FLIA 46

***

The next morning, Yohan woke up after a deep sleep, still half-dazed, but trying to think positively.

‘But when I think about it… aren’t the conditions for a one-sided crush actually pretty good?’

A crush! After what happened last night, the feelings he’d been confused about, whether it was just admiration or something more, had become perfectly clear. It wasn’t just fan-like affection that made his heart flutter like this, that made him want to touch the other person, to hope they felt the same…

‘This was bound to happen. How could anyone not fall for someone like Mr. Hyunmook?’

Wasn’t he practically Korea’s savior? He was incredibly powerful and handsome. Sure, he occasionally went berserk, but even that was manageable thanks to Yohan’s purification ability!

‘If it weren’t for the Abyss, I probably never would’ve had the chance to meet someone like him.’

Even though he’d fallen into that hellish place called the Abyss, awakening as a purifier was such a blessing. Thanks to that, he was able to save Lee Hyunmook, and as a result, they’d built a huge amount of mutual goodwill. So from Yohan’s perspective, this crush of his was starting under the best possible conditions.

They had time to spare anyway. Yohan nodded to himself. If they stayed together long enough, affection would grow, and affection could turn into love. Besides, he and Mr. Hyunmook had already kissed twice, and even done that last night! Sure, the first was more like a rescue effort, and the second had been completely one-sided enjoyment on his part, but still…

As the drowsiness began to fade, Yohan finally noticed the warm heat at his side. It was Lee Hyunmook’s body heat. It felt so good that he started to squirm on purpose, pretending he hadn’t fully woken up. But then, a sudden scream rang out, startling him fully awake. Lee Hyunmook calmly patted Yohan’s chest a few times to soothe him.

“W-Was that Seungryong-hyung screaming just now?”

“Sounds like it.”

Hyunmook spoke in the same groggy voice and expression that made it unclear whether he’d really slept or not. Yohan shot up from his spot. Even though Seungryong was his teammate, Hyunmook didn’t seem the least bit concerned. Yohan, on the other hand, was worried enough for the both of them and urged Hyunmook urgently.

“Hurry, let’s go check! Something might’ve happened!”

Only after Yohan’s insistence did Hyunmook rise. He strode over to the door, opened it, and glanced outside to check the situation. Once he confirmed it was safe, he gave Yohan the go-ahead. When Yohan rushed out, he found Yoon Seungryong screaming on the rooftop.

At first, Yohan thought Seungryong had gone mad again. But listening more closely, it turned out he was just furious, throwing a tantrum out of sheer rage.

“That bastard Ju Hoyoung! If I catch him, I’ll kill him!”

Seungryong screamed at the top of his lungs, tearing at his hair. Just last night, his face and body had been clean, but now they were a complete mess, covered in all sorts of filth. Fuming, he leapt off the rooftop. Despite jumping from the third floor, he landed without showing any signs of injury.

“Ugh! Seungryong-hyung, you’ve got ice stuck in your back!”

Yohan screamed and ran to him. Only then did Seungryong realize the dirty chunk of ice embedded in his back.

“Damn it. Just – seriously?”

Irritated, Seungryong yanked the ice out. Thanks to his regeneration, the blood that started to stream quickly stopped. Yohan, worried about infection, hurried to purify him. Once he’d cleaned him up, Seungryong’s appearance returned to normal, but his rage remained untouched.

“Ju Hoyoung did all this?”

“Ju Hoyoung, my ass! That bastard’s a total menace. You wouldn’t believe how much of a pain in the ass he was all night.”

Grinding his teeth, Seungryong’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Let’s catch him.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

Hyunmook replied indifferently as he pulled a metal shard from Seungryong’s thigh that Yohan had missed and tossed it aside.

“I dunno! Let’s dig some traps or something. You’re good at that, team leader.”

Hyunmook stared at Seungryong, who was scratching at the wound on his thigh, and then said flatly:

“Then try staking out and using some numbing powder or sleeping poison. Or hallucinogens.”

“Oh! That’s right. Poison! We can use poison!”

Eyes lighting up, Seungryong bolted off somewhere. …Did Hyunmook just mutter “idiot”? Yohan blinked in disbelief, but he was secretly happy. At least now, it was just the two of them again.

