PRT | Chapter 2.13

In this noisy, chaotic world, he’d never seen anyone so quiet and readable. Kim Heeseo was so simple, which ironically drew his attention. It was strange.c3ec15a8ad21c83a

Feeling burdened by the direct 20233f3929 gaze, Kim Heeseo licked his b84f2cc987 lips and then his eyes 7c574979ff darted around, looking for something a6708d67f2 else to focus on.3933bfcfec427ef1

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“Do you have something to say?”d9e3bf013bd20e35

Unable to hold back, the 65b1484293 voice that escaped clearly conveyed 0488372973 a desire for him to 54de8e23c2 stop staring. Clicking his tongue, Seo Yigyeom 3cf9a2fb49 drank the now-cold water in 630fff3825 one gulp. His craving for a 04434d1eee cigarette grew stronger.53314855d5e570d3

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“You have big dreams.”17cb302b4ad6cc0a

Thud. Over the noise of 2d00b5f248 the empty cup being b2846676d1 put down, a belated 44675af61c response came. The breath at f37ce22e85 the end of 2293e15ab5 his words broke 4cc0109904 into small fragments 07d282a3b7 like a laugh.4ce16be8473ee432

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“Kim Heeseo should just be Kim Heeseo. No need to be careful.”e622cccaeeb4d866

“…”17d2946971e9b9d6

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“Those standing in front of Kim Heeseo should be the ones careful.”97e3320a7221c9d8

Kim Heeseo’s gaze shifted from where it had been directed elsewhere. Their eyes locked in the air.ce83ac5e0c342a17

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“If they can’t handle it… I don’t mind killing them. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”c9524bd69a0f00b6

Even if this untainted person ended up with blood on his hands, it wouldn’t be an issue. Most were already stained anyway. What difference would one more blemish make? To Seo Yigyeom, this was trivial. It was better than him being treated poorly and causing annoyance.e92a6d7d4a4f08a5

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“You might really get sued…”2789f04e9446293a

“I’ve been sued a lot. Maybe they haven’t looked that far.”e426c348a0855552

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When Seo Yigyeom d4720ebc6d responded nonchalantly, Kim f3bc7adafb Heeseo made an e6afe0d5bc incomprehensible face.ec66a6a072d8347c

“I won’t get hit anymore.”6d8c916ab897c764

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“Good.”023686b665546837

The conversation ended there. As silence fell, the 8096097435 door opened just in ae4e3ce575 time with the food 2751969717 being served.ff08b57704d3ac67

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“Eat.”1156bb1ded17c9a8

Seo Yigyeom gestured towards the full table and moved first. Only then did Kim Heeseo murmur, “I’ll enjoy the meal,” and picked up his chopsticks.a8414391400a349c

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The meal continued in silence. There was no sound of 00b37fe733 utensils clashing. Seo Yigyeom ate in his c0bd6da5f6 own manner, his actions so 670b11fe25 graceful they seemed like performance 6ad31b3ec6 art. Kim Heeseo, watching him, was 36a542d29b inwardly amazed as he ate.345558b6a954bf4d

The food was delicious. It was no wonder Seo fc54007ed9 Yigyeom frequented this place. The dishes were easy on 648a2ea1bd the palate, reminding him of f8ddafed66 home-cooked meals.1df3194002a406db

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Chewing on the lightly fried 8ee1a6de6a pancake, Kim Heeseo smiled unwittingly. To be able to eat 13ad9f15cf so peacefully with someone else. Even without a single word 274c7829d4 of conversation, he found this fcd569c964 time quite pleasant. Especially since it filled his f176443ae8 stomach so satisfyingly.12e9b66eabf4a94d

At some point, his eating fda3977820 speed had picked up slightly, 9f7c421c5c as if he were being b02630aef4 chased by someone.978e89121c12c855

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‘You just sit there all day eating.’3dfab721ffa023fd

Perhaps it was after hearing that offhand comment that his throat tightened. The memory of that moment stuck with him. He wasn’t one to eat fast originally, but after that, he found himself moving his hands more quickly without realizing it.60da3baf59ebb5c9

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Strangely enough, now 46d0e125c6 his speed was 4eb87d9829 quite matched. Glancing at Seo Yigyeom, who f7abc7c9a7 was calmly chewing his food, 3262e74d33 Kim Heeseo briefly thought he 99be14e013 might be adjusting his speed 541c8653d4 for him.b6ef95533d5db132

“Why did you jump into the Gate?”787b9ecdfbf1d70e

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When Kim Heeseo had nearly 59a09bf666 finished eating and put down b0bf9b4d3f his spoon, Seo Yigyeom, who dca8cd6b84 had similarly finished, asked.51f3550d2dbc29d6

“The culprit…”4761767d965294d1

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Kim Heeseo hesitated, intending to say “the culprit,” feeling Seo Yigyeom’s gaze on him.9e2a0c14e91d4fd5

“…I think the person I was looking for was there.”05592d65b8ac3a7c

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“Can you specify?”614a759e06d021ab

“I remember the smell. There was a sweet scent mixed with the smell of burning. It was a scent I’d never smelled before.”ac673485b61bd13c

