“Two days ago, when I rushed to the martial arts room, you asked me if I came to find you with the same intention as the others.”

Ilay remained silent for a moment instead of answering. Taeui continued in a calm tone.

“If I had said yes, I would have experienced your terrifying actions, right?”

Taeui sighed, muttering to himself: “If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you like this.”

Ilay chuckled.

“Don’t you think it’s pretty foolish to speculate about things that didn’t happen?”

“Even if it’s not practically useful, it can help me see the current situation from a different perspective.”

“Oh, Taei. Do you hate me?”

Ilay’s words, mixed with laughter, made Taeui frown as he silently observed him. Comments like that seemed to remind him more of Ilay than Riegrow. Taeui dismissed the thought, realizing that, after all, they were the same person.

“Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. But if I think about how I’ve perceived you up until now, it’s probably easier to say I dislike you more than I like you.”

“Hmm. That’s also a difficult question to answer.”

Ilay smirked sarcastically, his shoulder wrapped in gauze. He expertly removed the bandage, as if he had done it many times before. In the dim light, the wound looked raw and jagged, making its severity stand out even more. As blood oozed from the injury, it appeared even more horrifying.

Taeui frowned. Ilay poured antiseptic solution over the wound, the pungent smell of alcohol filling the air. Although it wasn’t clear, Ilay pulled out several bottles of medicine and arranged them in order.

“Damn…… If you get hit by shrapnel, the wound will get infected. Being stuck in prison without proper care, that’s just awful.”

“Hmm? Maybe there are plenty of people who’d love to see my wound get worse. They probably hope for it. But honestly, this place is very different from what you imagine.”

Ilay said with a mocking tone. Taeui looked around, seeing everything the same as before: dim lighting, cold stone walls, stone floors, and damp air.

“I don’t understand what you’re thinking, but how is this place any different?”

“For example, a doctor comes here in the evening. The organization still takes pride in providing healthcare for its members, even in this place.”

“Healthcare……”

Taeui repeated the word, feeling as though he misunderstood its meaning. Mentioning healthcare in a prison like this seemed absurd. Maybe it was just about having good food.

Taeui muttered to himself, and Ilay laughed.

“Ha ha, yes, the food is good. That’s the most important thing. Of course, the doctor will regularly check on health conditions and monitor the environment, but……”

“This environment can hardly be called ‘care.’”

Taeui sighed. This made him think of Ilay’s circumstances. Perhaps his cruelty came from harsh experiences?

“Is being an arms dealer really such a difficult life?”

As he said this, Taeui felt the difference between what he knew and reality. Ilay laughed.

“It seems like you think I’ve had a really rough life. Well, think whatever you want.”

Ilay tended to his wound with practiced ease. After he was done, he extended his hand toward Taeui, who was standing with hands full of bandages.

“Other things aren’t hard, but bandaging is a bit tricky.”

“You did a great job removing the bandages, so I’m sure you can do just fine putting them back on.”

“I could if I had to, but if someone’s willing to help, why do it alone?”

Taeui agreed with that and began reapplying the bandages to Ilay’s wound. It was quite severe and would likely leave a scar. While bandaging, Taeui noticed that Ilay’s body was more solid and muscular than he appeared.

After Taeui finished bandaging him, Ilay looked at his arm and chuckled.

“Maybe I’ve been hated so much that now people are calling me a monster.”

Taeui smiled inwardly. He wondered if Ilay’s existence was really so different that it made people view him as strange. After all, everyone has family and loved ones, even infamous figures like Adolf Hitler.

“You mentioned your brother is in the arms business, right?”

“Yeah. Up until a few years ago, my father was still in the business, but he retired, and now my older brother has taken over. Before my father retired, my brother was a relatively normal businessman. He worked with books, mostly reprinting old books, and he built relationships with fellow book enthusiasts, even though he spent a large sum of money on it.”

