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Psst! We're moving!
Yoon Tae-ha listened to his story without moving, then carefully asked, “Are you moving with those people?”
“Infiltrating Arc with Sentinels was part of the plan.”
“Other Sentinels besides you?”
“Promise me you won’t kill them.”
She swept her hair back as if dumbfounded.
“That’s a joke, right? Do I look like someone without basic principles?”
“Kim Du-eon.”
Hearing those three syllables, Yoon Tae-ha took a deep breath. A subtle emotion flickered across her face.
Is she relieved? Or is she angry that the number of people who deceived her has doubled? Cheon Geon-young was frustrated, unable to read her thoughts.
“Why did the Sentinels come all the way here?”
“Because of a project. Arc’s secret project involving psychics caused citizens to be murdered.”
“...You thought they were silenced.”
As if not wanting to recall painful memories, Yoon Tae-ha covered her mouth with one hand. Her vulnerable side was fully exposed in her eyes. Cheon Geon-young’s chest ached with the urge to immediately embrace her and hide away somewhere no one could enter.
“So. So that’s why you came to me...”
Yoon Tae-ha mumbled, her face pale, and grasped a nearby tree.
“It’s because of Yoon Jeong-hoon.”
He remained silent.
Thanks to his silence, Yoon Tae-ha’s conviction grew. Cheon Geon-young and his organization had come all the way here because of what Yoon Jeong-hoon had done. How much did he know? She had a feeling he had already figured out that she was listed as his family in the documents.
“Right?”
“Our side hasn’t even figured out who gave the orders yet.”
“Have you revealed the full story of the project you wanted to find?”
“When you were away, Changcheon attacked Orca’s research facility that we were both monitoring. We found it there.”
Seeing him speak without hiding anything, Yoon Tae-ha caressed her ring and spoke.
“Small Hive.”
Cheon Geon-young, hearing the research facility’s name for the first time, was briefly confused but quickly understood the situation.
“So that’s the name of the facility.”
“You and your team met my friends there.”
“...”
“And you took one of our comrades to the airborne carrier.”
Yoon Tae-ha deliberately spoke with forced confidence, adding strength to her voice. In truth, she was scared to death of being abandoned.
“Ah. I didn’t mention the name. Black Lion. That’s what others call us. We don’t have a separate nickname. It’s not a legal organization anyway.”
I said it.
The image of Cheon Geon-young drawing the pistol from his hip and pointing it at her grew increasingly vivid. The longer the other person remained silent, the more Yoon Tae-ha felt like sinking into the ground.
Did I speak too hastily? But there was no perfect timing to reveal something like this. Wasn’t it a confession that would turn the situation for the worse, no matter when it was said?
“Since the Director-General knew Alpha Team’s plan through Gaia, that’s why you and your friends attacked the research facility first?”
“You were the same.”
“I’m asking for your intention.”
With an utterly exhausted face, Yoon Tae-ha leaned against a nearby tree. She wasn’t feeling well. She felt like she should swallow painkillers as soon as they got back.
“Black Lion is an organization created to eradicate Orca.”
Yoon Tae-ha’s low voice echoed through the silence of the forest.
“I know what Black Lion is called outside. But we’ve never laid a hand on anyone else’s body for money. I swear. Most of our guild members have a history of being confined in Orca’s secret facilities.”
Cheon Geon-young looked at her with dark eyes. Contrary to her imagination, he neither drew a gun nor showered her with accusations.
“The guild leader has long held a deep resentment towards Orca, so their goal has been to liberate the test subjects they forcibly detained. Espers without families, outsiders who crash-landed in this world through fissures, dimension travelers.”
She explained about Black Lion, barely moving.
“They just settled in Cocytus and expanded their influence because they had nowhere else to go. It’s not much different from famous unauthorized guilds like Honjae.”
“Except that you’re explicitly hostile to Orca.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Who would be this gently sarcastic? Is your leader trustworthy?”
“At least he’s a man who knows how to make the right choices more than the Director-General. That’s what I believe.”
Believe. Yoon Tae-ha put special emphasis on that word. After her last remark, no more conversation passed between them. A moment later, Cheon Geon-young tilted his head slightly and asked,
“Is that all?”
“...What? Did you even listen properly to what I said?”
“You just gave a long-winded explanation about being a whistleblower who witnessed the corruption of an organization. I heard you properly. Usually, Changcheon assigns protective personnel to such people. And since I’ll volunteer for that position anyway, abandon any hope that someone else will come.”
Yoon Tae-ha, with a blank expression, blinked her large eyes. Cheon Geon-young felt a surge of anger at her unexpected reaction.
“Are you afraid I’ll handcuff you right here?”
The moment Yoon Tae-ha allowed the organization Black Lion to be called her friend, he was sure.
That she, like him, was struggling. He had finally found the origin of the guilt and helplessness she sometimes showed. Yoon Tae-ha was still scrutinizing him with eyes that held a faint trace of distrust.
