As soon as he opened his eyes, a thought flashed through Jeong Taeui’s mind.

“Still alive, huh? Thought I was……”

Thought I was dead. But here he was, opening his eyes once again.

Jeong Taeui raised his hand. His shoulder ached as if it were about to fall off, and not just his shoulder—his entire arm down to his fingertips throbbed in pain.

If he moved gently, it wasn’t too painful, but his skin felt like it was being pricked, and his whole body felt sick. It made sense that touching it hurt so much, given that someone had squeezed and kneaded his entire body.

“……..”

From his hands and feet to his face, there wasn’t a spot that those brutal hands hadn’t touched. It was no wonder his whole body ached, and his muscles and joints screamed in agony. Jeong Taeui slowly became aware that, despite the full-body pain, there didn’t seem to be any injuries.

Below his waist, he felt nothing now, and he suspected he’d be struggling for the next few days.

Jeong Taeui stared at the ceiling with a somewhat tense expression, then slowly lowered his hand. He had only slightly turned over, and immediately felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

“…….@#&!…….!…….!!”

Jeong Taeui felt as if his back was about to break, but there was something even more painful between his legs and inside. He shuddered and swallowed a groan.

For a moment, an unnamed worry flashed through his mind.

What if everything was torn down there?

He had torn once before, and the following days had been a nightmare every time he went to the bathroom. Jeong Taeui swallowed a sigh as he remembered those old days he couldn’t tell anyone about. It had been so difficult.

‘What should I do now……?’

Jeong Taeui thought for a moment, then quickly decided to endure the pain and carefully felt around between his buttocks with his fingers.

“Ah………….!!!!”

As soon as his fingertip brushed the entrance between his buttocks, Jeong Taeui couldn’t help but shudder.

Even though he couldn’t see it, he could feel with a vivid sense that it was swollen to a pitiful extent and would surely never heal in a hundred years. It was probably torn again.

“If I let you do this again in the future, I will take your name……..!”

Jeong Taeui gritted his teeth and cursed in pain, but the cowardly part of him instinctively recoiled, and he clammed up.

Jeong Taeui slowly lifted his head a tiny bit, glancing to the side. He expected Ilay to be there, but the space beside him was empty.

Was Ilay in the bathroom or had he gone out?

Jeong Taeui lay still and scanned for any signs, but he couldn’t sense anything. He didn’t feel like getting up and looking around for him, but it seemed he was indeed alone in the room. He sighed softly.

“……Damn it…… Just facing one crazy guy and I’ve already been trapped…… really was a bad decision.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled weakly.

Gradually, memories of what happened before he fell asleep came back to him one by one.

Until the very end, he couldn’t resolve his grievances, and instead, a new feeling of resentment grew. He wondered if the price he paid for his wrong decision was too high, given how cruelly he was treated.

“…….”

Jeong Taeui suddenly fell silent.

“Chicken-chasing dog.”

His uncle’s words suddenly echoed in his mind.

He didn’t want to hear those words, but thinking about them briefly, they were the truth.

How had Ilay felt at that moment?

The moment he saw Jeong Taeui turn his back right in front of him……

Suddenly, his chest tightened, and his breath became short. Yes, maybe this wasn’t so unfair after all. With that thought, Jeong Taeui tried to console himself.

“……..”

On the other hand, he thought that he wasn’t in a situation where he should be considering Ilay’s feelings.

No matter how you look at it, he had made the wrong decision.

Of course, he knew that the man named Ilay Riegrow was not human. Not only did he lack human decency, but biologically, he wasn’t even human. 

His endurance was beyond human capability. Moreover, if you think about it, his mind wasn’t normal either.

Even when it came to saving people, he used methods that were purely destructive.

Returning to this man, or more accurately, being caught while trying to return to him, he wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not.

Jeong Taeui carefully considered. Thinking about his aching and sickly body only made him more depressed. Did he really need to care for such a madman? The more he thought about it, the less confident he felt about handling this violent man, who practically had ‘beware of danger’ written all over him.

