BKR Ch 1

The sunlight breaking through the dark clouds melted the snow that had fallen the night before. Waves crashing against the pier collided with the breakwater, sending up white foam.

A desolate, abandoned house overlooking the sea off Incheon. From inside, where it seemed no one should be, voices could be heard.

“Hey, looks like he’s awake.”

At the unfamiliar voice, Dohan turned his head. Three strange men were staring intently at him. One of them met his gaze and spoke bluntly.

“Finally awake… Damn, you slept like a log.”

Dohan blinked repeatedly as he lay there. As his blurred vision gradually cleared, their appearances came into sharp focus.

Their faces were rough, their clothes shabby. They held playing cards in their hands and cigarettes in their mouths… They were unlike anyone he had ever encountered before.

“But where did this guy come from?”

“How should I know? The captain just dropped him off and left.”

“Ah, stowaways are all war refugees. They’re noisy and a pain to deal with.”

Listening to their conversation, Dohan slowly sat up. A cheap blanket that had covered him up to his neck slid off.

Thanks to the blanket, his body, which had been stiff and cold, had regained some warmth, allowing him to move without discomfort. However, a metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth.

‘Where am I…?’

Dohan looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. Seeing the tables and kitchen, it seemed like some kind of restaurant… His uncertain gaze landed on a dirty sheet of paper stuck to the window by the entrance.

[Fisherman’s Raw Fish House]

Dohan’s eyes widened in confusion. How had he ended up here?

“Yesss, stingray!”

At the sudden loud shout, Dohan turned his head away from the window. One of the men was gleefully scooping up some bills.

‘Checks!’

Seeing that, Dohan instinctively reached for his waist. A wide black leather belt was fastened around his slim abdomen. He frantically reached inside and pulled out a thick stack of checks, which spilled onto the blanket.

“……!”

The men’s eyes instantly locked onto Dohan. More precisely, onto the scattered checks.

Damn it…! Dohan hurriedly gathered the checks with his hands. But it was too late—the predators had already spotted their prey.

The men quickly exchanged glances. After a silent signal, one of them headed to the kitchen, another to the entrance, and the last one approached Dohan.

“Let’s see…”

The man who approached knelt down on one knee and scrutinized Dohan, who was stuffing the checks back into his belt. The man’s expression gradually shifted to one of curiosity.

Though it was unclear what had happened, Dohan looked like a complete mess. His black clothes were stained with white salt marks, as if he had been pulled from the sea, and his jaw was smeared with dried blood. Despite his disheveled appearance, his facial features were strikingly captivating.

The man tilted his head, seemingly puzzled by the stark contrast.

“You look like a celebrity, so why did you stow away? How old are you? You look like a student… No parents?”

Dohan shook his head. He wasn’t a student, and he had no parents.

“Yeah? Well, if you don’t have parents, you’ll have to pay up yourself. For the lodging fee. You’ve been sleeping here for two days.”

Dohan swallowed dryly.

“…!”

At that moment, a burning pain shot up his throat. Overwhelmed by the intense pain, Dohan lowered his head and barely managed to speak.

“How… much is it?”

A cracked, hoarse voice escaped his lips, sounding more like a groan.

Dohan’s eyes widened as he clutched his throat. He had never imagined such a voice could come from him.

The man, noticing Dohan’s clearly abnormal condition, smirked.

“It’s a bit pricey… What are you gonna do?”

The man trailed off, glancing behind him. The man who had gone to the kitchen was now standing behind him, holding a fish knife. The lookout had also joined them, his face menacing.

The three men chuckled as they looked at their trapped prey.

“Wow, today’s our lucky day. We caught a sucker.”

Dohan stared at them with a hardened expression.

After surviving death, this was the welcome he got? These greedy wolves, eyeing his checks, were laughing at him.

“Hey, sucker.”

The man with the fish knife pressed the blade against Dohan’s pale, slender neck.

“Hand it over nicely while I’m being polite. It’s a nice day, and I don’t feel like filleting that pretty face of yours.”

A faint, incredulous laugh escaped Dohan’s blood-caked lips.

“You’re laughing? You think this is funny?”

The man raised an eyebrow, wondering what this skinny guy was so confident about. Dohan turned his gaze to the man.

“Tiger’s mouth… You saw it correctly.”

“What?”

Dohan’s black eyes gleamed with a cold light.

“The tiger’s jaws… You walked right into them.”

