Those Who Tend the Scrub (4)
“But is this place just for you to live alone?”
Go Cheon-su asked right away, and Yoo Gi-seong widened his eyes in response.
“Yes, that's right. It's a bit big for one person, which is why I went looking for you two.”
“I see.”
“Yeah, I'm so relieved.”
Yoo Gi-seong let out a heavy sigh, as if recalling the crisis from earlier.
“When I found you two, there were so many of those things swarming. I almost couldn't help.”
“Thanks again for that.”
It was sincere. Without this man, Go Cheon-su's life really would've been in danger.
But...
Go Cheon-su stared straight at Yoo Gi-seong.
Several questions came to mind, but he didn't voice them just yet.
“Go Cheon-su. Water.”
In the meantime, Jang Seo-yeon approached him. Go Cheon-su pulled his backpack around to the front.
“Ah, hold on.”
Yoo Gi-seong went to the cupboard and grabbed a bottle of water.
“Here, have this. Don't drink what you have.”
“No, it's fine.”
Go Cheon-su took a bottle from his backpack and handed it to Jang Seo-yeon.
“You already helped us—we can't ask for more.”
“Yeah, fair enough.”
Jang Seo-yeon nodded, taking the bottle from him.
“Coming to someone's house and mooching everything off them would be kinda rude.”
Gulp, gulp.
Watching her chug the water refreshingly, Go Cheon-su turned to Yoo Gi-seong.
“You sure you're okay with this, Mr. Yoo? We know how to mind our manners.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes.”
Yoo Gi-seong, who had been spacing out for a moment, flashed an awkward smile.
“Glad you're good people. Still, if you need anything, just say the word.”
He gestured around the room.
“We've got plenty of food and such.”
“Thank you.”
Go Cheon-su expressed his gratitude and headed to a corner of the basement.
“Then I'll rest here for a bit. We'll head out once things quiet down up top.”
Watching Go Cheon-su act so stiffly, Jang Seo-yeon sidled up cautiously and squatted beside him.
“Hey, so there is something off about him, right?”
She whispered, and Go Cheon-su shook his head.
“Dunno yet. That's why I'm playing it safe.”
Showing up out of nowhere to help people being chased—super grateful, sure.
But Go Cheon-su had no intention of racking up more debt.
Just in case.
Glancing at the viewer chats, Go Cheon-su pieced together a few things and asked Yoo Gi-seong.
“So, those things up top—when do they calm down?”
“Ah, them.”
Yoo Gi-seong sighed.
“Not till morning at least. They go back to their spots and root like plants when sunlight hits.”
“Got it.”
“Yeah, so head out in the morning if you're leaving. Or stay longer, no problem.”
Yoo Gi-seong pointed to a bed in the corner.
“Bed's yours. I've got another spot.”
A mattress was visible behind the bookshelf.
At his kindness, Jang Seo-yeon spoke up.
“Thanks a ton. You saved our lives and now you're giving us a comfy spot?”
“Nah. Just happy to save folks. Stay as long as you want.”
She turned to Go Cheon-su.
“Hey, can I take the bed?”
“Yeah, go for it.”
“Whew. Thanks.”
Jang Seo-yeon staggered to the bed.
Good job. Keep playing innocent like that.
Go Cheon-su leaned against the wall and closed his eyes slightly.
Something tells me it'll get annoying fast.
Rustle.
How much time had passed? Go Cheon-su, dozing with half-open eyes, jolted at the sudden noise.
...
In his narrow field of view, someone was approaching.
Warning chats flooded in instantly. Go Cheon-su snapped his eyes wide open.
“...!”
Yoo Gi-seong, approaching, flinched in surprise.
“Ah, whoa, you scared me.”
“What is it?”
Go Cheon-su demanded in a stiff voice, eyeing the hesitant man.
Yoo Gi-seong pointed to what he held.
“J-just bringing you this.”
It was a blanket.
Realizing he was just offering it to his guest on the hard floor, Go Cheon-su looked dubious.
The viewers' reactions had done him in.
Thought he was really coming to bash my head.
He even had a dagger and hand axe hidden in his lap.
If Yoo Gi-seong had attacked, he'd have wrecked him.
“Here.”
Yoo Gi-seong handed over the blanket, then fetched a mattress from behind the bookshelf.
“Floor's hard—lay this down first.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Very hospitable. With nothing to say, Go Cheon-su spread the mattress, laid the blanket on top, and lied down.
Damn, this feels good.
Just lying there made his eyes heavy.
Wonder how Min-cheol's doing.
Yang Min-cheol was young, but no slouch in survival. Better to assume he was alive somewhere than dead.
Nearly dozing off, a chat popped up. Go Cheon-su wiped the drool from his mouth and muttered.
“I ain't sleeping, bros.”
He pinched his thigh secretly to shake off the drowsiness.
Hah. She's out cold.
Glancing at the bed, Jang Seo-yeon was already dead to the world.
Massive fatigue buildup, probably. He got it, but a sigh escaped anyway.
