# 37
* * *
“Alright. I’ll allow it.”
When permission was granted so readily, Jin-ha’s eyes widened in surprise. He had expected some unpleasant teasing or irritating conditions, but contrary to his expectations, it was a straightforward acceptance.
Jin-ha quickly expressed his gratitude, before the other could change his mind.
“Thank you, Master.”
“What did you say?”
“I mean, thank you, Riyekan.”
Only then did Riyekan’s expression soften. Still, he appeared to be in a worse mood than usual.
It was understandable that he might be annoyed—after making such a contract just yesterday, Jin-ha was asking to leave the next day. Jin-ha had thought he might not give permission. Accepting such an unreasonable request meant that Riyekan was willing to be considerate of Jin-ha’s circumstances.
“I’ll take care of my business and return right away. I have a promise to keep, after all.”
“…You absolutely must.”
“Yes, Riyekan.”
Jin-ha nodded firmly. He responded sincerely with gratitude, but Riyekan’s reaction was a narrowed gaze full of suspicion. After examining Jin-ha for a moment, Riyekan bluntly stated:
“However, the portal is off-limits until Hunter Lee Jin-ha returns.”
“Pardon…?”
“The reason I’ve allowed various privileges was because Hunter Lee Jin-ha was in my grasp. Why would I be generous if you’re running away?”
“No, who said anything about running away…!”
“Right, of course not.”
His tone was dismissive, as if he didn’t believe a word.
Jin-ha, who had been thinking well of the other just moments ago, was dumbfounded. He knew Riyekan had a bad and difficult personality, but he thought things would improve now that they had completed their deal.
“Riyekan, I will definitely return.”
“I said I believe you.”
Yet despite nodding at Jin-ha’s words, Riyekan made no mention of lifting the portal ban.
He casually deflected Jin-ha’s intense gaze and picked up a meat sandwich from among the plates covering the table. It was quite large, stuffed with plenty of meat, vegetables, and egg, but when Riyekan opened his mouth wide to bite it, it disappeared in just three bites.
Was he hungry…?
Jin-ha felt a little sorry, wondering if he had come at a bad time.
“So, how many days are you planning to stay?”
His original plan had been about a week. If news of his collapse had reached Mrs. Cha, she must have been very worried, so he had intended to spend some time with her to comfort her.
But under these circumstances, he couldn’t take such a long leave.
As for supplies, if he had them delivered to the annex today, there would be enough for five wizards and Seo Ji-seop to stay for a week without issue. The problem was the anxiety and unease the young wizards would feel while the portal was closed. If only they were in their late twenties at least, he wouldn’t be so concerned.
“…I’ll return within four days.”
“Hmm… well, alright. It’s a bit longer than I expected, but can’t be helped. Oh, there’s something I’d like you to bring back.”
“Music albums, various foods, artifacts—I’ve written them down. Is there anything else you’d like me to bring?”
“No, those are for the official trade. I’m talking about a gift.”
“A gift… you say?”
The other was a wizard who had everything. Even the rug in this room would probably be worth several hundred million if brought to Jin-ha’s world. Since it had a magic spell for automatic cleanliness, it would be treated as an artifact for research purposes rather than just a rug.
There weren’t many things Jin-ha could give as gifts that would be better than what the man already had.
“Yes, a gift. Something Hunter Lee Jin-ha wants to give me.”
“Well… I don’t really have—”
When Jin-ha responded reluctantly, the man gave him a sideways glance.
“Use that brain of yours to think of something I might like. Hmm?”
“You really do give the strangest orders…”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
Despite Jin-ha’s weary and irritated response, Riyekan smiled calmly.
It was truly strange. When observing carefully, Riyekan had always seemed to provoke Jin-ha’s irritation. And he even took pleasure in seeing it.
He had confessed that his strange behavior in the forest was just to get attention and be comforted when injured, but perhaps that childish aspect was actually this man’s true nature. Like a child who, rather than experiencing indifference or disinterest, would be satisfied even with negative emotions like irritation or anger, as long as they were directed at him.
Jin-ha leaned slightly toward the man who was smiling mischievously, measuring Jin-ha’s reaction.
“Instead of that, please give me a hint.”
“A hint?”
“Unless you want to receive moss with my feelings embedded in it.”
Embedding feelings in moss wasn’t difficult at all. Realizing Jin-ha was serious, Riyekan extended his hand.
