Chapter 22
He glanced at Baek Rak and their eyes met again. This time, instead of avoiding his gaze, he stared back steadily, causing Baek Rak to raise his eyebrows as if surprised. What, did he think I’d just keep running away forever?
When he deliberately watched silently, Baek Rak smiled mysteriously and said, “That’s right. From very… far away.”
“Where?”
“From a place farther than you could ever imagine.”
“…Huh?”
Yu Sol tilted her head in bewilderment. She probably hadn’t asked Baek Rak that question expecting to hear such an answer.
Thinking the two of them were conspiring to tease her, he looked at Seo Won, but he seemed just as dumbfounded by Baek Rak’s behavior. But what was even more incomprehensible was how the two of them looked.
This scene of them looking at each other and exchanging silent glances—wasn’t this even stranger? He was the one asking questions, yet he couldn’t understand why Baek Rak was looking at Yoon Seo Won while answering, and it was also weird that they were both saying the same thing!
The peak came when Seo Won, who had been staring for a while, was the first to look away. Baek Rak showed signs of discomfort and persistently stared at Yoon Seo Won!
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Yu Sol looked back and forth between the two of them and narrowed her eyes.
“What are you two doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were having some kind of conversation with your eyes.”
At Yu Sol’s interrogation, Seo Won let out a short sigh. If their eye conversation had actually worked properly, he wouldn’t feel this wronged. He was also frustrated to death because he couldn’t understand why Baek Rak was acting like that.
From his appearance, you’d think he’d act consistently, but absurdly, he changed as quickly as flipping a palm. Unable to guess the turning point, he eventually ended up avoiding his gaze as if running away.
“We weren’t having a conversation. We were just looking.”
“But why did you look at each other like that?”
How would I know? If gazes had temperature, he could bet his entire fortune that Baek Rak’s would be hotter. It would be fortunate if the back of his head didn’t catch fire.
When it was just the two of them, there was no need to worry, but now that he’d been released into the shelter, was he anxious? There was no set timeframe, but he’d have to continue living here for now—he didn’t know how long he planned to keep surveillance.
Well… it was only hard for him. Only he was getting tired.
He was thinking he should just ignore it appropriately when Yu Sol’s gaze became unusual. What kind of misunderstanding was she having to make her eyes sparkle like that?
Then, Yu Sol suddenly dropped a bombshell.
“Are you two dating?”
“What?”
Seo Won jumped up as if startled by the unexpected attack. His composure was completely shattered.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
“People who are dating all do that. Looking at each other like that with their eyes. Are you sending some kind of signal that only you two know?”
Yu Sol wiggled her fingers in front of her eyes, trying to express something. It really seemed like she was talking about lovers’ gazes, making Seo Won’s face turn pale.
“Absolutely not! Absolutely not!”
“Hmm?”
“I haven’t even known Baek Rak for a week yet. And besides, he’s a guy and I’m a guy too.”
“What’s wrong with being guys?”
At Yu Sol’s words asking what the problem was, Seo Won was momentarily speechless. Was there no such prejudice here? Well, it wasn’t like he disliked or rejected it either, but… for the subjects to be himself and Baek Rak.
She had gotten it completely wrong.
“Can’t you see Baek Rak’s gaze? How is that the look someone gives their lover?”
“Mm, definitely.”
“See? I told you it wasn’t.”
“It is the look of someone eyeing prey though. Does he want to devour you?”
“No, you’re… what the.”
Is minor education okay here? They say they teach various things for survival. Does that include such unwholesome things too?
“Wouldn’t it be better to just… ask that guy if he hates me?”
“Hates you? Why?”
“Maybe he’s glaring because he doesn’t like me.”
“Baek Rak doesn’t even bother with people he dislikes.”
“…What about people he doesn’t dislike but doesn’t get along with?”
“He doesn’t bother with people he doesn’t get along with either.”
“…”
Seo Won had so much he wanted to say, but he held back with great effort and took a deep breath. Only after calming down a bit did he realize he was handling this situation alone. At times like this, passing the buck was the best strategy.
“Then ask Baek Rak. Whether we’re dating or not.”
“Baek Rak won’t answer.”
“I answered, didn’t I? That we’re not dating.”
“There have been more than a few people who said they weren’t and then I caught them later.”
Seo Won couldn’t even spit out the injustice that had risen to his throat and gritted his teeth. He was frustrated and indignant, but the fact that he was having this conversation with Yu Sol was so absurd that a deep sense of reality hit him.
“Hey, Baek Rak. You answer.”
Finally unable to bear it, Seo Won told Baek Rak to immediately clear up Yu Sol’s misunderstanding. But Baek Rak seemed to have no intention of clarifying this situation and instead relaxed his face and lifted the corners of his mouth. It was a meaningful expression by anyone’s standards.