“Then should we go gather water and food?”

“Sure.”

To be honest, food wasn’t a huge issue. Water was the bigger problem. They couldn’t keep relying on squeezing moisture out of monster eyeballs, it was too heavy and limited. Without Seungryong’s abilities, it would’ve been a nightmare. As they went scavenging, Yohan kept stealing glances at Hyunmook.

‘How can I make Hyunmook feel all the things I’m feeling for him?’ That was his current biggest concern. A lover… he probably had one, right? Honestly, even before awakening, he’d been smart and handsome. It would’ve been strange if he didn’t have one. Yohan tried to bring up the topic of exes as naturally as possible, when suddenly, Hyunmook stopped walking.

“Yohan-ah.”

“Yes? Yes?! What – what is it?”

Flustered for no reason, Yohan stammered. Hyunmook gestured with his chin toward something and said:

“How about that for lunch today?”

“That?”

Yohan squinted up at the top of a tall building, where a bunch of plump, fist-sized birds were huddled together.

“Wait a second…?”

Even from this far away, they looked fist-sized? A second glance confirmed it: with a building that tall, there was no way those were small birds! They looked more like monsters big enough to eat them instead. Yohan asked anxiously:

“But won’t they all fly away before we even make it up there?”

“No need to go all the way up.”

Hyunmook shrugged and gave Yohan a smile, which only made him more confused. A few hours later…

“…Are you eating something without me?”

Startled, Yohan quickly set down the giant roasted drumstick he’d been tearing into. His nose had black ash and grease smudged on it as he gave a sheepish smile. Seungryong stood there, clearly having gone through hell, arms crossed.

“Seungryong-hyung, welcome back. Have you ever had roast sparrow before?”

Hyunmook had summoned a lightning bolt straight down on the rooftop, roasting a few of the birds instantly. When they climbed up to check, the birds were huge, big enough to be mistaken for ostriches. After purifying them, they tried to figure out what species they were. Hyunmook said:

“Judging by the feather color, they look like sparrows?”

“…These are sparrows?”

Sparrows?! Just like with snake meat, it was a type of meat Yohan had never tasted before. Thrilled, he’d carried them back without tiring. They smoked a few and grilled one on the spot with salt. The meat was so tender, juicy, and rich with flavor. Yohan was so absorbed in eating that he hadn’t noticed Seungryong return.

“Sparrows? You’re telling me you were eating sparrows without me?”

Grumbling, Seungryong plopped down and grabbed a wing as long as his forearm. After one bite, his eyes widened. Yohan quietly placed another bird over the fire. Seungryong tore through bones and all in one sitting and muttered with a sigh:

“Team leader, are we really going to be able to catch that bastard Ju Hoyoung like this?”

“You’re already whining after just one day of stakeout?”

Hyunmook replied as he wiped the ash off Yohan’s nose.

“…I guess not?”

Scratching his head, Seungryong accepted purification from Yohan, packed some smoked meat, and disappeared again.

The next day, with enough food secured, the two of them went looking for drinking water. This time, they didn’t even have to find a source, Ju Hoyoung had left the roads covered in frozen ice. Yohan carefully made his way across the slippery ice, raising his blunt weapon high, picking the spot to strike.

“Yohan-ah.”

“Yes?”

Yohan cheerfully answered with his weapon held high, then froze. Crap. He’d been trying to seduce Mr. Hyunmook, but the sparrow meat had been so good yesterday that he’d totally forgotten…! While he silently panicked, Hyunmook said:

“We’ve got plenty of time. Want to play a bit?”

And by the time Seungryong returned, looking like he’d been through hell again, Yohan was gleefully riding a sled with Hyunmook pulling him along.

“…What are you two doing?”

Yohan snapped out of it. Crap! The sled was so much fun he’d completely forgotten about gathering water…! Seungryong glared at Hyunmook with narrowed eyes and said:

“The hallucinogen didn’t work!”

“What good is a hallucinogen? You need numbing poison to slow him down.”

Hyunmook replied casually, spinning Yohan’s sled in another dizzying, delightful circle. Seungryong slowly uncrossed his arms, looking unsure.

“…Is that so?”