Chapter 8: The Silent Park and a Dangerous Embrace

The world seemed to stop as all sound vanished. The clamor of people, the whisper of the wind, even the gentle lapping of the lake beside the park—all ceased as if time itself had frozen.

Simultaneously, Doyoo witnessed the massive current of magical power that had been chasing the people come to a halt. Those who had been fleeing gradually stopped, then, as if by prior arrangement, all turned to look at Cheongshin.

Eyes, forgetful of their fear, were fixed solely on Cheongshin. He raised a hand, lifting his index finger to his lips.

“Shh. Just stay quiet, and it will all be over.”

His voice was soft and low, like a lullaby heard just before sleep. Yet, despite the distance, everyone listened to Cheongshin’s words, nodding as if enchanted.

With sound still absent, a period that felt long but was actually brief passed. Doyoo held his breath as he watched the immense, ominous-hued magic converge into a single mass, soaring high into the sky before dissipating.

Cheongshin, sensing its departure, withdrew his magic. The sounds that had been silenced began to flow back into the world. He nodded reassuringly.

“You all did wonderfully. It’s safe now.”

Upon hearing Cheongshin’s words, realizing the tragedy had ended, sobs and ragged breaths escaped from the people.

Cheongshin returned to Doyoo, bending down to retrieve the phone Doyoo had dropped.

“Senior, I’m afraid it might be difficult to make progress today.”

He gestured with his head. Involuntarily, Doyoo followed his gaze, spotting people in Kadan Mage Association uniforms rushing towards them from the park entrance.

Now, everyone in the park would be summoned to Kadan for examination and interrogation. As Cheongshin had implied, it was clear they would be detained at Kadan until late. Doyoo shifted his gaze to Cheongshin, who was smiling broadly at him.

Cheongshin spoke, “Even if you look at me so lovingly, I can’t stop Kadan for you. It’s a civic duty, after all.”

More than the implication that he could block strange magic but not Kadan, it was Cheongshin’s blatant use of the word ‘lovingly’ that made Doyoo feel something was terribly wrong.

The day after undergoing questioning as an ordinary citizen at Kadan’s regional headquarters, Doyoo immediately confronted Cheongshin.

“How did you know?”

Seeing Cheongshin’s eyes widen, Doyoo realized he had spoken not as a nerd, but as Seo Doyoo, a member of Kadan Association’s Special Unit. He quickly rephrased, recalling what he’d read in the [Nerd Manual].

“Uh, yesterday, I mean. You told people to… be quiet.”

“Ah, you mean that.”

Cheongshin spoke in a light tone, glancing around. Yesterday, after the investigation at the Association, everyone had been escorted home individually.

Consequently, Doyoo had parted ways with Cheongshin without securing a lab, so they were meeting at a cafe again today.

Perhaps it was because of this. Seeing Cheongshin act as if he was mindful of other people’s stares, Doyoo clenched his hands, fearing he might not get an answer.

“What’s wrong…?”

“It’s a bit dangerous for ordinary people to hear.”

“Then should we move to a private room, somewhere without people?”

“There’s no need for all that. Senior, would you mind sitting here for a moment?”

Doyoo obediently sat beside Cheongshin. As if he had been waiting, Cheongshin pressed close to him and wrapped an arm around Doyoo’s waist.

Just as Doyoo was about to push Cheongshin away, startled by the sudden closeness and the arm around his waist, a sweet voice, tinged with amusement, reached his ears.

“Please bear with the discomfort for a moment. We shouldn’t discuss ‘that’ kind of magic-related topic where ordinary people can hear, right?”

Faced with an undeniable truth, Doyoo ultimately nodded and relaxed his body. As Doyoo frowned, seeing Cheongshin smile contentedly, Cheongshin brought his lips close to Doyoo’s ear.

Never having been this close to another person, Doyoo flinched at the faint breath against his ear.

“From my observations yesterday, the people who made the loudest noises were the first to die. That’s how I realized it was a creation magic, a blend of wave magic and other spells.”

The soft breath tickled his ear. Doyoo knew he should focus on Cheongshin’s words, but the unfamiliar sensation made him press his lips together and lower his head.

He did this in an attempt to distance himself from Cheongshin, but Cheongshin, as if he had been anticipating it, tightened his arm around Doyoo and beamed.

“If it had been an enclosed space, people would have died quickly just from the sound of their heartbeats. It was truly fortunate that it was an open area.”

“I-I see…. But Cheongshin, could you… move away a little?”

“I’m sorry. That would be a bit difficult.”

