CHAPTER 91: ANCIENT CONSTELLATIONS (2)

“Get up, Ha-Eun. Didn't you say we'd be going to the association?”

After waking up early and finishing a light training session, Kwon Oh-Jin shook Song Ha-Eun awake from bed.

She pulled the blanket up and squirmed. “Ugh, just a little more...”

“Haaa, this girl...”

It’s not like she's a little kid anymore.

He grinned and reached for her side, planning to tickle her awake.

“Oh-Jiiiin.”

Song Ha-Eun groggily sat up, still half-asleep. “Huh?”

She roughly pulled his arm away just in time.

Swoosh!

He suddenly lost his balance and landed headfirst on her cleavage, which was visible beneath her light nightgown. “Oof, ugh!”

“Hmm. Stay still,” she mumbled, pulling him into a hug as he struggled. She stretched one of her smooth legs around his waist, clinging to him like a cicada as she dragged him under the blanket. “Hehe~ Let’s sleep together, Oh-Jin.”

As she drowsily murmured his name, her embrace tightened.

“Seriously...” He somehow escaped her chest and blankly looked at her as she lay on the bed with her legs wrapped around him.

“Zzzz...”

“Ugh.”

Just as he considered shaking her awake again, he paused, watching her settle back into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Getting her up will be a chore. I guess I have no choice.

Sighing quietly, he lay down beside her, still in her embrace.

He glanced at her long eyelashes, delicate nose bridge, and pink lips. Her reddish hair cascaded along her slim jawline, and like a brilliant ruby, she shone with breathtaking beauty.

“Ha-Eun...”

His heart didn’t flutter like that of a boy meeting his first love; they'd spent too much time together for her sleeping face to stir butterflies in his stomach. Instead, he felt a calm, steady contentment like a quiet puddle after a soft rain.

“Heh,” she giggled, a silly smile rippling through the quiet, cozy room.

Is she having a good dream? he wondered.

“Oh-Jin, you little... I told you not to touch me there...”

W-What the hell? What kind of dream is that? Tell me, please.

“That’s... not a place where things go into, it’s a place to come out of...”

Bruh?

“Hngh, it won’t go any deeper...”

“Stop! Stop right now!" he yelled. "Don’t say any more!”

“Ahhh! What the hell?!” Her eyes snapped open as she kicked him.

Thwack!

Like a cannonball, he was hurled into the ceiling, hitting his head before tumbling to the floor.

Thud! Boom! Crash!

“You scared the shit out of me!” she shouted.

“I’m the one who got scared!”

What kind of dream was she having? he thought.

“Ugh," she groaned. "My ears hurt.”

“My whole body hurts.”

She glared at him as she rubbed her ears. “Motherfucker, if you're going to wake me up, at least do it gently.”

“I was trying to wake you up gently.”

It’s just that your mouth wasn't being gentle.

“What time is it now?” she asked.

“10:22 AM.”

“Whoa. When did it get so late?”

Right.

“Ugh... I was having a good dream, too.”

... Don’t imagine it, he thought to himself. Don’t even think about it. If that was a good dream, then...

“Cut it out!”

“Aahhhh! Why do you keep shouting like that?!”

That was dangerous. I almost ended up with a detailed picture in my head.

“Quickly wash up and get changed,” he urged.

“Mm, okay,” she replied, getting up and heading to the bathroom.

He sighed, unable to calm down easily.

Just then, Vega appeared from the necklace and settled on top of his head. “Hmm. It’s quite noisy this morning.”

“Ha-Eun wouldn't get out of bed.”

“Tsk, tsk, the girl isn’t very diligent now, is she? On the other hand... you, my child, already finished your training early.”

She proudly patted his forehead. Luckily, she didn't seem to have overheard Song Ha-Eun sleeptalking earlier.

“By the way, my child.”

“Yeah?”

“Where exactly is this place that things go out of and not into?”

... I don’t fucking know.

***

Song Ha-Eun exited the car and stretched.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been here,” she remarked, gazing around the association building with its row of tall skyscrapers. “Hey, isn't it ironic how flashy this place is, despite being looked down on by so many?”

“Well, it's still the largest Awakener organization in the country.”

Even the despised police force was an enormous organization.

“Hehe. I never thought I’d be part of the association in my entire life,” she said.

“If you're done sightseeing, let’s hurry up and go in.”

“Okay.”

The two rode the staff elevator together and headed for the disaster response division head's office.

“Oh, you two came together,” Han Jun-Man said, welcoming them in.

“We came to see you since we haven’t seen your handsome face in so long,” Kwon Oh-Jin teased.

“Haha, you won’t get any bonuses saying things like that, Oh-Jin.”

What a shame, Kwon Oh-Jin thought.

“Anyway, here’s the contract," Han Jun-Man said, handing Song Ha-Eun a document. "Please read through it.”

“Got it.” She took the contract and sat down.

She really doesn’t know how to speak politely, Kwon Oh-Jin noticed. Then again, she even talks like that to Celestials.

Now that they were a part of the association, he planned to give her a gentle reminder—being so informal could lead to trouble later on. Even in a world where monsters ran amok, some people still fought bitterly over manners.

“Let’s see... It's not bad," she remarked. "The salary's a bit low, but that’s understandable since I don’t have to show up to work like standard employees. Wait, what? Tax exemption?”

