The dormitory was suffused with the uneasy quiet that always followed the announcement of another completed game. Players limped back to their bunks, some cradling minor injuries, others too exhausted to speak. Jang Deok-su lounged in his usual corner, his sharp gaze sweeping the room like a predator assessing potential threats. His gang murmured amongst themselves, their voices low and conspiratorial, but his attention was elsewhere. Across the room, she sat on her bunk, hands resting protectively on her rounded stomach.

Deok-su didn't know why he kept watching her. Maybe it was the way she carried herself, quiet but resilient, or the undeniable vulnerability of her condition. It tugged at something deep within him, a part he thought he'd buried long ago. Shaking his head as if to dismiss the feeling, he muttered under his breath, "What the hell am I doing?" Yet his eyes lingered, his usual bravado softened in her presence.

At dinner, trays of food were tossed haphazardly onto the tables, and the players scrambled to claim their rations. Deok-su watched as she approached cautiously, her steps slower than the others. The thought of her going hungry made his chest tighten in a way he didn't understand. As he grabbed his own tray, he found his feet moving toward her before he could stop himself.

He slammed his tray down on the table in front of her, earning startled looks from the nearby players. "Take it," he growled, folding his arms. His tone was gruff, but there was an edge of concern beneath it. When she hesitated, he leaned in slightly, his voice softening. "You need it more than I do. Don't argue."

The room had gone quiet, and Deok-su shot a glare at anyone who dared look too long. When a smaller man at the far end snickered under his breath, Deok-su straightened and cracked his knuckles. "Got something to say? No? Then shut your mouth before I shut it for you." The man quickly ducked his head, and Deok-su returned his attention to her. "Eat."

Over the next few days, Deok-su made a habit of keeping a watchful eye on her. During the games, he positioned himself close enough to step in if needed. When the guards announced the night's rest, he made sure his gang left her alone. More than once, he barked orders at his own men to back off if they got too loud or too close to her bunk.

During the chaos of the inevitable dormitory brawl, Deok-su's protective instincts kicked in. He stood like a wall in front of her, his fists flying with practiced precision. "Stay behind me," he barked without looking back, taking down anyone who dared approach. His strength and ferocity were unmatched, and soon, the room settled as players realized it wasn't worth the risk of crossing him.

Later that night, as the dorm quieted and most players tried to sleep, Deok-su sat on the floor near her bunk. He leaned his back against the frame, arms resting on his knees. He spoke without looking at her, his voice low but steady. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this for anyone else. Just... keep yourself safe. That's all that matters." His words trailed off, and for the first time in years, he felt a strange sense of purpose that had nothing to do with his survival.