“W-What’s difficult? No, I’ve heard everything, so I’ll go back to my seat.”

“Since you wish it, Senior, I’d like to let go immediately, but holding you like this feels so good. Senior, you’ve gained more muscle than I expected. Do you work out?”

Cheongshin’s hand, pressed tightly against Doyoo’s waist, slowly massaged and caressed his waist and abdomen. Though his touches seemed random, he persistently pressed on areas where Doyoo subtly reacted, showing a sensitivity that hinted at his experience.

“I do work out, but… wait, let go. Now.”

Doyoo felt as if he might attack Cheongshin if the touching continued. Fortunately, when Doyoo spoke firmly, Cheongshin complied, albeit still holding him.

“I said, let go!”

“Can’t I stay close like this?”

“There’s no need for it.”

“‘Need,’ you say? Then I’ll create one.”

Cheongshin pulled something out of the bag he had brought. As Doyoo quickly tried to stand up, Cheongshin produced a tablet and placed it before him.

“Look at this, Senior.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just my hypothesis, so I haven’t told Kadan, but I’ll show you, Senior. The principles and formulas for the creation magic from the park yesterday.”

“What?!”

“Shhh.”

As people’s gazes turned their way, Cheongshin soothed Doyoo, then opened the tablet’s notepad and began writing formulas with a stylus, observing Doyoo’s reaction.

Doyoo, completely oblivious to being embraced once more, watched Cheongshin’s hand, his eyes sparkling with intense focus as he followed the trajectory of the pen. Cheongshin gazed at him, his eyes filled with such deep affection it was as if he were looking at something dazzling.

They continued discussing magic until it was time to part, then went to the same Korean traditional restaurant they had visited the day before for dinner before finally saying their goodbyes.

“Damn it.”

Upon returning home, Doyoo banged his forehead against the wall. He had been so engrossed in Cheongshin’s stories that he had forgotten to ask the second most important question he’d intended to ask as soon as they met.

‘If I were as pretty, lovely, and handsome as you, Senior, wouldn’t you immediately pin me down and kiss me?’

The words Cheongshin had uttered in the park.

‘Because I want to do that to you, Senior. Because you’re so beautiful.’

Doyoo’s expression hardened as he recalled those words whispered in a sweet voice. He was certain that Cheongshin had lured his victims in a similar fashion.

Cheongshin’s reaction during the park incident was far from normal. Examining his history only deepened Doyoo’s suspicions.

According to available records, Cheongshin had never been involved in any incidents that would have accustomed him to witnessing deaths.

Yet, how had Cheongshin behaved at the park? He remained calm even as people died right before his eyes. More than merely calm, he observed with sparkling eyes, full of curiosity.

Because of this, Doyoo had intended to investigate the reason, but he had failed. No, he hadn’t even managed to bring it up, having become completely captivated by Cheongshin’s explanations of magic.

However, it wasn’t without any gain. The principles of the magic that caused the park tragedy, as explained by Cheongshin, were identical to what Kadan had surmised.

When Doyoo had gone to Kadan for examination and testimony as an ordinary citizen, Seong Heeyu, who had personally sought him out, had said this upon hearing Doyoo’s ‘report’:

‘This incident seems to be the work of the perpetrator we’ve been tracking. Mr. Doyoo’s ‘eyes’ would never be wrong, after all. Creating and circulating abnormal phenomena by exploding the flow of magic, rather than colliding magical powers to draw them out, is an uncommon method used only by this perpetrator.’

She then added:

‘You said the trail you picked up was Mr. Lee Cheongshin, didn’t you? That he prevented further casualties in this incident. Indeed, looking at the interview details, it seems plausible given Mr. Lee Cheongshin’s skill. Hehe. I’ll send you the information you requested today through the intelligence department soon.’

Seong Heeyu’s apparent enjoyment sent a slight shiver down Doyoo’s spine, but he resolved to focus on the present.

Lee Cheongshin.

Doyoo vowed to obtain irrefutable proof of his criminal activities and prevent any further victims.

Previously, victims had never spoken about Cheongshin. They had merely complained of headaches, stating, ‘I don’t remember,’ or ‘I don’t know who gave it to me. It just seemed to be there at some point.’

If they had been exposed to malicious acts disguised as skinship and affection, just as Cheongshin was doing to Doyoo, and were ultimately used and had their memories erased, then this could not continue. No more victims could be allowed.

“Alright.”

From tomorrow, Doyoo promised himself. He would actively play along with Cheongshin, determined to gather evidence that he was indeed a perpetrator, and with that resolve, Doyoo closed his eyes.