[Si-Hun POV]
Si-Hun was out of the portal.
He was in between a REALLY heated conflict.
He wasn't fighting, but two men accused him of stealing the mana of their share.
What really happened in the portal was that Si-Hun was in charge of keeping the mana safe, as he was not involved in fights.
One of the men, who was not even a member of their team, said to him that their team leader was asking for mana to be taken away to be distributed.
Since he wasn't aware of that guy being a thief, he let him take the mana and took his break.
That man fled off and stole their mana.
Now, it wasn't even Si-Hun's mistake, but they were blaming him no matter how much he tried telling them.
"I didn't steal any mana, Man-Shik. I've told you so many times. If you try putting fake blame on me, I won't mind doing what I'll regret." He finally snapped with his eyes dark.
"Right. Now you're calling US a liar! Perfect!''
"…I think he won't agree to this way, let's just take him to the building. We can't risk our whole day's salary."
"He's also a Novis; it's easier to get him," Man-Shik whispered in his friend's ears.
Others had believed Si-Hun, but they both were the highest ranked, and their share was big, and now they lost it, so it just made them angrier.
Si-Hun lowered his head and smirked.
"Tch, childish." He muttered under his breath.
"Come with us, Si-Hun."
"May I ask, why?" Si-Hun said.
"Don't ask damn questions!"
"~Okay," Si-Hun said, voice a little too calm for the situation.
Man-Shik exchanged glances with his friend and nodded.
They took Si-Hun to the back of a building, dark and isolated.
"Now, we won't say more, just give us the money we lost. That's it."
'Ahh…I would…but I'm short on cash," Si-Hun said, thrashing his pockets out for them to see.
"YOU'RE REALLY STUBBORN, YOU KNOW!? THIS IS THE LAST TIME, WE WON'T REPEAT!"
Man-Shik spoke, taking a gun out from his pocket and smirking.
"Whoa, calm down…mister!" Si-Hun said, taking a few steps closer with that same smirk playing on his lips that made everyone lose their ground.
ManShik's breath hitched at the sudden intimidation.
"W-what do you think you're doing!?" He spoke, trying to appear confident.
His friend, knowing there was something wrong.
"You talked too much, it's my turn now,'' Si-Hun said as he flashed the gun from Man-Shik's hands without him even processing what just happened.
He was…fast.
Man-Shik's eyes widened in horror and fear as he took a few steps back.
"He's…so many ranks lower than me…No…" Man-Shik thought.
"What should I do with you two?" He said, spinning the gun in between his fingers.
They both trembled and looked at each other.
"Y-you know what? W-we're sorry! We won't ask for anything." Man-Shik spoke, gathering all the courage he had for this statement.
"Of course…they're predators. Bold and…egoistic." Si-Hun thought.
Si-Hun tilted his head a little and walked towards Man-Shik's friend.
"You had guts…throwing your friend in danger and then trying to get away. You remind me of times." Si-Hun spoke in his deep voice.
His breath caught, and he just stared at Si-Hun.
Si-Hun smiled, and before stepping back, put that gun to his friend's throat, exerting only a little force, enough to make him gasp in fear.
"Scary… isn't it?" He said and pulled the trigger.
He closed his eyes.
Si-Hun saw him and chuckled.
"See, you have the IQ of some rats." He said and looked at his watch.
"Well, I gotta go now. I don't expect to see you two near this town again," Si-Hun said as he threw the gun back to Man-Shik's hands, and he caught it, standing there still in shock.
He left from there for his bike.
He had to pick up Su-Yeon.
He didn't even go to Arthur's today.
He drove fast to her university, parked his bike near the gate, and waited outside for her to arrive.
He was just standing there, head down, when he glanced up to see if she was here.
His eyes found her instantly.
But…she didn't look fine as he had left her.
Seeing her trembling, with her shoulders tense and expression scared, he quickly leaned off his bike and walked to her.
She was clutching her bag to her chest and looking down as if meeting his gaze was a crime.
"What…what happened?" He asked, the quiet concern in his voice spiking up in seconds.
Her hands were trembling, and her hair was a little messy.
"Si…Si-Hun!" Saying this, she instantly wrapped his arms around him as if she would fall if she stood on her own.
Si-Hun stumbled a little because of the suddenness, but panic rose in him as he processed everything.
She was crying against him.
Her breathing was soft but fast, while his was steady.
Her heartbeat was fast against his chest, while his was steady.
Her state was vulnerable.
He had seen blood, people's heads cut off, murders, but seeing someone he cared about was heavier.
"S-Su-Yeon…what happened?"
His hands rested lightly on her back, unsure if he should touch her.
"She feels too fragile."
"Stay…" She blurted in her broken voice.
"I'm here…"
Her body was small against his large one.
She stayed like that for some time before Si-Hun bent near her ear.
"We can go somewhere private if you want to talk about it privately."
She pulled back only a little to finally meet his worried eyes.
Her eyes were red and glossy, lashes wet, and a few tears still falling over her cheeks.
The sight made him even more worried.
"l-let's g-go from here." She whispered, breath hitching between each word.
He nodded and led her to a private space behind the university.
She clung to him, not out of some weird reason, but in search of comfort.
"Now tell me, what happened?" He asked, voice steady but gentle.