Rainbow City

[This is a motion to strip Marco of his Chief title and demote him to a regular soldier.]Chief’s eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.[This is ridiculous! I’ve never violated the rules of God’s Fortress!]Na Seohan sighed softly. Then, while looking directly at Chief, he spoke.[As of yesterday, 115 curfew violations. In the past five years, approximately 510 soldiers have been lost due to Marco Chief’s poor judgment. Violating the rule of eating meat only once a week and composing your own diet countless times—it’s impossible to keep track of.]Na Seohan listed Chief’s violations as if he had been waiting for this day. But not only Chief—others’ faces began to turn pale as well.[Am I the only one here who’s broken a few petty rules? Shouldn’t everyone here be held accountable to be fair?]If the fortress’s strict rules were fully enforced, many in this room would likely lose their heads.[Of course, we will hold everyone accountable, but Marco Chief has the most violations, so we’ll start with him.]Na Seohan also stood up, facing off against Chief.[You bastard! You think I don’t know you’re selling me out over the vaccine?!]Chief quickly drew a pistol from his chest. A short scream escaped from the crowd. As Chief cocked the pistol, bang! A gunshot shook the high ceiling. Na Seohan frantically patted his body, but the one staggering was Chief, the one holding the gun.A red hole appeared on Chief’s forehead, and after swaying heavily a few times, he collapsed with a loud thud. Everyone’s eyes moved from the fallen Chief to the shooter. Emma stood there, still aiming her gun in Chief’s direction.Kwak Soohwan tightly gripped Seokhwa’s trembling hand. He had already retreated with Seokhwa to the back a while ago. As soon as Emma drew her gun, Kwak Soohwan covered Seokhwa’s eyes.“Let’s go.”Kwak Soohwan felt that Seokhwa’s hand was colder than usual and tried to lead him toward the door, but Seokhwa didn’t move.“…I’m okay.”The council wasn’t over yet. They needed to see how it ended to accurately report the situation to Rainbow City. The thought that Hojun might be expelled from this land, which he had called his second home, also kept Seokhwa rooted in place. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the mutants—they were, after all, suffering in the same way.Although Chief was dead, no one felt sorry for the incompetent and greedy leader. Na Seohan, who had nearly been shot, was breathing heavily.[Th-thank you, Emma. You saved my life.][Save your thanks. You would’ve survived even without me.]Emma, with a troubled expression, holstered her gun. Soldiers who had been guarding the door rushed in after hearing the gunshot, but the situation was already over. Emma reported that Marco Chief had attempted to shoot the civilian representative, Messiah, and was killed in self-defense. Everyone present was a witness.Though the soldiers were visibly flustered, they followed Federico’s orders to place Chief’s body on a stretcher. Kwak Soohwan stood in front of Seokhwa, blocking his view of the scene. Seokhwa still held tightly onto Kwak Soohwan’s hand.If it weren’t for Emma, Na Seohan would have died. Perhaps Chief hadn’t meant to just threaten; drawing the gun had sealed his fate. Still, Seokhwa’s heart ached. He could never get used to people dying, especially normal ones, unlike the mutants.“…From this moment, Marco Chief will be demoted to a regular soldier. Does anyone object?”Na Seohan’s gaze fell on Kwak Soohwan. Even with Federico’s translation, no one spoke.“Then, Lieutenant General Kwak Soohwan, please keep your promise.”Though some felt humiliated, they couldn’t argue. The vaccine was too important.“I will keep my promise.”As Kwak Soohwan answered, Emma lowered her gaze. He held Seokhwa’s hand in one, with a gun in the other. It had been clear for some time when he had picked up the gun.Marco Chief had aimed at Na Seohan but soon pointed his gun beyond him. Emma shot Marco without hesitation. If Chief had only aimed at Na Seohan, she might have waited, thinking it was just a threat. But in that split second, Emma saw a sinister resolve in Chief’s eyes.He intended to kill Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa from Rainbow City and stage it as an accident.If Emma hadn’t killed Marco…She glanced at the well-maintained mahogany table. Marco’s death might not have been the only one. The gun was no longer visible in Kwak Soohwan’s left hand as he walked out with Seokhwa.