DB Vol 7 Part 2

The news that reached Yoo Geon-young, who had been frantically moving in search of his target, was so unbelievable that he cursed at first.

‘Ji Won-woo has found Ji Seong-hyeon, they say.’

Unable to believe the fact relayed from headquarters, he rushed to a country house where Seong-hyeon was reportedly found. And before even entering, he hesitated at something flowing out through the half-open door. It was the smell of blood. Why on earth? Who? As he hurried inside, he stopped again. Scattered corpses and pools of blood greeted him.

“My God… Alpha team members are A-rank Espers…”

The hidden question in his subordinate’s words, which sounded like a groan from behind, was one: Who on earth? The first person to come to Yoo Geon-young’s mind was Won-woo, who had reportedly found Seong-hyeon. But there was no way he could have done this. Of course not. Then Han Seona? No. Han Seona even less so. How could a B-rank Esper?

“You check the second floor. You survey the surroundings. Hurry!”

“Should we find who attacked them?”

At his tense subordinate’s question, Yoo Geon-young frowned.

“No, find Ji Won-woo…”

That’s when it happened. Some sound was heard from a corner of the house. As he approached cautiously, there was light on inside a slightly open bathroom, and the sound was coming from there.

“Ugh!”

It was the sound of someone vomiting. Yoo Geon-young quickly opened the door wide and his eyes widened. Won-woo was hunched over the sink, dry heaving.

As if sensing someone’s presence, he turned his head slightly. There was blood on his body, hands, and clothes, but Yoo Geon-young’s eyes only saw Won-woo’s face.

Hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, pale skin, slightly reddened eyes as if tired from vomiting. And lips wet with saliva. Forgetting the situation, Yoo Geon-young swallowed as he stared at his face like a person in a daze. Fuck, has Won-woo always looked this sexy?

“Deputy team leader, Ji Seong-hyeon alone survived on the second floor…”

The voice of the subordinate reporting from behind trailed off. Yoo Geon-young turned to the subordinate as if coming to his senses, then frowned deeply. The subordinate was staring at Won-woo as if entranced. There was a hint of impure light mixed in. Yoo Geon-young was about to say something when he turned his gaze back at the sound coming from Won-woo’s direction.

Splash.

Won-woo was bent over again, wiping his mouth with water cupped in his palm from the running faucet. Because of this, even the tips of his bangs that had fallen forward were wet. But he didn’t seem to mind, just washing his mouth with water and roughly wiping with the back of his hand. However, he placed both hands on the sink again and let out a deep sigh.

Was it because of his somewhat tired-looking face? The slow rise and fall of his chest, even the moisture in his hair, gave a strangely melancholic impression.

Although Won-woo was a grown man with a slightly lean but muscular build, to the eyes of the two espers watching him now, he looked like a weak being that could be possessed at any moment.

And at the same time, they inwardly expressed the same admiration. Ah, no wonder Gye Yoon keeps him so close. His face was always stunning.

So regret also arose. They should have made a move when no one cared about Ji Won-woo before. Now that he’s appeared next to a person in power, there’s no chance to even speak to him, let alone touch him.

The grass is always greener on the other side, and that made Won-woo seem even more special. Just then, as Won-woo searched his pocket as if to wipe his wet face, the subordinate quickly tried to take out a handkerchief. However, his hand couldn’t get past Yoo Geon-young who was in front.

“Monitor Ji Seong-hyeon on the second floor. Now.”

Yoo Geon-young ordered, roughly pushing his arm away, then took out a handkerchief from his own pocket and held it out to Won-woo.

“Here.”

When Won-woo glanced at it and wiped his hands on his pants as if ignoring it, Yoo Geon-young shook his hand slightly as if to say take it.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Many Guides faint just seeing corpses at the scene. The scene here is quite horrific, so it’s natural to feel sick. I understand.”

Perhaps impressed by his high level of understanding, Won-woo, who was about to leave, stared at him. It was a look of disbelief to anyone who saw it, but to Yoo Geon-young’s eyes, it only looked like awkwardness. Well, I guess he’s puzzled that I’m being so kind when we weren’t on good terms. Yoo Geon-young shook his now embarrassed hand again.

“I’m not giving it to you because I like you. Even if it’s you, you can’t help but care when someone on the same side is so shocked, right?”

“Turn that care off again.”

Won-woo spat out shortly and tried to pass him to leave the bathroom, but Yoo Geon-young, standing in front of the door, grabbed Won-woo’s arm. However, the moment he grabbed it, a strong wind pushed Yoo Geon-young’s body forcefully towards the wall.

