Declaration Of Extra Strike

 

“Yesterday? Damn, what time is it….”  

 

I couldn’t even tell how many days had passed since that day. I was worried about Seung-yeon, who must have been shocked by my disappearance, and those waiting for the Illimital side-effect treatment. 

 

It was obvious that the regular report to Seong San-ha had already passed. Skipping out on the report wouldn’t be a big deal for just going out briefly, but missing the regular report could seriously mess things up.  

 

‘I need to contact Seung-yeon… Where’s my phone?’  

 

My pockets felt light, and it seemed like I had lost my phone when I was attacked and hit in the head. Clicking my tongue, I dusted off my hands when I noticed something strange. 

 

It had been hidden by the lines on my palm, but there was a peculiar symbol drawn on my hand. It was the same spot where Joo Ho-hyun had grabbed me in the dream.  

 

♊.  

 

I definitely recognized the symbol. It was the one I saw when I overheard Seong San-ha and “Fake Eui-jin” talking……It was ‘the same symbol as Hamal, the Gemini constellation symbol.’  

 

Suddenly, the face of Joo Ho-hyun, who looked just like me, popped into my head, and I quickly shook it off. That couldn’t be right. Joo Ho-hyun and I were different. From what I’d seen before, he grew up in a regular home with his parents…  

 

“Hyung?”  

 

Han Seo-jin’s voice sounded puzzled, as if he found it strange that I was lost in thought.  

 

“Is something wrong?”  

 

“It’s nothing… I need to head out.”  

 

Whether it was the quest or the symbol, I figured I should think about it once I got out of here. I tried to pass Han Seo-jin, but he immediately grabbed my shoulder.  

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”  

 

“I’m going home.”  

 

“What are you talking about? This is our home.”  

 

“What?”  

 

At his absurd nonsense, all the thoughts cluttering my mind vanished in an instant. Dumbfounded, I stared at him as he turned me around to face him, cupping my cheek with one hand. His thumb grazed a spot that stung, making me wince, and as I did, Han Seo-jin let out a low laugh and whispered softly,  

 

“I’ve missed you, Hyung.”

 

His voice was mixed with so many emotions that I felt strangely anxious, clenching and unclenching my fists. I missed him too, but… the problem was that Han Seo-jin saw me as his guide. No matter how glad I was to see him, I didn’t appreciate his intent to keep me here at the center.  

 

Still, it was Han Seo-jin. I figured I could calm him down and find a way out, so I spoke casually.  

 

“I missed you too. I felt uneasy having to leave without saying anything, so I’m glad we met like this. You’ve been well, right? But Seo-jin, I really need to head back quickly. You knew I didn’t run away on purpose, so why bring me here? You know staying at the center is bad for me, right?”  

 

“I don’t know.”  

 

“You don’t know…! Ha, why wouldn’t you know that?”  

 

The Han Seo-jin I hadn’t seen in a while had grown even more prickly. His indifferent response raised my blood pressure, and I squeezed my eyes shut. 

 

Han Seo-jin, who had been silently staring at me, suddenly lifted his head and asked.

 

“Did you think of me while you were out?”  

 

“Of course, a lot. You’d be surprised if you knew.”  

 

“…Hyung.”  

 

With his lips pressed tightly together, Han Seo-jin abruptly came closer and hugged me tightly. He buried his head in my shoulder, and I couldn’t bring myself to push him away. Awkwardly, I raised my hand and patted his back a couple of times.  

 

Maybe he’s feeling better now? I hoped he would let go soon. His arms wrapped tightly around me, and the way his hair tickled my neck made me uncomfortable, so I shifted slightly and said.

 

“Oh, right, I actually saw you too.”

 

“Where?”  

 

“Near Wolgye Naru, at a dungeon. I saw you getting into a fight with some hunters.”  

 

I could feel Han Seo-jin’s body tense up as it pressed against mine. He mumbled into my shoulder.  

 

“You saw that?”  

 

“Yeah. My workshop is in that area. Hey, wait…! That tickles. Get off me. Anyway, since we’re on the subject, let’s go check it out! My workshop is amazing. I’ll give you a special tour.”  

 

I successfully changed the subject and grabbed Han Seo-jin’s wrist, trying to head toward the door, but it felt like I was trying to drag a boulder. He didn’t budge an inch. When I turned around, Han Seo-jin was standing still, staring intently at me.  

 

“Why do you keep pretending not to understand? I told you, you can’t leave.”  

 

Suddenly, Han Seo-jin pulled my arm, yanking me toward him.  

 

“Stay with me. If you don’t like the center, just be my guide. That’s all you need to do.”  

 

Before I could respond, Han Seo-jin stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.  

 

“Since you keep pretending not to hear me, let me make it clear. I’m asking you to form a bond.”  

 

“What… did you just say bond?”  

 

“Yes, you and me.”  

 

“Stop talking nonsense…”  

 

I wanted to laugh it off as ridiculous, but Han Seo-jin’s expression was too serious for me to find it funny. I forced a smile and pushed him away. Our chests separated, but his hands still lingered on my waist.  

 

“Forming a bond? There’s no need for that now. We have guiding potions…”  

 

“Why are you bringing up potions? I need

your

guiding. I prefer

your

guiding over any potion.”  

 

“That’s ridiculous. The potion I made is guiding anyway… Oh! Right, didn’t you call my potion trash back then? Well, don’t drink it. Never drink it again, you punk.”  

 

“That’s because at the time I thought that guy was messing with you. What was his name again? Won Sung-won or something?”  

 

“Yeon Seung-yeon.”

 

“Have you been with him this whole time? Did that bastard trick you into leaving the center to make guiding potions together?”

