Since the establishment of the center, had they ever been driven into such a corner?

Having witnessed his eldest nephew’s devastating state with his own eyes, Jihwan couldn’t hide his heartbroken feelings.

The sound of sobbing beside him made his heart ache even more.

Jihwan patted the trembling back of his brother, as if to comfort him, who was shaking due to the fear of possibly losing his own brother.

“…Jaewon, get up.”

The young nephew, who had just turned twenty, wailed as if he would bury his head into the floor.

“It’s because of me.”

“It’s not because of you.”

“Elder brother, while trying to save me…”

I should have been the one to die, but instead, my elder brother is hovering between life and death.

Because of his inexperience, he had become the enemy’s bait, and Heewon, who was trying to handle the situation, was severely injured.

Jaewon was even more shocked because he never thought his elder brother would risk his life for him.

With sorrowful eyes, Jihwan looked down at his eldest nephew lying on the hospital bed with a respirator attached.

Heewon’s condition was critical, and if he had been left in that chaotic scene, he would have undoubtedly died.

It was a blessing from heaven that another team had revisited the scene to retrieve the corpse.

As soon as they confirmed that he was still breathing, albeit faintly, Heewon had to immediately enter the operating room. And although he went through several cardiac arrests, he ultimately survived.

Although he hasn’t regained consciousness even after two days have passed, as long as he is alive, he will eventually open his eyes.

The superhuman abilities they possess also include unimaginable recovery power, so for now, they had no choice but to place their hopes on that.

Behind the two men gazing at the unconscious Heewon, the door of the intensive care unit slowly opened.

“How long are you going to just lie there and cry? Get up, Seo Jaewon.”

At Seonjin’s stern voice, Jaewon’s shoulders trembled, but he forcibly stopped crying.

Jaewon, who had been sitting on the floor, stood up and stepped back towards the wall, his eyes red.

Even though it seemed pitiful, Seonjin only looked at Jaewon with severe eyes.

Jihwan once again felt that it was a good decision to entrust Jaewon’s education to Seonjin instead of Seungju.

When it’s time to be gentle, be gentle, and when it’s time to be strict, be strict.

Through countless battles, Jihwan knew better than anyone the mindset that those who must dedicate their bodies to save others should have.

“I brought Naeun’s mother. She wasn’t injured, but she’s very confused instead. I think it’s time we explain the situation to her.”

At Seonjin’s calm report, Jihwan rubbed his furrowed brow with his hand.

If possible, he didn’t want civilians to be deeply involved in this side, but now that the situation had come to this point, it was an unavoidable problem.

The center had suffered a massive blow. The opposing organization, which had deliberately declared war, unleashed attacks both internally and externally, causing most of the heroes to be seriously injured.

One member from another team had even lost their life.

Although they always face their days prepared for death, the loss of a colleague was still a significant blow to Jihwan as well.

As soon as they found out that the coordinates of the base in Jeju Island had been leaked, they sent a rescue team, but they were a step too late.

“…Now that it has come to this, we have to let her know. Explain it well so she doesn’t get too shocked.”

Forget about not being shocked; he was worried she might faint upon hearing it, but there was no other way now.

“Naeun’s location is still unknown.”

“Seungju is currently searching the entire Jeju Island. There are no traces of her going to the airport or taking a boat on the surface. …But if it was manipulated, that would be meaningless too.”

Seonjin had been reporting the situation in a calm voice the whole time. But Jihwan could guess from her pale complexion alone how much she was being pushed back.

It was natural. The center was on the verge of annihilation, the team leader in charge was hovering between life and death, and the whereabouts of her only civilian friend who had been kidnapped were unknown.

The reason she could stay sane was thanks to the internal strength Seonjin had built up as a hero.

“If, by any chance, that child…”

“Naeun isn’t dead.”

Seonjin cut off Jihwan’s words that he uttered with a strained face, as they had to assume the worst-case scenario and prepare countermeasures.

Even though she wasn’t hot-tempered like Seungju and knew how to judge her surroundings rationally in really dangerous moments, Jihwan didn’t get angry.

He calmly waited to hear the basis for Seonjin’s judgment.

“There’s no way Han Jaekyung would have killed her.”

“……”

“If he was going to kill her, he would have killed Naeun’s mother together. There was no need for him to keep her mother alive if it weren’t for Naeun.”

She said, looking at Jihwan with cold eyes.

“Deliberately leaving only Naeun’s mother behind and leaving was an order to us. …To at least protect her mother well.”

“…..””

“We will definitely find Naeun. Don’t worry, Center Director.”

If he had married a little earlier and had a child, she would be like a daughter to him, so why was she such a reliable presence?

Is this why they say daughters mature quickly? Jihwan inwardly admired. Seonjin was already comforting Jaewon, who was crumpled in the corner.

“Seo Jaewon, get a hold of yourself. Your elder brother won’t die. He’s such a tenacious person.”

That guy, even with a hole in his stomach, was caught drinking at a club three days later and got beaten up by the Center Director.

At Seonjin’s story, Jihwan let out a low laugh that didn’t suit the situation. That was a family disgrace that he had kept hidden, so he didn’t know how she found out.

Jaewon wiped his tears with his sleeve and silently nodded.

Seeing his younger nephew, who seemed much calmer than before, Jihwan quietly contemplated the future.

If the number of personnel at the center increased by just two more in the future, the team leader of the new next team would be Lee Seonjin.

“Why isn’t she waking up?”

A cold interrogation that seemed to be able to instantly freeze even the midsummer air was heard. Then, one of the medical staff on standby stammered an answer.

