“Hyung, Taeui-hyung” – The whisper was soft, and hands gripped the hem of his shirt, then touched his back. Taeui suddenly felt something was off……. Although he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what, it was clear that something was wrong……. He tilted his head, thinking, but continued to gently pat the young man’s back with affection.

“…….Looking weak like this.”

Just as Taeui mumbled that, Tou, who was lying lifelessly on the bed beside him as if on the verge of death, suddenly sprang up, leaping with energy as if revived.

“Sickness is unavoidable for anyone! Look at what you’re saying to a teammate who just came back to life!”

“Isn’t it just simple muscle pain? Let me see.”

“Ow, don’t press there!”

When Taeui pretended to press lightly on the muscle spots on Tou’s thigh and arm, Tou shrieked. Not long after, seemingly exhausted, Tou collapsed and fell back down on his own. He curled up under the blanket, like a cocooned worm, and whimpered inside.

Shortly after the joint training session with the European branch ended, it seemed Tou was utterly exhausted and began to fall ill. He felt extremely frustrated because the rare vacation he had eagerly awaited had finally arrived, but he couldn’t go out and was stuck lying in bed. He even sniffled and cried out of misery.

At least he tried to leave Eoryeong, but his teammates must have all gone out to enjoy themselves or were busy making the most of their holiday somewhere, leaving only Taeui to find his teammate lying there and sit beside him. In truth, he didn’t exactly find him; when he returned to the room, it was just Tou lying there.

When he opened the fridge, there was nothing worth eating, only Morer’s water bottle. Taeui took it, drank a gulp, then placed the empty bottle back on the fridge and asked:

“Where’s Morer?”

“As soon as the vacation started, he left. I heard he was going to Hong Kong to meet some smuggler……. He said he’d buy a Colt identical to his and would shoot you first.”

“…….Oh, what a coincidence. I was thinking of using that puzzle book he left in Eoryeong to smack him on the forehead.”

Taeui mumbled as he recalled the books he had neatly placed on the shelf for the next person to enter Eoryeong. At that moment, Tou, who had been burying himself under the blanket, slowly poked his head out and asked.

“How was Eoryeong?”

“What do you think?”

“Everyone looked exhausted when they returned, but you seem fine. Maybe life there suits you. You should have stayed longer.”

“Hmm. Looks like you haven’t had enough pain yet. I think I need to make you hurt a bit more.”

As Taeui stared at the person curled up under the blanket, he started pressing his fist hard into Tou’s body. Tou screamed in pain, crying out. When Tou was exhausted to the point of gasping for breath, Taeui finally stopped and moved toward his own bed, but then he paused. There were signs that the bed had already been used.

Come to think of it, this wasn’t his room. This bed belonged to someone else. During the time that person went to the South American branch, he had only borrowed it temporarily. That person must have returned after the joint training session ended.

“Tiknat is back already. Was there any trouble in South America?”

“Yeah. Aside from a few people over there and a few from here getting injured, nothing significant. I heard six of our people died, so they seemed surprised.”

Taeui sat down on Morer’s bed and looked at Tou with a puzzled expression.

“Six people? Before ‘he’ came in, ‘he’ killed five people……. Ah, so there’s another one?”

“Yeah. During radiation training, some idiot stood in the wrong spot. Tsk. Just one more person, and we’d have broken the record for the most casualties.”

Tou joked but still grimaced. Not everyone liked to talk about the deaths of their comrades. Taeui nodded, mumbling with a bitter expression.

“No wonder the noise reached Eoryeong; it seems like a major incident happened this time.”

“Yeah, this time it was more intense than before……..Ah, the noise reached Eoryeong? Right, that makes sense since the training took place on the sixth basement level, right below.”

Taeui nodded. As he walked down the hallway, he saw the southern door was blocked off. It looked like the radiation training had taken place in the area currently under repair.

“So where did the people in the southern area go?”

“They’ve all spread out to other rooms. But anyway, the southern area never had that many people.”

“If that’s the case, they should have conducted the explosion test on a less populated level. If something went wrong, they would only have damaged the ground level.”

Taeui muttered, and Tou laughed, saying: “If the instructors heard you say that, you’d be their favorite.” Then he clutched his stomach, groaning: “Ouch, it hurts.” Taeui flopped onto the empty bed, looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then asked: “Speaking of that…….”

“What’s on the fourth basement level?”

