DB Vol 4 Part 10

“You say the person changed?”

Ji Yoon-im had actually been debating whether or not to bring up Won-woo’s story while on her way to meet Yang Cheon-hyo. The only thing Yang Cheon-hyo cared about was his partner, Ji Geun-oh. Even his aim to take control of the Yang family was intended to spend time with Ji Geun-oh without anyone’s interference and to give him the power he desired.

In a way, it was truly romantic, but because the foundation of this romance was the pleasure of guiding sex, those who knew the circumstances found this love disgusting. However, Yoon-im was a bit different. Whether Yang Cheon-hyo regarded her father as merely a living dildo or not, she could tolerate and support anything if it helped solidify her position.

So she tried her best not to go against Yang Cheon-hyo’s wishes. He especially hated wasting time with unnecessary talk. That’s why she was cautious even while reporting about Won-woo now.

If it hadn’t been for meeting Yoo Geon-young here, she might have hesitated until the end and not said anything. But when she actually spoke, Yang Cheon-hyo’s reaction was unexpected.

“You say he changed as if he became a completely different person?”

He asked again to confirm. Yes, when Yoon-im nodded, Yang Cheon-hyo reached out his hand. Yoon-im froze for a moment but soon obediently brought her head slightly under his outstretched hand. Then, a strong grip painfully squeezed Yoon-im’s head.

Yang Cheon-hyo, a mental ability user, could control people’s thoughts, and when his hand directly touched the head like this, the effect was much stronger. So when hearing important truths, he would move his hand directly. Naturally, no one could refuse his command.

“Tell me properly. Without lies.”

Those whose heads were held in this process writhed in agony, twisting their bodies in pain.

“Urgh, huk! Cha-Chairman… Please… Aagh!”

Ji Yoon-im groaned, gritting her teeth. Soon after, she spilled out all the facts she had heard in a pleading tone. When there was nothing more to come from Yoon-im, Yang Cheon-hyo removed his hand and pushed her head hard. Falling back as if knocked over, Yoon-im quickly regained her composure with an expressionless face, as if used to it, and tidied her disheveled hair.

“Damn it, if everyone who met Ji Won-woo said he changed, you should have reported it in advance.”

His voice growled low as if boiling. Yoon-im, while wondering why he cared so much, observed him sharply. She hadn’t heard the reason why he had suddenly changed nine years ago. So she thought that if someone similar appeared this time, she might be able to find out the reason.

“Is there something that concerns you about Won-woo’s change?”

“Is there? Ha.”

Yang Cheon-hyo spat out irritably along with a curse.

“The problem is that the bastard happens to be a Guide.”

Yang Cheon-hyo. Won-woo nodded as if everything was solved with this one name. The questions about the list he had been looking at, that is. Gye Min quickly noticed this and asked.

“Who are the Guides on that list?”

Won-woo silently looked down at the list before speaking.

“Those who might be the same as me.”

Not here, but in the original world. The same purifiers. However, in this world, they had all been dead or reported missing since nine years ago. As if someone had deliberately dealt with all those who had the potential to become purifiers.

***

“He changed completely like a different person? That’s impossible unless he’s reborn.”

The person who had changed more than anyone else claimed this. So Yoon-im was even more suspicious of Yang Cheon-hyo’s words. Why is he so sure? As if he were a reborn person.

“They say he miraculously survived in the monster farm. There’s a possibility he changed after experiencing death.”

At Yoon-im’s words, Yang Cheon-hyo frowned and asked an unexpected question.

“What about the old man?”

The old man. It was a term referring to the head of the Yang family, who was so inactive that rumors circulated that he might be dead.

“I received a report this morning that he’s the same as always.”

“Are you sure?”

At the sharp question, Yoon-im nodded firmly. If nothing else, this was one thing she could answer with confidence. Not only was it the top priority task Yang Cheon-hyo had assigned to her, but it was also the most important task for Yoon-im herself. Although Yoon-im didn’t know exactly where the family head was or what he looked like, she received daily reports from the person guarding him.

“Yes, I’m certain.”

“He’s still the same?”

“Yes.”

