The First Outing
One week later.
Sion let out a sigh as he prepared to make breakfast. The reason was simple: there wasn't a single thing left to eat in the house.
The only ingredients remaining were two eggs and some leftover kimchi.
“…When did we eat it all?”
Sion pondered why there was no food, but he soon realized it was only natural. Since he had started living with Garam, who was currently in the middle of a massive growth spurt, his three-week supply of food had been wiped out in just one week—all because of a kid who ate nearly twice as much as he did.
“Hey, Mister, what are you doing in front of the fridge?”
Just then, Garam emerged from her room, stretching her arms, and asked as she approached him.
“We’re out of food for today.”
“Eek, why?!”
“No ingredients left. Because someone has been eating like a vacuum.”
Garam poked her head forward to peer into the refrigerator, then averted her gaze as if she’d been caught red-handed. Sion let out a small sigh and tapped her on the crown of her head with his fist—hard enough to be felt, but not enough to hurt.
“Ow, hey!!”
“I’m increasing your training volume from now on, so keep that in mind.”
“No way, isn’t it natural for a kid in a growth spurt to eat a lot?”
“If you eat that much and don’t move, you’ll just get fat.”
At Sion’s words, Garam puffed out her cheeks as if she were unfairly accused.
“That’s too mean! I’ve been training really hard lately, you know?”
“Considering how much you eat, that doesn’t even begin to offset it.”
“Ugh… you’re so harsh…. Why do you have to be such a miser with me?”
Sion didn't bother to reply and shut the refrigerator door. He then pulled some comfortable clothes out of the closet and began preparing to go out.
He was going grocery shopping.
“…I’m going out for a bit to get some groceries.”
“I’m coming too!”
Garam’s eyes lit up. She stared at Sion with a desperate look, begging him to take her along. However, even under that gaze, Sion maintained his signature indifferent expression as he spoke.
“No. You stay home.”
“Aww, why? It’s boring being home all by myself.”
Garam grabbed the hem of Sion’s shirt, like a pet refusing to let its owner leave.
“…And it’s scary being alone. I feel a little safer when I’m next to you, Mister.”
“I’m a person with a talent for killing people, not someone with a great talent for protecting them.”
“Even so…. You can just kill the other killers before they kill me.”
“Do you have any idea what would happen if I killed someone out in the open?”
“…That goes for the other killers, too. If there are too many eyes watching, it just creates more variables.”
Garam’s grip on his shirt tightened.
“Are you really not going to take me, Mister……?”
As Garam’s hand tightened further, Sion looked up at the ceiling for a moment.
‘…At this point, they shouldn’t be sending anyone else from Obelisk.’
After he had taken care of the cleaner last time, Obelisk hadn't sent anyone else. Usually, they dealt with failed killers within three days; if there had been no reaction for a week, it meant they had likely given up on killing Garam.
Judging that, barring anything unusual, no killers would come looking, and that Garam must be feeling stifled from staying inside all the time, Sion finally nodded.
“Fine. Let’s go together. But there are a few conditions.”
“What are they? Just say it.”
“Listen to what I say, don’t leave my side, and don’t do anything that draws attention.”
“Okay, okay! I promise I’ll follow all of them!”
Garam was so happy that she actually jumped up and down at the news that she was going shopping. Sion chuckled and tossed a helmet to her.
“Put this on.”
“Why the helmet all of a sudden?”
“Because we’re going by motorcycle.”
“A motorcycle?”
Garam’s eyes went wide as she hugged the helmet to her chest.
“Are we really going on a motorcycle?”
“Yes.”
Sion replied curtly, locked the front door, and slowly headed down to the parking lot. Garam immediately put on the helmet and scurried after him, chattering away.
“A motorcycle, that sounds so cool! Can you drive it like in the movies?”
“Quiet.”
“I’m so excited!!”
When they reached the parking lot, a black motorcycle came into view under the dim lights. Its entire body was composed of sleek lines, resembling a fighter jet. A soft blue light pulsed along its surface, and when Sion pressed the key, a rough engine roar echoed through the parking garage.
“Whoa…. What is this… it’s so cool!”
Garam’s eyes sparkled as she inspected the bike from every angle.
“It’s like something straight out of a movie! Do all killers ride motorcycles like this?”
“Just hurry up and get on.”
Despite Sion’s words, Garam continued to admire the bike, letting out constant exclamations of awe.
“Wow, I’m so jealous…. If I kill you, Mister, can I have this?”
“Try it if you can. But I won’t take responsibility for the consequences.”
“I’m joking. Why would I kill the only person on my side in this whole world?”
“…Instead of joking, hurry up and get on.”
