He entered wearing nothing but loose shorts that fell to his knees, snatched Taeui’s cup, took a sip, frowned, and returned it “What is this it’s just cocoa.” Then he sat down beside him, lifted the water bottle and drained it at one gulp before glancing down at Taeui.“You looked like you were having a nightmare earlier.”“If I was I wish someone had woken me up.”“I thought it was cute how your eyelids and lips twitched every time you groaned.”Ugh… mid-sip of cocoa, Taeui froze solid. He’d heard things he shouldn’t have. Kyle watched with a half-smile that was more a grimace, then let out a breathy, almost inaudible laugh.Ilrey, who seemed to have predicted Taeui’s stiff reaction almost perfectly—and perhaps had been aiming for it—smiled broadly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.Damn it. Where had that idiot learned these pointless pranks lately?Ilrey watched silently as Taeui swallowed awkwardly, then broke the silence “Someone lost something.”“Hmm? What?”“You were talking about loss or something earlier.”“Oh, right. We were just discussing what it is we fear. You said you don’t really get scared by horror films either, Kyle.”“Ah.” Ilrey finally nodded as though he’d caught up with the conversation. Loss, loss, he muttered, his eyes narrowing in thought.Please, not that I’m afraid of losing my humanity… though, really, there’s still a mountain of inhumanity left for me to lose.“Maybe,” he said.Taeui, lost in other thoughts, hadn’t quite understood at first when Ilrey spoke again, so he lifted his head and answered “Huh?”Ilrey’s gaze shifted down to Taeui. The smile that had lingered on his lips and in his eyes just moments before was gone, only to return in an instant as though it had never left, and he resumed sipping his water with that faint, ordinary smile.Right. Maybe, Taeui muttered to himself once more. Upon waking, Taeui couldn’t figure out why he’d had that dream. He recalled the brief conversation from some early dawn just a few months ago as if for the first time.But now he understood why.Yes. It must be that I, too, have come to know the fear of loss.Taeui flopped into a chair, utterly exhausted as if a three-year-old could knock him over with a single blow.How many times today had the moment Instructor Hogan disappeared from view sent his heart into freefall? He’d chased after Hogan, wondering where he’d gone off to, what mischief he was up to, whether Ilrey might be with him, running himself ragged trying to keep up. It was the very essence of the fear of loss.It had been an especially tiring day.Not just the physical exhaustion of running non-stop through the base from the ground floor to each basement level, but the mental weariness left him on the verge of collapse.Perhaps Hogan was growing truly anxious or worked up—whatever the cause, he’d tormented Taeui all day. Though a deputy instructor’s duties officially included assisting with odd jobs, from the moment Taeui awoke to the moment he drifted off, the moment their eyes met, Hogan had sent him on errands: fetch this, bring that, contact so-and-so for documents, fax them over. The tasks themselves weren’t the problem, but with every order, Taeui never knew where Hogan might go next, and he had to move as if he had ten bodies to complete each task—and all to catch Hogan’s trail. When he was utterly at a loss, he at least verified Ilrey’s location before leaving. (And as he dashed off, he cursed under his breath, thinking there was a hell of a lot of drudgery just to save that bastard’s life.)Still, shadowing one person perfectly all day was no easy feat, and several times he nearly lost track of Hogan. Each time, he was lucky to find him again shortly after. (And each time, Hogan shot him a look that said he was fed up.)He felt as though if he lay down now, he’d drop off within a second. …Yet he knew he wouldn’t sleep soundly. Just last night, he’d woken from a doze, preparing to follow Hogan when he tried to leave after midnight.Hogan seemed to grow more desperate by the day. His treatment of Taeui had become unbearably harsh.Just one more day. One more day and then.After that, the final two days that were technically part of the training period, Hogan wouldn’t have access to the internal line, not even on paper.So if he could just hold on a little longer… though tonight, he felt as if he might die from overwork.Taeui gazed vacantly at the clock to see how many hours remained in the day. In a few hours, today would be over, and the others had already finished their duties, but he still had to go back to Hogan. Even thinking about it made him weary and he stretched out his arm across the table.“Hey. If you want to sleep, go to your room. Why are you lying here in the mess hall?”Tow’s fingertips tapped the back of Taeui’s head. He didn’t know when Tow had appeared. Taeui groaned without lifting his head.“…I need sleeping pills.”“I think you look dead enough to sleep already. Do you want to sleep forever?”“I want to sleep forever.”He left unspoken the words Hogan needs to sleep forever too, and lifted his haggard face.Maybe I should ask Luther for some sleeping pills. But even if I spiked his supplements, Hogan wouldn’t take them. Maybe I should grab him by the collar and shovel them into his mouth. Yes, maybe that bastard deserves a taste of that.