61 – Proof of Relationship (4)
Click.
Slam.
Undoubtedly, something like chains making a rattling sound.
The sound was coming from behind the closed door.
The girl pressed her thin ear against the wall.
And then, she closed her eyes.
Creak.
Click.
Barely.
He returned with his brother, locking the workshop door behind them.
It felt even more familiar.
Undoubtedly, it was the sound of unraveling something.
Moving slowly, he stopped at the entrance to the invisible room, which was to illuminate.
Da-yeon hesitated as she instinctively reached for the doorknob.
The thought crossed her mind that perhaps a combat android had imprisoned its owner, filling her mind.
As Matthew had mentioned that security AI sometimes locked houses entirely to ensure their owner’s safety—
It was inevitable that Illya, who was treated like a lover and even showed signs of jealousy, would not do such a thing.
Especially, believing that the ‘entity’ displaying human-like reactions, unlike other AI, was capable of anything she couldn’t.
With each step, she moved further away from the room, convinced.
“… Hmm.”
A faint breath passed through.
Though the pain wrinkled the girl’s face—
It also cooled her head.
‘Shouldn’t go in.’
She knew well that both physical and combat abilities were lacking.
There were no fancy gadgets, and the only weapon was a low-caliber pistol.
She had never even tried to use it.
Most of the places she knew were occupied by the sanctuary of the IT team, located on the second floor of the building, which resembled a factory.
So, coming here required a lot of courage—
He simply couldn’t face that eerie gaze, boasting of a relationship with the master without a hint of a smile, himself. Doyeon never imagined such a scenario.
If he were to find evidence, and if he were to speak of it…
Options to consider when his beloved mercenary wakes up.
Piercing through the bodies and heads of mercilessly blocking enemies with a shield,
The girl remembered not the beautiful woman, but the image of a war machine appearing unfiltered in the news.
Unveiling the image of himself standing in front of that barrel in his mind, Doyeon silently waited at the door.
Imagining what might be inside the room.
– Creak.
The door opened and closed unexpectedly.
Perhaps because of the curtain. In the darkness, the man’s figure was not easily discernible.
Instead, a warm, sweet, slightly musty smell mixed in –
Signaling that he wasn’t alone while sleeping.
As a girl who knew what horrific scent her overworked bachelor boss emitted when closing the door and working late,
She was certain the pleasant scent was because of the ‘woman’ in front of her eyes.
…Biting her lower lip, she tried to swallow that speculation –
“You’ve waited long.”
“…Was I being noisy?”
She spat it out.
Boiling jealousy stung her stomach, spewing out bitter emotions.
With a slight tremor.
“To stabilize the stress levels, volunteering is naturally involved.”
And sure enough.
In the act of flipping her hair with a smile, there was a great deal of pride.
Trying not to show that tears were about to flow,
Not wanting rivals to see her weak side,
Or maybe simply because everything was too difficult –
“Alright. It’s not like I have the right to meddle in such matters.”
She let go of the tension in her neck that resisted being restrained.
And then, she dared to imagine.
The man who tried to act indifferent and cool –
With every word he spoke,
And with every action he took, kindness exuded from the uncle in that room.
If even machines could fall for it…
How about humans?
“I’m talking about a massage, Miss Goh Dayeon.”
“Yeah, rolling around on the bed excitedly – huh?”
Caught in the scent that lingered on the tip of her nose, lost in a daze, she suddenly snapped back to reality at the unexpected words.
Continuing to speak with cold, piercing eyes, Illya directed her words outward.
“While you may be aware of the relationship between Taehyuk and me,
I do not demand excessive physical exertion from someone in the recovery stage after an injury.
“Is Miss Go Dayeon in that category?”
“Well, not really! You said that last time! You said it was so intense that the bed had to be replaced!”
“I’ve never used the word ‘intense.’ Of course, I am aware that Miss Go Dayeon has recently come of age, but…”
Expressionless.
And eyelids sinking even lower.
Despite being supposed to be mechanical, the changing face conveyed emotions.
The shame, painted in red, did not stop, and veins stood out on the neck.
“Breaking the bed is considered intense – huh?!”
A hand that had restrained that emotion now stretched out.
The firmly gripped cheek pressed against it—twisting the face.
“Please remember that Lord Taehyuk is currently asleep. Entering the room is permitted, but if you wake him, I will consider it hostile.”
