Passion Novel - Volume 3 - Chapter 63

Jeong Taeui wiped away the water streaming down from his soaked hair several times, glaring at the man.

“You must be lucky, instructor. You even have an adjutant who takes a drenching for you.”

Damn it. Two incidents in one day? It truly was a day plagued by bad luck from the morning. He should have stayed wrapped in his blanket in his room, no matter the excuse. Furthermore, Jeong Taeui hadn’t even deliberately pushed Ilay to shield him this time. He’d just shoved him to clear his path, and at that exact moment, a deluge of water poured down.

“Do you always have to pick a fight in such a classic and unproductive way…?”

Jeong Taeui sighed and mumbled. Then he thought, The guy must have intended to pick a fight with Ilay, but since I ended up getting drenched, who should respond to this provocation? Me, I guess. Annoying. But I should at least give that nasty-looking guy a punch.

He’d seen that man’s face a few times before. They weren’t on the same team, but Jeong Taeui had familiarized himself with the faces of the branch members, as he always followed Ilay whenever he went to lecture. The man jumped down from the railing, a height higher than an average adult. And, like most people who pick fights like this, he glared at Ilay with murderous eyes.

“Hey, the person you should be looking at is me, not him, primarily, isn’t it? You doused someone with water, why are you pretending to be oblivious?”

Jeong Taeui shook his arms to shake off the water droplets and took a step towards the man. Although he was already depressed, and this made him upset, in a way, it was fortunate. He now had a clear excuse to intervene before Ilay turned this man into a pulp. It felt utterly disgusting to just watch someone collapse in front of him without lifting a finger.

“You go away. If you want to fight, I’ll fight you later. I have business with this guy first.”

The man glared fiercely at Jeong Taeui and gestured at Ilay with his chin. This is troublesome, why do they all try so hard to deliberately cut their own lifelines…

Jeong Taeui debated whether he should really save a person who was frantically throwing themselves at death, but decided to stop him out of humanitarian concerns. By the time he left this place, his body would be full of relics.

Then.

“Taei. Go change your clothes and put a hot compress on your knee. I was going to go with you, but it seems I have business to attend to, so I can’t.”

There was a voice that stopped Jeong Taeui. It was Ilay.

He knew well that Ilay couldn’t stand Jeong Taeui interfering in matters that concerned him, but Jeong Taeui had every right to speak up in this situation. Pointing at his soaked self, Jeong Taeui frowned.

“I’m the one who was suddenly ambushed. Don’t you think that in this situation, you’re interfering in my business?”

“Shut up and go.”

However, Ilay showed no intention of listening to Jeong Taeui’s argument and pointed his chin decisively.

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue. This guy sent one person to the grave this morning, and now he’s planning to take down another before the afternoon even begins. Jeong Taeui glanced at the man.

The man was staring at Jeong Taeui. With that same grim expression, he scanned Jeong Taeui from head to toe, as if seeing something utterly unexpected. His gaze, which had moved from head to foot, slowly crawled back up, a little slower than when it went down. The gaze, clinging as wetly as the water, was strangely unpleasant. What’s so good about someone getting drenched when he’s the one who poured the water?

“Jeong Taeui. Aren’t you going? If you spend lunch hour like this, you’ll be walking around looking like that all afternoon.”

“But this guy, I—”

Jeong Taeui, who had weakly tried to cling to a shred of humanity and argue, fell silent at Ilay’s short click of the tongue. Dangerous. If he tried to say anything more, that madman would surely knock Jeong Taeui down first, then pile that man’s corpse on top.

Damn it. You crazy bastard. Fine, go ahead and ruin another person’s life, as you please. I’ve done my part.

Jeong Taeui overtly displayed his displeasure, clicked his tongue, and turned away. Then he cast a glance at the man who would soon be carried to the infirmary. Where will that man get broken? Will an arm be broken, or a leg? Maybe ribs. If he’s unlucky, a broken bone might pierce an organ. But at least, thankfully, I took the drenching, so it’ll end relatively well.