Both Yoo Geon-young, who was pushed against the wall, and Won-woo, who had raised his arm to push him away, froze in hesitation. It was because of the vicious curse that was heard before the two could even comprehend the situation.

“Fuck, why are there so many damn bugs swarming when it’s not even summer?”

Seona was approaching quickly, holding a water bottle in one hand.

“Fuck, you…”

Yoo Geon-young recognized her and started with a curse, but her actions stopped his next words. Seona held out the water bottle to Won-woo, and Won-woo accepted it without resistance.

Yoo Geon-young felt sick with annoyance at Won-woo, who willingly accepted her help despite his anger towards Seona. Jealousy also arose. What the hell is that B-rank mongrel? Why has Won-woo always disarmed himself for Han Seona? Even now, he was smiling at Seona.

“Did you go out of your way to buy this?”

“Not out of my way. Just happened to.”

Seona, who had indeed gone out of her way to buy it, denied it casually and asked gruffly.

“How’s your stomach?”

Won-woo nodded slightly as if to say it was fine, gulping down the water.

“How could you be fine? There are decapitated corpses strewn about and it’s a sea of blood everywhere. How creepy must it have been just entering this house? And not even knowing who committed this horrific act.”

Won-woo and Seona’s gazes turned to Yoo Geon-young simultaneously. And Seona, who had recently become quite skilled at verbally destroying others, spoke first.

“You’re the creepy one.”

Her voice was full of disdain, but Yoo Geon-young just sighed, understanding it as her dislike for him.

“So why did a powerless Guide like you come here in the first place? What if you had run into the bastard who killed Alpha team?”

Won-woo, who had no intention of revealing his identity yet, just snickered. However, Seona never laughed off even a single comma of Yoo Geon-young’s words.

“What do you mean what if? If I ran into them, I’d praise them for a job well done and go get something delicious to eat together. Ah, but I guess someone like you with only one friend wouldn’t have the social skills for that. You’d probably start cursing the moment you met them and end up dead.”

“Fuck, Han Seona. Watch your mouth.”

As Yoo Geon-young clenched his fist, gathering power in his hand, Won-woo turned to look at him. Won-woo’s eyes turned cold for a moment, but Seona blocked him and pulled him to the side.

“Right, that’s your strong point. Even though you must be too busy worrying about your own fucked future, you still worry about others.”

“Ha, what about my future?”

“It’s fucked. We won the bet, didn’t we?”

The smile disappeared from Yoo Geon-young’s face. As if belatedly realizing, he also cursed inwardly. Having lost the bet, he was now likely to have to do whatever the Gye brute told him to.

“How did you guys find Ji Seong-hyeon? Was there an informant? Ji Won-woo, you weren’t in contact with Ji Seong-hyeon, were you?”

Yoo Geon-young asked seriously. Won-woo, as if not wanting to respond, made a brief, businesslike request.

“Clean up the scene and make sure Ji Seong-hyeon doesn’t escape. Bring him to the East Center safely.”

Yoo Geon-young’s voice could be heard calling from behind, but Won-woo headed outside with Seona. Seona, surprisingly docile, followed Won-woo out and as soon as they reached a place with no people, she asked in an intense voice into her communicator.

“Did you hear that?”

As Won-woo, heading towards the car, turned around with a “What?” expression, a short answer was heard on both of their communicators. It was Gye Yoon’s voice.

[Yes.]

It was just one word, but they both hesitated at the strange chill. It felt like facing the cold air spreading like fog when opening a freezer door. But whether it was a freezer or an active volcano, Seona, who had a lot to say, hurriedly asked her question first.

“Can you definitely take them down?”

However, only silence descended, with no answer. What, is it difficult to take them down as a bet condition? As Seona was about to ask again impatiently, a dry suggestion was heard directed at Won-woo.

[Let’s kill them.]

“No way.”

This time too, Seona objected. She gave a reason similar to before.

“These bastards haven’t suffered enough yet. They can’t die before they’re tormented by miserable defeat, jealousy, and shame to the point of rolling on the ground around the world.”

But unlike Seona, the other’s patience was wearing thin.

[I’m starting to get annoyed.]

At the low muttering voice, Seona closed her eyes tightly as if frustrated.

“You have to endure that! That’s what makes the joy greater, you idiot!”

She dared to call an S-rank an idiot, but there was no vicious threat to kill her. Instead, a low voice full of shock flowed out.

