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The gem embedded in the earring scattered brilliant light beside the bonfire. It was a very simple stud design that even Doun, who didn’t prefer accessories, could wear without issue.
“…Do I need to write some kind of bodily waiver to you to receive this?”
“What kind of terrible thing to say. Why would you give up your body? I want to wear this together with hyung, so I’m giving it as a birthday present excuse.”
“Is there another identical one?”
“No. It’s not meant to be worn one in each ear, but for two people to share and wear. It gives skills too. You haven’t read the description yet, have you?”
Only then did Doun slowly read through the lengthy description attached below the artifact.
[Covenant Bearer’s Mark (S)]
[A token containing the power of a vow shared between someone who possessed noble power long ago and their precious one. When worn separately with another person, special skills ‘Covenant (S)’ and ‘Oath of Trust (S)’ become available.]
[Detailed information about special skills ‘Covenant (S)’ and ‘Oath of Trust (S)’ can be viewed after wearing the artifact.]
[Warning: Once worn, the artifact becomes permanently bound to the wearer and ownership transfer becomes impossible.]
Befitting its grade, it had two S-rank special skills attached. Though he couldn’t confirm what skills they were until wearing it.
Doun swallowed hard. In the small box that weighed almost nothing was an artifact of incalculable value.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. Doun wanted to become stronger, and he enjoyed conquering towers. Though there were many things he never wanted to experience again, he felt happiest when he was in towers.
“I’m not sure if it’s okay to receive something like this… It’s incredible.”
“Because it’s incredible, you should accept it quickly. I won’t change my mind, but don’t you want to try it on quickly and see what skills it gives?”
Samin grinned slyly and gently coaxed Doun. Before wearing it, only the names of the special skills could be confirmed; he couldn’t even tell what type of skills they were.
“You’re not rejecting the birthday present I gave you, are you?”
“Presents depend on what they are. Who gives something like this as a birthday present…”
He had expected at most electronic devices or gift cards, but an S-rank artifact he’d never dreamed of had popped out. Being with Samin always made the future unpredictable.
Just a few weeks ago, he had wished tomorrow wouldn’t come, but now wasn’t he looking forward to an unpredictable future?
“So you won’t accept the present?”
When Samin drooped his eyebrows and pressed his lips together, Doun hesitated for a moment then made a resolute expression.
“You won’t regret this later, right? This is permanent binding, so you can’t get it back later. You know that?”
“Of course I know. That earring probably wants to be permanently bound to hyung forever too.”
Doun gripped the box in his hand tightly.
“…Thank you. Then I’ll gratefully accept this.”
“Happy birthday, hyung.”
The affectionate birthday wishes burrowed into his ears. Receiving such an incredible gift and sincere congratulations in front of the crackling bonfire made him think he had done well to stay alive.
“Should we check what skills it gives?”
“Good. Since there’s no mirror, I’ll do it for you.”
“…Okay.”
Samin, who had received one of the earrings, carefully put it through Doun’s left earlobe. Usually when wearing an artifact for the first time, a notification window would appear, but there was no reaction.
“Would you put mine in for me too, hyung?”
“…Do you have room for more piercings in your ears?”
“I can take out one from my earlobe. It’s just a regular earring.”
Samin skillfully removed one earring, put it in his pocket, then leaned his face toward Doun.
“Here. You can put it here.”
“Wait a moment.”
He should have experience putting earrings in other people’s ears first. Doun lowered his eyes and glanced at Samin’s face as he held out his ear.
“Save admiring my face for later and hurry up. I’m dying of curiosity about the skills.”
At the playful urging, Doun pressed his lips together and slowly pushed in the earring.
“Ugh… This feels completely weird.”
“Is it all the way in?”
“I think so.”
Samin finished the clutch that fixed the back part himself. Since he had so many piercings, Doun was reluctant to touch it.
“Oh. The skill window appeared.”
Along with Samin’s admiration, a window with a deep yellow border appeared before Doun’s eyes.
[Artifact ‘Covenant Bearer’s Mark (S)’ is permanently bound to you.]
[As an effect of wearing ‘Covenant Bearer’s Mark (S)’, you have acquired special skill ‘Covenant (S)’.]
[As an effect of wearing ‘Covenant Bearer’s Mark (S)’, you have acquired special skill ‘Oath of Trust (S)’.]
