"You didn't know? is it so. You probably didn't know. Until now, he must have lived by holding the hands of F-grade bastards without even knowing his own abilities."
"… … ."
"Guide Baek Yu-geon. "I need you."
"Now you're telling me…" … . "Are you asking me to become a guide there?"
Shinje tilted his head slightly as if asking why he was asking such an obvious question, but then smiled and nodded. Yoo Geon and he had surprisingly good guiding compatibility. I could tell without having to measure the fit rate separately. The feeling of energy being sucked out through the nerves and blood vessels of my entire body was not something I could easily feel. I could understand up to this point.
What I couldn't understand was what happened next. Let's say you overcome odds of one in millions or hundreds of millions and find an incredibly compatible partner. But why is that a reason for Yoo Geon to become that man's guide?
Yoo Geon had Hee Sung. He had never once thought about having a partner other than Heesung. His older brother was his lifelong responsibility from the time he first appeared as a guide until his death. On the other side of the wall, Hee-seong is on the brink of death, falsely accused, and you leave him alone and go to another hunter? He didn't like it even if he was given hundreds of millions of dollars.
"I don't like it. "Get out."
It was an immediate answer without any hesitation. The priest closed his mouth and stared at him.
"Did you think I would accept such a ridiculous offer? Did I look like such an idiot? "Is it enough to just go under you because you like it?"
The more Yoo Geon spoke, the more angry he became. As he said, his life was at the bottom, where he only guided scum, so did you think that he would fall flat on his face with just one suggestion? Did he think he would treat the emperor like a commoner who was chosen to be the royal servant?
"really… … . "I have the perfect personality to earn a fortune."
Shinje broke the silence and smiled like a sigh. He thought Yoo Geon was mocking him and raised his voice.
"I said I didn't like it… … !"
"No, Yugeon."
The new emperor cut off Yu Geon's horse's waist. In an instant, the tone of speech changed. The voice was still soft and soft, but there was an energy mixed in with it that seemed to press the other person.
"When did I give you the right to choose?"
He uncrossed his legs, raised his upper body, and relaxedly leaned against the back of the chair. A smiling gaze looked down at Yoo Geon.
"Follow my word. "If you want to save the man lying in the hospital room next to you."
"you… … ."
Yoo Geon took a deep breath. Cold sweat gathered in my clenched hands.
"You can save my brother? By what means?"
Heesung was already being completely treated as a criminal. The medical treatment he received was literally at the level of saving his life. He can't kill the patient on purpose, so he'll let him live, but it seems like there's nothing he can do even if he dies like this.
From the perspective of the Awakened Management Headquarters, Heesung was a vicious criminal and it was not a waste to die. Rather, it seemed like he secretly hoped that he would die in a coma. If he wakes up and goes on a rampage again or even protests that he is innocent, it will only become a nuisance.
Unlike regular surgeries, the surgeries that awakened people undergo are incredibly expensive. It was only natural that there were numerous unusual symptoms that could not be resolved with conventional medicine, and that in some cases, hospital guides or medical espers had to be mobilized.
If this continues, Heesung will eventually die like a burnt out candle. But there was nothing Yoo Geon could do. All he could do was sit back and wait for his brother to die. I felt so helpless. But you can save him.
"Can I just save it? I will also shut up the Espers who are writing their own scenarios. You can spend whatever you want, including hospital bills. "Even if you collect one seriously ill patient and one boy, you won't even notice the balance."
The priest tilted his head slightly.
"How about it, honey? "Isn't this enough for a coma?"
He burst out laughing as if he had just heard a very funny joke. However, Yoo-geon's grim, stern face showed no signs of loosening.
I know that the other person will not be able to refuse me anyway. The priest stood up from his seat and slowly walked towards his hospital bed. Like a wild beast approaching the prey it has been targeting for a long time, without taking its eyes off Yoo Geon for even a single moment. His black leather gloved hand supported Yoo-gun's bare, handcuffed hand. His hand, which had calluses and scratches here and there, rested on top of the larger hand for about a word.
"What are we going to do?"
Yoo Geon flinched reflexively but did not resist. Maybe he knew that resisting this situation would be useless? However, instead of letting down their guard, they just glare at him with murderous eyes. Shinje, who was examining Yoo Geon's hand, sighed sadly. Everything was good, but the ugly handcuffs were annoying. Anyway, the center guys didn't have much of an aesthetic sense.
"I came here after worrying about choosing a ring… … . "I was already wearing another bracelet."
He placed the back of Yugeon's hand facing upward and placed the back of his hand underneath it. In that state, his fingers were intertwined from the bottom to the top. As he lifted his tightly bound hands, there was a crunching sound of chains being dragged underneath. I lightly pressed my lips onto the dry back of my hand where the bones stood out.
"Now don't wear the shackles given to you by anyone other than me. "I'll fill you with something strong that no one can solve."
"What are the conditions?"
Yoo Geon was tense the whole time Shin Je touched him. Even kissing his hand only made him frown. He let go of his hand that was being held by the priest, and focused only on glaring straight into his eyes and probing his true intentions.
