The Monster Behind the Smile

“Up you go!”

Park Deok-pal caught the collapsing man’s body.

Judging from the work clothes, he must be from the same worker class as him.

“What’s going on here?”

He felt like he had done something important, though he didn’t know what.

For now, he decided to haul the man upstairs.

It was just a gut feeling — but he somehow sensed the man was a spy.

Surprisingly, that instinct was correct.

“Thank you.”

Kang Yu-jun gave his thanks to Deok-pal.

“Oh, I like being thanked.

But I prefer material gratitude.”

“I’ll send a reward your way soon.”

Only then did Deok-pal grin and step back.

He had skipped work and still ended up with something good.

He walked off with a spring in his step.

The thought of money even made him whistle.

“Money is a great thing.”

What should he do with his new earnings?

Just imagining it made him smile.

The spy thought:

“Bad luck.”

Otherwise, there was no way he’d be caught at that exact moment.

But why was an awakened person doing labor work?!

If you’re awakened, get a different job!

Anger boiled up again.

At that moment, a voice came from outside.

“He’s here.”

The tightly locked iron gate swung open.

“So this is the man acting suspicious.”

“Yes.

The accident happened in Farm No. 2, but he was found inside Farm No. 3.

And he tried to stab Park Deok-pal first with a dagger.

We suspect he’s a spy.”

“So they’ve finally given up sending awakened spies?”

“Seems like it.

They always get caught anyway, and losing awakened agents is too costly.

Sending normal people attracts less suspicion.”

“Let’s take a look.”

“Should I call the interrogator?”

“No.

I’ll do it myself.”

Lee Jae-heon stepped forward and began pulling on gloves.

He set his flowerpot down in a corner.

Kang Yu-jun stood guard beside it.

It was the first time he had ever seen Jae-heon set the flowerpot down without caution.

“Torture is annoying.

Hard to do with one hand.”

A quiet breath escaped, turning into a pale mist.

The interrogation room was always kept cold.

“I don’t want to leave the flowerpot for long, so let’s finish quickly.”

There was no explicit threat — he was simply standing there.

And yet the spy felt terrified.

He had undergone interrogation-resistance training, but fear still clawed at him.

It felt like a beast, not a human, was staring down at him.

How could such a being be called human?

“M–monster.”

The word slipped out unconsciously, surprising even himself.

A large hand in a black glove reached toward his face.

That was the last thing he remembered.

Lee Jae-heon removed the gloves and tossed them into the trash.

Then he picked up the flowerpot he had been worried about the whole time.

Kang Yu-jun had been with him since before the guild existed — a loyal man.

He could never betray Jae-heon.

Because he had signed a rare mana contract.

If Kang ever betrayed him, he would lose both his mana and his life.

That was why Jae-heon trusted him to hold the flowerpot briefly in emergencies.

“What should we do with him?”

“Throw him away.

He’s useless now.”

“Yes.”

They had learned everything they needed.

“Choi Geon-woo.”

Always a thorn in his side — and now he had sent another spy.

It was tiresome.

And sickening, the way the man acted like a moral, righteous citizen.

“For now, keep a close eye on Park Garam.”

“Should we assign escorts?”

“Not too close.”

“Yes.”

“And those two temporary workers assigned to him — the awakened ones — keep them near him.”

“Should we train them harder so they get even better?”

“Not a bad idea.

But they’re entering the Tower soon.

Do it later.”

Thus, Deok-pal and Kang Jung-bae’s future suffering was sealed.

“Will you continue the dates?”

“One last time.”

“Tell me the location and I’ll station the guards in advance.”

“Alright.”

The final date would be at the arena where awakened fighters competed.

Usually, C–F ranks fought there, and climbers mocked them as cowards.

Too scared to climb the Tower, too lazy to hunt outside — so they beat up each other instead.

Some loved the spectacle.

Others despised it.

“You’re going there?”

Kang Yu-jun looked surprised.

“There will be a lot of people.”

“That’s true.”

In a world without sports, awakened duels became popular entertainment.

The arena was always packed.

It was a perfect place to spread rumors.

“I’ll make preparations.”

Afterward, Jae-heon returned to his room.

He intended to wash up before Park Garam arrived.

He also needed to calm the violent excitement that lingered from earlier.

But he hadn’t expected—

“Hello.”

Park Garam had arrived earlier than planned.

“Isn’t it a bit early?”

“A little.

I plan to take care of the crops all night today, so I wanted to tend the flowerpot before dinner.”

Jae-heon rubbed his thumb against his wrinkled brow.

“Fine, go ahead.”

Thinking about it, why did he even bother washing for Garam?

He was someone who always smelled faintly of blood anyway.

After a moment’s thought, he abandoned the idea of being considerate.

When he set the flowerpot on the table, Garam immediately rushed to it.

“There aren’t any wilted leaves anymore.”

He smiled brightly, genuinely happy.

Watching that smile made Jae-heon think:

This boy is clueless.

Even with blood still lingering in the air, he notices nothing.

Where did such a foolish creature come from?

A strange thirst rose in him.

Something like violent desire mixed with sexual hunger.

In his younger days, he solved such urges with anyone he found, but not anymore.

So he hoped Garam would finish quickly and leave.

But the innocent lamb tended the pot slowly and calmly.

“I’m done.

I’ll get going.”

As Garam stood and turned, Jae-heon suddenly wanted to grab him.

His slender nape drew his eyes.

Despite being a farmer, his skin hardly tanned — making him look even more tempting.

It had been a long time since urges like this surfaced.

“See you tomorrow!”

With that final goodbye, Garam disappeared.

Jae-heon sat for a moment, then rose.

Time to cool his heated body.

He survived.

He had almost died right there.

Living with Jae-heon had made him feel they were psychologically closer — but that had been an illusion.

Coming at an unusual time today…

Everything had been a mistake.

“He’s from another world.”

The blood on Jae-heon’s body, the chilling atmosphere—

Garam had desperately wanted to run, but forced himself to stay.

If he fled, he felt Jae-heon would chase him.

“Act normal.”

Act ignorant, act calm.

It took everything he had to keep his expression steady.

Every time goosebumps rose on his skin, he had to suppress them by thinking of the crops in his artificial farm.

“Cute carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes.”

There were corn and tomatoes too — all obtained when he earned the scarecrow skill.

It seemed new seeds were given every five levels.

Garam hid his trembling, tended the flowerpot, and left the room.

Now, back in his own room, he trembled like a newborn fawn.

“That was terrifying.”

He remembered Jae-heon once tried cutting off his leg.

How had he ever let his guard down?

“Be careful from now on.”

He would never relax again.

Even if he pretended outwardly, he would stay wary.

“My old thinking was wrong.”

Just because someone gives you food doesn’t make them good.

Even if he received clothes, ornaments, farming tools — it didn’t matter.

“I hope the last date ends safely.”

Garam prayed earnestly.