Chapter 2 Part 18

“…Ah… Really, who was it? Didn’t you ask their name?”

Jeong Chang-in, as if he understood, slightly quirked the corner of his mouth and asked again. Jeong Tae-ui shook his head.

“No, I just asked for directions. They looked a bit young, like they might not even be an adult yet, depending on how you look at them. A soft, fluffy feeling… They looked somewhat Western, but seemed Chinese.”

“Ah, young, you say? Tsk, tsk, your taste never changes. I had a feeling.”

Jeong Chang-in shook his head, as if he had caught on. Jeong Tae-ui, feeling a surge of irritation, glared at Jeong Chang-in.

“So, are you saying there’s a minor here?”

“No. …And what if there were a minor? You just need to wait with patience for a while, let them grow up, and then harvest them. Kids grow up in the blink of an eye, you know.”

“Jeong Chang-in, that’s not what I’m talking about… So, who is that person?”

He grumbled, “You’d know who it is anyway, since you’re my uncle,” and asked grumpily.

Jeong Chang-in, despite turning his head away indifferently, quietly watched his nephew’s flushed face with his head tilted, then let out a small laugh.

“…You innocent fellow. I heard from Jeong Jae-ui that your romantic relationships were quite complicated, so why such a fresh, naive reaction? He said there was even a knife fight between two men over you.”

“My brother said that too?”

Jeong Tae-ui frowned and clicked his tongue.

It had happened. He was a young man Jeong Tae-ui had thought was cute and had slept with a few times, but he had an incredibly finicky and sharp-tempered personality.

But they hadn’t dated. The young man himself had said so: that they were just people who slept together when they felt like it.

So Jeong Tae-ui had believed it without a doubt, but it seemed that wasn’t actually the case.

Jeong Tae-ui himself didn’t know why, but he was quite popular in clubs of that type. So, after a while, another person approached him. And then—all hell broke loose.

This new person who approached him also had an extraordinary personality, and a truly bloody commotion ensued.

Because of it, Jeong Tae-ui was even called to the police station as a witness for questioning, and during that process, rumors secretly spread to Jeong Tae-ui’s Military Academy, where he was a cadet at the time. After that, it was a continuous series of hardships.

“So, who is that person?”

As Jeong Tae-ui mumbled a bit more indifferently, Jeong Chang-in, smiling broadly for some reason, shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

“You’ll probably meet them again soon. They are a Support Staff member, in charge of member welfare and internal affairs.”

“—That, uh… Shinru, you said? Does Support Staff also live on this floor?”

“Hmm. Everyone except the members stays on this floor. Even external guests stay on this floor. But when people from other branches come for Joint Training, they stay on the same floor as you all.”

“Haa…”

Jeong Tae-ui mumbled, as if lost in thought.

Is that so? I hadn’t considered Support Staff. Right, now that I think about it, they didn’t have much muscle, and there were no scars or wounds to be found on their body. With a body like that, they couldn’t be a UNHRDO member, nor could they be an instructor who had been through harsh times. Then, of course, what’s left is Support Staff, but why didn’t I think of it?

Jeong Tae-ui scratched his neck, lost in thought, then suddenly recalled that flawless, smooth, and soft skin and blushed again. Jeong Chang-in’s gaze from beside him felt sharp, and he quickly shook his head to clear his mind, but it was no use.

“I’ve lived long enough to see this side of you. It truly pays to live a long life.”

Jeong Chang-in said in a tone of wonder—but with a clearly amused voice—and shook his head.

Jeong Tae-ui looked at Jeong Chang-in disapprovingly, then suddenly remembered why he had come here.

“By the way, aren’t you being too much, Jeong Chang-in? I just thought I’d keep myself safe for half a year and then go back, but from what I hear, this is a complete survival game.”

“Hm?”

“They say countless people die during Joint Training. And those who get injured are beyond counting. No matter what, dragging your nephew into such a death trap is too much.”

He hadn’t actually heard it was that severe, but as he grumbled with some exaggeration, Jeong Chang-in offered a consolation that sounded like a glib excuse.

