#050
Though Dan Joo-hyuk couldn’t know exactly what additional skill would emerge from Yoon Pa-ran’s [Sacred Energy], it was worth trying. Usually, additional skills tended to complement the weaknesses of the absorbed skill.
The biggest issue with [Sacred Energy] was that it dispersed naturally even if not used after absorption. If that could be prevented to some degree, it would be quite beneficial.
“What do you think, Hunter Dan? If there’s anything else you need, just let us know.”
“Well…”
While it was certainly worth trying, it was also troublesome. The memory of Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes, blazing blue with anger, flashed through his mind.
He wondered how Yoon Pa-ran, whose cooperation was needed, would react.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s smiling expression twisted into a troubled one again. Though it clearly showed his discomfort, somehow it looked like an even brighter smile.
❖ ❖ ❖
Around the same time.
Yoon Pa-ran was sighing deeply in the orphanage yard, as if the ground might cave in.
“Hah…”
“Push harder! Quickly!”
“I want to ride too! Hey, big brother, me too!”
His heavy sigh quickly shattered like sand amidst the children’s chattering voices. Rubbing his face once to muster energy, he looked down.
The bright eyes of the little ones were looking up at him like stars in the night sky.
“Now, now, I said it’s dangerous so ride one at a time. Each of you gets ten turns, then get off.”
“Okay!”
“Hurry!”
Though he spoke in a stern voice, the puppy-like children weren’t afraid of Yoon Pa-ran. Fortunately, they did listen when he told them not to approach the swing area because it was dangerous.
After that, Yoon Pa-ran tirelessly pushed the swing carrying the children.
There were nearly ten children at the orphanage, younger than or about the same age as Min-woong. The children clung to Yoon Pa-ran’s back and legs, chattering incessantly, happy to see him after a long time.
Thanks to this, Yoon Pa-ran was able to blow away unnecessary thoughts.
“Has everyone had a turn now?”
“I want to ride again!”
“Me too, I want another turn, big brother.”
After everyone had a turn, the clamoring started again. This time, Yoon Pa-ran skillfully stopped the children who were rushing forward, insisting on going first.
“Alright, alright. Go play hide-and-seek among yourselves now. You can ride the swing again after dinner.”
He could push the swing all day if needed. However, balance was most important when playing with so many younger siblings.
The children, in their innocence, were quickly tempted by the mention of hide-and-seek.
“Then I’ll be it!”
“It’s my turn today!”
Yoon Pa-ran looked into the distance after tidying up the swing to ensure no children would bump into it while running. Though the weather was a bit chilly, it was a nice sunny day, not bad for playing outside.
“…”
As soon as he had a moment’s pause, thoughts of that bastard Dan Joo-hyuk rushed back.
That crazy bastard, really.
Just recalling yesterday’s events made him feel like his scalp was burning hot. Writhing in agony, Yoon Pa-ran messed up his hair roughly.
It truly was a cursed contract. Who would have thought he’d do such a thing to another man like himself.
What was wrong with that guy? How could he even think of touching another man like that?
It was clear he’d gone crazy after realizing there was some connection between the safe zone statue and Yoon Pa-ran. After all, he was obsessed with secrets related to gates.
There couldn’t be any other reason.
If that’s how he is, he should just live inside the gates, that damn bastard.
“Hah…”
The self-loathing he felt when he woke up in his studio apartment after fainting hit Yoon Pa-ran again. The sensation of his lower half being damp and then drying was truly unpleasant.
However, what troubled Yoon Pa-ran most was something else.
The sensation he felt yesterday was truly a pleasure.
“…”
Suddenly feeling his legs weaken, Yoon Pa-ran slumped down. With his arms wrapped around his head, he looked just like someone in despair.
How could he feel such a sensation in that situation? Even though he hadn’t had time for self-pleasure recently, it was still shocking.
Moreover, it was disconcerting because the depth of pleasure was different from when he was alone. Just recalling it made his ears feel like they were about to burst from heat.
Really, why is this happening? That guy is another man.
Could this also be a side effect of Dan Joo-hyuk’s skill?
“Damn it.”
As his thoughts flowed, a plausible hypothesis came to mind.
