#109
The sentiment that unconsciously struck him was quite heavy. But when it came time to return to his own battle position, Kim Sin-cheol felt a bit awkward.
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“If you’re going to handle it yourself anyway, why don’t you take a rest?”
“…”
“Hm?”
As it happened, his position was right in the middle of the two people who still maintained a fierce atmosphere.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s condition was as usual, grinning. Yoon Pa-ran, who was looking at him with a stiff expression, was the same.
In the end, Kim Sin-cheol slipped in between the two, clearing his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem… It’s time for monsters to come up again.”
He didn’t know why he was making such excuses.
Anyway, the gate conquest that was left full of questions ended successfully.
Dan Joo-hyuk performed faster than usual even in the boss battle. In the process, the performance of his new greatsword was somewhat revealed.
For a while after that, rumors about the new item Dan Joo-hyuk had obtained circulated widely.
❖ ❖ ❖
The volcanic terrain gate was safely cleared. It had been a while since Yoon Pa-ran had participated in an attack team, but he felt satisfied that he had done his part relatively well.
Especially considering that Dan Joo-hyuk had interfered by draining his health midway, it was a successful conclusion.
“Dan Joo-hyuk, I’m leaving. Good work. Hunter Yoon Pa-ran, you worked hard too.”
“Okay.”
“…”
Kim Sin-cheol, who had been on the same team throughout, offered a weak greeting. Yoon Pa-ran also bowed his head in response to the friendly greeting directed at him.
Being on the same team in the attack squad, Yoon Pa-ran could clearly see Kim Sin-cheol’s skills. He understood why they said he was the best among A-rank hunters with wood attributes.
Especially in a gate where the elemental compatibility was the worst, he still performed greatly. Yoon Pa-ran learned a lot from watching his resourceful actions.
Above all, he seemed quite close to Dan Joo-hyuk.
It seemed like the first time Yoon Pa-ran had seen Dan Joo-hyuk treat someone so comfortably. So whenever the two talked, Yoon Pa-ran remained stiff with an awkward expression.
I guess he’s not only close with Hunter Heo Sang-yeon.
“Shall we go too?” Dan Joo-hyuk approached Yoon Pa-ran naturally and said. It was natural since they always rode in the same car after every gate.
However, today, Yoon Pa-ran, conscious of the many eyes around, answered quietly.
“I’ll go by myself.”
“…”
He deliberately avoided looking at Dan Joo-hyuk’s face. Since the incident in the ice cave earlier, it had become a bit difficult to look him straight in the face.
He thought he had gotten somewhat used to Dan Joo-hyuk’s perverse actions, but it was beyond imagination as time went on. Moreover, he felt a bit embarrassed about being in Dan Joo-hyuk’s arms when he couldn’t pull himself together. He couldn’t understand why Dan Joo-hyuk had been holding him instead of just throwing him on the ground.
Anyway, this time, as if knowing his own fault, Dan Joo-hyuk had been cooperative throughout the gate.
Especially, being on the same team and appropriately distributing monsters was quite helpful. It had been a while since his health had been significantly reduced due to skill side effects.
He said he would properly compensate for the monsters that had to be kicked away, and the danger pay for standing at the vanguard. Thanks to Dan Joo-hyuk whispering these things whenever Yoon Pa-ran was about to get angry, he was able to avoid bursting into rage.
“Then I’ll wait at the street corner where we got off yesterday. I’ll come right after finishing the paperwork.”
After being silent for a while in response to Yoon Pa-ran’s answer, Dan Joo-hyuk made another suggestion.
Just as Yoon Pa-ran was about to say it was fine, Dan Joo-hyuk quickly added a reason.
“You’re going to my place anyway, right? Let’s go comfortably.”
“…”
Yoon Pa-ran, who was about to say something more, closed his mouth. It wasn’t wrong, after all.
As it happened, this gate was in an awkward location for using public transportation. And if he were to use a taxi, with other hunters around, it would take quite a while for his turn to come.
He was so exhausted that he wanted to lie down right away. Tempted by the proposal, Yoon Pa-ran, after contemplating, finally nodded slightly.
As he was having this exchange with Dan Joo-hyuk, Park Jung-hoon called out to Yoon Pa-ran from behind.
“Hunter Yoon Pa-ran.”
Turning around, Yoon Pa-ran saw that Park Jung-hoon also looked quite tired.
Towards the latter part of the conquest, Park Jung-hoon had managed to display his former skills reasonably well. It seemed it took some time to adjust as it had been a while since his last gate conquest.
