Fire.

There wasn’t all that much of importance.

Changes to the dispatch criteria, greater flexibility for PKO and operations, and so on.

Among them, the information that most caught their ears was, as expected, about medical supplies.

“There are many surgical emergencies, so related new drugs are also scheduled to be added…”

It wasn’t simply support in the form of medicine.

They were told that if stability was further proven through a few new deployments, support for small generators might also become possible.

They didn’t know about the rest, but all four of them listened to that part with their eyes lit up.

One hour later.

Bread Kim came into the quarters carrying his luggage.

It was the moment the owners of the four camp beds were decided.

The four of them gathered on the reception sofa.

Since they knew almost everything there was to know about one another, there wasn’t going to be much conversation.

But Taesu was curious about one thing.

“You weren’t pushed out of James’s surgical team, were you?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You don’t know?”

“I volunteered for this. So I don’t know whether my name is still listed as a member of the doctor’s surgical team.”

Bread Kim spoke plainly.

But from Taesu’s perspective, it was enough to make his eyes pop out.

“Do you know how you got onto that surgical team?”

“I was parachuted in.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. You said it was your lifelong goal.”

Taesu pressed him sharply, wondering if he was taking this too lightly.

Even so, Bread Kim answered with an unruffled expression.

“Even if I slip now, it’s not like I’ll never get another chance.”

“Did you want to ride in a helicopter that badly?”

“That came out of nowhere.”

“Then why did you suddenly volunteer for the helicopter medical team?”

When Taesu pressed him, Bread Kim looked at him quietly and answered.

“You said it, Doctor Choi. That you wouldn’t fret, and that you’d jump in with us.”

“Th-that was something I said from my position.”

“When I thought about it, it seemed like the wise thing to do. Doctor Choi, it’s already been decided. I have no intention of reversing it now.”

Bread Kim refused to raise his voice any further.

Above all, there was firmness in his eyes.

It didn’t seem to be a decision made in the heat of the moment.

If it had been, he never would have endured Squad Leader Sam’s hellish training.

In terms of resolve alone, Bread Kim might have been the most motivated of them all.

Just then.

Thud.

Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon grabbed Taesu from both sides.

And they shook their heads in the exact same way.

They were expressing through action that there was no point in arguing about it now.

Thump.

Taesu leaned deep back into the sofa.

“To be perfectly honest, I’m the one who welcomes being together with Bread again the most.”

“Then don’t get so angry.”

“It was just too sudden. That…”

Just as Taesu was about to continue.

Tralala.

His phone rang.

Puzzled, Taesu checked the caller and tilted his head.

“Raku?”

“It’s not the day he comes in.”

“Exactly… One moment.”

Asking for their understanding, Taesu picked up the phone.

“Raku, hello.”

“Doctor Choi. I heard you were at headquarters.”

“Yes. My dispatch ended, and I returned.”

“I’ve brought a guest who wishes to meet you, Doctor Choi. Do you have time?”

At that, Taesu glanced askance.

“Why are you speaking so grandly about Mr. Hanto?”

“No. He’s Korean.”

“Korean? Don’t tell me he’s an older gentleman?”

Taesu asked as his recent call with Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon flashed through his mind.

About a month had passed, so they should have begun taking some kind of action.

But Raku’s answer was different.

“No. He seems to be in his forties.”

“By any chance, is his name Jeong Yongcheol?”

“No. I’ve been addressing him as Mr. Gu.”

“Gu?”

Taesu’s eyes moved widely from side to side.

There was no one among the people he knew who had the surname Gu.

Just in case, he asked once more.

“He came looking for me, correct?”

“Yes. He definitely came looking for you, Doctor Choi. And me as well.”

“Mm. Where are you now?”

“We’re sitting on a bench at the rest area.”

“I’ll come that way.”

After answering, Taesu hung up.

Everyone’s eyes were already on him.

As if he could roughly infer the contents of the call, Bread Kim asked.

“Raku brought a Korean guest?”

“I don’t really know what’s going on either.”

“Should I come with you?”

“Raku isn’t dangerous, so it’s fine.”

When Taesu declined with a smile, Bread Kim shook his head.

“No, I’m saying it because I’m worried that if the person says something strange, you might beat him to death, Doctor Choi.”

“I’m curious what Squad Leader Sam said about me.”

“I heard a lot of things.”

“I’ll hear about that later. I’ll be back for a moment.”

Taesu turned and headed outside.

Step, step, step.

As he walked down the corridor, Taesu’s brow showed no sign of smoothing out.

A Korean man surnamed Gu?

No matter how many times he thought about it, he still couldn’t remember anyone.

Moreover, there was even less chance of anyone who would go through Raku.

He would know once they met, so Taesu quickened his pace.

Taesu headed to the rest area in one breath.

It had been a while since he had gone that way, but the area around the PX was bustling.

And there were people who recognized him.

“Oh, Doctor Choi.”

“Doctor Talon, have you been well?”

“I think I’ll only be well until today. I’m going south tomorrow for medical volunteer work.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. It’s a shame, but let’s have tea next time.”

Taesu was glad to see Doctor Talon, but he had a prior appointment, so he promised another time.

Several other medical staff recognized him and greeted him as well.

But he wasn’t known to everyone.

“That young Asian doctor is that Doctor Choi?”

