Rainbow City

Seokhwa remained seated on the floor. Kwak Soohwan felt frustrated as he looked at Seokhwa’s apologetic eyes. He had only thought about wanting to return to their cozy home with Seokhwa as soon as possible.

“For now, let’s rest today and gather again at 7 a.m. tomorrow.”

“Ah, that’s great. I was tired anyway. Thanks, Doc! Sleep well, see you tomorrow.”

“Doctor, have a good night. See you in the morning.”

Seokhwa stood up to respond to the two as they bid their goodbyes, but they had already left the room. His hand, which had briefly risen to wave, quietly fell back down.

“Bring the Messiah to the front of this building by 7 a.m. tomorrow. If you try anything unnecessary, I’ll wipe out everything, God’s Fortress and all.”

Federico obediently agreed. Although they could take out the Invincible Platoon by mobilizing all the soldiers stationed at God’s Fortress, the military losses would be huge. Besides, he had yet to gauge Seokhwa’s full strength.

Above all, Federico wanted to maintain friendly relations with Rainbow City. Especially if he could form a close relationship with Emperor Penguin Lee Heechan, the Prime Minister, there would be nothing better.

“By the way, did the Prime Minister of Rainbow City dispatch you all?”

“No, that guy can’t order me around.”

“I volunteered.”

Their words overlapped. In fact, Kwak Soohwan had been trying to find a way out of the trip to Rome if Seokhwa hadn’t joined. The problem was that Seokhwa had volunteered. Although Lee Heechan was worried about Seokhwa going, he felt reassured that nothing would go wrong as long as Kwak Soohwan was with him.

“If he knows his own child is precious, he should know that our Seokhwa is precious too.”

Unlike Yang Sanghoon, who had been originally designated, Kwak Soohwan had additionally included Lee Chaeyoon. It was natural for Lee Heechan to be upset about that.

“Thank you.”

Federico bowed to Seokhwa, who had said he volunteered. As Federico greeted him in the city’s manner, Seokhwa, a bit flustered, gave a small nod.

Kwak Soohwan blocked Seokhwa’s view of the gesture and pushed Federico out, telling him to get lost.

“Hurry up and go. Bye-bye, paka.”

Kwak Soohwan ended his goodbye without much effort. Federico left after saying he would relay the message to the Messiah. Once the two of them were finally alone, Seokhwa relaxed his previously tense body, flopping sideways as he watched Kwak Soohwan take off his uniform.

“Major.”

He undid a few buttons from the top of his shirt and crossed his arms to take it off. Bare-chested with only his dog tags on, he approached Seokhwa, asking what he wanted to say.

“Paka is Russian.”

“Huh? Did you say ‘jotka’?”

Kwak Soohwan moved his hand to his belt buckle. Still lying sideways, Seokhwa let out a weak laugh.

“Don’t tease.”

Kwak Soohwan squatted in front of Seokhwa and gently stroked his soft cheek with the back of his hand. Though the sensation of Seokhwa’s smooth skin made him unconsciously apply pressure, he adjusted himself to touch even more gently.

“This is a communal bathroom, so you shouldn’t go. I’ll bring water, and you can wash with that.”

“You could just keep watch for me, Soohwan.”

At Seokhwa’s tender whisper, Kwak Soohwan lightly pressed his forehead against Seokhwa’s.

“We shouldn’t have come. Honestly, I knew something was off. Saying your vaccine wasn’t working didn’t make any sense.”

“Still, I was kind of happy on the way here.”

“Why?”

“It felt like we were on a long trip together. We’ve been together the whole time.”

“I told you to stop laying out such ominous foreshadowing.”

“I’m not going to die. And it’s even better knowing we have somewhere to return to.”

Seokhwa reached out with one hand and wrapped it around Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder.

“Come here.”

He liked the feel of Kwak Soohwan’s bare skin against his palm. Seokhwa slipped both arms under Kwak Soohwan’s and pulled him close. Kwak Soohwan braced himself with his elbows to avoid putting too much weight on Seokhwa while maintaining their closeness. When the cool metal of the dog tag touched his chin, Seokhwa flinched.

Kwak Soohwan removed the dog tag as well and, while still embracing Seokhwa, reversed their positions. In an instant, Seokhwa was now lying on top of Kwak Soohwan. As if familiar with the situation, Seokhwa pressed his cheek to Kwak Soohwan’s chest and completely relaxed.

“Be honest with me.”

Seokhwa slightly raised his head and looked at Kwak Soohwan with curiosity in his eyes.

