Still, it’s nice. When he smiles, the whole mood shifts, doesn’t it?
Yeah, usually he’s a bit… cold, but when he smiles like that, he really looks like he’s twenty.
It’s a good look, definitely.
Even with the mood having lightened, Rion couldn’t shake an odd sense of disappointment. It was childish, and he didn’t know why something so trivial was bothering him—but it kept pulling his gaze.
“Don’t you think it’s nice too, Sunbae?”
That’s when Min-hyeon cautiously asked.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. It is. It’s nice.”
Was this just a natural kind of disappointment, because Yu-won was his matched Guide?
Rion forced a smile, trying not to show whatever it was he was feeling. Oblivious to what was going on inside Rion’s head, Min-hyeon continued.
“Honestly, I used to find Yu-won a bit scary… I mean, it wasn’t just anyone—he even acted that way with you, Sunbae. It was just weird, so yeah, it made things uncomfortable.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s only been a day, but… I don’t know. Since he brought it up himself, and the way he’s acting now… Doesn’t it feel like something’s changed this time?”
Even Min-hyeon, who usually kept his distance from others and was shy around strangers, seemed to feel that something about Yu-won was different now. He watched Yu-won with a look of quiet anticipation.
Thinking about it, the reason no one had been particularly warm toward Yu-won was probably because of the tension between him and Rion, and that aloof atmosphere he gave off. But deep down, everyone had probably wanted to get closer to him.
“If he’s that kind and friendly with people at the Center too, I bet there’ll be a lot of folks falling for him.”
“Honestly, he probably gets love confessions all the time, doesn’t he?”
Jin-ha, who’d been quietly listening nearby, naturally joined the conversation. Rion’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment, and he nearly shouted.
“He gets them often?!”
“Of course. I mean, sure, you two don’t get along—but it’s just you. The ones who are on good terms with you probably avoid him so they don’t make you uncomfortable… but not everyone at the Center is close with you, right?”
Jin-ha shrugged nonchalantly. Rion, who had unconsciously begun hanging on Jin-ha’s words, swallowed dryly.
“He’s good-looking, and aside from how he treats you, he’s actually decently polite. From what I know, he’s been confessed to at least three times.”
“You don’t even know him that well!”
“Still, the Yu-won you see at the Guide Center is a bit different from the Yu-won you know. Sure, he doesn’t walk around grinning all the time, but he’s generally… considerate.”
At Jin-ha’s words, Rion floundered, trying to reconcile this image with the version of Yu-won he knew. A Yu-won who was kind to others, who got love confessions… images of someone he didn’t know flashed through his mind.
“So… does he have someone he’s dating?”
“No, if he did, the rumor mill would’ve gone nuts. Wait, you really don’t know? I guess he could be secretly dating someone, though—he is pretty thorough about everything.”
Jin-ha said it like it was no big deal. And yeah, with that face and demeanor, who wouldn’t fall for him?
Still, imagining Yu-won being warm to someone else was already weird enough—dating? That idea made Rion feel… off. Just plain strange.
“Cut it out with the useless talk. Things were finally getting pleasant.”
“We’re only saying this because the mood’s good. Usually if someone even whispers about who’s dating who, you go ballistic. You’re acting kind of weird today, you know?”
“What did I do?”
Rion jumped, shaking his head wildly at Jin-ha’s teasing. His voice came out so loud that even team members who were busy moving gear a short distance away turned to look.
“Hmm? Something going on over there?”
“Oh? No, nothing!”
“It doesn’t sound like nothing…”
“Hey! Zip it!”
Rion quickly clamped a hand over Jin-ha’s mouth. It wasn’t anything serious, but… for some reason, he didn’t want people hearing this.
It’s not like we’re even that close. It’d be weird for me to care who he’s dating. It’s none of my business…
Which is exactly why, if the others saw even a hint of interest from him about Yu-won’s love life, they’d never let it go.
But Yu-won, who’d supposedly been glaring a moment ago, just joined in on the team’s teasing like it was nothing, wearing a relaxed expression.
Huh…? Guess I was wrong. I thought he was upset again.
“I mean, it’s just…”
As Jin-ha seemed about to bring up his earlier conversation with Rion, Rion cut him off with a yell.
“Ahhh!”
