#161
On the surface, Dan Joo-hyuk’s forehead looked fine. His dark eyebrows and the bridge of his nose beneath them were all perfectly smooth as usual.
But after seeing this situation repeat several times, Yoon Pa-ran finally realized.
Dan Joo-hyuk must have suffered a serious head injury!
In truth, Yoon Pa-ran had been feeling quite displeased by Dan Joo-hyuk’s suspicious attitude recently. However, the more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t understand why he felt that way.
As his initial emotions gradually faded, different thoughts began to emerge. Did Dan Joo-hyuk even have anything to gain from him that was worth promising future compensation?
It was an extremely practical assessment, excluding emotions. Though it was frustrating not being able to understand Dan Joo-hyuk’s intentions any better.
But today, seeing the S-class item that had landed in his hands like a discarded piece of cloth, he could tell. Something was definitely wrong with Dan Joo-hyuk.
“It was originally stronger, but when I purified it with your power, it turned white and seems to have lost some performance.”
Dan Joo-hyuk continued speaking, ignoring Yoon Pa-ran’s questions.
“Still, it’s useful enough—it completely masked my presence until Heo Sang-yeon attacked me from behind. I’ve confirmed there’s no curse on it. I’m giving it to you, so use it.”
“…”
At the Linked Anomaly Gate, when Yoon Pa-ran had purified a shield embedded in the wall, it had turned white. The fact that something similar had happened again was important information, but he couldn’t focus on that right now.
When Yoon Pa-ran continued to stare persistently without answering, Dan Joo-hyuk smirked.
“I didn’t hit my head.”
“…Then why are you doing this?”
Yoon Pa-ran thought he could understand the Ju-hee necklace. Though they’d only met briefly, seeing how Min-woong occasionally sought out Dan Joo-hyuk, it seemed he knew how to leave a good impression on children.
But the anklet still on his ankle, the longsword from the Russian gate, and now an S-class consumable item—it was too much. The items that kept coming into his possession without any cost almost felt like a debt.
It seemed clear that Dan Joo-hyuk wasn’t trying to get something more from him. Yoon Pa-ran didn’t have anything worth giving as payment, and honestly, besides his skill, he couldn’t think of anything Dan Joo-hyuk might target.
And even that skill, wasn’t Dan Joo-hyuk already taking it well? Just yesterday, too.
“It’s my choice.”
“…Huh?”
Just when his thoughts were becoming so complicated that his head felt like it would burst, Dan Joo-hyuk blurted out.
Now leaning with both arms on the steering wheel, Dan Joo-hyuk turned his head slightly to look at Yoon Pa-ran.
“I just want to give it to you because I think you’ll need it. I didn’t want to take payment for every little thing.”
“Huh?”
“Is there a problem?”
His tone almost sounded confrontational. But the content was so unexpected that Yoon Pa-ran could only repeatedly utter “Huh?” like he was malfunctioning.
Dan Joo-hyuk lowered his gaze briefly and blinked a few times. Yoon Pa-ran fixed his eyes on that sight as if entranced.
Soon Dan Joo-hyuk raised his head again, and their eyes met straight on. His black pupils wavered with heat as if he were using a skill.
“I told you before.”
“…”
“That I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s heart suddenly announced its presence with a thump. Why was he feeling this way all of a sudden?
He was somewhat taken aback by Dan Joo-hyuk’s direct expression. Probably, he meant that if Yoon Pa-ran were injured, he wouldn’t be able to get his skill, which would cause problems… but wasn’t this way of putting it a little too ticklish?
Of course, Yoon Pa-ran was perceptive enough not to interpret Dan Joo-hyuk’s words the same way as before. While the skill was likely the main concern, as colleagues, Dan Joo-hyuk probably cared somewhat about his well-being too. That’s why he kept giving him these excessive items.
…Maybe that’s why he didn’t feel bad about it.
“O…kay. But I’ll return it once this is over. I appreciate it, but it’s S-class.”
Rubbing his neck vigorously, Yoon Pa-ran managed to answer. He felt like he could hear his arms creaking with every movement.
And he suddenly realized the reason why he so perfectly understood Dan Joo-hyuk’s concern right now.
Yoon Pa-ran also wanted Dan Joo-hyuk to avoid getting hurt if possible. Not just because of their contractual relationship, but because he had grown somewhat fond of him, despite everything.
At this point, could they be called friends? Recently, when the kids asked if Dan Joo-hyuk was his friend, he had wondered why the question bothered him so much—maybe this was the reason.
“…Alright.”
Dan Joo-hyuk reluctantly agreed to Yoon Pa-ran’s insistence on returning the item.
Avoiding eye contact while saying this, Yoon Pa-ran looked quite troubled. Dan Joo-hyuk felt a slight regret, wondering if his attempt to emphasize that all this was without compensation had backfired and caused resentment instead.
