I wiped the blood dripping from my mouth and glared at the man.
"Why are you so hung up on this?"
The man looked away and walked toward me.
"Get up!"
As I was getting to my feet, he threw a punch at me, but I caught his fist.
"I-If you tell me exactly where I went wrong, I might have a chance to fix it."
He stared at me in anger as I countered every strike he threw.
"People like you don't belong here… Go back, kid!"
From what I understood, they didn't accept just anyone here.
They treated this like a final destination… a last profession.
"Fine… I'm here for Mr. Ender."
The man looked at me in shock.
"W-What?"
He grabbed my collar, spat in my face, and shouted.
"I'm telling you to fuck off! You dare say Mr. Ender's name—do you think you're good enough to even mention him?!"
With a sigh, I grabbed his hands and shoved him back hard.
"I'm saying… I can protect Mr. Ender from these attacks. I'll do anything to make you believe me."
He slammed me against the wall.
"You sound like you're asking permission to get in line, you bastard. How do I know you're not dangerous?"
I kept staring him down as my back hit the wall.
"Then test me. Kill me at the slightest mistake. I have nothing to lose."
He took a deep breath and looked at me.
When I saw his hand reach into his pocket, I thought he was about to shoot—
Instead, he slapped my shoulder hard and pulled out a napkin.
"Take this. Clean your mouth and nose. Follow me."
I stared at him in shock.
The other men beside me looked over.
"Man, you're making a huge mistake. You're already chosen—why reach for more?!"
Turning my head away as I walked toward the door, I muttered,
"So you won't."
I left the room quickly and followed the man in charge.
The moment I entered…
I wondered what the hell I was doing in a place full of built, heavy-set men.
"I'll first test how long you can survive as Mr. Ender's head bodyguard."
What—survive?
As the door shut behind me, I collapsed to the ground under the blows raining down on my face and body.
Blood poured from my mouth.
My body—what the hell kind of test is this? Are you insane?!
As the man grabbed my head and dragged it along the wall…
I couldn't fight back.
Because laying a hand on one of your own here was a crime—
punishable by death.
Either way, I was screwed.
They were testing me. I was sure of it.
I just had to endure.
… … I don't know how much time passed, but I think my entire body was bruised purple.
… The door opened. I saw the man approach me, then look at his subordinates.
He nodded in approval.
"So… you didn't raise a hand against any of them."
He took the napkin from my clenched fist.
"Spotless. Almost no blood."
That was all it took.
"Take him. Follow me."
Ah, fuck—what more do you want from me?
Suddenly, a second shock hit as my eyes were blindfolded.
… … I flinched violently as my head was plunged into icy water.
"You were acting so bold… Let's see. A head bodyguard should know what he must be ready for, shouldn't he?!"
Fuck…
"Give up. Even the possibility of this should have terrified you to your core. Quit and go back to being a regular bodyguard!"
They pulled my head out of the ice water, holding my neck back, waiting for my answer.
"Y-You're insane… I'm not giving up!"
The man lit another cigarette.
"Leave us. I need to talk to him."
I was covered in blood.
Now I understood why they didn't take bodyguards easily in this company.
"Listen, Ulaş. This place isn't what you think. Your admiration for Mr. Ender is temporary… Your body won't endure this much pain."
You call this pain?
My eyes… my body… they've seen far worse than your so-called tests.
"This is nothing to me."
He knelt down, then leaned back and sat on the floor.
"Ah… You're a complete idiot. Do you even know how many head bodyguards there have been? When you lose your life protecting him, it'll be too late."
I spat on the ground and looked straight into his eyes.
"Let the only thing I lose be my life."
He stood up.
"I'd like to do more… but I still don't feel fully convinced."
He walked toward me, took something from his pocket, and forced me to swallow it.
"If you can get through this, you can get through anything."
He flicked his cigarette into the icy water and turned his back.
"If you last until morning… I'll accept you."
What… what did you give me?
What does this even mean?
What is this…?
It felt like all the blood was draining from my body.
I started screaming, clawing at my throat, trying to drink the icy water.
My brain felt like it was about to explode.
"H-Help me… please…"
My body hurt.
It felt like I was being stabbed everywhere.
I couldn't feel my fingertips.
I curled into a corner, covering my face with my hands, running my fingers through my hair.
Don't lose your mind.
Don't lose your mind.
Stay calm, Ulaş…
Every part of me throbbed.
There was no way to describe this pain.
It felt like I was burning in thousands of fires at once—
unbearable.
My movements were so frantic I couldn't calm down.
I kept writhing until my body exhausted itself, my consciousness painfully sharp the entire time.
After a while, the shaking worsened.
My body stiffened completely, and I collapsed to the ground.
After my body went completely still—
"Eee… eee… eee…"
"A lullaby… for my son…"
… … …
"Ulaş…
Go to sleep now… mommy's beautiful boy…
How sweetly my son sleeps…
Tiny hands, a button nose—my precious boy~"
"Mom…"
"Eee… eee… sleep and grow… close your eyes, my baby…"