Chapter 78: The Bitter End of a One-Sided Love

Sa-yoon stumbled into the bedroom, unsure how he had even managed to return to his quarters. He remembered restoring the pipe that connected Han Do-hoon’s office to the floor below, but beyond that, his memory was a blur.

He had clearly walked back to his room on his own two feet, yet the intervening time felt like a blank, dark film.

“Ah.”

His senses snapped back as a hard object struck his instep. On the floor lay a watch, emblazoned with a luxury brand logo. Moments before, he had carefully carried it, intending to fasten it around Han Do-hoon’s wrist; now, it lay forgotten on the ground.

“……”

Han Do-hoon was an Irregular Hunter. He was a dual-affiliated agent, just like Levian, one who apprehended Irregulars.

It all made sense now. That was why he knew Levian’s true identity. Being a fellow Irregular Hunter, he could warn Sa-yoon to be wary of Levian.

“Ha… hahaha.”

He should have realized it earlier. Even as the adopted son of the Commander-in-Chief, knowing such a top-tier secret was implausible. Why had it taken him so long to understand? Sa-yoon burst into laughter, finding his own naivety utterly foolish.

The overlapping voices of Han Do-hoon and Levian, repeatedly suggesting they go to the battlefield together, echoed in Sa-yoon’s ears. They had said they needed to take Jin Sa-yoon to the battlefield to apprehend him. Unaware of their true intentions, Sa-yoon had earnestly considered following Han Do-hoon.

How pathetic and ridiculous he must have seemed.

The soft chuckles escaping Sa-yoon’s lips gradually intensified, soon morphing into choked sobs. With a strange expression, he staggered toward the bed. He collapsed onto it, sprawling face down on the mattress. No tears came.

Despite his overwhelming desire to weep, not a single tear welled in his eyes. He lay stiffly on the bed like a rusted robot, staring rigidly at the ceiling.

He had believed Han Do-hoon loved him. No, even if it wasn’t a brazen emotion like love, he had trusted that Han Do-hoon harbored some affection for him.

Upon reflection, Han Do-hoon had never once said he liked Sa-yoon. He had merely expressed that he *wanted* Sa-yoon. He had always spoken only of wanting Sa-yoon, of desiring to touch him and be with him.

Sa-yoon had mistaken that for affection. Having never been loved, he had foolishly believed that was what love felt like.

Han Do-hoon had never possessed such a shallow emotion as affection for Sa-yoon. He had simply wanted him. Whether it was Sa-yoon with his indestructible body, or Sa-yoon as his mission target, he had wanted Sa-yoon from the very beginning.

Everything had been Sa-yoon’s delusion.

Sa-yoon had loved Han Do-hoon, but Han Do-hoon had never loved Sa-yoon, not even once.

The next day, Sa-yoon awoke with a blank expression, sitting idly on the bed. He hadn’t slept properly, spending the entire dawn awake. His body ached from repeatedly drifting in and out of sleep. Summer sunlight streamed in through the uncurtained window. With an impassive face, Sa-yoon mechanically walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

He washed himself thoroughly, from head to toe. He scrubbed away every last trace of yesterday’s despair.

Dressed in a bathrobe, Sa-yoon turned on his terminal and drafted a leave request. After pressing the send button, the document was submitted, and the screen went dark. His face, reflected in the black display, was as pale as a corpse. Donning fresh clothes, Sa-yoon left the room.

He walked without hesitation toward Jung Hyun-woo’s infirmary. Throughout the night, his emotions had surged uncontrollably. Sadness, betrayal, despair, and frustration mingled, causing his heart to race and plummet multiple times a minute.

Amidst that emotional maelstrom, Sa-yoon had grappled with a question: what should he do now? How should he face Han Do-hoon, and what would become of himself?

The conclusion was painfully obvious. Sa-yoon had no luxury to be swayed by such emotions. He desperately needed time.

His identity had already been exposed to an Irregular Hunter. It was as if he had willingly walked into the lion’s den. This was undeniably his own blunder.

Even if it meant his own demise, he needed time to extract the people he was sworn to protect.

“What’s wrong this morning? You must have woken up early.”

Despite it being barely past nine, Jung Hyun-woo, dressed in a pristine medical gown, greeted Sa-yoon.

“Hyun-woo hyung.”

When Sa-yoon called him ‘Hyun-woo hyung’ with a haggard face, Jung Hyun-woo’s expression hardened.

“Sa-yoon. What’s wrong? What happened?”

The quick-witted Jung Hyun-woo locked the door and drew the curtains. He secured the surroundings to prevent any sound from escaping and ushered Sa-yoon into a chair. Sa-yoon, listlessly led by Jung Hyun-woo, bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. I should have listened to you, hyung…”

“What are you talking about? Why are you suddenly like this?”

