Chapter 58: The Weight of Life and a Reluctant Confession

“Then, let’s move to our designated positions today as well.”

“Yes, sir!”

The team members, responding with a resounding affirmation, each sought out their respective groups and prepared themselves. Team A seemed to be well-led by Kim Chae-jun, but Team B…

“Why are you here?”

Kang Ah-jun, who was supposed to be in charge of Team B, was hovering beside Sa-yoon like a drenched puppy. Given his size, ‘bear cub’ would have been a more fitting description.

“Team Leader.”

Kang Ah-jun lowered his voice. He called out to Sa-yoon in a hushed whisper, then subtly glanced toward Han Do-hoon.

“Are you two really in a serious relationship? To take a vacation and even follow him on a mission… And you didn’t come to the designated lodging yesterday either.”

Sa-yoon’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Is he trying to manage my schedule now?’ Before Sa-yoon could even yell, Kang Ah-jun, already tucking his tail between his legs, quickly stammered out an excuse in a small voice.

“I’ve been truly quiet until now. You know, Team Leader, you told me to keep my mouth shut about that kiss… Anyway, I really held back and didn’t say a word. And no one knows about the overnight stay except me.”

“Yesterday, when Chae-jun asked for your location, I even covered for you, saying you’d come early to sleep.”

Sa-yoon let out a hollow laugh at the sight of Kang Ah-jun, who, despite clutching his head in fear, still managed to get his words out. Indeed, considering Kang Ah-jun’s personality, he had held back a great deal.

To have seen that strange ‘lip clash’ for the first time and still not spilled the beans must have been an effort to the death for someone like Kang Ah-jun. Furthermore, the matter of the lodging was something Sa-yoon hadn’t even considered.

‘Perhaps I momentarily lost my mind, thinking only of having fun with Han Do-hoon.’

“Alright. Your efforts are commendable. So, I’ll tell you something special, just for you.”

“Really? You’re the best, Team Leader!”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“We’re not dating. So keep quiet about the lodging story from yesterday. Forever, from now on.”

Kang Ah-jun’s imaginary tail drooped. His eyes, filled with disappointment and betrayal, crumpled.

“Wow. That’s too much. You’d hide it to this extent? After saying you’d tell me something special? I’m truly disappointed. I thought our Team Leader, even with a bad personality, was more honest than anyone.”

“Do you want a beating?”

Kang Ah-jun squeezed his eyes shut at Sa-yoon’s threat, yet he continued to murmur endlessly about how wronged and resentful he felt. Anyone observing him would have thought he was fighting for independence, so desperate was his plea.

Sa-yoon sighed. It was Sa-yoon’s own karma to have kept such a fellow as a team member until now.

“What am I supposed to do if I say something isn’t true, and you don’t believe me?”

“You kissed, you stayed out overnight, you held hands, you went on a date. How can I believe you’re not dating?”

At Kang Ah-jun’s childish remark, Sa-yoon, who had instinctively raised his hand, let it fall in exasperation.

“Are you a child? Does a little hanging out mean you’re dating? Adults can enjoy each other’s company if their hearts align.”

“If that’s not dating, then what is? What more could you possibly do?”

Sa-yoon, who had crossed his arms to lecture, tilted his head. ‘Is that so?’ As he listened, Kang Ah-jun’s words seemed to make sense. ‘Come to think of it, we’ve done everything one does.’

‘It’s not supposed to be like this,’ he thought, almost letting himself be swayed, but then Sa-yoon quickly regained his composure.

“Anyway, no. And I’m going to end things soon.”

The more time he spent with Han Do-hoon, the more certain he became. Han Do-hoon definitely liked him. The day he would realize it himself was not far off. Or perhaps he already knew, but was holding back his words, fearing it would break their relationship.

If Han Do-hoon found it difficult to speak, it was right for Sa-yoon to step forward and clarify things first. Better to do it before feelings festered and became too difficult to untangle later.

Indeed, being popular was tiresome. Sa-yoon patted Kang Ah-jun’s shoulder.

“Anyway, adults have their own stories, my boy. Complex stories that a mere ‘bear cub’ like Ah-jun wouldn’t understand.”

He couldn’t possibly confide in this innocent child about having a sexual partnership for their mutual desires, or a business arrangement. Sa-yoon sighed deeply and nudged Kang Ah-jun toward his team.

“Now, go to your team. I put you in charge, and here you are, dawdling.”

“Even the Team Leader is dawd— Ow! Ah, I’m going!”

Ultimately, he waved goodbye to Kang Ah-jun, who walked away after getting a smack on the head. Sa-yoon turned his head toward Han Do-hoon, who was sitting in the distance.

