#220
While spitting out an apology, Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly came to his senses. At Yoon Pa-ran’s words drawing a line that there would be no business without a contract, he had almost lost control without realizing it.
He hurriedly buried his temperament that had been about to burst out down to the ground. He also carefully withdrew strength from his hand that had been about to fiercely grab Yoon Pa-ran.
This happened naturally as soon as he recognized the sorrow melted on that white face.
“Sorry?”
Yoon Pa-ran still had sharp eyes. His breathing was rough as if his anger hadn’t subsided.
He had thought Yoon Pa-ran was simply angry at him and pushing him away. He had thought Yoon Pa-ran was so fed up with him that he would never see him again like this.
“Yes.”
“……”
However, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t seem to be simply angry.
Recognizing this, somehow his throat felt stuck and it was difficult to speak.
“I.”
“……”
“For deceiving you, Yoon Pa-ran.”
Those lips that had been trembling as if feeling deep betrayal were etched into Dan Joo-hyuk’s mind.
“So I’m sorry.”
“……”
Ironically, Yoon Pa-ran’s sense of betrayal was Dan Joo-hyuk’s hope.
If he hadn’t expected anything from him, there would have been no reason to feel betrayed. At the foundation of that enormous anger was the solid fact that Yoon Pa-ran had deeply trusted him.
He was disgusted with himself for shamelessly clinging to that hope even in such a moment. But it was better than growing distant from Yoon Pa-ran like this.
So Dan Joo-hyuk carefully took another step closer and spoke with sincerity.
Wanting somehow to narrow the distance with Yoon Pa-ran again. Wanting to pull that small body into his arms.
“I won’t do that anymore.”
“……”
At just a few words, Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes flinched. After being full of tension from anger, he was now restless and his gaze wandered to the floor.
It was such soft behavior when slapping his face wouldn’t have been enough. Though Dan Joo-hyuk had always been worried about this, he couldn’t help but be grateful at this moment.
Only after confronting each other for a long while did Yoon Pa-ran speak as if muttering. His tone was still quite fierce, but much more drained of strength than before.
“……How can I believe that.”
It was an attitude that clearly showed a crack had formed. Dan Joo-hyuk, not missing this, grasped the opportunity more desperately than ever.
Carefully reading the mood, he took another half step closer to Yoon Pa-ran.
“I’ll prove it by staying by your side until you believe me.”
“……”
It was a distance where their toes barely couldn’t touch. He wanted to go a little closer and trap Yoon Pa-ran in his arms, but he desperately endured.
His fingertips kept twitching, wanting to caress Yoon Pa-ran’s white and soft cheek. However, when Yoon Pa-ran glared fiercely at his carefully raised hand, he stopped abruptly.
Soon Dan Joo-hyuk even put his hands behind his back in a modest posture and slightly bowed his head.
Not forgetting to wear a gentle smile, hoping his face would be of some help.
“So please lift the block for now. Okay?”
“……”
Yoon Pa-ran didn’t answer easily. The gaze that had briefly swept over Dan Joo-hyuk’s face dropped straight to the ground. Along with it, Dan Joo-hyuk’s heart went up and down restlessly.
There was still faint anger remaining on that white face. However, that emotion sometimes took on a confused hue.
Dan Joo-hyuk observed the way Yoon Pa-ran’s thick eyelashes twitched without breathing. Every time those plump lips parted to say something, his vision became dizzyingly blurred.
Yoon Pa-ran’s hesitation was quite long. Just when Dan Joo-hyuk’s insides were rotting away from anxiety.
In a voice like an acorn rolling, Yoon Pa-ran spoke as if flowing.
“I’ll think about it.”
Yoon Pa-ran lifted all the blocks that night.
Though he still wouldn’t answer phone calls, Dan Joo-hyuk quietly renewed his resolve. He would absolutely not let this opportunity slip away.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day.
Yoon Pa-ran stood in the orphanage courtyard with a complicated expression.
He was scheduled to meet the security company president because of yesterday’s follow-up measures. The guy who caused this problem had been an employee who worked at the security company for quite a long time.
‘So please lift the block for now. Okay?’
Yesterday’s conversation with Dan Joo-hyuk had ended like that for now. They heard the guy who had been unconscious in the alley stirring.
For now, putting aside personal matters, the two of them interrogated the guy. However, the more they examined the young employee, the more the case fell into a labyrinth.
‘He wouldn’t have infiltrated alone, so confess who’s behind this obediently.’
‘This bastard, with my younger siblings!’
‘Uh, ah……’
‘……What. Why is he like this.’
A proper interrogation hadn’t even begun. The awakened employee kept looking blank and then didn’t say anything at all. As if his brain was broken.
The arm that had been grotesquely swollen to the point of looking like a monster was almost back to normal. At a glance, he just looked like someone who had suffered severe injuries.
