Chapter 174

"What are you two doing?"

Ayoung, who had run into them right in front of the main gate, strode over. In this 21st round, she was a member of Team 7 along with the two of them, and thought of Soram and Tae-un as comfortable as older brothers.

"Where are you going? You suddenly took leave but didn't answer any calls... Did something happen? Why are you going out dressed like this?"

"..."

"I heard Tae-un oppa was hurt. Are you okay?"

'Hello, Deputy Chief Han Tae-un!'

"Where were you hurt?"

'Aila, should we ask if we can take a picture next time...?'

Confusion with the previous life flashed through Tae-un's mind. The afterimage of a much younger Ayoung was soon erased, but the momentary shock remained.

"I'm, all better now."

"How did it happen? There wasn't news of any big dungeon, so I was surprised to hear you were suddenly injured. No one's telling me anything properly..."

"It wasn't a very big injury. You don't need to worry."

"There's no way you'd rest for days if it wasn't a big injury."

Ayoung seemed to want a detailed explanation, but there was almost no information they could share. And...

"Is Soram oppa sick too?"

Soram, who had unexpectedly encountered Ayoung, stepped back and couldn't lift his head. Only then did Tae-un realize that Soram must have experienced twenty times the shock he had just felt.

A pale hand stretched out and gripped Tae-un's sleeve tightly. He looked worse than expected. Tae-un quickly wrapped up the conversation with Ayoung.

"Ayoung-ah, I'm sorry but I'll explain later. We have somewhere to go right now."

"...Where are you going?"

"That too, later. Sorry. See you next time."

Tae-un pulled Soram past Ayoung. It wouldn't be good for either Soram or Ayoung to face each other in their current state.

As they passed through the main gate, humid air blew in. It was a cloudy day with no sunlight even during the day.

"Am I not a team member too?!"

A cry filled with gloom as heavy as the weather flew at them, stopping their feet. Soram also lifted his lowered head slightly.

"Why am I the only one who doesn't know anything since you two fought? Do you know how many times I've tried calling and messaging? During Busan too, you tied me down so I couldn't come, and went just the two of you, I know I'm not reliable but still, if something big happened, you should at least tell me what it is."

Her eyes, full of strength as if holding back tears, soon contorted with hurt.

"Why do you keep leaving just me behind..."

"Ayoung-ah, that's not it."

Come to think of it, they hadn't properly met Ayoung since Soram and Tae-un were in a cold war state. Even the last mimicry dungeon they had dispatched to together was already a while ago, so Ayoung must have been suffering for quite some time.

"Soram oppa, say something too. You usually talk about anything, why are you like this?"

"Ah..."

Soram blankly stared at Ayoung, who was expressing her hurt feelings with familiar honorifics and speech.

It seems he was quite envious of Kim Ga-eul from the previous life who had made Ayoung walk around the headquarters smiling. Seeing how he had imitated the same relationship with Ayoung in this life.

Soram looked at Tae-un, Ayoung, and the headquarters building made of dark cloudy marble.

"..."

That's right. He had resolved to do his best in this life. To make up for not being able to do anything as a team leader or senior all this time.

Soram took a deep breath and swallowed it. Then he let go of Tae-un's sleeve and stepped forward.

"Han Tae-un, I'm okay. I'll explain."

"You'll... talk?"

"Yeah, don't just keep it between the two of us, I’ll tell her something."

Soram looked around. For late afternoon, there were no people passing by and the lobby was empty. He approached Ayoung and sat on the marble railing right behind.

"Are you going to listen standing up?"

The smile he usually wore in this life came to his face. Ayoung felt choked up for some reason and sat down next to him. Tae-un stood silently in front of the two. He didn't seem to be trying to stop them, but rather following along with what Soram was doing.

"First, about being out of contact for the past few days."

"Yeah."

"When we went to observe military training, Han Tae-un was shot. To be precise, it was aimed at me, but he shielded me and got hurt instead."

"What? Sh-!"

Ayoung stopped herself before finishing the word. Only her surprised eyes moved side to side before she asked in a lowered voice.

"C-crazy, a gun...? Was it an accident? But how could such an accident happen?"

"That part is under investigation. They say it might be the same kind of cult that stabbed Han Tae-un with a knife before. Han Tae-un was hospitalized for his injury, and I saw him collapse right in front of me, so I had some mental shock."

"Oh..."

It was an answer cleverly mixing truth and lies. Even Tae-un, who knew the truth, was almost fooled by the naturally continuing voice. Having regained his long memories, he had certainly become skilled at handling people.

"The incident... was bigger and more complicated than I thought. I guess that's why Ga-eul unnie hid it from me too."

"Did you ask Ga-eul?"

"I'm still in Team 1."

"I'm sorry I couldn't pay attention to you. Even though I'm the team leader."

