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Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. Even though I knew this was my first time here, I never expected to get lost inside the building. Especially considering it's no bigger than an elementary school playground. It all started with the elevator. Of course, I knew where the elevator was that Tou had taken. It was that old-looking elevator you reach by turning one corner from the stairs. Even though the path had a few turns, I hadn't forgotten the way there once I'd been. It would have been better if he had gone to that elevator, but unfortunately, that elevator was quite a distance from Jeong Tae-ui's room. There was no way he would deliberately go to a faraway elevator, leaving the one right across from his room when he only had to turn his head. After all, buildings are usually designed with the same structure on each floor. Even if there are some differences in layout, buildings of this type are typically very similar in terms of architectural design. So, I thought I could just take that elevator up and then follow the hallway back the way I came. “Damn it, what kind of building is this? It's completely different from the floor below.” Jeong Tae-ui muttered a curse and pulled at his hair. I've never encountered a building where the structure differed so much from floor to floor. It's one thing for the hallways to be different lengths, but for the bathrooms to be in different places? That's just absurd and incredibly inefficient. And yet, they talk about the building's plumbing system? I had been wandering around this floor for over ten minutes. Of course, I did come across a couple more elevators during my search, but they weren't the ones I was looking for. I was searching for the elevator located at the corner where the stairs turned. ……Even though this building is bizarre, I can't believe the elevators and stairs would be in different places on each floor. If there was such a four-dimensional building, it would be worth reporting to an architectural society. “Damn it. Why isn't there anyone around?” Come to think of it, since most of the hundred or so people on this island are currently on the 5th or 6th underground floor, and they rarely come up to the first underground floor, it's no wonder I can't find anyone in this vast place. But Jeong Tae-ui let out what felt like his thousandth curse since coming to this floor. Even when I was in the army, I was confident in my sense of direction. No, I didn't even need a map. Jeong Tae-ui had an exceptionally good sense of direction. Even when we were on a night march in the forest, sleep-deprived and disoriented, and I had to carry a subordinate who had sprained his ankle back on a different path, I never got lost, even when taking a shortcut. However, there's no map in this building, so I guess I'll just have to rely on my senses. Uncle, you sure know how to make things difficult for yourself. How could you live in a building like this? Jeong Tae-ui gritted his teeth and stopped. I tried to get a sense of where I was. I didn't know the overall structure of the building, nor where the exterior walls were, but I carefully recalled the path I had taken since entering the building.  …….Still, I couldn't quite figure it out. So, ……I'd just have to keep wandering until I figured it out. Sighing, Jeong Tae-ui began to walk, knowing it wasn't a great idea. Now that I think about it, this hallway seems similar to the one downstairs. The doors, identical to each other, were arranged in a zigzag pattern. I wonder if this room, like the one downstairs, is someone's dorm room. If so, it must belong to the superiors who stay on this floor.  ……Maybe, without realizing it, I've actually found the right place while wandering around. Jeong Tae-ui was about to entertain that thought for a moment, but then he saw a sliding glass door at the end of his view and sighed. I see now. Assuming these doors are the same as the ones downstairs, this door must be a bathroom door too. I remember when Tou was guiding me to the room, we passed by a bathroom that looked exactly like this. If you open the sliding glass door and go through another opaque glass door, and then turn around the wall directly in front of you, you'll find the changing room. And then the bathroom is beyond that. "But…… if the higher-ups all have private bathrooms in their rooms, why is there a communal bathroom here? Or maybe it's not a bathroom at all.” Jeong Tae-ui abruptly stopped. It wasn't a bad thing, but I was still a bit curious. After all, I wasn't in a hurry. Finding my uncle's room was the main issue, but to leave this floor, I could just randomly take one of the elevators that were hidden here and there as I walked around and go up to the ground floor or down to the sixth basement level. "Since I'm already lost, I might as well take a shower." Halfheartedly, as if giving up, Jeong Tae-ui mumbled and opened the door. To his surprise, it was another bathroom. He opened the opaque door inside, just like downstairs, and found another wall partition. Turning around it, he found the changing room. And there was someone there. Ever since Jeong Tae-ui had opened the door, the man had been staring at him, wide-eyed and motionless, as if startled by the noise. "Uh, ……Ah……, pardon me." A pair of clear eyes looked up at him from about a foot below, their surprise making them widen so much that it seemed like they might pop out of their sockets. It was a boy――or at least, he looked young enough to be one, though it was unlikely he was a minor in a building like this. The boy, who looked quite young, was holding a shirt in one hand, as if he had just finished showering. Or maybe he was about to take a shower, considering his hair was dry. For a moment, nothing came to Jeong Tae-ui's mind. Uh, did I do something wrong? But I don't think I did anything wrong. It was just a coincidence that we met. Why do I feel like I've made a mistake? I feel like I should apologize. For a fleeting moment, a thought like that crossed his blank mind. Yet, he still couldn't understand why. At that moment, my gaze was drawn to the soft, peach-colored skin. It looked so smooth, as if a gentle touch would reveal soft downy hair. I can almost imagine a faint scent of soap or baby powder. At that moment, he was inexplicably flustered. I think I know why I feel like I've made a mistake. But it doesn't make sense. It's not like I've seen something I shouldn't have, like a young lady's skin. Why do I feel this way? The memory of my uncle's face, with that subtle smile as he mentioned something about underage sex crimes, flashed through my mind. No, but he said there were no minors in this branch, so it's not a crime. And it's even stranger that I'm having thoughts about it being a crime just because I saw a man with his shirt off. Jeong Tae-ui was visibly flustered. The young man, noticing his confusion, slowly calmed his wide, startled eyes. "I don't think I've seen you before…… Who are you?" The young man asked quietly. Jeong Tae-ui was flustered once again. Even his voice was youthful. Or should I say, his gentle and slightly hesitant speech sounded so fresh. This really made him seem like a minor. Jeong Tae-ui didn't realize that his hand covering his mouth, trying to hide his embarrassment, actually made him look even more flustered as he rubbed his chin. Wouldn't it be rude to ask someone their age? "How……old are you?" Even though I thought it might be rude, I couldn't help but ask. Noticing Jeong Tae-ui's apparent embarrassment, the young man seemed offended and replied in an unpleasant tone. "Twenty-two. But who are you?" Twenty-two. Still a kid. But even if I touched you, it wouldn't be a crime. No, that's not what I mean. "Uh……, do you work here?" I felt a pang of pity and affection for this innocent boy—though he was almost a young man—who was trapped in such a harsh environment, where rough and savage people lurked inside and venomous snakes slithered outside. By that point, his face clearly showed his displeasure. It was a look that said, 'Who the hell is this guy?' It was no wonder he felt that way. A stranger had suddenly barged into the bathroom, asked him a question, refused to answer, and then started talking nonsense, treating him like a child. "Which instructor is your team under? Or, are you here as an instructor or an administrative officer, though I wasn’t told anything?” He spoke coldly, his face as hard as ice. Jeong Tae-ui flinched as if he'd just woken up from a dream, then scratched the back of his neck. It seemed he was offended because of me. "I…… got lost. I was on my way to see Instructor Jeong Changin." "Instructor Jeong Chang-in? Go out of this room and keep going right until you hit a dead end. Turn right again and go all the way down the hall. You'll see an elevator on your right. Take a right at the corner past the elevator and his room is the second one on your right.” "Um……okay." Even though the answer was kind of vague, it was really helpful. As long as I have a general idea of the direction, I can find my way there. "Okay, ……Thank you." Jeong Tae-ui gave an awkward wave. The young man shrugged, his expression still sour. His bare shoulder looked so pale and smooth. I should have been leaving, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. He was so captivating, like a living, breathing doll. "Aren’t you going?" It seemed like he was in the middle of changing his clothes. He threw his shirt into the rattan basket provided in the changing room and unbuckled his belt. Then, as he was about to take off his pants, he noticed Jeong Tae-ui still standing there and frowned in confusion, asking a question. Jeong Tae-ui's face suddenly turned bright red. Even though there was no reason for it, he felt extremely embarrassed. "No…… I'll go. Then I'll see you later.” Jeong Tae-ui waved his hand and walked out of the bathroom. Without looking back, he left the bathroom and strode towards the right, just as the young man had told him. When he finally reached a dead end after walking as far as he could, his head began to clear a little. He raised his hand to wipe his cheek, and his ears were burning. Jeong Tae-ui stood there dumbfounded for a moment, then shook his head and turned right to continue walking. Jeong Tae-ui wasn't the type to be easily swayed by his emotions. People often said he was indifferent and as stiff as a wooden log. In truth, it's just that he didn't show his emotions on his face very easily, even when he was flustered. But even without looking in the mirror, he knew his face would be betraying his flustered state. "Damn it……. you didn't tell me there was someone like that, uncle……." He blamed his innocent uncle once. But of course, there was no reply. There was a time before when something like this happened. My mind went blank all of a sudden, and I was so flustered that I could only stammer. I can't remember exactly when it was, though it completely slipped my mind. Where I was still a student, green behind the ears. Precocious, or perhaps more negatively, brazen, Jeong Tae-ui had experienced everything sexually by the time he was in high school. He'd been with both women and men, and he'd realized he was more attracted to men. He even knew that he preferred soft, pliable bodies. That was probably around the time of my first love. I went to a friend's house, and there I met my friend's cousin who was staying over for the summer break. He had a slightly plump figure, not overly skinny, with fair and soft skin, big eyes, and a cute expression. He was like a cotton candy cloud. It was exactly like this moment. My face flushed, my heart raced, my mind went blank, and I was trembling. I made excuses to visit my friend's house for several days in a row and got a little more used to his cousin. But every time I saw him, my heart raced. I liked him so much that I couldn't help but wonder if I could accidentally touch his soft skin. Before long, the cousin had to go back home, leaving me with a hollow, unrequited first love. After that, the type of person Jeong Tae-ui liked and was attracted to remained consistent: cute, lovable, and fresh-faced boys who seemed like they could melt away. However, men of that type, whether they were older or younger boys, were quite rare. I had hardly ever seen anyone like that in real life. Occasionally, if I found someone who vaguely resembled that type at a club, I would be satisfied and enjoy myself. But I never thought I would find someone who fit my type so perfectly in such an unexpected place. "What should I do……." Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, truly perplexed. What should I do? I can't believe I've found someone who fits my ideal so perfectly. Actually, when I think about it, there's nothing much to do. I have absolutely no intention of raping or assaulting him, so if he's heterosexual, that's the end of it. And the chances of that are very high. Even if I'm lucky enough for him to be in the same orientation as me, our time is limited to six months. "What can I do?" Jeong Tae-ui kept mumbling the words, 'What can I do?', without even knowing what he was trying to achieve. Just as he had said, the elevator was there. It was the same elevator where Tow had gotten on before. A door leading to a staircase was also visible to the side. "It was the second one after…… turning the corner." Muttering the exact words the young man had said, Jeong Tae-ui followed his instructions and walked forward. After turning the corner twice, he could easily find his uncle's room. *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

