Chapter 66: The Lunatic Who Was Being Teased to Death

The thought made his face burn with shame. He was older than Lee Chae, yet when Lee Chae disappeared, he’d raged like a calf separated from its mother—completely losing it.

“Someone turned off emergency alerts for a date. Compared to that, our Lee Chae was way more mature. Right?”

Haejin nodded and vowed silently.

Lee Chae couldn’t eat or sleep, cried until his eyes swelled, yet still did his job quietly— From now on, no matter what happens, I won’t neglect my duties either.

Only now did he understand why Lee Chae had been so sensitive about his reputation, so obsessed with grades and evaluations. He’d claimed it was his own inferiority complex, but really—he’d genuinely wanted to reform the immature Cha Haejin.

Haejin peeked out of the kitchen. At the end of the hallway, Lee Chae—freshly showered and neatly dressed—was walking toward him. The post-shower glow made him look like a single touch would make water droplets bounce off. Even from a distance, the scent drifting over filled him up without eating.

“Close your mouth, idiot. Bugs’ll fly in.”

Jin-woo said. The interruption during his happy daydream was infuriating—Haejin glared. Jin-woo raised an eyebrow, “What?”

Both glared, but their mouths were smiling—weird expression. They had a silent, tension-less staring contest.

Seeing Jin-woo bicker instead of being touched at his return from fighting Kelvetero— Haejin finally felt he was really back at Legion.

Moments later, Lee Chae sat beside him—the table was full. Jae-hyung placed a mountain of grilled beef in the center; Yong-yong served rice, giving Haejin double everyone else’s portion. Haejin stared in horror.

“This all for me?”

“You worked hard—eat a lot! Meat too.”

Haejin smiled and put meat on Lee Chae’s rice. Lee Chae accepted without protest and ate. Haejin finally understood “watching you eat fills me up”—Lee Chae chewing like a hamster was adorable.

Staring blankly, he suddenly remembered something he had to say.

“Not the best timing during dinner, but who knows when something will happen—so listen well.”

Four spoons dropped simultaneously; all eyes on him.

“I didn’t even know if I killed Kelvetero until Yong-yong said it—only way I could’ve come back.”

“Good thing, right?”

Haejin lowered his voice.

“Don’t freak out. I think Kelvetero betrayed Lamia and Quiklops and acted alone.”

Everyone was shocked except Yong-yong, who nodded like he’d suspected.

“You knew?”

“Yeah. Thought so. If they wanted you kidnapped, they wouldn’t have trapped you in darkness. Kelvetero always hated captain.”

Haejin was surprised.

“Why? We never fought.”

“When beast-types attacked the awakener university, many shadows died. Captain killed the most.”

The day monsters took children hostage instead of killing them—Haejin had wiped out the shadows covering the building.

“But shadows can just be remade, right?”

Yong-yong shook his head.

“Not remade—split. That day, one of Kelvetero’s split clones died. That’s why he wanted revenge. If he hadn’t split, you might not have won.”

Haejin nodded. Purpose, their state, what to do next—puzzle pieces clicked into place.

“Kelvetero probably wanted me dead. Lamia and Quiklops, whose goal is human extinction, wanted to turn me humanoid and use me as a weapon…”

Cough, cough…

Lee Chae suddenly choked, pounding his chest. Haejin quickly poured water. Lee Chae drank, face pale, still trembling. He grabbed Haejin’s hand.

First time holding hands in front of others—Haejin was flustered, then worried when he felt the violent shaking.

“What’s wrong? You okay?”

“Choked… I’m fine, keep talking.”

It wasn’t choking—he was scared. Haejin continued, avoiding triggering words, stroking the back of Lee Chae’s hand.

“They failed because of Kelvetero, so they’ll be furious. They missed this chance, so security will tighten, and they’ll have to wait years again.”

Jin-woo sighed.

“Tell headquarters?”

The word made Haejin’s brow furrow. He was still angry about what they’d done in his absence, but for the members and civilians—he had to.

“We should. But not just like that. Anyway, let’s eat first. Food’s getting cold.”

He put a spoon in Lee Chae’s hand and turned away. The cockroach couple across the table was at it again.

Yong-yong stared teary-eyed at Jae-hyung; Jae-hyung patted his shoulder and ate the rice stuck to his mouth. Same thing Haejin did to Lee Chae, but it only made him nauseous.

“Yong-yong-ah.”

Yong-yong annoyedly asked, “What?”—eyes still glued to Jae-hyung’s side profile.

“You know you’re over 190 cm in human form, right?”

“What’s 190?”

“Height. You’re huge!”

“I know. Dragons are big.”

Jae-hyung turned and hugged him.

“King-size = king-cute. Absolute beauty.”

Haejin looked at Jin-woo like how did you endure this? Jin-woo plugged his ears as if he knew. Haejin decided: when those two were around, earplugs were mandatory.

After dinner, while Haejin brushed his teeth, Lee Chae—with a determined face—asked Jin-woo a favor. Haejin looked fine on the outside but was wrecked inside; they needed contact guiding ASAP. Keep everyone away from Haejin’s room.

Jin-woo understood instantly, gathered every esper under the pretext of sharing the captain’s news.

Lee Chae slipped into Haejin’s room. Haejin followed from the bathroom and closed the door.

“Why here? You said contact guiding—don’t tell me you changed your mi—mmph.”

Lee Chae grabbed his collar, yanked him down, and kissed him hard. He sucked like he’d swallow Haejin’s lips; Haejin opened his mouth and kissed back fiercely. The heart he’d barely calmed during dinner pounded like it would burst.

“You held back a lot too, huh.”

Haejin murmured as their lips barely parted. His eyes curved into crescents, filled with deep desire—like he knew everything.

“What are you smiling for. Don’t smile.”

Lee Chae bit the open lips again to shut him up. Haejin’s muffled laughter leaked between them—he didn’t care. He’d decided: finish what he started. His fickle heart might change again otherwise.

He pushed Haejin toward the bed, kissing nonstop. Clumsily slipped a hand under the shirt—felt rock-hard abs.

“Haa… already driving me insane? Think you can handle it?”

Haejin’s calm face fueled his competitive spirit. Lee Chae looked him straight in the eye and slid his hand to Haejin’s waistband.

“Esper-nim, clothes off for guiding.”

He undid the belt. Haejin burst out laughing—go ahead, try me. Provoked, Lee Chae yanked the pants down.

“What’s the rush?”

Haejin lightly pushed his shoulders. Rush? Who was always the one charging like a horny colt? Lee Chae ignored him and stripped himself first.

“Fluffed-up hamster.”

“You’re the sunflower seed. So peel nicely.”

Suddenly demoted to hamster food, Haejin obediently lay down naked. Lee Chae planned to devour him until the hamster’s belly burst.

“Done. Next?”

Lee Chae’s trembling eyes roamed—then began touching every inch of Haejin’s body. Gentle, reverent—like performing a sacred ritual. The complete opposite of Haejin’s usual pouncing made him lie still and watch.

“Haa… planning to melt this sunflower seed?”

“Quiet.”

Face red to the ears, looking ready to explode— watching Lee Chae roll over him was pure torture. Haejin writhed and bit Lee Chae’s shoulder.

“Wait.”

“…?”

What the hell was he planning?