Crash──!

The words “Fisherman’s Raw Fish House” on the glass shattered as a bloodied man was thrown out.

“Ugh…”

The man sprawled on the floor let out a groan as air escaped his lungs. He was bleeding profusely from multiple wounds.

Step by step, Dohan, dressed in black, walked out through the broken door.

Inside the raw fish house, the other two men were sprawled out, bleeding. Each had suffered fatal wounds to vital points, and like the man who had just been thrown out, they were beyond saving.

Squawk-squawk-

Seagulls cried in the winter sky. The salty sea breeze fluttered the hem of Dohan’s black clothes.

Standing tall on the breakwater, Dohan surveyed his surroundings. In the distance, he could see the harbor. Behind him was the isolated raw fish house, standing alone like a deserted island.

This place, which looked like an abandoned building, was actually a hideout for stowaways heading to the West Sea. But the brokers had dared to hold a knife to his neck.

Idiots… Dohan twisted his lips and flung the bloodied fish knife into the sea. Though his body wasn’t in great shape after surviving death, ordinary people like them were no match for him.

Dohan raised his eyes and stared at the sea’s horizon. Then he thought of a place far beyond what he could see from here.

‘…Yeongam Island.’

Named for its rocky terrain and thick fog, it was like a shadow floating on the sea.

A lonely, uninhabited island where ships rarely ventured due to the year-round fog and strong currents. But Dohan had come from that island. Taken there as a child, he had lived in isolation until now, when he finally set foot on the mainland.

Dohan swallowed as he watched the rolling waves. Once again, an unbearable pain surged in his throat.

‘Ugh…!’

Dohan clutched his throat, his face contorted in agony.

‘Drug side effects.’

In truth, Yeongam Island was no ordinary place. It was a secret military base where special drugs were injected into people to enhance their physical abilities dozens of times over, creating superhuman soldiers for covert missions.

This was a top-secret project initiated by the South Korean Ministry of Defense to ensure national preservation in the event of World War III. Those trained on Yeongam Island became powerful secret weapons capable of turning the tide of the nation’s fate.

Dohan, who had grown up as a bioweapon for war on the island, eventually realized that they were nothing more than expendable tools.

No matter how many enemies they eliminated or what achievements they made, they could be discarded in an instant.

From that day on, Dohan never wanted to stay there for even a single day. He discovered that one of the drugs he was being injected with, when overdosed, caused symptoms like vomiting blood and temporary cardiac arrest—enough to make it seem like death.

Fortunately, it worked. He had successfully faked his death and boarded a refugee fishing boat he had arranged in advance. Though his throat was left in terrible shape.

However, despite the somewhat successful outcome, Dohan’s expression grew even more puzzled.

‘But… why am I the one who got out?’

In truth, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to escape. The older brother who had cared for him like a younger sibling also felt disillusioned with the place.

Dohan had offered his brother the chance to escape first, promising that he would find a way to leave the island later. He wanted to lessen the emotional burden he had always carried.

But somehow, it was him who ended up here, not his brother.

Could the drugs have been switched…? Dohan tilted his head and reached into the belt wrapped around his abdomen. Inside, he found a thick stack of checks, a formal ID card, and a bankbook—all prepared by his brother for his escape.

[Seo Dohan]

The shiny new ID card bore his real name. Even the bank account was under his name.

Ha… Finally understanding everything, Dohan let out a frustrated sigh.

‘When did he even…?’

It was clear that his brother had prepared these while Dohan was unconscious from the temporary cardiac arrest. It was proof that his brother had planned to send him out first.

Once again indebted to his brother, Dohan gazed at the sea horizon with a troubled expression. He had told his brother to go first, but instead, his brother had sent him out. Gratitude and guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Though it wasn’t his intention, he had managed to leave Yeongam Island first. He understood exactly why his brother had sent him out.

His brother wanted him to live a normal life, free from that place, even if only for a moment.

“…?”

But there was a folded piece of paper tucked into the bankbook. When Dohan unfolded it, his eyes widened.

It was an admission letter to the ‘Army Military Academy.’ Attached was a receipt showing that four years’ worth of tuition had been paid in full.

‘Why this…?’

Dohan scanned the document his brother had prepared, then noticed a warning written in red at the bottom.

[If the recipient of this admission letter, who has reached adulthood this year, refuses to enroll, they will be immediately conscripted as a regular soldier under wartime enlistment procedures.]

