# Chapter 3
“…What ability?”
As Iyeon questioned, not wanting to believe reality, the spikes around Sano writhed assertively. Staring blankly at the strangely lively movements, Iyeon’s brain slowly processed the information. So… Je Sano wanted to repay his debt by using his abilities to help him.
…Did Je Sano just apply for a superhuman part-time job?
Every word in that sentence felt disconnected from reality. Of course, with his abilities, he’d be incredibly efficient at whatever task, but if mental health was part of that efficiency equation, it would be a hundred times more beneficial to just give money instead.
To begin with, it was wasteful for Iyeon to utilize someone of Je Sano’s caliber. Je Sano mainly handled top-tier missions notorious for their danger among mutant-related tasks, which was crucial for the security of the city and its citizens.
“What about your usual work?”
“There are plenty of people.”
Mutant appearances are always unpredictable incidents. At this absurd excuse, Iyeon frowned.
“Don’t be irresponsible.”
It was a stern statement coming from someone who had been timid all along. At the reproach, Sano’s eyebrow slightly rose.
“Is your company busy?”
“…”
It was mostly quiet.
“I don’t see what the problem is.”
Come to think of it, he was right. Unless Iyeon planned to work him 24 hours a day, Sano could attend to his regular duties during his free time. Belatedly realizing this, Iyeon sheepishly reflected on his own extreme thinking.
When the exploitative employer fell silent, Sano restored the house to its original state. The sight of the densely packed spikes quietly receding from the living room was like a scene from a movie. Like successfully stopping a nuclear bomb with one second left on the countdown. It genuinely felt as satisfying as if a terrorist attack had been prevented.
‘No, that’s not right. He’s just doing what he should do after randomly filling my house with spikes.’
Iyeon quickly snapped out of it, almost distorting the situation by getting caught up in the atmosphere. While the homeowner was remodeling his own mindset, Sano, who had lightly surveyed the now-clean interior, soon delivered his overall assessment.
“Your home is shabby.”
“…”
Iyeon’s house wasn’t extremely large, but it wasn’t particularly small either. Isn’t a two-room apartment decent enough for a man living alone? It seemed the rumors about Je Sano being incredibly wealthy were true after all. As a Mugunghwa 5th-tier, his value would certainly be worth whatever he asked for, but still…
While Iyeon was too dumbfounded and wronged to find words, the man who had casually attacked someone else’s home with his mouth moved swiftly. With light gestures, he naturally opened cupboards and drawers as if he owned the place. Objectively, a stranger was searching the house, but strangely it felt like parents making an unannounced home inspection.
“…Are you looking for something?”
Now there was no answer at all. Seriously, if only he wasn’t ranked number one… While Iyeon was trying to calm himself, Sano, who had been rummaging around the house for a while, finally seemed to finish his exploration and returned to the living room sofa.
“Do you live alone?”
Ten minutes into being with the awakened Je Sano, Iyeon was no longer surprised by baseless questions. As Iyeon nodded obediently, the man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“For someone living alone, you have plenty of food.”
“…I eat a lot?”
It was true, but he didn’t seem to believe it. Iyeon was indeed thin compared to how much he ate, but why would he lie about something like that? Though he felt wronged, he couldn’t suddenly brag about his stomach, so he compromised by changing the subject. There would be plenty of opportunities to prove his sincerity later…
Having postponed the matter, Iyeon checked the time. Thanks to the spikes covering the entire house and detaining him right after he woke up, his commute time had become tight. Since Sano had volunteered for part-time work, he might as well bring him along.
“Wait here for a bit. I’ll get ready for work.”
“Breakfast.”
Iyeon froze and stared at the man. Is he crazy? He hadn’t expected normal repayment of the debt, but to demand breakfast in someone’s home he was visiting for the first time? Just because he could transform into steel didn’t mean he needed to make his face as thick as steel…
“I don’t eat breakfast. It makes me feel bloated.”
He didn’t have the skills to prepare breakfast anyway. After Iyeon’s firm refusal, a long silence followed. It was a moment where intense lingering attachment could be felt. After a long, long time, Sano finally nodded.
“Learn it for the future.”
“…”
A difficult life was already beginning to take shape. Iyeon deliberately ignored the ominous premonition and headed to the bathroom.