"Ah, no. It was an unavoidable situation."

"Thank you. For understanding."

Even after the conversation had eased, Ayoung hesitated while looking at Soram's face. Soram tilted his head.

"If you have something you want to say, say it. You seem to have more questions."

"Yeah, first, I'm sorry for making a fuss earlier...! And..., that's not all, is it?"

"What?"

"There's something else going on with you two, right? You've both changed so much... Anyone who's not an idiot would notice."

"..."

"Can't you tell me that?"

Soram's eyes narrowed. Just as Soram had become able to read Tae-un's expressionless face, Tae-un had become able to read Soram's smile. Soram was now gauging how to handle the other person. Even in this situation, Jin Soram was Jin Soram.

"As expected, our Ayoung is sharp."

Soram lifted his gaze. His eyes met Tae-un's and he changed his smile to a crooked one. Though hidden by the smile, the darkness hanging in Soram's eyes was still there. An inexplicable anxiety suddenly came over him. Soram faced Ayoung again.

"We couldn't help but think of you as a child, so we were careful about telling you. It's content that would be shocking even for adults to hear."

"I've been through thick and thin as a hunter too. What could it possibly be?"

"That's far from enough, but, well, okay. Hmm... This is something no one knows, including the director. I'm telling you for the first time."

"...Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret."

"Jin Soram. Wait a moment."

Tae-un finally approached to stop him, but Soram shrugged him off.

"No, I'm just going to say everything today. I don't want to hide it anymore either. Han Tae-un, you stay quiet."

"That's right. Tell me."

Ayoung, who had spent frustrating days, had no intention of backing down either.

"Then... I'll trust you and confide in you, Ayoung."

Ayoung straightened her back tensely. A wind passed between the three as if foretelling trouble.

Soram revealed the hidden truth.

"We're dating."

"Huh?"

"We're dating."

"Who exactly is 'we'?"

"Han Tae-un and me. We're dating."

Soram interlocked his fingers with Tae-un's as if showing evidence. Ayoung's head creaked as it turned sideways and finally saw the two tightly intertwined hands. Her lips parted 1cm per second until they finally formed a perfect O.

"What did you say!"

Ayoung looked up sharply at Tae-un's face. The other gruff team member didn't deny it. He even closed his eyes tightly as if embarrassed.

"Tae-un oppa, is it true?"

"...Yeah."

Tae-un sighed deeply as he answered. Another sigh came out as he watched Soram pressing down on the back of his hand with his fingertips. Ayoung was too shocked to notice this.

"Since when?!"

"We didn't exactly decide to start dating at a specific time, it just happened as we spent time together doing various things."

Wh... when... Ayoung, still unable to accept reality, pointed at the two alternately with her index finger before suddenly shouting.

"When three men and women gather, one is a third wheel...!"

"That's a bit different, isn't it?"

"That's not it."

Soram and Tae-un denied simultaneously.

"Ah, wait. Wait a minute. Then when you two fought coldly before...!"

"There was a story behind that too."

"What... story?"

"That."

Soram was about to speak but stopped, cupping his cheek and lowering his gaze. Then, in that pitiful pose, he opened his trembling lips.

"Han Tae-un was too obsessive and just... to the innocent Soram who doesn't know the ways of the world..."

"...!"

"Hmm, this won't do. I'll tell you the rest after your birthday..."

"Uwaaa!"

Ayoung messed up her hair thoroughly with both hands.

"Wait, stop. Pause. Give me time to process this. For me right now, in terms of oppas... it's like the shock of Min-ki oppa and Ga-eul unnie saying they're getting married."

"What are you saying? For it to be compared to that, we'd need to have a child too."

"You have a child?!"

"We haven't been together for ten months yet."

"...!"

Ayoung's gaze slowly moved to Soram's stomach. Tae-un felt the need to cut off this ridiculous banter immediately.

"There isn't one. Jin Soram, what are you saying? Ayoung, you too, have some... prejudice. Calm down a bit."

Ayoung, who had been pouring out questions, finally caught her breath. If Aila were here with her, the dog with high empathy with its owner would probably have its fur standing on end all over.

"Huh, I see... Office romance even the copier knows about... I've been sandwiched between an office couple..."

"Don't think you've been sandwiched. Of course it's much better to have you there than being alone in the office with boring Han Tae-un."

"I know. That you two wouldn't make me a third wheel. Oh, and, it's a bit late but congratulations. I don't have any prejudice against men dating each other and such."

"You really don't seem to have any."

"Wow..., my heart is still pounding. But I guess I have a sense for atmosphere even if I don't have a sense for people's relationships. To catch that something had changed between you two like this."

Ayoung's sense wasn't entirely wrong. In reality, with the memories of the previous life returning, the depth of their emotions and everything between them had completely changed. She probably sensed that part.