89

…Why start from the fact that you saved me here?

The truth that Baek Sa had saved him in this place was undeniable, but Ha-gyeom couldn’t easily grasp why even the beginning of the mission seemed to revolve around him.

As he found himself endlessly pondering, unable to decipher Baek Sa’s confident expression, time slipped by without an answer in sight.

Knock, knock.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Almost simultaneously, both Baek Sa and Ha-gyeom furrowed their brows, only for Tae-seong to barge in moments later.

“Your private room is ready,” Tae-seong announced briskly.

The newly assigned private room was impressive, even considering that it was only half the size of Baek Sa’s room. It had a bathroom, large windows that let in plenty of sunlight, a small table, and a comfortable bed—none of which could compare to the conditions of the shelters Ha-gyeom had grown used to.

As someone from the Center, now labeled as a captured agent during a mission, he’d assumed he would be stuck in the shelters indefinitely.

While it wasn’t on par with Baek Sa’s accommodations, it was at least on par with what S-rank individuals like Park Ha or Yeo Jin-joo might enjoy. Ha-gyeom wondered if the people here were finally acknowledging his abilities. Yet, he couldn’t shake the suspicion about why he’d suddenly been given such a room. Glancing up at the CCTV camera installed on the ceiling, he asked Baek Sa, who was inspecting the room with him.

“Why… all of a sudden?”

The casual tone of his question didn’t faze Baek Sa, who replied with an enigmatic expression.

“Because there were results from the collection mission. Rewards are only fair.”

Results? Rewards? Ha-gyeom recalled hearing from Dr. Cha that Gi Suh-hyun and her group had been captured and brought to this place. Because of severe internal injuries, their condition had been critical, and he had only learned about it belatedly. Even so, he couldn’t avoid the guilt that weighed on him.

Receiving a private room as a reward for participating in that mission felt completely wrong. The situation was heading in the opposite direction of what Ha-gyeom had hoped for. He had respected Gi Suh-hyun and the Kang sisters’ way of life and believed that they deserved to live on their terms, no matter how difficult their path might be. Yet, in the end….

His heart grew heavier. Still, as he glanced again at the CCTV camera, he chose not to voice his discomfort. Expressing his disapproval of the mission’s outcomes here wouldn’t lead to anything good.

Feigning nonchalance, Ha-gyeom sat on the edge of the bed, masking his thoughts, when Baek Sa approached him and said, “You’ll soon be attending the leadership meetings.”

“The leadership meetings… in District 0?” Ha-gyeom echoed, startled.

Ha-gyeom couldn’t hide his surprise. It was no secret that S-rank Espers like Baek Sa maintained close ties with the leadership here. Attending a leadership meeting was an unmistakable opportunity to gain access to the core of this place. Ha-gyeom had never imagined such a chance would come to him so soon.

“Why would I attend that?”

Was this also a result of the collection mission? Though the situation was sudden, Ha-gyeom was no longer alone. If this was a path similar to the one Baek Sa had walked, it was bound to benefit both him and the mission. With a glimmer of hope, Ha-gyeom looked up at Baek Sa.

It was hard to meet his gaze since Baek Sa remained standing. His hand, as if it were the most natural thing, reached out and gently tousled Ha-gyeom’s hair. His voice was calm and tender as he added, “Someone found you very impressive.”

‘Someone… found me impressive?’

It wasn’t surprising for an S-rank guide to attract attention, but this was the first time someone had explicitly singled him out. Considering Baek Sa’s respectful phrasing, this “someone” was likely a person of significant standing within the leadership.

Earlier, when Baek Sa had seemed ready to elaborate on the mission, Tae-seong’s untimely knock had interrupted the conversation. The fleeting emotions on Baek Sa’s face had disappeared entirely by the time he turned away from the table without hesitation, leaving Ha-gyeom with no further information about the mission.

But the words lingered in Ha-gyeom’s mind.

‘Why did I infiltrate the place where I saved you? Start there.’

The more Ha-gyeom mulled it over, the more it sounded like Baek Sa was pointing to him as the starting point. If Baek Sa’s infiltration of this place was in any way because of him, the mere thought was unbearable. Yet, Ha-gyeom chose not to show his discomfort. Instead, he asked in a casually curious tone.

“Who is this person?”

“You’ll know when you meet them,” Baek Sa replied vaguely.

The response was evasive, but since Baek Sa stood with his back to the CCTV, he didn’t bother to hide the sharp rejection that flashed in his gaze.

