#162
Even the combat rations Dan Joo-hyuk had eaten before were MOAS products. The gate entry underwear Yoon Pa-ran was wearing underneath, and the leggings and shoes that the Karma Guild people had custom-fitted as a set.
It seemed that if you were going to live as a hunter, you would inevitably use MOAS company products as a baseline.
Yet to call it a modest business—there were limits to humility. Lee Ha-min had said he volunteered for an A-rank gate to make money, but it was incomprehensible why he would need to do that.
Because of this, Yoon Pa-ran, who had become genuinely uncomfortable, said seriously:
“I don’t need any kind of reward.”
“I know.”
Lee Ha-min, who had been bustling with excitement earlier, spoke calmly with a suddenly composed expression.
Just then, sunlight breaking through the clouds draped between the two like a curtain.
“But my brother said he could give you what you need, Yoon Pa-ran Hunter.”
“……”
“Let’s meet him. Thanks to you, I survived and I’m even getting married.”
What could he possibly know about what Yoon Pa-ran needed? While harboring such vague doubts, Yoon Pa-ran stared at Lee Ha-min standing before him.
Well, it was certainly good to see him alive and well.
“Okay. I understand.”
In the end, Yoon Pa-ran glanced at his watch and accepted Lee Ha-min’s proposal.
The sunlight shone brightly on Lee Ha-min’s face, which was smiling with vibrant energy.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Hello, Hunter Yoon Pa-ran. I’m Lee Ha-jin.”
A moment later, Yoon Pa-ran, who was guided to Lee Ha-min’s hospital room, awkwardly bowed his head. Since it was called a hospital room, he thought they might meet in a place with many people, but when he entered, there were no other beds, just Lee Ha-min and his older brother.
Looking closely, it resembled the place where Yoon Pa-ran had woken up before. The hospital room where Dan Joo-hyuk had taken him looked like this. So this was what luxury hospital rooms looked like.
“Please speak comfortably. I’ve been worried since the youngest one insisted on becoming a hunter, but thanks to you, the whole family has been able to breathe easier.”
“Ah, brother!”
“Hmm……”
Lee Ha-min’s brother was a thin middle-aged man, so thin that he looked gaunt. The tailored suit that fit his body perfectly and his thin-framed glasses gave off a strong businessman vibe.
However, unlike his seemingly cold impression, Lee Ha-jin maintained a soft smile on his face.
“If you hadn’t taken care of our Ha-min, I don’t know what would have happened by now… Our parents also wanted to visit and thank you personally, but worried it might be uncomfortable for you, so I came as a representative.”
“No, that’s really not necessary……”
Until now, Yoon Pa-ran had thought of saving Lee Ha-min as just something he should have done, but for a while, he found himself at a loss for words as he observed the two. Not just Lee Ha-jin but also the mention of his parents made Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously touch his earlobe.
The family’s undisguised affection for Lee Ha-min was evident in just a few words, which was heartwarming to see.
Perhaps because of that, a feeling of awkwardness mixed with satisfaction belatedly surged up. It seemed like he was finally realizing what it meant to have saved someone’s family member.
However, because of that, Yoon Pa-ran straightened his posture and said:
“I don’t need a reward. I just saved him because I could.”
Lee Ha-jin opened his mouth as if he had something more to say. But before those words could come out, Yoon Pa-ran hastily continued.
He knew such words might create resentment, but he didn’t want to lie. Especially not to someone who had so many caring family members.
“…If I thought it was beyond my abilities, I wouldn’t have tried to save him. So you don’t have to go this far.”
After finishing, Yoon Pa-ran glanced at Lee Ha-min. He was a bit concerned that Lee Ha-min, who had been acting like Yoon Pa-ran was some great benefactor, might be upset.
However, both Lee Ha-min and Lee Ha-jin merely smiled even more deeply.
“That’s what we’re grateful for, Hunter.”
“My memory is a bit hazy after I was stabbed, but I don’t think you left me behind as readily as you’re suggesting.”
They were brothers who just wouldn’t listen. In the end, Yoon Pa-ran had to awkwardly scratch the back of his head.
“I would like to give you anything, but it seems that’s not the direction you want to go.”
“Right.”
“Then how about I provide you with information? I heard you’ve been quite busy recently.”
As Yoon Pa-ran appeared to have somewhat given up, Lee Ha-jin casually broached the subject. It seemed he was determined to offer some form of compensation.
