Chapter 56: Spatial Scans and Unexpected Confessions

“Can your detection ability even pinpoint pickpockets?”

“Hardly.”

When Sa-yoon scanned, everyone appeared as masses of greenish energy. He had simply closed his eyes and, noticing a pickpocket’s energy clash with others in the distance before fleeing, he had followed it.

Sa-yoon lowered his voice to explain to Han Do-hoon.

“My specialty is spatial awareness. Living beings are more like a side quest, I suppose. People just appear as spherical energy sources. Remember when I detected the bomb? I knew its size and location, but not its type.”

This was precisely why Sa-yoon’s ability was dubbed ‘Spatial Domination.’ He could discern the precise details of a building, down to its pipes and wiring, as if unfurling its blueprints.

However, energy was merely perceived at a rudimentary level: ‘Oh, it exists there!’

“Ah, but I can still differentiate between humans and Reins. Their energy forms are distinct.”

Humans, whose life force circulated from the heart, and Reins differed fundamentally in their energy origins.

“If humans are like slowly swaying, oval droplets of water, Reins possess a fiery, outward-radiating form. They are incredibly intense.”

“Fascinating.”

“It’s a rather useful distinction. I’ve been scanning the bustling downtown areas for any hidden Reins, but so far, none have stood out.”

The energies swirling around were all drawing perfect circles. Occasionally, some energies wavered like distorted circles, yet Sa-yoon’s past experience showed that even those eventually turned out to be human.

“How do I appear to you?”

Han Do-hoon asked Sa-yoon. Sa-yoon glanced at Han Do-hoon before replying.

“All biological energy is green, but the stronger it is, the deeper the color. Even a B-rank emits a dark green, but yours, Han Do-hoon, is a green so dark it’s almost black. Terrifyingly intense, actually.”

Han Do-hoon’s energy was so dark that it was almost imperceptible against a black backdrop. If Han Do-hoon decided to move quickly, Sa-yoon might struggle to track his location.

He refrained from mentioning that last part, unwilling to bruise his pride.

“Well, then, shall we move along? More people are gathering.”

“Excuse me. Do you have a moment?”

As the two conversed in hushed tones, the woman whose wallet had been stolen approached them. Her face was slightly flushed, and she clutched her wallet tightly with both hands.

“I heard you caught the pickpocket. Thank you so much.”

“It was nothing. I just happened to see it and caught them. And he’s the one who did all the work.”

Sa-yoon gestured dismissively with his thumb towards Han Do-hoon. It was Han Do-hoon who had sprinted to catch and subdue the culprit.

Sa-yoon had merely given directions with his eyes closed, so accepting thanks felt like a pang to his conscience. The woman glanced at Han Do-hoon, then lowered her head slightly, her neck flushing a deeper red.

“As a token of my gratitude, I’d like to treat you to a meal. Uh, there are two of us, too. If you have time, perhaps we could… together.”

Only then did Sa-yoon fully grasp the situation. This was both a thank-you and a date invitation. The woman’s neck flushed crimson, clearly unaccustomed to such overtures.

“I appreciate the offer, but what if our faces are a mess once we take off our masks? Honestly, even though he looks fine now, this guy has a pug nose and really petty-looking lips.”

“Oh….”

“That’s why he never takes off his mask outside. It’s a kind offer, but a meal would be difficult.”

Sa-yoon tugged on Han Do-hoon’s arm, speaking with finality. Han Do-hoon, who had inadvertently been transformed into a pug-nosed, ugly man, protested with his eyes.

‘Yes, I know you’re handsome, so just play along for now.’

At Sa-yoon’s refusal, the woman waved her hands and shook her head.

“No, no. I don’t have any ulterior motives. I’m just genuinely grateful. I truly want to treat you as a thank-you. You two are from out of town, aren’t you? I’ll recommend a delicious place.”

The woman stammered, her face turning crimson, as if it might burst. With many eyes watching, refusing further would only put her in an awkward position.

As Sa-yoon pondered what excuse to make, Han Do-hoon, who had been quietly listening beside him, extended his arm and wrapped it around Sa-yoon’s waist.

“We apologize. You see, we’re… in a relationship.”

“Huh?”

“We’ll accept your kind intentions. Please enjoy your time with your friend.”

Sa-yoon’s jaw dropped behind his mask. The woman, mirroring Sa-yoon’s expression, looked at Han Do-hoon, then quickly bowed.

“I-I’m so sorry. No, thank you for finding my wallet. Please enjoy your time together.”

Bowing once more, the woman swiftly disappeared towards her companion. Sa-yoon, stunned by Han Do-hoon’s completely unexpected excuse, let out a hollow laugh.

“Honestly, Han Do-hoon, you’re quite the troublemaker. Lying so easily.”

“Didn’t you lie as well, Sa-yoon?”