The more he thought about it, the more strange things there were about yesterday. His senses being much more sensitive than usual, his waist muscles twitching every time that guy whispered near his ear.
Dan Joo-hyuk hadn’t mentioned the side effect of feeling completely drained after skill transfer either. It was highly likely he had intentionally not mentioned this incident as well.
From the middle, his mind had been extremely hazy. The sensations Yoon Pa-ran remembered might not have been real.
Yeah, that guy must have subtly hidden this side effect again. Even if that wasn’t the case, it must all have been his own misunderstanding.
There was a message asking him to contact when he woke up, but he ignored it. The shock that hit him after waking up and assessing the situation was too great.
He could clearly see that guy going crazy again about not being able to reach him. Still, he didn’t want to face him right now.
Given Dan Joo-hyuk’s personality, he might do such a thing again, so what should he do?
…If he feels that crazy sensation again…
As the thought suddenly occurred to him, Yoon Pa-ran abruptly stood up.
Then he banged his head against the large tree where the swing was hanging with a loud thud.
“Sister, big brother is doing that again.”
“Leave him be. The director mom said that big brother is having a hard time with work lately.”
He heard Min-woong and Ju-hee whispering nearby as they ran around. Hearing the innocent concern of the children made him feel like utter trash for constantly having such thoughts.
The pleasure he felt at that time seemed to keep crawling and tickling his mind, driving him crazy. Why did he keep having these thoughts when recalling that bastard Dan Joo-hyuk?
Could perversion be contagious too?
“Hunter, we need you to come out for a moment.”
At that moment, someone approached Yoon Pa-ran as he was writhing in self-loathing. Lost in thought, Yoon Pa-ran belatedly noticed the presence and quickly turned around.
It was one of the security company employees assigned to the orphanage. Someone who should be at the orphanage entrance at this time.
“What’s the matter?”
When he asked curiously, the employee came closer to Yoon Pa-ran. Though the closeness was quite unpleasant, it seemed there was urgent business, so he decided to wait and see.
Eventually, the employee whispered in a low voice, seemingly conscious of the children. The stranger’s breath brushing against his ear was very irritating.
“The police have come. They’re looking for you, Hunter.”
“The police?”
Indeed, there was a reason for him to relay the message so cautiously.
After pondering for a moment, Yoon Pa-ran moved and made a request to the employee.
“Please take the children inside.”
“Yes. Kids, listen up! Shall we go inside for a bit?”
“Okay!”
The familiar-faced employee was about the same age as Yoon Pa-ran. He seemed skilled at guiding the children, often playing well with them too. If he remembered correctly, the man had two younger siblings.
Shaking off his thoughts, Yoon Pa-ran hurried towards the orphanage entrance. Recently, due to safety concerns, they kept the large iron gate closed and only used a side door.
As he quickly exited through the side door, the scene outside came into view.
“Ah, the Hunter has come out.”
“Is this the person?”
One of the employees remaining at the entrance greeted Yoon Pa-ran. In front of the employee stood two people in police uniforms, their faces sternly set.
Up to this point, it was as he had heard, but Yoon Pa-ran’s face quickly hardened.
A police car was parked diagonally in front of the orphanage, blocking the main gate. Moreover, the flashing lights on top of the stationary police car kept blinking brilliantly.
To anyone watching, it looked as if something major had happened at the orphanage. Or as if a fugitive criminal was hiding in the orphanage.
Because of this, several neighborhood residents passing by had stopped nearby to watch the situation.
He had a strangely bad feeling about this.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“We’re from the police.”
“May I see your identification?”
When Yoon Pa-ran asked for identification, the police officers’ faces hardened.
Seeing that fleeting expression, his sense of foreboding grew stronger.
“…Here it is.”
The police badge he received seemed to have no issues. In truth, Yoon Pa-ran wouldn’t have been able to tell if there was a problem with it anyway.
They must be real police, right? It bothered him that the police seemed very tense as soon as he appeared.
After returning the badge, Yoon Pa-ran naturally closed the orphanage’s side door.
“What’s this about?”
“Do you know this person?”
In the photo they showed him was a familiar face.
It was Lim Hyun-sung, who had visited the orphanage claiming to be the CEO of an investment company.
