OL Ch 42

“Knock it off.”

<The Spring of Twenty-One>, Mookyeong had to undergo additional examinations besides the regular check-ups due to frequent observations of his rampages. Mookyeong’s doctor, Choi Gyeongcheol, had noticed that Mookyeong’s frequent rampages were intentional. However, lacking clear evidence, he just tutted and gave a warning.

But Mookyeong pretended not to understand his words. Choi Gyeongcheol, finding Mookyeong detestable, brought up their old connection.

“How sad would Senior Seo be if she were here? Huh? It’s a tough world even if you live with your head on straight, but what are you doing tormenting yourself?”

“I know. She would have been upset if she were here.”

Choi Gyeongcheol looked Mookyeong up and down with his eyes half-open. Mookyeong, unfazed, raised the corners of his mouth, making his expression seem soft.

Choi Gyeongcheol chuckled and scratched his head with his thumb. Unwilling to argue with Mookyeong, he looked at the test results screen.

“For a rampage, your condition is good. See here? These are the results from last year and the year before. Even with stress, your ability doesn’t drop below a certain point. You just need to eat well to gain some weight, and you don’t need to grow any taller.”

“…”

“Why? You want to be taller?”

Mookyeong chuckled at Choi Gyeongcheol’s question.

“I haven’t really thought about it. If I grow, I grow, if I don’t, I don’t.”

Choi Gyeongcheol tutted, saying that the haves are always worse.

“The short ones are busy stuffing insoles into their shoes to add even a centimeter. The tall ones don’t care.”

Mookyeong joked that he wouldn’t know since he’d never been short, and Choi Gyeongcheol shook his head at Mookyeong’s words.

“Still, your face looks better than before.”

“…”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. You’re doing well.”

At Choi Gyeongcheol’s words, Mookyeong just silently raised the corners of his mouth. Choi Gyeongcheol looked at Mookyeong and then said he could leave. Mookyeong bowed to Choi Gyeongcheol and left the doctor’s office.

“…I’m doing well.”

As he was leaving the examination center, Mookyeong mulled over Choi Gyeongcheol’s words. Then, unable to hold back, he burst out laughing. He couldn’t believe it. Mookyeong quickly composed his distorted face after the laughter.

As Choi Gyeongcheol had noticed, Mookyeong’s frequent rampages were intentional.

Mookyeong had long been skilled at controlling his power. This was because he had focused on training his power control for a long time. The reason was that he had often been exposed to the danger of rampaging. According to Kim Hayun, it happened often when Kim Heewon wasn’t around, but it was hard to believe.

Whether that was the case or not, it was clear that his body was vulnerable to rampaging. Since he was controlling it, rampaging itself was not a problem. He just had to hold back a little less.

The only problem was the aftermath of the rampage, but since he didn’t use his abilities severely, it just ended with breaking household items and furniture. Mookyeong decided to just bear that much damage. To be honest, there was no other way.

Mookyeong was addicted to the sense of relief he felt during a rampage. The words relief and addiction might not seem to go together. But Mookyeong only felt relief during a rampage. Because he felt as if the being he had lost was right beside him.

Just as the little match girl saw a vision while lighting a match on a snowy winter night, Mookyeong only met the being he so desperately craved during a rampage. Although he couldn’t see his face, his voice, his scent, his body temperature proved his existence.

When he met him, he felt relief from the terrible sense of loss that had been plaguing him. Then he would try to hold onto him and wake up with him in reality.

But just like holding a rainbow, when he woke up and opened his hand, there was nothing. No, it would have been better if there was nothing. Because sometimes, Kim Hayun would be there.

Mookyeong was horrified to see Kim Hayun after waking up from a rampage. Kim Hayun’s existence plunged Mookyeong from heaven to hell. Mookyeong had to tremble with humiliation and shame every time.

But apart from that, it was clear that Kim Hayun’s existence was affecting his rampage. He had to know since he had experimented with his own body. There was a difference between when he found Kim Hayun after a rampage and when he didn’t.

Perhaps that was why, despite the rampage, it just ended with him being told to get checked more often because a rampage pattern was observed. Mookyeong looked at the results, remembering when he had properly rampaged before. Then how does Kim Hayun intervene in his rampage?

‘Maybe it’s as Kim Hayun says, we’re like family, so I’m unconsciously relying on him.’

Or maybe he was unconsciously mistaking Kim Hayun for Kim Heewon.

Of course, either way, it was equally terrifying.

Mookyeong left the examination center and stopped in a quiet alley. As he was looking at his watch, a black special escort vehicle arrived in front of him.

