Under Creature Chapter 20.1

“Hyung, how have you been eating lately? Do you have the energy to eat? Or would you rather just get some proper rest?”

Jewoo asked, staring intently at Namgoong Sanha with worried eyes.

“I just…. ate enough so that I wouldn’t die.”

“Those bastards, like dirty rags….”

“Do, Doa…. Thanks to you guys, I’m really okay now. I don’t feel anything at all!”

Namgoong Sanha flusteredly tried to stop Seo Doa, who was blurting out all sorts of curses he had never heard before in his life, starting with “dirty rags.”

Currently, Latter had just arrived at Namgoong Sanha’s house.

They decided to stay at his place for the day as a group to clean up the house, which had been neglected for several days, and to help stabilize his mind and body.

“I’ll order some porridge. Jewoo, how much are you going to eat?”

“A lot for me. A lot! Twice as much as usual…, no, three times!”

“Don’t be greedy.”

Yigeom, who was about to order food through a delivery app, scolded Jewoo, who was shouting while clutching his stomach.

“No. I can really eat it all.”

“Let him order it. He says he can eat it all.”

Seo Dohyun subtly took Jewoo’s side and stepped up next to Yigeom, telling him to pick whatever he wanted as well since he would pay for it.

“Ah…. I’m fine with anything! Eat what you guys want instead of porridge! You can eat meat! And today, I’ll buy….”

“Oppa, just rest. We’ll take care of the ordering.”

No matter how much treatment he received to become fine, the sight of Namgoong Sanha bleeding profusely earlier this afternoon was a scene that was truly hard to forget.

Doa forced Namgoong Sanha, who kept trying to move around, to sit on the sofa and gave him a stern warning.

Then she glanced slightly at Yigeom.

“By the way, Gyeom-ie oppa.”

“What? Do you want octopus porridge?”

“No. I want tuna vegetable porridge. More than that, I’ve been curious since a while ago, where did your phone go and why are you holding our oppa’s?”

“Ah, my screen shattered. It’s broken.”

At that, Namgoong Sanha, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa after being treated like a fussy patient, jumped up again and approached Yigeom.

“Gasp, it’s broken? Perhaps…. today? It’s because of me, right? How much is it? I’ll pay for the cost!”

“It’s okay, don’t worry too much about it.”

After finishing the food order, Yigeom handed the phone over to Seo Dohyun, then caught Namgoong Sanha—who was lingering around him out of guilt—and sat him back down on the sofa once more.

“Please rest for a bit.”

“Yeah…. Okay. Ah! By any chance, the person who was kidnapped with me…. Jooeun-ie hyung! Do you know what happened to Jooeun-ie hyung?”

“That person was taken away by the Spears. Everyone is safe, so really, don’t worry and just rest.”

“I see. Phew….”

Namgoong Sanha leaned his exhausted body against the sofa as if his mind was finally at ease.

That day, they ate dinner like that and all fell asleep together with blankets spread out in the living room, like students who had come on a school retreat.

It was for Namgoong Sanha, who must have had harder days than anyone else over the past three days. So that even if he woke up from a nightmare, he could feel relieved immediately.

And as if repaying their kindness, Namgoong Sanha fell into a very deep sleep without even having a nightmare.

The living room was quiet with everyone asleep, the occasional sound of Jewoo talking in his sleep, the moonlight shining through the veranda window, and the familiar scent of home.

It was a place no different from paradise for Namgoong Sanha, whose whole body had been on edge with tension for the past few days, where even the sound, hearing, and smell stabilized his mind and body.

As he was relaxing his body as if meditating with his eyes closed and then sat up because he was thirsty, he discovered Seo Dohyun, who was not yet asleep just like himself.

Seo Dohyun was playing with the hand of Yigeom, who was sleeping beside him, looking happy all by himself.

He would lightly tap the center of the palm, fiddle with the fingertips, and overlap their hands to measure the length. It was a moment where his profound interest in Yigeom could be glimpsed despite his blunt expression.

