Where Beans Are Planted, Beans Grow

As Cha Eui-jae mechanically stroked the black hair leaning on him while staring at the white wall, he suddenly looked down at the head resting against him.

'…Huh?'

He felt a peculiar chill where their skin touched, he sensed something was off. Though he had seen many people chained while working with Jung Bin in the past, he had never seen it affect someone's body to this extent.

When Cha Eui-jae gently pushed Lee Sa-young to check his face, a slow hand grabbed his arm. However, the grip was weak, more like it was placed there than grasping firmly.

Lee Sa-young, lifting his head, slightly moved his lips.

"…Where."

"Yeah?"

"Where are you going again?"

Cha Eui-jae could feel more strength in the fingers touching his arm. Would his fingers break? Despite knowing it wouldn't happen, the rising anxiety was inevitable. Cha Eui-jae quickly patted the hand holding his arm, trying to soothe him.

"I'm not going anywhere, idiot. Where would I go?"

"…"

Facing eyes that had as much trust in him as a grain of pepper, Cha Eui-jae closed his mouth. Did we have such little trust between us? Why? Cha Eui-jae pursed his lips.

"Hey, seriously, I'm not going anywhere. I don't have anywhere to go."

"Then what is it?"

"Just want to see your face. Stay still."

"…"

Lee Sa-young pressed his lips together tightly. Cha Eui-jae turned his body towards Lee Sa-young, cupped his face with both hands, and examined it here and there. His already pale complexion had turned even whiter, he was sweating, and his violet eyes were slightly dazed and unfocused.

Seeing that he couldn't even pretend to be okay, it was clear his condition was bad. Were there any medical teams on standby around the venue? Cha Eui-jae frowned slightly and asked.

"Are you sick now?"

"…"

"If you're sick, you should say where it hurts. Enduring it won't make it go away."

"…"

J had seen countless hunters hide serious injuries and suddenly collapse, both in dungeons and rifts. There were always people who would endure without thinking about the ones who would have to carry their bodies, just to avoid worrying others.

As his mouth started to dry and his fingertips trembled, Cha Eui-jae released his hands from Lee Sa-young's face and stepped back.

'Ah, damn it.'

He didn't want Lee Sa-young to notice his shaking hands. Lee Sa-young, slowly lifting his head, looked puzzled.

"…Why?"

"Nothing. Just lie down for a bit. It's better to lie down fully."

Cha Eui-jae tried to push him away to get up, but his arm was grabbed again. As he stepped back, Lee Sa-young's face came closer again. His dazed eyes had turned fierce.

"Damn you, you said you weren't going anywhere."

"I'm just giving you space, I said."

Cha Eui-jae snapped irritably as he removed the hand holding his arm, but the other person had no intention of backing down. He needed time to calm his uneasy stomach, but this guy wouldn't even give him that brief moment.

"I'll just sit over there."

"Another lie…"

Does this guy have no trust in people? Who made Lee Sa-young lose all his trust?

Just as Cha Eui-jae was about to retort sharply, Lee Sa-young suddenly put his weight on Cha Eui-jae, slamming his head into Cha Eui-jae's shoulder.

He didn't know where the sudden strength came from in this sickly guy, but it didn't hurt much, just made him sway a little. Cha Eui-jae looked at the black crown of Lee Sa-young's head resting on his shoulder with an incredulous face.

"What are you doing?"

"…It hurts."

"What?"

"I said, I'm hurt."

"…"

The words "so what" were on the tip of his tongue, but the body temperature he felt was unnecessarily cold, and Lee Sa-young was still sweating. He could hear the irregular heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump…

'Ah.'

Cha Eui-jae looked at the ceiling, twisting his lips.

'Damn it…'

Was this the kind of irritation Les Sa-young felt? Cha Eui-jae stared at the large body leaning against him and then sighed deeply, relaxing his body. Unable to support the weight, he fell back. The soft cushion supported his head and back as Lee Sa-young collapsed on top of him. To be more accurate, he was squashed.

Mumbling under the heavy body, Cha Eui-jae spoke.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"…"

"I'm exhausted too, so let's not cause more trouble, okay?"

"Cha Eui-jae."

Lee Sa-young, who had been silent for a while, spat out the familiar three-letter name. Cha Eui-jae patted his broad back, responding indifferently.

"Your speech has been rude for a while now."

"…"

"I'm letting it slide because you're sick."

Cha Eui-jae rolled his eyes slightly. While he was wrestling with this guy, the auction was about to start.

If I stay down here for just a little longer… Cha Eui-jae, listening to the nearby breathing, closed his eyes but opened them again at the thought that crossed his mind.

'How is this guy planning to deal with the aftermath after his wrist is freed?'