“Perfect timing, right?”

With the sound of the side brake being released, the window opened and an armed man popped his head out. Mookyeong tapped his watch and shrugged his shoulders.

“If this were an operation, it would have failed.”

“Ugh, you picky punk.”

Two armed agents got out of the car, checked Mookyeong’s belongings, and asked him to put on a meter that could check his condition in real time. Only after roughly checking the numbers did the agent lead Mookyeong to the car.

Mookyeong was advised by the Supernatural Special Management Agency to refrain from driving due to his high risk of rampaging. Thanks to this, he could only move with a special escort vehicle and dedicated agents. The dedicated agents were a mix of psychics and regular soldiers, but in reality, if he really rampaged, they couldn’t stop him, so it was just for show.

“Didn’t they say there was no problem?”

Park Byeonggeon, a psychic among the armed agents, spoke to him in a friendly manner. He had graduated from the same high school as Mookyeong, but they had no connection at the time. However, when they met recently, he acted friendly, saying that they were alumni.

Mookyeong glanced at Byeonggeon and nodded.

“Yeah.”

“When will the driving restriction be lifted?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? My tax money is leaking out as we speak.”

Mookyeong shrugged and turned his gaze to the window. It was called a special escort vehicle, but it was no different from a moving prison. Others were reluctant to ride in special escort vehicles because of that, but Mookyeong didn’t think it was bad.

He just thought of it as a sturdy taxi with a talkative driver.

Even though Mookyeong didn’t even respond, Byeonggeon continued to chatter. From the menu at the cafeteria to what happened while he was on standby today. He chattered for a long time, explaining why he was late today.

Mookyeong wanted to make Byeonggeon shut up forever, but attacking a dedicated agent could be troublesome, so he decided to endure it.

Just then, a car suddenly cut in, and the soldier slammed on the brakes. His body lurched forward with the recoil.

“Hey, you punk. Can’t you drive properly?!”

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

“…”

“You crazy bastard. I told you countless times to just focus on driving when you’re driving! A guy carrying a bomb with no caution!”

Park Byeonggeon, unable to contain his anger, poured out his frustration and then glanced at Mookyeong. Mookyeong, feeling it wasn’t worth responding to, just turned his head away. Even though it was early afternoon, the roads were full of cars. It seemed like it would take a while to get to his destination.

Mookyeong closed his eyes, thinking he might as well take a nap. Just then, the traffic light ahead turned red, and the car stopped again. Byeonggeon sat up straight and scolded the soldier again. Why didn’t he just step on it and follow the car behind him, did he know how long this light took? The soldier apologized, but Byeonggeon twitched his lips, wanting to pour out more.

But he couldn’t find the right words and leaned back. And at that moment, he saw someone crossing the crosswalk.

“Huh?”

Byeonggeon turned his body and gestured to Mookyeong. Mookyeong let out a breath full of annoyance without responding. Then Byeonggeon scrunched his nose and pointed to a person crossing the crosswalk.

“Isn’t that Kim Hayun?”

As Byeonggeon said, it was Kim Hayun. Mookyeong sat up straight the moment he saw Kim Hayun. His dormant nerves were on edge. Kim Hayun occasionally turned his head to the side, as if he were with someone. He would laugh and shake his head at what they were saying.

Mookyeong unconsciously released his energy and observed their movements. Numerous people were crossing the crosswalk, but Mookyeong only felt Kim Hayun and the person next to him. And he read their lips to understand what they were saying.

[Why is a guy so pale? Guys this pale usually have acne, but you don’t. You could be a cosmetics model.]

[Oh, I’m not that good.]

[What do you mean you’re not? You’re so good. Tell me honestly. Don’t men in suits give you their business cards when you walk around downtown?]

[That’s never happened.]

[Hey, aren’t you praising the freshman too much?]

[No, I’m not. The more I look at him, the more I can’t even make eye contact.]

The person’s hand naturally touched Kim Hayun’s cheek and then his shoulder.

[He’s got a good body now that I see him. Hey, feel him. His muscles are no joke.]

[Eyy, don’t do that.]

At the person’s words, another person also reached out to Kim Hayun. His shoulders, back, and abdomen were touched several times. Mookyeong’s stomach twisted as he watched Kim Hayun just smile without pushing their hands away.

‘Why is he smiling?’

It’s not something to smile about, so why is he smiling? Mookyeong was annoyed by Kim Hayun’s smile. It felt like his insides were burning and his intestines were twisting. So, he continued to glare at the receding Kim Hayun.