“What happened to the injured soldier?”Emma raised her voice toward their retreating figures. Seokhwa slowly turned his head, saw the blood on the floor, and answered.“He’s safe.”His small but firm voice echoed throughout the hall.***Back at the soldiers’ quarters, Kwak Soohwan packed Seokhwa’s bag. He took down the uniform that had been hung out to dry and carefully folded Seokhwa’s clothes, putting them neatly into the bag. Although their departure was scheduled for tomorrow morning, Kwak Soohwan was already busy.As he packed, he handed Seokhwa a sterilized milk pack. After receiving the milk, Seokhwa inserted the straw and handed it back to Kwak Soohwan.“I already ate a lot of pasta earlier.”Knowing that forcing him to eat would only upset his stomach, Kwak Soohwan opened his mouth wide and took the straw into his mouth. He then drank the milk from the pack in one go. As Seokhwa felt the pack crumple in his hands, he thought, as always, how strong Kwak Soohwan’s energy was. If he drank like that, he’d probably get dizzy.“Are you ready to leave right away?”Kwak Soohwan asked with a smile, taking his lips off the straw.“Right now?”“Yeah. Staying any longer would just be a waste of time.”It wasn’t wrong, since they had already identified the issues and solutions. However, Seokhwa could guess the real reason Kwak Soohwan wanted to leave in a hurry—it was the smoke rising from the far corner. Seokhwa’s eyes lingered on the smoke rising toward the sky through a small window.They were cremating the body of an Adam, but today, there was someone else with him. Kwak Soohwan seemed eager to get away from this place where they had witnessed someone’s death.“I didn’t expect that guy to react like that, nor did I think she would shoot without hesitation. It could have been resolved peacefully, but he brought it upon himself.”At Kwak Soohwan’s excuse of sorts, Seokhwa tore his gaze away from the smoke. He stood up and hugged him tightly. Kwak Soohwan always took responsibility for his words.“Killing is easier, but it’s something you shouldn’t get used to.”That’s why Seokhwa could still feel sorrow and regret over the death of others. From then until now, Kwak Soohwan had helped him retain his humanity.“It wasn’t your fault that he died, Major.”Even though the vaccine incident might have been caused by a mutation from Rainbow City, Fortress of God also bore significant responsibility. After all, Guillaume was not only a Kiar but a key figure in the council. Despite this, Marco Chief had tried to place all the blame on Rainbow City.If this news had reached Lee Heechan, she might have cut off all exchanges with the fortress. Prime Minister Lee Heechan was a firm person, sometimes excessively so. She would repay kindness with even greater kindness and malice with even harsher malice.“You really are like an angel.”Kwak Soohwan playfully rubbed his cheek against Seokhwa’s shoulder like a child.“If you’re ready, let’s go.”With a light tap of his chin on Seokhwa’s shoulder, Kwak Soohwan picked up the radio.“Lee Chaeyoon, do you copy?”Chh, chh The static cleared, and Lee Chaeyoon responded.— Yeah, loud and clear.Since Hojun’s underground hideout was close to the Fortress of God, the radio connection was smooth.“What about Yang Sanghoon?”— Snoring his head off. It’s so loud some kid almost slapped him awake, but I stopped them.“Let’s move out right now.”— That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! The kids here are bugging me for piggyback rides. My neck’s about to give out.“We’ll head to the entrance of the tunnel. Meet us at the Colosseum with the vehicle.”— Huh? But is it okay to leave Yang Sanghoon alone?“Hold on.”Seokhwa lightly tapped the back of Kwak Soohwan, who was leaning on him.“Hm?”“I’ll drive Major Lee Chaeyoon’s jeep. I just have to follow behind you.”Kwak Soohwan lifted his head and looked down at Seokhwa. His eyes were filled with a firm trust. There was practically no danger, even if they ran into Adams along the way. The jeep had bulletproof glass, so it was safe. After confirming there was no issue, Kwak Soohwan agreed to Seokhwa’s suggestion.“Lee Chaeyoon, wait there. We’ll bring the jeep ourselves.”— Ah, you got a tow cable?That was an option, but navigating the alleys would be tricky.“No, Dr. Seok is driving.”— …The doctor can drive?“Very well.”