* * *
I blinked wide-eyed at Taehwan, surprised by what he said.
He lightly flicked the tip of my nose and continued, his face unreadable.
“After someone like you—just a normal, small kid—got caught in a gate, you couldn’t even live your life normally anymore. And when people found out about your dad’s story, too… I guess it really struck a chord with Hunters. Made them feel responsible. This is the result.”
“That’s… really what happened?”
“That’s what happened.”
“…I see.”
Even in the middle of such a grim situation, I found myself smiling.
If I was able to influence something that helped keep people safe, then I was glad.
Even if it had been a terrible experience for me, knowing that it led to saving others gave me some comfort.
I was grateful—happy, even—that people had acted so quickly to prevent another case like mine.
And I was grateful to Taehwan, too, for telling me this.
“Thanks for telling me.”
“It’s nothing. I just said it ‘cause I was bored.”
He said it casually, but I knew better.
Taehwan was only thirteen back then.
He was always self-centered, not the type to take interest in social issues unless it came up in a classroom debate or something.
For him to bring up the topic of protective gear so naturally like this… it meant he must’ve looked into it on his own.
Because it had to do with me.
All the grumbling I’d felt earlier today, all the irritation—it melted away like ice cream.
I couldn’t help but smile as I reached for his hand.
He still looked indifferent, but he held my hand back.
Then he turned toward the old man.
“When do we get there? Why’d you even bother dragging us out this far?”
“Just a little longer. We’re almost there. Ah, there it is.”
Sure enough, just like he said, we could see people in Bureau uniforms managing the area from afar.
As we approached, a man came over to check us, but quickly recognized the old man and saluted.
“Director, sir. We were told you’d be arriving. But these two behind you…?”
“They’re with me. They won’t cause any trouble.”
“Ah, understood. We’ll just do a simple identity check. Can you cooperate?”
“Of course.”
I was wondering how they were going to verify our identities, but apparently it could be done through our watches.
After a quick check, we were allowed past the line and entered the restricted area.
The car stopped at a suitable spot and we got out.
Despite the late hour, the streets were brightly lit.
Most of the shops still had their lights on, as if the whole city had been shaken awake by the sudden disaster.
The Bureau had set up floodlights, too, making the entire area shine like daytime.
People moved in and out of the light—mostly those in blue Bureau uniforms.
And at the center of it all was a swirling black void.
‘A gate…’
It was smaller than the gate Taehwan and I had gotten caught up in.
Since it had already opened, it probably wouldn’t consume anyone else right away.
I knew that in my head, but for some reason, the cold chill I’d felt inside the gate seemed to wrap around me again.
My lower body—my legs—were tingling, and I found myself pressing down on my thighs with my hands for no real reason.
Taehwan reacted instantly, reaching out to touch my leg with concern.
“Jehee, are you okay? Are your legs numb?”
“…Hm? Oh, no. I’m fine.”
I clenched my fists tightly, not wanting him to worry.
I knew it. It was just in my head. I wasn’t inside the gate.
I was far enough away that there was no way I’d get dragged in.
I knew that. I was fine.
I’m fine. I’m fine.
I repeated it to myself, taking slow breaths, and eventually, I really did start to feel okay.
“Jehee, Taehwan, you two stay here for a bit. I have something to take care of.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, sir. Take care.”
“Alright.”
The man headed toward a government vehicle parked at one corner of the site.
As soon as he did, a group of uniformed agents swarmed over and began talking seriously among themselves.
He had looked at us with a gentle smile before, but now he wore a grave expression as he tried to bring order to the situation.
Watching him like that, my heart thudded in my chest.
He looked… really cool.
‘…So he really is someone high up in the Bureau.’
It finally hit me.
I actually knew someone that important.
The Director of the Bureau, no less.
He was the kind of person you’d see in a superhero movie.
When I was a kid, those kinds of people had felt as distant as heroes in the clouds—but someone like that had been this close to me all along.
The world really is small.
Wouldn’t Taehwan be proud of his dad, too?
I glanced at his expression—completely indifferent.
Now that I thought about it, Taehwan had never really shown pride in his father.