“Huh? I think that place is just empty. I’m not sure, but it’s probably due to the building’s structure.”

“They said the door is locked and restricted to unauthorized personnel. If it’s empty, why restrict access?”

“If you went in and found it completely empty, only for them to say ‘design flaw’ it’d be embarrassing. Maybe that’s why they do that. In reality, there’s no direct access to the fourth level, so the elevator doesn’t stop there.”

Taeui thought about the old instructor who had designed this seemingly collapsing building. He was known to be a perfectionist, so how could he have made such a mistake?

“…………..”

Taeui lay there, staring up at the ceiling, his mind drifting to thoughts of the robot manufacturing room, but he quickly dismissed them. It didn’t matter anyway. Whether there truly were robots protecting Earth or not, he would be leaving in half a year.

He yawned. He had thought he was comfortably resting Eoryeong, but when he finally got out and started moving around, he realized that being confined without movement had actually worn him out. After all, he was human; no matter how comfortable the conditions, living in captivity was still unbearable.

“So sleepy……. When is Morer coming back?”

“Well, he left yesterday, so at the latest, he’ll probably be back by Sunday night.”

“That guy is kind of obsessed with cleanliness. If he sees me lying on his bed, he’ll probably get really mad.”

“Yeah……. probably. Be careful. Morer doesn’t just have that lost Colt.”

“Yeah, true. I saw a Beretta in his drawer too.”

“Isn’t that a model gun?”

“……. Tou……. just go to sleep. Sleep deeply. Just sleep. With those eyes, what can you even see?”

Once again, Tou opened his eyes wide and grumbled in annoyance, but Taeui ignored him. If he didn’t want to wake up to find a Beretta pointed at his face, he should probably get off this bed, but his body, comfortably fatigued, didn’t want to move.

Taeui closed his eyes. The noise outside gradually faded away. Tou seemed to have fallen asleep again since he wasn’t talking anymore. Occasionally, he heard Tou whimper like a puppy, groaning in pain – “Oh god, it hurts!” – but that was all.

He decided he would sleep for a while and then get up to change rooms. There wasn’t much to pack, but he still needed to gather his things and return to his own room. But wait, the European guy in his room was Ilay, and Ilay hadn’t come back yet. His room was definitely still occupied. So, where would he sleep tonight?

However, when he thought about a place to sleep, the thing that actually occupied Taeui’s mind was Ilay.

He was someone Taeui wouldn’t see again. It was a relief not to have to face him anymore. But no matter what, they had once lived together for a while, and although it wasn’t like an irreversible river that couldn’t flow back, they had crossed a difficult river together that was hard to return from. Should he say one last goodbye?

But then he found the thought ridiculous. For someone like Ilay, who was not bound by the conventions of this world, saying goodbye didn’t seem appropriate. While greetings and farewells sounded nice, it was important to know if it was the right place to say such things. Besides, they hadn’t been close enough for it to matter that much.

Taeui thought he should go, but then felt it was too much trouble, so he dismissed the thought. Just then, darkness enveloped him.

“Hey, hey, wake up……. Wake up.”

Something hard pressed against his temple. Taeui opened his eyes groggily. Damn it. It was true what they said—speak of the devil and it shall appear. He had only been joking earlier, but now a real Beretta barrel was pointed at his head.

“Just because I borrowed your bed, you’re going to shoot me? That’s not the right way to treat people, Morer.”

“Don’t joke around! You drank all my water and slept on my bed without permission—do you think you’re Snow White or something?”

“Who could be Snow White meeting a dwarf like you? Anyway, put that gun away. Pointing a gun at someone in broad daylight, are you trying to cause trouble?”

“BROAD DAYLIGHT? LOOK AT THE CLOCK! WHAT TIME DO YOU THINK IT IS? WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP?”

When Taeui grabbed the barrel of the gun and pushed it away, Morer moved closer and shouted right into his ear. Taeui covered his ears, rolling around for a bit before springing up.

“You’re going to make me deaf, you lunatic!”

“Get back to your own room! Why are you sleeping on my bed? The European guys have all left; you can go back to your room now!”

Morer had just returned with a few packs of cigarettes for Tou, along with dozens of puzzle magazines and a bunch of snacks for himself. Seeing Taeui lying on his bed seemed to reignite his fury. He pulled out the Beretta from the drawer and waved it around. However, instead of using the gun normally, Morer used the barrel and the butt of the gun to threaten him.

