Chapter 63
It was too big to eat without making his jaw ache, but since it was supposed to be a specialty, the aroma of the bread crust crumbling in his mouth was indeed on another level. Not to mention the sausage bursting with juices beneath the crispy yet fluffy bread. Eunseong struggled to chew and swallow the hot dog he had bitten into with his mouth full, constantly marveling.
“Really… it’s delicious.”
Sugar, ketchup, and mustard were messily smeared all around his mouth. Perhaps noticing that Eunseong wanted to wipe it off, Mujin held his chin and ran his finger along his lips. His thumb, which had scraped together the dripping sauce, touched his lips, and his tongue reflexively followed and licked his fingerprint with a slurp.
“But, it’s too big…”
Eunseong was greatly flustered by the finger that quickly pulled away. Heat rushed to his entire face and cold sweat broke out on his back. He commented on the hot dog’s size to hide his agitation. Thank goodness for the security glasses covering him—his expression must be a complete mess right now.
‘Crazy, he must have felt disgusted.’
Seeing how quiet he was without answering, he must be wiping his hands. Eunseong became somewhat dejected. Because of the finger that had entered his lips, he forgot all about the hot dog’s taste. Even if it had been covered in gochujang, he wouldn’t have noticed the spiciness.
“When did you buy it? Give it here now. I can eat it myself.”
He reached out his hand to naturally move past the situation. He was definitely reaching toward Mujin’s direction, but there was no response.
“Mujin?”
“Don’t eat it, just don’t.”
“Why?”
Did he hate the saliva that much?
“When you open your mouth, it looks obscene, so it won’t do.”
“What?”
Before he could stop him, there was a dull sound. Mujin had apparently thrown the half-eaten hot dog into the trash.
“From now on, only eat things like this at home.”
“…That’s ridiculous, what kind of talk is that?”
This was even more confusing. Just how obscene had it been? Eunseong bit his own lips in embarrassment. The sauce that hadn’t been wiped off yet was sticky.
“Don’t do that either.”
Along with the blunt voice, his chin was grabbed again. Eunseong, who had tensed up, felt both relief and disappointment simultaneously upon realizing it was a handkerchief wiping his lips.
“…Why are you like this?”
“Don’t lick your lips. Don’t put saliva on them.”
He seemed serious, making Eunseong’s lips tremble. The sudden scolding was so unfamiliar it was almost sad. He could tell from Mujin’s clothing and just looking at his room that he had a neat personality. Since he had never been fussy with him before, he had let his guard down.
“…Okay.”
It was when the dejected Eunseong was turning around.
“Mujin came early.”
An unfamiliar woman’s voice came from ahead. Her presence was so weak he hadn’t noticed her approaching. Eunseong, who had instinctively raised his guard, relaxed at Mujin’s hand on his shoulder.
Mujin pressed close and whispered in his ear.
“It’s Team Leader Woo Nayeong. Next to her is her assistant.”
“You don’t need to tell me that.”
“How do you know?”
“…I can tell by watching what you do.”
Just from feeling his relaxed posture or his energy settling quietly, he could tell whether the approaching person was friend or foe. In other words, whether Mujin was on guard or not became his standard of judgment.
“That sounds like I’m your standard?”
“…Yeah, well. That’s right. You are my standard.”
As soon as the answer fell, Mujin burst into quiet laughter.
“I like that.”
Mujin’s voice was so fresh it was like a flower in full bloom. Why had his mood suddenly improved again? Just moments ago he had been telling him not to eat hot dogs, scolding him and even throwing it in the trash…
Had he been hit by some belated adolescent wave during those three years? He couldn’t understand at all. Still, his mood was lifted by just one laugh, so he wasn’t in any position to talk about others. He was like an awkward adolescent boy having a hopeless one-sided love.
Click-clack, the sound of Woo Nayeong’s heels came close.
“Geumseum-ssi, nice to meet you.”
She called him by the pre-arranged name and extended her hand, which Eunseong gladly shook.
“Nice to meet you.”
Detecting energy flow and moving accordingly was something any hunter should be able to do, but Woo Nayeong marveled quietly in wonder as Eunseong, whose eyes were completely covered, moved as if he could see everything.
“Since we met out front, should I buy you a hot dog? Mujin knows, right? It’s a Rift Control Agency specialty…”
“No.”
“No thank you.”
When both refused simultaneously as if promised, Woo Nayeong laughed helplessly.
“Alright then. Let’s go. Let’s handle the urgent business first.”