For the past few days, Dan Joo-hyuk had not been in a good mood.
He found it unpleasant to keep losing time due to consecutive incidents. He was also bothered by Yoon Pa-ran’s resistance to items he offered without compensation.
Yesterday was the same. After finishing work, Dan Joo-hyuk contacted Yoon Pa-ran to exchange information.
Without asking for the exact reason, Yoon Pa-ran came to his house. Dan Joo-hyuk easily realized that this was entirely driven by the thought that he needed to provide his skill as payment.
The problem was that Dan Joo-hyuk had used up all of Yoon Pa-ran’s skill in the battle with Heo Sang-yeon. Unlike his previous excuses, the skill was truly depleted, which made Dan Joo-hyuk worry.
Thinking about future matters, he felt he should have Yoon Pa-ran’s power within him, but how would Yoon Pa-ran take it if he asked to share the skill now?
Things went awry as he expected. Today too, when he deliberately gave Yoon Pa-ran an item because he was anxious about sending him alone, the response was not good at all.
Never having contemplated this kind of issue in his life, Dan Joo-hyuk was adrift to an uncontrollable degree. The heightened vigilance after the battle with Heo Sang-yeon made him increasingly impatient.
Especially when he looked at that white face.
When he thought about where Yoon Pa-ran’s existence might have been disclosed, he felt like destroying everything in sight and hiding together in a bunker.
“…I have a bad feeling. Be careful.”
“I will.”
The hunter’s specialized hospital would have decent security. With that item, Yoon Pa-ran should be able to buy enough time to contact him.
Having made this judgment, Dan Joo-hyuk started the car. However, throughout the drive to drop Yoon Pa-ran at the hospital, his anxiety didn’t easily subside.
His heart, which had been beating fiercely at the sight of Yoon Pa-ran since some point, was clearly warning him of this unease.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Hmm.”
Arriving at the hospital, Yoon Pa-ran crossed his arms and looked up at the large hospital building.
After dropping him off here, Dan Joo-hyuk went to Kim Sin-cheol. Throughout the journey, Dan Joo-hyuk had seemed strangely downcast. He smiled gently as usual and repeatedly told him to use the item if there was danger, but somehow it felt odd.
Was it because Yoon Pa-ran said he would return the item? He wanted to show his gratitude by making sure to leave some uses when returning it.
Anyway, Yoon Pa-ran looked around at the hospital entrance, searching for a sign. Based on information brought by the Fish Cutlet Guild people, he planned to spy on a few hunters who were still bedridden due to injury aftereffects. If no one was watching, he might even try purifying them with his skill.
But before he could move from looking at the sign, he sensed someone approaching quickly.
“Hunter Yoon Pa-ran!”
“Hm? Oh.”
The voice sounded familiar—it was Lee Ha-min.
He was wearing patient clothes and holding an IV stand with one hand. Though clearly a patient, his complexion was surprisingly good.
“Looks like you’re recovering well.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
He answered brightly as he approached Yoon Pa-ran. Seeing Lee Ha-min so visibly pleased to see him, Yoon Pa-ran awkwardly nodded.
“I got a call from Hunter Na Young-mo. He said you might come soon, so I’ve been waiting.”
Lee Ha-min had been quite talkative inside the gate, and he remained the same. Yoon Pa-ran could tell from how naturally he stood beside him, making conversation.
Seeing Lee Ha-min outside the gate, he gave an even younger impression than before. At that time, Yoon Pa-ran had been quite tense, so he hadn’t had the chance to observe him carefully.
In any case, Yoon Pa-ran cleared his throat once and spoke with difficulty. It seemed Na Young-mo had misunderstood something and informed Lee Ha-min about the time Yoon Pa-ran would be coming to the hospital.
“Um, actually, I didn’t come to see you.”
“I know. You ignored all the messages our secretary sent.”
However, Lee Ha-min nodded as if he had expected this.
Yoon Pa-ran remembered receiving persistent messages. But after confirming that Lee Ha-min couldn’t remember anything after being stabbed, he stopped paying attention. He never intended to receive any compensation. But wait—secretary?
“My brother wants to meet Hunter Yoon Pa-ran and is briefly at the hospital. Is your time okay?”
“Huh? No, there’s no need for that…”
“Oh! My brother told me to make sure to give you his business card. Here.”
Lee Ha-min spoke hurriedly. Seeing that Yoon Pa-ran was about to refuse indirectly, he anxiously reorganized his IV tube and fumbled through his hospital gown pocket.
Caught up in his earnest attitude, Yoon Pa-ran finally accepted the business card.
“My brother runs a small business.”
After reading the card, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression slightly stiffened.
“Hmm.”
Despite being called “small,” the business card Lee Ha-min handed over had a company name that looked very familiar.
[MOAS CEO Lee Ha-jin]
Wasn’t this the largest company in the gate industry…?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