Only after confirming twice did Yang Cheon-hyo relax the tension between his brows and lean back comfortably on the sofa. Then he muttered something incomprehensible.

“Then he hasn’t crossed over.”

Crossed over where? Who? Won-woo? Yoon-im had many questions, but irritation was entering Yang Cheon-hyo’s eyes.

“No. Still, we need to check. It’s almost all done, we can’t sprinkle ashes due to a small mistake.”

Yang Cheon-hyo revealed his anxiety by tapping the tips of his well-manicured long nails together. Sometimes he couldn’t hide his anxiety even in front of his subordinate, Yoon-im, like this.

Ji Geun-oh, who had known him for a long time, had once mocked that Yang Cheon-hyo was a coward who trembled like a child at trivial matters. Yoon-im agreed with this to some extent. No matter how much the physical strength of mental ability users might decline, how could he take control of the Yang family while being holed up in the house like this?

Meanwhile, his wariness only increased, always multiplying Yoon-im’s work. But this time it was a bit too much. To use the Oh family head just for Won-woo’s matter? It seemed excessive compared to the situation.

“One week. If you can’t find him within that time, contact the Oh family head and tell him to find Ji Won-woo.”

Call the Oh family? Although there was a one-week condition, Yoon-im barely held back her desire to object. The Oh family had been loyal to the Yang family for a long time, but this was not widely known to the public. Because the head of the Oh family, who led the family, disliked face to face interactions with people, they lived with their doors closed to the point of being reclusive. However, his ability was very good for tracking things.

The problem was that he only followed the orders of the Yang family head. Whatever method Yang Cheon-hyo had used on this Oh family head, he had made him kneel under his command. This too had happened exactly nine years ago. Since then, the Oh family head had been working secretly under Yang Cheon-hyo’s instructions.

However, since the Oh family head hadn’t completely given his heart to Yang Cheon-hyo, Yang Cheon-hyo was also cautious in using him. As far as Yoon-im knew, the last time he had deployed was a few years ago.

Yang Cheon-hyo was as desperate to catch certain Guides as he was to take control of the Yang family, and when even skilled trackers couldn’t find them, the Oh family head would eventually step in. But now, to use that precious card just to find Won-woo?

“Originally, the Ji family was responsible for managing Won-woo, so I believe they should take full responsibility until the end.”

“The person in charge is lying in the hospital like a living corpse.”

Ji Yoon-im’s expression hardened as she briefly recalled her eldest brother, but she replied calmly.

“As you know, Ji Seong-hyeon is temporarily in charge of the Guide One now. But he can’t even properly find one person. And our father, who will be busier with the People’s Welfare Committee in the future, can’t oversee the Guide One.”

Ji Yoon-im paused to hide her tension, then added naturally,

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to help with the Guide One’s affairs.”

“No.”

Yang Cheon-hyo flatly refused. Yoon-im’s eyes wavered, but Yang Cheon-hyo focused more on looking at his well-maintained long nails and removing any foreign matter from the tips.

“Your role is to be my hands and ears in the Yang family. Until I completely take control of the Yang family, focus only on that task.”

If it were before, Yoon-im would have understood and given up her insistence at this point, but a strange displeasure pushed her on.

“I’m already fulfilling my role sufficiently. Even if I take on some of the Guide One’s work, I wouldn’t neglect the Yang family’s affairs…”

“Just take care of your existing duties.”

Yang Cheon-hyo raised his eyes, showing irritation.

“Leave the Guide One to Ji Seong-hyeon. He’s doing well, so why are you stepping in and making a fuss?”

Ji Yoon-im could finally guess the reason for her displeasure. He’s gotten close to Ji Seong-hyeon. No, even if they hadn’t had sex out of consideration for their father, they must have engaged in related activities. When did this happen? She wondered, but realized it was meaningless.

Ji Geun-oh had been holding parties almost daily recently for the People’s Welfare Committee work. And Ji Seong-hyeon had taken charge of that. As they say, even a rolling stone gathers moss, Ji Seong-hyeon knew better than anyone how to have fun. He was especially skilled at approaching people in that way.