“Did you choose this bed because Yang Sanghoon used it? That jerk didn’t even change his clothes or shower, did he?”

“…”

It was an unexpected question. Even though Seokhwa felt completely drained, he blinked repeatedly. Maybe he had done it unconsciously. Not that he ever thought Yang Sanghoon was dirty…

“I’m not scolding you. You did well. Just don’t touch where the other guys have slept, okay?”

“I’m sleepy.”

“Well, at least that’s some major progress. At this rate, we might even tour the world.”

They had already traveled halfway around the world. Kwak Soohwan stretched his hand upward to grab the cape hanging on the chair by the desk and draped it over Seokhwa’s body. He gently patted Seokhwa’s back. Although they were far from their cozy home, he wanted Seokhwa to sleep comfortably, at least in his arms.

Before long, Seokhwa’s steady breathing rhythmically tickled Kwak Soohwan’s chest, a sign of how exhausted he was. Seokhwa, who normally insisted on washing up every morning and evening, had fallen fast asleep. Kwak Soohwan kissed the top of Seokhwa’s head. Since he hadn’t turned off the lights, he pulled the cape further up and lightly covered Seokhwa’s head with it.

***

“Kwak, how about leaving Rainbow City with the Doctor?”

The words of the old Russian man from the day before they left for the Vatican came to mind. The old man, who had stayed behind in Rainbow City rather than returning to Russia, was still continuing his genetic engineering research.

“We’re leaving tomorrow, anyway.”

“Who said anything about the Vatican? Still, I’m a bit jealous you’ll get to see the Pietà up close. If I were five years younger, I would’ve volunteered instead of the Doctor.”

“Old man, I understand that your days are numbered, and that’s why you talk so much, but get to the point.”

“Tsk, tsk. The Doctor has no idea how much you’ve deceived him.”

“The point.”

“Ugh, always so impatient. Even if not now, eventually, you’ll have to leave. You understand what I mean, Kwak?”

Rainbow City during the Masters’ era had been a loathsome place. But now, it was their peaceful home, the place where they had built a life together. While Kwak Soohwan could settle anywhere with Seokhwa and call it home, Seokhwa was different. This journey had solidified that realization for Kwak Soohwan.

***

Seokhwa wasn’t the type to easily adapt to any place. When he had been forced to go to Russia, he had become so thin, incomparable to his current state. A naturally picky eater, he could only eat properly if it was a dish he liked, like ginseng chicken soup. Foreign cuisine was even more challenging for him.

Should he just plant ginseng chicken soup restaurants all over the world?

Kwak Soohwan recalled the ready-made ginseng chicken soups he had brought along, and he rubbed his face against Seokhwa’s head again. His feet hung off the edge of the bed, and there wasn’t enough room for him to lie down comfortably, but with Seokhwa resting fully on him, that didn’t matter. Seokhwa rarely slept like this at home. Maybe they needed to clear out the big bed and get one this size instead.

Yet, the God’s Fortress was eerily quiet, making it hard to believe 15,000 people lived there. It was only 8 p.m., but it felt as still as the deep hours of the night. Even so, it was too early for Kwak Soohwan to sleep.

He gently played with Seokhwa’s hair so as not to wake him, occasionally brushing the fine hairs on his cheek with his fingertips. Time seemed to fly by, so much so that he wanted to stop the ticking of the clock’s second hand.

Without the self-healing time that came from washing or taking care of Seokhwa, Kwak Soohwan might have become a loafer, abandoning his uniform to follow Seokhwa around everywhere. Not that it seemed like a bad idea, he thought, laughing softly to himself.

Despite being born two years later, he often treated Seokhwa like a younger sibling. But if he wanted to look impressive to Seokhwa, he needed to keep a decent job. Still, he had no intention of getting promoted any further—he didn’t want to get busier than he already was.

“Eventually, we’ll have to leave…”

Kwak Soohwan murmured softly, kissing Seokhwa’s head once again.

***

Seokhwa waited outside the second-floor dormitory with Kwak Soohwan, expecting the Messiah. Thanks to falling asleep early the previous night, Seokhwa had woken up around 5:30 a.m., and he had cleaned himself with the warm water Kwak Soohwan had brought him. The ginseng chicken soup, which would have been too heavy for a typical breakfast, went down surprisingly well.

He hadn’t been eating even half of what he normally did while traveling, but the good night’s rest had somewhat restored his weakened energy.

“Should I tear everything down?”

Kwak Soohwan voiced his irritation at being made to wait for Dr. Seok.

