Black Paradise Chapter 4.1

His eyes felt hollow and his vision was blurry. The sunlight that had begun to spread over the home bar table a little while ago was gradually expanding its territory and stretching out vigorously.

It was morning. The final day on the cruise had finally dawned.

Ilyeong shot up from his seat. Startled by the movement, Jeon Seogu, who had been dozing off while sitting in front of him, jolted his head up. After he closed the curtains and returned, the kitchen grew dim again.

Jeon Seogu, with an embarrassed look on his face, pulled something out from his clothes. It was a pack of cigarettes. As if following a set procedure, the two men trudged their way to the balcony.

In one corner of the glass window, a notice was posted, verbosely prohibiting smoking on the private balconies. The warning, which cited risks of fire and consideration for other guests, was as faint in its presence as its faded ink letters.

When he first pointed out the existence of this notice, Jeon Seogu had nonchalantly said it was fine to ignore it. His reasoning was, how many people on this cruise would actually follow that?

Ilyeong thought of the light pockets of the people from the evacuation zone, Colonel Jamie, and Seo Juhyeok and his group, and found himself strangely agreeing. In the first place, this cruise itself was a lawless zone.

Jeon Seogu skillfully lit the end of his own cigarette and handed one to Ilyeong as well. The way he drew the smoke deep into his lungs and exhaled looked quite natural. Each time the red glow flared at the end of the burning cigarette, his gaunt cheeks stood out.

The cigarettes Ilyeong had received on the day he first made a deal with Jamie in the casino had run out long ago, and all the cigarettes Jeon Seogu was smoking now were ones he had swiped from Jamie. He said he had stolen them one by one, like an act of revenge or as a psychological reward on days when Jamie’s abuse was particularly severe. Thanks to that, Ilyeong had the chance to overhear a little about Jeon Seogu’s history.

「A pickpocket. The only ways to survive in the evacuation zone are to become a soldier or a researcher. Kids with small builds like me are perfect for pickpocketing. It was a relief that the evacuation zone’s prison system wasn’t well-established. Even if I got caught, I only had to spend a day there before getting out, and my younger sister could have a full stomach for a few days, so that was enough of a relief for me.」

As he wrote those words, Jeon Seogu stared into the empty air for a long time with hollow eyes. The tip of his pen seemed unwilling to part from the word “younger sister,” as if lingering with regret. He had guessed that he might talk more about his family, but contrary to Ilyeong’s expectation, Jeon Seogu did not speak about his younger sister after that. Since he couldn’t offer empathy or comfort, it was a relief for Ilyeong.

In some ways, Jeon Seogu had lived a life similar to Ilyeong’s, but the result was drastically different. When Ilyeong thought of the family he had left behind him, he felt a sense of relief, as if a blocked throat had been cleared. The affection needed to look so teary-eyed while thinking of separated blood relatives had long since dried up within him.

I have to live like a human being…

Ilyeong mulled over those words as he looked at his silhouette reflected on the railing.

「What are you thinking about?」

A piece of memo paper abruptly entered his field of vision. The paper, flapping helplessly in the sea breeze, made a flutter, flutter sound as it slapped against Jeon Seogu’s hand.

Ilyeong raised his head and stared at his face. The filter of the unlit cigarette quickly became damp in his mouth. When he handed the lighter back, Jeon Seogu tilted his head.

「You never smoke them.」

“I told you not to give them to me if it’s a waste.”

「It’s okay. I’m going to quit soon anyway.」

Jeon Seogu hesitated for a moment, then scribbled a few more words.

「As soon as we arrive in Paradise.」

Jeon Seogu quickly tore the paper into shreds, as if worried someone would see. Ilyeong chewed on the end of the filter. He did not know what to say.

With Jamie’s absence growing longer, Jeon Seogu seemed to firmly believe that everything would be resolved as soon as the cruise arrived in Paradise.

As time went by, his lifeless eyes began to show a spark of intelligence, and he started applying medicine all over his body at all hours. He, who used to fear even washing because of the pain, now scrubbed his body relentlessly, even if it meant all the capillaries in his eyes would burst.

It was as if he were trying to shed the traces Jamie had overlaid on him on the cruise, or like a clumsy larva on the verge of molting. A sense of excitement was embedded in all his actions.

Nevertheless, the reason Ilyeong could not easily meet that expectation was due to the anxiety nestled in a corner of his heart. He felt it would have been more comfortable if Colonel Jamie had not disappeared and was right in front of him. At least then he would know what was going on.

Is this really the end? Can I just forget everything and be safe once we arrive in Paradise?

「It’s a relief you don’t get seasick.」

“…”

「I want to live by the sea when I get to Paradise. For now, all I want is to set foot on land, but someday I want to try swimming in the ocean too. But will it be okay for me to touch the seawater? The virus…」

Watching the letters crawl slowly as he got ahead of himself, Ilyeong responded with a rotation of “I wonder,” “I don’t know either,” and “Really?” To be honest, Ilyeong was still skeptical about the very existence of Paradise. Unaware of his inner thoughts, only Jeon Seogu continued to lay out his plans with a blush on his cheeks. He finally looked just like a young man in his early twenties.

