Rainbow City Chapter 90 - Exclusive Extra (23)

Before leaving the cultivation room, Seokhwa completed the disinfection process. Although all the candidate substances for the anti-Adam virus had failed so far, he wasn’t disappointed. After all, the outcome had been predictable given the race against time. However, his focus kept wavering due to various distracting thoughts.

Seokhwa walked to the computer desk set up outside the cultivation room. Next to him sat an old man who had secretly filled a water bottle with alcohol and was sipping from it repeatedly. Seokhwa pulled a marble piece from his lab coat pocket and presented it to the old man.

“That’s enough. I’m done accepting gifts from the Kwak family.”

The old man didn’t even look at the piece and retorted sullenly.

“Then let’s say I’m giving it to you.”

Seokhwa placed the piece on one side of the old man’s desk. He had expected a reaction of anger or dismissal, but to his surprise, the old man left it there.

As Seokhwa sat down, he recalled the time he parted ways with Kwak Soohwan. This time, Kwak had brought him to the lab without making a fuss, saying he’d find a way to pass the time until quitting time.

In truth, it didn’t matter to Seokhwa whether he became well-known as a vaccine developer or not. The reason he disclosed his role in vaccine development on the broadcast was because of the mutants who had fallen behind, like Hyungang and Daehun.

“Old man.”

“Why are you taking Dr. Stone’s gift and then giving it back?”

The old man grinned slyly as he drank from the water bottle.

“Why do you think Prime Minister Lee Heechan is trying to overlook the crimes committed by the honorary families?”

The old man turned his chair completely towards Seokhwa and chuckled.

“Looks like a fight broke out between the Kwak family and the Iga family?”

Seokhwa didn’t respond, but that was enough of an answer for the old man. Whenever the stiff Dr. Stone brought up personal matters, it was always related to Kwak Soohwan. Other than that, he was a dull researcher who only talked about the development of remedies. The old man’s eyes sparkled with excitement at this entertaining tidbit.

“Did they fight with their fists? No, right? The Iga isn’t a mutant, so it must’ve been a verbal fight. So who won the argument?”

The old man’s childlike enthusiasm for gossip made Seokhwa question if he had chosen the right person to seek advice from. Yet, the only person he could consider a friend was the old man. Of course, he was also close with Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon, but he couldn’t share such topics with them, especially since it involved Lee Chaeyoon’s mother.

“You didn’t die with your eyes open, did you?”

The old man waved his hand in front of Seokhwa’s face.

“Why does Prime Minister Lee not want to punish the honorary families? It’s not even a minor offense; they seriously broke the law.”

“Hmm… They broke the law seriously but aren’t punishing them. So, there’s only one conclusion.”

Seokhwa listened intently to the old man’s words.

“It’s because of the intertwined political interests. It seems like they’re talking about an owl and a phoenix. If one of them were to be removed, it would be like Lee Heechan losing an arm. New family powers are emerging left and right, after all. This is the most important world now, isn’t it?”

The old man made a coin sign with his thumb and index finger. It was true that alongside the three honorary families, capitalists who expanded their businesses were popping up everywhere. Currently, especially in the tourism industry, the family that first developed the tourism sector was rising as a key force opposite to the honorary families.

“In the days of the two-Master system, it was almost a dictatorship, so they probably didn’t notice, but politics has always been a factional struggle. Moreover…”

The old man pointed at Seokhwa with the hand holding the water bottle.

“It has been widely revealed that it wasn’t the honorary family that developed the vaccine, but Dr. Stone. Originally, they went around claiming the credit for it. Especially the owls.”

Later, they managed to twist it by saying they invested a huge amount of money in vaccine development, but doubts about the honorary families started to grow among the citizens. The Emperor Penguin had guaranteed freedom of expression, so this was a price that had to be paid.

“I can clearly see what Lee Heechan is thinking right now.”

“What’s he thinking?”

“He must think it would’ve been better to be a Master instead of a Prime Minister. Then it would’ve been easier for the honorary families to profit.”

However, they could no longer return to the old system. Doing so would trigger not just backlash but an outright rebellion.

“Thank you.”

Seokhwa sincerely expressed his gratitude to the old man.

