Chapter 70
At the end of a corridor with dim lighting, there was a large iron door with a sign that read “Authorized Personnel Only.”
That tightly locked door was the entrance leading down to the underground power room on the second basement level. Seo Won looked at the iron door and asked Baek Rak.
“How are you planning to get in?”
If you were to pick the most important places in the shelter, first would be the food storage, and second would be the power room. The power room that produced and charged electricity could only be accessed by a few people even among the shelter residents. It was a place with such thorough security that entering without a key was impossible.
But Baek Rak took out a strange stick from his pocket, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it. Then, absurdly, the door opened easily.
“…What is that?”
“Master key.”
“How on earth did you get that?”
Instead of answering, Baek Rak only sent a meaningful look. Then he immediately opened the iron door and gestured for him to follow quietly.
Seo Won let out a small sigh inside and followed Baek Rak in.
As soon as the two entered, the massive iron door closed smoothly and locked automatically with a click.
The inside of the power room was noisier than expected. It was filled with the sound of giant machines running and the sound of steam escaping from various pressure devices. The boisterous voices of people could also be heard from far away.
Going down the wide stairs, bright lighting illuminated the inside of the corridor. Walking slowly to the end of the corridor, the power room finally revealed itself.
Unlike the first floor, the second basement level had considerable height from ground to ceiling, like looking at a giant military warehouse. The area was about the size of the entire perimeter of Gangnam Station Shelter, with massive pillars positioned throughout.
And the most eye-catching thing was hundreds of silver tanks that occupied half of this space.
Those storing electrical energy were strictly protected by barbed wire and various equipment. There was also a translucent barrier faintly surrounding them, which seemed to be a hunter’s ability. Sparks occurred sporadically with crackling sounds.
Seo Won involuntarily let out an exclamation at the grandeur. Getting close would turn him into charcoal, but just looking from afar was amazing.
While touring the power room like that, Seo Won discovered people gathered in front of the tanks. There were about a hundred of them, all jumping in place on black mats.
Seo Won looked at them and asked Baek Rak.
“What are those people doing?”
Baek Rak looked in the direction Seo Won pointed and said nonchalantly.
“Making electricity.”
“…They make electricity by jumping like that?”
“It’s a piezoelectric generator. Since it’s hard to get energy from nature, they have no choice but to get it from people.”
The piezoelectric method that produced energy from the force of pressing the ground required people’s hard labor. For that reason, those jumping diligently there were already soaked with sweat.
This was Seo Won’s first time seeing electricity being made this way, so while it was fascinating, another curiosity arose.
“Then, is Yeongdeungpo Station also piezoelectric?”
Looking at Seo Won who was secretly excited, Baek Rak burst into brief laughter.
“If you’re curious, try it when you go back.”
“…That’s a bit…”
Seo Won quickly tucked his tail and shook his head saying no.
He originally didn’t have much interest in exercise. Especially endurance exercises like that, he avoided. He’d rather do heavy labor carrying things.
“Why, you ran well though.”
Seo Won glared at Baek Rak.
“Of course I had to run when creatures were chasing from behind. What choice did I have?”
When he first came here, he ran to escape from creatures, and at the shelter he ran to save Yu Sol. He also ran hard with Baek Rak to get to the underground bunker, but all that running was desperate struggling to survive. He thought Baek Rak was really teasing him despite knowing everything.
Seo Won looked around.
Since they had entered secretly, they were hiding behind a wall, but they couldn’t keep standing here. He was thinking they should go somewhere they could hide when Baek Rak spoke.
“We’re moving, so stick close and follow me.”
While Seo Won was touring the entire power room, Baek Rak had already surveyed the surroundings.
When Seo Won nodded, Baek Rak began heading somewhere. After moving for a while, choosing only secluded places, Baek Rak finally showed him a location.
That place full of giant cargo was shrouded in dark shadows with no lighting. Judging by the dust piled up and old grime, it seemed like a place where people hadn’t come for a very long time.