「It’s about Chen.」

In the end, the first genuine reaction Ilyeong showed was because of the one name written at the end of the memo.

“What about Chen? Have you seen him recently?”

「No. I haven’t been able to see him either since Colonel Jamie disappeared. It’s just, I remembered something Chen told me about Paradise a while ago.」

Could it be that Seo Juhyeok got rid of Chen somewhere too? Feeling uneasy, Ilyeong turned his gaze toward the horizon. The moment he realized the story had nothing to do with his concerns, he lost all his energy, but he decided to play along.

“What was it?”

「He said Paradise isn’t a kind place. That it isn’t a good place to live.」

Ilyeong stopped fidgeting with the cigarette with his lips. Chen said that? It was none other than Chen who had acted so obnoxiously when they first met, lording it over everyone that he was from Paradise.

Come to think of it, he had definitely said something like that before. That since he had no family, if he went missing, everyone would forget about him after just a week.

「But anywhere would be better than the evacuation zone or being next to the Colonel, right? Don’t you think so?」

“…I suppose so.”

Ilyeong managed to reply, broadly stroking the back of his now-chilled neck with his palm. He decided to stop overthinking.

After meeting Seo Juhyeok a few days ago, ever since he realized he was experiencing strange symptoms, he had decided not to believe anything rashly.

Even if it was his own brain. So, the uneasy feeling that was currently clouding his mind like dark clouds must be just a needless worry.

Jeon Seogu put out his cigarette and smiled brightly.

「So you shouldn’t worry too much either, Doctor, and get some rest. Everyone seemed to have high expectations for this evening’s banquet.」

“The evening banquet… I don’t really want to go. Mr. Jeon Seogu, have you ever attended?”

「No. I’ve only heard about it. The Colonel never let me attend. But they say a ton of food comes out, and they keep giving you drinks. I think it will be a lot of fun. Since it’s the last one, I’m thinking of sneaking in today.」

Jeon Seogu opened and closed his mouth as if he wanted to speak, shaking his pen, full of excitement. He even wiggled his hips from side to side and made strange gestures as if he wanted to dance.

The tension that had tightly wound up his mind couldn’t help but loosen. When he couldn’t hold it in and let out a chuckle, Jeon Seogu’s face brightened even more. It seemed he had noticed Ilyeong was in low spirits and had deliberately exaggerated his actions.

Smiling cheerfully, Jeon Seogu pressed his pen onto the next page of the memo, writing neatly.

「If we meet at the banquet hall this evening, please don’t pretend you don’t know me. Let’s have a toast together. Okay?」

Jeon Seogu brightly pointed beyond the balcony window toward the suite’s living room. There, Haoran was sprawled out on the floor like a piece of luggage, fast asleep. He surely meant for Haoran to join them as well.

He’s so affectionate. To take care of that insufferable Haoran so devotedly. Jeon Seogu might just be the only saint on this cruise. Ilyeong gave a half-hearted nod.

「I think I should go pack my things now.」

“You go ahead. I’m not fully awake yet.”

「Then I’ll get going.」

Jeon Seogu smiled silently and left the balcony. His steps were lighter than they had ever been, as if he could fly away.

Tiptoeing past Haoran, Jeon Seogu stopped in the hallway leading to the entrance and once again waved his arms enthusiastically. He seemed determined not to leave until Ilyeong waved back, so Ilyeong also awkwardly gave a slight wave of his hand. Whether he found that funny or not, Jeon Seogu giggled, then turned and scurried away.

Left alone on the balcony where the acrid smoke had not yet dissipated, Ilyeong propped his arms on the railing and stood facing the sea. Inside the ceramic cup he had brought to use as an ashtray, the cigarette butts Jeon Seogu had smoked over the days were piled high.

He said he was quitting smoking… A bitter smile lingered on Ilyeong’s lips. It might not be as hard as quitting drugs, but that would not be an easy task either. Then again, there is nothing that cannot be done if you invest enough time and effort into it.

If nothing really happens from here on out, Jeon Seogu will be able to swim in Paradise as he wished and eat all the delicious food he wants, being compensated for all his past hardships. He sincerely hoped that would be possible. Not for Jeon Seogu’s sake, but for his own. Jeon Seogu’s well-being was, after all, the same as a guarantee of his own safety.

Ilyeong blankly watched the sunlight gradually color the sea, then stepped out of the balcony.

“You sure are carefree… Wake up. It’s morning.”

Watching Haoran sleeping so peacefully, even snoring, without a clue whether Paradise would be heaven or hell, made his temper flare up. He did not have a single shred of the saintly heart that Jeon Seogu possessed. Therefore, he had no intention of looking upon such a sight with a generous mind.

Ilyeong nudged Haoran’s indecent belly with his foot to wake him. Haoran, who had been resisting with a few frowns, couldn’t take it anymore as the kicks grew stronger and shot up into a sitting position.

“Ah, come on! What is it…! I was sleeping well! Why did you wake me up.”

“The sun’s been up for ages. I don’t want to see you sleeping like that in my room, so get up.”

“So petty… Did that person leave? Jeon Seogu.”

“He left.”

“He’s truly shameless. Who does he think he is, coming to this room all the time.”

