/Flashback – Return to that day/

It seems like he was a bit careless.

Taeui lightly tapped the beer glass and muttered to himself with a faint smile on his lips. He had no intention of smiling, but the smile with a distracted look in his eyes seemed to have been seen through by the person in front of him several times. No, this is definitely a mistake, not just carelessness. He didn’t know why humans constantly stepped on their own landmines, but he had never forgotten the man in front of him, even if he wasn’t human.

What was put into Ilay’s beer was an odorless and tasteless muscle relaxant*.

Before giving it to him, Taeui even carefully smelled and tasted a little bit. His taste and smell were very sensitive, so he thought that even if the man in front of him wasn’t human, he wouldn’t be able to detect what was mixed in this beer.

But in reality, the muscle relaxant obtained from Moral after a fight with him was quite mild. It was called a muscle relaxant, but its effect was more like a sleeping pill, and it would make the drinker lose control of their body and become unconscious when fully matured. This was a type of drug that could make you unconscious in just a few minutes and then wake up normally afterwards. If there were no mistakes, it would make the user feel a bit sluggish after waking up, but the side effects were not too serious for the body, and it was also very useful if used for good purposes.

But it seems that this thing is just like an ant bite when applied to the monster sitting in front of him.

This is a mistake.

Jeong Taeui chewed on his food and muttered to himself. Forget it. He had tried to leave a memorable farewell to him, but it had no effect. That thought made his mood suddenly drop like a guitar string.

“What are you spacing out for?”

Ilay suddenly broke the silence after finishing his second beer and started sipping the third one. Taeui was staring at the green beans on the plate, but immediately looked up.

“You came to me to ask something, but you have such a serious expression, it scares me.”

Ilay calmly spoke with a serene smile, without a hint of fear on his face. Jeong Taeui stared intently at his dwindling beer glass, unable to help but sigh inwardly, then reluctantly dealt with his own glass of beer.

After finishing his beer, Ilay placed the empty glass on the table and lay back on the bed. His face looked somewhat weary as if he was sleepy. Taeui just silently took another sip of beer without responding.

There were numerous questions stacking up in his mind, but he didn’t ask anything. He just wanted to clear his mind of everything. But then again, Ilay couldn’t possibly be so wise and magnanimous to reveal everything even though he seemed to have swallowed up hundreds of other ‘snakes’. Anyway, he just wanted to see what to do next.

As Taeui leaned back on the sofa in silence and gazed up at Ilay, a fleeting smile crossed his face.

“You’ve met Instructor Jeong, haven’t you. That place.”

Thinking that Taeui was hesitant when mentioning that, Ilay took the initiative to break the silence as if he wanted to make him speak. Taeui paused, shaking the glass slowly, he didn’t even need to ask ‘that place’ is where, just looked at him with a strange expression and furrowed his brow.

“Rumors spread quickly in a place like this…. Do you often talk to that Instructor? Or do you meet him occasionally?”

“Well, not really. The fact that a member infiltrated the 4th floor was brought up in the Instructors’s meeting for security reasons. Because Instructor Jeong Changin cherished his nephew so much, your uncle didn’t report this, but the commander did. That elevator can also record its movement history.”

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue but didn’t say anything. Anyway, this matter wasn’t worth worrying about for him, even if his uncle was the one who reported what happened. That was what his uncle should do while being here.

“So, do you want to know more than what I heard from Instructor Jeong?”

Ilay’s voice became more and more drowsy, as if a sleepy spell was brewing in his eyes. Right? He wasn’t sure either, but how could that medicine have an effect on Ilay?

……It’s true that he is a terrifying monster. Even though this muscle relaxant is classified as a very mild type, it still has a great effect. If it were someone else, they would have passed out after half a cup, but he can still stand strong after three full glasses* and only looks a little bit sleepy. Jeong Taeui quietly finishes his beer, thinking that he should have made him drink all the muscle relaxant left.

“It seems like you’ve heard everything that me and him have talked about.”

