#77
Seo Yi-young had relied heavily on Jo Tae-su. He had resolved to do pretty much anything Jo Tae-su asked, and he actually behaved that way. When Jo Tae-su made requests, he even entered dungeons that he wouldn’t have needed to enter otherwise. He wanted to gladly do anything that would make Jo Tae-su happy.
‘You don’t look well. You should make sure to eat properly.’
‘Yes. I will.’
Even though it was just a simple greeting, those words warmly seeped into his heart.
If Seo Yi-young were to die in a dungeon, Jo Tae-su would be the only person in the world who would shed tears not because an S-Class Healer died, but because Seo Yi-young died. He believed this without a doubt.
‘I’ve been hearing various stories lately.’
At Jo Tae-su’s sudden words, Seo Yi-young couldn’t hide his startled feelings. Instead of answering, Seo Yi-young lowered his gaze.
‘Is it difficult to keep yourself in check?’
‘No. …I’ll be more careful.’
‘No, no. That’s not what I meant. Who could blame you?’
Jo Tae-su spoke as if trying to comfort him.
‘I’ve heard that many young hunters these days do such things. If it makes you feel even a little more at ease, what’s the problem? If it’s done with mutual consent, it’s not even a crime.’
It certainly wasn’t wrong. He’d heard that combat hunters were a bit more liberal than Seo Yi-young.
If these words had come from someone else, he would have dismissed them as empty platitudes, but coming from Jo Tae-su, they sounded different. Seo Yi-young felt ashamed of his own behavior.
‘Do you have any other difficulties in the dungeon?’
‘No.’
He answered plainly. It was actually true. Of course, the atmosphere hadn’t been accepting of Seo Yi-young from the beginning. The existence of Seo Yi-young, who had awakened through Jo Tae-su’s ability and become an S-Class Healer, was alien. But once he entered dungeons and demonstrated his abilities without reserve, he was recognized as an indispensable team member.
The higher the rank, the more they relied on and acknowledged Seo Yi-young. Rather, the problem was with lower-ranked hunters. But even that only happened in the early stages of his awakening, and now everyone had accepted Seo Yi-young.
‘That’s fortunate, truly. I’m always worried about whether you’re okay.’
Jo Tae-su was the only one who would say such things. Someone who could express concern for an S-Class Healer. To Seo Yi-young, he was like a father figure.
‘Director—’
‘I told you not to call me that.’
‘Father… have you been well?’
It was a form of address that Jo Tae-su had encouraged. But it felt somewhat embarrassing to actually say it out loud. While he genuinely thought of him as a father figure, using that title was still awkward.
‘Yes. Thanks to Hunter Seo’s concern, I’ve been fine.’
But he looked like he still had something to say. Jo Tae-su sighed softly.
‘These days, it seems like the relationship between Normals and Naturals is gradually deteriorating.’
Such issues were less common among hunters who directly entered dungeons, but they weren’t completely absent. In particular, there was an increasing invisible tension between lower-ranked combat hunters and support hunters.
‘There’s something I’d like Hunter Seo to do for me. I don’t have anyone else I could ask. No one else I can trust. You’re the only one I could think of.’
Only me.
It was truly a sweet sound. Especially since it came from Jo Tae-su. There was no one in Korea, or even globally, who didn’t know his standing. Such a person was asking him for help. Saying that only Seo Yi-young could do it.
‘Just tell me. I’ll do anything I can.’
‘But, I’m not sure if I should make such a request. It feels too shameless.’
Seeing Jo Tae-su hesitate in a way unlike him, Seo Yi-young grew anxious. What could possibly make him adopt such an attitude?
‘I’d like you to interact with the S-Class Natural hunters.’
‘Interact?’
It was an unexpected statement. Weren’t regular interaction meetings already being held?
‘Are you referring to something beyond the regular interaction meetings?’
‘Hmm, yes. What I’m talking about is a more personal interaction.’
‘….’
Seo Yi-young remained silent. He understood exactly what Jo Tae-su meant. All the people Seo Yi-young had been involved with until now were ordinary people.
‘You know Hunter Lee Myung-hoon, right?’
‘Ye-es.’
Seo Yi-young answered slowly.
Lee Myung-hoon. An S-Class Combat Hunter.
A hunter with such a peculiar personality that he was considered a nuisance even by other hunters. Jo Tae-su wouldn’t have mentioned his name without reason. But he was a man. Although Seo Yi-young had been promiscuous, his partners had all been women. Surely not…
‘He’s agreed to attend the next regular interaction meeting.’
‘…Ye-es.’
Seo Yi-young just answered quietly, unsure if he could do it well or if this was the right thing to do. Then he felt Jo Tae-su’s gaze on him.
‘If you’re not willing, you don’t have to do it. I’m not forcing you, it’s just… I thought if it was Hunter Seo, you might agree to my request.’
