The Robe’s Scent and Lingering Dreams

Kim Ajun barely managed to stop Han Gureum, who was trying to pack even more items. Among the three, Han Gureum was the most eager to fill the box, and not content with just packing, he began explaining each item.

“This is a three-color ballpoint pen, and this green is the same shade as that one. As a university student, you’ll be taking a lot of notes, and this pen has a great feel when writing. This notebook also has thick paper, so the ink won’t bleed through easily.”

He continued to explain everything in meticulous detail, much like a seasoned salesperson. On any other day, Kim Ajun or Baek Heeseong would have intervened, but today they simply observed. Had Seo Dowoon shown any sign of discomfort, they would have stepped in, but he was listening so intently that they let them be. Besides, watching the two of them interact was quite entertaining.

Kim Ajun handed the hot chocolate, which had been pushed to one side, to Baek Heeseong.

“He looks excited, doesn’t he?”

“He certainly does. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him like that.”

“Is he being a bit much? Should I stop him?”

“Just let him be. If not now, when else will he get to talk about Kio?”

Despite the small office space, where their voices would undoubtedly carry, neither Han Gureum nor Seo Dowoon seemed to mind. Sitting side-by-side on the sofa, they were entirely engrossed in Kio, as if lost in a world of their own.

Only after finishing all his explanations did Han Gureum realize his oversight, quickly glancing at Seo Dowoon’s face.

“I talked too much, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. I enjoyed it. I’ll make good use of them.”

Though he knew he’d likely never actually use the items in the box, he offered a polite farewell. A faint smile touched Han Gureum’s lips. Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he looked intently into Seo Dowoon’s eyes and spoke.

“By any chance… could you return the robe I gave you last time?”

He had thought he’d never see it again, assuming they wouldn’t meet, but since Seo Dowoon was the building owner, there would surely be another occasion to see him, if not today. He spoke, hoping to retrieve it then.

Seo Dowoon rubbed the surface of his cup with his thumb, not answering immediately.

‘I don’t want to give it back.’

Han Gureum’s scent might have faded, but he still wanted to keep it. Returning it was the right thing to do, yet simply seeing it brought him comfort. Its absence would undoubtedly leave a void.

If he hadn’t gained anything today, he might have pondered longer and concocted another excuse. But he had acquired a cushion imbued with Han Gureum’s scent. And, he reasoned, refusing when the owner asked for it back would seem strange, so he nodded.

“Yes. I’ll bring it next time.”

“You don’t have to make a special trip; you can send it by courier. Or I can come pick it up later.”

“It’s not far, so it’s fine. I should bring it to you. Please give me your number. I’ll contact you before I come.”

“I don’t have a phone… so you can just come without contacting me. If no one’s in the office, you can just leave it by the door.”

It was a moment that rendered the phone he’d pulled out to get a number utterly pointless.

‘Was I just rejected?’

He never imagined someone would say they didn’t have a phone.

‘Or does he just not want to give me his number?’

Since no one knew when a gate might appear, everyone had to carry a phone at all times. Messages were sent to warn of gate occurrences, and failing to see them meant getting caught up in the chaos.

Moreover, for an Esper belonging to a guild to not have a phone? To Seo Dowoon, it sounded like a flimsy excuse.

Seo Dowoon, however, was not one to give up or retreat after a single rejection.

“What if it gets lost then?”

“No packages have ever been lost so far.”

“But it could happen this time, couldn’t it? There’s always a chance.”

“If it gets lost… then there’s nothing to be done.”

“That simply won’t do.”

His determination to get the number, no matter what, was unwavering. As Han Gureum’s eyes darted about, Kim Ajun, who had been observing, approached and held out his own phone to Seo Dowoon.

“Give me the number instead. Gureum really doesn’t have a phone.”

“…”

Even with Kim Ajun’s corroboration, Seo Dowoon’s disbelief was evident. Yet, pushing relentlessly for the number would create an awkward scene, so Seo Dowoon conceded a step.

Seo Dowoon’s number was saved in Kim Ajun’s phone as ‘(Building) Lord’. He immediately called Seo Dowoon to ensure his own number was also entered.

“Please contact me when you come.”

“Yes, I will.”

“And make sure to get that Awakener test.”

Seo Dowoon nodded vaguely, hugging the box, and stood by the door.

Before leaving, he took one last look at Han Gureum.

“I’ll bring the robe next time.”

