Chapter 77: The Weight of Gratitude

Chae-jun had been saved by Sa-yoon. The ability he once considered useless, Sa-yoon had declared more precious than any other.

Undoubtedly, the Espers who had clasped Chae-jun’s hand, pleading to repay Sa-yoon this time, felt the same. They too must have found salvation in witnessing Sa-yoon risk his life, tirelessly saving people in places that held no personal connection to him.

“So, just accept the watch. They aren’t gifting it to you because they want something in return, Team Leader.”

“What? Why is the conversation suddenly veering off like this?”

“Because the people who gifted you that watch feel the exact same way I do.”

Sa-yoon stared at his wrist, still feeling bewildered. Even after Chae-jun’s explanation, the reason remained elusive. He couldn’t even grasp the sentiments of Chae-jun, with whom he had spent so much time, let alone the other Espers who had presented the watch.

‘Well, if Chae-jun says so, then I suppose it must be true.’ Sa-yoon nodded awkwardly. The watch on his wrist felt surprisingly heavy.

“Hehehe…”

A strange laugh escaped him. Sa-yoon chuckled softly, gazing out the window at the setting sun from the empty hallway. The watch on his wrist, bathed in the orange glow of the sunset, shimmered with a golden light.

Initially, receiving the watch had felt burdensome and utterly baffling. Yet, as time passed, a peculiar tickle began in his chest.

‘So, they prepared this out of gratitude for me.’

He had more opportunities than anyone to be acknowledged by others. Without needing to be told, everyone praised Sa-yoon’s greatness; he received accolades wherever he went.

Still, this was the first time he had received such a tangible expression of gratitude. Some might deem it materialistic, but the feeling was distinctly different. Each glance at the visible object brought a realization: ‘Even I am someone worthy of gratitude to others.’

It was not a bad feeling at all. He felt as if he were floating on clouds, despite not having eaten anything sweet.

‘A person’s heart truly offers more solace than one might expect.’ The sensation of being recognized and welcomed brought a subtle sense of stability to Sa-yoon. For someone who had always harbored deep-seated anxieties and erected walls in society, these emotions, which others might take for granted, felt entirely new.

As the sunset faded, one side of the sky began to darken.

Watching the wristwatch transform from crimson to a cool silver, Sa-yoon found himself inexplicably thinking of Han Do-hoon. Had Han Do-hoon, who had endured such hardship alongside him this time, ever experienced such a feeling?

He, too, was a person who had lived his life treating the world with as much detachment as Sa-yoon.

Suddenly, a whim struck him. Sa-yoon called Chae-jun. Before the phone could ring twice, he heard Kim Chae-jun’s urgent voice answer.

–Oh, what’s wrong, Team Leader? Did a Rain suddenly invade?

“That watch you bought. Could I possibly get the exact same one if I go to the store right now?”

Chae-jun, sounding bewildered, immediately promised to find out and hung up. Sa-yoon gazed at his phone’s darkened screen. The face reflected there looked quite happy.

The store, which was nearing closing time, promptly dispatched an employee upon hearing that Jin Sa-yoon wished to purchase a watch. Besides the specific watch Sa-yoon had indicated, they arrived at the headquarters’ reception room laden with various signature timepieces from their brand.

The impeccably dressed employee extolled their watches, boasting that their materials were used in aerospace motherboards, making them the most suitable brand for Espers due to their resilience against strong impacts.

They even actively proposed sponsoring their highest-end line if Sa-yoon intended to wear their brand. However, Sa-yoon declined all offers, requesting only the exact watch he wore on his own wrist.

He stated he wouldn’t accept sponsorship since it wasn’t for himself, paid the full price, and received the beautifully packaged watch.

Carrying the impulsively acquired watch, Sa-yoon headed straight for Han Do-hoon’s quarters. After all, no matter how he thought about it, this was something Han Do-hoon, who had endured so much alongside him, also deserved to experience.

The fact that it was the exact same watch as his own was a minor concern, but if anyone questioned it, he could simply claim they both wore matching watches as a token of gratitude for the recent incident. More than anything, Sa-yoon wanted to wear the same watch as Han Do-hoon. They hadn’t explicitly defined their relationship, yet it felt right for them to share at least this much in common.

A moment later, Sa-yoon arrived at Han Do-hoon’s quarters, only to halt, dumbfounded, before the darkened door.

“It’s long past quitting time, though.”

Sa-yoon checked his device. It was nearly ten o’clock. Even Han Do-hoon, who often worked late, should have returned to his quarters by now.