“Let’s give them 10 more minutes.”

“And then I can cause a scene?”

“No.”

Although they themselves had shown up five minutes late, there was still no sign of the Messiah. Only Federico, who had been standing outside since before 7 a.m., appeared anxious. The soldiers who had been patrolling the God’s Fortress overnight had just finished their shift at 7.

“You go inside.”

“I’ll wait with you.”

Having no patience left to wait even a minute longer, Kwak Soohwan was ready to barge directly into the Messiah’s home. Seeing Kwak Soohwan’s determination, Seokhwa held his ground, predicting the aftermath.

About a minute later, a mint-colored scooter came speeding toward them through the soldiers who had just changed shifts. Moving neither too fast nor too slow, the scooter stopped right in front of Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan.

“Quite the welcome party here, huh?”

A young man dismounted the scooter, smiling as he removed his helmet. He approached Seokhwa and extended his hand.

“You must be Dr. Seok, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you. I’m Na Seohan, representative of Kiaro.”

Federico looked confused at the Messiah’s introduction. He was sure the Messiah’s name was ‘Kalino Na.’ Na Seohan winked at Federico, sensing his confusion.

“My grandparents and parents are all of Korean descent,” he explained.

Korea was the old name of Rainbow City. Understanding dawned on Federico—though born in Sicily, the Messiah was of the same ethnicity as the people from Rainbow City.

Kwak Soohwan, as expected, firmly shook Na Seohan’s outstretched hand.

“Dr. Seok has an allergy to people who break promises.”

Seokhwa, who had been about to shake hands as well, hesitated and withdrew his hand. He managed a polite “Nice to meet you,” but it was drowned out by Na Seohan’s laughter.

“Haha, seems like you’ve got quite the bodyguard,” Na Seohan said, his smile unwavering as he glanced at Kwak Soohwan. He subtly assessed Kwak Soohwan, noting that while the Rainbow City uniform was stylish, it seemed impractical for real combat—especially the cape, which looked like an unnecessary ornament.

“As you probably know, the curfew at the God’s Fortress lifts at 7 a.m. I left right on time, which is why I’m only arriving now. I used some of my precious fuel just to meet you both as soon as possible,” Na Seohan said casually, gesturing toward the scooter with his chin.

“I heard you distributed a thousand vaccines to Oscuro.”

Seokhwa abruptly cut to the point. Having just finished his handshake with Kwak Soohwan, Na Seohan rubbed his now-throbbing hand with the other.

“That wasn’t a decision I made on my own. Even though I am Kiaro’s representative, the decision went through the council first,” Na Seohan explained.

At the God’s Fortress, major decisions were made through the council, which consisted of five civilian members and five generals.

“We’re holding a council meeting at 8 a.m. Would you like to attend?” Na Seohan asked.

“No, summon them now,” Kwak Soohwan demanded.

Na Seohan’s smile faltered slightly at Kwak Soohwan’s rough tone.

“We need to weed out the scammers first.”

“Scammers?” Na Seohan asked, confused.

“Please gather the council members as Lieutenant General Kwak Soohwan requested. We have something important to discuss,” Seokhwa said calmly.

The fact that the vaccine developer was taking this stance suggested the seriousness of the issue. Na Seohan turned to Federico and instructed him to gather the council members.

“In the meantime, why don’t the three of you head to the cathedral? I’ll gather the council members there,” Federico suggested, pointing to the large dome-topped cathedral in the distance. It would take about 15 minutes to walk there at Seokhwa’s pace. Though it wasn’t far in a straight line, they had to take a roundabout path due to the houses scattered along the way.

Seokhwa’s eyes drifted to the mint-colored scooter. He had always liked vehicles, and his curiosity was evident. Suddenly, Kwak Soohwan extended his hand to Na Seohan—not for another handshake, but with his palm open, signaling for something.

Na Seohan gave a puzzled smile, unsure of what Kwak Soohwan wanted.

“The helmet,” Kwak Soohwan demanded.

“Pardon?”

“Hand it over.”

Still confused, Na Seohan handed the helmet to Kwak Soohwan. It was then that Na Seohan recalled Federico’s warning from the previous night. Federico had advised him to be understanding if Kwak Soohwan or his comrades seemed a bit arrogant. Now, after meeting Kwak Soohwan in person, Na Seohan understood why.

