#217
His head felt hot from thinking too much. However, no matter how much Yoon Pa-ran looked back on the past, he couldn’t recall any contract clause that Dan Joo-hyuk had failed to keep.
Rather, he had given him suspiciously too many things. Money and equipment alike.
Moreover, from the middle onward, he had wholeheartedly helped protect both the orphanage siblings and Yoon Pa-ran himself, who had gained this burdensome power.
Yoon Pa-ran, who had become confused in an instant, moved his lips and barely managed to answer.
“Not yet…… I don’t think he’s violated anything yet.”
“He made a contract with no penalty and faithfully carried it out? What a strange person.”
“It could be a scammer’s method. They treat you well at first, then show their true colors later.”
“……”
At Kim Hee-jin’s serious concern, Yoon Pa-ran shut his mouth tight again.
Honestly, Dan Joo-hyuk had started treating him well only after some time had passed since they made the contract. At first, they literally growled at each other whenever they met face to face.
……When did he change like that?
Kim Hee-jin, who had been staring intently at Yoon Pa-ran’s face, asked carefully.
“Are you close with the person you made the contract with?”
Yoon Pa-ran, who had snapped back to attention, hesitated again before slowly parting his lips.
“Huh? ……I think so.”
Then Kim Hee-jin nodded with an expression that showed understanding.
“You’re disappointed because someone you thought was close stabbed you in the back.”
“It feels like betrayal, that does.”
Both of them had expressions that weren’t good, as if they had tasted some bitterness in society. While feeling sorry for them, Yoon Pa-ran’s head was complicated due to repeated confusion.
Was I feeling betrayed by Dan Joo-hyuk?
To this extent?
“What were the contract clauses like? Did you show it to a lawyer?”
“Ah, no……”
“You, didn’t I tell you not to take these things lightly?”
“Sorry.”
Getting scolded by Kim Hee-jin, who only said correct things, Yoon Pa-ran had no choice but to confess several more things. Including the contract clause he had considered most useful.
After hearing the general content, both people’s faces became even more serious.
“Pa-ran. Even to us who don’t know much about this, that doesn’t seem like a very effective clause.”
“Right. I’ve had occasion to see contracts like this for work, and there are too many phrases that leave things to the other party’s discretion.”
“……Really?”
“If the other party sets their mind to it, there seem to be too many loopholes for them to slip through.”
The more Yoon Pa-ran listened to the explanation, the more dazed his face became. The contract he thought he could make good use of was full of holes.
This was also infuriating. Dan Joo-hyuk could avoid penalties while presenting him with something full of clauses disadvantageous only to Yoon Pa-ran.
However, on the other hand, strange thoughts kept occurring to him.
‘Of course it’s because of our contract. What other reason could there be?’
Why did this guy, who didn’t have to do anything, try so hard to keep even the tiniest details of the contract?
“But why did you make this kind of protection contract?”
The faces of the two people who had roughly grasped the content showed worry. Noticing this, Yoon Pa-ran carefully chose his words.
After deliberation, he decided to use the recently acquired safe zone ability as an excuse.
“The other party is a hunter with quite good skills, so I tried to get some help because of the skill I obtained this time. I haven’t suffered any losses yet.”
“Ah! That safe zone skill?”
Park Min-soo asked, wiggling his hips as if he was about to half-rise from his chair. For a grown man, he acted just like Min-woong.
“Anyway, it’s a fake contract with no penalty. Hurry up and cancel it. It’s fortunate that you haven’t suffered any damage yet. So, what exactly is that skill? Do you know how surprised I was when your name came out on all the news?”
“Min-soo, you should mature a bit. Still, Pa-ran, you need to settle the contract properly.”
“……Yeah.”
Unlike the two people’s misunderstanding, Yoon Pa-ran was truly bound by real penalties. However, recalling this brought another question floating around in a corner of his mind.
Dan Joo-hyuk had recently suggested they stop this contract first – why did he do that? If he wanted to control Yoon Pa-ran’s actions, there would be nothing as convenient to use as this penalty.
Why did he do that?
‘I like you, meaning I want to become Yoon Pa-ran’s boyfriend.’
His voice rang through his head as if this was the answer. However, Yoon Pa-ran stubbornly hardened his expression and shook it off.
How could he believe the words of someone who had been full of lies from the beginning?
“So. Does that safe zone really block monsters? My heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t even tell people around me that I know you, Pa-ran.”
“It’s definitely a safe zone inside gates. I think I’ll be able to install it at the orphanage around tomorrow.”
“You should have told me sooner! I could come see it.”
“Wow, should I take a day off tomorrow?”