“Then, something that would match this.”
Riyekan already had three rings on his hand. Each ring with its thick embedded jewels had a distinct presence.
From what Jin-ha had observed, people in this world, or rather, wizards, tended to favor wearing jeweled accessories. Considering that higher-ranked wizards had larger gems, it seemed related to magic.
Jin-ha instinctively shifted his gaze to the man’s ears, and then to his neck, checking the colors and designs of the jewels. Every one of them had an elaborate design that looked like it belonged in a European royal treasury.
To match that level of quality, it would be difficult even if he maxed out the Anomaly Management Agency’s corporate card…
“I’ll trust Hunter Lee Jin-ha’s taste in choosing.”
“As if you know what I’ll bring.”
“Anything is fine.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
At this attitude that seemed to be testing his taste, Jin-ha felt a surge of defiance. He nodded seriously.
“Understood.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Don’t put unnecessary pressure on me.”
Jin-ha muttered slightly as he tried to straighten up after leaning forward, but before he could, Riyekan caught him. Startled by the hand grabbing his collar, Jin-ha looked up to see Riyekan pulling him closer.
Finding himself halfway onto Riyekan’s upper body, Jin-ha panicked and pushed against Riyekan’s shoulders.
“W-what are you doing?”
“You say you’ll be gone for four days. Then you should give me four days’ worth before you go. Right?”
“What does that—”
“Give it quickly.”
“No…”
“Hurry up.”
“…Hah.”
With no chance to argue against the persistent demands, Jin-ha could only let out a tired sigh. At that, Riyekan released Jin-ha and grinned. He seemed to have already interpreted Jin-ha’s sigh as consent. Jin-ha didn’t want to admit it, but it wasn’t far from the truth.
With a disgruntled expression, Jin-ha slid his hand into Riyekan’s hair.
“Mmm…”
Riyekan closed his eyes and let out a satisfied moan as he picked up another sandwich.
* * *
After Lee Jin-ha had left, Riyekan rested his chin on the table, lost in thought. He was looking forward to seeing what that conventional and blunt man, who overflowed with compassion yet had a disposition to reject others, would bring back.
The jewels he wore appeared ordinary but were all expensive mana stones. More precisely, they were jewels processed into mana stones, and since he, the Master of the Noon Moon Tower, was the creator, they were not for sale, but if he were to sell all the ones he wore, they would be worth enough to buy an entire castle.
Jin-ha wouldn’t be able to bring something of similar value. So whatever he brought, Riyekan could enjoy his reaction while complaining that it didn’t match the hint.
He had been enjoying life recently. Especially since yesterday. He never thought that a man who seemed so uptight would propose such a contract.
“Master, why do you tease Jin-ha like this?”
“Hmm? Because it’s fun.”
“Jin-ha is an excessively serious person. If you keep doing this…”
You might earn his hatred.
As Legas hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to say such things to his idol, who typically didn’t concern himself with others’ feelings, Riyekan closed his eyes and smiled.
“I like seeing Jin-ha’s various expressions. When that wooden man gets angry, it’s hard to look away. I’m actually looking forward to how I’ll tease him next.”
Four days—already the time without Jin-ha felt regrettable. But he couldn’t refuse to let him go. If he only teased him without giving anything in return, Jin-ha would gradually wither like grass in a drought; he needed to be watered occasionally.
To enjoy him for a long time, he needed to manage him even more diligently.
Riyekan was humming a tune when he paused as he was about to bring a meat pie to his mouth.
“Legas, this pie smells fishy.”
“Ah… I’m sorry, Master.”
Riyekan dropped the meat pie back onto the plate with a plop and threw himself onto his bed.
“Just clear away the rest.”
“Yes, Master.”
Legas’s expression was troubled as he began to clear the table he had set. The meat in both the sandwich and the pie was exactly the same—the same meat with the same seasoning, one placed in a sandwich and the other baked in a pie crust.
It was strange that he had no complaints when eating the sandwich but complained about the pie. His Master often had mood swings due to his obsessive habits and would often shut himself away, but this time was particularly odd.
“Master, perhaps… no, never mind.”
Legas had been about to ask about the strange thought that crossed his mind but quickly shook his head. It was an absurd idea. His respected Master was a man who did not believe in love, who loathed and despised it.
He’s just behaving differently because it’s not an object or an animal, that’s all.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