“Whether you sleep or he sleeps, I don’t think it’ll happen right now.”Taeui looked at Tow in surprise as Tow sat beside him and indifferently indicated the table with a nod.“Someone’s calling you.”The call button Taeui had tossed on the table was blinking. Taeui buried his face in his arm at the light.“I should just toss that damn collar somewhere…”When Taeui didn’t move, Tow picked up the call button. Hey, don’t handle other people’s stuff, Taeui mumbled, thinking the number eighteen might be displayed, but Tow only raised an eyebrow in response.“Thirty-five? That’s room five on the third floor… the martial arts hall? The small gym? Looks like the martial arts hall.”Tow shrugged, looking puzzled. Taeui lifted his head and asked dully “The martial arts hall? Why would I be called there?”It wasn’t an office or an admin area, nor a living quarter. The martial arts hall was one of the many shared training rooms.How would I know, Tow tossed the button back. Sure enough, that number was on it. Taeui scratched his head.He still had a bit of time before he had to return to Hogan. He thought he’d stop by the infirmary on the way and ask Luther for some potent sleeping pills. If he could just sleep for one day, that would be perfect.But no matter what he spiked, Hogan wouldn’t swallow it.“All right, I’ll head over then.”“Good luck surviving the mysterious grip calling your name.”Tow waved cheerily. Taeui shot him a glare.“Why do you have to curse me?”“Well, Rick dealt with someone yesterday, right? Grudges keep piling up. You’re the more dangerous one in terms of defense.”He had no retort.Taeui swallowed hard and stood. He understood why all those cold stares were directed at him.He’d heard someone tried to shoot the bastard in the back yesterday, only to have their hand blown off by that very gun. Cause and effect: ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ still self-defense.“I wonder what happened to ‘excessive force’…”Taeui sighed and shook his head. He’d once muttered that to his uncle, who had laughed and asked “Which side are you on?”Ilrey was still in a foul mood. It was almost curious—he never dwelled on annoyances. He either solved the cause or removed it. If neither was possible…“…so there was a thin layer of ice on his face.”Taeui muttered as he climbed the final stairs down to the third basement level.This couldn’t go on forever, but since there was no clear resolution, his spirits sank.“Ilrey, Hogan, Kim Jeong-pil… they’re all the same…”Taeui clicked his tongue. But he decided to exempt Kim Jeong-pil. At least now he only shot Taeui hostile looks but didn’t actually pick a fight. A glare couldn’t cause pain; he could endure that a hundred years.Even if Hogan was resolved tomorrow or the day after, what would he do about Ilrey? Taeui shook his head and turned the corner to the martial arts hall.Today’s duties were done. By the third basement level, mostly training facilities, the crowd had thinned to a trickle, and the corridor beyond stretched empty.Walking down the long hallway to the martial arts hall, no one stirred; it felt as though only shadows lived here. An ominous premonition where shade alone flickered without substance.“…”Taeui frowned. He’d thought it strange when he was called, and there was no reason to be summoned here at this hour.Perhaps someone targeting Ilrey had shifted their aim here… With that thought, he stopped in front of the martial arts hall.The door, half open, revealed darkness. No one waited inside. He felt foolish hovering alone in the empty corridor.“…Who summoned me?”He spoke softly, but in the eerie stillness, even a low voice echoed. No answer came.Taeui stood in silence.He didn’t feel comfortable. The darkness seemed to watch him with ill intent. He had no desire to open the door.No need to wait, he muttered, and turned away. He checked his watch. He had just enough time for a beer before returning to Hogan. He started walking into the darkness behind him.At that moment.The lights in the martial arts hall flicked on. A blinding glow poured through the doorway, illuminating his back.“…―!”Taeui ducked reflexively and spun around, ready to defend against an ambush.But the unexpected attack came not from the hall but from the small gym on the opposite side of the corridor, its door just barely ajar, the darkness within harboring the strike. A stinging blow struck his shoulder, and a sudden numbness spread through his body.It was a sedative.His vision wavered.Damn it.Taeui cursed under his breath. His hand, leaning on the wall, trembled. Though he was technically moving, it felt as if his will no longer controlled him.“Uh…”He tried to call out, but could barely form the words. His tongue felt stiff.It wasn’t a powerful drug—just enough to loosen muscles and dull sensation. Not enough to knock him out completely, but so that he could barely control his movements.“It’ll wear off soon. They said it wasn’t that strong. So let’s tie him up for now.”A distorted voice drifted from the small gym. Taeui glared as a rope looped around him and a man approached, stopping a few paces away.“You bastard… I thought you’d behave for once.”Turning his head, Taeui saw Kim Jeong-pil’s twisted grin. It wasn’t just a grimace—his eyes glistened unnaturally, as if reason remained but with no intent to restrain itself.

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