The only exemptions were physical disabilities specified in the supplementary rules.

‘Good grief…’

Dohan, who had turned 20 this year, stared blankly at the conscription notice. What had they called him on Yeongam Island again?

[1st Special Ability Brigade]

[2nd Generation S-Class Berserker]

[Major Black Demon (abbreviated)]

He had gone through all the trouble of deserting, only to be forced back into military service. Dohan clutched his throbbing temples.

If he had known this would happen, he would have lied about his age when the broker asked. His ignorance had led him straight to the military academy.

Now he had to sit through classes with greenhorn cadets, not even a proper officer yet!

…Well, it’s all my fault. My ignorance is to blame.

‘Anyway, let’s get out of here.’

Dohan shook off his frustration and turned toward the city. As he stepped off the breakwater, he was met with another obstacle and froze.

“…Huh?”

Now that he thought about it, while his brother had paid the tuition, he himself had only prepared the ID and nothing else. The only skills he had were what he learned in the military.

Killing, training, combat, killing, training, combat, killing, training…

‘Where do I eat? Where do I sleep?’

Dohan, who had never cooked a meal for himself in his life, crouched on the breakwater like a lost child.

‘Where do I shower? Where do I live…?’

On Yeongam Island, he never had to worry about such things. Everything was provided.

But now, he was like a castaway adrift in a vast ocean. No landmarks, no guide.

As he sat there, overwhelmed, seagulls squawked and flew overhead, as if mocking him.

“Phew…”

After sitting for a while, Dohan took a deep breath.

The die had already been cast… Well, let’s face it head-on. Life is all about real-world experience. You only learn by going through it.

It’s not like I’ll starve to death, right?

✦✦✦

‘…I might actually starve to death.’

Two months later. A noticeably thinner Dohan slid open the classroom door.

On the first day of the academy, the classroom was bustling with new cadets in crisp uniforms, trying to memorize the faces and names of their future classmates.

Dohan, who had barely eaten properly during that time, walked straight to a seat by the window. His once captivating appearance was now haggard, and his new uniform hung loosely on his frame.

Sitting down, he took out a book and plugged in his earphones. As he glanced around the classroom, he bit his lip.

‘Damn it…’

His esophagus was ruined from the drugs, and now he was forced into the military academy. But under the wartime military law, no one who had reached adulthood this year could avoid conscription.

Dohan had only two choices.

Serve four years in the military, or attend the military academy.

Of course, he chose the latter. Not only had the expensive tuition already been paid, but the academy also offered more freedom compared to the military. It was easier to hide his desertion here.

Just four more years. Dohan buried his gaze in the book, hoping this endless time would pass quickly.

Sliding open the door, the professor entered the classroom. The chattering cadets quickly took their seats.

“Welcome, new cadets.”

The professor scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on one cadet.

“Cadet Kim Jihan, stand up.”

The named cadet rose from his seat. Dohan glanced at the tall figure standing beside him.

With a towering height and a robust build, Kim Jihan commanded the attention of everyone in the room. But Dohan, uninterested, quickly looked away.

The professor, a major, smiled warmly at the standing cadet.

“This year’s top entrant is in our class.”

Kim Jihan gave a slight nod.

The dark blue uniform of the Army Military Academy draped neatly over his broad shoulders. At 188 cm, his imposing presence captivated the room.

“He also received the highest grade in the physical fitness test. I have high expectations for you, Cadet Kim Jihan.”

The professor gestured for him to sit, and Kim Jihan complied.

Even after the attention shifted, the cadets couldn’t take their eyes off him. Their gazes were filled with admiration.

The professor scanned the room again.

“As you all know, our country is at war. Even now, our soldiers are advancing on the enemy’s frontlines. The tide is in our favor, but we must never let our guard down.”

It had been over 20 years since the outbreak of World War III. After the initial enemy invasion and the sudden death of the president, the country had naturally transitioned into a military regime.

Under the wartime system, all citizens were required to serve four years of mandatory military service upon reaching adulthood.

“Cadets, you are all here to become honorable officers. Over the next four years, you will receive systematic training in military basics, command and control, tactics, and strategy…”

The ‘Army Military Academy,’ an institution created under the Ministry of Defense, allowed cadets to replace their mandatory service with four years of expensive tuition and military education.

The professor opened the attendance book.