“He looks pretty stubborn. Just like Doctor Gallion described.”

“I hear his name from time to time, so I thought he’d be older, but he’s a total baby.”

They spoke quietly, but some of the evaluations reached Taesu’s ears directly.

There were favorable gazes among them, and there were also gazes that were not.

Taesu did not react to each of the various looks.

If he attached meaning to every single one, it would be the perfect way to make life exhausting.

Sometimes it was necessary to let things flow past as if slightly indifferent.

“As if I can live exactly to my own taste.”

Taesu murmured inwardly.

Perhaps he had learned a little early that such a thing was impossible.

That attention lasted only a moment.

The medical staff who had glanced at him once went back to their own conversations.

Taesu, too, had soon drawn near a quiet spot in the lounge.

On a bench in the corner sat Raku, who had called him, and one other person.

He was a man who appeared to be in his mid to late forties.

Even without being told in advance, he was easy to recognize.

To anyone’s eyes, he had the distinctive features of a Korean.

Raku and the man seemed to notice Taesu as well, for they rose from their seats to greet him.

As they did, Taesu realized the man was quite tall.

As the distance closed, his features became even clearer.

Taesu defined the man’s impression in a single word.

“Kkeobeongi.”

It was a cartoon character he had seen when he was young.

Since it was not a wise assessment to make of someone older than himself, he swallowed it inwardly.

It was only his appearance that was like that; there was no way to know what his actual personality was right now.

In the meantime, Taesu approached the bench.

Naturally, Raku stepped forward first and greeted him.

“It’s been almost a month.”

“Have you been well?”

Clasp.

The two of them clasped hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

At that moment, Raku leaned a little closer and quietly added,

“I delivered everything you requested to the Korean village.”

“Oh, is that so? Did they happen to be suspicious?”

“There is that matter, and I also have a few other things to say.”

“When you put it like that, it makes me nervous.”

Taesu let out a quiet groan, but Raku’s expression did not change at all.

“All I can see on your face is curiosity.”

“I’ll satisfy that curiosity later.”

“Yes. For now, Mr. Gu is in front of us.”

After answering, Raku finally put distance between himself and Taesu again.

Since the greeting was over, he immediately looked back and forth between Taesu and the man and asked,

“What shall we do? Would it be more convenient if I introduced the two of you in English?”

At that, the other man spoke first to Taesu in Korean.

“What would be most comfortable for you?”

“Korean would be more comfortable. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Choi Taesu.”

Bow.

When Taesu greeted him plainly in the Korean way, the other man did the same.

“I’m Gu Seungheon. I’ve heard a great deal from the master here.”

“I’m curious what you heard from Raku.”

“He said you were quite close, and I suppose it’s true.”

Gu Seungheon spoke with a slightly surprised expression.

The way Taesu addressed him seemed awkward to his ears. That was how much of a nickname it was, one not allowed to everyone.

Taesu glanced at Raku once and smiled.

And since it was a conversation that included him, he spoke in English.

“Raku isn’t just someone I’m close to.”

“When Doctor Choi says that, I feel my shoulders rising.”

Raku lifted his shoulders slightly with a bright face.

With that, their brief greetings were over.

Then Taesu subtly brought up the subject and guided it in the direction he wanted.

“Shouldn’t the body be comfortable for words to flow easily?”

“That’s true. Please, sit.”

Gu Seungheon immediately said what Taesu had led him to say.

And the three of them each took a seat on three sides of the square table.

Clack.

Though they had met like this, Gu Seungheon was still a complete stranger to Taesu.

Perhaps because of that, a slight awkwardness flowed between them.

Maybe because observation was part of his daily life, Taesu naturally examined Gu Seungheon with his eyes.

It was a visual examination that had now become ingrained like a habit.

From that perspective, Taesu’s expression sank.

It was because he had found several things about Gu Seungheon that were far from ordinary.

Taesu did not drag things out and spoke first.

Since Raku was with them, he chose English so the conversation could flow smoothly.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think we should be meeting here. I think we should go to the medical tent.”

“Doctor Choi, you mean take Mr. Gu to the medical tent?”

“Yes. First of all, his complexion is too poor. It looks as though he hasn’t slept properly for nearly a week.”

“Ohh. And?”

Raku’s eyes sparkled as if he were the one more amazed.

Of course, Gu Seungheon reacted the same way.

Despite their reactions, Taesu continued seriously.

“It seems you’ve lost weight rapidly recently.”

“Ah, how did you…”

“Your clothes look a little loose.”

“Ah, my clothes.”

Gu Seungheon lightly tugged at his thick shirt.

There was enough empty space that it seemed about one size too large.

With a calm face, Taesu added,

Since he did not yet know Gu Seungheon, he addressed him with a generally accepted term of respect.

“In your case, sir, we describe it among ourselves as ‘Other physical and mental strain related to work.’”

“I see.”

“Even looking at you like this, the degree seems quite severe. In cases like this, we recommend inpatient treatment.”

Taesu cautiously offered his medical opinion.

That was how abnormal Gu Seungheon looked.

To put it a bit severely, he looked as though he might collapse if someone so much as tapped him.

Looking at his neck and shoulders, there was a sharp tension maintained there, beyond simple stiffness.

His clothes were practical, but the fabric was old and frayed.

It was difficult to find any trace of ease.