If anything, he’d seemed annoyed by him.
I never found my dad annoying, not really…
Maybe I was a little envious.
Maybe I even felt a bit sulky.
“Ah, damn it.”
“…Huh? What is it?”
Taehwan’s normally calm face twisted suddenly, like he’d seen something awful he shouldn’t have.
I wondered what was wrong—until I heard a man’s voice from the direction Taehwan had been looking.
“Oh, no way. It is you, Im Taehwan.”
“…What?”
It was a voice I’d heard before.
When I turned my head, the face was familiar, just as I’d expected.
One of his fellow trainees, the guy who had been talking trash about Taehwan at the Bureau cafeteria.
The one who had claimed I’d somehow “threatened” him without even realizing it.
“Ah, um…”
“You’re here to work, aren’t you? So do your job. Jehee, let’s go.”
I opened my mouth cautiously, thinking maybe this was a chance to apologize—but Taehwan turned his wheelchair to leave.
“Why do you keep avoiding me? Got something to feel guilty about?”
“…Hah.”
“Don’t run away, Im Taehwan! Why are you even here? Why would a fabricator be on-site? What the hell are you here for?”
“Taehwan.”
“Ignore him. You don’t avoid shit because you’re scared of it. You avoid it because it stinks.”
“Is that guy a bad person?”
“Ah… um. Not exactly bad, more like… way too imaginative…”
“What kind of twisted crap have you and your dad pulled on the ‘Miracle Child’ for over ten years now?”
Taehwan stopped cold.
The irritation and weariness had vanished from his face, replaced by a blank expression.
He looked so furious, it felt like the very air around us had frozen solid.
I flinched, eyes darting between the two of them.
Wait… ‘Miracle Child’?
That’s me, isn’t it?
Why am I suddenly being brought up?
All Mr. Director and Taehwan have done for me these past ten years is cover my medical bills and stay by my side.
That’s it. That’s all.
How is that… “twisted crap”?
I didn’t get it, but with the mood becoming more and more volatile, I figured I should try to calm Taehwan down.
But the guy who’d pissed him off just got even more fired up once Taehwan stopped moving, his voice rising with excitement.
“Right? The whole ‘sudden awakening’ thing is sketchy enough, but S-Class? You got dragged into the gate together. You were both inside, so how the hell did only you make it out?”
“……”
“I heard his hospital bills were ridiculously high for over ten years. Isn’t that a bit much for just ‘feeling guilty’? That kid’s family wasn’t doing so well, right? What, did you strike a deal or something? Hand the kid over for experiments? Turn him into an awakened one?”
“……”
I couldn’t breathe.
That was insane.
A deal? An experiment?
If anyone knew the truth, it was me.
What happened that day was nothing more than an accident.
A catastrophe.
Yes, the rescue team had left even though I was right there, within reach.
But it was just bad luck.
They just wanted to get Taehwan out quickly, and I hadn’t been right next to him at the time.
I hadn’t even been far away, but it was too dark inside the gate.
They just hadn’t seen me. It wasn’t malicious.
And experiments? A deal like that?
That was beyond absurd.
We were just elementary school kids when it happened.
Since then, Taehwan had stayed by my side with nothing but pure intentions.
Maybe there was some guilt, but there was never any ulterior motive.
My stomach twisted with unease.
What kind of rumors were spreading about me?
Why were Taehwan and I being subjected to this?
Why do people—like those at the hospital, or this guy—who know nothing about us, insist on twisting our relationship through the ugliest lens and spewing their assumptions?
All we were… are… is two unfortunate victims of a gate incident that happened out of nowhere.
And now I was starting to get angry too.
I wanted to refute everything he said—but, frustratingly, he spoke again before I could.
“You and your dad always stank of something rotten. And now the ‘Miracle Child’ is in on it, too? You didn’t give a damn about other people’s lives before, and now you’re still hanging around acting like you care—”
“Hey. I don’t care if you talk shit about me or my dad.”
Taehwan cut him off, his voice low and tight.
His emotions were packed in there, heavy and dense—and definitely not pleasant.
“But don’t you dare talk shit about Jehee.”
* * *