“…….” “…….” “…….” Yes. It was a hamster. In Yoo-shin rubbed his eyes hard and opened them. It was still a hamster. It had soft golden fur, sparkling black eyes the size of rice grains, and wiggling toes. Even though it was as big as a five-story building, it was a hamster. “Byuu?” The hamster tilted its head while blinking its window-sized eyes. The vibration caused the remains of the center, which had barely held up, to completely collapse. Gong Taeseong groaned with a tired expression, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have seen. “Fuck, what kind of hamsters are that big?” “They’re so big and so cute………………” Choi Jin-hyuk’s eyes were filled with ecstasy. Lee Hye-yeon, who was at the vanguard of the group as a tanker, just opened her mouth wide and then slowly came behind and poked In Yoo-shin. “Yoo-shin- ah . Can you tame that?” “That, uh, um………………. That……………….” In Yoo-shin’s eyes flinched and shook vaguely. In fact, his gaze had been following the status window that had appeared in front of him since the hamster appeared. [Hamster taming is possible.] [Would you like to tame it?] “It seems possible, but……………….” “Huh?! No way!” Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been staring blankly at the hamster, reacted sensitively to those words. He quickly pulled In Yoo-shin to his side and flew through the sky, heading behind the hamster, no, the boss monster. “You shouldn’t fall for it just because it’s tempting you with cuteness! Look! Even its tail is weird!” The boss monster flinched. Because it was so big, even the slightest flinch made its actions seem very big. The tail, which was curled up like a puppy due to poor formation, gradually became shorter and slimmer. “It’s a hamster tail?” "Iik……………!" The boss monster cried gloomily, his short tail hanging down. As if he was upset that no one believed him. In Yoo-shin swallowed dry saliva. I know it's a boss monster. I know it is………………. It's cute. It's so cute. "Byeow……………….” "Where in the world can you find a hamster that cries 'byow'!" “……Squeak.” "Now it's crying 'squeak'? It's so cute……………….” "Aah!" Hyeon Gyu-ha almost screamed, unable to control his anger. It was the first time he, who was always so brazenly calm, was so excited, and the reason his eyes rolled back was because of his boyfriend's new pet hamster. The group looked up at the farce unfolding in the sky with expressions that were hard to describe. "Master- nim ." "Yes……………." While answering, In Yoo-shin's eyes glanced at the hamster's plump back of its head. If you touch it gently with your fingers, it will be fluffy and warm…................ Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed him in a hurry and made him fix his gaze on his handsome face. "Think about it calmly. That's a boss monster. It might try to seduce Master- nim  by pretending to be cute, and then eat him." "Hmm, that's true, but if it has any hostility toward me, the window asking if I want to tame it won't pop up. It means it doesn't see me as food, right?" "………………Okay. How are you going to tame that big guy and raise him? If it were to hit just one of its fireballs, Yoo-shin's house would crumble to pieces?" "S……………squeak!" The giant hamster sitting with its balls like a cushion moved its short front paws and shook its face. Then it suddenly shrank in size. From a 5-story building to a 4-story building, to a 3-story building…………… "Squeak!" Suddenly, his eyes went blank. A small hamster was wriggling in the rubble of the collapsed center. When In Yoo-shin was flailing his limbs and Hyeon Gyu-ha had no choice but to lower him down, the hamster came running as if it had been waiting. Feeling the soft warmth of the hamster bouncing around and settling on his palm, In Yoo-shin’s expression also melted. Hyeon Gyu-ha’s low voice turned harsh. “Don’t be fooled by its cuteness!” “Gyu-ha- ssi , do you want to touch it too? I didn’t even tame it, but it’s so gentle.” Before Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed the back of its neck and went over, Choi Jin Hyeok lightly tapped the hamster with his finger. "It really looks like a hamster. It's cute even though it's small." Even Lee Hye-yeon, who was trying to keep her composure, groaned and nodded. "If taming is possible, I don't think it'll really hurt................ There's an S-class tamer in Peru who only tames boss monsters. Right now, it seems like there's no other way to attack it besides cute things, but since it's a boss monster, wouldn't it be able to protect Yoo-shin in an emergency?" "I'll be by your side 24 hours a day!" "T-That's right." "But it seems like you're all forgetting an important fact." Gong Tae-sung said with a still disgusted expression. "Are you going to keep killing it in this gate? If you're not going to tame it, then kill it quickly." The hamster suddenly appeared and he blinked, but it was true.  Whether cute or not, the gate would not be cleared unless the boss monster was cleared. There was no time to waste on whether to tame it or not. “Gyu-ha-ssi………………… ” Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been desperately avoiding In Yoo-shin’s gloomy eyes, eventually shouted out. “I really hate it! Even dogs and cats raised at home get stressed out from being cohabitated! I’m the same way! His name will be Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VIII!” The eyes of the group, who didn’t know that he had been tamed, changed into something truly bizarre, but Hyeon Gyu-ha was still very serious. In Yoo-shin also looked down seriously. Even if it was cute, this boss monster had a strong feeling that someone was giving it to me as a ‘gift’. That’s why I wanted to tame it even more, but I couldn’t help it when Hyeon Gyu-ha was so disgusted by it. I didn’t want to force him to get him in my way even though he didn’t like it . “I’m sorry.” “Squueak.” The hamster fell back as if it understood. In Yoo-shin bit his lower lip as he waited for death quietly, and Hyeon Gyu-ha’s eyebrows tightened. “Since it’s transformed, it’ll die if I cut its neck, right? Let’s kill it right away without wasting time………………” Gong Tae-seong, who had stepped forward, quickly changed the angle of the sword he was about to raise. Kaang! The poisonous dagger flying toward his face was deflected. Choi Jin-hyeok’s expression as he retrieved the dagger was cold. “With that kind of cluelessness, it won’t matter if a hundred or a thousand years pass.” “This is unbelievable!” The flames spread into an unexpected fight. Lee Hye-yeon, who wasn’t surprised and ignored the two men’s sword fights, held out her hand. “I thought it would be beneficial for you to tame the boss monster, but there’s nothing I can do. Yoo-shin- ah , I’ll do it.” His hand was blocked by someone else’s arm.  Hyeon Gyu-ha. When In Yoo-shin raised his surprised face, he shook his shoulders and took several deep breaths before trying to speak calmly. “You don’t want to kill him, do you?” “But I hate it even more when Gyu-ha-ssi refuses although I can tame him on my own.” “Whew, now that I hear that, it’s okay.” Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was bending down, lightly pressed his forehead against In Yoo-shin’s forehead. “Yoo-shin- ssi  wants to do it, so how can I interfere until the end? If you want to tame it, do it.” “Really?!” “Instead, I’ll definitely be second. I can’t yield my Master -nim ’s love to anyone other than Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VI Noona.” "Of course!" I don't know what he means, but it seems to have been resolved well anyway,  so Lee Hye-yeon snickered and stepped back. [The hamster's taming is complete. Would you like to name it with the automatically set name?] "Oh, should I change the name?" "Do whatever you want, Master- nim ." [The hamster's name is 'Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VIII'.] The 8-se familiarity gently penetrated the soul, and a bridge was built between souls. A new hamster tattoo was engraved next to the hamster drawn on his wrist. "Squeak!" The 8- se  let out a joyful cry. [Name: Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VIII] [Current status: Joy. Stable.] “Gyu-ha- ssi , I guess 8- se  are real boss monsters. Even though they’re this small, most of them are C-grade.” “This kid’s one punch could knock Master-nim out through the wall. It’s dangerous, so let’s isolate him.” “………………Is that about it?” Then, as if paint had been dropped into the air, colors began to spread and split. The sunset shone through the gap in the sky. In Yoo-shin exclaimed softly. The colorless world, slowly dyed in a gentle light, must have been a mysterious beauty that could only be seen here. In the meantime, Gong Tae-seong grabbed the unconscious Choi Jin-hyeok’s ankle, dragged him over, and threw him. Lee Hye-yeon caught him with a practiced attitude and put her arm around his shoulder. “The entrance is narrow, so please line up so that there aren’t too many people. It won’t close until the inside is empty, so don’t worry.” Following her lead, people cried and cheered in relief as they exited the gate one by one. The two were standing at the very end. Hyeon Gyu-ha glanced down at In Yoo-shin’s palm, which was unconsciously stroking the warm 8- se . “Are you that cute?” Of course it’s cute. But………………. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: eteryl Support on KOFI: chapter 49, 50 If you wanna become an 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!

115.   “I’m sorry, Chae Yoo-jeong.”   The time to worry was short, but the answer was clear.   “I…I still don’t have the confidence to trust you.”   It was an honest confession. I still didn’t have the courage to keep Chae Yoo-jeong by my side.   As much as I felt betrayed by Chae Yoo-jeong, it wasn’t a rejection I said for revenge or to hurt him. The only thing that mattered was whether I could put the lies he had told in the past and trust Chae Yoo-jeong and live harmoniously from now on. I wasn’t ready for that yet.   After hearing the words of rejection, Chae Yoo-jeong just remained calm. Thick, pearl-like teardrops flowed down Chae Yoo-jeong’s cheeks.   “Yes, I got it.”   Chae Yoo-jeong answered in a calm voice and wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.   “I’m sorry. I guess I was a burden.”   He smiled slightly, as if he already expected me to say no, with the corners of his eyes dyed bright red.   “I guess I became greedy without realizing it after meeting Hyung by chance. I’m sorry.”   Chae Yoo-jeong apologized again and took a step back.   “I’ll… go first.”   “……”   “Take care, Hyung.”   As if to prove that this wasn’t something he just half-heartedly said, Chae Yoo-jeong turned his back without hesitation. Walking steps away from me without stopping.   At that time, I remembered the moment I ran into Chae Yoo-jeong at the restaurant earlier. The sight of Chae Yoo-jeong calmly turning his head away as if I were a stranger.   “Chae Yoo-jeong.”   At the sound of a low call, a large figure bathed in light from the streetlights in the alley flinched and halted.   “You said it would be hard to forget me.”   As Chae Yoo-jeong got further away, I approached this time. The cold winter air passed by my face.   “Then you… Can you wait for me?”   “…….”   “If I ask you to wait until I feel like trusting you, can you wait?”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s shoulders trembled slightly as he turned around and listened to my words. Then he looked back at me.   When Chae Yoo-jeong faced me again, his face was a mess. It was clear that he had stopped crying when I stopped him, but in just a few steps he had cried again, and his cheeks were as wet as they were before.   ‘He turned his back without any regrets……   With Chae Yoo-jeong crying like crazy, I checked his condition, and couldn’t help but laugh.   One way or another, I once again realized that it was an undeniable fact that Chae Yoo-jeong was more sincere to me than anyone else in the world.   “Gasp, ha, I’ll do it.”   “… It might take a long time. More than when we met again. Maybe I won’t be able to call you until the end. Does it matter?”   “It does not matter… I’m good at waiting.”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s wet eyes were visible. Frozen teardrops hung on his long eyelashes and flowed down helplessly every time he blinked.   “Even if it takes years... I can wait.”   Chae Yoo-jeong opened his mouth with difficulty, letting out the emotions he had been suppressing like a waterfall only now that he was able to grasp at straws more than when he heard the words of rejection.   “Please let me do that at least.”   Chae Yoo-jeong’s hair was gently tousled by the wind blowing from across from me. The man’s eyes revealed a deep determination that I had never seen before.   ***   That was the end of the meeting with Chae Yu-jeong, whom I met again after 9 months. The only thing that changed between us was Chae Yoo-jeong’s new number saved in my cell phone.   The night I met him, I had a short dream. In the dream, I was Yoo Ji-han, 15 years old, not 25 years old.   Around that time, I was attending an academy. Since my parents worked together, they often came home later than I did, so I always had to prepare dinner on my own.   Most of the time, I would buy a lunch box or make a quick filling with leftover side dishes at home, but that day, I was especially drawn to triangle kimbap. I stopped at a convenience store and bought three or four triangle kimbap and heated them in the microwave. The fragrant smell of seaweed was filling the air.   Holding the plastic bag containing the triangular kimbap, I walked hurriedly and entered the alley. It’s an alley that I don’t usually come across, but when I stopped by the convenience store, I had to pass by here so I could get home early. At that time, I was thoughtlessly walking down a dark alley.   -……   Under the yellow streetlight across from me, I saw something small and round. Only after blinking several times did I realize that the small child was sitting crouched.   What? I clicked my tongue inwardly, thinking it was funny, wondering who was outside on a snowy winter night and shaking like that, but stopped at the moment the other person raised his head.   My eyes were drawn by the soft hair illuminated by the yellow streetlight. The large, round eyes visible beneath the hair were like jewels, and the pale white skin and wide vanilla-colored sweater he was wearing went very well with it.   I looked at the sight in fascination, walked towards the child as if controlled, and tilted the umbrella without realizing it. Sensing someone was near, the child shrugged his shoulders and raised his head.   When I made eye contact with the child I was seeing up close, my mouth moved spontaneously.   -Hi.   It was a rude greeting that made me sigh. No, what would I do if I greeted someone I had never met this way?   I was embarrassed to see myself doing something I would never normally do, but for some reason I couldn’t stop talking.   -What are you doing here?   -I…….   -You’re what? Aren’t you cold?   -Not really……………   In response to the series of questions, the child distanced himself from me with a wary expression on his face. hmm… I understood. In this situation, no matter who approached him would look suspicious.   I became a little embarrassed when I thought that I had made him uncomfortable by suddenly talking to him. So I took out a triangle kimbap from a plastic bag and handed it to him.   -It’s my favorite flavor, so you eat it.   The child tilted his head toward the triangle kimbap in my hand. The triangle kimbap that appeared out of nowhere seemed quite disconcerting.   If I had known this would happen, I would have bought other snacks together instead of giving him a triangle kimbap in a forceful way.   Feeling ashamed, I quickly turned around and bolted out of the alley as if running away. I felt the child’s gaze persistently following me behind me, but I tried to look elsewhere. With that, the dream ended.   Even after waking up from the dream, I was dazed for a long time. I brushed away my messy hair and ran down both of my hands on my face.   Chae Yoo-jeong’s face overlapped the child’s face that was looking up at me. He had the same lonely eyes, as if he had been abandoned by the world. I suddenly felt despondent, wondering why I had such a dream just now.   Since I had Chae Yoo-jeong’s number, I could contact him right away. I could call him and tell him that I just now remembered the day I first met him. but….   ‘Not yet.’   I smiled bitterly and turned off the screen of the cell phone that had Chae Yoo-jeong’s number on it.   Time passed again without any change. Another year ended, and after a noisy graduation ceremony with family and friends from out of town, the date quickly became the end of February.   When I finished my part-time job and went outside, it was already snowing. Since the temperature is said to rise starting next week, this will probably be the last snow before spring arrives.   -For a long time, whenever it snows, something good happens...………………   As I looked at the pure white snowflakes fluttering under the black night sky, Chae Yoo-jeong’s voice naturally came to mind. A white breath escaped his mouth and broke like a sigh.   “Ha…..”   In the two months since I met Chae Yoo-jeong by chance last December, I had constantly wondered what the right choice was.   ‘Chae Yoo-jeong, you……’   He told me he was saved. But I didn’t know.   When I first met him, what I gave him was not salvation, but only simple curiosity and sympathy. The person who made that light feeling meaningful was not me, but Chae Yoo-jeong.   Chae Yoo-jeong said that he tried several times to forget me, but he failed every time. He confessed that even when he last encountered me, he couldn’t do anything more than forget me. Since I had never once doubted Chae Yoo-jeong’s feelings in the first place, I believe that too.   Then what about me? Can I live like this, forgetting about Chae Yoo-jeong? Even when the cherry blossoms flutter like snow, when I still remember Chae Yoo-jeong’s happy smiling face?   I arrived in front of the house and took out my cell phone that I had put in my coat. The yellow streetlight came down on my cell phone screen, where Chae Yoo-jeong’s number was displayed. It was the first time I kissed him.   Of course I didn’t know what the right and wrong choice was. I just really wanted to hear Chae Yoo-jeong’s voice right now.   The worries were long, but the actions were quick. My own actions, calling Chae Yoo-jeong on my phone without the slightest hesitation, were surprising.   I thought that if the day came when I made up my mind and called Chae Yoo-jeong, I would feel uncomfortable and be filled with complicated feelings... It was strangely so nice. The corners of my mouth naturally relaxed and a faint smile appeared.   In fact, my feelings may have already been answered a long time ago. I even felt relieved as if I had finally let go of the burden I had been carrying for so long.   I pressed the call button and put the phone to my ear. The other person answered the phone shortly afterwards.   “………………Chae Yoo-jeong.”   HM: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… I have said that obsession is a common nature of humans and saying most people say it’s not normal is ironic… but… omg the progress is insane. This is actually the first time I have read a BL novel where the ML actually gets over the phase of obsession. Dang~ most of the time.. It’s either the ML is obsessive, or he isn’t. Num! Num num! It was a delicious treat. Onto the next one~ --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx Support on Kofi: Chapter 116, 117, epilogue 1,2,3,4 We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

