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It was a strange feeling. Somehow, Ha-gyeom felt more repulsed now than when he had seen Baek Sa holding Gi Suh-hyun. He was so flustered that he couldn’t even meet Baek Sa’s gaze as he looked down at him.

“Use this to wipe it off first.”

Avoiding eye contact, Ha-gyeom handed the wet towel to Baek Sa. Baek Sa took it without hesitation and rubbed it over his muscular body. Although there was no way to verify if the scent had been completely erased, the uncomfortable feeling Ha-gyeom had began to subside a little.

How could he still harbor possessive feelings towards Baek Sa while a guide was on the brink of life and death nearby?

Even as a wave of self-reproach hit him, there was nothing Ha-gyeom could do. He left the room and returned with a fresh towel. Baek Sa was still standing in the same spot. Ignoring him, Ha-gyeom approached the table where Gi Suh-hyun lay. He carefully uncovered part of the blanket and gently began wiping the dried blood from her face.

He had always been so preoccupied with taking care of himself that this was the first time he had cared for someone else in this way. Ha-gyeom was nervous that she might wake up, but he was also acutely aware of Baek Sa’s presence behind him. He listened to Baek Sa’s quiet breathing as he slowly cleaned the traces of dirt and blood from Gi Suh-hyun’s face.

He meticulously wiped her face and untangled her hair. Thankfully, Gi Suh-hyun remained asleep. After washing away the contamination, it was clear that she was a beautiful woman, and even with her eyes closed, she emanated an air of intelligence.

Without realizing it, Ha-gyeom found himself gazing down at Gi Suh-hyun’s face. The fact that her condition had deteriorated so much meant that she hadn’t met a compatible esper in a long time. To endure five years without guiding, especially while caring for others, was not something just anyone could do. How strong must she be to have survived all that time alone?

Ha-gyeom also knew someone who would sacrifice themselves without hesitation to protect their inner values. While he could understand that noble mindset, merely imagining the ordeal Gi Suh-hyun had endured made him feel overwhelmed with pain.

He carefully cleaned her ears and neck, making sure she would be as comfortable as possible. Then, he covered her with an extra layer of blankets. While he was doing this, the presence behind him moved closer.

“……”

The familiar sensation of being enveloped by Baek Sa’s warmth returned. Ha-gyeom momentarily held his breath as Baek Sa’s hands wrapped around his waist and his warm body pressed against his back. Baek Sa buried his nose and lips into Ha-gyeom’s neck, inhaling deeply. It was clear that the energy exchange with the unfamiliar guide had been exhausting for him.

If there had been any hint of sexual intent in Baek Sa’s touch or breath, it would have been troubling, especially with a stranger nearby. However, Baek Sa made no further demands. Instead, he seemed like someone trying to quench a long-standing thirst by absorbing Ha-gyeom’s scent.

Baek Sa’s task was done. When Gi Suh-hyun woke, she would undoubtedly feel significantly better. Her breathing had stabilized, and the bleeding had completely stopped. There was no rush to move before dawn.

With the chaotic situation now under control, Ha-gyeom would normally have gently pushed Baek Sa away and left the room. But…

Ha-gyeom’s eyes glinted. With Yang Ga-eun having sent a signal—though not a clear one—he needed to create an opportunity for them to be alone. If Yang Ga-eun and her team were to successfully take Ha-gyeom and Baek Seung-woo back to the Center, they would need to shake off Dr. Park, Yeo Jin-joo, Tae-seong, and even the outer-world espers.

However, creating such an opportunity with Baek Seung-woo, who had lost his memory, was no easy task. Perhaps it would be wiser to appeal to his instincts rather than using underhanded tactics.

“Is the guiding over?”

“Yeah.”

With the rescue so close at hand, the shadow of Baek Seung-woo loomed large over Baek Sa. That made Ha-gyeom feel even more uneasy, but he pushed those feelings aside and grabbed Baek Sa’s hand, turning to face him. When he embraced Baek Sa tightly, pressing their chests together, he heard a surprised chuckle. It wasn’t an unusual reaction—if they were still in Zone 0, Baek Sa would have pushed him away before allowing him to get this close.

“Are you tired?”

“What do you mean?”

“You just received a guiding that wasn’t in your favor.”

Though Ha-gyeom’s words were veiled, he was essentially asking if Baek Sa needed his energy. Baek Sa responded by gently running his hand through Ha-gyeom’s hair.

“Not in your favor?”

“A guiding from me would be better for you.”

Ha-gyeom lifted his head from Baek Sa’s shoulder and looked into his eyes. From this close distance, he could see Baek Sa’s eyes clearly, unwavering and sharp. Ha-gyeom had put some effort into his words, but Baek Sa’s reaction was rather indifferent.

