#199
“…”
Without that explanation, such an absent-minded attitude was difficult to understand.
Dan Joo-hyuk had always been affectionate. When they first made the Blessing Contract, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t have imagined it, but unexpectedly, he seemed to have a personality that readily offered closeness to people.
Lately, it had become somewhat more intense, which was problematic. Especially after closing the Great Gate, he occasionally showed such dazed expressions that Yoon Pa-ran had worried about lingering effects from his injuries.
And now, why was he acting like this since yesterday? Was he excited about getting a new skill?
“I’ll try it. Monsters are approaching nearby.”
“Right…”
However, based on Dan Joo-hyuk’s behavior until now, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t readily accept this hypothesis this time. Surprisingly, he hadn’t even considered experimenting with the skill that seemed fascinating even to Yoon Pa-ran.
At a glance, he appeared completely uninterested in the skill, like someone who had dedicated his life to preparing breakfast. In the end, it was Yoon Pa-ran who had forcibly dragged him to the gate to learn something.
While pondering Dan Joo-hyuk’s strange behavior that he couldn’t quite pinpoint, their eyes met again. Yoon Pa-ran’s gaze was drawn to those eyes that curved into a gentle smile. Something ticklish contained in that gaze repeatedly stimulated a corner of Yoon Pa-ran’s heart.
The sensation, ticklish like an electric current, was unfamiliar. Still, he didn’t dislike it.
“…”
Dan Joo-hyuk turned forward and activated his halo. Then, without hesitation, he leaped into the approaching group of monsters.
It was a B-rank gate, not something to take lightly. So Yoon Pa-ran slightly furrowed his brow watching Dan Joo-hyuk jump defenseless among the monsters without even drawing his sword.
However, as soon as the halo’s light touched the monsters, something amazing happened.
Krak, kak!
Kak, kakak, kak!
There wasn’t even any physical impact—merely the touch of light. Yet the monsters all screamed in agony.
Starting with those closest to the light, they collapsed one by one without resistance. As Dan Joo-hyuk slowly began walking forward, the monsters fell to the ground in succession.
It looked as if he were parting a wave of monsters.
“Wow…”
It was such an impressive sight that it momentarily made Yoon Pa-ran forget everything else.
Dan Joo-hyuk, who only glanced sideways at the devastation he had created, turned back to look at Yoon Pa-ran.
“…”
Yoon Pa-ran directly met Dan Joo-hyuk’s eyes, which shimmered with the halo’s light.
With his mouth closed, he looked almost sacred, like a holy knight. His silhouette, still brightly illuminated, seemed to imprint itself strangely on Yoon Pa-ran’s eyelids.
Yoon Pa-ran felt his lips going dry. Because of this, he remained silent, unable to rashly speak.
Dan Joo-hyuk deactivated the skill and trudged back.
“What do you think?”
If asking about the skill, all Yoon Pa-ran could say was that it was truly amazing.
Yoon Pa-ran had seen monsters become powerless just by touching light several times before. It was the same phenomenon he occasionally witnessed when opening a safe zone.
Of course, it lacked the power to instantly turn monsters to dust like when a safe zone opened. However, incapacitating such densely packed monsters at once was essentially equivalent to gaining an incredible area-of-effect skill.
It was as if Dan Joo-hyuk had become a walking safe zone. Originally, what Yoon Pa-ran had thought would be nice was a small safe zone that could be used as a shield.
Somehow, they’d ended up with a safe zone that not only moved on its own but also fought well.
Ke, reurek!
While Yoon Pa-ran was dazedly organizing his thoughts, several monsters stirred as if about to rise.
“Ah. It seems the effect only applies when I keep it activated. Like a buff for the entire allied team.”
“I guess so.”
Dan Joo-hyuk, noticing their movement first, lazily waved his hand again. Immediately, the fallen monsters ignited all at once like bone-dry kindling.
Perhaps because they were already weakened, the monsters were completely neutralized without even uttering final screams.
“Hmm, this way there’s not much fun in fighting.”
Yoon Pa-ran gave Dan Joo-hyuk a reproachful look for finding enjoyment in life-threatening situations. Despite being scolded with just a glance, Dan Joo-hyuk smiled prettily, clearly pleased about something.
What a strange guy.
“It’s like a safe zone. That light.”
“It seems so, right? Though the power is a bit less, the duration is quite long.”
“It would be useful when surrounded.”