From a normal person’s perspective, the most reasonable thing to do would be to stay far away from this guy. Of course, if he did that and got caught again, he would face unimaginably horrible consequences. Jeong Taeui didn’t know if he would be eaten alive or not. But still, running away seemed like the best choice for living a proper life.

“What on earth do I have to do to survive……?”

Jeong Taeui mumbled, then stopped and changed his thoughts, ‘But who could do that now……?.’

He could swear that no one in this world could stay by Ilay’s side and care for him. Well, maybe someone could. But if they wanted a good life, they certainly wouldn’t do that.

“……so that person is me……”

Jeong Taeui muttered quietly and buried his face in the blanket.

“You are mine, Taei.”

Suddenly, a low and affectionate voice echoed in his ear.

It was the voice he heard just before falling asleep.

When his heavy body pressed down on him, he whispered like a sigh.

“…….what’s yours is yours, it gives me the chills just hearing it……”

Jeong Taeui mumbled dejectedly but quickly pulled the blanket up to his neck with his aching hands and buried his head into it, leaving only his eyes exposed.

For a moment, his nape felt like it was on fire, his face seemingly turning a shade of pink.

‘How did I end up like this?’

Even now, after thinking about it many times, he still couldn’t come to any conclusion. Jeong Taeui ruffled his hair.

“That’s right, to cure this schizophrenia even just one day sooner, I have to run away quickly……”

“Jeong Taei. Are you still dreaming or are you awake now?”

If his body weren’t aching right now, Jeong Taeui would have jumped to the ceiling. His heart skipped a beat and pounded loudly at the sudden voice in the room where he was sure there was no one but himself.

Jeong Taeui forgot the pain on his body and turned around. On the sofa tucked under the shadow of a large potted plant between the desk and the window, Ilay was sitting there.

It didn’t seem like he was doing anything special; he just sat there with his arms crossed, looking at him gently.

Jeong Taeui stared at him, dumbfounded, recalling the memories that had just passed. Damn it, what did I just say?

Ilay stared at Jeong Taeui’s frowning face without showing any discomfort. Perhaps he was thinking about something.

“Why are you sitting there so quietly?”

“Hmm……?”

When Jeong Taeui bluntly questioned him, Ilay slowly replied as if still deep in thought, or perhaps his thoughts had already shifted elsewhere. He continued to look at Jeong Taeui with narrowed eyes.

“I was thinking about something.”

Then a faint smile crossed his lips.

Yes, for some reason Jeong Taeui felt a great concern about what he was thinking. It felt like his fate was being weighed on a scale in Ilay’s hands.

Ilay slowly stood up, walked to the bed where Jeong Taeui was lying, and stopped beside it, looking down at Jeong Taeui. Meanwhile, Jeong Taeui, enduring the pain in his body, sat up sweating profusely, leaning against the headboard because it was difficult to sit up by himself. Meeting Ilay’s gaze, Jeong Taeui returned it with a strong glare.

“Let me tell you something first.”

He opened his mouth, and Jeong Taeui unconsciously tensed up, ears straining to listen, feeling aggrieved as he watched those lips move.

“It’s not torn. Just a little swollen, but it will heal in a few days.”

“…….”

He saw me (checking myself) already?

Jeong Taeui felt like his mood had just been bitten by a dog.

“And let me tell you one more thing.”

Ilay spoke again. Jeong Taeui simultaneously flinched.

On the other hand, he thought to himself, feeling guilty. No, talking to myself and badmouthing a little isn’t so bad, besides, I haven’t even really badmouthed him.

“You will have to change your last name.”

Ilay said calmly. Jeong Taeui looked at him with a blank face. What does that mean? He tried to recall what he had said but nothing matched Ilay’s words. In fact, he couldn’t remember every word he had said.

Jeong Taeui looked at him, puzzled about what that meant. Ilay looked down at him and suddenly smiled.

Jeong Taeui seemed to hear him mumbling to himself.

“Taeui Riegrow doesn’t sound too bad.”

He thought he heard him say that, but he wasn’t quite sure.

“And one more thing.”

When Ilay repeated that phrase for the third time, Jeong Taeui cursed under his breath and flinched for the third time.

Why does this lunatic have such a good memory?