Taeui nodded as he listened to Ilay. It seemed like he now understood the relationship between Ilay and his brother. ‘Book friends’ could be understood in a similar way.

“From selling old books to selling weapons…… those two careers are really quite different.”

“My brother understands basic business principles. People who know how to sell will succeed in any trade, whether it’s a small shop or a multinational corporation.”

“So, did your brother go bankrupt with his old book reprinting business?”

“Ah, that was just a hobby. His real work was something else. Even now, he does more than just sell weapons.”

Even though there wasn’t a specific reason to dig further, it was clear that Ilay’s brother had also gone through many changes.

As Taeui nodded, Ilay stood up to stretch. Taeui looked up from his seat. From this angle, Ilay appeared especially tall. In reality, Ilay was taller than him, but because of his slender build, he didn’t seem that big. However, moments like this made his height and presence more noticeable.

“This place feels more relaxed, but not being able to move your body properly makes you feel tired easily. It feels like there’s a fog inside me, making me uncomfortable.”

“So are you planning to sprint 100 meters here?”

Taeui joked, and Ilay laughed heartily. He stood at a reasonable distance from the wall.

“If I run around here a few times, it could add up to 100 meters, but jogging might be better exercise. If I run 10 kilometers, I’d only have to do 1,000 laps.”

“I’m getting dizzy just thinking about it.”

As Taeui spoke, Ilay had already started a handstand, bracing himself against the wall with his legs. Taeui, still seated, looked up, and their eyes met.

“Let’s try 100 reps for fun. One. Two—”

Watching Ilay doing upside-down push-ups, Taeui grimaced.

“Hey, stop that. You can’t be doing that with an injured shoulder. Even if the doctor is coming in the evening, you shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Oh, thanks for worrying about me. But I’m trying not to put too much weight on my right arm, and I’m using the wall for balance. Five—”

Ilay continued counting calmly without showing any signs of fatigue, while Taeui watched him with an expression as if he were staring at a monster. And that was exactly what he was thinking – this guy’s a monster, both in mind and body, something you just can’t deal with.

Taeui began to grasp the meaning of the ‘welfare’ Ilay had mentioned earlier. When the doctor came in the evening – who Taeui had initially thought was just someone offering basic help with medicine but actually had a legitimate medical license – he realized that Ilay wasn’t like ordinary people.

Kyoho entered the room, grumbling incessantly.

“I don’t like coming here. It feels like I’m walking into a lion’s den.”

After that, he found a spot near the intercom on the wall. The light had illuminated the cell – not the entire room but just a small corner. Now, Taeui noticed there was a frosted glass door nearby.

He was surprised to find out that this prison cell even had an integrated bathroom and shower. If Ilay had seen him stumbling around in the dark and bumping into everything, he could’ve at least turned the bathroom light on for him. While it didn’t light up the whole cell, the bathroom light was enough to see what was around.

Ilay sat by the bathroom door, pretending not to notice Taeui’s thoughts. The light inside the bathroom was a natural white. Once Taeui’s eyes adjusted to the brightness, he looked around. Clearly, this room was more barren than a typical prison cell. There were no beds or wardrobes, just a low table and a small cabinet. The bathroom, though well-equipped, lacked any personal items. However, compared to other prison cells, the conditions here were quite good.

“Honestly, if you call this ‘welfare’ the conditions are pretty decent. It may not be what people typically think of as welfare, but at least the environment is good. Everything you need is provided, and the quality isn’t bad. There’s no real inconvenience.”

As Taeui adjusted to the light, he moved closer to Ilay. Kyoho was now examining the wound after removing the bandage. Under the light, the injury looked even more severe than it had in the dimness. The flesh looked as if it had been scraped with a spoon. It was remarkable that the wound hadn’t become infected.

“It’s hard to believe that someone could survive and move around like this……”

Taeui sighed. At times, he wondered if Ilay was something other than human, or if he was, perhaps, a completely different species.

