When I was 22, an S-class dungeon broke out in Korea. Thanks to a foreign tourist in Korea at the time, it was suppressed early before the gate was completed, and unusually for an S-class dungeon appearance, the incident ended without any casualties. There were some injured people, but even those were just a few unfortunate souls caught in the strong air currents formed with the dungeon wave. Opinions varied about the S-class Esper who caused a stir in Korea, but even people who were present couldn’t remember the foreigner’s face, so for a while, he was only mentioned in the media as a mysterious man.
‘So that was Peter.’
Even though I had regressed, I hadn’t realized it because I was living a completely different life, but seeing the situations match up perfectly sent chills down my spine.
‘Should I tell him in advance? No, I can’t risk showing all my cards when I’m not sure if he’s completely on my side yet. Anyway, we’re both S-class, so even if a dungeon opens, we can resolve it on the spot.’
I wasn’t at the scene when I was 22. My role disappeared because Peter took care of the entire situation.
“Hyung, they say it’s time to eat.”
Yang Garam woke me from my thoughts.
“Oh, right.”
As I got up from the sofa where I had been leaning, I spotted Joo Seolhyeon coming down from the second floor. As if he felt my gaze, Seolhyeon looked at me too.
“Mr. Joo Seolhyeon, please keep 11 o’clock free today.”
I told him my business when he had come close enough. Seolhyeon glanced at Yang Garam beside me and snickered. It was a laugh close to self-mockery.
“Sure, thanks for taking care of it.”
Yang Garam’s brow furrowed at Seolhyeon’s twisted smile. I pulled on Yang Garam’s arm as the atmosphere turned strange.
But Seolhyeon’s words and actions, which strangely grated on one’s nerves, didn’t stop there. He pretended not to hear when Do Wonjin asked him to pass the water glass, picked at his food throughout the meal, and when Yang Garam asked if something was wrong, he stared openly in my direction.
“It’s been fun living with you all.”
But what angered me most was what he said when he abruptly stood up during the meal.
“This uninvited guest will now take his leave.”
Seeing Seolhyeon leave, acting like a victim after making all sorts of trouble and souring the mood, I felt genuine murderous intent rise within me. If it had been just the two of us, I would have jumped up and smacked him on the back immediately, but since he had a social face to maintain, I couldn’t act so freely in front of others.
“What’s up with Seolhyeon hyung today? Did something happen between you two, Jeongjae?”
After Seolhyeon left, Do Wonjin asked me as if he genuinely didn’t understand.
“It’s because I’m terminating our contract today.”
“Ah, that was today?”
Do Wonjin understood immediately at my answer. It was a natural reaction since he had been present when I told Seolhyeon about terminating the contract. But for Yang Garam, who was hearing this for the first time, it seemed to be quite shocking news, as he showed signs of great agitation.
“Terminating the contract? But yesterday, you clearly…”
Only then did I realize that it hadn’t even been a day since I declared there would be no contract terminations. I quickly explained before Yang Garam could misunderstand.
“Joo Seolhyeon is an exception. From the beginning, it wasn’t a contract that both of us wanted.”
“Why did you make a contract if you didn’t want to?”
“Because it was better than an exclusive guide contract.”
Yang Garam’s gaze became somewhat strange. It wasn’t exactly pity, but it was a look that could definitely make me seem pathetic. I had been feeling odd since morning, as if I was reminded of the ocean every time I looked at Yang Garam—maybe a side effect of eating too much seafood for dinner yesterday.
‘Actually, maybe Yang Garam’s “Yang” means ocean.’
As my stream of consciousness was uncontrollably drifting toward the sea, Jeong Seyeon quietly put down his spoon.
“I’ll excuse myself first.”
With Seyeon leaving after Seolhyeon, the dining table felt empty. I also finished my meal, scooping up the last few spoonfuls of rice.
“Hyung, what time is your appointment this afternoon?”
Yang Garam asked as we were clearing the table with the remaining people.
“1 o’clock.”
After answering, I realized I had never told Yang Garam about having an appointment.
“Wait, how did you…”
I was about to ask how he knew, but the tactless Do Wonjin interrupted.
“Jeongjae, are you going somewhere today?”
And like a sucker, I nodded in response.
“Where are you going?”
Remembering Peter, who had repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality, I tried to avoid answering this time.
“Seoul Amusement Park.”
However, when that place came out of Yang Garam’s mouth, I inhaled sharply and widened my eyes.
‘So he did hear the phone conversation earlier…’
“I heard the Rose Festival ends today. I’d like to go too.”
‘He didn’t hear it after all.’
As Yang Garam murmured that he wanted to go, adding information from the news we had watched together this morning, Do Wonjin looked back and forth between us.
“What’s this, are you two doing a comedy skit?”
Do Wonjin stroked my head, saying it was kind of funny just now.
“So, who are you going to Seoul Amusement Park with? Looking at Yang Garam’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like you’re going together.”
“Hyung, was your appointment location Seoul Amusement Park?”
Watching Yang Garam react as if he genuinely didn’t know, Do Wonjin frowned as if he found it exasperating.
