Chapter 61: On The Eve Of Departure

Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, tomorrow was the departure date.

So-won read through the overseas deployment guide sent by the Association over and over, drilling the contents into his head.

Only after he could recite the entire schedule without even looking did he finally let go of the worn, dog-eared papers.

Having finished all preparations, So-won folded his fingers one by one, checking to make sure nothing was missing.

His luggage was already packed, and he had decided what to wear to the airport.

All that remained was to board the flight to Canada on time tomorrow around noon.

So-won entered Tae-woo’s room earlier than usual.

Over the past few days, Tae-woo’s condition had improved even further.

Only a faint grayish mark remained around his eyes now.

It was thanks to So-won, who—wracked with anxiety at the thought of sending him to an S-rank gate—had guided him with everything he had every single night.

And today was the last chance to guide him before departure.

“Tae-woo.”

So-won stepped closer and carefully pressed a kiss to his lips.

Smack, smack—the cute sounds soon turned wet and sticky.

So-won slowly ran his hands down the firm body before him and gently pushed Tae-woo down to sit on the bed.

Then, naturally, he climbed onto his lap.

Compared to before, his technique had improved noticeably—enough that even he was satisfied.

So-won reached to take off his clothes, intending to continue the guiding.

But Tae-woo stopped him, pulling down the hem of So-won’s half-removed shirt.

“Lee So-won, this is enough.”

“What?

No—Tae-woo, we’re leaving tomorrow.

We still need to guide—”

“You’ve been overexerting yourself.

Please rest well tonight.”

So-won’s body suddenly lifted into the air.

Without hesitation, Tae-woo laid the Guide—who had boldly climbed onto him—down onto the bed.

With gentle hands, he pulled the blanket all the way up to So-won’s chin.

Only his face peeked out.

Confused, So-won tried to sit up, but Tae-woo’s careful, thorough tucking-in made his small rebellion futile.

Click.

The lights went out, and darkness settled over the room.

Relying on the faint moonlight streaming in through the window, So-won looked up at Tae-woo.

But Tae-woo did nothing.

He simply lay down beside So-won.

So-won lay awake for a long time, blinking up at the ceiling.

Maybe it was because there was no guiding tonight.

Or maybe it was because he was anxious about the overseas deployment tomorrow.

Either way, his chest felt restless, and sleep wouldn’t come.

I should’ve taken a sedative.

Should I get up and take one now?

Just as he was about to move, So-won changed his mind and quietly spoke to Tae-woo instead.

“Tae-woo… are you asleep?”

“I’m still awake.

Did you want to say something?”

The reply came immediately, as though Tae-woo had never intended to sleep.

When So-won turned his head, their gazes met in the darkness.

So-won deliberately opened his eyes wide.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Is it because of the overseas deployment?”

At Tae-woo’s question, So-won gave a small nod.

“This will be your first time at an S-rank gate too, right?”

“Yes.

Since my awakening, the highest-ranked gate in Korea has been A-rank.”

“Are S-rank gates… very dangerous?

I heard once that an S-rank Esper died there.

I mean, I know you’re strong, Tae-woo, so you’ll be fine, but… I’m still scared.”

He spoke as if it wasn’t Tae-woo’s story.

As if it wasn’t the story of the man he had once watched die.

He didn’t even know if an S-rank Esper had truly died in a gate before.

Still, So-won muttered as though recalling such news, pretending to be uneasy.

Pulling the blanket tighter, So-won curled into himself.

It felt like Tae-woo could see straight through him.

Afraid his guilt would be exposed, So-won buried his face in the blanket and hid there.

“Lee So-won, I am a physical-enhancement-type Esper.”

Tae-woo emphasized something So-won already knew.

So-won peeked his head out from the blanket.

“Do you know that among Espers, the gap in abilities by rank is especially pronounced for physical-enhancement types?”

“No… this is my first time hearing that.”

“Physical-enhancement Espers are specialized in defense.

Our reinforced skin is durable enough to withstand almost any attack, and we possess rapid self-regeneration.

As rank increases, that strength grows exponentially—so much so that even B-rank physical-enhancement Espers rarely sustain injuries from ordinary attacks.”

So-won listened quietly.

There were very few physical-enhancement Espers, so little was publicly known about them.

And as far as he knew, Tae-woo was the only S-rank physical-enhancement Esper in the world.

“Those who have entered gates with me call me a monster that never dies.”

“……”

“I’ve never been injured.

