Rather, it seemed more like only an unlucky few were getting caught up in accidents and dying…… Uncle, you didn't have that many people around. However, thinking differently, the person my uncle had initially wanted to bring was my Hyung. If my lucky Hyung had been with him, that luck might have helped my uncle as well. And then, he was called over as a chicken instead of a pheasant. ....... But what difference does it make? In the flow of events, I am merely waiting for time to pass. If my uncle asks me for help with something, I will help, and if I don't say anything, whether it ends up helping him without my knowledge or the opposite, I can only deal with the tasks placed in front of me. Jeong Tae-ui let out a deep breath. The smell of damp grass and soil mixed together to fill his lungs. Along with that, a subtle saltiness. This is the smell of the sea. The sound of the sea. The smell of the sea. The smell of grass and soil. The quiet rustling sound of insects somewhere. The crisp sound of leaves hitting each other in the breeze. These things evoked a strange longing and a melancholic comfort. The sound of the wind, sometimes quiet, then suddenly breaking through. The scent of the night, sometimes calm, then suddenly penetrating his nostrils. These things tense the right side of his heart and relax the left. A time just lonely and quiet enough to be bearable. Breaking that time, someone quietly grasped his shoulder and shook it. Jeong Tae-ui opened his eyes. Ching was tapping and pointing at his wrist watch in front of him. Blinking his eyes in confusion, Jeong Tae-ui sat up and discovered the scene where everyone else was asleep and only the bonfire was crackling and burning. He turned his head but couldn't see his uncle, who had been sitting on the rock talking in a quiet voice. I thought I had just closed his eyes for a moment, but it seems I had unknowingly fallen into a deep sleep. "Time has already gotten this late. I thought I had just dozed off for a bit. Ow, my back……."  Muttering about his back and rubbing his shoulder, Jeong Tae-ui got up and shivered in the cold night air. Ching, who had been on guard duty before Jeong Tae-ui, crawled into his sleeping bag with heavily sleepy eyes. "Keep watch for an hour. I'll go to sleep now. See you in the morning."  Ching pulled the zipper of his sleeping bag up to his nose, wiggled a few fingers out from his head end to signal, and then slowly burrowed completely into the sleeping bag. Jeong Tae-ui, saying "Okay, sleep well," rubbed his cool forearms and leaned against the rock where his uncle had been sitting earlier. It was quiet. The only things moving were the flames of the bonfire, the bushes and leaves swayed by the wind, or occasionally small animals scurrying away in the distance. Everything else was embraced by the night's silence. Jeong Tae-ui suddenly turned his head. The group from the European branch was visible beyond the grove of trees. They too were quietly paused in the night forest.  The young man standing watch over there was so sleepy he kept rubbing his eyes and yawning. Then, when his eyes met Jeong Tae-ui's, he stiffened his posture with a stern face. Jeong Tae-ui, who had considered waving, thinking it was fate they met like this, just smiled when he saw him. Jeong Tae-ui looked up at the sky. It was hard to see the sky, hidden by dense leaves. However, the sky visible here and there between the leaves was hazy and reddish. Hong Kong's night view was erasing the color of the sky. Thinking about it, it felt strange that such a quiet natural place existed so close to a sleepless metropolis. He looked at his watch. The night was deep. I looked around, examining each sleeping person. Even if their faces were hidden by sleeping bags and couldn't be confirmed, I could tell who was who by their gear. That's Ching, that's Carlo, that's Yeon Ho……. Just then, the sound of the sea was heard in the distance. Swaaa , a low sound that awakened a faint unease. Come to think of it, I had traveled to the night sea a long time ago. On the completely dark night sea where nothing was visible, only several squid fishing boats shone with brilliant lights floating on the horizon, and the waves that rolled onto the beach, hitting rocks and pebbles, sparkled faintly like sprinkled powder before disappearing. Is it like that now? Jeong Tae-ui looked towards the direction from which the sound of the sea came. My sleepiness is completely gone.  When he turned his head, the other sentry beyond the grove was sitting leaning against a tree stump, nodding off. "Maybe I'll go for a short walk?" He chuckled softly. If someone were to wake up during this, they would yell about why I wasn't on night watch and where I went, and if I intended to put them all in danger, but in reality, there was no danger. I could stake my neck on the fact that there was no way the group sleeping beside them would suddenly draw their swords, gather together, and stab each person sleeping here. Jeong Tae-ui quietly said 'Good night' to his already sleeping comrades and moved on. The path to the sea was not properly maintained. Just like the journey there, he had to push through, avoiding or stepping on rough grass, branches, and sharp stones embedded in the ground. In fact, I had no idea which direction to take. Fortunately, my sense of direction was excellent, so returning the way I came was easy, but since there was no proper path, I didn't know which way would lead more easily to the sea. I could only rely on the fact that the sound of the sea was getting closer. Rustle. Jeong Tae-ui flinched. I thought I heard a presence somewhere.  Stopping, Jeong Tae-ui silently turned back towards the direction where he thought he heard the sound. There was nothing there but the dark forest. "......" The sea was already close ahead. Just a few dozen more steps and the forest would open up and the sea would appear. But within this still dark forest, he felt someone's presence. He held his breath and waited, but even after a long time passed, no more sounds were heard. Then, something seemed to move a few steps away. It was close by. Jeong Tae-ui instinctively reached into his pocket and turned towards it. The moment his fingertips grasped the knife warmed by his body heat was almost simultaneous with his eyes recognizing the object. It was a snake. Power instantly drained from Jeong Tae-ui's body. The snake was a dark, plain-colored ground snake, commonly seen in mountains that were somewhat deep. It wasn't venomous or aggressive. Even if it had a little venom, it would only work on small mice; for humans, it would just cause a bit of swelling. Was that it? That presence. Jeong Tae-ui sighed, putting the half-drawn knife back away. But then, this time, his eyes caught sight of something moving faintly in the distance. It was a person. One person was moving somewhere in the forest, muffling their footsteps. It was difficult to clearly distinguish the face, but it didn't feel familiar. It seemed like someone from the European branch. The man didn't seem to notice Jeong Tae-ui and was going in a different direction. His steps were cautious and uneasy, as if he were chasing something. Jeong Tae-ui hesitated for a moment. No matter how I thought about it, the situation wasn't natural. A person quietly following someone in the middle of the night couldn't possibly be someone just going to relieve themselves or taking a stroll. Would it be better to follow that man? But the distance was awkward for that. If I followed rashly, I would likely be discovered, and if I waited longer to follow, I might lose sight of him. On the other hand, Jeong Tae-ui's sense of justice and curiosity weren't so great as to risk following someone just because they looked suspicious, without even knowing their business. It wasn't the first or second time he had gotten into trouble by poking his nose into unnecessary matters. But it is suspicious, isn't it……,  While he was contemplating, the need to contemplate disappeared. Or rather, the room for contemplation vanished. The man had gone behind some bushes and disappeared from Jeong Tae-ui's sight. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

6.   Perhaps because they had been drinking, Chae Yoo-jeong’s skin temperature felt much hotter than usual. The tongues mixing together were hot, and the waist held by my hands was also hot. It all felt crazy good.   “Yoo-jeong-ah, lift your waist a little, yes?”   Just touching his waist wasn’t enough. When I kissed Chae Yoo-jeong’s chin and asked for him to lift his waist, Chae Yoo-jeong, who was blinking his eyes with a dreamy expression, whimpered and followed through.   I stayed close to Chae Yoo-jeong and pulled up his top. While removing the top over his chest, his fully exposed body was illuminated by the warm light on the nightstand.   My eyes kept falling on his sharply chiseled abs and the curves from his chest down to his waist. I had felt it for a long time, but Chae Yoo-jeong’s body was as pretty as his face.   “Ha…….”   I let out a deep breath rising from within me and lowered my head to rub my lips on the nape of Chae Yoo-jeong’s neck. Chae Yoo-jeong flinched and narrowed his shoulders, feeling tickled by my lips touching his neck.   A strong scent of flowers wafted from the nape of his neck. Biting weakly on the white shoulder in front of me, I quickly rolled his head away.   ‘Going all the way now...It’s going to be difficult, right?’   I hadn’t planned on going all the way in the first place and I didn’t prepare at all, so I had no choice. There are no condoms or gel... Above all, it was ambiguous to do more because Chae Yoo-jeong was drunk and he was out of his mind.   But I had no intention of letting this opportunity go by. Even if it’s difficult until the end, wouldn’t it be okay to get to the first step? To be honest, I was already so tired of waiting that I felt greedy.   First, let’s take off our clothes. Following Chae Yoo-jeong, I raised the hem of my clothes to take off my top.   “Gasp…………”   “……!”   A breath filled with moisture was heard. When I looked down in surprise, I saw Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes with tears streaming down his face.   