EST Ch 23

“Aren’t you Hae Gijun, the newly awakened divine beast category? It hasn’t been disclosed to the media yet, but everyone at H.N. knows.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

“It means you’re unlikely to be in danger! You’re a mythical level ability user with solid family connections. Even if someone learns that Sunwoo’s weakness is you, no one would dare use you as a hostage. Your family would stop them before they even got to Sunwoo!”

Shin Seungmin nodded, saying he knew all about his family information. Information about divine beast category ability users had to be well understood. Beyond personal information protection, it was to properly protect the individual themselves. There were always people who might misuse ability users.

And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Hae Gijun was perfectly safe from such dangers. His grandmother was a renowned S-class otherworld researcher and co-founder of H.N., his sister was a department head at the Paranormal Ability Management Agency, and though his parents were ordinary people, his mother was a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and his father an executive at a major company. There were no significant issues with his relatives either.

Shin Seungmin felt like all his worries had been resolved and buried his face in Gijun’s hand, sobbing. He had been trying hard to remain calm in front of the youngest member who could die at any moment.

“It’s a relief, truly a relief. And you two are close, right?”

“…Why does that matter now?”

“Staying close to the subjugated person is good for Sunwoo’s life force recovery-”

“Director, it’s fine.”

Baek Sunwoo urgently interrupted Shin Seungmin. His voice was somewhat cold, but Gijun asked Shin Seungmin directly.

“What exactly do you mean by staying close?”

“Literally. You two need to be together so that Sunwoo can see you’re safe. Being subjugated makes him prioritize your safety, and easing that burden helps reduce stress…”

Shin Seungmin glanced at Gijun as he spoke.

“…Honestly, I think it would be good if Gijun could stay at Sunwoo’s place for a few days-”

Bang! Baek Sunwoo slammed the table and stood up. Shin Seungmin had expected Gijun to feel awkward, but instead, Baek Sunwoo reacted. It didn’t seem like a simple reaction from a kind person who didn’t want to inconvenience others.

His face was rigid and even showed signs of anger. While Shin Seungmin was momentarily stunned, Baek Sunwoo moved to leave the examination room.

But just before he grabbed the door handle.

“Baek Sunwoo. Don’t leave.”

Hae Gijun’s words halted all of Baek Sunwoo’s actions. It was as if he couldn’t go against his command. He struggled to move his hand to the door handle but couldn’t push it open.

Baek Sunwoo looked back at Gijun. His eyes, filled with confusion and distress, seemed about to tear up. While Shin Seungmin watched them in surprise, Gijun ruffled his hair and asked.

“How many days exactly would be best? I need to know to pack my things.”

— Beep… beep… beep…

The sound of the digital door lock’s code being entered was agonizingly slow. But no matter how slowly it was pressed, it couldn’t be delayed forever. Eventually, the door opened, and a white hand pulled the handle… then hesitated for a long time, unable to fully open it.

“…Hey. What are you doing?”

It wasn’t until Hae Gijun spoke that Baek Sunwoo finally opened the door.

In the end, they both entered the house together.

Standing in the entryway, Gijun swallowed a gasp of admiration. The wide space flooded with sunlight was beautiful. Large windows, an open view. The house’s white wood-toned interior made it look like a model home. Having lived in a traditional Korean house, Gijun found the high-rise apartment view refreshing.

In the current situation, Gijun had basically barged into Baek Sunwoo’s house. Saying he visited would be an understatement.

‘A few days, or ideally two weeks together would help…’

About one or two hours ago, Gijun had been briefed by Shin Seungmin. At the time, Shin Seungmin seemed to grasp that Baek Sunwoo was extremely uncomfortable with the situation, subtly watching him. It was the first time he had seen the youngest member make such a face.

But as the head of the examination room, he had a mission to keep the H.N. members safe, and Hae Gijun shared that sense of duty.

‘If they stay together for two weeks, how much will his life force recover?’

‘Maybe 15%, at best 20%.’

‘Is that all?’

‘It’s recovering slowly because it’s currently too low. Once it exceeds 20%, it’ll enter a stable phase and gradually recover…’

Of course, there were several disturbances because Baek Sunwoo objected at that time, but in the end, Gijun received various pieces of information from Shin Seungmin. After that, while Baek Sunwoo was held back at H.N. for additional examinations, Gijun went home. He moved quickly, worried that Baek Sunwoo might lock himself inside once he reached home.

While they had moved separately to enter H.N., they left together and came to Baek Sunwoo’s house.

The entire way to his house, Baek Sunwoo remained silent. His complexion was dark, and he would turn his head quickly if their eyes met. Even after entering the house, Baek Sunwoo continued his sullen silence, making Gijun look back at him.

He was still standing at the entrance as if nailed there. When Gijun moved inside first and asked where he should stay, he didn’t answer. It looked like he didn’t even hear him. His face was clouded.

“…Is my presence here that uncomfortable?”

Baek Sunwoo quickly raised his head. He shook it, indicating that it wasn’t the case, but couldn’t speak immediately, his lips moving wordlessly several times.

Gijun sighed inwardly. He had considered inviting him to his own home, but concluded that moving Baek Sunwoo to a new environment might be stressful for him. Additionally, Baek Sunwoo, being so considerate, might try to do chores if he stayed over.

Since it was crucial to ensure Baek Sunwoo’s comfort, they came to his house. But now it seemed his home was the most uncomfortable place for him.

“…I’ll make sure you’re not uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s not that… it’s that I feel like I’m burdening you.”

Baek Sunwoo finally spoke with difficulty.

Today was the day Gijun returned home after several days. He had moved from the training center directly to the hospital, staying for a week before being discharged, and considering the time he spent repeating the school trip, he must have missed ‘home’ dearly…

Without giving Gijun proper time to rest, he was burdening him with more responsibilities. Baek Sunwoo mumbled this while lowering his gaze.

“And the person who’ll be uncomfortable… isn’t me, it’s you…”

“…What?”