“It may take time for her to regain consciousness due to the strong medication. If she gets enough rest…”

“Enough?”

Jaekyung, who had stayed by her side without sleeping a wink while she was asleep, cut off the words and asked back.

“She hasn’t been able to wake up for two days, so how much more rest should she get here?”

At the sharp reaction, all the personnel in the hospital room shrank their shoulders and looked at him warily.

The doctor who had taken the lead with the most experience was about to open his mouth to make an excuse to Jaekyung.

At that moment, a faint coughing sound came from the bed. It was so soft that it would be impossible to hear without focusing, but Jaekyung reacted immediately.

He immediately got up from his seat and hurriedly checked the complexion of the girl lying down.

Soon, a few more small coughs followed, and only then did Naeun open her eyes. Bright eyes were revealed beyond the slowly raised eyelids.

As if the bright hospital lighting was dazzling, her slightly furrowed eye shape slowly closed and opened again.

Everyone in the room held their breath, and only Jaekyung gently held her hand, trying to wake her up.

Without a trace of the ghostly figure that had been urging the medical staff, he asked in a small voice, as if soothing a baby, with worry filling his expression.

“Naeun, are you conscious?”

“……”

As if the disheveled short hair was ticklish, Naeun rubbed her cheek against the pillow with a frowning face for a moment.

Jaekyung noticed it and brushed away the strands of hair stuck to her cheek. Belatedly realizing who the owner of that gentle touch was, Naeun turned her head towards Jaekyung.

Jaekyung, whose eyes met her bright eyes, unknowingly became tense.

Even though he knew the result, he couldn’t erase the anxiety of hoping against hope.

However, soon, Naeun’s round eyes, which had been observing his face as if examining it, curved like a crescent moon.

“Jaekyung.”

It wasn’t a sarcastic tone. It wasn’t a name called out of habit even though she didn’t want to call it.

Jaekyung bit his lip after confirming the affection that filled her voice calling his name.

He wanted to cry like a child, but he held back for fear of startling her. Instead, he turned his head towards the medical staff surrounding them.

“It seems she has regained consciousness. I’ll talk to her and call you if there are any abnormalities. You can leave.”

When he was giving orders in an overbearing manner, he was using honorifics and showing the most polite attitude in the world, making those around him look at Jaekyung in astonishment.

Some had dumbfounded expressions. However, as they were under the organization and Jaekyung was an executive, there was nothing more they could say, so the medical staff bowed their heads obediently and left the hospital room.

The inside of the room where people had rushed out became deserted. Jaekyung confirmed that the hand he was holding was now holding his in return, and he smiled.

He realized for the first time today that when you are too happy and joyful to see someone, it feels like tears might fall.

“Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy?”

He asked, placing his hand on the forehead of the girl lying down. It was because of what the doctor had said, that she might have a high fever for a while as an aftereffect.

Fortunately, there was no sign of fever, and Naeun, who seemed to still have a hazy consciousness, slowly closed and opened her eyes a few more times before speaking.

“Where is this place?”

“It’s a hospital.”

Jaekyung answered as if he had been waiting.

It wasn’t a lie. Although it was a modified ward inside a building owned by the organization he belonged to, it was still a hospital.

“There was a minor accident a while ago, and you collapsed. …Do you remember why you collapsed?”

“No, not at all…”

At her powerless answer, Jaekyung smiled. Then Naeun looked at her hair scattered on the pillow and widened her eyes.

She was surprised and raised the hand that wasn’t holding Jaekyung’s to check her hair.

“What? Why is my hair short?”

“You originally had short hair.”

“No way… I’ve never cut my hair?”

Seeing her obvious bewilderment, Jaekyung paused for a moment.

If you’re going to deceive, do it perfectly.

He had already made up his mind and had no intention of changing his planned course. He had come too far for that.

“Naeun, how old are you now?”

Jaekyung asked, pretending to be lost in thought. Naeun rather made a dumbfounded expression at his question. She answered.

“Of course, we’re in our third year of high school.”

It’s the college entrance exam this year. Seeing her mention the most important event for her during her third year of high school, he deeply sighed with relief inwardly.

You’ve really come back.

“…We’re twenty-four.”

“What?!”

Despite Jaekyung’s calm voice, Naeun was startled by the shocking content and jumped up from her seat.

She must have felt dizzy from suddenly raising her upper body that had been lying down. As she held her forehead and bowed her head, saying she felt dizzy, Jaekyung hurriedly embraced her shoulders.

Naeun, who habitually buried her head in his shoulder and rested for a moment, was told by him.

“It seems there’s something wrong with your memory. They said that can happen if you experience a great shock. I’ll bring a doctor later.”

“…No way. Then, then am I an adult?”

Jaekyung nodded with a smile. After letting the dizziness subside for a moment, Naeun lifted her face from Jaekyung’s shoulder.

She looked up at him with anxious eyes and asked.

“Then, does that mean I’m a college student now?”

“Yes,”

“…Jaekyung. I’m really sorry for asking this as soon as I wake up, but…”

Naeun bit her lip and made a pitiful expression.

Jaekyung already knew well how she acted when she was throwing a tantrum or acting cute, so he held back his laughter.

After a few seconds, Naeun asked with a serious voice and a tense face.

“Did I do well on the college entrance exam?”

In the end, Jaekyung, who couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, made Naeun look like she was about to cry even more.

Jaekyung tightly hugged Naeun, who was whining for him to stop laughing and say something.

Feeling Naeun readily wrap her arms around his back out of habit, without pushing him away or refusing, Jaekyung closed his eyes in deep emotion and greeted her.

“Welcome back”

To the her of the past who loved him.