* * *
Even when my fever spiked high enough to require isolation, it usually subsided within a few hours.
I assumed it would be the same this time… but it lasted unnaturally long.
I tried to stay awake until I was cleared from isolation, but in the end, I couldn’t fight off sleep and must have passed out.
How many hours had I slept?
I was still in the isolation room when I opened my eyes.
I could tell by the distinct air in the room.
I propped myself up on my arms and tried to massage my lower body, which must have been stiff from lying still all night, but something soft and warm pressed against my palm.
“…Huh?”
Not the hard floor—but something pliant.
When I reached out further, I felt warmth, softness, and the faint rhythm of a heartbeat.
A person’s chest.
Clad in a worn patient’s gown, yet filled out so tightly that the fabric was stretched over solid, muscular build.
It was Taehwan.
‘Still here.’
Only then did I register the sound of his steady breathing, deep in slumber.
I had told him to leave even after I fell asleep, but this stubborn idiot had chosen to stay in this empty, desolate space.
Worse yet, it seemed like I had been lying on top of him all night.
No matter how resilient an Awakened person was compared to a regular human… it couldn’t have been comfortable to sleep with someone on top of him.
I carefully wriggled off his body, making sure not to disturb him.
“Jehee…”
“Ah.”
Too late—I was caught.
“…Mm… It’s dangerous… alone…”
His strong, firm arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
I thought I had woken him up, but his breathing remained steady.
He had likely fallen asleep so tense, determined to protect me, that his body reacted instinctively when I moved—then, having secured his objective, he drifted off again.
‘He worries too much.’
This was an isolation room, not a regular hospital ward.
There was nothing here.
Nothing that could hurt me.
The worst thing that could happen was me hitting my head against the wall, and I wasn’t foolish enough to be unaware of my surroundings.
I had been blind for over ten years now.
“Don’t go…”
But even in sleep, he desperately clung to me, mumbling.
How could I ignore him?
It was a lonely place.
Staying by his side until he woke up seemed like the least I could do.
Once I made up my mind and relaxed, Taehwan pulled me in completely, trapping me in his embrace.
“……”
My chest pressed against his—the same chest I had touched earlier.
Even in his sleep, was he afraid I would leave him behind?
His heartbeat was loud.
With my legs immobilized and my arms pinned, I couldn’t move at all.
When I shifted uncomfortably, he loosened his grip slightly, allowing me to free one arm.
I lifted my head.
The world remained dark as ever.
But in this position… Taehwan’s face must be right in front of me.
Cautiously, I reached out—and sure enough, my fingertip brushed against the tip of his nose.
His sharp, well-defined nose.
I carefully traced his features, making sure not to wake him.
The sharp bridge of his nose, the thick eyebrows resting over slightly protruding brow bones, the long and dense eyelashes, the strong jawline.
He had… grown into a man.
He was no longer the young Taehwan I had last seen, blushing and stammering.
“…I want to see your face.”
Had my guard lowered because he was asleep?
Words I would normally swallow down slipped out.
And it didn’t stop at just once.
“…I want to see you.”
Would I be able to see him if I got closer?
Just for a second.
Even just a faint silhouette.
Clinging to a futile hope, I leaned in toward where I knew his face was.
But even as my nose nearly touched his, even as I could hear his breath, I still saw nothing.
Whether my eyes were open or closed, the world remained the same—pitch black, endlessly dark.
My chest tightened unpleasantly.
A negative emotion swelled within me, rising higher and higher.
I bit my lip, struggling to steady my breath.
“…Ah.”
I felt it.
A tiny flicker of movement.
A blink.
He was awake.
When had he woken up?
Had he felt me touching him?
“You’re awake?”
“…Yeah.”
His voice sounded uncharacteristically flustered.
Had he noticed I was on the verge of tears?
I hadn’t actually cried, but maybe my eyes had turned red.
I quickly opened my mouth wide and pretended to yawn.
“How’s your fever?”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah… it’s gone.”
Taehwan reached out and touched my forehead and cheek to confirm, then took off his own top and put it on me.
Earlier, when I had felt him wearing it, the buttons had been stretched tight, as if ready to pop.
But on me, it hung loosely.
The sleeves were too long—I’d have to roll them up.
Not that I’d be wearing it for long.