Seeing Baek Rak’s reaction, Yu Sol opened her eyes wide. Meanwhile, Seo Won’s face turned red and blue.
“Oh…”
“No, hey! Baek Rak!”
“So this is Baek Rak’s type.”
“No! It’s not!”
He tried protesting to both of them alternately, but it was hopeless. Now, following Baek Rak, he was receiving Yu Sol’s meaningful gaze as well. Seo Won rubbed his temples hard as his head throbbed.
“No wonder. Baek Rak brought someone for the first time. There was a reason for everything.”
“Sigh… That’s not it, I’m…”
He wanted to say that he was in the midst of awakening as a hunter so it was an unavoidable situation, but he held back with superhuman patience. Both Baek Rak and Han Seong Hyeon had emphasized secrecy several times, so he couldn’t reveal the truth to clear up the misunderstanding.
It was a bit unfair, but given how things had turned out, he couldn’t be the only one to go down.
Seo Won put strength in his eyes and glared at Baek Rak.
“Sorry, but.”
“Yeah?”
“Baek Rak isn’t my type.”
For a moment, it became as quiet as if time had stopped.
Startled Yu Sol just opened and closed her mouth before quickly turning her head. Then she could see Baek Rak’s face with his smile completely wiped away. She involuntarily swallowed her saliva.
Wait, hold on. Then could it be…
“So Baek Rak has unrequited love?”
Seo Won and Baek Rak, who had been glaring at each other, turned their heads at Yu Sol’s muttering. Seeing the two people’s reactions split as they looked at Yu Sol, who was staring blankly as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Pfft.”
“…Yu Sol.”
Seo Won couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out, while Baek Rak frowned as if he had a headache.
Feeling like he had finally gotten one over on Baek Rak for the first time, Seo Won’s mood improved considerably. A reason to adore Yu Sol had emerged. Knowing that the nuclear bomb launched by that small mouth was also effective against Baek Rak made him feel like his chest had been cleared.
He should treat her well from now on, he was thinking when—
“Baek Rak’s taste is a bit…”
Yu Sol’s attack landed squarely on him as well. And it was a strong blow that could pierce right through his heart.
What’s wrong with me… Seo Won, who had never heard anyone say he was unattractive, couldn’t hide his disturbance and let his eyebrows droop.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The three of them remained silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.
Baek Rak’s taste, Yoon Seo Won’s taste, and even Yu Sol’s misunderstanding. Feeling like something had gone terribly off track, Seo Won took considerable time to collect himself.
Someone’s sigh was rippling like waves.
***
After going around the Yeongdeungpo Station shelter with Yu Sol and hearing about the overall geography and explanations, the red sky began to gradually darken. Night was approaching—not artificial darkness, but real night.
Yu Sol glared at the sky and then said to Seo Won, “Tonight’s my turn for night watch, so I have to go to the barrier outpost. Are you sleepy by any chance?”
Since there was still a lot he needed to know and he wasn’t as sleepy as expected, Seo Won shook his head.
“No, let’s go together.”
Yu Sol looked satisfied and led the way with Poong-i. Seo Won, who was following her, suddenly looked back. It was because the familiar presence that had been following him until now had disappeared.
Sure enough, Baek Rak wasn’t following but was standing still. Had there been a change of heart after all that surveillance? When Seo Won looked puzzled, Baek Rak pointed at Yu Sol with his chin.
When he hurriedly chased after Yu Sol, who had already gotten quite far away, only then did Baek Rak walk in the opposite direction. Seo Won watched the guy walking away for a moment and then asked Yu Sol, “Where is Baek Rak going?”
“He’s going to the opposite outpost. Each hunter has their own position.”
“Their own position?”
“One person goes to the north outpost and one to the south outpost, and they each watch half of the area outside the shelter. Only hunters can see outside at night.”
Even though creatures couldn’t enter, they were keeping night watch in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. Their appearance of guarding the shelter without letting their guard down was quite impressive.
“What if Baek Rak hadn’t come today?”
“Either Haru or Nora would have taken the shift.”
Haru? Nora? Were they other hunters in this place?
Following Yu Sol inside the barrier, he could see a long staircase. It was slightly dark, but since the structure was open at the top, ordinary people could still move around without discomfort.
The Jindo dog Poong-i went up the stairs first, followed by Yu Sol. After confirming that Seo Won was following well, Yu Sol continued her explanation.
“Our shelter has five hunters. There’s the captain, me, Baek Rak, and then Haru and Nora. Usually two people take night watch shifts, but while Baek Rak was away, the three of us took turns. The captain is too busy managing the power room to even see his face.”
Among all these people, there were only five hunters. So that was why Baek Rak had been going around looking for people who could be awakened as hunters.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