[…Fuck, are you Gye Min by any chance?]

Unaware that she had barely clung to life, Seona was preoccupied with expressing her opinion.

“Yoo Geon-young, that bastard, must watch with his own two eyes wide open as Won-woo slits the throats of a hundred Espers and dyes the whole land red with Esper blood. We need to make that bastard tremble in fear looking at Won-woo so that no more nonsense comes out of his mouth. Endure the annoyance a bit for the enemy that will crumble at the last moment!”

Watching Seona grind her teeth, Won-woo’s eyes also became serious. Do I… have to kill a hundred people?

Ji Won-woo found the target first. Even though two main teams were practically annihilated in this operation, this news came as an even bigger shock. Especially the expressions of the Main 2 team members, who were parties to the bet, soured. However, Hong Seung-wook was more concerned about something else than losing the bet.

“You say the entire Alpha team was found dead? And only Ji Won-woo was inside?”

[No, Ji Seong-hyeon was alive too. Though he was tied up like a hostage.]

Espers were victimized again. The members of two main teams at the East Center all lost their abilities, and the Yang family’s Alpha team was all dead. As if weakening both sides’ forces equally. All of them precious A-rank Espers. And Won-woo was involved in this incident.

Hong Seung-wook suddenly remembered. The previous controversy surrounding Won-woo was also because of Esper deaths. It was only known that he had beaten up an Esper from the same team who was stalking him, but that Esper eventually died from going rampage. And now, as soon as Ji Won-woo appeared again, Espers started dying.

“Could it be… Ji Won-woo’s doing?”

As he unconsciously muttered to himself, a rebuttal was heard over the communicator.

[No way. Ji Won-woo is a Guide, what are you talking about?]

What if that Guide could subdue both Espers and numerous monsters? The man he met in the village where he rushed to stop monsters came to mind. That build was clearly Won-woo’s.

Even while knowing it was nonsense, the conviction that Ji Won-woo might be the culprit grew stronger in Hong Seung-wook’s mind. Just then, the sound of Yoo Geon-young clicking his tongue was heard.

[Hey, when I saw Ji Won-woo, he was shocked by the scene and vomiting. His face was completely pale, looked like he was about to collapse.]

“Really?”

[Yeah. I understand because the scene was horrific, but seeing him so weak made me feel bad for him. He always looked a bit precarious even when he had no presence before, you know.]

Hong Seung-wook couldn’t deny it and turned his gaze to empty space. As Yoo Geon-young said, Won-woo had a somewhat weak impression when Hong Seung-wook briefly met him before. But thinking about it now, Won-woo from then and now felt like completely different people.

[No matter how much he’s changed, I guess it was just a disguise. Seeing him struggle like that, I just…]

As Yoo Geon-young trailed off without finishing his words, Hong Seung-wook raised an eyebrow.

“Just what?”

[Well, just… ahem, wanted to comfort him.]

At his friend’s words, Hong Seung-wook, who had been suspecting Won-woo might be the culprit who harmed the Espers, immediately erased his doubts.

“Is Won-woo hurt somewhere?”

As he unknowingly spoke the name familiarly and showed concern, silence flowed through the communicator for a moment. After a while, a gruff answer was heard.

[What do you mean hurt? Han Seona is hanging all over him.]

Hanging all over him? He was about to ask, but there was no need. Luckily, a car had just stopped in the parking lot where Hong Seung-wook was talking. Hong Seung-wook approached quickly as soon as he confirmed the people inside.

“Ji Won-woo-ssi.”

Although Won-woo ignored the call as if not even looking, Seona who got out from the opposite side was different. Her annoyed muttering was clearly heard by Hong Seung-wook.

“So disgustingly annoying.”

Hong Seung-wook’s cold gaze turned to Seona, but Seona closed the car door with a bang, not losing an ounce of spirit even in a staring contest with an A-rank Esper. Compared to her battle of wills with an S-rank, she could beat Hong Seung-wook in her sleep.

“Team Leader Hong, if you have something to say to my team member, say it to me.”

Ignoring her, Hong Seung-wook approached Won-woo and asked.

“Are you okay?”

What? The question was unexpected, so Won-woo turned around and Hong Seung-wook examined his face closely. He really did look a bit pale.

“I heard you almost collapsed after seeing the scene.”

“…Me?”

Won-woo didn’t want to exchange words with Hong Seung-wook if possible, but the question came out involuntarily.