“Huh? Why again? Is this the end?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I found it very helpful.”

“Let’s take this chance to talk bad about the Kwaks or the Igas.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Normally, he would’ve said he didn’t want to, but he did his best to show sociability to the old man, who had helped him organize his thoughts.

“Ugh!”

The old man abruptly spun his chair back to its original position and gulped down more alcohol.

After sorting through the experimental details and selecting new candidate substances, it was already quitting time. As soon as the clock struck six, Seokhwa hurriedly prepared to leave. After saying goodbye to the old man and his colleague, who said they would go back in later, he checked the time again. Three minutes had already passed.

He didn’t want to leave Kwak Soohwan waiting for even a single minute longer than necessary. Even while the military police conducted a body search, he felt restless. At the same time, he realized just how significant Kwak Soohwan was to him. While Kwak Soohwan would likely understand if he were late, Seokhwa’s anxiety grew with every passing second.

After the search was completed, he stepped outside and found Kwak Soohwan waiting in the hallway, wearing a hat. Seeing him there, Seokhwa felt a surge of emotion. He likely had nothing to do while waiting for him… Imagining him killing time in that place just to wait for him made Seokhwa feel unreasonably upset.

As Seokhwa quickened his pace, Kwak Soohwan opened his arms with a bright smile. Although Seokhwa thought it was obvious he wouldn’t just run into his arms in front of so many onlookers, he stepped right into them.

Even with a gentle pull, Kwak Soohwan felt as if his breath was being cut off. He embraced Seokhwa in return, then motioned towards the military officer who was looking at them with a surprised expression. The officer quickly lowered his gaze, understanding the hint to look elsewhere.

“Hey, did something happen?”

“I missed you.”

“……”

It felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer. After all, they had only been apart for about three hours. While Seokhwa would want to see him immediately even after just a second apart, he had never dared to say anything for fear of sounding suffocating.

“I missed you the moment you left.”

“Did you wait here the whole time?”

Seokhwa looked up from Kwak Soohwan’s embrace, his small, round nose looking adorable.

“Yeah, I was just excited waiting for you to come out.”

He really felt a twinge of disappointment when he realized that there were no flowers in his hands as Seokhwa emerged from the frosted glass. It felt like being engulfed by a massive wave as he approached and wrapped himself around him. But it wasn’t a cold wave that would drown him; instead, it was a vast sea that embraced him.

This small Seokhwa always gave him a sense of stability. If he were to say he was small, Major would argue that he was tall, just a bit skinny, and average in height.

“Let’s hurry home.”

“Should we stop by the mart first?”

“Sounds good.”

As Seokhwa relaxed his grip on Kwak Soohwan, a look of realization crossed his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“I rushed out so quickly that I forgot to take off my lab coat.”

With a cheerful laugh, Kwak Soohwan helped Seokhwa remove his coat. Even though it didn’t expose his bare body, he quickly wrapped his arm around Seokhwa’s shoulder as if worried someone might see. With his other arm, he draped Seokhwa’s coat over it. They greeted several soldiers as they walked to the parking lot, and Seokhwa had to bow his head several times in return.

The car was parked close to the entrance. Seokhwa took the car keys from Kwak Soohwan and grabbed the steering wheel. When Kwak Soohwan asked if he was tired, Seokhwa smiled softly, saying it was a reward for waiting for him. Seokhwa probably didn’t realize that he was barely suppressing the impulse to hug him so tightly in these fleeting moments.

Kwak Soohwan, sitting in the passenger seat, turned his body toward Seokhwa, just as he usually did.

“Buckle up.”

In response, Seokhwa reached over and pulled the seatbelt into place. Meanwhile, Kwak Soohwan pressed his lips against Seokhwa’s cheek and kissed him several times.

“I’m going to start driving now.”

Seokhwa exuded the qualities of a seasoned driver. Shifting gears and exiting the parking lot went smoothly. However, he still approached the steering wheel with caution. Despite having gained some sense of the road, he remained consistent, whether it was a familiar route or a new one.

“What about Prime Minister Lee Heechan?”

“Are you asking if I met him again?”

“Yeah.”