Shinje burst out laughing. It was refreshing because it was my first time seeing such a simple case. I expected people to shudder or freak out. Is he dull because he has no experience or interest in the sexual aspect, or is he so reckless that he doesn't even respond to a kiss on the back of the hand? The last time I kissed, it was clear that it was the former.
I understood because I must have lived with that 'beloved older brother' as if it were just a game of play. He must have been so busy acting as a protector and taking care of his older brother that he never had a chance to hang out with his other guy.
"If the goal was simply to find a compatible guide, I wouldn't have paid such a generous price. "What exactly are the conditions?"
"I was thinking so intently a while ago. "Is that the question you've been thinking so hard about?"
The new emperor was once again using a friendly and respectful manner. Rather, it was even more insulting. What is the use of just speaking loudly? It has already been revealed that you do not see the other person as equal to yourself.
"He's also smart. good job."
Also, he speaks in a way that makes him sound like he is parenting a child. Yoo Geon scolded softly.
"condition!"
"Become a guide to Erewhon and obey my orders. Endure anything. and… … . "Follow me into the gate."
The first and second conditions were anticipated in advance. There were top-level awakened people who treated their guides as equals and respected them, but they were not common. There were quite a few cases where we didn't even see them as human beings at all. This was the reason why the guides longed for, but were also afraid of, a life of wealth and honor as a partner of a high-level awakened person. If you make a mistake with your partner, your life will be ruined.
But the third condition was problematic. Are you going into the gate with a guide? The sound of asking me if I was crazy rose to the top of my throat.
Guides were originally non-combatants. He didn't even go near the gate, let alone inside it. The principle was to reside in the headquarters building and wait for the awakened person in charge to return from the battle, and even when an expedition was unavoidable due to the need for on-site emergency guidance, they waited in the vehicle or at the base camp.
Even experienced hunters often died when they entered the pit beyond the gate. No, it was fortunate that they came out dead, and there were many cases where even the bodies could not be recovered. I can't believe I'd drag a guide into a place like that. It was like taking a military doctor bare-handed into the middle of a carpet bombing. It's okay to treat the guide as a disposable recovery potion.
But how can I refuse now? There is no other way, so even if I have to throw away my life like a piece of tissue paper, how can I... … .
"So, what is the answer?"
"… … ."
Many miserable thoughts swirled in my head. I was out of breath. Yoo Geon didn't say anything. He instead squeezed his eyes shut. His lower lip trembled as he exerted his strength. That alone was enough of an answer. The smile on Shinje's lips grew even deeper.
Yoo Geon saw a hallucination through his closed eyelids. I had a hallucination of concrete pieces floating in the dark sea and sticking to my ankles.
The pieces of concrete come together and form a heavy mass, firmly entangling the feet. The last breath exhaled becomes foam and rises to the surface. But on the contrary, he is dragged lower and lower. So deep that he will never be able to surface again.
Eventually, he will be thrown to the bottom of the deep sea and drown without even being able to scream a single word. Instead of fresh air, your lungs will be filled with wet, fishy sea water. Only then would he realize that it was not the concrete that bound him, but the man's hands. Whose hand is that? Is it Shinje or Heesung? Before you know it, you will become a blown-out corpse and sink.
But he did not even have the right to choose the method of death. As the priest clearly said.
* * *
[〈Breaking News〉 Woo Shin-je (S), leader of 'Erewhon', emergency press conference regarding the Seonram-dong industrial complex incident]
Emergency breaking news appeared simultaneously at the bottom of the public broadcast channels. The same was true for internet portals. New headlines filled the top of the news page. Press conference on the live broadcast screen. Bright lights poured continuously toward the empty podium. Not long after, a man in a disheveled suit entered. Click, click, click! The shutter sound became louder.
Even though eye-piercing flash lights were pouring in from all directions, the man was extremely relaxed. He stood upright in the most plausible pose on screen, and he even changed the angle slightly for the cameras to be in different directions. Rather than being a hunter, he looked closer to a model with a brilliant career. The sleek clothes he wore also played a role.
The priest gave a brief greeting here and there, approached at a leisurely pace and sat down in front of the podium. As soon as the formal greetings and opening remarks were over, questions from reporters came in one after another.
"There are many opinions that believe that the reckless driving of one of the F-class hunters who participated in the raid was the direct cause. In particular, suspicions are being raised that this hunter may have intentionally caused the rampage. What do you think?"
"I will start with the conclusion. "That's not true at all."
"What is the basis?"
"I was there and saw it with my own eyes."
"Are you saying Hunter Woo Shin-je went to the Seonram-dong industrial complex in person?"
"That's right."
"It is not included in the official raid schedule announced by Erewhon."
"This is because I personally moved it, regardless of the order."
It was a statement that would be a major turning point in the investigation so far. The leader of one order, with less than ten S-class members in the entire country, visited the insignificant outskirts in person. I wondered why they suddenly held an unexpected press conference in Erewhon, which does not have much exposure to the media. Was it to make such a bombshell statement?