Thinking that receiving information wouldn’t be bad, Yoon Pa-ran showed interest.
“Do you know something?”
“When you’re in business, information naturally comes your way.”
How much could he ask? At times like this, he missed Dan Joo-hyuk’s presence. Should he call and ask?
After consideration, Yoon Pa-ran decided to at least get some general information. If he remembered what Lee Ha-jin said and relayed it to Dan Joo-hyuk, they could figure out what to investigate further.
“Is anything strange happening at the gates recently?”
Of course, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t have high expectations. His main thought was to just accept the information as repayment for the favor.
However, after briefly considering Yoon Pa-ran’s question, Lee Ha-jin eventually turned to Lee Ha-min and said:
“Ha-min, step outside for a moment.”
“Brother, this is my hospital room.”
“Quickly.”
“Okay…”
Even after Lee Ha-min left the hospital room, Lee Ha-jin fiddled with his lips for a while. Since the response was quite heavy for what had been a light question, Yoon Pa-ran quietly rolled his eyes.
What story is he going to tell?
“Originally, I was going to provide information suitable for investments or about other hunters.”
“Hmm.”
Such information would have been useful for Dan Joo-hyuk. But it wasn’t helpful for Yoon Pa-ran.
“You’re more trustworthy than I expected, Hunter Yoon, so the decision is easy.”
“What kind of information is it?”
“Before I tell you, this is a matter on which our company’s fate depends, so I would appreciate your confidentiality.”
As the subsequent words became increasingly serious, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression hardened in response. If it was that level of information, it might be better for his well-being not to hear it.
Before he could voice that thought, Lee Ha-jin spoke in a solemn voice:
“Recently, the quantity of gate by-products has been decreasing.”
It was something that didn’t make sense at first glance.
“What?”
“With gates increasing so much, it’s strange, isn’t it?”
“……”
The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Since the system announcement, the number of gates had nearly doubled. By simple calculation, the amount of monster by-products should have doubled as well.
Yet what Lee Ha-jin said was the opposite.
How could that be?
“At the company level, we’re taking this matter seriously. The prevailing opinion is that it’s a temporary phenomenon following the system announcement, but we’re worried it might continue.”
“Ah……”
“The government has probably noticed something odd, but they don’t know exactly what yet. We’re trying to meet the demand by releasing our reserves.”
That kind of information definitely wouldn’t be circulating publicly. As Yoon Pa-ran gently furrowed his brow, trying to guess the cause:
Leaning slightly toward Yoon Pa-ran, Lee Ha-jin continued in a rigid voice:
“In fact, what decisively made us realize this was something ‘strange’ was because of Ha-min.”
“Why?”
“…Didn’t you find something odd about the gate you entered with Ha-min? Not the gate’s anomaly, but the composition of the hunter roster.”
Hearing that, Yoon Pa-ran had a suspicion. As soon as he had introduced himself to Lee Ha-min, he had thought that Lee Ha-min was too much of a novice C-rank hunter to enter an A-rank gate.
“I did think he seemed like he hadn’t been a hunter for long…”
“Exactly. Our family kept urging Ha-min to start with safer gates, but that kid secretly entered that gate after just hearing about a good opportunity from the Gate Management Office.”
“Ah……”
“He said he wanted to prove he could earn money on his own to get permission to marry.”
So that’s why Lee Ha-min had entered the gate saying he would make money.
It was a dangerous act nonetheless. Recalling the incident, anger flashed across Lee Ha-jin’s face. Thinking that he too would be furious if his siblings did something so dangerous, Yoon Pa-ran quietly nodded his head.
“But Hunter, Ha-min has been receiving continuous contacts recently.”
“What contacts?”
“Contacts asking him to return. The contact person keeps recommending several gates, saying they’re good opportunities.”
That was truly strange, causing Yoon Pa-ran to frown seriously.
“Considering his injury aftereffects, shouldn’t this be a period of rest?”
Though they hadn’t informed the Gate Management Office, Lee Ha-min had been controlled by that bizarre power. So Yoon Pa-ran had submitted a report emphasizing the risk of injury aftereffects due to Lee Ha-min’s severe injuries.
There shouldn’t be major issues since he had purified him with his own power, but it was better to be cautious. Even without that, he couldn’t understand why they were urging an early return to a high-risk hunter who still had an IV drip.
It was almost as if there was a reason they absolutely needed to push Lee Ha-min into a gate.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
