Chapter 40: The Unwavering Gaze and an Unexpected Visitor

Ryu Yishin’s eyes, which functioned perfectly well whether there was light or not, remained fixed on Jung Hanseol. No one could witness the intense gaze Ryu Yishin cast upon the deeply sleeping Hanseol, who lay motionless. Yet, if anyone had, they would have easily discerned the simmering flames of fury within his eyes.

Awakening the phone clutched in his hand, Ryu Yishin checked the time. It was just past five-thirty in the afternoon. Silently, Ryu Yishin ran a hand through his hair before his gaze returned to Hanseol.

Approximately one hour had passed. For a full hour, Jung Hanseol had been lost in the throes of sleep, utterly still. Considering he had once slept for over nine hours, it seemed he wouldn’t awaken until dawn.

“……”

Staring unblinkingly, as if believing his unwavering gaze could pluck Hanseol from the abyss of slumber, Ryu Yishin’s brow furrowed sharply. An incessant, irritating vibration shattered the peace.

Using his enhanced senses, Ryu Yishin quickly pinpointed the source of the noise and swiftly pulled back the blanket covering Hanseol. Without hesitation, Ryu Yishin reached into Hanseol’s pants pocket. Throughout this, Hanseol remained deeply oblivious, enjoying his profound sleep.

Ryu Yishin promptly activated Hanseol’s phone screen to identify the source of the vibration. He tapped on the most recent notification among the many pop-up windows.

[Chanhee Senior: Hanseol-ssi ㅠ What in the world happened ㅠㅠ]

[Chanhee Senior: You said you met the Team Leader at the cafe?? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Team Leader Joo just came and told me ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Chanhee Senior: Hanseol-ssi where are you right now? Are you perhaps being scolded? ㅠㅠ Is the Team Leader very angry??? ㅠㅠㅜ What should I do ㅠㅠ I should have gone ㅠㅠ]

[Chanhee Senior: ㅠㅠㅠ.ㅠ.ㅠ.ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ….]

[Chanhee Senior: Ha… I’m the one to blame…..]

[Chanhee Senior: Hanseol-ssi… if you’re alive, just send a period….. Please…]

[Chanhee Senior: ㅠㅠ…….]

The name ‘Chanhee Senior’ somehow felt familiar, yet it simultaneously sent a jolt of annoyance through Ryu Yishin, making his hair stand on end. The fact that Team Leader Joo had come and spouted nonsense in his absence, coupled with Woo Chanhee’s meddling audacity to check on Jung Hanseol’s very survival, ignited an uncontrollable fury within him. Ryu Yishin nearly crushed the phone in his hand.

However, a single glance at Hanseol, still breathing softly and regularly, completely oblivious to the world in his sleep, changed his mind. Or, more accurately, his heart, which had been pounding wildly with anger, calmed, and the strength in his hand naturally dissipated.

[.]

Following Woo Chanhee’s request, Ryu Yishin cursorily sent only a period, then completely turned off Hanseol’s phone. Now, no matter who called, no vibration would disturb the silence. He casually placed Hanseol’s phone on the side table before slumping back into the chair. Naturally, Ryu Yishin’s gaze once again settled on Hanseol’s face.

‘Why are there so many bastards interested in Jung Hanseol? Fine, the Espers who were on Jung Hanseol’s team before, now Team 5, I get that. But why Woo Chanhee?’

A cold sneer escaped Ryu Yishin’s lips with a soft exhale. Crossing his arms firmly, he closed his eyes and sank into thought for a moment.

The moment he saw Jung Hanseol among the members of what was now Team 5—formerly Team 7—clinging to Jo Jinwoo as if flaunting their close relationship, an uncontrollable rage had boiled over, causing him to lose all reason. For Ryu Yishin, who could see distant objects clearly and overhear even faint whispers within a certain range if he paid attention, their conversation could never be a secret.

It hadn’t been long since he’d told Hanseol not to even think about Jo Jinwoo. Yet, seeing Jung Hanseol lean on Jo Jinwoo’s shoulder, smiling brightly as if he owned the world, his mind instantly went blank, leaving no room for deep thought. The fury that had surged at the sight of Jo Jinwoo’s face had twisted into outrage the moment he beheld Hanseol’s innocent smile.

“Jung Hanseol.”

Slowly lifting his eyelids, Ryu Yishin softly called out Hanseol’s name. Hanseol’s face was serene, devoid of any worry or concern, as he slept. But Hanseol remained deeply immersed in his slumber.

“Jung Hanseol.”

Even when called louder, Hanseol offered no response. Frustrated, Ryu Yishin shook Hanseol vigorously, but he only swayed back and forth under his touch, his eyes remaining shut. It seemed the claim that he wouldn’t wake up even if roused was not a lie.

