Rainbow City Chapter 24

“Why are you so curious about it?”

“I want to know for sure how Dr. Oh died.”

“Still, not curious enough to sleep with me.”

Are you implying that Dr.Oh wasn’t that important to you? Kwak Soohwan was questioning him. As Kwak Soohwan gently scratched, Seokhwa, who had been gradually getting warmer, approached him step by step.

“Major Kwak Soohwan, you said you don’t get hard. So then, how do you have sex?”

“Oh, I will. What if I get hard right now?”

Kwak Soohwan lowered his gaze, pointing to his lower body.

“Let’s negotiate.”

Unexpectedly, Kwak Soohwan’s eyes widened. Words like ‘negotiate’ even came out of Dr. Seok’s mouth.

“If it happens now, it might be difficult to sleep, but kissing is possible.”

Now, Seokhwa raised his head with open eyes. At least, shouldn’t you close your eyes? Kwak Soohwan stood still without approaching.

“Dr. Seok asked, so why do I have to do it? You should come over here first.”

“I said I would pay you.”

“I have plenty of money. Various denominations of bills in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple are stacked in that drawer.”

Seokhwa, with an unexpected response, placed both hands on Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders. The warmth from his hot palms spread from the shoulders to the whole body. It felt as if the brain cells might not die because of this heat. Kwak Soohwan tilted his head slightly, as if signaling Seokhwa to proceed. Seokhwa’s Adam’s apple was visible. Why is someone who has had relationships so nervous like this? He almost bowed my head first due to the wind of tension, as it seemed to be approaching one centimeter every minute. While waiting for Seokhwa to come closer, he once again thought about Serpent.

The term “Serpent” referred to the leadership of the well-known Eden, and it was hard to believe that they would personally engage in activities demonstrating their skills. Alternatively, they could be confident enough in their abilities to take a proactive approach.

“Major Kwak Soohwan.”

“Yeah?”

“How much of what you say is empty talk, and how much is sincere?”

Suddenly, Seokhwa, who had come closer, looked into Kwak Soohwan’s eyes.

“Do you really want to have sex with me or kiss me?”

Always having a blank expression, Kwak Soohwan was quick to catch on.

“If the opportunity arises, of course, I’d want to do everything.”

Kwak Soohwan forcefully embraced Seokhwa’s waist, who was trying to move away. Although Seokhwa quickly pushed away his chest, their lower bodies were intimately pressed against each other. Kwak Soohwan deliberately pressed his embracing waist to make it more tight.

“Open your mouth.”

Even so, Seokhwa raised his head with tightly closed lips. The lips were plump as they had dried up, and it felt strangely good in its own way.

Kwak Soohwan inclined his head and pressed his lips firmly against Seokhwa’s. He extended his tongue, exploring inside Seokhwa’s lips, finding them slightly nibbled on. After licking vigorously, he released the lower lip, causing a gasp of surprise. Seizing the opportunity, he held the back of Seokhwa’s head and deeply delved into the lips. Seokhwa’s tense tongue trembled intermittently inside, not knowing what to do. Kwak Soohwan tightly sucked on the tongue, which was trying to avoid him.

Exhaling heavily, Seokhwa, who was trying to break free, was pursued and kissed again. Seokhwa went for breath, and Kwak Soohwan, who didn’t miss it, again pulled him into a kiss. Seokhwa wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Still held at the waist by Kwak Soohwan, he could not move back. In the process of trying to wipe away the saliva with his hand, Kwak Soohwan’s lips approached again. Seokhwa stiffened, wondering if he was going to kiss again.

Seokhwa looked surprised as Kwak Soohwan placed a pebble he was holding in his hand into his mouth. Seokhwa wiped it off with the back of his hand, but Kwak Soohwan’s lips approached once more. Seokhwa, thinking he was going to kiss again, stayed frozen, so he put the pebble back into his mouth.

Seokhwa stared at Kwak Soohwan in surprise. Although he wasn’t a soldier who would eat stones, Kwak Soohwan was rolling the pebble inside his mouth as if savoring the taste. Seokhwa wiped his lips with the back of his hand once more. Unable to retreat, as he was still held by Kwak Soohwan’s waist, he was given a pebble inside his mouth again.

Hwik, as Kwak Soohwan pushed up from below, making her tilt his head back while kissing, the area around his lips became flushed from the delicate nibbling of the upper and lower lips. Now, Seokhwa pushed him away, blocking his lips with her hand. As he swept his tongue over his palm, his hand twitched with ticklishness.

“Doctor, you taste better than a stone.”

Kwak Soohwan finally let him go. He turned on the computer and came back; his lips were still moist.

“Mother, requesting access permission for code number 3121.”

