#18
“Back then. In the dungeon.”
“…”
As expected, Choi Do-jun didn’t respond at all. Since Seo Yi-young had anticipated this, he continued without minding.
“Thanks for saving me.”
His business was done. Whatever reaction Choi Do-jun had afterward wasn’t Seo Yi-young’s concern. He’d just said what he wanted to say. That was all.
He was sweating nervously, wondering how long this awkward moment would last when it seemed the meat was fully cooked. Thinking he was saved, Seo Yi-young opened his mouth.
“Ah, I’ll take it myself.”
“What? No, I couldn’t… If you wait at your seat, I’ll bring it to you.”
“It’s fine. Please give it to me.”
Seo Yi-young smiled and took a plate in each hand. As he was heading to the table where Lee Ji-woong was sitting, he strangely felt Choi Do-jun following him. Sure enough, he took a seat at the same table. Lee Ji-woong turned pale, more than just fidgeting.
He was trembling so much that the table could be felt shaking.
While Seo Yi-young was worried that Lee Ji-woong might need a sedative, Choi Do-jun, regardless of the situation, pulled one of the steak plates Seo Yi-young had brought and placed it in front of himself.
“Huh? That’s mine…”
“I thought you brought two because one was for me.”
Seo Yi-young stared at Choi Do-jun, who spoke with such nonchalance and shamelessness.
Didn’t you say you were the only one interested in food?
“Oh, oh, oh, Hunter Ch-Choi Do-jun. Here, have mine.”
Despite Lee Ji-woong’s trembling offer, Choi Do-jun, with incredible rudeness, didn’t even respond and started cutting the steak. Doesn’t he feel any pity for this nervous kid? How can he act like that?
“Lee Ji-woong-ssi, please try some too.”
“Oh, ah, y-yes.”
I wonder if he can even cut properly with those trembling hands. As Seo Yi-young was conflicted about whether to cut it for him, Choi Do-jun spoke.
“It’s overcooked.”
“Hm?”
While quietly cutting and eating the meat, he added one spiteful remark.
“How provincial.”
…This guy, really.
“At your age, you’re complaining about food? If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t.”
He finally couldn’t hold back and blurted it out.
As soon as the words ended, Choi Do-jun put down his utensils as if throwing them. There was a loud clattering sound as they hit the plate, and the hall fell silent for a moment. Even the musicians seemed startled, as the music briefly stopped.
“What?”
Honestly, Seo Yi-young was intimidated too.
But he didn’t want to show fear in this situation, so he deliberately put on a brave front.
What if he flips the table? If such a commotion were to happen, protecting Lee Ji-woong would be Seo Yi-young’s responsibility.
Seo Yi-young glanced at Lee Ji-woong. His complexion had turned so blue that it wouldn’t be strange if he fainted right away, making him look pitiful. Seo Yi-young felt sorry for calling him over and causing this trouble.
But that guy is also at fault.
If he disliked it so much, couldn’t he have just not come? Why did he have to follow and even eat Seo Yi-young’s food, and then act like this?
At that moment, Choi Do-jun stood up.
Seo Yi-young was slightly startled, but felt that staying seated would make him seem intimidated before the fight even began, so he also stood up. Though he’d heard that only S-Class Hunters were gathered here, and expected someone to come and help, everyone just stood at a distance, watching them.
They probably thought that since Seo Yi-young was also an S-Class Hunter, he could handle it himself.
The problem was that even Seo Yi-young himself didn’t know how to use his abilities.
Realizing once again that he shouldn’t expect help from others, Seo Yi-young put strength into his legs, trying to somehow manage the situation on his own. He couldn’t just stand by with Lee Ji-woong there.
But recalling how Choi Do-jun had fought in the dungeon, he felt bleak.
…Would he be a match? No. Seo Yi-young, unable to use his abilities, would die before he could even blink.
I should have been more moderate.
Why do I only regret at the last moment?
Seo Yi-young inwardly shed tears of blood. But in this situation, whether he turned and ran or not, he had no choice but to stand his ground.
Flinch.
Seo Yi-young’s body jerked when Choi Do-jun moved.
He extended his index finger and tapped Seo Yi-young’s forehead.
“Argh!”
Forgetting his dignity, Seo Yi-young screamed at the pain that reverberated through his skull.
Without exaggeration, the pain was so intense that his vision momentarily turned black.
If he hadn’t seen with his own eyes what Choi Do-jun had done, he would have been convinced that he’d been deliberately struck with a blunt object, such was the impact.
Thinking “Are S-Class Hunters allowed to beat people like this?”, Seo Yi-young realized that he too was an S-Class Hunter and shut his mouth. Still, unable to suppress his indignation, he glared at Choi Do-jun while holding his forehead. Choi Do-jun widened his eyes exaggeratedly before furrowing his brow.