Taeui smugly says with a smile. Ilay doesn’t say anything else, just slightly furrows his brow. Maybe he thinks he knows most things, but Taeui understands him better. He is someone who can control what to say and what not to do. Especially when it comes to topics that he doesn’t want to be spread outside, he is even more cautious.

The two look at each other and smile faintly. He wonders why he is laughing so much today, but it’s fine. He doesn’t want to see him again, this flawed human being.

“If you have any more questions, ask. I want to sleep.”

Ilay whispers slowly. His half-closed eyes gently lower. Aha, Jeong Taeui lightly taps the empty glass next to him once, twice, three times. Anyway, he can always surpass others in any situation.

“I used to think that I wanted to know everything, but now I’m not really curious. Whatever comes, will come, that’s how the world works.”

“Is it fate?”

“That’s the theory that you believe in.”

Ilay smiles silently in response to Taeui’s words. He gently brushes away the stray hairs on his forehead. Now he really looks tired and sleepy. After blinking a few times while looking at the ceiling, Ilay finally closes his eyes. Taeui observes him from beginning to end and asks again.

“You look sleepy”

“Yeah…, and also……., think a little.”

His voice gradually became vague and I could hardly hear what he said behind. Jeong Taeui was silent for a moment and asked again.

“What are you thinking about?”

No answer.

Taeui slowly counts each light tap on the empty glass.

“Ilay.”

He softly calls and still doesn’t receive any response. After a while, he repeats his name once again but still no answer. Could he be intentionally not answering or pretending to be asleep…. No, it seems like he is really losing consciousness, his head and shoulders drooping with slow and steady breaths.

I’m sorry. I thought you weren’t human, but it seems like you still have the potential to become a human in your own way.

Jeong Taeui takes a large vial out of his pocket with his finger and stares at it intently. The vial is more than half empty, with only a small amount of clear liquid inside. With this dosage, he might be able to knock out all three strong individuals.

“I’m glad that you still resemble a human, at least your toe is still touching the boundary of being human. But is it really better to withdraw from that fragile boundary and become a human?….”

Taeui stands up and murmurs softly. The effect of the drug doesn’t last long, people will lose consciousness for a moment and then immediately wake up. Hmm, he doesn’t know what happens if someone takes an overdose, but he probably won’t fall into a deep sleep for a few hours. Anyway, he still has many fun things prepared for him, so it would be disappointing if he sleeps for too long. But if he wakes up immediately after a minute or two, it will be difficult to handle.

“Let’s see, even if someone wakes up, their muscles will still be relaxed for a while, so they can’t move normally… But if it’s him, I should still be cautious.”

Taeui walks closer to the bed and carefully observes Ilay, seeing him sink into sleep with heavy breathing like this feels strange. If you only look at his face, anyone would think that he is a handsome and slightly mischievous person, but still gentle. 

He shakes his head in disgust. Standing in front of him with this perspective makes his heart suddenly calm, but at the same time, there is an unnamed sadness creeping into every cell. It’s just a little regret, but if asked why he regrets it, he can’t answer.

He organizes everything in his head. The luggage is ready, although it’s a bit funny to call it luggage because he doesn’t have anything to bring. Anyway, it’s just a sports bag. He leaves behind all his belongings and only brings his wallet and passport. When he arrived it was considered having some things, but when he leaves, it’s almost empty-handed.

It’s not even two hours until you can get on that ship. You will escape from this damn island forever, escape from this miserable person forever, and escape from this garbage organization forever…. You won’t even come to say goodbye to the uncle who brought you so much resentment.

“Alright, there’s not much time left, let’s get to work.”

If this miserable person wakes up now, you will be dead. Taeui sighed and took out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. Although this thing has been verified to be able to restrain King Kong countless times, he still felt a little worried because he knew that the actions he was taking were not very noble.

“If you were born a man, then be brave and try it at least once.”

A pair of handcuffs at the foot of the bed, the remaining one on Ilay’s right wrist.

Once he opens his eyes, he will immediately run away.

He silently observed his face once again. His wrists were as white as snow, although he could feel the strong muscles hidden under the skin on his wrists, it was still a wrist as white as snow.