Jeong Taeui tugged at the hem of his shirt, which clung wetly to his body, and shook it out. His gaze, traveling from Jeong Taeui’s face to his nape, chest, and around his waist, was unpleasantly creepy, as if something was clinging to him.

“…?”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head. He thought, He must have some grievances against me too, and turned away. When his eyes met Ilay’s, he wordlessly gestured with his chin towards the end of the hallway, as if telling him to get lost. Jeong Taeui mumbled, “Yes, yes, I’m going,” and started walking.

Behind Jeong Taeui, wet footprints lingered on the corridor floor. A musty smell hung in the air, from wherever that dirty water had come from.

“Damn it. I think a few drops got in my mouth earlier. Ugh—.”

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grimacing, but the water that had soaked his hand was the same. Jeong Taeui thought he was lucky to have a strong stomach and headed down to the 6th floor. By now, that guy must be lying on the floor in a terrible state. Or maybe, surprisingly, he just has a clean break, like a twisted arm, and is just arriving at the infirmary.

At this hour, they should be having lunch, so the infirmary medic was truly pitiful. If something happened even in the middle of the night, they had to be dragged out, didn’t they? No wonder I have nothing to say when I get nagged every time I see him… Jeong Taeui thought, dragging his feet gloomily. His knee seemed to ache even more after being doused with cold water. No, maybe it hurts more than before because that damn guy just pressed on my knee so carelessly just now, Jeong Taeui grumbled sulkily.

However, it was surprising. He hadn’t shown it that much, so it wouldn’t have been easy to notice that his knee was bad. Moreover, even if he understood that it was because he was such a quick-witted person, he hadn’t expected him to kneel on the floor so uninhibitedly and examine his leg. He had thought he was a person who wouldn’t even bow his head, let alone kneel on one knee in front of others. (Of course, Jeong Taeui had never once seen him bow his head.)

“Maybe he’s the kind of guy who actually cares about his comrades’ health. …There’s no way.”

Jeong Taeui voiced his faint hope, then immediately shook his head. Saying it made him feel even more empty. If he were a person with consideration, the infirmary medic wouldn’t be looking at Jeong Taeui with a ghostly face.

Jeong Taeui dragged his knee, aching from the cold water, and finally reached his room, sighing, “Ugh.” As expected, his single room was empty. Jeong Taeui threw off his shoes as soon as he entered the room. His shoes weren’t soaked, but his socks were, which made him feel unclean.

“You can’t trust this ‘elite group’ thing. It’s all a lie. There are all sorts of petty guys, murderers, and then there are reckless ones too…”

Jeong Taeui grumbled aloud as he took off his socks and tossed them into a basket. To reduce the number of innocent victims who are deceived into coming here, I should film this situation and submit it to a current affairs documentary program, Jeong Taeui mumbled, still going on as he headed to the communal bathroom. Given the time, he opened the bathroom door, which was empty, and as the air moved, a musty smell wafted to his nose, making Jeong Taeui frown and wave his hand. Then he suddenly looked at the large, half-length mirror directly opposite the bathroom door. Reflected in the mirror was a man drenched like a drowned rat. His skin and the top of his head were somewhat dry, but his collar and cuffs were still dripping wet.

“…”

Jeong Taeui unconsciously shut his mouth and glared at the mirror. A groan escaped him.

“I walked around looking like this… Today’s really a mixed bag, Jeong Taeui.”

Jeong Taeui rubbed his reddening nape. A sigh escaped him naturally. His uniform shirt, worn directly on his bare skin, was soaking wet and clinging to his body. Normally, he only wore one uniform shirt with a simple pattern, but formally, he would wear another top over it, so the shirt material wasn’t very thick. It was only slightly thicker than a normal dress shirt.

The wet shirt clung to his body to an embarrassing degree. His collarbone, pectoral muscles, and abs were all clearly visible. With everything showing, the single layer of clothing clinging to him paradoxically made him look even more obscene.

“Good grief… It’s like something out of a gay porn magazine. But then again, it’s a place with only men, so maybe that’s a good thing.”

