# 80
“It’s really not a big deal. He found out that I was looking for a gift for Hunter Lee Jin-ha and offered to help first. But when I saw him in person, he wasn’t as unpleasant as I expected.”
Yet last time, Riyekan had become furious just because Jin-ha had spoken with Jeidrus alone, and ended up shutting himself away?
Riyekan’s trauma was severe. His pale, sickly appearance and complaints of feeling unwell couldn’t have been an act. The way he looked so precarious, as if he was about to jump into waves that growled like a beast’s throat, was definitely not pretense.
It was amazing that this man was already overcoming his trauma after such a short time.
“It’s thanks to Hunter Lee Jin-ha.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. Thanks to what Hunter Lee Jin-ha proved to me.”
Jin-ha’s cheeks flushed hot at that suggestive glance.
“Why are you bringing that up?”
“It’s true. I feel better thinking that Hunter Lee Jin-ha will never leave my side.”
“…I’m glad it helped.”
“And I feel even better thinking that I’m the only one Hunter Lee Jin-ha gets aroused for.”
“Riyekan, please, stop saying that!”
Riyekan giggled as Jin-ha shouted. He really was an expert at teasing people.
Jin-ha rolled his eyes but felt relieved.
“Anyway, so you’ve decided to be friendly with Jeidrus?”
“Not quite that far… I’m just going to see how things go for now.”
Though he said this, from what Jin-ha observed, Riyekan seemed quite concerned about Jeidrus. The problem was that while he cared, he didn’t want to be openly nice to him, yet he also didn’t want to see anyone disrespect him—a very complicated state of mind.
It wasn’t incomprehensible. In truth, siblings who haven’t met for a long time rarely reconcile immediately. Even this much progress was admirable.
“That’s good.”
“But actually, I’m not completely fine.”
“Don’t tell me you’re feeling unwell? Want to shut yourself away again?”
“Yes. But I think I’ll get better if Hunter Lee Jin-ha caresses me.”
Jin-ha, who had been genuinely alarmed for a moment, glared at Riyekan with a look of exasperation, but Riyekan paid no mind and lay down with his head on Jin-ha’s thigh. He even pulled Jin-ha’s hand onto his head.
This man seemed to be getting more shameless by the day. Though Jin-ha smiled wryly, he obediently began to caress him.
As he gently stroked Riyekan’s forehead and slipped his hand into his hair, Riyekan’s face began to melt.
“More.”
“Pardon?”
“Do it a little harder.”
Riyekan whispered in a voice melting with pleasure. The way he rubbed his cheek against Jin-ha’s thigh made him look like a large feline. Jin-ha stroked the man more firmly as instructed and quickly melted into this strange peace.
He wasn’t usually someone who could feel peace in such a short time. Time was always scarce, and there was always much to do. And there were too many things only he could do. Jin-ha focused solely on work despite suffering from fatigue every day.
It was partly because he wished for more people to survive the threats of dungeons and gates, but also because he couldn’t bear the guilt and nightmares otherwise.
But now, the pressure and guilt were nowhere to be found. Of course, the information this man had provided helped save many lives. But more than that, it was because he had become comfortable.
“Mm, that spot gently.”
Beside this capricious man, he was somehow finding serene peace.
* * *
After caressing him for a long time according to Riyekan’s demands, the two headed outside the tower.
Five carriages were waiting, two for passengers and three loaded with luggage. The luggage carriages must have had space-expanding magic cast on them, as the servants were carrying an impressive amount of items. From beds to nightstands to chairs—it looked like someone was moving house.
Jin-ha had thought they were preparing for a short trip, but he was surprised to see such a major undertaking. He turned to Riyekan in astonishment, but Riyekan was already striding toward Legas.
“Aren’t the preparations ready yet?”
“I apologize, Master. There’s a scratch on the prepared furniture, so it’s taking some time to replace it.”
“How did it get scratched?”
“Those useless ones over there were peeking at the carriages and bumped into a servant, causing the damage.”
Legas was quick to tattle. Nearby, magicians had gathered to look at the carriages and luggage, and apparently an accident had occurred.
The magicians fell silent under Riyekan’s gaze as if doused with cold water, then scattered hurriedly when they heard him click his tongue.