He watched as Han Do-hoon manipulated something on a terminal he held. That man was also a Team Leader with many subordinates to lead. Could he really afford to follow Sa-yoon around so idly?

No, more than that, the Director who granted him vacation during a terror response period seemed odd.

Meanwhile, Han Do-hoon, having finished his call, waved. Sa-yoon started to wave back but hesitated. There were many other people’s eyes on them. He had already lost his composure and been caught staying out overnight by Kang Ah-jun; he couldn’t make the same mistake again.

Instead of waving, Sa-yoon gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and refocused on his assigned task.

The second day of the mission progressed smoothly. Sa-yoon visited the area his team had initially surveyed yesterday. He scanned the lane, double-checking for any spots they might have missed. As expected, Han Do-hoon accompanied him.

This had become too familiar, which was a problem. It was time to start preparing to distance himself from Han Do-hoon. Once they returned to headquarters, he would have to tell him to end their relationship.

“How long is your vacation? Don’t you have another mission?”

“I’ll be joining the support team in Daejeon tomorrow.”

Normally, he would have come down to Daejeon as part of an additional support team, but he was already there, waiting. Sa-yoon nodded, having anticipated the answer. Indeed, starting tomorrow, Daejeon would be swarming with Espers, so many they would trip over each other.

They wouldn’t be inspecting in plain clothes as they were now, but would don proper uniforms and officially begin their mission. The Director would take command, and Sa-yoon would have to move according to those orders.

Sa-yoon hesitated for a moment before calling out to Han Do-hoon. It was impolite to keep discussing mission matters with someone on vacation, but he felt it would be difficult to ask later.

“How much do you know about this terror attack?”

Han Do-hoon was always well-informed. He would always bring Sa-yoon information he didn’t know, and couldn’t possibly know, from somewhere. He wondered if Han Do-hoon knew information he didn’t this time too.

“It shouldn’t be much different from what Sa-yoon already knows.”

“Still, you must know more than me.”

“Not necessarily. After all, the information provided by the prediction system is limited…”

Han Do-hoon stopped walking when asked the question. A faint expression of dismay, rare on his face, flickered across his features. The conversation had been cut off right before the information Sa-yoon wanted.

“I’ve heard about that system too. Honestly, don’t you find it a bit hard to believe?”

“…They say its accuracy rate is quite high.”

Sa-yoon quickly feigned knowledge to lower Han Do-hoon’s guard, but he had already clammed up. Han Do-hoon wasn’t the type to be reserved with his words. He would easily divulge things like being the Commander’s adopted son, or information about Irregular Hunters, often to Sa-yoon’s surprise.

If even Han Do-hoon was being cautious, it truly meant the information was top secret.

‘There must be something unsettling about it.’

The premonition that something about that system was being hidden grew stronger.

“By the way, it hasn’t been long since the last terror attack, and now another one. These guys have no business ethics. Han Do-hoon and I truly suffered back then, you know.”

Sa-yoon changed the subject before Han Do-hoon’s vigilance could heighten. The past terror incident was a topic he didn’t want to discuss with Han Do-hoon, but he couldn’t think of anything else at the moment. Han Do-hoon’s eyebrows relaxed into a gentle curve.

“I heard Sa-yoon carried me out then. Thanks to you, I survived. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve thanked you yet.”

“That’s what moving as a team is for. There’s no need for thanks. Though you were a bit heavy.”

Despite having the strength to easily carry a person, Sa-yoon puffed out his chest, making a show of it.

“You suffered more than me, Han Do-hoon. I’ve always wondered, but let me ask now. What were you thinking back then?”

A forgotten question resurfaced in Sa-yoon’s mind. What kind of resolve drove someone to throw themselves into an impossible situation unarmed and willingly consume poison? Where did such courage, a spirit of sacrifice worthy of a hero’s biography, come from?

Sa-yoon posed the question he had suppressed for so long.

“How can someone value their life so lightly?”

“I value life heavily.”

‘Did he mean he valued the lives of hundreds of thousands, who would have died, more heavily than his own?’ That’s easy to say. How many people could honestly weigh their own life against the lives of hundreds of thousands they didn’t even know?

Sa-yoon clucked his tongue at the textbook answer and walked ahead. People had bestowed the title of ‘hero’ upon Han Do-hoon. Considering his achievements in Korea and the accolades from abroad, it was not an exaggerated title.

Every time he heard of those achievements, Sa-yoon, who had lightly dismissed them as ‘too excellent, thus troublesome,’ had to concede this one point. If anyone were to make a movie about Espers, Han Do-hoon would undoubtedly be the protagonist.