Jeong Taeui quickly unbuttoned his shirt and shook his head. He was almost grateful to Ilay for telling him to get lost quickly. Perhaps, in some ways, he might actually be kind. Jeong Taeui pulled off the clothes that clung to his skin and entered the shower, glancing at the clock.

If he showered and then went out, he probably wouldn’t have time to eat. Even if there was time, as an adjutant, he should at least show his face at the infirmary. He needed to check how badly that guy was injured and report it.

He was going to get an earful from the infirmary medic again.

By now, the medic’s scolding wasn’t directed only at Ilay and Jeong Taeui. He started complaining, asking why there was an endless stream of idiots who charged at the monster, knowing full well they’d get beaten—or perhaps overestimating their own abilities without knowing their place. Even after so many instances of people failing to win, whether throwing clusters, attacking in groups of six or seven, or even bringing weapons against an unarmed man, the medic would grab innocent Jeong Taeui by the collar and shake him, asking if they shouldn’t be taking care of themselves by now. But Jeong Taeui, while muttering, “You said it,” couldn’t bring himself to seriously blame them. He understood the deeply held feelings that made it impossible for them to just stand by, even knowing they couldn’t win.

In most cases, tracing back the cause would lead to Ilay being the culprit eight or nine times out of ten. Nevertheless, Jeong Taeui stood in front of Ilay, shielding him, not only because it was his duty but also because human emotions aren’t solely driven by objective judgment. He often thought that it would be for the best if that guy just died quietly, but for the same reason, he had never seriously wished for the human named Ilay Riegrow to truly die.

“I guess I don’t really dislike that guy. …Hmm. Well, he does show me a lot of leniency in his own way.”

You haven’t been beaten to death even though you’ve been sticking around him, and you haven’t had to rely on an infirmary bed, that alone is miraculous, his uncle had once said half-jokingly, half-seriously. At that time, his uncle had patted Jeong Taeui’s shoulder, perhaps intending to comfort him.

“Rick seems to be giving you a bit of a pass, you know. I don’t know what his game is, but isn’t it fortunate anyway?”

He still remembered his uncle muttering, adding, “Having the Gilsangcheon mark isn’t so bad, is it?” At that time, he had clearly replied, “I’m not particularly happy about it, Uncle.”

He was certainly not happy, but it was true that for whatever reason, Ilay was at least more lenient with him than with the guy who had picked a fight earlier. It was incredibly surprising, as he was not the type to show human decency like treating someone better just because they were close. Jeong Taeui washed the soap suds from his body and exhaled a long breath.

He could see the clock through the glass door. Even if he couldn’t eat a full meal, if he wanted even a piece of bread, he should probably head out soon, stop by the infirmary quickly, and then go to the cafeteria. No, it would be more efficient to go to the cafeteria, grab some bread, and eat it on his way to the infirmary.

“Where will this one be broken…? The guy from this morning was an arm, so to balance it out, maybe a leg?”

Seven or eight out of ten usually got off lightly with arm or leg injuries, while the unlucky two or three would end up in the infirmary more severely injured. The guy from earlier had provoked Ilay, but since Jeong Taeui had been the one directly affected, it seemed likely that he’d get off with a minor arm or leg injury. He somehow felt like he had sacrificed his body to save that guy. Indeed, it would be natural for sarira to appear after he died. Jeong Taeui left the shower, thinking such uncheerful thoughts.

He tightly re-wrapped the supporter around his knee, which felt a bit better after the hot water. After showering, he also felt refreshed, and the gloomy mood of the morning had dissipated just a tiny bit.

Jeong Taeui, shaking his hair with his hands as it wasn’t completely dry even after towel-drying, left the bathroom and headed towards the cafeteria, checking the clock. He had decided that if he went to the cafeteria, grabbed a couple of pieces of bread to eat on the way to the infirmary, and then went to the afternoon routine, it would be just right. It wasn’t long before he discovered that an unexpected error had entered his plan.

No one had expected that situation. Perhaps even the person who attacked hadn’t expected it.