“The people in this classroom are the comrades who will share joys and sorrows for the next four years. I’ll call the roll, so get to know each other’s names and faces.”

About thirty students stood up briskly and answered as the professor called their names. The professor continued down the list.

“Cadet Seo Dohan.”

Dohan stood up silently without answering.

All the cadets, except Kim Jihan, who was staring straight ahead, looked at Dohan standing.

At 179cm, Dohan wasn’t short, but his uniform, the same navy blue as everyone else’s, hung loosely on his thin frame. His wrists, exposed by the sleeves, were also bony, and his unusually pale complexion made him look sick. His lips were dry and bloodless.

How can such a weakling endure the rigorous military training…? The cadets secretly gave him pitying smiles.

The professor, after confirming Dohan was present, moved on to the next name without much interest.

“Now that I’ve confirmed everyone’s attendance…”

The professor closed the attendance book and suddenly pulled a megaphone from under the podium.

“Attention! First five to the red flag on the parade ground! You’ll experience firsthand what happens if you fall behind. Go!”

“……?”

The cadets all looked bewildered at the sudden announcement. They didn’t immediately understand what they were supposed to do in their new uniforms.

Suddenly, someone quick-witted dashed out first. The tall cadet opened the door and shot out of the classroom.

“Uh…? Uh!”

Finally grasping the situation, the cadets jumped up and rushed towards the door as if a war had broken out.

“Oof…!”

“Whoa-!”

“Move!”

Several cadets got jammed in the doorway, creating a comical scene. The corners of Dohan’s mouth turned up slightly as he watched the sudden chaos unfold.

It wouldn’t be a military academy if things were calm from day one. It almost got boring.

Dohan stood up leisurely, lightly stretched his wrists and ankles, and exhaled deeply. His downcast gaze lifted, and his dark eyes, which had held a hint of boredom, sharpened.

Whoosh! Dohan shot out like a bullet fired from a gun. The cadets, tangled in a jumble of shoulders and arms, didn’t even realize something had stepped over their heads.

The megaphone continued to blare.

“Attention! Not the white flag. Not the blue flag. What flag did I say? I trust there are no blockheads in our classroom who can’t remember. Hurry up! Look alive!”

Dohan, running like the wind, reached the stairs at the end of the hallway. The same instructions seemed to apply to other classrooms, as the stairs were crowded with cadets pouring out. They were all pushing, rolling, and tangling with each other, trying to get ahead.

Whoosh!

However, for Dohan, known as one of the best among the bio-engineered soldiers, this situation was child’s play. He jumped onto the stair railing, using his hands to propel himself downwards with ease.

Like a blocked hose suddenly unclogged, a flood of cadets poured out of the main entrance.

“Aaagh-!”

They ran across the vast parade ground as if their feet were on fire.

Flags of various colors were planted at regular intervals on the sun-drenched parade ground. A third-year senior instructor with arms crossed stood by each flag.

There it is.

Dohan sped up as he saw the red flag, the destination for his classroom.

It wasn’t just about being first. He was the one who boasted the highest speed in Yeongamdo. He had never lost a race. No one had reached the flags yet.

So, if he could just overtake Kim Jihan, who was in the lead, the first place would be his. This had been the obvious outcome in his mind since he left the classroom.

Dohan put explosive power into his legs and sprinted at a speed incomparable to ordinary people.

“Oh, first place.”

Dohan overtook Kim Jihan in the blink of an eye and claimed the title of first place. The senior instructor, as if confirming the kill, hammered it home to Kim Jihan, who arrived a moment later.

“You’re second.”

“Gasp… Huff… Huff…”

Kim Jihan, pushed from first to second in an instant, stood blankly, panting heavily.

“First place, lie down. Rest comfortably.”

At the senior instructor’s merciful instruction, Dohan collapsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up dust. He was already dizzy from the sudden sprint in his undernourished state.

“Huh? The freshman representative?”

The senior instructor suddenly exclaimed, recognizing Kim Jihan.

“100m in 10 seconds. Right? The national high school record holder!”

What? Dohan’s heart pounded.

Was 10 seconds that fast here? A national record? A mere 10 seconds?

…And he had just easily overtaken that?

“Oh, wow. But why…”

The senior instructor, speaking in admiration, sensed something strange and turned his head. Kim Jihan also followed the instructor’s gaze to Dohan, who was lying on his back.

Damn it!