Shinje finished what he had to say without further ado and kept his mouth shut. A barrage of loud flashes rained down on the white face of a man who faced hundreds of cameras without even looking away.
"Then did you witness what exactly happened at the scene and what caused it?"
"Even though it was a small gate, most of the people who participated in the attack died. What do you think?"
"Couldn't the damage have been reduced at Woosinje Hunter's discretion?"
The S class was both an object of awe and prey to satisfy the public's curiosity. Every time an S-class awakened person uttered a word at an official event, dozens of articles were created, and content criticizing their actions was poured into various Internet communities and streaming sites.
The intention of the question was clear. F-class hunters were dying in droves, and even though you were S-class, you couldn't stop even one of them? It was an interrogation disguised as a question.
"Hunter Woo Shin-je, please respond."
"Start with my question!"
Flash lights pouring in non-stop in this direction, the ear-piercing sound of the shutter, and reporters raising their hands and shouting. It was a sight that would have sent anyone with weak nerves into a state of panic. But Shinje quietly watched them with his clasped hands on the table. It seems like this has happened countless times.
"I arrived at the scene later than expected due to poor conditions. As many of you know, Erewhon Team 1 has not had a dedicated guide in recent months. "When I arrived, the incident had already occurred."
The reporters who were typing frantically on their keyboards exchanged glances with each other. A look of understanding appeared on their faces. Originally, it was said that it was difficult for advanced awakeners to find a compatible guide, but among them, Erewhon was famous for having particularly thin guides. In addition, the Order's operating policy was extremely aggressive, contrary to the external image of Woo Shin-je, the leader and face madam.
Erewhon's hunters had to take powerful drugs to survive the rigorous and vicious raid schedule. It is no exaggeration to say that drugs flow in the blood vessels instead of blood. The other hunters were careful to keep an eye on them in front, but behind them, they were 'thugs who fight with weak feet.' Or, 'crazy drug bastards.' called etc.
Despite such fatal shortcomings, Erewhon always took first place in the order that hunters envy. The title of being the only order in the country with two S-class members played a part, but the biggest reason was something else.
Some hunting orders have changed from their initial purpose and are busy making money with conglomerates or politicians as sponsors. Internal divisions sometimes occurred as executives fought over issues such as shares and profits. On the other hand, Erewhon was not bound by any other conflicts of interest and purely pursued strength. In line with the fundamental destiny of those called 'Awakened', they constantly challenged stronger mutants and bigger gates.
However, disturbing rumors have been spreading recently, mainly among hunters and people in related industries. The superficial reason why Erewhon Team 1 does not have a guide is because they could not find the right person, but in fact, there is another real reason. They abuse every guide who comes in right away, or until they die, and then kick them out.
However, no matter how much the liver was overboard, it was impossible to ask the priest that question openly. The reporters focused all their attention on him and waited for his next words.
"It must have been a small gate, but a powerful variant that even I didn't expect appeared. The hunter who went berserk also showed symptoms of runaway because he overused her abilities while risking her life to deal with it."
The full story of the mysterious case was revealed through the words of the priest. Although there were some who had doubts about the truth of those words, no one fundamentally questioned Shinje, saying, 'How can I believe it after only hearing what you say?' This was a time when a single testimony from a high-level awakened person had greater power than any great evidence.
CCTV recorded footage? picture? Data stored in memory? If you had someone with the ability to manipulate radio waves, you could handle things like that to your liking. Damage was also common when mutants with magnetic fields appeared.
"His rampage was never intentional. "If he had been there, if he had seen the truth, he would never be able to make such a claim."
The new emperor lowered his gaze with a pensive expression. Light-colored eyelashes were long. Not only the reporters at the scene, but even those watching through the broadcast stopped breathing for a moment.
"We hurriedly eliminated the remaining mutants, but there were already too many victims. "If I had come a little faster, I might have been able to save at least one more person, even if I couldn't save everyone."
A long, elegant hand wearing black leather gloves gently grasped the base of the desk microphone placed on the podium. He opened his mouth to say something, but then spoke again.
"… … ."
He turned his head slightly as if he couldn't continue speaking. Her innocent eyes, like lilies blooming by the water, were slightly red. Even if faced with that face, not many people would be able to calmly ask whether it was right or wrong.
Shinje exquisitely maintained the appropriate line. The area around his eyes felt moist, as if they were not, but he never shed tears or sniffled loudly. Express your regrets publicly, but do not undermine your authority. Finally, he cleared his throat and looked straight ahead again. A faint lingering trace of sadness remained on his firm and determined face.
"I offer my sincere respect to the hunters who fought and died for humanity until the end. As one of those who survived thanks to their sacrifice, I will definitely honor their souls and relieve their resentment."
"How do you mean?"
"First of all, Erewhon will support the damage recovery costs in the area and the compensation for the victims' families. I hope that I can apologize at least a little bit. And to the Awakened Management Headquarters."
Shinje smiled as he faced the artificial light that filled his vision. His every move will be relayed to them in real time through hundreds of camera lenses.