When Jeong Taeui reached the cafeteria, a subtle silence hung in the air. No, it wasn’t silence. Low, ominous voices were faintly whispering. It only felt like silence because it wasn’t the usual noisy chaos of lunchtime. Without anyone saying a word, he knew. Something had happened. Jeong Taeui frowned and slowed his pace. There was only one thing he could guess. Ilay and that man.

He must be pretty badly hurt… Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue. Everyone knew what kind of state that cruel person, who showed no mercy in his actions, left those who challenged him in. Such individuals appeared endlessly, day after day, so much so that mere injuries no longer even became a topic of conversation.

Such a bleak and chilling atmosphere. …He didn’t die, did he?

I should have just gone to the infirmary first, forgetting about bread or anything else. But even amidst that thought, the idea of getting something to eat while he was here prompted Jeong Taeui to step into the cafeteria. That’s when it happened. He ran into a familiar face emerging from the dish return, seemingly finished with his meal.

Ever since Jeong Taeui became Ilay’s adjutant, he had grown distant from his teammates. Among them, some would occasionally brush past him with sympathetic glances, patting his shoulder, while others completely ignored him. Some even vented more anger at Jeong Taeui than at Ilay, shouting at him. The face he just encountered belonged to the “ignoring” type, though leaning slightly towards the former.

“Tou.”

When Jeong Taeui called his name, Tou stopped, a subtle frown on his face.

“Why’s the atmosphere like this? Did something happen while I was gone?…He didn’t kill anyone, did he?”

As always, Jeong Taeui spoke casually, just as he used to with his colleagues, regardless of whether the other person ignored him or not. But at that moment, he sensed something was off.

Normally, Tou would click his tongue in displeasure and pass by without much of a reply, or perhaps utter a word or two that barely qualified as an answer. But now, he looked at Jeong Taeui with a strangely ambiguous expression. That face could only be described as truly subtle.

It wasn’t just anger. In some ways, he even seemed pleased. Yet, there was no hint of a smile, and if it seemed dark, it also felt somewhat elated. Or perhaps it held a mix of anxiety and concern.

“Hey, what is it?”

Jeong Taeui frowned slightly and asked again. When Tou seemed to choose his words for a moment and then opened his mouth, another familiar face approached from behind him. It was Nobuo, who, like Tou, was on the same team. Nobuo hadn’t conversed with Jeong Taeui very often, but they maintained a friendly acquaintance due to being teammates. Nobuo intensely disliked Ilay.

Because of this, after Jeong Taeui became Ilay’s adjutant, Nobuo was the type to hurl sharp insults even at Jeong Taeui. He wasn’t a very desirable person to deal with, but the peculiar atmosphere made his heart flutter uneasily, so Jeong Taeui asked him again.

“Nobuo, what happened? Did he finally… kill someone?”

That was all he could think of. But it didn’t seem to be that either. It subtly differed from the atmosphere of someone having been fatally harmed. What is this chilling feeling? —No, it wasn’t chilling. It should be described as ‘unpleasant.’ It felt like a gloomy and disagreeable sensation creeping up from his ankles. The answer came back quickly. Nobuo blurted out, seemingly annoyed.

“He didn’t kill him. He just made him blind for life.”

“What…?”

Jeong Taeui was speechless. As he stared at him blankly, unable to say anything, Nobuo clicked his tongue as if bursting with indignation, and said mockingly,

“Do you want just the result, or are you curious about the details? I happened to be right inside the railing then. I saw everything, from beginning to end. I even saw which eye he scratched with which finger. I can tell you all about it. What else do you want to know?”

Jeong Taeui just stared at him silently. When he turned his gaze to Tou, Tou grimaced bitterly.

This damned bastard is causing trouble again. An eye, this time an eye. It wasn’t a common place like an arm or a leg, so he had cleverly avoided expectations. Jeong Taeui lowered his head. This was when he wanted to sympathize with the feelings of the many colleagues inside that cafeteria. 