Haoran had taken all the words right out of his mouth. He was once again filled with admiration for Jeon Seogu’s broad-mindedness in being able to graciously embrace this rude fellow.

For the past few days, Haoran and Jeon Seogu had been busy bickering almost every single day. Though it was always Haoran who picked a fight and Jeon Seogu who went along with it, so he wasn’t sure if you could call it bickering. Ilyeong clicked his tongue at the shameless ignoramus.

“That’s what I want to say to you. If you want to sleep more, go sleep in your room. Why are you sleeping here?”

Hissing with eyes he could barely open, Haoran couldn’t seem to bring himself to say anything back and just wiped his face while mumbling.

“Ah, I told you. I can’t breathe in there because of that smelly Mr. Jun.”

“Then tell him to wash. You’re not the type to tiptoe around things like that.”

“Well, now. I can’t even argue because you’re right. But I’ve already told him to wash more than three thousand times. And that’s not the real problem.”

“Then what is?”

Haoran looked a little hesitant, then made a gesture of quickly moving his loosely clenched fist up and down. Ilyeong’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah! You see, he was masturbating without even a glance at me. Why do I have to watch a pot-bellied man in his forties’ masturbation show… And then he says he doesn’t mind men either, and asks if I’ve ever done it. What does that mean? Does he want to sleep with me? I like women, though?”

Embarrassed by his own words, Haoran, who had been shouting, abruptly stopped and glanced at Ilyeong.

“Ah, that’s not to say I hate homosexuals…”

This time, it was Ilyeong’s turn to be dumbfounded. It was not as if he had no idea what kind of thoughts were prompting such words. It was probably because of the rampant rumors about Ilyeong in the garbage village. The whispers of him being a prostitute or Nam Kiyoon’s sexually charged advances.

Ilyeong simply chose to scrunch up his face and pretend he had not heard. Instead, he roughly kicked Haoran, who was sitting, in the thighs over and over.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, go get breakfast. It’s mealtime.”

“It seems like you’re using me as an errand boy now.”

“I’m glad you’ve realized it, even if it’s late. Go and do your part.”

“Hey…”

Haoran grumbled but quickly threw off the blanket and stood up. His hair, sticking up like a magpie’s nest, was comical. Just in case he decided to wander off somewhere else, he even saw him off to the entrance. Haoran, who had roughly slipped his shoes onto his feet, once again turned Ilyeong’s stomach with words like, “We seem like a married couple.”

Seeing Ilyeong’s grim face, Haoran giggled, grabbed the doorknob, and went outside.

Click. The moment the suite was finally empty had arrived.

Ilyeong quickly turned his body toward the bedroom. It had become a daily routine to check the duffel bag once a day, after sending all the intruders out. After confirming that the tin cases were safely in their place, his tension eased a little. Then again, it would be stranger for perfectly fine medicine to disappear somewhere. Even knowing that, he suffered from a nervousness that made his mouth go dry every moment, making him wonder if his brain was really becoming strange.

Ilyeong licked his dry lips and took off the sweater he was wearing. Even if he was cooped up in the suite all day, he had to change his clothes at least once a day to not feel grubby. Just as he was carelessly picking out a black turtleneck, he caught sight of his upper body reflected in the mirror opposite and flinched. The exposed white skin of his nape was red, as if flower petals had settled there.

The bruise Seo Juhyeok had made was fading with each passing day. It would probably be back to normal in another day or two. Now, he no longer felt pain when he touched the area.

Ilyeong pressed down on the skin with his fingertips and then released them. Perhaps because he had checked the bruise, he had a strong premonition that he would run into Seo Juhyeok today for some reason. His palms had healed enough that they no longer hindered his daily life.

Ilyeong hurriedly got dressed and left the bedroom. With good timing, the doorbell barked like a yapping dog. Haoran’s voice, shrieking about how it was still dawn and why was it mealtime, and had he been tricked, followed. It was his own fault for being fooled like an idiot. He considered just not opening the door, but Ilyeong changed his mind. Right now, he felt that he needed even that loud voice to cool his head a little.

*

He remembered regretting letting Haoran into the room while listening to his incredibly loud voice.

He must have dozed off for a moment, because when he came to his senses, it was broad daylight. Ilyeong groggily lifted his upper body, which had been slumped over the table. His whole body was stiff from the catnap, but his mood was not too bad. His cheek, which had been resting on the table, was numb and warm. He was sure it would be flushed red without even looking.

“Ilyeong, you had such a lack of expression even when you were little. This father of yours was very worried that you might be sick somewhere.”

A forgotten voice awakened his drowsy mind. It was not the voice that had bellowed at him to live like a human. It was a warm voice, sprinkled with the soft patter of laughter. Yes, his father was that kind of person. A person who was afraid of raising his voice at someone, who would just let things slide with a “haha” laugh even in the face of injustice.

He had lived for so long having forgotten that laughter. What was he to do if the voice parasitizing his mind was the one angry tone he had heard just once? Was that not too cruel a fate? Moreover, his father’s voice inevitably brought forth other memories as well.