Finally, all the cards were in place. Hunting Order, which is considered the strongest in terms of combat power in Korea, information gathered behind the scenes for over a dozen years, and finally, Joker, Baek Yoo-geon. I'm ready to go down into the abyss beyond the gate in search of 'that guy'. I am ready to rip off the head of that fucking fanatic who can devour the entire human race in one bite at any time, but has been scaring me for fun for decades.
Now I can finally put an end to this boring game. The Awakened Management Center, the Hunters, the mutants, and even themselves. By killing all the hateful things, you can complete your revenge and finally find rest. And now he wants to start a war by making public the fact that the minority was tacitly keeping quiet about it.
"I want to hold them accountable not only for this incident, but also for intentionally covering it up for decades even though they have known for a long time that abnormal phenomena often occur at the gate."
Shinje casually dropped the bomb in his usual friendly tone. Everyone at the press conference fell into deathly silence. But the silence didn't last long. In just a few seconds, the spacious hall became noisy, as if a beehive had been disturbed. Reporters were screaming at the top of their lungs at the huge scoop that came out of nowhere.
"Woo Shinje Hunter! "You said you concealed it on purpose?"
"I need more explanation!"
"So are you saying this phenomenon has happened before?"
"What does this incident have to do with the Awakened Management Center?"
"By anomaly, do you mean an abnormally strong mutant species appearing at the gate?"
"What did you mean by what you just said!"
The new emperor leisurely looked around the seething audience. With a faint smile. Everyone was going crazy, but only he was calm.
One reporter awkwardly raised his hand. He looked as if he had been hit in the back of the head, or in other words, as if he had suddenly realized something. The priest smiled generously and raised his hand to point in that direction. The reporter's face brightened, as if he had never thought he would be able to speak in the middle of this mess.
"Oh, I'm Heo Yoon-ah from 'Real Issue'!"
"Yes, Reporter Heo. Please speak."
"Then, maybe the Hwangan Bridge incident 13 years ago was also related to the anomaly that Hunter Woo Shin-je mentioned… … ."
Shinje made eye contact with the reporter and smiled as if praising a child who listens well. At that moment, the reporter had an intuition. That man deliberately picked someone to ask a specific question, and it was him.
"Wouldn't the Awakened Management Headquarters know the answer to that question best? Let's ask there. "I have long since ceased to belong there."
Although the words were vague, it was actually an affirmation.
* * *
After the press conference, Yoo Geon was released with ridiculous ease. The Espers removed the handcuffs he was wearing and discharged him without any investigation or interview. In any case, Hee-seong was the only one seriously injured and Yoo-geon did not need to be hospitalized for a long time, but since he was only being held for the investigation of the case, it was not difficult to let him go. If they were going to let him go so easily, it made me wonder why he had been treated like a criminal and imprisoned.
Actually, there was a good reason for that. They no longer have the time to pay attention to Yoo Geon. The center was turned upside down after Shinje's bombshell remarks at the press conference. Bulletin boards and phone boxes were set on fire, and a task force team was hastily assembled to hold a rebuttal press conference.
The mid-level and lower espers knew nothing about the gate anomaly, so they dismissed Shinje's words as lies. I believed that they were trying to defame the Awakened Management Headquarters by spreading rumors with political intent.
However, the atmosphere among a very small number of high-ranking officials was different. The so-called 'stars' with shiny things on their rank insignia walked through the hallways with serious expressions. Several emergency meetings were held in complete secrecy.
Whether they were making chaotic movements or not, Yoo Geon returned home alone. Unlike when I left home, there was no one around.
I inserted the key into the door, which was so old that paint dust dripped down every time I opened and closed it, and turned it to open it. The scene inside the room was not much different from when I left. The few items in the small house were neatly organized.
Yoo Geon was not the type of person to be tidy. He had to thoroughly wash away the blood and bodily fluids of mutants, so he took good care of his own cleanliness, but he had little interest in the cleanliness of his surroundings. He would do it even if mold grew on the wall and dust piled up on the table. There was a time when he thoughtlessly tried to eat food that had passed its expiration date, but Hee-seong got scared and ripped it off. He was the type of person who could sleep well with the sky as his blanket and the ground as his pillow. For that reason, tidying up was always Heesung's responsibility. To be exact, Yoo Geon did it under Hee-seong's management supervision.
〈Yoo-geon, Baek Yu-geon! Why don't you clean that up? Look here. Less dust was wiped off! I can't live because it's so dirty, really!〉
A clear, sickening voice rang in my ears. No matter how much he looked, Yoo Geon couldn't tell the difference between a place that received a passing grade for cleaning and a place that didn't, but he silently mopped again, thinking that it must be dirty because his brother was dirty.
Yoo Geon looked around the house. The bedding that Heesung had slipped out of after lingering up late, and the two cups left in the sink with dried coffee stains. There were traces of the two of us living here and there, but now we were alone.
Hee-seong pointed out Yoo-geon's insensitivity and lack of sense every day, but the only thing he praised was his coffee. It wasn't anything great. Usually it was just cheap mixed coffee, and occasionally, when I received a bonus, I would buy more expensive instant coffee beans.
