CH 57

This time I knew for sure it was a dream.

“—“

“–!!”

Han Cha-soo was in a world that looked like a painter of terrible taste had overlaid his own.

A half-collapsed light source with a shaky foundation. To add insult to injury, dolls with mosaic-like eyes swirled around him.

He doesn’t know what they’re saying, but if that square hole is a mouth, they’re probably trying to communicate.

“—“

“–….”

“-, —!!!”

Han Cha-soo rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, wondering when he would wake up.

It was because of the gazes that clung to him as soon as he thought of waking up.

“Oh, my.”

The mosaic humans, talking amongst themselves, all turned to him in unison. It wasn’t just that. Their voices crackled like crushed frequencies.

“How long–“

“Cha-soo, you–“

It began to take shape.

Han Cha-soo’s face contorted at the horrible voice, like a nail scraping across a steel plate.

“Damn it.”

No way, let’s run.

Han Cha-soo scrambled to his feet, covering his ears. If he was dreaming, the penalty wouldn’t apply anyway.

He took a step, a stride, toward the source of the ominous glow.

“–Failure!”

“…!”

It was a heavy voice, the voice of a man of power and emotion. The sound, which could be described as evil, pierced through the center of his chest.

“Ah.”

And just like that, Han Cha-soo collapsed. To an irresistible force. An unconscious fear he could not fight.

“Yes, this was it….”

The comfortable ignorance of the dream lifted like a fog dissolving in the sunlight. He took a step back from reality and forced his downcast eyelids open.

On the verge of passing out, as soon as the defiance skill was released, he was gripped by an unending sense of dread.

“Hah.”

His breath caught in his throat, and his hands and feet stiffened. Despair leapt up from the depths of his being and took control.

No, it wasn’t something he could do anything about, for the despair that crushed him to the ground was of the original.

Bam!

Bam!

Enlightenment was the catalyst, and the world exploded. The thin shield, barely a layer, shattered like a bullet.

Even as he felt the slap on his cheek and the shards of glass digging into his shoulder, Han Cha-soo continued to think calmly.

The more vivid the pain, the shorter the life of the dream.

Perhaps he could wake up soon.

‘I wonder why the fear came back even though I cancelled the defiance skill.’

Han Cha-soo turned and stared at the puppet pointing at him. For a moment, the grey eyes flickered with light.

‘That… wasn’t just a skill to increase aggression.’

It was a skill to defend oneself so that one could not feel fear against an enemy.

He remembered the diary of the original Han Cha-soo. How he had been treated as a failure. How it had crushed his spirit and left him with a deep-seated sense of inferiority.

‘So, the nemesis is someone from the original Han Cha-soo’s past.’

If that was the case, there was no time to lie in a dream. He had to recover his body immediately and prepare for when his nemesis reappeared.

He wasn’t just a foe, and if he could be called a ‘nemesis’, he certainly didn’t have any good feelings for him.

“I’m going to spar and beat him up.”

Even if it meant skinning Ki Tae-yeon’s flesh, he has to lift the damned ailment right now, and then he could either leave this place or kill his nemesis.

Oh, and by the way, did the head of the development office say he could help me?

“Hmm….”

The glare he’d formed in anger at his nemesis faded. It was because he felt guilty about tearing the head of development office’s hair.

I can’t do this. A piercing sound sounded in Han Cha-soo’s ears.

Saeaeak!

A huge piece of glass was falling towards his chest from high above. Han Cha-soo reflexively tried to roll away but stopped.

‘If I get hit by that, I will be able to wake up.’

Han Cha-soo closed his eyes.

He snapped them open.

A familiar voice echoed through his body.

“Han Cha-soo, are you awake? Ha… Thank God.”

“Wait, I’m not allowed in? This is ridiculous. Who do you think brought Han Cha-soo all the way here?”

“Since you’re awake, I’ll take care of you from now on. Oh, and I wish those scumbag medical center staff who leave patients alone on the roof whether they’ve collapsed or not would get lost.”

“…And if it gets in the Director’s ear, you might be out of here for good, hunter Baek-dam.”

“Humph.”

Maybe he’d made the wrong choice, Han Cha-soo thought.