Ooh, is he crying now? My heart sank and my excited body cooled down in an instant. Chae Yoo-jeong covered his mouth with his hand and blinked his eyes, leaving me with my mouth wide open in embarrassment. His tears, which were hanging on his eyelashes, ran down his cheeks.   “Wait… Yoo-jeong-ah, what’s wrong?”   Only then did I come to my senses and hurriedly wiped away Chae Yoo-jeong’s tears. The warm atmosphere became cold, as if cold water had been sprinkled.   “Sorry…………….”   “No, why are you apologizing?”   This was my first time in a situation like this, so I had no idea how to deal with it. First, I hugged Chae Yoo-jeong, who couldn’t stop crying, and patted him on the back.   My heart became heavy. I think I pushed Chae Yoo-jeong because I was excited. After I came back to my senses, I felt so pathetic.   “It’s like a dream… I liked it so much that I didn’t even realize it……I’m sorry, hyung.”   Chae Yoo-jeong tried to smile and make excuses, but I couldn’t help but smile back. In this situation, is he really crying because you like it?   Of course, I don’t doubt Chae Yoo-jeong, but... I didn’t feel comfortable enough to resume the skinship that had been cut off. I barely managed to raise the corner of my mouth and stroked Chae Yoo-jeong’s head.   “I know. It’s okay, don’t worry.”   All I could say was this.   ***   “I’m such a piece of trash………”   “Eh?”   Kim Dae-seok, who was sitting in front of me, looked confused as I muttered the words while drinking soju. I sighed and muttered something like that.   “I was a dirty beast…………….”   “Well, I knew you were that kind of guy. What’s going on?”   “Shut up……”   I filled the empty glass with soju until it overflowed. The alcohol went down really well today.   Sunday night, when Chae Yoo-jeong cried and apologized. Although I tried to comfort Chae Yoo-jeong, who was surprised, I couldn’t continue the skinship that had stopped. All I could do was pretend like nothing was wrong, put Chae Yoo-jeong to sleep, and then run away to the office under the pretext of going to work early in the morning.   Fortunately, Chae Yoo-jeong drank his alcohol and even cried, so he slept soundly. I stayed up all night without being able to sleep at all.   After spending Sunday like that, I haven’t been able to properly contact Chae Yoo-jeong until today, which is Tuesday. On Monday, I was late to get off work due to a sudden rush of workload, and today, Tuesday, was because I had a prior appointment with the kids.   ‘I was wrong.’   I pressed my fingertips against my increasingly tense forehead. I wish I could turn back time. Then, no matter how drunk Chae Yoo-jeong tried to tempt me, I would have covered him with a blanket and let him sleep.   Now that I think about it, Chae Yoo-jeong has never been the first to engage in deep skinship with me. Could it be that he actually feels burdened? I often give light kisses first, so it’s not like he’s opposed to skinship itself.   ‘I understand if he feels burdened, though.’   Aren’t I Chae Yoo-jeong’s first relationship? Moreover, his partner’s a man. Kissing with tongues or touching the body was bound to be awkward and unfamiliar. Because this is a different issue from a loving heart.   The more I think about it, the more I realize how much of a trash I am.   What should I do now with my lover who is uncomfortable with skinship because it is unfamiliar to him? Even when he’s drunk... Really, Yoo Ji-han, have you gone crazy? You bastard………   I chastised myself for being too forward and took another sip of the soju I had filled my glass with. Kim Dae-seok, who was watching me with a look of disdain, shook his head.   “You can’t congratulate your friend on getting a job, but you’re just sitting here saying strange things. It’s too much, it’s too much.”   “Thank you for coming here.”   As I responded indifferently, Eun Hae-seong, who was watching us from the side, tapped Kim Dae-seok on the shoulder and said,   “Let us understand. It looks like Yoo Ji-han’s current girlfriend is no joke.”   “Don’t talk nonsense.”   There was no bullshit about Chae Yoo-jeong being picky. If I could, I wanted to beg him to stop being so picky.   “Is it true that you have a girlfriend problem?”   Kim Dae-seok seemed to be curious despite my indifferent attitude and opened his mouth as he rummaged through the snacks. I thought I would ignore it as it was not my job to explain it in detail, but answered as briefly as possible.   “It is true that there is a problem. I made some mistakes.”    “Oh. But isn’t this the first time you’ve been this conscious around your girlfriend like this?”    “I met her.”   Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong smiled and exchanged words with me while I was distraught.   These guys are my friends. It’s really annoying.   “Stop talking nonsense and have a drink.”   Anyway, these guys shouldn’t be allowed to make noise. I raised my glass and turned the kids’ attention to the alcohol.   The gathering to celebrate Kim Dae-seok’s success in finding a job ended before 10 p.m. I had to go to work again tomorrow, and Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong said they had other plans, so we left earlier than usual.   As I was walking back to collect my thoughts since my apartment was nearby, I happened to come across a small flower shop with a light on.   Through the glass, I could see the inside of the flower shop, which was putting the finishing touches on things. Among them, the one that particularly caught my eye was a white rose that shined pure white.   The white roses blooming along with the yellow gypsophila somehow reminded me of Chae Yoo-jeong. After thinking about it, I eventually went into the flower shop.   As the bell on the glass door rang cheerfully, the owner who was organizing the store looked up. I smiled awkwardly and pointed to the white rose I saw outside.   “I would like to buy some roses.”   A man who came by at night and suddenly bought flowers might have been surprising, but the staff kindly made a bouquet without any sign of concern.   As I left the store holding a bouquet of white roses surrounded by yellow gypsophila, I looked at the bouquet with a strange feeling. It was an impulsive purchase, but I was quite satisfied once I actually bought it.   After holding the bouquet and fiddling with my cell phone for a while, I called Chae Yoo-jeong.   -Hyung!   The call was connected right away, as if they were just waiting for my call. I smiled slightly at the bright voice coming from the other end of the phone.   “Are you resting well?”   -Yes. Did you have a good dinner too? Are you going home now?   Chae Yoo-jeong, who knew that Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong were meeting with me today, asked.   “Yep. I just left. Are you home? What were you doing?”   -I just… I was watching TV.   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   I hesitated for a moment and then continued.   “If you aren’t going to bed right away… can I go see you now?”   -Yes?   “I want to see you.”   -Well, of course I would like it. But Hyung has to go to work tomorrow. Is that okay with you?   “I don’t know. Either you put me to sleep there again.”   As I answered playfully, I heard Chae Yoo-jeong laughing softly in my ears.   -Shall I pick you up?   “I can just take a taxi.”   In fact, in my mind, I still felt a little uncomfortable facing Chae Yu-jeong. I felt sorry, and I wasn’t sure how to solve the skinship issue.   Still, in the end, what we had to do was talk. Didn’t we promise to talk to each other and get along?   Even if Chae Yoo-jeong wanted to have a platonic relationship without skinship, I would accept it. It would be better if he said that. I didn’t want to force skinship on Chae Yoo-jeong.   “I’ll be there soon.”   If it was something that could not be avoided anyway, I wanted to meet and talk as soon as possible. I ended the call while catching a passing taxi.     HM: I feel like laughing at the misunderstandings here… I’m waiting forever….. Aaaaaa it’s already been more than 5 chapters…. Where are the scenes at?   --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

5.   Wine to drink alone with your loved one. Who wouldn’t be thrilled by this romantic situation?   After finishing dinner, Chae Yoo-jeong and I took our wine bottle and glasses and sat side by side on the sofa. I put on a movie with the sound turned down, turned off the lights in the living room, and opened a bottle. Golden liquid filled the wine glass.   “It’s like juice, isn’t it?”   "Yes."   Chae Yoo-jeong held the glass of wine I poured for him, smelled it, and nodded his head. The white wine said to contain honey gave off a sweet scent just by pouring it into a glass.   I poured some wine into my glass and sat down. I held out a wine glass to Chae Yoo-jeong, who was looking at the wine with a curious expression.   “Although the alcohol content is low, wine is wine, so drink it slowly. There’s no need to empty the whole glass.”   "Yes."   Chae Yoo-jeong smiled softly and followed my gesture with his glass of wine. The wine glasses clinked together, and a clear sound rang out.   I took a sip of wine and continued to monitor Chae Yoo-jeong’s mood, who was sitting next to me.   ‘If this is enough…it’s pretty good, right?’   Of course, it would be nice if we could progress to skinship through this drinking party, but what was more important than that was the good memories and experiences that Chae Yoo-jeong would have, was what I first had in mind.   Since I ruined the first drinking party of his life, I had to make up for it somehow this time. I want Chae Yoo-jeong to have good memories of me when he drinks.   “Hyung, can you drink? You have to go to work tomorrow.”   “The alcohol content is low, so what?”   To me, alcohol below 10 percent was literally no different from drinking water.   So what if I drank some? It was my first time drinking alone with Chae Yoo-jeong, so I wanted to put aside thoughts about tomorrow.   "How is it?"   I asked Chae Yoo-jeong, who tried wine for the first time, what he thought. Chae Yoo-jeong evaluated the drink, tilting his head with a strange expression.   “It’s sweet, but… it’s a bit bitter.”   “It’s not really juice. Wine is naturally a bit bitter. I don’t drink it often, so I don’t know much about it.”   I pushed a plate of cheese in front of Chae Yoo-jeong and took another sip.   “Are you going to start preparing for the summer season competition right after the vacation is over?”   “I think so. There are hold cups in the fall, so I won’t be able to rest until the end of the year after this vacation.”   “You really need to get some rest during this vacation.”   I answered lightly, but nervousness began to surge in my heart.   After this vacation, he’ll be busy until the end of the year? Crazy. If this continues, we’ll only be stuck with kissing until the end of the year, right?   "I guess it’s difficult. If you look at it objectively, it’s true that your skills are a bit worse than before."   “They said Kwon Do-hyun will retire after this season.”    "Really? His skills are still good enough to think of retirement.”   Kwon Do-hyun was player Tenet who was working as a jungler on the team along with Chae Yoo-jeong. Perhaps because his position and age were the same, Chae Yoo-jeong was also someone he felt comfortable dealing with.   Retire. Actually, it wasn’t surprising. Although it is getting later and later these days, professional gamers usually consider retirement when they turn 25.   Aging Curve [1] is a problem, and there are so many young and talented players who are making strides.   “You haven’t thought about it yet, have you?”   “I think I’ll do it until at least next year. If my body can still handle it, I think I’ll do it next year as well.”   Even though it was about his own retirement, Chae Yoo-jeong spoke calmly without any emotional changes.   In fact, it was too early for Chae Yoo-jeong to worry about it. Not only did he win the competition yesterday, but even when looking around the community, it was difficult to find any criticism of Chae Yoo-jeong’s skills.   I smiled mischievously, holding my chin to prevent the air from becoming too heavy.   “Don’t worry, I’ll feed you after you retire.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who is probably 10 times wealthier than me, rolled his eyes and burst into laughter at the joke. Although the alcohol content was low, his laughter was brighter and louder than usual, perhaps because of the alcohol involved.   “Are you going to keep dating me even though I’m unemployed?”    "Of course. That’s the only good thing about being a salaried worker. Something stable. Since you can use all my salary, how about taking a year off when you retire? You can also travel. You’ve been working since you were 19.”   "Traveling..…”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was fiddling with a wine glass, asked me with his eyes sparkling.   “There are so many places I want to go with Hyung.”   "Where?"   “The sea. I want to go abroad too... I think America would be good too. I used to go there for the Hold Cup, but I was busy so I couldn’t see anything.”    "Okay. Let’s go to the sea first this year. It’s not a big deal.”   It looks like the sea is quite possible during this vacation. The nearby sea is worth a day trip or overnight trip.   Although it was a topic that came up by chance, traveling was a really good idea. If I can’t go on vacation this year, I’ll definitely make time to go see Chae Yoo-jeong and the sea at the end of the year. Because the winter sea has its own charm.   A few more conversations took place like that. Chae Yoo-jeong who, like me, had been sipping wine between conversations, surprisingly emptied his glass cleanly as it seemed to suit his taste.   “Can I have one more drink?”   “You can, but… Are you okay?”   “One more drink is okay.”   Chae Yoo-jeong spoke with a bright smile, similar to usual. Can I really give it to him? His complexion is fine, though.   Still, I was worried, so I filled it with a much smaller amount than before. Although the alcohol content was low, it was still wine. Moreover, Chae Yoo-jeong was weak to alcohol and at the same time I did not know the exact amount of alcohol he drank, so I had no choice but to be cautious.   “If you feel like you’re going to get drunk, put it down right away. Do you understand?”    “Yes.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, holding a refilled wine glass, nodded his head calmly. Anyway, his answer was very good.   Now Chae Yoo-jeong drank the wine without any hesitation even though he said it was bitter at first.   As he continued drinking, I guess he got used to the taste. Since I couldn’t let Chae Yoo-jeong drink alone, I filled my empty glass with wine once more and drank it with him.   ***   So 30 minutes later. I swallowed a sigh and gently shook Chae Yoo-jeong’s shoulder.   “Yoo-jeong, come back to your senses.”   “Umm.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was slowly blinking his eyes with his cheeks turning red, heard my call and looked up at me. Then he leaned his head against the back of the sofa and smiled.   “Hyung………….”   “…….”   The pronunciation is somewhat slurred with the end of the sentence being long. I quickly assessed Chae Yoo-jeong’s condition and touched his forehead.   ‘Even if you look at him rolling over, he looks unmistakably drunk.’   I had no idea since when he got this drunk?   He was clearly fine until I filled my glass. How can he get drunk so quickly? Maybe he was already drunk, but it wasn’t obvious?   “Let’s go to bed.”   I can’t help it. I put down the glass and got Chae Yoo-jeong up. If he was this drunk, there was nothing more I could do. It was late, so it was better to just let him sleep.   Chae Yoo-jeong obediently stood up as I pulled him. I headed to the bedroom while lugging Chae Yoo-jeong, who was hicking.   I was glad we drank at home. If we drank outside like last time, I would have had to carry him again... Although I love Chae Yoo-jeong, this bastard is also tall and too heavy.   That was when I went into the bedroom and was about to lay Chae Yoo-jeong down on the bed. Chae Yoo-jeong wrapped his arms around my waist and didn’t let go, so I fell down on the bed.   The mattress shook slightly along with the sound of sheets rubbing. I was about to lay Chae Yoo-jeong down and clean up after him, but I panicked and grabbed Chae Yoo-jeong’s arm that was around my waist.   “Chae Yoo-jeong.”   “Hyung, can you give me a kiss?”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was facing me, slightly folded the corners of his eyes and begged for a kiss from me. Chae Yoo-jeong was so pretty looking up at me from underneath me that I felt heat rising to the back of my neck.   “What kind of kiss are you doing when you’re drunk? Go to sleep.”   “I’m fine. Kiss me, yes?"   “Yoo-jeong-ah.”   The string of reason trembled precariously, as if it would break at any moment. My patience was quickly running out, so I called out Chae Yoo-jeong’s name as if pleading. But Chae Yoo-jeong didn’t know how fast my beating heart was, so he pushed his face even closer and begged me again.   “Please, Hyung.”   I had the illusion of hearing something snapping in my head. Completely defeated and unable to resist this sloppy yet cute temptation, I lowered my head and kissed Chae Yoo-jeong’s red lips.   After enduring as much as I could, I finally reached Chae Yoo-jeong’s lips and inserted my tongue into them, sucking like crazy. I couldn’t control myself at all. My raspy breath and my hands moved in time with my rapidly beating heart.   As I continued to kiss, I groped Chae Yoo-jeong’s waist and slipped my hands under his clothes. I chewed on Chae Yoo-jeong’s tongue, feeling his soft skin touch my palm.   annotation   1) Aging Curve: A phenomenon in which athletic ability deteriorates and skills decline after a certain age. This term is mainly used when evaluating an athlete’s skills. —   MM: I believe that what exacerbates deterioration is the over training– hours and hours of excessive training everyday can make the body exceed its limits for a while but after that, the body will start to break.    --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

4.   02. The agony of sincerity 2   After washing up, I noticed that Chae Yoo-jeong’s hair was a little wet, as if he had washed it in another bathroom. He was eagerly searching through the refrigerator.   “I guess aunt came by. Fortunately, the refrigerator is stocked.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who spotted me, smiled awkwardly, and took out an airtight container containing side dishes on the table.   “That’s right. I saw it yesterday too.”   “Did you try it yesterday? There is also soybean paste here. You like soybean paste, Hyung.”   “Um, no. I ate outside yesterday.”   I didn’t need to lie about it, so I answered honestly and helped Chae Yoo-jeong.   Since it was morning, I didn’t need to eat much. A few side dishes and a stew. I filled the table with just that much and started a simple, happy breakfast with Chae Yoo-jeong.   “What time did you come home yesterday?”   “At about two o’clock.”   Two o’clock? If I endured an hour more, Chae Yoo-jeong would have come home. Because I couldn’t help being asleep in the early morning, I couldn’t even greet him, let alone meet him.   Chae Yoo-jeong smiled shyly as he left me repeating in my head the lament I had made in bed earlier.   “I came home… It was nice to see Hyung sleeping on the couch.”   “Why do you like that? I couldn’t even wait for you properly.”   “I came home and found Hyung… It was much better than I expected.”   I could feel the excitement in Chae Yoo-jeong’s voice as he talked about how good it really was for him. It was so cute that I burst into laughter.   “Then you can marry me later.”   “M-marriage?”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s cheeks turned red at the word “marriage,” which came out as a joke. His fingertips holding the chopsticks were also shaking.   Sitting across from me and seeing that explicit reaction, I became embarrassed again. I had just taken a shower and resolved personal matters, so seeing that face was a huge blow to me.   I somewhat unnaturally avoided eye contact and rummaged through the side dishes. Maybe it’s because I haven’t even met Chae Yoo-jeong for the past few weeks, but I felt particularly out of control today.   ‘No matter what, it’s stupid to say that during breakfast...……………..’   I somehow managed to hold back and changed the topic of conversation.   “How was the after-party yesterday? Did anything happen?”   “Yes. All I did was eat meat and go to karaoke with the kids. Coach and manager told me out of the blue that we were going to have sashimi for the second time.”   “Huh? You went to eat sashimi after beef?”    “It’s ridiculous. But we went to eat it anyway. I didn’t want to be involved in that, so I went to karaoke with my teammates. Actually, I didn’t want to go to karaoke, but the kids insisted on it... That’s why I’m late.”   No wonder. Since there was no need to eat beef until 2 a.m., I thought they would have gone for a second round.   Chae Yoo-jeong is usually quite a cold-hearted person, but the people he gets a little soft with are his teammates. Except for player Tenet, they are all young, and because they are friends who regard Chae Yoo-jeong as their idol, it seems difficult for Chae Yoo-jeong to be as cold as before.   “Good job. You even won a competition, so you deserve that.”    “If I had known Hyung would be sleeping uncomfortably on the couch, I would have come home right away. Let’s sleep on the bed next time.”   “I fell asleep without realizing it.”   In the past, I would have been able to endure it long enough, but after starting work and leading a very regular life with regular working hours, I couldn’t help but feel sleepy in the morning.   “You didn’t drink alcohol?”   “Yes. Anyway, even if I didn’t drink, the kids were free to drink.”   “Didn’t you want to drink?”   “Not really. It’s not like I’m drinking with Hyung.”   Chae Yoo-jeong looked somewhat distraught, as if he wasn’t really interested.   Of course, I knew what Chae Yoo-jeong went through and his drinking capacity is very weak, so it’s better for him not to drink... It bothered me that his only experience of drinking alcohol was at a drinking party where he had no idea what to do.   Since I didn’t know much about Chae Yoo-jeong, I didn’t know that he took medicine or that his drinking capacity was weak, so I couldn’t be properly considerate. Chae Yoo-jeong wanted to look good to my friends, so he overexerted himself.   I felt a bit bitter if that was all he had experienced with alcohol. Since Chae Yoo-jeong’s condition had improved a lot, I wanted to have a drink together in a better atmosphere if there was a chance someday. There are many drinks that are milder and more delicious than soju.   ***   “Hey, Hyung.”   While I was changing my clothes after finishing breakfast, Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been watching me with his face as he had something to say, cautiously approached me and opened his mouth.   “You’re going to work tomorrow, right?”   “That’s right.”   Going to work also played a part in the reason why I was disappointed because I couldn’t stay awake through the early morning and fell asleep. Unlike Chae Yoo-jeong, who was on vacation from now on, I had to go to work tomorrow, so I had to go back to my apartment at night at the latest.   “Don’t worry, we’ll have dinner together.”   When Chae Yoo-jeong, who was already feeling sad, was comforted when I offered to stroke his head, he obediently leaned his head towards me and asked hesitantly.   “Say, Hyung.”   “Yes?”   “Sleep here… Can’t you go to work from here?”   “What?”   “As long as it’s okay with you. The company is also closer here. I guess you just need to bring some clothes to wear from Hyung’s house later when you go to work... How about it?”   I was surprised because it was an unexpected proposal, but the idea wasn’t bad. It wasn’t hard since I only had to pack some work clothes and daily necessities.   “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other, so it’s too bad if we’d be apart after just one day…….”   Chae Yoo-jeong, with the corners of his eyes drooped down, looked as pitiful as a puppy getting caught in the rain. He turned to me with heat in his eyes, revealed beneath his long eyelashes.   “I want to sleep with Hyung like yesterday… can’t I?”   “…….”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s words flew quickly as if they were an arrow and pierced my heart. My face heated up slightly as my heart rate rose rapidly.   What. What? What did he mean by that?   I immediately grabbed Chae Yoo-jeong’s shoulder and suppressed my desire to ask him if what he said was what I thought it meant, and I answered calmly.   “Of course it’s okay. I said I’m sorry too.”   “Really? Are you really going to stay with me today?”    “Yes. Instead, like you said, let’s go to my house later and get some clothes and things. The bag that I carry when I go to work as well.”   “I’ll drive! Let’s go right after lunch!”   Chae Yoo-jeong must not have expected me to willingly say yes, shaking his shoulders, unable to hide his excitement.   The more I thought about it, the more I liked the schedule of sleeping here and going to work. More than anything, I even conceded with Chae Yoo-jeong’s proposal to spend the night with me, so how could I not be excited?   ‘Huh? wait a sec.’   As I smiled happily while looking at Chae Yoo-jeong, I immediately realized an important fact.   If I’m going to sleep here... How about trying the drink I thought of earlier? I think it would be worth drinking a glass or two with Chae Yoo-jeong if it is a low-alcohol content, sweet and delicious alcohol.   “Hmm, Yoo-jeong.”   “Yes?”   As soon as it occurred to me, I asked Chae Yoo-jeong to remove the ox horn as soon as possible.   “After dinner… Would you like to have a drink with me tonight?”   “Alcohol?”   “Yes. Something like low-alcohol wine, not soju. It’ll be sweet and delicious with honey or fruit. Or beer is fine too.”   “Drinking at night… Hyung and I………”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was muttering with a somewhat mesmerized expression, suddenly turned bright red. Chae Yoo-jeong covered his mouth with his hand and nodded, avoiding my eyes.   “…….”   I was the one who felt embarrassed by that explicit reaction.   No, of course, I’m not completely without dark intentions. I guess I should say I’m glad that Chae Yoo-jeong is willing to have skinship with me.   ‘I need to set the right mood.’   Since I made him drink alcohol, I must take responsibility. Looking at Chae Yoo-jeong’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like he dislikes it.   It’s not that I was going to go all the way, but it bothered me that even though we had been dating for quite some time, we were so busy that we couldn’t progress the physical relationship. If I didn’t want to spend our whole life kissing, it’s time to move on to the next step.   I spoke to Chae Yoo-jeong, making a plan step by step in my head.   “Let’s stop by my house and pick up some drinks on the way.”   “Yes!”   I will definitely try to catch the atmosphere tonight that I couldn’t catch yesterday. I steeled my resolve and took out my cell phone. I should start by looking for wines that are low in alcohol and have a strong sweet taste.   ***   --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

“I swear I’ll never die in front of you, Yoo-shin- ssi .” “………………But I’m still Gyu-ha- ssi ’s weakness.” “I’ll become stronger so that what you’re worried about will not happen.” It was a simple childlike answer. However, it was not as simple or light, but rather, a dense emotion rippling in his eyes. In Yoo-shin groaned softly as if he was suffocating in the swamp of such dense emotions. I had not seen it until now, blinded by his usual light and mischievous words and actions. He had probably been looking at me with the same gaze since I said I wanted to end this relationship. “Is it because I erased Gyu-ha-s si ’s boredom?” “I can’t say there is no reason for that either.” “They’re all forced emotions.” Because he was irrevocably bound to him, expressing it in words was difficult, and the sincerity he had been silently dwelling on finally flowed out weakly. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have tied him to myself. Even knowing that relying on forcibly injected emotions will only make oneself more miserable, the trembling of the tilting heart is difficult. How can I cut it off with just rational judgment? Someone who treats me so affectionately, even though I am worthless and useless. Since even that affection is fake, In Yoo-shin also knows that there is no other way but to end this relationship. “I know that Gyu-ha- ssi  is considerate and helpful to me. Those are all fakes, too, forcibly patched together and altered by taming, aren't they?” “…….” “You said from the beginning that you wanted to kill me. That is the real feeling Gyu-ha feels towards me……………….” Because it is a real feeling. Isn’t it a real feeling? It feels like a real feeling. Whatever he was going to say, however he intended to end his sentence, all of it became useless. Because the sadness of the abandoned child, which he had been blurting out incoherently, was erased by Hyeon Gyu-ha's lips.¹ If it means existing alone in the world, Hyeon Gyu-ha resembled his father, whose face he had never seen. And he thought that was probably the only thing in common between father and son. He was born as the only child of the king who supported the world that was going to collapse, and was burdened by the duty that had been given to him. He had no time to look around. He was also immature in examining other people's feelings and hearts. In that time, he had to run one step further. The betrayal from someone he trusted 14 years ago led Hyeon Gyu-ha to a more self-righteous and stubborn path. He had only two paths. Either die or open up another passage. Since that fate was intertwined, Hyeon Gyu-ha did not care about the circumstances of the people living in this world. Hyeon Gyu-ha used to be like that. The passing glances, flowing breaths, the highs and lows of the voice. He was the only one who could read the heart, sympathize deeply, and let the other person's agitation seep into him more deeply, while seeing through the fragments of emotions revealed in that way. Only In Yoo-shin shakes up the emotions that have quietly settled in the swamp of boredom. Only In Yoo-shin lets him experience this world that had been meaninglessly passing by. Hyeon Gyu-ha ate tteokbokki at a snack shop for the first time, went to a coin karaoke, killed time by having trivial conversations, grilled meat in a dungeon, and slept soundly under a tent. In Yoo-shin was always by his side in all his first experiences. Was it all because of the emotions that were forced upon me? 