Magic on the Dead Chapter 97

Contrary to his expectation that Eden would try some other lecherous trick, Eden was surprisingly quiet. As usual, he did not wash Hajin’s underwear for him, nor did he make any jokes about the color of his nipples, concentrating only on quietly washing himself.

Hajin buried his head in the bathroom sink and quickly finished washing. Then, he immediately went into a stall and threw his dirty clothes into the trash can. Swoosh— Outside, the sound of a cool stream of water was still echoing.

His expression was complex and subtle as he sat on the toilet lid, sweeping back his wet bangs.

‘Why are you getting hard, you crazy bastard.’

Unable to believe that he had gotten an erection at the sight of Eden’s naked body, Hajin bit his swollen lips and blamed himself. If he had known that sex with Jung Taegeon would leave such a lasting impression, he would never have given in to the temptation.

He also felt it was a little unfair, wondering if he was wasting his emotions on a relationship that would end once they reached Yongun City anyway.

He stared blankly at the bathroom tiles for no reason, then roughly pulled on a short-sleeved t-shirt and let out a sigh. After confirming that his erection had gone down by half, he hesitated before stepping outside again.

Eden, who had been waiting for Hajin with his back against the wall, stared intently at him as he emerged awkwardly.

“What were you doing?”

At the casual question, Hajin answered quickly without even making eye contact.

“I was doing my business.”

“Without flushing?”

When he hit the mark, the back of Hajin’s neck began to flush red again. Eden looked at him, who could not hide his emotions, as if he found it cute, then opened the door and went out first. Pie, who had been sitting in front of the bathroom entrance on lookout, panted and welcomed the two who had finished their showers.

Since it was still early evening, the surroundings were bright. After diligently eating their food before it got dark, the two began to pick out shoes that fit and functional t-shirts.

To make Hajin, who had become as stiff as a robot after their sex, feel more at ease, Eden maintained a disposition that was as close to his usual self as possible. He would choose clothes silently and indifferently, or hand over a shirt with a kids’ character on it as a supposed gift.

Hajin, who had been showing all sorts of awkwardness all day, seemed to have noticed his efforts and began to show some reaction.

“This kind of childish clothing suits you well, Mr. Do Hajin.”

Hajin, who received a character t-shirt with a rabbit on it from Eden, winced and wrinkled his eyes in disgust.

“How could I wear something like this? As for you, Mr. Jung Taegeon, this bag is perfect for you. Childish things suit you well.”

At last, Hajin picked up a fluorescent yellow bag and threw it into Eden’s arms. Catching the bag that flew at his chest in a flash, he let out a whistle as if satisfied. Whew. Taking it a step further, he slung the bag over his shoulder, and Hajin, with a horrified face, tried to stop him.

“Why are you taking it so seriously! It doesn’t suit you, so put it down.”

“Didn’t you say it suits me well?”

Barely picking out clothes, the two continued their childish games and finally rummaged through the storeroom together. After finding a new, perfectly good hiking backpack, they threw away the old, worn-out bundle and began to organize their daily necessities inside it.

Eden secretly smiled once again as he watched Hajin, who was completely engrossed in folding a short-sleeved t-shirt. Hajin, whose mood had returned to normal at some point, even put a kids’ hiking hat with a strap on Pie’s head and went to the counter to rummage through the drawers. Having found a bag of candy and chocolate that a clerk had hidden, he was in such a good mood that he even hummed a tune.

“Mr. Jung Taegeon, want to learn some magic?”

Hajin, who had opened the cash box that still had a key in it, picked up a 500-won coin.

“I’d like to teach you a card trick for beginners, but since I don’t have any cards right now… I’ll teach you a coin trick instead.”

“Alright.”

Eden, who nodded readily, spread some clothes on the floor and sat down. Pie, with the kids’ hat worn askew, also came over and laid down beside him.

“Originally, coin magic uses a 50-cent coin called a half-dollar, but since it’s hard to get one now, I’ll use this 500-won coin as a substitute.”

Hajin sat down in front of Eden and began to seriously explain the magic trick. In his hands were a transparent plastic cup from the counter and three 500-won coins.

“First, I’ll show you what kind of trick it is.”

Opening the performance with his signature finger snap, Hajin held three coins in his right hand and the cup in his left, and looked at Eden.

“Shall we move the coins in my hand into the plastic cup?”

Clink! At that moment, a coin fell into the cup with a clear sound. At the teleportation trick that happened in the blink of an eye, a look of interest bloomed on Eden’s face.

“I’ll put in more.”

Clatter! A short flick of the wrist followed, and another coin dropped down. Pie, who was watching, also barked softly, “Woof!” as if he found it amazing.

Hajin calmed the excited Pie by stroking him gently, then moved the last remaining coin into the cup. With that, all three coins hidden in his right hand were now inside the plastic cup held in his left hand, all in the blink of an eye.

