Since it was sanity he’d been barely holding onto, it didn’t take long for those black pupils to disappear, covered by his eyelids. Yeo Dowoon was puzzled as he watched Kwon Jeonghoo pass out completely.
“……Captain?”
Kwabang, bang! Tearing through the monster’s skin surface and leaping into the air, he gritted his teeth and endured as if he would never let go of Kwon Jeonghoo this time. He persevered, putting more strength into his arm muscles than during combat.
Since he had to hold onto the glacier with his other hand, he had to whip himself desperately as if his life depended on it. The two bodies that had flown up formed a horizontal line with the vast blue sky and horizon.
“Haa…!”
Yeo Dowoon gasped for the breath he’d been holding.
Sensing the abnormality in its body, the monster burst into a foul-smelling cry—kuwaeek. It was at the same moment that the glacier began to shatter into pieces.
<Kuwaeeeek!>
As the finely shattered ice fragments descended in a line targeting the monster, dark blue waves surged and tried to swallow Yeo Dowoon and Kwon Jeonghoo. However, right before that, an ice barrier spread out widely.
Who would just die obediently?
“Keuuk……!”
As if he’d overused his ability, the muscles and tendons in his limbs writhed fiercely.
But Yeo Dowoon didn’t give in and continued carving the ice. A solid barrier that wouldn’t crumble even when hit by crashing waves…, no. Rather than a barrier, it was to create the ground itself.
The spectacle of the violent seawater beginning to freeze instantly was truly wondrous. Kwang—landing on the glacier floor that had formed a foundation like land, Yeo Dowoon had Kwon Jeonghoo on top of him.
“Ah, why does it hurt so much…….”
He didn’t know how far he’d been able to freeze it, but it would probably be enough to buy some time. As if satisfied, Yeo Dowoon stroked the ice and smiled emptily while looking at Kwon Jeonghoo, who was passed out without moving.
Thud—he pushed him away and raised his upper body, but as if he immediately changed his mind, he served as a pillow again.
“I think there’s blood coming from the back of his head.”
Along the distant horizon, impossible to distinguish whether it was Yeongjong Island or the Atlantic Ocean, he stacked up awl-shaped ice pillars one by one.
“If my head goes bald, Captain, you take responsibility and pay for the hair loss treatment.”
Grow tall. That way, the rescue team would come thinking what kind of bizarre incident had occurred. Having fulfilled his calling, Yeo Dowoon propped both arms behind him and admired the clouds.
If they were to face a foreign rescue team, he resolved to slap Kwon Jeonghoo awake even if he had to. The salty wind passed through his clothes and tickled his skin.
By the time the cloud clusters scattering to find their own ways were stained with the sunset light.
“Ahhh, Dowoon hyung! Hyuuung!”
Yoon Minoh, who had arrived aboard a luxurious rescue ship, wailed for Yeo Dowoon while squeezing out tears and snot.
***
The Guides affiliated with the Esper base were all mobilized to care for Kwon Jeonghoo. Naturally, Cha Haseong was included among them.
Though he was the one who had taken on the role of Yeo Dowoon’s exclusive Esper for a limited period, since Delta’s commander had suffered serious internal injuries, he had to fulfill his duty as the one and only S-class Guide.
“Are you okay, hyung?”
Yoon Minoh, whose face was swollen like someone who had wailed the previous day no matter who looked at him, asked while clinging to Yeo Dowoon like a leech. When he looked him over, Yeo Dowoon answered coldly.
“No.”
Whisk—the movement pushing away the hand grabbing his sleeve was utterly indifferent. As if telling him to disappear if he had no business here, he leaned his back against the wall and pretended to sleep.
“I like that hyung is honest.”
But Yoon Minoh’s heart seemed to flutter despite his cold treatment, as he kept giggling and conveying.
Because it was quite a loud decibel for a whisper, Ko Ijae and Baek Seonwoo, who had been guarding the front of the hospital room, raised their heads like demons. The sight of dark circles extending down to their chins looked very pitiful.
Over the unusually quiet and secluded hospital corridor, Baek Seonwoo’s mutter could be heard, clicking his tongue about how they could be dating in a situation where the Captain was collapsed.
“Who’s dating whom?”
Yeo Dowoon, who had decided to remain unresponsive no matter what situation arose, hastily retorted. Baek Seonwoo flinched at the fierce momentum, his shoulders trembling. Ko Ijae sighed as if weary and mediated between them.
“Can’t we at least not fight until the Captain wakes up?”
As if feeling great guilt for being the cause of the incident, he had the worst complexion among Team Delta.
