‘It’s a similar strategy to calming Gu Baekyoung by discussing reincarnation.’
Na Geonwoo had the personality to find the root of a problem and pull it out completely when one arose.
However, when a situation had already deteriorated uncontrollably, he had the habit of solving what was visible first.
First suppress the flames that had grown large, and when those flames died down, then solve the fundamental problem.
He had a good head for quickly grasping situations and judging the severity of matters, and thanks to that, he was able to secure the position of Alpha Team leader.
This time would be the same. Na Geonwoo seemed to have made preventing Gu Baekyoung’s rampage a top priority. Even if it meant setting up a stand-in like himself.
But that was only Na Geonwoo’s circumstances—for Onyul, who didn’t want to get entangled with ability users anymore, it was something with no merit.
“I have no reason to do that.”
Even at Onyul’s cold words, Na Geonwoo didn’t panic and smoothly pushed up his glasses.
“That’s why I’ve thought of compensation.”
It was a thoroughly meticulous response, just like him.
“What is it?”
Without answering, Na Geonwoo smoothly presented something.
“I’ve prepared enough that you won’t be disappointed.”
Na Geonwoo’s phone, held before his eyes, displayed a calculator. There was money in units that couldn’t be counted at once entered into it.
Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands…… One hundred million? One, one, one hundred million?!
Onyul’s lips parted slightly.
“I won’t watch for long. I’m not telling you to act for a lifetime either. Since the manager isn’t Onyul’s reincarnation anyway, Baekyoung will also realize that fact and back off.”
He wondered if that would really be the case, but he was tempted by the sum of 100 million won.
He felt uncomfortable receiving money from Gu Baekyoung, who seemed to have seen through his identity, but since Na Geonwoo was proposing a transaction without recognizing him, he thought it would be okay.
It wasn’t money just being given—it was a transaction with clear conditions!
“Please help prevent Baekyoung from rampaging.”
Anyway, it was obvious that Gu Baekyoung wouldn’t leave his side no matter what he did. Onyul had the personality that couldn’t completely push away such a Gu Baekyoung.
Whether he made this deal or not, Onyul had to volunteer to be Gu Baekyoung’s caretaker for the time being. Since it was something he had to do anyway, and he’d even get money……!
And if he didn’t accept this transaction, it was obvious that Na Geonwoo would keep coming to press him.
In other words, should he say he had no choice but to accept?
A smile bloomed on Onyul’s face, which had been only dry. He rubbed his two palms together with the friendly expression he used when dealing with customers.
“Customer, you’re really a big spender. Of course I’ll help you with what you mentioned. Hehe.”
Na Geonwoo, who smiled slightly at the rapidly changed attitude, sent over a contract he must have prepared at some point.
“Please look it over carefully. If you just sign, I’ll deposit half of the contract amount first.”
Half of the contract amount was a whopping 50 million. To deposit such a large sum first!
Wow, our Team Leader, you’re quite generous.
Onyul nodded his head vigorously. If there were no objectionable clauses, he wanted to sign immediately.
At that moment, he could see Gu Baekyoung flinching through the glass window. From the looks of it, he seemed ready to kick open the glass door and burst out at any moment.
“I think Baekyoung is about to come out.”
It was a suggestion to end the conversation. Na Geonwoo also nodded and extended his hand.
“I’m counting on you. Kang…… Ian.”
As soon as the two people’s hands touched, Gu Baekyoung’s figure disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he stood in front of Onyul and knocked away the hands they were clasping together.
“Don’t cheat on me.”
It had nothing to do with cheating, but Onyul was in a good mood from the large sum of money that had suddenly appeared.
He laughed, “Hehe,” and said brightly to show Na Geonwoo.
“Yes, customer.”
“……Customer?”
Gu Baekyoung tilted his head with a questioning tone.
Only then did Onyul look up at him intently.
“Honey, don’t worry.”
“H-hon…… honey?”
Gu Baekyoung’s face, which had been colored with irritation, quickly reddened. He couldn’t maintain his poker face and didn’t know what to do.
How should he put it? It felt exactly like a little kid falling into first love.
You little brat. He’s cute though.
“I’ll call you that a lot from now on. Honey.”
Hey, man. This is the power of 100 million!
Onyul deliberately ignored the goosebumps that rose at the term “honey.”
