52
* * *
They spent quite a long time coordinating their attack skills and checking their movement patterns. After a considerable amount of time had passed.
[Notification: 50th Floor Boss ‘Capricious Ancient Empire Sovereign’ has been eliminated.]
A notification window announcing their successful practice appeared before everyone’s eyes. The training floor, which perfectly replicated the dark and cramped terrain of the 50th floor, was enveloped in suffocating air.
“…Samin hyung-nim. Sorry, but could you change the terrain now that practice is over?”
Dong Jiwon, another gathering specialist hunter from Yeoun who had been watching from behind, politely addressed Samin. Samin wiped the sweat from his forehead and changed the training floor settings.
[Notification: Guild Leader ‘Slope’ is changing the training floor terrain.]
The dark, suffocating terrain transformed into an open meadow. Though no cool breeze blew, Dong Jiwon smiled brightly, satisfied that he no longer had to smell that musty odor.
“Um… it’s a bit awkward to say this after we’re done practicing.”
Kim Chansol, who had put his weapon into his inventory, lightly massaged his shoulders as he spoke up. Samin nodded as if to say go ahead and speak.
“It’s nothing major, but if we were going to do this anyway, couldn’t we have just cleared the 50th floor ourselves? That’s what I was thinking. We’re only missing Siwon, but we have Hyeonseong oppa here, plus one more support and one more gatherer.”
When they had to catch up ten floors due to Doun’s absence, this was the composition minus only Kim Siwon from among the hunters who had stepped forward to help. In fact, three more had been added.
Main dealer Jang Hyeonseong, support specialist Choi Jiyoon, and gathering specialist Dong Jiwon.
Including Kim Siwon and Park Sangyeon who were currently traveling in Europe, plus healer Seo Subin who was working at the bakery run by her parents, this would complete Yeoun Guild’s top floor conquest team.
“You’re not wrong, but if we tell those two we came to hang out and ended up clearing the tower, they’ll be disappointed, won’t they?”
Jang Hyeonseong, who had been holding a long sword instead of his main weapon bow due to the terrain, chuckled as he replied.
Kim Siwon especially would probably be disappointed. He had won rock-paper-scissors and proudly become a member of the ‘Magnetic High-Pass Awesome Gathering.’ Agreeing with Hyeonseong’s words, Kim Chansol retied his hair and asked Samin.
“Guild Master, what’s the next schedule?”
“Eating dinner. We’re going to barbecue with what we bought for lunch.”
“Crazy. Let’s get out of here quickly. Wash and eat! Wash and eat!”
Watching excited Kim Chansol start chanting demands like slogans, Doun couldn’t help but chuckle. He was just subtly joining in the lively atmosphere, but just watching was entertaining enough.
“Hyung. Are you very tired?”
“No. I’m not tired at all though?”
Samin, who had been secretly worried that Doun might dislike the chaotic energy, felt relieved. When he sneakily checked Doun’s face, he looked extremely happy. Just looking at his flushed red cheeks from moving around during practice and his sparkling eyes, anyone could tell what kind of mood Doun was in.
“Team building events are all about barbecue, right?”
“Yeah. I’m really looking forward to the barbecue.”
Doun nodded and smiled. He looked genuinely excited, which made Samin feel pressured.
‘Since hyung likes spicy food, I definitely have to put on spicy sauce…’
If he accidentally ate it, he’d have to down a potion immediately, but if he divided the grill sections well when cooking, it should be fine. Samin began making various clumsy plans. If he couldn’t create an amazing barbecue party, he felt like he’d regret this day for the rest of his life.
* * *
A mountain pension at sunset. Having rented an entire private house, the Yeoun Guild members who had monopolized the large garden gathered around the barbecue grill.
“The atmosphere is insane, isn’t it?”
“When I retire from being a hunter, I want to build a house like this and live here.”
The faces of the guild members preparing barbecue food and chatting were fresh and clean. It was because they had returned to the pension after practice, washed up, and come out.
“Seeking Do Hyeonwoo to light the charcoal.”
“Jiyoon noona. Do I look like someone who would come running to light a fire if you asked?”
“Yeah. Come light it.”
“Yes.”
Do Hyeonwoo, who had tried to resist just once, quickly ran to the front of the grill. Above the charcoal piled high inside the large grill, cute little flames from the 32nd-ranked national hunter fell down.
“Good heat output.”
“Thank you, Sewon-dong Fallen Angel-nim.”
“Good boy.”
Choi Jiyoon generously forgave Do Hyeonwoo for mentioning her nickname so casually. It was a day they had gathered for a good cause, and even Doun, who had wanted to keep it as unknown as possible, didn’t show any particular reaction.