“Dohyun-ah.”

Namgoong Sanha whispered very softly, barely audible to Seo Dohyun. Seeing Seo Dohyun look back at him, he spoke with a faint smile.

“Do you want to talk for a moment?”

🦅࿐

A week had passed since the Vigilantes detained Kim Yeonja, the head of Adam.

Most of the incidents were wrapped up quickly.

The reason why Kim Yeonja kidnapped Namgoong Sanha and Kwon Jooeun is still unknown, but since the Vigilantes are continuing their investigation, that too will be revealed in due time.

In the case of Kim Junyoung, it was proven that he had no connection to Adam at all and was merely Kim Yeonja’s grandson. However, just in case Adam might approach him, the Vigilantes were continuing their surveillance under the name of protection.

According to what Yigeom heard from Doa and Jewoo, Kim Junyoung had transferred schools. It was only natural. Even if she had committed a crime, his grandmother must have been a precious family member, so he must have had complicated feelings in many ways.

And Yigeom was currently visiting an electronics store with Seo Dohyun to buy a mobile phone.

The screen had completely gone out due to the battle with Kim Yeonja, and since the cost of the screen was not cheap either, he decided to change it to a new one this time.

Seo Dohyun said he would buy it as a matter of employee welfare, but although he called it employee welfare, in reality, it was no different from using Seo Dohyun’s own money.

‘What kind of company buys a personal mobile phone for an employee.’

Because Yigeom knew that, he couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression. At first, he thought it was just something he was saying, so he just said, “Sure, thanks,” but looking at it now, it seemed he was serious.

“I’ll just buy it.”

“Why? It’s because I want to buy it for you.”

“No, but it’s too expensive. It’s fine, so just buy me a meal later.”

“Give me this one in black, please.”

Seo Dohyun ignored Yigeom’s words and made a request to the staff abruptly.

“Hey, I’m….”

“I’ll pay with this.”

Yigeom was lost for words at the sight of him handing over the card so decisively.

He was grateful, but it felt burdensome.

Even if he tried to return the money, based on his behavior so far, Seo Dohyun wouldn’t accept it. Thinking he should rather pay him back with something of equal value, he looked around at other products displayed here and there.

Then, while fiddling with a watch that syncs with a mobile phone, he asked Seo Dohyun.

“Seo Dohyun, how’s this?”

“Do you want it? Then this too….”

“What the…. I’m trying to buy it for you.”

Seo Dohyun only made a bewildered face without answering. Looking at that face, Yigeom asked once more.

“What color should I buy for you? White? Black?”

“…….”

“Ah, what about wireless earphones? If you don’t have them, should I get those too?”

“…….”

“Answer me. Come on, answer.”

Come to think of it, this was the first time he was buying something for Seo Dohyun. Yigeom felt awkward for no reason and urged him curtly.

Then, after a moment of surprise, Seo Dohyun quickly came to his senses and asked back.

“You’re buying it? For me?”

“Then is there anyone else here besides you?”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

Only then did Seo Dohyun smile beautifully without a sound and picked a watch.

“This one.”

“What about wireless earphones?”

“Are you going to give me those as a gift too?”

“If you don’t want them, then never mind.”

“No. I’ll pick them.”

Leaving behind a happy-looking Seo Dohyun, Yigeom handed the items he picked to the staff and finished the payment. In fact, this amount of money was something that either Seo Dohyun or himself could earn by going out on a CA mission once or twice.

It must be the heart that gives the gift that matters.

Soon he received the packaged items from the staff and looked around for Seo Dohyun, who had disappeared before he knew it.

The store was spacious, but since his visuals were so striking, finding him wasn’t a problem.

Yigeom approached from behind Seo Dohyun, who was looking intently at something.

“What are you doing here?”

What he was looking at was a state-of-the-art pad.

“Why this?”

“Doa and Jewoo are at the age to study now, so I was thinking of getting one for each of them.”

“Heh….”