“…Hah.”
Choi Do-jun sighed. Not even hiding it. As if for Seo Yi-young to hear.
Thinking this was really intolerable and about to say something, Seo Yi-young blinked at Choi Do-jun’s following question.
“Today.”
“Huh? What? What about today?”
“Do you have someone else to leave with?”
He couldn’t understand what this ghost-washing-rice nonsense was about. Seo Yi-young frowned.
“Why are you suddenly asking that? Who I leave with is none of your business.”
“I’m glad you’re not leaving with anyone. It would lower my status if I were associated with you.”
Lower your status? What on earth are you talking about?
Seo Yi-young was dumbfounded by Choi Do-jun’s sudden nonsensical provocation. No matter what, shouldn’t he at least know the context? Even if the previous Seo Yi-young had done something, it was the current Seo Yi-young who was suffering. Moreover, since he hadn’t done anything to deserve such words from Choi Do-jun, there was no reason to just sit quietly.
Seo Yi-young leaned toward Choi Do-jun.
“I don’t have anyone to leave with, but even if I did, I don’t need to hear such things from you, you goddamn bastard.”
Since this wasn’t a conversation that should be heard by those around, he retorted in a low, almost spitting voice.
He noticed Lee Ji-woong fidgeting uncomfortably in between them. Though he felt sorry for him, Seo Yi-young didn’t want to let the conversation slide and surrender to Choi Do-jun just because Lee Ji-woong was flustered. Shouldn’t Choi Do-jun be the one to moderate his behavior? After all, he had abruptly brought up the topic of “lowering status.”
I wish he would back down a bit. Well, there are other hunters around, so he’ll probably stop at this.
That’s what he thought.
“Seeing as you’ve become a half-wit who can’t even use your abilities properly, and then going around doing such things, I can’t just stand by. I’d like to refuse being lumped together with you as an S-Class.”
But Choi Do-jun beautifully shattered Seo Yi-young’s expectations.
Snap.
It felt like he could hear a blood vessel breaking somewhere in his head.
This crazy bastard, really.
He had no idea what nonsense he was spewing.
He thought Choi Do-jun might be rude but at least capable of a conversation, but this was beyond words. It was his mistake for assuming that bastard was a normal person and having expectations.
His mind was in chaos with boiling anger. He wanted to retort, but couldn’t think of what to say. No, actually, there were too many things he wanted to say, and he was busy choosing which one to say first. What words could he use to shut that bastard’s mouth? Just such a satisfying retort.
While carefully choosing that one line, the realization that he couldn’t overlook the consequences for the sake of immediate satisfaction put the brakes on. The fact that there were not a few onlookers also played a part.
If he started hurling curses and got into a dog fight here, tomorrow morning’s headline would surely read, “Regular Hunter Exchange Meeting Turns into Chaos Due to Fight Between Hunters” in big letters. Even if the news only mentioned the culprits by their initials, it would only be a matter of time before it was revealed to be Seo Yi-young and Choi Do-jun. That’s the last thing he wanted.
…
Right, let’s endure it.
Reacting angrily here would only make him the same kind of person.
The more rational and calm person should be the one to endure.
As Seo Yi-young was thinking of a million reasons why he should suppress his anger, barely holding down his bubbling emotions, Choi Do-jun, who had been tapping the table with his finger, opened his mouth.
“It would be better for you to quietly go home alone. As you said, so you don’t have to hear such things from me.”
“What…?”
What the hell is he talking about now?
After finishing his words, Choi Do-jun stood up from his seat as if he had no further business and left the hall. He acted so nonchalantly that Seo Yi-young was momentarily stunned. It was only after Choi Do-jun was no longer in sight that Seo Yi-young came to his senses.
“Um…”
How dare he just leave.
He says whatever he wants and then leaves like this?
No asking if he’s okay, no apology.
How can someone be so rude? He knew he was a bastard, but not to this extent.
It was newly impressive, in a way that took his breath away.
A mindset that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.
Fine, get lost. It’s better if he’s gone from sight right now. Seeing that face would only make his anger boil over again.
Seo Yi-young ground his teeth, rubbing his forehead, thinking about how to get revenge the next time they met.
Then he noticed Lee Ji-woong, who had completely frozen after witnessing the series of events. Whatever happened with Choi Do-jun, taking care of Lee Ji-woong was the priority.
“Haha. Are you okay? Please eat. The meat will get cold.”
When Seo Yi-young spoke to him, Lee Ji-woong finally blinked and moved, but inappropriately, he looked like a wind-up doll.
“Oh, that… Yes, no. I’m fine. I’m full.”
Lee Ji-woong smiled awkwardly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
