At Myung-hwon’s words, Ju-eon whispered in a lower voice, as if he was about to share a secret.

“People change, Myung-hwon.”

Ju-eon had always disliked being himself. So he didn’t want to remain in a form he hated until the very end.

In the end, Myung-hwon left and the farewell party came to an unsatisfying end.

The way home alone felt especially long today. Cold wind brushed against his cheeks. Perhaps from the cold, his nose had turned red. It didn’t seem this cold just a few days ago. It was a night cold enough to make his nose sting.

“Why does time go by so fast?”

He didn’t turn on the lights or change his clothes. Not wanting to look at the empty room, he sat on the living room sofa and turned on the TV. Whatever big incident had occurred, every news channel was reporting breaking news about the gate that had suddenly appeared at dawn.

-Around 11 PM, an irregular A-class dungeon formed in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul. The rift formed faster than usual dungeons, causing extreme fear among nearby citizens.

The dungeon was being broadcast from an aerial view, likely filmed from a helicopter. The surrounding buildings had collapsed from the dungeon’s impact, and the dungeon stood starkly visible among the building debris.

The eerie atmosphere was palpable even to Ju-eon watching through the screen. And at the center of the rift, a massive wolf-like monster that could hardly be called a normal animal even from afar was prowling around the dungeon area.

Ju-eon watched the TV with anxious eyes. Though faces were hard to make out as the camera was far away, Ju-eon spotted Myung-hwon at a glance.

Ju-eon kept his eyes on Myung-hwon. Though hard to identify, it was close enough to roughly see what actions he was taking if you could identify him.

-The agency has announced they will eliminate the monsters that emerged from the rift and then clear the dungeon as quickly as possible.

The reporter spoke without pause, busy trying to grasp how the overall situation at the scene was unfolding. Since there was no mention of Myung-hwon, Ju-eon watched only where Myung-hwon was without looking at the surrounding situation.

Myung-hwon stood still in one place. No-hun and Ho-yun were visible right behind him. The monster must have spotted Myung-hwon, as it started charging toward him at high speed from far away.

KWAAANG!

No sooner had the reporting journalist finished speaking than a massive boom rang out as the area briefly lit up before going dark. And a few seconds later, strong winds swept across the area. The camera shook in the wind. Usually, Myung-hwon concentrated his ability into his gun, sacrificing range for increased destructive power.

But with many enemies now, he didn’t use that method and instead threw his raw ability at the monsters, instantly annihilating the surroundings. Even using his ability over a wide area didn’t mean it was weak in destructive power.

The monsters vanished instantly as if they had evaporated. But as if this wasn’t the end, a creaking sound came from the rift. And through that rift, creatures that looked even stronger than before were emerging, baring their teeth. They appeared to be easily three times the size of an average adult male.

BANG, KWABANG!

Myung-hwon unleashed another attack before the monsters could fully emerge from the rift. Since they were controlling the area to keep people away and it wasn’t inside the dungeon, Myung-hwon seemed to be unleashing his ability without his usual control over its intensity. Each time strong light colored the surroundings, only burn marks remained on the ground.

“Why is he acting so hastily…”

His actions were more rushed than usual. Perhaps because he had been drinking, his pace was faster than usual. He shouldn’t be like that. Acting that way would surely make him tire faster than usual.

‘I’ll be back soon.’

For a moment, Myung-hwon’s words from the bathroom flashed through his mind.

“…No way.”

That thought went too far. Ju-eon shook his head and turned his attention back to the TV. Even when Myung-hwon wasn’t visible on screen, the effects of his ability coloring the surroundings made it easy to guess how he was attacking.

His palms were drenched in sweat. People would probably laugh at the idea of worrying about Myung-hwon, one of the country’s few S-class espers, but Ju-eon always worried about him.

People get hurt. He knew well how easily and meaninglessly life could vanish due to just a moment’s carelessness. How the world could be completely uprooted.

That’s what happened to Ju-eon’s family, and to Myung-hwon’s mother. They all vanished before Ju-eon’s eyes without time to do anything. That feeling of helplessness was beyond words. That’s why Ju-eon couldn’t help but worry about Myung-hwon.

-The rift is closing! The remaining monsters are estimated at 9!

At the excited reporter’s voice, Ju-eon suddenly lifted his head that he hadn’t realized was lowered. Contrary to Ju-eon’s worries, the rift seemed to be getting cleaned up quickly.