She led the way, and Eunseong followed behind her while sharpening his senses more than usual. Curry, sitting on his head, chirped in response with a “peep-.”
Before leaving home, he recalled the information about Woo Nayeong that he had heard from Yeon Seokchun. A rare person within the Rift Control Agency, or rather, almost unique in her tendencies. Someone who enjoyed ‘fighting’ itself rather than building connections, literally someone who moved with monster subjugation as her purpose.
He was told she was the type to make enemies because her purpose was so clear. A thorough pragmatist who would immediately strike down any extended hand if she thought it worthless—truly a woman of principle.
That’s why she wanted Mujin. Not just for changgui subjugation, but to fight together in even bigger battles afterward. She was someone desperately devoted to monster subjugation.
‘She definitely has similarities to Baek Sangyeon, but she has a different grain.’
For now, he could only observe.
Eunseong stood beside Mujin as they entered the territory of the Rift Control Agency. He was told he had often frequented this place three years ago, but now it just felt unfamiliar. Since he had to play the part of Hangeumm as a newly awakened person, perhaps this was for the best. Acting awkward would look more natural.
* * *
The main building of the Rift Control Agency in the center of District 1 had strict security in every area, befitting a place frequently visited by hunters. As a place for identifying and controlling hunters with various abilities, it was a fortress-like location with not only various items and facilities inside, but even laboratories attached. The maintenance costs alone were said to be astronomical, but since the existence itself was a measure of the nation’s power, the word “reduction” didn’t exist.
“Since I’m here, we can just check once and go inside.”
Woo Nayeong guided the two through a separate passage. Unlike the main entrance with numerous security checkpoints and security personnel, there was only a single gate there.
When Woo Nayeong and her assistant passed through the gate, Mujin lightly pushed Eunseong’s back. Eunseong crossed the gate with both fists tightly clenched in tension. He felt a cool wind-like energy sweep over his body, and no alarm sounded.
“Welcome to the Control Agency. Have a good day.”
The employee sitting at the gate desk greeted them politely. Eunseong felt a sense of déjà vu and nodded slightly.
Mujin came up beside him again, and when the four people got on the elevator in turn, Woo Nayeong grumbled casually.
“Originally that wasn’t there either, but it was introduced because of those changgui bastards. You know the director got robbed too, right? It’s a gate for detecting monster energy, but do you know how much one of those costs?”
At her sighing tone, the assistant glanced around and quickly got on the elevator.
“The budget is slowly melting away… ha.”
Eunseong lightly touched Mujin’s arm as he stood without much response. When he extended his finger to hook his ring finger and pull, he felt Mujin stiffen.
Eunseong turned his head toward Mujin as if he had something to say and moved his lips.
‘Curry.’
When he silently mouthed the words, Mujin, who had been frozen, gripped his hand tightly as if understanding. Then he pretended to stroke Eunseong’s hair while lightly touching Curry on his head.
Peep-
A short but clear cry that was definitely audible to both of them. However, neither Woo Nayeong nor her assistant noticed anything. Then what about the security gate? Had the precise machine also failed to detect Curry’s energy reaction?
‘See? I told you Curry isn’t a monster.’
Eunseong squeezed Mujin’s hand tightly with his feelings. Then Mujin burst into silly laughter.
‘This guy isn’t Hwanghwa, I tell you. Even if my Hwanghwa went to you, would it be just like this little sparrow? And Hwanghwa is technically a monster too.’
When Mujin playfully squeezed back as if he wouldn’t lose, their finger joints clinked together.
“Ow!”
When Eunseong reflexively cried out, Curry puffed up his feathers and threateningly spat a small fireball toward Mujin with a “kyaak-.”
“What are you two doing?”
Woo Nayeong, who had been standing with her back turned, looked back and spoke indifferently. Eunseong was startled and quickly shook off Mujin’s hand.
“Oh my… I guess it’s time for me to go home and rest. My eyes are so sore I’m tearing up.”
When Woo Nayeong grumbled, her assistant responded in an innocent voice.
“Yes, you’ve been eating and sleeping at the Control Agency for exactly 7 days and 11 hours now. Should I make a treatment center appointment?”
Ding- The elevator stopped with a cheerful notification sound. When the doors opened, Park Jiwon, who had been waiting in the corridor, jumped up and waved at Eunseong.
“Geumseum-ssi!”
When Eunseong turned his head at the familiar voice and was about to raise his hand, Mujin quickly snatched that hand again.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
