It was 10 AM when they left the hospital. While riding in the sedan that Sung Yohan had called and heading to Miyang-dong, Igyeol didn’t say a single word. Seoul’s scenery passed by quickly outside the car window.
Sung Yohan was handling something on a tablet beside him. The light from the screen formed on his profile then disappeared. Igyeol glanced at that light, then turned his head back toward the window.
The car entered the Miyang-dong alley. They passed through the narrow road and turned a familiar corner. The spot where the health clinic should be visible. Igyeol’s eyes narrowed.
Yellow tape was wrapped around the health clinic entrance.
[Crime Scene — Entry Prohibited. Hunter Management Bureau]
A seal stamp was stamped on the shutter. The half-lowered shutter was as it had been yesterday, and yellow tape was crossed in an X. Beyond the tape, pieces of broken medicine decoctor and bloodstains on the floor could be seen.
Igyeol got out of the car and stood in front of the health clinic.
Until yesterday, this was the space where he cooked rice, brewed medicine, fought with Hyungil over egg rolls, handed snacks to Yeongwon, Sung Yohan carried rice sacks, and Grandma Chunja laughed saying it was heartwarming. That space where all of those things had happened. Now it was a crime scene beyond yellow tape.
Igyeol stared at the tape for a long time. He had no expression. A face that seemed neither sad nor angry. But the hand in his pocket was clenched tight.
“I’ve prepared temporary lodging.”
Sung Yohan’s voice came from behind. Without turning around, Igyeol asked.
“Where?”
“The building next door. Since the sales contract was in progress, you can move in first.”
Igyeol chuckled. The corner of his mouth went up, but his eyes didn’t smile.
“So it’s the building next door after all.”
“Yes. After all.”
Sung Yohan also smiled, but likewise, his eyes didn’t smile.
***
There was nothing in the temporary lodging. In the empty room, three people sat on the floor: Igyeol, Sung Yohan, and Yeongwon who had been brought from Sanctum’s safe house. Only Hyungil was absent. Yeongwon drooped his shoulders with a gloomy face as if it were his fault. Igyeol opened his mouth to say something, then just closed it. Sung Yohan said coldly to Yeongwon.
“That’s excessive self-consciousness. It’s not your fault.”
“Say it more nicely.”
This bastard always becomes tactless in front of the kid. Igyeol let out a deep sigh. Yeongwon looked like he was about to cry. Igyeol silently patted Yeongwon’s back.
Sung Yohan decided to order furniture, and Igyeol decided to buy daily necessities. It seemed better for Yeongwon to stay at Sanctum Guild rather than the temporary lodging, so he decided to go there.
The next day. Igyeol went to the market. There were things he needed. Toiletries, towels, blankets, and so on. Because there was nothing in the building next door.
As he entered the market entrance, Igyeol felt an atmosphere different from usual.
The neighborhood ahjummas gathered in front of the vegetable shop stopped talking when they saw Igyeol. The grandmas who would normally grab him calling him Boss Moon clicked their tongues with pitying faces and then avoided his eyes. Another one turned her head. The sound of whispering could be heard faintly.
“…Something happened at that health clinic at night.”
“They say blood was splattered everywhere. How scary… Was it murder or what?”
“Isn’t that young man entangled in something?”
Igyeol walked pretending not to hear even though he heard. He put towels and soap in, and put other necessary things in a bag. The shop ahjumma didn’t smile warmly like before. He could clearly feel her avoiding his gaze as she took his card.
“…Thank you.”
His stomach churned, but he just left without saying anything else. There was nothing he could say. It was even difficult to acknowledge them. What could he do when the other party was avoiding him?
The health clinic’s regular customers he’d been friendly with also weren’t visible that day. Grandma Chunja, Young-seok’s mother, Old Man Seoksam—none were visible. Was it the end? Well, it didn’t matter. It was okay because he knew well what it meant for ties to be severed. It was okay because they were people he had tried not to give his affection to in the first place. Igyeol moved his steps expressionlessly.
“Igyeol-ah.”
At that time, a familiar voice came from behind. Igyeol stopped walking and turned around.
Old Man Jang was standing there leaning on a hiking stick. His back seemed more bent than usual. His wrinkled face was full of worry. Igyeol flinched slightly.
“…Ahjussi.”
“Are you alright?”
One short sentence. Igyeol swallowed dryly. What should I answer? I’m not alright. The health clinic is destroyed, the neighborhood people are avoiding my eyes, Hyungil is in the hospital, and I’ve picked up the sword again. But….
“…Yes. I’m alright.”
Igyeol awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
At that smile, Old Man Jang approached closer and patted Igyeol’s shoulder once. The touch that patted him with a bitter face was rough and crude, but that affectionate patting resonated all the way to his heart.
“Tell me if there’s anything I can help with. Don’t rot alone.”
“…Yes.”
“Adults are here for times like this to lean on. You’re still at an age where you can lean on others.”
