#147 Chapter 10: The S-Class Catastrophe Triggered
Noh Won-min exhaled roughly as he ran wildly.
“Huk, huh-uk. Huk.”
Tremendous pain surged through his thighs. But the fear clinging to his back kept pushing him forward.
Why was I running away like this again?
“Ah. Huh-uk, huk…”
Fortunately, after taking several deep breaths, he remembered why. No, saying he “remembered” wasn’t quite right.
More precisely, Noh Won-min was afraid because he couldn’t remember many things.
“Kuk, ku-heuk.”
Lately, there were strangely many things he couldn’t remember.
While handling tasks the Elder had assigned, he would suddenly come to his senses and realize he couldn’t remember how he left home and arrived at work that morning. He had reserved movie tickets for the weekend but never went. Yet when he tried to recall what he did instead, he couldn’t remember that either.
This was truly strange for someone who double-checked all his schedules on both his phone and calendar. Especially for Noh Won-min, who had developed an almost obsessive schedule management due to Secretary Kang, these gaps kept raising alarm bells.
Secretary Kang, whom he served as a superior, was originally a fastidious person, but right before committing suicide, he became truly demonic. Even the slightest mistake would result in fierce reprimands, so Noh Won-min had no choice but to live obsessively monitoring every minute and second.
Anyway, after Secretary Kang’s death, Noh Won-min was transferred under the Elder. He couldn’t understand why someone who had just been doing odd jobs was suddenly transferred to the secretarial office.
From then on, the memory gaps began to appear occasionally. One day, as the uneasiness gradually grew, it happened. While carrying documents on his way to another building, Noh Won-min suddenly came to his senses in the blazing sunlight.
Where was I going with these papers just now?
Nothing came to mind, to a disturbing degree. Goosebumps started spreading from his back throughout his entire body. Cold sweat drenched his shirt.
From that moment, Noh Won-min dashed into the street and began running.
The street scenery filled with green and red bulbs and Christmas decorations finally registered in his mind. People’s faces looked happy enough to easily tell Christmas was approaching.
That too made Noh Won-min’s skin crawl.
When did it become late December? I need to escape before the new year.
Why?
A metallic taste rose in his throat, but Noh Won-min continued running through the streets. Even while running, the fear wouldn’t subside.
He was terrified of waking up and finding himself back in “that room” again. Though he couldn’t even properly remember what “that room” was.
It was an exceptionally sunny day. The clean winter sunlight pierced down on Noh Won-min’s crown all day long.
I need to go where there are many people. Somewhere as bright as possible, with living people.
Noh Won-min kept moving based on this instinctual judgment. However, despite being drenched in sweat from the sun, the fear he felt when thinking about the Elder wouldn’t disappear.
The smiling faces of people on the street somehow looked strangely distorted.
❖ ❖ ❖
Christmas night passed in a blur, and morning dawned.
“Yoon Pa-ran.”
Yoon Pa-ran sharply raised his head at the voice calling him. He had just put on clothes but somehow felt weak and had plopped down on the bed.
Dan Joo-hyuk was leaning against the bedroom door—he must have arrived at some point. Since he’d been walking around shirtless for a while, Yoon Pa-ran quickly lowered his gaze to the floor.
Thanks to that, his drowsy mind seemed to forcefully snap back to attention.
“Oh.”
“Let’s eat breakfast before you go.”
“…”
It was a dubious proposition. But at the same time, it was appealing. He was too hungry to refuse.
I didn’t even get to taste the cake yesterday.
The memory of sweet sensations passing from mouth to mouth flashed through his mind. Since it was an embarrassing memory to recall first thing in the morning, Yoon Pa-ran frowned. Though still lacking energy, he forced himself to get up.
I should just go home quickly.
“Let’s go downstairs.”
“I…”
“I’ve prepared everything.”
“Huh…?”
Breakfast is already prepared?
Before he could finish speaking, Dan Joo-hyuk approached with large strides. As his upper body drew closer, Yoon Pa-ran hastily looked away.
Seizing the opportunity, Dan Joo-hyuk reached out and randomly rubbed Yoon Pa-ran’s cheek.
“Ugh.”
“How are you feeling?”
The sensation tickling his skin fully woke him up. From yesterday until waking up today, this was truly an outrage like no other.
When he opened his eyes, Dan Joo-hyuk’s large frame was nestled against his bare chest. As if his conscience was truly damaged, he was using someone else’s body as a pillow.
When their eyes met, he very brazenly even smiled, his eye corners curving upward.
‘Are you awake?’
Hearing those words, Yoon Pa-ran immediately bolted upright. But then he had to abruptly stop moving.