“When did I?”

Sa-yoon lived a life of… well, not complete innocence, but he considered himself fairly honest. As Sa-yoon grumbled indignantly, Han Do-hoon leaned closer, his face next to Sa-yoon’s.

Slightly lowering his firmly-worn mask, the straight bridge of his nose became visible in the shadow of his bangs.

“Were my nose and mouth really that bad? I thought they were rather decent.”

“I wouldn’t know. Your nose is needlessly high, and your mouth is unnecessarily loud.”

Of course, Han Do-hoon’s nose was far too sharp to be called ‘pug,’ and his mouth was clearly defined, not petty in the slightest. But since he was boasting about his own good looks, Sa-yoon felt no desire to compliment him.

It was a well-known fact that telling an already handsome person they were handsome only made them more irritating.

“Instead of boasting about your unremarkable face, let’s go do some work.”

As Sa-yoon grumbled and moved away, a subtle smile played on Han Do-hoon’s face. This only made Sa-yoon more annoyed. It was the smile of someone who knew they were handsome.

“You might be idle on your vacation, but I’m quite busy. My mission is of utmost importance, you see.”

Sa-yoon promptly handed both bread bags he had brought to Han Do-hoon.

Bubbling. Water droplets rose to the surface.

“Ah, I feel so languid.”

Sa-yoon relaxed completely in the hot water, stretching out. A subtle fragrance filled the steam-laden room. Water collected on the ceiling, dripping steadily.

Investigating every crowded place had been more tiring than he expected. Sa-yoon poured warm water over his tired eyes, massaging them gently.

Still, it had been a rather enjoyable day. Although he missed his reservation for beef because the mission ended later than anticipated, the bread he ate instead was delicious. Han Do-hoon, assisting him all day, had also proven useful.

Han Do-hoon had a surprisingly interesting side to him. Sa-yoon hadn’t realized it, having only ever encountered him in bed, but after spending so much time together and conversing, he discovered Han Do-hoon was competent and flexible.

Just that afternoon, when they caught the pickpocket….

“Hmm….”

Sa-yoon submerged himself in the water up to just below his nose. He had been too distracted earlier to dwell on it, but Han Do-hoon’s excuse about them being in a relationship kept replaying in his mind.

Normally, if one wasn’t thinking, they wouldn’t make such a remark, even as a joke. It must mean Han Do-hoon genuinely harbored feelings for Sa-yoon for such an excuse to even cross his mind.

‘This is why getting involved with a novice in romance is so troublesome.’

Sa-yoon shook his head, oblivious to his own predicament. Han Do-hoon’s recent actions were exactly those of someone experiencing their first love and not knowing what to do. Could the end truly be near?

Yet, if their contract ended and they returned to having no contact, he might feel a little regretful. Han Do-hoon was quite a good partner.

As he stood up, the hot spring water cascaded down his limbs. Sa-yoon donned a thick bathrobe and wrapped a towel around his head. A pristine face reflected in the mirror. He rubbed his slightly downturned eye corners, a sign of fatigue.

Stepping out, he found Han Do-hoon, who had already bathed, perched on the bed. Under the soft lighting, his sturdy physique was particularly striking.

The shadow beneath his jawline hinted at a powerful chest, subtly visible through the opening of his gown. Knowing how firm the sculpted muscles beneath truly were, Sa-yoon’s ears inexplicably burned.

Sa-yoon subtly walked to the opposite side of the bed. It felt somehow embarrassing to sit intimately beside him. Was it because it had been a while?

No sooner had Sa-yoon’s body touched the duvet than a large hand from behind him pulled at the collar of his bathrobe. Sa-yoon was swiftly laid down on the bed.

“Why are you going to that side?”

Han Do-hoon leaned over Sa-yoon, who was now lying down. A lewd smile played on his lips. Feeling as though his shy inner thoughts had been exposed, Sa-yoon averted his gaze.

Han Do-hoon reached out and touched Sa-yoon’s cheek, brushing back his still-damp bangs and stroking from his smooth forehead down to his neck.

“If you’re not in the mood, you can just rest.”

“Do these look like the actions of someone who’s ‘just resting’?”

“I’ll just touch you as I please, and Sa-yoon can simply rest.”

‘He needs to make sense.’ Han Do-hoon’s lips, where his fingers moved provocatively, were full of mischief. Feeling that hesitation would only make it more embarrassing, Sa-yoon untied the sash of his bathrobe.

As he was exposed to the cool air, goosebumps rose on his upper body. Han Do-hoon, as if he had been waiting, lifted Sa-yoon’s body and immediately laid him flat on the bed.

He spread Sa-yoon’s bared legs and firmly settled between them. Han Do-hoon rubbed his palm over Sa-yoon’s wet, smooth abdomen.