#97
There was definitely something wrong with Cha Do-hyeok’s body that had affected his head too. Otherwise, such an attitude made no sense. Ha-seong quickly followed behind Do-hyeok, who had suddenly entered the building.
“Hey! Stop fooling around and…”
Then Ha-seong, realizing this was inside the guild, lowered his voice. Sure enough, several passing employees were glancing at Ha-seong and Do-hyeok.
“Haha, Guild Leader-nim, stop joking and go home to rest.”
Ha-seong had to grit his teeth and use formal speech. Still, externally Ha-seong was a low-level purifier and Do-hyeok was the guild leader, so it was natural. But Do-hyeok just smiled slightly and didn’t listen, walking away coolly.
“Ah, that guy really.”
As Ha-seong looked at Do-hyeok’s retreating figure, wondering if he should beat him up and drag him away, someone tapped Ha-seong’s shoulder. Startled by the sudden presence, Ha-seong spun around and unconsciously raised his hand slightly.
“Oh, sorry if I startled you.”
Then Lee Seung-woo smiled awkwardly and took a defensive stance. Ha-seong, who had unconsciously raised his hand, made a low sound in his throat and also smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry. I didn’t know it was Seung-woo-ssi.”
“It’s fine. I called out suddenly, so you could react that way. Ah, Ha-seong-ssi, if you have time, how about morning coffee?”
At Seung-woo’s suggestion, Ha-seong hesitated briefly. He had been planning to grab Do-hyeok by the hair and stuff him back home since he was being strangely stubborn. But he couldn’t refuse Seung-woo’s offer. Ha-seong said it sounded good and the two headed to the cafe on the first floor together.
Perhaps because work hours were approaching, there were quite a few people in the cafe. As soon as they sat down with their ordered drinks, Seung-woo showed an expression like someone who had something to say, raising the corners of his mouth and looking like he couldn’t contain himself.
“Seung-woo-ssi, did something good happen?”
Ha-seong asked, pretending not to know. Then Seung-woo’s eyes widened as he nodded vigorously. Then he looked around briefly before lowering his head and gesturing to Ha-seong. It was a motion telling him to come closer.
“Well… A few days ago, the Guild Leader personally supervised my training!”
A voice whispering quietly. Ha-seong wasn’t unaware of what this meant. While Ha-seong was disguised as Seung-woo to catch Baek Sa-jin, he had instructed Cha Do-hyeok to supervise the real Seung-woo’s training. But Ha-seong acted ignorant and widened his eyes.
“Wow, really?”
“Yes. What happened was…”
Seung-woo excitedly told Ha-seong the whole story, constantly checking if anyone was listening. He said Cha Do-hyeok had come to him on his night duty day, offering to personally supervise his training. At first he was very nervous and scared, but once he actually received the training, it couldn’t have been happier or more beneficial, adding detailed impressions.
“Wow, I didn’t see the Guild Leader that way, but he’s really thoughtful.”
Ha-seong smiled with words he didn’t mean. Then Seung-woo said that was exactly right and began praising him, saying he had recognized that person’s character long ago. It felt like an elementary school child who received a gift from Santa on Christmas, making Ha-seong unconsciously smile like a mother.
So Ha-seong quietly listened to Seung-woo’s impressions for a few more minutes.
“Ah, Ha-seong-ssi, you can’t tell anyone about this! The Guild Leader also told me to be careful with my words.”
Then Seung-woo added that he originally hadn’t planned to tell anyone, but he really wanted to confide in someone, because only then could he calm this floating heart.
“Yes. Of course. I’m really tight-lipped.”
So Ha-seong maintained his motherly smile while waving to Seung-woo, then quickly passed through the lobby and walked to the elevator. He still hadn’t decided how to deal with that patient who wouldn’t listen.
As he got off on the floor with the Guild Leader’s office, he bumped right into someone in front of him.
“Did you miss me that much already?”
A familiar voice. Ha-seong narrowed his eyes and glared at Do-hyeok with all his might.
“Even if you glare like that, I’m not going home.”
Do-hyeok pressed Ha-seong’s forehead with his finger and made him get back on the elevator. Then he turned around, told Shin-woo he’d be back, and entered the elevator.
“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re planning to go on a mission in that state? Are you crazy?”
“Why? Are you going to go instead, hyung?”
Ha-seong fell into brief contemplation. He was thinking it might be better for him to secretly handle things quickly rather than let Cha Do-hyeok move.
“Not that, let’s go meet Yoon Woo-bin.”
“Ah.”
Ha-seong, finally understanding Do-hyeok’s meaning, nodded. He had been planning to contact Woo-bin today anyway. He needed to know how the situation was progressing.