[Voice confirmation completed, code 3121, permission granted for Kwak Soohwan’s access. Access to level 1 classified information is allowed.]

Seokhwa held the damp stone, squinting his blurry eyes and then suddenly snapped back to reality. It wasn’t the time to be lost in the aftermath of a kiss, and he didn’t want to think of such things as aftermath. He approached the computer, tapped on the keyboard without sitting in the chair.

As expected, the records of the Royal Guard incident were almost level 2 classified. When he tried to open the document, a stern voice came through the speaker.

[Royal Guard incident record level 1 classified, proceeding with voice recognition.]

“What do you want to know?”

Kwak Soohwan, who had been watching with crossed arms, spoke.

“As I mentioned, it’s about the murder case of Dr. Oh.”

Suddenly, Kwak Soohwan brought the clock from the desk and placed it in front of Seokhwa. Then he extended two fingers. It was unclear what the meaning was behind drawing a V.

“Mother, display the record of Dr. Oh’s murder case.”

[Loading. Proceeding.]

On the monitor, a file format that could be flipped through pages appeared, with the title ‘Dr. Oh Murder Case Record (In Progress)‘ on the first page. Seokhwa quickly opened the classified document and began reading.

The information about death by a Beretta M92F 9mm caliber bullet piercing the heart was consistent with what he had. The estimated time of death was around 5 a.m., and it was mentioned that the CCTV footage could not be recovered. A photo of Dr. Oh’s body was also included, but it was hard to look at it closely. Still, he began meticulously absorbing the details into his mind.

[The culprit in the murder case of Dr. Oh is currently being traced, and suspicion points to an external act rather than an internal one. It is identified that a shelter official who was the target of an acquisition is involved, and the movements of several rebel groups are being pursued. The investigation mission is led by Major Kwak Soohwan, including the Royal Guard 2nd Platoon.]

[Connection terminated.]

[Ending the connection.]

Seokhwa turned around abruptly, looking at him as if he couldn’t believe him.

“I was still watching.”

“The negotiation value ends here.”

Kwak Soohwan once again extended his middle and index fingers lengthwise.

“We kissed for only two minutes, and watching more than that would be too much of a loss for me.”

He hadn’t even seen the back properly… No, more than that, he was bothered by the fact that Kwak Soohwan was among those investigating the murder of Dr. Oh.

“Do you want to see more? Then something more than a kiss is needed.”

Seokhwa bluntly spoke while looking at Kwak Soohwan’s face, which was round and smiling.

“No, I’ve seen enough of the data.”

If he wanted more, he could do it himself, he said, sipping water again. Seokhwa, who had been staring uncomfortably at his back, also approached the bed.

“There was no need to access the data from the beginning. Since it’s Major Kwak Soohwan who is investigating the murder of Dr. Oh. Also, Eden… Major Kwak Soohwan didn’t deny it. Dr. Oh might have clashed with the higher-ups and returned. But there, the records confirm an external act, and it seems like they are conducting an investigation.”

An infuriated Seokhwa spoke rapidly and lengthily. Kwak Soohwan, with both arms behind his head, closed his eyes, looking like he had no intention of saying anything more.

“Do you have nothing to say to me?”

“As Dr. Seok saw, and I also don’t know the culprit for sure. And why bother with unnecessary things? Dr. Seok is a researcher, not a member of the Royal Guard, right?”

With a laughter-infused statement, Seokhwa leaped onto his body. Kwak Soohwan, looking bewildered, finally opened his eyes.

“I…”

Seokhwa hesitated to speak, then firmly grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s shirt with both hands. Looking from below to above, his jawline was smooth. There was a reason why Lee Chaeyoon sang that Dr. Seok was pretty and handsome. Moreover, in terms of appearance alone, Seokhwa perfectly matched Kwak Soohwan’s taste. But that was it. For Kwak Soohwan, what Seokhwa thought and how he acted were the most important.

“I… I was born and raised in Jeju Island… I don’t know well. I’ve never questioned how much people tremble in fear, or why Adam doesn’t disappear. But…”

In an unusual emotional plea from Seokhwa, Kwak Soohwan showed no reaction. He just looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“Something feels strange. Something seems wrong. Why did Dr. Oh have to go back… and also Sunbae.”

Indeed, something was off. While peacefully living on Jeju Island, he hadn’t thought about it until now, but he was prepared to be taken to the Yeouido Shelter after his mother’s funeral. Regardless of the reason, even if he had to go. However, the higher-ups left him in Jeju Island. As Dr. Oh said, they didn’t contact each other. It felt like they had been separated by Dr. Oh.

The hand gripping the shirt quickly lost its strength. Because he had exerted force holding the stone, he felt a sharp pain in the palm of his hand that held the stone. In an instant, the energy drained, and he tried to lean back, but he grabbed his waist.

