Chapter 34

It felt like a block of ice had been poured over his head that had been burning hot. For a moment, a chilling shock came that was enough to turn his head white, but the place where the cold had passed soon became even hotter.

Han Tae-un, that son of a bitch, should not be disappointed in me. Because he was someone who could not answer the question, "If you were going to be like this, why did you save me?"

Even after the first life ended, he continued to fail and regret, but he did his best to die. The biggest reason he couldn't run away from the position of a hunter even with those nightmares was Han Tae-un.

Because he had saved him, Soram stood in front of the Great Rift in every life in some form. In front of the Great Rift that had given him terrible nightmares countless times.

If Han Tae-un had thrown his life away expecting something from him, he thought this would be it.

"What kind of person is this?"

Soram was also curious about Tae-un's thoughts. Even when they were awkward, even when they had a casual acquaintance, even when they were completely at odds, why could he throw his life away for him?

Why did you appear in front of me, having forgotten everything, while I have that scene engraved in my mind?

"Han Tae-un ssi, what did you expect from me?"

What did you expect that you saved me and kept saving me? Soram's face also gradually filled with bright red anger. Strength entered his jaw, revealing his teeth. It seemed like he couldn't control his anger, or like he was suppressing tears.

The image of himself reflected in the eyes in front of him wavered. Agitation also spread across Tae-un's face as he looked at Soram.

"Soram ssi, are you cry..."

Soram was faster than him opening his mouth.

"What the hell did you think of me as!"

Soram shouted as if exploding with resentment in his throat.

"Jin Soram!"

This time, it was a different voice that called his name from over there. Director Park Jae-seon saw a 3rd-grade hunter who had been beaten to a pulp, and the confrontation between Soram and Tae-un.

"Wh-What is this!"

Next to him was the director of the Reconnaissance Bureau, shouting in anger. Putting him behind, Park Jae-seon walked forward with a stiff face.

"Stop what you're doing right now."

"..."

That was the only voice that calmed Soram's excitement. As the strength left Soram's arm, Tae-un also let go of the hand he was holding. And as soon as Soram stood in place.

Slap!

"Ah."

Director Park Jae-seon's sharp slap flew in. Soram's cheek turned to the side and one knee buckled.

"Get a grip."

With his face swollen and his lip split, Soram looked down at Kim Jae-hyeok as he got up. It wasn't a face that was furious because more people had come to stop him, but a face that was gauging what to do. The face of a madman whose range of actions that could be concluded with that "what to do" was endless. And Soram's face turned once more.

"Soram. I told you to stop."

The director urged once more with a stiff face. Soram's eyes slowly turned to look straight ahead. Soram, who made eye contact with the director, finally released the tension in his shoulders.

"... Yes."

"Have you ever seen such a crazy bastard!"

The director of the Reconnaissance Bureau, who had come with the director of the Operations Bureau, pointed at Soram. Park Jae-seon gestured to those who had rushed over.

"Grab him."

Two 1st-grade hunters from Team 4, including the team leader, held Soram's arms behind his back. The restrained Soram couldn't move.

"Soram-ah, what's the matter again, man?"

"..."

"Oh my goodness..."

The leader of Team 4 shook his head and led Soram away. Behind Jae-hyeok, who was awkwardly getting up with support, a voice pierced through.

"There are so many righteous people in the world, Chief Kim Jae-hyeok."

"..."

"Congratulations?"

"Stop messing around and come quickly."

In Jae-hyeok's ear, who had taken a deep breath, a voice seemed to say, "Will it really end like this?" Jae-hyeok couldn't turn his head in the direction Soram was moving away.

In the place where the short riot had passed, murmurs belatedly rose.

* * *

Tae-un received a call to come to the director's office a little later.

In front of the 15th floor corridor, he encountered Yoon Chang-hyeon coming out of the director's office. The two lightly nodded to each other and passed by. Unlike in the morning, Chang-hyeon's expression, who had witnessed the brutality of a 1st-grade hunter, showed a hint of wariness.

