The moment he stepped through the wide-open door, the first thing that hit him was the smell. It lingered faintly throughout the entire room—part sour, part disinfectant.
And this place… though spacious, felt strangely barren. Hidden so carefully behind a locked entrance, he’d expected at least some kind of display. Maybe not a dazzling treasure vault, but at least golden chests or rare artifacts hung like ornaments. Even Tamlang Seonggun’s chamber, which they had just visited, seemed far more luxurious by comparison.
Inside, several tanks of different sizes were connected by tube-like structures. Aside from a few racks, piles of empty boxes, and a large desk, there was little else. The desk itself was cluttered with tools of unclear purpose, scattered as though no one had ever bothered to tidy them. Taken together, the place looked more like a laboratory than anything else.
“Feels like some kind of workshop.”
Hae-hyun seemed to think the same. He walked toward the desk, examining a large basket, some rough rods, and a few sharp tools. Picking up the basket, he sniffed it and raised his head with a strange expression. Had he figured something out? Jae-ha, who had been fiddling with a strange stick, asked,
“What is it?”
“No, it’s just… it smells good.”
For such a serious expression, the remark was anticlimactic. Jae-ha chuckled at his kid-detective act, then noticed a container tucked in the corner. Without thinking, he drifted toward it.
The container was tall and cylindrical—familiar even to a modern man like Jae-ha. He could already guess its purpose. Without hesitation, he opened the lid. Hae-hyun, who had stepped up beside him, asked in alarm,
“Sunbae, why are you digging through a trash can?”
Because that’s exactly what it was.
“Clues are always in the trash,” Jae-ha said confidently, like the mystery-movie buff he was, and reached inside.
Whether because no one actually lived here or because it had been emptied recently, the trash can was nearly empty. Jae-ha searched all the way to the bottom before his fingers brushed something. He pulled out a tiny fragment no larger than a fingernail, damp with some residue.
On its surface…
“I think I know where we are.”
The color was unmistakable—he’d just seen it earlier. Staring at the iridescent shard shimmering with rainbow light, Jae-ha glanced around the room. Now that he knew, he could easily guess what those tanks on the racks contained.
This was a brewery—for Hwanggwaju.
“So that’s how we find it…”
Jae-ha muttered bitterly. No wonder the men in the storage room hadn’t confessed, even when Hae-hyun threatened them. Ordinary mercenaries could never have known about this place. If he and Hae-hyun hadn’t been forced in here while hiding, they never would have stumbled across it either.
But at this point, with the manager of Hwanggwaju already identified, the discovery wasn’t all that useful. Their goal wasn’t the liquor anyway…. They were about to leave after poking around for a bit when footsteps echoed outside.
“Sunbae.”
At the same time Hae-hyun pulled Jae-ha back, faint voices grew louder and closer, approaching quickly.
“You’re sure they came this way?”
“They were already trying to head down. They might have gone inside.”
Someone had tipped them off. Maybe the ones Hae-hyun knocked out had woken, or maybe Hyo-min had grown suspicious. Whatever the case, it didn’t bode well. Walking into a locked room only to find them there—no excuse could wash away suspicion.
The brewery had just one exit: the same door where the voices now came from. Jae-ha scanned desperately for a hiding spot, but nothing seemed viable. The casks were big enough to crouch behind for a moment, but any search would find them right away.
“Stay behind me.”
“Ju Hae-hyun.”
Jae-ha’s voice was tight with unease. No matter how talented he was, Hae-hyun was still just a twenty-one-year-old college student. Facing long-lived, battle-hardened soldiers wasn’t something to take lightly.
“Don’t call me with the surname.”
Even now, Hae-hyun found the time to scold. He released Jae-ha’s arm, his sleeves fluttering as golden energy shimmered around him like heat waves.
“Hide behind the casks. When I signal, run for the door.”
But that door was exactly where the soldiers were coming from. There was no chance to fight briefly and retreat. At best, in the chaos, maybe one of them could slip away.
“What about you?”