Annoyed, Taeui got up, grabbed one of the puzzle magazines Morer had just bought, and smacked it against Morer’s face. He rubbed his eyes while glancing at the clock. He thought he’d only slept for a short while, but it turned out he had slept the entire day. It was already past 10 PM.

“You drank all my water, you jerk.” – After being nagged by Morer for a while, who threw the empty bottle at him and told him to get new water, Taeui had no choice but to take the bottle and leave the room, clearly feeling Morer’s lingering bitterness and grudge over the Colt. He grumbled as he walked, heading toward the distant water dispenser.

“Damn Morer. Just wait, I’ll buy a hundred Colts and throw them all in your face.”

Taeui mumbled curses under his breath as he walked toward the water dispenser. He filled the bottle, his eyes fixed straight ahead. At the end of the hallway was his room, where Ilay would be staying until tonight.

Suddenly, the thoughts he had before falling asleep resurfaced. He was someone Taeui wouldn’t see again. Should he say one last goodbye? But then he told himself that, in life, they might meet again, so saying goodbye might only worsen his mood; perhaps it wasn’t necessary.

It was only after Taeui realized the bottle was full – when water spilled over and wet his fingers – that he snapped out of his thoughts. He quickly pulled his hand away from the dispenser, capped the bottle, and continued thinking.

“…………..”

After all, they had spent time together, and that was a bond in itself. Whether he wanted it or not, whether they would meet again or not, saying goodbye was still the right thing to do.

Taeui walked toward his room. As he walked, he felt a bit amused—or perhaps puzzled. He had always thought of Ilay as the type of person who would get everything he wanted. So when Ilay showed a desire to have Xinlu, he had genuinely felt worried. That’s why he is still worried now.

But upon hearing that Ilay would leave early tomorrow morning, although it was a good thing, he still felt something was off. Even though he didn’t want to, Taeui had imagined the scenario of ‘Ilay forcibly taking Xinlu away’. And if that happened, he was certain he would intervene.

Ilay had said that he wouldn’t resort to violence, so there was no need to get involved. While these thoughts brought back memories of the past, Taeui also recalled the image of Xinlu he had seen this morning.

Judging from that expression, Xinlu didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving with Ilay. He looked like he intended to stay with Taeui forever. Unless Ilay used force, Xinlu wouldn’t willingly follow him. If everything was as Ilay had said, then regardless of whether he left tomorrow morning or any other time, Taeui could be at ease. Perhaps his worries were unnecessary after all.

Taeui let out a soft sigh. In reality, if it weren’t for the situation involving Xinlu, his relationship with Ilay wasn’t that bad. They knew each other through a few connections, and there was no direct animosity between them. In fact, whenever they talked, he even felt quite cheerful. Although sometimes he couldn’t quite understand Ilay’s way of thinking.

“Ah, come on. If you’re saying goodbye, you should make sure the person leaving does so happily.”

Taeui used his finger to lift the corners of his mouth, forming a clownish smile. The reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall looked ridiculous, making him quickly drop his hand.

“Goodbye, those beautiful hands~. It’s a bit sad, really.”

He mumbled to himself as he walked to his room. When he reached the door, he hesitated for a moment. He wondered if he was doing something pointless, then decided to open the door.

The door opened quietly. And as it did, Taeui murmured: “Huh?” The entire room was dark. However, it wasn’t completely empty, as the desk lamp beside the bed was emitting a dim light.

He wondered if Ilay had already gone to sleep, but Ilay didn’t have the habit of leaving the light on when he slept. Or perhaps he had just stepped out for a moment.

Taeui entered his room after being away for a long time. The tension in his chest gradually faded, and he let out a small sigh of relief. But as he walked down the short, narrow hallway connecting the entrance to the room, Taeui saw a large shadow moving. The shadow, reflected under the light, looked like two people entwined together. The scene reminded him of something he had seen before—the image from the beach.

He took another step. On the bed was a man lying down. And just like that day at the beach, another person had their face buried between his legs.

Taeui froze in place as if rooted to the spot. It wasn’t because he had accidentally stumbled upon someone’s private moment, but because both of the people there were ones he knew.

The man facing Taeui directly – or rather, sitting sideways – was Ilay, who didn’t seem surprised when Taeui opened the door, as if he had expected it. When their eyes met, a slow smile formed on Ilay’s lips.