“Just a quick chat while I was waiting for you.”

“What did you talk about?”

“He told me not to mess around.”

Seokhwa slowed down a bit and glanced sideways at Kwak Soohwan before focusing back on the road. While others wouldn’t notice Seokhwa’s subtle changes, Kwak Soohwan did. There was still shock evident in his eyes. It seemed he believed that Lee Heechan had lashed out after a quarrel.

During the psychological warfare in the situation room, it appeared that trust in Lee Heechan had plummeted sharply. Kwak Soohwan thought it was actually a good thing.

Seokhwa had too much trust in Lee Heechan. He was the kind of person who would sacrifice Seokhwa or him for the sake of Lee Chaeyoon. He also had aspirations for the prosperity of his family. Right now, he was known as the Prime Minister’s family, but during his master days, the nickname of the Emperor Penguin was “migratory bird and hyena.”

Given his strong sense of pride, he also bore deep grievances, making it not too difficult to draw her family into rebellion. Although he had incited feelings of inferiority, he now stood at the peak of power. Having claimed the throne, she remained vigilant, never letting her guard down against the possibility of her position being threatened.

“So, what did he say?”

“He said a mere soldier had no power and that I should just keep my head down.”

“Really?”

Kwak Soohwan took a nut bar from the glove compartment and held it up to Seokhwa’s mouth. Seokhwa took a bite and chewed slowly.

“I promised that instead of messing around, I would track down and deal with the family that wanted to find the mutant.”

“It seems like it was the Owl family after all.”

“I was planning to deal with those bastards sooner or later anyway.”

“Why?”

“You know they offered up their mansion, right? I mentioned it earlier.”

Seokhwa shook his head slightly.

“I knew before that. There was a program that announced the auction of Major’s record collection.”

“Oh, uh. From now on, I’m not collecting anymore. I’ll just listen to the ones at home.”

“You can still buy them if you want.”

There was a stubbornness that seemed almost cute, and Seokhwa couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. As he turned on the blinker to enter the mart, Kwak Soohwan waited for him to make the right turn before continuing.

“The Ttumbugi family controls the tourism industry right now, but the Owl bastards tried to take it over and ended up stretching themselves too thin. That’s why they need quick cash. And the middle class is starting to rise up, so they’ll need a ton of money to stop that.”

In other words, they wanted to take over the growing market with their capital before it matured.

“The Emperor Penguin was supposed to mediate, but it looks like the Owls thought they’d benefit if the Ttumbugi family grew.”

“If they’re not careful, they could get swallowed up by the Owls.”

“This can’t go on. You should become the prime minister.”

“Prime Minister Lee probably knew about it too. There wouldn’t have been many other ways to keep the Ttumbugi family in check.”

Seokhwa carefully checked the side mirrors as he backed into a parking space. The parking lot in front of the mart was quite crowded, as it was rush hour. Seokhwa made sure to leave enough space on the passenger side so that Kwak Soohwan could comfortably get out. As a result, the traffic cones on the driver’s side were positioned right next to the car.

After parking, Kwak Soohwan clapped his hands more than five times.

“They say people who park perfectly have a kind heart.”

With that, he got out of the car. Seokhwa also got out, alternating his gaze between the parking lines and the car. It wasn’t perfectly straight; it was slightly crooked.

“As expected, you’re full of humanity.”

He gave a thumbs-up. Kwak Soohwan wrapped his arm around Seokhwa’s shoulders again as they walked around the front of the car. He often slung his arm over Seokhwa’s shoulder, but as always, the weight of his arm didn’t feel heavy.

“You parked it a little crooked on purpose so you wouldn’t seem too perfect.”

“That’s the first time anyone’s told me I’m full of humanity.”

“I’m the one who says lots of things you’ve never heard before, right?”

“Yes.”

“People have been too jealous to tell you until now.”

That was a ridiculous excuse, but even so, Seokhwa always enjoyed Kwak Soohwan’s compliments.

“When we get home, why don’t you try parking, Major? Show me just how perfect you are.”

“Alright.”

Kwak Soohwan grinned as he looked back at the car Seokhwa had parked. He was thinking about how he’d park it at the exact same angle, just to prove they were meant for each other.