— Well, to your eyes, he probably seems capable of everything.Seokhwa brought the radio to his mouth, and Kwak Soohwan pressed the button for him.“Major Lee, you can trust me.”— Alright then. I’ll carry this loudmouth Yang Sanghoon out and wait.After ending the transmission, Kwak Soohwan slung his backpack over one shoulder. He had already removed his cape and stuffed it into the jeep, so there was nothing in the way.He collected the leftover ready-to-eat meals and loaded them into the jeep. Kwak Soohwan then pulled out Seokhwa’s long down jacket from the trunk and placed it on the backseat. The temperature would drop below 10°C at night once they crossed from Europe into Russia.Upon hearing that Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa were leaving, Federico and the council members gathered in front of the lodging. They didn’t bother with the typical question of why they were leaving so early. All they cared about was getting the vaccine back to Rainbow City as quickly as possible.“How strong is the mutation known as Oscuro outside the fortress?”Kwak Soohwan ignored the farewell group but paused when Federico approached with the question. He stretched out his back as he brought the tent he would set up tonight toward the trunk. While Yang Sanghoon had made a mistake, the fact that they had managed to shake off the two of them was a sign of their strength.“The fact that he settled here means you’re incredibly lucky. He’d be classified as S-Class in the city.”Federico’s mouth dropped open. Then he shifted his gaze toward Seokhwa, who was sitting in the passenger seat.“Then… how strong is Dr. Seok?”Seokhwa, preparing for the long journey ahead, was chewing on nuts soaked in honey to keep his energy up. The roads were mostly destroyed, and those that remained had little intact asphalt, making the journey more like off-roading. There were also many areas overgrown with vegetation, and they would need to make several detours around abandoned cars.Noticing Federico’s gaze, Seokhwa gave a polite nod before continuing to munch on his snack.“Dr. Seok?”Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa, who was diligently replenishing his energy, and smiled.“He’s famous for his lethal punches.”Federico’s interest was unwelcome, but he responded nonetheless.“A nuclear… punch? Is it the kind of nuclear I’m thinking of?”Even though his City language was good, understanding everything was still a challenge. Just then, Na Seohan knocked on the passenger window where Seokhwa was sitting. He handed over something, which Kwak Soohwan clearly saw. It was a cross with a long chain.“My grandmother wished to be buried in her homeland, but circumstances didn’t allow it,” Na Seohan said.Seokhwa couldn’t hide his surprise at suddenly receiving the grandmother’s heirloom.“She said her hometown was in Haenam. If by any chance you ever go there, even far in the future, would you mind burying it somewhere? I know it’s a big ask, but I’d be so grateful.”Seokhwa’s eyes widened at the mention of Haenam.“Ttaenggeut Village?”“Uh… is that what they call it now?”Na Seohan scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed that he didn’t know the current name.“I like Haenam too. Haven’t been there in a while, though.”“Even if it’s far in the future, decades from now, please don’t feel pressured. I just… know I’ll never get the chance myself, so I had to ask.”“Won’t that be a huge burden if he holds onto it for decades?”Kwak Soohwan suddenly approached, smacking the top of the passenger seat with a loud thud. With his towering presence, Na Seohan took a step back.“I promise. If I go to Haenam, I’ll find a nice sunny spot to bury it.”Seokhwa made the promise to Na Seohan, who bowed deeply in gratitude.Though Kwak Soohwan didn’t like the idea of Seokhwa being dragged into this task, he realized it wouldn’t be so bad to visit Haenam at some point, especially since Seokhwa had recently developed an interest in domestic travel. However, after this long journey, Seokhwa would probably be sick of cars for at least a few months.“We’ll be on our way now. Thanks for everything,” Seokhwa said to the group gathered around them.“Can’t say we have much to thank you for,” Kwak Soohwan muttered as he climbed into the driver’s seat.