“……”Was it only because the cannon had been good? While other people’s bullets came out like water guns, Uichan’s shot like a cannon. The structure had nearly collapsed, and a worker nearby had almost been crushed. Because of that, Uichan had gotten a mouthful of curses from the man.He became mute as if honey had glued his tongue. For a few seconds, he could not say anything. Then he thought—maybe some of the cannon’s power had seeped into him. If that lingering trace was what made the panther act so familiar with him, it would make sense.Just then—Step, step—.Footsteps came running toward them from the park entrance. Uichan jerked his head up. He fumbled quickly to find his glasses and snatched them up. Before he could even unfold the temples and hook them over his ears, someone had already approached.An armed man spoke fluent English as he looked around for someone. At the same time, a large hand seized Uichan’s shoulder and pulled him close. Before he could even put on his glasses, his forehead bumped against a broad shoulder. He was completely buried in Yeo Taehwon’s chest, his breath caught.There was a faint smell of blood and munitions powder. The clean scent of new clothes, and… the cool body scent of a winter night brushing his nose.The man who approached was a member of Blacktan’s Litan office. He started to come closer but stopped after catching sight of the beast prowling nearby, retreating a few steps. Looking carefully, he saw someone buried in Blacktan’s arms, face hidden against his chest.Instinctively, sweat ran down the man’s back. Something told him this was dangerous, that he shouldn’t approach. He lowered the muzzle of his gun. When he met Yeo Taehwon’s gaze, the man only gave a brief nod, asking his business silently.When the armed hero disappeared, uneasy silence blanketed the area. Still half-buried against Yeo Taehwon’s shoulder, Uichan finally couldn’t stand it and lifted his head. Even in the dark, Yeo Taehwon’s yellow eyes glowed faintly, fixed quietly on him.The gaze was hard to define, and Uichan’s palms were damp with sweat. Then Yeo Taehwon reached into Uichan’s arms. He took the glasses that Uichan was clutching, unfolded the temples, and hooked them gently behind his ears. The moment the glasses settled on the bridge of his nose, Uichan’s face softened, returning to its usual mild impression.“It would be better to keep these on.”“Ah… yes. Thank you.”Uichan bowed his head lightly in thanks, and right then the radio at his waist crackled. It was a call from his team leader, Song Ojun. Rising to leave, Uichan’s work uniform was wrinkled and messy.Yeo Taehwon, who wore his uniform as if it were a military dress, seemed bothered by that. After hesitating, he reached out and caught the collar of Uichan’s jumpsuit. Then he pulled the drooping fabric together and zipped it up.“The night air is cold. You are not well—go home carefully.”Choosing his words, Uichan only nodded. Yeo Taehwon stared at him quietly, then turned away like a man forcing himself to let go. The beast that had been prowling nearby rubbed its head against Uichan’s chest once before following after the man’s broad back.Uichan suddenly remembered something and called out to him.“Blacktan.”“Yes.”“I want to ask you something.”“Go ahead.”“…I heard you’re looking for Under Doom. What do you plan to do when you find him?”Even as he asked, Uichan’s chest tightened with fear that he might be suspected. He had heard from Jekyll Jack just yesterday that Blacktan had been prowling around Seoul again. The two had apparently clashed in anger, but Blacktan had come away unscathed, while Jekyll Jack had ended up with a broken arm, recovering at home.“There is something I want to confirm.”Yeo Taehwon gave an ordinary answer. Uichan considered pressing further, but gave up. If he pushed too hard, the man might grow suspicious. Yet Yeo Taehwon stood still, as if waiting for him to ask more.He seemed lost in thought. The gold of his eyes had dimmed slightly, and his brow was faintly furrowed.Yeo Taehwon had been born among refugees captured by a terrorist group and sold to the private military company “Litan.” He awakened at the age of three, was raised by mercenaries as a human weapon, and sent into countless wars with his emotions and beliefs stripped away.On the battlefield, emotions were filth. Compassion and pity came back like boomerangs and stabbed you in the back. Mercenaries who showed mercy did not live long.In that sense, Yeo Taehwon was Litan’s masterpiece—exceptional, flawless, emotionless. Their perfect military weapon.But on the day he fell into the pit, Yeo Taehwon’s entire ideology was overturned.Even beneath skin that looked as if it would not bleed if scratched, emotion had existed. That day, for the first time, Yeo Taehwon heard a resonance boiling inside him. It was uncontrollable. Thirst and impatience consumed him—and in that moment, he felt freedom for the first time in his life.Litan castrated and suppressed all emotion and desire, believing they hindered missions. For years, Yeo Taehwon had lived with that switch turned off. He did not know the name of what he felt that day. He only wanted to confirm it. No—he had to confirm it.