DP Side Story 2, Episode 16
by BrieDeep Pivot Side Story 2, Episode 16
「But hey, is it really okay for you to be slacking off like this? It’s been almost two weeks since we got here and I haven’t seen you head out on duty even once.」
Eric shrugged. The land was vast and manpower was abundant. He brushed it off with a light laugh.
「Still, if you rest too much, it gets boring. Sometimes I even find myself hoping a Gate would open in our sector, just to shake things up a little.」
“…”
No one said a word. Seo-joon stared quietly at Eric. Even if he had meant it as a joke, the casual way he spoke as a No-named was… beyond words. Remarkable, in many ways.
Even when No-nameds around the world were caught at the brink of life and death, Eric had never blinked an eye. Of course, who’s to say he didn’t have his own silent struggles. But with nothing lacking—money, family, security—he seemed like someone who had always believed he was a worthy, valuable person.
Even after learning the truth about the connection between No-nameds and Gates, his high self-esteem remained unshaken. Even though his own Guide and wife, Rachel, bore a deep, unhealable scar on her face.
Unbothered by the heavy mood, Eric continued talking.
「You guys are way too intense. I heard something before—those crazy Espers the Deputy Director sent, Jun wiped them all out by himself, right? That story went around our team for a while. How hard do you even train? That’s a human rights violation, seriously.」
It was a sincere question, free of malice, but every team member made an uncomfortable face.
“Our training’s not even that harsh, though…”
Do-young mumbled under his breath. The problem wasn’t the training—it was that the real-life missions were brutal. With short funding and a shortage of personnel, Awakened were worked to the bone.
Eric winced and said he could never live like that.
“…What an ass.”
Yeong-gyo muttered under his breath in Korean after staying quiet the whole time. Eric glanced his way and asked, “Did you just insult me?” Yeong-gyo, with a faint smile, nodded coolly.
「Yeah, I insulted you. Called you a lucky bastard.」
Eric chuckled and asked them to teach him Korean curse words. One by one, the team members each tossed a different insult at him, and he clumsily tried to repeat them.
Before they realized it, Seo-joon had disappeared from the group. He had gone off to surf with Yeon-woo.
“Lieutenant Hong… do I really have to wear this? It’s a little embarrassing…”
Dressed in a pure white tuxedo, Yeon-woo hesitated, holding a floral crown with a sheer veil attached. Yeong-gyo’s eyes widened.
“What are you talking about? That’s the whole point!”
Startled by her outburst, Yeon-woo flinched. She pinned a boutonnière matching the floral crown onto his suit jacket lapel, then snatched the crown from his hands with satisfaction.
Still refusing to give in, Yeon-woo backed away as she tried to place the crown on his head. Even if it was a private beach, it wasn’t completely empty—he had no desire to be immortalized in someone else’s wedding shoot wearing a veil.
“Can’t I just sit this one out? I kind of stand out in group photos because of my height…”
Just then, Chae-won emerged from the dressing room, flipping a long veil from her head with poise. She plopped down on a chair, arms bulging under the lace dress that exposed her broad shoulders and trapezius. She looked ready to go wrestle the groom herself.
Yeong-gyo proudly pointed at her.
“Look at that! Even Lieutenant Kang put it on without complaint, baby.”
Next came Min-geon, walking out in a sky-blue costume dress he’d bought at Disney and a sparkly veil.
“…”
It was a shocking concept. Yeon-woo had already known the theme for Cheong-oh and Yeong-gyo’s wedding shoot was unique, but he had no idea what kind of result today’s shoot would produce.
Min-geon and Chae-won praised each other for looking great. Yeon-woo stared at them like it was a nightmare. The world felt like it was lying to him. Dressed like that and moving so seriously made them look more like a troupe of lunatics. The worst part was that he was one of them.
“They are…?”
“Cinderella. Elsa.”
Yeong-gyo answered casually. Yeon-woo tilted his head.
“Then what am I?”
“You’re just the prince.”
Do princes wear veils? Still, seeing Chae-won and Min-geon dressed like that made his own outfit seem modest. It even looked… kind of cool. Thank god I’m not in a costume. With those two sacrificing themselves for the shoot, he couldn’t bring himself to complain.
“…”
In the end, Yeon-woo put on the floral crown. The layered transparent veil tumbled forward, obscuring his face. Smiling, Yeong-gyo approached and neatly pulled all but one layer of the veil behind his head, arranging it carefully. The pastel-colored crown peeked faintly through the sheer fabric.
Yeon-woo timidly walked up to Cinderella.
“Uh, Lieutenant Kang… do you know where my Lieutenant is?”
Cinderella, who sat with her legs spread and a fierce glare like she was about to beat up the prince, jerked her chin.
“Lieutenant Ji’s in the changing room.”
Yeon-woo turned his head, peeking around for the changing room. But with the veil clouding his vision, he couldn’t see well.
Among the towering white-haired devils, Yeong-gyo alone stood out in a striking black dress like a black swan. It was the same dress she’d worn during the photo shoot at Disney World. Yeon-woo recognized it instantly.
“Come on, baby.”
Holding a bouquet, Yeong-gyo led the group toward the beach like a ceremony guide. It was late afternoon, and the soft glow of sunset began to fall over the quiet private beach. The wedding shoot location came into view.
An arched floral arrangement, ivory cloth rolled out on soft sand, chairs lined up on either side, rose petals scattered everywhere, and candles… The setting was unexpectedly tasteful compared to the outrageous costumes.
The wedding photographer, who had followed Yeong-gyo and Cheong-oh throughout the trip, was already in position with their camera. Yeon-woo recognized them immediately.
Yeong-gyo locked arms with Yeon-woo under the arch for a test shoot.
“Why is Jin Cheong-oh taking so long?”
Yeong-gyo grumbled. Yeon-woo also grumbled inwardly. Where is my Lieutenant…? He couldn’t move freely with the camera focused on him, so he just darted his eyes around.
“Baby, can I get the bouquet for a sec? Chae-won, did you see Jin Cheong-oh on your way here?”
Yeon-woo stood blankly, holding the bouquet, watching Yeong-gyo’s back as she went to find Cheong-oh.
“Uh, please don’t move. You’re standing in the perfect spot for the lighting.”
As he tried to step out and look for his Lieutenant, the photographer stopped him. Yeon-woo quickly returned to his mark. It seemed he had to stand there until Captain Jin arrived.
“Could you turn around a little?”
The photographer clicked the shutter repeatedly, speaking in a neutral tone. Hesitantly, Yeon-woo turned. Down the archway, the wedding aisle stretched ahead.
Suddenly, he turned his head again, peering around. The veil blurred his vision, but something felt different. The guests had started sitting on both sides of the aisle.
Then, somewhere, violin music began to play. The soft melody had been drowned by the waves, but it was growing louder—joined soon by the sound of a piano.
In the distance, someone appeared in the haze. Even masked by combat gear or a helmet, he was always instantly recognizable. But now, in a dashing tuxedo, he stood out more than ever.
“…”
At last, Yeon-woo could fully register the faces of the team members seated quietly, all watching him. Do-young, half-standing and filming with his phone, waved him forward and shouted something.
Yeon-woo raised the bouquet to hide his face, squeezed his eyes shut, and bit his lip.
“Lieutenant…”
You can’t just spring a wedding on me like this.
He had understood the surprise confession during a survival game. He’d even accepted the sudden proposal accompanied by household registry papers. Lieutenant Ji was unique—Yeon-woo had long made peace with that. He was no longer surprised by any unexpected actions.
But a wedding… A wedding, Lieutenant… that’s just too much!