Despite being just one level below, the 6th basement floor had a very different layout. A straight corridor stretched out, lined on both sides with identically shaped doors that were spaced out and zigzagged, facing each other. The corridor floor was covered in a plush khaki carpet, softer than that of the 5th floor. Elegant glass-crafted lamps and casually hung paintings adorned the walls. At the end of the corridor, an antique console table held a calmly arranged bouquet of fresh flowers. Beside it were a small glass table and two one-person couches upholstered in water buffalo leather. “…….It seems like I've come to a five-star hotel. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the room is like.” As Jeong Tae-ui muttered in boredom, Tou, who was walking ahead, smiled. "The rooms are also similar, except for the fact that there isn't a bathroom attached to each room." "If they were going to decorate it so luxuriously, why didn't they just put a bathroom in each room? Why did they have to separate them?" "Well, they say the sewage system isn't set up for that. They said it's impossible to install pipes in every room." "So, it's a shared bathroom and a shared toilet?" "That's right. But since there are two spacious ones, one on the east side and one on the west, it's not usually crowded. You can go anytime and it's pretty quiet.” "Any time……." As if understanding what Jeong Tae-ui was thinking, Tou emphasized once more, 'Um, anytime.' With a face that seemed to say, 'That's just how it is in a place full of guys,' Tou hummed as he walked. As they passed by, they showed him a place and said it was the bathroom. Even now, after work hours, it was completely empty. The well-equipped shower facilities and the large bathtub, separated by a glass door, sat there forlornly. "I guess I'll have to use it later." Staring at the clear, hot water filling the bathtub, Jeong Tae-ui muttered something. Then, he suddenly asked Tou a question. "So, do all the superiors use this floor? Like a director, vice directors, or instructors?” "Nope. They live on a completely different floor. I heard they live on the first basement level, which is as close to the ground floor as you can get. They even have their own private bathrooms in each room." "Haa." I briefly thought of my elegant uncle, the root of all this trouble. Resentment began to grow towards him. I won't feel relieved unless I really strangle him someday. "Where exactly is Instructor Jeong Chang-in's room on the first basement level?"  "Why, are you already missing your uncle? Hehe, if you take the elevator I just got off, turn right, and then take the second door on the right.” With a playful tone, Tou turned away from the bathroom. After pointing out that the restroom was right next to it, he continued down the hallway. Jeong Tae-ui shook his head, inwardly cursing his uncle, but Tou, who had been walking for quite some time, finally stopped. "Here’s your room." The room he tapped on with his fingertips, indicating it was this one, was located quite deep inside the corridor. "This room was originally shared by one Japanese person from our team and two Russians from another team. One of the Russians died, and the other two are currently recovering.……I doubt they'll be able to come back even after they recover." Tou muttered in a low voice and opened the door. The door opened easily, as if it wasn't locked. The room was quite roomy. It was big enough for three people to share. There were three double beds. The built-in closet, hidden behind a door that looked like part of the wall, and other necessary furniture like shelves and desks were all provided. "Help yourself to the fridge in front of the closet. It's not very big, but it should be enough for a few cans of beer and some snacks. And you see that sink in the corner? You can use that for a quick wash. Some people use it to do their business because they're too lazy to go to the bathroom, so I wouldn't recommend using it for water. Just for washing your hands." "……I hope whoever I'm sharing a room with isn't like that." It's good that the bathroom is usually empty. That means it's convenient, and I'm not that clean myself. But that's just too much. I really want to see the face of whoever it is that uses the sink for that and give them a piece of my mind. Jeong Tae-ui muttered in boredom, and Tou shrugged. "I guess we'll have to use it alone until a new recruit comes in. Or maybe until one of the recovering guys comes back. But I think waiting for a new recruit will be faster."  "I guess the guys who are recovering must have been pretty badly hurt."  "Um……. thankfully, they should be able to live a normal life. But it's unlikely they'll be able to return to this kind of life. Still, with the compensation and retirement pay, they should have enough to live comfortably on their own for decades. I guess it was worth it since they got injured doing their job.”  Indeed,  Jeong Tae-ui nodded in agreement. So, if they successfully complete the training and get hired by another company or agency, they'll be making a ton of money. And even if they get injured during the training, they'll be financially secure. Plus, with facilities like these, it's quite something. I can see why people around the world are eager to join this organization. Thinking he'd explained enough, or perhaps unable to resist the urge to smoke any longer, Tou walked towards the door and said. "Ask the administrative officer for the key in the office on the ground floor. Xinlu is the administrative officer charge of member benefits and internal affairs. Get the key from him and also pick up the note with the house rules. If you need anything else, just ask him. For simple questions, you can ask me. My room is number 15.  ……Want me to come with you? I'm about to go upstairs for a smoke anyway.” "No, you go ahead. I'll be a bit slower. But is administrative officer still in the office at this hour?" "There's probably someone on duty. If you say you have something to say to Xinlu, they'll call him." "Alright. Thank you." "Not at all," Tou waved his hand and left. Left alone in the room, Jeong Tae-ui finally let out a long sigh he'd been holding in and flopped down on the chair right next to him. Except for the basic furniture, there were hardly any personal belongings. It seems like they've already removed the belongings of the person who passed away, and perhaps the items of those who are recovering as well. I looked through the drawers, the wardrobe, and the desk. Although they weren't completely empty, there were only a few remaining items of clothing, books, and other small belongings. The empty furniture, without a speck of dust, seemed to have belonged to the person who passed away. Even if they're not coming back, I can't just use someone else's space. After all, it's only natural that the deceased person's belongings would be left behind. Jeong Tae-ui looked around the room carefully. Since he had left his bag behind, he couldn't organize his belongings today, but in fact, there wasn't much to organize. He didn't have any important things that he needed to pack carefully, even though his uncle was urging him to hurry. And since he was told he would only be staying for half a year, he hadn't brought anything except for what he needed immediately. Everything from his pajamas and uniform to even his toothbrush was provided, so there was really nothing else to pack. The only thing of real value in that bag…… must be the key. It was just tossed into the bag, not even attached to a keychain. It's the key to my room for the next six months. I made sure to tidy up the house before I left. It actually took me dozens of times longer than it took to pack. I also left a short note for my brother, who knows when he'll be back. I wonder what my Hyung is doing right now. Although I don't need to worry about him wherever he is, I don't think I would even worry if his plane crashed.    Whatever he wants, I'm sure we'll meet again. After all, he always gets what he wants. Jeong Tae-ui approached the neatly made bed and lay down on it. Though my body was tired, I wasn't as sleepy as I expected. My body felt heavy but my mind was clear. I'll have a room to myself for a while. It'll be peaceful, but there might be some inconveniences, especially at first. If I need anything small, I can ask the next door. After a moment of staring at the ceiling, Jeong Tae-ui slowly rose to his feet. I won't need the key since the door is always unlocked. But I'll need that rulebook. I have no idea where to eat or what to do tomorrow. I should ask Xinlu. I guess he’s part of the administration. Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head and got up. It felt like the next six months would feel like a thousand years. I guess I’ll have to strangle my uncle sometime to feel satisfied. I should stop by his room on the first basement floor on my way up and twist his face. *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

“Hiuaak!” Hyeon Gyu-ha waved his hand while smiling slightly at In Yoo-shin, who was convulsing as if he was about to jump out of his seat. A monster that had just formed next to him burst with a bang. “I’m going to heal your wound.” “I-I-If I apply my saliva, it’ll be fine!” “Your wound isn’t on your hand, it’s on your cheek. How can you apply your spit, Yoo-shin-ssi? Your tongue can’t reach your cheek.” Huh? Is that so? Is that so? In Yoo-shin, who was flustered and almost fell for his sophistry, quickly came to his senses. “I can just apply saliva to my hand and rub it on the wound!” “You can’t even see where the wound is, Yoo-shin- ssi .” “…….” ……Wait a minute? As he listened, he became more and more convinced, and Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled gently, moistening his eyes, unlike his sly words. What are you, really, to me? 71 hours and 46 minutes trapped in the erosion gate. "I should bring several spare portable batteries next time.” "I hope I don't get trapped in the erosion gate next time…….” "Well, it's like dating for 24 hours, isn't it nice? Even though there are a lot of impurities around." Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been through the darkness, returned to his usual relaxed appearance. Other people might not have been able to tell, but In Yoo-shin could clearly see it. “Let’s play this game too.” Hyun Gyu-ha took out a board game box from the subspace. This time, it was a new box that had not been opened yet. In this place where there was no radio transmission and no way to charge the battery, board games were a good choice for killing time. There were all kinds of board games, but Hyeon Gyu-ha had never played a single one. He said he just bought them in order of popularity. In Yoo-shin had only played a little board game at the orphanage. While the two were reading the rules together, Park Seung-gi, who had borrowed Yoo-shin’s cell phone and was diligently filming until the battery ran out, quietly joined in. Lee Hye-yeon and Choi Jin-hyeok also joined in. Surprisingly, the person who knew board games well was Gong Tae-seong. Choi Jin-hyeok forcibly dragged him over and sat him down, even though he was annoyed by him. The date with the third generation of a conglomerate was surprisingly simple. The board game that started like that continued steadily even as the members changed little by little. Other people who were watching also borrowed board games. People gathered in groups of three or four and became absorbed in board games. The game that they could immerse themselves in somewhat soothing their anxiety. The belief that they would soon be able to leave the gate with two S-class players gradually faded. The dungeon boss was still not found, and people were getting tired. The four top hunters were unshaken, but the others were not. Even hunters who set up forward bases inside the gate and continue hunting for days on end can't hide their anxiety, how much more so for ordinary people? Unlike other gates, this isn't a dungeon where you can escape the monsters, so the mental exhaustion and fatigue are even greater. Even food and water are in short supply. There was a limit to calming down with board games. Finally, one man who couldn't stand it raised his voice. He was an E-class awakened person who had undergone a physical test like In Yoo-shin. "How long do I have to eat these tasteless pieces of bread!" The man threw the bread bag in frustration. The bread that hit the floor couldn't withstand the impact and quickly turned to dust and disappeared. "Are you even looking for it properly? People like us are just a burden, so they wait for everyone to die and then you guys can just leisurely go back! " If you think about it calmly, it doesn't make sense. There was no reason for the hunters to kill all the ordinary people and escape. However, the situation of being isolated in a gate without a boss for nearly three days had long since taken away the man's reason. Not only the man, but also the other ordinary people who were crouching anxiously were murmuring. "Seeing you thinking such useless thoughts, I guess it’s worth living for you. You haven't even lifted a finger, but you're being given food and water, so you're being so greedy and making such a fuss. People like that should just starve." Park Seung-gi, who was reading the board game rules with him, grumbled softly. Lee Hye-yeon, who got up from her seat, gestured to the man in an awkward tone. “Calm down. We’re doing our best. As you can see, we’re continuing to search underground and underwater, and perhaps this gate may also be a clear condition for spending a certain amount of time………….” “How can we believe that! How do we know that you guys aren’t planning to kill us!” “Why are we trying to kill you?” “You must be feeling bad about the food that goes into our mouths!” The man shouted, making no sense at all. If the monsters here had reacted to the sound, it would have been a huge commotion. In Yoo-shin grabbed the hem of Hyeon Gyu-ha’s clothes, who was sitting next to him. Hyeon Gyu-ha opened his eyes and smiled languidly. “You called?” “Can I not stop him? I think Noona is in trouble………………….” “Let it go. Hye-yeon’s kind, but she’s not a pushover.” Gong Tae-seong, who finished eating the hamburger and wiped the colorless sauce off his mouth, also intervened. “No matter how much the public servant hunters of the Department of Supernatural Affairs and Public Safety are idiots, if Lee Hye-yeon was a pushover, there’s no way they could handle it.” When he turned around after hearing that, Choi Jin-hyeok didn't seem to care much either, and was listening to music on his earphones connected to his phone, which had a low battery. It seemed like In Yoo-shin was the only one fidgeting. Still, it didn't seem right to just watch without saying anything. He tried to get up to stop the man, but the man who was angry alone couldn't control his anger and walked away. "I can't live eating this kind of trash! You guys are clearly hiding the proper food and eating it by yourself?! Do you think I don't know?" "That's all." Lee Hye-yeon's voice suddenly became cold. When Lee Hye-yeon, who had always treated them with polite speech and a smile, changed her reaction, even the man who had been talking nonsense flinched. Lee Hye-yeon's hand pointed to the circle surrounding the group. It was the boundary where Gong Tae-seong's flames were burning, and it was also the boundary where Choi Jin-hyeok's venom was stored. "There is only one warning. I’m the current leader, and I have set the rule that you, the ordinary people, must stay within this circle. As long as you follow the rule, we’ll protect you." Gong Tae-seong's cold mockery followed. “To summarize it in a way that even an idiot like you can understand, if you go outside that line, the monster will either blow your head off or tear your limbs off, so you can go get food or whatever you want.” “H-how could you! You guys are supposed to protect people who aren’t hunters!” “If you disobey the leader and don’t follow the rules inside the gate, doesn’t that mean you want to be killed? Didn’t you learn during the test that if you cause unnecessary trouble inside the gate, you’re allowed to be summarily executed, no matter regardless of if you’re awakened or not?” “If you pass the physical test, aren’t you already a hunter? Just kill him since he’s noisy.” When Choi Jin-hyeok also took out his earphones and frowned, the man’s face turned even paler. “Are you ordering me?” “Go away, Gong.” “………………I’ll definitely kill you.” Exactly 72 hours had passed by then. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was hesitating at the edge of the circle without being able to return because of his petty pride, suddenly whistled as he glanced behind the man. “Master- nim , I think the boss is coming out, so stick close to me.” Here it is. “What?!” The reaction came not from In Yoo-shin but from others. The man, whose legs lost strength at the sound of the boss coming out from behind, screamed and crawled in. In Yoo-shin, who was surprised, immediately clung to Hyeon Gyu-ha, and the hunters quickly formed a formation that they had planned in advance. It was a formation with Gong Tae-sung, a pyrokinesis with an advantageous matchup against the demons here, as the main dealer. The tattoo of Gong Tae-sung’s artifact engraved on his forearm glowed, and a dark red murderous spirit was woven into his sword along with flames. The inside of the gate vibrated, and black energy rose from all directions and began to gather in the air. Kkurung! The center building, unable to withstand the boss’ energy, collapsed with a loud noise. And in front of everyone’s tense gaze, the energy that had gathered gradually took on a single shape, a huge………………  “Byu.” The hamster appeared. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: eteryl Support on KOFI: chapter 48, 49, 50 If you wanna become an 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!

I was hit pretty badly about eight or nine times. Two of those hits were so painful that I almost lost consciousness. But fortunately, the rest were just perfunctory blows, like someone going through the motions. There were even a few punches so weak they were practically featherweights.   After enduring a beating that was too mild to be called a thrashing, Jeong Tae-ui came to his senses and saw his attackers drinking alcohol in the middle of the room where they had beaten him.   “Isn't there anything we can use as an appetizer?”    “I just went to get the dried meat that Wi-en ho brought back from their trip.”   “Uh, that glass is empty. You should fill it up right away. What are you doing just sitting there?”   “…….”   I've found another difference from the military……. Jeong Tae-ui thought quietly as he munched on the bean snack handed to him by an unknown man sitting next to him.   These men, who had just severely beaten someone and then dragged Jeong Tae-ui away with a bright smile, saying, 'Well, let's go get a drink to welcome our new team member,' were bad enough. But Jeong Tae-ui himself, who quietly sat there, accepting the drinks and food they offered, was no better.   I wonder if these men are strange, if this team is strange, if this branch is strange, if the entire UNHRDO is strange, or if it's just me who finds this situation so odd.   “Is it okay to drink like this? What if an emergency happens when we're all drunk?”   Jeong Tae-ui muttered something, and the man sitting across from him, Qing Renzao, shrugged and smiled.   “What do you mean by an emergency?”   Then, a man named Tou, who seemed to be close with this Qing, joined the conversation from his seat next to him.   “Tay came from the military. It's only natural that he still has some rigid habits..”   “Ah-ha.”   It was only then that Qing nodded in understanding. Carlo, who had been tinkering away behind them, stepped in to explain.   “There's no reason to be constantly on edge here, it's not like we're in the military. Unless, of course, you've made enemies with your colleagues and are at risk of being stabbed. Since there are no enemies invading us, it's perfectly fine to drink after work. However, if you get so drunk that you can't make it to morning training, you'll be in big trouble with the instructor.”   “I heard that sometimes you have to go out and do dangerous jobs because of external requests. How can you be sure that someone who has a grudge against you won't sneak in and stab you when you least expect it?”   Jeong Tae-ui took another sip of his drink and asked again. He didn't know the exact nature of the work or how the system operated, but he vaguely remembered hearing something similar when his uncle and Jeong Jae-ui were talking a long time ago. That's why Jeong Tae-ui had always thought of UNHRDO as a kind of contract organization that handled all sorts of miscellaneous tasks.   “Where did you hear that from?”   “It's only natural for rumors to spread once they start, since there's always a way for them to get out.”   “Ah-ha, right, you're Jeong Jae-ui's younger brother. It seems you only heard half the story. While it's true that we sometimes go out on real missions, we don't take personal requests. Even though there's a lot of money involved, we're still supposed to be a united organization. We can't just go around taking on personal tasks. So, you shouldn't worry about anyone holding a personal grudge against you. What you should really be careful of is…….”   Suddenly, Carlo's voice lowered, and a subtle mix of excitement and anger crept into it.   “Those bastards from the European branch! Those are the ones who will be crawling back here sooner or later, so brazen!”   I hear it again. I don't know how many times I've heard insults about the 'European branch' today.  Seeing grown adults like this, who are supposedly part of the same headquarters, getting so worked up, Jeong Tae-ui suddenly found it all so ridiculous that I couldn't help but chuckle.   “Their relationship is really bad……. I heard that members sometimes transfer between branches, so they should be considered colleagues, but I don't understand why their relationship is so bad.”   It was half a question, half a statement to himself. But the next moment, a heavy silence fell over them, and Jeong Tae-ui, who had been drinking, couldn't swallow the liquor in his mouth and just rolled his eyes.   “Ah, I see. I don't know much. Tell me about it. Of course, there are times when members move between branches. But…….”   “…….”   “There’s no exchange between the European branch and the Asian branch.”   “ Unn ?”   “Unless they go through another branch or headquarters first, there are no direct exchanges.”   Gulp Gulp,  Jeong Tae-ui swallowed the liquor in his mouth, trying his best not to show his disbelief.   So that's why you said 'it wouldn't be from the European branch.' I get it now. I understand that your relationship is bad. But even so, it's too much that there's no direct exchange program between the two branches. That means the relationship between the two branches is so bad that even other branches and headquarters acknowledge it as extremely hostile.   “What kind of bloody history do they have under the same headquarters…….”   As Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, Qing tilted his head, their hands gripping the wine glass tightly.   “Actually, our relationship with other branches, like the one in America, isn't very good either. It's a bit better with headquarters, but the relationship between the branches is far from friendly. And it's no wonder, considering we're each other's training opponents. During joint training, we're told to fight as if we were facing a real enemy. And when people die in those training sessions, and those grudges build up, sometimes people will go into the next joint training with the sole intention of revenge. That's how the deep-seated animosity between us and the European branch has formed.”   “You mean they kill each other on purpose, not by accident?”   There was no reply. Instead, there were only silent affirmations and bitter glances exchanged.   “It's not like we just go around killing anyone from the other branch indiscriminately, but……. Well, it's something like that. Anyway, you're about to see hell as soon as you get here.”   “……. So you're saying that joint training happens once a year?”   “That's right. With the European branch, and the other branches as well, it's once a year. In other words, we meet with the European, Australian, South American, and African branches every three months.”   So you're saying I have to survive at least two critical joint training sessions in the next six months……  Jeong Tae-ui, who was feeling a sense of disgust as if he had swallowed a bug, suddenly tilted his head in confusion.   The numbers don't add up. If there are five branches, there's bound to be a remainder, so does that mean they take turns sitting one out? Or maybe they fight against headquarters…… No, but I heard that the headquarters and the branches are different. The headquarters is where all the brilliant minds are gathered, so they wouldn't make them engage in physical combat.   After considering several possibilities in his head and coming up empty, Jeong Tae-ui asked a question. The answer came easily.   “We rotate the personnel by splitting the numbers in half. While half of the European branch is here with us now, half of our people go to Australia. Half of the Australian people go to South America, and so on. Next time, we'll mix up the order and rotate again.”   “Ah-ha, I see. So, how do you decide who stays and who goes?”   “We'll draw lots on Friday night since we're leaving on Saturday.”   “……. So how do you manage to secure your plane tickets so quickly?”   “Why do we need to secure seats on a private plane? We already have visas for all the countries where our branches are located, so all we need is our passports.”   Remembering the dilapidated buildings he had seen upon arriving on this island, Jeong Tae-ui briefly thought that the word "private jet" couldn't be more out of place, but he said nothing.   “Is there any reason to decide so hastily? It would be better to plan and prepare ahead of time.”   “If people knew in advance whether they were staying or going, they might slack off on their training.”   “Haha, don't you have to train hard no matter where you go if you don't want to die?”   “When we train with branches other than Europe, we usually have some people coming back injured, but hardly anyone dies.”   Those damn Europeans are the problem, aren't they? Last time, Sangwat and Croy died, right? And U-eol, Yoon, and Kiyomi are still recovering in the hospital. I'll kill the guy who killed Sangwat as soon as he shows up, and so on. Instead of the actual meat, they were venting their anger and resentment with curses.   “……. So you mean they also draw lots to decide who goes?”   “Well, I guess so, since the basic operating principles are probably the same everywhere. But if someone has a history of nearly dying when they go there, the branch probably won't send them again. ……What a bunch of cowards!”    If the basic operating principles are the same, that means they probably don't send people who have made enemies there either. I thought it was a case of tit for tat, but knowing how to navigate life,  Jeong Tae-ui remained silent.   “I wonder if he'll come.” That was when Alta suddenly muttered something. At that moment, as if they had made a pact, everyone fell silent.   Only Jeong Tae-ui, who was munching on dried fruit because he had run out of his favorite snack, looked around with a confused expression.   A variety of expressions appeared on the men's faces, which had turned rigid. There was anger, anxiety, fear, and other similar emotions.   “There are countless people who have a grudge against that guy, so I doubt they would send him. If the European branch has any sense, they wouldn't send my member to his death.”   With veins bulging in his eyes, the man sitting next to Jeong Tae-ui gritted his teeth and spat out those words. As if all the people here with grudges had gathered in one place, the seven or so men drinking together all had similar expressions on their faces. At that moment, Carlo muttered heavily.   “But from the perspective of the higher-ups in the European branch, it's better if that guy comes here. Just imagine him staying in his home turf, killing people. He's already crippled three people and killed one while on someone else's turf. How much havoc would he wreak on his own turf?”   “If he's coming to our home turf, I'll tear his throat out and teach him a lesson!”   “……. Who?”   Suddenly, the room fell silent again. Glancing at the men, who were now silent as graves, Jeong Tae-ui was glad he wasn't eating a louder snack. It would be awkward to be the only one making munching sounds in such a quiet atmosphere, and it would be rude to spit out his snack and join in the somber silence.   I think I've got the gist of it. There seems to be a guy from the European branch who's become a public enemy here, and while everyone wants to get back at him, he's too slippery to catch. It seems like no one wants to be the one to bell the cat.    “But, were all those who suffered at the hands of that 'damned bastard' members of this team?”   Jeong Tae-ui asked as if talking to himself. According to what was understood from the conversation, there are six teams in the branch. It seemed like they were going to divide the total of 96 members into six teams of 16 each. It looks like six instructors will be in charge of each team.   Hmm……. As you said, the factions are fiercely competing to promote one of the two vice-directors to fill the vacant director's position. So, before we even talk about the European branch, it means that within this branch itself, the teams are divided into two groups of three, right?  ……Well, before we get into those details, we need to deal with the immediate threat of an external enemy and the ensuing 15-day standoff.   “That's not right. How would he know who's on which team to pick and target? He's just randomly attacking anyone from our side for fun, that crazy bastard!”   