Yigeom was flabbergasted by his words. If those kids were going to study, they would have done it a long time ago. Why now….

“They’ll be seniors in high school soon. Wouldn’t it be convenient to have?”

Who would have known? That Latter’s Seo Dohyun was actually a pushover.

“Buying it is up to you, but…. In my opinion, those kids will probably study for three days and then quit.”

“Even three days is better than nothing.”

“Uh….”

The expected baseline is low. Should I praise him for being positive….

As he hesitated, having nothing to say, Seo Dohyun called over a staff member and was guided through the instructions for using the pad. How the online lectures were, how the notes worked.

In the end, seeing Seo Dohyun trying to buy the same color so they wouldn’t fight over it, Yigeom quickly spoke up.

“I’ll buy Jewoo’s.”

“It’s fine….”

“Two of this, please.”

To think he was going to spend several million won in a single day by himself…. Fearing Seo Dohyun might stop him, Yigeom quickly held out his card.

“Then two of this model. You’re paying separately, right?”

“Yes.”

“Yes. If you sit here and wait for a moment, I will bring the items.”

After the staff member disappeared, Yigeom handed over the watch and wireless earphones he had bought earlier.

“Take it.”

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“Thanks for the phone, too.”

As he leaned back in the designated chair and fiddled with his new phone while answering shyly, Seo Dohyun struck up a conversation.

“What brought this on?”

“What did?”

“Giving me a gift. And buying things for the kids, too.”

“So, do you hate it?”

He replied with a soft smile.

“No. I like it.”

The reason he gave a gift to Seo Dohyun was to repay him for the phone, and for Doa and Jewoo, it was because, just as Seo Dohyun said, they’d be seniors soon, so he figured even three days of studying was better than nothing.

“But you didn’t seem to care about the kids’ studies, yet you’re even buying pads. What’s gotten into you?”

Every single day, it was Geon Yigeom’s job to nag Doa and Jewoo at the Latter office, asking if they’d done their school homework or how their exams went.

It was unexpected that Seo Dohyun, who used to just smile and say the kids did well no matter what they did, would even think to buy pads.

“Doa said she wanted a pad.”

Aha, so that was the real reason. While buying Doa’s, he figured he’d buy Jewoo’s as well.

He knew from experience that while Seo Dohyun might be different toward others, he took extreme care of his own people.

‘Am I included in that, too?’

It’s a bit sudden, but he realizes once again that many things have happened. Just as he is within Seo Dohyun’s circle, Seo Dohyun has also entered his own circle before he knew it.

🦅࿐

“Today is on me! Everyone, eat as much as you want!!”

Namgoong Sanha shouted gallantly. It was a beef restaurant they often used for Latter’s staff dinners. It was famous for being as expensive as it was delicious.

“We will eat well!”

Doa and Jewoo were still in their school uniforms because they had come straight from school. He hadn’t really noticed because he mostly saw them in casual clothes, but now it felt real that they were about to become high school seniors.

Yigeom tugged at Seo Dohyun’s collar and whispered.

“The things we bought earlier?”

“In the car.”

Since there was plenty of time, they could give them the pads later. Thinking that, he nodded and ate a piece of meat.

“Oh right. Gyeom hyung, did you change your phone?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you change it to? Let me see!”

Yigeom obediently handed the phone over to Jewoo.

“By the way, oppa. Didn’t you hear from Kim Junyoung?”

“Kim Junyoung?”

At Doa’s question, Yigeom remembered the events of that time, and his face naturally frowned.

“Yes. He contacted us.”

“To you guys?”

“Yes. By text. Just, well. He said he was sorry. Since he has your contact info too, I thought he’d sent a text to you as well.”

Because he had only changed his phone today, missed messages had been piling up, but he hadn’t had the chance to check them yet.

Soon, Jewoo finished looking and handed the phone back, and Yigeom was able to find Kim Junyoung’s contact after searching through his text messages.

[I’m sorry. And I’m also truly sorry to that person.]