The Green Mart they frequently visited was the largest store in the area, selling fish, meat, and other food ingredients. In this city, prices varied by neighborhood. In the area where the upper class resided, the same items were significantly more expensive. As a result, most of the customers were middle class or higher.

Of course, it wasn’t always the case that the upper class had lived in this neighborhood. After Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa bought their house, military officials and other families gradually started moving in. It wasn’t because they liked them so much; rather, it was a calculated decision.

Even though Adam was no longer a threat, people’s anxiety persisted. They believed that if something were to happen, being near Kwak Soohwan or Seokhwa would be the safest place to be.

On the other hand, Kwak Soohwan was displeased by the neighbors who came closer under the guise of friendship and was considering moving elsewhere soon. Since Seokhwa’s opinion was the most important to him, he planned to bring it up at the right time.

As a tall man entered the mart, people’s attention naturally turned toward him.

“Doctor, Lieutenant General, welcome! I heard the duck meat is really fresh today.”

The store’s security guard greeted them warmly. Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan exchanged greetings, and as usual, Kwak Soohwan fetched a cart. Since they visited often, they were on good terms with the staff. Although many recognized them, few people approached them without reason.

Sometimes, people would ask Seokhwa for a handshake or express their gratitude with their children. In such cases, it was always Kwak Soohwan who shook hands on Seokhwa’s behalf. The rumor had spread so much that it became common knowledge—if you want to shake hands with Kwak Soohwan, you should approach Seokhwa.

Seokhwa still found all the attention overwhelming. That’s why, recently, he enjoyed camping trips with just the two of them the most. Even though the journey to and from God’s Fortress had been exhausting, and he had vowed never to do it again, in hindsight, all that remained were good memories.

While Kwak Soohwan had been anxious about his motion sickness on the unpaved roads, he had eventually grown accustomed to it. And without anyone’s watchful eyes, they were entirely free. They would camp together, stock up on food at a base camp, grill meat, and when they had the energy, their bodies would entwine.

The past month had been precious, uninterrupted time spent entirely focused on each other.

“Later.”

“Huh?”

Kwak Soohwan was startled, which was unusual for him. He had been thinking about how fun it would be to push Seokhwa in the cart while pulling it along. There was no way Seokhwa could have read his mind. Although they often understood each other without words, this childish thought surely wasn’t something Seokhwa would know. So, this wasn’t about riding the cart later.

Kwak Soohwan stood for a moment in the vegetable aisle, watching Seokhwa as he picked up perilla leaves. Seokhwa continued to speak while placing the leaves in the cart.

“I think it would be nice if we built a small house like we did at Ha Mountains and just lived together.”

“When would that be?”

Kwak Soohwan quickly jumped on the conversation as if he had been waiting for it. Seokhwa felt a bit guilty, thinking that he would probably be ready to leave tomorrow if he had the chance.

“After the treatment development is finished.”

“With your skills, it should only take a month.”

Surprisingly, Kwak Soohwan spoke with confidence.

“I expect it will take at least a year.”

“In the meantime, should we build a nice house somewhere secluded?”

“If we want to live somewhere quiet, both you and I would have to quit our jobs.”

“If you develop the treatment, you’ve done all the work.”

“And what about you?”

“I’m best suited to being a laid-back person.”

He placed a carton of eggs into the cart. He insisted on providing Seokhwa with regular nutrition, making sure he ate two eggs every day. Kwak Soohwan, on the other hand, ate at least five. He prepared them in various ways—scrambled, boiled, and in different dishes—so that Seokhwa wouldn’t get bored with them.

Despite the efforts to feed him, Seokhwa had lost weight after returning from God’s Fortress. While Kwak Soohwan had taken sick leave, it was Seokhwa who had effectively lost muscle mass. Lately, Kwak Soohwan had been diligently trying to help Seokhwa regain his former strength.

“How about we grill some meat today and take a walk around the neighborhood afterward? On the way back, we can grab some chicken skewers.”

Kwak Soohwan also made sure to grab milk and walnuts. All of it was for Seokhwa’s meals.

“If you keep taking care of me like this, it’ll get annoying really fast.”