At that moment, as the rapidly decreasing numbers changed to zero, a loud alarm sounded. It was similar to the siren he heard in the bathroom at dawn. Lee Sa-young, rubbing his forehead against his shoulder, muttered a curse.

"Ah… Damn it."

Cha Eui-jae patted his back.

"Time's up. Get up."

"…"

"Aren't you going to participate in the auction?"

Lee Sa-young, who had been lying still for a long time, wobbled up and leaned back against the sofa. As the heavy body moved away, Cha Eui-jae finally felt he could breathe. He also got up, straightened his crumpled clothes, and put on his gas mask again. During this time, Lee Sa-young was lying limp against the backrest, eyes closed.

'He looks like a piece of laundry.'

Being ready, Cha Eui-jae pointed to the door.

"Let's go."

"…"

Lee Sa-young let out a long sigh and got up, slowly walking out. As they opened the door, they felt numerous presence. It seemed they were the last to come out. Well, with an S+ grade weapon about to be auctioned, everyone must have been extremely anxious.

Lee Sa-young went to his designated sofa and sat deep into it, propping his arm on the armrest and holding his forehead. Maybe he had a headache, his eyes were tightly shut. Cha Eui-jae quietly took a seat behind him.

The auctioneer he had seen earlier climbed back onto the stage. He bowed his head.

"Thank you all for waiting. We will resume the auction now!"

Event staff brought up a massive spear onto the table set up on the stage.

"This is the first S+ grade equipment made by Hong Ye-seong's, the 'Giant's Spear'! The starting bid is…"

Lee Sa-young suddenly spoke.

"Raise the paddle for me."

"Huh? The auction hasn't started yet."

"Just raise it, hurry."

The moment Cha Eui-jae grabbed the paddle on the table and raised it, everyone's attention turned to them, making the hall silent. Lee Sa-young, opening his eyes slowly, spoke.

"No matter what the price is, I'm going to buy it… so back off."

His low voice swept through the hall clearly. The silence only lasted for a moment before the angry outcries of the super hamsters were heard, but Lee Sa-young had already closed his eyes again.

At that moment, with a sound like 'pop,' the walls around them turned into sand and dispersed. Someone seemed to have dismantled the walls. The hall, briefly silent again, became more chaotic.

Standing with the paddle, Cha Eui-jae looked to his left. Honeybee, sitting next to a man in a grey suit, was glaring at him. When he glanced to his right, Bae Won-woo was staring at him with his mouth open.

Instinctively, Cha Eui-jae looked towards the stage. Hong Ye-seong, sitting on the stage, had his neck stretched out like a turtle, watching Cha Eui-jae and Lee Sa-young with bright, amused eyes.

Cha Eui-jae realized instinctively. What Lee Sa-young just did was a declaration of war against the super hamsters, and at this moment, Cha Eui-jae was… the flag-bearer.

'Fuck.'

In other words, he was the foremost henchman of Lee Sa-young to be dealt with.

The auctioneer spoke in a trembling voice.

"W-we will begin the auction!"

***

The loud cheers felt like they were coming from a distance. Jung Bin slightly lifted his head but then shrugged and stared straight ahead. This place was completely separated, so there was no way he could hear the sounds from outside. He slowly walked and stood in front of a metal desk.

"Now then…"

Jung Bin, placing a file on the metal desk with a thud, pulled out a chair and sat down. The dark room, similar in structure to the interrogation rooms of the Awakened Management Bureau, was his private waiting room. Jung Bin clasped his hands together and looked at the man opposite him. Under the dim light, the yellow hair shone white.

"Isn't the auction starting? Don't you need to see it?"

"Well, what could possibly go wrong? This is more important right now."

"Oh… Are you going to release me?"

"No."

Bang Gyu-min, Gyu-Gyu, who was sitting on the chair, had his shoulders wrapped in bandages. He was tied to the chair with black chains but still wore a relaxed smile.

"We seem to have a lot to discuss, Gyu-Gyu-ssi."

Hearing his name, Gyu-Gyu smiled broadly.

"Well, I guess so. Did you release Lee Sa-young?"

"No, we plan to release him right before he goes home after the auction ends."

"Hey, just hand him over to the Awakened Management Bureau."

Gyu-Gyu wriggled his bound body and grumbled.

"Isn't that too lenient on him~? You've kept me tied up and locked in here all this time."

"Yes, yes, because you were the one who started the trouble first. And also…"

Jung Bin looked at Gyu-Gyu with a cold gaze.

"Although you were solely in charge of tracking J… you haven't reported much."

"Oh… that?"

"Yes. The director said to make sure to get it today."

"That's boring."

"I believe I have given you enough time. Now, it's time for your answer."

Jung Bin tapped his fingers on the desk and opened his mouth.

"Who is J?"