“Are you saying you want to guide me?”

Baek Sa’s brows furrowed. His comment suggested that he had already seen through Ha-gyeom’s intentions. Ha-gyeom wasn’t actually eager to guide him or engage in anything more intimate; he just wanted to create an opportunity for them to be alone. However, Baek Sa’s direct confrontation with his intentions bruised Ha-gyeom’s pride.

“…Well, if you’re tired.”

Ha-gyeom barely managed to maintain his composure. He couldn’t help but worry, however, about the possibility that Baek Sa might misunderstand his intentions, thinking that Ha-gyeom’s actions were driven by lust.

As Baek Sa pushed him slightly, the back of Ha-gyeom’s thighs bumped against the edge of the desk. He glanced back, concerned about Gi Suh-hyun, who was still deeply asleep.

“Where are you looking?”

Although he had only briefly looked away, he suddenly found his chin being held by Baek Sa, who forced him to face forward. Baek Sa then grabbed the combat jacket that had been casually draped over the chair and threw it on. He unexpectedly grabbed Ha-gyeom’s wrist and began leading him out of the room. The door closed quietly behind them as they left. It seemed that Baek Sa had already memorized the building’s layout during their earlier entry, as he navigated the winding corridors in the dark without hesitation.

Ha-gyeom’s heart pounded in his chest as they reached the end of the corridor, where a spacious terrace awaited. It seemed like this area had once been used as a break spot for employees before the invasion. Thanks to the purifying energy waves, there was a brief resurgence of life in the otherwise dead flower beds.

As his view opened up, Ha-gyeom noticed the round, cloud-covered moon in the sky. The night had been cloudy, leaving the moon partially obscured by mist-like clouds. The sky had a blotchy blue hue, and in the middle of the vast landscape, the gaping hole left by a monster was particularly striking.

Captivated by the surreal scene, Ha-gyeom quickly refocused, sharpening his senses.

‘When exactly do they plan to initiate the rescue?’

Baek Sa, who had guided him to the terrace, wrapped an arm around his waist. Naturally, Ha-gyeom found it hard to concentrate. His mind was occupied with the rescue, making it difficult to fully immerse himself in the precarious situation at hand. Instead of engaging, he kept searching for any sign of the Center’s presence, hoping to spot something that would aid in their escape.

‘This feels like half a success already….’

At the very least, they had managed to get away from the others. Ha-gyeom’s heart raced as he continued scanning the area, but when he realized that Baek Sa had noticed his distraction, it was too late.

Ha-gyeom had expected Baek Sa to reproach him, but instead, Baek Sa simply tightened his grip around Ha-gyeom’s waist. The way Baek Sa looked at him in that moment was surprisingly reminiscent of Baek Seung-woo—calm, kind, and gentle, with no sharpness in his gaze.

To hide the trembling of his eyelashes, Ha-gyeom blinked repeatedly. His anxiety was further heightened by the lingering emotions that suddenly surged within him.

“Forget about the person you said you liked. You won’t see them again anyway.”

Baek Sa’s low voice caught him off guard. Did he think Ha-gyeom’s distraction was about something else? However, Ha-gyeom couldn’t deny that he often thought of Baek Seung-woo when looking at Baek Sa. The words seemed to resonate with his feelings toward Baek Seung-woo as well.

‘Forget about Baek Seung-woo. You won’t see him again anyway.’

Even if that’s what he meant, the words felt strangely appropriate. Ha-gyeom suddenly felt a pang of sadness. If Baek Seung-woo’s memory never returned, even if they were successfully rescued, things could never go back to the way they were. Because of everything that had happened in Zone 0, the old Baek Seung-woo and Shin Ha-gyeom would never exist again.

Looking into Baek Sa’s unexpectedly soft eyes, Ha-gyeom bit his lower lip. Whether it was Baek Sa or Baek Seung-woo, how could he not be tempted?

Even without his old memories, as long as Baek Sa remained Baek Seung-woo, there was no other choice for Ha-gyeom. Even if Baek Sa remained as he was, with Ha-gyeom forever searching for traces of Baek Seung-woo in him, he couldn’t give up on the man standing in front of him.

Thinking about the possibility that the Center’s operatives might be watching this scene made Ha-gyeom’s heart race. Despite the danger, he couldn’t suppress the surge of possessiveness that suddenly overwhelmed him. Even the unsettling cry of a monster in the distance was overshadowed by the sight of Baek Sa’s hair blowing in the gentle breeze, making the darkened city behind him seem almost to sparkle.