According to Dan Joo-hyuk, as soon as he subdued the guy, the energy similar to a monster quickly faded. After fainting, his body seemed to be restored to its original state.
He said it was strange when he sensed the abnormality and rushed into the orphanage. The monster energy that felt like it was exploding was closer to fading away rather than an outburst of power.
Yoon Pa-ran’s thoughts were similar.
‘Wh, why……? Kehuk.’
As the safe zone unfolded, the guy acted as if he had received a fatal blow. Just as if a disguise that had been hiding his identity was unexpectedly broken.
The flower pot that had been broken inside the orphanage was the same. Yoon Pa-ran discovered broken stone fragments in that pot when he examined it again just in case. They were all already purified as if Yoon Pa-ran had used his skill.
‘I think this guy was also the one who buried stone fragments in the orphanage before to open a gate.’
Dan Joo-hyuk went a step further and speculated like this. They had thought someone named Noh Won-min had installed them, but an accomplice had already infiltrated inside the orphanage.
That fact made Yoon Pa-ran so annoyed he felt like going crazy. Thinking that his younger siblings had been next to that dangerous bastard all this time made him feel extreme anger.
He was also scared.
Until now, he had thought he could easily distinguish things that gave off such monster energy. But if that wasn’t the case.
What if he couldn’t prevent the dangers that would befall his younger siblings in the future?
“Phew……”
Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t overcome his frustrating feelings and let out a sigh. He directed his gaze toward the sanctuary standing quietly, though without yesterday’s light clusters.
Still, looking at the sanctuary like this gave him some peace of mind.
Because he had found a way to filter out even those who had been hiding like yesterday.
“Hunter.”
Then two people approached. He had been sensing their presence for a while, but Yoon Pa-ran only slowly turned around after they called him.
It was the security company director with a very tense expression and the president who was a retired hunter.
“Hello.”
“……”
The president bowed his head politely in greeting. However, Yoon Pa-ran gauged his abilities with a tense expression.
But unlike when making the contract, the president with a quite serious expression didn’t seem to have any intention of being hostile toward Yoon Pa-ran. He had been a bit worried when he heard they would bring the results of their own investigation.
“I’m truly sorry for causing an unfortunate incident at the orphanage this time.”
“……I heard you conducted an investigation.”
“Here, I’ve brought all the documents that employee submitted when joining and all necessary materials.”
“……”
To Yoon Pa-ran who demanded they get to the point, the president quickly presented the documents he was holding. The resume inside had that employee’s ID photo attached.
His gaze went to the guy’s cold face, quite different from what he usually saw.
“This isn’t to say we’re trying to avoid responsibility for this incident, but honestly, we have no idea how that guy got involved in such a matter. We searched through everything from the employee dormitory to his documents again, but couldn’t find anything strange. Of course, we proceeded with full cooperation with the investigation team sent by the Minister.”
For now, they couldn’t even tell whether that employee had been used by someone or had cooperated willingly. Since he was completely out of his mind and couldn’t even have a conversation.
“He really was someone who only knew work. Even before he was assigned to this orphanage work. ……But the more I think about it since yesterday, the stranger it gets. Working together for so long, I suddenly realized there’s really nothing I know about that guy.”
The director also carefully added to the president’s report. As far as Yoon Pa-ran knew, the two of them had been quite close to that employee. At least they had been trusted colleagues.
Perhaps that’s why both of their expressions were quite gloomy.
“Trust may have disappeared due to this incident, but if you would please reconsider, we will mobilize all our capabilities to protect the orphanage.”
Still, the president bowed once more and tried to persuade Yoon Pa-ran. In this uncomfortable situation, Yoon Pa-ran quietly fell into thought.
These people, Minister Byeon, and Dan Joo-hyuk had all investigated the security company in various ways, but couldn’t find another suspicious person like that guy. Of course, it was an unsettling matter. However, on the other hand, there was no guarantee that the same thing wouldn’t happen even if they found another company.
Above all, that director had been together when the safe zone was activated yesterday. It also meant it was proven that he was a person unconnected to that ominous power.
“Let me think about it.”
“Thank you.”
In the end, Yoon Pa-ran asked for time with a sighing voice. Just like he had gruffly spat out to Dan Joo-hyuk yesterday.
As if that alone was reassuring, the president and director greeted him again and disappeared outside the orphanage. In front of the orphanage, part of Yoon Pa-ran’s security team was temporarily standing guard.
One of the hunters confirmed the two people leaving and approached Yoon Pa-ran.
“It’s time to depart, Hunter.”
Yoon Pa-ran nodded and moved his steps accordingly. Since he had already finished all preparations before coming out.
When he went outside, security vehicles were prepared. However, Yoon Pa-ran’s face, who had unconsciously looked around, hardened slightly.
……Dan Joo-hyuk wasn’t there.
Since he had left like that yesterday, he had thought Dan Joo-hyuk would surely make excuses and cling to him again, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
