#189
At those words, Dan Joo-hyuk directed his gaze straight at the guy for the first time.
Yoon Pa-ran, who had been answering casually, also looked at Kwak Jung-min with a surprised expression.
“Hey, you! Didn’t I tell you to stop that!”
Sensing the atmosphere, Kwak Sang-wook immediately smacked the back of his nephew’s head. The clear sound of the hit revealed how genuinely he had struck him.
“Ow, what was that for!”
Kwak Jung-min clutched his head, looking utterly wronged.
Regardless of his nephew’s reaction, Kwak Sang-wook hurriedly began explaining to everyone around them.
“No, please don’t misunderstand. My nephew is just a bit immature.”
“Didn’t I tell you to tear up that flyer? Why did you bring another one?!”
Na Young-mo, who was standing nearby, shouted in surprise.
From the conversation, it seemed this wasn’t the first time Kwak Jung-min had done something strange.
“Flyer?”
Yoon Pa-ran particularly remembered that Kwak Jung-min had previously brought in a cult flyer.
Is he just naturally susceptible to these things?
“No, this one is real! Quite a few people believe in it.”
“You fool. That guy Kim Tae-jun was running a cult, and you still believe in weird things even after being duped?”
Several of the hunters around them nodded at Kwak Sang-wook’s outburst.
However, Kwak Jung-min looked around incredulously and exclaimed.
“Come on, this is frustrating. When you can create safe zones in reality just by having these sacred figures, how is this a strange religion?!”
“That’s…!”
Surprisingly, at the mention of “safe zones,” the atmosphere changed mysteriously in an instant. Some even openly glanced at Yoon Pa-ran.
Yoon Pa-ran himself frowned, finding it all absurd.
Na Young-mo, finally regaining his composure, countered Kwak Jung-min’s claim.
“They’re probably worshipping something other than the true Sacred Energy!”
“No, they’re not.”
Suddenly, Kwak Jung-min turned to Yoon Pa-ran as if seeking help.
“Please say something, Hunter.”
Yoon Pa-ran’s face crumpled with disbelief.
He could understand people looking for something to rely on now that safe zones had suddenly appeared in reality. However, Yoon Pa-ran could speak more clearly about this issue than anyone else.
If Sacred Energy truly wanted to spread a religion, it would have sent a quest to him of all people. After all, he was the “Disciple of the Sacred God.”
But even if such a quest appeared, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t want to bother with it. Especially if the penalty was listed as “None.”
Even if Sacred Energy was truly a god, it clearly wasn’t a normal one. Yoon Pa-ran didn’t even want to imagine what kind of doctrines such a religion would have.
“Stop believing in strange things. They’re all cults. All of them.”
So Yoon Pa-ran firmly rebuked Kwak Jung-min. His expression hardened even more as he recalled the skill [For Sacred Living S] that had appeared for him.
“…You think so?”
Amusingly, Kwak Jung-min seemed to be swayed by Yoon Pa-ran’s words.
Just moments ago, he had warned against believing anyone carelessly, yet here he was.
“You pathetic fool. Turn in your hunter license.”
“Come on, uncle! We’re already short on hunters!”
Kwak Sang-wook hit Kwak Jung-min’s head again. Regardless, the strange atmosphere seemed to clear up thanks to Yoon Pa-ran’s declaration.
“…”
Dan Joo-hyuk continued to observe the scene with a cold expression.
Now crazy people trying to idolize Yoon Pa-ran were appearing. Considering that Yoon Pa-ran truly was the “Disciple of the Sacred God,” this couldn’t be dismissed as mere delusion.
At this rate, a religion worshipping Yoon Pa-ran as a god or religious leader might actually emerge.
Dan Joo-hyuk strongly disliked these uncontrollable situations. They all appeared to him as potential factors that could put Yoon Pa-ran in danger.
Since becoming aware of his feelings, it was as if a new skill had developed – one that detected every glance and interest directed at Yoon Pa-ran.
He had an intense urge to kill everyone and eliminate the cause. And this wasn’t even during an S-rank syndrome outbreak.
Just then, Yoon Pa-ran suddenly turned to him with a clear face.
“Oh, right. Come over here.”
“Yes.”