“You don’t look well. You used to…”

Hong Seung-wook, about to mention the past Won-woo who now seemed like a completely different person, swallowed his words. When he tried to help Ji Won-woo in the past, he had asked several times. Are you okay, is anything troubling you?

The answer was always the same. No, I’m fine. It was a weak voice, but it sounded like rejection and hurt his pride. And even now, it wasn’t much different from before. Except that his voice clearly showed rejection.

“My face is always like this. And if you have something to say to me, send an official document.”

“Why should I do that? Why are you avoiding me?”

Hong Seung-wook was so focused on the other person that he didn’t notice the sound others heard. Step. Someone’s footsteps sounded behind Hong Seung-wook and then stopped. Won-woo glanced at the person who appeared behind Hong Seung-wook. It was Idan, who had come looking for Hong Seung-wook after hearing the main team had arrived. He was looking at Hong Seung-wook’s back with wavering eyes.

“Let me correct you first. I’m not avoiding, I’m ignoring you. And the reason for that is.”

This time Won-woo’s gaze turned to the side. Idan wasn’t the only one who had come out to see them off in the open parking lot. A tall person was standing at a distance with a crooked posture. As if hesitating whether to use his power or not, unable to approach.

However, having been called an idiot by Seona, his eyes were full of annoyance as he couldn’t easily use his power. Won-woo found it a bit strange that he was so docile when before he would have crushed his opponent with force first. He continued speaking while following Gye Yoon with his eyes.

“I want to focus only on the person I like.”

*

What are the conditions for brainwashing? Yoon-im wondered why she had believed such nonsense as truth for so long. She knew the reason. She had memories of pregnancy and childbirth. But thinking back, she couldn’t recall any clear scenes. Not her belly growing, the discomforts of pregnancy, or even experiences of prenatal check-ups.

The remaining memories were not images but sentences. Like propositions stating she was pregnant and gave birth. This was so firm that she had never doubted it before. Because she was originally the type not interested in pregnancy and childbirth. So she never thought to look for records.

But how foolish was that? Checking belatedly, ridiculously, there were no records. No hospital records remained from the period when she supposedly gave birth. Even credit card statements were all deleted. Did I really get pregnant? Or was it a stillbirth?

Actually, it didn’t matter either way. Whether her child actually existed or was stillborn, she felt little emotion about it. To her, a child was just a tool for success. Ah, so that’s why. Yoon-im vaguely found the reason this long brainwashing could continue. Everything fit together.

Yang Cheon-hyo’s brainwashing ability strengthened by Alpha seeds, the Yang family’s thoroughness in erasing all records and removing any suspicious circumstances, and the perfect unity of all those who deceived her for that thoroughness.

Moreover, she happened to be someone who had no affection for children and wouldn’t care if a child was taken away. That’s why she was fooled for so long.

At this point, she became curious. Why did they need to deceive her like that? She recalled her husband standing firmly holding the child’s hand at the banquet hall. She also remembered Yang Cheon-hyo calling for her whenever he needed, day or night.

From her secretary who loyally served her for a long time while naturally bringing all the Yang family’s troublesome matters, to the Yang family people who tacitly looked down on the Cha family but never asked why the child was entrusted there. Everyone deceived her as if it were natural, without guilt.

Thanks to that, she concluded she couldn’t escape the brainwashing for that long time.

Conversely, that meant the brainwashing might not last long if doubts were constantly raised from those around her.

Yoon-im recalled the Yang family’s key figures gathered at today’s inauguration ceremony. They were all brainwashed at the family head meeting. A short, hollow laugh escaped as Yoon-im’s lips twisted.

“Ha.”

So you’re trying to brainwash again. If Yoon-im’s guess was correct, he would try to end the war before the brainwashing he placed on the Yang family’s high-ranking Espers wore off.

Tap, tap.

Yoon-im tapped her fingers on the desk. After several cycles of doubt and conviction, her anger wasn’t great. Instead, it was time to think about what to do with a cooled head. She had spent too much time being angry.

Now she needed to set goals and move. Of course, the biggest goal was revenge. But she couldn’t give up the power she desired just because the Yang family deceived her. Yoon-im decided to get both.

Then this might be an opportunity.

Isn’t a war about to break out? When both the Yang and Hong families are destroyed, she can swallow up the ownerless Yang family then. So, how can the damage be maximized? The answer was simple. Escalate the war.

Yoon-im recalled one piece of news she received this morning. They said Gye Yoon from the North came to help the Hong family. Right, the North. Yoon-im thought of the resurrected Gye family. We can drag the entire Gye family and North Center into the battlefield. It would be nice to sweep away those unpleasant fellows in this opportunity too.

