193 – Please only look at me now
“Gulp… Gulp… ha… ”
Iare happily sipping hot soup
Seeing her like this, I also slowly started emptying the soup in front of me.
Deep taste that warms and fills the stomach
I was enjoying this leisurely moment while savoring it to my heart’s content.
The confidentiality leak incident that made me suffer for the past few days has also calmed down. The movements of the Abyss were also very quiet.
In addition, thanks to the improved internal maintenance of the military, which had been sluggish since the government change, the corps currently stationed along the Yalu River defense line are strengthening the defense line without much difficulty.
Like that, in the leisurely time I hadn’t seen in quite a while, I was spending time alone with Are in the city after a long time.
“I really enjoyed the meal. As expected, the place Jinhyeon recommended is different no matter what.”
“Even if it looks like this, it’s because I’m a native of Cheongju, and I know a lot of cheap and delicious houses.”
Feeling so full, the two of us rose from our seats with a pleasant feeling of satiety.
The season when the chilly wind begins to blow as we approach the threshold of winter
We didn’t feel very cold thanks to the hot soup, but despite this, Are started walking side by side, sticking close to me as if to avoid the cold.
Of course, I could vaguely feel the black expression of affection as a lover contained in it.
Like that, I started walking along the road side by side with Are, feeling a warm feeling not only in my stomach but also in my heart.
“But didn’t it feel a little plain that it was just rice soup on a date after a long time?”
“It’s not like that. At that level, I was not envious of any other delicacies.”
“hahahaha.. well, it would be nice if you were satisfied.”
“Isn’t this the food Jinhyeon has been eating for a long time? Besides, I think this kind of meal is great for me who are not yet completely familiar with Korea.”
Suddenly, from her words, a fact I had forgotten for a while…
Recognizing that, apart from her appearance, her nationality is the United States, not Korea, I asked a question with a light question.
“Come to think of it… You don’t seem to have a preference for Korean food, are there any foods you don’t like or can’t eat?”
“Are you talking about the food you don’t like? Even if it’s not to the extent of a glass in the first place, I like to eat.”
It was a story that I couldn’t help but automatically sympathize with her, given her development, which was certainly robust.
“However, since I have never seen it in the US, there are some things that hold me back. Something like an octopus.. a pupa…”
“Umm… does that mean you can’t eat gross things anyway?”
“It’s similar, but a little different. Both are creatures that are not considered food ingredients in the United States. Still, there is no objection to things like pork feet or chicken feet. It does feel a bit peculiar, though.”
Suddenly, I heard that in the West, including the United States, they do not eat octopus.
‘I don’t remember the exact reason… but I think he said that there are cases in the West that are considered objects of hatred… Needless to say in the case of pupae in the first place.’
Thinking that it was necessary to pay attention to that extent, I naturally grabbed Are’s hand tightly as it was.
‘Are and Kwon Soon are the same… If things continue like this, there’s a high possibility that we’ll be together in the future.
With that thought in mind, the two of us continued walking down the street at night with a fluttering feeling that still felt unchanging.
The two of us got away from the crowded road and arrived at a riverside with few people.
Since we don’t have a particular destination, we’re going on a date that combines a night walk, so from our point of view, a quiet place was preferable.
A river that flows quietly under the moonlight.
And, in the quiet atmosphere, the clear sound of Aare’s footsteps could be heard.
Even though I was just walking without doing anything special.
At this moment, a warm and quiet feeling of happiness began to grow in my heart, like a stove heating the room.
“..It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve had this kind of composure.”
“That’s what I mean. If you think about it… a lot of things have happened in the meantime.”
Are’s words looking up at the night sky and talking,
To this, I too agreed with a smile.
Although, the fact that the two of us who are in charge of the Black Hunter company’s responsibility meant that the company was free without work to that extent.
This was unavoidable as the invasion of the Abyss had calmed down.
However, despite this, we were not in a situation where we had no plans to take on an external mission such as commissioning an art exhibition in the past.
The biggest reason is that he was in a situation where he could relax enough because the country rewarded him very well for showing good performance in the previous two large-scale invasions by the Abyss.
And another reason is that Dreamers’ ransom soared slightly as the related achievements were reflected in corporate performance.
As a matter of course, the higher the performance of the black hunter company, the more the difference in basic employment costs was inevitable.
And in that regard, the Korean government, as a so-called ‘VIP customer’, gave out performance-related evaluation scores like crazy..
To be precise, thanks to Lieutenant General Song Dana and Lieutenant General Jeong Gong-heo, who were in charge at the time, paradoxically, now Dreamers has become a situation where it is difficult to move recklessly even if we want to work.
‘The minimum employment payment is 1 billion.. This means that people who are classified as the so-called wealthy have nothing to hire unless it is a very important job. How many points do I need for this to happen?’
According to the rules of the Black Hunter Alliance website, which relays transactions, there were various restrictions, including the number of requests accepted, for receiving an amount below the minimum employment cost.
The problem is that raising 1 billion won at the lowest hiring cost is not really easy unless you really decide on the score and give it a lot considering the difficulty of the mission.
As an adjutant, it was unavoidable that I felt a little awkward whether I should like it or be bitter about it.
‘But… even so, after the break period, I’ll have to go back to work. When that time comes, I think it will be a bit of a headache in many ways. As the minimum hiring cost has gone up, I’m going to focus on those with a high level of difficulty…’
That’s how I remembered the story that compliments are sweet to the ear but bitter to the body…
Suddenly, as if reading my worries, Are said to me with a gentle smile on his lips.
“Are you worried about your future work?”
“… I can’t do it. No matter what we do, we are Black Hunters, risking our lives. As you never know what might happen at any moment, it seems unavoidable that you always have anxiety in your heart.”
“It certainly doesn’t seem wrong. When I went to the battlefield, I always moved with the determination to lose my life. However..”
“..However?”
Instead of answering my words, Aree paused for a moment and looked at me.
In that moment, once again in my eyes.
The face of the person I love so much began to come in clearly.
then looking at my face.
Are stretched out both hands and slowly began pulling my hair down.
and..
-side..
Are, very slowly, kissing my lips.
At the same time, the sweet and warm feeling made me feel as if the concerns that had been blooming in my head for a moment seemed to subside.
Then, Aare caressed my face with his hand while slowly opening his lips that had been put together for a while.
With her cheeks slightly flushed, she spoke to me in a soft voice.
“No matter how worried you are about the future… Let go of that worry for now. I, too, will not think of anything else for this moment, and will only look at you completely.”
“.. Aressi..”
Gentle yet warm…
At the same time, a voice that tells me once again what to focus on at this moment.
Regarding this, as she said, I decided to put aside my current worries for a while and only look at her.
‘Yeah.. It’s time to be alone with the two of us.. Right now, the only thing I have to worry about is Are.’
I decided to fully savor this moment with Aare once again as I confessed my complicated feelings.
While anticipating the next time alone in the room,
By the way..
-Thiririri!
“… ”
“… ha..”
The sudden ringing of a phone.
In response, I picked up the phone as I felt the long-awaited sweet atmosphere breaking.
By the way..
“… Yeah?… Who… came? Choi Yujin?”
I hear the name of an existence that is of no help in my life
About this, I started to feel genuinely dirty.