Chapter 1.2

Side Story 1. Private Rescue (2)

"...? Does it work like that?"

"If we're not in any relationship but only have a marriage promise, it's a political marriage, of course."

"Is a political marriage not good?"

To Tae-un's tone that seemed to say 'Isn't it the same marriage...', Soram retorted.

"If we have a political marriage, you'll enter the wedding hall crying, and I'll have my face stiffly set throughout the wedding ceremony, then from the first night of our honeymoon I won't even come home properly and won't share a meal with you even once. We'll live as a show-window couple, pretending to get along only on necessary days."

"...Ah. Am I playing the role of being sold into a political marriage?"

"Yes."

"I don't mind that..., but I don't like not coming home and not eating together, so a political marriage won't do."

"Then do your best to make it a love marriage."

"Okay. I'll definitely succeed in confessing."

At the confident tone, Soram felt a tickle inside for no reason.

"How would you know that? I'll decide whether to accept or not."

Tae-un reached out his hand again and took the unguarded hand. Their hands intertwined on the console box between the driver's seat and passenger seat. Soram glanced at it and then turned his head to look out the window. He didn't pull his hand away. Judging by Tae-un's reddened ears as he acted shamelessly, it seemed his own pulse wouldn't be detected either.

The tedious journey to Guncheon still had some way to go, but thanks to various conversations, the rest stop seemed to arrive quickly. After circling once, unable to find a parking space among the tightly packed cars, they were finally able to park the car a bit away from the building.

"Want to go together, or stay here?"

"I'll go."

Soram watched Tae-un cover his head with a hood and put on glasses and a mask while pressing down the brimmed hat he had taken off.

At first, he had pointed out that anyone would recognize Tae-un in this appearance. But surprisingly, Tae-un's identity showed a high defense rate. This was because there were hardly any people who would stare intently trying to figure out the face behind the mask of a person who had grown even larger than their thick padded jacket. Even near the headquarters, Soram would be recognized five times for every one time Tae-un was recognized.

Because of this, Soram additionally wrapped a scarf tightly, covering his face up to just below his nose. Only his eyes were exposed. Tae-un, who had slightly raised the scarf more, seemed somehow satisfied with Soram's appearance bundled up as if going on an Arctic expedition.

The two stepped out of the car. Thanks to the cold wave, there were many people wrapped up in clothes around them, so they both didn't look too suspicious. People were also too busy resting at the rest stop they had finally reached after battling through the packed highway to pay much attention to whoever was passing by.

The two crossed between the parked cars and approached the rest stop building. Now they just had to cross one road and climb the stairs to stand in front of the steaming food stalls. However, they had to stop and wait for three cars to pass before they could go. As there were many cars coming in, the line of cars going out was also endless. Even after waiting for a long time and taking a step, a car was already approaching from the other side.

Tae-un pulled Soram's arm, who was half a step behind.

"Watch out for the car."

A gray sedan passed behind Soram's back at a somewhat impolite speed after he crossed the road. Soram glanced at his arm that had been grabbed.

"Even if I collided with that, the car would break but I wouldn't get hurt."

Probably even more so because if something rushed towards his body, he would instinctively attack.

"Still, be careful."

It was the expected answer. Tae-un only let go of Soram's arm after pulling him to step onto the safe gray stairs.

Tae-un took a step up first. Soram's hat with its large brim blocked the upper part of his view, showing only Tae-un's broad back. His brown eyes captured the back view and stopped moving for a moment. Not just his gaze, but his steps also stood still in place.

"..."

Suddenly, he felt as if a formless lump had flown into his palm. The lump tickled inside his hand like dust, giving a rather empty sensation. It was even dizzying, as if falling, with all moisture completely gone.

'What's this. Why suddenly...'

His vision was fine. His legs seemed like they could move sufficiently if he just put strength into them. But only his two arms, especially his hands, were bound by a strange sensation and wouldn't move properly.

Half a step ahead was Tae-un, and behind his back was the road Tae-un had said was dangerous.

Thump, thump.

An inexplicable impulse made his two arms stretch forward.

Thud.