“Careful not to hurt your hand,” he said to Seokhwa, who was waving goodbye to the others. Hearing this, Seokhwa obediently pulled his hand back inside.If they were at home, Seokhwa might have argued to keep waving, but out in the field, he usually listened to Kwak Soohwan without question. He did so to minimize any issues he might cause, as he often saw himself as a burden.Kwak Soohwan closed the passenger window for him and said, “You can afford to be a bit more reckless. I can handle one Dr. Seok on my own.”Though Seokhwa understood the meaning behind Kwak Soohwan’s words better than anyone, he only smiled in response without saying anything. Inside the closed window, he simply waved quietly.The group that had gathered to send them off watched as the jeep drove away, slowly lowering their hands as they let out deep breaths. They were like a storm, sweeping in like a tidal wave, taking care of Adam, solving the problem quickly, and leaving without a second thought. Sure, they took a lot of fuel, but it was nothing compared to the vaccines they brought and would continue to bring in the future.“Do you think God’s Fortress will open up someday?” Emma asked, looking in the direction the jeep had disappeared.“Of course. And when that day comes, it won’t be God’s Fortress anymore—it’ll be called the Vatican again,” Federico replied with a nod.“Why hasn’t the mutant from the City left yet?” one of the council members asked, puzzled.“Maybe… they feel the same as everyone else? This place has become their new home.”Na Seohan, smiling, clapped his hands together and encouraged everyone to return to their duties. He gently touched the cross bracelet on his wrist, silently praying that the travelers would arrive safely in Rainbow City.***— Testing, can you hear me?“Yes, I can hear you.”Before switching jeeps, Kwak Soohwan handed Seokhwa a spare radio. Kwak Soohwan had taken Lee Chaeyoon’s jeep, as it was stained with too much of Yang Sanghoon’s blood.“Major, can we speed up a little?”Since Kwak Soohwan was driving ahead at 15km/h, Seokhwa had to go even slower to keep up. It was the first time he’d driven a military jeep since their trip to Haenam, but luckily, both his mind and body remembered how.— There were quite a few kids around earlier. Imagine how dangerous it’d be if they suddenly ran out.“There’s no way the kids would be out there like that. It’s fine, let’s pick up the pace a bit.”— Roger that, Dr. Seok. Buckle up, I’m about to put the pedal to the metal.The speed increased by about 5km/h—barely noticeable. Seokhwa thought Kwak Soohwan’s overprotectiveness was a bit much, but he understood it well enough. In comparison, he had a fragile body that could break easily. If their roles were reversed, he would have treated Kwak Soohwan the same way.The military jeep, which had been meticulously crafted in the City, grumbled in frustration at its slow pace. Even so, the distance wasn’t far, and they soon reached the entrance to the underground tunnel.Lee Chaeyoon was already there, his face twisted in irritation. Yang Sanghoon was sprawled on a wheelbarrow, his large frame threatening to break it apart.“You’re brave, coming out here with an injured guy,” Kwak Soohwan remarked as he got out of the jeep and hoisted Yang Sanghoon over his shoulder.“Hojun was keeping watch,” Lee Chaeyoon said, pointing to Hojun, who was perched on a nearby building ledge. Kwak Soohwan had seen him earlier but pretended otherwise. Yang Sanghoon was laid down on the back seat, briefly opening his eyes before dozing off again. His body, knowing that rest was essential for recovery, seemed to be following its instincts.“Kwak Soohwan, you’re leading, right?”“Yeah.”Kwak Soohwan headed to the rear jeep while Seokhwa, who had already moved from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, waited. His small frame made it easy for him to slip sideways without getting out. Perhaps it was a way to conserve energy by minimizing movement.“Hey, Dr. Seok! Where are your eyebrows?”Kwak Soohwan climbed into the driver’s seat, pretending to be shocked. He gently grabbed Seokhwa’s face, examining it closely.“Even though we were driving at a snail’s pace…” Seokhwa muttered, sounding unusually displeased.“I’ll let you lead on the straight roads.”“Promise?”“I did on the way here too, didn’t I?”“That’s right.”Seokhwa reached out to touch Kwak Soohwan’s eyebrow, lightly brushing over it. His neatly shaped eyebrows, along with his flawless, well-defined features, made him incredibly handsome.From the other vehicle, Lee Chaeyoon impatiently flashed the high beams on and off, over and over. She seemed to be holding back from honking the horn, likely worried about disturbing anyone, but was clearly on edge.