Not wanting to spoil his mood, Ilyeong washed away the thoughts by rubbing his dry face. Only after breaking free from his reverie did he realize that Haoran was nowhere to be seen. He could feel the languid drowsiness that had lingered within him completely vanish.

Anxious, Ilyeong shot to his feet and headed for the bedroom. He could hear the sound of running water from the attached bathroom inside. His mind went white. He quickly ran to the safe and confirmed that the lock was properly attached and that the duffel bag was safe.

Ilyeong immediately ran to the bathroom and kicked the door hard. Bang. With the loud noise, the sound of something clattering and spilling leaked from inside.

“Wh-what? What’s going on!”

“You cunning bastard.”

His breath escaped harshly through his gritted teeth. He barely managed to stop himself from unleashing a torrent of curses. To think he would enter the bedroom without permission during a moment of carelessness. He had underestimated him as a nobody, but he had almost ruined everything. He even felt pathetic for having fallen asleep so soundly with another person in the suite.

Ilyeong did not give a proper answer to the panicked and flustered Haoran and turned back toward the living room. Of course, with the duffel bag clutched in his arms.

The things that had felt pleasant when he had just woken up began to grate on his nerves beyond measure. He was sure he had closed the curtains in the morning, but sunlight was spilling in from all directions, probably because Haoran had opened them.

It was a dazzling day, more than a person on the verge of death deserved. He slammed all the windows shut and arbitrarily drew all the curtains. Even then, his panting did not stop, so he immediately drank some cold water. The stream of water going down his empty stomach was exceptionally cold.

“Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, what is it? What’s wrong?”

In the meantime, Haoran came running out of the bedroom in a hurry. He must have been in a rush, as he was barely dressed without having properly dried himself off. The soap suds in his hair were not properly washed out either, making for a comical sight, but he did not feel like laughing at all.

Ilyeong immediately threw the water bottle he was holding.

“What do you think you’re doing. I told you not to go into the bedroom.”

“No, no, wait a minute. Why are you so angry? All I did was use the bathroom for a second?”

“Weren’t you just waiting for me to fall asleep all along? Did you try to open the safe too? How did you know the password? So for the past few days, in this room…”

“What on earth are you talking about!”

Haoran shouted hysterically, shaking out his drenched clothes. It was a brazen attitude, just as expected from an idiot who had ignored a warning. As the time they spent glaring at each other lengthened, the suite became so silent that you could hear the sound of water dripping from Haoran’s clothes.

Haoran looked at the duffel bag Ilyeong was clutching in his arms and suddenly had a strange look in his eyes. Then, as if surrendering, he raised both his hands and nodded his head.

“Alright, I’m sorry for going in without permission. I apologize like an adult. I was originally going to go wash in my room, but since Mr. Kwon Ilyeong was sleeping, there would be no one to open the door for me when I came back, so I washed here in a hurry. Now, then, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong should also explain like an adult. What’s in that bag that you’re so precious about.”

“What business is it of yours.”

“I got a drenching because of that bag, so can’t you explain? I’ve put up with you and Jeon Seogu whispering secrets between the two of you, leaving me out, but I can’t take it anymore. That goblin-like Colonel from last time, and that Seo something-or-other, the next leader, too. Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you’re caught up in something dangerous, aren’t you?”

Haoran stared at Ilyeong without even blinking, showing no intention of backing down easily. He said it was because of the drenching, but his words were quite orderly, which showed that it was not an impulsive question.

Perhaps Haoran had been waiting all along for a moment just like this. If he had been harboring such curiosity ever since he was called to Colonel Jamie’s table, then for an impatient fellow, he had held it in for a very long time.

His weary mind whispered words of temptation. Just tell him everything. That the Paradise you’ve yearned for your whole life might just be a vanity. That we might be walking side by side into death…

Ilyeong bit his lip hard, then lifted his gaze.

“…If Paradise is different from what you imagine, what will you do?”

He took his time to watch the face he met turn white, then blue, then red.

He concisely conveyed to Haoran the suspicions he had been harboring ever since he met Jeon Seogu.

Of course, he did not tell him about drugs like Black and White, or anything related to Ji Taeun. He did not talk about Jamie and Seo Juhyeok, which Haoran had been curious about, nor did he talk about Jeon Seogu, who was at the core of all these suspicions. In any case, from the moment he mentioned that Paradise might be a sham, Haoran did not seem to have any intention of caring about anything else.

“What is… what is the basis for thinking that?”

That was the first question Haoran uttered after rummaging through the hangers in silence for a long time, with the clothes rack between them.

The place where Ilyeong and Haoran were now was the cruise’s shopping center, and among the stores, it was the only one open to the winners from the evacuation zone.

Seo Yoonseok had shown the generosity of gifting each of the attendees, who would be attending the evening banquet in rags, a proper set of clothes from the cruise shopping arcade. He did not know whether that was really for the winners or for Seo Yoonseok himself. He had thought the evening call time was earlier than usual, and it turned out there was a reason for it.

The other 68 winners, besides Ilyeong and Haoran, were busy trying on new fancy clothes as they roamed the display stands. The excited atmosphere was uncomfortable. Ilyeong moved as close to the clothes rack as possible and replied indifferently.

“There is no basis. It’s my speculation. Don’t ask any more questions.”