Alta, who had begun speaking calmly, gradually became more and more enraged as he spoke and ended up shouting.   Overwhelmed by the other person's intensity, Jeong Tae-ui subtly leaned his body to the other side. However, as if in competition, a shout erupted from the opposite direction.   “How in the world did such a crazy person get into UNHRDO?! I'm telling you, I went through a two-hour personality test just to get in here?!”   Those people, who were all shouting, 'Me too, me too,' were, ironically enough, quite talented individuals who had managed to overcome fierce competition to enter the UN Human Resources Development Organization, despite their appearance, personality, and way of speaking.   Jeong Tae-ui just swallowed his words along with the dried fruit, ignoring his thought, 'I didn't go through anything like that.’   I was curious about the results of their personality tests, considering my uncle's claim that they had all been 'shot a few times and broken a few bones.' But I guess what they were trying to say now wasn't about that.   “What…… doesn't everyone here have experience with guns and knives? It's not surprising that such a 'crazy guy' would end up here.”   I don’t know what kind of crazy person he is though.   However, Jeong Tae-ui's attempt to remain neutral fell on deaf ears. The man sitting next to him gently wrapped his arm around Jeong Tae-ui's shoulders and spoke softly.   “You're wrong. It's true that everyone here has handled guns and swords, but they have a different mindset than that crazy guy. Can you, without any personal grudge against someone, pull the trigger without hesitation? Most people can't, and the same goes for the people here. They can't do it. Unless it's a mortal enemy, people hesitate to harm others. But that guy is different. He justㅡ kills.”   “…….”   It wasn't a joke or an exaggeration. The man sitting next to him was saying it with a serious expression.   A sudden chill ran down Jeong Tae-ui's spine. The man's serious gaze and low tone painted a picture of a demon. A being in human form, yet not human.   ……It wasn't someone you'd want to get close to, not even for half a year without any trouble. I don't know what kind of person he is, but it would be a hundred times better to just keep my distance. The 'feeling' his uncle talked about was whispering that to Jeong Tae-ui.   “Well…… if it's not just this team but everyone in the Asian branch who's responsible, then just talking about it here won't solve anything. And from what I've heard, it doesn't seem like anyone here is really capable of taking him on.”   No one wanted to dwell on the unpleasant topic for too long. It seemed everyone else felt the same way, and they all reluctantly changed the subject.   Jeong Tae-ui picked up the last piece of dried fruit and sighed silently. The dried fruit was running out, but the guy who took the jerky still hadn't returned. At this rate, I’m going to stay up all night waiting for the jerky. Even if the jerky came back soon and was finished, it felt like we would continue drinking for a long time.   What should I do? It's kind of fun sitting here, sharing drinks, and listening to the guys chat, but I'd really like to rest a bit. However, I don't think these guys will let me go to sleep easily.   I found the people quite likable. While I haven't gotten close enough to know if our individual personalities match, I don't dislike the group as a whole. I think I can enjoy the next six months with them. Maybe I'll even make a couple of close friends.   However, despite that, Jeong Tae-ui didn't really enjoy these kinds of gatherings. While it’s fine to indulge in food, drinks, and socializing in moderation, prolonged periods of such activities become a chore. Especially now, I just want some quiet time.   Just as he was pondering what to do, he noticed Tou, who was sitting a little further away, getting up. The way Tou was picking up his cigarette case seemed like he was going outside for a smoke.   “I'm going to the restroom. ㅡTou, do you know where the restroom is?”   Jeong Tae-ui set down his drink and stood up. Tou, who was about to go outside, replied with a noncommittal ' Unn? ' and nodded casually. With teasing remarks like, 'Just smoke three cigarettes and come back, and be careful not to get lost on your way back from the restroom,' Jeong Tae-ui followed Tou outside.   Tou, who had been dragged out to get some fresh air instead of smoking as he had intended, was already craving a cigarette so much that he took one out and put it in his mouth. He walked ahead, chewing on the unlit cigarette.   “I guess smoking is prohibited inside.”   “Hmm. There is a smoking room, but it's not on this floor. You'd have to go downstairs, but it might be better to just go up to the roof and smoke while getting some fresh air. As for the restroom…….”   As they turned around the corner of the hallway, Tou pointed to the middle of the path. However, instead of looking at the direction Tou's finger was pointing, Jeong Tae-ui stuck close behind him, wrapping his arm around Tou's neck from behind.   “I already know about the restroom over there. I'm asking about the restroom attached to the dorm room where I'll be staying. I know it's a bit of a hassle, but could you please come down with me and show me the way?”   With the air of someone who would strangle him at the slightest resistance, Jeong Tae-ui whispered into Tou's ear, applying more pressure to his arm. The situation felt strangely like he was some kind of European spy, forcing someone to do his bidding. A bitter smile crept onto his face, but for now, his immediate concern was to get some rest.   Tou opened his mouth as if to say something, but then sighed deeply as if giving up.   “Alright, alright, let go of me. I'll show you the way. Geez. But you didn't bring your stuff, did you? Go back and get it. I'll wait here.”   “Do you think they'll easily let me go to sleep if I tell them I'm going to get my stuff and then go to bed?”   Isn't it only half-true? Or rather, I'm genuinely wondering if they'll actually let me go.   However, as usual, Jeong Tae-ui's hunch turned out to be right, as Tou hesitated to answer.   Jeong Tae-ui patted Tou on the back with a smile.   “It's fine. There's nothing valuable in there anyway, so we can just go back for it tomorrow. If no one takes it, it'll still be there. Come on, let's go to the dorm. Wasn't it a triple room? ㅡDon't give me that look. If you think about it, you should've taken me straight to the dorm from the beginning. It's your fault for dragging me to the training room, right? Ow, that spot where you hit me still hurts. That must be around here, where you hit me with your fist, Tou…….”   Jeong Tae-ui rubbed his shoulder and made a pained expression, causing Tou to shrug in defeat.   “Alright, follow me. I’ll take you to your room.”   Even though the elevator he had called earlier had arrived and its doors were open, he ignored it and headed towards the emergency stairs instead, saying it would be faster that way.   *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

"Kiruk..! T-he King's son…! Wait, huk...' "Shut up." Hyeon Gyu-ha's chilling rebuke pierced the tense silence. The stranger's slurred words, twisted by his grotesque mouth, seemed to grate on Hyeon Gyu-ha's nerves. "Judging by his appearance, he must be the first human, at least the first one to cross the boundary line." The first human created by the creator god Doomnezeul and the evil god Nekuratul, creator god(창세신) rolled his five eyes as if he was glad to be recognized, and laughed. "I told you to shut up." Hyeon Gyu-ha took out his gun and fired. Bang. Bang. Bang. Red blood and flesh splattered. Even the echo of the gunshot was consumed by the darkness, and the creator god, who was hit by the bullets one after another, lifted his normal face. “Urgh! I can't die under a human’s weapon…!” “I know that. Even though it seems that way, having lived for a long time, you must be almost a demigod. But I'm not.” A look of bewilderment filled his five eyes. The gun was now aimed at Hyeon Gyu-ha’s own head, not the creator god. “It really annoys me. It’s enough that you manipulate other people’s lives, so why did you come out again? It’s annoying, bothersome, disgusting and tiring. I want to just let you all go and die. At least my mind will be at peace.” " Kak!  Don't die, King's son!" "Is that all you want?" His fingers pulled the trigger without hesitation. Taang! A single ray of smoke scattered, and the creator god, who barely caught his hand and turned the gun to shoot himself, moved his blood-soaked mouth urgently. "King! I've been waiting…! Kaugh!  For the King's son to come!" "I've collected half of the fragments in 20 years, so tell them to wait another 20 years." "Lard might be destroyed before that. Kirr ." "It's not my fault." " Kugh!  This will help." The creator god held out his hand. Hyeon Gyu-ha's eyes narrowed. It was a single eyeball the same color as his. "Whose eyeball is it? It seems unlikely that my father would have plucked out his own healthy eyeball, so is it my aunt?" “ Keeruk.  It’s the dead king’s eyeball.” “It’s my aunt’s eyeball.” Hyeon Gyu-ha sneered and took the amber eyeball. “I’ve never seen you properly when you were alive, but I keep greeting you with the pieces of my aunt's corpse.” He crushed and burst the eyeball. The eyeball disappeared as if it was sucked into the pendant with a line of blood. The pendant, which had been emitting an amber glow, soon began to ripple with its original blood color. The blood color seemed to be darker than before, but it also seemed like it wasn't. It doesn't matter. Hyeon Gyu-ha threw the pendant into the inventory without thinking. “Is this the end of it?” There was no need to hear the answer. Even the third new Ursitoare had to endure damage to his existence in order to cross the boundary of the world and reach human perception. The creator god’s body, which had barely held on, was already collapsing. The creator god had risked eternal extinction and crossed the boundary of the world for the sole purpose of fulfilling his role as the king’s messenger. That extinction was also not under Hyeon Gyu-ha’s jurisdiction. He had a much more important matter. “Do you know anything about my partner? I had no clue until now, but he suddenly appeared a while ago. What on earth is this?” “The king, we’re… wait! Kyarr!  The king’s son!” The creator god said what he wanted to say until the end and disappeared. In the darkness that had returned, Hyeon Gyu-ha swept his hair back in irritation. The light-colored hair seemed to shine thinly in the darkness, then soon fell away. I’m so confused. The king. The king’s son. The world that is going to perish. What is it all about? Why is Hyeon Gyu-ha involved? 【You have a difficult expression.】 As if she knew his feelings, the third Ursitoare softened her static, calm gaze. 【There’s no need to complicate things. Among the countless worlds, there is a world facing destruction, and there is a final king who supports that world, and that child is that king’s only child.】 “Why is Gyu-ha-ssi…?” 【This 'Iron Age' you live in is a world of only humans, independent, without gods or kings, so it may be difficult to understand.】 "There is no king in our country, but other countries still have constitutional monarchies..." 【It is not a king in the sense of a ruler of humans. It is difficult to express it clearly because there is no word that is commonly used in human language to describe it… Yes. Let's think of this world as a house. What is the most important thing in building and supporting a house?】 “Like the main beam or the cornerstone?” 【Yep. The one who has been given the rightful mandate by the gods to maintain and support the house called the world, that’s the type of ‘king’ I’m talking about. The ‘king’ is proof and grace that the gods like me look down on humans. When a natural disaster occurs in your world, didn’t the ruler of humans pray or ask the heavens?】 It was definitely like that in the past when human cognition had not yet reached the realm of science. 【That’s because even though the gods of your world have left, there are still memories of a ‘king’ who was given the rightful mandate by the gods at one time performing miracles that could control or predict natural disasters. For example, the story related to the Great Flood, which is a common memory among humans, would be an example.】 It was a story that seemed vague. It’s true that there are flood stories in Korea and all over the world…However, Hyeon Gyu-ha is the one who is such a being. It's even more confusing when you say son. 【Little baby.】 The third Ursitoare embraced In Yoo-shin with a deep and calm gaze like a waveless sea. 【I am the god who foresees fate. That child originally only had a destiny as a hunter, but 19 years ago, when your fate intertwined with his, a new path to the future opened up.】 Before he could even ask what it was, his consciousness became hazy. A whisper came from the other side of his consciousness that was fading away. 【This memory must be confusing to you now, so I will take it back. Instead, I will give you a small gift. Would you like to take it? And…】 A faint smile seemed to pass by. 【There is a lost, sleepy whale by your side. It won’t be of much help to keep it by your side, but please take care of it so that it can return home safely.】 “…Shin- ssi , Yoo-shin- ssi .” The first thing he felt was a gentle hand sweeping his hair. Then a worried voice. When he opened his heavy eyelids, he saw gentle eyes there. Dark amber eyes that always followed me. His throat suddenly became dry. Gong Tae-seong's words rattled in his heart. But above all, the emotion that came to mind was. "You're alive." Hyeon Gyu-ha's lips turned up softly. "I won't hide and die alone without telling you. More importantly, why were you sleeping here? Do you have some kind of sleepwalking disorder that I don't know about?" Startled by those words, he looked around and saw that it wasn't the playground. It was even the road outside the center. In front of a car that had been cut in two after tripping on the border. Frightened by the fact that he was lying alone on the road, In Yoo-shin quickly replied to Hyeon Gyu-ha. "W-why am I here?!" "I just asked you that." "Uh, uh… So I remember going out to find Gyu-ha-ssi earlier, and, um, meeting a monster and breaking the essence of the poison I received from Team Leader Choi…" "Ah, so that's why there was poison smoke here." I could see the remains of the monster slowly disappearing. It seems that thanks to the poison smoke, I was able to avoid being attacked by the monster. I don't remember why I lost consciousness, though. "I don't think Choi Jin-hyeok gave you any poison that would harm you." “I wonder if I have an allergy to poison that I don’t know about?” “If you have such an allergy, I should get some poison from Choi Jin-hyeok and use it to put my Master to sleep.” In Yoo-shin, who was on high alert, quickly distanced himself from Hyeon Gyu-ha. Even so, he only managed to hold his jacket with three fingers instead of five. “Wait a minute.” Suddenly, Hyeon Gyu-ha ran his thumb across In Yoo-shin’s cheek. A drop of blood stained his fingertips. “Oh, are you bleeding? I think you got a cut when you fell.” “This kind of wound will get better with saliva.” That’s right. It didn’t sting and it didn’t seem to bleed much,  so In Yoo-shin just rubbed it with the back of his hand and tried to forget about it, but a heavy presence appeared on his face. As he was having a vague thought that Hyeon Gyu-ha’s face was getting closer, he bent down deeply as if he was going to whisper something in his ear. Suddenly… ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: eteryl Support on KOFI: chapter 47, 48, 49, 50 If you wanna become an 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!

