When Night Falls
"Haaah…."
Garam, having polished off two bowls of ramen down to the very last drop of broth, patted her stomach and leaned back against the chair. Her face was flushed red and drenched in sweat, but her expression was that of someone who possessed the entire world.
"Mister… I’m so happy right now."
"It shows."
As Sion cleared away the empty bowls, Garam rose from her seat and collapsed onto the sofa as if her strength had completely vanished. The sofa, soft and yielding, cradled her body, which was exhausted from the day’s training. She rubbed her face against the cushions with a look of pure bliss.
"You shouldn't lie down right after eating. You'll get indigestion."
"I don't care. I just love lying here like this right now…."
"Don't come crying to me if you get acid reflux."
"Yeah, yeah."
Garam stopped rubbing her face against the sofa and stared up at the ceiling, resting her hands on her belly. Fatigue was washing over her, heavy enough to force her eyelids shut. However, due to the long, grueling training that had forced her to live on the razor's edge between life and death, she had developed a compulsion against falling asleep easily. To keep herself awake, she habitually opened her mouth.
"Hey, Mister."
"Yeah?"
"So this is what a real meal is like. It’s incomparable to the food back at Obelisk."
"I suppose so. The training center only gives you what’s necessary for survival, regardless of taste."
Garam pursed her lips for a moment before speaking carefully.
"It’s not just that. Even when I was full at the training center, I always felt like something was missing. I didn't know why back then… but I think I know now."
"And why do you think that is?"
"Because there was no one to eat with. I was always alone. The food tasted bad, and there was no one to talk to. All I did was chew and swallow."
The words were spoken in a bitter tone. Sion didn't react visibly; he simply organized the washed dishes and asked,
"And now?"
"Now, it’s different."
Garam turned on her side, resting her chin on the sofa’s armrest. Her eyes, looking up at Sion, were as honest and sparkling as any child’s.
"Because you’re here, Mister. You make really delicious food, and you’re someone I can talk to."
"You’re the first person to ever say my cooking is delicious."
"Aw, come on. It really was good!"
"That’s just because you haven't lived enough of the world yet. Ramen is just food as long as you put in the noodles and the soup base properly."
Sion, having finished tidying the table, glanced at Garam, who was sprawled out on the sofa. Her eyelids were already half-closed, and her voice sounded languid and loose. Noticing instantly that she was exhausted, Sion tossed a blanket over her.
"Yoon Garam."
"…Yeah?"
"You don't have to force yourself to stay awake. This isn't the training center. No one is going to ambush you, and it won't be a problem if you drift off."
Garam looked at the blanket for a moment before shifting her gaze to Sion.
"……Without doing more training?"
"Why? Do you want to?"
"No, no, no…! It’s not that, I just thought you’d tell me to rest for a bit and then train again…."
"You never had a proper night's sleep at the training center, did you? Since it’s your first day, I’ll let it slide."
"Uuuuh…."
At the uncharacteristically gentle tone, Garam stared at Sion with suspicious eyes, but soon her expression softened, and she rested her head back on the sofa cushion.
"Don't take advantage of me while I'm asleep, Mister."
"I have no interest in children."
"So you prefer curvy women, then?"
"…Go to sleep."
"I guess you are a man after all, Mister."
Garam giggled. But the laughter didn't last long. Her mind had reached its limit, and she drifted off to sleep right there. She curled into a ball, her breathing rhythmic and steady.
Sion stood by the sofa, looking down at her for a moment. By day, she was a child who moved with the sharpness of a dagger, but now, she was curled under the blanket, purring like a kitten.
'How is she even like a cat when she sleeps?'
Thinking this, Sion brushed her hair once before turning and heading toward his room. Once inside, he opened his wardrobe. Tucked away between ordinary clothes were his black combat suit and gear, hanging neatly. Sion unbuttoned his shirt, changed into a black hoodie that wouldn't draw attention, put on a mask, and grabbed a pistol for self-defense.
He was heading out to do the work he still maintained after his retirement.
"……."
Sion stood quietly in front of the front door, casting a glance back toward the living room before leaving. He could see the tips of Garam’s feet peeking out from under the blanket where she was curled up on the sofa. The sound of her small, even breathing filled the air. At that peaceful sound, Sion’s gaze softened for a fleeting second.
"Sleep well."
However, his expression returned to a blank mask as he opened the door and stepped out.
