Chapter 15

“It’s not visible?”

“You can’t see it? Here.”

“Where?”

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With each exchange, Jaekani’s index finger drew closer to Huikyung’s cheek, and by now, he was outright poking it. Puffing out his left cheek and lowering his body to emphasize the spot, Jaekani’s antics left Huikyung unable to stifle his laughter.

‘How adorable.’

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Realizing he’d been tricked into touching Huikyung’s chin with his finger, Jaekani furrowed his nose in irritation. It had been such a quick movement that he hadn’t been able to dodge. Though the contact was brief, his chin burned faintly.

“My recovery is faster. And…”

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As Huikyung debated how much to share, he dropped a fragment of truth to the ground.

“…even severed wounds heal.”

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“Like a lizard? That’s amazing.”

At Jaekani’s fresh response, Huikyung finally allowed a small smile to reach his lips.

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“But if that’s your ability, isn’t it not that special? Like eating a sandwich really fast or something.”

He’d heard some Espers could breathe fire.

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“Eating a sandwich fast…!”

He was explaining seriously, and now sandwiches? It was humiliating.

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Though Huikyung hadn’t revealed it, he was an S-class Esper, a rare lethal-type at that. At S-class, not only were abilities extraordinary, but physical capabilities were also enhanced to superhuman levels—unparalleled reflexes, among other things. However, Huikyung wasn’t so petty as to boast about his exceptional traits to a child.

“It’s a cool ability, alright?”

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But he could be lightly petty.

“Got it.”

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The reply lacked any spirit.

It was absurd, but arguing further with a kid seemed even more ridiculous.

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Realizing Jaekani knew nothing, Huikyung lowered the difficulty of his explanation significantly.

“Espers are physically superior. That makes them useful as a defense against creatures. Sometimes, Espers are even sold for high prices. I trusted someone once, but they sold me here. There, happy now?”

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Physically superior… Could they see well at night, too? If so, that would explain a lot of lingering questions.

Huikyung raised both hands, signaling that was all there was to the story. Jaekani stared at him with an unfeeling expression, unimpressed.

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The child’s face, devoid of any expression, made Huikyung furrow his brows slightly. At times, the boy seemed utterly lifeless—eyes dull, lacking emotion or vitality, carrying the weary look of someone merely existing.

“…Alright.”

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Jaekani decided to be satisfied with that explanation, sensing that Huikyung wouldn’t divulge any more. At least most of what he had just said seemed truthful.

“Then, I’ll head inside.”

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Jaekani stood abruptly, holding up the candles he’d brought. Passing lightly by Huikyung with a nod, he entered the building. The sound of crumbling concrete blocks crunching under his shoes struck him as oddly amusing today.

Quietly passing the entrance, Jaekani lit a candle and took a slow look around, searching for the passage. Even as his gaze busily scanned the surroundings, his mind replayed Huikyung’s words.

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‘That’s all there is? Lies.’

His questions remained unanswered.

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Huikyung still hadn’t revealed what was truly happening in the underground prison or who the people who came to the facility were.

* * *

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Jaekani recalled the first time he entered the facility building when he found a clue to Huikyung’s confinement. Back then, as he retraced his steps and tried to remember where he had checked and where he had gone, he remembered the footprints.

At that moment, when he first entered the facility, he had seen footprints that hadn’t yet dried. Encouraged, Jaekani found the entrance that looked so dark it resembled a beast’s den, humming faintly with the sound of wind vibrating through it.

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Taking out two more candles and lighting them, he revealed a staircase descending into the depths. Beyond this, he’d find Huikyung.

“Huikyung.”

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He called softly, though it seemed unlikely anyone would hear. A baseless fear lingered that his voice might somehow summon the villagers. Carefully, he began to descend.

*Squelch, squelch*, wet footsteps echoed.

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Droplets of candle wax fell with small splashes.

After traversing a long staircase, Jaekani came upon a wall. As he moved the candle around to inspect it, he realized it wasn’t a wall but a metal door.

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Was it locked from here?

Curious, he forcefully wiggled the handle. Unexpectedly, it didn’t budge much, no matter how hard he tried. Taking a deep breath, Jaekani charged like a bull and slammed his shoulder into it. *Thud!* Pain shot through his shoulder, but with a loud crash, the metal door swung open.

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“Got it!”

Jaekani threw his hands up in triumph, only to squint as light flooded his vision. The pain in his shoulder was momentarily forgotten in the brightness.

