# Chapter 72
“Ah… I thought you were originally a researcher at headquarters, Doctor. So you were an Esper.”
As Dohyuk changed his words to say he was just decent at physical activities, Junwoo casually replied.
“I earned my doctorate a bit earlier than others. I originally had no intention of coming to headquarters, but I was tied down for over 2 years because of mandatory service. That’s when I met you, Dohyuk-ssi. Seems you really don’t remember at all.”
Korea guaranteed freedom to ability users who weren’t S-class, but they too had to follow mandatory service. Specifically, serving at headquarters for a minimum of 20 months.
Still, unlike regular citizens, they didn’t have to serve as ordinary conscripts, and they received financial compensation comparable to small business employees’ salaries, so there wasn’t much opposition.
“I had an accident, so my childhood memories aren’t clear.”
“An accident? Did your memories completely cut off?”
“No, not exactly, but I barely remember anything before coming to the facility. And some things after that too.”
His memories from the facility days were patchy. Perhaps because he lived such a repetitive life there, he’d only recently noticed the gaps in his memory due to strange feelings of déjà vu. Even that sense of dissonance wasn’t much.
Occasionally he’d think, ‘I feel like something like this happened before, but why can’t I remember it clearly?’ But since there weren’t any memories from the facility that he particularly treasured, he didn’t feel a significant emptiness from losing them. Dr. Yu Junwoo was probably among those empty memories. Since the cause of the memory loss seemed to be due to his “awakening,” Dohyuk simply shook his head.
“Hmm, could it be this… This wasn’t there back then.”
At that moment, a hand casually reached out toward Dohyuk’s head, and he instinctively stepped back. His eyes met with the pitch-black eyes of the other.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
In response to Junwoo’s apology, Dohyuk merely blinked once without showing any particular displeasure. Their gazes parted without lingering, and Dohyuk changed the subject.
“It’s fine. Anyway, saying ‘a bit earlier than others’ is quite modest considering you received your doctorate at the age of twenty-three from the ability energy engineering research campus of the country’s only national research institute university under the Ministry of Science and ICT. Your humility is even more impressive, Doctor.”
“Still, you must have been curious about me.”
“Yes. You resemble someone I know. I looked up some articles about you—if that was rude, I apologize.”
Yu Junwoo, now thirty-seven, was someone who had already accumulated various achievements by the age when others would typically receive their doctorate. In short, he could be called a genius. In particular, the paper he published three years ago was still making significant contributions to dungeon core by-product processing technology. Even at headquarters, where renowned scholars of ability studies gathered, they had to invite him as a technical advisor.
Despite appearing to have intended to continue working as a headquarters researcher, he suddenly changed positions and was now researching dungeon nuclear fusion new weapons at a lab in Sokcho.
Finding something amusing in Dohyuk’s words, Junwoo let out a brief laugh and recalled that morning.
*
When Dohyuk came looking for Junwoo, it was well before regular working hours. In fact, “came looking” wasn’t even the right expression. Dohyuk had arrived at the research building early and was waiting for Junwoo to arrive.
“I apologize for the sudden visit.”
Looking at the expressionless face that had abruptly approached him, Junwoo felt an inexplicable mischievousness and twisted the corners of his mouth upward.
“Well, this is someone without a prior appointment. How did you know I’d be here? Did you perhaps investigate me?”
“I asked where Dr. Yu Junwoo was and came. I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you beforehand since I didn’t have your contact information. It was somewhat urgent.”
As Dohyuk firmly stated that he hadn’t investigated his whereabouts, Junwoo chuckled softly. In truth, it was he who had investigated. The day he encountered Dohyuk, Junwoo immediately looked into his information. It was because of his persistent nature that wouldn’t let him sleep unless he resolved the strange questions and curiosity that arose when Dohyuk confused him with Junseο.
And this was out of spite because Dohyuk didn’t remember him at all.
“Aren’t you my brother Yu Junseo’s partner Guide? You could have easily gotten my contact information through my brother. Even if it was urgent, to come without contacting me…”
The fact that Choi Dohyuk was Yu Junseo’s partner Esper was information Junwoo had learned through his investigation. This was because Junseo had hidden the fact that he had a partner Esper from not only the media but even his family. Ordinarily, news of an S-class ability user’s partner matching would be a significant issue, publicly announced through the media, but it seemed headquarters had blocked the articles. They probably covered it up because it wasn’t a matching between S-class and S-class. They might have considered all possibilities, including the emergence of another S-class or a change in Junseo’s heart.