When Taeui spoke, Kyoho nodded in agreement, while Ilay gave a faint smile.

“Ah, if you ended up in this kind of situation, I think you’d manage to endure it too.”

“Thanks for the confidence in my endurance, but I honestly can’t handle pain very well. Besides, I don’t think I’d be doing handstands and push-ups like that, even if I were seriously injured.”

“REALLY? HE ACTUALLY DID THAT?!”

Kyoho exclaimed from the side. Ilay didn’t say anything and simply turned his head away, while Kyoho continued scolding him. Taeui felt a little sorry for Kyoho. Earlier, Kyoho had muttered that entering this place felt like walking into a wild beast’s den. Every word he said must have made him fear that the beast would bite him, but he still kept scolding Ilay, showing a strange kind of unyielding bravery.

The treatment concluded quickly. In reality, the wounds had already been stitched and treated before they came here. All that was needed now was post-treatment care, but Ilay didn’t seem like a normal person—his recovery, health, and physical strength were all extraordinary. Kyoho shook his head in amazement, muttering: “He’s recovering so fast……” Taeui felt he’d reached a conclusion about his earlier thoughts. This man wasn’t just inhuman in terms of personality but also in terms of his recovery, health, and physical capabilities.

“Being stuck with someone like this is just too much. That old man is really to blame.”

Kyoho said, and as he was getting ready to leave, Taeui asked him:

“So when is that old man coming here?”

“Which old man? There are a lot of old men around here.”

“The old man who threw me in here.”

“Ah, well, unless it’s to lock someone up or take someone out, he rarely comes down here. The internal affairs are mostly handled by other Instructors. Like your meals earlier, other Instructors bring those to you.”

“So, I have to live with this monster until I get out?”

Taeui grabbed Kyoho’s collar and whispered loudly. Even though he knew that everything could be heard in this small room, there was something embarrassing about saying it out loud.

Kyoho seemed to understand Taeui’s feelings and shook his head with a sympathetic look.

“There’s no other way. That’s your fate. Anyway, it won’t be long. You can endure it. I’ve heard of children who grew up in the mountains, drinking wolf’s milk to survive, so you’ll manage just fine.”

Kyoho tried to comfort Taeui with comparisons that didn’t quite make sense to him before stepping out. The sight of the doctor locking the door felt particularly unpleasant. Just as Kyoho was about to leave, Taeui suddenly remembered something and rushed to grab the iron bars of the cage, asking anxiously.

“Is Xinlu okay?”

“Huh?”

“Xinlu. Is he doing alright?”

Even though Kyoho’s work was different from Xinlu’s, they saw each other every day. Xinlu was in charge, and Kyoho worked in the medical wing, but they met each evening during the doctors’ meetings.

Kyoho paused and looked at Taeui with a complicated expression. Taeui stared back with a questioning look, as if asking why the doctor was looking at him like that.

“You saw Xinlu just last night, didn’t you? I saw him during the meeting yesterday evening, but I haven’t seen him today. You’re the one who’s seen him most recently. I’m actually wondering if Xinlu is alright.”

“…………”

Taeui wanted to ask how Kyoho knew he’d met Xinlu the night before, but then he remembered that Kyoho’s room was next door, and he could have heard from the hallway. Thinking about the conversation from last night and what might have been overheard, Taeui’s face suddenly felt hot. Anyway, the soundproofing was decent, so Kyoho might have only recognized the voices.

“When I was heading back after my shower and saw you standing in the hallway like that, how could I just walk by? Anyway, hang in there, Taeui. You want to get out of here as soon as possible, right? Keep trying.”

With an expressionless face, Kyoho encouraged Taeui before turning and walking away. Taeui, still gripping the iron bars, stood frozen, watching as Kyoho left.

“Damn it. He heard everything? And yet he acted like he didn’t know anything. Seems like this guy is an old snake with plenty of experience, not even bothering to hide it.”