So there’s no need to worry.”

Only then did So-won realize—

Tae-woo is trying to reassure me.

So-won stared at him.

Even as he said all that, Tae-woo’s expression remained as blunt and unreadable as ever.

Yet just looking at his face made the creeping anxiety that had been gnawing at So-won vanish completely.

Still, So-won replied stubbornly.

“But that wasn’t true the last time I bit you.”

“Th—that was—”

Sensing Tae-woo’s flustered reaction, So-won let out a small giggle.

He knew, of course.

That had been because of the bomb around Tae-woo’s neck.

The material of the collar weakened an Esper’s abilities, making only that part of Tae-woo’s skin slightly softer.

Now that its effects had completely disappeared, even if So-won bit him with all his strength, there wouldn’t be so much as a mark.

In fact, it might just hurt So-won’s mouth—like biting into a rock.

So-won’s laughter gradually faded.

Having laughed his fill, the tension finally drained from his body, and drowsiness crept in.

He stopped teasing Tae-woo and wriggled closer to his side.

“Tae-woo… please hold me until I fall asleep.”

Tae-woo opened his arms, and So-won slipped into them.

Using Tae-woo’s arm as a pillow and his chest as a blanket, So-won pressed his face against him.

Thump, thump.

Listening to the steady beat of his heart, So-won finally closed his eyes.

***

Early the next morning, they began preparing to leave the house.

They only needed to arrive at the airport by lunchtime, but there was somewhere they had to stop first.

On the day the overseas deployment was confirmed, So-won had called his parents for the first time in a while to check in.

Having forgotten to contact home yet again, he couldn’t avoid a long scolding.

Near the end of the call, he mentioned that he’d be going to an overseas gate with Tae-woo.

His parents insisted that he stop by at least once before leaving the country.

So they planned to briefly show their faces on the way to the airport.

Groaning, So-won hauled a suitcase nearly as big as his torso downstairs.

When he stepped outside, he saw Tae-woo waiting for him.

Tae-woo’s luggage consisted of nothing more than a small bag in his hand.

So-won was certain it only contained a few changes of clothes for the stay abroad.

Compared to So-won’s massive suitcase, the difference was stark.

So-won glanced down at his own luggage.

He’d packed just in case—and ended up packing far too much.

He’d thrown in everything people recommended for overseas deployments…

Was this overkill?

Suddenly embarrassed, So-won fidgeted.

Seeing the suitcase, Tae-woo immediately opened the trunk.

As So-won awkwardly stepped closer, Tae-woo lifted the heavy case with ease and loaded it inside.

“Is this all of your luggage?”

“Yes…”

“Then we’ll depart.”

It had been a long time since Tae-woo and So-won went to So-won’s old home together.

The first—and last—time had been shortly after their matching, when Tae-woo had abruptly insisted on driving him home.

Back then, it had been incredibly flustering.

Now, the passenger seat felt like it had always been So-won’s place.

The scenery outside the window blurred past.

Only after they’d been driving for quite some time did So-won realize he’d never told Tae-woo the address.

Yet the direction they were heading was unmistakably toward his home.

That was why he hadn’t noticed anything strange.

Tae-woo hadn’t asked for directions either.

It seemed he remembered the place from that single visit.

Curious whether he truly remembered, So-won stayed silent the entire ride.

And when they actually arrived in front of the house, So-won looked at Tae-woo with quiet admiration.

As he was about to get out of the car, So-won asked,

“Do you want to come in too, Tae-woo?”

It was an earnest invitation, but Tae-woo shook his head.

“If I go in, your family may feel uncomfortable.

Please greet them properly and come back.”

So-won hesitated.

It had already been a month since they were matched, and Tae-woo’s condition had visibly improved.

He wanted to introduce Tae-woo to his parents—to show him his family, and the house where he had grown up.

But… as Tae-woo said, bringing him along without warning would probably shock his parents.

In the end, So-won told him he’d be right back and got out of the car.

Standing in front of the house, he hesitated for a moment before pressing the doorbell.

He’d been here not long ago, yet for some reason, it felt wrong to just walk in.

“Who is it—

Son?

Why are you ringing the bell instead of coming in?”

“Just… felt like I should?”

“Honestly, are you someone else’s kid?

Don’t stand out there—get inside.”

At his parents’ exasperated words, So-won laughed awkwardly and stepped into the house.

And despite seeing them only recently, he didn’t forget to exchange warm hugs right there in the entryway.