‘Ah. No. I’ll do it. I can do it.’
Seo Yi-young quickly answered, as if driving out all the doubts that had filled his mind. This was none other than Jo Tae-su. He would never ask him to do something bad. Seo Yi-young was an adult. This was a decision he made after thinking it through himself. Jo Tae-su may have suggested it, but ultimately, it was Seo Yi-young who decided to accept.
He had already been living that kind of life with other people. Only the target was changing to hunters. If this could help Jo Tae-su, if it could be of assistance to him, there was no reason to refuse.
Jo Tae-su continued, saying, ‘It won’t end with just one time.’
‘This might help, I’m not sure but…’
Jo Tae-su said as he handed something to Seo Yi-young.
*
Seo Yi-young’s eyes snapped open.
He got up and looked around, realizing he had been dreaming. Seo Yi-young ran a hand over his chest, confirming once again that nothing was wrong.
Another dream about what the original Seo Yi-young of this dimension had experienced.
Despite the awkward situation of an unexpected proposal, the desperate desire to be acknowledged by Jo Tae-su was palpable. Although the current Seo Yi-young could view these events from a third-person perspective, he felt nauseated. Seo Yi-young covered his mouth with one hand, trying not to retch.
Jo Tae-su, that crazy son of a bitch.
Seo Yi-young had seen the starting point of his infamous reputation. While he had engaged in promiscuous sexual activities with ordinary people, it was Jo Tae-su’s suggestion that led him to do such things with hunters, especially targeting S-Class hunters. He couldn’t tell what Jo Tae-su had handed over. But considering the series of events, it probably wasn’t something beneficial to Seo Yi-young.
Seo Yi-young bit his lip hard.
“Are you awake?”
Seo Yi-young turned his head at the sound of Choi Do-jun’s voice. Choi Do-jun was standing in the doorway. He seemed to have woken up first. Seo Yi-young, who had been frowning, froze at that moment.
The first thing Seo Yi-young checked was Choi Do-jun’s complexion. Seeing that the gloomy expression from yesterday had somewhat disappeared, he felt relieved. He thought, “He’s better now.” But at the same time, fragments of their previous conversations flashed through his mind.
[“That’s rich coming from someone who seduced me the first time we met.”]
[“Do you have someone else to go out with today?”]
[“You came on to me first, so you can’t back out now.”]
[“Choi Do-jun is quite difficult to deal with.”]
The words exchanged between Choi Do-jun and Jo Tae-su naturally connected with what he had seen in his dream. Choi Do-jun was clearly one of those targets. One of those targets designated by Jo Tae-su.
Could it be prostitution?
Seo Yi-young’s mouth closed.
No. That’s not it. Considering Choi Do-jun’s reaction, it wasn’t like that. At least Choi Do-jun was clearly unaware of it.
“Why that expression?”
“Ah. It’s nothing.”
Choi Do-jun asked with suspicion, noticing Seo Yi-young’s poor complexion. But since he couldn’t just tell the truth, Seo Yi-young immediately smiled and answered. If the content of the dream was true, he could guess what Jo Tae-su had instructed Seo Yi-young to do.
Seo Yi-young’s gaze, which had been floating in the air, stopped on Choi Do-jun’s face.
He had already done it.
What Seo Yi-young was supposed to do with Choi Do-jun. Though he hadn’t known, it was already after he had done it. What if Choi Do-jun thought he had approached him deliberately? That thought suddenly occurred to him.
Seo Yi-young looked at Choi Do-jun with a feeling that couldn’t be defined—a mix of awkwardness, apology, shame, and confusion. He knew that the original Seo Yi-young had seduced Choi Do-jun. That was why Choi Do-jun had been prickly toward Seo Yi-young. But there’s a big difference between seduction purely for sex and actions taken under Jo Tae-su’s instigation.
Should he tell him the truth now? But what would he say? Would Choi Do-jun even believe him if he told him now?
His fingertips grew cold. He didn’t want Choi Do-jun to misunderstand him for something he hadn’t done. But he knew exactly how a series of events would look to others, which made the truth frightening. Without realizing it, Seo Yi-young clenched his fist.
He couldn’t tell what the purpose was, but it was clearly nothing good. If it had been an honorable matter, Jo Tae-su wouldn’t have given such instructions disguised as a request.
What could it be? Seo Yi-young wondered if it had something to do with the medicine bottle Jo Tae-su had offered, claiming it would help. He couldn’t know exactly how or what kind of help it would provide, but he could make some guesses. Based on the flow of the conversation, there must have been a specific reason for giving that medicine. If it had been nothing, there would have been no reason to recommend it.
Suddenly, he wondered if something would happen when bodily fluids came into contact after taking that medicine. It wasn’t just paranoia; there was sufficient evidence for this suspicion.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
