78
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As Doun’s complexion turned pale, the moment Samin answered the phone, a booming scolding poured out from the other end.
-Kyung Samin! You rascal, didn’t you even listen with one ear when Dad sent noona to tell you something?
The voice was so loud that the guild members sitting across from them looked up in surprise. In contrast, Samin calmly turned down the phone volume first. As if this kind of thing was familiar to him.
“Dad. How can you call suddenly and start yelling? I thought Dad’s son’s heart was going to drop.”
Samin answered the phone with a voice dripping with aegyo. It was full of the cuteness typical of a youngest child who grew up being loved.
-Don’t you know today is Grandma’s birthday? She’s not even receiving her birthday table because she’s waiting for her youngest grandson! Where are you and what are you doing!
“Huh. Grandma? …Right. Today is our grandma’s birthday…. No, Dad. I completely forgot. Where should I go? Grandma’s house? Or our house?”
-Of course it’s Grandma’s house! Hurry up and get over here! You know perfectly well that your grandma likes you, but on such an important day!
Even though he had turned down the volume, it was loud enough for Doun sitting next to him to hear.
‘I should go. If today is Grandma’s birthday.’
What could be more important than family birthdays? Moreover, when the birthday person was waiting for Samin. Lunch or tower conquest could be done anytime, but Grandma’s birthday would be meaningless if not today.
Even thinking that way, Doun strangely felt empty inside.
“Tell Grandma to wait just a little. Dad, I’ll call you back soon!”
After hanging up, Samin looked at Doun and the guild members with a troubled face.
“Um, I completely forgot about our grandma’s birthday party today…”
“Guild master is a complete unfilial grandson? Didn’t you say last time that Grandma bought you a car?”
“Right. Not the one you’re driving now, but some black foreign car she bought you.”
While Kim Chansol and Hong Chan were making Samin out to be the ultimate unfilial grandson, Doun hid his complicated expression and said to Samin.
“Go quickly. It’s Grandma’s birthday.”
“When our family gathers once, half a day is basic, so if I go and come back it’ll be late evening. Hyung, is floor 53 okay tomorrow?”
“Yeah. It’s fine. We can go tomorrow. Go quickly. You’ll get scolded by your father again.”
Doun forced a smile that didn’t come easily. If he showed any sign of being gloomy here, Samin would notice like a ghost and pry into it.
“Everyone. I’m really sorry. I’ll postpone floor 53 to tomorrow. I’ll pay for what I ordered today and tomorrow’s meal too.”
“Aw, family events can’t be helped. Go quickly. Grandma must be waiting.”
“Right. Samin. Go quickly. Tell Grandma we wish her a happy birthday.”
Do Hyeonwoo and Seong Suyeon waved their hands while eating. Everyone had postponed conquest schedules several times for various reasons, so they weren’t being sensitive about it.
“Hyung. I’m sorry I can’t take you home today.”
Samin kept muttering apologies to Doun while gathering his phone and wallet before leaving.
“You’re not my chauffeur either. You apologize for everything. It’s fine so go quickly. Your phone keeps ringing.”
Doun glanced at the phone that kept ringing in Samin’s pants pocket. Even though he had changed from ringtone to vibration, anyone could see calls were coming in. A lot of them.
“I’ll contact you. Enjoy the pizza before you go. Got it?”
“Yeah. Tell Grandma I wish her a happy birthday too.”
“Yes! Thank you, hyung.”
Samin lingered for a while before leaving the private room.
“Dad. I’m leaving now. I’m serious. Hm? How long will it take? By taxi to Grandma’s house, about 30 minutes? Yeah yeah. I was eating near the tower. With guild members…”
Doun listened to Samin’s voice getting farther away and slowly turned his head. The private room without Samin felt strangely empty.
“Geez, guild master is completely a baby with his parents too.”
“Such a big baby, too gross.”
“Doun hyung. After we finish eating, want to hang out with us? We’re thinking of watching a movie or playing games.”
Kim Minhyeok casually brought it up. Doun thought for a moment then shook his head. Places with many people were still uncomfortable. He knew he couldn’t feel uncomfortable like this forever, but today he wanted to rest at home.
Kim Minhyeok expressed disappointment and promised next time, and the Yeoun Guild lunch without Samin ended like that. When they came out of the restaurant, hunters who recognized the group approached to talk, so they tactfully tried to scatter, but Kim Minhyeok approached again.
“Hyung. Should I call a taxi for you?”
Doun shook his head. Then he held up his phone. It showed that the taxi Doun had called in advance had 1 minute left until arrival.
“I’m one step behind.”
Kim Minhyeok smiled awkwardly. He had received a personal message from Samin.
[Guild Master hyung: Minhyeok, take care of Doun hyung for me]
Among the guild members remaining at the restaurant, Kim Chansol, Kim Siwon, and Seong Suyeon were women, so if they were seen taking care of Doun, people would obviously say they were dating.