It felt as if every bone in his spine had separated like blocks and then reassembled. There was also a slight pain deep inside his abdomen, as if bruised.
This was in contrast to how he usually woke up feeling completely fine, as if nothing had happened. The memory right before losing consciousness finally returned.
This guy, did he really… to my sleeping body…
‘Put some clothes on.’
While Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t bring himself to ask the truth, Dan Joo-hyuk spoke softly and left the bed. His lips naturally touched Yoon Pa-ran’s cheek before disappearing, making it even harder to speak.
Afterward, Yoon Pa-ran mechanically picked up and put on his clothes in a half-dazed state. At first, he intended to shower, but with every movement, his waist kept giving out. It seemed like he needed more rest for his body to fully recover.
Fortunately or unfortunately, his body wasn’t grimy but surprisingly fresh. As if Dan Joo-hyuk had personally washed him while he was unconscious.
This feeling is very strange.
“Hmm, no response.”
While rapidly recalling the morning’s events, Dan Joo-hyuk abruptly thrust his face close while caressing Yoon Pa-ran’s cheek. Afraid their lips might touch, Yoon Pa-ran startled and closed his eyes.
Contrary to expectations, what met was not his lips but his forehead.
“Ugh…”
“You don’t seem to be in good shape. No fever though… Want to drink a potion?”
Curled up, Yoon Pa-ran finally came to his senses at the mention of a potion and opened his eyes wide.
Hurriedly backing away from Dan Joo-hyuk, his strength suddenly gave out from his thighs.
“Ugh.”
“Oh no.”
Dan Joo-hyuk quickly caught Yoon Pa-ran’s body as if there was never any distance between them. Reflexively, Yoon Pa-ran grasped the arm supporting his waist.
It was truly a pathetic situation. For his body to be so unrecovered—this only happened occasionally when he cleared gates consecutively.
Of course, he had no intention whatsoever of using a potion for something like this.
“Why would I use a potion for this?”
Dan Joo-hyuk had clearly just been making a suggestion. Ignoring that empty remark, Yoon Pa-ran pushed him away.
By straining his entire body, he could avoid looking as pathetic as before. However, with each step out of the bedroom, his poor physical condition was evident.
His unusual state bothered him. Had he become weaker from overexerting himself recently?
At that moment, Dan Joo-hyuk, who was following close behind, made an unexpected comment.
“The skill’s side effects might be strong today. Eat something and rest a bit more.”
“Skill side effects? Your absorption skill?”
Quickly turning around, he saw Dan Joo-hyuk naturally reaching out. By now, the sensation of him gently rubbing his earlobe felt almost familiar.
“Yes. I also gained a new sub-skill yesterday. You’re probably having a harder time because of that.”
“Ah…”
At his quiet explanation, Yoon Pa-ran remembered having experienced something similar before. Was it when Dan Joo-hyuk’s skill reached 60%?
This time, he didn’t want to ask what percentage had been filled. In any case, having a clear reason for his unusual state brought some relief.
“Interestingly, it says it can be used bidirectionally. Did you see anything on your status window?”
“Bidirectionally?”
At those words, Yoon Pa-ran opened his status window and examined it thoroughly. It was certainly interesting that he could use Dan Joo-hyuk’s skill.
[Stealthy Extorter S—Lover’s Call]
: Each time the absorption rate exceeds 90%, one usage count accumulates.
—Bidirectional use possible.
Current accumulated uses: 1/1 time
However, from the skill description alone, it was impossible to know exactly what function it served. Given the limitation of just one use, it must be quite good.
Anyway, between the bizarre name and everything else, it didn’t seem like something he would use, so Yoon Pa-ran calmly closed the status window.
“It did appear, but I don’t know what it is.”
“Well, we can experiment together slowly.”
Dan Joo-hyuk whispered from too close a distance. Shrugging his shoulders once to shake him off, Yoon Pa-ran continued walking.
“Be careful on the stairs.”
Disregarding Yoon Pa-ran’s attitude, Dan Joo-hyuk stuck close and spoke softly again. This time, his arm had somehow invaded Yoon Pa-ran’s waist, carefully trying to support him to the point of being ticklish.
“…”
This Dan Joo-hyuk felt somewhat unfamiliar to Yoon Pa-ran. While acting as he pleased certainly resembled his usual self… there was something strangely more flirtatious about it.
Since they both knew that a hunter of his caliber wouldn’t die even falling headfirst from here, this seemed excessive.
“I get it, so back off.”
With that meaning, he pushed Dan Joo-hyuk away slightly, but instead, he pressed his body even closer.
“I pushed you hard, so I’ll take responsibility.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