“Let’s go, quickly,” Seokhwa said, pulling his hand back in embarrassment. Kwak Soohwan, unfazed, planted a kiss on Seokhwa’s cheek and then gripped the steering wheel.Lee Chaeyoon, who had rolled down her window, waved energetically at Hojun. Seokhwa tried to wave back just as eagerly, but he was blocked by Kwak Soohwan, who leaned towards the steering wheel, deliberately obscuring Seokhwa’s view even more.“…You jealous thing,” Seokhwa muttered quietly.“I’m your perfect match then, seeing as I’m possessive too,” Kwak Soohwan teased, even as Seokhwa opened the window just a tiny bit and smiled.“Now that you mention it, if you knew how much I’ve been holding back, you wouldn’t be able to say that. This is nothing. That Na Seohan guy—his gaze at you wasn’t normal, okay? And that’s not all. Hojun, or whatever his name is, couldn’t take his eyes off your face. I barely held myself back.”Seokhwa reclined his seat slightly, turning to face Kwak Soohwan. He blinked slowly.“I’m not singing a lullaby here. I’m telling you how much I’ve held back. So, what’s my score?”“A perfect ten.”Kwak Soohwan laughed brightly, a refreshing sound that could clear anyone’s mind, as he gazed at Seokhwa. A gentle breeze flowed in through the slightly open window, rustling his hair. Even the jeep’s engine seemed to purr contentedly now, having found a pace it was comfortable with.Despite the long journey, which meant a brief stay and departure, Seokhwa didn’t feel too disappointed. Although he had a grueling road ahead, he was surprisingly excited. The burden he had carried was lifted, leaving him with a sense of anticipation, different from when they had first set out to solve their problems.“Get some sleep while the road is smooth.”“I will.”Kwak Soohwan reached into the center console and handed over a black sleep mask. While it was a shame he wouldn’t be able to look at Seokhwa’s face while driving, it was more important that Seokhwa got some rest.“I’ll wear it in a little while.”Seokhwa held the mask in his hand, still looking at Kwak Soohwan. It was Kwak Soohwan who eventually slipped the mask over Seokhwa’s face after he had fallen asleep.***“Dr. Seok and I will take it slow from here.”From the Vatican, they had driven nonstop diagonally upward, resting in the car at night or camping out in safe places like today. Within a few days, they had made it to Moscow.“Well, we’ll just switch drivers and keep going without rest.”“Go ahead.”Kwak Soohwan replied indifferently to Lee Chaeyoon’s comment. The morning weather in Moscow was cool enough that short sleeves were comfortable. The members of the Invincible Platoon were all dressed casually, not in their usual uniforms.Sitting on the hood of the jeep, Kwak Soohwan watched Seokhwa, who was seated in a portable camping chair. In front of Seokhwa, Yang Sanghoon lay on a military thermal mat. Although they were deep in the woods, where the probability of encountering an enemy was low, Kwak Soohwan remained vigilant because Seokhwa was present.“Burn it 500 meters away,” Kwak Soohwan said, gesturing in the direction the wind was blowing when he saw Lee Chaeyoon lighting a cigarette.“I was planning to,” Lee Chaeyoon grumbled, jumping over the barrier of ropes tied to the trees.“Doctor, I’m really fine. We can handle it back in the city.”Yang Sanghoon, still lying down, looked at Seokhwa and tried to sit up. Seokhwa firmly shook his head.“Stay lying down. We need to remove the stitches.”Yang Sanghoon’s wounds had healed at an astonishing speed, and Seokhwa was preparing to remove the stitches.“I’m really fine…”“Don’t you trust me?”Seokhwa stared at him pointedly.“Just because I’m a virus researcher doesn’t mean I can’t handle simple procedures like this.”“It’s not that I don’t trust you! I just think my wound looks a bit gross…”“It’s not gross. Besides, if we leave it, your skin might heal too quickly, and the stitches could get buried. Then you might need to have them surgically removed later.”At Seokhwa’s stern warning, Yang Sanghoon obediently exposed his neck.“Major Kwak.”Even before Seokhwa called, Kwak Soohwan had already gotten down from the hood.