Jeong Taeui frowned and looked at him, wondering what he would say this time, but Ilay remained silent.

He suddenly took a step closer to the bed, leaned down, and looked straight into Jeong Taeui’s eyes. Jeong Taeui looked up at his suspicious face and wrinkled his nose as his lips approached his forehead.

“Taei, you are mine. You said it very clearly yourself yesterday.”

“……—No, you…….”

“You said it yourself. Very clearly. If you want to hear it again, the exact words were: ‘Ilay Riegrow, you damn bastard……. Jeong Taeui belongs to you, Ilay Riegrow. Kill me or do whatever you want.’”.

Jeong Taeui was speechless.

Thinking back, he didn’t remember whether it was his uncle or Kyle who had said it, but this man, despite his eccentric personality, was also highly intelligent (judging by his personality, it seemed like Kyle had said that).

Jeong Taeui bitterly bit his lip and scratched his head. He sighed, muttering in despair.

“Fine, do whatever you want, just do it.” – Ilay chuckled softly at Jeong Taeui’s response.

At that moment, Jeong Taeui closed his mouth.

It was that smile. The smile that was very similar to the one he had when they first met eyes at Raumaan’s mansion in Seringe.

That smile held pure joy, as if he was genuinely happy.

Jeong Taeui unconsciously stared at him, observing that unfamiliar expression on Ilay’s face.

*Thump thump* *Thump thump*

His heart pounded loudly.

It was the face he often remembered. It was the expression that made him think many times. In this world, was there anyone who would smile so happily just by seeing him?

Jeong Taeui’s fingertips suddenly tingled and trembled. So he clenched his hands together and gently rubbed his fingers in confusion. At that moment, Jeong Taeui was certain.

He liked this smile, and he liked this expression of his. If he could see this face of his more often, he could say those words as many times as needed.

“Um, just do it all……”

Jeong Taeui sighed and murmured. Then, suddenly, a gloomy thought arose in his heart. Jeong Taeui muttered to himself.

“My dream was always to meet a kind and good-hearted person. To live well and eat well, but…… haizz.”

But Jeong Taeui had forgotten one thing.

He had forgotten that the man in front of him had very sharp ears. Ilay suddenly raised an eyebrow.

“Haha.”

He sneered, as if he didn’t care much.

“Should I kill all the kind and good-hearted people in the world?”

Jeong Taeui was silenced for the second time.

Chills ran through him. He rubbed his arms that were now covered in goosebumps. He didn’t sound like he was joking at all. Of course, it’s rare to find true jokes from this man.

“How can you tell who is kind and good-hearted?”

Jeong Taeui asked bitterly.

The criteria for categorization were too vague. Everyone in the world had different standards for good and evil. Perhaps, somewhere in this world, there was someone who would recognize the madman in front of him as a very good person.

Ilay raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently.

“You will be the one to tell me.”

“Me?”

“If it’s someone you meet, live well, and eat well with, then they must be kind and good-hearted.” (And then Ilay will kill that person)

“……So, the standard for distinguishing good and bad people is based on me?”

Jeong Taeui scratched his head. Once that standard…… Jeong Taeui thought for a while. If it were this man, he would do it.

That’s right, somehow he increasingly felt the need to take care of this man more. It seemed that if he gave up caring for him, abandoned him, and left, Ilay would persistently chase after him and target the good-hearted and friendly people he would meet.

Jeong Taeui stared at his fingertips, immersed in a future image of himself gradually sinking into a quagmire.

“Alright. I’ll tell you one more thing.”

“There’s still more?”

After all, what the hell had Jeong Taeui been saying to himself? He didn’t even remember, but this man’s memory was extraordinarily, extraordinarily remarkable.

Jeong Taeui looked up at Ilay, wondering what he would say next. Ilay nodded and sat down next to him.

He sat next to Jeong Taeui, face to face, with one hand resting beside him as if lying on top of him. In the extremely dangerous situation of being trapped in his embrace, Jeong Taeui frowned. What else was there?

“Never think about running away anymore.”

The calm and gentle voice sounded right in front of him. Jeong Taeui silently looked at him without saying a word.