Dohan squeezed his eyes shut as he felt the two gazes on his back. This was wrong. Terribly wrong.

He genuinely hadn’t known. He hadn’t known that Kim Jihan was that fast. He hadn’t known the standard because all the comrades he had trained with were bio-engineered soldiers like himself.

Just then, third place arrived. After that, cadets continued to arrive one after another.

“Third to fifth place, stand.”

Fortunately, the senior instructor, needing to resume training, put aside his curious gaze and gave instructions.

“Second place, sit.”

Kim Jihan immediately sat on the ground.

“Don’t lie down.”

Clearly differentiating between second and first place, the senior instructor pointed at Kim Jihan, who was sitting, and Dohan, who was lying down, to the other cadets.

“No one except first and second place sits down.”

Dohan, in first place, lay with his eyes closed, listening to the situation. But a strange feeling crept up on him. It felt like a predator was watching him.

What is it…?

Dohan slightly opened his eyes to check who was sitting in front of him. It was Kim Jihan, second place.

The class representative, was it? Dohan could feel the record holder scrutinizing him, but he kept his eyes tightly shut and remained motionless as if dead.

He was currently a deserter from the Yeongamdo 1st Special Abilities Brigade. It was most important not to be discovered. But without knowing anything, he had overtaken the national record holder.

Dohan, who had made such a ridiculous mistake, only wished for one thing: that no one would pay attention to him.

Tap, tap-

But someone touched his shoulder.

Damn it… Dohan knew exactly who was touching him. He wanted to strike the person’s throat, but hoping they wouldn’t acknowledge him further, he ignored it.

Tap, tap!

The touch was stronger than before, unlike the wind. Despite the repeated prodding, Dohan still didn’t react. Even the most shameless person would feel awkward if they were ignored so blatantly…

Thwack!

“……!”

A strong vibration that shook his upper body finally forced Dohan’s eyes open.

“Oh? You were alive?”

A dark figure against the blue sky waved its hand.

“I thought you were dead and was wondering if I should give you CPR.”

A deep, cheerful voice. Dohan shielded his eyes with one hand, squinting against the backlight.

“Hi, comrade?”

A friendly greeting was offered, but Dohan couldn’t respond. His thoughts momentarily stopped at the sight of Kim Jihan, silhouetted against the cloudy blue sky.

He hadn’t paid much attention before, but up close, Kim Jihan possessed a beauty that was on a different level from the handsome men he’d seen in videos or magazines.

His dark brown bangs were styled upwards with wax, revealing a smooth forehead, and his strong eyebrows were straight and neat. His eyes, without double eyelids, stretched wide and clear. Exotic hazel eyes looked down at him.

How can someone be so… handsome…?

Dohan stared blankly at Kim Jihan, stunned by his exquisite looks, then quickly hardened his expression. In any case, this guy was just someone who had rudely touched him.

“Um, it’s a bit awkward to ask what I’m curious about when you’re staring so intently…”

Kim Jihan rubbed his prominent nose bridge with a finger, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Are you a former track and field athlete?”

His dimples deepened as he smiled brightly.

“What’s your 100m record? 9.5 seconds? 9 seconds? What’s your best?”

You said it was awkward to ask…

Dohan stared at Kim Jihan, dumbfounded, as he showered him with questions, contradicting what he’d just said.

“8 seconds is impossible, right? Huh? Isn’t it?”

His reddish lips moved, and a pleasant low voice continued to flow out.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Have you forgotten how to speak because I’m so handsome?”

Is this guy crazy? Dohan turned away, feeling even more perplexed. His appearance and voice were quite impressive, but his words and actions felt somehow unconventional.

The answer to dealing with these types of people was complete and utter indifference. At least, that had always worked in his experience.

“But with that skill, why haven’t you competed before? We would have met sooner if you had.”

Kim Jihan moved and sat in front of Dohan, undeterred. His large, clear eyes narrowed slightly.

“Are you going for a mysterious vibe or something? That doesn’t work on me.”

What’s with this guy? Dohan stared at him in astonishment, realizing his usual tactics weren’t working.

“What Seo family are you from? I know a sergeant with the surname Seo. Are you related?”

Dohan covered his name tag with his hand and looked at the instructor, hoping he would stop Kim Jihan, who was endlessly talking to him. Unfortunately, the instructor seemed to tolerate the second-place finisher’s sociable behavior.