Aside from that, as soon as they left the room, Baek Sa had seamlessly transformed into one of District 0’s members. The composed, polished face that looked down at Ha-gyeom in his well-pressed shirt was indistinguishable from the Baek Sa who had once hidden his true identity while asserting control over others.

Under Baek Sa’s intense gaze, Ha-gyeom managed to maintain his composure, but the deep yearning he harbored for him was far harder to control. He couldn’t stop the intrusive memories of being consumed by Baek Sa’s fiery warmth. It was ridiculous—he wasn’t some teenager just discovering desire.

“Then, I guess I’ll meet them…” Ha-gyeom finally replied, though he felt the heat creeping into his ears. Over the past two days, he’d been closer to Baek Sa than ever before, breaking through the veil that had always seemed to shroud him. They had exposed and explored each other’s vulnerabilities, laying bare truths no one else could see.

It wasn’t the physical acts themselves that mattered—it was finally meeting the real Baek Sa.

For the first time, Ha-gyeom felt a sense of stability he’d never known before. There was no need for misplaced hope or inevitable disappointment. Even if his fate meant remaining under Baek Sa’s control, he felt freer than ever.

As he absently rubbed his flushed earlobes, Baek Sa’s hand, which had rested on the crown of his head, slid down to graze his ear. The touch trailed to his nape, sending a shiver down Ha-gyeom’s spine.

“There’ll be training every day,” Baek Sa said.

“……”

“And guiding will be every Friday in my room, like before.”

Ha-gyeom welcomed the idea of training but felt conflicted at the mention of guiding. He wasn’t sure he could separate guiding from intimacy anymore. Even though Baek Sa’s voice was calm, Ha-gyeom instinctively shot him a defiant glare.

When Baek Sa’s hand moved lower, Ha-gyeom quickly grabbed his wrist and asked, “Does it have to be only on Fridays?”

Baek Sa frowned at the blunt question, prompting Ha-gyeom to hastily clarify.

“…I don’t mean guiding. I mean meeting. Can’t we meet whenever we want?”

Baek Sa let out a soft sigh. Though he might have misunderstood, Ha-gyeom wasn’t suggesting this because he wanted more intimacy. He could suppress that desire. All he wanted now was to spend more time with Baek Sa, even if it meant fabricating excuses to discuss their mission.

“You can tell Tae-seong if you want to see me. Or grab any mercenary and ask them to call me,” Baek Sa replied.

I never said I wanted to see you, Ha-gyeom thought, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Baek Sa had taken his words emotionally. Still, the statement wasn’t worth overanalyzing, so Ha-gyeom replied obediently, “Alright.”

When Ha-gyeom forced a faint smile to ease the awkwardness, Baek Sa’s unwavering gaze landed on him again. Still holding Ha-gyeom’s wrist, Baek Sa idly tapped his lips before checking the wall clock.

“And today, after training, wait for me there. I’ll come get you.”

Ha-gyeom blinked in surprise. Having left Baek Sa’s room, he’d assumed there’d be little reason to interact until their next guiding session. This was unexpected.

“You’ll come get me? …Why?”

Baek Sa’s gaze shifted briefly to the empty space around them, and he answered in a low, steady tone, “You’re feeling better, so I figured I’d let you get some fresh air.”

The straightforward response made Ha-gyeom instinctively glance at the CCTV camera. Is he serious? In this room—his private space, not Baek Sa’s—it was hard to tell. Both of them were living under false identities, and the effort to discern the truth behind Baek Sa’s gentle demeanor was becoming a reality Ha-gyeom couldn’t ignore.

Even a simple, private conversation like this had to be filtered through the awareness that someone might be watching.

“Me… and you?” Ha-gyeom asked cautiously.

“Who else is here besides you and me?” Baek Sa replied flatly.

Ha-gyeom glanced around but saw no one else. When Baek Sa’s hand gently ruffled his hair again, Ha-gyeom closed his eyes briefly and finally nodded. Whatever it was, spending time with Baek Sa was always welcome. He wouldn’t refuse.

Even though he’d already agreed, Baek Sa’s hand lingered, refusing to leave. Ha-gyeom slowly traced the silhouette of Baek Sa’s figure with his eyes. His shirt, perfectly fitted to his broad frame, was slightly open, and as Ha-gyeom’s gaze traveled upward, he noticed the faint redness coloring Baek Sa’s ears.

The thought of touching them, feeling their warmth, made Ha-gyeom’s heart race.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Ha-gyeom said aloud, almost to reassure himself.

No matter how skilled they were at pretense, there were some things that couldn’t be hidden. In that moment, Ha-gyeom desperately wanted to believe that.