“This is top secret. Because of the children. You can’t tell anyone about it.”
“Of course.”
“Got it, you rascal.”
While faithfully explaining to the two people making a fuss, Yoon Pa-ran’s attention was constantly focused on the newly arisen doubt.
“Still, just in case something happens, come to the orphanage right away. And……”
Even after confiding his worries, his chest felt strangely more stuffy.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day.
Good news came to Minister Byeon from the morning. A sacred statue to install at the orphanage had finally been secured for certain. Minister Byeon made a fuss, saying he had specially selected the least damaged sacred statue.
Installing a safe zone here today was somewhat top secret.
Actually, Yoon Pa-ran wondered if there was a need to act so secretly, but he was convinced by the reasons the minister explained.
First, it was to prevent unnecessary interference from public opinion. The skill was actually just Yoon Pa-ran’s ability, but there seemed to be frequent nonsense that he should unconditionally sacrifice for the public good. In such a situation, there was concern that there would be backlash if Yoon Pa-ran installed a safe zone in a place that was like his home.
Actually, he didn’t care about hearing such criticism several times, but he was worried about the younger siblings. If there was going to be idle chatter anyway, not giving the other side as much time as possible was a good choice. Once it was installed, what could they do about it?
The second was a practical problem. Recently, demand to privatize safe zone sacred statues had exploded tremendously. While the skill itself was only possible when Yoon Pa-ran used it, wealthy people were desperately trying to at least secure sacred statues.
So Minister Byeon was worried that the sacred statue sent toward the orphanage might be targeted. Similarly, Yoon Pa-ran, who was worried that unnecessary disturbances might follow to where the children were, went along with Minister Byeon, who seemed to be conducting an intelligence operation.
Thus, before noon, the safe zone sacred statue entered the orphanage contained in a large box.
“Ooh……”
Hurrying over to peek inside the box, it was indeed the most intact form he had seen so far.
He was grateful to know how much care the minister had put into it.
“Everyone, it’s dangerous so stay back. You’ll get in trouble if you run around carelessly, understand?”
After finishing his inspection, Yoon Pa-ran spoke to the younger siblings while watching a simple crane lift the giant box. He was constantly worried about moving that huge thing in a place where many children were running around.
“Yes!”
At his stern restraint, the children huddled together behind him.
Min-woong, who naturally clung to his legs, asked with eyes sparkling like stars from curiosity.
“Hyung. What’s that?”
“Curious?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s still a secret. I’ll show you something fun soon.”
At Yoon Pa-ran’s confident promise, Min-woong smiled brightly. Smiling back at him, Yoon Pa-ran gently stroked that small head.
Soon he was startled by Min-woong’s innocent question that followed.
“Yeah. But why isn’t big hyung coming?”
“……”
Dan Joo-hyuk, whom he had been trying to push to a corner of his mind, once again completely occupied his thoughts.
After telling him to leave at the studio apartment, Dan Joo-hyuk had called several times. When he didn’t answer, texts flew in multiple times.
They were all about wanting to talk again, but Yoon Pa-ran didn’t even reply. At the time, he was so angry just looking at them that he even blocked Dan Joo-hyuk completely.
So his phone had been quiet since yesterday. Even so, Yoon Pa-ran occasionally thought of Dan Joo-hyuk.
When going out to the orphanage’s backyard, when the children ran around and clung to his legs.
Even when he suddenly lay down to sleep.
Yoon Pa-ran continued stroking Min-woong’s head as if he had never stopped. While trying hard to pretend nothing was wrong.
“Big hyung will be too busy to come for a while.”
“Ooh……”
The children didn’t need to know about this complicated situation. They would be disappointed if Dan Joo-hyuk kept not showing up, but time would solve it.
However, Yoon Pa-ran soon failed to manage his expression. Min-woong, who had gathered his small hands to both sides of his lips, whispered as if telling a very important story.
“Tell him Min-woong wants to see him.”
“……I will.”
His own voice answering was so heavy that it seemed to bump roughly against his lips as it passed.
For now, in his current state of mind, he didn’t want to see Dan Joo-hyuk. After attaching the answer of betrayal to his emotions, it was too sharp and painful to want to touch.
“Hunter, what is all this?”
Then the two security staff members who had been guarding the front door came running hurriedly.
It was the elderly security company director and an employee around Yoon Pa-ran’s age.
“Hello.”
“……”
Especially that employee his age – this was the first time meeting him since he had suddenly asked for a date last time.
The employee whose gaze met his smiled very meaningfully toward Yoon Pa-ran. That smooth face was somehow a little irritating today.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