 

Han Seo-jin’s sharp gaze glinted as I avoided eye contact, glancing instead at his hands still wrapped around my waist. Should I kick him off or not?

 

“Let go.”

 

“You’re short on guiding, that’s why.”

 

“What a load of crap. What could possibly make you run low on guiding?”

 

If I didn’t feel guilty, I would’ve already landed a solid hit. I pried his hands off with force and said, “Let’s stop joking around now.”

 

“…Joking? Do I look like I’m joking to you?”  

 

His expression and tone turned cold again, and my brows furrowed. Han Seo-jin chuckled bitterly, glaring at me.

 

“Fine, think whatever you want. But know this: you can’t leave the center. The moment you step outside, they’ll revive your identity, and you’ll be locked into a guiding contract again.”

 

His unwavering gaze told me one thing: he wasn’t bluffing. This was his genuine intention. Thinking I could reason with him had been my mistake. My face stiffened as I spoke.

 

“What is it you really want?”

 

“I already told you. A bond.”

 

“…Han Seo-jin. I’m not planning to live as a guide. Whether it’s the center’s guide or your guide, it’s the same. I don’t know why you’re so obsessed with bonding with someone like me, a low-grade guide, but…”

 

“Of course, it’s because… it’s because I lo—”

 

“Mehhh!”  

 

Before Han Seo-jin could finish, a sudden sound interrupted the moment.

 

Han Seo-jin’s voice was drowned out by the sudden bleating of a sheep, which sounded like “Mehh!” right as he seemed to be saying something important. 

 

For a second, it almost seemed like he was trying to say something along the lines of “because it’s obvious I’m meant for you,” or something, but the bleating made it impossible to hear clearly. 

 

Confused, I glanced down, expecting to see Cloud, my sheep companion, but he wasn’t there.

 

“Where is he?” 

 

I muttered, feeling perplexed. The sound of his distressed bleating echoed throughout the room.

 

“Mehh… Miehh… Meeeh!”

 

“What’s going on? Where is he?” 

 

With a frustrated sigh, Han Seo-jin walked toward the corner of the room, where a suspiciously covered pile was hidden beneath a large cloth. He pulled it aside, revealing Cloud, tied to a post with a giant, blue restraint harness strapped around him—something you’d use to subdue a high-level monster.

 

“Cloud!” 

 

I ran to him and immediately knelt to scoop him up. The heavy chains clanked as they fell away. Cloud, always so proud and lively, looked utterly pitiful, his wide, teary eyes blinking up at me as he let out another weak bleat.

 

“You sick bastard! How could you put something like this on him?”

 

“Sick…?” 

 

Han Seo-jin scoffed bitterly. “Do you have any idea how many potions I had to drink to suppress that monster?”

 

“Monster? He’s not a monster, and he’s definitely not dangerous! Don’t listen to him, Cloud.” 

 

I hugged Cloud tighter, soothing him as he let out another soft, heart-wrenching “Meehh.”

 

I covered Cloud’s ears, and he looked up at Han Seo-jin, bleating in distress. Han Seo-jin stared at the sheep with a mix of disdain and annoyance.

 

“I couldn’t control him to be something smaller. What the hell are you carrying around? Is he a summon? An item?” 

 

“You don’t need to know. I’m not going to tell you, so don’t even ask.”

 

“Suit yourself. I was just curious before handing you over to the lab.” 

 

“Hey! Wait a minute…!” 

 

Han Seo-jin reached for his phone, presumably to call someone. I instinctively reached out to stop him, intending to grab his pant leg to get his attention. However, I ended up grabbing something else entirely. Han Seo-jin’s face turned beet red as he stumbled back, clearly startled.

 

“…Let go of me! What are you touching…?”

 

“Oh, uh… Sorry! I didn’t mean to! I was just surprised. My bad.”

 

The awkward tension that hung in the air dissipated, thanks to Cloud’s incessant bleating. I patted his head while moving my ankle closer to examine the strange markings I had discovered earlier.

 

“Cloud, come here.”

 

“Mehh…”

 

Unlike the carefree days when he would dart in and out, Cloud shook his head and nudged the heavy chains with his hooves.

 

“Why can’t you come? Is it because of this? Han Seo-jin! Can’t you just take it off?” 

 

Han Seo-jin, standing back with his arms crossed, shook his head.

 

“Am I an idiot? Do you think I’d just release him? It’s obvious he’d run away.”

 

While I planned to casually ask Cloud what he would do if Han Seo-jin left, I felt a pang of guilt. 

 

‘Cloud is just a cute and harmless celestial creature; there’s no need to be so cautious… wait, could it be…’

 

A thought crossed my mind, prompting me to open the quest window. Sure enough, the number of “protected celestial beings” had dropped from two to one! 

I wasn’t sure what the other one was, but it was clear that Cloud’s bondage was the cause. The phrase “Seven great disasters will arise upon failure” at the bottom of the quest window glowed ominously, heightening the urgency of the situation.

 

“Monsters from the staff are coming this afternoon. I’ll send that thing over with them.”

 

I hugged Cloud tightly, my heart racing at the impending presence of disaster. 

 

“No! Cancel it! I won’t run away, I promise! Just let Cloud go first!” 

 

“You’re going to stay here?” 

 

“You know damn well I have no choice!” 

 

As I yelled while holding Cloud, Han Seo-jin raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback.

 

“Then… let’s start by taking off that ring. I was tempted to just cut it off.”

 

“What? Cut what? Damn it.”

 

“What were you thinking to be so scared? Are you afraid I might cut off your finger or something?” 

 

Han Seo-jin gestured impatiently for me to remove it. Gritting my teeth, I finally managed to pull the ring off my fourth finger and tossed it away. In an instant, Han Seo-jin snatched it up, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

....I want Seong San-ha back :<