Even though he'd said everything from the office to the dormitory was underground, as soon as they entered the building, instead of heading downstairs, his uncle walked towards a worn-out door at the end of a wooden corridor with several missing floorboards. What was behind that door was unknown.   However, he paused, noticing Jeong Tae-ui following him. When Jungtaeyi tilted his head in confusion, a door right beside him opened quietly. And a young man emerged from that room.   “Tou!”   Pausing as he emerged from the open door and saw Jeong Tae-ui standing right there, the young man turned to his uncle when he heard him call out in relief. Upon seeing his uncle, he straightened his posture and bowed slightly.   “Are you busy?”   “I’m not busy. I was about to go out for a smoke.”   Nodding as he realized one difference from the military, Jeong Tae-ui inwardly sighed at the thought of having to use English, the common language within the branch that he could use but didn't really want to. But he swallowed his sigh when his uncle's index finger suddenly pointed at him.   “Take this kid downstairs. Show him to Kiyomi's old room and help him get acquainted with his new colleagues.”   “Ah, yes.”   The young man scratched behind his ear, seemingly annoyed, but nodded without further complaint.   Without even glancing at Jeong Tae-ui after finishing his sentence, the uncle waved his hand casually and entered the worn-out door. Only the young man and Jeong Tae-ui were left in the corridor. The young man scanned Jeong Tae-ui from head to toe, then re-entered the room he had just come from. He beckoned with his finger. Jeong Tae-ui, after returning the scrutiny, followed him into the room. The young man chuckled.   The young man found an elevator behind the wooden door. It had looked like a sliding door in a crumbling old school, but it opened and closed silently, giving him a fresh shock. Once inside, he found that the elevator functioned perfectly.   “They're spending all their money trying to make this place appear older…….”   As Jeong Tae-ui looked around the interior and mumbled to himself, he noticed the young man still staring at him.   Although he had the appearance of a Han Chinese person, judging by his pale skin and slightly narrow bone structure, he didn't seem to be pure Han Chinese. It seemed that he had some mixed blood from a minority ethnic group.   Looking at Jeong Tae-ui with interest, but with a gaze that was not overly curious, the young man tapped his chest a couple of times with his index finger and spoke.   “Tou. Tou Ching-In.”   “……Jeong Tae-ui. You can call me Tae-ui.”   “Tay……, ok.”   Although the pronunciation was slightly different, Jeong Tae-ui remained silent, thinking it would be useless to correct it.   “Did you transfer from another branch? Or are you new here?”   “I’m new. Is it common for members to go back and forth with other branches?”   “It’s not that common, but not that rare either. For a newcomer, you seem pretty put together. What were you doing before you came here? You weren't working at a corporation or something, were you?”   “I’m unemployed.”   Jeong Tae-ui answered seriously without smiling, but the young man named Tou seemed to take it as a joke and laughed out loud.   “Well, you probably didn't come from the European branch, but it doesn't matter. Welcome.”   Jeong Tae-ui lightly shook the hand that Tou extended and glanced at him furtively.   “It seems like the relationship with the European branch is quite bad.”   I heard about it from my uncle, but the fact that the first thing he said was 'probably didn't come from the European branch' is getting old. I wonder if the relationship is as bad as it was with our old squad and that damned Lieutenant Kim's squad.   “Quite bad, huh? Ha, you'll find out early next month. Because we have joint training with the European branch starting next month, those guys are coming here. Let me tell you, if there's someone who's exceptionally unlucky, it's okay to secretly bury a couple of them. All of us in this branch will help you.”   It's too serious to be a joke. It seems like their relationship is even worse than with our squad and Lieutenant Kim's squad.   “That comradeship is very much appreciated.”   “Well, we should help each other out.”   Tou, who was smiling brightly, stepped out of the elevator that had just stopped. As Jeong Tae-ui followed behind, he was a little surprised.   Fifth basement level. A long, white corridor stretched out before his eyes. The carpet muffled almost all sound, making this place a stark contrast to the dilapidated building above. I never would have thought that such a clean and tidy space could exist in the basement of this crumbling old building.   “Are you surprised?”   Tou smiled brightly, as if it wasn't the first time he'd seen such a reaction.   “Did you think it was a damp basement, teeming with rats and cockroaches, and covered in cobwebs?”   I didn't imagine it would be that bad, but I can't say I didn’t think that.   “Is there a BOQ on this floor?”   As Jeong Tae-ui followed Tou, who was striding down the long corridor, he spoke. Turning around, Tou smiled as if he knew it, saying, ‘Aha’.   “So you were a military officer. Which branch of the military were you in?”   “…….”   “No comment? Okay, fine. Everyone has things they don't want to talk about. Here, we don't call it a BOQ, we call it a dorms(私內室). It's three people per room. But the dorms are one floor below. This floor has a workout room, a library, and a multimedia room. You can think of this floor as having everything you need for your free time, whether you want to play games, read books, or watch movies.”   “I want to put my luggage down first.”   Finding it amusing that Jeongtae said that while only carrying a small Boston bag, Tou snatched the bag from Jeongtae's hand with a full smile on his face.   “Alright then, let me help you with that. First, let's build some solid relationships with the people here, okay? After all, we're going to be going through thick and thin together, so you should say hi to them first, right?”   “…….”   “It’s free time starting at 5 p.m., so everyone is doing their own thing right now, but everyone usually will be in the workout room.”   Though he wanted to put his things down and find his room first, Jeong Tae-ui quietly followed Tou, who was walking ahead with his bag. Perhaps this was the natural order of things here.   But there's one good thing about it: except for the nine superiors, everyone else is an equal colleague.   Maybe they'll give me a hard time as a newbie, but as long as we're technically equals, it'll be easier to get around. And of course, it's probably a joke, but it seems like it's okay to secretly get rid of one or two people.   ……Though it's more likely that I'll be the one killed rather than doing the killing. I'll just have to be careful.   Even during my time at the military academy, my scores in basic weapons training and practical application were just average, neither particularly good nor bad.   If I don't have absolute confidence in being able to repel all incoming enemies, the best strategy is to simply stay out of sight, keep a low profile, and just survive the next six months.   While walking around the corner of the corridor a couple of times, he was able to locate the multimedia room and the library. He also spotted a vending machine in one corner. Although he passed by a few people, they didn't seem to pay much attention to him. They seemed to notice that he was a stranger, glancing at me briefly, but it was nothing more than a casual observation."   “I thought the Asia branch would be full of Asians, but I guess that's not the case.”   After a Westerner walked past them, Jeong Tae-ui muttered something, causing Tou to turn his head.   “It's the same everywhere. No matter which branch you go to, there's a mix of different races. Just because it's the Asia branch doesn't mean it only accepts Asians. Although, proportionally, there are more Asians here compared to other branches or the headquarters. About half of the people here are Asian.”   While saying that, we arrived at the workout room we were aiming for.   Pushing open a massive iron door, easily twice the size of a normal door, a spacious area, almost the size of a gym, unfolded before us. In fact, the facilities were not so different from a regular gym, except for a few more rugged-looking exercise machines.   Inside the workout room, there were about 40 or 50 people, each engaged in their own workout. Some were gathered in small groups, chatting, and a few others seemed to be asleep, lying down. However, most of them were hanging onto exercise equipment, trying to build up their basic physical strength.   “So many people are here even though it's free time. They're really dedicated.”   “If you don't want to die, you better try to build up even a little more strength before next month. Even though there's only about half a month left. If you end up in the hands of those from the European branch, you'll be dead before I get to you.”   Feigning a fist, Tou scanned the workout room before walking towards a group of about seven men. Although they were a certain distance apart, each doing their own thing, the distance between them was close enough to indicate that they were a group with a common identity.   Jeong Tae-ui nodded inwardly. They probably belong to the same team. And judging from appearances, Tou was likely a member of that same team.   The group, noticing Tou and Jeong Tae-ui approaching, began to stop their exercises or conversations one by one and turn their attention to them. More specifically, their eyes were fixed on Jeong Tae-ui, the unfamiliar face.   “Tou, why are you back so early after a smoke, did you leave his pack of cigarettes behind?”   “I know, right? That guy always smokes at least three cigarettes in a row once he starts. I wonder why he came back so soon.”   The eyes of the men who were chuckling at each other also fell on Jeong Tae-ui. Not only them, but other men nearby were also casting curious glances at him.   “I was told to take the new guy under my wing and help him settle in. That's why I brought him here. This is Jeong Tae-ui and he's the new addition to our team.”   While Tou was exchanging a few words with them, Jeong Tae-ui pretended to be indifferent and looked around.   They seem to be mostly in their mid-to-late 20s or early 30s. The youngest guy in that corner must have just turned twenty, and the guy doing sit-ups over there looks like he's about to turn forty. I'd say most of them are in their late 20s.   While thirty-year-olds might not be as physically strong as twenty-year-olds, combat technique isn't solely determined by physical strength. So, age doesn't really matter.   Just as Tou said, half of them seemed to be Asians, and the rest were a mix of Caucasians and African Americans. Although I can't say for sure about the entire group, judging by the people in this room, there seems to be slightly more African Americans than Caucasians. However, it's difficult to make a clear distinction because there were quite a few people who seemed to be of mixed race.   Everyone here seems to be so focused on building their strength that they're all pretty fit, regardless of their height······ Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone who particularly catches Jeong Tae-ui's eye. Unfortunately, that might be a bad thing.   Forget it. Since I'll only be here for half a year, it would be troublesome to get involved with someone I like. It's better to just stay low and leave without any trouble.   “Hm, Tay? Around twenty······ five, I’m guessing?”   One of the men who was sitting on a mattress propped against the wall jumped down and approached them. The others chuckled from behind, and after briefly introducing Jeong Tae-ui, Tou took a couple of steps back.   Jeong Tae-ui looked at the man approaching him head-on, and at the same time, he listened to the surrounding sounds and atmosphere.   Not bad. The laughter, the curious glances, they weren't filled with hostility or mockery. It was just the sound of people enjoying a little event. I can't say it was entirely unpleasant.   The man who was looking at Jeong Tae-ui with a playful smile was tall, even for an Asian. Come to think of it, he might be mixed race. ……So he seems to be the leader.   Jeong Tae-ui smiled wryly. Whether it was here or anywhere else, wherever men gathered, there was always that same person. One of them was always trying to establish themselves as the leader.   They didn't openly proclaim a leader. Perhaps their fragile egos couldn't handle it, so outwardly, there was no hierarchy.   However, if you delve deeper, you'll always find a hierarchy. It's evident in the fact that some people, when saying the exact same thing, are easily followed, while others are constantly criticized without any support.   Perhaps it's not just men, but human nature in general. But Jeong Tae-ui had no way of knowing what women's societies were like. And he didn't particularly want to know.   “What about you?”   Jeong Tae-ui smirked and nodded towards the man. The man shrugged, gesturing at himself.   “Me? It's Carlo Sagisawa. I'll be turning thirty in seven months. Anything else you want to know?”   “ Unn . Are you warming up your hands and ankles because of me?”   Carlo burst out laughing. As he approached Jeong Tae-ui, a habit or perhaps a threat, he cracked his knuckles and stood in front of him, slowly loosening his ankle and neck joints. With a grin, he spread his hands.   “No, no, I was just about to do some exercise. Why? Are you scared? You don't seem very scared.”   “Because I’m not a person who wears his emotions on the outside.”   Carlo laughed again at Jeong Tae-ui's murmur. Though it was meant as a joke, it was partly true. I had been called two-faced before, and right now, I wasn't feeling very comfortable.  With exaggerated movements, he shook his wrists, his hands were as big as a cauldron. His arms, connected to his shoulders, were also incredibly muscular. The same went for his legs below his boxer shorts. It was no wonder I felt uneasy with such a large figure approaching him.   “Hey, Mr. I don’t wear my emotions on the outside. Help me warm up a bit, wanna to join me?”   While his muscular build and strong physique didn't tell the whole story, Jeong Tae-ui had no desire to test himself against him. I was a hundred percent sure I would lose. I’ve never been strong, and I’ve no interest in resorting to brute force to prove my superiority over others.   But before I could refuse, he already cut me off.   As soon as Carlo finished speaking, he lunged at Jeong Tae-ui. Grabbing one wrist and the opposite shoulder with the other, he swept Jeong Tae-ui's legs out from under him.   