FLIA 159

While the world was in such an uproar, Yohan was simply at peace. After purifying the members of the Special Suppression Unit, he displayed the autograph he received from Jeong Siyoung in the private trophy room Lee Hyunmook had specially prepared for him, and was happily admiring it.

“Hehe.”

He had even taken a picture of the autograph to show off to his family and the Taeyang Team, but something felt empty. Was it because there was only one item displayed…? A moment later, Yohan realized the reason and rushed over to Lee Hyunmook .

“Hyunmook-hyung!”

“What is it, Yohan-ah?”

Lee Hyunmook , who was maintaining his weapons, answered as always, warmly and gently. A pair of gleaming blades lay neatly on their racks. They belonged to Lee Hyunmook and Yohan, respectively. Now, Yohan could proudly carry his weapon too.

“Um… could you sign this for me?”

Yohan asked cautiously, his eyes sparkling brightly.

“Hm? My signature?”

Yohan smiled shyly. While he had Jeong Siyoung’s signature, not having Lee Hyunmook ‘s left him feeling empty. Haha, Lee Hyunmook chuckled and carefully signed the paper Yohan handed him. Below, he wrote:

‘To my Yangyang. Wishing you always happiness.’

Yohan was overwhelmed with emotion. In the past, he could never have imagined becoming this close to Lee Hyunmook . Yohan quickly hung Lee Hyunmook ‘s signed copy in the most prominent spot in the trophy room. Then he returned to Lee Hyunmook and quietly snuggled into his embrace.

“I feel so good.”

“If you feel good, then I feel good too.”

Holding his lover close, Lee Hyunmook answered gently. Crawling up a bit higher, Yohan rested his head on Lee Hyunmook ‘s nape and raised his hand to tickle him.

“I’ve gotten some revenge on Park Seungmin, that guy Hwang Yeongcheol on’t be able to pull any more tricks, Captain Jeong Siyoung has been purified, the people from the treatment center have gone home, and… well, from now on, I can just purify without worrying about it…”

To Yohan, these were the purest, happiest reasons imaginable. Lee Hyunmook stroked Yohan’s smooth forehead as he chattered on. Feeling just as good as his beloved, tender lover, Lee Hyunmook was content.

Having cleared away the irritating, bothersome things, things should be peaceful for a while…

Even as he thought this, he felt a murmur stirring somewhere deep within his heart. But he ignored it. If things could just stay like this forever, if he could keep living like this… Lee Hyunmook didn’t care what happened to anything else. Yohan, who had counted all his fingers, unfolded one index finger.

“Now we just need to clean up the traces of the Flood, right?”

The sewer investigation was temporarily postponed. The government, recently embroiled in significant trouble due to the Hwang Yeongcheol, Park Seungmin, and testimonies from the detainees at the isolation facility, was now fixated on the Gwacheon cult incident. They mobilized every available manpower, turning over every single sewer they could find. Given that this was specifically related to the Flood, Yohan asked with concern.

“Just in case, shouldn’t I go and help?”

“We have other purifiers now. Is it really necessary?”

Lee Hyunmook cut him off. Like other awakened groups, purifiers of mid and lower ranks levels were appearing one after another. With purifiers even awakening abroad, many people could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Above all, the government doesn’t want our involvement. Why should we go out of our way to help? Besides, it’s still just the search phase.”

Is that… so? As Yohan hesitated, unable to reply, Lee Hyunmook spoke softly.

“If they truly need help, they’ll request it first. Since they can manage, there haven’t been any requests yet.”

Yohan could only nod at Lee Hyunmook ‘s words. His trust in Lee Hyunmook was immense, to the point he’d believe him even if he claimed to make soybean paste from beans. But Yohan was preoccupied, so Lee Hyunmook naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, the government has approved our request to visit the corrupted persons’ isolation facility. They said it’s possible starting next week.”

“Wow, really? That’s great!”

Yohan was delighted, as he’d been worried about the severely corrupted individuals trapped in the government quarantine facility. The government hadn’t particularly wanted to ask the Taeyang Guild for help. They probably wanted to resolve it with other purifiers somehow. But with the public outcry growing louder and complaints flooding in, they had no choice.

After the Gwacheon incident, Yohan had received countless offers requesting contracts or purification services in exchange for substantial compensation. Among them was the government. They had tried to persuade him, as a high-level purifier, to contribute to society together. Naturally, Yohan had no intention of contracting with the government. He planned to stay with the Taeyang Guild until the day he died.

“Come to think of it, the Guild has something to pass on to you.”