Who wouldn't wanna sleep?
The mattress-blanket combo was lethal. Go Cheon-su pinched himself relentlessly until Yoo Gi-seong pulled out his own mattress and slept.
Whew.
Judging everyone asleep, Go Cheon-su slipped out, stood up.
“Bros, what now?”
Couldn't relax and sleep like this. Unless he tied Yoo Gi-seong up.
“Too little suspicion and I wouldn't be alive.”
Yoo Gi-seong knew the Ents roamed at night.
Yet he left the basement and risked it outside? Didn't add up.
Gotta figure out what this guy's deal is.
He crept to the door in the basement. Cracking it open revealed a bathroom and shower.
No CCTV room or anything.
Then why go outside? Go Cheon-su pondered, then eyed the cupboard against the wall. Cans of food stacked high.
Hoarded a ton.
He picked up a few of the same brand. The outsides were slick, oddly preserved.
Frowning slightly, he checked the lids.
...This fucker.
The lids were subtly different. Looked like opened cans resealed with replacements.
Go Cheon-su stared down at the sleeping Yoo Gi-seong. Scrawny guy, not very threatening.
What to do.
Decision was quick. He mounted Yoo Gi-seong and wrenched his arms back.
“Urk?!”
Yoo Gi-seong woke startled and yelled.
“Wh-what the hell?!”
“What the hell? You're the one—explain yourself.”
The moment he pinned him, Go Cheon-su knew: Yoo Gi-seong hadn't been asleep, just faking.
“Waiting to pull something while we slept? Why're you awake?”
“N-no, wait...!”
Yoo Gi-seong twisted to escape, but it was futile against Go Cheon-su's strength.
“Agh!”
As his wrist twisted with a scream, Jang Seo-yeon slowly sat up in bed.
“Nngh, passed out hard.”
“Jang Seo-yeon.”
Go Cheon-su said lowly.
“Grab the bedsheet over there. Need to tie him up.”
“Huh? Tie wha—gasp!”
She yelled at Go Cheon-su in shock.
“What?! Shit really hit the fan, huh?!”
“You were on guard too—how'd you conk out?”
“Knew you wouldn't sleep, so I did!”
She twisted a bedsheet into a rope and brought it.
“Here! Use it!”
No time for chit-chat. Go Cheon-su took it and bound Yoo Gi-seong tight.
“H-hey! What the fuck?! You're making a huge mistake!”
“Mistake or not, gotta do it.”
Trussing the struggling man securely, Go Cheon-su murmured.
“Wanna sleep easy myself.”
“No, what the...!”
Resistance didn't last. Fully bound, Go Cheon-su sighed and stood.
“Phew. Now I can rest.”
Solid idea. Go Cheon-su dragged the blanketed Yoo Gi-seong to the ladder dangling from the entrance and tied him there.
“Hey! What the hell is this?! I helped you!”
Yoo Gi-seong bellowed, incredulous.
Go Cheon-su grabbed his jaw.
“Quiet. Want your mouth taped too?”
“...!”
“Sorry. Just for tonight. Once we leave, back to your comfy bed, right?”
Go Cheon-su stretched, yawned, and returned to his mattress.
“Night. See ya in the morning.”
He sprawled out and shut his eyes.
Yoo Gi-seong gaped, then looked at Jang Seo-yeon. She looked baffled too—trouble hadn't actually hit—but didn't untie him.
“Hey!”
He yelled at her.
“Untie me! This is insane!”
“Uh...”
If nothing had gone down, yeah, it was harsh. They didn't know the guy for sure.
Jang Seo-yeon looked sympathetic briefly, then headed to bed.
“Hey!”
“Sorry~.”
She shook her head casually at his shout.
“Just for tonight, please.”
Already tied, no take-backs. She waved vaguely apologetic and lied down.
No bedsheet, but she passed out quick. Now she could really relax, thanks to Go Cheon-su.
Yoo Gi-seong alternated bewildered stares, then muttered softly with a sigh.
“'Please,' my ass...”
Bzzz.
A sudden buzz jolted Jang Seo-yeon awake.
“Wh-what?”
Her body felt refreshed as she bolted up. Realizing she'd slept long, she turned.
Bzzz.
The noise came from Go Cheon-su, still out cold. He didn't stir at the vibration.
Rustle.
The reaction came from Yoo Gi-seong, tied to the pillar.
“Hey.”
Lifting his haggard face, he said.
“You're up—untie me.”
He looked ready to explode.
“Couldn't sleep a wink tied up. This how you treat your savior?”
“Ah...”
Jang Seo-yeon chuckled heartily.
“Yeah, we got the good sleep.”
But suspicions were real. No untying without Go Cheon-su's say-so.
Instead, she climbed the ladder out.
“Hm.”
No sounds outside. The stomping at the entrance was gone.
“Hey, Go Cheon-su.”
She came down and shook him.
“Wake up. Looks safe to head out no—”
She frowned.
Go Cheon-su wasn't responding.