Boy Monster Chapter 34

The NIS basement was in a state of utter chaos. People looking for toiletries and bedding, crying children, people demanding more shower facilities—it was a motley crew. Even this disorderly scene, like a group training camp, seemed positive in Eunho’s eyes right now. Eunho moved closer to the two monks and whispered.

“It’s actually a good thing that people are gathered in one place. I’m, I’m going to do ‘that’.”

The faces of Monk Chogwang and Monk Jiguk, which had been filled with worry, brightened for a moment.

“What? ‘That’ in this situation, with who! Are you finally escaping being single?”

“No, no. Not that ‘that’. I mean ‘Widespread Hallucination for Freedom’.”

“……”

The faces of the two monks, which had brightened at the news of Eunho escaping singlehood, turned serious again. Jae Eunho’s declaration was something that could change their history.

“You’re going to… attempt that rebellion again?”

“Yes. It’s the only way to root out all the problems. This time, I will succeed without failure. I need a team of two or three people I can truly trust….”

As he spoke, Eunho’s mind was filled with a simple fantasy. It was a blueprint for the days he would spend with Hwonwoo if he were alive. Pushing a cart together at the supermarket, walking through Naksan Park reminiscing about the old days, eating dinner, bickering over dishes and cleaning… To Eunho, who was imagining these ordinary days, a tender voice spoke.

“I don’t know when I last saw such a bright face, Eunho.”

Monk Chogwang said with a complicated smile.

“It hurts to think what it would have been like if you could have had such a bright face sooner. Alright, let’s make it a success so you can keep smiling like that.”

Only after hearing those words did Jae Eunho realize. He had been lost in unspeakable happiness while waiting for 11 PM tomorrow night. At the same time, Eunho’s sixth sense detected an invisible collapse and fissure. Since Shi Taehyun appeared and the ground of Euljiro shook, the long wait and silence of Immeasurable Eons had been broken. The invasion of unknown enemies, the beginning of a fight, and Shi Taehyun. A great change was already shaking the earth and the sky.

“Hehe!”

“You scared me!”

Hyeon Jaewoong, carrying a large luggage bag and wearing a headset, had just entered the headquarters. The boy, who ran over happily, handed Eunho a briefcase. Hyeon Jaewoong, who was proud of Eunho’s words of thanks, shamelessly joined the conversation.

“What are you guys talking about?”

“You’re not even an official S.E.T.U agent, are you going to keep butting in?”

At Jae Eunho’s cold words, Hyeon Jaewoong expressed his disappointment. The final exams ended a long time ago… I have nothing to do for two months of vacation… If there’s anything I can help with, I can roll up my sleeves and help….

Jae Eunho, in a good mood, put his arm around Hyeon Jaewoong’s high shoulders and joked to the two monks.

“Should we let Jaewoong in on the plan too? You, can you carry out the mission I give you without any mistakes? Even if things go wrong, you can’t say anything and I can’t protect you. Do you still want to join?”

“Yes. Yes. I’ll join.”

Hyeon Jaewoong, freeing himself from Eunho’s arm, stood facing him directly.

“Captain, if I do this mission well. Please go on a date with me.”

“……”

“Let’s eat malatang together, take four-cut photos, and in the evening, let’s go for a course meal dining. I’ll book the restaurant. There’s a place I’ve been eyeing, but you have to book a month in advance.”

Hyeon Jaewoong, who wet his throat mid-sentence, had a determined expression. It was commendable to think how much courage it must have taken for him to say this. The guy who had come looking for Eunho with a chainsaw a little while ago would never have imagined such an innocent date.

“If you go on a date with me… I have something to tell you formally.”

This kid is finally doing it. What on earth should I do with this kid who still thinks Jae Eunho doesn’t have a partner. Monk Jiguk gave a sharp piece of advice on behalf of Eunho, who couldn’t bring himself to answer.

“Haven’t you heard the old saying, don’t even look at a tree you can’t climb? This punk has only grown in body, his head is more foolish than a child who knows nothing of the world!”

“Is love something you do with your head? What can I do when my heart moves!”

“Shut up!”

:･⚜️⊹.️

The next day, after finishing his meal, Jae Eunho washed the clothes he had worn the day before and wore them again. The headquarters was too busy for him to have a chance to request a new suit. There was a severe shortage of personnel to handle the complaints that came in from the temporary shelter. It was an unavoidable situation as most of the manpower was focused on responding to the biochemical terror substance dispersal.

Jae Eunho conducted a mid-range sensory investigation on the rooftop of the NIS until the afternoon. He searched the consciousness of people centered around the entertainment districts where the toxic powder was spread. He repeated the sensing until the sun went down, but it wasn’t easy because the victims did not recognize the identity of the powder. In the end, he greeted the sunset without any significant findings.

While focusing on the nation’s critical situation, his heart was elsewhere. All he wanted was to quickly confirm Hwonwoo’s life or death and prepare for the great event.

The clock hands pointed to 8 o’clock. Jae Eunho, who was heading to his room without even realizing he was hungry, was caught by Choi Jungkyung’s twin sons.

“Captain, let’s eat together!”

“Uncle is fine….”

Jae Eunho’s bedroom had been separately prepared in the reception room on the first floor by Lim Geonhwi’s order, but not wanting to tell the young children that fact, Jae Eunho was inevitably dragged to the cafeteria.