“If you keep looking at me with distrust, I’ll get hurt, Tae-ha.”
At the deliberate word “hurt,” Yoon Tae-ha hastily turned her head. Who else would think of him as such a fragile glass bead?
Just then, Yoon Tae-ha, her tension released, slumped onto a thick tree root protruding from the ground. Cheon Geon-young quickly approached, kneeling on one knee in front of her. He reached out his hand to check her temperature.
When his cool hand touched her forehead, Yoon Tae-ha unconsciously closed her eyes.
“Do you have a fever?”
“Slightly. When was the last time you took your temperature?”
“Yesterday... before driving. It was normal then.”
“I told you I’d keep driving. I told you to go rest. Why don’t you listen to the person next to you?”
At his imposing voice, she opened her eyes. Through her blurry vision, she saw black eyes swirling with intensity. Cheon Geon-young was angrier than ever.
“Were you at the Small Hive too? Did you overexert yourself there?”
“I went to another research facility. Green Hive. Where the high-ranking chimeras are gathered. It’s most effective to attack simultaneously, divided into two teams.”
“So you went to a more dangerous place. Of course you did.”
Despite his sharp, thorny words, Cheon Geon-young’s touch was as soft as a feather. He brushed back her sweat-dampened hair. His palm touched her neck as well.
“Your fever seems to be getting higher. It’s quite a walk to the camp.”
“We can just teleport.”
“Absolutely not. Don’t even mention teleporting anymore.”
Yoon Tae-ha mumbled, her face looking wronged.
“He brought me here himself, but he keeps getting angry...”
They say espers turn into children or dogs when they’re sick. As she was self-deprecating her situation, Cheon Geon-young moved the small messenger bag he was carrying on his back to the front. Then he turned around, offering her his broad back.
“Get on my back.”
“I can walk.”
“Should I carry you in my arms instead? I’d prefer that. I can see your face.”
I don’t want that.
She gathered just enough strength in her calves to spring up and climb onto his back. As Cheon Geon-young stood up, her view suddenly became much higher. Since she had never been carried before, it was hard to find a comfortable position at once. When she fumbled, not knowing what to do with her arms, Cheon Geon-young told her to hug his neck. She awkwardly wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Tae-ha.”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t want to be suffocated.”
“...Sorry.”
Yoon Tae-ha, her arms wrapped more loosely than before, had a face as red as a tomato. Given how her strength control was erratic, she really was in bad shape.
“There should be a stream about five minutes away. Just cool down your fever there and then we’ll go in.”
Even with her on his back, he walked perfectly well. Is it because he’s a soldier? Would his military gear be heavy, or would I be heavy? I guess I’d be heavier, right? Yoon Tae-ha felt dizzy.
“Give me back our cat.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“You heard the guild name. It’s our mascot. So send him home.”
“He’s safe and sound right now. I even saw other staff members preparing toys for him when I left the carrier.”
“He’s smart. And kind. And brave.”
“Is it male?”
Yoon Tae-ha, as if dumbfounded, buried her forehead in his neck. He didn’t budge. Is he serious?
“What does it matter if it’s male or female?”
“It makes a difference if it’s the former.”
“Are you going to compete with a cat?”
“I said it makes a difference if that cat can turn into a human.”
“Childish.”
“You like that kind of thing.”
Yoon Tae-ha prodded the black bag strap with her fingernail and asked, “You’re not wearing any communication devices on you, are you?”
“Do I look like someone without basic principles?”
“Don’t copy me.”
“I’ll get fired if my identity is revealed. Of course, I don’t have any.”
She didn’t know how to respond. Yoon Tae-ha felt a sense of dullness wash over her. When she leaned her head against him without a word, Cheon Geon-young simply continued walking in silence.
________________________________________
Arriving at a small stream, Cheon Geon-young first looked for a comfortable place for Yoon Tae-ha to sit. Soon, a flat rock caught his eye. Water flowed beneath it, so cold air would rise. Having made his calculations, he carefully set her down on the rock.
“Wait here.”
After instructing her, Cheon Geon-young approached the water and took out a handkerchief. He dipped it into the clear, cold stream water. He made the handkerchief cold enough to redden his fingertips, then stood before the woman sitting on the rock.
To prevent her from being startled by the cold, he first placed the back of his hand on his own forehead. Yoon Tae-ha unhesitatingly leaned her body into his hand.
The fact that she didn’t flinch from his touch.
That alone made his lower abdomen ache. While walking here, he had felt her warm, soft touch on his back. It was like torture. The impulse tore at him painfully, but he didn’t show it.
“Isn’t it cold?”
Her face flushed, she nodded. Only then did Cheon Geon-young bring the handkerchief to her neck. As he wrapped his fingers around her delicate neck, which reflexively flinched, Yoon Tae-ha let out a small groan.
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