And provoking the North was too easy for Yoon-im. It’s what she had been doing for the past 9 years. Yoon-im opened a drawer and took out a storage device from a narrow space she had secretly created underneath. Nine years worth of precious information she had meticulously accumulated for contingencies was there.

She began searching for bait to draw the Gye family into the war as well. As her gaze quickly scanned the monitor, a knock was heard and her secretary entered.

“Madam, the Vice Family Head is looking for you.”

Now that the inauguration ceremony was over, the secretary called Yang Cheon-hyo the Vice Family Head. Yoon-im stared at the secretary’s face before turning her eyes back to the monitor.

“I’m feeling unwell again.”

She felt the secretary’s puzzled gaze, but Yoon-im just examined the monitor as if ignoring it. Then the secretary briefly reported in a voice hiding bewilderment.

“We’ve lost contact with Alpha team. Since Ji Seong-hyeon’s survival is unconfirmed, we need your permission to contact our people still remaining at the East Center.”

Yoon-im still didn’t respond and asked casually,

“So we decided to strike the Hong family first? In about two days?”

It was a plan that came out at today’s inauguration ceremony, but when Yoon-im, who wasn’t there, asked, the secretary’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you hear the Vice Family Head’s inauguration speech?”

It was obvious even without hearing it. They probably want to quickly strike the Hong family before the brainwashing on the Yang family Espers wears off. And they need to backstab before the negotiation period promised with the Hong family ends to gain the upper hand.

“You’re saying we’ll attack first even though Gye Yoon is at the East Center?”

As Yoon-im muttered as if talking to herself, the secretary asked curiously,

“Don’t we have the Yang Family Head with us? Even if it’s Gye Yoon, he won’t be able to act recklessly.”

No, the Yang Family Head probably isn’t in a state to fight right now. Yoon-im recalled the confidential information only she knew, but soon shook her head inwardly. She didn’t know for certain either.

Well, if the Yang Family Head miraculously woke up and joined the war, it would be all the better as more people would die. The anger that had filled Yoon-im’s interior until recently now turned to elation as she imagined a future where everyone would die.

“Then spread a definite rumor that the Yang Family Head has started moving, so Gye Yoon can’t act recklessly.”

Yoon-im stopped the mouse she was moving as she gave the order. She finally found the bait she wanted. Yes, this should be enough to make even Gye Min, who’s crouching like a fox aiming for fisherman’s profits, go crazy and jump into the war.

Click.

She clicked the play button with the mouse. It was a short video of less than 5 seconds, but that was enough. Throughout the 5 seconds, the video showed the corpse of a newborn baby. More importantly, it was the voice heard in the background. A cry of the previous Gye family head that sounded like a monster’s roar. It was a truly miserable and grief-stricken wail. Yoon-im checked the video once more and twisted her lips. When would be the most effective time to throw this out?

*

“I’ll go check on the captured Ji Seong-hyeon.”

Although the operation was over, Seona seemed accustomed to handling the aftermath first.

“You should rest.”

Won-woo, who had come up to the second floor together, tried to stop her, but Seona quickly shook her head.

“I want to use checking as an excuse to see what happened to the main team and gauge the atmosphere.”

Though she was making excuses about checking, her sparkling eyes held a firm determination to tour the chaotic East Center no matter how tired she was. Won-woo was slightly worried she might burst into laughter while looking around, but he nodded.

“I’ll report to the North Center through Director Hwang. Feel free to look… I mean, check around.”

As soon as Won-woo finished speaking, Seona disappeared with butterfly-light footsteps. After watching her retreating figure for a moment, Won-woo turned to Gye Yoon, who had been silent the entire way here.

“Did it go well asking Director Hwang to search through the data here?”

But Gye Yoon entered the office first without any answer, passing Won-woo. He hadn’t said much and remained expressionless from the parking lot to here, so Won-woo wondered if he was angry.

But there’s nothing to be angry about. Won-woo tilted his head. They met Hong Seung-wook in the parking lot but managed to send him away, and Gye Yoon didn’t even glance at him. There was only one reason to suspect why his mood was low.

“Was the content you found not good?”

As Won-woo followed Gye Yoon into the office and asked, Gye Yoon passed by without even making eye contact. Is he going out again? Won-woo half-turned his body, but Gye Yoon slammed the door shut. Then he turned around with his usual expression and approached Won-woo.