What remained were Kim Minhyeok, Do Hyeonwoo, and Hong Chan, but among the three, the most trustworthy was Kim Minhyeok. Do Hyeonwoo was a bit clueless, and Hong Chan was young.
“Thanks for looking after me. Good work today, see you tomorrow.”
“Yes! You worked hard today too, hyung.”
Doun confirmed the taxi that had arrived nearby and greeted the rest of the group. While going to get in the taxi, hunters approached Doun asking for autographs and photo shoots.
“Magnetic hyung! I’m a fan, just one handshake.”
“Sorry, but could you take just one photo with me?”
“Excuse me. Could you give me an autograph?”
Their requesting attitudes varied. Some ran over excitedly, some shyly hesitated and asked carefully, and some were bold as if demanding something natural.
Doun muttered like a parrot that a taxi had come and he had to go, refusing all requests. However, he couldn’t stop the blatant photography. He could hear Kim Minhyeok’s voice nearby, but his heart was beating too fast to hear clearly.
When Doun struggled to get in the taxi, the driver who was trying to confirm the destination smiled.
“Student, are you a famous person? People are swarming around.”
Doun hesitated. If famous, he would be famous. He had appeared on the 9 o’clock news as the rank 1 hunter who had condoned his colleague’s death and shamelessly walked out of the tower alive. Maybe the taxi driver had seen it.
“…No. It’s not like that.”
“You look so pretty, I thought you were a celebrity.”
The driver said that and asked if it was correct to go to Doun’s apartment, and after Doun said yes, he just drove quietly. After paying the taxi fare and arriving home, Doun didn’t even have the energy to wash and sat on the sofa looking at his phone.
[Kyung Samin: Hyung, did you arrive home? I just arrived at Grandma’s house and am being cute ʕ ´•̥̥̥ ᴥ•̥̥̥`ʔ]
[Kyung Samin: And I said the hyung I respect told me to wish Grandma a happy birthday, and Grandma said thank you and wants to give you spending money so bring you over sometime!!!! ( ˶ ᷇ 𖥦 ᷆ ˵ ) Our grandma is generous so you can look forward to the spending money?]
[Kyung Samin: Hyung hyung, reply when you see this later -ω(´•ω•｀)♡]
Besides Samin’s messages, there were contacts from other guild members too. Doun sent brief replies saying see you tomorrow to all of them, then stared meaninglessly at Samin’s messages for quite a long time.
‘Samin’s family…’
It seemed like an ideal family drawn in a picture. Gathering together to take family photos, the comfort felt in Samin’s tone when speaking to his father even though he seemed to be getting scolded a lot, and the affectionate grandmother who refused her birthday table while waiting for her grandson.
From the existence of heirloom rings passed down through generations and conversations the guild members occasionally let slip, he could even feel undeniable wealth.
‘Didn’t you say last time that Grandma bought you a car?’
‘Right. Not the one you’re driving now, but some black foreign car she bought you.’
Well, he had said he bought a multi-billion won building in cash by adding money inherited from his parents, so it seemed like a harmonious and wealthy family wasn’t enough.
Doun sent a short reply to Samin’s message saying ‘just arrived home’ and put his phone face down.
He didn’t know why days of being troubled by financial difficulties with his parents and sleeping to avoid the ceiling that leaked rainwater when it rained were coming to mind now.
‘Ah. Really so pathetic.’
Doun couldn’t handle his disgusting emotions at all. He was jealous of Samin’s family right now.
‘A bastard who forgets family memorial days and only obsesses over towers is doing all kinds of shit…’
Living alone in a house incomparably expensive and spacious compared to the house he lived in as a child, yet whining. Doun headed straight to the bedroom with his face completely crumpled, without even washing.
After shedding his hunter outfit like molted skin on the floor and throwing his armor into inventory, he roughly put on a t-shirt that had been left on the blanket.
Lying sprawled on the bed just breathing, he seemed to smell a familiar scent. It was the cool and fresh smell of Samin’s cologne that matched his bold personality.
“I miss Samin.”
Doun unconsciously muttered to himself. It seemed he had been relying on Samin without knowing it. If Samin had seen him being depressed like this, he might have hugged him and comforted him with all kinds of tender and warm words.
Even though Doun missed Samin like that, he suddenly thought he was eating away at Samin’s brightness.
‘What kind of person looks for someone only when they’re having a hard time?’
Doun blamed himself and squeezed his eyes shut.
‘Still can’t even pay for meals… still only receiving help from guild members, what shamelessness to say I miss him.’
Self-blame piled up layer by layer, making his body feel heavier and heavier.
‘A cowardly bastard who can’t even say let’s date but wants to receive everything from Samin and even wants comfort. Why am I alive? Really…’
Doun was slowly crumbling like that.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