“Are all the ingredients ready?”
“We just need to grill them now.”
“I, with 3 years of experience working part-time at a meat restaurant, will take responsibility for the meat today. Just trust me, Doun.”
Jang Hyeonseong, who had decided to speak casually with Doun after coordinating with him on the training floor, shrugged his shoulders while holding tongs. Doun quickly nodded.
‘He seems like a good hyung.’
Although Hyeonseong’s voice was similar enough to his former guild master’s to make him feel distant at first, when he actually talked with him, Hyeonseong seemed to be someone who was just meddlesome but had a lot of affection.
While Doun was watching the charcoal that had turned bright red and the meat cooking, Samin, who was grilling meat at another grill, called out to Doun.
“Doun hyung. Come over here.”
“Hm?”
When he approached the grill that Samin was in charge of, Samin, holding tongs, whispered in a voice only Doun could hear.
“This section is hyung’s exclusive meat.”
Exclusive meat. At this word combination he’d never heard before, Doun looked down at what Samin was pointing to. It was the same pork, but it had bright red seasoning spread on it.
“…Are you calling it my exclusive meat because you put spicy sauce on it?”
“Yes. Hyung likes spicy food. I specially prepared it for hyung. If you put sauce on and grill it right away, only the outside burns while the inside stays undercooked, so I selected only the fully cooked pieces and lightly brushed the sauce just on the surface.”
When someone speaks so confidently with a face expecting praise like that, who could say anything? Doun alternated between looking at the sizzling meat and Samin, then said in a small voice.
“…Yeah. Thanks for taking care of me.”
“This is nothing special. Oh, hyung. Should I put seasoning on the mushroom cheese grill too?”
“No… Just leave that alone.”
“Yes!”
Samin answered seriously like a soldier who had received an important order. Doun ended up having to eat meat from both grills alternately, called over by Hyeonseong to also taste the meat he had grilled.
“Hyung! The mushrooms are done! Your meat is burning right now though? Ahhh!”
“Doun! The beef here is perfectly cooked right now!”
“Doun-ssi, would you like some sausage? This is totally insane.”
“The crab mayo grill is done. Doun hyung, where did he go?”
It seemed like he had been called by every name he’d be called for a year just during today’s meal. The barbecue party, mellowed with appropriate alcohol, continued endlessly. When Doun, having overeaten more than usual due to getting caught up in the atmosphere, sat down on a bench away from the grill to catch his breath for a moment.
“Are you resting here?”
Lee Doun’s shadow, Kyung Samin, sneakily approached. As soon as Doun disappeared, he had handed the tongs to Dong Jiwon and came running.
“Yeah. Want to sit next to me?”
“Of course.”
Samin quickly claimed the seat next to Doun.
‘I was a little lonely being alone, but it’s nice now that we’re sitting together.’
Doun’s expression relaxed slightly. Sitting shoulder to shoulder like this with Samin, looking up at the sky, was quite romantic. Even the noisy conversation of the guild members huddled together eating grilled potatoes just a few meters away felt like gentle background music.
Doun looked up at the sky silently for a long time. Fairly clear dots twinkled in the pitch-black sky. It was a scene that his past self, who had been holed up at home just sleeping, could never have seen.
‘I practiced hard, ate delicious food, and I think I got closer to the guild members too…’
Choi Jiyoon felt closer, perhaps because they found out they lived in the same neighborhood, and he had become comfortable enough to speak easily with Jang Hyeonseong and Dong Jiwon, whom he was meeting for the first time today. Not to mention the guild members who had been helping with his conquest.
‘It’s so enjoyable that it doesn’t feel real.’
These were precious emotions he never would have felt if he had just stayed crouched at home. Doun kept glancing for the right timing to speak, his lips twitching.
He wanted to say thank you to Samin for arranging this kind of occasion, but his mouth wouldn’t open easily. Somehow it felt awkward and embarrassing to say thank you again.
“Hyung. What are you thinking about right now?”
“…Just looking at the stars and thinking they’re pretty, stuff like that.”
Even though Samin had asked an appropriate question, only words completely different from his true feelings came out. He hated himself for not being honest.
Doun just looked up at the twinkling night sky, collecting his thoughts. Whether he knew his inner feelings or not, Samin just stared at Doun’s face and murmured.
“That’s right. They’re really pretty.”
What should he do with this guy who says they’re pretty while staring intently at his face instead of looking at the stars? Only Doun’s mind was getting complicated as the night deepened.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