It was in an instant.   His vision spun as the ceiling seemed to loom over me before disappearing. A hard hit jolted his back. Instinctively, I rolled to break his fall, but a sharp pain shot through his chest and lingered for a moment.   Right in front of him, Carlo was looming overhead, grinning exaggeratedly and furrowing his brow.   “What? I heard you were a soldier, but you're so sloppy. How am I going to get any use out of you like this? Get up.”   Behind him, a cacophony of laughter, jeers, and whistles swept past. Jeong Tae-ui stared up at the man, whose Western name belied his face—a blend of Eastern and Western features, far from the typical mixed-race beauty.   Even as he told me to get up, Carlo didn't move. He still had a firm grip on Jeong Tae-ui’s shoulders and arms, and his knee was pressed against his thigh. His center of gravity was perfectly balanced.   Unless one has mastered the skill to a high level or possesses the strength of King Kong, there's no way to get up. ㅡby normal means.   “Get up, huh?”   “Yeah, as long as it can happen.”   “Great. I guess I don’t have to hold back.”   Jeong Tae-ui's action was almost as quick as his words. With the only part of his body that could move—his right leg—he lifted his knee and struck Carlo squarely in the groin.   “ Gasp. ”   It wasn't only Carlo who screamed. The men who had been laughing and joking, watching the scene, were instantly struck dumb, their faces pale as he let out a single cry.   The brief silence that followed was shattered in less than a few seconds by a roar akin to a howl.   “That’s such a cheap trick!!”   “Cowardㅡ.”   While the victim cowered on the ground, unable to move, Jeong Tae-ui quickly got up from underneath him. The men behind him yelled and shouted in fury as he stood up. Jeong Tae-ui scoffed.   “I need to take care of myself first. Who cares about being cowardly? If we're talking about being unfair, then the fact that this guy and I are in completely different weight classes is the real unfairness.”   He was about to retort when the man who had been lazily lounging beside Carlo a moment ago jumped off the mattress. Rolling up his sleeves with a menacing air, he approached Jeong Tae-ui. Though shorter than Jeong Tae-ui, the man was solidly built, like a dense rock.   So there's more than one mountain to climb. Is this guy some kind of direct subordinate to the boss? Looks like I'm going to have to prepare for a beating as a sort of initiation today. But I wonder if there's any decent medical equipment on this island.   Jeong Tae-ui sighed inwardly and slipped one hand into his jacket pocket. As he did so, the man who had been striding towards him slowed down slightly, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.   “So you're going to use a weapon now that you've already resorted to such a cowardly tactic?!”   The man roared like thunder. Unfazed, Jeong Tae-ui approached him calmly. For a brief moment, the man hesitated.   There was no other opportunity but that moment.   Jeong Tae-ui grabbed the man by the collar. The man instinctively swung his fist. Almost simultaneously with the man's punch, Jeong Tae-ui, still with his hand in his jacket pocket, struck the man's chin, lifting his head. And then, just as Carlo had done to him, he tripped the man's legs and struck him in the solar plexus, knocking him down.   When he mounted the man, straddling his chest, the surroundings fell silent. He could feel a sea of hostile gazes, completely different from the ones just a moment ago.   Oh dear, I guess I'm in for it.   Whether or not he knew the heart of Tae-ui, who sighed inwardly, the man looked at Jeong Tae-ui with puzzled eyes as if he had received no harm.   “If you hadn't cowardly distracted me with that weapon and made me lose my focus, things would be completely different right now.”   “I know but you see.”   I suppose it could be seen as the whining of a defeated man, Jeong Tae-ui muttered with a sigh. And the fact that this guy wasn't actually prepared for a real fight also helped Jeong Tae-ui. With a soft heart, thinking of just threatening and letting him off, he was easily caught.   The man grabbed Jeong Tae-ui's wrist, which was pressing down on his shoulder, and began to twist it with all his might, intending to break it.   I knew I couldn't win a strength contest against this guy. Even if I fight with all my might, can I last even a minute? I figured the situation would completely reverse in no time.   Damn it, I've never been beaten up like this my whole life. It's probably going to hurt like hell. I just hope they take me to a hospital in time.   Feeling the increasingly hostile gazes around him, Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and muttered to the man who was barely a foot away.   “But hey, given that I'm such a coward and a cheat as you say, why would I just lie here and let you grab me like this? You must have a neck made of iron, huh?”   Keeping his hand still inside his pocket, he placed it right below the man's neck.   Jeong Tae-ui's expressionless face met the man's gaze as he indifferently muttered. The sharp tip of something, probably a blade, pressed against the man's neck, just a sheet of paper away. The man's eyes widened in surprise. Seeing the man's reaction, Jeong Tae-ui smirked.   “But the problem is…… you can't slit someone's throat with a pen.”   Tossing the pen from his pocket, Jeong Tae-ui slid off the man and collapsed onto the floor. The man glared at the ceiling, his brow furrowed, before suddenly jumping up and yelling at Jeong Tae-ui in a trembling voice.   “Not only is he a coward, but he's also resorting to such petty tricks. This won't do. I'm going to teach him a lesson today.”   “Yeah, that's a great idea, but I'll go first. Alta.”   The person who muttered in a low, eerie voice was Carlo, who had just pulled his hand away from his groin and stood up from the floor.   Jeong Tae-ui looked at him with a gloomy expression. I was planning to quietly survive for half a year, minding my own business, but why do I have to worry about my life so early on? If I had to pinpoint the reason, it was because of the guy who brought me here.   Though it was a natural course of events, and it wasn't really Tou's fault, Jeong Tae-ui resentfully glared at Tou as if seeking someone to blame. Tou, who had been mingling with the crowd, flinched when their eyes met. Feeling increasingly down, Jeong Tae-ui's spirit was completely crushed, and he dejectedly stared at the floor.   “By the way, did you get in here through connections?”   Looking up from the shadow that had fallen over him, he saw Carlo, sleeves rolled up, standing right in front of him. It seemed Carlo wanted to investigate my background before destroying me.   Just as he was about to say, 'Of course not,' Tou quickly shouted out.   “Instructor Jeong. Instructor Jeong Chang-in brought him.”   “Instructor Jeong?”   Carlo glanced at Tou, then turned back to Jeong Tae-ui with a questioning look.   “How do you know Instructor Jeong?”   “……. So if we're close, you're just going to let me get away with this?”   Carlo seemed to ponder for a moment before glancing around.   “Let’s hear you out first.”   With a tone that clearly implied he was still planning to teach him a lesson, Carlo asked him to explain. Sighing, Jeong Tae-ui simply told him the truth.   “He’s my uncle.”   “Instructor Jeong? ……is your uncle?”   As Carlo's voice rose, the surroundings became agitated. Jeong Tae-ui was inwardly quite startled by this unexpected reaction from those around him, though he didn't show it outwardly.   So my uncle is a well-known figure that warrants such a reaction? I guess being an instructor gives you quite a bit of clout.   “Tay……Jeong Tay……. Then, how are you related to Jeong Jay? There were rumors that Jeong Jay was also the nephew of Instructor Jeong?”   Carlo mumbled Jeong Tae-ui's name slightly mispronounced, then asked again with a serious expression. When he heard his brother's name, also slightly mispronounced, Jeong Tae-ui was surprised once more.   I never thought my Hyung's name would come up in this situation. Or rather, I don't even understand why his name is coming up here. I guess it's possible that they worked together at headquarters when my Hyung was temporarily assigned there.   “He’s my Hyung.”   “Your Hyung? Jeong Jay? Your real Hyung? That genius researcher, the one they say turned down huge offers of wealth and power from headquarters and left without a second thought when his contract ended? That incredibly lucky Jeong Jay, who succeeds at everything he touches?”   Jeong Tae-ui grimaced, slightly turning his face away from Carlo, who was shouting excitedly.   This is the first I've heard of it. But we never really cared about each other's work, so it could be true. In fact, it sounds plausible. It seems my Hyung is even more famous than I thought.   “ Unn,  that's right. My Hyung. ……So, are you going to cut me some slack?”   I had hoped that some of Hyung's incredible luck might rub off on me.   Carlo, who had been mingling with the men nearby, muttering phrases like 'the one we've only heard about' and 'the legendary one,' turned to look at Jeong Tae-ui. He shrugged and grimaced.   “What are you talking about? That’s a whole other issue.”   Cracking his knuckles again, Carlo leaned in and feigned sympathy as he looked at Jeong Tae-ui.   “Look at you, you're weak, you have no skills. If you can't win fair and square, why resort to such dirty tricks? You're just asking for trouble.” “You won by dirty means, didn't you?”   “…….”   Carlo shut his mouth. The man from before approached, his face menacing. The others surrounded them, their expressions a mix of amusement and anger. The conversation about his brother had faded, and with it, the tiny hope he'd had that his brother's luck might rub off on him.   Thankfully, the atmosphere wasn't as harsh or dangerous as I had expected. It seemed I wouldn't have to worry about medical facilities.   However, the outcome of being beaten up remained the same. *** -Manhwa chapters 3,4- ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

It seemed to take about an hour to leave the peninsula and reach Ido.   Because I thought it was a remote island with only a branch office, I imagined a small, uninhabited island. But it was unexpectedly large, so I had to get in a car again from the pier of Ido and follow the road along the beach to go further in.   Perhaps because it was nearing dusk, the forest growing densely on the inside of the road looked especially dark and thick.   “It seems like a place where it wouldn't be strange if a wild animal or a venomous snake appeared.”   As Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, his uncle nodded calmly.   “There are poisonous snakes around, so you should watch your step at night. -- But don't worry too much. None of them have venom strong enough to kill a person instantly, so if you get first aid right away, you'll be fine.”   When Jeong Tae-ui looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, his uncle added, as if trying to reassure him, 'There's no need to worry.'   It seemed like I came to the wrong place. Even though they said half a year, if you think about it, isn't half a year excessively enough time for a person to die an unlucky death?   I was planning to somehow hold out until next weekend, go to Hong Kong, and disappear. Just as he was thinking this, his uncle, as if a sudden thought had struck him, said.   “Ah, right. I forgot to mention, you won't be able to go out for about a month. We have joint training with our European branch starting in two weeks, and it will last for two weeks. Before that, there's a special training period with no outside activities. And during the joint training, you're also not allowed to go out. But don't worry, a month will fly by, so just try to adjust during that time.”   Before I could even wonder what exactly this uncle knows and to what extent, for a brief moment, I sincerely wanted to strangle this man.   Jeong Tae-ui glared at his uncle with regret, and suddenly feeling a gaze, he glanced forward. His eyes met the driver's in the rearview mirror. The driver slightly curved his eyes when they made eye contact. It seemed like a faint smile.   It was that same driver who picked us up at the airport. He drove me all the way from the airport to the pier and ferried us over to this island. ……I hope he didn't see the boat as well…….   This person also smelled similar. The smell of a rough-living soldier - my uncle kept saying it wasn't a soldier or the army - but it was. Probably everyone I encounter on that island will smell like that.   As he pondered these thoughts, Jeong Tae-ui sighed and looked away. The desire to strangle his uncle had vanished.   “So it’s that ‘unlucky’ European branch and the ‘bloody’ joint training, huh? You’ve come right at the worst time. ……Just tell me straight, I think my uncle actually dislikes me.”   “Of course not.”   His uncle laughed. Jeong Tae-ui felt like he had stumbled into a terrible situation, and his mood soured.   Joint training, huh. I'm used to that kind of training. I've been rolling around doing that kind of training every day for the past few years. Until four months ago, I was still a military officer. I wonder how they train here.   No matter how hard it is, as long as I'm not dead, I'll get used to it. Even though it's painful each time I go through it, there will come a day when I'm used to the repeated time. ……And if, at some point, I can't control my temper and cause trouble, that's a matter of personal choice.   Jeong Tae-ui suddenly became annoyed and scratched his head.   Until now, I have never regretted anything I've done. No matter what I do, I've always deeply vowed to never do anything regrettable.   So, I don't regret beating that unlucky bastard just enough so he wouldn't die. I'd endured five and a half whole years before things got to that point, so I think I'd put up with enough. As a result, or rather, it was a complex result of various things, but even though I once thought I'd be stuck in the military for life, I don't regret getting discharged. However, if I think about the situation at that time and how I felt then, it's unavoidable that my insides twist with anger.   There are some people who react very ugly when they see someone else surpass them for the first time, something they've never experienced before. His fellow soldier, whom he shared a hospital bed with just before our discharge, was one such person. Jeong Tae-ui’s sexual orientation was the perfect target for him.   Tsk, Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and stretched uncomfortably in the car. After being on a plane, a car, and a ship today, I've covered all the ground, sea, and air. My body is so stiff, I feel like I need to run a few laps around the drill ground to loosen up.   