'But it doesn't matter.' He was conceived in his mother's womb for his father. Even his name, the three letters, was a mother's heart that yearned for his father. Since Hyeon Gyu-ha had never had anything of his own before he was born, he now welcomes the desperate entanglement that was forcibly injected into him. Although he may not have wanted it to begin with, the unfamiliar experience caused by In Yoo-shin and the resonance that spread through his heart were entirely his own. So even though he knew that it shouldn't be this way, even though he knew that his fate was eternal loneliness, he couldn't deny the only thing he had. "You said from the beginning that you wanted to kill me. That's the real feeling that you feel towards me, Gyu-ha- ssi ……” The memory of being abandoned is so painful that I swallow my breath, afraid to even take the first step. He licked his lips that were open gently, and gently wiped away the wet breath. Hyeon Gyu-ha realizes that one of his murderous desires, which had been wanting to kill him and cut off this relationship, has quietly subsided. Emotions that were so complicated that he didn’t even know the name of them are finally taking on a vivid form. [Current status: Murderous intent. Affection.] His murderous intent is once again directed at just one person. Father. My father, who should not have been born. What is this ringing in my ears? My head is completely dizzy, as if filled with a hazy fog. Hyeon Gyu-ha, still bending down, slowly wiped his wet lips with his fingertips and smiled, his eyes slightly closed. “Does this even seem fake?” Belatedly, he flinched at those words, and he gently hugged his waist, which was about to step back without him knowing. “Would you like to feel my heartbeat?” A rough but extremely gentle hand guided one hand to his chest. Left chest. The only name engraved there. Beneath the skin, muscles, and bones, a red lump of flesh the size of a fist. That resonance. A vivid beating that made his palms tingle, enough to make his anger from some time past pale in comparison, spread to Inyushin’s heart. “If you think even this is fake, I think I’ll be really sad.” “…….” In Yoo-shin couldn’t give any answer. However, his eyes, which were entangled in confusion, were the real answer, so Hyeon Gyu-ha swallowed his bitter resentment. “Shall I tell you a story from the old days?” “…….” “14 years ago, I killed a man I once considered my own father with my own hands.” The eyes that had been in confusion were not moved by those words. Hyeon Gyu-ha asked back, savoring the firmness pleasantly. “Aren’t you scared of me, killing someone who was like my real father?” “There must be a reason why Gyu-ha- ssi  did something like that……………….” In Yoo-shin’s throat moved slightly. “I think there must be a reason I don’t know.” “Why don’t you trust my feelings when you trust me?” “That’s……………….” In Yoo-shin’s lips that had been opening and closing silently were tightly shut. If I kiss those lips again, he’ll be really surprised this time. Hyeon Gyu-ha suppressed his regret and hugged his cheek instead. Yet, I’m surprised once again. Where in his small cheek that fit in one hand was the warmth that thrilled my heart? "Let's assume that the taming is lifted as Yoo-shin- ssi  said, and the fake emotions are washed away. Since all of that was fake, do you think that all the time I spent with Yoo-shin- ssi  was also fake? As soon as the taming is lifted, will you and I become no different from strangers?" “I felt joy, anger, sadness, and pleasure while spending each day with you. The emotions I felt for the first time in my life became memories and were engraved in my soul, but even this feels fake?” In Yoo-shin’s gaze, which had been blinking in confusion, dropped down. “……I don’t know.” “I can release the taming as planned and experiment to see if it’s really fake.” He tilted his head slightly to the side. “How can I do such an experiment……” He's such an excessively kind person. If it were me, I would have killed anyone who forced me to do such a bothersome thing before even starting the experiment. Hyeon Gyu-ha suppressed the urge to swallow again and moved his hand, which had been cupping his cheek, down. His fingertips, now on his neck, traced the pulse. My heart is racing with tension, embarrassment, and confusion, but not at the same pace as yours. That's okay. It's my responsibility to match your speed. "Then let's try another experiment. Not the fake love we've been pretending to have, but a real love." “…….” "Even if we date, and I repeatedly confirm and confront my feelings, if it still feels fake." “……” Hyeon Gyu-ha gently kissed In Yoo-shin’s forehead with confidence. “You can end our relationship then as you wish.” If it was the In Yoo-shin he knew, he would never be able to refuse so coldly. Several minutes that felt like years passed, and Hyeon Gyu-ha tasted In Yoo-shin’s breath again, responding cautiously. No wonder, Master was different from usual today. “Kyuu……………?” 8- se  tilted his head inside the cage and looked outside. Master always woke up just in time for work when he worked in the morning. The king’s son always came to drive him to work, so he woke up even later. Master, who seemed to be tossing and turning without sleeping properly, woke up an hour early and started to squirm. It took twice as long to shower than usual, and he took out clothes from the hanger one by one for each day of the week, took them off, put them on, took them off, put them on again, and repeated that. "Isn't it strange......? Even if I change the clothes, they're all the same………………" "Squeak. Squeak." He wanted to express his opinion that the owner looked good no matter what he wore, but In Yoo-shin understood it differently. "Do you want to come to work with me today?" "Squeak!" That's not exactly what I wanted to say, but accompanying you, Master, is always welcome. 8- se  crawled out of the cage and ran, and In Yoo-shin regained emotional stability while petting 8- se , who fit perfectly in his hand. "Whew. It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay. It's just the Gyu-ha- ssi  I always see." The fake relationship became real and they just kissed. It's okay. It's okay....... Then, when In Yoo-shin remembered the feeling of their lips and tongues touching, his neck turned bright red. I don't know where Hyeon Gyu-ha's feelings were sincere. Even so, the warmth of the body temperature I felt through his lips and the heat that seeped deep into me were so vivid that it felt like my heart was dyed the same color. When he finally raised his head from his thoughts, it was already time to go to work. Hyeon Gyu-ha must have arrived in front of the house. He put the 8- se  in his pouch and was about to get up when he heard the doorbell ring. 'Ugh. I guess Gyu-ha- ssi  is up.' In Yoo-shin took a deep breath and answered cautiously. "I'm going out now." The moment his hands, stiff with tension, unlocked the door and opened it, In Yoo-shin's eyes were filled with surprise. HM: I can’t believe this…. ET: yo so if you don't understand i think it's because Gyu ha kissed yoo shin??? And the next paragraph is gyu ha’s back story becuz i was confused too lololol ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M, eteryl If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

Indeed, Jeong Tae-ui finally understood the actions of his colleagues who had been making a fuss about conserving energy and building up their strength in preparation for the joint training since he first arrived on this island. To say that a day felt like a thousand years might be a slight exaggeration, but he was easily ten to twenty times more tired than during normal training. When training with colleagues from the same branch, I could at least fundamentally engrave in my heart the thought that the opponent wasn't genuinely trying to harm me when sparring. However, now, even the slightest spar requires me to be intensely alert and tense. There were too many jerks from the European branch whose intention to break a limb of an opponent from another branch under the excuse of a sparring mistake was clearly written on their foreheads. Even during breaks, I couldn't relax. Since they shared the same resting space, I constantly had to be on edge, wondering if a rock would fly at me from anywhere, or if someone might even shoot an air rifle if I was unlucky. The only time I could truly relax was after finishing the regular daily schedule and returning to my room, after entering the room and locking the door. Even then, if I left the room to go to the bathroom or shower, I had to either skillfully avoid or confront the ever-present sparks of conflict scattered everywhere until I returned to my room. Jeong Tae-ui, who was so bothered by this that he even stopped by the bathroom on his way back to his room immediately after finishing the regular schedule, collapsed onto the bed as soon as he entered the room. Even after returning to his room, I couldn't feel completely at ease. This was because I had to fully receive Maurer's resentful gaze. Alright, I was wrong, I was wrong. That damn Colt, I'll clean out my bank account and buy you a hundred of them later……. Jeong Tae-ui, sprawled on the bed, mumbled to himself. Even speaking out loud felt exhausting. Maurer was still absorbed in his puzzle, casting a cold gaze, and considering that Tou hadn't returned from the bathroom for quite some time, it seemed he was either getting involved in a fight somewhere or creating one himself. His stamina, which allowed him to constantly start small and large disputes every single day without getting tired, was truly admirable. "Hey, someone paged you." Jeong Tae-ui, who was lying face down on the bed, half asleep, heard Maurer's grumpy voice informing him. Jeong Tae-ui just groggily lifted his head, glanced at the pager he'd thrown on the desk, and buried his face back in the pillow. Even checking it was too much of a bother. However, a moment later, Maurer's voice was heard again. "Hey, it came again." "……Where's it from?" What kind of guy pages me when I'm dead tired , Jeong Tae-ui mumbled, grumbling with a pained voice. Maurer picked up the pager and checked the number. Then he said indifferently. "It's number 114." "114……. Why would the phone number directory service be looking for me…….?" "What nonsense are you talking about? There’s a message for you too. Check it." Maurer tossed the pager. The small device landed precisely next to Jeong Tae-ui's pillow. Lying face down, Jeong Tae-ui half-opened his eyes and glanced at the pager. Seeing the indicator light blinking below the screen, it seemed a message had indeed arrived, just as he said. Checking or anything else is a pain. It's probably just some notification about submitting something, or a period of caution, or some other such guidance. 