RVHF chapter 9

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It would be fortunate if they just backed off here, but judging from the atmosphere, that wasn’t going to happen.

The two who had been taken down in one strike got up simultaneously, ready to attack again.

Seemed like Doyoung would have to step in at this point.

“Hey? What’s everyone doing here?”

One of the guys about to jump at Beom Sinje flinched and pulled back at Doyoung’s sudden appearance.

“Na Doyoung?”

Then, realizing who it was, he clicked his tongue.

“Why’s the atmosphere so tense? Were you guys fighting?”

Playing up his usual polite demeanor, Doyoung looked at them with a cautious expression.

“Of course not.”

“We just ran into each other by chance and were saying hi. Right?”

Whether his act was convincing or not, they laughed awkwardly and spouted nonsense while casting threatening glances at Beom Sinje, signaling him to play along.

But there was no way Doyoung would let that slide.

“Right, sure. Better be careful, though. What if people think upperclassmen are harassing underclassmen? Graduation’s just around the corner; you wouldn’t want any trouble.”

Hearing that, their faces visibly soured.

“Haha, fighting? No way. We were just leaving.”

Clearly rattled, they quickly made excuses, but Doyoung only smiled like a perfect student, as if he had no hidden motives.

“Then hurry along. Don’t you have classes?”

He said it helpfully, motioning to his smartwatch.

Naturally, the Espers checked their own watches and looked stricken.

“Ah, damn. We’re late!”

They hurried off, scrambling to avoid being late to a makeup session for a recent low-scoring group project.

As the three students hastily left, Doyoung remained.

He didn’t have to attend the extra session, thanks to some timely talks with the assistants right after failing the graduation mission.

“What the hell did you do?”

Doyoung crossed his arms and frowned, sounding exasperated, but Beom Sinje just stared at him silently without responding.

“No answer?”

When he asked again, Beom Sinje finally shook his head.

Well, Doyoung hadn’t really expected him to do anything anyway.

It must have been those guys looking for trouble on purpose.

“Where’s Yeo Giwon?”

He changed the subject.

“No idea.”

“No idea?”

Should he go look?

But it seemed like too much of a hassle to go drag Yeo Giwon back.

Poor guy probably had the worst luck with food.

“What’s the matter?”

“Got any classes left?”

Even though he replied with another question, Beom Sinje didn’t look annoyed and calmly shook his head.

“Then let’s go.”

Doyoung gave his shoulder a light pat and started walking away, not bothering to explain what he wanted or where they were going.

Beom Sinje watched the back of the man who moved entirely on his own terms, then quietly followed.

Humming reached his ears from the person ahead.

The song was unfamiliar, yet the upbeat tune was oddly pleasant.

Beom Sinje’s expression softened as the tension he hadn’t even noticed started to dissipate.

“Anything you can’t eat?”

After a while of walking, Doyoung asked suddenly, still looking straight ahead.

Beom Sinje glanced at him, then turned his gaze back forward.

“Not really.”

“Good.”

Nodding in understanding, Doyoung led him to the campus cafeteria.

Ideally, he’d like to take him somewhere nicer outside, but he couldn’t exactly tell a freshman to boldly break the rules.

“Auntie!”

At his bright call, three heads in the kitchen turned in unison.

They seemed surprised to see someone here during the cafeteria’s break time, but relaxed when they recognized Doyoung.

Knowing how things worked here, he had told them not to acknowledge him on campus, but confidently brought Beom Sinje anyway.

“Oh, it’s Doyoung!”

The kitchen supervisor with permed hair waved at him cheerfully.

“Yes! Is there any chance we can eat now?”

Leaning against the counter, he asked playfully.

“What do you feel like eating?”

The supervisor approached with a friendly smile.

Usually, the cafeteria only served meals at fixed times, and other times students would have to rely on the convenience store.

But since Doyoung was close with the kitchen staff, he often requested little extras from them.

This was all thanks to Doyoung’s consistent efforts since his transfer.

“I feel like my energy’s been low lately. I need something hearty.”

“Must be from all the stress over graduation! We were just making a chicken soup to enjoy ourselves, so I’ll give you some.”

The supervisor chuckled as Doyoung playfully slumped his shoulders, then patted him on the back with a laugh.

“Oh, chicken soup! Perfect!”

Brightening instantly, Doyoung thanked her and signaled to Beom Sinje to take a seat.

Though Beom Sinje probably couldn’t make sense of the situation, he obediently followed Doyoung again, which pleased him.

Soon, two large bowls were placed in front of Doyoung and Beom Sinje.

“Oh? One would’ve been fine.”

“With big guys like you, one’s not enough! If you need more, mix it with rice—we’ve got plenty.”

She pointed at a large rice cooker with her thumb.

“Thank you so much!”

Doyoung grinned and promptly tore into a chicken leg.

The supervisor watched him with a warm smile.

“Eat well, so you can become the top hunter who protects our country.”