Taeui stood there, his eyes fixed on Ilay as if paralyzed, then gradually lowered his gaze. The man, revealing only his bare back, was licking and sucking between Ilay’s legs. The room was filled with obscene, wet sounds. It wasn’t just licking; he was also using his delicate hands, gently caressing and stroking that part, until it seemed fully aroused. Then, the person sat up and moved his own bare lower half closer.

“As I told you before. With this, from now on, don’t touch Taeil anymore. I won’t let it go unpunished.”

Sitting on Ilay, that person whispered softly. Taeui felt the blood drain from his face. That familiar back, that familiar voice. His heart pounded, and he bit his lip as the realization hit him.

It was Xinlu. Although the back and the voice were so familiar, Xinlu seemed entirely different, as if he were looking at another person. The cold emotionless voice of Xinlu reminded Taeui of the expression he had briefly seen in Eoryeong a few days ago – cold and combative.

Taeui’s eyes met Ilay’s once again. Ilay looked at Taeui with an unreadable expression, then his eyes showed a faint, fleeting smile.

“Fine. This is a win for me, after all. If there’s no one else, picking someone who fits my taste is a good choice.”

Ilay’s slow voice continued. His beautiful, pale hands gripped Xinlu’s waist. Xinlu seemed startled and slightly uncomfortable, but he remained silent and didn’t move. Then, under Ilay’s guidance, he slowly lowered his waist. Ilay’s part made contact with Xinlu’s lower area.

At that moment.

“――He and I made an agreement.”

Just as Taeui was about to rush forward to pull Xinlu away from Ilay, he froze upon hearing Ilay’s slow, cold voice echoing in his ear.

“If I didn’t use any force to touch him, he wouldn’t intervene. And now, it’s you who walked into this room on your own.”

That voice seemed to bind Taeui in place. It was as if he had been struck unexpectedly from behind; his legs couldn’t move. His body, hands, mouth, and even his tongue, which wanted to shout something, were all immobilized. Only his eyes could still function, staring directly at them.

“Yes, I came here first. So from now on, don’t ever come near him again! It’s infuriating!”

“Me, coming near him? If that’s what you think, I have nothing to say, but that’s fine. I just need to enjoy this body. Besides, I wasn’t interested in him in the first place……. Relax.”

Ilay chuckled softly and gave Xinlu’s buttocks a firm slap. His hands gripped Xinlu’s waist, pulling him down. Xinlu’s soft body received that vile object as it penetrated deep inside.

Taeui raised his hand to cover his mouth because he felt like he was about to scream. Should he rush in and pull the two of them apart? Should he intervene and make everything chaotic?

But Taeui’s hesitation didn’t last long. Xinlu was struggling to take in that large and aggressive thing, panting as if he felt discomfort. But from a side angle, it was clear that he was aroused. Regardless of the reason he had come to this room, Xinlu had voluntarily engaged with Ilay. And he was feeling the pleasure in his own body.

Taeui sensed the gaze directed at him and slowly shifted his eyes back. While thrusting forcefully into Xinlu, Ilay continued to look at Taeui. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if mocking Taeui. They were filled with lust, and throughout the entire act, he didn’t take his eyes off Taeui for even a second, maintaining a smile that seemed to challenge him.

Taeui felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his entire body.

He took a step back. Ilay’s smile grew more delighted. As Taeui neared the door, Ilay’s laughter echoed. It was only then, in that moment of despair, that Taeui fully realized something he had known before but hadn’t truly felt with his own body.

This man, Ilay Ligrow, completely lacked the natural feeling of closeness that Taeui or others might experience with the people around them. He viewed those around him entirely as objects, with no emotional connection to himself.

What interested him wasn’t Taeui as a person. It could be the fact that he was the one protecting Xinlu, the nephew of instructor Jeong Changin, or the younger brother of the genius Jeong Jaeui.

That was why Ilay didn’t want to fight with Taeui—not because of who he was, but because he was someone’s protector, someone’s nephew, someone’s younger brother. And, in one way or another, he had achieved what he wanted, right at the very last moment before Taeui left this place.

Taeui quietly stepped back out of the room. His hand, as he closed the door, was ice cold. Standing silently, his hand still gripping the doorknob, Taeui’s thoughts felt empty.

This wasn’t anger. It wasn’t the sense of loss from losing Xinlu. It wasn’t even a feeling of emptiness towards himself. But at the same time……. it was all of those things.

He felt like laughing, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

This was how the final farewell ended for the person he had thought he would never see again.