The previous head of the Guide One, Ji Dong-hyeon, had been rigid and only did things by the book, so he never thought of approaching Yang Cheon-hyo, who was their father’s partner. But Ji Seong-hyeon seemed to be completely different.

Ji Yoon-im realized that no matter how much she used her brain behind the scenes, met people, and tried to build trust over a long time, she couldn’t beat her brother who had approached through alcohol and pleasure in just a few days. Even in this situation, Yoon-im slightly bowed her head, afraid that Yang Cheon-hyo would dislike it if she showed her emotions. Then she heard a slightly softened, almost coaxing voice.

“Ji Seong-hyeon hasn’t been in charge of the Guide One for long. Being his first time, he’s bound to be clumsy in some ways. Wouldn’t it be great if you took charge of the Won-woo matter and helped your brother? This is all for your sake. You know that, right? In the end, I’m going to pass down the Yang family to your son, who has Ji blood mixed in.”

“Thank you.”

When Yoon-im replied obediently, Yang Cheon-hyo looked at her once expressionlessly and then lowered his gaze back to his nails.

***

‘Do I have to hide my identity to this extent?’

In the original world, Won-woo’s identity was considered highly confidential, so he had once asked a high-ranking person like this. His answer was simple. The fewer people who know a secret, the higher its utility.

‘There are still many mental Espers over there. Those who know your identity could become targets and be sacrificed. In war, the goal is to save even one more of our side, and that’s victory.’

“People who might be like you?”

At the sharp voice, Won-woo snapped out of his thoughts, looked around, and stopped his gaze on the Gye family head.

“People who, like me, have awakened and surpassed the rank of Guide.”

Won-woo is already like a monster, and there are more people like that? Everyone looked at Won-woo in surprise.

“How do such people come about? And you mean these people aren’t like that now? Why?”

When no answer came from Won-woo for a moment, Gye Min calmed her excitement.

“If it’s difficult to say, you don’t have to.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just an unbelievable story.”

Won-woo shook his head and immediately revealed the truth.

“There are many people like me. At least in the world I came from.”

What are you saying? Facing the dumbfounded people, Won-woo added a brief explanation.

“I probably came from a different dimension, likely a parallel world. A world where everyone here lived just the same. But the situation there was completely different from here. There were many Guides who awakened new abilities like me, and we were called Purifiers. The position of Espers was also different from here. Well, very different. There was a war between Espers and anti-Espers.”

Still, no one responded. Won-woo looked at them and smiled slightly.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’s an unbelievable story.”

“Yes, it is. It’s totally unbelievable.”

Chief Jung barely managed to reply, flabbergasted. Following him, Gye Min’s cool voice was heard.

“Why did you tell such an unbelievable story so readily?”

Seona, who was an outsider, slightly frowned, thinking the Gye family head was nitpicking, but she realized it was a spot-on question with Won-woo’s following answer.

“Because I think evidence has emerged.”

Won-woo tapped the Guide list with his hand.

“Everyone on this list was a Purifier in my world. Later, the identity of Purifiers became confidential for protection, but the people I wrote down were already known to the world. They were active for that long.”

Won-woo’s explanation didn’t continue further, but anyone could infer what came next. There’s someone else who knows this list. As if they had crossed over from another dimension like Won-woo. And there was someone who came to everyone’s mind. The answer was in the phrase ‘like Won-woo.’ The person who changed as if they were someone else.

“Yang Cheon-hyo.”

Gye Min spat out the name as if chewing it. No one knew why Ji Geun-oh had suddenly betrayed the previous Gye family head. They only found out through investigation that Yang Cheon-hyo had been manipulating things behind Ji Geun-oh.

But even after a long investigation, they couldn’t find out why Yang Cheon-hyo was trying to bring down the Gye family. But what if the reason doesn’t exist in this world? Gye Min suddenly recalled one of Won-woo’s statements.

“You said there was a war in your world? Which side was the Gye family on?”

At Gye Min’s question, everyone except Won-woo looked at her with puzzled eyes. Could she be believing Ji Won-woo’s words? Even though there were commonalities in the list, the suspicion that Yang Cheon-hyo was from another world hadn’t been definitively verified yet.

