* * *
“No, but…”
To me, Awakened individuals and Hunters always seemed like ‘heroes of justice.’
The ones who came to help when civilians got caught up in gates or dungeons, the ones who made the world safer—special beings.
Of course, most Hunters probably hunted monsters for their own benefit rather than out of a sense of duty.
But in the end, their actions still contributed to the safety of ordinary people.
And yet… the fact that among them, there were those who didn’t hunt monsters but instead targeted weak individuals like me for profit… I couldn’t believe it.
Maybe I just didn’t want to.
I had just learned the harsh truth of the world outside the hospital—like a child discovering that Santa Claus wasn’t real.
“Jehee.”
My cheek was pulled.
Taehwan, who had already finished changing, cupped my face in his large hands, stretching and squishing my cheeks.
His thumbs pressed against my eyebrows, smoothing out my frown.
“Mm.”
“Of course, people like that are only a small minority. So relax a little.”
“Okay…”
“Anyway, being cautious isn’t a bad thing. Stay with me.”
“…But you’re not even a combat-type Awakened. If actual combat-type Hunters show up, you wouldn’t be able to…”
I trailed off, glancing at Taehwan.
I was worried I might have touched a nerve—this guy had a lot of pride.
But surprisingly, Taehwan looked indifferent.
He let go of my face and shrugged.
“Weak little me wouldn’t stand a chance. But wouldn’t it be better to be with me than alone? At least if you get kidnapped, I can report it.”
“K-Kidnapped…?”
The way he kept mentioning kidnapping—did that mean it actually happened?
I rarely went outside, and I avoided the news because it was always full of depressing stories.
I didn’t know anything.
If I had, maybe I would’ve paid more attention to social issues.
Human trafficking… I had thought that was just something from books and movies.
A chilling unease crept over me.
‘Wait… Is that why he suggested living together?’
I had wondered why he was so insistent about it, even if he was worried about me.
But now it made sense.
If I was being targeted, then my family—who weren’t even Awakened—would be in danger too.
In fact, they might be in more danger than I was.
Beyond safety concerns, there were also privacy issues and other complications.
Since I had a sibling preparing for exams, the risk was even greater.
“…Thank you. You even considered my family.”
“Huh? What family?”
“If I get targeted… wouldn’t my family get dragged into trouble too? That’s why you suggested living together, right?”
“Oh? Ah… yeah. That’s… how it is.”
Taehwan nodded and stuck a toothbrush in his mouth.
I grinned as I picked up my own toothbrush.
I was grateful—and oddly proud.
I really had chosen my friends well.
I couldn’t sleep.
A sudden fear gripped me.
I had been so happy about Awakening and finally being able to leave the hospital.
But after hearing what Taehwan said, I realized I had been too naive.
‘So that’s how it is. The outside world might not be what I thought it was.’
I had lived in the tiny, closed world of a hospital for 13 years.
Thanks to Taehwan’s help, I had managed to pass the high school equivalency exam, but that only gave me the most basic education.
I had no real skills, no experience, and only a surface-level knowledge of the world.
The last time I was part of society was in elementary school—and even then, I hadn’t finished.
If my Awakening ability turned out to be weak… things would become even more uncertain.
‘It’s fine. I’m still young. I can adapt slowly.’
I tried to think positively, but my heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
I couldn’t calm down.
Just a little while ago, I had been drowsy.
But now, my body was so tense that I felt wide awake.
If I didn’t sleep soon, I’d be a mess when the government agents came tomorrow.
But the more anxious I felt about sleeping, the more impossible it became.
“Jehee, if you can’t sleep alone, want to sleep together?”
How does he always know?
Taehwan’s cot was much lower than my bed, so he couldn’t even see my face.
He had no way of knowing whether my eyes were open or closed.
I hadn’t been tossing and turning either, so how did he notice?
Still, I was relieved to hear his voice.