“You’re lying, right? You know something, don’t you?”

“I said don’t ask.”

Tsk, Haoran grumbled and rummaged through the clothes rack with a half-hearted touch. His face was still rife with suspicion.

“Could it be that Mr. Kwon Ilyeong is misunderstanding on your own? Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you’re like that sometimes, you know.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“No, I don’t want to say this to you of all people, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, but…”

“What is it. Say it.”

He was not acting like the person who always spoke bluntly without consideration. Irritation unintentionally seeped into his voice. Seeing Ilyeong’s sharpened eyes, Haoran let out a sound like a groan, “Ugh.”

“Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you’ve been acting a little strange for a while now… I think it’s gotten a bit worse since we got on the cruise.”

Haoran raised his arm and made a gesture of hitting the side of his own head.

“At least in the garbage village, you didn’t hit your head and ears like this all the time.”

“That is…”

“And you’ve occasionally said things that make no sense since way back.”

“…”

“No, I’m not just saying this, it’s what the people at the research institute used to whisper about. Of course, I know full well what a good person Mr. Kwon Ilyeong is.”

“The people at the research institute…?”

“Relax your face. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ll just believe you, what you told me, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong.”

Ilyeong bit the soft flesh inside his mouth so hard he heard a crunching sound. The metallic taste of blood swirled in his mouth. I’ve been like that since way back…? He had thought that the recent strangeness of his brain was all due to withdrawal symptoms from the drug. The headaches had been there even before he started taking the medicine, so putting that aside, he had assumed everything else was because of the drug.

But what if that was not true. What if this symptom had actually been going on for a very long time, and had only recently accelerated along with the withdrawal symptoms…

Since when could it have been? His broken brain had shattered all his past memories. He could not remember a single thing. It was the first moment he came to resent his mental state, which he had not thought much of in the garbage village. His head spun.

“So everyone was thinking that way.”

“Um…”

There was no clear answer, but just by looking at Haoran’s lips stretch into a long, apologetic line, he could tell.

Was that also a reason why the people at the research institute had looked at him like a creepy monster?

If that was really the case, he should consider himself lucky that his social circle in the garbage village had been extremely narrow. If someone had been a little more meddlesome and reported his condition, and the soldiers, sensing something was off, had raided the research institute, then the hideout where he was manufacturing the drugs would have been discovered completely.

If that had happened, it would have been a quick matter to be offered up on Seo Yoonseok’s dinner table like a disemboweled turkey. No, was this also just a needless delusion right now? All of a sudden, he could not even trust his past self.

Feeling a little bit of despair, Ilyeong carelessly picked up one of the hangers on the clothes rack.

“Tell me. Do I look strange to you too?”

“Um. A little?”

“You really don’t know how to filter your words.”

“You told me to be honest.”

“Right…”

Now that he looked, Haoran was also holding a shirt half-heartedly. Even though it was a good quality piece of clothing that was hard to find in the evacuation zone, there was no enthusiasm in his eyes as he looked at it.

“This is shopping, which you liked so much, so why aren’t you looking around more?”

“Do you think I’m in any state to be looking at clothes right now, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong? It was only a few minutes ago that I heard I might die soon. What’s the use of dying in pretty clothes? Head Chief Seo Yoonseok sure has a refined taste.”

He almost let out a small laugh at the scathing remark, but he managed to hold it back by biting his lip. It was the first time since Ju Yoonchae that he had heard someone so directly criticize Paradise and the powerful people who monopolized it. It was refreshing. Ilyeong pulled down the corners of his twitching mouth and composed his expression.

“Still, watch your mouth. When we go to the banquet hall, we’ll be surrounded by enemies. If something goes wrong because of you, I’ll kill you first.”

“How bloodthirsty. I have some sense, so don’t you worry. By the way, do you have any countermeasures?”

Where would I get something like that. Ilyeong clamped his mouth shut again. That was answer enough.

Haoran’s shoulders slumped dejectedly, and he let out a long sigh. There was nothing the two nobodies could do except play along with Seo Yoonseok’s refined hobby. They could only pray fervently that nothing would happen, just as Jeon Seogu wished.

It was when the two of them had picked out a shirt and a pair of pants each and were heading toward the shoe display. Someone came running at full speed and crashed into Ilyeong’s arms. The clothes Ilyeong was holding spilled onto the floor with a thump. Haoran quickly supported Ilyeong’s staggering back.

“Yuto?”

It was also Haoran who identified the person who had rushed at him. Ilyeong stared silently at the white face in front of him. He had not recognized him at a glance because his venomous expression was unfamiliar, different from the last time he had seen him.

“I… I heard everything. That hyung betrayed us. So I… am doing the same thing. At least that person won’t ignore me…”

“What…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Haoran inserted himself between the two of them.

“What is this one saying now. If you hit a person, shouldn’t you apologize?”

“And, and… he promised. I’m going to live…”

“Hey, can’t you hear me? Are your ears blocked? Where are you going!”

Yuto gritted his teeth, then nervously got to his feet and quickly ran off. His small, agile body disappeared from sight in an instant. Haoran went ballistic, spewing a string of curses.