He headed to the kitchen without even taking off his coat. I took a chipped mug out of the cupboard and poured water into an old electric pot. I leaned my back against the cold wall, waiting for the water to boil.
My parents, who are now so blurry that I can't remember their faces, didn't let their children drink coffee because they thought it wasn't good for them. The first time he drank coffee was after he entered the hunter industry. A kid who couldn't even enter middle school was following senior hunters around to learn a job, and at that time, a hunter whose name I didn't know gave him a ride. I don't know if it was because I felt sorry for Yoo Geon or because he was amazing.
On a harsh winter night, I had a cup of coffee in a damp back alley amidst the smell of mutant blood and secretions. Young Yoo Geon was trembling and desperately wrapped his hands around the paper cup. Steam rose from the warm light brown liquid and dissipated into the dark space. It seemed like the strange feeling I felt at that time was deeply embedded in my subconscious. I don't enjoy any of my favorite foods, whether it's cigarettes or alcohol, but I only drink coffee often.
The water boiled. I opened the mixed coffee package like I was used to and shook out the powder. Now I can at least add water to my coffee with my eyes closed. The bittersweet scent of cheap coffee spread through the narrow room. Yoo Geon leaned against the wall and took a sip of coffee from his mug. She looked blankly out her window.
A bright red color spread across the hazy window, across the floor, and onto his face. It was the light of the cross of the church across the street. Heesung, who is sensitive, often had trouble sleeping at night because of that neon sign flashing loudly all day long.
"Our Father in heaven... … ."
After resting the side of my head against the icy wall for a while, I suddenly lost hope. One day, I looked over my shoulder and picked up what a hunter had recited before going into battle. Yoo Geon couldn't understand the hunter. Because he was the type of person who believed in the weapon he held in his hand rather than believing in a god whose existence was unclear. At that time, he just assumed that there were people like that and passed it off.
But as I pushed myself to my limits, I vaguely understood his feelings. Right now, Yoo Geon really wanted to grasp at straws. I don't know if that God or God would even listen to the prayers of a guy like me who doesn't even have the slightest faith, but whatever. Wouldn't it be better to make the most of it?
"… … ."
But Yoo Geon was soon speechless. He didn't know what the next verse was. There was no way he could have memorized the Lord's Prayer as he had not even completed compulsory education.
My lips moved vainly a few times. But no sound came out. Her heart felt tight, as if it were clogged. In her most desperate situation, she was unable to even pray properly and had no choice but to live in an ignorant, crude, and mean way. She became disillusioned with herself.
He let his hand that was holding the empty mug go limp. And muttered the only phrase that remained in his head:
"… … But save me from evil."
A pale blue light spread across the window, which was filled with only dark red darkness. The night was finally over and a new morning was coming. Yoo Geon slowly stood up. Now it was time to go.
* * *
A luxurious car stopped in a shabby alley. A sleek, well-built sports car, with jet black matte paint. It was a car that didn't even seem to be visible at night.
The driver's door opened upward and an unfamiliar man got out. He was wearing a black shirt and dark gray suit pants. His shirt sleeves were rolled up below his elbows, showing his strong bare forearms. His dark brown hair was neatly parted.
If Shinje looked like a model for a luxury suit brand, this man looked like an office worker who just came out of work in a high-rise building in the middle of the city. For an office worker, his physique was strong enough to be intimidating.
Shinje was like that too, but this man was also quite tall. Wouldn't it be easy to exceed 190 centimeters? Yoo Geon had never heard anyone call him small, but when he stood in front of them, he had to raise his head to meet their eyes.
"Baek Yu-geon guide?"
The man asked, frowning slightly as was his habit. It was a low-pitched sound that seemed to rumble from deep within.
"yes."
"I am the chieftain of Erewhon."
After the extremely simple introduction, Taein glanced at Yoo Geon. A slightly loose hoodie, a backpack casually slung over one shoulder, and black hair covering his forehead. Unarmed, Yoo Geon looked incredibly young. With just a textbook and a smartphone in his hands, he could have seemed like an ordinary college student.
I have doubts about whether he is a legal adult, whether he knows how to guide properly, and whether he is aware of the situation he is in. Are you saying you're going to take a child like this and make him sit down as your exclusive guide? What on earth is he thinking? Taein's eyebrows furrowed a little deeper. But he soon gave up his idea. I didn't really want to know Woo Shin-je's true intentions. Even if I knew, nothing would change.
"Because that's what Jim is for."
Yoo Geon nodded. He robbed the house, but he had less than a backpack worth of luggage to take with him. All of his original equipment was destroyed in the last battle. It didn't matter because it would have been useless to bring the cheap, scratched equipment to where he was going now.
So I just packed some extra clothes and finished. To begin with, I don't have any material desires and I don't like cumbersome things, so the only clothes I had were three or four pieces. To think that all the years of struggling with his older brother could be packed into just one bag. As I was packing my bags, I felt bitter again.
