DP Episode 79

Deep Pivot Episode 79

The survival game took place in the mountains, where a gate had opened a few months ago and was still under restoration.

The paint color assigned to the SAU by the team leader drawing was yellow. Among the three teams, including Kang Mi-yeon’s team and SAU, the goal was to capture the flag first.

“Okay, Kang Mi-yeon’s team is red.”

Cheong-oh, with a heavy paintball gun slung over his shoulder, spoke to the gathered team members in front of him.

“It doesn’t matter who we lose to, but anyone who dies with red paint on their suit will have to pay a 5 million won fine. Got it?”

Various cheers or indistinct responses echoed from different directions. Seo-joon led Yeon-woo up the mountain. Passing through the pre-installed cover structures for today’s training, he explained.

“You know the basics, right? The safety pin is here. Don’t underestimate paintballs. Even though they’re mostly harmless to a protected torso or head, if you’re hit in the limbs, you could end up with bruises.”

“What happens to those who are eliminated early?”

“If you’re out early, well… you’ll have to hang around at base camp.”

Seo-joon turned and added to Yeon-woo, who was diligently following him.

“Don’t intentionally get eliminated. I’ll be upset if you end up with bruises.”

Somewhere, a whistle rang out. It was the signal for the game to start. Almost immediately, the sound of guns firing filled the air.

Tat! Tat-tat-tat! Startled by the surprisingly loud noise, Yeon-woo flinched. Tat! Tat! A paintball zipped past right next to him and hit a tree directly. He pointed to the blue paint splatter on his arm.

“I’m dead, Lieutenant.”

Seo-joon laughed and grabbed his arm, pulling him behind the cover.

“That little splatter doesn’t mean you’re dead. You need to be hit in the heart or the head.”

Tat! Red paint exploded near Seo-joon’s feet.

“What are you going to do if you die early?”

“…I’ll hang out.”

“Even if you plan to play around, you should at least take down one of the Kang Mi-yeon team members that Cheong-oh dislikes so much.”

Seo-joon aimed across the cover and pulled the trigger. Tat! “Ah, Lieutenant Ji!” A distant voice complained. Judging by the familiar tone, it seemed to be team leader Kang Mi-yeon.

Tat! Tat! Yeon-woo pulled the trigger in quick succession. He noticed someone moving beyond the distant cover structure.

“I think I hit their head.”

“Not yet!” someone shouted from across the field, apparently hearing Yeon-woo’s words. Seo-joon, who was hiding beside him and observing the situation, let out a faint smile.

Perhaps because he was warned about the pain of getting hit in the limbs, Yeon-woo was earnestly aiming only at the head and torso of his opponents. However, in paintball games, it was best to shoot indiscriminately and hope for a lucky shot to the head or chest. With his strategy, he wouldn’t be able to eliminate anyone.

“Yeon-woo, this way.”

Seo-joon crouched low and quickly moved through the trees. Thud! Tat-tat! Red and blue paintballs burst in quick succession at their feet as they moved.

“Oh.”

Yeon-woo called out to Seo-joon, pointing to his shoulder, where blue paint had splattered.

“Am I still not dead? Isn’t this a serious injury?”

“It’s just a graze. Yeon-woo, you were shot in that spot before, and you’re still alive now.”

“Oh…”

A sigh of disappointment followed Seo-joon’s words. He had never seen anyone so eager to die quickly in a survival game. Of course, Seo-joon also wanted to finish quickly and take a break.

“What did Team Leader Jin say earlier?”

Tat! Seo-joon fired at the opposite cover while hiding behind a tree.

“Anyone with red paint on their clothes will be fined five million won. A slight mistake, and you’ll lose your first paycheck.”

“Eek…”

Yeon-woo was startled, noticing the red paint splattered near him.

“Lieutenant Ji, are you there?”

Team Leader Kang Mi-yeon’s voice was heard nearby. Tat! A paintball exploded against a metal gas canister with a threatening sound.

— Report the baby’s position.

A voice came through Seo-joon’s earpiece.

“The baby is behind the gas canister structure in Zone B.”

A bit farther up was the flag’s location. Paintballs of different colors burst around them. The closer they got to the flag, the more opponents there were.