“Can you shine the flashlight on the wound?”Though there was still daylight, Seokhwa needed to be thorough, so he asked Kwak Soohwan to assist. Without proper medical tools, he had to make do, sterilizing a nail clipper and tweezers in boiling water and repeatedly cleaning them with alcohol.Seokhwa knelt in front of Yang Sanghoon.“Should I do it?”As Seokhwa disinfected the wound with a sterilized cotton ball, Kwak Soohwan extended his hand to help. Seokhwa compared his small hand to Kwak Soohwan’s. Removing the stitches wasn’t difficult, but his smaller hands seemed more suited for the job.“No way! If Kwak Soohwan is the one removing my stitches, I’d rather go back to the city and have it done, even if it tears the skin!”“This guy, doesn’t trust me at all, huh? Should I just rip it out by hand?”Kwak Soohwan, who had been shining the light, pressed down on Yang Sanghoon’s head in mock anger.“Don’t worry, I’ll do it.”Yang Sanghoon, who had been squirming, folded his hands neatly in front of him. He seemed incredibly tense, despite having gone through far more painful experiences, like being bitten by an enemy.“I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt.”“Those who get bitten by an Adam should endure some pain.”“Major.”Seokhwa spoke in a slightly stern tone, as if to tell Kwak Soohwan to stop teasing.“Oh, did you call me?”Feigning innocence, Kwak Soohwan flashed a playful grin. Seokhwa sighed softly and continued his careful work. The stitches were well-made, so it wasn’t difficult to lift the knots. After cutting the thread, he removed the knots with tweezers. As he kept working, he realized the wound covered a large area, and it was taking quite some time.Despite his earlier complaints, Yang Sanghoon seemed accustomed to pain or perhaps just desensitized, saying, “Doctor, are you really removing the stitches? I can’t feel anything at all.” Meanwhile, Lee Chaeyoon had returned but was preoccupied with snacking.“Doctor, why bother so much? Just yank them out.”“Hey! Don’t talk carelessly just because it’s not your neck!”Yang Sanghoon tried to sit up, irritated by Lee Chaeyoon’s comment, but Kwak Soohwan firmly held him down.It wasn’t until beads of sweat formed on his forehead that the removal of the stitches was finally over. After disinfecting the wound, Seokhwa wrapped a sterile bandage around Yang Sanghoon’s neck.“All done. You did well.”Seokhwa sighed in relief. He had been worried that his inexperience might cause bleeding again. Yang Sanghoon sat up, thanking him, and Kwak Soohwan handed Seokhwa an open bottle of water. While Seokhwa sipped the water to quench his dry throat, Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon began preparing to leave.“Stop by Chelyabinsk for gas on the way.”Kwak Soohwan raised his voice to the two in the jeep. Rainbow City had set up rest stops scattered across the continent that connected to Europe. Though labeled “rest stops,” they were more like gas stations guarded by armed soldiers, places where one could also get a night’s rest. So, calling them rest stops wasn’t entirely inaccurate.“How long do you think it will take for you and the doctor?”Lee Chaeyoon, with one arm hanging out the window, asked. Since they planned to drive without resting, it would take them five to six days to reach their destination.“At least two weeks for us.”“Okay, I’ll tell Mom to expect you guys in a little over two weeks. See you in the city, Doctor!”“Kwak Soohwan! Make sure you bring the doctor back safely!”“Who’s worried about whom?”As the Invincible Platoon bantered loudly over the sound of the jeep’s engine, Seokhwa waved his hand. He had long realized that no matter how much he tried to shout, his voice would be drowned out. It was better to show his intentions through action. The jeep sped off so fast that a cloud of dust obscured its rear.“Finally, the distractions are gone.”Kwak Soohwan quickly squatted in front of Seokhwa, who was sitting in a camping chair. With a mischievous grin, he closed his eyes and leaned in. Seokhwa placed his hand on Kwak Soohwan’s cheek and gently kissed him.“So, you admit you’re a distraction too?”“No.”Seokhwa smiled faintly and shook his head. Though he and Kwak Soohwan had often traveled domestically together, this was the first time they had gone on a trip with so many others. The lively energy of the group was enjoyable, and the long journey had been anything but boring.“I feel like I shouldn’t have come along.”Seokhwa spoke matter-of-factly.“What do you mean?”