Damn it, Dohan clenched his teeth in frustration. This was all his fault for beating this national record holder. His fault for being ignorant of the ways of the world.

Dohan turned away again, feeling miserable. Fortunately, Kim Jihan seemed to give up and didn’t move any further.

“Hey, do you know that ignoring me like this makes me want to pay more attention to you?”

…He thought it was over, but the talking continued.

“If you can overtake me, you must have been pretty famous. How come I’m only seeing you now?”

“…….”

“What high school did you go to?”

Dohan’s patience was about to reach its limit.

“Stragglers, look alive—!!”

The senior instructor’s roar erupted. The cadets who hadn’t made it in time for the race were rolling around the parade ground, undergoing intense disciplinary exercises. Only then did Kim Jihan stop talking.

Finally free from the unwanted attention, Dohan secretly sighed in relief and focused on the scene in front of him. However, he couldn’t help but be bothered by Kim Jihan sitting behind him.

“Seo Dohan.”

Suddenly, Kim Jihan called his name. Dohan’s ears perked up.

“Well, it’s only natural, but…”

Kim Jihan, looking at Dohan’s back, gave an irresistible smile.

“Let’s be friends, okay?”

✦✦✦

Early morning on the way to school. A tall cadet with an impressive bearing walked toward the main gate of the military academy.

Click, clack-

The sound of his polished shoes echoed confidently on the asphalt. His measured steps exuded immense pride. Cadets walking nearby kept glancing at him, his aura distinct from the others.

Kim Jihan. There wasn’t a cadet who didn’t know his name. He had never lost the title of first place. Studies, athletics, anything – he always took the top spot.

Not to mention his charm. In addition to his versatile talents, he also possessed outstanding looks. Ardent affection, admiration, and blind favor were as natural to him as breathing. Everyone tried to win his favor and avoid falling out of his good graces.

A person born to be the sun. That’s how everyone saw him. His dazzling light had never been obscured.

However, in Kim Jihan’s forward-focused eyes, an unexpected lunar eclipse that had obscured that brilliance flickered. The memory of the time he was called second place for the first time in his life.

Lunchtime at the military academy after morning classes. Most of the cadets in the classroom headed to the dining hall for lunch.

“Jihan, let’s go!”

Kim Jihan, immersed in his topographical map textbook, lifted his head at the sound of his name.

“Hurry up, I’m starving!”

Cadet Cha Woohyuk from the same class shouted. Other cadets were also waiting for him at the door.

“I’m dying of hunger!”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.”

At the desperate urging, Kim Jihan closed his textbook with a thud and stood up.

Dohan also reached into his bag, which was hanging on the desk hook, to get his lunch. He pulled out a carton of soy milk with a straw attached.

Sigh…

Dohan, not going to the dining hall, peeled off the straw wrapper and swallowed a groan with his sore throat.

The aftereffects of the side effects that had caused him to vomit blood were truly severe. He still couldn’t eat properly, and because of that, his body was getting thinner by the day.

This kind of liquid was all he could manage to swallow. Dohan stuck the straw into the soy milk and put earphones in his ears. He looked up and saw the classroom emptying out as the cadets left.

A few days after entering the academy, groups had already formed within the classroom. Among them, Kim Jihan, heading for the door with Cha Woohyuk’s group, glanced at him.

Dohan avoided his gaze and buried his eyes in his book.

Kim Jihan…

After observing for a few days, he had grasped the general atmosphere and the cadets.

Among them, Kim Jihan clearly stood out. The trophy of top admission, his distinct appearance, and his unusual presence. He was someone all the cadets liked and treated well. Naturally, a large group formed around him even if he did nothing. That was the group Cha Woohyuk belonged to.

Dohan, who had unknowingly beaten this record holder on the first day, was constantly aware of him. The way he kept looking at him was also concerning.

In any case, he didn’t want to provoke anyone in his situation where he had to hide his identity, so he avoided eye contact first. He didn’t open his mouth or engage with anyone. He just wanted to be treated like an invisible person, a non-existent being.

“Doesn’t he ever eat?”

“What? That ghost?”

And so, he had earned the nickname “ghost.” Dohan ignored the cadets’ whispers and started playing music through his earphones.

“Hey, isn’t that ghost a total weirdo?”

Dohan’s nickname suddenly popped up as he scooped up some soup with his spoon. Kim Jihan glanced at Cha Woohyuk, who had spoken.