“For me?”

Lee Hyunmook , who had stepped away briefly, returned holding a box. Yohan opened it, filled with curiosity, then opened his eyes wide. Inside were letters and all sorts of sheep-shaped items. Yohan asked, bewildered.

“What is all this?”

“Things sent by the people you purified.”

Startled, Yohan stared into the box for a long moment before carefully rustling through it and unfolding a letter. After reading several letters, he was so moved his eyes welled up. The sheep-shaped items sent were cute, and the letters were simply heartwarming.

While Yohan was completely absorbed in the letters, Lee Hyunmook handled guild affairs. Ever since revealing his lover was a purifier, they had been annoyingly persistent from all sides…

But sacrificing Park Seungmin first had definitely paid off. It satisfied Yohan’s vengeance and simultaneously created a good point of comparison.

With Park Seungmin as the precedent, establishing the treatment center and purifying severely corrupted individuals proved that purifiers contracting with the Taeyang Guild was better than dealing with the government. Thanks to Park Seungmin acting perfectly according to his selfish nature, Yohan could reveal his identity while receiving massive public support and goodwill.

The guild’s PR team already reported that a fan community for Yohan had been created. Lee Hyunmook went in to check for himself and found no apparent issues, but he still thought it best to inform Yohan after proper management had been carried out.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“My mood? I’m always fine. Why?”

Surprised by the unexpected question, Lee Hyunmook asked in confusion. Yohan hesitated before replying.

“It’s just… since that time at the Yeouido broadcasting station, you seemed to be in a bad mood.”

Truthfully, to Yohan, it hadn’t started then. It seemed to have begun much earlier. Even though Lee Hyunmook hadn’t shown any signs of his madness flaring up since emerging from the Abyss, Yohan found himself unconsciously on edge at times. Despite his outward appearance and speech being perfectly normal, there were moments when Yohan sensed something dangerous. “Ah,” Lee Hyunmook sighed softly and spoke honestly.

“It was because of people. Because of those who keep wanting more.”

Lee Hyunmook smiled gently, yet a glimpse of disillusionment flashed in his eyes.

“Truthfully, I don’t care about revenge. As long as you, and my people, are safe… I really don’t care about that sort of thing.”

Hearing this, Yohan felt profound pity for the man. At the same time, he felt anew, and even more intensely, anger toward Hwang Yeongcheol, who had pushed this kind soul into hell. It was especially so because Hwang had fled somewhere without paying for his crimes as soon as the arrest procedures began. Yohan embraced his lover, filled with affection. Then, a little awkwardly, he patted his back.

“Everything will be okay now.”

“…Yeah, it will be okay. It has to be.”

After patting him and stroking his white hair, Yohan, feeling a little nervous because Lee Hyunmook was too quiet, asked.

“So, what are you thinking about right now?”

“This is why I have a lover, I suppose.”

It was just as Yohan was smiling brightly in the cozy atmosphere. The intercom rang, and when he went to check, it was a call from the security office. Lee Hyunmook asked curiously.

“What is it?”

-Hello, this is the security office. A visitor has come for Mr. Yang Yohan. What should we do? The visitor is Park Seungmin, an awakener.

Yohan blinked. Park Seungmin coming in person? Yet it wasn’t entirely surprising. As Lee Hyunmook looked at him, waiting for his decision, Yohan hesitated briefly before saying,

“I’ll meet him.”

***

The Taeyang Guild’s headquarters was a mixed-use residential complex. The basement housed a spacious parking garage, while the first through fifth floors accommodated various convenience facilities. Above these were the residential quarters provided for the rift raid teams. Originally built by the Sunrise Guild as welfare housing, the completed building had been transferred entirely to the Taeyang Guild.

Park Seungmin was waiting in a private meeting room in the first-floor lobby. The moment Yohan entered, Park Seungmin charged at him with a face twisted in fury. Startled, Yohan reflexively shoved him away, sending Park Seungmin tumbling to the floor. Park Seungmin, who hadn’t expected to be pushed off so easily, lay sprawled on the floor, looking up with a bewildered expression. Yohan was surprised too, but he didn’t show it and closed the door.

“You, you…!”

Trembling violently, Park Seungmin pointed an accusing finger, but Yohan simply stared down at him. The man looked haggard, weight lost from the stress, disheveled from head to toe. To Yohan, a high-level awakener, Park Seungmin, a low-level awakener, posed no threat. Park Seungmin seemed to realize this too; though choking back tears, he didn’t lunge forward like before.