That was all. Still, it seemed he had more or less organized his confused thoughts in his own way.

‘I should hope he does well.’

And “that person”…. Is he talking about Sanha hyung?

Yigeom reflexively looked at Namgoong Sanha. At that time, even if it wasn’t of his own will, Kim Junyoung had been pointing a gun at Namgoong Sanha. Is he referring to an apology for that?

“Sanha hyung. Do you remember that high schooler from back then?”

“Ah. Jewoo and Doa’s friend? Of course I remember! So that kid….”

Namgoong Sanha hesitated.

Given the seizure in the car previously and the fear that he might have trauma, they were avoiding bringing up this incident.

Because of that, Yigeom spoke very cautiously while watching his reaction.

“Yes. Kim Junyoung. He says he’s sorry to you, hyung….”

“Ah.”

Namgoong Sanha seemed to hesitate for a moment, then gave a relieved smile.

“Tell him it’s okay.”

“…Yes.”

Yigeom nodded awkwardly. Guessing by the context, it seemed there had been another incident between Namgoong Sanha and Kim Junyoung before they arrived. And Kim Junyoung was apologizing for that.

He decided not to pry.

Come to think of it, on the day they all slept in the living room of Namgoong Sanha’s house, he had woken up unintentionally at the sound of rustling and saw Seo Dohyun and Namgoong Sanha talking out on the terrace.

Since he had been in a state of extreme exhaustion, he went back to sleep immediately, but he suddenly wondered what those two might have discussed.

When he looked at Seo Dohyun, as if noticing the gaze, he looked back and smiled.

At that, he quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.

‘Forget it.’

What’s the point in wondering about a past conversation?

Yigeom silently ate his food without thinking unnecessary thoughts.

Seo Dohyun looked at Yigeom once, then turned back to Namgoong Sanha and met his eyes. Suddenly, the events of that day came to mind.

‘Dohyun-ah. Aren’t you being too greedy?’

The conversation Seo Dohyun shared with Namgoong Sanha that day wasn’t anything special. It was simply a bit of advice about life, so to speak.

Seo Dohyun seemed smart, quick-witted, and capable of doing anything effortlessly, but in truth, there was no one as clumsy as him. Especially when it came to human relationships.

Having awakened in middle school and living as a hunter, he naturally missed school often. There was no way he could have friends, and even if someone approached him and struck up a conversation, Seo Dohyun would often respond with indifference.

Because they lost their parents early, it was Seo Dohyun’s job to look after the young Seo Doa, and to make sure Doa grew up without lacking anything compared to others, he needed that much money.

Since the only way to earn that much money at a young age was the hunter life, he had to focus on that. He had no leisure to pour interest into human relationships.

“You punk. Absent again today? How are you going to graduate like that? Leave Doa to me and go play with your friends after school.”

Of course, Bae Sangwoo would occasionally help the siblings, but he was also a busy man.

Even while having far too much on his plate, he would scold Seo Dohyun to focus on his studies since he would send him money every month, but Seo Dohyun didn’t have the kind of innocent personality that could accept a favor as a favor.

He was always on edge and sensitive.

In the end, he didn’t even enter high school. He took the qualification exam and focused even more on hunter work from then on. As a result, his human relationships could only narrow further.

With the colleagues he met through Vigilante activities, it was almost entirely talk about work.

In fact, even the conversations that did happen, Seo Dohyun felt were all a failure of communication.

A commendable yet pitiful guy who looks after a younger sibling at a young age without parents. To them, Seo Dohyun was just that. An object of pity rather than an individual, or a disrespectful punk who disobeyed orders.

—Team A, go straight as planned. Team B, check left.

While each team followed the orders coming through their in-ears, only Seo Dohyun refused.

He knew because he had seen it with his supernatural power. it was an enemy trap. The path Team A took was empty, and Team B, which went to the left path, would be annihilated by a large number of enemies lying in ambush.

He had to choose between everyone going straight to avoid the enemy, or everyone going to the left path to fight together.