The war machine’s words, laden with harshness, carried weight with its calm eyes and voice.
Once a comrade of the mercenary who effortlessly crushed the nomads occupying the road.
Before becoming a deadly ‘cat burglar’ mixed in with the body,
He was Taehyuk’s fellow rescued in a famous rescue operation.
From Noble mtl dot com
Such a presence was speaking of hostility.
“I apologize. The expression was somewhat inappropriate.
I mean to say that I will drive you out of the house, Miss Godayeon.”
“…You’re not trying to shoot me, are you?
To kill me because you like that man -“
“If it serves a purpose, perhaps, but no.
At least, Miss Dayeon has not directly harmed anyone so far.”
Under Illya’s slowly turning slender waist, there were attractive curves.
Inflating the pocket on top of it was a metal lump that spat out bullets.
Momentarily captivated by the smile of the director who introduced it as a companion edition,
it easily entered the eyes of the girl who seriously contemplated living.
Along with the words uttered by its owner.
“Do you talk as if such a person exists…? hahahaha, oh…”
In response to the words uttered to somewhat calm the atmosphere, Illya showed no reaction.
“Exists? Does it exist? Does it…? Does it have anything to do with Taehyuk’s wrist injury as he mentioned?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
And to the perhaps unexpected question, a positive reaction was shown.
The face of the gatekeeper, who had placed his hand on the door, was twisted.
In what was filled with disappointment, there was another emotion.
“Who is it? Who said that? Someone I know? Or did it happen while working?”
“It’s an injury from external work.”
I won’t go into the details. It’s because it involves Taehyuk’s personal matters.”
Although spoken calmly, the once gentle smile now frozen carried a significant meaning.
Perhaps it was the recollection of the face that had been wounded not long ago.
The softened gaze turned sharp, returning to its original demeanor.
Ilya’s expression, reminiscent of the eerie one I saw on the day the head part was being assembled.
“So, please be cautious when entering. It would be good to avoid excessive contact with the injured Taehyuk, and especially, I will not tolerate any kissing of the lips.”
When those words were directed at her, the girl nodded quietly.
Then, she pressed tightly against the machine she had approached once again, behind which Taehyuk lay asleep.
“Visitation is limited to 10 minutes.”
“What if I stay a little longer?”
“Conversation with the sleeping Taehyuk is impossible. As mentioned before, physical contact is not allowed. I have extended the time considering Godaeyeon’s emotions, but do you have a reasonable reason to extend it further?”
There wasn’t one.
There wasn’t, but she mumbled something under her breath.
Searching for a suitable excuse.
“10 minutes. I’ll be watching from inside the room. When the time is up, I’ll guide you out, so you don’t need to worry about it separately.”
However, the final notification was swift,
But to speak, the door had already swung open.
In the dark room, a man lying under a blanket slowly revealed his outline.
In the hand that emerged from the thick fabric, there was a thick white cast wrapped around.
Quite thick, too.
“Ah…”
Fingers rose to slightly parted lips,
The stern face of the machine became a quiet warning.
Kneeling quietly in the warm room, gazing intently at the beard on the sleeping face as he knelt –
Thud, thud, thud.
An unmistakable sound began to echo through the closing door.
The same dull reverberation as when she had knocked on the door gradually filled the room.
The slight tremor distorted the face of the sleeping gunman.
“…”
Without hesitation, Illya pulled out the gun and stepped out of the door.
Behind the concealed door, was it waiting there?
The girl succumbed silently to fear.
But as the door closed and darkness descended –
“Umm.”
Dayeon turned her eyes to the owner of the dripping sound.
There were no eyes watching. If that’s the case,
– Swift.
The blanket folded slightly over the body, leaving a red mark on the unblemished hand.
“Evidence…”
It could be the kind that appears after a long time pressed against panties, socks, or gloves.
However, the sound coming from beyond the wall was something that no fabric could produce.
Folded again.
The same mark remained on the exposed ankle.
It was evidence.
– Clank, click…
The sound of the door opening echoed through the walls.
This was the chance.
I took out my phone from the pocket, urgently capturing the ‘point’ with my camera that made no shutter sound.
And, incidentally, took a few shots of the sleeping face.
Then, covering the blanket and smoothing out the wrinkles, I calmly sat on the floor, pretending to wait.
– Thud.
When the thunder-like sound made the sleeping person’s eyes squint even more,
the girl’s desperate act shattered.