Honestly, even Seona didn’t believe Won-woo’s words. Moreover, it seemed ridiculous to ask which side the Gye family, being Espers, was on. But Gye Min was intensely staring as if Won-woo’s upcoming words would be the answer to a long-standing grievance. Won-woo looked at her silently for a moment before opening his mouth.

“They were on the anti-Esper side.”

***

“Mr. Ji Won-woo.”

When Won-woo came out of the Gye family’s room, Chief Jung, who had come out with him, called him. As only the Chief Secretary remained in Gye Min’s room, Seona, who had also come out, turned to look at Chief Jung.

“I can’t believe Mr. Ji Won-woo’s words.”

Chief Jung spoke honestly while still leaving a small possibility open.

“But I don’t know all the principles of the world. So I’ll act on the assumption that Mr. Ji Won-woo’s words are true from now on. However, if it all turns out to be false, no matter how great a benefactor you are to the Gye family, I’ll make you pay the price.”

Before Won-woo could nod in understanding, Seona stepped forward and retorted to Chief Jung.

“It seems he’s only a great benefactor in words. Given how you’re threatening him like that.”

Chief Jung bowed his head to Won-woo in apology, but his eyes shone with firm resolve. Won-woo looked at him and became curious for a moment. Would this person have survived in the world Won-woo lived in? No, he had a feeling that he probably died along with the Gye family. That’s why he wasn’t angry.

“It’s alright. It’s a story that no one would believe. But don’t worry. You won’t have to demand any price from me.”

Chief Jung looked like he had a lot to say, but he pressed his lips together tightly before finally uttering one thing.

“Why did you tell a story that no one could believe? No, never mind. I suppose it was necessary to explain the situation.”

“That’s not exactly why.”

Won-woo tilted his head with an ambiguous smile.

“I thought you could keep the secret even if I shared it.”

“Keep it?”

“My allies. I have to save everyone.”

Chief Jung froze in surprise, forgetting even to blink. Seona felt she could somewhat understand Chief Jung’s feelings. Anyone would wonder ‘why?’ if suddenly told they were an ally. But Seona had already had such doubts about Won-woo before. Why did he help her?

“Did you know me in the original world?”

Won-woo’s eyes visibly wavered at the casually asked question. Seona thought ‘oh?’ and her eyes widened in surprise. Won-woo was slowly nodding.

“Yes. I worked with Han Seona.”

“Was I… on the anti-Esper side?”

After asking, Seona rather questioned herself. Well, I don’t really need to side with the Espers, do I? What have they ever done for me?

“No, you don’t have to answer. I feel good knowing I was on the winning side, whichever it was.”

She tilted her head curiously, not noticing Won-woo’s eyes sinking. Then, as if remembering something, she asked Won-woo.

“Did you know Gye Yoon too?”

Chief Jung also perked up his ears at this question, looking curious. Won-woo remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on empty space, before speaking.

“No.”

When Gye Yoon returned to the main house, many pieces of news were waiting for him. All were surprisingly unbelievable, yet they fit together so well that they couldn’t be dismissed as mere lies. But whether Won-woo came from another world or Yang Cheon-hyo came from hell didn’t matter to Gye Yoon. He was just annoyed that he couldn’t see him right away and had to be interrupted like this. However, Chief Jung’s words, as he followed persistently and chattered, were hard to ignore.

“Isn’t it surprising? He says he helped Han Seona and Hwang Sang-cheon because he knew them in the original world, but he’s helping you even though you weren’t someone he knew.”

Gye Yoon stopped abruptly. After staring expressionlessly at the corridor for a moment, he asked.

“He didn’t know me?”

Chief Jung nodded emphatically.

“Yes, he said he didn’t know you. If he had known you, he would absolutely never help you in this world.”

Hah, Chief Jung took a big step back, surprised at his own words. His true feelings had slipped out without him realizing.

“I meant that as a good thing.”

He tried to cover it up belatedly, but words once spilled couldn’t be taken back. Sweating nervously, thinking that the brute might now start a knife dance, he retreated further, but Gye Yoon just walked down the corridor with the same expressionless face. Only Chief Jung, left behind, blinked in surprise. Why is he acting like that?