“I came because they said there was an issue with the vaccine, but it turns out there wasn’t.”Still squatting, Kwak Soohwan smacked his own forehead theatrically, but Seokhwa gently brushed his hand over his forehead.“If Dr. Seok hadn’t come, it could have been a disaster.”“A disaster?”For once, Kwak Soohwan didn’t respond immediately to Seokhwa’s question. If Seokhwa hadn’t been there, Kwak Soohwan might have been forced to personally take down Chief Marco. He had anticipated that as soon as Marco made a move, the gun would be aimed at him. Although Emma had handled the situation instead, Marco would have been killed the moment he drew his weapon if Seokhwa hadn’t been there.“Honestly, even when I heard about the vials, I might have just brushed it off.”“You know they only manufacture the pen-type injectors.”Kwak Soohwan shrugged.“If it were me, I might have thought they were selling vials to foreign countries because they’re cheaper. If that had been the case, we wouldn’t be heading back so soon.”“I’m not feeling down, so you can stop trying to cheer me up.”“I swear. Kwak Soohwan has always spoken the truth in front of Dr. Seok and will continue to do so.”With his hand over his heart, Kwak Soohwan swore earnestly.“You don’t have to go that far, I believe you.”Seokhwa extended his arms to Kwak Soohwan, who, without hesitation, scooped him up. Since they had camped there the previous night, the tent they had used was still set up. Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon hadn’t even bothered to bring tents, calling them too much of a hassle. When Kwak Soohwan had loaded up all the camping gear on the day they departed from the city, Lee Chaeyoon had clicked his tongue in disbelief.The tent, complete with an air mattress, was just the start. They had also packed 20 bags of chicken soup, 25 bags of chicken porridge, 50 instant rice packs, 50 packs of ramen, a box of sterilized milk, two boxes of nuts, 20 bottles of whiskey, 20 cans of beer, and more. They even had a camping refrigerator powered by the car—basically, a full household on wheels.Since Seokhwa often went camping with Kwak Soohwan, none of this surprised him. In fact, they had brought even more gear on previous camping trips. He fondly recalled the time they grilled chicken skewers at a campsite… Fortunately, he wasn’t hungry right now.Kwak Soohwan carried Seokhwa into the tent, suggesting they take another nap before heading out. The entrance of the tent, which had a wide canopy, was furnished with a folding table and chairs. On the table were the pots and dishes they had washed after cooking ramen together last night. Though they had brought bottled water, there was a nearby lake with drinkable water.The tent, custom-ordered by Kwak Soohwan for camping, was quite tall, with a ceiling over 2 meters high, so even Kwak Soohwan could stand comfortably inside. The waterproof mattress on the floor was larger than a king-size bed.Yang Sanghoon had once joked that they weren’t carrying a tent but a portable house, shaking his head in disbelief. When only Seokhwa was inside, the tent could be mistaken for a small living room.With a soft thud, Kwak Soohwan gently laid Seokhwa down on the air-filled mattress. Before lying down beside him, Kwak Soohwan pulled off his thin T-shirt. He then lay down next to Seokhwa and pulled him close, resting Seokhwa’s body on top of his. Seokhwa placed his chin on Kwak Soohwan’s chest and moved his lips.“I’m not tired at all.”After their early breakfast, Seokhwa had taken a thorough wash, leaving his cheeks looking soft and smooth.“We went to bed after midnight.”Yang Sanghoon had insisted on disinfecting his wound, but ended up using a bottle of whiskey to disinfect only his throat. Lee Chaeyoon had consumed another bottle while snacking on chips. Kwak Soohwan, though he enjoyed drinking, had intended to call it a night early for Seokhwa’s sake. But Seokhwa, despite his exhaustion, stayed up until midnight.Eventually, Seokhwa had gone to the tent, saying that Kwak Soohwan could keep drinking if he wanted, but Kwak Soohwan had followed him in without a second thought. The drunken Invincible Platoon members’ sarcastic jabs about abandoning comrades for love had fallen on deaf ears.“I slept for eight hours.”He had been up since 8 AM, and now it was only 11 AM. All they’d done so far was eat, wash, and remove Yang Sanghoon’s stitches.“Honey, I’m getting a strange tingle… Do you think I’m right?”