Seokhwa was still worrying unnecessarily. It was partly because people had been critical of his frail health, which had left a lingering impression.

“I told you before that everything we do together is a self-healing time, right?”

“Still…”

Even when walking together, it would have to be at a very slow pace for Kwak Soohwan, which could be boring. He was much better suited to explosive sprints. So, while Seokhwa felt grateful that he shared everything with him, he also hoped that Kwak Soohwan could have some time to himself so that life wouldn’t feel too monotonous.

“If you have other hobbies, don’t worry about me.”

“My hobby is being with Dr. Seok.”

He said this in a way that implied not to say anything further.

“Think about it. I was the unhappiest when you weren’t by my side.”

“It’s just an older brother’s worry.”

“True. If you were my younger brother, I would have been angry, but since you’re my older brother, I can’t even get mad.”

Even while mentioning anger, Kwak Soohwan’s eyes were filled with warmth. His overflowing energy also radiated an uncontrollable affection. If he treated Seokhwa today the way he had treated Lee Heechan, Seokhwa felt like he might choke despite being on an empty stomach.

“Today, we’re having duck.”

“Huh? Not boiled chicken?”

“You ate too much on the way back.”

Honestly, Seokhwa still wasn’t tired of boiled chicken, but he was worried about Kwak Soohwan.

“Then let’s buy some chives too.”

“Sounds good.”

Even though they went shopping two or three times a week, their cart was always full of groceries. Thanks to Kwak Soohwan’s hearty appetite, there were almost no leftovers.

“With you two living together, where does all this food go?”

The familiar supermarket owner smiled warmly as he scanned the barcodes. Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan greeted him back, and Kwak Soohwan, as usual, grabbed a cart. Because they frequented this supermarket, they often exchanged greetings with the staff. Many people recognized them, but few approached them without hesitation.

Occasionally, some would ask Seokhwa for a handshake or thank him along with their children. In those moments, it was always Kwak Soohwan who held out his hand instead. The rumor had spread widely: if someone wanted to shake hands with Kwak Soohwan, they should reach out to Seokhwa first.

Seokhwa still found the attention of others burdensome. That’s why he preferred going camping alone with Kwak Soohwan lately. The trip to God’s Fortress was certainly exhausting, and now that he knew the struggles involved, he thought he wouldn’t do it again. However, what remained now were only the pleasant memories.

Kwak Soohwan had been anxious about getting car sick on the unpaved roads, but after a while, he got used to it and could endure it. Moreover, they had total freedom without anyone watching. They camped together, resupplying food at midpoints, grilling meat, and on days when they had the energy, they would share their bodies.

The past month had been a precious time completely focused on each other without any interruptions.

“Later.”

“Huh?”

Kwak Soohwan was taken aback, which was unusual for him. He had been thinking it would be fun to have Seokhwa ride in the cart while he pushed it. Seokhwa couldn’t have developed mind-reading abilities. Even though they usually understood each other well, he would not know such childlike thoughts. So it wasn’t as if he was saying they would ride in the cart later.

Kwak Soohwan stood for a moment in the vegetable section, watching Seokhwa pick up a bundle of perilla leaves. As Seokhwa placed the perilla in the cart, he continued speaking.

“Like on the mountain, it might be nice if we built a small house and just lived there, just the two of us.”

“When exactly?”

Kwak Soohwan quickly caught on to his words, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. He liked what he was hearing, but Seokhwa felt somewhat apologetic, as it seemed like Kwak was ready to leave even tomorrow.

“After the treatment development is finished.”

“With your skills, that’ll take just a month.”

Instead, it was Kwak Soohwan who spoke confidently.

“I’m expecting it to take at least over a year.”

“Should I go build a house in a quiet place in the meantime?”

“If you want to live somewhere quiet, Major, we’d both have to quit our jobs.”

“Once you develop the treatment, your work is pretty much done.”

“And what about you, Major?”

“I’m best suited to being a loafer.”

He placed a carton of eggs in the cart. He insisted on giving Seokhwa consistent nutrition, making sure he ate two eggs a day. Kwak himself ate at least five. He cooked eggs in various ways—fried, boiled—ensuring Seokhwa, who had a small appetite, wouldn’t get bored of them.

