Chapter 179

"Heuuh, ha, euuh, heuk, heu......"

Soram, pitifully leaning against the wall, was panting as if he was about to lose his breath. While slumped like wet paper, his two hands were pathetically clutching the remains of the megaphone with only the handle left.

Even with the mighty power of the 20th round returned, his opponent was too much. While continuing attacks and defenses, he would lose control once in a while, and there was no way Ga-eul wouldn't seize those moments. After a gap was torn open and his collar was grabbed, leading to close combat, well... Until he was smashed into this corner where he had carefully stored the megaphone as the final attack, some very scary things had happened.

The traces of Soram and Ga-eul's rough fight were cleared away and training resumed. The hunters who had seemed tired from the continuous grueling training seemed to be reinvigorated after seeing the superior match, their enthusiasm rising again.

They simply thought the headquarters was undergoing a major overhaul. Because of this, some people had doubts and complaints about the excessively intense training. But when Director Park Jae-seon himself said sternly, "No one knows if the 4th Great Rift will occur in 1 year or 10 years," opposing opinions subsided. The training method tailored to the form of the approaching Great Rift could also be applied without problems thanks to the trust the hunters had in him.

Even though Soram hadn't mentioned the tragedy that unfolded when he revealed he was a regressor in some past life, the director had first suggested keeping the regression a secret. He still hid Soram behind his back even after hearing Soram's secret.

Thus, only three people knew the true meaning and purpose of this training: Soram, Tae-un, and Director Park Jae-seon.

Tae-un, who was bringing water for Soram who had been beaten to dust, stopped for a moment. It was because someone had come to find Soram before Tae-un in the corner where Soram was crumpled up.

"I told you to take it easy, you rascal. You'll get hurt if you suddenly do things you're not used to."

The one speaking casually to Soram, the chief, was Shin Chan, the chief of Team 3. As Shin Chan snapped his fingers towards the floor, broad leaves like tropical plants sprouted and fanned Soram's face, which had become hot.

"What's with you being so diligent all of a sudden? When I heard we were entering an intensified training system under the director's lead, I only expected our Jin Chief to lie down saying 'I don't want to! I won't do it!' This is a huge betrayal."

"What are you saying about the good and diligent Soram? I'm going to tell the director that Chief Shin is teaching me bad things."

"Go ahead and tell. I'm more confident."

Padakpadakpadak. As if supporting his teasing tone, the wind fanned by the leaves turned into a super gale. The wind blew Soram's cheeks, making him grimace, then subsided again. Soram, who had no strength left to even lift a finger, left his hair sticking up like a sea urchin and answered the initial question.

"If things are going to change anyway, it's better to change completely. It's a waste of time to dawdle when I've already made up my mind."

"As always, you're good with words no matter where you are."

While Soram was the oldest in Team 7, among the chiefs he was noticeably on the younger side. Only Soram and Ga-eul were in their 20s among the chiefs, with most of the rest in their mid-30s to 40s. This was because the requirements for the chief position included not only skill but also experience. Twenty-somethings in positions leading numerous hunters like this were rare cases nationwide, including Seo Min-ki as one of only three.

Tae-un, as a team member, had rarely seen occasions where chief-level hunters gathered in one place. Seeing that scene for the first time today, he felt a subtle temperature difference even among the same chiefs.

The biggest difference was in the attitude of the chiefs towards the two relatively young people. It wasn't that they looked down on them, but their gazes were mixed with softness and pity towards younger people. As if looking at children pushed onto the battlefield with swords.

Tae-un remained lost in thought until Chief Shin finished his bland conversation and left. During this time, a large presence approached from the side.

"I should measure my attack power one more time too."

An existence that Tae-un would feel was "large," that is, someone overwhelmingly bigger than Tae-un, didn't exist in the headquarters. It must be someone riding some auxiliary means, and what came to Tae-un's side was a giant dog and its owner.

"Isn't it time for you to leave for school? Do you have time to do one more?"

"Hmm, normally I wouldn't..."

Normally? While receiving Tae-un's gaze, Ayoung mumbled for a moment before giving an exaggeratedly energetic answer.

"I actually just took a leave of absence!"

This sudden declaration brought change even to Tae-un's gruff face.

"What are you saying? So suddenly?"

"Right? Ha, it really is sudden..."

"You really did? Why? You didn't say anything until yesterday."

"That's right. I really just decided and acted on it now. I was going to go to school after watching Ga-eul unnie and Soram oppa's sparring, but suddenly, I felt like I shouldn't go. Then I dashed to call the student center. They said a mid-semester leave is possible. I'll lose what I've attended this semester though."