As it happened, the Hweljus and Yeonris who were eating dinner welcomed Eunho. As he sat with Choi Jungkyung’s family, who were wearing family pajamas, Hyeon Jaewoong sat down in the seat next to him. The news Hyeon Jaewoong brought was not welcome.

“The Army Chief of Staff is on his way here. I wonder if he’s planning to eat here or something.”

Lim Geonhwi making a personal visit to the cafeteria meant his purpose was to take Jae Eunho with him. Since Eunho wasn’t answering his calls, Lim Geonhwi had now changed his method. He didn’t call, but directly stormed the place where Eunho was.

Lim Geonhwi, who had attended the Constitution Day ceremony, was in uniform. When Lim Geonhwi, surrounded by his entourage, came inside, the cafeteria instantly grew cold. Everyone stood up and saluted, and then in the silence, only the sound of spoons and chopsticks hitting trays echoed.

Jae Eunho stood up before Lim Geonhwi came to his seat. As the awkward and uncomfortable silence continued, Choi Jungkyung spoke to Hyeon Jaewoong, who was sitting without a tray.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m going on a date with Captain Eunho next month. I’m going on a diet.”

“Now he’s going to go around telling everyone he meets, that punk.”

Lim Geonhwi passed Jae Eunho and stood behind them. Choi Jungkyung’s twin sons were extremely wary of Lim Geonhwi. Choi Jungkyung forcibly took the children and left the table before they could make a mistake.

Now only Hyeon Jaewoong remained at the table. Lim Geonhwi, lifting the scar on his cheek, placed a hand on Hyeon Jaewoong’s shoulder.

“A date?”

“Yes.”

“Now that you’re twenty, you must want to make him your Yeonri in earnest. You want to carve your Hwelju mark on him that badly? On the Captain?”

“……”

Hyeon Jaewoong’s expression hardened.

‘That’s not what I mean. I’m being sincere, always.’

A grumbling, rebellious voice was heard. Lim Geonhwi replied.

“If you’re sincere, does the method of mating change? You act so naive when you know full well what you have to do to make that Yeonri your partner. That you have to cum inside Captain Jae Eunho.”

“No… that’s not….”

“You probably imagine that moment even when you masturbate.”

“…Lieutenant General, maybe it’s because that’s all you have in your head, but I’m not like that. I’m going to do everything the Captain wants. I have no intention whatsoever of forcing or coercing him into such things. Such things… if you like each other, it all happens naturally….”

To Hyeon Jaewoong, who was finding his words even while stuttering, Lim Geonhwi offered a sneer.

“Your effort is commendable, but you can’t have Captain Jae Eunho anyway. It’s a classified secret you haven’t heard because you haven’t enlisted in S.E.T.U yet, but I’ll give you a preview. Captain Jae Eunho is Sa Hwelju’s Yeonri.”

“……”

“He has already had a relationship with a Hwelju who is not you a long time ago and is mated. And now, he’s in a common-law marriage with me.”

Hyeon Jaewoong’s face, which had been blinking with wide eyes, soon turned white as a sheet. Hyeon Jaewoong couldn’t utter a single word of retort.

“Do you think you can break Sa Hwelju’s connection? Or, do you have the authority to possess a Sa Yeonri?”

Jae Eunho rubbed his tired eyes. He had to get rid of Lim Geonhwi quietly to be able to leave this place before the appointment with Shi Taehyun, so he had to avoid getting on his nerves. Eunho called Lim Geonhwi’s name, meaning for him to stop.

“Hey, why are you doing this to a kid.”

“…Captain.”

Hyeon Jaewoong must have felt completely alone and a fool in this place. He felt a little sorry for him. Hyeon Jaewoong, with his head bowed low, left a single word and exited the cafeteria.

“I’m not a kid.”

“……”

It was something he had to know someday. It was a relief that someone else had delivered the news he had been putting off, but he was sorry that he had to hear it in front of everyone. Jae Eunho, who had entered his quarters, shot a sharp joke at Lim Geonhwi.

“Your jealousy was so childish.”

He wanted to mock him more, but he held back because he wanted him to leave quietly. On the desk lay the materials he had scribbled on while investigating the biochemical terror powder earlier. Eunho, who was about to sit at the desk, gasped as a shock wrapped around his waist. His chin was snatched by a glove that had slid up from behind.

“I didn’t want to do this here. We have some unfinished business, don’t we?”

“Are you cra…”

Lim Geonhwi covered Eunho’s mouth. Soon a bundle of handkerchiefs was shoved into his mouth and a gag was tied. Inside the darkened reception room, Lim Geonhwi’s pale face was covered with possessiveness. Lim Geonhwi, with a swift motion, handcuffed Eunho’s hands.

“Ugh! Uu!”

“Return the unnecessary cell phone to the government.”

“Ughh…!”

Lim Geonhwi snatched Jae Eunho’s new cell phone and put it inside his uniform. Give it back! he shouted, but there was no way he could be heard.

Damn it. He had forgotten for a moment while he was only thinking about sneaking out. That Lim Geonhwi was particularly obsessed with Eunho’s submissive attitude towards their relationship in front of people. But no matter how much Hyeon Jaewoong had babbled on about useless things in a place full of people, he never thought he would do something like this here, where there were so many eyes watching.