Chapter 26: The Lingering Shadow of Concern

Surprised by the unexpected gesture of kindness, Jung Hanseol looked at Ryu Yishin. He had already averted his gaze from Hanseol, now staring down at his salad plate. With the fork in his right hand, Ryu Yishin meticulously speared several pieces of bacon, shoved them carelessly into his mouth, and chewed with an utterly indifferent expression.

Jung Hanseol surreptitiously watched Ryu Yishin, unsure if he was forcing himself to eat or genuinely enjoying it. By the time he had finished his appetizer, the main course arrived. Jung Hanseol’s eyes widened as the palm-sized steak, accompanied by various side dishes, was meticulously arranged before him. He had occasionally eaten beef when Team Leader Joo treated them to dinner during company outings, but this was his first time seeing such a magnificent steak with his own eyes.

He yearned to capture a commemorative photo, yet he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to pull his phone from his pants pocket. Jung Hanseol resolved to return to this restaurant alone someday, then followed Ryu Yishin’s lead, gripping the knife in his left hand and the fork in his right.

Recalling a dining scene he’d once seen on television, he clumsily attempted to cut the steak. Lacking skill, he found it far more challenging than anticipated. He finally managed to slice a piece of meat to a suitable size and put it in his mouth. Without much chewing, the tender morsel simply melted away.

‘How could something so delicious exist in this world?’

The steak was so exquisite that his regret over not taking a picture grew uncontrollably. As he diligently cut, ate, and cut again, Ryu Yishin only sliced a few pieces before setting his cutlery down, his gaze fixed intently on Hanseol across the table. Jung Hanseol remained oblivious to Ryu Yishin’s observant stare, even as he devoured half his steak.

“Ah…”

Only then did Jung Hanseol notice Ryu Yishin’s gaze, emitting a low sigh. He felt belatedly embarrassed, realizing he had been so engrossed in eating, head buried in his plate, since the steak arrived. Ryu Yishin’s plate, however, looked almost untouched, as if even the meat held no appeal for him.

‘Did I eat like a glutton?’ Unable to hide his awkward expression, Hanseol started to put down his fork when Ryu Yishin, who had been silent, spoke softly.

“Should I order more?”

“Pardon? Oh… no, I’m fine…”

Jung Hanseol had expected a torrent of scolding, but Ryu Yishin had offered words that didn’t match his usual indifferent tone. While he felt he *could* eat more if offered, he subtly declined, fearing he’d only incur more displeasure if he left anything behind. He then carefully speared a piece of meat with his fork and gently slipped it into his mouth.

“……You should eat too, Team Leader.”

Hanseol had long since lowered his gaze to avoid Ryu Yishin’s eyes, but the warmth spreading across his scalp told him he was still being intently watched. So, Jung Hanseol cautiously met Ryu Yishin’s gaze and offered a quiet remark.

Ryu Yishin let out a small chuckle, as if he’d witnessed something amusing, then gave a slight nod. He then took a roughly cut piece of meat. Though his expression still suggested he was forcing down something unappetizing, Jung Hanseol felt a weight lift and was able to finish his meal.

****

Only as they walked down the corridor after their meal did Jung Hanseol’s concern about the lunch bill surface. Fortunately, Ryu Yishin settled the payment in one go. Jung Hanseol thanked him as Ryu Yishin slipped his card back into his wallet and exited the restaurant. Ryu Yishin merely glanced at Hanseol with an expression that implied he was hearing the most ridiculous thing, then simply got into the car.

Just as they had arrived, Jung Hanseol sat in the passenger seat and Ryu Yishin in the driver’s. Jung Hanseol assumed they would head straight back to the office now that lunch was over, but as soon as Ryu Yishin started the engine, his phone rang. Hanseol, who was buckling his seatbelt, quietly held his breath as Ryu Yishin frowned slightly while answering the call.

“Why? Are there no one available to go? ……All of them? Choi Jiho was in his office just a moment ago.”

Ryu Yishin roughly ran his left hand through his hair, letting out a short sigh. Only moments before, Ryu Yishin hadn’t seemed particularly displeased, but this single, ill-timed phone call instantly made Hanseol tense. Hanseol diligently moistened his dry lips, desperately hoping Ryu Yishin’s irritation wouldn’t spill over to him.

“…I’ll go immediately, so report that to the Director. No, never mind. They’ll just get in the way, so it’s not necessary. Tell them to leave once their work is done.”

Ryu Yishin, having snapped his words at the caller, ended the conversation agitatedly. He tossed his phone onto the console box, then immediately shifted gears and pressed the accelerator. Jung Hanseol, intimidated by the ominous aura emanating from him, could only sit quietly, unable to ask anything. Even his breathing felt like it might break the silence, so Hanseol tried to breathe as softly as possible.