"...If you want to do it, I don't intend to stop you, but won't you regret it?"

"Yeah. I was surprised that I didn't hesitate as much as I thought I would. It feels like I should live just as a hunter now, not anything else."

However, unable to give a clear reason for her own actions, Ayoung's face still had some confusion left. Ah! She suddenly exclaimed.

"I have good intuition, right? I had some kind of hunch."

"I see..."

"And actually, there's one more reason."

Ayoung subtly pointed towards the corner. Soram there was trying to put the broken megaphone back together but was having it taken away again by Ga-eul, so he couldn't see this way.

"I want to receive this intense training to improve my skills a bit, and from now on, I want to properly fulfill my role as a team member. Until now, Soram oppa has only been taking care of me."

"..."

"Anyway. Since it's come to this, I'm going to work hard. See you later!"

"Uh..."

Ayoung rode Aila and ran to the center of the training ground. Only then did Soram notice Ayoung and shouted, "Ayoung-ah! What about school! You're late!" When Ayoung replied, "I'm not going to school!" he made a face like a parent seeing their child's room door slam shut as they hit puberty.

As Tae-un watched the two team members, something that had struck him earlier during the conversation between Chief Shin and Soram came to him again.

Tick, tick.

It sounded like something was colliding without fitting together. It resembled the sound of two puzzle pieces that looked similar but were misaligned because the direction to fit them was unknown.

***

Tae-un, who had been lying lengthwise on the dormitory sofa, raised his head. His sensitive hearing caught the moisture between the soles of feet and the floor. Footsteps from the next room approached straight in this direction. The distinction between the two people's dormitories had long lost its meaning.

Soon, Soram, who had just finished washing, appeared crossing the doorway. As expected, he hadn't wiped off the moisture properly, with water droplets dotting the ends of his sleeves and T-shirt.

Soram found Tae-un in the living room. The moment Soram's gaze, which had scanned Tae-un's lying posture, changed subtly, Tae-un felt an ominous premonition. But before he could block it, Soram's body leapt up. The 180cm adult male, drawing a parabolic arc, landed on top of Tae-un with the added force of gravitational acceleration.

"Kkeuk."

Not only was weight suddenly added, but since he landed with his chin propped, his elbow jabbed Tae-un's breastbone. Tae-un couldn't help but let out a pained groan.

"Hey, Jin Soram."

"Yeah yeah, Jin-Han Treaty Article 1."

"..."

"What's Article 1, Han Tae-un?"

The Jin-Han Treaty was a pact made with the resolve not to waste any time that was precious just being together. A treaty between Jin Soram and Han Tae-un. Jin-Han Treaty, taking only their surnames according to their nickname as a pair. The biggest reason for making this was indeed to prevent fights.

They both had stubborn personalities, and especially when it came to matters related to the other, they would never back down. Once a fight started, they would avoid each other's faces, get hurt feelings, and even after reconciling, regrets would remain, but the remaining time was too short to go through that process.

Just to spend only affectionate and peaceful time, to not take it out on the other even when anxious as crisis approached. Yes, it was clearly made for harmony, but...

Article 1 was even inserted by Tae-un.

"...Not getting annoyed."

"Right. We shouldn't get annoyed."

Tae-un had inserted this to prevent Soram's ridiculous tantrums. But he should have noticed when Soram showed a meaningful reaction and immediately accepted. That this clause would tie his own hands.

Not getting annoyed meant having to unconditionally endure the other person doing annoying things...

Soram thumped his feet up and down like a cat that had found a good mat. What got hit in rhythm was Tae-un's shin. Tae-un sighed briefly as always, then wrapped his arms around the waist of the person on top, even though there was no way he would slip and fall. No matter what he did, it was forever impossible for him to win against Soram. ...He didn't particularly want to feel a sense of victory over Soram either. Rather, he liked this appearance of him acting as he pleased, becoming a small tyrant.

Soram, who had been appreciating Tae-un's face to his heart's content with his chin propped, lifted a strand of his black bangs.

"Your hair has grown a lot."

"Ah, I need to cut it."

"Why? Just leave it. It's just the right length where it's not too short now."

Soram's hand moved fiddlingly above Tae-un's forehead. He gathered the bangs into one bunch, parted them this way and that, and even tried sweeping them back completely.

"Hmm, no good. It covers after all."

"Does it not suit me?"

"No. Thinking about other people looking makes me anno... I mean, feel depressed and violent. Just cut it in a zigzag like an idiot."