Members must have been dispatched from Team 2 as well. There were glimpses of them struggling to catch monsters trying to escape past the barricades.

He rested his chin on his knee and stared at the screen that alternated between live coverage and expert commentary without pause. This felt like their street now. Like they weren’t even in the same space.

-All monsters that emerged from the rift have been eliminated. However, the agency has announced that immediate entry into the dungeon is difficult as preparations are needed.

Though they didn’t broadcast detailed situation reports for the agency’s information security, Team 1 would have withdrawn. Since it was irregular, Attack Team 1 would lead the dungeon entry.

He probably wouldn’t be going to either the meeting or the dungeon.

“Hah…”

Feeling like he’d fall endlessly into his thoughts if he continued like this, he stretched and tried to change his thinking. Looking at the time, it was already past 3 AM. Though he knew better, he couldn’t completely give up that small hope.

“Maybe I’ll wait a little longer.”

Only then did Ju-eon get up and turn on the living room lights. Then he noticed the shopping bag carelessly placed on the sofa.

The teddy bear-shaped item.

‘It’s an item with an object preservation function. You can set a password too. And schedule settings.’

Though Yun-jin repeatedly said it wasn’t expensive, Ju-eon knew well the market price of items with multiple overlapping functions, even if they weren’t major ones.

“How should I use it?”

Ju-eon touched the bear’s arm with his finger. He chuckled as the thick eyebrows and serious expression, unlike a teddy bear, seemed somewhat similar to Myung-hwon. But at the same time, he hugged his knees feeling melancholic.

The passionate love had passed. Since anything that stays hot eventually burns out, Ju-eon thought he liked that stability. But perhaps Myung-hwon thought only something worthless remained.

Even as he tried to convince himself it wasn’t true, that it was a misunderstanding, that he would come back, Myung-hwon always chose Ho-yun when given the choice between him and Ju-eon.

A stagnant relationship where they couldn’t fight and make up, or move forward. Myung-hwon seemed to have no intention of repairing this relationship, and he, who would soon disappear, couldn’t try to repair it either.

Maybe because of the alcohol, his thoughts wouldn’t stop.

“Still, I don’t want to break up…”

He felt like he could endure with the will to return if he entered the clinical trial while still being Myung-hwon’s lover. Feeling like tears might spill out, he closed his eyes tightly.

“Ah, right.”

They’d said not to drink for a while after getting the tattoo. The inside of his thigh was burning.

“I need to… put medicine on it.”

Though he said that, the moment he closed his eyes, he helplessly fell into sleep.

**

When he opened his eyes again, the day was already breaking. His shoulders were stiff, probably from falling asleep hugging his knees. After touching his swollen eyes, he realized his fingertips were cold too.

The front door sound was heard only after 6 AM had well passed.

Click click click click.

Dingaling.

Thud.

“You’re late?”

“You’re still up?”

“…I slept a little while waiting.”

“You should have just slept comfortably.”

“We agreed to talk.”

He knew from the news. The fact that they had suppressed the monsters from the rift hours ago. Where had Myung-hwon been between dealing with the monsters and coming home? Even though he was excluded from the force, they had been on the same team. Which means he knew well they wouldn’t skip the meeting right after handling the rift.

“Let’s talk now.”

Myung-hwon said while quickly unbuttoning his shirt.

While changing clothes, until he has to leave again.

“You want me to rush through talking?”

Eun-sun’s death wasn’t something to hastily discuss in a few words. Myung-hwon must know that too.

He barely held back his rising voice. It was their first irregular gate in a while. Plus he’d stayed up all night, so he had reason to be sensitive. In his hurt feelings, he belatedly noticed the bloodshot eyes Myung-hwon had.

“Wait, did you receive proper guiding?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then why are your eyes like that?”

“Because I’m tired.”

When Ju-eon approached, Myung-hwon openly took a step back. It was a clear gesture of pushing him away.

“Myung-hwon. Should we go on a trip?”

“……”

“I just hate being interrupted constantly. And it’s been a while since we traveled.”

The atmosphere was strange. He felt he needed to somehow avoid the suddenly heavy mood by saying something.

“Ju-eon.”

Myung-hwon called out to Ju-eon while rubbing his face dry.

“Right. Like you said, let’s talk later.”

With an anxiety that wouldn’t go away, Ju-eon gathered his bag. He went to the guest room instead of the bedroom he shared with Myung-hwon.