*Smack*

Taeui kissed *Smooch* on the beautiful hands that had captivated him from the first sight. Then he turned around and handcuffed the other wrist to the bedpost. Ilay was still sleeping with his arms wide open, handcuffed to the headboard. Taeui sat down next to him again and looked at him in contemplation.

< KANGJAK-NIM, WE NEED THIS SCENE, WHY YOU FORGOT IT 😭>

Thinking back, he had made enemies with a lot of people, so in this life, no one could condemn him if he strangled him or suffocated him with a wet cloth covering his face…. Yes, his hands were also tied, so he thought he would use a wet cloth. No, if the cloth fell when he struggled and shook his head, what should he do? In that case, it would be better to strangle him.

Taeui quietly reached out and gently grabbed Ilay’s neck. At first glance, the blue veins were faintly visible under the white neck, the warm blood flowing inside made it feel warm. He could even feel each heartbeat under his fingers. Bump, bump, bump.

The feeling… was strange. It was like finding a favorite toy that he used to play with when he was a child in the attic. He didn’t know why he felt that way.

When was the last time he felt the pulse of another person beat? It was strange, but also very vague. It gave him the feeling that he was still human.

“…..”

“Alright, what are you going to do next?”

He raised his hand to his neck and felt his pulse for a moment. In the silent space, a low, sluggish voice suddenly sounded. Ilay’s eyes were closed, only his lips were moving. But he immediately opened his eyes and looked at him as soon as he finished speaking.

Taeui reflexively quickly withdrew his hand from his neck and returned to reality.

Right, he was considering whether to strangle him or cover his face with a wet cloth.

Even though he knew that Ilay would wake up soon, it had only been a few minutes. < :DD >

Although this was a situation that he had predicted, even when his wrists were handcuffed and their eyes met, he couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. If Ilay were to become angry and start resisting, or even if the handcuffs were loosened or broken, he would definitely have to leave the earth today.

Fortunately, he had tested the durability of these handcuffs to prevent such situations from happening. These handcuffs were specially ordered and could definitely restrain even King Kong. He didn’t know how strong King Kong actually was, but at least it could restrain an elephant.

But he still couldn’t avoid the feeling of coldness even though he knew he was safe.

Ilay blinked his eyes a few times as if his body was still dazed and sluggish. Then he slowly turned his head to look at his wrists and tried to move them, hearing the sound of metal on his wrists, he frowned.

Taeui sat on the bed and stared at Ilay, expecting him to respond with a bone-chilling gaze. But contrary to his expectations, he didn’t change his expression and just looked at him calmly, sometimes even vaguely feeling a smile on his lips.

“Are you awake?”

“No, I lost consciousness and just woke up… I’m curious, what did you put in the drink? Let me see…, is it a muscle relaxant? I don’t think it’s a sedative or a sleeping pill…. It’s not even cyanide* that you gave me, so why do you look so uneasy? I’m the one who should be worried, not you.”

After struggling with his wrists a few times before giving up, Ilay remained calm and relaxed his hand without any trace of anger on his face. He couldn’t see any signs of anger or excitement from him. More accurately, he seemed to be watching a comedy and had a smile on his lips.

Jeong Taeui frowned, not understanding why he thought he had just heard a very bitter story.

‘…..I know, okay?’

“What do you know? About the medicine you put in? I don’t even know what it is, I just know you put something in.”

“If you know, why do you still drink it?”

There’s no way my body can resist all 50,000 types of medicine in the world, Jeong Taeui whispered with a tired expression. Ilay smiled when he saw him unbuttoning his shirt.

“Because you’re doing things you’ve never done before, so I really want to see what you’re going to do. I didn’t expect you to do such silly and cute actions…. Taei, listen to me, no matter what you do to me, nothing will change. My brother will still produce weapons, this place will still be a weapons distribution network, weapons will be traded all over the world, and your brother will still develop weapons.”

“….Ilay Riegrow.”