It was impossible to promise that.

Considering the controversies around his recent escapades, he couldn’t give an enthusiastic agreement.

Instead, he conveyed his appreciation by devouring the meal heartily.

After watching him fondly, the supervisor left, and he turned his attention to Beom Sinje, who was simply sitting there.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Didn’t they say it was for their meal?”

Even in this moment, the upright Beom Sinje seemed more concerned for others than himself.

“Don’t worry about that. Just eat.”

Doyoung waved dismissively, but Beom Sinje still didn’t move.

Clicking his tongue, Doyoung looked around, then leaned in.

“They’ll just make more, so don’t worry.”

As the supervisor had mentioned, food was always well-stocked to support those training to protect the nation.

Ingredients never ran low, and everyone, including staff, enjoyed good meals, sometimes even indulging in a little treat like today.

Without further explanation, Doyoung ripped apart Beom Sinje’s chicken and held out a piece.

“Here.”

Beom Sinje glanced from the steaming chicken wing to Doyoung.

“Catch monsters like a feather, but hit like a bee.”

He joked with a grin, but only received a blank, unimpressed stare in return.

“Come on, laugh or roll your eyes or something. How can a guy your age be so serious?”

Of course, staying calm had its advantages in combat.

Beom Sinje watched Doyoung’s lightly pouting lips and then reached out, taking the chicken with a firm grip.

Doyoung’s hand was also caught in the large grip along with the chicken wing.

Their gazes met where their hands overlapped.

“Your hands are huge.”

He already knew that Beom Sinje was taller and broader than him, but Doyoung’s voice was filled with awe as he realized the difference once again.

“It’s like the chicken wing looks like a toy in your hand.”

As Doyoung’s hand slipped away with a chuckle, Beom Sinje, who had been staring at it, finally took a bite of his share of meat when Doyoung urged him to eat.

Watching Beom Sinje chew contentedly, Doyoung resumed his mission, this time targeting the other leg.

One by one, bare bones filled the empty plate as he stripped the meat away.

Their conversation was casual, covering nothing of consequence.

They discussed classes, training, and how things were going with the guys at the dorm.

“Try to avoid those jerks as much as you can. Soon you’ll be graduating, so…”

Well, even then, if they’re unlucky, they could still end up entangled.

That’s the issue.

Since all Espers are assigned to the state, it’s inevitable that some people who don’t get along end up in the same region, which only leads to accidents.

Doyoung, resolving to handle it in a balanced way, spoke up again.

“Anyway, they’re not worth your time… why are you looking at me like that?”

He tilted his head, noticing Beom Sinje’s gaze on him.

“No reason.”

Doyoung’s question was met with an unexpectedly flat answer, but it wasn’t the first time Beom Sinje had acted this way, so Doyoung dismissed it without much thought.

“Well, shall we get going if you’re done?”

As Beom Sinje obediently rose to follow him, a brief smile flickered on Doyoung’s face before vanishing.

“Hold on a second.”

Leaving Beom Sinje standing, he walked over to the kitchen, saying something to the manager and staff, who responded with hearty laughter.

Beom Sinje’s nonchalant gaze watched as Doyoung handed something from his pocket to the manager.

“Well then, I’ll be counting on you next time, too.”

With a mischievous smile, Doyoung cheerfully gave a bow and turned back around, his face full of mischief, and Beom Sinje couldn’t look away.

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“What did you give him?”

Beom Sinje, who had been walking behind Doyoung with his hands behind his back, fixed his gaze on Doyoung’s slim back as he asked.

“Joint medicine and patches.”

The reply was as blunt as it was quick, though it caught Beom Sinje so off-guard that he froze in place.

“What, did you think I was handing him money?”

Doyoung’s eyes sparkled with mischief, as if he knew exactly what Beom Sinje was thinking.

“I can’t do that. Not in school.”

Even though his tone was pretending to be serious, there was laughter beneath it. Beom Sinje’s briefly furrowed brow returned to normal.

“Bribes are illegal, too.”

“It’s not a bribe. It’s just that I heard he has aches and pains here and there, so I thought I’d look out for him.”

As if he, too, had those issues, Doyoung playfully patted his own shoulder with a fist. Beom Sinje thought about ending the conversation, considering how unpredictable Doyoung was.

“So, don’t try to solve everything with money either. The key is to show care and sincerity.”

Care and sincerity, huh.

“Is that what you’re doing with me?”

This sudden stranger who had changed his life in an instant.

Beom Sinje could never guess the reason, no matter how hard he tried.

Today, for the first time, he felt he understood why.

“Hm?”

Doyoung tilted his head, looking back at him.

“No. This is something else entirely.”

Beom Sinje waited for Doyoung to elaborate, but Doyoung just smiled and turned to keep walking.

‘What’s different about it? Why did he bring me here?’

A thousand questions spun in Beom Sinje’s mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to voice them.

After a moment of inner turmoil, his gaze returned to its usual calm.

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