“Now that you know I… have feelings for you. I thought it would make you uncomfortable…”

Baek Sunwoo spoke in a voice so subdued that it seemed soaked with water. He hurriedly swallowed the word ‘like’ and replaced it with ‘have feelings for.’

For a moment, Gijun was shocked into silence. He had thought he was being harsh to Baek Sunwoo, but now it seemed Baek Sunwoo was the one being considerate of him. It felt as if Baek Sunwoo was feeling guilty for his own feelings.

Until seeing his decisive actions in the hospital room earlier, he had thought the misunderstanding was resolved and Baek Sunwoo was distancing himself. He assumed his words had been a polite rejection, and Baek Sunwoo might want to distance himself or even be disappointed in him. He thought Baek Sunwoo’s behavior in the examination room reflected that. It was a misunderstanding.

Baek Sunwoo had kept his distance, thinking his feelings might burden Gijun. So all his actions now were apologizing for liking him.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll try not to be a bother.”

“This is your house…”

“But, I mean, I’ll try to make you comfortable…”

“You need to stay close to me and see me often to recover, but you’re going to stay out of sight? What nonsense is that.”

Gijun, feeling frustrated, spoke sharply. The idea of staying out of sight seemed absurd, and he snapped. After lashing out, he saw Baek Sunwoo’s expression and immediately regretted his reaction. Baek Sunwoo was watching his every move warily.

Eventually, Baek Sunwoo lowered his gaze.

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry for snapping at you.”

Baek Sunwoo looked up in surprise at Gijun’s apology. It was clear from his expression that he would say, ‘It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize,’ so Gijun raised his hand to stop him. He sensed an endless string of apologies coming.

Gijun sighed inwardly again. Until noon, he had thought he needed to maintain distance from Baek Sunwoo and not worry about him, but now he had to stay close to him.

It was a matter of conscience. After all, it was thanks to Baek Sunwoo’s sacrificial subjugation that he was alive. He couldn’t just ignore his situation saying, ‘I never asked for this.’ He briefly considered it but didn’t want to be that heartless.

And more than anything, the obsessive anxiety surged as soon as he heard that Baek Sunwoo could die.

Honestly, even now, Gijun wanted to bring him inside, sit him on the sofa, give him some vitamins, and even feed him. Why was he still standing when his legs must hurt?

‘…This much should be okay.’

Finally, Gijun walked over decisively, grabbed Baek Sunwoo’s arm, and led him inside. It felt like their roles as host and guest had reversed, but Gijun’s touch was firm.

“I’ll stay for just two weeks, and then we’ll see how you’re doing. Just think of it as repaying a favor.”

These two weeks might also help calm his misplaced anxiety. Coincidentally, this period was similar to the time Gijun had spent repeating the training center.

So he wanted to watch over Baek Sunwoo for the time he had lost him. He hoped that seeing Baek Sunwoo living a normal life would gradually ease his own worries.

In other words, during this period, Baek Sunwoo would recover his life force, and Gijun would resolve his anxiety. After that, they could safely distance themselves. By then, he might feel less guilty, and perhaps Baek Sunwoo might also move on from his feelings.

With this calculation in mind, Gijun smiled and said,

“Let’s get along for these two weeks.”

That evening, the seemingly quiet apartment was bustling.

“I-I’ll do it.”

“Stay still. Just sit over there.”

“No, you’re still a guest…!”

Currently, Hae Gijun and Baek Sunwoo were having a minor tussle in the kitchen. The reason was that Gijun had decided to cook dinner himself.

Having decided to stay here for two weeks, he couldn’t keep things awkward with Baek Sunwoo. Moreover, Shin Seungmin had repeatedly emphasized the need to stay ‘close,’ so he couldn’t create distance. To help Baek Sunwoo recover as much as possible, Gijun had to take action.

So he chose to cook.

Ordering food wouldn’t provide much to talk about, so he decided to cook and steer the conversation. Though he hadn’t cooked much, being Ha Gaon’s younger brother meant he had made ramen and other snacks several times. Nowadays, cooking recipes were readily available online, so Gijun decided to follow one for dinner.

Baek Sunwoo was alarmed by this decision. From the moment Gijun asked, “Can I use the ingredients in the fridge?” around dinner time, he had been hovering around, sensing the intention behind the question.

“I’ll order food, okay?”

“Just stay still. I can’t see the healthy mushroom rice recipe.”

“Why are you even looking at that… And if someone’s cooking, it should be me since you’re the guest.”

“I barged in, so I’m not a normal guest. Consider it rent.”

Gijun firmly pushed Baek Sunwoo away. But Baek Sunwoo, unable to back down, looked around the kitchen. Seeing his intent to help if he couldn’t stop him, Gijun urgently shouted,

“Don’t turn on the stove, don’t touch the knife. If you get hurt, you could die!”

It was hard to tell if he was warning about the danger or threatening to kill him himself.

In the end, Baek Sunwoo had to sit quietly at the dining table, unsure of what to do. He kept glancing at Gijun, but Gijun was too busy checking the recipe. He couldn’t just serve rice, so he made soup and used the side dishes from the fridge…

Feeling relieved at the sight of the well-prepared table, Gijun started the meal with satisfaction. The presentation was quite decent. Baek Sunwoo also looked at it with surprised eyes, making Gijun feel proud.

“…”

However, as they took a few bites, Gijun’s expression began to change. Objectively, it wasn’t terrible. He had followed the recipe almost exactly, so it couldn’t be a disaster. But the taste was oddly off. Baek Sunwoo ate without saying anything or showing any change in expression…

Finally, Gijun pointed out the oddities.

“The carrots are crunchy.”

“You need to sauté the carrots first.”

“Why does the soup taste gritty?”

“…You didn’t soak the clams properly…”

These were mistakes typical of someone with little cooking experience. Feeling a bit disheartened, Gijun mentioned that the recipe didn’t say to sauté the carrots first. Baek Sunwoo, glancing at him, explained,

“The recipe probably had finely chopped carrots. If you cut them very small, it doesn’t make much difference if you sauté them with other ingredients…”

Having little experience with chopping, his ingredient preparation was bound to be clumsy. Seeing Gijun’s expression, Baek Sunwoo shook his head vigorously.

