Chapter 48: Into the Lion’s Den

It would’ve been better not to go, but after surviving for days on sauna eggs and cup ramen, the thought of not just clothes but proper food from the shopping center was too tempting.

More than anything—

I really wanted meat.

“It won’t be easy to sneak in, right?”

“What if we go to the rooftop over there?”

Hanjun pointed upward.

His finger aimed at the rooftop of an insanely tall building.

I looked at him, my face turning pale.

“Are you crazy? How do we even get up there?”

“Fly?”

“…You can fly?”

“We can.”

Ah.

As he tilted his head, our bodies lifted gently into the air.

The moment my feet left the ground, I clung to him tightly, shaking my head.

Flying up that high? No way.

Even this rooftop was already terrifying.

What if we fell halfway?

What if the wind got too strong?

What if we were attacked midair?

Horrifying thoughts filled my head.

I could almost feel the dizzy drop of a gyro drop ride just imagining it.

Meanwhile, Hanjun just shrugged.

“We’ve flown before.”

“That was different! What if we fall? What if there’s wind?!”

“I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt.”

“That’s not the point! I hate the feeling of falling!”

“Just close your eyes.”

Before I could argue further, we rose into the air.

I accidentally looked down—

The rooftop beneath us had already disappeared, replaced by a dizzying view of the ground far below.

I almost screamed.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and locked my legs around his waist.

“D-don’t drop me.”

“Okay.”

Even though I’d floated before, this height was different.

It was terrifying.

The wind from the Han River howled around us, threatening to sweep us away.

Yeouido Park below looked like a tiny model.

Everything felt unreal.

“Hyung, you’re choking me.”

“…Just save me…”

“Seriously…”

Even though I was strangling him, I couldn’t loosen my grip.

I shut my eyes tightly.

Flying didn’t feel freeing at all.

It felt like I might wet myself from fear.

And keeping my eyes closed only made it worse—

The floating sensation and wind made me imagine falling over and over again.

“…Joon… I think this is the end for me…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I feel like I’m fading…”

“Hyung? Hey—hang on. We’re here.”

Just as I was about to pass out—

“We’re here. Seriously.”

We landed on the rooftop of IFC Mall.

The moment my feet touched solid ground, I felt pure relief.

Hanjun, clearly annoyed after being strangled the whole way, set me down.

I collapsed weakly onto the floor.

“Hyung, you’re really—”

He stopped himself mid-sentence.

Yeah, yeah.

You were going to call me a coward. I know.

“…I almost died. Let’s just go inside.”

Only after calming down did I realize how cold I was.

We entered the building and carefully made our way down the emergency stairs.

Each step triggered motion lights, which made me nervous.

I crept down cautiously.

When we reached the shopping and dining floors, the interior was brightly lit—

Like it was still operating normally.

But it was completely silent.

No people.

Still, we couldn’t let our guard down.

Jo Juncheol’s subordinates could be anywhere.

We quickly entered a clothing store nearby.

From the outside, it looked intact—

But inside, it was a mess.

Clothes were scattered everywhere.

It looked like someone had looted freely and left without cleaning up.

“Let’s just grab winter clothes quickly.”

I didn’t want to stay here long.

Just thinking about Jo Juncheol made my skin crawl.

Until the final confrontation, I wanted to avoid him completely.

As I was layering up with warm clothes, Hanjun handed me a light pink shirt.

It had small floral patterns.

“…Try this.”

“You should wear it. It suits you more.”

“Me? I’ve never worn something like this.”

I held it up against him.

Broad shoulders. Sharp features.

And pastel pink.

It looked ridiculous.

Like a bodybuilder in a bunny outfit.

“…Wow. It actually suits you. Really.”

“Really? Should I wear it?”

He fell for it instantly.

He put it on and looked at me expectantly.

“Yeah. Try the hat too. Wow, you look great.”

I kept praising him while examining him.

Then I put a bunny-ear hat on his head.

Only then did his eyes narrow.

“You’re messing with me, right?”

“No, I’m serious.”

“Then you try this.”

He suddenly pulled out a revealing piece of clothing with a mischievous grin.

“…Put that down.”

“Let’s both try.”

“…Fine. Then you wear this.”

We ended up grabbing ridiculous outfits for each other.

Completely immersed in this absurd shopping battle—

“Hey. Who are you?”

A voice suddenly cut in.

We froze.

A boy, maybe late teens.

He had a faint blue aura—an ability user.

“Are you civilians? Or ability users?”

The moment I realized he hadn’t identified us—

I quickly pulled my hat down.

And did the same for Hanjun.

“Civilians shouldn’t even be able to get in here…”

He tilted his head suspiciously.

Before he could think further, I spoke quickly.

“W-we were told to come clean here.”

“You idiots! I told you to clean, and you’re playing around?!”

He immediately started yelling.

Even though he looked younger than us,

The moment he assumed we were civilians, he treated us like inferiors.

No manners whatsoever.

Still, I played along.

I grabbed a mop and started cleaning.

“What about you?”

Now his attention shifted to Hanjun.

I desperately signaled him with my eyes.

Just pretend to clean!

Hanjun reluctantly started folding clothes.

Even though he looked lazy,

They were neatly folded.

The boy crossed his arms and nodded.

“This is my favorite store. Clean it properly.”

“Yes, yes. Of course.”

Just as I thought we got away with it—

“And take those clothes off. Do you think they suit you? People like you should just wear rags. You’re just meat shields anyway.”

…You little—

I clenched my teeth.

So this is how they treat civilians.

Jo Juncheol’s influence was clear.

I glanced at Hanjun.

He nodded slightly.

This kid had already learned the worst kind of behavior.

Hanjun used his power—

Forcing the boy to his knees.

I quickly stepped behind him and stuffed the mop into his mouth.

“Mm! Mm!!”

He struggled, trying to scream.

But no sound came out.

Then suddenly—

His eyes widened.

Like he realized something.

I looked down at him.

“…I think he figured something out.”

“Then what should we do?”

“…Killing him feels a bit much.”

At that, he struggled even harder.

But he couldn’t move.

“Let’s just knock him out and tie him up.”

I struck the back of his neck.

He collapsed instantly.

After confirming he was unconscious,

We tied his hands and feet with clothes and tossed him into the fitting room.

Looking at that arrogant kid—

I made a silent promise.

Jo Juncheol had to be taken down.

No matter what.