Although he hadn’t met the rest of the Invincible Platoon, there was no hint of fear or anxiety in Kwak Soohwan’s eyes. Even the residents of the God’s Fortress, who prided themselves on their safety, couldn’t completely escape the fear Adam instilled. No matter how much they masked it with brightness, the darkness couldn’t be hidden. But with these two, there was no trace of that shadow.

The people of Rainbow City had already freed themselves from Adam’s terror, Na Seohan realized. If this place was to normalize, it would have to establish a friendly relationship with the city. The fact that Rainbow City had sent both a Lieutenant General and the vaccine developer showed more goodwill than Na Seohan had expected.

“Honey, let’s take that. They say it’s their equivalent of an official vehicle,” Kwak Soohwan said, trying to place the helmet on Seokhwa’s head, but Seokhwa shook his head.

“I know it’s not. We’ll walk.”

“Isn’t this scooter supposed to be a stand-in for an official vehicle?” Kwak Soohwan asked Na Seohan, shifting from his usual casual manner to a more formal tone. It was surprising how, in that moment, Kwak Soohwan’s military demeanor became instantly apparent.

“Oh! Yes, of course, you’re welcome to use it,” Na Seohan quickly replied, regaining his composure.

“See, I told you,” Kwak Soohwan said, taking Seokhwa’s hand and heading toward the scooter. He carefully wiped the inside of the helmet with his cape before placing it on Seokhwa’s head.

“The coolest acorn in the world.”

Seokhwa tried to imagine what an acorn looked like but couldn’t find any resemblance to himself. Still, he appreciated the compliment and quietly replied, “Thank you.”

“I’ll see you at the cathedral then,” Na Seohan said, bowing politely to Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan.

“We’ll make good use of it,” Seokhwa said as he climbed onto the front seat of the scooter and gripped the handlebars. Kwak Soohwan tapped the back seat.

“You’ve never driven one before.”

Realizing it was true, Seokhwa scooted back. He then wrapped his arms around Kwak Soohwan’s waist as he took the front seat. Since the scooter was too small for two, they had to sit very close together.

“Hold on tighter.”

“This is as tight as I can.”

“With all the strength you’ve got from eating chicken soup.”

“That’s included.”

Kwak Soohwan laughed out loud, making his torso shake under Seokhwa’s embrace.

“We’re taking off.”

“But shouldn’t we wake the others?” Seokhwa glanced toward the direction of Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon’s rooms.

“Even if they come, they’ll just say it’s a headache and ditch.”

“Then let’s go.”

Seokhwa rested his helmeted head against Kwak Soohwan’s back. The engine’s hum wasn’t as intense as that of a military jeep, but with the engine so close, the vibrations were much more noticeable.

As they weaved through the alleyways lined with houses, Seokhwa took in sights he hadn’t noticed the day before. He saw people carrying large baskets filled with bread, pushing carts loaded with pots and dishes, and families moving clothes and shoes, which seemed homemade.

After a bit more driving, he realized they were heading toward a market. Once they left the residential area, they entered an open space filled with stalls selling food and everyday items. The stalls were numbered starting from one, and people were quietly buying and selling pasta, bread, and jars of jam. Although the God’s Fortress housed 15,000 people, the bustling crowd wasn’t noisy.

The stall owners didn’t shout to attract customers, and even the people conversing did so in hushed tones. Perhaps it was due to the fear of Adam, even within the fortress’s walls, or maybe the rules of the fortress were just that strict.

As Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan rode the scooter through the market, many eyes turned toward them. They were especially noticeable as they passed through the rows of stalls.

The most commonly sold items were pasta, bread, and various types of jam in jars. The God’s Fortress was home to a diverse population, and tasks were divided among people based on their roles.

“Want to drive?” Kwak Soohwan asked as the cathedral came into view. He slowed down the scooter.

“Can I?”

“It’s a straight road from here.”

“Alright.”

Kwak Soohwan brought the scooter to a complete stop and dismounted. Seokhwa moved to the front and took the handlebars, waiting for Kwak Soohwan to get back on. But Kwak Soohwan just stood there.

“Why aren’t you getting on?”

“I’ll walk alongside.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“If there’s anyone in the world I trust the most, it’s Dr. Seok.”

“Then why won’t you get on?”

Kwak Soohwan casually pulled something from his uniform pocket.

“When did you get that?”

It was a phone, useless outside Seoul, where the cell towers were operational. His photo gallery was filled with pictures of Seokhwa. He snapped another picture of Seokhwa sitting on the scooter.

“I was planning to take a photo of you riding.”

“Don’t just take pictures of me. Let’s take one together.”