Whoosh… The sound of flowing water was refreshing. As the warm water touched his entire body, it felt like not only his mind and body, exhausted from tension, but also the muscle pain from yesterday’s excessive exercise was gently washing away.
It was regrettable that he couldn’t stay in this warm, cozy place forever. Reluctantly dawdling as much as possible before leaving the bathroom, he suddenly made eye contact with Sano, who was sitting on the sofa using his phone.
“…”
Iyeon lived alone. People who live alone don’t usually bring clothes to change into when they go to the bathroom.
“…”
Sano’s gaze shifted to the stomach area that Iyeon was roughly drying. The small towel barely covered his lower abdomen and below. An oblivious water droplet ran down his chest and was absorbed by the towel.
“…”
“…”
His relaxed mind suddenly snapped to attention. This felt more like sitting on pins and needles than when the house was filled with spikes earlier. Having experienced the hellish silence, Iyeon quietly backstepped and returned to the bathroom. When he came out again a moment later, he had the towel tightly wrapped around his lower half.
“…You should shower too. You must feel uncomfortable from the rain.”
Sano stared at Iyeon, who looked like he might dash back into the bathroom any second, before standing up. As Sano approached the bathroom, Iyeon quickly fled toward the master bedroom. A gaze with indecipherable meaning briefly clung to the white legs hurrying away. Soon, the sound of a door closing was heard.
After drying his hair and getting dressed in the bedroom, Iyeon faced another concern.
His vacant eyes surveyed the closet with a bewildered look. Since Sano had been soaked to the skin in the rain, he wouldn’t have spare clothes, so Iyeon wanted to provide something for him to wear after his shower.
“…”
The issue was the considerable size difference between Sano and himself, which he had noticed earlier when they stood close during the threatening episode. Height was obvious, but the differences in shoulder and waist size were estimated to be significant too.
Fortunately, since Iyeon preferred wearing larger clothes, the upper garments might somehow work, but the lower ones were out of the question. Yet he couldn’t let a grown man walk around in underwear with no pants. Wait a minute.
…What about underwear?
The problem was getting more complicated. Iyeon thoroughly searched his closet, but there was no chance of new underwear magically appearing. He had noticed earlier that Sano’s coat was long, so maybe, although it would be uncomfortable… If I suggest that, will my house become a field of thorns again? Wisely judging the situation, Iyeon quickly abandoned the idea of suggesting the flasher look.
Still, after searching every corner while worrying about underwear, he discovered a pair of jogger pants with a stretched waistband. They seemed to be clothes left behind by a visitor who had worn them at home. …Had he washed them? He wasn’t sure, but they would be better than pants that had gotten wet in the rain and dried just like that.
Measuring the size, he found they were big enough that even with Iyeon wearing them, there would still be room for a fist at the waist. This should fit Sano reasonably well.
This will do. As for underwear… let’s just tell him to go commando for today. I can’t give him ones that I’ve worn. He wouldn’t want that either. Iyeon reluctantly rationalized as he placed the clothes he found in front of the bathroom and fled back to the bedroom. It was consideration to avoid another embarrassing situation like before.
Feeling trapped in his own home and idly fidgeting with his phone, Iyeon heard the bathroom door opening and rustling sounds from the other side of the thin wall—there was a considerable time gap between the two sounds, but he deliberately ignored it—and finally the sound of walking and flopping down on the sofa before he jumped up. Cheerfully stepping out, he saw Sano sitting lazily on the sofa, using his phone.
His original purpose was to greet him naturally and suggest that they should leave soon, but as soon as he saw Sano, Iyeon’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the no-underwear zone. At this smooth, natural eye movement, the dark eyebrows that had been looking up arrogantly raised slightly.
“…”
Regardless, Iyeon blinked at the shocking circumstances. Of course, it could be due to Sano’s almost-lying position, or the thin fabric failing to resist gravity, or the pants being gray.
…Is he human?
It was a cultural shock. For a moment, he wondered if Sano had used his ability, but Je Sano wouldn’t be strange enough to use his powers for something like this.
Unable to control his mercilessly trembling irises, Iyeon didn’t know what to do and shifted his gaze around, only to meet the dark green eyes that were staring directly at him. The indifferent gaze was precisely fixed on Iyeon’s eyes. The handsome lips that had been quietly closed sneered.
“Pervert.”
“…”
Caught in the act. Iyeon obediently lowered his eyes.
