Chapter 40

"... I understand. But my opinion remains unchanged that the actions were excessive this time. It's not that Kim Jae-hyeok ssi was without fault, but ultimately, it led to Jin Soram ssi receiving a significant punishment, right?

"That's right. There could have been a more amicable and peaceful way to end the situation."

However. Soram continued.

"If I had responded half-heartedly there and there was no significant incident, someone would have thought this. That it would be okay even if something like this happened again next time."

Now even Tae-un couldn't not know what Soram was going to say.

"Instead, people would say something like, ah, he's a crazy bastard. That bastard doesn't see anything when he loses it. Let's not mess with him or those around him."

"..."

"This is better."

Even if there was the inconvenience of detention life, Soram never showed any regret for his actions. And if he were to go back to the past, he would probably do the same thing.

Tae-un couldn't not know the effect of the actions Soram mentioned. That it effectively eliminated all possibilities of harm that could be inflicted on Ayoung.

"For that, Jin Soram ssi..."

But it was also a path where someone had to play the role of a strange person at the forefront and receive that much criticism.

"There's no reason for Jin Soram ssi to have to go through this."

"There is."

Soram answered even before the question was finished.

"It's a secret to Han Tae-un ssi."

Soram smiled as if shrugging his shoulders. But since his body was bound, only his neck moved slightly.

"Let's end this conversation before it gets weirder. Let's read a book instead. Quick."

"I told you I already read it."

"When did you read it?"

"I read it when I was in middle school, and I also read it as an assignment for a college liberal arts class."

Tae-un answered while looking at the sign language book again.

"No. It's mine."

Soram stubbornly shook his head. Tae-un eventually opened the only book he was allowed. The paper flipped to the side with a rustle.

[Knowing that Strickland really didn't care at all about the criticism his actions would provoke, I had no choice but to retreat from that terrifying man. As if taking a step back in fear at the sight of a monster that couldn't be called human.]*

It was a passage that caught Tae-un's eye by chance.

The male protagonist of the book breaks the conventionally observed norms, does what no one else would do, and ignores the gazes pouring on him as if it's nothing. So what was Strickland's ending?

The gazes watching the hunter Jin Soram were incomparably more numerous than in the era of the novel. The entire nation knew Soram's face and name, and his actions in front of the camera spread in an instant within a few hours. So how much more would be said about him?

And now Soram was wearing a straitjacket, detained, and turning the pages with an indifferent face. That appearance was exactly like a person smiling at someone pointing a spear at him at the edge of a cliff.

That precarious scene also made one want to reach out to the person at the edge of the cliff.

* * *

"Meal service."

The guard who came in pulling a tray opened the cell. Tae-un was served Korean food on a stainless steel tray divided into five compartments, while Soram was given a lump of bread without any sauce and a 500ml bottle of water. Even during mealtime, Soram's restraints and Tae-un's handcuffs were not removed. The food given to the two was something they could eat in their current state.

Instead of eating, Soram put the food he received down next to him. Tae-un, who was about to pick up his spoon, saw Soram not eating.

"I don't want to eat. I won't die from not eating for a day, so I'll eat tomorrow after Tae-un ssi leaves."

"Why?"

"Pride."

Soram pushed his lips upward. Along with that, his eyebrows also curled up slightly.

"I just said I'll live however I want, so I don't want to show myself crouching and eating like a beggar receiving alms."

For Soram to eat as he was, he would have to hold the bread in both hands and eat while completely bending his waist. Even if he raised his arms as much as possible, as he said, he would have no choice but to stuff it into his mouth while crouching.

"Just eat. I don't think anything of how you eat. You said you don't know when the next meal will come."

"I don't want to. I won't die even if I starve for a few days, so Tae-un ssi, you eat a lot. You said you were dragged here without even having breakfast."

"..."

Soram turned his head as if it was useless. Tae-un put rice on the spoon. On top of that, he put half a piece of long rolled egg.

The depth of the detention cell where the two were trapped was deep, but the width was not very wide. If Tae-un bent his waist and stretched out his arm, the tip of the spoon would reach Soram's mouth.

"Ah."

Ah? Aah? For a moment, Soram thought he had misheard something. Seeing the spoon right in front of his lips, it seemed he hadn't misheard.

"You think this won't hurt my pride?"

"It's being served, so what's there to hurt your pride?"

"..."

When he kept his mouth shut and resisted, the purple rice mixed with black rice pressed firmly against his lips. Soram raised his eyes sharply, but Han Tae-un was stubborn like a rock for the first time in a while. It seemed he wouldn't move an inch until Soram opened his mouth.

"I said no,"

The rice forcibly entered through the gap when his mouth opened. He couldn't even spit this out. Soram chewed the rolled egg and rice that entered, unable to erase his dumbfounded expression. All he had eaten for the past few days were rice balls close to plain rice or bland morning bread. When the soft scent and salty taste of egg touched his tongue for the first time in a while, he couldn't help but think it was delicious.