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Smell… Seo Yigyeom murmured quietly, deep in thought.9c0f509e243725a9

“Do you think there’s someone in the Headquarters you’re looking for?”0a4ed47d05337c0e

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To the question that followed, Kim Heeseo shook his head. At the moment, he couldn’t make any specific identification. As Seo Yigyeom had said, if it was an unregistered person, he was at a loss on where or how to start.0a024b780e5c3d2d

“Was everything okay in the Head of Division’s office?”b410ef94bba32a56

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“As you can see.”27371737d0cb9568

Changing the subject to 7955d21c80 avoid getting caught up 23b068a6a4 in his emotions, Seo 90ed57d482 Yigyeom answered willingly as beee3b9336 if he understood.916dbc1386576c53

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“Are you really okay?”10d0147284ac90e4

It was a question with many unsaid words. Whatever Seo Yigyeom was plotting, it was clear that the end would mean the downfall of the Head of Division. Could he really be okay even after getting on the Head of Division’s bad side like this?4d44e76363fe2b10

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“Well, should I say I’m okay…”37de1a5bb19f3669

Unlike before, Seo Yigyeom 966dd5ef18 spoke more leisurely. There was not hesitation 4f4136908a but ease in his 9dbfa84123 silence.e95af6860f5b8532

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“There’s no problem. Seeing that face just isn’t that pleasant.”47f04251f93d142a

His words, breaking the extended silence, faintly carried contempt. Kim Heeseo didn’t ask anything more. He had no desire to probe into the parts where even this thorough man would become sensitive enough to show emotion.4d078680f20265ac

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“If you’re done eating, let’s go.”2c0af57d4b4b47ab

Seo Yigyeom stood up without any lingering, as if he had been ready to leave for a while. Kim Heeseo, glancing at the space where Seo Yigyeom’s presence lingered, followed him out.bd01bd50ab78522d

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“Thank you for the meal.”fd1741547307c956

“Get in.”db23a9eb8396d778

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Nodding, Seo Yigyeom f2eb744c0c immediately bit into c39849b15e a cigarette upon 53343d6084 leaving. Kim Heeseo, heading towards b2d5fde7d2 the passenger seat, turned 53d26e69c0 to look at him. In the light, Seo 37c98fb47a Yigyeom seemed to blend 8a9701a268 into it.0128ea8b32c0aa8c

“…”601823c3eb939ca0

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It was dazzling, but Kim Heeseo didn’t look away. He just stood there, silently taking in the image reflected in his eyes. The scent of roses mixed with the cigarette smoke seemed to envelop him.e0fc48797bd3a725

It was a time fd63553dd5 when the sunlight felt 76cc2d440c stronger than the winter 22bfe1362e wind.68854b9da0b5bc18

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* * *341d99b0a4c27576

The gates that had been bursting open day after day suddenly quieted down. As if it were a reward for all the hard work, there hadn’t been any separate calls either. Thanks to that, Kim Heeseo was able to fully dedicate himself to finding the real culprit, getting rid of his accumulated fatigue.6f50449e8d4e443d

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Even today, he visited 7b9efb195e the records room and 91b75b2d67 spent a good amount 1ee5255525 of time going through 9b7528a228 the documents. When he was f163d9f0e0 returning after time ab3f9a98e1 had flown by, 17bda63170 he had to ead0729383 stop because he b16b7042e1 collided with someone. The one who stumbled without 231821dabd making a sound was Hong a146383855 Taebin.b8d08f71a12551f7

“Ah… Hyung, good morning.”23167cbcb63af58c

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His greeting, with dark d4b03093ec circles under his eyes, 8131d42c84 made him look terribly cf9e9dc343 unwell.61118f718e93090f

“Where’s your partner?”e4c438a5043fd17f

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“He went to meet your partner.”f06ee283011c1670

“My partner?”39d0b0f06b52792a

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“Seo Yigyeom.”965d8e242afcfb86

The immediate reply made Kim Heeseo even more curious. Seo Yigyeom and Kwon Joon? Were they close enough to meet like that? At least from what he had seen last time, it didn’t seem so.5724c9729f1d39ac

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“He said he had something to talk about, but I didn’t ask in detail.”ef8bfdc5aab20de2

“Ah…”1cc25a9fcce35996

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Kim Heeseo responded with a choked voice, nodding his head, and tried to gather his scattered thoughts. He then said, “See you later,” in a small voice before turning around. Just as he was about to continue on his way, he heard footsteps following him, so he stopped. Turning around, he saw Hong Taebin had changed direction and was toddling after him.0077e4bf9329cff6

“…Why are you following me?”03f82c501cddf331

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“Because I saw you, hyung.”e69287c07dc06807

It was an inarticulate answer.017e2351b74343dd

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“You look tired, so go and…”c91b613c2cc7c72c

He was about to say, “go rest,” when Hong Taebin suddenly lost his balance and collapsed with a thud.4b0f84a64997160b

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“Hong Taebin!”086b7fd91b0f4c76

Surprised, Kim Heeseo immediately went 660cdab548 to his side.640ae88596e055f3

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“Hey… Hong Taebin, wake up.”b2647d01aa0ec5bb