‘I can’t tell if he’s dead or alive.’ Ryu Yishin stared down at Hanseol with a bewildered expression, then poked his rounded, hill-like cheek. Despite his lean physique, Hanseol had surprisingly full cheeks, and the soft, yielding sensation as he pressed in wasn’t unpleasant. However, even after several more pokes, Hanseol showed no reaction. Driven by stubbornness, he even pinched him, leaving only a red mark on Hanseol’s cheek.

Just as Ryu Yishin lost interest and leaned back, the sound of a door lock clicking and the front door bursting open shattered the silence.

“Yishin! Ryu Yishin!”

A booming voice and hurried, anxious footsteps quickly filled the house. Soon, the dark living room and hallway were illuminated, and the presence drew steadily closer. As the wide-open door allowed light from the hallway to spill into the room, Ryu Yishin frowned and checked the time again. He then glared at the person who burst into the bedroom.

“It’s been ages since I called, why are you only here now? Did you crawl?”

“……What? Didn’t you call because you were about to have an attack? Your voice sounds fine…?”

The man, clad in a white doctor’s coat, hadn’t even managed to smooth down his disheveled hair as he squinted at Ryu Yishin in the dim light. He then reached for the wall, illuminating the bedroom, and let out a sigh of relief at Ryu Yishin’s unexpectedly composed face. However, upon discovering Hanseol lying in the bed, he started to tremble as if having a seizure. The man’s hand, pointing at the bed, also shook pitifully. Unable to conceal his bewilderment, he stammered.

“Wh-what… who is that person? Why are they in your bed? You don’t let anyone in your house. No, wait… are they dead? Hey, you didn’t kill them, did you…? Crazy… you finally…! I told you to take your tranquilizers regularly even if they don’t seem to work! They still help a bit!”

“……”

“You crazy bastard, I told you to control your temper! I know your mind often wanders… I know, but still! Have you given up on being human now?! Even you can’t escape jail, you crazy son of a b*tch!”

The man rattled on without a breath, not even thinking to push up the glasses that had slid down his nose. ‘What in the world is he imagining?’ Ryu Yishin calmly watched the man, who continued to spout bizarre accusations for a long moment.

Ryu Yishin was seated in the chair beside the bed while the man stood, a posture that, at first glance, should have made Ryu Yishin feel intimidated. However, the opposite was true. The man flinched under Ryu Yishin’s piercing gaze, then nervously adjusted his disheveled gown. A sudden chill had unexpectedly pierced him to the bone.

“Did you call me a crazy bastard?”

“Uh… huh?”

“Did you say ‘crazy son of a b*tch’?”

“…S-sorry. My words slipped out. I’m the crazy bastard, I’m the crazy son of a b*tch. Yes, yes. It’s all my fault. Big brother is wrong.”

Only after hearing Ryu Yishin’s chilling words did the man regain his composure. He quickly apologized, then pushed up his glasses and cautiously peered at the bed. It was then that he noticed the rhythmic rise and fall of Hanseol’s chest. The man leaned in, carefully examining the sleeping person, then asked with a puzzled expression.

“…But who is this person?”

“Jung Hanseol.”

“…No, I wasn’t asking for their name.”

The man successfully swallowed the insult he’d nearly hurled at Ryu Yishin, who had completely missed the point of his question, and stepped closer to the bed. Hanseol’s face, clear and gentle, was utterly unfamiliar, bearing no apparent connection to Ryu Yishin. At the very least, he didn’t seem to be a civilian Ryu Yishin had accidentally killed or injured in the field. Outwardly, everything about him was perfectly fine, without even a minor scratch.

Moreover, Ryu Yishin was a cold-blooded individual who wouldn’t bat an eye even if someone was hurt because of him. He would neglect them, not bring them home so carefully.

“…But why are they in your bed? S-surely… you didn’t cause trouble in another way…?”

“……”

“Ah, I’m sorry! Big brother is sorry!”

The man once again received Ryu Yishin’s cold glare and quickly admitted his mistake, attempting to defuse the situation. Ryu Yishin, looking at the man with a displeased expression, turned his eyes to the bed.

“They won’t wake up even if I try.”

“Huh? Won’t wake up?”

“They just sleep for hours without even stirring.”

‘How does he know that? Has he been watching him the whole time?’ The man tilted his head, finding Ryu Yishin’s answer hard to believe, then cast his gaze back to the bed. Indeed, despite his own rather noisy entrance, the person lying in bed remained undisturbed, seemingly drifting in dreamland.

Taking a penlight from his bag, the man gently lifted Hanseol’s firmly closed eyelids and examined his pupils. After performing various other checks, he ultimately tilted his head once more.

“How long has he been like this?”

“About an hour. Fell asleep right after guiding.”

“Ah… he’s a guide?”

Only after hearing Ryu Yishin’s blunt, monosyllabic reply did the man roughly grasp the situation. While he found it unsettling that Ryu Yishin would put someone in his bed and watch them, the fact that no one had been killed was reason enough for the man to feel relieved. As he placed his stethoscope and penlight back into his bag, a belated question struck him, and he looked up at Ryu Yishin.

“Wait a minute. But he just fell asleep right after guiding?”