Junwoo had believed that Junseo, who tolerated headquarters’ obvious actions, shared the same thoughts. Just a passing curiosity, he assumed.
“Actually, I did request your contact information from Guide Yu Junseo, but I was refused…”
When Dohyuk replied with a puzzled and awkward expression, Junwoo thought: indeed, reality is far more interesting than imagination.
Not sure how to interpret Junwoo’s expression filled with a strange amusement, Dohyuk emphasized once more.
“I swear I didn’t investigate you, so please rest assured.”
“I was just joking. Junseo didn’t give you my contact? That’s strange, he should have it.”
“Yes. I suppose it would be rude to provide someone else’s contact information, so he was probably being considerate of you, Doctor.”
His outward expression seemed rigidly expressionless. Seeing Dohyuk defending Junseo despite his sharp gaze that would make anyone feel distant if he just stood there, Junwoo swallowed the laughter that was rising.
“Our boy is certainly considerate. But now I suddenly really want to give you my contact information.”
“Ah! Then I’ll gratefully save it.”
“Yes. Anyway, what is it, Dohyuk-ssi? The reason you’ve so fervently sought me out.”
As a slick smile floated on the surface of his shiny eyes, Dohyuk belatedly realized that he wasn’t upset. His parted lips exhaled a short sigh. A sigh of relief that settled downward.
“…I had questions about the sample. I thought I wouldn’t have a chance when Dr. Jeong was here, so I apologize for coming on my own like this.”
“Aha, so you came without the permission of headquarters researchers? What made you trust me?”
When Dohyuk paused, Junwoo laughed. His pitch-black eyes melted sweetly. It was an alluring smile, sweet enough to make the viewer’s tongue feel sugary. No matter how much they were brothers, how could they be so alike? For a moment, Dohyuk unknowingly stared at Junwoo, trying to sift through the similarities with Junseo, and almost missed his next words.
“Well, rather than trusting me, you probably came knowing I don’t get along with headquarters researchers. You have good intuition. What are you curious about?”
Quickly gathering his wits, Dohyuk responded.
“I don’t want to trouble you, Doctor. I’m just curious about what kind of experiment is currently in progress, and what will… happen after the experiment ends. I’d also like to see the current state.”
The rising smile ceased. With a thin expression, Junwoo looked at the man standing firmly before him and tilted his head. That gesture overlapped with Junseo even more than his previous smile, and Dohyuk could only properly understand Junwoo’s short question belatedly. Junwoo asked Dohyuk:
“Are you worried?”
Although he had deliberately avoided mentioning cats to Junseo, if he had, this might have been the question Junseo would have posed to Dohyuk.
“……”
For some people, the word ‘worry’ can become a huge burden the moment it’s uttered. Caught in the conflict between his worrying heart and the orders given to him, Dohyuk eventually closed his mouth, and Junwoo added. His tone was light, like the two hands carelessly thrust into his lab coat pockets.
“The sample is healthy. After the experiment ends, the research institute plans to take care of it. Or find it a good owner.”
Dohyuk’s rigid expression subtly relaxed. Reading relief in his demeanor, Junwoo smiled bitterly.
“…is what headquarters’ policy says.”
He deliberately dragged his left foot across the corridor floor. A brief scratching sound echoed. When Dohyuk reflexively blinked, the momentary relief disappeared without a trace.
“Wouldn’t it be better to see with your own eyes? If you’re that worried.”
Dohyuk, who had been pressing between his thick eyebrows with his finger, lowered his eyes. As he took a deep breath, his inflated chest subsided along with his voice, which sounded like a sigh. He looked extremely tired.
Junwoo expected Dohyuk to reject his suggestion, but he was mistaken.
“Is the lab in Room 807-C, Building B?”
Junwoo noticed that Dohyuk’s words weren’t a question but a revelation of his certainty. Otherwise, Dohyuk wouldn’t have even mentioned “Room 807-C” in front of Junwoo.
Room 807-C in Building B was a laboratory that officially didn’t exist. Even among researchers affiliated with headquarters, countless people were unaware of this lab’s existence.