Jae-ha’s voice cracked with anxiety. Hae-hyun turned his face slightly, the sharp lines of his features softening into a reassuring smile.
“I told you—I’m strong. How many times do I have to say it?”
“Hey, that’s—”
Before Jae-ha could finish, Hae-hyun shoved him hard. Jae-ha stumbled backward just as shadows loomed overhead. The door slammed open, and armed soldiers stormed inside.
“Who are you?”
“Where’s the woman?”
They immediately spotted Hae-hyun standing in the center and raised their weapons. The blades gleamed a menacing blue.
“How dare you trespass in Myeongheoseong! You don’t value your life!”
The man who thundered was clearly the commander. His elaborate attire, stylish mustache, and lofty tone set him apart—a type rarely seen back in Korea.
“I’ll drag out your schemes one by one. Seize them!”
With a chilling rasp, he drew his sword, the sound echoing through the underground chamber.
From between the casks, Jae-ha stared, stunned, as the commander and his men leveled their blades at Hae-hyun. Even through the narrow gaps, he could see the weapons’ edges gleam—and the soldiers’ eyes, brimming with hostility and suspicion. They weren’t going to hold back.
No… this was wrong. We’re just college students, Jae-ha thought desperately. What could someone who’d only seen battles in movies or dramas possibly do? The sheer reality of it made his heart pound out of control.
What if Hae-hyun got hurt? What if the sword struck him? What if he was gravely wounded—what if he died? Panic swelled in Jae-ha’s chest, threatening to spill over.
“Wait for my signal before you move.”
Through it all, Hae-hyun spoke calmly. Unlike Jae-ha, who was barely keeping it together, his face showed no trace of panic.
But hadn’t he said this was his first time sneaking in anywhere? And now he was up against trained guards, outnumbered several times over. This was nothing like tricking or knocking people unconscious. No matter how skilled he was with sorcery and physical combat, taking on disciplined soldiers was something else entirely.
“What about you?”
There was so much Jae-ha wanted to say, but no time. He whispered quickly, trying to sound composed though his voice trembled.
“I don’t die. Don’t worry.”
That was always how Hae-hyun was—appearing out of nowhere to help, pulling others out of danger, sending them to safety, then standing in their place himself. And he never hesitated.
He’d been like that from the very first moment they met. Beneath the sharp, prickly exterior was a kindness so close to the surface it always broke through at the first sign of trouble. He sulked easily, acted foolish, and lately had even been acting like some rebellious teenager—but no matter what, Jae-ha could never bring himself to hate him.
“…You’re terrible at lying.”
Hae-hyun smiled. With his back half-turned, Jae-ha could only see the curve of his cheek rising with the grin.
“Just play along.”
And then the guards charged. Hae-hyun stretched out his arm and muttered an incantation. Golden energy erupted from him, streaking straight toward them. Struck by the invisible force, the soldiers staggered, swords swinging wildly. The aura danced like a living thing, spinning gracefully as it evaded their blows, circling them.
“Damn, he’s a sorcerer!”
“Everyone, stay sharp!”
So it wasn’t reckless bravado—Hae-hyun really did have something to rely on. At least that was a relief.
He pressed the attack, golden energy sweeping like waves, shoving back the soldiers and toppling them. In moments, the brewery roared with chaos.
“Surrender quietly!”
But there were too many. One soldier broke through, charging with a shout and sword flashing. The blade gleamed inches from Hae-hyun, and Jae-ha instinctively reached toward him—
CLANG!
The sword stopped midair, blocked by something invisible just steps from Hae-hyun. The startled guard swung again, but his blade couldn’t pierce the unseen barrier. Each strike rang sharp and useless against Hae-hyun’s shield. In that moment, a low, urgent whisper reached Jae-ha.
“I’ll place a defensive spell on you. Circle around and escape. If you find Im Su-min, you’ll be able to return.”
“Ju Hae-hyun.”
This time, instead of demanding Jae-ha drop the surname, Hae-hyun began chanting. Golden energy burst from his entire body, blazing like a storm.
“Go.”