‘Perhaps I should have called ahead.’ But he had wanted this to be a surprise gift. He yearned to let Han Do-hoon know, as soon as possible, how many people were grateful to both him and Sa-yoon.

Standing before the silent door, Sa-yoon pondered. It wouldn’t be good for others to see him lingering outside Han Do-hoon’s quarters, so he needed to move. But where would be a good place to wait?

He picked up his phone, thinking of sending Han Do-hoon a message, but then put it back down. ‘I’ll just go as far as his office,’ he decided.

As Sa-yoon approached the building where Han Do-hoon worked, a light shone from his office. ‘He must be here,’ Sa-yoon thought, quickening his pace.

Closing his eyes, he scanned for life signs to confirm if the person working in the office was Han Do-hoon.

“Huh?”

He had naturally assumed Han Do-hoon would be working alone, but there were two people in the office. He wondered if it was Han Do-hoon and a team member, but the aura he sensed was unusual. Sa-yoon frowned at the life sign, which pulsed with a deep green similar to Han Do-hoon’s.

‘If it’s similar to Han Do-hoon’s level, they must be the same rank. Is it Levian? Why would Levian be in Han Do-hoon’s office at this hour?’

Sa-yoon stood a good distance from Han Do-hoon’s office, looking at the window. Levian was a difficult person to deal with. Not only did his personality clash with Sa-yoon’s, but he was also an Irregular Hunter.

‘……’

Yet, it was truly strange. Han Do-hoon seemed to dislike Levian, and Levian felt the same. Despite this, they spent a considerable amount of time together.

Sa-yoon, who had been about to leave, changed his mind. As if entranced, he entered the building. Instead of going to the third floor where the office was, Sa-yoon walked down one floor and entered the room directly below the office.

After making the walls thick to make temperature measurement difficult, he approached the vent.

This was a method Sa-yoon often used when infiltrating somewhere. By modifying the metal pipe connecting the two floors, he could easily overhear sounds from the room above. It was a structure where sound reverberated and amplified between the metal plates.

Leaning his ear against the vent, he heard Levian and Han Do-hoon’s conversation.

“How long are you going to keep playing this romance game, Hayden?”

Sa-yoon’s heart pounded. He knew eavesdropping was wrong, but he couldn’t pull his ear away from the wall.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You can’t really not know… You know why you came to Korea, don’t you?”

Levian’s words cut off. It wasn’t clear exactly what was said, but they seemed to be speaking in very low voices or both had stopped talking. Sa-yoon held his breath, hoping to hear the next words.

“You’re not serious, are you? No, that can’t be. What kind of guy are you?”

“You didn’t come all this way in the middle of the night just to pick a fight, did you? If you have nothing more to say, get out.”

The voice was louder than before. Levian seemed to be pacing around the vent as he spoke.

“So, when are you going to bring Jin Sa-yoon to the battlefield?”

It was Sa-yoon they were discussing. Hearing his name, Sa-yoon covered his mouth and pressed his ear closer to the pipe. Why were they talking about bringing him to the battlefield?

The nuance wasn’t simply about using him as a combat force against the Rains.

“You need to bring him to the battlefield to properly investigate him, don’t you? You can’t touch him here. The scale is too big.”

“I’ll handle it, so stay out of it.”

“I *have* stayed out of it, which is why I’ve left you alone until now. You’re going back to the battlefield soon, aren’t you? What are you going to do after that? Are you perhaps waiting for Jin Sa-yoon to get so caught up in your little love game that he comes to you himself? Surely it can’t be such a childish tactic.”

What on earth were these two talking about? Sa-yoon couldn’t make sense of the situation. Battlefield, investigation, and love game. It was a combination of ominous words. Why were they talking about Sa-yoon like this? Han Do-hoon had warned Sa-yoon to avoid Levian, so why were they now discussing Sa-yoon? A hollow feeling settled in his stomach.

“My mission is proceeding smoothly, Levian. You focus on your own mission. Haven’t you already received your next directive?”

“Smoothly, my foot.”

Levian’s scoff was clearly transmitted through the pipe. Han Do-hoon’s voice, which had been dealing with Levian as if he were annoying, lowered.

“Levian. Don’t forget I’m your superior.”

“Oh, I am very well aware of that.”

Levian’s tone was utterly sarcastic. After a brief silence, he spoke in a low, formal voice, replacing his previously playful tone.

“Then, as a member of the Irregular Hunter Department, I officially ask: When will you apprehend the mission target, Irregular Jin Sa-yoon? I request a clear schedule be shared, Deputy Commander Hayden.”

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