Seo Won moved very carefully so dust wouldn’t rise and said.
“You found a place like this well.”
“I’ve mostly lived outside shelters.”
“…Really?”
Seo Won furrowed his brow recalling Baek Rak’s special abilities and the current situation at Yeongdeungpo Station Shelter.
Yeongdeungpo Station, which had no next-generation guardian, was in an urgent situation. That’s why Baek Rak had no choice but to search.
Even at Seoul Station or Gangnam Station, guardians were important beings, so bringing them was impossible. Therefore, Baek Rak wandered outside shelters to find candidates who didn’t belong anywhere. Naturally, he had to become skilled at finding safe places.
And then he met him.
‘But he acted like that?’
The image of him threatening to abandon Seo Won if he didn’t listen was vivid. Even if told to abandon him, he probably couldn’t have done it.
If he could go back to the past and meet that guy, he felt like he could really turn his world upside down. Though realistically impossible, it would end as imagination.
While Seo Won was having ominous thoughts, Baek Rak walked around here and there checking thoroughly. Once he determined this was definitely a safe place, he looked back at Seo Won and said.
“Don’t come out of here until I return.”
“Got it.”
While Baek Rak searched for the hunter, Seo Won would hide within Baek Rak’s range. Though they decided to stay together, finding the hunter was something not just Seo Won but no one else could help with, so Baek Rak had to go alone.
“Be careful and don’t get caught.”
Baek Rak would probably return only after touching every single person here. He didn’t know how long it would take, but it seemed like it would be quite boring while waiting.
“……”
When there was no response, Seo Won looked back at Baek Rak. At that moment, something landed on top of his head. Startled, he touched his head and caught Baek Rak’s hand.
Why is this here?
When he looked up at him in bewilderment, Baek Rak gently stroked his head. Then he slowly moved his hand down to his face and lifted his chin. When his head was raised to a certain degree, Baek Rak’s lips descended.
“……”
“……”
The kiss was very brief. It was such light contact that their lips separated as soon as they touched. Baek Rak turned around and left his spot just like that.
Seo Won stared blankly at the spot where Baek Rak had disappeared and slowly sat down. His heart was beating belatedly and even his head felt hot.
Already three times today they had kissed. Not excited kisses, but ticklish, light kisses.
He tried to think it wouldn’t happen, that it absolutely wouldn’t, but if Baek Rak kept acting like this, he couldn’t help but be swayed. If he didn’t forcibly make excuses that Baek Rak was just doing it because he wanted to, he felt like he would ask Baek Rak right away. An irreversible question.
But suddenly this thought occurred to him.
Maybe kisses had a different meaning. Like how honorifics were used differently, maybe kisses had different meanings here.
Asking him directly would be most certain, but he didn’t have confidence to handle what came after. Whether Baek Rak answered or not, definitely more things would change than before. He didn’t have the courage to face that yet.
Hadn’t Baek Rak already changed his attitude several times, making his emotions fluctuate wildly? Peace had just returned, so he couldn’t stir things up again.
It would be enough to ask Yu Sol or Han Seong Hyeon when he returned later and decide then.
Seo Won let out a long sigh and buried his face between his arms.
“Hah… this is really tough.”
Awakening as a guardian wasn’t easy, and having to worry about Baek Rak too, he couldn’t relax for even a moment. Fatigue washed over him.
Come to think of it, hadn’t he not slept a wink since leaving Yeongdeungpo Station? Not just that, but it seemed like he hadn’t properly rested either. Being chased by the alpha and fighting with Baek Rak had exhausted him mentally and physically.
Seo Won found a relatively clean spot, swept away the dust, and sat down on the floor. Propping his chin and hunching his back, it became a somewhat comfortable position.
He stared in the direction where Baek Rak had disappeared and quietly muttered.
“…Come back quickly.”
Being left alone didn’t feel good at all. He was anxious too. Was it because Baek Rak wasn’t there? Even though he was tired, sleep wouldn’t come.
Seo Won just endlessly waited for Baek Rak.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