“It’s still good! Really!”

“Are you saying that knowing my ability?”

“…”

Seeing Baek Sunwoo frozen in surprise, Gijun finally covered his face with one hand. He could tell Baek Sunwoo wasn’t completely lying, but he felt a bit distressed himself. He realized that casually making snacks was quite different from full-scale cooking, and this realization brought a sigh.

Then, a small laugh came from the front. When Gijun quickly looked up, Baek Sunwoo had a surprised expression, trying to explain. He seemed startled by his own laugh.

“No, it’s just that, seeing this side of you is a bit funny…”

In Baek Sunwoo’s memory, Gijun was someone who, while generally indifferent, handled things properly when he took action. Whether it was what he observed at school or during the recent school trip, even more so. But finding a small gap in the usually composed Gijun made him laugh unknowingly.

Seeing Baek Sunwoo’s sincere explanation that it wasn’t a mocking laugh, Gijun just stared at him. He didn’t mind being laughed at, but he could see Baek Sunwoo was genuinely just finding it amusing. He was simply happy.

Gijun decided to seize this opportunity.

“You seem to know a lot about cooking?”

“Since I live alone… There’s a limit to ordering food all the time, and I’ve been cooking since I was young, so I’m used to it.”

“Since you were young? Do you enjoy cooking?”

“Well, my parents were in the restaurant business. So I learned a bit, and when I stayed at relatives’ houses, I often cooked. I felt like I needed to do something…”

Baek Sunwoo said he had lived with various relatives after experiencing the otherworld incident at eight years old. Though he was young, given his personality, he would have thought he shouldn’t just stay and be a burden. Perhaps his parents’ last words to ‘live kindly’ moved him.

Instead of reacting strongly, Gijun just nodded. Baek Sunwoo seemed surprised by his own words as well, so Gijun decided to reflect on himself.

“I acted up in front of someone who cooks well…”

“No, it’s good!”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“No, it’s really okay… It’s really not bad…”

Baek Sunwoo shook his head, looking distressed. Gijun could see he wasn’t lying, but he decided to joke to lighten the mood.

And Baek Sunwoo’s flustered reaction made him laugh. He seemed conscious of his words, but his deep subconscious was showing his true feelings, looking confused.

What started as a small chuckle grew into laughter as he saw Baek Sunwoo’s expression. How could this guy be so kind and innocent?

“You need to learn to be more skeptical. You trust people too easily.”

For a moment, he thought it was a good thing his ability was subjugation. With his personality, he might follow anyone who claimed to see his ancestors on the street, believe any sales pitch, and agree to help with assignments.

Though Baek Sunwoo seemed to find the distance his ability created with others quite bitter, honestly, Gijun judged the situation as better this way. After his awakening, even those who used to take him lightly became cautious.

Feeling a strange sense of relief, Gijun nodded. Though Baek Sunwoo looked a bit dazed, he felt the need to keep the conversation flowing without long pauses.

“Anyway, is this the house Shin Hae High School provided? Did you do the interior?”

“…Ah, yes. The school connected me with a company. I just chose from the interiors they recommended…”

“You decorated it just like you. As soon as I walked in, it felt like your house.”

He had heard that the school provided an apartment to keep Baek Sunwoo, but it was his first time seeing it. Gijun was marveling at how nice the house was when he suddenly remembered something Ahn Youngah had mentioned.

“By the way, there’s talk that Shin Hae High School might go bankrupt.”

“Huh? Why?”

“They said the school covered all the medical expenses for the second-year students hospitalized due to the recent incident. There’s even talk about where the students will go if the school closes… What will you do if that happens?”

Would the school kick him out of this house? He wouldn’t let that happen without a fight, but the question suddenly arose.

“Will you transfer to another ability user school? Or will you just stop attending school and join H.N. for training? Given everything that happened at Shin Hae High School…”

Asking these questions, Gijun also thought about his own future. Now that he had awakened, would he have to transfer to another ability user school? Even if Shin Hae High School didn’t close, should he transfer after all the trouble with the teachers? But adapting to a new place seemed bothersome…

The entire second-year homeroom, except for Teacher Choi Sowon, had disappeared, so the whole school was in chaos. There were many concerns about how classes would be conducted. Lost in his thoughts, Gijun realized belatedly that Baek Sunwoo had gone silent.

“…”

Baek Sunwoo’s gaze was fixed on him, slightly dim. But as soon as their eyes met, he slowly lowered his gaze. That’s when Gijun understood something else.

Why Baek Sunwoo hadn’t transferred from Shin Hae High School. He could have left anytime, but chose to stay.

“…I’m thinking it over.”

His voice was very calm. Though he responded casually, Gijun was taken aback, feeling like he had chosen the wrong topic.

— Vrr

The phone vibrated.

Gijun usually didn’t answer calls from unknown numbers, but this time he picked up immediately. It could be related to the Shin Hae High School incident, and he also wanted to escape the awkward atmosphere. Mostly the latter.

As soon as he asked who it was, a cheerful voice responded.

[Wow, Hae Gijun, you didn’t save my number?]

“…Ahn Youngah?”

[Let’s call it even since I just learned yours too!]

It was cheerful, noting that just because they were in the same class didn’t mean they knew each other’s phone numbers. Gijun stared at the screen, a bit dazed, and Baek Sunwoo looked a bit surprised hearing this. Gijun put it on speaker so Baek Sunwoo could join in.

Ahn Youngah mentioned she was with Lee Donghun and Shim Dokyung. They were visiting Lee Donghun at the hospital and decided to call, their voices boisterously greeting.

[Heard you got discharged! Congrats!]

“How’d you know?”

[I got Ha Gaon’s number.]

She ran into Ha Gaon in the hospital corridor and bravely asked for her number. They had been messaging since, and that’s how she learned about Gijun.