Usually, people say rooftops are good because they offer a wide view from high up and there’s wind, but height didn’t really matter by Won-woo’s standards. As long as the surroundings were lower, it was fine. Then he could enjoy an unobstructed view and unhindered wind.

In that sense, the Gye family’s rooftop was one of Won-woo’s favorites. Even Won-woo, who prided himself as a rooftop expert, had never seen a place so open on all sides that one could see the horizon. Moreover, it was well-decorated like a garden with trees, grass, and a pavilion.

Perhaps because Hwan often played here, there were also playground equipment like children’s slides and swings. Although they must have considered safety thoroughly for a place frequented by the Gye family head’s daughter, Won-woo didn’t forget his habit of looking around like a meerkat.

So he keenly noticed when someone entered the rooftop as the iron door clanged open. Since not just anyone could enter the rooftop, there were only a few people who could come. Won-woo had permission to access the rooftop, but he didn’t raise his body hidden between the railing and trees. Rather, he slipped his body further into the shade.

It was an instinctive action. Staying tense to the fingertips, ready to attack at any moment before confirming if it was an ally, was also a remnant of long-standing habit. But the other person didn’t hide their presence or footsteps, making it clear to anyone. The sound of footsteps on the stone-paved floor approached Won-woo.

Even though he couldn’t see the person, Won-woo felt he knew who the owner of that sound was. It must have been just intuition working. Small goosebumps rose on his skin as he became aware of the other person who hadn’t even come close yet. This was completely different from the unpleasant, breathless tension felt when meeting an enemy.

Rather, his heartbeat quickened a bit. A fantasy-like expectation spread that maybe the other person had searched the house looking for him and finally came up here. So he couldn’t come out. He wanted to confirm if this illusion was correct. Won-woo had never felt such a mischievous impulse towards someone before, so it felt a bit awkward. Realizing this made him a bit embarrassed, and he was about to step out of the shade when a voice was heard first.

“I don’t really like it here.”

A soft, infinitely low, attractive voice drew Won-woo like the scent of flowers. As soon as Won-woo emerged from his hiding place in the shade, he saw him. He was sitting on the edge of a flower bed about as tall as a child, looking at the sunset sky.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes looking at the sky were so dark and sunken that Won-woo stopped breathing for a moment. No matter how different his face was, those eyes were truly the same as his. When Gye Yoon belatedly turned to look at Won-woo, who wasn’t moving, Won-woo approached and sat down next to him.

“Why don’t you like it?”

Fortunately, his startled heart quickly calmed down, allowing him to ask in a normal voice.

“Because it was a place all my family members liked. Because I could meet my parents or sister here.”

“Is it bad to meet them?”

“Nine times out of ten, I’d get scolded.”

Won-woo wore an ambiguous expression, unsure whether to laugh or not, as he cast his gaze at the sunset. Even without Won-woo’s response, the low voice continued its confession.

“Even if that wasn’t the case, I liked being alone since I was young. I made my hideout in a place only I could go and made sure no one else could enter. Because I hated the sound of people so much. Sometimes I wished I could lose this ability and not hear sounds at all because I hated how well I could hear them.”

“…”

“Ah, there’s that look again.”

At Gye Yoon’s words, Won-woo tensed his face and turned to him.

“What look?”

“The look that says I’m pitiful and miserable.”

“You’re mistaken.”

When Won-woo coldly denied it, Gye Yoon asked expressionlessly,

“Then how do you see me?”

“I don’t have any particular thoughts.”

As Won-woo shifted his gaze to the floor and tried to stand up, a large hand grabbed his. In contrast to the strong grip interlocking their fingers, Gye Yoon’s voice was infinitely soft.

“That answer used to irritate me, but now it’s not bad.”

Gye Yoon turned his head to deliberately meet Won-woo’s eyes directly.

“As long as the emotions you occasionally show towards me aren’t directed at someone else.”

Won-woo held his breath, knowing he shouldn’t react. And though he wanted to look away from those eyes, a low voice stopped him.

“I can’t forgive you seeing someone else through me, no matter who it is.”

