SPW 77

January, winter break.

May, season ends.

July, preseason.

August, season begins.

Sarang’s heat came twice a year, in early January and late June. As a Premier Leaguer, it was a very excellent cycle. The heat cycle, which perfectly coincided with the league schedule, was one of the two advantages Sarang possessed. The other was his natural talent. To that, Florian wanted to add his effort. Since having beta parents or differences in race and class were not considered disadvantages, to Florian, Sarang was a perfect player with no flaws.

If such a Sarang were to experience a pheromone problem like Florian, his career would be as good as over. No claims or research had been reported to the academic community that pheromone abnormalities were contagious. They mainly occurred in recessive individuals, and the incidence rate in dominant individuals was less than 10% compared to recessives.

Of course, there was a statistical trap. In the past, when admiration and hatred for dominant individuals were taken for granted, a dominant individual’s pheromone abnormality was a matter of life and death. This was because groups that hunted dominant individuals actually existed. As humanity became more civilized, barbaric acts like hunting gradually disappeared, but they continued under the names of ‘kidnapping’ and ‘human trafficking.’

No fool, past or present, would voluntarily leak information that could only be a fatal weakness if it became known. Rather, they would have burned even existing records. That was the biggest reason why the cause of pheromone abnormalities had not been discovered to this day. The intentional destruction of records.

“…”

Sarang’s pheromone abnormality was something that had not yet happened in reality. In that case, what needed to be figured out was ‘why’ the pheromone abnormality occurred. Because only by knowing the cause could he prepare for it.

“That is all, boss.”

The report, which would likely be five pages if printed, contained the details of Colin’s life. What caught Florian’s attention was a new name that had appeared in Colin’s flat life.

Yael Kaia.

One of Matthew Kaia’s many illegitimate children, he had once run Kaia Pharmaceuticals. That pharmaceutical company was the parent company of a Kaia-affiliated research institute.

Yael Kaia, Colin Debuchy.

Pharmaceutical research institute, clinical trials.

A debt of 5.6 billion.

No distinct occupation.

Unconfirmed involvement in the sex industry.

“Yael Kaia, deceased?”

“He died in a firearms accident in the fall of the year after Colin Debuchy passed away.”

“Was it an accident?”

“According to police records, it was an accident, but… I will investigate further, boss.”

“The original creditor who renounced the inheritance was A Bank, right?”

“We have not yet confirmed a connection to Kaia.”

“Colin Debuchy, Yael Kaia. Investigate the relationship between these two with a focus. Report anything as soon as it’s confirmed.”

“Yes, I understand. Boss.”

Florian, picturing a few scenarios that came to mind, got up from his seat.

“You’re dismissed.”

“Are you not departing the country?”

“Hand the report over to Neil and have him edit it, deleting only the parts that are legally problematic.”

Florian, who handed the tablet to Bailey, paused for a moment and then raised his gaze. It was the moment Florian, meeting the eyes of Bailey who was waiting for instructions, was about to open his mouth to say something.

“Rian?”

Sarang, who had just opened the front door, rushed in, hastily taking off his sneakers. Perhaps because he had just finished jogging, both his cheeks were flushed. Cold sweat was beaded on his forehead, which was nicely tanned by the strong sun. He must have run a lot, as sweat dripped from his hair that he had roughly swept back. Sarang, who wiped the sweat with the back of his arm, was about to walk straight to Florian but stopped. He had belatedly noticed his own state.

“Rian, are you leaving now?”

Sarang’s wet shirt, which couldn’t hide his delight despite having seen him just last night, revealed the contours of his upper body. Sarang had a particularly beautiful body, even among soccer players. Florian, leaving Bailey behind, took a step.

“Would you like me to go?”

“You’re not going to, anyway.”

Sarang, now quite used to Florian’s teasing, answered with a gentle smile. Then, surprised by Florian approaching him, he stepped back a couple of paces.

“Uh, I’m really sweaty right now.”

“Yes, I know.”

“The smell…”

Before he could finish his words, Sarang unknowingly flinched his shoulders at the small breath from Florian, who had put the tip of his nose to Sarang’s forearm. Their skin didn’t touch, but it was close enough to almost touch.

“There is one…”

Florian, who smelled the faint pheromones leaking out from the sweat, straightened up and smiled.