Above all, there were no seizures due to injury aftereffects. It was fortunate in many ways.
“What is it?”
“Can I have your contact information?”
“My contact?”
“Yes. I’d like to keep in touch occasionally.”
Park Jung-hoon made an unexpected proposal. But since it wasn’t a difficult request, Yoon Pa-ran answered lightly.
“Sure.”
As he took the phone Park Jung-hoon handed over, their fingertips brushed for some reason. An A-rank hunter should be able to control their distance precisely, is he that tired?
Somehow, it wasn’t a particularly welcome contact.
Anyway, Yoon Pa-ran diligently entered his number. After confirming it, Park Jung-hoon made another proposal.
“Are you free this afternoon by any chance?”
“This afternoon?”
“Yes. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to have a drink or something. I’d also like to get some advice about the battle earlier.”
It had been a day since they entered the gate, so it was currently morning. So after going home and resting a bit, he didn’t have any particular plans from the afternoon.
Moreover, advice? Even if his skills weren’t what they used to be, Park Jung-hoon was still an A-rank hunter. It felt strange for him to ask for advice from Yoon Pa-ran, who was B-rank.
Due to lack of stamina today, his true skills probably hadn’t been revealed. Therefore, Park Jung-hoon’s words were tantamount to acknowledging the skills of Yoon Pa-ran, who was B-rank.
Thinking about it that way, he felt a bit proud.
“Sure, why not. Contact me.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
It’s not bad to know high-ranking hunters one way or another.
After accepting the appointment, Park Jung-hoon bowed his head and quickly moved away.
“…”
For some reason, Dan Joo-hyuk watched Park Jung-hoon’s retreating figure with a smiling face. Was he still worried that Park Jung-hoon might have a seizure due to his injury aftereffects?
Not wanting to interrupt his thoughts, Yoon Pa-ran quietly started walking. He planned to go to the agreed place first and hide appropriately.
As he left the vicinity of the gate bustling with hunters, the surroundings gradually became quiet.
“Phew…”
Arriving at the place where he was supposed to meet Dan Joo-hyuk, Yoon Pa-ran glanced around. It wasn’t a main road where cars frequently passed, so there were no nearby presences felt.
There were a few large rocks suitable for sitting by the roadside. Yoon Pa-ran hopped onto one of them and sat hugging his knees.
This was the place where Dan Joo-hyuk had dropped off Yoon Pa-ran before entering the gate. Even then, he had no intention of appearing at the gate entrance with Dan Joo-hyuk, so they parted at a suitable location.
After waiting blankly for a few minutes, Dan Joo-hyuk’s car soon approached.
“Get in.”
Only after checking the surroundings again did Yoon Pa-ran carefully get into the passenger seat.
The reason for going to Dan Joo-hyuk’s house so naturally even after the gate was cleared was because of the equipment he was currently wearing.
While no one would target the home of a B-rank hunter like himself, it was uneasy to keep S-rank equipment in a studio apartment. It was better for him to go to Dan Joo-hyuk’s house every time he entered a gate. It was much more comfortable that way.
“…”
Dan Joo-hyuk didn’t say much on the way home. He seemed tired too. After all, the volcanic terrain consumed more stamina than other gates.
Although he felt like he could fall asleep at any moment, Yoon Pa-ran forced himself to stay awake. He didn’t want to fall asleep defenseless in Dan Joo-hyuk’s car.
In silence, the two went up to Dan Joo-hyuk’s house. Yoon Pa-ran immediately entered one of the rooms on the first floor and put the equipment in the safe.
Then he naturally went into the shower room attached to the room.
“Phew… I feel alive now.”
This room was a space Dan Joo-hyuk had given him to store his equipment like this. He said to use it comfortably since it even had its own bathroom.
Thanks to this, it was nice to be able to shower right away after returning from a gate. Naturally, Yoon Pa-ran had brought a few spare clothes to keep in this room.
After finishing his shower and getting dressed, Yoon Pa-ran went out of the room. Just then, Dan Joo-hyuk, who had showered upstairs, was coming down the stairs.
With his upper body bare.
“…”
It was a scene Yoon Pa-ran saw every time he regularly visited this house because of the equipment. Whether it was a habit or not, Dan Joo-hyuk had never come out properly dressed after showering.
Today, it was particularly hard to look at that bare body. It was probably because he was feeling irritated due to the incident in the gate.
Turning his head away quickly, Yoon Pa-ran strode towards the entrance.
“I’m leaving.”
Only then did Dan Joo-hyuk, who had been silent all along, open his mouth.
“Wait a moment.”