His body moved before he could even think. Dan Joo-hyuk, who had been preparing to approach Yoon Pa-ran anyway, strode quickly to his side.
The hunters hastily cleared a path as he walked. As soon as the distance closed, Yoon Pa-ran lightly pulled on his arm.
As the attack team continued forward, the two naturally fell behind. As the distance increased, everyone seemed curious about what the two might be discussing, but when Dan Joo-hyuk gave them a cold glance, their gazes quickly disappeared.
Only when they were far enough that no one could hear them did Dan Joo-hyuk look steadily at Yoon Pa-ran.
“What is it?”
“Oh. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
As their eyes met directly, Dan Joo-hyuk’s heart pounded fiercely. He still wasn’t used to this intense beating, which was even stronger than when he had felt the murderous impulse earlier.
Still, the unpleasant feelings that had been provoking him subsided like gentle lambs. Yoon Pa-ran’s casual attitude toward him, speaking freely without caring about the other hunters’ gazes, calmed him.
Right. No matter what attention was showered on him, Yoon Pa-ran wouldn’t care. He might not even notice.
So all he needed to do was protect him properly.
“Talk about what?”
Deliberately smiling as usual, Dan Joo-hyuk tried to hide his condition.
He feared that if Yoon Pa-ran noticed something strange, he might run away.
“The Gate Management Office asked when we’ll do the small fragment experiment, but I told them we have other urgent matters.”
“Yes.”
“So let’s secretly take one out today. I want to try it at home in private.”
“Alright.”
Only after answering automatically did Dan Joo-hyuk find Yoon Pa-ran’s behavior curious. This wasn’t like him. He had been feeling a bit dazed since earlier.
His gaze kept being drawn to Yoon Pa-ran’s white hand still gripping his arm. He kept swallowing hard through his parched throat.
“But why?”
“If it really works, it might be dangerous. I want to see beforehand.”
If they could create a safe zone with a stone small enough to hold in one’s hand, it would be revolutionary. Perhaps they could use it as an indestructible shield inside gates. They’d need to experiment properly a few times, but still.
Yoon Pa-ran’s ability was already attracting a lot of attention. He wanted to prepare, knowing there were too many ways to utilize it.
Normally, Dan Joo-hyuk would have realized this first, which made him feel foolish. Perhaps it was because of the thoughts echoing in a corner of his mind.
Right now, I’m the one Yoon Pa-ran trusts the most.
It was a sentiment inappropriate for the situation. The intense sensation was so overwhelming that even trying to suppress it was difficult.
Trying to hide his confusion, Dan Joo-hyuk nodded.
“I understand.”
“Do you need skills, or…?”
“…Later.”
Reflexively, his gaze went to Yoon Pa-ran’s lips. He was troubled by the ticklish sensation he’d never experienced even in puberty, running through various parts of his body.
Although it would only be to transfer skills, the thought that Yoon Pa-ran would suggest such an action was exclusively for him.
With this fresh sentiment, the impulse to bury all the hunters in the gate that he had felt all day finally subsided completely. He also felt somewhat pathetic about himself.
“Alright, let’s get back to the formation.”
“Sure.”
Since the big gate incident, he hadn’t properly received skills from Yoon Pa-ran. Their last brief kiss was on the day when Yoon Pa-ran misunderstood that he had aftereffects from an injury.
While he didn’t want to burden the busy Yoon Pa-ran, the truth was he wasn’t confident he could restrain himself once they started.
Yoon Pa-ran didn’t seem particularly curious about this fact. That indifferent response felt both fortunate and disappointing.
He worried if he was truly losing his mind these days.
“Are you done talking?”
Upon returning to the formation, Na Young-mo approached Yoon Pa-ran warmly again.
Dan Joo-hyuk found this less irritating than before. It was as if Yoon Pa-ran had given him a calming skill just now.
“Oh yeah. What were you guys talking about?”
Although he was aware that they had been conversing from a distance, he hadn’t been paying attention. The conversation had been active even until the two returned to the formation, so Yoon Pa-ran looked curious.
Na Young-mo glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice. It was an absurd gesture considering they had already discussed it all together.
However, the news that followed was an unwelcome topic for Dan Joo-hyuk.
“There’s a rumor that Hunter Park Jung-hoon has awakened.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
