Chapter 4 Part 29

Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. It seemed best not to prolong the conversation. Besides, when it came down to it, the situation of being confronted by this man alone wouldn’t do Jeong Tae-ui any good.

“What brings you here? This place should be off-limits.”

Even knowing he wasn’t in a position to ask so boldly, Jeong Tae-ui said so, and looked in the direction the man had come from. That was the direction where the instructors’ rooms were. The instructors from the Europe Branch who had led the Europe Branch members were also staying on this floor, but their rooms were in a different direction.

Jeong Tae-ui suddenly cocked his head. What reason would this man have to personally meet an instructor from this side? Or was he perhaps exploring the branch building? However, no particular reason came to mind. Since UNHRDO didn’t have any particularly opposing organizations, there was no organization or group that would bother to spy on them.

He briefly entertained the ‘Ilay League-row – Spy Theory,’ but it yielded no definite conclusion.

As if knowing Jeong Tae-ui’s thoughts, Ilay League-row wore a faint smile. But without answering the question, he gave a reply that was expected.

“This place isn’t off-limits just for me, is it? What brings you here? No need to ask, the answer seems obvious already.”

Ilay League-row muttered slowly. Then he suddenly tilted his head and let out a chuckle.

“But what were you doing with that pretty young man? Your face looks quite deliciously flushed.”

At his low words, Jeong Tae-ui’s expression hardened instantly. The way he muttered, “What were you doing?” in that subtle tone, brought back the sensation of Shinru’s cheek against his lips. His face grew hot.

Jeong Tae-ui instinctively raised his hand and wiped his face with the back of it. But immediately he thought it was a useless gesture. His face only grew hotter, and in front of him, Ilay League-row let out a low laugh.

Jeong Tae-ui flared up. He had no reason to be laughed at by anyone else. Not himself, nor Shinru.

“Whatever we were doing, it’s none of your business.”

“Well, I wonder about that. I’m curious what kind of reaction that pretty young man would show if I were to do something to him. How warm would his breath be, how charming his cries? Things like that──you know.”

Ilay League-row whispered, drawing out his words. Jeong Tae-ui stared at him coldly.

Damn it. He’d felt uneasy and had a bad feeling since earlier, so this was it after all.

He grew anxious. As he became uneasy, his mouth went dry. If anyone looked at Shinru covetously, they wouldn’t feel good about it, but with this man, it was even worse. Beyond merely not feeling good, a profound anxiety swept over him. It was an overwhelming sense of danger.

Moreover, this madman, despite his personality and tendencies being what they were, appeared perfectly normal outwardly. With just a flick of his hand, at least a dozen people would immediately flock to him, such was his desirable body and face.

Honestly, he had to admit what needed admitting. The only thing he was better at than that bastard was his humanity.

Whether it was face, body, or strength, he couldn’t claim to be better. The only reason he could confidently claim to surpass him in humanity wasn’t because he was exceptionally superior, but because that man was frighteningly inferior.

“So, what you’re saying is, you’re interested in Shinru?”

“Shinru? Ah, so that young man’s name is Shinru. Yes, not bad. No, quite good, if it’s him.”

Ilay League-row said. At the same time, he took one step towards Jeong Tae-ui. And another step.

The moment he began to walk slowly and leisurely towards him, Jeong Tae-ui frowned.

He had momentarily forgotten. The fact that nothing good would come from encountering this man. No, rather, he should have fled instantly if he’d seen even a strand of his hair from a hundred ri away. The sensation of that man’s neck touching the muzzle of the gun he held was still vivid.

He flinched, almost stepping back reflexively, but Jeong Tae-ui quickly changed his mind and stood his ground. If he thought about it, it was already too late to run away. Then merely backing away would only make him look ridiculous. Besides, surely he wouldn’t actually kill someone in a corridor like this… but then again, he probably would.

“What’s wrong?”

Ilay League-row saw Jeong Tae-ui standing stiffly rooted to the spot, shrugged, and smiled. But that smile was even more chilling. He had walked slowly but unceasingly and was now only a few steps away from Jeong Tae-ui. Yet he kept coming.

One step, two steps, one more step.

Jeong Tae-ui met his dark eyes, which were fixed on him, and tensed his entire body.

How far was he going to come? He was already within arm’s reach.

But even so, Ilay League-row walked closer. One step, and then he finally stopped.

They were less than two or three spans apart. From there, Ilay League-row was looking down at Jeong Tae-ui. His eyes were cold as ice. Even though a faint smile played at the corners of his eyes and mouth, his gaze was chilling like a blade.

It was a dangerous position. No, it surpassed mere danger. Jeong Tae-ui once again blamed himself for his foolishness. At this distance, if this man made a move, Jeong Tae-ui would almost certainly be defeated. He wouldn’t even be able to try any shallow tricks to escape. He should have made him stop at least a few steps earlier.

“Strange…, where did all that nerve I saw the other day go, huh?”

Ilay League-row said quietly. It sounded as if a cheerful hum was mixed in.

Jeong Tae-ui looked at him directly. Such cold, frozen eyes, he seemed inhuman. Goosebumps rose on his skin. He couldn’t believe such a man existed.

“Jeong Tae-ui.”

The voice slowly calling his name. The clear and precise pronunciation seemed to assert, “I know you, as precisely as this pronunciation.”