“What does it matter? Dr. Seok just needs to conduct research as ordered by the higher-ups.”

Strangely, a chilling cold seemed to emanate from where he held him. Unlike his own hot body, Kwak Soohwan’s lips and hands were cold. It might be the average body temperature for a person, but to him, it felt like a chilly temperature.

Maybe Kwak Soohwan’s words were right. Apart from the given task, he didn’t want to pour energy into anything else, and he didn’t have the capacity for that. However, since returning to the Yeouido Shelter, there were only emotionally charged, suspicious, and impure events.

“… Let me go.”

Seokhwa weakly uttered words to release himself. Kwak Soohwan, surprisingly, let him go more willingly than he had expected. Slowly getting off the bed, he started to walk away, leaving his bed behind.

“Dr. Seok.”

Kwak Soohwan lay on his side, propping his chin with his hand and spoke.

“All the things you just said to me.”

Those words echoed through the closing door.

“Sounds like a rebel tendency.”

***

Rebel tendency…

Seokhwa had never questioned his identity before. This was the first time he had doubts about Rainbow City. Suddenly, he felt as if cold water was pouring over his entire body. Kwak Soohwan was his bodyguard, a soldier in Rainbow City, and according to the kidnapper, a guardian. What if he reports today’s conversation with him to the higher-ups?

It’s unlikely. Kwak Soohwan also seemed to have suspicions that the one who killed Dr. Oh might be from within. In that case, wouldn’t that also be a rebel tendency? Furthermore, Seokhwa had left open the possibility of suspicion towards anyone, even the kidnapper from the emerging religion Eden Valley.

If they got hold of Dr. Oh’s will, there could be a buyer in the shelter or the Royal Guard, or…

[Opening.]

Seokhwa, whose fingerprints were recognized in his room, hesitated as he entered. He crossed his arms and wrapped his shoulders.

Or could it be a test from the higher-ups?

He understood that thinking this far was mere speculation. Yeah, it didn’t make sense. A total of seven soldiers from the Gwacheon branch were reported dead. However, Seokhwa knew. A long time ago, about Dr. Wonho. Also, what happened to him.

At that time, he was a newly arrived junior researcher at the Yeouido Shelter. Wonho and Dr. Oh had a close relationship due to their similar ages. However, unlike Dr. Oh, who took good care of people, Wonho had a sharp personality. He rarely mixed with junior researchers and sometimes looked unfavorably upon Seokhwa, who occasionally showed symptoms of anemia.

But one day, rumors began circulating in the shelter. Dr. Wonho was engaging in undercover activities under the orders of the rebels.

He didn’t know where the origin of those rumors was, and it was beyond his interest. The rumors gradually spread over several months, and the Royal Guard arrested Wonho, who was in contact with the rebels on the frontline. The rebels he had joined aimed to liberate Rainbow City, which belonged to the Unified Nation.

The Yeouido Shelter was in chaos. Dr. Oh, a senior researcher, was subjected to a high-intensity investigation by the Royal Guard for over a week due to the fact that Wonho had joined the rebels.

Dr. Wonho, who had redeveloped a confession drug called AmobaVital, which had once been banned, did not confess the whole truth to the confession drug he had created. Moreover, around the time Dr. Wonho was being investigated, junior researchers were also summoned to the Royal Guard, and among them, Seokhwa was also included.

“Look here. Dr. Seok would never be involved. I guarantee it. If you investigate that innocent friend intensively, you might end up dead.”

Ironically, Dr.Oh’s words were correct. Moreover, even the Royal Guard didn’t think Seokhwa would be involved as much as a rebel. A person who could faint just from eating was accused of engaging in undercover activities and joining the rebels.

The other doctors could safely leave the Royal Guard investigation room after receiving the confession drug, but Seokhwa was able to walk out of the Royal Guard investigation room unscathed, as if nothing had happened.

Since the day Wonho was executed, Dr.Oh started drinking again after having quit. He mourned for his foolish friend. Until then, Dr.Oh had tremendous pride in being a citizen of Rainbow City. However, he would have gradually changed after the death of his friend.

He must have been constantly questioning why his friend had joined the rebels. What was lacking that made him abandon Rainbow City? To get answers to those questions, Dr.Oh delved deeper and may have developed resentment towards the higher-ups who, according to his friend’s last will, did not want the development of a cure.

I don’t know…

Muttering, Seokhwa slid his body sideways from leaning on the door. He wanted to take out a Choco-bar, but he didn’t have the energy to unwrap it.

From Dr. Wonho to Dr. Oh…

It felt as if he had started walking the path they had tread, following in their footsteps.