According to Do-hyeok, there seemed to be a separate Hunter Management Bureau detention center for criminals who violated hunter laws. Today they were planning to go there.
The two came down to the basement and walked to the car Do-hyeok had parked. Do-hyeok opened the car door first and was about to get in the driver’s seat when Ha-seong suddenly blocked his way.
“I’ll drive. You move as little as possible. Your body hurts, doesn’t it?”
Of course, as Ha-seong said, muscle pain throughout his body still remained. Like the body condition of someone who never exercised after receiving PT for the first time. But it was a job that involved moving the body anyway, and this level of muscle pain was bearable. However, Do-hyeok didn’t bother to show it.
“Yes. Then please.”
Handing the car keys to Ha-seong, Do-hyeok barely managed to suppress the corners of his mouth that wanted to rise automatically. So this was how good it felt to receive someone’s worry. Do-hyeok got into the passenger seat like that.
* * *
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“You can actually drive, right?”
Do-hyeok’s good mood from Ha-seong’s worried behavior was brief, as he began to regret entrusting the car keys to Ha-seong.
“Of course.”
“When did you get your license?”
“Let me see… right when I became an adult?”
Ha-seong recalled the time when he got his license, searching his memory. Back then, he had dreamed of making lots of money later and definitely buying a cool car to travel around the country. Of course, he never achieved it and was transported to a strange place instead.
“So seven years ago.”
“Well, yeah.”
“Hyung, there’s a speed limit. Slow down.”
“Ah, okay.”
Ha-seong’s driving skills were at the level of a beginner who had just gotten their license. Looking at the route on the navigation, watching the car ahead, he was completely scattered. He didn’t slow down in sections where he should reduce speed, drove slowly in sections where he could speed up, and it took almost forever for him to change lanes to cut in. Thanks to that, a distance that should normally take about 30 minutes took nearly an hour.
Ha-seong safely parked in front of the detention center building.
“Let’s get out.”
Do-hyeok unconsciously released his grip on the seatbelt he had been clutching tightly.
“Wait a minute. Before that, that.”
Do-hyeok stopped Ha-seong from getting out and pointed ahead. Reporters could be seen camping out in front of the Hunter Management Bureau. There were more than when they came last time. Well, it was an incident that turned society upside down, so it would be strange if reporters weren’t gathered there.
“Hyung, use that item from before.”
“What?”
“The hand-holding one.”
Do-hyeok extended his hand. He seemed to be talking about the Bracelet of Concealment. The one that required two users to make contact to use. It was an item he thought he’d never use again, but hearing Do-hyeok’s words, it definitely seemed necessary to quietly get through there.
As Ha-seong opened his inventory, Do-hyeok’s large palm suddenly caught his eye. And a certain memory slowly surfaced.
‘Hyung, does it feel good?’
Definitely in that damn dream, with that hand… my thing…
“…Hyung!”
Then at Do-hyeok’s shout, Ha-seong was startled. Do-hyeok was frowning, asking what he was spacing out about.
“Don’t you want to hold hands with me?”
“Hey, that’s not it…”
He had definitely concluded before leaving home that it was just a damn dream, that it was his own fault for being sexually frustrated, and had steeled his mind, but seeing him extend his hand like that, he couldn’t help but remember even if he tried not to.
“Your face is red.”
Do-hyeok tilted his head this way and that, examining Ha-seong’s face. He could definitely see skin that was redder than usual. Ha-seong pulled his body back greatly and quickly took out an item from his inventory.
“What are you talking about, just hurry up and get out.”
Ha-seong hurriedly got out of the car to escape Do-hyeok’s gaze. Do-hyeok immediately got out and Ha-seong activated the bracelet. Even while doing so, he earnestly racked his brain about whether this was really the right method, if there wasn’t another way to avoid the reporters’ attention.
[Using item ‘Bracelet of Concealment’. While wearing the bracelet, all presence of the owner and companion will be erased.]
“Hand.”
But before he could think of other alternatives, Do-hyeok approached again and extended his hand. If he avoided it here, that guy who was only quick at noticing strange things would definitely pry. Ha-seong had no choice but to put on the bracelet that was starting to glow and take Do-hyeok’s hand.
“Let’s go.”
Do-hyeok put strength into their clasped hands and led Ha-seong without hesitation.
“…Yeah.”
Ha-seong looked at their connected hands once, then soon let out a long sigh. Otherwise, his heart kept pounding loudly and he couldn’t calm down. An strangely hot warmth seemed to linger in the hand clasped with Do-hyeok’s.
Ha-seong tried to erase the afterimages of that dream and slowly passed through the reporters like that.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