“Yang Garam. Stop acting like a fox—it really doesn’t suit you.”
I was the only one looking like a fool, glancing back and forth between them, trying to figure out the situation.
“Jeongjae’s face is so cute right now.”
“Both of you, do you want to die?”
“Why me too?”
Do Wonjin pointed at himself as if he was being wronged, but to me, Yang Garam, who pretended not to know while knowing everything, and Do Wonjin, who treated me like an idiot after almost being fooled himself, were the same.
“Enough! Both of you clean up!”
My pride was hurt, and I threw the dishcloth straight at Do Wonjin. It irritated me even more when he caught it with one hand and then belatedly checked my expression, smiling awkwardly as if to say, ‘Ah, I did that without thinking.’ I left the kitchen without looking back and headed for my room, but I could hear Yang Garam and Do Wonjin squabbling behind me.
“How could you catch that so tactlessly? You made hyung angry.”
“As if athletic reflexes are something I can control. Besides, you should speak properly. Jeongjae got angry because you put on that poor act.”
“If you had just kept quiet, he wouldn’t have found out.”
“Ah, I admit that. But you saw it too, right? That expression. Ah, thinking about it again makes me want to cry. I should have taken a photo of that face for my retirement preparations.”
“When you think about it, you’re the worst of all. Where’s the insecticide? I need to exterminate this mosquito.”
I wouldn’t have heard them if I hadn’t been paying attention, but once I was conscious of it, I found myself focusing to hear their entire conversation even as I climbed the stairs. Now I felt like crying, pride aside.
‘Even you, Garam.’
The sense of betrayal I felt from Yang Garam, whom I had trusted, stung like salt on a wound. I opened my door, calling for Serubi to comfort my depressing mood. But Serubi wasn’t in the room. If he wasn’t in my room, I knew exactly where he would be.
‘He’s probably rolling around happily on his back in Joo Seolhyeon’s room again.’
Like they say, when you need dog poop for medicine, you can’t find any—he shows up when he’s not needed, interrupting time between guides, but when he’s actually needed, he’s nowhere to be found.
“Well, it’s Joo Seolhyeon’s last day in this house, so I should show some generosity as the owner.”
I was heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth when my phone on the bedside table caught my eye, and I stepped back. No wonder I had a bad feeling—there were 3 missed calls on my phone. All from the Center Director.
Seeing not just 1 but 3 missed calls made anxiety creep up. This many consecutive calls meant there was a 99% chance it was for a mission.
“This is Woo Jeongjae. I couldn’t answer the phone because I was eating. What did you call about?”
―Today, an S-class dungeon will open at Seoul Amusement Park. You probably remember it too. It was quite a big incident.
Right. I wasn’t the only one who had regressed.
If I had noticed, the Center Director couldn’t possibly be unaware of it, and I reprimanded myself for not thinking that far.
“Yes, I know.”
―Then this will be easier. The dungeon is set to appear around 2 o’clock, so come to Seoul Amusement Park by 1 o’clock.
It happened to be the same time I had arranged to meet Peter. But of course, I couldn’t refuse.
If I said I had a prior appointment, I would look like a fool who couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters, and if I happened to run into the Center Director while with Peter, I might be mistaken for a double agent. It was the worst situation either way.
The Center Director must have assumed from the start that I wouldn’t refuse, as he ended the call as soon as I said I understood.
“Things are getting complicated.”
My stomach, which had been fine until just now, started to ache from the stress.
“Let’s brush my teeth first.”
After brushing, I began to carefully sort out the complicated situation. I called Peter to tell him about the suddenly assigned mission and mentioned that the location was the same—Seoul Amusement Park. Fortunately, he said his purpose was really just tourism and that he didn’t mind at all. The next thing I did was decide how to deal with Joo Seolhyeon.
‘I don’t fully believe what Woo Jeonghyun said, but if Joo Seolhyeon really dies today, I’d feel extremely uncomfortable.’
The contract termination was at 11 o’clock. Since it had already been discussed in advance, it would be over as soon as I signed the documents Jo Hail would bring. But what came after was the problem. Even assuming I stayed by Seolhyeon’s side, I couldn’t predict his movements at all.
‘It takes about an hour from here to the amusement park. Considering travel time, there’s not much time left.’
In a situation where I had to be at the amusement park by 1 o’clock, the time I could actually focus on Joo Seolhyeon was less than an hour.
‘Well, what’s an hour anyway.’
It’s not like I would benefit from doing this.
It was an action purely to ease my own mind, and I didn’t want to stress over such things. I decided to protect him only as far as I could.
‘There probably won’t be an attack in broad daylight, and even if something happens, it’s not a situation where I can intervene anyway.’
I presented myself with a compromise in preparation for any possible situation. But since it still felt a bit inadequate, I added one more thing.
‘If he’s still safe after I return from the amusement park, I’ll help ensure nothing happens for at least as many days as we were contracted.’
I stopped thinking, drawing the line that there was no reason to show more goodwill than that.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