“It’s possible to get slightly injured or, in severe cases, go to the hospital, but it’s rare for anyone to actually die. Rest assured.”

“Yes… But Jeong Chang-in, you know, it’s difficult for me if I get seriously injured.”

“Ah, I know. If you get seriously injured, I’ll personally take you to a hospital with the best facilities, so don’t be angry. I didn’t bring you here to kill you.”

Jeong Chang-in still spoke with a light tone, smiling. Jeong Tae-ui sighed.

As he said, if Jeong Tae-ui got injured, Jeong Chang-in would immediately pull strings everywhere. It was closer to a sense of duty for what needed to be done rather than affection for his nephew, but he had never neglected such matters.

So Jeong Tae-ui wasn’t worried about that. He merely wanted to complain a little, as signs of a difficult future were appearing everywhere.

And in fact, it would be problematic for Jeong Tae-ui if he got injured beyond a certain extent.

Of course, it’s problematic for anyone to get seriously injured, but Jeong Tae-ui’s constitution makes surgery difficult. Regardless of his own will, his body was quite particular; his rejection rate for foreign substances was much higher than the average person’s. Once, when he was seriously injured during mine removal and immediately taken to the hospital, he had metal pins inserted to connect fragmented and broken bones, only for a strong rejection reaction to occur, requiring another major surgery.

“Well then, I’ll get going before it gets any later. You must be tired, Jeong Chang-in, please rest.”

“Didn’t you take out this book to look at it? I’ll lend it to you, take it and read it.”

As Jeong Tae-ui stood up, Jeong Chang-in picked up the book he had taken out and placed on the desk, offering it to him.

Jeong Tae-ui gazed at the book for a moment. Though carefully preserved, the passage of time couldn’t be stopped, and its color had faded to yellow. The figure of $3500 flickered in his mind, making him afraid to even touch it.

“No… I’d rather come and read it here myself. It’s too valuable a book for me to borrow, it would be too much of a burden.”

“Really? It doesn’t matter to me, but if you’re more comfortable that way, that’s fine. When you get your room key from Shinru, ask for a spare key to my room as well. I’ll contact them. So you’re going to get your key and the rule sheet right away, aren’t you?”

At Jeong Chang-in’s words, Jeong Tae-ui paused.

Indeed, after leaving this room, he had planned to go to the office to receive his key and other items. He was just about to grab the person on duty and ask them to call the Support Staff member in charge.

But right now, that Support Staff member would surely be in the bathroom. Even if he called, he wasn’t sure if he’d get through properly, and even if he did, it would only bother the person.

As Jeong Chang-in watched Jeong Tae-ui, who was blushing and looking a little troubled, he opened his mouth as if he knew what Jeong Tae-ui was thinking.

“Shinru would have already finished his bath and would be doing extra work in his room. His blood pressure is low, so he doesn’t soak in the tub for long, and he’s a bit of a workaholic. He’ll be working anyway, so calling him won’t be a disturbance.”

Jeong Tae-ui’s eyes met Jeong Chang-in’s, who was looking at him with a subtle, knowing smile. He felt a sudden surge of irritation for no reason and glared at Jeong Chang-in with a grumpy face, but at Jeong Chang-in’s calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened, he could only sigh.

Yes, he was very drawn to that Support Staff member. Even if he didn’t acknowledge it as liking them, he wanted to see them again and know more. So what?

Jeong Tae-ui’s face became a little bolder. Having an attraction to someone wasn’t something to hide.

Jeong Chang-in noticed Jeong Tae-ui’s mood and made a slightly regretful face, but then, as if changing his mind, smiled calmly.

“It’s a wonderful thing to like someone. To love and be loved. That is the foundation of the world.”

“…Jeong Chang-in, you really do say things that sometimes make the listener uncomfortable.”

Jeong Tae-ui mumbled, looking at Jeong Chang-in with a face that was neither displeased nor pleased. Then, leaving Jeong Chang-in’s laughter behind, he exited the room.