The car stopped at that moment.   The sun had already set, and the sky was growing dark. A thick forest surrounded him on both sides. I didn't even realize when I had entered such a wooded path.   “We’re here.”   The driver got out, and after a brief instruction from his uncle, Jeong Tae-ui opened the car door. As soon as he stepped out, he saw the building standing in front of him.   “Whew. To think that I'm already feeling tired from this little bit. I guess I'm getting old. After all, I'm over forty, so I can't really call myself young anymore.”   Jeong Tae-ui, who had been staring at the building in front of him for a while, turned to his uncle, who was muttering to himself while following behind.   “Uncle.”   “Yes?”   “The Asian branch building is……this?”   “Yeah. It's just one building. Pretty simple, right?”   “Then what about all those great buildings and training grounds that were in the brochure?”   “Ah, that's the US branch. Didn't I mention it? Our branch has the least modern facilities, which makes it perfect for physical training.”   “This…… is beyond just misleading and it's outright fraud.”   “Anyway, no one is going to apply based on that brochure.”   As his uncle had said, people wouldn't apply based on the brochure but because of the organization's reputation. And since Jeong Tae-ui had essentially been dragged here by his uncle regardless of the facilities, it didn't really matter to him. However, the building in front of him looked no different from a one-story schoolhouse on the verge of collapse in some rural village. It was cracked in several places, the paint was peeling, and the pipes were covered in rust.   No matter how I looked at it, it seemed more like a crumbling school building or an abandoned government office from decades ago.   No, wait a minute. If this is the only building…….   “How many people are there in total here?”   “One director, two vice directors, the superintendent, with addition to six instructors, ninety-six sub-members, and five administrative officers. A total of 110 people.”   Is that true……? He didn't even notice his uncle counting on his fingers.   “How can all 110 people fit in here?”   “They fit in. You know how easily we can fit 10-15 people into even a small car, right?”   “Not about that, but where did you eat, train and sleep…….”   Jeong Tae-ui pointed at the building with a dumbfounded expression. The driver, carrying his uncle's luggage, brushed past him and entered the building first. As the door creaked open on its rusty hinges, a spine-chilling sound filled the air. It feels like a ghost would pop out any second just from that sound.   After smiling for a while at Jeong Tae-ui's dumbfounded expression, his uncle finally spoke in a more serious tone.   “In the underground levels. It goes down seven floors. With an area of 2,000 pyeong for seven underground floors, it might not be extremely vast, but accommodating over 100 people shouldn't be a problem.”   Jeong Tae-ui looked at his uncle once more with a dumbfounded expression. After all, with an area of 2,000 pyeong spread over seven floors, it could even be considered excessively spacious for 100 people…….   “How is it possible for there to be a 7-story underground facility that's 2,000 pyeong big on such a small island…….”   “That's why we chose this island. Did you think we just picked any random island in Asia and set up a branch?”   His uncle walked away, speaking cheerfully.   Jeong Tae-ui glanced at his uncle's back with suspicion, but when his uncle turned around at the open door, he slung his bag over his shoulder and followed.   His uncle, who had been waiting for Jeong Tae-ui to approach, stopped a few steps away when Jeong Tae-ui didn't move. Then, the uncle stepped closer to Jeong Tae-ui, who was about to take a half-step back with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, the uncle ruffled Jeong Tae-ui's hair and said.   “Don’t die.”   “……What?”   “This place doesn't operate on real laws. There's nowhere for the powerless to seek justice, and sometimes, even if several people die, it can be covered up without any consequences.”   His uncle paused for a moment. Jeong Tae-ui looked at his uncle silently. Then, he suddenly let out a weak laugh.   “Uncle, this is too much……. You should have told me that beforehand. How am I supposed to react when you drag me to the lion's den like this?”   “I think the result would have been the same even if I had told you earlier."”   His uncle also laughed. Jeong Tae-ui sighed, mummering, 'Oh god,' and shrugged.   “I'll have to believe what you said, Uncle, and try to survive somehow. If I die, please collect my bones.”   “Haha, it's not like it's completely lawless, though.”   “I don’t know if you are telling me to be careful or not.”   “There’s nothing wrong with being careful either way.”   His uncle turned around again with a smile. Without stopping or looking back, he entered the building. Following behind, Jeong Tae-ui slowly shook his head.   In times like these, I envy my Hyung who has all the luck in the world.     ***   ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!

1. Asia Branch of the United Nations Human Resource Development Organization   * United Nations Human Resources Development Organization.   It is a cooperative organization that aims to distribute competent human resources by fostering and developing talents that can help maintain and operate each institution and private organization.   It is also known as UNHRDO (United Nations Human Resource Development Organization), as a successor to the International Talent Development Organization established in 1946.   The United Nations Human Resource Development Organization is dedicated to non-profit placement, transfer, and supply of diverse talent. Its headquarters and primary office, the Americas Headquarters, are located in New York City, United States. The subsidiary organizations, including the European, Asian, Australian, African, and South American branches, are situated in Berlin, Germany; Hong Kong, China; Canberra, Australia; Johannesburg, South Africa; and São Paulo, Brazil, respectively.   (and so on)  *   As soon as we arrived at Chek Lap Kok Airport, a car was already waiting to pick us up.   While a large man who looked nothing like a driver silently greeted his uncle and began loading the luggage, Jeong Tae-ui, with only a small Boston bag as his luggage, got into the car next to his uncle who was already seated.   A thin booklet, which was given to me by my uncle from somewhere, contained a brief description and photos of our destination. It was common knowledge that there wouldn't be any useful information for a public relations brochure, but I still took a few minutes to read through it carefully, only to find it was a thin, rather useless booklet. Besides, I had already done a quick search before we left.   As Jeong Tae-ui fanned himself with the thin booklet he had quickly finished reading, the car pulled away from the airport.   His uncle gently took the booklet from Jeong Tae-ui's hand, flipped through a few pages, and chuckled. It was clear that he too thought it was a waste of paper.   “Think of it as an institution that trains officials and important figures for various countries. It might make it easier to understand.”   “No matter how nicely you put it, you're basically saying that you raise people to sell them to various organizations, aren't you?”   “Well, I guess people who want to be sold like that are the ones applying, so it's a mutually beneficial arrangement.”   Though my words were meant to be critical, my uncle didn't seem the least bit offended by them.   Jeong Tae-ui casually flipped through the booklet that his uncle had handed back. Without paying attention to the vague words, he was drawn to the photos used as the background. There were imposing buildings, conference rooms equipped with the latest technology, and rows of reliable-looking men with stern expressions.   “Is there anyone among those guys who catches your eye?”   His uncle leaned over, peeked at the booklet together, and chuckled. Jeong Tae-ui pursed his lips and shook his head slightly.   “I'm not really into that kind of intense masculinity…… I prefer someone who smells more like soap or milk, you know, someone who looks soft and sweet. I don't think I'll find anyone like that in this line of work.”   “Soap or milk scent……. committing sexual acts is a crime even in China. Well, sure their laws don’t apply within the fences of our branch, but there are no minors inside. Feel free to make moves on anyone you want.”   “…….Uncle. You're so quick to label me as a scumbag who preys on minors……. I've never looked at anyone, whether they're in their single digits or their teens, in that way.”   His uncle chuckled softly. Jeong Tae-ui stared at him blankly and said indifferently,   “If my uncle was about 20 years younger, you might just have been my type.”   The smile on my uncle's face faded momentarily. Blinking his eyes, he looked at Jeong Tae-ui strangely, then suddenly chuckled. Shrugging his shoulders as if understanding, he changed the subject.   “You'll figure it out eventually once you're there, but is there anything specific you want to know?”   “Well……. I need to know something before I can be curious about it. Since I don't know anything at all, I don't even know what I don't know. I guess I'll find out as I go.”   Jeong Tae-ui placed the booklet on his lap and looked out the window. The road leading from any airport into the city seemed to be the same anywhere you go. It was a highway, neither too crowded nor particularly interesting.   “Didn’t Hyung work for a while at the US branch?”   “Jae-ui? Yeah. Because that kid was completely brainiac. HQ still wants him.”   Jeong Tae-ui glanced at his uncle.   “So you're saying that being a 'brainiac' means working for the headquarters or a branch? Is that how it's divided?”   “Not always, but generally, yes. The headquarters is like a brain house. As long as your brain is sharp, you can get in, even if you have a physical disability. The branches, on the other hand, require a certain level of physical fitness. ……But just being able to fight won’t get you in, of course. To put it simply, the branches aim to cultivate MacGyvers.”   “MacGyver, huh……. ……I don't think I can be like that, personally.”   “Don’t worry. You'll get the hang of it in a few months, just like all the others.”   Jeong Tae-ui stared at his uncle with a bored expression, then slowly began to voice the questions that had gradually come to mind.   “So, are the three branches essentially the same?”   “Well, our training processes are the same. Sometimes, depending on the situation, a few people are exchanged between the branches. But each branch has a slightly different atmosphere. The South American branch guys are a bit strange, the African branch guys are unpredictable, the Australian branch guys are full of jerks, and the European branch guys are just the absolute worst.”   There's a big gap between the cheerful tone and the actual content.    “Are you on bad terms with the European branch?”   “Not just between the headquarters and the branches, but the branches themselves don't get along. It's typical for groups in competition. The Asian and European branches, in particular, have a long-standing feud. They have a joint training session every year for two weeks, and let me tell you……, it gets pretty bloody.”   “…….”   Instead of simply disliking the European branch, it seemed like my uncle was enjoying creating a tense atmosphere by constantly putting them down.   Though my uncle has a rather friendly face, there's a significant difference between his outward appearance and his inner thoughts. It's enough to confuse even me, who knows him well.   Jeong Tae-ui sank into the seat. The seat was comfortably soft.   Having been constantly rushed by my uncle who barged in like a storm, I haven't had a proper rest in days. I think I could just fall asleep right now.   Noticing Jeong Tae-ui's reaction, his uncle quietly spoke.   “I want to tell you to get some sleep now because it's going to be tough adjusting for a while, but we'll be at the dock soon. It'll be harder to wake up if you fall asleep now.”   “Dock?”   Jeong Tae-ui turned his head. The car was now entering the city, and the streets were gradually filling with buildings. The sky was cluttered with a jumble of signs, and dilapidated buildings, just as old as the apartment complex where Jeong Tae-ui lived, were lined up side by side. Just a short glance up from the flashy storefronts revealed buildings with peeling paint and clotheslines hanging out of broken windows.   “Is the branch located in Hong Kong Island?”   “No.”   “Why are we going to the dock?”   “We have to take a ship.”   “……. Are we going to Macau?”   His uncle burst out laughing. Jeong Tae-ui awkwardly looked at his uncle. Since we were taking a boat from the Kowloon Peninsula, and it wasn't Hong Kong Island, Macau was the only place that came to mind.   His uncle shook his head.   “Ido (離島). It's a remote island, a bit farther away than Hong Kong Island. Although it's administratively part of Hong Kong-China, their laws don’t apply here. The Asia branch of the UNHRDO is located there.”   “Haa. ……It's just like in the old days when they used to lock up prisoners on a deserted island in case they escaped.”   “I can't say for sure that there isn't any purpose like that.”   Smiling still, his uncle said that and then turned his gaze towards Jeong Tae-ui.   “Every other week, you'll have free time from 5 PM on Friday to 5 PM on Sunday, so if you want, come out and play then. There’s a ferry that will be going back and forth between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula that day.”   “Hearing what my uncle said…….”   “Um?”   “Rather than saying that the UNHRDO's Asia branch is on that island, it seems that only the UNHRDO's Asia branch is on that island.”   “Correct.”   “…….”   Jeong Tae-ui shook his head, a bitter smile on his face.   After passing through a straight, bustling street and rounding a grand hotel, a pier came into view in the distance.   Jeong Tae-ui, who had been casually glancing at Hong Kong Island beyond the sea, suddenly turned his head.   “Come to think of it, I have one more question.”   “Yes?”   “What do I call my uncle over there?”   His uncle smiled. Then, with a face that seemed to be a mix of his family's expressions and those of his superiors, he spoke.   “Instructor Jeong Chang-in, or, in short, Instructor.”   *** ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago We made a discord server! please join us!