“And that can only be confirmed through Under Doom. Is that an answer?”“…And once you confirm it, what will happen to him?”For a moment, Blacktan almost seemed to smile. When the corners of his mouth curved, his heavy expression lightened.“So, to Uichan, it looks like I am hunting Under Doom to harm him.”“Wouldn’t only you know that?”“I intend to protect him.”Protect him? Uichan was struck speechless. A hero protecting a villain? If anyone in the Hero Association heard that, they’d foam at the mouth.“Before others lay their hands on him, I will protect him—and obtain ownership from them.”“……”“It is only natural to protect what has fallen into one’s possession.”“…Under Doom is a villain.”“That does not matter. If it becomes a problem, I will obtain custody, negotiate with the Association through the bail system, pay his bail, and keep him under my supervision for life. Under Doom has not committed any serious crimes, so he will not be imprisoned. And even if he were, I could prevent it.”He was openly declaring that he would use his wealth to pay bail and take Under Doom into his own care. A hero, saying that? Uichan only blinked in shock. When he said nothing, Blacktan seemed to take the silence as acceptance. He inclined his head and walked away.Uichan stared blankly at his departing figure—at how he left the park, glanced down an alley, lifted the lid of a trash can, closed it calmly, and disappeared. Only when his shadow was gone did Uichan snap back to his senses.[Zzzzt— Rookie, where are you?]Just then, Song Ojun’s voice came crackling from the radio on his belt. Uichan hurriedly pulled the mask crumpled in his pocket over his face and headed back toward the site.To avoid crossing paths with Blacktan, he circled halfway around before arriving. By then, the Non-Hero crew had finished shoveling and were sitting, covered in dust, catching their breath.As Uichan approached, they gave him grumbling looks. Song Ojun frowned, looking like he had a lot to say, but he neither yelled nor asked why Uichan had left the site.“Look at Litan—checking everything like their eyeballs are about to pop out.”“They’re the ones who smashed the wall, and now they lose their minds if they spot a drop of blood.”Watching Blacktan’s team inspect the cleared site, the Non-Hero members nervously clasped their hands, afraid of being blamed. Uichan’s eyes searched for Blacktan. Among the group, the largest frame stood out—Yeo Taehwon’s back.Sensing the gaze, Yeo Taehwon suddenly turned and looked directly at him. Uichan adjusted his glasses and lowered his head, pretending to fix them. Who would have thought that Blacktan’s search for Under Doom was really so he could keep him close and “watch over” him?He had said “protect,” but the motive behind that surveillance was too obscure to read. In the end, Uichan could only make up his mind.For the time being, he would stay out of sight. Nothing good would come from being discovered by them.***The Non-Hero office was a den of washed-up heroes bound by a single belief: to save the world through lawful wrongdoing.The cramped ten-pyeong building was barely furnished with mismatched pieces of furniture. The office ran on five people including Uichan, but now it was late at night and every desk was empty.“Sorry to keep calling you here, Mother.”Uichan set a steaming cup ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) of tea on the guest sofa table. Sitting primly, Mother Ship glanced around the office and lifted the cup.“What can we do? Hyde issued a ban forbidding the siblings from entering the youngest’s home. Without that, Jekyll Jack would barge in every single day. And I like it here too. It feels cozy—since it’s the place where my Uichan works.”Smiling brightly, Mother took a sip of her tea, while beside her, Podo rolled around on the sofa on all fours like a puppy.

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