#110
Although I clearly heard him trying to stop me, Yoon Pa-ran just kept walking and bluntly asked, “Why?”
“Let’s eat before you go. You didn’t eat much at the gate, right?”
“……”
As he said, I was indeed very hungry. Usually, Yoon Pa-ran only ate properly after coming out of the gate.
It would take some time to get home, though…
“I still have some of that steak you enjoyed last time.”
Hearing that, I felt an unexpectedly intense hunger.
“……”
Unable to resist his instincts, Yoon Pa-ran stopped in his tracks. Dan Joo-hyuk, who had somehow gotten close, slowly reached out his hand.
Then he brushed up Yoon Pa-ran’s hair, which was still wet. As his hand moved, the messy bangs were pushed back, revealing a pale forehead.
“Why did you come out without drying your hair? You’ll catch a cold.”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s wet fingertips felt very cold when they touched my ear. Yoon Pa-ran shot a sharp glance at Dan Joo-hyuk for touching him so casually.
Unexpectedly, his broad chest came into view, which was disconcerting. Feeling uncomfortable, Yoon Pa-ran tried to step back, but Dan Joo-hyuk had already started walking towards the kitchen.
“It’ll take some time, so sit on the living room sofa. You can watch TV if you want.”
There’s no need to prepare anything like that.
Before I could say that, Dan Joo-hyuk had disappeared into the kitchen. Having missed the timing to speak, Yoon Pa-ran wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.
I should have just gone home. Why did I fall for the offer of food?
“……”
After standing awkwardly in place for a while, Yoon Pa-ran reluctantly sat on the sofa. But as soon as he sat down, he frowned in discomfort.
Because of what had happened on this sofa before, sitting here wasn’t particularly comfortable.
In the end, he quickly stood up again. Although Dan Joo-hyuk had suggested it, he didn’t dare touch the expensive-looking giant TV.
As Yoon Pa-ran was anxiously pacing around the sofa, considering whether to just say he was leaving, his gaze unconsciously drifted beyond the living room terrace.
To the swimming pool, full of water even in this winter.
As if entranced, Yoon Pa-ran approached the terrace window and continued to observe the pool. It was a more proper pool than he had expected. The depth seemed just right too.
For some reason, something like a heat haze was rising from the water’s surface. He was curious about the reason but wasn’t sure if he was allowed to go outside to check.
After pondering for a moment, Yoon Pa-ran just sat down right in front of the terrace window and stared blankly at the pool.
“……”
If it were summer, he would have really wanted to go in.
Yoon Pa-ran observed the pool for a while with his chin rested on his hand. Maybe because his body was tired, the cold rising from the marble floor felt good, keeping him moderately awake.
“I told you to sit on the sofa, but you’re sitting on the floor of all places.”
Dan Joo-hyuk, who had returned at some point, spoke with a somewhat subtle voice.
It was hard to gauge exactly what emotion that voice contained. In any case, it didn’t seem to be a particularly positive tone, so Yoon Pa-ran awkwardly got up.
However, when he stood up and faced Dan Joo-hyuk, his face wore the usual kind smile.
“Do you like swimming?”
“Yeah.”
Yoon Pa-ran answered honestly without much thought.
Even before awakening as a hunter, he used to go to the neighborhood pool often. In summer, he would play with his siblings in a large basin filled with water in the orphanage’s backyard.
Then Dan Joo-hyuk showed unexpected kindness again.
“Come over and play when the weather gets a bit warmer.”
“Huh?”
“I keep it filled with warm water even now, but I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
The voice that was about to refuse as usual got oddly stuck in his throat.
That’s how tempting the swimming pool was. Honestly, the idea of having it all to himself without other people around was also exciting.
Being so awkwardly hesitant, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t manage to brush off Dan Joo-hyuk’s hand in time as it played with his earlobe. Dan Joo-hyuk lightly tapped Yoon Pa-ran’s cheek, which had stiffened with a very uncomfortable expression.
“Let’s go eat now. You can look around all you want later.”
“……”
Dan Joo-hyuk led the way with a somewhat deeper smile for some reason. When Yoon Pa-ran reflexively followed him, he naturally tried to wrap an arm around his waist to pull him closer.
Coming to his senses, Yoon Pa-ran pushed away his hand with disgust. He couldn’t understand why he was acting so flirtatiously again.
“Sit down. I prepared plenty.”
Entering the kitchen, a scene similar to last time greeted him. However, there was an apron on the counter, which raised some doubts.
After all, Dan Joo-hyuk was still walking around with his upper body bare.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Did he wear the apron in that state?
Since it was an incomprehensible act, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression became strange. Whatever Dan Joo-hyuk interpreted from that, he gently pulled Yoon Pa-ran’s shoulder to make him sit down.
“Eat quickly.”