Taein turned around without saying a word and opened the passenger door. Since the necessary conversation was over, he didn't feel the need to talk any more. Yoo Geon also had a sad personality, to say the least. Moreover, the opponent was a hunter from Erewhon who came to pick him up after receiving instructions from the priest. There was no way he wanted to talk gently. I didn't have the sociability to do that.
There was a heavy silence between the two men who were meeting each other for the first time. Taein stretched out his hand to him. It meant asking for a bag. Faced with the extremely unfamiliar and awkward situation of having someone carry his luggage for him out of consideration, Yoo Geon hesitated for a moment and pulled down his backpack. Their bare hands almost touched.
"… … ."
At that moment, Taein frowned and waved his hand away. It felt like I had touched something very dirty and disgusting. slam! There was a loud noise. The backpack, which had no place to go, was lying on the floor.
"… … ah."
Yoo Geon, who was hit on the back of his hand, reacted a beat late. It was unclear whether it was a scream or a sigh. Taein sighed and took a pair of her gloves out of her pants pocket. It was a black leather glove like the one her priest was wearing. He put on his gloves with the careful, neat movements of a doctor performing surgery, and bent down to pick up his fallen backpack.
A red color quickly appeared on the back of Yoo Geon's hand because he was struck with such force by the large, strong hand of the man. Coincidentally, this was the place where the priest kissed. Yoo Geon silently rode in the passenger seat with an expression that made his thoughts unreadable. He did not protest against the unexpected violence or complain of pain.
When I accepted Shinje's offer, I was already prepared for this much. No, this was good enough. In the lower orders where he was working, he was kicked for various reasons just because he was not liked, was called out frequently, was scolded all night long, and was slapped in the face until his mouth burst in front of dozens of people. Compared to that, it's like getting hit on the back of the hand.
"Be careful. "I will be careful from now on."
Taein glanced at him and warned in a low voice. He spoke in a very dry tone. Even if you read Korean language books, you will be more cheerful than this.
"I don't like it when the guide touches me carelessly."
With those words, he started the car. He ended up not apologizing. He didn't even ask if I was okay. The sleek sports car roared with a wild sound. The car carrying the two left the familiar back alley and rushed to the side of the main road.
The entire time Taein was driving, he never looked back at him. He didn't say anything, wasn't even aware of it, and treated Yoo Geon's existence as if it didn't exist. Yoo Geon bit his lower lip and looked out the car window opposite him. It was his first time driving a luxury foreign car that he had never dreamed of, but it was not comfortable at all. My breathing was constricted as if someone was strangling me. The cold and gloomy landscape of the deep sea passed before my eyes like a hallucination.
How far did you run in silence? Finally, the destination appeared before my eyes. This building was once a landmark 5-star hotel in central Seoul, but was renovated after being closed down due to a large-scale attack by mutants. It was the headquarters of Erewhon.
"Hello, vice-captain."
As soon as I parked my car in front of the main gate and got out, an employee who was waiting approached me. Taein handed over the car keys to him in a familiar manner.
The inside of the building was as grand as it looked from the outside. A brilliant chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, so high that you had to crane your neck to look up. In the lobby, a soft classical music flowed that did not fit the image that is usually associated with a group of hunters. There were even sculptures and decorative fountains. Even the bathroom in this building seemed to be larger than the house where Yoo Geon and Hee Seong lived. Is it just the size? There will be a huge difference in price as well.
The walls and floor were all marble, an ink color with a silvery sheen. Yugeon looked at that color and suddenly thought of God. In fact, this building itself resembles the man's taste. It was flashy but not too loud, calm but not plain.
Tae-in took Yoo-geon across the lobby. He occasionally had people recognize him and say hello, but there were also quite a few people who just passed by. Compared to the Espers who stood guard in front of the hospital room in an unmoving position, the atmosphere was definitely freer.
They took the elevator out of the lobby. I thought that was the end of it, but I got off midway and transferred to the high-rise elevator. Her card key that Taein had was read by her sensor, and when she pressed the floor button, the elevator began to move smoothly. The floor number displayed on the LCD went up at a surprisingly fast rate.
"Where are you going?"
Yoo Geon, who had been following silently without saying a word until now, asked a question for the first time. Even if he was dragged away, he wanted to know where his destination was.
"I'm going to the leader."
"Woo Shinje Hunter?"
Taein frowned lightly as if he knew why he was asking. His attitude was that he did not want to mix even one more syllable with Yoo Geon. However, Yoo Geon wasn't too gentle to just shut up. Regardless of whether the other person openly showed his displeasure or not, he just ignored it and asked again.
"Didn't I send you instead because I was busy? "Why bother?"
"You were busy earlier, but I guess you're not busy now. "You've been bothering me at the center since morning."
"If it's the center, is it related to this incident? What exactly is that mutant species? What happened to my brother... … ."
"I don't know why the guide asks that. "Did you think I was going to explain everything to you?"
Tae-in suddenly cut off Yoo-geon's sentence. At first glance, there was a hint of contempt in her tight mouth.
"I don't think they will understand if I explain it."
Yoo Geon quickly responded with a dry expression.
"It's up to me to decide whether I understand or not."