Gijun was unsure whether to feel awkward because Ahn Youngah got Ha Gaon’s number to get news about him or because she genuinely liked and admired her. Both scenarios felt odd. He wasn’t worth such admiration…

[Anyway, I heard you’re at Baek Sunwoo’s place. Is that true? Living together?]

“…Yeah. We’re having dinner now.”

[Wow, I want to visit! Let’s have a housewarming party!]

“No.”

Gijun responded firmly.

“Baek Sunwoo isn’t in good condition.”

[Then why are you there? Oh, are you taking care of him?]

[G-Gijun…?]

[If anyone would take the nurse exam for Baek Sunwoo, it’s him.]

Having given just one reason, the conversation on the other end turned chaotic. Ahn Youngah’s words were followed by Shim Dokyung and Lee Donghun’s chatter, leaving Gijun momentarily bewildered. Ahn Youngah even muttered, “It really doesn’t suit him…” before asking if he heard her.

Baek Sunwoo chuckled softly.

“No, it’s fine. They can come.”

“What do you mean, fine? It’s not okay. You need to rest properly.”

[Wow! Great, we’ll all come over once Lee Donghun is discharged!]

Ignoring Gijun’s protest, Ahn Youngah cheerfully exclaimed. She was excited to visit a friend’s house who lived alone for the first time.

Gijun looked at Baek Sunwoo with concern.

“You still need to be careful for these two weeks.”

“It’s not like I can’t meet anyone during that time…”

But Baek Sunwoo, without making eye contact, just kept his head down and ate. Gijun couldn’t help but notice how Baek Sunwoo was increasingly avoiding his gaze.

He used to always meet his eyes and smile while talking.

[By the way, the schedule for the second-year students to return to Shin Hae High School will be announced next week. Ugh, I already don’t want to go back…]

Amid the awkward silence, Ahn Youngah’s weary voice broke through. Lee Donghun and Shim Dokyung followed with various comments, so Gijun just listened to them like a radio while eating.

The conversation among the five flowed smoothly. They discussed school and occasionally asked about dinner when they heard the clinking of dishes. Lee Donghun initially said he wanted to eat the food there instead of hospital food, but when he learned Gijun cooked, he quickly changed his mind, preferring hospital food. The idea that eating Gijun’s cooking might give him indigestion was quite amusing.

As they finished dinner and ended the call, Baek Sunwoo insisted on doing the dishes. Gijun worried about the dishes breaking or Baek Sunwoo getting hurt while washing knives, but Baek Sunwoo smiled faintly.

“No, I’ll do it.”

Baek Sunwoo’s firm grip on his arm left Gijun speechless, and he stepped back. Still concerned, he sat on the living room sofa where he could see the kitchen and watched Baek Sunwoo’s back.

Meanwhile, he thought about what to talk about next. He had never felt his lack of social skills more acutely. The conversation had flowed while the trio chatted on the phone, but the atmosphere had become awkward as dinner ended.

Maybe they could watch a movie together, or he could bring some of Ha Gaon’s comics from home tomorrow. Perhaps he could buy a board game on the way back…

Lost in thought, he noticed Baek Sunwoo finishing the dishes and heading to his room. Gijun jumped up from the sofa.

“Hey, wait-”

“Gijun.”

Baek Sunwoo’s calm voice broke the silence. He stood with his hand on the doorknob, not turning around.

“Don’t feel burdened.”

“…”

“Don’t feel guilty either. This situation, I mean, what happened to me, isn’t your fault.”

“…What?”

For a moment, Hae Gijun couldn’t even blink. His heart sank, feeling like it was rolling on the floor. The plans and thoughts that had filled his mind since dinner vanished, leaving a cold emptiness. Gijun stared blankly at Baek Sunwoo.

Slowly, Baek Sunwoo met his eyes.

“You said you were repaying a favor, but it was my unilateral action.”

“…”

“I was the one who subjugated you, and I was the one who died in your place. It was all my decision, so it’s not your responsibility. If anything, I feel like I gave you unnecessary trauma.”

“…Wait, that’s-”

“I’m just glad you’re alive. That’s enough for me, so don’t feel bad about my feelings. That would be…”

Baek Sunwoo seemed about to say something but then closed his mouth and turned away.

“Sorry. I just wanted to say you don’t need to worry.”

“…”

“I’ll break the subjugation as soon as I recover. I’ll find a way and do as you wished, so you can rest now.”

Hae Gijun just blinked. He watched Baek Sunwoo enter his room and close the door, unable to respond even when he thanked him for dinner. His thoughts came to a halt, and he could barely breathe.

What Baek Sunwoo said was something Gijun had briefly considered. But hearing it from him felt incredibly strange. Was it shock or confusion? Beyond a sudden sense of self-loathing, his stomach felt heavy.

Baek Sunwoo wasn’t reading his mind; he genuinely believed that.

“…”

For a long time, Hae Gijun stood there as if nailed to the spot.

***

Time passed quickly.

When Hae Gijun first entered Baek Sunwoo’s house, he thought two weeks would pass slowly. It was his first time staying long-term at someone else’s house, especially alone with them. He thought it would be challenging to create a comfortable atmosphere.

Given his generally indifferent nature, he thought Baek Sunwoo might feel more uncomfortable. After all, his feelings had been exposed in the hospital.

But his expectations were pleasantly wrong. Time flew by, and it was Baek Sunwoo who seemed to live peacefully while Gijun awkwardly hovered. Perhaps it was because he was the host…

Baek Sunwoo ordered two lunchboxes for breakfast. He explained he had arranged for delivery for the entire two weeks, leaving Gijun speechless. He had thought he could at least prepare breakfast, but that option was blocked.

He tried to catch opportunities to talk while they were both in the living room, but whenever Gijun sat on the sofa, Baek Sunwoo tried to go into his room. His behavior was so different from what Gijun had learned at the training center. He had said he liked sitting by the window and reading after meals…

Realizing that all this was because of him, Gijun finally grabbed Baek Sunwoo’s sleeve.

“We still need to see each other for a few hours a day. We agreed on two weeks, so you should get a bit better. And if the living room has to be empty, it makes more sense for me to go into the room…”

“…”

“…I won’t pretend we’re close or anything, let’s just stay together.”