His palms touched the padded jacket that had already cooled in the outside air. His two hands pushed Tae-un in the opposite direction of the road, that is, towards the rest stop building. As he did so, Soram himself stepped down one stair.

Tae-un turned around.

"Why?"

Tae-un didn't budge at just being lightly pushed. Soram blinked his widened eyes. ...What was that just now?

"Didn't you call me?"

Tae-un urged an answer as he bent his waist down. Soram's mind, which had been immersed in the strange impulse, woke up instantly as if hit by cold wind.

Soram's lips opened hesitantly.

"We need to buy... mackerel pike squid and chrysanthemum bread."

"Ah."

"And iced Americano."

"Okay. I'll buy them all."

"What are you going to eat?"

"Hot dog, walnut pastry."

Tae-un finished climbing the stairs, and after confirming that Soram followed, headed towards the food stalls. Fortunately, he didn't seem to think Soram's behavior was strange.

Out of Tae-un's sight, Soram rubbed his two hands together, folding and unfolding them. The strange feeling had disappeared, but an inexplicable question remained.

***

Tae-un's car was parked in front of the main house used by his parents, just as it had been during the previous visit.

"I need to stop by inside for a moment."

"Okay."

The day before departure, Tae-un and his mother had exchanged their usual abbreviated expressions, with Tae-un saying, "It's the day before your trip, so don't worry about us and just rest well before you go," and his mother replying, "I've prepared just enough for two days of meals."

He took out the key from under the flowerpot and opened the old-fashioned latticed door to enter. This time, Soram followed behind him.

The interior, after taking off their shoes in the jade-colored tiled entryway, was exactly like a weekend evening family drama set in Soram's opinion. A large low table that the whole family could sit around was placed in front of the TV, and the photos in frames started from ones that looked very old.

So there really are houses that look like this. Seoul country bumpkin Soram stopped in his tracks while following Tae-un. It was because of a large frame hanging next to the middle door connecting to the kitchen.

Inside was a baby photo presumed to be from a first birthday celebration. The baby was wearing a colorful traditional Korean outfit and smiling brightly at the camera. The round flush in the middle of the milky white skin, the smile without a single wrinkle, was so lovely. Enough to make an unconscious chuckle escape his mouth.

"Wow, this kid is really pretty. Who is it?"

"Me."

"Huh? Don't lie."

"Then whose photo would be hanging in my parents' house? I'm an only child."

Soram looked at the photo again. The baby was... very cute and small. No lie, it was believable enough to be a diaper model photo shoot. That's why it was even harder to believe it was Tae-un. Even if it was when he was a baby... shouldn't there be some sign that he would grow so big? You know, like babies that anyone can see will grow up tall and strong.

This one looks so small... As Soram muttered, Tae-un responded as if it was a familiar misunderstanding.

"I was born weighing 3kg."

"Wasn't that a big baby?"

"That's prejudice."

"..."

Soram looked at the man who could easily tuck a cast-iron pot under one arm like a basket, then looked back at the baby. The baby seemed to whisper, 'The real Han Tae-un was sealed away at age 2, and that guy is a fake.' What on earth had happened during the growth period?

Even so, Soram didn't forget to sneakily take a picture of the baby photo with his camera. He must have been smiling the whole time looking at the photo, as both his cheeks were stiff.

"I've got everything. Let's go."

"Okay."

Soram left the family home with Tae-un, whose hands had become heavy.

If the 4th Great Rift where giant animals poured out was a hellishly terrible nightmare for Jin Soram, what had happened here was a sorrowful nightmare that would make him unable to stop crying for a long time even after waking up.

In front of the annex he was visiting for the first time since his memories of the previous life returned, Soram caught his breath. The cold air entering his windpipe seemed to make his heart race even more rather than calming it down.

The entrance to the annex opened. With memories added to memories, this place had become even more familiar. Tae-un walked into the place that had come before their eyes. Soram also followed behind him hesitantly.

"Give me the luggage."

Tae-un, who had put down the food in the kitchen, took Soram's luggage. Soram took in the living room with his eyes and then sat on the floor, leaning his back against the sofa. His palms slowly caressed the cold floor.