#179
Although all visible wounds had been healed with potions, Dan Joo-hyuk’s injuries actually required several more days of recovery. Though bones and flesh had been mended immediately, he definitely needed to rest for a few days to avoid complications.
After-effects of injuries often came when one let their guard down.
Besides, even after wounds disappeared, the pain often lingered in those areas. Considering the filthy energy that had filled the area around the great gate, that might have caused problems.
“Hmm.”
Yoon Pa-ran simply let Dan Joo-hyuk be as he clung close without any intention of moving away. He was thinking that if Dan’s condition seemed to worsen, he should quickly transfer his skill to him.
“So, did you hear why they moved up the timing?”
“Yeah. The first axis we purified seems to have been the problem. Remember? That shield item. They were apparently trying to create a new backup axis, which was probably the item with Park Jung-hoon.”
As Yoon Pa-ran naturally changed the subject, Dan Joo-hyuk rested his head on Yoon Pa-ran’s shoulder while speaking. His voice, getting increasingly closer, felt somewhat ticklish.
Really, who told him to do something so reckless?
Yoon Pa-ran had missed the timing to scold Dan Joo-hyuk for his dangerous actions. But since Yoon Pa-ran had also jumped in relying only on an unidentified skill, it was difficult to say much more.
Still, he thought he should take the opportunity soon to tell him never to do such things again.
Anyway, while listening to Dan Joo-hyuk’s continuing explanation, Yoon Pa-ran slightly furrowed his brow. He had wondered why Kim Tae-jun was carrying two axes alone, but apparently it was because everyone who was supposed to share the work had died.
“Among the dead hunters, there were several who seemed deeply involved in some kind of cult-like religion.”
“I see…”
Even just hearing the explanation, it didn’t sound like a normal death, which left him feeling uneasy in many ways.
In any case, it was fortunate that he had the ability to purify these axes. It was easy to guess that if all four axes had remained intact, an even stronger great gate would have emerged.
By the way, a new backup axis? It seemed that even if he purified the axis items, they could be created again. The fact that there might be quite a few of these ominous objects was concerning.
Could something like this happen again?
“Just as a quest appeared for us, it seems some kind of special status window appeared for people like Lee Tae-jung. Although we can’t blindly believe what he said, it was apparently a quest to go to places like China and bring back ‘special items.'”
“Were those the axis items?”
“Yes. There are more people besides Lee Tae-jung who are presumed to have received such quests. They were all subdued after causing disturbances at different gates on the day the great gate appeared.”
This was information he had heard once before. He had thought something was suspicious, and sure enough, there was a connection.
Since the great gate closed, new gates rarely appeared in the metropolitan area. It was a significantly smaller number compared to before the system announcement, so everyone was on edge. Although it was probably a temporary phenomenon, it seemed things might be a bit quieter for a while.
So he needed to ask Dan Joo-hyuk about that while they had some downtime.
As this thought suddenly occurred to him, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression subtly hardened. Then, Dan Joo-hyuk, who had abruptly put more weight on him, pushed him down.
“So.”
“Huh?”
Since he didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking, Yoon Pa-ran allowed himself to be pushed. The feeling of the wide sofa supporting his back was familiar.
“What have you been wanting to say that you’ve been hesitating about?”
“Ah.”
Dan Joo-hyuk, with both arms propped on the sofa, looked down and asked. It was surprising how he had noticed that Yoon Pa-ran had been pondering something.
Anyway, he had an important favor to ask him today.
“The Minister of Special Administration and Safety called me.”
“I know.”
“They’re going to secure more safe zone statues and experiment with creating more safe zones in reality.”
“And?”
It was an experiment he would have to do alone anyway. Ultimately, it would be good if safe zones could be established in reality too.
In this situation, the government had officially contacted him. He was willing to cooperate, but Yoon Pa-ran now clearly understood the situation he was in.
Many people would be after this power of his from now on.
So it could be dangerous. No, it would definitely become dangerous. And if he collapsed before gaining proper strength, the orphanage would also be in danger.
That’s why Yoon Pa-ran needed Dan Joo-hyuk.
“Help me stay safe. I’ll do anything in return.”
“…”
However, for some reason, as soon as he said this, Dan Joo-hyuk’s face hardened.
Perhaps it wasn’t an appealing proposal?
Dan Joo-hyuk, who had been acting as if he might pounce at any moment, slowly raised himself. Seeing his serious expression, Yoon Pa-ran also sat up straight.
After some silence, Dan Joo-hyuk finally spoke quietly.