‘Maybe I should have stayed in the dream.’

The reality was such a mess that he didn’t know where to begin.

For now, the most urgent problem he had to deal with was Jung Yiheon.

“Han Chasoo-ssi, what’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

He was bent over him, holding his hand tightly. The distance was too close. He was afraid that if he turned his head, the bridge of his nose would bump into him.

“Look over here.”

I couldn’t see.

Han Cha-soo kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling and struggled to move his mouth.

“I’m fine, so….”

Get out of my way and bring me Ki Tae-yeon.

He’s sure he heard his voice just a moment ago, but when he opens his eyes, he can’t see him for some reason.

‘I need him to release my condition.’

“Ugh.”

His head thuds as je roughly push Jung Yiheon aside and pull himself up. His vision spun and he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

“Han Cha-soo!”

Jung Yiheon shouted from beside him. He felt his hand on his shoulder, brushing his back as he tried to lay him back down.

“Your forehead is on fire.”

“…?”

Just then, someone removed the hand covering his face. At the same time, a gentle force spread from his forehead to his entire body.

Han Cha-soo could tell the identity of the other person without opening his eyes.

‘It’s Baek-dam.’

After receiving it a few times, he was able to recognize it immediately. He could feel the warmth of the energy being absorbed into his body.

“Hah….”

He’s finally fleshy. Han Cha-soo slowly opened his eyes, enjoying the feeling of being lighter. And then he froze.

He had never seen Baek-dam like this before.

His hair, which had been hanging down to his waist, was neatly pinned back into a long barrette. It revealed a sharp jawline that had previously been hidden. If his followers saw it, their eyes would widen.

But nothing could top this, that is.

“Why are you wearing cotton cloth?”

“Excuse me?”

Han Cha-soo realized in hindsight that he’d said what he meant, but he couldn’t help it; it was such a stunning visual shock.

Baek-dam was clad in a light, thin cotton fabric that was see-through. He didn’t know the exact term for what they called it. But he had seen them worn by people getting married.

‘It’s white, it’s embroidered, it has lace at the ends… it’s cotton, isn’t it?’

He wondered why he was looking at him in such an unpleasant way, but soon realized his error.

‘He must have thought I was criticising his taste.’

Han Cha-soo had no such intention. On the contrary, he thought that white porcelain and cotton sandpaper went very well together.

Flaxen hair and light brown eyes. The way the cotton cloth half-covered the face of a man who exuded holiness even when he stood still gave him an air of nobility.

Moreover, Baek-dam always wore white suits or light-colored clothes. It was the same now, and he wouldn’t have a problem walking down the aisle.

Still, a wrong was a wrong.

“I’m sorry if you were offended. I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t fit in.”

Technically, he was right about him being too beautiful to look away from. Han Cha-soo apologized sincerely to Baek-dam.

“I think it’s a good fit. I was surprised and said it like a question without even realizing it.”

“…….”

Baek-dam’s eyes were strange after receiving the apology. Through the thin fabric, pale brown eyes scrutinized him.

Han Cha-soo remained silent until he spoke. It was the silence he deserved as someone who had unintentionally said something rude.

Finally, the lips covered by the cotton cloth parted.

“You don’t mind?”

“…What do you mean?”

Han Cha-soo shook his head without hesitation.

Then the corner of Baek-dam’s lips lifted slightly.

“Hmm.”

He tilted his head and laughed softly. Han Cha-soo leaned back with a creepy feeling, but something blocked his vision.

“…?”

It was the cotton cloth Baek-dam had been using just a moment ago.

“What about now?”

Next time, don’t say anything no matter what Baek-dam is wearing. Han Cha-soo looked at Baek-dam, who was forcing him to answer, and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Both look good together. When I was covering it, I felt mysterious because of the cotton cloth, but now I can see the stick I’m putting in the back better, so it’s coming up differently.”

That’s a pretty good answer. Han Cha-soo didn’t let up on the tension.

“Did you hear that?”

Baek-dam looked at Jung Yiheon with a look of disbelief, his brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what he didn’t like.

“…?”

Han Cha-soo frowned at the strange air currents passing between them.