Ilyeong rubbed his throbbing forehead and picked up the clothes and bag again. He tried to hide the slight trembling of his fingertips. He was anxious because he had no idea what Ji Taeun was plotting using Yuto.

“Is this a spectacle for all of you? What are you looking at? Get lost!”

Unbefitting of the main culprit who had caused the commotion, Haoran scolded the onlookers. People who did not know that he was originally that shameless shot a few words back at Haoran. The immature young master of the garbage village transformed into a back-alley hoodlum and spewed curses he had never heard or seen before. The ones who fell first were, of course, those who had no immunity to such reckless verbal abuse.

Ilyeong stood up, feigning composure. Thanks to Haoran buying him time, he was fortunate enough not to show any emotion on his face.

“I was a bit like Ju Yoonchae sunbae, wasn’t I. That was refreshing. Anyway, that sneaky bastard Yuto, I knew there was something shady about him from the start. Did you two fight? Why is he suddenly acting like that?”

“It’s not like that…”

It’s not like that. Then why did Yuto suddenly rush at me?

Ilyeong stopped in his tracks. The feeling of going in circles with the conclusion right in front of him was unpleasant. He promised, I’m going to live. How should he interpret that story?

“Mr. Kwon Ilyeong?”

It felt like he could have found the answer if he had just a little more time, but someone called Ilyeong’s name. Ilyeong turned his head in the direction from which his name had been called. A face that was both familiar and unfamiliar gave him a nod.

“He wants to see you for a moment.”

If his memory served him right, it was Seo Juhyeok’s aide. The omitted subject would, of course, be Seo Juhyeok. Ilyeong unconsciously fiddled with his neck. He had thought he would come to see him since it was the last day on the cruise, but…

“Where should I go?”

“What? Who is this person now? Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, where are you going?”

Haoran, engrossed in his Ju Yoonchae impersonation, went ballistic and grabbed Ilyeong’s arm. Ilyeong took a deep breath through his nose and slowly exhaled.

“To use the last resort I have left.”

Ilyeong gave a nod toward Seo Juhyeok’s aide, whose expression was completely unreadable. It was a signal that he was ready to follow.

*

“It’s Aiden.”

The sound of footsteps walking down the hallway was steady. The voice that cut across that sound was so out of the blue that Ilyeong briefly doubted his own ears.

When there was no response, Seo Juhyeok’s aide, Aiden, stopped for a moment and extended his hand. It was a clear offer of a handshake.

“We met last time, too. We didn’t have a chance to properly introduce ourselves then because things were so hectic.”

A lie. He was chattering on casually, but that statement was half a lie. That day, Aiden had deliberately pretended not to know him. Even now, with such a sullen look in his eyes, it was surprising that he would even think of introducing himself.

Ilyeong stared at the outstretched hand for a moment before briefly shaking it. The cool, smooth texture, like touching the skin of a snake, was slightly unpleasant.

“I am Kwon Ilyeong.”

“I am aware. You’re the fourth winner from the 5th Evacuation Zone, aren’t you. There were a lot of interesting rumors about you, Doctor, on the cruise. Are you aware of them too, Doctor?”

Ilyeong stared intently at his cheek. The hostility directed at him from the man standing next to him was so palpable. He had a rough idea of the reason as well. He probably disliked that he, who was embroiled in dirty rumors, was constantly hovering around Seo Juhyeok. He had not the slightest intention of throwing any unnecessary bait to someone who was trying so hard to elicit a reaction.

Ilyeong, just as Aiden had done, hid the venom on his tongue and stared back nonchalantly.

“The prostitute of the garbage village, the heretic… What else is there besides those?”

Aiden flinched for a moment at Ilyeong’s composed reaction, then quickly shrugged his shoulders.

“No. You’re well aware. I have something I’m curious about, are all those rumors true?”

“What if they are? Are you going to ignore me again like last time?”

“When did I ever ignore you. I told you. Things were just very hectic then.”

“We’re not exactly idle right now either.”

Aiden closed his mouth and smiled faintly. His tightly clenched jaw flexed.

“You have a point. Let’s hurry. As you said, Doctor, we don’t have much time.”

This time, he seemed to mean it, as Aiden checked his wristwatch and quickened his pace. The sound of their even faster footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Ilyeong followed behind him with long strides.

“Head Chief Seo Yoonseok is.”

Aiden suddenly opened his mouth and brought up a name he was not very curious about. His gaze was fixed straight ahead.

“A very generous person. Generous enough to accept an unprecedented fourth winner, and generous enough to turn a blind eye to Lieutenant Colonel Seo’s misconduct.”

“…”

To talk about Seo Yoonseok, not Seo Juhyeok. He could not think of a reply, so when he pretended not to have heard, Aiden glanced at Ilyeong’s face.

“You have a look on your face that says you’re wondering why I’m talking about Head Chief Seo Yoonseok when my position is to serve the Lieutenant Colonel.”

“It’s more that it’s a bit surprising. I heard that Mr. Seo Juhyeok is no longer a soldier, but everyone around him still calls him Lieutenant Colonel.”

Sometime ago at the restaurant, Jamie had also called Seo Juhyeok “Lieutenant Colonel.” He remembered how Seo Juhyeok had looked subtly uncomfortable with the title that followed him so naturally. Aiden gave a short laugh and shrugged.