Taeui’s perception of the so-called “talents” had changed since coming here. He used to hold a certain admiration and expectation for those considered “talented,” but now, seeing their human traits, that admiration had faded away.

Sighing, Taeui turned around. When he saw Ilay still sitting in front of the bathroom, staring intently at him, he was startled.

“Xinlu, that sweet boy seems to be doing well, huh.”

Taeui frowned and remained silent. The feeling of defensiveness rose again. Even though both of them were trapped here, whenever Ilay mentioned Xinlu, Taeui couldn’t help but feel wary.

“I’ve decided not to interfere in your matters, so don’t interfere in mine either. That would be fair.”

“The use of the word ‘fair’ doesn’t really apply to me. After I leave here, I’ll be heading straight back to the European branch, so there won’t be any more chances to talk to him.”

“Right.”

Taeui sighed with relief. Even though he knew that, he had somehow forgotten. The fact was, if he stayed here any longer, Ilay wouldn’t be leaving earlier than he did either. If anything delayed his release, Taeui was more than ready to confront the higher-ups and the instructors in protest.

Taeui nodded and muttered to himself.

“Exactly. Once you’re out of here, there’s no reason to stay. Your wounds will heal quickly, with your beast-like recovery, so there’s no need to stick around for treatment.”

Upon hearing that, Ilay chuckled softly.

“That’s harsh. Don’t compare me to a wild animal.”

Taeui looked at Ilay seriously. For someone like Ilay, even locked in a cage like a wild beast, survival was a given. When hungry, Ilay would probably catch prey with his bare hands and feast on fresh meat.

Ilay laughed and shook his head without saying anything further. He checked the bandages on his shoulder, stretched, and then lay down on the thick mat that substituted for a bed. He picked up a book from the table and began reading.

Although the light from the bathroom wasn’t too dim for navigating the room, reading in such low light seemed harmful to the eyes. Taeui tilted his head, noticing that reading in such poor lighting could strain Ilay’s vision.

Calmly, Ilay reached for a hidden light switch on the wall next to his head and turned it on. It was a small light, just bright enough to read comfortably.

Taeui stared in disbelief and asked, “Are there…… any other lighting or household devices around here that I don’t know about?”

“The lights are all there is. As for household equipment, there’s probably air conditioning and heating systems, but they’re controlled from the central facility, so they don’t do much. That said, I’m not too sure. I didn’t design this place, so maybe the designer hid more gadgets somewhere.”

Taeui silently cursed the grumpy old man in his head. Truly a strange man. Maybe he didn’t want a promotion because he didn’t want people to think he was so eccentric that he wouldn’t be considered for one.

UNHRDO, the conditions here are really not great. If the members and instructors are like this, maybe it’s better to advise people to think carefully before joining.

Taeui shook his head and stood up. There was no longer any reason to linger here, and with the proper living facilities, it was probably a good time to shower. After thinking about it, he realized he hadn’t showered in a few days. At least Taeui was more diligent than some. Among his teammates, there were those who hadn’t approached the bathroom since training started.

……In fact, he had once seen someone so lazy they didn’t even go near the bathroom and just cleaned up right next to their bed, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Taeui swore that if he ever had the chance to change rooms, he’d never stay with Alta again.

“Where are the underwear?”

“Underwear?”

As Taeui rummaged through the drawer and asked, Ilay looked at him with a puzzled expression. Taeui gave him an equally confused look.

“There’s got to be issued underwear, right? I was brought here early in the morning without anything. The old man didn’t mention it, so there must be issued clothes, right?”

“The issued outfit includes clothing, but if you want something instead of a robe, all you get is a towel.”

Taeui looked at Ilay in disbelief. The issued clothes Ilay was wearing, as well as the gray prison-like clothes Taeui was wearing, were just outer garments. He hadn’t found any underwear in the drawer when he was grabbing his clothes. He thought there would be another drawer containing underwear and other essentials.