***
When the Alpha Team that had made the convenience store noisy left, silence descended.
It seemed even more quiet since even Gu Baekyoung, who had been stuck like glue, had disappeared. All of them had received a summons from the Management Bureau and gone to resolve a gate.
Onyul, left alone for the first time in a while, stretched thoroughly. Then he began to carefully read the contract Na Geonwoo had sent.
The clauses specified were almost the same as what had been discussed verbally.
Treat Gu Baekyoung as if he were ‘Kang Onyul,’ or even if not, move according to what Gu Baekyoung wanted to prevent his rampage.
One thing that bothered him was the contract period.
‘Until Gu Baekyoung accepts that Kang Ian is not Kang Onyul.’
What if, just what if, Gu Baekyoung thought of him as Kang Onyul for the rest of his life—would this contract be maintained for a lifetime?
It felt uncomfortable somehow.
Na Geonwoo had confidently asserted that the period Gu Baekyoung would be hung up on him wouldn’t be that long, but Onyul’s thoughts were a bit different.
Because the look in Gu Baekyoung’s eyes when he looked at him was extraordinary!
So, Onyul requested that only that part be modified. The contract period to be 1 year.
100 million in 1 year…… Even so, it was a completely profitable business.
Onyul sent a message to Na Geonwoo asking to modify just that one part. Perhaps he had already entered the gate, as no reply came.
‘By the way, was Gu Baekyoung’s rampage serious enough for the Team Leader to step forward directly?’
Only then did Onyul become curious about ‘Gu Baekyoung’s rampage.’ Na Geonwoo must have proposed the large sum of 100 million because there was a precedent.
Onyul’s fingertips, which had opened the search window, couldn’t move readily.
Separate from being curious, he hesitated because Gu Baekyoung’s rampage seemed like it would be connected to his own death.
Even if he learned about Gu Baekyoung’s rampage in detail, he was worried whether he could ignore Gu Baekyoung in the future.
After the lover play like children’s house games ended, there was no need to treat Gu Baekyoung like now.
But if Gu Baekyoung had rampaged because of his death and suffered some disadvantage, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to easily ignore him.
Onyul knew all too well that he was a serious busybody.
But he also thought it might already be too late. He felt like he had become deeply entangled with Gu Baekyoung and the Alpha Team, whom he most wanted to avoid.
After much deliberation, Onyul finally searched for Gu Baekyoung’s rampage.
Before long, what caught his eye were numerous articles.
There were also explanations about the ‘Box’ that Onyul had felt suspicious about the previous day.
“……Huh?”
What is…… this exactly?
As Onyul read the articles for a while, the area around his eyes reddened. When he blinked once, a single tear flowed down.
His throat was blocked tight, and his chest suddenly became stuffy.
It was all because of Gu Baekyoung.
It was true that he’d found Gu Baekyoung cute—indifferent to others but following only him well.
He’d given affection to Gu Baekyoung because he was cute.
But it was definitely not the affection of lovers. If he had to define it, he thought of them as family-like. Because they were a bit deeper than friends.
That’s why if a guide who matched well with Gu Baekyoung appeared, he had been willing to gladly give up his position.
But it seemed Gu Baekyoung wasn’t like that.
He was enraged by Kang Onyul’s death. He rampaged enough to blow up the center, enough to be confined in the ability user-exclusive control space in the center’s basement, commonly called the Box.
If Na Geonwoo hadn’t calmed Gu Baekyoung, he could have become a doll who lost reason, addicted to various drugs.
Because that was the fate of anti-Management Bureau ability users confined in the Box.
Of course, Gu Baekyoung was one of the few S-rank Espers in the country, so punishing him wouldn’t be easy.
But no matter how precious a talent he was, if he couldn’t be controlled, he was no different from a great harm. The Management Bureau would have made an unavoidable decision.
‘I could have caused Gu Baekyoung’s death…….’
Onyul, who exhaled a hot breath, rubbed his face as if dry-washing it. Breathing became difficult, as if a heavy stone had been placed on his heart.
The guilt that couldn’t be lifted seemed to choke his throat.
This was why he had tried not to know. Because he had an idea of what emotions he would feel about the situation that had already occurred.
“What should I do with you…….”
Onyul, who wiped away the tears that wet his cheeks, thought seriously for the first time.
About what kind of existence he had been to Gu Baekyoung.