“That right there is the reason I became a 'dog of the association,'” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“What? So does that make me their 'bitch,' then?”

Huh?What a way to put it...

“Hahaha! I’m just kidding. Don’t give me that look,” she said.

“Don’t say stuff like that, even as a joke.”

“Fine, fine.”

Han Jun-Man burst into loud laughter. “Hahaha! You two really get along well. It’s hard for a single guy like me to watch you!”

He took a sip of his coffee and continued, “If I ever get a girlfriend, I hope we can be as close as you two.”

Hmm. Jun-Man's getting the wrong idea here, Kwon Oh-Jin discerned. “We’re not dating.”

“What?” Han Jun-Man’s eyes shot open in utter disbelief.

Song Ha-Eun, who had been flipping through the contract, flinched and stared at Kwon Oh-Jin with wavering eyes.

“Uh... then, are you already married?” Han Jun-Man asked.

“No.”

“Then, um... are you siblings?”

“Not that either,” Kwon Oh-Jin answered.

Their relationship was too affectionate to be considered romantic, yet they were too intimate to be merely family. He had never reduced their bond to some fleeting, superficial label.

“So... what kind of relationship do the two of you have?” Han Jun-Man asked.

“I’m not sure.”

He'd never really thought about it. Being with her had always been as natural as breathing.

But if I had to put it into words somehow...

He answered, “Let’s just say we’re in a relationship where staying by each other's side is a given.”

The room fell silent as Han Jun-Man and Song Ha-Eun stared at him in disbelief.

Han Jun-Man awkwardly chuckled and covered his face with his large hands. “Ha... I didn’t peg you as someone who'd blurt out such embarrassing things.”

He shook his head as if he couldn’t bear to listen any further.

Song Ha-Eun covered her flushed cheeks. “O-Oh-Jin, you... there’s nothing you can’t say!”

She stomped her feet, flustered.

Kwon Oh-Jin was stunned. “What?”

It’s not like I said anything wrong.

She clutched her hair before suddenly yelling at Han Jun-Man. “Aaaah! Forget what you just heard! Got it?! Or else I won’t sign the contract!”

“Hahaha! I think I might have asked an inappropriate question,” he said.

“I said, forget it!”

“Alright, alright, I understand,” he replied with a broad smile.

Kwon Oh-Jin suddenly asked, “By the way, what's the situation within the association lately?”

“Well...” Han Jun-Man’s gaze subtly shifted toward Song Ha-Eun.

“It’s alright, you can speak freely,” Kwon Oh-Jin said. He had already explained to her about Cheon Woo-Seong and the factions within the association.

“Well, Cheon Woo-Seong has been quiet as of late,” Han Jun-Man said, his expression darkening. “A little too quiet. It’s starting to make me uneasy.”

Hmm. Suspiciously quiet, huh? Kwon Oh-Jin thought. Is he too busy dealing with Isabella? Or is he preparing something else?

Regardless, it was hard to feel at ease.

“Well... the only thing he’s done recently is expand the Non-Awakened Security Management Center,” Han Jun-Man uttered.

“The what? What is that?”

“It’s a center that provides support and protection for non-Awakeners living in monster-prone areas. It’s currently being planned, managed, and operated by the board of directors.”

What the hell? Are they trying to copy Isabella’s plan? But then again... Kwon Oh-Jin squinted. “Are they not promoting it? Honestly, I’ve never even heard of it.”

“I believe they aren’t advertising it since it's for public welfare purposes.”

What the hell are these guys scheming? Kwon Oh-Jin wondered.

Han Jun-Man continued, “Well, honestly... we don’t have much to say about that project. Despite all the trouble he’s caused, Cheon Woo-Seong hasn’t laid a finger on non-Awakeners.”

He hasn’t harmed them, huh? Now I get it. Kwon Oh-Jin recalled the Black Star Society's goal of annihilating all existing Awakeners and turning the oppressed non-Awakeners into apostles of the Black Stars. Of course, they'd implement policies favoring the non-Awakeners.

Regardless of their true intentions, their surface-level objective was borne from feelings of inferiority and hatred toward Awakeners, so it made sense to care for the non-Awakeners first.

The real issue is their true intentions... Kwon Oh-Jin squinted his eyes. Well, I’ll find out eventually. Though the likelihood is slim, maybe that absurd plan... is actually their true goal. But I don't have enough information.

He suddenly stood up and said, “We’ll get going now.”

“Alright," Han Jun-Man replied. "If there's any other news regarding Cheon Woo-Seong, I’ll be sure to share it with you, Oh-Jin.”

Kwon Oh-Jin nodded and headed out of the office.

“Hmm. What kind of guy is this Cheon Woo-Seong?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never actually met him, so I don’t know much.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had overheard a brief conversation between him and Ashad Khan in Ashad Khan's memories, but it was far from enough to understand what kind of person Cheon Woo-Seong was.

From what little I remember, he seems like a twisted individual.But for now, I should focus on the quest.

Just then, the elevator doors opened. A tall, well-dressed young man with neatly styled pompadour hair and a sharp tailor-made suit stepped out.

“Huh? Mr. Oh-Jin... is that you?" The handsome man offered a friendly, almost childlike smile and extended his hand. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while. I can’t believe I ran into you here. Nice to meet you. I’m Cheon Woo-Seong.”