Seokhwa preferred photos with Kwak Soohwan rather than solo shots. Kwak Soohwan switched the camera to selfie mode and raised it above them. He adjusted the angle so that both of them, and the scooter, would be in the frame.

Seokhwa, who rarely showed much expression, flashed a V-sign. He had learned the pose from Lee Chaeyoon, who had suggested it to him. Even in the group photo at the Yeouido research center, where everyone else smiled, Seokhwa had stuck to the V-sign. Kwak Soohwan held back his laughter as he took the picture.

With their photo session complete, Kwak Soohwan climbed back on behind Seokhwa.

“Hold on tight.”

“If I do, I might crush your ribs.”

“My bone density isn’t that low.”

“Beep beep, Dr. Seok’s bone density score is 90 points.”

Kwak Soohwan lightly wrapped his arms around Seokhwa’s waist.

“With a score of 90, you’re probably tougher than a diamond.”

Bone density is usually measured using a T-score, with the normal range being anything above -1. His last test showed a -2, though he felt like it had improved since then. Mutants with enhanced physical development couldn’t be measured by T-scores, as their density exceeded measurable limits. Kwak Soohwan was one of those mutants.

“That’s why Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon have such hard heads.”

Kwak Soohwan, noticing Seokhwa’s spirits dropping, quickly offered words of comfort. However, Seokhwa wasn’t the type to feel better by bringing others down.

“If they have hard heads, that just means they’re strong. You know I’m much better now than before, Major. I’m only going to get stronger.”

“True. In a few more years, you might even be able to spar with me.”

The scooter moved forward at a sluggish 10 km/h. The cape hanging from Kwak Soohwan’s back barely moved in the wind.

“That will never happen.”

“Why? Dream big, they say.”

“Dreams are things that have no chance of coming true.”

“You’ve already accomplished something no one thought possible, Dr. Seok. Who would’ve predicted you’d create the perfect vaccine?”

“Even if it hadn’t been me, someone else would’ve done it eventually.”

“That’s only possible in peaceful times when people can work freely in their labs. How could anyone accomplish anything when being chased by Adam with no proper facilities?”

Most of the regions they’d passed through from Russia to the Vatican were still without electricity. The conveniences of civilization, which the previous generation had enjoyed, were only possible because humanity had administrators. But with the global population of 8 billion now drastically reduced, civilization without its caretakers was in crisis. Humanity had quickly declined, and a new era of violence and looting had begun. Many regions had yet to recover from that dystopia. Even Rainbow City, one of the most stable places, hadn’t fully settled.

“Everyone living here should be bowing their heads to Dr. Seok. You know what ‘three steps and a bow’ is, right? Everyone should be bowing every three steps in gratitude to you.”

“Why are you always so frustrated, Major?”

There was a hint of amusement in Seokhwa’s scolding.

“I’m really frustrated. Maybe if those city dwellers gave everything they had to you, I’d feel a bit better.”

“We already have more than enough.”

Seokhwa stopped the scooter at the entrance of the cathedral. After dismounting, he removed his helmet and placed it on the seat.

The cathedral entrance, which they had visited yesterday, was now wide open in preparation for the council meeting. Several armed soldiers stood guard, but they didn’t stop the two from entering.

The council meeting was being held under the dome of the cathedral, where a baldachin stood. Four tall, luxurious pillars supported a bronze canopy, and beneath it, curtains hung like drapes. Yesterday, they had only seen it in passing, but now, standing up close, Seokhwa was overwhelmed by its size. He wondered about the significance of this structure. The feeling he had now reminded him of how he felt when he first journeyed to the southernmost town of Haenam. It was a sense of awe at a world he had never experienced before.

Seokhwa wasn’t just admiring it; he was reflecting on it. He felt a deep respect for the lost civilization of humanity. While he understood the positive role religion could play, the Garden of Eden had left him with a lingering skepticism. Yet, without religion, there would be no God’s Fortress, and many lives would not have found safety here.

“These people are always late,” Kwak Soohwan muttered harshly toward the open door. Seokhwa prided himself on understanding Kwak Soohwan better than anyone, but there were still moments when he couldn’t predict him. For instance, Kwak Soohwan loved music, but that didn’t mean he had an interest in art. He wasn’t even paying attention to the architecture or sculptures around them.

Looking back, Seokhwa realized that Kwak Soohwan didn’t enjoy music through the radio or TV—he listened to records. Was it music he liked, or just expensive hobbies?

It was only recently that Seokhwa learned a single record could be worth as much as a house. Rare records, in particular, could go for astronomical prices at auctions. He had discovered this through a TV show.