“……Did you prepare all your stuff ahead of time?”

“As a witness like you didn’t have time to prepare, you think I did?”

“Then what are you wearing?”

“Nothing at all. Want to see?”

Ilay pretended to pull down his pants, as if he was about to strip right then and there. Taeui frowned and quickly declined.

“Please, spare me. I have no desire to see something that ugly.”

“Ugly is a bit harsh. Anyway, you’ll see something ugly every time you use the bathroom.”

“Mine is much cuter and more adorable. There’s no comparison to that ugly thing.”

Taeui replied firmly, even though he felt a bit off about his statement. Still, he maintained a stubborn expression. 

It wasn’t entirely a lie, though. Taeui recalled Ilay’s naked form that he had accidentally seen at the beach a few days ago and grimaced. He couldn’t help but feel pity for whoever had slept with Ilay that day—the young man had been small, and it was a wonder he hadn’t suffered any injury. Anyone sharing a bed with this guy had to endure a lot, Taeui thought, as he saw Ilay laughing gleefully, as if he’d just heard a funny story. Ignoring him.

Taeui turned away, skipped the search for underwear, and headed into the bathroom.

Damn it, getting distracted again. 

The hazy images of Ilay’s powerful body in the dim beach light and the overwhelming aura when he walked out naked made Taeui feel suffocated. It was as if Ilay’s raw vitality stirred an instinctive urge to flee, like an animal wanting to escape a dominant male’s territory.

Taeui looked at the mirror in the bathroom. The familiar reflection stared back at him. While he wasn’t a perfect specimen, it wasn’t a figure that made him feel ashamed or insecure either. Compared to most, he felt quite confident in his body. But Ilay was something else – far beyond average. He wasn’t thin like Taeui had imagined; instead, he was strong and solid, almost like a deception.

Taeui muttered to himself and stepped into the shower. 

The warm water cascaded over his body, washing away the tension. The sensation of water flowing from his head down made him feel as if he were melting. He thought it would be nice to soak in a hot bath for ten days straight, but unfortunately, there was no bathtub. However, a hot shower was already a luxurious convenience in this prison.

“This place doesn’t even feel like a prison. Honestly, it’s more comfortable and luxurious than the outside world.”

“Your record will take a hit, though. It’ll be harder to get assigned to better places in the future if there’s any trace of this prison on it.”

Somehow, Ilay had already entered the bathroom through the glass partition. He stood near the toilet, casually watching Taeui.

“That’s why people with special ambitions or those hoping to transfer elsewhere, or even sell themselves at a higher price, work hard to maintain good scores. Haven’t you noticed after spending a few days with them? They’re not just winning matches or paying attention in lectures for the sake of pride or a thirst for knowledge. Some are carefree, but others are genuinely concerned.”

“Is it you?” – Taeui frowned, scrubbing his body under the shower. Although there was soap near the sink outside the shower stall, the sight of Ilay standing right next to him made him feel reluctant to get closer. So, he simply washed under the stream of water, feeling a bit of bitterness in his mouth.

While sharing a public bath often involved people washing their faces while others used the toilet or shampooed their hair nearby, having someone like Ilay standing right next to him, watching him with curiosity, was unnerving.

“Haha, while I do live by my own whims, living recklessly isn’t my style. Besides, even though I’ve been in prison multiple times and caused trouble, my track record has built a strong foundation. It seems there have been discussions about promoting me, whether I want it or not.”

“Promotion? I thought UNHRDO Instructors weren’t promoted from regular members.”

“Usually, that’s true. There are certain requirements to meet, and if you’re just a member, it’s difficult to meet those. But in my case, I’ve worked a lot on the outside. Oh, by the way, your uncle also started from being just a member.”

“Yeah, it seems like it…… But still.”