“I’ll massage your legs when we get back to the hospital room. Then we’ll have breakfast.”
Taehwan got up.
—Click.
I heard the sound of a button being pressed—one that was too high for me to reach.
—Isolation release initiated.
“Patient Jung Jehee, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. The fever’s gone, and I feel good.”
“That’s a relief.”
The doctor seemed to be checking a thermometer, but I wasn’t worried.
My temperature must be normal.
Taehwan wouldn’t have left otherwise.
As I waited for the results, I heard the door open and light footsteps approaching.
“Doctor, here’s the file.”
“Thank you. How long did Jung Jehee’s fever last yesterday?”
“According to the heat sensor, eight hours and twenty minutes.”
“…If I recall correctly, the average until now was three hours.”
“Yes, this is an unusual record. It’s the third time.”
“The frequency seems to be increasing as well.”
“Yes. Three months ago, it was only once or twice a month, but recently, it’s been occurring at least three times a week. There was even a case where it happened twice in one day.”
“It’s happening more often and lasting longer… Hmm. Jung Jehee, I’d like to conduct a more detailed examination. Will you consent to it?”
“Of course.”
Eunyul wasn’t entirely wrong when she said, ‘Taehwan pays for your hospital bills.’
A large portion of my medical expenses was indeed covered by Taehwan—or more precisely, by the Im family.
I had been admitted here through their connections in the first place.
But that didn’t mean I paid nothing.
The reason I could stay in a VIP room was thanks to Taehwan, but I covered the costs of a standard private room and examinations myself.
In exchange, all data related to me was exclusively shared with this hospital and the government.
Apparently, I was a ‘valuable sample.’
Taehwan hated that term.
I was one of the few ordinary humans worldwide who had survived exposure to the toxins inside a Gate.
‘It’s exhausting…’
No matter how many times I underwent these detailed tests, they were always tedious and draining.
If it weren’t for the deal regarding hospital expenses, I might have refused the exams entirely.
After all, I was going to die anyway.
I was completely drained.
—…Regarding the dungeon, we have with us the head of the Hunter Management Bureau and legendary A-rank Hunter, Im Jaewoo.
“Wait. Doctor, hold on a moment.”
As I slumped in my wheelchair, a nurse helped me back to my hospital room—until I heard a familiar name.
I instantly sat up straight.
“Please stop for a moment.”
“Patient, is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No. I just want to listen to the TV in the lounge for a bit. I can return to my room on my own from here, so it’s fine if you leave me.”
There was a TV in my room, but if it was just a short interview, it might end before I even found the right channel.
Besides, I couldn’t turn it on by myself, and if my caregiver wasn’t around, I’d be stuck.
It was better to listen now.
My room was just a straight walk down the hall anyway—I could find my way back.
“Understood. If you need anything, press the button to call for assistance.”
“I will. Thank you for bringing me here.”
I maneuvered my wheelchair closer to the lounge, gripping the handrail along the wall tightly to avoid losing my sense of direction.
I had perfect timing.
The person on TV had just finished introducing themselves and was about to start the main discussion.
—Despite multiple guilds challenging the newly emerged A-rank dungeon, [Sanctuary of White Flames], they continue to struggle. This marks the fifth time a guild has declared their withdrawal due to lack of progress, correct?
—Yes, it’s truly unfortunate. When the initial raids were announced, the atmosphere was optimistic. No one expected it to end in failure.
—There’s a strong possibility that this dungeon will remain uncleared, making it the fourth “uncleared dungeon” in history. What are the consequences of a dungeon becoming uncleared?
—Unlike gates, which naturally dissipate over time, dungeons do not disappear unless they are cleared from within. They remain in place indefinitely. If left unmanaged, periodic “dungeon breaks” can occur, causing harm to the surrounding area.
—Can you explain what a “dungeon break” is and why it’s dangerous?
—Monsters inside dungeons reproduce at a much faster rate than humans or animals. As their numbers grow, some inevitably spill out into the outside world. This phenomenon is known as a “dungeon break”…
‘That’s kind of cool, Uncle.’
I pursed my lips as I listened to the conversation.
The A-rank hunter being interviewed on TV—who also happened to be the Director of the Hunter Management Bureau—was none other than Taehwan’s father.
He was also an old friend of my father.
* * *