The dining hall, filled with students from all grades for lunchtime, was more crowded than ever. The seats were packed, with hardly any empty spaces.

“Damn it, it’s like he’s got glue on his lips. He doesn’t respond no matter what I say to him. He totally treats people like they’re invisible.”

Cha Woohyuk grumbled to his classmates, his expression annoyed.

“Why? What did you say to him?”

One of his classmates asked curiously.

“I asked him if he’d done any sports before, since he’s so skinny but handles the training well. He totally ignored me, though.”

Cha Woohyuk’s classmates chuckled at his reply.

“Idiot, what a pointless thing to do.”

“Dude, didn’t you know he’s a weirdo?”

“Damn, I don’t know. I don’t get him, anyway.”

Cha Woohyuk shook his head.

He, who had placed third in the initiation ceremony, was a 192cm tall physical education student with excellent physique. However, here, he was constantly stuck in third place, behind Kim Jihan and Seo Dohan.

“How can he be faster than me…?”

Cha Woohyuk muttered, as if questioning the fact even more. He could understand being behind Kim Jihan, the record holder, tall and well-built, but being behind Seo Dohan, who looked like a dried leaf, made no sense.

“But doesn’t he eat?”

“He just keeps sucking on soy milk.”

The conversation about Dohan, once started, continued.

“Why does he only drink soy milk?”

“Is there some special benefit to it?”

A cadet who had been tapping on his phone screen shrugged.

“Pfft, I searched it. It says it promotes sperm production.”

Cha Woohyuk burst into laughter.

“Damn, was that it? Is that jerk jacking off every night? Shit, that’s hilarious. So, that’s all cum charging…”

“Cha Woohyuk.”

Kim Jihan’s low voice stopped everyone’s laughter. Kim Jihan looked directly at Cha Woohyuk, who was sitting next to him.

“Don’t ruin my appetite while I’m eating.”

“Uh…?”

Cha Woohyuk looked dumbfounded. Kim Jihan lowered his voice further.

“Your language is truly vulgar. And the gossip is endless. Am I having a meal with a neighborhood thug right now?”

Cha Woohyuk’s face hardened instantly.

Being exceptionally tall and an athletic student, he always held the leadership position in his group, and it was similar now. But Kim Jihan, with his equally impressive physique, had directly challenged him.

Cha Woohyuk and Kim Jihan faced off with hostile glares. The surrounding cadets froze, tense, wondering if it would escalate into a big fight.

“Ah-!”

Suddenly, Kim Jihan smacked his forehead. Everyone looked at him, bewildered by the strange action.

“Ah, ah! What have I said to my comrade? We should be getting along, why did I do that?!”

Kim Jihan, after his bizarre behavior, looked at Cha Woohyuk with furrowed brows.

“Woohyuk. Were you upset because of me just now? I apologize.”

He abruptly offered a handshake, and Cha Woohyuk’s hostile expression turned subtly strange.

“I’m sorry.”

Kim Jihan’s voice was as smooth as honey, unlike before. The sharp glint in his eyes had also disappeared.

“Come on, I’m apologizing.”

“Ah, shit, this is so fucking ridiculous…”

Cha Woohyuk hesitated and then reluctantly extended his hand. Judging by his smug expression, it seemed his pride was somewhat salvaged by the fact that this elite was apologizing first.

The moment their hands clasped.

Crack, Kim Jihan’s tendons bulged on the back of his hand.

“……!”

An unimaginable, tremendous grip. Cha Woohyuk’s mouth fell open. The intense pain caused his body to reflexively rise.

“Hey, why are you standing up? We’re shaking hands.”

But Kim Jihan was quicker. He reached out and pressed down on Cha Woohyuk’s collarbone, forcing him back down.

“Where are you trying to go while we’re making up?”

“Ugh…!”

Cha Woohyuk, with two pressure points pressed, his eyes rolled back from the excruciating pain that choked off even a scream. Kim Jihan, on the other hand, looked relaxed.

“But Woohyuk, I really hate that kind of vulgar language…”

“Gah…”

“Could you refrain from it in the future?”

Cha Woohyuk, his face red, could only nod, unable to speak. Foam was almost forming at the corners of his mouth.

Kim Jihan smiled sweetly.

“Thank you for understanding.”

He released his grip.

“Cough… ! Gasp, huff…”

Cha Woohyuk, finally able to breathe, gasped for air as if having a seizure. His body still trembled from the aftereffects of the pain.