[Notification: Viewing detailed skill information.]
-Covenant (S)
When the other party breaks a promise, sanctions can be imposed. However, if no applicable target exists, the skill can no longer be used.
Currently registered promise: –
Currently registered sanction: –
Applicable target: ‘Slope’ of Republic of Korea on Earth
-Oath of Trust (S)
Can share each other’s mana without the other’s consent, or transfer the other’s injuries to oneself. However, if no applicable target exists, the skill can no longer be used.
Applicable target: ‘Slope’ of Republic of Korea on Earth
They were incredible skills. Both were limited to Samin as the applicable target, but they had the same effects as contract artifacts and could use mana link and injury transfer unlimitedly.
“…To use this artifact properly, hyung would have to keep going to towers with me.”
Samin muttered in a somewhat bewildered voice, as if he hadn’t known it would be this kind of skill.
“Right. Let’s think about how to utilize it well. I’m curious about the Covenant skill, can I try using it?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
“Hmm. What should I register as a promise…”
After thinking for a moment, Doun decided to bring up something he’d wanted to say for a while.
[Notification: ‘Magnetic’ registers a new promise in ‘Covenant (S)’.]
[Currently registered promise: Prohibition of excessive fuss in front of people]
Samin, who checked the notification window, asked in a puzzled voice.
“What exactly do you mean by excessive fuss?”
“I mean when you randomly praise me. When I listen to it, it’s really embarrassing and I can’t get used to it.”
“Didn’t you say you got used to my nonsense?”
“It’s because I can’t get used to other people sometimes chiming in. Since we’re the same guild members, I feel like I’m floating alone…”
From Samin’s observation, the guild members maintained appropriate boundaries with Doun. They were friendly and gave some praise so that he, who joined late, wouldn’t feel left out, but even that seemed burdensome to Doun.
“When it’s just the two of us, can I still say things like cute, cool, the best?”
Doun thought about it for a moment, and it seemed like it would be okay when they were alone.
“You’re probably running out of repertoire anyway, so that’s fine. I’ve built up some tolerance.”
Doun grinned as he set the penalty that would be imposed on Samin if he broke the promise.
[Notification: ‘Magnetic’ registers a new sanction in ‘Covenant (S)’.]
[Currently registered sanction: Performing silent meditation for 1 hour]
“Really. You hate listening to my voice, is that it?”
“I can’t write something that would harm your body.”
“If I can’t speak for an hour, I’ll bother hyung with texts. I only improved my quick typing skills while texting hyung for a month.”
His texting speed was indeed about three times faster compared to himself. When texting came up, Doun checked that no one was around and decided to finally gather his courage.
“Actually, I had something I wanted to tell you earlier.”
He should have said it while looking up at the night sky full of twinkling stars, but somehow he ended up confessing now.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to say thank you for constantly contacting me.”
It was an unexpected statement. Samin paused for a moment then carefully asked back.
“…You weren’t annoyed that I contacted you on my own?”
“I wasn’t annoyed. As you said, if I hated it, I would have blocked your number first. Honestly, it would be a lie to say it wasn’t bothersome, but when your texts didn’t come, I felt disappointed.”
“Since when?”
Doun briefly searched his memory and blurted out.
“…Since the day you said you’d only send five texts a day.”
“…”
“But you really didn’t reply.”
“…”
“I kept waiting for texts until I went to sleep that day.”
Samin realized this was the moment when Doun was rarely revealing his true feelings that he’d been hiding. Doun, who continued speaking gently, seemed calm throughout, but Samin could feel it.
The loneliness Doun must have endured alone until he could utter those seemingly peaceful words.
“I’ll reply properly from now on. I’ll call too. I’ll send photos and videos too.”
Samin answered while unconsciously leaning forward and staring intently at Doun. He was confident he would contact him diligently so Doun wouldn’t be lonely anymore.
“I’d like it even more if we did video calls.”
When Samin, full of enthusiasm, made a suggestion secretly full of selfish desires, Doun looked troubled.
“…Video calls are a bit much.”
‘Ah. As expected, our hyung isn’t easy. Well, I like that about him too.’
Samin managed his expression to not show his disappointment. The two continued to share small talk after that. It felt like the distance between their hearts had gotten a little closer.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