Despite gently shaking 734b6e34d1 him, there was 8c77360434 no response. No one else e0a19e171b came to help a2b579037f the fallen one. All there were, were 0dc389fda6 eyes watching as if be0c8c4246 it were just a bd9716755b spectacle. What kind of group was 785ccd1c29 this place, anyway? He felt disgust bca93507f8 at their heartless 03805f17de attitude.ce4d69d2d5459b20

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Clenching his teeth, Kim 65ea668e10 Heeseo struggled to carry 035db59496 Hong Taebin on his ba60641658 back. With a reflexive sigh 0ff5bde9e3 escaping, he took one e19f18cee0 step at a time eb8cc29ad4 toward the treatment room. By the time he 55b71e3199 got there, his back 89c033a876 was drenched in cold 5e5302ba9f sweat.b7ed214e823b5267

The one in a white coat diagnosed it as a side effect of frequent ability use. While the treatment went on as if it were a trivial matter, Kim Heeseo stayed by his side. He remained there even when a Guide came to guide him. He also didn’t forget to send Kwon Joon a message about Hong Taebin collapsing in the treatment room.f9c7bc663026f2a5

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When even the owner of the space left, Kim Heeseo was still by Hong Taebin’s side. Maybe it was because he saw someone fallen alone amidst everyone’s indifference. Somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. Even though his feelings toward Hong Taebin weren’t particularly good, there was a youthful innocence on his face that hadn’t fully grown, making it hard for Kim Heeseo to turn away.d0a9695e6c218cfe

“Hi.”8dfc2ddf77c6dc25

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That’s when it happened. Hong Taebin, who had been half-asleep, opened his eyes and greeted him.b44762139a7d86d9

“I thought you’d leave me.”bb7c5d26c28a3f61

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“…How can you leave someone who’s sick?”2ff3f88028c7272f

“There are plenty like that.”0003ff6756960597

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He murmured in a strained f618dc937f voice before closing his eyes 9fd2ebc4a8 again. Then he smiled, pulling the 37bc8a97e8 corners of his mouth up.4c77bf75f405ebfb

“Still, it’s nice. Thanks, hyung.”5efcb3264ec1be30

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In the silence that 2a49cc77c2 fell, Kim Heeseo suddenly 824d10fafb remembered. The fact that Hong 45bff74f25 Taebin was abandoned by 759e70efba his parents at the 662837cc09 tender age of four. A heavy, uncomfortable feeling rose e61d6d0ddd within him.470e75c8b76f1688

Hong Taebin soon fell back asleep. While Kim Heeseo watched over him, the sound of the door opening came. Thinking it was Kwon Joon, he turned his head, but his eyes caught sight of a man he had seen only once before, the one who had called Seo Yigyeom ‘young master.’3e053d4588fdc1bd

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“Hello, Kim Heeseo Esper-nim.”bb52be63509a0b15

Breaking the silence faaf532165 casually, the man 26b778b5c6 scanned Hong Taebin dac4683aee with emotionless eyes. His dry interest then 5da1e5ab3b turned toward Kim Heeseo.21c48878091adeb8

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“Could you spare some time, please?”e23df29caf85f551

Coming close, he stepped 92f9f2d3ae aside, indicating the door.d4009d4210a793c2

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“The Head of Division is waiting for you.”053104d5403b2574

With a veneer of c1f91816f5 politeness, the command was 835e084c6d delivered under the guise 4b5542ecee of a request.a8e91d983db8e4f8

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As the man fell silent, silence descended. Kim Heeseo assessed the situation without giving any response. Meanwhile, the man kept his eyes on Kim Heeseo, as if he wouldn’t leave until he got a reaction.36621a868fde02bb

…I guess I have no choice but to go. From what he saw, Kim Heeseo reached a conclusion close to certainty.dea923e7025b82df

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A private meeting with the Head of Division. It wasn’t something completely unexpected. Since aligning with Seo Yigyeom, he had anticipated facing him at least once. It was just that the timing was a bit earlier than expected.7f6d2b6980461f90

Would Seo Yigyeom know about this situation? Was the Head of Division coming for him outside of Seo Yigyeom’s knowledge? Subconsciously thinking of Seo Yigyeom, Kim Heeseo stood up, and the man stepped back to make room.e052ef7f0c6a3b0b

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Indicating for him to lead the way, the man’s eyes briefly glanced at Hong Taebin, who showed no sign of waking. After imprinting the image in his mind, Kim Heeseo stepped forward.60ceb9038b9ab1f9

“This way.”f06cc86fff761759

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As they crossed the threshold 4bfe004edc to leave, the man took 3fac68ad86 the lead. Kim Heeseo followed at a 3b01428c22 distance. His steps on the white 511f8d4467 marble floor were slow and d18f58b33a heavy, feeling as if an 6e8ad72849 invisible chain was tightening around 86faf10d1d him, sinking his mood.2a3d692292eed009

“…”dd2ae0a79e47762a

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I don’t want to meet him. Despite obediently following, his inner feelings were different.73369f326d409bc6