“If you need to meet the Gye family head directly…”

The words didn’t finish coming out. Gye Yoon, who had been slowly approaching, suddenly pulled Won-woo in and blocked his lips with a kiss. The sudden kiss and his arms squeezing breathtakingly tight were a bit puzzling. There had been no sign. Confused, Won-woo tried to push him away but hesitated at Gye Yoon’s thigh pushing between his legs.

Under his pants, Gye Yoon’s dick was already hard enough to show a long, thick shape. Why? The question flashed through his mind. And question marks continued to arise. As Won-woo didn’t respond properly, Gye Yoon tightened his grip on Won-woo’s head as if dissatisfied.

But the other hand was the opposite. The hand sliding down Won-woo’s waist to his buttocks to pull him close was slow and gentle even with force. When Won-woo remained stiff and unresponsive to that touch, Gye Yoon grabbed his buttock flesh as if to make him focus. Won-woo flinched and pushed him, but Gye Yoon instead held him close and whispered.

“Open up.”

The low, hoarse command sounded urgent, as if impatient. That suddenness threw a spark into Won-woo’s interior. As soon as he unknowingly opened his mouth a little more, a hot tongue invaded. His lips, already wet with saliva, were crushed together as they locked deeply.

The kiss, overwhelmed by one-sided force, was more than coercive, it was violent, but Won-woo could no longer push him away. The hot heat and contact filling his mouth in an instant was electrifying like a stimulating spice. So he didn’t realize he was gasping for breath, or that a beast-like rumble was heard from Gye Yoon’s throat.

He could only clearly feel Gye Yoon’s thigh pushing between his legs, rubbing with impatient movements. Gye Yoon was pushing forward with force alone, without any consideration for his partner, like an impatient teenager. He even swayed his hips as if he might really ejaculate like this, rubbing his dick against Won-woo’s body.

“Ugh, why…”

Won-woo gasped and barely managed to ask through the gap, but all he got in return was a rough kiss that stirred his insides and sucked mercilessly. Why is he so impatient? Even as the question arose, he couldn’t push away this force that wouldn’t let him go because he liked it. That’s when Gye Yoon slid his hand under Won-woo’s shirt and stroked his bare skin with his palm. A curse like a sigh escaped from him.

“Ha, shit.”

Muttering against his lips, Gye Yoon briefly paused his storm-like kiss. Only then could Won-woo breathe properly.

Thump, thump, thump.

As it quieted, his own accelerated heartbeat resonated through his body like beating a drum. It might have been the heartbeat of the other pressed firmly against his chest.

“Say it again.”

“Say what?”

When he moved his lips, they brushed against Gye Yoon’s touching ones and made it hard to pronounce properly. But Gye Yoon seemed to understand well as he raised his head and demanded shamelessly.

“That you like me.”

…Ah, those words. Won-woo recalled what he had said to Hong Seung-wook in the parking lot. He thought Gye Yoon would understand it as words spoken half on impulse and half to establish grounds for rejecting Hong Seung-wook. At least Seona seemed to believe it was an act. But apparently it didn’t sound like an act to Gye Yoon at all.

Won-woo finally understood why Gye Yoon had kissed him so forcefully. Ironically, his expression was the complete opposite. He looked expressionless, not at all like someone who had been kissing madly just moments ago. But now Won-woo wasn’t fooled by that face.

His hands still gripping Won-woo painfully and his hardened dick pressed against him below showed his true feelings. Those hot eyes did too. All of his expressionless face and behavior no different from usual on the way here seemed like a shell disguising that heat.

And Won-woo could tell that shell would easily crumble with just one word from him. So Won-woo didn’t want to give the answer he wanted. This forceful pressure asking if he liked him felt electrifyingly good.

Though he knew he was being cruel, acting like a different person in front of Gye Yoon, it was hard to give up this greed. More, chase me more. This wish was contained in his murmured answer.

“…No. I won’t say it.”

Fear arose along with the answer. What if he pushes me away? It took courage to look at him properly, but the reward was satisfyingly large. The heat in his eyes looking at Won-woo remained the same. Rather, stubbornness mixed in, making his dark gaze even deeper.

“You’re driving me crazy, shit.”

He spat out in a hoarse voice, gritting his teeth.

“You do like me, don’t you?”

Won-woo now looked at him straight on with more courage and asked.

“Will you give up on me if I don’t answer?”

“Why would I? I’ll go even crazier.”