“…….”

The other cadets stared blankly at the scene. Kim Jihan turned his smiling face towards them.

“You guys should also watch your language from now on, don’t you think? We’re supposed to be cadets of the Republic of Korea, it’s not very dignified to curse and gossip, is it?”

“Uh… R-right.”

“Yeah, we’re all adults now…”

The cadets immediately nodded, seemingly quite shocked by the sight of Cha Woohyuk being so easily subdued.

Kim Jihan, after scanning their reactions, smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling into crescents. Fresh dimples appeared on his clear, flawless cheeks.

Kim Jihan, finished with his meal, gulped down some cold water. Although he was smiling on the outside, he was seething inside. He put his cup in the bin with a displeased look and left the dining hall.

“Jihan, let’s go play soccer!”

The cadets shouted impatiently, eager to make the most of their remaining lunchtime.

“I’m just watching today.”

The announcement of the unparalleled ace’s absence brought sullen looks to everyone’s faces. Nevertheless, no one dared to complain and headed to the soccer field.

“Pass, pass!”

“Over here!”

Kim Jihan sat on a shaded bench, legs crossed and arms folded, watching the game. His gaze, following the ball, took in each of the cadets playing soccer. The more he watched, the more his earlier displeasure amplified.

No matter how he looked at it, there was no one here who satisfied him. Personality, dignity, appearance, ability. There wasn’t anyone he particularly wanted to associate with.

As Kim Jihan sat there, feeling like a bird of prey among pigeons, the image of Dohan, whom he had seen in the classroom earlier, flashed through his mind.

The being who had brought a lunar eclipse from day one.

The more he thought about it, the more intriguing he found him. The way he devoted his eyes to his book, his ears to music, and his mouth closed, blocking out all external stimuli.

It was as if he had locked himself inside a multiply wrapped box. As if he didn’t want to be noticed by anyone.

At that moment, his hazel eyes flashed sharply like a hawk’s.

…Shall I unwrap him?

Those who hide something tend to have flashy wrapping. He was curious. What was inside that made him wrap himself up so tightly?

✦✦✦

The sky was full of spring, but the wind was still cool.

Cadets in dark green tracksuits, having finished a strenuous run on the vast parade ground, stood in formation in front of the instructor.

“Huff, huff…”

Everyone panted heavily from running. Behind the instructor, portable pools numbered from 1 to 6 were lined up. They were about 1.3 meters high. Large enough for five adult men to fit inside, and filled with cold water.

The instructor, wearing a red ranger hat, shouted.

“We will now begin dive training. Stand in front of the dive pool with your team number.”

Dohan, catching his breath, scanned the portable pools in front of him with astonished eyes. This was dive training? Just getting into chest-high water and holding your breath?

In Yeongamdo, they dove into dark, freezing seawater wearing heavy vests, relying only on a single rope tied to their bodies. There was no way to get out on their own unless someone pulled them up from above. It was brutal dive training.

Of course, there were casualties sometimes.

“Begin!”

Anyway, at the instructor’s command, Dohan moved. The cadets, divided into six teams, moved in a flurry.

Kim Jihan glanced at Dohan, who was in a different team, and then nudged Cha Woohyuk, who was in Dohan’s team, with his elbow.

‘Switch.’

Cha Woohyuk, seeing his lip movements, obediently switched teams. The cadets stood in front of blue bins marked with their team numbers.

“……?”

Dohan looked at Kim Jihan, who had suddenly infiltrated his team, with bewildered eyes. Kim Jihan pretended not to notice his gaze and stared straight ahead. With the corners of his mouth curled up in a pleasant smile, he looked as dazzling as the spring sunshine.

However, Dohan’s eyes clearly showed discomfort.

Of all people, the one he least wanted to get involved with had approached him. Kim Jihan, who had obviously switched teams on purpose, felt like a more bothersome obstacle than ever.

“Everyone enter the dive pools! Begin!”

The cadets entered the water-filled bins. The overflowing water, displaced by their bodies, soaked the dry dirt ground.

Everyone stood chest-deep in the water, waiting for the instructor’s next command. In Kim Jihan’s case, being tall, the water only reached his waist.

“From now, we will dive for 30 seconds. Everyone submerge your heads! Begin!”

The diving was repeated several times.

“Don’t lift your heads!”

“Hold your breath, hold it!”