“Yes, I can smell a little of your pheromone scent.”

Florian’s voice flowed out as if to stop the surprised Sarang, who was about to sniff himself.

“I’m probably the only one who can smell it. Here and now.”

“What?”

“It means it’s that small an amount, so don’t worry. Sarang, you are very good at controlling your pheromones.”

“Ah.”

“Go wash up. Let’s have breakfast together.”

“Are you not going to work today?”

“Wasn’t it Sarang who guessed I wouldn’t go?”

“No, I meant you weren’t going to New York… That’s what I meant when I said that.”

“I will go to work. I can’t very well disturb Sarang’s vacation, which is a rare treat.”

The month-long period after the season ended was often described as a vacation. Florian, who was gradually becoming familiar with soccer terminology one by one, started walking.

“It’s not a disturbance at all, Rian?”

“You don’t think I wouldn’t know Sarang’s daily routine, do you?”

“That doesn’t mean Rian is a disturbance.”

“Then shall I follow Sarang around and watch his daily routine?”

“We could… do it together.”

“Haha, I’m not one to dislike exercise either, but it’s not to the extent of offering up an entire day, Sarang.”

For someone who didn’t dislike exercise, Florian had mastered quite a few sports, but that was a choice born of necessity, not hobby.

“I don’t exercise all day either.”

Florian, who was staring blankly at the back of Sarang’s round head, who had become more prone to whining in the meantime, leaned his upper body against the bathroom doorframe.

“He said resting is more important than training and practice.”

“Colin?”

“Yes. The manager, the coach, and the trainer, too.”

Sarang, who had habitually pulled his shirt over his head as he entered the bathroom, flinched as he was about to take off his training pants as well. It was because he had just then become conscious of Florian’s gaze behind him.

“Uh… Rian.”

“Yes, Sarang.”

Sarang, who was scratching the bridge of his nose while pondering for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.

“Do you want to watch me wash up?”

For a moment, Florian barely suppressed a laugh that was about to burst out—pfft.

What a cute thought. And why even ask that.

“No, Sarang. Voyeurism is not to my taste.”

“Vo-voyeurism?”

“Of course, if it’s Sarang’s body, its value as a work of art is outstanding, so…”

“Rian, hurry up and get out.”

Sarang’s face turned bright red as he verbally pushed away Florian, who was teasing him.

“Wasn’t I allowed to appreciate it?”

“Seriously, no one would know how playful Rian is.”

Florian, smiling as he looked at Sarang who had guessed correctly, straightened the body he had been leaning.

“People probably also don’t know how shy Sarang is. Right?”

The Sarang shown in the media would respond to interviews with a dignified face despite being shy and would treat others with gentle and kind manners. The same was true for rude or unreasonable reporters. This was especially seen when he was representing the nation.

His awkward pronunciation or sentences were now sufficiently corrected at the age of 21, leaving nothing to be desired. Of course, minor mistakes still occurred, but four years of continuous effort did not betray Sarang.

“Have you decided on the commercial offer?”

“I’m still… thinking about it.”

“I recommend that Sarang accepts it.”

“You told me to think about it.”

“My opinion doesn’t have an absolute influence on Sarang’s decision, so what’s the harm. An opinion as trivial as this.”

Sarang, who was looking at Florian’s red lips that would, on very rare occasions, say mean things so casually, crinkled the tip of his nose.

“Rian, did something happen that put you in a bad mood?”

Florian, who had been stepping back in response to Sarang’s frame as he grabbed the doorknob as if to close it, slightly raised one eyebrow.

“Do I look that way?”

Florian asked back with a disappointed face and replied again.

“It seems I look like someone who takes out his anger on others to Sarang.”

“Not taking out your anger, but joking.”

Florian, who didn’t immediately understand what he meant, lifted his bright blue eyes. The black pupils that met his seemed to still hold the sunlight from outside.

“Rian tells jokes when he’s in a bad mood.”

“…”

“When you’re in a difficult situation, too. And when you sometimes find me pretty.”

Florian, momentarily at a loss for words at the young voice that clearly entered his ears, couldn’t say anything before the bathroom door closed quietly.

Well, what is this.

Florian, who still couldn’t find the words even after the door closed, pressed the back of his hand to his mouth. Florian’s handsome ears, which did not change color that often, were tinged with a faint red.