It was a gossip show about various topics inside the city. The host displayed a picture of the record, and Seokhwa, sitting on the couch, absentmindedly glanced toward the record display in his own home.

To his surprise, the exact same record was sitting there.

Seokhwa never cared much about money, so he didn’t know the value of Kwak Soohwan’s assets. But after learning the price of that record, he became curious about how much Kwak Soohwan was actually worth.

The place Kwak Soohwan called his treasure trove had contained gold bars, firearms, and large sums of cash. All of it was now stored in the basement of his home.

“Major, are you richer than an emperor penguin?”

Kwak Soohwan, who had been grumbling about having to wait for Dr. Seok, suddenly looked flustered. This was because Seokhwa, who had been staring at the bronze structure with a canopy, made a completely unexpected comment.

“Hmm… do you want that?”

It looked like they’d need at least a 100-ton truck to haul the structure back to the city. Kwak Soohwan was already calculating how much it would cost to buy it and how many people he’d need to hire to transport it.

“No.”

Seeing Seokhwa turn his gaze toward him, seemingly with no attachment to the artifact, it was clear he didn’t actually want it.

“But isn’t the emperor penguin the richest in the city?”

“Probably, yeah.”

Kwak Soohwan answered, still unsure where Seokhwa was going with this.

“The emperor penguin wouldn’t spend 2,000 green on a record.”

Kwak Soohwan’s face briefly twitched in surprise, but he quickly raised a confident smirk.

“Did Cha Hakhyun snitch?”

His expression made it clear he wouldn’t let Cha Hakhyun, now promoted to commander, off easily when they returned to the city. But Seokhwa shook his head firmly.

“I saw it on TV.”

If Kwak Soohwan had been genuinely interested in music, Seokhwa would’ve just let it slide. But even with the grand pipe organ in front of them, a majestic and intricate piece, Kwak Soohwan showed no interest.

“So why do you collect records?”

“No special reason. I just figured if I’m going to collect them, I might as well do it right. And only that one was expensive. Most of the other records in the house cost less than one green.”

“You don’t have to lie.”

“If you tell me not to buy them, I’ll stop. Should I sell it back as soon as we return?”

Contrary to what Kwak Soohwan assumed, Seokhwa wasn’t about to nag him about his spending. He was simply curious—he wanted to know more about the parts of Kwak Soohwan he didn’t yet understand.

“Are you worried I might go broke? Honestly, forget the emperor penguin—I’m probably the richest person in the city.”

For some reason, Kwak Soohwan started bragging about his wealth. This was the first time Seokhwa had shown real interest in his assets, so his voice grew louder.

“Not ‘probably’—I

the richest.”

He drove the point home with finality.

“Wow, so Kwak Soohwan is the richest, the strongest, and the second-handsomest man in the city—and he’s all mine?” Seokhwa couldn’t help but laugh at the childish boasting.

“Why second?”

“Because the first is standing right in front of me.”

“You should take first place too.”

“That’s one thing I can’t give up.”

“I was just curious. You don’t seem obsessed with records, but you spend a lot of money on them.”

Kwak Soohwan scratched his eyebrow, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Do you remember our first date?”

Seokhwa paused to think. If he meant their literal first date, it was that night in the restaurant where all the windows were shattered. They had sat across from each other, cautiously sizing each other up, with jagged wine glasses between them.

Seokhwa nodded.

“It was cold, and your breath was as white as your pale face. We didn’t have anything to drink or eat. There was a phonograph in the corner that caught my attention, but there weren’t any records.”

He playfully ruffled Seokhwa’s hair, flattened from the helmet.

“For some reason, it bothered me. Maybe because it was the only thing left intact in that ruined restaurant, yet it was useless.”

In truth, Seokhwa didn’t even remember the phonograph. The only thing he recalled from that night was Kwak Soohwan.

Though Seokhwa had gotten used to Kwak Soohwan’s role-playing now, back then it had felt unfamiliar and somewhat disappointing. In reality, Kwak Soohwan had been joking to hide the fact that he was his controller, worried Seokhwa would get hurt while investigating Dr. Oh’s death.

“You can keep buying records if you want. I was just curious.”

“I really don’t need to buy them. They don’t matter to me at all.”

“I like listening to music with you.”

Whenever they ate together, they would always play the phonograph. Sometimes, even Seokhwa would place the needle on the record himself.

“Still, don’t lie.”

“It’s true—I really am the richest person in the city.”