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When the first assault party failed to clear a Gate, there was only one way to re-enter. An external team had to infiltrate at the exact moment the monsters inside broke the Gate open and poured out.
Besides, since this incident officially qualified as a ‘disaster,’ they had no choice but to seal off the area, evacuate the residents, and prepare thoroughly before facing the Gate Break.
The Shanghai Association’s Hunters were the ones handling that封锁.
That was why the Shanghai Association’s help was indispensable right now. It was also why Taeseongyeon couldn’t reject their arrogant ‘conditions.’
Because they needed their cooperation to prevent the ‘Gate Break.’
“Can’t we just handle it ourselves? Why do we have to bow down and report every detail of the Gate assault?”
“You think they’d have cooperated if we didn’t accept those conditions?”
It was obvious they wouldn’t have provided Hunters or sealed off the surrounding area. And if there were casualties or property damage, they’d have puffed out their chests and raised hell, waiting for just that.
But still, this was a ‘Gate Break.’ Monsters would pour out like a burst dam, and there was no guarantee they could kill every single one without missing a single monster. Cooperation was essential.
Given the situation, Taeseongyeon had no choice but to choose the path without conflict. Of course, that was because his will to rescue the stranded was firm.
[The demon ‘Orias’ of ‘Lemegeton’ pricks up its ears and stares at the door.]
Dokyeom also raised his gaze to look at the door. Baek Jiun had probably already sensed the presence; he turned his head to look at the door before Dokyeom. Footsteps could be heard from afar.
Probably Beom Yeonhu and Agon returning after the meeting.
Dokyeom got up as well. Baek Jiun kept chewing on a squid leg, watching the presence.
At this point, it seemed he’d have to visit Taeseongyeon today or tomorrow. But before that,
“Jiun.”
“What? What’s with the ‘Jiun’ all of a sudden?”
“Shut up. How many jamming signals can you break through?”
At the sudden question, Baek Jiun’s mouth shut tight. Maybe recalling the guards he’d seen on the way here, his eyes flickered as if calculating something. But just as someone pressed a key card to the door, a naive smile hung on Baek Jiun’s lips.
Full of life, more than ever.
“Whoa, you’re underestimating me. For your information, if I put my mind to it, I can handle up to four.”
There was more sincerity in that confident answer than ever, so it couldn’t be dismissed as mere bravado.
That was enough.
Just then, the lock clicked and the door swung open. Beom Yeonhu’s hasty face appeared first, his bangs disheveled from rushing. Was it too much to think his gaze looked like a parent checking on a child at the water’s edge?
Over Beom Yeonhu’s shoulder, Agon’s figure was visible too, having clearly run here urgently. Both seemed anxious, as if they’d hurried over right after the meeting.
Only after seeing Dokyeom’s face did Beom Yeonhu let out a thin sigh. A sigh of relief. Watching that, Dokyeom approached them.
It was late at night. Yet he had a feeling that none of them would easily fall asleep tonight. Probably not tonight because of those two. Maybe tomorrow.
He needed to see Taeseongyeon tonight.
At least before the day after tomorrow, no matter what.
***
Drip,
“Haa…”
Blood dripped into the sink where water was streaming. Dokyeom wiped under his nose with the back of his hand and frowned at his pale reflection in the mirror.
The moment he left his room to meet Taeseongyeon, this happened. He’d rushed into the restroom near the lounge to stop the bleeding, but it wouldn’t stop easily. When he tore off tissue, plugged his nose, and pressed hard on the bridge, the blood flowed to the back of his throat.
Lucky he’d left Agon and Dali behind, he supposed. He slumped against the wall with his head down, and it wasn’t until his mind went blank that the bleeding stopped.
Dokyeom washed off the dried blood and rinsed his mouth roughly. His clothes were clean enough. After tidying up in the mirror, he walked out of the bathroom as if nothing had happened.
How many more times would this be possible?
Now that he knew the aftermath of
Yet the aftermath was this severe, it meant the price for borrowed power was that high. He’d borrowed the power of an S-rank, but his E-rank body couldn’t bear it completely.