Won-woo knew he should reply that it was another misunderstanding, but he couldn’t open his mouth. Gye Yoon gripped Won-woo’s hand even tighter. The strength that seemed like it might break bones almost made him scream. Even in the quickly darkening vision, those darkly shining eyes were frighteningly focused only on Won-woo.

For some unknown reason, Won-woo felt a chill for a brief moment. And as if reading that momentary emotion, Gye Yoon twisted his lips. Unlike the smile, his unsmiling eyes looked down at Won-woo as if to devour him and muttered,

“Yes, it’s better if you’re afraid of me instead.”

No matter how much Purifiers were natural enemies to Espers, they didn’t always face them in peak condition, so preparation was necessary. Since they were no different from ordinary people, they could get hurt, and could be brought down by drugs spread by the enemy, mainly through food.

So one of the trainings given to those who first joined the fight was how to deal with being captured and tortured by the enemy. Won-woo had put off this training among the new recruits until an administrative staff member got angry, which finally forced him to take the boring training.

‘If you’re captured by the enemy and feel you can’t endure the pain well, just spill everything you know from the start.’

At the instructor’s words, some of those present burst into incredulous laughter, while others frowned in disapproval. Perhaps because most of those attending the class were civilians who had participated in the war, one person raised their hand and asked discontentedly,

‘Can we just spill everything? Shouldn’t we try to hold out?’

A small ripple of laughter spread. The instructor shrugged and answered nonchalantly,

‘If you can hold out, then do so. But you’ll end up saying everything you know anyway. So reducing the pain even a little is better for the individual.’

‘But thinking of our allies, isn’t it better to hold out?’

‘That’s right. It’s good for us if you hold out. But the person being tortured will eventually die, and dying in pain is miserable, isn’t it?’

Everyone was puzzled by one of the instructor’s statements.

‘What do you mean eventually die? Do you mean dying because we can’t withstand the torture?’

‘That could happen, but the moment one of our soldiers is captured, we execute a plan for total annihilation, not rescue. To protect the secrets that the soldier will eventually reveal under torture, the only way is to kill everyone.’

Silence fell among the trainees. Someone raised their hand again and asked,

‘You mean killing our own side?’

‘Yes, to save more of our allies.’

‘But you’re ruthlessly abandoning comrades we fought alongside? No matter if it’s war, there’s no place that treats allies as disposable like this.’

‘Then go somewhere that doesn’t.’

‘…’

‘Those gathered here have come together to win the war, even if it means being disposable.’

Silence fell again. Then another person asked,

‘Then does it matter whether we endure torture or not? If we’re going to die as disposables anyway.’

‘No, it does matter. The longer you endure torture, the more time you buy for our allies.’

And then the instructor’s main lesson began. How to endure torture. According to the instructor, people can surprisingly endure physical pain well. What breaks people is psychological factors. The instructor described this as a hairline crack in a solid wall. What creates the crack is not the pain of having nails pulled out or being burned, but the hidden past that the enemy draws out.

Won-woo felt like he could hear that crack spreading inside him now. He wasn’t afraid of Espers due to his long fights. To compensate for the weakness of having the same physical strength as ordinary people, he always exercised and honed his fighting skills. So he prided himself on being able to endure as a disposable even if captured by the enemy.

But now he couldn’t pull his hand away from the Esper who had caught it. Gye Yoon wasn’t even using his ability. If he had used his ability, Won-woo would have reflexively drained the other’s energy and broken him down, but he was just holding Won-woo’s hand tightly without using any ability.

However, Won-woo’s past that he had mercilessly drawn out, his only sense of guilt, felt exposed raw, and he didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t hide the emotions seeping through the crack in the solid wall.

Won-woo instinctively wanted to run away and tried to pull his hand away, but the other wouldn’t let go. Instead, he forcibly lifted Won-woo’s hand and buried his lips on the back of it. But his eyes persistently held Won-woo’s gaze.

“Does it hurt?”

He was asking about the hand he was forcibly gripping tightly, but he didn’t loosen his grip. Yet his voice was sweet and affectionate. When Won-woo still couldn’t move his stiffened lips, he stuck out his tongue and licked the back of Won-woo’s hand. Goosebumps stimulated his mind like a warning light.

