Chapter 5
You think I’ll just be grateful if you sacrifice yourself like that? Oh, thank you so much, and I’ll live well, right?
He was the one who, in place of a person who had lost their parents and become a shell of themselves, took charge of the funeral, secured the insurance money, and even took care of Saejin.
And yet, you threw me into danger—someone who should have been grateful for life—and you really thought I could stay unharmed?
“You’re really a terrible person…”
“Me? Are you crying because of me?!”
Meanwhile, Park Woojun clutched his head, his face pale.
“Why? What did I do? What did I do wrong?”
“Wow, all because of the captain. Captain, you’re trash.”
“The captain made a woman cry? Is this a sign the world’s ending?”
“Stop spouting nonsense and do something!”
“The captain made her cry, so what do you expect us to do?”
“Would hitting the captain make you feel better?”
“No!! In the middle of the night, just—! You think I’ll watch myself being treated like this?”
Sae-byeok grabbed him tightly as he flailed around.
Her emotions were overflowing, uncontrollable.
Even the trivial chatter among the squad members felt precious.
They were memories that had hurt so much they sometimes felt like phantom sounds.
The guilt, gratitude, longing, resentment, relief—every feeling piled on top of the bad memories from her past life, amplifying everything several times over.
Unable to stop crying, she clutched the edge of his clothes and pressed her forehead against his chest.
“…I missed you.”
Her voice held all those suppressed emotions.
It was a single sentence capturing the complexity of Sae-byeok’s heart, yet…
“…????”
Park Woojun’s expression became even more ridiculous.
We saw each other just two days ago, didn’t we?
His mind filled with question marks, his confused emotions fully reflected on his face.
But he couldn’t bring himself to speak, freezing in place with his arms raised like a kid being scolded.
The squad members let out soft sighs—“Oh,” “Uh”—and quietly stepped aside.
“I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry.”
He spoke as if he were a robot reciting pre-programmed lines.
The Sae-byeok he knew would never cry like this—she might snap if provoked, but never this.
The only time anyone had seen her cry was when her parents died.
“I’m sorry. So please, just stop, okay?”
That’s why Woojun felt even more embarrassed now.
Not knowing what to do, he awkwardly moved his stiff arms and tapped her back. His attempt at comforting her looked clumsy.
“Park Woojun, you…”
“Yeah, talk to me.”
He leaned in, face tense, as if ready to listen to anything.
But suddenly, Sae-byeok grabbed his collar.
“If you get hurt, I’ll kill you.”
“…Huh?”
Woojun looked bewildered.
“I’m a hunter, you know? How can a hunter avoid getting hurt…”
“If you treat your life like it’s nothing while protecting others, I’ll kill you.”
“Uh… Sae-byeok.”
His voice stammered awkwardly.
“I—I’m a tank. I’m supposed to take the hits at the front, draw the enemy’s aggro…”
“If you die doing that, I swear I’ll kill you. I’ll bring you back to life just to kill you again.”
Woojun tried to explain, but Sae-byeok’s fierce gaze silenced him.
He then studied her face carefully, wondering why she was acting this way.
“Park Woojun.”
“Ah, okay, okay. Relax your expression. Do you know how scary you look when you glare like that?”
But faced with her almost threatening tone, he surrendered.
Sae-byeok still looked displeased, but getting even a verbal promise allowed her to loosen her grip slightly.
She wiped her eyes and casually changed the topic, as if no tears had ever fallen.
“But why are you fully equipped?”
“Came to stop the Gate Break. But there’s nothing left.”
Woojun adjusted his collar and said.
“Nothing left?”
“The Black Dragon Guild guys hunted mercilessly so they wouldn’t get caught. I just scouted around the station, didn’t see a single one. They’re all dead.”
“….”
Hearing that she wouldn’t even get to lift her shield made Sae-byeok avert her gaze.
She didn’t plan to reveal that she had awakened or that she’d risked herself for a stranger.
“Good thing the damage is minimal, though…”
Scratching his cheek, Woojun squinted suspiciously at her.
“You’re really not hurt anywhere, right?”
He inspected her thoroughly, turning her around, raising her arms, checking that she was fine. Seeing her cry seemed to shock him.
“I’m fine. I just got startled seeing monsters I usually only watch on screen.”
Sae-byeok had to make an excuse.
“You cried just because you were surprised?”
“Yeah… seeing that you’re a hunter, I realized, wow, my friend really has a hard life, something like that?”
Woojun’s eyes widened at her rambling, then he burst out laughing.
“So now you realize my greatness? Hahaha! Then buy me lunch!”
He ruffled her hair.
“That’s not it! Ah, don’t touch my hair!”
“Wow! Sae-byeok even cried worrying about me, I’ve lived well!”
“No, really!”
Her face flushed.
She shook off his hand, spun around, and wiped her tears away.
“Eh? Crying again?”
“Shut up! I’m leaving!”
Though she’d cried from overwhelming emotions, embarrassment soon reddened her face and ears.
“Pouting?”
“No!”
“Hey, Sae-byeok! Are you really pouting? Hey! But don’t cancel our weekend samgyeopsal plan!”
Ignoring him, she stomped away.
Watching her run, Woojun’s smile deepened at her flushed earlobes. Even hiding his mouth couldn’t conceal it.
“If you die, I’ll kill you. Bring you back just to kill you again.”
Hearing that and feeling your heart race… crazy, right?
Ah, maybe she’d already been crazy for a while.
“Whoa~! Captain~! So you weren’t just friends or whatever, you were… flirting?”
“OMG, the captain is shy now? Is this a sign the world is ending?”
“That’s not it! Shut up and do your work!”
The squad members teasing him from afar slowly approached.
Woojun blocked them, warning against spreading rumors, but the smile on his face lingered.
Early morning, before the sun had risen.
Saejin shook her wet hair and slung her bag over one shoulder. As she slipped on her shoes and prepared to leave, a shadow appeared behind her.
“Going out now?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
Saejin jumped in surprise and glared at her sister.
“Speak up if you’re awake! Or at least make some noise when you move!”
“Yaaaawn~!”
Sae-byeok got up and yawned as if she hadn’t heard a word.
“Well, what could I say to you… But why are you awake at this hour?”
“It’s my beloved sibling’s way to see them off to work.”
Saejin shuddered, rubbing her goosebumps.
“You dashed out yesterday—did you leave your senses outside?”
“Sigh… I already have enough troubles, why bring that up again…”
“Whatever it is, don’t cause trouble. Money’s tight.”
Sae-byeok sighed heavily.
“There’s leftover kimchi stew in the fridge, eat that.”
“Okay…”
“Also made some potato pancakes, eat those too.”
“Thanks to my chef little sister… living the good life…”
“Chef? More like errand runner. I’m really going, I’ll be late today.”
“Good luck today too…”
Hearing her weak encouragement, Saejin frowned.
“She’s definitely not in her right mind.”
Shaking his head, he left the house.
Sae-byeok waved weakly at her sibling, then, once the door closed, touched her earring.
“Guess he really can’t see it.”
If he noticed her piercings, he would have surely said something.
<Item: Safehouse Key (A)>
<Server: Earth (S3-EH)> This is the key to a safehouse. The safehouse owner is the server administrator, and only they can use this master key.
Equipping it grants access to <Atlas’s Safehouse>.
It is bound to the server administrator.
Can be made invisible.
Can be copied using adamantium. (0/3)
└ No copies registered