No matter what his usual personality was like, Soram was the top predator in terms of physical force. It was impossible to be indifferent to the sight of him trampling on Kim Jae-hyeok like a bug, even if he had done something wrong, as they were from the same department. Soram might have also been prepared for the somewhat good relationship with Chang-hyeon to disappear.

"I'm thinking of having Soram stay downstairs and cool his head for a while before coming back up. He was also heavily punished there."

Director Park Jae-seon, who seemed to have rushed over a little while ago, had returned to his usual calm demeanor. And Tae-un realized that what he had just said was about the guard floor he had heard about before.

"I heard you two fought in the middle."

"No, we didn't."

"... Soram, no. I keep calling him that without realizing it. Chief Jin sometimes has a side that impulsively lashes out. He probably didn't intend to harm Chief Han."

He could agree with that because he had seen through Kim Jae-hyeok that Soram really intended to harm someone. In fact, even though Soram poured out harsh words, he never once attacked Tae-un. Even when Tae-un grabbed him tightly, he used his ability to drag Kim Jae-hyeok over.

"What will happen to Chief Kim Jae-hyeok?"

"I think we need to find out more about the circumstances. The director of the Reconnaissance Bureau keeps jumping up and down, asking if this is something to throw people around for. So I called you to hear about what happened today. I also need to hear why Chief Jin was so angry."

Tae-un's story started from a point earlier than this morning. The fact that Ayoung had studied very hard for the exam, and Soram had been watching over her. And that even today, he did his best to help, but the exam was completely ruined by actions that were clearly malicious, and it even caused a conflict with Ayoung.

After saying everything, it seemed like a somewhat biased explanation. However, Tae-un also sympathized with Soram's anger, and if Soram had stayed still, he would have gone to Kim Jae-hyeok instead. It would have ended with a more moderate warning than Soram, but still.

"Yes. Regardless of being attacked by Chief Jin, we can't just sit back and watch someone express such ill will even towards Ayoung."

"Yes."

"Good work. You can go back. I'll let you know when the results come out."

On the way back to the office after leaving the director's office, the sky he looked back at was clear blue as if the rain that had been falling until the afternoon was a lie. Tae-un frowned as if the blue sky was dazzling, sighed, and moved his steps again.

When he arrived at the office, the place that should have been dark with the lights off was bright. As he opened the door and entered, Ayoung abruptly stood up from her seat at the round table.

"Ah..."

As if he wasn't the person she was waiting for, her shoulders dropped a little.

"What about Soram oppa?"

"I don't think we'll be able to see him for a while."

"... Why?"

"He's being disciplined."

He tried to hide the bad news as much as possible, but it was difficult for Ayoung not to know that it was related to her.

Ayoung bit her lip tightly inward. The office, which had been friendly until the night before, had changed to the opposite atmosphere.

"How was the exam?"

"It was ruined. I cried outside and went in, messed up all the English, couldn't focus at all during the next subject..."

"Don't worry about it and just prepare for tomorrow's exam. It's worse if this affects you until tomorrow."

After a brief pause, Tae-un added one more thing.

"Until you finish the CSAT, something like this will never happen again."

Due to the commotion caused by Soram, the inferiority complex that Kim Jae-hyeok had was brought to the surface. Since it ended with a considerably humiliating result, there will be some self-purification even among those with inferiority complexes now. And Tae-un also had no intention of repeating the same incident.

Ayoung rubbed the corner of her notebook with her fingertips and remained silent. Then she called out to Tae-un.

"How was Soram oppa today? Did he slack off and do things roughly? Or did he work hard?"

"He worked hard."

This was an undeniable fact. Soram did his best for Ayoung. Ayoung's mouth twisted again.

Ayoung wasn't unaware either. Jin Soram may be indifferent and lazy about everything, but he gets up from his seat for the things he cherishes.

She was included in the few things he cherished. He, who had no hesitation in anything, was strangely weak to her and always backed down from her assertions. It was sometimes absurd that the nationally known "Jin Soram" was being soft on her.

So, unlike others, there was no way he would have lied down and abandoned her request.

"..."

Ayoung brought up the most frightening question.

"Did he seem angry or disappointed in me?"

"No. Not at all."

Tae-un turned his head.

"... It seemed like he was disappointed in me."