“Hurry up, Legas.”
“Yes, Master.”
After urging Legas, Riyekan returned to Jin-ha. Jin-ha, who had been examining the front carriage, remarked with admiration:
“This is an impressive carriage.”
The carriage was clearly an artifact, and even when Jin-ha peeked with his Information Eye, he couldn’t fully read its materials or functions. Items from the tower often had this kind of security on them.
“If you like it, I’ll gift you one next time.”
“Um… no, thank you.”
“Why refuse?”
“It seems like too expensive a gift.”
“It’s fine. I can afford to give you something like this.”
The way he looked at Jin-ha was quite affectionate. Feeling strangely self-conscious, Jin-ha rolled his eyes and said with an awkward expression:
“No, things like that only benefit the few people who use them, not ordinary people. If possible, I’d prefer artifacts with their security removed or items for monster defense.”
“…I was hoping Hunter Lee Jin-ha would ride in it.”
“Me? I don’t even have a place to store such an amazing item at my home.”
Jin-ha’s officetel did have an underground parking garage, but keeping such an expensive-looking artifact there would surely cause a commotion.
Seeing Jin-ha’s negative reaction, Riyekan’s expression turned sulky. Noticing Riyekan’s narrowing eyes, Jin-ha realized his mistake and grabbed his arm.
“Of course! Of course, I’m extremely happy, honored, and grateful. It’s just that my home isn’t big enough to store such an amazing item. And personal gifts legally…”
“That damn Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Receipt of Money or Goods.”
“Yes…”
Riyekan glared at Jin-ha, grinding his teeth, but soon sighed deeply and sat inside the carriage.
“Ah, I didn’t tell you where I’m going, did I? There’s a summer palace that the royal family of Abon Kingdom used to use. I accepted a request to capture a sea serpent that has settled near it.”
“Wait, a sea serpent? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It’s fine. I can catch it with ease.”
He can catch a sea serpent with ease?
Jin-ha had encountered a sea serpent in the East Sea before. At that time, Korea was facing a severe shortage of workers, and the opinion that gates appearing on uninhabited islands should be allowed to overflow received strong support.
So the gate that appeared on Ulleungdo was allowed to overflow. Since nothing happened after the overflow, they thought it had passed without incident, but the problem arose five years later.
The gate on Ulleungdo was one of the rare gates where sea creatures lived, and the sea serpent that emerged from it had built up its strength in the sea for five years, making the East Sea its territory. The sea serpent, with swirling seas and storms as its allies, looked like destruction incarnate.
“You’re saying you can catch a sea serpent with ease?”
“Yes. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
Pleased by Jin-ha’s concern, Riyekan continued kindly:
“The schedule should take about a week.”
“A week… That’s quite long.”
“It doesn’t take long to get there, but I thought Hunter Lee Jin-ha should have that much time to relax.”
“Me?”
Of course, he desired some leisure. With yesterday’s excessive contact constantly filling his mind, he really would appreciate some distance.
But this man had the consideration to think of his psychological state? Jin-ha looked at Riyekan in surprise. Riyekan lifted his chin proudly.
“Thank you, Riyekan.”
“Yes, you should be thankful. Now, hurry…”
“Ah, yes. I understand. Have a safe trip.”
Jin-ha quickly closed the carriage door and stepped back.
“…What?”
“I hope you have a good journey.”
“What did you say?”
Did I say something wrong with my greeting?
Jin-ha retreated cautiously as he saw Riyekan’s expression turn fierce. A large hand reached through the carriage window and grabbed Jin-ha’s shoulder, pulling him closer. With the carriage door between them, Jin-ha faced fiercely burning eyes.
“Again.”
When Jin-ha was too confused to say anything, Riyekan growled.
“Again!”
Jin-ha, puzzling over what the problem was, spoke more politely:
“I wish you a safe return and I’ll be waiting… Ah!”
Riyekan kicked the carriage door open, scooped Jin-ha up, and pushed him inside the carriage.
“Wait, Riyekan. Ugh… Ri-Riyekan!”
Before Jin-ha, who had tumbled onto the sofa inside the carriage, could get up, Riyekan entered and slammed the door shut.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
