Chapter 6

Jaekani’s questions gradually began to drift beyond the bounds of his homework. One day, while poring over his textbook, he stumbled upon a scribbled note he’d jotted down long ago—a question he hadn’t dared ask his teacher. Instead, he carried the book and his curiosity straight to Huikyung.

In truth, it didn’t matter whether Huikyung answered. Simply chatting with him about anything made the time fly by.

“I know the answer to this one, and I even know how to solve it,” Jaekani said, setting a candle upright and flipping through his book.

“But there’s something I want to ask. Listen to this.”

He began reading aloud:

“‘Thomas purchased an $18 item at a 30% discount on September 31st. The next month, he bought the same item for $11. What’s the percentage difference in the discount rate between the two purchases?’”

Jaekani paused, ready to discuss the problem, but Huikyung cut him off with a blunt declaration.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t bother learning from a teacher who asks questions like that.”

“Why not?”

Despite the animosity his teacher Susan showed him, Jaekani still considered her a competent educator.

“Because September only has 30 days.”

… Oh.

A small piece of Jaekani’s respect for Susan chipped away.

“Well, I solved it a different way, but I was told it was wrong.”

Jaekani said, pushing his notebook toward Huikyung.

“I got the same result, though. I just want to know if my method was really incorrect.”

He expected Huikyung to examine his work, but instead, the man’s gaze lingered on Jaekani himself.

“What?” Jaekani asked, tilting his head.

“You look excited.”

“I’m not!”

Why is it so warm? Jaekani thought, feeling his cheeks grow hot.

Trying to distract himself, he glanced down at the candles scattered around. Only now did he notice how many he’d brought, the wax pooling like tiny nests between the cracks in the concrete.

‘Have I really spent this much time here?’

He wondered, a strange feeling washing over him.

The candles, planted like reeds in a pond, stood as silent witnesses to the hours that had passed.

Huikyung, as much as it annoyed Jaekani to admit, was a good teacher. Infuriatingly smug about it, sure, but undeniably effective. He had a knack for explaining things in different ways until understanding dawned like an accidental epiphany—a sudden clarity that made Jaekani realize, for the first time, what people meant when they said learning could be enjoyable.

It was worth sneaking candles every day to come here.

“Was that homework or something from class today?”

“It’s what we learned today.”

“Then why didn’t you just ask your teacher?”

“….”

The smile faded from Jaekani’s face.

“It’s a reasonable question. Are you just shy?”

Shrugging, Jaekani remained silent.

Normally, Huikyung would’ve continued talking, filling the quiet with his usual banter. This time, though, he simply waited. Under the weight of his unspoken encouragement, Jaekani finally relented.

“…I ask dumb questions sometimes, and it’s not allowed.”

As he spoke, his gaze dropped to the dirt floor. He scuffed it lightly with his shoe.

Whenever he had questions during class, he’d raise his hand, only to be met with exasperated sighs or sharp reprimands from his teacher. What kind of question is that? Why aren’t you paying attention? The remarks had chipped away at his confidence.

‘I ‘was’ paying attention,’ he thought bitterly.

‘That’s why I had the question in the first place.’

But maybe Susan had been right. Maybe he ‘hadn’t’ been paying enough attention and had just asked something irrelevant, distracting the class.

“Dumb questions?”

“Yes.”

Jaekani nodded, his head bowed, his shoe kicking at the dirt in awkward rhythm.

“Does your teacher say that?”

Unable to meet Huikyung’s gaze, Jaekani brushed his cheek with calloused fingers and muttered, “Sometimes.”

“What about your friends? What do they say?”

“I don’t… really ask them,” Jaekani replied, his voice low.

Huikyung already knew he didn’t have friends—he’d mentioned it before. Yet here he was, poking at the sore spot again. Still, Jaekani didn’t feel like reminding him. He didn’t want Huikyung to know just how much it bothered him. To the man behind the bars, Jaekani wanted to appear carefree, unburdened.

Desperate to shift the topic, he shot back.

“You could just tell me the answer. Besides, you don’t have any friends either.”

“True enough,” Huikyung replied with a wry smile.

“Life’s a lonely journey.”

‘Is that why he ended up like this?’

Jaekani wondered, though he kept the thought to himself.

For a moment, he felt a flicker of sympathy for Huikyung, but he quickly shook it off. The man’s sharp tongue and infuriating attitude didn’t leave much room for pity.

Jaekani swallowed the words rising in his throat, unsure whether to voice them.

“Sometimes, I do wish I had friends.”

Huikyung said, surprising Jaekani. Hearing such an admission from someone who usually acted so carefree felt strangely refreshing.