The place Sion reached, braving the pouring rain, was a container located on a remote mountain. To the naked eye, it looked like a discarded, useless, rusted container. But when Sion picked the lock and opened the door, a staircase leading underground was revealed.
Thud—
Sion entered, closed the container door, and descended the stairs. At first, they were ordinary brick steps, but as he went deeper, they turned into iron. As he continued down, a thick metal door appeared, accompanied by a small panel on the side. Sion pulled a code chip from his pocket and held it to the panel; with a mechanical click, the lock disengaged and the door swung open.
Beep.
As the door opened, a scene one would never imagine beneath a container was revealed. Unlike its dilapidated exterior, the interior was a secret hideout packed with modern equipment, weapons, and surveillance monitors. Data on targets was listed on the screens hanging on the walls, and the mission file he had just received lay open on the desk.
"Null, you're here?"
A man sitting in a chair, smoking while looking over the mission file, stood up upon seeing Sion. It was Esteban, an A-class killer and one of the killers who had left Obelisk alongside Sion in the past.
"Yeah. Where’s Bishop?"
"He said his stomach hurt and went to the bathroom for a moment. Chase went to the convenience store to buy something."
"And Phantom?"
"Ah, if you mean Phantom-nuna…."
Before Esteban could finish, someone hugged Sion tightly from behind.
"…She’s right behind you."
It was Phantom.
"Kyaaa! Sion, you finally arrived?"
Phantom rested her chin on Sion’s shoulder, wearing a cat-like grin.
"I told you not to use my real name here."
"Aw, we haven't seen each other in a while, aren't you being a bit cold?"
When Sion turned his head slightly and his eyes shone coldly, Phantom hugged him even tighter, as if she found it amusing. It was exactly like a cat—often called a 'dog-cat'—rubbing its body against someone it liked.
"…Get off me before you say anything. You're heavy."
"You're so mean, so mean. We haven't seen each other in nearly a month, and you're still acting cold."
"It doesn't really matter if you're upset."
"Tsk. How heartless."
Phantom clicked her tongue once and pulled away from Sion. However, the look of amusement never left her face. Usually, Sion disliked anyone other than children clinging to him and would respond immediately, but… Phantom was the exception. She was a killer who had grown up alongside him from their days at the training center, and she was someone he couldn't treat carelessly.
While she appeared to be nothing more than a playful and innocent 'dog-cat,' in reality, she was an S-class killer who had been called a monster even within Obelisk, an organization filled with elite killers.
"Funyaaaang…."
Phantom, who had already changed into her combat gear, stretched with a sound like a cat yawning and asked Esteban,
"Esteban, so when is Bishop-ajusshi coming back?"
"He'll be here soon. He just went to the bathroom…."
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the container entrance. Soon, the door opened and two men entered. They were Bishop and Chase, a B-class and an A-class killer, respectively.
"Everyone’s gathered after a long time."
"Bishop-ajusshi~! Long time no see!"
Phantom waved playfully, greeting Bishop.
"Are you bored lately? Or did you come because it’s an interesting job?"
"If I had to choose, the former. Of course, I also came because I wanted to see Sion. Heh."
"…Let’s start the briefing. Everyone."
At Sion’s words, Chase nodded and turned on the screen.
"As we announced before, and since we don't have much time, I will explain the operation quickly."
When he pressed a button, a view of the harbor appeared on the screen. Chase then displayed photos of the harbor’s layout and began his explanation.
"This job is to take down an organization that has recently been distributing illegal drugs. This harbor is the place where they gather for their transactions."
Chase pointed to the harbor map with his finger.
"As you can see, the harbor is divided into three main zones. The enemies are primarily active around the central pier and the logistics warehouse, and access control is quite strict. Surveillance cameras and guards are stationed at all times, so caution is required when approaching."
Phantom’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the screen.
"Interesting structure~. There must be plenty of places to hide, right?"
"No time for games. Focus."
At Sion’s words, Phantom raised her hand in a playful gesture of acknowledgment, but her eyes were already focused on analyzing the target. Chase continued, flipping through the materials.
"As always, Bishop will handle the briefing, Chase and Esteban will provide rear support, and Null and Phantom will handle the direct elimination. That is all."
As everyone nodded, Bishop stood up first.
"If that’s all, let’s head out immediately. We have less than two hours until the operation time."