His voice strangely sounded like a sigh.
“I don’t need anything in return.”
Why doesn’t he need anything?
It was puzzling, but this had happened several times before. Since he now roughly understood Dan Joo-hyuk’s intentions, Yoon Pa-ran carefully chose his words.
Just then, Dan Joo-hyuk raised the corners of his mouth again and spoke playfully.
“We’re not just that kind of relationship, are we?”
“Even among friends, it’s a bit much to ask with nothing in return.”
While grateful for his sentiment, this time it would be a different scale of matter. It was fortunate that the Korean government was friendly to hunters; if it had been a country where hunters were treated poorly, he might have already been locked up in some government underground facility.
Dan Joo-hyuk was S-rank and strong, but he would likely face many unpleasant situations ahead. So even among close friends, he felt bad asking for something so significant without offering anything in return, but Dan’s reaction was strange.
“…Are we friends?”
He asked with an expression even more rigid than before. His voice was so low it gave Yoon Pa-ran goosebumps, making him rub the back of his neck for no reason.
He had thought they were at least friends by now, but apparently he was mistaken.
“…Colleagues?”
“Think again.”
“Alright.”
Faced with Dan Joo-hyuk’s increasingly cold interjection, Yoon Pa-ran nodded dejectedly. It suddenly occurred to him that since they were already bound by a contract, even Dan Joo-hyuk might find it burdensome.
Finally judging this to be an indirect refusal, Yoon Pa-ran slowly stood up. Staying longer would seem like forcing the request.
“…”
Strangely, he didn’t feel very good. What was this feeling?
Unable to understand the reason, Yoon Pa-ran deliberately composed his expression as if nothing was wrong.
“I’ll get going. I think I’ll be busy.”
“Mr. Yoon Pa-ran.”
Yoon Pa-ran headed toward the entrance, apparently intending to go straight home.
Dan Joo-hyuk urgently grabbed Yoon Pa-ran, who had a composed expression. His throat burned as if he had ignited flames incorrectly. A desperate feeling stabbed at his chest, making it difficult to even swallow.
It was clear that Yoon Pa-ran had taken his previous words as a refusal. Both the assumption that he would refuse and the ridiculous “friend” comment… and Yoon Pa-ran’s attitude of being unfazed by that refusal.
Everything was choking Dan Joo-hyuk.
“…I didn’t mean that I won’t help.”
“Really?”
Only then did Yoon Pa-ran turn around. Even at this small gesture, Dan Joo-hyuk became easily excited.
After a moment of frustration dulled his body, he also felt somewhat annoyed.
If he refused here, who else would Yoon Pa-ran go to for help?
“Why do you think I refused? In the first place, who else is there besides me?”
“Hmm. That’s…”
Unable to contain his rising impatience, Dan Joo-hyuk opened his mouth just as Yoon Pa-ran rolled his eyes and began to speak. Afraid that the name of someone like Heo Sang-yeon might come from those delicate lips, Dan Joo-hyuk gritted his teeth and implored.
“Anyone who says they’ll help you with this besides me is a con artist, so don’t trust them carelessly.”
“Hmm.”
“Why aren’t you answering? You know how serious your situation is right now.”
“Yes.”
Only after his urgent prodding did Yoon Pa-ran nod.
Just as Dan Joo-hyuk felt relieved by this, Yoon Pa-ran’s next words gave him a sense of helplessness.
“If you ever need my help later, I’ll definitely help you too. If you need something else in return, you can tell me.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes sparkled as usual. Sincerely, as if he was grateful that Dan Joo-hyuk was helping him even though he didn’t have to.
Dan Joo-hyuk knew well that these words came from his soft-hearted goodwill.
He also knew well that fundamentally, the relationship between them was a contractual one.
“…”
Seeing him use the word “friend,” Dan Joo-hyuk knew that Yoon Pa-ran no longer thought of their relationship simply as a contract. However, the premonition that the constraints of the contract would forever entangle their relationship came to him terribly.
The most maddening thing was that it was entirely his own doing that had made Yoon Pa-ran think so firmly this way from the beginning.
“I said I don’t need anything in return.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you.”
Despite repeatedly saying that he didn’t need anything in return, Yoon Pa-ran looked bewildered. Not knowing where to begin untangling this knotted thread, Dan Joo-hyuk moved his dry lips.
Finally, he carefully voiced what he had been thinking about for some time. Holding onto the hope that at least Yoon Pa-ran had moved beyond considering them “people who won’t see each other after the contract ends.”
“How about we end our contract now?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