Like a frightened hedgehog lowering its spines, I felt my nerves settle.
“…I can sleep alone.”
I wasn’t about to admit it so easily.
I wasn’t a little kid running to their parents’ room because of thunder.
Asking to sleep together would be humiliating.
“If that were true, you’d already be asleep. Should I come up there?”
“With your size… You might break the bed.”
“Then you come down.”
“No. I’m going to sleep.”
“Alright. But if you’re still awake in ten minutes, I’m coming up.”
“…Fine. I’ll come down.”
I couldn’t let my beloved bed be destroyed.
Before I could regret my decision, Taehwan swooped in and lifted me effortlessly.
“Alright, under the blanket you go.”
The hospital’s guardian cot was larger than usual, but Taehwan was big enough that even sleeping alone, it was cramped.
With both of us squeezed in, it was a tight fit.
I had to press up against him just to keep from falling off.
Yet, strangely, it wasn’t uncomfortable.
It was warm.
His body heat, the steady rhythm of his breathing and heartbeat, the faint scent unique to him…
And the familiar hand patting my back.
He didn’t need to do this anymore—now that I could see, he didn’t have to remind me that he was here.
But habits were hard to break.
Not that I minded.
If anything, I liked it.
That steady, unchanging touch helped me organize my jumbled thoughts.
I closed my eyes, a peaceful smile forming on my lips.
‘It’s warm…’
The tension melted away.
The anxiety that had been growing uncontrollably finally stopped.
Why had I been so scared?
This was better than just waiting to die in a hospital.
At least now, I had the chance to find my own path.
That was better than never getting a chance at all.
Even if I left the hospital, my world was only expanding.
Nothing else was changing.
My family still loved me.
Taehwan would still be here.
So I could do it—whatever ‘it’ turned out to be.
I felt at ease.
It was all thanks to Taehwan.
Feeling grateful, I hugged him a little tighter.
He chuckled, stroking my back.
Then, resting his chin on my head, he mumbled,
“Hmm, you’re so tiny. We could get you the smallest bed available.”
“…If you just brought me down here to pick a fight, I’m going back up.”
“It’s a joke. I’ll get you the biggest one. Big enough that you won’t fall off even if you roll around all night dreaming of crossing the continent.”
“That’s a bit… Just how big are you planning to get…?”
That was excessive. It didn’t even sound like a joke.
I wasn’t planning to live with him for long anyway, so I was actually worried he might go ahead and buy something like that.
Getting rid of it later would be a hassle.
More than anything, Im Taehwan wasn’t the type to say things carelessly—his pride wouldn’t allow it.
I looked up at Taehwan in a hurry.
“…A small one is fine. A cheap one is fine. Even something old that you were going to throw away is fine.”
“Nope. It’s my house, so I’ll decorate it however I want.”
“Ugh. Then why even ask me?”
“Just wanted to check if Je Jehee really plans to live with me.”
“…I am going to live with you.”
“Seems like it. Otherwise, you would’ve been more shameless about it.”
So he was testing me.
Taehwan looked pleased with my answer.
His lips curved into a satisfied smile, and his eyes sparkled like a boy’s.
That expression overlapped with the Taehwan from our childhood—the same face he made the day he grinned nervously when we went to see a movie together.
Being tested like that didn’t feel great, but… I couldn’t deny that I once hurt him with a lie.
Time had dulled the wound, making it hard to see, but it hadn’t disappeared completely.
It was already too late, but…
“Then… let’s go watch a movie too.”
“Oh, great idea. As soon as I escape from the hospital, we’re going. What’s even playing these days…?”
We kept chatting, and at some point, I must have dozed off without realizing it.
I slept deeply, without nightmares or interruptions, as if the unease from before had never existed.
Being with Taehwan gave me courage.
The kind of courage that made me believe I could overcome anything, no matter what happened.
After all, even in that deadly Gate, we survived—because we were together.
* * *