On the table was the steak he had seen before. The white sauce that had suited his taste well was even separately prepared in abundance on an extra plate.
On one side was a tomato spaghetti that wasn’t there last time. Seeing that, Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously asked Dan Joo-hyuk.
“Did you make this too?”
“Yes. It was the only thing I could make quickly.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s gaze shifted again to the apron on the counter. Whenever he heard that Dan Joo-hyuk had cooked, he felt strange for some reason.
Anyway, Yoon Pa-ran quietly picked up his utensils. The savory smell of food greatly stimulated his appetite.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Although he had tried it before, his hand went to the spaghetti before the steak.
The tangy tomato sauce burst in his mouth. It was surprising how well it suited his taste, even though he usually didn’t enjoy spaghetti.
Our Min-woong likes spaghetti.
Thinking that fleetingly, Yoon Pa-ran continued eating silently. Then he looked to the side, feeling something odd.
Dan Joo-hyuk was again watching him without touching his own portion of food.
“What’s your favorite food?”
“……”
Before he could ask why he wasn’t eating, the question flew at him.
Taken aback by the sudden question, Yoon Pa-ran belatedly swallowed his food and answered.
“I eat everything well.”
“Is there anything you particularly enjoy?”
“Hmm……”
He put another piece of meat in his mouth. It took a little time to think since he really didn’t have any food he disliked.
Then he remembered the kimchi fried rice that Yoonseul occasionally made for him.
“Kimchi fried rice.”
“I’ll make it for you next time.”
“Oh……”
While answering reflexively, Yoon Pa-ran rolled his eyes.
Why is he doing this again? Does he want something after all?
He felt uneasy due to Dan Joo-hyuk’s behavior that had continued since the gate earlier. What big favor was he trying to ask this time?
After that, Dan Joo-hyuk quietly continued his meal beside him.
As soon as Yoon Pa-ran finished eating the given food diligently, he immediately stood up from his seat.
If he wanted to get some sleep and then meet Park Jung-hoon, he needed to move quickly. He felt extremely tired, perhaps because it had been a while since he’d been to an A-grade gate.
“I’m leaving now.”
“Wait a moment. I have something to give you.”
Then Dan Joo-hyuk stopped Yoon Pa-ran again. Even adding the puzzling words that he had something to give.
Dan Joo-hyuk, who had briefly disappeared to his room on the second floor, soon returned.
In his hand was a piece of white cloth.
“What’s that?”
While asking, Yoon Pa-ran was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu.
Especially since that white piece of cloth looked very familiar.
“See for yourself.”
With a sullen expression, Yoon Pa-ran received the item Dan Joo-hyuk handed over.
As expected, a status window that he had seen many times before immediately popped up.
[Forgotten Last Saint’s Pants S]
A relic of one who tried to save the world until the very end.
Filled with respect and love.
But as soon as he saw one word, Yoon Pa-ran’s brow furrowed.
“Pants…?”
[Forgotten Last Saint’s Pants S]
*The item has been exposed to death energy for a long time.
*A curse is embedded.
―All senses become three times more sensitive.
―When consuming aphrodisiacs, pleasure is felt five times more intensely.
―Reason and judgment are significantly reduced.
Then his gaze reached the end of the item window.
Seeing this list of insane curses, he could be certain. This was the last piece of the Saint’s set.
“Actually, there were two set items that came out of the Russian gate. It seems that items stuck together can be separated if you have [Sacred Energy].”
“…You had it from the beginning?”
Another shocking statement followed. His drowsy mind from the full meal suddenly cleared.
It was Dan Joo-hyuk after all. I should never let my guard down again.
“Just leave those underwear and wear these from now on. The defense is a bit lacking, but it’s uncomfortable, isn’t it?”
“……”
Ridiculously, if you just looked at the combination of abilities, it would be better to get the defense of the underwear. These pants had more of a function to increase concentration when activating skills.
Yoon Pa-ran was confident in his skill concentration. He had trained hard rolling around in various gates.
Of course, if the choice had been between underwear and pants, he would have chosen these pants.
“……”
It was clear that Dan Joo-hyuk had deliberately hidden the pants and only showed the underwear to tease him. The pervert’s intentions were obvious.
However, Yoon Pa-ran was more concerned about something else than being angry about that fact. Why did he give up on teasing now and hand over the pants?
What does he want in return for continuing to act so kindly?
“What do you want?”
With a grave face, Yoon Pa-ran eyed Dan Joo-hyuk warily. For some reason, Dan Joo-hyuk covered his mouth and showed a troubled expression at this reaction.
How big of a favor is he trying to ask?
As he swallowed dryly in tension, Dan Joo-hyuk soon met his gaze with smiling eyes.
“…Don’t go meet Hunter Park Jung-hoon.”