Cha Uihyeon, who had been approaching with drinks for the team members, stopped walking after sensing the ominous atmosphere. He smiled briefly and tapped the wall.
“Fighting even in this situation is a bit…….”
Though it was better to be rowdy than to have only silence sweeping through, that too was only applicable when they could look forward to the future in good terms.
“…Contact me when the Captain wakes up.”
Since even Cha Uihyeon seemed to be scolding him, Yeo Dowoon reluctantly got up on his feet. It seemed like he would really cause trouble as the team members worried if he stayed here facing that Yoon Minoh bastard.
But Yoon Minoh didn’t give even a moment’s gap and vigorously followed him out. Pressing the beanie he was wearing deeper, he hopped along cheerfully. His voice was also bright and cheerful.
“Hyung! Where are you going?”
Yeo Dowoon muttered while rolling the cigarette he’d stolen from Shim Woomin today in his hand.
“Somewhere you’re not.”
Probably the backyard. He wanted to go there and wait while chain-smoking thoroughly. He missed the acrid smoke that would fill his lungs. However, Yoon Minoh tilted his head as if being oblivious and said.
“Oooh. Then I’ll show you, so let’s go together.”
“No.”
“You answer me every single time, yet you act like you hate it.”
Yoon Minoh’s statement had some merit. Yeo Dowoon couldn’t ignore him to the end and would respond to him. If only he hadn’t spoken to him at all and just ignored him, that would be the end of it, but he always created a vicious cycle by giving appropriate reactions as much as Yoon Minoh approached him.
“Hyung, do you know what you are? Tsundere?”
Yoon Minoh diligently talked to him without being particularly hurt by Yeo Dowoon’s cold attitude. No matter how much his expression was rotting away, it didn’t scratch his pride.
“……Minoh.”
Because he had long noticed that if he persistently rushed in, Yeo Dowoon would pretend to lose and turn around. Moreover, Yoon Minoh was extremely skilled at drawing a person’s attention to himself.
It was the moment his heart suddenly fluttered at the affectionate call of ‘Minoh.’
“Haa, Yoon Minoh.”
Yeo Dowoon confessed in a rough voice as if expressing his unsettled heart.
“I…, feel sorry for you.”
Then the playful expression disappeared from Yoon Minoh’s face. The corners of his mouth that had been raised also quietly found their place. Yeo Dowoon began an unwilling story while keeping his distance from Yoon Minoh.
“I can’t help but feel sorry. I know I’m a terrible person too to say this, but….”
“…….”
“Bastards who worked as miners as unregistered Espers are all the same, so I can’t help it.”
Each and every word he spat out was truly heartless and harsh.
“Living as unregistered means there are lots of burdensome things, right? Being chased by the government, being chased by competitors. I know you must have endured in your own difficult way too. So that’s why you’re clinging to me, trying to grab at straws, isn’t it?”
“…Creepily, why are you suddenly acting all heavy?”
“You don’t have to make excuses. I’m in the same pathetic situation too. In some ways, I’m even more wretched than you.”
Unregistered Espers who live entrusting their lives like mayflies with nowhere to depend on are always bound to wander looking for a corner to lean on. Whether it’s people, objects, or work.
“…Don’t talk bullshit, fuck.”
They held onto anything they could hold onto, and immersed themselves in anything they could immerse themselves in. Living while devoting themselves like that, there were countless times when years would fly by and they’d feel fortunate.
“Looking at how you signed a 40-year contract without thinking, it’s obvious. Not being educated.”
“Hyung talks like someone who’s been properly educated before?”
“I haven’t.”
“…….”
“That’s why I’m telling you. Because you’re doing exactly the same stupid thing I did.”
Yoon Minoh laughed weakly, “Huh.” Though there was room to feel sorry for his reddened eyes, Yeo Dowoon only grumbled as if he found himself giving unsolicited advice awkward.
“The reason I had no choice but to drift around as unregistered…, I did that because I was a bastard who wasn’t even registered at birth. Since I was living in hiding anyway, it seemed much better to illegally make a living.”
“…….”
“I never even thought there might be another way. I’m fortunate I found out late.”
“Are you filming an educational movie alone? You think I’ll be moved if you sprinkle wise sayings?”
Yoon Minoh was sullen. Having irritably picked his ear as if he had no intention of listening anymore, he was about to throw some words again when Yeo Dowoon shrugged and added.
“I’m the same kind of guy as you, so I don’t have the capacity to take on and care for your life too.”
“…….”
“Look for someone else. Hyung finds it hard enough just handling his own life.”
Yeo Dowoon’s callousness slashed Yoon Minoh all over.
“The way you act like you’ve entrusted me with something is annoying and bothersome.”