Thinking back, it seemed like he did say such things. He had thought about running away quickly from here, even if just one day sooner would be better.

Ilay’s voice was very calm when he said that he absolutely should not think about running away anymore. There was hardly any threat or anger in it. He spoke as if he were just telling him to eat.

“There won’t be a third time.”

He continued. Jeong Taeui just quietly listened.

Ilay looked directly into Jeong Taeui’s eyes, his expression as calm as his voice. Ilay silently examined every corner of his gaze as if trying to find something within it, and then he spoke again.

“This time, too. I really intended to kill you. More than half of me was ready to kill you and swallow everything to keep you from escaping again.”

“…….”

Jeong Taeui looked at him. Despite saying that, Ilay didn’t show any regret or apologize for having such thoughts. Indeed, he could actually do that with an indifferent face whenever he wanted.

His heart trembled slightly.

‘Will I really be okay?’ – Jeong Taeui thought and sighed.

“So. There won’t be a third time. The third time, I will really kill you. So don’t do it again…… please……”

Jeong Taeui looked up in astonishment at his last words.

That statement was so strange, it was something he never expected to hear from this man’s mouth. With just a simple sentence that anyone could say, Jeong Taeui’s fingertips curled up and rubbed together.

‘……has this man really lost his inhumanity?’

Jeong Taeui thought seriously. He remembered when he said those words to Shinru, although they were very sincere, they still contained some jest. Jeong Taeui smiled softly.

He felt good at this moment. Sometimes there’s no need to think too much about something. Whenever he discovered something unexpected about this man – even if it was normal for others – it would suddenly make him laugh.

“I intended to return. That was my plan.”

Jeong Taeui spoke up.

Ilay raised his eyebrows, tilting his head as if not understanding what he meant.

“When I was waiting for the bus to go to the airport. I planned to go to the airport and come back to you.”

Jeong Taeui shrugged and sighed as he spoke.

Saying that made him feel vaguely resentful and angry again but…… let it go. Just consider it the price of discovering little surprises about him.

He looked up and met Ilay’s gaze.

It was a very strange face.

He was looking at Jeong Taeui with an expression that couldn’t be described, as if he had just heard something incredibly odd. Jeong Taeui scratched his head, puzzled as Ilay’s strange gaze came closer to him. Jeong Taeui raised his eyebrows at him.

“……I’m not lying.”

Jeong Taeui added because he thought that was the reason for the strange look. Then, Ilay didn’t respond, not knowing if he truly believed him or if it was just unexpected, or if there were other thoughts, he nodded vaguely and remained silent.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head.

Just a moment ago, this person was responding very well, and now suddenly he’s silent, making the whole world seem quiet along with him. When that happens, his heart couldn’t stay calm.

Then suddenly.

“Only with what I have done.”

Ilay spoke. Jeong Taeui didn’t hear clearly and asked him again, and then he repeated.

“Only with what I have done, with the part I have given. You just need to return that much.”

He spoke clearly, every word.

Jeong Taeui listened to the calm voice, as if he were just saying hello in passing. After thinking for a moment, he finally understood what Ilay was saying. Jeong Taeui asked skeptically.

“……Isn’t that amount a bit too much……?”

Ilay’s face suddenly broke into a broad smile. It was such a bright smile that it seemed he would burst into laughter any second.

“Let’s see. Are you not confident?”

In response to his vague question, Jeong Taeui scratched his head and muttered.

“No. I should give back as much as I received. Maybe even as much as you’ve lost.”

Jeong Taeui thought about the things Ilay had lost when he came to rescue him. So many things came to mind, and it seemed, somehow, he would have a hard time repaying even one of them.

“Because this time you lost a lot.”

Jeong Taeui wanted to add that ‘It’s because you rushed there without any plan or forethought.’ but he swallowed the words. Ilay’s expression became even stranger for a moment when he heard those words. However, before Jeong Taeui could realize the oddity in his expression, Ilay smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Yeah, you just need to give me back that much……. It might be a bit overwhelming for you, but I’ll accept it anyway.”

Ilay murmured as if he were talking to himself. Jeong Taeui looked up and said :“Huh?”, but Ilay just shrugged and smiled gently.