“Haha, we didn’t say anything special.”
“Geez, now I’m curious.”
Jin-ha finally let it go. He’d teased enough, and if he really said it out loud, Rion definitely wouldn’t let it slide.
“It was just something personal.”
“Don’t go whispering secret stuff. Makes us feel left out.”
Min-cheol wiped away a fake tear and pouted. But since Rion and Jin-ha often messed around like this, the team quickly lost interest.
“Say anything, and I swear—”
“What’s with the threat if it’s nothing?”
“Still… if I say it, it’ll make things awkward.”
“Mm, I think he’d be happy, though?”
“What the hell are you talking about? If you’re just gonna say crap, go help move gear.”
Rion shoved Jin-ha toward the supply crates. The mood had been pretty good just a moment ago, but now it felt weirdly awkward again.
……
That look Yu-won had earlier—like he was glaring—must’ve been just in his head. Rion turned away, trying to shake the feeling.
***
Day Five inside the Gate.
The team finally stepped into the boss’s territory.
The air alone felt heavier with each step. No one needed to say anything to feel the tension—everyone was on edge.
Rion had been especially careful not to provoke the boss unnecessarily, but now that they’d crossed the line, there was no point in holding back more than needed.
He stepped into the dense forest ahead to scout out the boss’s location and form.
“Our goal is just to check it out and come back. Don’t provoke it if you can help it.”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
“If things go south and there’s no turning back, use this. I’ll come running.”
Hyeon-seo handed Rion a flare. It wasn’t something usually used inside Gates, since it could aggro monsters—but in an irreversible situation, it was a must.
“Got it.”
Rion nodded solemnly. He finally pulled his hand away from Yu-won’s, after receiving his final guiding.
Yu-won, who’d been smiling all day like it didn’t suit him, now had a serious expression, refusing to let go of Rion’s hand.
“I’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
“If it feels even a little dangerous, come back right away. Don’t push it thinking you can handle it alone.”
The tone was oddly dismissive, but Rion figured it was just concern and didn’t say anything, only nodding.
“Right. No point wasting energy right from the start.”
“That’s not what I—ugh, never mind. Just be careful.”
Even though it was just a recon mission, the atmosphere felt like they were gearing up for the final fight.
“Better to be tense than careless, but don’t overdo it. No need to burn yourself out early.”
Tae-hwan clapped them both on the shoulders, trying to lighten the mood.
Rion’s body lifted into the air, and the team tilted their heads upward as he flew.
“Let’s hope he comes back safe.”
“Worried about what kind of boss it’ll be. It’s S-rank, so it won’t be easy… I just hope someone here’s got a good match-up with it.”
“I hope it’s not me. Sorry, but… yeah.”
“Pretty sure everyone’s thinking the same. If your abilities match well, you’re stuck at the front.”
Rion’s figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance, fading from sight, and only then did the team begin murmuring their concerns.
“It’s day five. We need to take it down before a full week passes… It was already hell just getting here. Think we’ll be okay?”
“Doesn’t matter. We have to do it. If this place collapses, the outside’ll be wiped out. Even if we don’t make it out, the boss has to die.”
“What if… what if we kill the boss but there are monsters left? Then what happens?”
Min-hyeon, visibly trembling, asked his seniors. He’d been taught about this before, but under the stress, his mind was blanking.
“The boss comes first. Kill it no matter what, then clean up the rest. There’ll be people waiting at the Gate entrance too.”
“Do you think I can… actually do this?”
Min-hyeon slumped his shoulders. With no combat ability, he was often scared, and he blamed himself for not being more helpful.
“You’re doing fine. Your healing’s important too, you know.”
Jin-ha gave Min-hyeon a comforting pat. Min-hyeon had been awkward at first, but maybe sharing a tent had helped—he now quietly accepted the comfort.
“Looks like you two have gotten close.”
Yu-won spoke casually, glancing at Jin-ha and Min-hyeon.
“Yeah, we’ve been sharing a tent, so I guess we’re more comfortable now.”
“I’m just good at making friends. Been wanting to get closer to you too, Yu-won, but never really had the chance, huh?”
Jin-ha grinned brightly and turned to Yu-won. He still used formal speech and called him “Yu-won-ssi.” Yu-won glanced at him and gave a faint, amused smile.
