# Chapter 44
As the night grew later, the wind along the coast strengthened, and the waves gradually grew louder.
Jiwon was intently watching the sea from inside a tent that seemed like it could withstand even strong winds. Suhyun’s gaze was directed in the same direction, but he was probably looking at the dungeon.
“…You don’t feel anything at all?”
Jiwon suddenly spoke up.
They had spent quite a long time in front of the dungeon, and Suhyun had been quiet.
“No.”
“No thoughts like ‘I need to go in’ or ‘I want to go in’?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief.”
This increased the possibility that Suhyun had developed resistance. A control group would make it more accurate, but that could be done later without issue.
“…You don’t look that pleased.”
Jiwon blinked with a puzzled expression. Did he look that way? There was no reason not to be pleased.
“Why wouldn’t I be happy that you’re less at risk now?”
“……”
Jiwon wrinkled the bridge of his nose. He had asked as if it were obvious, but after saying it, he realized his mood wasn’t actually that good.
“Well… I’m glad you’re not being controlled. It’s best not to enter that dungeon if possible.”
“……”
“My bad mood is just a personal issue.”
Suhyun seemed to understand roughly, nodding his head slightly. It was probably because Jiwon had briefly revealed his own story about following him into the dungeon.
“Why does the sea that sparkles so brightly during the day look so frightening at night?”
Until just a while ago, he regretted saying such things, but now he felt comfortable. Perhaps because Suhyun didn’t pry into his circumstances, it made him want to speak.
“I felt like the waves would suddenly rise high and swallow me whole.”
“……”
“So I was scared, but I couldn’t run away. I was told to wait quietly.”
Jiwon snickered. Told to wait, of all things. It would have been better if they had coldly abandoned him, telling him to find his own way to survive.
“‘Let’s give him one last happy memory’—was that their mindset? You have no idea how much fun they made me have there. Even though they’d never properly paid attention to me before.”
“……”
“I guess they wanted to ease their own guilt? Thinking, at least his final memory would be a happy one, or something like that.”
“……”
“If that was their goal, they failed. I can’t even remember that person’s face, but the sea, as dark as pure darkness, remains vivid.”
His words probably weren’t a very entertaining story for Suhyun. Maybe they were even burdensome.
Jiwon laughed needlessly. Despite knowing this, his rambling suggested that he actually wanted to share these childhood memories he thought he had buried well with someone.
With anyone.
No, was it okay because it was Suhyun?
“Anyway, maybe when the sun rises it’ll be different. But while looking at that, my mood won’t be very good, I think.”
Jiwon shrugged his shoulders. Things didn’t always go his way, but if possible, he wished dungeons wouldn’t appear on beaches like this.
“……”
Jiwon closed his eyes to look away from the pitch-black sea. Unfortunately, the sound of waves continued to be heard.
“…!”
It would be nice if he could erase the sound too.
Just as he had that thought, the surroundings became astonishingly quiet. It was as if they had moved to a different place.
But Jiwon was still in the same spot. Only the sound had disappeared.
“What did you do…?”
In the silence that was somewhat eerie but gave a sense of peace, Jiwon asked.
“…I thought you wouldn’t want to hear it.”
Suhyun answered with an expressionless face. Only his voice could be heard clearly.
Jiwon unconsciously frowned, then burst out laughing with a “ha.” His sunken face became slightly flushed. His ears felt hot too, so Jiwon couldn’t help but rub them several times.
“Really…”
How could there be such a person?
There was a time when he thought he knew Suhyun well enough. He was wrong. Jiwon didn’t properly know anything about Suhyun.
It was almost regrettable that he had spent so long misunderstanding such a kind person.
“Haha…”
This time, Jiwon rubbed his face. The heat wouldn’t subside. Was he too close to the heater? He felt hot.
“Thank you.”
To Jiwon’s thanks, Suhyun just nodded his head.
His heart seemed to flutter. He didn’t think he was the type of person to be swayed by someone else’s single action, but Suhyun had the strange talent of making him that kind of person.
Unable to keep his hands still even for a moment, Jiwon rubbed the nape of his neck. The unpleasant feeling had completely disappeared, but an unidentifiable emotion was boiling inside him.
Jiwon realized that his heartbeat had grown loud enough for his own ears to hear. It seemed to sound even louder because Suhyun had blocked out all external sounds.
