---
"We don't have time to discuss this."
Taehyun didn't wait for an argument.
"Where are the others?"
Hae-rin clicked her tongue, clearly irritated. "Kai's babysitting the president in Geneva."
"Tae-sun got deployed to Japan three hours ago."
She exhaled sharply.
"Meaning we're short-handed."
Her sharp gaze cut back toward me like she wanted to shoot an arrow through my skull.
"And apparently you brought emotional baggage."
'This bitch—'
[Don't even think about it, Host.]
The protective bubble surrounding me hummed softly, but it did absolutely nothing for the instinctive feeling that I was about to die socially before dying physically.
[There, there host]
'You piece of shi—'
*BOOM!*
The ground lurched violently.
The massive black vortex twisted. A monstrous roar ripped through the battlefield.
Searchlights exploded. Military alarms screamed louder.
Hae-rin's expression hardened instantly.
A massive crimson-skinned creature crashed onto the battlefield.
Its twisted tusks dripped black blood.
"A blood orc?" Hae-rin's eyes widened.
[WARNING! GATE ABNORMALITY DETECTED!]
'Meaning?!'
[Monsters aren't supposed to drop from gates host]
'I wanna go home'
The monster charged straight toward Taehyun at an incredible speed.
Hae-rin's silver arrow hit the blood orc's shoulder with expert precision.
'I-is that a bored look on her face?!'
[Apparently host]
"Taehyun, move!" Hae-rin yelled, already pulling back her next arrow.
Taehyun didn't even flinch
A cold terrifyingly ecstatic smile spread across his lips.
'WHY IS HE SMILING?!'
[Probably because he's a weirdo. Just like you, host.]
The Blood Orc healed instantly and charged again.
Hae-rin cursed and fired another arrow.
"Orcs don't heal that fast!"
Taehyun finally moved, that scary ecstatic smile still plastered on his face as he dashed forward to meet the monster head-on.
"You're doing it wrong Hae-rin"
'These people are insane—'
*BOOM!!!*
A blinding white explosion erupted right in front of me. The shockwave slammed into my protective bubble like a truck. My ears rang violently. The world spun.
[WARNING! HIGH-ENERGY IMPACT DETECTED!]
'Oh for fuck's sake—'
Everything went white.
Then nothing.
***
[Host wake up, it's been 14 hours 16 minutes]
'The hell?'
My eyes shot open and immediately landed on that giant smug poster of Lee Taehyun on the wall.
'No...'
I stared at it blankly for five seconds.
'...Am I back in the penthouse?'
I sat up so fast my head spun.
No injuries.
No soreness.
Not even a scratch.
[Welcome back host, I trust you slept peacefully]
"What the fuck happened?!" I hissed, rubbing my eyes.
'Did I die? Did the orc eat me? Why am I back here?!'
[You passed out from the explosion. Esper Lee Taehyun carried you back personally. He refused to let any other healer touch you.]
My stomach dropped.
[He also stayed by your side the entire night. Very dedicated. Very yandere.]
'Shut up.'
I looked down. I was wearing soft black pajamas that definitely weren't mine. The realization made my skin crawl.
'No... No!'
'Absolutely not'
'System?'
[Oh yes host?]
'Who changed my clothes?!'
[Esper Lee Taehyun~]
Before I could spiral further, the bedroom door opened with a soft click.
'Psycho...'
[Host! He saved your life, be nice]
Taehyun walked in, still in his battle-worn clothes, dark jet hair slightly messy, mismatched eyes locking onto me immediately. The intensity in his gaze made me want to hide under the blanket.
"You're awake."
His voice was low. Almost soft.
But the way he looked at me… it wasn't soft at all.
"You—" I pointed at him, voice cracking. "What the hell did you do? Why am I here? What happened to the gate?!"
Taehyun slowly walked closer until he was standing right beside the bed, towering over me.
"It's dealt with" He reached out, cool fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face.
[Host...]
[His mental stability is dropping again.]
'...Of course it is.'
[Host should probably guide him.]
'He fucking strangled me yesterday!'
Taehyun's eyes narrowed
"There's that look again..."
[Host...]
I swatted his hand off
"Boundaries. Remember?"
---