They had said that when his life force was below 10%, recovery itself was slow. He needed to recover up to 20% for it to enter a stable phase, speed up recovery, and reduce the risk of dying for trivial reasons. Gijun couldn’t distance himself right now.

“You told me not to feel burdened or guilty about your condition, but thanks to you, I’m alive. I wouldn’t even have had breakfast this morning if it weren’t for you. Just… whew… Don’t let me become too much of a trash person.”

He wanted to package it with other plausible reasons, but it was impossible. Not only was he not eloquent, but Baek Sunwoo would see through his act. And he feared Baek Sunwoo might turn away, saying not to worry, so he spoke honestly.

Baek Sunwoo seemed a bit surprised but didn’t say anything. He just redirected his steps from the room to the living room, which Gijun appreciated.

In the living room, the two spent their time apart.

Baek Sunwoo sat in the cushy chair by the window reading a book, while Gijun, having only brought clothes from home, had nothing else to do. So he just watched random TV shows or movies, and when he thought it might disturb Baek Sunwoo’s reading, he played on his phone.

That evening, Baek Sunwoo said it was okay to watch TV and that he didn’t mind the noise, so Gijun turned it on, feeling slightly awkward. Shin Seungmin had said that being in his sight was good for Baek Sunwoo, meaning he should see him often, but it was Gijun who frequently glanced at him.

Baek Sunwoo, once immersed in reading, didn’t shift his gaze no matter what chaos erupted on TV. Come to think of it, he always read books in the study room at the library too.

He sometimes placed fruits on the round side table next to the chair. While reading, he would absentmindedly hold a cherry stem and focus on flipping the pages, making Gijun chuckle unknowingly. Baek Sunwoo’s gaze shot over.

“…”

He, who didn’t care about the TV’s noise and solely concentrated on his book, looked up at the sound of Gijun’s laugh. When their eyes met, Gijun turned away, feeling guilty for breaking his focus.

One time, Gijun asked for a book recommendation. Though he wanted to strike up a conversation, he was mainly bored of watching TV.

Noticing this, Baek Sunwoo pondered in front of the bookshelf for a long time. His bookshelf had essays, general literature, and sci-fi, but none were to Gijun’s taste. Knowing this, Baek Sunwoo hesitated, saying, “There’s nothing here you’d find interesting…” He seemed to remember a passing comment Gijun made in the library.

Eventually, after Gijun insisted he would try, Baek Sunwoo handed him a book.

“This has the lowest barrier.”

“What kind of book has a barrier?”

About an hour later, Gijun met that barrier by falling asleep in front of the book. Whether it was a mismatch in taste or a lack of comprehension, it was tough. He had never been fond of reading, making Baek Sunwoo’s recommendation particularly challenging.

Determined, he initially sat upright on the sofa but soon lay down, holding the book above him. At some point, the book fell on his face as he dozed off.

Seeing this, Baek Sunwoo remarked wryly,

“You don’t have to read it if it’s not to your taste…”

“No, it’s readable.”

“You don’t need to force yourself because I recommended it. Books are hard to get into if they don’t match your taste, so you can stop…”

“I said I’ll read it.”

Stubbornly, Gijun tried again, but ten minutes later, he was hit in the face by the book again. This time it folded as it fell, hitting his nose with the spine. The barrier hurt a bit.

A week passed like that.

Time, which had dragged so slowly at the training center, flew by here.

Although the apartment was spacious, putting a room between them, they still ate together and spent silent afternoons in the living room. Though they were technically ‘together,’ they kept their distance and did their own things.

Sometimes, Gijun felt a strange emptiness looking at Baek Sunwoo. They had been so close at the training center, holding hands, but now, even right in front of him, he felt distant. Though there were moments during the school trip when he felt a bit lost wondering if Baek Sunwoo might die, he hadn’t felt this kind of emptiness.

Faced with an unsolvable problem, Gijun felt increasingly lost.

“…”

It felt like he had lost his way.

Was it because he had buttoned the first button wrong on the first day he entered this house? Gijun regretted his clumsy actions in the past but also thought that thanks to them, he could see Baek Sunwoo’s daily life as it was. If this distance hadn’t formed, kind-hearted Baek Sunwoo would have been constantly mindful of him. He might have gone to great lengths to accommodate him and only worried about his condition.

In his daily life, Baek Sunwoo seemed peaceful.

He didn’t seem to be the type to play music while living, as he was used to a quiet atmosphere. Gijun thought his own family was quiet except for Ha Gaon, but compared to this place, his home was quite noisy.

Baek Sunwoo read books or sometimes watched movies on his tablet from the single sofa, occasionally dozing off.

“…Baek Sunwoo, are you asleep?”

Gijun called him in a very small voice.

They had an appointment at four o’clock today. The Paranormal Ability Management Agency had called Hae Gijun to discuss the results of his ability test from the hospital. They were going to talk about how to use his awakened ability and his future activities.

Additionally, the investigation of the school trip incident was in its final stages, and they were going to check on that as well. The H.N. head had told Gijun to bring Baek Sunwoo along, as if it was obvious they were living together.

So they had talked about the appointment until lunch, but afterward, Baek Sunwoo had fallen asleep while reading on the single sofa.

Lately, he seemed to be sleeping more.

Gijun didn’t know how many hours he used to sleep on average, but he had never seen him doze off during class at school. But these days, Baek Sunwoo would get sleepy while eating lunch, and his eyes would sparkle while reading, only to fall asleep at some point. It seemed beyond his control.

They said low life force made one easily fatigued. Was it because of that…?

For the first time, Gijun watched Baek Sunwoo sleep up close. In the living room, he had only dozed off lightly, but this time he seemed to be in a deep sleep. The peaceful silence around him made Gijun instinctively quiet his own sounds.

The soft late afternoon sunlight poured over Baek Sunwoo. It looked as if the sunlight was gently covering him like a blanket. The light lingered between his fingers holding the book and warmly embraced his face.