“That’s because anyone can see that he’s a born soldier. Everyone fails to properly recall the fact that he’s no longer a soldier. If you had seen the Lieutenant Colonel in his military uniform, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you would have understood what I’m saying.”

For someone who had been putting up a guard like a fortress until just a moment ago, his expression now was quite soft. But that too was fleeting, as Aiden wiped the faint smile that had spread across his face.

“But a few years ago, he suddenly said he would quit everything, which turned the family upside down. And now… it’s just as you see, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong. He wastes each and every day with alcohol and amusement. That’s why the Head Chief’s worries have been considerable lately.”

“Is that so.”

Perhaps provoked by Ilyeong’s indifferent reply, Aiden responded with a smiling face.

“What I’m saying right now is that you, Doctor Kwon, are nothing more than one of the Lieutenant Colonel’s deviations.”

“Yes. I think so too. I pray that Mr. Seo Juhyeok can escape from his deviation as soon as possible.”

“I can’t tell if you’re clueless or just thick-skinned…”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Aiden scrunched his eyes and stopped in front of the elevator. It seemed he felt no need to say more. Since the desire not to exchange more words was mutual, Ilyeong also just kept his mouth shut. No one spoke until the doors opened.

The silence was broken the moment a man and a woman stepped out of the elevator.

“Oh? Aiden. The banquet’s about to start, where are you going? And where’s Juhyeok?”

The man among them was the first to acknowledge Aiden. He had thought their attire and accessories were not ordinary, and it seemed they were indeed part of Seo Juhyeok’s group.

Now that he looked, the woman standing next to him also looked familiar. She was the beauty with a glamorous impression who had waved a room key at Seo Juhyeok in the main hall last time.

As his gaze unintentionally intensified, the woman in the cocktail dress, as if sensing it, smiled sweetly at Ilyeong. Aiden glanced at Ilyeong and then bowed his head to the man.

“It’s been a while.”

“Aiden, don’t be so formal with me. Just think of me as a close younger brother.”

“I cannot do that. You are, after all, a close friend of Lieutenant Colonel Seo. The Lieutenant Colonel will also be heading to the banquet hall soon.”

“That bastard, he confiscated all my belongings a few days ago and disappeared without a trace, which was no small trouble. He knows my condition gets bad without it… What a bad bastard. Thanks to him, my hands are all trembling now. Why is he coveting other people’s things after using up all of his own share?”

The man rattled on with his complaints and shook his veiny hands. Whatever “that thing” was, he seemed quite resentful. After fuming for a while, the man suddenly leaned in toward Aiden.

“You understand how I feel, right, Mr. Aiden?”

“Yes, yes.”

Ilyeong had to press his lips together to keep his mouth from turning up in a slight smile. The look of pathetic disdain for the man was so clearly readable in Aiden’s eyes. He thought he had kept his mouth shut well enough to prevent a snicker from escaping, but he could not quite manage to stifle the sound of air escaping.

Only then did the man’s gaze land on Ilyeong.

“Oh? Who is this. Isn’t it Mr. Kwon Ilyeong?”

He looked quite pleased, as if he had met an old friend. Ilyeong quickly composed his expression.

“Do you know me?”

“Of course! Is there any idiot on this cruise who doesn’t know you, Doctor? The people who have been bothering me with your business have been more than one or two. But Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you’re not very photogenic, are you? You’re much more handsome in person.”

Ilyeong narrowed his eyes imperceptibly and stared at the man’s face. He could feel an excited air from his constantly light words and expression. As if he were on drugs…

Ilyeong thought of upper-class drugs and then lightly shook his head. He felt it was too much to brand even the people around Seo Juhyeok as junkies just because they were his acquaintances.

“I’m Jang Heeyoon.”

In the meantime, the woman suddenly extended her hand to Ilyeong. An elegant perfume scent wafted from her. Ilyeong took Jang Heeyoon’s hand and shook it.

“This is the first time I’m seeing you up close. You’ve seen me before too, haven’t you, Doctor?”

Her red lips drew a smooth line. Ilyeong stared at her without a word.

That day in the main hall, Jang Heeyoon had clearly been making a sexual appeal to Seo Juhyeok. It was none other than Seo Juhyeok who had refused that and followed him. So he had wondered if Jang Heeyoon held any animosity toward him, but looking at her eyes, it seemed that was not the case. Jang Heeyoon raised her eyebrows and said playfully.

“Having such a handsome person stare at me so intently makes my heart flutter a little. How about it, Doctor, will you be my partner for tonight?”

“What? Then what about me? You said you’d go with me?”

The man, who had been listening to the conversation silently, burst out in anger from the side, and Jang Heeyoon frowned.

“You’re hurting my ears. Can’t you even take a joke?”

“Right? You were joking, right?”

“Yes. And above all, it seems the Doctor has already chosen a partner.”

Jang Heeyoon looked up at Ilyeong as if to ask, “Right?” A partner. It was the first time he had heard of it. Had he been told to decide on one? As he was carefully retracing his memory, Aiden subtly interjected.