This time, Tae-un moistened the rice with seaweed soup broth and topped it with stir-fried anchovies. It was also delicate how he made a spoonful with those large hands. Seeing him intently staring at Soram's mouth as he chewed the rice, it seemed he was going to give this to Soram as well.

"No, Han Tae-un."

Even before he could say anything, Tae-un pushed his lips with the spoon again. In the end, he received another spoonful. Tae-un tried to scoop new rice.

"Don't."

Soram, unable to swallow with his mouth full, closed his mouth tightly and shook his head from side to side. Fortunately, when Soram frowned seriously, he stopped.

"Han Tae-un ssi, if you do this again later when feeding someone whose body is bound, you'll get cursed at even after doing a good thing."

"Will something like this happen again in my life?"

"You never know. Anyway, don't shove a spoonful of rice into their mouth like this then."

"If you eat it obediently, it's fine. I'm not the kind of person who has thick enough nerves to let Jin Soram ssi starve all day and leave with a clear conscience."

Tae-un didn't seem to have any intention of backing down.

"Alright. I'll eat. But I'll eat mine. I have no intention of taking Han Tae-un ssi's."

Soram had no desire to receive any personal help from him, even if it was the level of exchange while working together as hunters.

Tae-un's hand was faster than Soram's in finding the bread he had put down. Tae-un personally tore open Soram's bread bag. Then, he pushed his own tray aside and this time brought a piece of bread to Soram's mouth.

"Ha..."

The narrowed gaze glared at the person who was stubbornly insisting on feeding him again.

"Since when were you so affectionate?"

Soram took the piece of bread between his fingers with his mouth.

"Just put it to your mouth. Then eat it."

"Alright."

He glumly bit into the bread held in front of his mouth as instructed. Han Tae-un's fingers gently pressed the gap between his lips. When Soram ate two more bites, he put the bread down for a moment. And he opened the water bottle.

"Drink."

Soram answered with a resigned yes, and the water bottle touching his mouth tilted. Cold water swayed on his lips. Soram closed his eyes and took a few sips of water.

Due to the clumsy touch, water flowed down Soram's chin. The overflowing water wiped against Tae-un's hand.

"Isn't this too affectionate? It's perfect for misunderstanding."

"I think this much is reasonable to do for a colleague who can't eat because they're bound."

Thanks to Tae-un's help, Soram finished a whole bread and replenished his fluids. Soram said, moving his lips.

"When you get out, I'll treat you well for as many days as I couldn't, so be prepared."

Tae-un, who was eating cold rice late, answered those words.

"I think I know a little bit about how to get out of that now."

"What is it?"

"I won't tell you."

Tae-un's meal, with both hands free, ended within 5 minutes. The guard, who had been watching from somewhere, came again and collected the tray and the remaining water. It seemed that leaving it and eating it later was not allowed unless it was a set time.

"I don't want to end up owing a debt. What should I do for you? Han Tae-un ssi, is there anything you want from me?"

The state of Jin Soram asking that was one where he couldn't even make a request. And Tae-un was even less likely to demand material things after getting out.

"Then tell me about the public training. It's my first time."

"That's just 1:1 fighting... Han Tae-un ssi, you haven't faced a 1st-grade dungeon mutant or a 1st-grade hunter until now, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

Soram's eyes circled around for a moment while thinking.

"Then do your first mock battle with me."

"Is there a reason?"

"I can assure you it's not bad for Han Tae-un ssi, so just follow my words on this."

Soram gave a meaningful smile. Tae-un looked at that face for a moment and nodded.

"Alright."

"Oh... You trust my words even though you're in jail because of me right now?"

"Are you trying to trick me?"

"No. It's a hundred percent pure intention."

Tae-un let out a short sigh.

"Then I'll have no choice but to be fooled once."

He had heard the same words as now on the day they first met in this life. It felt like words that showed Han Tae-un's personality anew. Did being fooled once mean that if he tried to trick him this time, there would be no chance next time?

But Soram already knew that Tae-un was quite soft for that. As Soram kept smiling and chuckling, Tae-un also made a doubtful face. But he didn't reverse his decision.

"Even if there are other intentions, I'm also glad that Jin Soram ssi is my first opponent."

"There are no bad intentions. I really mean it this time. And first..."

Soram lowered his head and let out a laugh. Tae-un moved his gaze to follow him, wondering why.

"Saying first opponent sounds a bit embarrassing."

"..."

"I'll do it gently."

He's teasing me again. Tae-un turned his head with a resigned face. However, Soram's words from a little while ago kept strangely coming to mind, so he bit the inside of his mouth tightly and let go.

*Somerset Maugham, "The Moon and Sixpence," translated by Song Moo, Minumsa (2000)