“…”

Though he had been close to Baek Sunwoo’s face several times at the training center, seeing him now felt entirely different. Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere, or perhaps he suddenly realized how beautiful he looked.

Gijun slowly moved his eyes, taking in every detail of his appearance. His white, smooth skin, dense eyelashes, the shadow cast over his nose. His slightly pale lips. And… the neck hidden by the dark gray turtleneck.

Since the day he was discharged, Baek Sunwoo had worn a turtleneck every day. Even at home, he wore clothes that covered his neck, which was frustrating but couldn’t be helped. At the training center, he had always checked his neck out of habit…

Not having seen his clean, white neck for a long time, a strange anxiety crept in. Seeing Baek Sunwoo lying still with his eyes closed, he momentarily feared he might be dead, but there was a faint sound of breathing. It was so faint that Gijun held his breath to hear it.

As his face got closer, casting a shadow over Baek Sunwoo…

— Vrr

The sound came from Gijun’s phone. It was a text from Ha Gaon, telling him to come down quickly. She had already contacted him once, saying she had arrived at the apartment parking lot ten minutes ago.

“Ah…”

Baek Sunwoo opened his eyes. Startled, Gijun tried to back away. Somehow, he had gotten too close, crossing the implicit ‘line’ between them.

But at that moment, Baek Sunwoo smiled languidly.

It was a reflexive smile, as if he was happy to see Hae Gijun first thing upon waking. The smile spreading across his white face was filled with emotion.

Facing that smile, Gijun malfunctioned. Being startled twice in a row, his body stuttered as if his action processing function had broken. He even stumbled as he tried to step back.

“Awake…?”

At his awkward question, Baek Sunwoo seemed to come to his senses and quickly turned his head. His action of turning away without answering seemed cold, but Gijun saw the emotion that had briefly crossed Baek Sunwoo’s face.

Embarrassment, surprise, and… guilt. Baek Sunwoo was feeling sorry for revealing his emotions, fearing it might burden him.

Quickly checking the time, Baek Sunwoo sprang up.

“Sorry, I slept too deeply. I’ll get ready now, so why don’t you go ahead with your sister? I’ll take a taxi.”

“…You’re already in your outdoor clothes; you can just go down as you are.”

“But-”

“Baek Sunwoo. Let’s go together.”

Gijun blocked Baek Sunwoo, who was trying to back away. He almost said it was okay but managed to say something else.

“…My sister thinks we had a fight and keeps scolding me, so let’s go together. I don’t want to hear her nagging all the way to the Paranormal Ability Management Agency.”

Hearing Gijun’s calm voice, Baek Sunwoo hesitated, his eyes darting around as if he wanted to escape. Finally, under Gijun’s intense gaze, he agreed. He said he would just grab his coat and come out, and Gijun slowly stepped aside.

Watching Baek Sunwoo’s back as he headed to his room, Gijun fell into thought.

Why did he instinctively want to say it was okay? Was it just a habitual phrase? Or was he really not burdened by Baek Sunwoo’s emotions? Or… maybe, after spending days with Baek Sunwoo drawing lines, he felt a strange sense of welcome at seeing that emotion from him?

In the past, Baek Sunwoo always smiled when their eyes met.

“…”

Back then, he even felt that Baek Sunwoo’s reflexive behavior seemed almost trained. But now, he wondered who had really been trained.

Feeling a bit complicated, Gijun turned away.

They arrived at the Paranormal Ability Management Agency.

In the past two years, two rare awakenings had occurred. Last year, it was an S-class awakening, and this year, a mythical level awakening.

Late awakenings were treated more uniquely than initially high-grade or rare ability users. It wasn’t just because they might lose control of their mana initially, causing accidents, but also because if trained well, they might develop further. Though it wouldn’t raise their grade, the potential within that grade was limitless.

So the agency thoroughly analyzed Hae Gijun’s ability and explained it step by step. Awakening wasn’t about gaining new power but rather ‘blossoming’ existing power. Gijun had suppressed his power, which then burst forth.

“From what we’ve guessed, you might have felt something during your first SPI test. Right?”

“Yes.”

“How exactly?”

“Well, I always felt like the scenery I saw was virtual reality. I thought it was because I was consciously aware of being in a simulation room…”

Hae Gijun’s ability to distinguish truth from lies had seen through the virtual setup of the test room. Thus, the test didn’t work properly, and his SPI was measured below 100, as F-grade.

Gijun had a chance to report the oddity back then. He could have mentioned it during the detailed review after leaving the test room, but he dismissed it, thinking he might be overreacting. More precisely, he had an intuition that reporting it would complicate things.

Not wanting the hassle, Gijun stayed silent, and the agency didn’t point this out now either. He sensed that his grandmother might have stepped in. Indeed, Ha Gaon had told him, “Be good to your grandmother.”

“Mythical types are essentially multi-attribute. Haetae not only distinguishes lies and finds evildoers but also controls water to prevent fires, according to legends. You’ll have these attributes. Fire, seen broadly as ‘evil,’ can be repelled to protect life.”

“Ah…”

“The possibilities for interpretation are endless, and your ability is similar. It’s something you’ll need to learn through experience rather than tests…”

The head of the Ability Management Department smiled, trailing off.

“How about gradually exploring this at the agency?”

“No.”

“…You could have hesitated for a second before answering.”

“…Um, no.”

“I see…”

Ha Gaon laughed beside the deflated head. It was clear that efforts to recruit the newly awakened high-grade, special category ability user had already begun.

Not only the Paranormal Ability Management Agency but also various guilds would soon reach out. However, Gijun had no desire to belong to any organization yet. His power was closer to a support type rather than attack-oriented like Baek Sunwoo’s, so there wasn’t an immediate need to control it for safety. Depending on the situation, his ability could become crucial, but generally, it was considered that way. So Gijun planned to take his time to think.

The public announcement of his awakening was scheduled to happen soon.

When Baek Sunwoo awakened, they couldn’t prevent information leaks effectively. His face and personal information spread within a day, so this time, the agency was keen on protecting the information. Moreover, this awakening was related to the Shin Hae High School trip incident, where the group ‘Link’ tried to open a portal, so they decided it would be best to reveal the truth together.