“Yes. That’s correct. In fact, I was escorting the Doctor for that very matter. If you’ll excuse us…”

“Ah. I got carried away and talked for too long. Of course. You may go.”

Jang Heeyoon gave a nod of farewell to Aiden and Ilyeong in turn.

“But the part about my heart fluttering wasn’t a joke. I’ll see you at the banquet hall with Lieutenant Colonel Seo.”

At Jang Heeyoon’s whisper, the face of the man standing next to her turned pale. Paying him no mind, the woman walked away elegantly, and the man followed her like a dog. Thinking they were a strange duo, Ilyeong got on the elevator with Aiden. The scent of the perfume from Jang Heeyoon just a moment ago still lingered inside.

Standing at a distance from Aiden, Ilyeong frowned at the light on the indicator panel. The 8th floor. It was the floor where his suite was.

“It might be a bit late to ask, but where did Mr. Seo Juhyeok summon me?”

“Do you really need me to say it to know?”

What an annoying bastard. Would it kill him to just say it. Ilyeong closed his mouth and fiddled with the things in his hands. He confirmed that the crumpled clothes, as well as the duffel bag, were safely in his arms, but his tension did not ease.

He had felt like he was missing something since a while ago… The more he thought, the more he felt like he was sinking deeper into a mire, which only gave him a headache. In the end, he gave up trying to think and turned back to Aiden.

“Then what was that talk about a partner earlier? You’re not going to tell me that either?”

“It’s just as it sounds. Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you will be attending this evening’s banquet as the Lieutenant Colonel’s partner.”

“What does that…”

“I don’t know either. It’s probably just another form of amusement. I’ve served him for five years, but I still don’t know what’s on the Lieutenant Colonel’s mind. He’s that spontaneous and impulsive.”

Ding. The elevator doors opened with a chime signaling its arrival. Aiden adjusted his glasses and walked out ahead.

“That’s probably why he’s an outcast in the Seo family.”

It was a remark tossed out casually, but for Seo Juhyeok’s aide to say, it was quite presumptuous. However, since it did not seem like his place to point it out, Ilyeong just kept his mouth shut. The back walking ahead was imposing and uninhibited. Ilyeong asked to that back.

“Is it alright for you to tell me this? Listening to you, Mr. Aiden, you seem to be closer to Head Chief Seo Yoonseok’s man than Mr. Seo Juhyeok’s. What if I tell Mr. Seo Juhyeok?”

“My, my. Are you threatening me now? It’s not very scary. Because Lieutenant Colonel Seo already knows that I’m the Head Chief’s man.”

Aiden gave a bitter smile and stopped in one spot. The nuance of ‘how dare someone like you threaten me’ emanated from his expression as he looked down at Ilyeong. He had been thinking it for a while, but this man had zero talent for hiding his emotions.

“There is not a single person around the Lieutenant Colonel who is ‘truly’ on his side. It’s a fact that everyone knows, and even the Lieutenant Colonel knows it. It’s a natural consequence in a way, since he always treats people so lightly.”

“Everyone knows…”

“Yes. Mr. Kwon Ilyeong, you shouldn’t trust him too much either. You may be favored now, but when he gets tired of you, you’ll be cast aside without even being treated like a worn-out shoe. It’s a piece of advice, so don’t take it the wrong way.”

Aiden tilted his head and unlocked the door with a card key. He subtly raised his gaze and checked the number written on the door. It was Seo Juhyeok’s suite, the one he had been to before.

Just before the large hand turned the doorknob, Ilyeong pressed against the door, stopping him. Watching Aiden’s eyebrows slightly curl up, he continued to speak nonchalantly.

“I’ll take your advice well. Then, may I also say a word to you, Mr. Aiden?”

“…What is it?”

Ilyeong looked directly into the eyes that had been swirling with inferiority throughout the conversation about Seo Juhyeok. The brown eyes behind the glasses twitched.

“A single leaf blocks the eye. Because of your arrogance, you might get stabbed in the back someday. This is also a piece of advice from me.”

To say Seo Juhyeok was spontaneous and impulsive. Where else was there a person as calculating and tenacious as him. If he had instead said that Lieutenant Colonel Seo was instinctual, he might have been able to agree, but the preceding expression was so ridiculously laughable that the advice was offered in all sincerity.

He was doubtful whether the blond-haired Westerner would be able to understand the four-character idiom that means one cannot see the whole because one is focused on a single leaf, but seeing the vein pop on his forehead, it seemed he had fortunately understood it properly. Aiden maintained his sharp eyes from behind his glasses and proceeded to open the door.

“…I will take your advice with gratitude.”

Aiden’s lips, forced into a bitter smile, trembled. For some reason, it seemed the end of this arrogant man was not far off. Ilyeong bowed his head slightly and stepped into the suite.

Thud. The sound of the door closing was heavier than usual. The moment he stepped into the entrance, a heavy fragrance flooded his nose. He felt a little dizzy. He knew from past experience that it was the scent of the perfume Seo Juhyeok used.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Kwon Ilyeong.”

Ilyeong stopped in the entrance and looked at the heretic of the Seo family.

The man who had no one on his side, the predator who hid his true self by adorning his entire body with all sorts of lightness…