“Ahem…”
Everyone’s heart beats. Why was it embarrassing? Jiwon cleared his throat, trying to hide the sound of his heartbeat. It was probably a meaningless act for Suhyun, who was an Esper.
“…I’ll go to the bathroom for a bit.”
Finally, Jiwon sprang up from his seat. Sitting still felt extremely uncomfortable.
“Okay.”
Leaving Suhyun’s reply behind, Jiwon hurried away. He even had the strange thought that it would have been better if the bathroom were a bit farther away.
“……”
Swoosh.
As soon as he entered, Jiwon turned the sink lever and stared at the gushing water before extending both hands.
The water that filled his palms was repeatedly poured over Jiwon’s face. The heat that had been rising unbearably gradually subsided. Jiwon kept splashing cold water on his face until his skin felt like ice.
“Haah…”
Water dripped from Jiwon’s face. He rubbed his face randomly and exhaled a long breath.
His face was cold, but his body was still hot. His heart was still beating rapidly.
This had happened occasionally lately. But since it was brief and soon passed, he thought it was nothing significant, but somehow today it was more severe.
‘Am I sick?’
He came up with the most fitting answer for his condition, but it felt unsettling. Jiwon was rubbing his face with the back of his hand for a long time with a peculiar expression.
“…?”
Fortunately, before long, Jiwon was able to shift his attention away from his condition. It was because a disconcerting smell appeared, sending chills up his spine.
Jiwon frowned and quickly went outside. He was late in realizing it because no sound could be heard. Urgency settled on Jiwon’s face.
“…Esper-nim…”
Eventually, Jiwon returned to his original spot. But Suhyun was nowhere to be seen. Jiwon hesitantly looked for traces of him.
Bang!
“Ugh…”
At that moment, the closed sound opened, and a loud noise immediately rang out. Jiwon turned his body toward the source of the sound. A monster that seemed to have just emerged from the dungeon appeared limp as if it had lost its life.
“Ah…”
And Suhyun was standing straight in front of that monster with an expressionless face.
The tension that had surged for an instant dissipated, and all strength left his body. Jiwon slumped down. It felt stupid that he had been doing useless things and had left his post at the very moment when the dungeon opened.
“Guide-nim.”
Suhyun, who had approached without notice, called to Jiwon. Behind him, the dungeon that had been present all along was disappearing. He had eliminated all monsters in an instant. Something that would be difficult for multiple A-class Espers to handle in such a short time, he had accomplished with an expressionless face.
“Are you alright?”
Who are you asking if they’re alright?
Jiwon, who laughed hollowly out of disbelief, shook his head.
“No. I’m not alright. My heart feels like it’s going to burst.”
Knowing that he should be asking Suhyun instead, Jiwon acted childishly. Perhaps because of the comfort he had received after bringing up an old story, it felt like he could act a bit like a child in front of Suhyun.
“I had no idea what was happening…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to consider that.”
“…It’s not something for you to apologize for, Esper-nim.”
Well, he quit it right away anyway.
Jiwon stood up and checked on the immaculate Suhyun. They were told Riska would be present, but because it was a low-level dungeon, it had almost no impact on Suhyun.
In any case, they had safely gotten through this time as well.
“It didn’t even take a full day.”
It was slightly concerning that the dungeon opened in less time than expected, but if they reported to the Association, they would worry about it themselves.
Only then did Jiwon raise the corners of his mouth.
“Your wavelength is in very good condition, but since you fought, shall we do some guiding? I think we should report as well… Ah, would you like to wash up first?”
Jiwon pointed to the bathroom, seeing that some monster blood had splattered on Suhyun. However, Suhyun shook his head.
“If it’s alright with Guide-nim, I’d like to go straight home.”
“…Home?”
“Yes. It’s not urgent.”
“Ah…”
Jiwon nodded slowly. As he said, there was nothing urgent. There was no need for immediate guiding, and as for reporting, they could do it on their way back. No matter how perfectly set up a place was, it couldn’t be more comfortable than home.
But somehow, he felt that Suhyun had made this decision with him in mind.
That Suhyun, who wouldn’t have cared where they went, had chosen to go straight home for Jiwon, who disliked the sea—that kind of thought.