“…Grandpa.”
“Don’t be alone.”
“…Thank you.”
Grandpa didn’t ask more. He smiled broadly, then slowly turned back leaning on his hiking stick. Igyeol watched Grandpa’s back for a long time, then turned his head. He felt like his heart was filled a little. Igyeol adjusted his grip on the bag and moved his steps again.
***
The building next to the health clinic had a shop on the first floor and a residence on the second floor. Igyeol sat by the second-floor window and stared silently at the front of the health clinic with yellow tape attached, then suddenly turned his head and looked at his sword propped against the wall.
[Corrupted Guardian Long Sword (S+)]
The sword in its scabbard subtly scattered Demonic Energy. He had no intention of sealing it again in the mother-of-pearl cabinet Grandma had left behind, but he hadn’t known he wouldn’t be able to enter the health clinic again like this. The special honey water Grandma left is also in there….
They won’t touch other things, right?
Even if investigators turned things upside down, they wouldn’t touch things like medicinal herbs. Things like honey water too. Still, he was a bit worried. Grandma’s special honey water played a role in neutralizing Igyeol’s Demonic Energy, so it was one of the things he cherished most. The reason Hyungil spent every year without minor ailments was also thanks to the honey water….
…I’m thinking about honey water in the midst of all this.
Igyeol chuckled. The health clinic is the top priority to worry about, though. Then what should I worry about? Anyway, should I say it’s fortunate that Sung Yohan is here now? Since there’s Sung Yohan’s Holy Power, it’s safe to say concerns about Demonic Energy going berserk are lessened. That bastard already stopped Igyeol once when he was about to go berserk.
…What the hell is that bastard thinking?
Even though I’m the one who scrapes off his overflowing Holy Power, to this extent… does it become a reason to stick by my side like this? He was doubtful. Are we close enough to help each other this much? Why? Of course, they were in an opposing relationship and were indispensable to each other. They were in a relationship where they could fill each other up too. But that alone made it impossible to fully explain Sung Yohan’s interest.
Don’t tell me that bastard likes me.
Nonsense. Igyeol shook his head from side to side after thinking that far. Like hell he likes me. I’d be grateful if he just doesn’t exploit me. And it would be troublesome even if he did like me. A worn and jaded person like myself can’t fill emotions. A heart that’s too deep and dark can’t be filled no matter how much you fill it. Look, tears don’t even come out. How could anyone fill a person like this? Igyeol smiled bitterly.
Igyeol let out a small sigh and headed to the first floor with his back to the window.
When he went down the stairs, he could see Sung Yohan sitting on the newly brought-in sofa on the first floor, handling work on a tablet. If you’re going to bring things in anyway, bring in a desk too.
It would be perfect to lie down if there was also a daybed. Igyeol smacked his lips and plopped down on the remaining sofa. At that moment, his watch vibrated with a buzz. A notification came.
[Hunter Management Bureau Emergency Notice]
[Recipient: Moon Igyeol (Resident Registration Number 000000-0******)]
[Regarding the Miyang-dong illegal Gate incident, magical power wavelength precision inspection will immediately resume.]
[If you do not report within 48 hours, an arrest warrant will be issued.]
Igyeol’s eyes narrowed.
Again.
Sung Yohan raised his head and looked at Igyeol. As if guessing what kind of notification it was by looking at Igyeol’s expression, he put down the tablet and opened his mouth.
“Hunter Management Bureau?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s the content?”
“They’re doing the magical power wavelength precision inspection again and telling me to report within 48 hours.”
Igyeol turned off the watch and leaned back on the sofa backrest as if lying down. He looked up at the ceiling. A cracked cement ceiling. He missed the old ceiling of the health clinic.
“This time, the justification of ‘related to illegal Gate’ is attached.”
Sung Yohan said.
“Yeah, it’s attached.”
Igyeol closed his eyes.
The inspection he barely deceived thanks to Sung Yohan had returned. At that time, he covered the Demonic Energy with Sung Yohan’s Holy Power and passed as C-rank. But this time the justification was stronger. If the tag ‘related to illegal Gate site’ was attached, the inspection intensity could increase. More precise measuring devices might come out.
“Can we deceive them again?”
Igyeol asked with his eyes closed. Sung Yohan didn’t answer. After a moment of silence, Sung Yohan slowly opened his mouth.
“…We may need to change methods.”
“Change, you say.”
“Not deceiving, but blocking the inspection itself.”
Igyeol opened his eyes and looked at Sung Yohan. A determined light lingered on Sung Yohan’s face.
“How are you going to block it?”
“…I’ll tell you tomorrow. Please give me one day.”
“What the hell are you trying to do?”
“I’ll try to handle it well on my own.”
“So why.”
“Is a reason necessary?”
Sung Yohan picked up the tablet and stood up from his seat. Here we go again, that bastard. Now he was tired of even looking for reasons. Igyeol watched Sung Yohan’s back as he stood up, then closed his eyes again.