114, if it's 114, where the hell is that? Room 14 on the first basement floor? What was there? Ah, there were the instructors' rooms. And the administrative officers. If it's 14, among the administrative officers, it’s the lowest……. Jeong Tae-ui's eyes snapped open, and he shot up. As the person who had been lying like a dead body suddenly sprang up, Maurer, who had been burying his nose in a magazine a little distance away, was startled and looked back at him repeatedly. "If it's the lowest ranking of Administrative officers, that's Xinlu."  "Huh? T-that’s right. Why suddenly?"  Maurer asked, rubbing his chest. His face looked as if Jeong Tae-ui was suddenly talking in his sleep. Jeong Tae-ui didn't bother to answer and quickly checked the message. As expected, the person who paged me was Xinlu. The message content was nothing special; it simply told me to take care of my health. Although Jeong Tae-ui's face was full of weariness even from that trivial message, his expression darkened the moment he checked the second message. 'See you on the weekend, then. Have a good night.' Weekend. That word made him remember. Come to think of it, I still hadn't told Xinlu that I couldn't meet him on the weekend. I hadn't had a chance to go to the office, nor had I accidentally run into Xinlu. "I should tell him……, that I can't go……."  Jeong Tae-ui muttered gloomily. He then stared blankly at the pager placed by the head of his bed. I could only hold onto a sliver of hope that maybe some huge situation would arise and the weekend training would be canceled, giving everyone free time, but if such a situation occurred, neither Xinlu nor I would be able to comfortably go for a walk anyway. "...Ugh."  Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and suddenly got up. Maurer, who was clutching his puzzle magazine, looked at Jeong Tae-ui with a strange expression. "I'm going to go see Xinlu for a bit." Jeong Tae-ui briefly said, putting the pager in his pocket and heading towards the door. I could have called, but I feel like it was better to say something like this directly, face-to-face. "Xinlu? He won't be in the office now since it's past hours, will he?" "Then I'll just go to his room. What's the problem?" "During the joint training period, the first basement floor is off-limits to team members. Meeting instructors personally is prohibited. Xinlu's room is on the first basement floor too, you know."  Maurer's muttering, as if Jeong Tae-ui were saying something foolish, hit the back of Jeong Tae-ui's head. Jeong Tae-ui paused, then his eyes widened, and he turned back to look at Maurer. Maurer frowned, as if asking, Didn't you know? No, it’s not that I didn’t know. But I forgot about it. That's right. Seeing Xinlu privately would be difficult without contacting him beforehand. Jeong Tae-ui hesitated for a moment. But since I had already decided I needed to go see him, now I want to see him more. ……Yeah, I definitely had to go see him. There was no benefit in delaying it and suddenly breaking the promise for our plans for the weekend. Jeong Tae-ui gave Maurer a light wave and left the room as he was. Maurer shouted, 'Huh, hey!' but he pretended not to hear. The moment he stepped out the door, the biting air prickly against his skin again, but there wasn't any major problem.  I had no intention of provoking anyone first, nor did I intend to respond to sarcastic remarks thrown his way. No one bothered to grab and stop Jeong Tae-ui, who just passed by without reacting even when they subtly tried to pick a fight. He could hear words like 'Tch, coward', but if I could avoid unnecessary fights, I would listen to such back talk a hundred, no, a thousand times over. His feet habitually stopped in front of the elevator, but feeling that leaving a trace indicating he was going to the first basement floor wasn't good, he turned his steps towards the stairs. Since he went up and down so often, he could now climb six or seven floors by stairs without a problem, but the steps on these stairs were quite high. They were arranged in a long line, seemingly twice the height of normal stairs. Naturally, the height between floors was considerable, and the ceiling was seen far above. When I asked why the building design was like this, my uncle just smiled and calmly said, 'To make you exercise.' "Even without this kind of exercise, everyday life is training, Uncle."  Jeong Tae-ui grumbled to his uncle, who couldn't hear him. Whenever there was something to grumble about, I would just vent to my uncle, whether I was listening or not. It helped me feel a bit more stable. Upon reaching the first basement floor, he saw an unfamiliar sign attached to the iron door: 'Entry Prohibited Except for Residents.' This meant that people who didn't live on this floor—in other words, members—should not come here. Jeong Tae-ui pretended not to see the sign and opened the door and entered. I half expected the door to be locked or for someone to point a gun at me the moment I opened it and growl, 'I told you entry is prohibited,' but that didn't happen. Standing in the first basement hallway, Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head at the laxness, which was no different from usual in restricting entry despite the sign being posted. Did it mean they were relying on the members' conscience? This wasn't a school; they should rely on something more reliable. Since there were originally very few people staying on the first basement floor, I rarely ran into anyone even when freely moving around.  Jeong Tae-ui paused his steps, which he was taking leisurely. Come to think of it, there were surveillance cameras scattered everywhere on this floor—and throughout the entire building, not just this floor. "…….Does this mean they'll find me later and scold me if I get caught on camera?"  Jeong Tae-ui let out a sigh. But I wondered if that really mattered, as I had a rough idea of where the surveillance cameras were located. Since I knew, other members probably did too. I could walk the path by only stepping through the camera blind spots. However, thinking again, I realized that no matter what, when entering an instructor's room, I would inevitably step out of a blind spot. Naturally, I would be caught on camera. Furthermore, there might be cameras I didn't know about. Jeong Tae-ui fell into thought for a moment. Should I just go back? Anyway, I could just page him. However, while his mind knew that was the wiser option, his feet were already walking down the hallway. Ah, whatever. I almost wished I would get caught and thrown into solitary confinement. After all, it was just a prison; how much worse could the facilities be? Jeong Tae-ui headed towards Xinlu's room. I hadn't gotten lost again since the first time I wandered here. It was fortunate that I at least had a sense of direction and didn't forget a path I had taken once. Xinlu's room wasn't too far from the stairwell. It was a quick walk straight down the hallway and just one turn. On the way, he wondered what excuse he would make if he happened to run into someone, but that didn't happen. Tap tap,  he knocked on the door with his fingertips. He waited for a moment, but there was no answer. Thinking that the sound was too quiet to be heard, or perhaps he wasn't in the room, he knocked a little harder. "If he's not in the room, I'll just be caught on the surveillance camera with no result. This is a failure……"  Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, clicking his tongue. Even if I was going to meet him directly to tell him, maybe I should have called first. However, dispelling Jeong Tae-ui's worries, the door opened a moment later. Xinlu, who was sticking his head out through the door, opened just a couple of hand-spans, asking Who is it? , and seemed surprised to see Jeong Tae-ui. "Tay hyung. What brings you here? You shouldn't be here right now…… Please, come in for now." Xinlu glanced around and pulled Jeong Tae-ui into the room. Only then did I wonder if my visit might cause trouble for Xinlu, but it was too late to regret it. Besides, now that I was here, there was no point in thinking about it. More than anything, it was my first time in Xinlu's room. A person's room wasn't all that special, but Jeong Tae-ui looked around the room with a curious expression. It was a clean and simple room. It wasn't cluttered with unnecessary items, but it also wasn't too bare. "Wouldn't it be troublesome for hyung if someone else saw you? What brings you here so suddenly?"  Xinlu asked with concern, bringing out two cans of beer. Seeing the beer in his hands, Jeong Tae-ui was momentarily surprised, but thinking about it, Xinlu, no matter how lovable he was, was already an adult. He was old enough to drink beer without it being strange. It was more unusual to find it surprising. Jeong Tae-ui accepted the beer and thanked him, then hesitated for a moment. Since it was a room he stayed in alone, there was no need for a guest sofa, so Jeong Tae-ui sat on the bed. Xinlu pulled up a desk chair and sat in front of him, quietly waiting for Jeong Tae-ui to speak. "Um, about the weekend……." "Ah, yes. I checked the weather forecast, and they said it would be clear on the weekend."  Xinlu smiled widely when Jeong Tae-ui brought up the topic. Jeong Tae-ui inwardly clutched his chest, saying, "Ugh."  Hearing him say that, when I had come to cancel the plans, made me feel incredibly awkward. Normally, I would have been overjoyed, but now I just felt extremely uneasy. "Uh……."  