“Yes, yes.”
Garam tightened her helmet strap and climbed onto the bike. Sion leaned forward slightly to make it easier for her to hold onto his waist.
“Hold on tight. It’s going to be quite fast.”
“…Do I really have to hold on? The position feels a bit weird.”
“I believe the first condition was to listen to what I say.”
“Tch….”
Garam clicked her tongue once and wrapped her arms around his back, grabbing onto his waist. Unlike her dissatisfied expression, her arms were gripping him with significant strength.
“We’re moving.”
Sion checked the dashboard with one hand and gently applied the throttle with the other. The engine let out a rough growl, and the motorcycle quickly left the parking lot and began driving down the road.
The wind rushed through the gaps in the helmet, ruffling her hair. Even so, Garam seemed thrilled and let out a cheer.
“Whoa—! The wind feels so good! Mister, I love this!”
“Don’t scream. You’ll draw attention.”
“Okay. Then I’ll be excited quietly.”
Sion skillfully wove between the lanes. Despite the considerable speed, his driving was stable, with no sign of an accident. Garam relaxed and watched the scenery flow by.
The street trees lining the road. The trucks of merchants preparing for the morning market. Even the famous bakery that already had a long line of people waiting despite the early hour.
For Garam, who had been confined to the training facility, everything was new and fascinating.
“Look, a flower shop! Look at that color, it’s pink! Mister, let’s buy some flowers when we shop, it feels nice to have flowers at home, doesn’t it?”
“Vegetables and meat come first right now.”
“Aww, but a single stem would really liven up the atmosphere.”
“I’ll think about it if you pass your physical test next week.”
“Ugh, you’re so stingy, Mister.”
When they arrived in front of the mart, Sion quietly parked the motorcycle and got off. He immediately walked over to grab a shopping cart.
He didn't even bother with a lock.
Garam approached him and asked,
“Mister, what if someone steals it like that?”
“It locks itself once the key is out of range. No one can take it. And if they manage to break through that, I can just track them down with the GPS.”
“My goodness, it’s a real high-tech bike…. As expected of a legendary killer, you’re different.”
As Sion started pushing the cart, Garam followed a beat behind, humming a tune.
The mart was still quiet due to the early hour. Fresh vegetables were neatly arranged on the shelves, and staff were cooking food for samples. Garam caught a scent and turned her gaze.
It was the dumpling corner.
“Mister, I want a dumpling.”
“We only came to buy ingredients.”
“But I’m hungry right now…. Cooking a meal takes a while, but that’s fast, isn’t it? Please?”
Garam looked up, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture. The desperation reflected in her large violet eyes.
Sion watched her silently for a moment, then finally let out a sigh and opened his mouth.
“…Grab just one. Whatever you want.”
“You’re the best, Mister.”
“You only say I’m the best at times like this.”
Garam quickly ran over and grabbed a meat dumpling.
Meanwhile, Sion filled his shopping basket in the vegetable section. Potatoes, onions, green onions, chili peppers. His path to the meat section was efficient, without a single wasted movement.
Garam followed him, eating the dumpling she’d received from the staff.
“Mister, this is really good. Do you want to try one?”
“I’m fine for now.”
“Then I’ll save some in a paper cup for you.”
“I told you, it’s fine.”
Garam stared at Sion for a moment, then suddenly thrust the dumpling toward his mouth.
“You always take good care of me when we train. Think of this as a token of my gratitude.”
“…You’re so stubborn.”
Sion reluctantly took the meat dumpling into his mouth.
The sweet soy aroma and savory juices spread throughout his mouth. When he showed a look that suggested it was decent, Garam smiled broadly and asked,
“See? Isn’t it delicious?”
“…It’s alright.”
“Right! I told you I have good taste.”
A faint smile brushed Sion’s lips.
A normal daily life, a normal conversation—it had been a long time. Sion felt his heart loosening up, almost without realizing it.
At that moment, Garam spoke casually.
“This kind of thing… it’s been a really long time.”
“What has?”
“Just… walking around normally without any worries like this.”
Sion stopped for a moment, his hands still on the cart handle. He then kept his gaze forward and replied in a low voice.
“…I suppose it wouldn’t have been normal for you.”
“Yeah. At Obelisk, it was just training every day, fighting, and worrying about dying. But now, just being alive feels good.”
At Garam’s words, Sion gave a small nod.
“Being alive is a good thing.”
“Yeah.”
“So keep it that way from now on. Don’t go doing anything dangerous for no reason.”
“…Yeah, I promise.”
Garam smiled and nodded. Only then did Sion start walking again.
“Alright, we’ve got most of what we need, so let’s go pay.”