Gye Yoon exhaled a rough breath and lowered his lips to Won-woo again. He sucked on Won-woo’s lips as if biting and touched the inside of his mouth with his wet tongue. His impatience was breathtakingly good, enough to melt the brain. Won-woo unknowingly tightened his grip on Gye Yoon’s shoulders and deliberately asked, pretending not to know.

“Do you need guiding?”

A short laugh escaped Gye Yoon’s lips. Won-woo watched in a daze as his face moved away and his closed eyes slowly opened. But as soon as their eyes met, he realized he had made a mistake this time. There was a cruel smile in Gye Yoon’s eyes.

“You know your heart beats faster every time you say words pushing me away? And then when you like my answer, you tremble here like this.”

Gye Yoon’s fingertips traced down the center of Won-woo’s chest.

“As if you don’t know what to do because you like it so much.”

Won-woo held his breath. Feeling heat rise to his face, he turned his head away first. Unlike before, his heart trembled with shame. Though he could hide that his true feelings had been exposed with his expression, it was hard to hide his body’s reactions.

Won-woo twisted his body, trying to escape while pushing Gye Yoon’s shoulders hard. He even pushed Gye Yoon’s arms with force, but Gye Yoon wouldn’t let go. He pulled Won-woo in closer while hugging him tightly.

“Let go!”

When Won-woo shouted fiercely, a sweetened voice whispered in his ear.

“When you get so angry and struggle like that, it feels even better.”

“Damn it, I said let go!”

Won-woo shouted, replacing his lingering shame with anger, but Gye Yoon instead grinned and laughed. An unfamiliar elation welled up as he trapped the struggling Won-woo in his arms.

“Don’t we get along really well? This game of tag is so amazing, I don’t mind doing it my whole life.”

Kiss. Gye Yoon forcibly hugged Won-woo, who was twisting his body, and kissed his neck. His lips were hot, and the heat spread thrillingly through Won-woo’s body, but Won-woo didn’t want to relax and accept him like this. He briefly considered using his ability to neutralize Gye Yoon if necessary, but he missed the timing.

Suddenly, his vision darkened. The floor disappeared as if his feet were floating in the air, and dizziness washed over him. He realized what this familiar feeling meant when he came to his senses and saw the familiar scenery around him. Log walls and furniture.

It was the cabin where he had spent a few days with Gye Yoon. But this is in the North? Did he just teleport here? As Won-woo’s eyes widened in surprise, the arm holding him tightened. And a breathless voice demanded,

“Guide me.”

Won-woo instinctively checked his condition first. And confusion arose. He seemed to need guiding, but he wasn’t in a dangerous state. When he had traveled such a long distance at once before, he had been more unstable. But now, he even doubted if guiding was necessary. Could his ability have gotten better? Is that even possible? Won-woo suppressed his questions and shook his head.

“You’re not in a state to be guided.”

As soon as he spoke coldly without realizing it, a large hand grabbed Won-woo’s chin and lifted it. His lips met Gye Yoon’s hot breath. Although he didn’t get an answer, the hand that held his face so he couldn’t move seemed to be stubbornly insisting he needed guiding. When Won-woo’s chin was held, he couldn’t open his mouth as much as he wanted, and Gye Yoon, perhaps mistaking it for refusal, asked again after the deep kiss ended.

“Not in a state? You want to, don’t you?”

The intention of the question was obvious. He wasn’t doing this to stabilize his energy, but for sex. Won-woo hesitated for a moment, looking into Gye Yoon’s eyes gazing down at him from close proximity. Like a habit, another refusal was about to come out. But this time, he didn’t have much leeway. The sudden kiss, the unexpected movement, it all felt like Gye Yoon’s urgency expressed through his body, and Won-woo felt good enough about it. So, he responded with his body. He raised his hand and traced up Gye Yoon’s nape, fingers digging into his hair. He started guiding immediately.

Gye Yoon’s gaze changed in an instant. It might have been an illusion, but it was as if he saw bursting golden light. Before he could confirm, his lips were sealed again. The lips pressing down were urgent, and his tongue, which invaded without foreplay, was rough. But Won-woo willingly accepted his tongue invading within.

Hot, wet, soft yet firm tongues intertwined. Guiding on the skin and guiding through kissing were on a different level. His heart sank like an unexpected fall. While skin-to-skin guiding felt like touching energy through a thin tube, the tongue entwined inside his mouth felt like water pouring down through a giant pipe.

Won-woo was swept away and mixed in with that uncontrollable force. But having experienced it a few times, unlike before, he willingly jumped into this flow. Swept away by this fierce current, reason disappeared and pleasure unrelated to his will dominated his body.