As Jeong Tae-ui fumbled with his words and his expression clouded over, Xinlu seemed to notice the change in his demeanor. He tilted his head and just watched Jeong Tae-ui silently. “Well, they said there's training this weekend too that I didn’t know about. It seems…… I can't get out of it.” He said, "So...," and then hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. To his surprise, Xinlu nodded as if it was nothing, and said.  "Ah, I see. I thought something was strange. It seemed like both last time and the time before that, during joint training, it always lasts for a full fifteen days without a break, and I wondered if this time would be different." Xinlu nodded as he spoke, then suddenly his smiling mouth turned into a slight frown, as if disappointed. "I was hoping we could take a leisurely walk together, hyung…… It's a shame." "Uh, sorry……."  Jeong Tae-ui bowed his head and apologized. I felt a little relieved, though. Right, he already knew. Come to think of it, it was natural that Xinlu, who had been here longer than me, would already know. It seemed I had worried unnecessarily on my own. However, since he had broken the promise, Jeong Tae-ui looked at Xinlu apologetically. Xinlu, who had a look of disappointment, saw Jeong Tae-ui's expression, shook his head, and smiled again. "No, it's alright. That's just how the training schedule is, you know. Still, once the training is over, we'll have that week off, so we can go for a walk then. It’s not like the beach is going anywhere." " Unn . ……Let's go for a walk after joint training." When Jeong Tae-ui said that, Xinlu nodded happily. Then, he replied with a hum of agreement. “After training is over, we can leave the island on the weekend, so let’s go to Hong Kong together to have some fun. I have a few things I need to buy there anyway.” “Ah, really. Then going together would be great. I also owe Tou some cigarettes.”  Jeong Tae-ui readily agreed with a happy heart. Having come to postpone the weekend's plans and ending up making two new ones – a walk and a trip to Hong Kong – I felt more than satisfied. While it was a shame that the anticipation for this weekend had dissolved into nothing, I had secured double the plans for the future. “Still…… It’s a bit disappointing, though. I was looking forward to it.” In front of Jeong Tae-ui, Xinlu's slightly bowed head and whispered voice could be heard. The moment he registered that sound, Jeong Tae-ui's face flushed red. It was strange. Although Jeong Tae-ui knew that his rationality wasn't quite right when Xinlu was in front of him, he was actually quite used to dating – or rather, going through the motions of dating. How to entice someone with words and take them into my arms was something I had easily picked up after going to clubs a few times, without anyone even needing to teach me. Because of that, I considered dating or spending the night with someone to be not difficult at all. Yet, I just couldn't easily reach out to this young man. Perhaps this is what people mean when they say, “Love makes you more careful.” I found myself to be amusing, but I didn't dislike this feeling. Jeong Tae-ui smiled shyly, his face still flushed. Just then, Xinlu tentatively reached out his hand. And his hand hovered over Jeong Tae-ui's fingertips, as if about to overlap. Small fingernails tickled the tips of Jeong Tae-ui's fingers. Xinlu's gaze, slightly watching for a reaction, drew closer. Jeong Tae-ui almost burst into laughter. How childish yet adorable this seduction was. I had never received such a blatant yet cute seduction. At this point, I could just smile and smoothly take that hand in return. And with a light kiss on those fingertips and a smile, it will be a done deal. However. My hand simply wouldn't move. His flushed face just grew hotter and hotter. Jeong Tae-ui looked at Xinlu.  Those slender fingers that were lightly touching the tips of his fingers. His mouth felt dry. His anxious mind whispered, Now, now is the time. It's okay now. Jeong Tae-ui clenched his fist. And then, he impatiently reached out his hand. After a moment's hesitation, his hand grabbed Xinlu's shoulder. I can't face him. It would probably look utterly ridiculous if I did. A man whose face was as red as a boiled octopus, looking completely flustered. For this moment, I wished Xinlu wouldn't look at me. Jeong Tae-ui half-rose his body. And pulling the hand that was holding Xinlu's shoulder, he awkwardly brought his lips to Xinlu's face. Originally, I had intended to bravely kiss him on the lips. But I was too nervous and missed it. He ambiguously kissed a spot closer to the cheek than the lips. But what was important in Jeong Tae-ui's mind at this moment was not where he had kissed. I kissed him for the first time. Xinlu's soft skin had touched my lips. On the face he had brushed as lightly as a feather, he felt Xinlu's surprised gaze looking at him. Unable to meet that gaze, Jeong Tae-ui pulled back and wiped his bright red face with the back of his hand. "……" "……" For a while, silence hung in the air. Jeong Tae-ui kept his head bowed, just fidgeting uselessly with his fingers. He stole a glance up and saw that Xinlu was the same. His fair cheeks were flushed, and his head was down. Is it okay? He's not angry, is he?  His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode. Though Jeong Tae-ui didn't know what to do, a smile was almost about to break through his lips, so he pressed them together. But the corners of his mouth kept softening. Jeong Tae-ui subtly raised a hand to cover his mouth. And when he cautiously looked at Xinlu, Xinlu had already raised his head and was looking at Jeong Tae-ui. When their eyes met – Jeong Tae-ui standing awkwardly with his mouth covered – Xinlu suddenly burst into laughter, his face bright red. Hearing the quiet but cheerful, bead-like laughter, Jeong Tae-ui, who had been looking at Xinlu with a little bit of bewildered expression, eventually started laughing too. His chest felt ticklish. That's why he laughed. Perhaps Xinlu felt a similar way. After laughing for a while and the laughter subsided, an awkward and sheepish atmosphere settled between them again. "Um, well then, I'll get going now. See you after training. ……Ah, thanks for the message. I read it." "Ah, yes. ……Um, I'll walk you out." As Jeong Tae-ui got up and showed signs of leaving, Xinlu also stood up and followed behind him. Jeong Tae-ui felt another smile bloom. He was simply adorable, following meekly behind like a puppy. He told Xinlu there was no need to come out all the way to the door, but Xinlu shook his head and came out of the room anyway. They barely spoke as they walked down the hallway. There was nothing really to say, and more than anything, but his heart was full just from the warmth conveyed through their lightly clasped hands. Holding hands and walking side-by-side, their faces flushed, the two of them silent – if Uncle saw this, he'd give us that look again. The one that says, "Look at you two having fun..." But what does it matter? Let him look all he wants. We're already close enough to hold hands, you know. Jeong Tae-ui glanced at the young man about half a span shorter than himself. A faint scent of soap still wafted from his soft hair. Thinking he wanted to bury his face in that hair, Jeong Tae-ui blushed again and smiled awkwardly. That's when it happened. They were nearing the stairs.  It was a shame I couldn't ask him to go down to the sixth basement floor together, and I was regretting having to let go of his hand by the stairs. Someone turned the corner from the wall in front of the stairs. Fl-inch,  he slightly tightened the fingers of their clasped hands. There was no benefit to anyone seeing them and realizing Jeong Tae-ui was on this floor. Although they might have been caught on CCTV, being seen directly by a person felt different. Who could it be? It would be easier to make an excuse if it were one of the Administrative officers, he thought with a click of his tongue. The moment Jeong Tae-ui recognized who it was, he flinched and even stopped walking. It was someone he hadn't expected to meet on this floor at all—or rather, someone he shouldn't have met here. Riegrow, that fearsome man. The man also saw Jeong Tae-ui. Then his gaze slowly shifted to Xinlu beside him. And then moved downwards, to their joined hands. His dark eyes, revealing nothing of his thoughts, narrowed slightly. It was a look that seemed as if he was interested, amused, or perhaps displeased, or even covetous. The moment the last possibility crossed his mind, Jeong Tae-ui's face hardened. The conversation he'd had with Tou on the morning not long before he arrived here came back to him. ── There wasn't a single young, pretty boy he didn’t get his hands on. A chill went down his spine. Jeong Tae-ui instinctively tightened his grip on the hand he was holding and stepped in front of Xinlu, blocking him. Xinlu fidgeted behind him, looking bewildered, but Jueog Tae-ui stood silently, shielding him. Dangerous. That thought instinctively flashed through his mind. It wasn't the same kind of danger I had felt before, danger related to life or survival. This was a danger of potentially losing something precious, a more urgent and anxious danger than perhaps even survival itself. Riegrow gazed intently at Jeong Tae-ui. As if reflecting Jeong Tae-ui's inner thoughts entirely, an expression that was hard to tell if it was a smile or something else slowly bloomed on his lips. "What's wrong……?" He spoke quietly. His voice held a faint but clearly discernible amusement. Jeong Tae-ui inwardly clicked his tongue. One should not show anything that could be a weakness to others. Especially not to a man this threatening and brutal. Yet, for a moment, I had completely exposed my own vulnerability. "Xinlu. You should go back now." Jeong Tae-ui said quietly over his shoulder. Xinlu seemed to hesitate for a moment. Xinlu's gaze briefly met Riegrow's. A cautious, examining look swept over Riegrow as if probing him. "Hyung……" "It's okay, go back inside. See you later." Jeong Tae-ui gently patted Xinlu, who was clinging to his lapel and mumbling. Xinlu hesitated for a while longer, but then briefly bid Jeong Tae-ui farewell and turned back. As he headed back to his room, he looked back once, then twice. Xinlu's gaze landed on Riegrow. Riegrow also watched Xinlu with a subtle look. Soon, the sound of a door closing came from behind Jeong Tae-ui, some distance away, and only then did Riegrow, who had been staring intently at Xinlu's retreating back over Jeong Tae-ui's shoulder, turn his gaze back to Jeong Tae-ui. Jeong Tae-ui looked back at him uncomfortably. I ran into someone I didn't want to meet, in a situation I didn't want to be in. Just my luck. However, even after Xinlu disappeared, Jeong Tae-ui's unease didn't fade. This was because he had seen Riegrow's gaze continue over his shoulder. Until the moment Xinlu entered the room, Riegrow had been staring intently at him. With great interest, with narrowed eyes. "What a pretty guy."  