Before long, Ryu Yishin made a decisive left turn at an intersection. Jung Hanseol noticed a series of tall buildings, unfamiliar from the landscape they had passed on the way to lunch, and realized Ryu Yishin was heading somewhere other than the company. From Ryu Yishin’s phone call, he could vaguely infer that a dispatch order had been issued, and it seemed no one was immediately available to go to the scene, as everyone else was already out.

‘……’

‘So, is Team Leader going now?’

Jung Hanseol furtively glanced at Ryu Yishin, who seemed intent on pressing the accelerator rather than slowing down, his eyes filled with apprehension. He quietly clutched his seatbelt. Though he couldn’t shake the feeling of being inadvertently dragged into something, Hanseol simply remained silent.

They soon arrived at an apartment complex nestled against a low mountain. Ryu Yishin parked in the first available spot he saw, then reached across Jung Hanseol, who was frozen in place, to open the glove compartment. Inside, a chaotic mix of various guns, bullets, magazines, walkie-talkies, and grenades lay haphazardly strewn about. Ryu Yishin carelessly rummaged through the contents, then fitted a magazine and a suppressor onto a pistol before finally turning to Hanseol.

“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes…”

Seeing him arm himself, Jung Hanseol suspected a report of a monstrous creature appearing in the area had been received. He nodded obediently in response, then watched Ryu Yishin’s retreating back as he exited the car, armed with nothing but a single pistol, not even fully geared. Though he flinched when Ryu Yishin’s figure, which had been growing smaller, suddenly vanished from sight, Hanseol exhaled a long, silent breath, letting his body relax.

“Haaah…”

Feeling as though he had indigestion, Jung Hanseol pressed his chest, massaged his palms, and did some light stretching. The drive from the restaurant had taken less than thirty minutes, but he realized his body had become stiff from the unconscious tension he’d held during that short time.

Jung Hanseol decided to wait patiently, as Ryu Yishin had instructed, and immediately unbuckled his seatbelt. With the diagonal pressure gone, the stifling feeling in his chest seemed to subside slightly.

He thought it fortunate to have a moment to compose himself, even if this comfortable respite wouldn’t last long, as Ryu Yishin would likely clear out the monsters and return in an instant. Taking a deep breath, Hanseol pulled out his phone, searched for the restaurant they had just visited, and spent time browsing reviews.

‘……’

However, contrary to his expectations, thirty minutes passed, and Ryu Yishin did not return to the car. Hanseol felt a flicker of worry, thinking his return was taking too long for someone who had said he’d be back quickly, but he shook his head, trying to dispel the anxious thoughts.

‘Right. Within an hour is still ‘soon,’ so he’ll be back by then.’ This time, Hanseol played a simple puzzle game, perfect for killing time. Yet, when an hour passed and Ryu Yishin still hadn’t returned, he could only lean back in his seat and sigh into the empty air.

‘Why is he taking so long? He said he’d be back soon…’

Just waiting, unaware of the situation, made him restless, his bottom constantly shifting. Tapping his thigh with his index finger, Jung Hanseol considered trying to contact Ryu Yishin, but unfortunately, his phone lay haphazardly tossed on the console box.

His courage to make the call had already plummeted, but being in a situation where he couldn’t even attempt contact was an entirely different matter. Hanseol chewed on his lip, leaning back against the seat and staring into space.

He sighed repeatedly and tried to reassure himself that nothing was wrong, but ultimately, Jung Hanseol couldn’t overcome the inexplicable pressure in his heart. He got out of the car and stepped outside.

‘……’

Turning his gaze in the direction Ryu Yishin had walked, Jung Hanseol saw a towering mountain. Considering the primary habitats of monstrous creatures, it was highly probable that Ryu Yishin had headed there. Recent large-scale battles had taken place in mountains, and the areas he had been dispatched to with his team members when he was part of Team 7 were also mountains. Just reminiscing about those times sent shivers down his spine, causing Hanseol to momentarily tremble. He then pulled his coat tightly around him, trying to prevent the biting March wind from piercing his bones.

“Shouldn’t we evacuate first? Why is there no announcement?”

“Exactly. What if they suddenly come down from the mountain?”

“I heard Hyunsoo’s mom say Ryu Yishin came earlier… So maybe it’ll be fine?”

Jung Hanseol, walking and looking around with the intention of surveying the area, noticed a crowd gathered not far from where he had parked. They seemed to be residents of the apartment complex, all murmuring with serious expressions. As he drew closer, a familiar name reached Hanseol’s ears.

“Ryu Yishin? *That* Ryu Yishin?”

“They said he talked to the building manager and then left quickly. He must have come to deal with it, right?”

Hanseol, having vaguely overheard their conversation, stared blankly at the mountain, unconsciously biting his lower lip.

It had been over an hour since Ryu Yishin had told him to wait and then departed. Given his abilities, he should have eradicated everything by now, so why was there still no sign of his return? The questions slowly morphed into concern, casting a dark shadow over Hanseol’s face.