Despite the effort to feed him well, after returning from God’s Fortress, Seokhwa had lost weight. While it was Kwak Soohwan who took medical leave, it was actually Seokhwa who experienced muscle loss. Kwak had been working hard lately to restore Seokhwa to his former self.

“How about we grill some meat today and take a walk around the neighborhood? On the way back, we can grab a chicken skewer.”

Kwak also made sure to stock up on milk and walnuts. All for Seokhwa’s meals.

“If you take care of me this much, you’ll get tired of it soon.”

Seokhwa was still unnecessarily worried. After all, people had left him before, finding his frail body a burden.

“I’ve told you before—everything I do with you is healing time for me.”

“Still…”

Even when they walked together, Kwak Soohwan had to move very slowly, which must’ve been boring for him. He was more suited to explosive running. That’s why Seokhwa was grateful for everything Kwak did with him but wished he’d take time for himself to avoid boredom.

“If you have any other hobbies, feel free to do them without worrying about me.”

“My hobby is spending time with Dr. Seok.”

Kwak ended the conversation firmly, as if to say he didn’t want to discuss it further.

“Think about it. I was most miserable when I couldn’t be by your side.”

“I’m just concerned as your older brother.”

“Exactly. If you were my younger brother, I’d be angry, but since you’re older, I can’t even get mad.”

Even as he spoke about anger, Kwak’s eyes were filled with affection. Along with his overflowing energy, there was always an undeniable warmth coming from him. If Kwak treated him like he did Lee Heechan today, Seokhwa felt he might get indigestion, even on an empty stomach.

“Let’s have duck today.”

“Huh? Not chicken soup?”

“You ate too much of that last time.”

Honestly, Seokhwa still hadn’t grown tired of chicken soup, but he was concerned for Kwak.

“Then let’s get some leeks too.”

“Sounds good.”

Even though they went grocery shopping two or three times a week, the cart was always full of food. Thanks to Kwak’s hearty appetite, there was rarely any food left over.

“Where does all this food go with just the two of you living together?”

The familiar face of the store owner smiled kindly as he scanned the items. Kwak dropped the groceries at the checkout and strode off to the ice cream stand, telling Seokhwa to wait a moment.

“The Lieutenant General eats most of it.”

Seokhwa, who occasionally chatted with the store owner, answered without hesitation.

“Well, to maintain that physique, he must eat a lot. He’s not stealing all your food, is he?”

“No, not at all.”

Seokhwa shook his head firmly in denial. At one time, the store owner had misunderstood Seokhwa, thinking he was a stuck-up vaccine developer. His expression hardly ever changed, and when people talked to him, he usually responded with just “yes” or “no.”

He must be a pampered prince who’s never faced hardship, thought the owner, leading him to gossip about Seokhwa with his staff. It took a while before they realized it was a misunderstanding, and the owner later gathered the employees to clear up the misconception.

“Make sure you eat plenty too, not just the Lieutenant General. Here, this is on the house!”

The owner, still feeling guilty about the past, generously handed them two packs of duck meat as a bonus.

“You must think we don’t get paid enough, being a soldier and a doctor.”

Kwak Soohwan, who had returned with ice cream in both hands, chuckled at the free gift. The store owner playfully shoved a market bag at him.

“Those ice creams are on the house too! You must think we don’t earn enough at this market.”

“Thank you, we’ll enjoy them!”

Seokhwa politely thanked the store owner, thinking that refusing again would only inconvenience the people waiting behind them.

“We’ll enjoy the meal,” Kwak Soohwan said boisterously as he paid and slung the shopping bag over his shoulder. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he put his other arm around Seokhwa. Seokhwa took the ice cream cones from Kwak’s hands, unwrapped them, and handed one to him.

But when Kwak said something, Seokhwa ended up feeding him directly. The store owner watched the two chat quietly as they disappeared from sight, then turned to wait for the next customer. Even the next customer had been watching them, unable to put their shopping bag down, captivated by the pair. After all, they were the most talked-about people in the city recently, so it was hard not to notice them.

“Hey, is it true those two are, you know, together?”