The air flowing between the two men froze. Tae-in, who was standing only looking straight ahead, turned her body towards Yoo-geon. Because of her physique difference, Yoo Geon was overshadowed.
"Guide Baek Yu-geon. Pretend it doesn't exist. This means don't get interested in useless things and just do what needs to be done. Anyway, you will soon... … ."
He opened his mouth as if to say more. At that moment, the elevator stopped with a soft beep. It was the top floor. He sighed briefly, shook his head, and walked past Yoo Geon. There was a large door in the middle of a wide hallway. When this building was a hotel, it was used as a presidential suite.
Contrary to his appearance as if he was going to attend all kinds of noisy and fancy events, Shinje liked to spend time quietly in his room. When he didn't have a schedule, he would lock himself in here and not come out for days. Not only did he get room service for every meal, he also received work reports in his room and even invited others to hold meetings. It didn't matter because the room had a living room and a study anyway.
Taein rang the doorbell, waited a moment, then opened the door and went in without hesitation. This is because I already know very well that Shinje is not the type of person to come to the front door with socks on and open the door.
The first thing that caught my eye was the full-length window that took up one wall. I raised the blinds and had a clear view of the city. It felt real that this was the top floor of a dizzyingly tall building. Shinje, who was leaning on a sofa that looked wider than the bed where Yoo Geon had been sleeping until now, turned his head and looked at the tablet. He put down the tablet he was looking at and placed his arms on the armrests of the sofa in a room-sized position.
Casual attire with no tie and the top button of the shirt undone. It wasn't the disheveled look he had when we met in the blood-stained ruins, nor the unrealistically perfectly decorated look he had had when he visited Yoo-geon's hospital room. His complexion looked bad, as if the guidance he had received last time had lost its effectiveness, but it was not as bad as when we first met.
"Hello, my guide."
Instead of saying anything, Taein just stared at him. The priest casually twitched his fingertips.
"Should we say 'our' guide?"
"Do whatever you want."
"Did anything happen on the way there?"
"There was none."
"There is none."
Shinje rested his chin at an angle and only lowered his eyes. There was still red on Yu-geon's hands sticking out from under the sleeves of his hoodie.
"Handle it well. "Because I worked hard to get it."
"I will be careful."
Conversations that treated people like objects took place casually right in front of the people involved. Shinje spoke to Yoogeon in confusion, as if he had finally remembered it.
"Guide Baek Yu-geon. "Take it off."
As always, his tone was calm. But the content of those words was not peaceful at all.
"Take off your clothes. "From now on, I'm going to eat it as much as I can until it dries and wears out, so I don't want there to be any flaws in my body."
While living among rough and rugged hunters, I heard all kinds of dirty talk. It wasn't even worn out, so asking for a spanking or asking how many people I've guided through the back hole so far didn't even fall into the category of obscene remarks. But Shinje's words were once again insulting. There was a big difference in the impact of the words spoken by people who regularly used profanity and the words spoken by a man sitting elegantly as if he had drawn a luxury sofa.
"… … ."
Yoo Geon gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. The joints of his bones stood out and veins appeared on the backs of his hands.
"It would have been a condition of the contract that you would obey my orders. You have to listen carefully, right? "If you want to keep your brother alive for at least one more day."
I wasn't shocked by Shinje's words or actions or felt betrayed. He had no expectations in the first place, so he had nothing to be disappointed about. Because that guy has been like that since I first met him. He wasn't expecting this to happen at all. It's just miserable.
Yoo Geon realized it again. To him, the whole world was his enemy and the object of his struggle, except for Hee-seong, his only family. The expression on Yu-gun's face, which was a mixture of confusion, shame, and hatred, gradually disappeared. He took a deep breath, crossed his arms and grabbed the bottom of the hoodie he was wearing. Then he lifted it up and took it off in one go.
Once I made up my mind, there was no hesitation in my touch. He quickly took off the short-sleeved T-shirt he was wearing underneath. The priest who was watching the scene whistled like a bad boy. Taein's tightly closed mouth took strength. However, he did not stop Shinje or Yu Geon.
I recognized Yoo-geon from the moment he fell on the asphalt floor stained with blood and dust, and I really liked his body. A body that is neither lumpy nor ungainly thin, but just moderately fit. There were several scars on his bare torso, as if he had been attacked by a mutant. Even that suited it very well. I think I need to gain a little more weight here and there to suit Shinje's tastes, but hey, it's okay so far.
I wanted to see that face, like that of a military dog with little training, covered in all sorts of liquids and distorted. How would Yoo-geon react if I bit down on his collarbone, which stands out under his straight neck, with all his might? What if you rip open the flesh of a horse that smells like soap and drink its blood? What if I wrap a thick rope around your wrist and drag you across a wide room?
"Take it off too. "What's important is what's underneath."
The priest smiled and gave instructions. Yoo Geon opened the button of his pants with a mechanical hand and pulled down the zipper. As he was concentrating on taking off his clothes, his head was slightly lowered and his eyes suddenly looked up and towards the priest.
"… … ."