“After all, it means fewer people get to appreciate my charm.”

…And refreshing in an entirely different sense.

“What kind of charm are we talking about here?” Jaekani asked, his skepticism evident.

“My height, my face, my physique, my skills, and my wealth.”

Jaekani couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh. ‘Say that after you get out of here,’ his expression seemed to convey, but Huikyung remained unshaken.

“Don’t look at me too much,” Huikyung added with a grin. “Your standards might get too high, and then you’ll never get married.”

“Well, at least you were honest enough not to include your personality in that list,” Jaekani shot back.

“You’re pretty sharp, aren’t you?”

Just moments ago, Jaekani had been staring dejectedly at the ground. Now, he was smiling, his mood lifted without realizing it.

“Well, if I’m your friend, why don’t you ever show me that charm of yours?”

Friend. The word struck Jaekani. Were they friends? It felt like his bond with Huikyung was closer than his fleeting interactions with kids his own age. But did that make them friends? Jaekani wasn’t sure.

“I’m saving it. I’ll show you once I’m out of here,” Huikyung said.

“That means I’ll never get to see it. What a shame.”

“You could just curse me out instead,” Huikyung quipped.

Jaekani burst out laughing, his soft chuckles carrying through the bars. The simple act of laughing felt strange—ticklish, almost—as though his chest had grown lighter. When was the last time he had felt genuinely happy like this?

Maybe that’s why he found himself lingering, even after they’d run out of questions to discuss. It wasn’t like him to stick around without a reason, and he was neither bold enough nor honest enough to admit he simply wanted to stay. Usually, when there were no more questions, it was time to leave.

“It’s late. You should go, Jaekani,” Huikyung said, his voice as indifferent as ever.

Jaekani hesitated, gazing at the clouds drifting through the bright moonlight. Now that he thought about it, the night air felt cold against his skin.

“I need to sleep too. A regular schedule is important, you know.”

“Says the guy locked up in a basement.”

“Are you looking down on prisoners now?”

“…That’s not it.”

Jaekani glanced away, biting back the words he really wanted to say. Of course, he didn’t want to leave. But the breeze was biting, and as he shivered slightly, Huikyung let out an exaggerated yawn, as if to make a point.

Pouting a little, Jaekani kicked the pile of half-melted candles into a gap between the rocks. Hidden among the cracks, they’d be hard to notice unless someone looked for them specifically.

“Goodnight,” Huikyung said.

Jaekani let out a quiet, annoyed huff, choosing not to reply. Gathering his things, he turned sharply on his heel, as if daring Huikyung to stop him.

* * *

On his walk home, Jaekani shivered again, the chill of the night sinking into his bones. ‘I might’ve caught a cold if I’d stayed any longer,’ he thought grimly.

But then he paused mid-step.

‘Was that why he told me to leave?’

The idea lingered, unwelcome yet persistent. Huikyung didn’t seem like the type to be so considerate. His usual demeanor was far too carefree and teasing. But if Jaekani kept thinking that, was he being too soft on Huikyung? Was he seeing him in a better light than he deserved?

Shaking off the thought, Jaekani quickened his pace. If he *did* get sick, he wouldn’t be able to visit Huikyung.

* * *

The next day, as Huikyung effortlessly solved yet another problem, Jaekani couldn’t help but ask.

“What did you used to do to be so good at this?”

Huikyung rested his chin on the edge of the bars, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

“Guess. If you’re right, I’ll tell you.”

This was a rare opportunity!

Jaekani’s mind raced, considering countless possibilities.

He quickly ruled out the idea that Huikyung had been one of those heavily armed soldiers who raided villages. The ones Jaekani had encountered were cold, mechanical, and ruthless, snatching away Espers and Guides without a shred of empathy. No, Huikyung wasn’t like them.

Nor did he seem like someone from a neighboring community.

“…A scavenger?”

Jaekani ventured, referring to the wandering traders who scavenged valuables from ruins and corpses.

“Harsh.”

Huikyung said, shaking his head.

Jaekani blatantly looked him up and down, recalling his current circumstances. His expression seemed to ask.

‘What did you expect me to guess? You’re locked up in a basement.’

“Drug dealer? Slave trader?”

Jaekani offered, almost mockingly.

“…”

“…You’re not a cannibal, right?”

“Do you even hear yourself?” Huikyung sighed, exasperated.

He shook his head again, lamenting how Jaekani hadn’t even considered decent professions like creature hunter or repair technician—careers that didn’t hurt others.

“Why skip the respectable ones and go straight for the worst?” he muttered, half to himself.