As soon as he got in the elevator, he headed straight to Taeseongyeon’s floor. He’d called Taeseongyeon’s room intercom that morning and declared war, saying he’d visit tonight.
Recalling Taeseongyeon’s voice readily agreeing, Dokyeom pulled out his phone to check the time. Just past 8 PM.
The elevator soon stopped, having done its job. Dokyeom looked at the opening doors, and when the light inside spilled out, he stepped forward.
As expected, even around Taeseongyeon’s room, guards were stationed at a distance.
Tight security.
As he casually walked toward the room, they glanced at him but didn’t openly stop him.
Walking under their gazes, Dokyeom soon stopped in front of a door. He was about to knock, after letting his presence be known.
A hand shot out from the door that opened without warning, grabbed Dokyeom’s arm, and pulled him inside.
Thud,
He had no time to be surprised. Before he could steady his gaze, the closed door hit his back, and something teetered in front of him, casting a shadow.
When Dokyeom looked up, a hand had already come under his chin, tilting his head up. A well-shaped thumb rubbed near the corner of his mouth.
“…Next time, could you at least say something before opening the door? You startled me.”
Even as he let out his displeasure, Taeseongyeon didn’t react. He just rubbed Dokyeom’s mouth corner gently, examining and calculating something. For a moment.
“Looks like Han Dokyeom had another nosebleed…”
A low voice resonated. Meeting his gaze, Dokyeom smirked and replied.
“I’ve always had frequent nosebleeds, you know?”
“Then you should have hidden it better.”
“What am I supposed to do if it happens suddenly? It’s not like…”
He grumbled, but then he noticed Taeseongyeon looked different than usual. His normally tidy hair was now damp, messy, and sticking into his eyes. As if he’d just showered.
Dokyeom stared at him for a long moment. The hand that had been rubbing the corner of his mouth now brushed past his cheek and moved to his tired-looking eyes, touching them gently.
“It can’t be that you called the intercom first thing in the morning because you missed me… So why don’t you tell me what business brought you here in person? I’ll decide whether to accommodate you or not.”
“Yes, sir. Much obliged.”
“If it’s a request from Han Dokyeom, then.”
“Ha, really. Anyone would think you’re going to buy me a house.”
“Hmm? Should I buy one?”
He tilted his head and asked, a smile lingering in the corners of his eyes. His voice, like a whisper, etched itself clearly into Dokyeom’s ears. Maybe because of the closeness, even their gazes were clear.
It was a familiar distance. He’d faced Taeseongyeom at this breathing-mixing range more than once, but every time he met him, it felt unfamiliar.
As if looking at a creature made by someone else’s hands.
Was that why it felt so unsettling?
Until now, Dokyeom had agonized over whether to correct this or leave it alone. After many sleepless nights, he’d concluded that he would rather embrace him.
Moreover, use his ‘power’ if possible. It would be even better if he could get a character who could enter as a ‘bound fated one’ by chance.
He wanted to confirm that.
The surroundings had grown quiet. In that silence, Dokyeom heard his own heart pounding like a seizure. Thump, thump. In tune with that sound, he clenched his fist.
Just as he felt he might stop breathing, Dokyeom formed words in his mouth like a whisper. But the words didn’t come out.
“Han Dokyeom.”
Because a low voice fell from above.
The air stiffened instantly. Dokyeom’s gaze slowly lowered. Without him noticing, a hand had come to his chin.
The wide-open hand wrapped around his neck, pressing down on his pulse. Observing the throbbing pulse, Taeseongyeon tilted his head and leaned in.
“If you do that, it’ll be dangerous.”
At that one word, Dokyeom felt his back tense. His mind strained, and his breath came out ragged. He had no time to think about his own expression.
Dokyeom rolled his eyes up, showing the whites, and stared at Taeseongyeon. The expressionless face conveyed a faint answer. The thick fingertips touching his seal looked ready to dig into his flesh at any moment.
Taeseongyeon knew that Dokyeom was about to do something.
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