It might be said that it was better than losing a life, but an eye was different from an arm or a leg. It wasn’t something that could naturally heal or fully recover with treatment. Moreover, without an eye, one couldn’t properly live their life. Although they said a consolation payment sufficient to cover one’s remaining life would be given if one had to leave the branch due to an accident within it, this wasn’t a problem that could be solved by such compensation.

“This crazy bastard…”

A curse word spontaneously flowed from his lips. He already knew, but he felt it desperately once again. Jeong Taeui was suddenly overcome with anger.

“Why suddenly damage a perfectly fine person’s eye? Why not just break an arm or a leg like you usually do? Why an eye again?! Damn it, instructor or not, that guy should rot in the stockade for a bit!”

To the eyes of someone who doesn’t see people as people, then what do people appear as? He had been curious about that for a long time. He didn’t intend to speak in ideals, but there clearly existed a minimum level of ethics that humans should uphold. However, there were those who lived irrespective of such things. Jeong Taeui didn’t hate the human named Ilay. But this aspect was undeniably a detestable side of him.

He should have immediately run to the infirmary, forgetting about bread or anything else. No, he should have just stayed there, drenching himself in dirty water or not, and watched until the end. Or he should have taken the initiative, punched that guy in the face, and dragged him to the infirmary immediately. Jeong Taeui tore at his hair. And after all this, that damned guy is probably comfortably holed up somewhere, eating his meal. If that face were in front of me, I’d punch him.

“Ilay… where is that guy?”

Jeong Taeui mumbled to himself, even though they couldn’t possibly know. But surprisingly, an answer came back immediately.

“He’s probably lying in the infirmary. Ha, he got what he deserved. Tell that bastard to just die while he’s at it.”

Nobuo gritted his teeth and replied. He seemed to be laughing triumphantly, yet his eyes gleamed fiercely, filled with rage. As if that wasn’t enough.

Jeong Taeui slowly tilted his head. For a moment, he didn’t understand the words.

“Infirmary… Ilay?”

He thought he heard that Ilay, not that other man, was in the infirmary, but it was completely unimaginable, so Jeong Taeui asked again. Tou added from the side, “They’re both probably in the infirmary,” but he still didn’t understand.

Jeong Taeui looked at Tou, seeking an answer. Tou clicked his tongue with a discomforted expression and grumbled, seemingly annoyed,

“He stabbed his side. He had a knife. While Rick was blinding him, that guy, without even caring for his own body, slashed his side. Thanks to that, his eye ended up like that. …Foolish guy.”

Tou’s anger was palpable. Half of it was anger towards Ilay, and the other half was anger towards his comrade. He was angry at his comrade’s foolishness, who didn’t mind suffering even greater harm himself to harm Ilay.

Jeong Taeui still struggled to grasp the situation and looked between them. Ilay damaged the man’s eye. The man stabbed Ilay in the waist with a knife. Nobuo said, “Just die while you’re at it.”

“…He must have been stabbed deeply.”

Jeong Taeui blurted out. Perhaps Ilay was more severely injured than he thought. Maybe this subtle, uneasy, and agitated atmosphere was because of that.

Ilay was, dangerously, severely injured.

It was utterly unimaginable. He even felt as if they were joking or he was dreaming. Then Nobuo shouted, his voice rising in a way that made it impossible to tell if he was laughing or yelling.

“Ha, yeah, he was stabbed! It wasn’t that deep. As far as stab wounds go, it’s not life-threatening. That monstrous guy probably won’t die. But he’ll suffer quite a bit. By now, the toxin from the knife has probably circulated once through his body. Yeah, I hope I can at least see that crazy bastard drop dead from it!”

Jeong Taeui shut his mouth. Now he finally understood the situation. The man’s eye was damaged. In return, he put Ilay—to an unknown extent—in danger.

Jeong Taeui sympathized with Tou’s anger. Whether Jeong Taeui knew the man or not, or Ilay or not, it was a matter beyond such relationships. The man had done something foolish. He hadn’t considered how much his actions, throwing away the rest of his life to vent his anger, would upset those around him. Jeong Taeui clenched his teeth and bowed his head bitterly. Something like this always happens when I look away for a moment. Today, he truly felt cursed.