The customer finally set down their shopping bag after the pair left, asking in a hushed tone. A burly man, who resembled a wrestler, blushed and commented that Kwak Soohwan looked even more handsome in person, his face turning red.

About a year ago, Mungil had regaled a couple from Busan with stories of Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan’s heroic exploits. Word quickly spread through the couple, and within no time, the rumors had reached Seoul. Of course, the facts got jumbled along the way.

The story went that Dr. Seok, despite developing a vaccine, had been oppressed by Choi Hoeon and had no choice but to flee to Russia. To bring down Choi Hoeon and rescue Dr. Seok, Kwak Soohwan Lieutenant General risked his life, nearly facing death. Eventually, Kwak overcame death, went to Russia, and finally reunited with Seokhwa. It was said that it was Emperor Penguin who invited them back to Rainbow City as heroes.

“Tsk, tsk, what a waste of Kwak Soohwan Lieutenant General. What does he even see in someone so stiff? Looks aren’t everything, you know. He really doesn’t know how to judge people.”

“Who cares what their relationship is? And since when was the doctor stiff? Would someone like that create a vaccine for humanity?”

The store owner snapped back, indifferent to whether they lost a customer. Having once gossiped about Seokhwa himself, the owner’s tone was sharp.

“Well… I was just saying. Didn’t think you’d be so uptight, store owner.”

The man grumbled awkwardly, embarrassed, while the store owner continued scanning the items without a care.

***

“Our family name will be Mosigeumjara Namsaeng’i Leaf Beetle,” Kwak Soohwan said, having finished off even Seokhwa’s leftover ice cream cone. He had also parked the car at a similar angle as Seokhwa did. Seokhwa blinked in confusion while gathering his gown.

“Why are you suddenly talking about family names?”

“I need to claim it first.”

Kwak Soohwan slung the grocery bag from the back seat over his shoulder again and walked with Seokhwa towards their home. In Seokhwa’s opinion, no one in the city would ever think to use Mosigeumjara Namsaeng’i Leaf Beetle as a family name. Still, instead of arguing, he simply said it sounded good. He didn’t think Kwak was actually serious about founding a family anyway.

Checking if the nose of the dolhareubang statue, broken by Lee Chaeyoon, was still properly attached was part of his daily routine on the way to work. Since touching it might make it worse, he inspected it carefully with his eyes and then headed inside.

After taking off his hat, Kwak washed his hands and neatly put away all the groceries into the refrigerator. The duck meat, leeks, and onions were placed on the home bar, and he pulled out a grill from the storage. By the time Seokhwa came out of the bathroom after washing his hands, everything that had once cluttered the kitchen had disappeared into the fridge or onto the shelves.

Kwak was fast and good at everything he did. Every time Seokhwa saw him like this, it felt like watching magic as things vanished in an instant.

“You worked hard. I’ll take care of the meat.”

“Dr. Seok, who just got home from work, should rest. Chef Kwak will handle everything.”

“Just give me a moment.”

Seokhwa walked over to the phonograph in the living room and placed the needle on the record. A jazz track without lyrics began to play, something he’d been listening to frequently lately. He returned to the kitchen, picked up a clove of garlic and a knife, and sat down at the bar, intending to peel the garlic to help Kwak.

“That’s dangerous.”

“I was pretty good with the herb cutter too.”

Back when they lived at the mountain lodge, he had spent more time slicing herbs than eating meals.

“My heart almost dropped to my feet back then.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Seokhwa smiled, lightly crinkling his eyes.

“Do you want it grilled or stir-fried?”

“Let’s go with something spicy, stir-fried.”

“Got it, mild spice.”

Kwak rolled up his sleeves. Even though Seokhwa couldn’t eat much, he preferred spicy food. Kwak, hearing the crisp sound of garlic being peeled, prepared the sauce, mixing chili powder, gochujang, and corn syrup, without measuring anything.

“Chef Kwak, the garlic is ready.”

Tap, tap, Seokhwa knocked on the bar with a perfectly peeled clove of garlic. Kwak, having finished the sauce, looked at Seokhwa from across the bar.

“Where did such a pretty sous chef come from?”