A few drops of red paint splattered on Yeon-woo’s arm. Seo-joon put an arm around Yeon-woo’s shoulder and ducked down. At that moment, Min-gun, who was running toward them, was struck squarely in the chest by a red paintball.

“Ah, crap, five million won…”

Min-gun looked down at his chest, kicked at the dry leaves on the ground, and sighed. Yeon-woo carefully aimed at the head of the opponent who had shot Min-gun from across the field.

Tat! Tat! Seo-joon moved a few paces away and successfully hit an opponent on the other team. He then spoke bluntly.

“Yeon-woo.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

Tat! Seo-joon’s gun took down another opponent.

“Live with me.”

“Yes, I’ll try not to die.”

“No, I mean, come live with me at my place.”

“…”

Yeon-woo, who was keeping an eye beyond the cover, slowly turned his head.

“…What?”

Tat! Tat! Red paint exploded near Yeon-woo’s feet.

“Live with me, Yeon-woo.”

Splat! A paintball struck Yeon-woo’s shoulder directly, leaving a bright red stain. Seo-joon smiled slightly at the sight. Ignoring the paintballs flying at him, Yeon-woo stood up and looked at Seo-joon with a bewildered expression.

Tat! Tatatata! Paint splattered Yeon-woo’s body in bright colors. His head, torso, and limbs were covered in red and blue paint. Despite losing his first paycheck multiple times over, Yeon-woo kept his gaze locked on Seo-joon alone.

Seo-joon calmly took headshots at those joyfully unloading on Yeon-woo, eliminating them one by one. He looked at Yeon-woo steadily.

“But…”

Yeon-woo opened and closed his lips, and then suddenly raised his gun.

Tat! A yellow paintball exploded against Seo-joon’s torso.

“…Ah.”

Seo-joon groaned softly. The hit didn’t hurt due to his protective gear, but for formality’s sake.

“Yeon-woo, you just did a team kill.”

“…But you did a team kill first, Lieutenant.”

Yeon-woo responded with a dazed expression.

“Why are you saying things like that during a survival game?”

“What things?”

Yeon-woo’s eyes, visible beneath the transparent protective mask, grew wide like a startled rabbit. He stepped closer to Seo-joon, as if in disbelief.

“Did I… did I hear that wrong?”

“No, you heard correctly.”

Seo-joon raised both hands, signaling to the opposing team that he’d been hit. The shooting stopped.

“Let’s live together.”

✽✽✽

“My first paycheck is gone, Lieutenant…”

Yeon-woo removed his helmet and showed Seo-joon his mask, now completely covered in red paint. Seo-joon laughed as he took a swig of water.

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay your fine.”

“…Is that really the issue right now?”

Seo-joon tilted his head in disbelief. Was he being scolded by Cha Yeon-woo? He’d brought up his paycheck first, so what was the actual problem?

“Wait… did I just dream that?”

Yeon-woo asked, still looking shocked after seeing Seo-joon’s reaction. Holding back a laugh, Seo-joon answered seriously.

“What dream did you have?”

“I dreamt that you suggested we live together…”

“That wasn’t a dream. I meant it. Move out of your current boarding house and come live with me.”

“But why did you suddenly suggest that…?”

Seo-joon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. The base camp for those who were out of the game was quite crowded, so the two of them sat under a temporary tent.

“Leaving you alone in that house doesn’t feel safe.”

“…”

“Anyone with a mind to could break in.”

Seo-joon looked at Yeon-woo, who seemed lost in thought. Was the suggestion too sudden?

“It was just a suggestion. I wanted to hear your thoughts.”

Despite his words, Seo-joon was confident. Given the circumstances, it was a proposal Yeon-woo shouldn’t have a reason to refuse.

A few days earlier, his father had broken in, following an assassination attempt that occurred in Yeon-woo’s neighborhood. If Seo-joon hadn’t appeared at the right time, there’s no telling what might have happened.

Then, unexpectedly, Yeon-woo responded.

“I really appreciate the offer.”

“…”

“But I don’t want to be a burden to you, Lieutenant.”

…What?

Seo-joon’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

Unfortunately, Cha Yeon-woo never acted the way Seo-joon expected.