Riegrow finally said. A hint of pleasant desire flickered in his voice. Jeong Tae-ui's expression hardened further. He looked directly at him and said stiffly. "Why would you call a guy ‘pretty’?" At Jeong Tae-ui's words, a look of amusement quickly spread across Riegrow's face. Laughter crinkled around his eyes. "Ah-ha. A man, you say. Yes, of course. I personally don’t care about someone’s sex if they catch my eye, but it seems you do. That's unexpected──." Trailing off meaningfully, Riegrow chuckled. Jeong Tae-ui's mouth felt bitter. His words had been overly clumsy. A man like this would have already noticed the moment he first saw them how Jeong Tae-ui felt about Xinlu. It might have been better to just affirm it rather than trying to deflect with such an awkward remark. His chest felt uneasy. The subtle gaze this man directed at Xinlu kept catching in a corner of his chest and wouldn't disappear. The glass bead, which he thought had finally come into his hand, was shaking precariously. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. It seemed there was no good reason to drag out the conversation. Besides, when I thought about it, the situation of confronting this man alone like this was not at all favorable to me. "What are you even doing here? This floor should be off-limits." Jeong Tae-ui said this, knowing he wasn't exactly in a position to ask so boldly, and looked in the direction the man had come from. That way was towards the instructors' rooms. The European branch's instructors who had escorted the European branch members were also staying on this floor, but their rooms were in a different direction. Jeong Tae-ui suddenly tilted his head. Why would this man have a personal reason to meet an instructor from this side? Or perhaps he was exploring the branch building? However, I can’t seem to think of any particular reason either. The UNHRDO didn't have another organization it was specifically in conflict with, so there was no organization or group that would be likely to try and spy on them. For a moment, I considered the Riegrow-spy(說) theory, but it’s not sharp conclusion. Perhaps sensing what Jeong Tae-ui was thinking, Riegrow wore a faint smile. However, he didn't answer that question, instead giving an answer that was expected. “I believe that doesn’t just apply to me alone. Why did you come here? --Though I can already see why you’re here without needing to ask." Riegrow muttered slowly. Then, he suddenly tilted his head and let out a small laugh. "But what were you doing with that pretty young man? His face was quite deliciously flushed." At his low voice, Jeong Tae-ui's face hardened instantly. At the subtle tone in which he murmured, "What were you doing coming out?" the sensation of Xinlu's cheek against his lips came back to him. His face grew hot. Jeong Tae-ui unconsciously raised his hand and wiped his face with the back of it once. But as soon as he did, he thought he had done something unnecessary. It only made his face hotter, and in front of him, Riegrow let out a low chuckle. Jeong Tae-ui felt a surge of anger. There was no reason for him to be laughed at by others. Neither he nor Shinru. "Whatever I was doing coming out, it's none of your business." "Well, I wonder if that's true. I'm also curious, you see. What kind of reaction would that pretty young man show if I did this or that to him. How warm his breath would be, how adorable his crying sounds. Things like that── you know." Riegrow drew out his words, whispering. Jeong Tae-ui glared at him coldly. Damn it. I had a persistently uneasy feeling from earlier, a bad premonition, and this was it after all. He became nervous. As anxiety set in, his mouth felt dry. If someone looked at Xinlu with covetous eyes, no one would feel good about it, but even more so with this man. Beyond just not feeling good, a profound unease washed over me. It was an overwhelming sense of crisis. Furthermore, this lunatic, despite his twisted personality and preferences, was externally perfectly attractive. He had a body and face that were useful enough that a dozen people would immediately gather if he just snapped his finger. Honestly, I had to admit what needed admitting. The only thing I was better at than that guy was his humanity. Whether it was face-to-face, body-to-body, or strength-to-strength, there was nothing I could claim to be better at. The only reason I could confidently assert that I was ahead in humanity was not because I was exceptionally superior, but because that man was frightfully inferior. “So what you're trying to say is, you like Xinlu?” “Xinlu? Ahaha, so that young man's name is Xinlu, is it? Yes, he’s not bad. No, actually he's quite good, if it's him.” Riegrow said. At the same time, he took a step towards Jeong Tae-ui. And then another step. The moment he began to walk slowly with relaxed steps, Jeong Tae-ui frowned. I had momentarily forgotten. The fact that there was nothing good about running into this man. No, rather, if I saw even the tip of his hair from a hundred miles away, I  should have quickly run away. The sensation of this man's neck touching the muzzle of the gun I held was still vivid. He flinched, reflexively almost retreating, but Jeong Tae-ui soon changed his mind and stood his ground.  If I thought about it, it was already too late to run away. Then, retreating pointlessly would only make me look ridiculous. Besides, surely he wouldn't go so far as to kill someone in a hallway like this…… though he probably would. "What's wrong?" Seeing Jeong Tae-ui standing stiffly rooted to the spot, Riegrow shrugged and smiled. However, that smile was even more chilling. Walking slowly but without stopping, he was already only a few steps away from Jeong Tae-ui.  Yet, he kept walking. One step, two steps, one more step. Jeong Tae-ui met his black eyes, which were fixed on him, head-on and tensed his entire body stiffly. How far are you planning to come? I was already within arm's reach. However, even so, Riegrow walked closer. One step, and then, finally, he stopped. They were barely two or three hand-spans apart. From there, Riegrow was looking down at Jeong Tae-ui. His eyes were as cold as ice. Even though there was clearly a faint smile on the corners of his eyes and mouth, his gaze was as sharp as a blade. This was a dangerous position. No, it was beyond dangerous. Jeong Tae-ui again blamed his own foolishness. In this position, if this man made a move, nine times out of ten I would be caught. I wouldn't even be able to attempt to escape with a shallow trick. I should have at least made him stop his feet a few steps back. "That's strange……, where did all that nerve I saw the other day go, huh?" Riegrow said quietly. It sounded like he was even humming a happy tune. Jeong Tae-ui looked at him squarely. Eyes so chillingly frozen, he didn't seem human. I got goosebumps. I couldn't believe a man like this existed. "Jeong Tae-ui." The voice calling his name slowly. Its clear and precise pronunciation seemed to assert, 'I know you, precisely as much as this pronunciation.' Riegrow's head tilted slightly. Gently, his hand came up. His hand, frozen and unmoving, seemed to touch the wrist of Jeong Tae-ui, who was silently looking at Riegrow, before slowly, as if stroking, crawling up. Past the elbow to the shoulder, the neck, the feel of the cold leather glove was smooth and soft like a snake. The dark navy gloves, almost black, were spotlessly clean without a trace of blood, yet he felt as if he could smell blood from somewhere. That hand swept from his cheek to his ear, then through his hair.  The touch was soft and gentle. Yet, that hand was one that could twist my neck at any moment. The hand reached the back of Jeong Tae-ui's head. The broad palm covering his head slightly pulled Jeong Tae-ui towards himself. As if lightly embracing him. His shoulder drew close, right before Jeong Tae-ui's eyes. A gentle, low voice whispered in his ear. "Is he…… yours?" Flinch, Jeong Tae-ui convulsed faintly, a movement that was hard to discern. Riegrow was looking at Xinlu's room over Jeong Tae-ui's head. Or perhaps at Xinlu himself, who was just beyond the door. With slender, cruel eyes. "It's not, is it?" Riegrow found the answer himself, instead of the tongue-tied Jeong Tae-ui. He laughed with delight. Stroking Jeong Tae-ui's head a couple of times, he willingly released his arm. Jeong Tae-ui, who had been practically held and trapped within his arm, ended up taking a step back. All I could do was glare fiercely at Riegrow. "Don't glare like that. I'm not saying I'm going to completely take away something that’s yours. For me, tasting it sometimes when I want is enough." He said, smiling. That languid voice spread through his chest, becoming a thick anxiety. "Riegrow. Don't." Jeong Tae-ui said stiffly. But he didn't answer. As if Jeong Tae-ui was no longer of any interest, he looked towards Xinlu's room once more, then turned and walked away. "Riegrow!" Jeong Tae-ui shouted. Riegrow, who was walking a few steps ahead, seemed to turn his head for a moment, but without stopping his steps or changing direction, he continued to move away, merely speaking as if amused. “To properly claim what's yours, you need to have the qualifications for it. When you're thrown naked into hell, are you confident you can even manage to save your own life?” He lightly waved his hand. And then, turning towards the stairs, he disappeared from view. Jeong Tae-ui stood alone, stock-still, only glaring at the empty hallway where no one remained. *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!