Gijun, along with Baek Sunwoo, was briefed about his ability in the testing room, then moved to the investigation room. Though the Shin Hae High School trip incident was handled by H.N., the agency had offered cooperation due to the involvement of an awakening case, so the investigation was taking place at the agency headquarters.

In the investigation room, the head of H.N., Shin Seungmin, and several other members were present. They greeted Baek Sunwoo warmly, meeting him after a long time.

“Are you feeling okay, Sunwoo?”

“Is it alright for you to be here? Shouldn’t you be more careful?”

Gijun stepped back and observed the scene. He had known that H.N. was a tightly-knit group, but seeing it in person felt different. At Shin Hae High School, people feared Baek Sunwoo’s subjugation ability, but there was no such reaction at H.N.

They crowded around, worrying about their youngest member, checking on him, and…

“I’m fine.”

More than anything, Gijun was captivated by the smile on Baek Sunwoo’s face as he looked at them. His expression relaxed, indicating he felt comfortable.

For a moment, Gijun felt strange. It was pleasing to see Baek Sunwoo getting along with the members, but the thought that he never showed such an expression when he was with him suddenly annoyed him. He would turn away if their eyes met, kept his distance, and never smiled.

“…”

He knew the cause of this change. It was all a result of his actions. Yet, these needless fragments of dissatisfaction kept swirling within him. Was it because he had seen Baek Sunwoo’s smile up close several times at the training center? Was that why not seeing him smile for just a week felt so frustrating?

Ultimately, Gijun deliberately moved to a different spot to look at the materials.

The investigation into Link conducted by H.N. was nearly complete. They had restored and reviewed all the CCTV footage from the training center and analyzed the vast amount of data in the basement. Though they had anticipated months of work, the progress was swift.

More time was needed to investigate the detailed background and track down any remaining members of Link, but they had uncovered about 90% of the school trip incident. Hae Gijun and Baek Sunwoo’s role was to confirm the findings before H.N. made a public announcement.

They spent about three to four hours in the investigation room.

As time passed, Gijun’s expression changed subtly. It wasn’t because Baek Sunwoo was chatting and laughing with the members frequently. Though it played a small part, what really concerned Gijun was something else.

H.N.’s systematic analysis and the investigations by senior ability users had revealed a great deal. They had pieced together the broken stone tablets in the training center using mana resonance, investigated other otherworldly objects in the basement, and even speculated almost perfectly about the power of the otherworld based on the remaining traces. H.N. had uncovered more than Gijun had known.

Surely they wouldn’t discover the repeated regressions, right? Gijun felt a bit uneasy but didn’t show it. He doubted they would notice, but just in case, he answered all related questions vaguely.

“The otherworld seems to have the power to simulate and control the future using souls as ingredients…”

H.N.’s head, Han Seolwon, murmured while staring at the documents.

“Perhaps it can change not just the future but even the recent past.”

“Turning back time? How could that be possible?”

“Strange things happen where the portal opens. It’s a place where even dead students came back to life.”

Despite Shin Seungmin’s dismissal, Han Seolwon spoke calmly, looking at Hae Gijun and Baek Sunwoo. It was the same look he had when Gijun explained how he escaped the training center.

Gijun maintained a calm expression. He didn’t react to Han Seolwon’s words. It was better to appear uninterested than to engage and risk revealing something. So he just flipped through the documents in front of him, occasionally glancing at Baek Sunwoo.

He wondered if Baek Sunwoo might not act convincingly because of the head’s presence…

“Hey, are you okay? Are you sick?”

Seeing Baek Sunwoo’s pale face, Gijun was alarmed. He stepped forward to grab his arm, but Baek Sunwoo subtly turned away.

“…No. Just a bit, just a bit tired.”

As soon as his fingertips brushed against the fabric, Baek Sunwoo took a step back. It was clear he was avoiding contact. Gijun stood there, unable to retract his outstretched hand, staring at the distance that had formed between them.

“…”

A strange silence settled between them, broken by Shin Seungmin’s loud fussing. He insisted they had kept them too long and urged them to go home and rest.

Other H.N. members also expressed their concern for Baek Sunwoo. Gijun watched as they patted Baek Sunwoo’s shoulder.

When they finally returned home, it was 11 PM.

Baek Sunwoo immediately went into his room, and Gijun, whose room was near the entrance, could only watch his retreating figure. Lately, Baek Sunwoo had been sleeping a lot, so staying up this late must have been exhausting. He seemed to be sleeping up to 12 hours a day.

“…Yeah, he must be tired…”

Gijun tossed and turned in bed. He didn’t need to say it out loud, but it felt like he was trying to reassure himself.

A needless sense of injustice kept rising. He hadn’t even grabbed his hand or touched his face, just tried to hold his arm, yet he avoided it. It wasn’t even skin contact. He couldn’t help but recall how the H.N. members had patted and even ruffled his hair at the end.

Isn’t it normal to worry about a friend this much? Maybe they weren’t friends, but still, Baek Sunwoo’s face had been pale enough for anyone to be concerned. Just as he was thinking it was a human reaction, Gijun felt a bit self-loathing.

If he couldn’t reciprocate Baek Sunwoo’s feelings, he should respect the distance Baek Sunwoo had set and not cross the line.

Repeating this to himself, Gijun decided to sleep. But after tossing and turning a few more times, he finally got up to drink some cold water.

“Ha…”

It was already 2 AM.

Moving quietly, Gijun went to the kitchen and drank water from the fridge. His gaze unconsciously drifted to Baek Sunwoo’s room next to the kitchen.

Just as he thought he must be sleeping soundly.

“…Ugh… sob…”

A faint sound came from beyond the door. It was a fleeting sound, but Gijun held his breath and focused on it. Slowly, he walked towards Baek Sunwoo’s door. The intermittent sounds resembled sobbing.

“…Baek Sunwoo?”

Though he had never entered this room since moving in, the sound of crying made Gijun open the door.