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His eyes, adjusted to the dimness of the staircase, protested against the sudden glare.

“Jaekani.”

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Huikyung’s voice from afar snapped Jaekani out of his daze. He blew out the candle and dashed forward. Using the light streaming out from the room as his guide, he found his way down the corridor toward the source of Huikyung’s voice.

“Is it here?”

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Huikyung’s answer brought a bright smile to Jaekani’s face as he ran forward. Grasping the iron bars like a rope, the boy’s lips curved in anticipation.

“…Huikyung.”

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Standing on tiptoes, Jaekani clung tightly to the bars and called out to him. The backlighting obscured Huikyung’s face. When Huikyung stepped closer, Jaekani’s blue eyes widened.

“Jaekani, hello.”

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As Huikyung stepped out from the sliver of light spilling through the cracks in the concrete, his hand met the bars Jaekani held. At that moment, the boy felt as if his world had collapsed. But it wasn’t a collapse born of disappointment or pain—it was a surge of joy that overwhelmed his senses.

Jaekani’s clear eyes slowly closed, trembling. In person, Huikyung seemed colossal, a towering presence that instinctively made the boy step back. It was as though he was trapped in his shadow.

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With jet-black hair, deep green eyes, and pale skin, Huikyung’s features were familiar, but standing before him, at Jaekani’s eye level, the man exuded an indescribable aura. Even his strong shoulders, shaped like carved cliffs, added to the overwhelming impression.

Jaekani nervously licked his lips.

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Until now, all he had seen of Huikyung were his pale hands, the edges of his eyes, and occasionally the line of his chin and neck. But standing on the same ground, Huikyung’s height seemed as unreachable as the moon.

“…Nice to meet you.”

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“Same here.”

Huikyung playfully tapped the boy’s chin, making Jaekani flinch from the ticklish sensation. Relaxed for the first time in a while, Huikyung smiled warmly.

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“I’ll get you out of here.”

Jaekani declared with the conviction of a prince rescuing a princess trapped in a tower.

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“I’ll get you out for sure.”

“Alright.”

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“I mean it.”

“I believe you.”

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Huikyung’s tone was always light, carrying no weight.

If his words were like fleeting leaves, Jaekani should have taken them with equal lightness, but he couldn’t smile.

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“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

“How many years were you sentenced?”

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“I’m curious about that myself.”

Huikyung’s smirk twisted with self-deprecation.

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A bad thought crossed Jaekani’s mind, and he froze.

It was a terrible imagination, one that led him to consider grim possibilities.

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“Actually, now that I think about it, I think they mentioned moving me soon.”

“What?!”

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Jaekani’s head shot up like a startled mole.

What kind of nonsense is that?!

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Does this man even think?!

Jaekani genuinely wondered.

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“Then you need to escape quickly! How can you tell me to take my time?!”

Would opening this door be enough?!

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Inspecting the heavily used keyhole, Jaekani rattled the iron door. After a while, he paused and looked up, only to lock eyes with Huikyung, who didn’t bother hiding his amusement at the boy’s efforts.

Caught off guard by his calm expression, Jaekani couldn’t help but smile back.

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But the boy’s grin gradually faded as he noticed something wrapped around Huikyung’s neck—something he hadn’t seen at first due to his distraction.

“What is that?”

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“My neck? It’s a control device.”

“Let me see.”

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Jaekani leaned in like a curious fish and stuck his face between the bars. Huikyung knelt down on both knees in front of him, finally aligning their eye level.

Frowning in concentration, Jaekani glared at the control device wrapped around Huikyung’s neck.

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“There’s a lock on the back.”

His small hand brushed against the back of Huikyung’s neck, discovering a tiny keyhole.

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Now there were two keys he had to find.

“I can do it.”

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He had no idea how, but Jaekani gave a firm answer. His conviction felt so solid it seemed it could manifest a key to fit the lock.

Still kneeling obediently, Huikyung nodded.

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‘I believe you.’

Jaekani mimicked Huikyung’s earlier gesture, tapping his chin lightly with his index finger.

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Huikyung’s green eyes widened in mock surprise before narrowing in amusement. “Not bad,” he added.

Since Huikyung said he believed in him, Jaekani felt the need to live up to that belief.

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As he gazed at Huikyung’s gently crinkling eyes, Jaekani steeled his resolve.

 

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