Won-woo thought Gye Yoon wouldn’t need much guiding since he wasn’t in a particularly demanding situation, so his energy wouldn’t be as wild as before. But that was a complete misjudgment. If the previous experience was a stormy sea, this was a pleasantly undulating wave. As he surrendered to the waves and floated, he felt the other person’s senses, dissolved in the sea, more deeply.

Won-woo let out a groan from his throat. Even though his voice was muffled by lips, Gye Yoon, sensing the sound, had his excitement melt into his energy. Won-woo received that excitement fully with his entire body. A thrill spread from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

“Hngh, haa, ha…”

Breathless gasps escaped between lips that had detached without him knowing. This sound clearly excited Gye Yoon. He buried his face in Won-woo’s nape. He inhaled deeply, smelling him. As if intoxicated by the scent, Gye Yoon’s breathing grew rough.

Although sound was Gye Yoon’s ability, Won-woo, who had joined in his feeling through guiding, also received that stimulus. The excited partner’s sound seemed to be absorbed through the skin, causing goosebumps to rise on his arms and legs. Gye Yoon, who was sucking on Won-woo’s nape and baring his teeth, suddenly pushed up Won-woo’s top.

In the brief moment their lips parted, Gye Yoon’s hands pulled the top off over Won-woo’s head. Those hands immediately stroked down between Won-woo’s legs as if rubbing. Won-woo panted and muttered,

“Touch me properly.”

“Say it more properly.”

More properly? Does he mean to beg using the highest form of honorifics? When Won-woo opened his eyes in confusion, he saw Gye Yoon taking off his own shirt and throwing it away. For a moment, he was captivated by the bare skin revealed before his eyes. The overwhelmingly broad shoulders and firmly defined muscles were breathtakingly beautiful no matter how many times he saw them. He tried to raise his hand to touch, but the other moved first. Hot lips touched Won-woo’s bare shoulder. He heard a low but somewhat languid whisper that sounded like a sigh.

“Say it more erotically.”

It was an absurd request, but Won-woo was already intoxicated by his lips touching his body. Just by touching Gye Yoon, his body now automatically guided itself. His reason disappeared again as if his head was soaked in drugs. It felt like the heated passion would properly burst if he did as Gye Yoon asked, but his mind wouldn’t work. He didn’t know how to speak erotically in the first place. Won-woo barely managed to utter one word in a plaintive voice.

“Haa, Yoon-ah.”

The lips that had been nibbling at the bare skin of his shoulder stopped. But soon after, teeth bit down hard on the flesh.

“Ah! Why…?”

“Because it’s too sexy.”

As if it wasn’t a lie, Gye Yoon’s energy enveloped Won-woo more electrifyingly. Won-woo, who kept his eyes closed, felt as if he was immersed in a vast Milky Way in the dark night sky. He didn’t want to miss this enormous universe of sensations. So even when Gye Yoon stripped Won-woo and became naked himself in the blink of an eye, he didn’t realize it.

Until Gye Yoon lifted and embraced Won-woo’s body, all he could do was just breathe heavily. Even that breath couldn’t be exhaled due to the lips blocking it. When Gye Yoon’s hands supported his buttocks, Won-woo instinctively wrapped his legs around his waist. The erect dick, pressed against each other below, were so hot they seemed to leave their shape on the skin. Only then did Won-woo realize that neither he nor Gye Yoon was wearing a stitch of clothing. His body trembled as if overcome by a chill.

“Are you cold?”

Gye Yoon asked as he laid Won-woo down on the undulating bed. Won-woo shook his head and looked up at Gye Yoon. He hadn’t noticed due to the intense gaze, but the corners of his eyes were slightly reddened with heat. His chest was already heaving greatly, as if excitement was rising. Gye Yoon brushed back Won-woo’s hair and cupped his face with his hands.

“Won-woo hyung.”

Through the husky voice, his own name, familiar from hearing it all his life, flowed in. Won-woo instantly understood why Gye Yoon had judged his calling as sexy just before. The unfamiliar form of address stimulated his peripheral nerves more sensually than any lewd words. Won-woo wiggled his tingling fingertips and then raised his hand.

“It feels really ticklish.”

As he muttered his impression, Gye Yoon twisted the corner of his mouth. The eyes that had seemed to shine golden just moments ago were now filled with lust, emitting a red heat. But only the eyes were as turbulent as flames. Between the two gazing at each other, it was so quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed to have stopped.