He found Baek Sunwoo curled up in bed, trembling.

Though the room was dark, Gijun could see him clearly. The sight of him sweating and sobbing was shocking. It looked like he was having a nightmare.

Gijun approached him slowly. Had the CCTV footage from the training center triggered him, or had he been having nightmares every night? Without looking into his dreams, Gijun guessed he was reliving the school trip.

“…No, ugh, no, Gijun…”

Hearing his name, Gijun realized what situation Baek Sunwoo was in. The first time he had died in front of Baek Sunwoo.

Feeling a sense of helplessness, Gijun grabbed Baek Sunwoo’s arm. He thought he should wake him up and moved closer.

— Whoosh

Baek Sunwoo grabbed his hand and pulled him in.

Startled, Gijun almost screamed but managed to hold it in. Instinctively trying not to fall and not wanting to hurt Baek Sunwoo, he ended up almost covering him.

Baek Sunwoo’s unfocused light brown eyes slowly appeared between his eyelids, looking up at Gijun. As Gijun stood there, unable to speak.

“Gijun…”

Baek Sunwoo wrapped his arms around Gijun’s shoulders and pulled him down. Unable to resist, Gijun ended up half-embracing Baek Sunwoo.

Looking down at Baek Sunwoo, who clung to his warmth, Gijun felt a bit dazed. After all the times he had pushed him away, this was unexpected…

Baek Sunwoo was still wandering between dream and reality. Occasionally groaning in distress, he scratched his neck with his nails. Only then did Gijun realize why Baek Sunwoo had insisted on wearing turtlenecks. It wasn’t just to hide from his gaze.

Baek Sunwoo’s neck was covered in scars.

Seeing this, Gijun felt a shock. Whether it was the experience of being stabbed in the neck or losing someone in his dreams that made him scratch his neck, he couldn’t tell.

In a strange mood, Gijun silently wiped the cold sweat from Baek Sunwoo’s face. He gently used his sleeve, occasionally brushing his hair back, like soothing a frightened child with soft “shhh” sounds escaping his lips.

It took several minutes before Baek Sunwoo came to his senses.

“…!”

His now-clear eyes widened. At first, he seemed to think the situation before him was a dream, his expression dazed. But when Gijun quietly asked, “Are you awake?” he jolted in surprise.

He barely managed to move his lips, almost unable to breathe properly, and finally muttered an apology.

“S-sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“For grabbing you… Sorry, it must have been uncomfortable.”

He spoke as he let go of Gijun’s arm, which he had been holding tightly. Trying to cautiously move away, saying he could leave now, Gijun held him back. His sigh was soft.

“It’s fine, I’m not uncomfortable.”

“But…”

“Is what I’m doing making you uncomfortable?”

“No!”

Baek Sunwoo hastily denied it. He seemed to want to say that none of Gijun’s actions were uncomfortable but couldn’t quite bring himself to say it, just moving his lips. He was obviously worried his words might be burdensome.

Gijun felt a strange frustration. He knew Baek Sunwoo was kind and considerate, but he didn’t realize he would be this mindful. Was it his nature combined with his parents’ last words that made him suppress his feelings so much? Or was it just his feelings that made him feel so small?

Baek Sunwoo had told him not to feel guilty, but it seemed he was the one feeling guilty. He worried his actions might burden Gijun, and his feelings might be a weight on him.

Though Baek Sunwoo was no longer groaning in pain, cold sweat still occasionally formed on his forehead. Gijun pressed his sleeve against it and sighed as he asked,

“You did this to save me and ended up like this. Aren’t you angry at me?”

Though Baek Sunwoo had been tormented by nightmares of the school trip, he hadn’t shown it. It wasn’t anger at him but at himself for not noticing. He should have been more attentive, knowing Baek Sunwoo had died ten times and couldn’t be fine.

“You could have demanded I repay you for your death.”

“I didn’t save you to burden you.”

“Who gives their soul without expecting anything in return? And more than once.”

Gijun spoke with a slightly angry voice. He wasn’t sure if he was scolding Baek Sunwoo for being too selfless or blaming himself.

“And after going through all that, why pretend nothing’s wrong? Shouldn’t you blame me or hold me accountable?”

As he poured out his frustration, Baek Sunwoo looked at him with slightly tearful eyes. Already damp from his nightmare, his eyes glistened. It wasn’t until then that Gijun realized he had spoken harshly and moved to apologize.

Baek Sunwoo clutched the blanket tightly and spoke,

“Then… will you take responsibility?”

His voice was soft and trembling, his eyes red. After crying, his voice quivered with a watery tone.

For a moment, Hae Gijun froze.

He couldn’t say anything and just stared at Baek Sunwoo. His lips didn’t move, and he didn’t even blink, just looking at him with a blank expression.

Finally, Baek Sunwoo covered his face with the blanket and apologized.

“Sorry, I misspoke…”

“…”

“I’m okay now, so you don’t need to worry anymore…”

His mumbling voice was very soft. Gijun continued to look at the blanket, then after a while, he got up from the bed. His footsteps were quiet as he left Baek Sunwoo’s room.

— Creak…

But as soon as he closed the door, Gijun slid to the floor. Leaning against the door, his legs gave out, and he sat down, covering his mouth with trembling hands.

“…What?”

The moment he heard those words from Baek Sunwoo, his mind seemed to break down. That scene stuck in his head. The red eyes, tearful gaze, wet eyelashes, trembling voice. These thoughts kept swirling in his mind.

Even the pleading tone asking if he would take responsibility.

His heart dropped. He thought it was just a momentary shock, but as soon as he left the room, his heart started pounding wildly. It felt like it was plummeting and then shooting up repeatedly.

Instinctively, Gijun knew he shouldn’t dwell on it, but the moment he thought that, the scene replayed in his mind. The more time passed, the clearer and more vivid each detail became.

Was it because he had cradled Baek Sunwoo’s feverish face? Had that heat transferred to him? Gijun covered his mouth with the back of his hand, dazedly questioning himself.

“What is this…?”

His face turned bright red.