“Let go if it looks like it hurts.”

Fortunately, a proper voice came out. But his eyes might still have been shaking. So Won-woo felt a strange shame as he looked into those black eyes that had captured him. He felt uneasy, as if the other could see through his still unstable self.

“What if you run away when I let go?”

“Why would I run away?”

At least my voice is still okay. Won-woo tried to put strength into his eyes while putting on a brave front. And he tried to pull his hand away again, but the difference in strength was overwhelmingly in favor of the other.

“Because you’re afraid of me?”

He raised his head and smiled again. But his eyes still weren’t smiling, so Won-woo tensed up again. Part of the reason for his tension was self-loathing. He was a pathetic coward. To not act like a fool in front of Gye Yoon, he should have openly confessed his past and admitted his faults, but he couldn’t do it.

“I’m not afraid.”

“Then are you running away because you dislike me?”

The monotone murmur made Won-woo feel chilled.

“You’re speaking very strangely. I neither dislike you nor will I run away. Just let go of my hand.”

“You say you don’t dislike me.”

“I don’t like you either. And it hurts.”

“If it hurts, I don’t want to let go even more.”

When Won-woo frowned, joy spread in Gye Yoon’s previously unsmiling eyes.

“Because if it hurts, you’ll develop some emotion towards me.”

“…”

“But I won’t make it too painful.”

This time, he relaxed his grip slightly. However, knowing that if he pulled his hand away completely, he’d be caught again, he still couldn’t move.

“What if I end up hating you because of this?”

“What if I say I don’t care as long as I get you?”

At the dry retort, Won-woo lost his words and stared at him. Won-woo couldn’t see his own expression, but he thought he might have shown a momentary flinch. The cruel light in Gye Yoon’s eyes, which had been fixed on Won-woo, disappeared. Then he lowered his gaze to their hands. Gently stroking the back of Won-woo’s hand with his other hand, he spoke in a soft voice.

“I’m joking. Don’t be tense.”

Gye Yoon even smiled, but to Won-woo’s eyes, it seemed false. However, he didn’t have the courage to pursue the truth while maintaining this tension. He just wanted to escape for now. It was even more so because he felt like the biggest fool in this situation. Won-woo also lowered his eyes to look at his hand caught between Gye Yoon’s two hands.

“My hand’s going to wear out.”

He grumbled, sighing. When there was no response, he looked up to see Gye Yoon silently smiling, his lips curved. Perhaps Won-woo’s reaction had pleased him.

His eyes, reflecting the sunset light, sparkled, making the emotion in them clearly visible to an uncomfortable degree. As if he was even more pleased that Won-woo hadn’t run away and had responded. So Won-woo regretted it for a moment. Should he have acted like a coward, saying he was scared because Gye Yoon’s words gave him goosebumps? Then he heard a suggestion filled with joy.

“I’ll let go if you give me something else.”

Something else? Won-woo thought of a body part Gye Yoon could hold instead of his hand and immediately frowned.

“My foot?”

“…Your lips.”

Ah, lips. So he meant touching the lips. Well, lips were surprising too, but better than feet. Feet are a bit much, right? They’re not washed and have been cooped up in shoes all day, all clammy. As Won-woo was strangely relieved, he heard a voice mixed with laughter.

“Actually, I thought you’d think of dick.”

Won-woo’s eyes widened.

“Unless I’ve gone crazy, why would I whip out my dick and hand them over to someone else’s hands in a rooftop garden?”

Unlike the appalled Won-woo, Gye Yoon burst into loud laughter as soon as he heard this. While the situation might be funny to imagine, Won-woo, as the potential dick-offerer, was serious.

“You think I’m too much of a pervert.”

“No, that’s not it… Haha, oh geez.”

Gye Yoon seemed to have trouble stopping his laughter once it started, even bending over before finally calming down. However, remnants of laughter still lingered on his face, making his eyes sparkle as he looked at Won-woo.

“I thought you’d think of it first because it’s the part that reacts the most when I touch it.”

“Maybe it’s because the part of my body that reacts the most when someone touches it isn’t my dick.”