Taeui paused for a moment before continuing. It felt a bit odd to say what was on his mind. Meanwhile, Ilay’s stare continued to make him uncomfortable. Taeui looked up and glared at him sharply.

“What are you staring at?”

“Oh, I just noticed…… You’ve got a pretty good physique. I bet you’re quite popular. You have that kind of appeal that makes people drawn to you.”

Ilay grinned as he spoke. Taeui shot him a strange look, feeling uneasy about such a personal observation. Shaking his head, he decided not to respond further, focusing on drying himself off with a towel. He glanced at Ilay, who was still standing there.

“If you’re done, get out. Haven’t you seen someone shower before?”

“I’ve seen plenty, but this is my first time seeing you like this. But can I ask you a question?”

Ilay smiled and asked. Taeui eyed him suspiciously, nodding reluctantly.

“You’ve never slept with that sweet boy, have you? How about others? Do you have any experience?”

Taeui frowned. This was far too personal a question. Ilay was clearly making the situation even more uncomfortable on purpose.

He clicked his tongue. In reality, yes, he had experience. Perhaps Ilay didn’t fully grasp this, but Taeui wasn’t exactly inexperienced or lacking in that department.

“Yes.”

“With men?”

“Yes.”

When Taeui answered shortly and bluntly, Ilay grinned. Ah, right—Taeui had mentioned something like that on the phone before, about crossing certain sexual boundaries with Xinlu. Ilay murmured and laughed to himself.

“So, were they all like him?”

Taeui felt that Ilay was prying unnecessarily and just nodded. He didn’t want to get dressed yet, as his body was still damp, but standing before this dangerous man without any protection made him uneasy. After all, this was someone who could kill with his bare hands, while Taeui wasn’t even sure he could defend himself properly, even if armed.

“Everyone has their preferences. I’ve had my encounters with muscular types, but I prefer softer, more comfortable people.”

“Aha…… So, you’ve never tried being on the receiving end, have you?”

Taeui paused for a moment while holding his clothes, looking at Ilay with a strange expression. Then, without replying, he left the bathroom, not bothering to look back. The light gray clothes he put on were still damp, clinging uncomfortably to his skin.

“Everyone has their own preferences. I don’t really enjoy it. I’ve never thought about it, and I’m not interested.”

Taeui replied calmly. In truth, he had a small personal obsession about the matter. It was a hazy memory, from perhaps the summer of his first year in high school.

At that time, one of the gym teachers was absent, so he had played soccer with the older students. After gym class, while showering, one of the seniors had splashed water on his back. Although Taeui found it slightly strange when the senior touched his back and waist, he chalked it up to nothing more than an odd feeling. But not long after, something unpleasant had happened.

The senior often invited Taeui out for meals or drinks. Although Taeui found it a bit strange, he thought the senior was a good guy and would usually go along. Then, during the summer, while lying on a mat in the shade of the gym storage, the senior suddenly pinned him down. Even though Taeui tried to push him away, it wasn’t easy because the senior was quite strong. During that struggle, the senior started groping around under Taeui’s shirt, doing all sorts of things.

Eventually, when panic set in, Taeui punched the senior and ran out, ignoring the calls for him to stop. He never saw that senior again.

In truth, that incident helped Taeui fully understand his own preferences. He realized that he felt more comfortable with men. But that experience also made it clear that there were boundaries to those preferences. He didn’t want to be pinned down by that senior, and he certainly had no intention of making that person his partner. He was just a regular senior.

Thinking back on it, the senior was also just a high school student, so Taeui figured he had probably found someone good by now and was living a better life. Taeui shook his head at the memory of that unfortunate incident. Then, he felt an unsettling thought creep in and turned to look at Ilay.

“Hey, is your taste the same as mine?”

“Huh?”

“The person you were with at the beach was like that—small and soft. You like people like that, don’t you?”

“It’s not that I’m picky. It’s just that people like that are easy to conquer. I enjoy the feeling of holding something small and soft.”