“And also for blazing a trail ahead.”
It truly had countless applications.
The two seriously discussed the skill’s applications and duration. They concluded that once charged to 100%, it could serve as a main skill for quite a long time. The rush skill gained at 90% was just a bonus.
…Though the big problem was having to charge it to 90% or 100% in the first place.
“Hmm.”
Meanwhile, Dan Joo-hyuk raised his eyes as if something had appeared before him.
“What is it?”
“As a reward for yesterday’s quest, I received a method to control the halo’s power.”
From what he heard, it seemed Dan Joo-hyuk could now control not only turning the halo on and off but also its intensity. This meant that if they charged it to 100% once to activate the skill, they could indeed use it for a long time.
“It would have been more convenient if it appeared on your hands rather than floating over your head. What a waste.”
Just as Yoon Pa-ran was muttering such unromantic, pragmatic thoughts, he noticed the silence beside him and looked up at Dan Joo-hyuk.
For some reason, he was again staring intently at Yoon Pa-ran with a fresh smile on his lips.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Though rebuking him, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t actually avert his gaze, and Dan Joo-hyuk continued to give him an entranced look.
No, entranced was precisely the right word.
Though aware that he was acting like someone who had lost his mind, Dan Joo-hyuk had no intention of restraining himself.
“No reason.”
Because Yoon Pa-ran’s reddened nape was telling him this was the right direction.
“…”
It was regrettable that those white fingertips brushing self-consciously against his nape were so far away. Dan Joo-hyuk felt the urge to immediately take them into his mouth and savor them at length.
After falling asleep and waking up like that yesterday, Yoon Pa-ran occasionally had a dazed expression. Though anxious with curiosity about what was going on in that small head, Dan Joo-hyuk could manage to be patient when he saw those cheeks flushing slightly each time their eyes met.
Being affectionate enough to seemingly extract his liver seemed to be a good approach. Only now did Dan Joo-hyuk clearly understand what he needed to do.
He would continue being this sweet from now on.
Until Yoon Pa-ran took his presence for granted.
Thinking about it, this was something he felt quite confident in. After all, his foolish self had already been treating Yoon Pa-ran this way until now.
With a genuine smile, Dan Joo-hyuk slowly reached out his hand. Until his hand cupped one cheek, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t avoid it, just staring up at him blankly.
“Yoon Pa-ran-ssi, is there anything you need?”
“Anything I need?”
For now, it was just this small skinship. When Yoon Pa-ran’s desires were fulfilled, he would probably think of the familiar Dan Joo-hyuk.
Still, what mattered was that Yoon Pa-ran wanted something from him. Dan Joo-hyuk intended to fill his world one by one with things touched by his hands, without giving up.
Then someday, perhaps Yoon Pa-ran would look at the person giving him these things.
“Yes. Not as compensation for the contract, but because I’m grateful and want to give you a gift.”
“Huh?”
“We’re close enough to exchange gifts, aren’t we? Right?”
“I… guess so?”
It was a statement he’d made while barely excluding that damned contract. At the mention of a gift, Yoon Pa-ran’s face showed confusion while his wariness visibly melted away.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s mouth went completely dry at Yoon Pa-ran’s attitude, naturally affirming that they had reached that level of closeness.
“So tell me. Is there anything you need?”
“Well…”
“A wish would be fine too.”
Hiding his tension, Dan Joo-hyuk feigned nonchalance.
It would be troublesome if the contract remained a constant obstacle without being terminated. From now on, he would just create exceptions like this often.
“Ah.”
Just then, Yoon Pa-ran let out a faint exclamation as if something had occurred to him.
It was unexpected—Dan Joo-hyuk hadn’t anticipated getting an answer immediately. He tilted his head and watched Yoon Pa-ran’s lips.
He stared, entranced, as those full lips hesitantly uttered words. He felt a sense of crisis—at this rate, his brain would become so full of Yoon Pa-ran that he might forget how to hold a sword.
For the first time, it was a crisis he didn’t want to avoid.
“Then… could you spare some time for me?”
At those words, Dan Joo-hyuk secretly swallowed dryly, unnoticed by Yoon Pa-ran. It was a statement that made him more anxious than expected.
His heart beat wildly, independently harboring hope. Dan Joo-hyuk desperately tried to calm his own expectations.
It was none other than Yoon Pa-ran who had spoken those words. He should know better than to expect too much by now.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