“My identity has been exposed. You need to escape right away, hyung. They’ll investigate everyone connected to me…”

Jung Hyun-woo inhaled sharply. His wide pupils trembled before he patted Sa-yoon’s shoulder, trying to calm him. “Sa-yoon. Tell me everything, slowly, from the beginning. Who found out? Han Do-hoon? No, he already knows your identity, doesn’t he?”

“Han Do-hoon…”

As Jung Hyun-woo’s touch slowly brought him back to his senses, Sa-yoon clenched his watery eyes. The tears that hadn’t come when he first learned Han Do-hoon’s true identity, nor last night, threatened to overflow uncontrollably at the sight of Jung Hyun-woo.

Sa-yoon bit his lip tightly. This was not the time to succumb to his emotions.

“He was an Irregular Hunter. He came to Korea suspecting me from the start. And I, like a fool, didn’t realize it and got caught. I’m truly sorry.”

“My God…”

Jung Hyun-woo sighed deeply, pressing his throbbing temples. Sa-yoon gritted his teeth.

“You need to submit your resignation immediately and leave the country. I’ll take care of Mother. At least you, hyung, must escape. You’ll need a new identity forged, and…”

“Sa-yoon.”

“No, don’t even resign. I’ll look for flights today.”

“Sa-yoon. Calm down and look at me.”

Jung Hyun-woo grabbed Sa-yoon, stopping his frantic movements.

“Are you okay? If you knew Han Do-hoon was like that…”

The moment Jung Hyun-woo’s questioning gaze met his, Sa-yoon stopped speaking. There was no way he could be okay. Jung Hyun-woo knew Sa-yoon’s heart. The first person his poor younger brother had opened up to was Han Do-hoon. With such a tragic end to that relationship, he couldn’t lightly ask about his condition.

Instead of offering empty words of comfort, Jung Hyun-woo reached out and pulled Sa-yoon into an embrace. He patted his younger brother, who was now taller than him, and stroked his hair.

Sa-yoon’s initial struggle to pull away ceased. Slowly, all strength drained from him, and his face pressed into Jung Hyun-woo’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry. Because things turned out this way, hyung is in danger too… and it might be even harder to find Myeong-ah now.”

“Don’t worry about any of that.”

“It’s all my fault. Because I was stupid and foolish, it was all my fault from the beginning…”

“No, no, Sa-yoon.”

Sa-yoon buried his face completely in Jung Hyun-woo’s shoulder. He had no excuses; this was all his doing. Jung Hyun-woo patted Sa-yoon, whispering softly, continuously.

“Sa-yoon, I just want you to be okay. Before you worry about me and our parents, I want you to take care of yourself. I’ve always felt sorry for burdening you with too much. So don’t blame yourself too much.”

Sa-yoon buried his head in Jung Hyun-woo’s gown, surrendering to the comforting pats. He felt so pathetic, so ashamed, and utterly overwhelmed by everything.

Only then did the tears he had held back finally fall. The realization of his harsh reality struck Sa-yoon powerfully. It was the bitter end of a terrible unrequited love.

Sa-yoon broke up with Han Do-hoon, all alone.

Sa-yoon cried for a long time, leaning on Jung Hyun-woo’s shoulder. Despite the heavy burden, Jung Hyun-woo patiently held him for a long time without a word, waiting until Sa-yoon calmed down.

After finally hearing Sa-yoon’s story, Jung Hyun-woo assessed the situation. According to what Sa-yoon had heard, apprehending him domestically was not their preferred course of action. They would likely try to coax Sa-yoon to the battlefield first.

This meant there was still some time left.

Jung Hyun-woo resigning and fleeing impulsively would likely backfire. Instead, they would play a waiting game. They would pretend to deliberate whether to go to the battlefield, holding out in the country. Then, if an opportunity arose, they would conceal their identities and escape, a plan Jung Hyun-woo and Sa-yoon agreed upon.

Sa-yoon, who had desperately wanted to evacuate Jung Hyun-woo immediately, relented to Jung Hyun-woo’s resolve and agreed to his plan. Having already botched things by not listening to Jung Hyun-woo once before, he decided to follow Jung Hyun-woo’s instructions this time.

[Han Do-hoon]

[I heard you took leave. Are you feeling unwell?]

[Han Do-hoon]

[Please contact me when you have time. There’s something I need to discuss briefly.]

[Jin Sa-yoon]

[I’m out right now. I’ll contact you later.]

[Han Do-hoon]

[When will you be back? I’ll wait.]

[Jin Sa-yoon]

[I think I’ll be very late today.]

Sa-yoon sent the reply with an impassive face and closed the messenger app. Before his eyes, an unsettlingly tall fence stretched high above him.

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