“It’s a technique-based trick, so the principle is simple. You move the coins held in your right hand to your left hand beforehand, without the audience noticing, and push them into the cup. The theory is easy, but it won’t be easy to actually do it. This is as far as you’ll learn today, Mr. Jung Taegeon.”

“Is there a more difficult version?”

“There is.”

Hajin emptied the three coins from the cup back into his right hand and made a fist. Then he covered the mouth of the empty cup with his left palm.

“This time, you ask the audience how many coins they want you to move into the cup.”

“…How is that possible?”

“A magician isn’t a magician for nothing.”

Observing Hajin, who cocked an eyebrow triumphantly with a confident expression, Eden gave a mischievous answer.

“Then, is five possible?”

Since there were only three coins in his right hand, it should have been impossible to move five coins into the cup. Hajin looked at Eden, who for some reason was acting as a heckler, as if he found him annoying, and shook his head.

“Someone who wants to learn magic shouldn’t act like that.”

Suddenly, several coins fell into the empty cup with a clatter— sound. He poured the coins from the cup into Eden’s palm as if pouring water. One, two, four, five… Eden, who had counted the coins, let out a sigh that was close to a gasp.

“How did you do that?”

“A load-up is basic in magic. You have to anticipate even unexpected situations and finish all preparations flawlessly.”

In other words, it meant that he had anticipated Eden’s mischievous interference and brought extra coins. Hajin began to earnestly explain the principle of movement in coin magic and passed on the sleight-of-hand techniques. At his serious attitude, Eden also, at some point, erased his smile and diligently practiced the magic trick.

Around the time the surroundings became dark, Hajin turned on the camping lamp he had brought and softly illuminated the area. Pie was already fast asleep, snoring softly.

Clink— Eden, who had succeeded in moving one coin, albeit awkwardly, looked at him with an expression that expected praise.

“Don’t be satisfied with this, and practice until you can push the coin into the lines of your palm a little more naturally. Don’t waste your pretty hands on clumsy movements.”

However, Do Hajin, surprisingly, was stingy with praise when it came to magic.

“Isn’t this good enough?”

“Not even close. You’ll have to practice at least ten thousand times for it to become natural, so practice whenever you have time.”

Ten thousand times. When he sent a doubtful look at the unrealistic number, Hajin elaborated.

“I practice that much too. Even experts work their butts off, so ordinary people have to work even harder.”

After the hard training that followed, Eden succeeded in moving two coins into the glass cup. Hajin, who was watching, let out a relieved breath and smiled brightly.

“When you meet Byeol later, be sure to show her. She’ll like it even more if her uncle does it for her.”

Eden, after practicing a few more times, put the plastic cup and coins into the new backpack he had gotten. Hajin wiped his hands with a wet wipe from the counter and then arbitrarily pulled Eden’s hand toward him.

“Your fingers must hurt, right? I’ll massage them for you.”

Then, using the massage that Misoga often gave him as a reference, he kneaded his hand. His hand muscles were stiff from practicing magic.

Eden, who was quietly receiving the affectionate touch, suddenly asked a question.

“Mr. Do Hajin. What is the reason for suddenly teaching me magic now?”

Hajin lifted his lowered head with a puzzled expression.

“You kept pestering me to teach you, Mr. Jung Taegeon.”

“Is that really the only reason?”

“…Why? Does there have to be another?”

As he blinked his eyelids as if he had no idea what he meant, Eden replied casually.

“To be honest, I thought you were planning to use me and then throw me away.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Hajin’s face hardened with a crackle. His bewildered gaze wandered in the air, and cold sweat seeped into their clasped hands. The moment Eden, who was keenly observing Hajin’s reaction, parted his lips again.

Pie, who had been lying down quietly, suddenly shot up. Leap. Pie jumped over the space between them and dashed toward the entrance.

“Oh…!”

Hajin, who leaned his upper body back to avoid Pie, turned his gaze with a dumbfounded expression.

“Pie, what’s wrong?”

As soon as he whispered, Eden immediately put his index finger to Hajin’s lips. “Shh.” As he just blinked, unable to understand what on earth was happening, he removed the finger he had placed there and pointed outside.

When he held his breath and listened carefully, he began to hear faint voices, choppy and intermittent, like a radio frequency that was not tuned in properly.

Jeff… you won’t listen to me…?!

For a moment, their eyes met in mid-air.

Don’t fight! You bas…tards!

And a brief silence.

“…”

“…”

Me… Don’t worry…!

Then, as someone uttered English in a deep voice, the two of them shot up from their seats without either one having to go first. While they grabbed the weapons and lamp they had set on the floor and ran toward the store’s door, Pie was flapping his ears, signaling that there were people outside.

If you fight, the zombies will come! You assholes!

As the voices grew clearer, an excited Pie barked loudly, “Woof!”