The smile slowly faded from Gye Yoon’s face. Won-woo curiously observed the heat quickly filling Gye Yoon’s eyes. The deepening color of his eyes revealed what he was thinking. Won-woo felt as if he was standing naked in front of Gye Yoon with his legs spread. The gaze looking at Won-woo became sticky with desire. His lowered voice asked.

“Where is it?”

Won-woo, feeling mischievous, didn’t give the correct answer.

“It’s not my feet.”

Fortunately, perhaps due to the recent pleasant memory, Gye Yoon didn’t rush the desire that had overtaken him. On the surface, the conversation continued calmly, but in reality, it was as precarious as walking a tightrope. He seemed to want to enjoy it a bit longer. So he let a playful smile slip onto his lips.

“But I like feet too.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“Are lips okay then?”

Won-woo glanced at the other’s lips for a moment before raising his gaze slightly to meet his eyes. As if courage had returned with the lightened atmosphere, he was able to reply in an nonchalant voice.

“Based on experience, it wasn’t bad.”

“That’s a harsh score.”

“I can’t be careless about it, can I?”

Though they both used informal speech, Gye Yoon seemed even more delighted, grinning widely. Won-woo felt he should back off here. Talking with Gye Yoon was like riding a roller coaster, anxious yet exciting.

Now Gye Yoon was holding his hand loosely, but Won-woo didn’t think to pull away. He had just gotten used to being held. Pull his hand away, and stop the conversation. An alarm went off, but it was difficult to give up the eyes full of pleasure. Because they were sparkling entirely because of him.

“Looks like I need a lot of practice.”

Gye Yoon said slowly, tilting his head to the side. As if about to kiss him, he fixed his gaze on Won-woo’s lips and asked,

“Can I suck it?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected lewd word, Won-woo blurted out,

“Suck on what?”

Gye Yoon’s lips curved silently again. While thinking he was smiling too much today, Won-woo’s priority was to recover from what he had just said. Trying to act nonchalant, he added as if joking,

“Ah, I know you’re not talking about sucking feet.”

“Can I suck your dick?”

“…”

“I won’t do it carelessly. Just let me hear your voice properly.”

Even though Won-woo hadn’t given permission yet, Gye Yoon raised himself and tried to kneel in front of Won-woo. As Won-woo startled and tried to stand up, Gye Yoon pulled on the hand he was still holding. As soon as Won-woo sat back down, Gye Yoon wedged himself between Won-woo’s legs on his knees.

The flustered Won-woo tried to push his shoulders away, but he didn’t budge an inch, like a concrete pillar. Unlike his solid body, he caressed Won-woo’s thighs with a ticklish touch. Although it was over his pants, a creeping sensation spread across his lower abdomen.

“We need to test it, don’t we?”

Gye Yoon threw out an excuse as if creating an escape route. So Won-woo hesitated in pushing him away. When he lowered his gaze, their eyes met as if they had been waiting.

“I’m confident I’ll do well.”

Unlike his calm tone, his eyes were intense as if about to devour Won-woo. Maybe that’s why. Thanks to him going down, the view changed and Won-woo was looking down at him, but he didn’t feel like he had the upper hand.

It was strange. He had never been swept away by anyone before, but with Gye Yoon, he couldn’t be resolute and ended up being dragged along as he wished. Pathetically, this didn’t hurt his pride.

His voice, constantly demanding and desiring him, seemed to quench Won-woo’s thirst. Joy rippled as if cold water was filling up a well that had completely dried up after everyone else had died, leaving him alone.

So this time too, it was hard to shake off this temptation. But reason still remained. He was at least aware of where they were. As Won-woo looked around the quiet rooftop garden, a sweet proposal was heard.

“Shall we move?”

Gye Yoon’s hand slowly moved between his legs. Won-woo inhaled sharply and gripped Gye Yoon’s shoulders harder. Right, it’s a test. Setting up a shield with this crude excuse, Won-woo leaned his head towards him.

“It’s dark, though.”

Before their lips touched, Won-woo whispered to him.

“First, make mine hard.”

-To be continued in Volume 5-