Taeui said with a loud laugh, he placed his hand on Ilay’s collarbone and pushed him onto his stomach. It felt like he was really about to strangle him.

“Now that it’s come to this, do you think I care about what you say, even if it’s related to world peace? I don’t need to know where your brother develops or sells weapons, I don’t care how your brother distributes weapons with his network. It’s none of my business. Anyway, I’m not the one who will do everything to fight against war.”

“Aha….So?”

Jeong Taeui was silent for a moment and looked down at the Ilay’s name tag lying beneath him. He should have struggled like crazy with his tied wrists, even if the image might not be pleasing to the eye, instead of lying so calmly without any resistance, it made him uncomfortable. The interrogation seemed to be getting off track.

“If I strangle you or hold a knife to your chest in this state, do you have any way to resist?”

Taeui asked, then raised his hand and lightly tapped Ilay’s chin and chest. Ilay pretended to think seriously for a moment and finally shook his head.

“It would be quite difficult, I’m still very sleepy and my body doesn’t have enough strength for that anymore. Besides, these aren’t ordinary handcuffs, are they?”

“But you’re too lenient.”

Taeui was not satisfied at all, he hesitated and grabbed Ilay’s collar.

He suddenly smiled and raised his head a little, then leaned forward and licked Taeui’s wrist. Taeui shuddered, quickly grabbed his hand and took a deep breath. The feeling of being a prey being tasted by a wild beast… 

Ilay smiled faintly and collapsed onto the pillow.

“Let’s see, I am indeed quite lenient. Why do I have to do this? I thought that when I drank that glass of beer. Why did I have to close my eyes and drink it like that? Well, I wonder what you’re planning.”

Ilay briefly withdrew the smile on his face, he looked indifferent at the ceiling and immersed himself in thought, occasionally glancing at Taeui as if nothing had happened. But those dark, inscrutable eyes still caught Taeui’s gaze. It was terrifying, his whole body couldn’t help but shudder again.

While staring at Taeui intently, he murmured: “Why?” as if pondering, but still couldn’t come to a conclusion. Suddenly, he looked annoyed and furrowed his brow as if some unexpected thoughts had just appeared in his mind, then he continued to move his wrist once again.

“What’s wrong? If you want to play a wild game, what are you waiting for? Take off these handcuffs right away.”

Taeui’s chest seemed to go numb in the face of his cold and dissatisfied voice. In a brief moment, Taeui even considered taking off the handcuffs to save his own life.

“….I don’t like it.”

In that moment, Taeui felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction being able to respond with those two words. Perhaps realizing that half of his life had just been thrown away, his heartbeat became even more excited when he saw the gradually chilling gaze in Ilay’s eyes. Jeong Taeui couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Ilay looked at him coldly without expression, he also smiled, but this smile carried a cold and icy mist.

“What else? Have you eaten shark’s liver or something….”

“Don’t be angry anymore, okay? Just tying your hands a little, what harm does it do? What I mean is, no matter what happens today, I will make it extremely hot for you to see.”

Jeong Taeui whispered into his ear, but in his heart, he felt a bitter taste. It didn’t feel right to say those threatening words himself. He originally wanted to say some threatening words full of meaning like Ilay, but because he had never done it before, he couldn’t say it.

“Ha ha. Are you hot? I’m really looking forward to it.”

Ilay raised an eyebrow gently. He pondered for a moment as if he didn’t like it, but there was no other way. Perhaps he was thinking: ‘If I take off these handcuffs, you’ll surely die with me.’

But it’s okay, he had already left this island and flown far away.

*************************

(*Muscle relaxant: a drug that relaxes muscles, indirectly affects the central nervous system and causes drowsiness, temporarily paralyzes muscles when injected. An adult can only take milligrams of Tolperison around 150 – 450 miligrams, if overdose = 💀 So it needs nearly 500 miligrams to make a healthy adult fainted immediately, 3 glasses full of water = Around 3,000 miligram💀 but just makes Ilay feel a little bit sleepy)

(*Cyanide: A deadly poison with a small amount.)