There was no expression on his face, and only his eyes were eerie. A lukewarm murderous intent was seething in his pitch black eyes. Like a wild beast that looks at the face of the person who trampled on it and vows to never forget this shame.
It was too much. It was hard to bear. Shinje sat upright with his upper body, which had been half-buried in the sofa. With slow movements, he took out a cigarette, took a bite, and lit it. If I didn't suck at least this, the burning sensation would have nowhere to go and would run wild even more.
Even as he was inhaling the smoke deeply, his eyes were still fixed on Yoo Geon. Soon, the pants he took off fell at Yugeon's feet. Shinje nodded with a cigarette in his mouth. Greedy and arrogant, like a rich man watching a striptease. There is still more to do, so what are you doing? He silently urged me.
Finally, even the dark blue drawers were crumpled like husks and thrown on a pile of clothes. The air that touched my bare body, which had nothing on, felt particularly cold. However, I couldn't do that because I felt like if I shrank or covered her body, it would show that I was conscious of the other person.
"It looks clean on the outside. Well, there's no such thing as an illness, right?"
"if there is. Are you going to return it unused?"
"I haven't used it, but since it has already been opened, I can't return it. It can't be helped. "I just have to use it."
"… … ."
"My guide is really good at telling jokes."
The priest lowered his upper body, lifted his shoulders, and smiled. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he raised his head. A smile appeared in her lazy eyes.
"Do your legs hurt from standing all the time? Oh my, I wasn't very considerate... … . "Sit comfortably."
They told me to take off all my clothes, and now I have to sit down? It was a ridiculous command. I didn't like sitting next to that man naked, and I hated sitting on the floor like a dog in front of its owner even more.
"I don't want it… … ."
Yoo Geon hesitated and took a step back. I gritted my teeth, closed my eyes, and resolved to do whatever they asked me to do, but before I knew it, words of refusal came out.
"no, I do not want? "Why?"
The priest opened his eyes with long eyelashes and asked with an almost disgusting calmness. Her gray eyes were half-open, as if she was feeling a little weak. At that time, something cool suddenly touched my bare skin. A large hand wearing black gloves reached out from behind, firmly grasped Yoo Geon's shoulders and waist, and pressed him down. His entire body was filled with menacing strength.
Everything happened so quickly. Her knees buckled helplessly. thud! A dull noise came from the marble floor. Yoo Geon stumbled, landed on the floor, and barely managed to keep his balance. The sound of regular footsteps got closer. The moment he lifted his head to look above him, his chin was grabbed.
Holding the cigarette he was smoking in one hand, Shinje held Yugeon's chin with the other hand and bent down. He observed Yoo Geon with great concentration, like a child who had just received a new toy. He looked at the eyes that were distorted from pain and discomfort, the scars on the eyelids, and the clenched mouth.
The face held in the hand was thin. It seemed like if I applied this much force, I could crush the jaw joint with one hand. Soft, round ear flaps were exposed beneath the black hair. It was so cute that it didn't match the fierce expression on its face. We made eye contact and Shinje habitually smiled.
"Tsk… … ."
Yoo Geon desperately turned his head. But his face didn't move. The more he tried to move, the more his jaw hurt. The same was true below his neck. Tae-in did not let go of Yoo-geon's hand even after he pushed him down to his knees. His strong, veiny forearms were tightly entangled around his waist. Her large, leather-gloved hands held Yoo-geon as they pleased from the front and back. The feeling of cool leather sticking to her bare skin was eerie.
"Open your mouth."
Shinje grabbed Yugeon's chin and placed his thumb between his lips. When his opponent did not open his mouth voluntarily, he used force and dug in violently. His fingers penetrated his closed lips and pressed his tongue. I could clearly feel the smooth and tough leather texture.
"Baek Yu-geon Guide."
The priest called him softly.
"Has anyone ever taken their clothes off before? Have you ever touched yourself? Have you ever asked for another man's mouth? "Whether it's a dick, a hand, or a tongue."
"… … ."
There is no way I can speak. Instead of answering, Yoo Geon raised his eyes and glared at Shin Je. My reddish eyes were slightly wet with tears that leaked out physiologically.
"Looking at your expression, I can tell even if you don't answer. Have you ever masturbated? "Have you not been able to sleep peacefully while holding hands with your beloved brother every night?"
Every time he mentioned his older brother, Yoo Geon's eyes lost focus. How is it so easy to understand? Shinje could barely contain himself from bursting into laughter.
He is devoted to his family, does not blame his poor children, does not show off his own abilities, and does not blame others for their shortcomings. She has lived a life so foolish that it is pitiful. Yoo Geon's uprightness was brilliant. It was the same at the same time. If you hadn't held my hand, I would have spent my whole life crawling around on the floor holding my brother's hand.
The priest once again admired his own insight. As expected, I chose a good guide. They are going to die together while struggling at the bottom of the abyss, so wouldn't this be appropriate?
"It's not very exciting to just get beaten up, right? If you endure the pain, you will get sick. "I guess I just thought I was lucky, closed my eyes, and played to the tunes of the crazy guys."