****

In the dark, silent bedroom, shrouded by blackout curtains, a loud noise reverberated. As the phone screen on the nightstand emitted a bright glow, the figure lying in bed quickly sat upright.

“…”

Though he had just woken to the alarm, his eyes, sparkling keenly in the darkness, showed no trace of sleep. The furrow between his brows, however, indicated Seo Dowoon’s foul mood.

‘It’s been a while since I had this dream.’

He wasn’t usually one to dream often, but whenever he did, it was always the same one.

Seo Dowoon, who had been still as a statue, tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling before closing his eyes. Whenever he had this dream, the tinnitus in his ears intensified, accompanied by a throbbing headache.

The dream always repeated the same scene.

His younger self ran barefoot through a dark forest, clad only in thin clothing. It was a bitterly cold winter, his breath forming white clouds that looked as if they might crystallize into ice at any moment.

*Thump, thump.* The sound of his bare feet treading the pristine white snow echoed through the forest, so silent was everything else. He turned his head from side to side, scanning his surroundings, then ran forward without a clear destination, just endlessly on.

The dream, which felt as though it would continue forever, only ended upon reaching a pond veiled in a morning mist.

Whenever he had this dream, the entire day was exceptionally harsh. Perhaps it felt more so because his nerves were already frayed. On days like these, staying home was best, but today, that wasn’t an option.

He exhaled a short breath, opened his eyes, and turned his head to the side. The robe that usually lay on his bed was now hanging on the wall. In its place, where the robe had been, a worn-out cushion now rested.

Seo Dowoon picked up the cushion and hugged it close. Burying his nose in the worn dinosaur, he could still detect a faint scent. His mood, dampened by the recent dream, improved slightly.

‘What should I bring today?’

It was the day he had been anticipating for days.

Had he ever waited for something with such eagerness before?

He buried his face in the cushion for a little longer before gently placing it beside him. His touch was incredibly tender, showing how much he cherished it.

As he pushed away the blanket covering his body, his naked form was revealed. His body, incredibly lean and firm with hardly any discernible body fat, displayed well-defined muscle segments that flexed and asserted themselves with every movement. He seemed like a divine creation, meticulously crafted without a single flaw.

He sat on the edge of the bed and spread his legs, and something nestled between them, though not hard, displayed its grandeur.

‘I want to go quickly.’

Although the appointment was set for 9 AM, his body was already itching with anticipation. Suppressing his eagerness, he got up and walked towards the wall where the robe hung.

His large hand very carefully stroked the robe’s sleeve with his fingertips. It had become a habit to always relax his grip when touching this robe. He took meticulous care, ensuring he wouldn’t accidentally tear it.

The thought that it would be long enough to cover Han Gureum’s hands if he wore it crossed his mind, and simultaneously, an image of him wearing it bloomed in his head, eliciting a soft chuckle. He had been reluctant to return it, but now, with the robe imbued with his own scent, he felt an eagerness to bring it to Han Gureum quickly.

He yearned to see Han Gureum wear the robe that carried his scent. He wondered what new fragrance would emerge when Han Gureum’s scent mingled with his own.

‘It would suit him really well. Hmm… should I make a perfume out of it?’

Before, he had only felt a sense of regret at Han Gureum’s scent fading, but now that it was replenished, he had the leisure to think of other things.

A week ago, he had contacted Kim Ajun to set a date to visit the office. Though there was no guarantee Han Gureum would be there that day, Kim Ajun had confidently assured him to come without worry. Seo Dowoon, however, didn’t entirely trust that assurance.

“Maybe I should have made a perfume earlier.”

Due to his sensitive sense of smell, he didn’t typically wear perfume, but this time, he regretted it. He wished Han Gureum would remember his scent, just as he remembered Han Gureum’s.

After setting the appointment, he had even hand-washed the robe himself. He didn’t want to entrust it to anyone else. He filled the bathtub with water and knelt, meticulously washing it.

He poured in all the scents that could emanate from his body—his usual body wash, his shampoo. He truly wished he could wear it every day and then take it off to give to Han Gureum.

However, the idea of an ordinary university student walking around outside in a Herbivore Guild robe seemed far too outlandish by any logical standard, so he only entertained the thought without ever attempting it.

While some might carry and flaunt items related to a guild if they were a supporter of one they admired, Seo Dowoon’s interest lay not in the Herbivore Guild itself, but in ‘Han Gureum,’ making his situation quite different.

And so, he patiently waited for the appointed time, then left his home with a fluttering heart.