I tamed the First Rank Chapter 145
- HoshiMiya
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
“What is it?”
Hyeon Gyu-ha moved his lips as if he was reciting an encyclopedia.
"Dalgasa Temple. Completed in 1392. Founded with the support of the Jeong clan, it is famous for the crazy remarks of the first chief priest, who named the temple after Jeong Mong-ju less than two months after the Seonjuk Bridge Incident."
It was the origin of the temple that even In Yoo-shin, who had lived there for over 10 years, often forgot.
"But why is that a pity?"
"If the world had been one where religion had such a huge influence, Buddhism might have also joined the fray at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty. Then, Joseon might have done the opposite, suppressing Buddhism and driving temples into the mountains."
"Oh, so that means I might have grown up in the mountains? It must have been incredibly difficult going back and forth from the mountains to school……"
"Walking on mountain trails is great exercise. Running around like a flying squirrel through the mountains like that, Yoo-shin-ssi might have naturally built up some muscle. It's nice to still be chubby, but sometimes I'd like to lick Yoo-shin-ssi's abs…,.."
In Yoo-shin quickly covered his mouth with his palm to prevent inappropriate remarks from spilling out on public transportation in broad daylight.
"Because of Gyu-ha-ssi, I'm always stuck at the gym, so I'm not that flabby anymore……!"
"Then will you let me lick it?"
"Why is the conversation going back to that!"
As he listened to the remarkably irreverent words of a Buddhist monk on the way to a temple, a familiar sight suddenly appeared. A young novice monk was waiting in front of Dalgasa Temple, situated in a scenic location overlooking the Yesong River.
“Yoo-shin-ah!”
“Woo-ju Hyung!”
Seong Woo-joo, who grew up in an orphanage like In Yoo-shin and then became a monk, happily welcomed his younger sibling. Although he was given a Buddhist name, he was still more familiar with his secular name.
After exchanging greetings, he also put his hands together to pray to Hyeon Gyu-ha.
"You're Hunter Hyeon-nim, right? I've heard a lot from Yoo-shin."
"Even if you cursed at me, whatever Yoo-shin-ssi said was true."
"I didn't curse you or anything!"
Seong Woo-joo smiled at In Yoo-shin's startled reaction and guided him to the temple. The temple's signature sandalwood scent mingled with the scent of the plants and trees planted throughout the temple grounds. Hyeon Gyu-ha found the scent, steeped in In Yoo-shin's childhood, sweet.
Inside, people were waiting, including the head monk and the monks who mainly looked after the orphanage.
In Yoo-shin, sitting next to Hyeon Gyu-ha, felt as if he were being interviewed. He sipped his first cup of flower tea, which he hadn't had in a long time. He had once tried to cover the azaleas in his backyard with petals, only to fail miserably. In Yoo-shin carefully engraved the memories that filled his eyes everywhere he looked.
The monks welcomed Hyeon Gyu-ha with open arms. He was just as courteous as when he spoke to In-jeon, who had mistakenly thought In Yoo-shin had attempted suicide.
After a warm conversation, Joo Ji-seung started to talk.
"Yoo-shin-ah, does Hunter Hyeon know the story of before you came to our temple?"
“Yes. Everything.”
“I see.”
He smiled broadly with a relieved expression.
"Our Yoo-shin has suffered many wounds since he was young. I am truly fortunate to have formed a precious relationship with such a dependable person as Hunter Hyeon-nim to him."
"You think so? I think the opposite."
Hyeon Gyu-ha lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.
"I don't know if you know, but I don't have parents. That's why I had a rough time during puberty. In fact, it's still ongoing…… Every time that happens, Yoo-shin-ssi helps me live as a human being. If I hadn't met Yoo-shin-ssi before, there might have been a crazy murderer here instead of Hunter Hyeon Gyu-ha."
The monks seemed to think it was a cruel joke, but In Yoo-shin held his breath as he remembered him from 14 years ago.
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had stopped laughing, bowed his head politely.
"Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to meet you again, Yoo-shin-ssi."
As they stepped outside, the children from the orphanage, who had just heard the story, were milling about. Even as they greeted In Yoo-shin, the children, who had been unfamiliar with him, widened their eyes when Hyeon Gyu-ha took out the toys and snacks he'd brought. Then, as their bodies floated in the air, they swayed with excitement.
He's the type of person who doesn't seem to be very friendly with children, but I was happy to see him secretly playing well with Min Anna and others.
While the children were running wild and exhausted, I took the opportunity to tour the orphanage. Part of my goal was to capture the scenery I'd grown up in before I left for Iad, but more than anything, I wanted to show Hyeon Gyu-ha photos from my childhood.
In Yoo-shin, who brought the album that the monks had periodically developed and stored away, felt a little embarrassed. It felt similar to exposing hidden shameful details, or revealing a naked face.
"You shouldn't laugh at me and say I have a strange face."
"You have to hold onto them so I don't steal your album, even though you have a cute face, right?"
"It's really weird......."
After his hair grew thicker, he gently slid his finger through an old album he'd barely seen before. Opening the old album, Hyeon Gyu-ha found In Yoo-shin. A child, stuffed with the sorrow of his parents' death and abandoned amidst his grandmother's sobs.
In silence, Hyeon Gyu-ha slowly flipped through the album. The shadowy, wounded face of the child, once reluctant to even take a single picture, slowly, over a long period of time, broke into a bright smile, transforming into the In Yoo-shin he now knew.
He closed the album with his high school graduation photo as the last, covered his face, and took a deep breath as if he was letting out something he had been holding in for a very long time.
"I've often thought that. If only I could have recognized the young Yoo-shin-ssi 14 years ago, when the flames hadn't roared so violently and my vision hadn't blurred…… If only I had known that child was alone and could have brought him back."
“……”
"But after looking at old photos of Yoo-shin-ssi, I realized I was wrong. I was young back then, and I wasn't a proper human being, so maybe it wasn't good for us to be together. I'm so glad Yoo-shin-ssi was able to grow up in Dalgasa."
Hearing his words, In Yoo-shin also imagined the moment when 14-year-old Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had lost those he had relied on, was reunited with his 8-year-old self.
As Hyeon Gyu-ha said, I may not have been able to heal his wounds, but I would have spent more time with him instead. I thought that life wouldn't have been so bad.
Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled and gently brushed In Yoo-shin's disheveled hair back with his fingertips.
"Unlike 14 years ago, I'm currently a person who is trying to be in the good group, right?"
Hearing that Hyeon Gyu-ha was a good person would make him jump out of his sleep, but In Yoo-shin nodded enthusiastically. To him, Hyeon Gyu-ha was always a good person.
"It's a bit of a shame that young Yoo-shin-ssi missed the chance to call me 'Hyung-ah.'"
Hearing that, something suddenly came to mind.
"If I had grown up with Gyu-ha-ssi since long ago, would I have become close with the Vice President and called her 'Noona'?"
"That must have been the case. If it was Geut-nyeo Noona, she would have definitely pushed Yoo-shin-ssi hard."
"In that case, I might have become close with the guild leader, who dated the vice president for a long time and married them and would have had a Hyung & Dongsaeng relationship."
“……”
Hyeon Gyu-ha's expression hardened. He sighed heavily and pressed his palm to his forehead.
"Wait. Wait a minute…… No, how is this a choice......"
Watching him contemplate so seriously, In Yoo-shin thought to himself that it would have been nice if he had grown up with him since he was little.
Not listening to the word "Hyung-ah" VS the young Yoo-shin who calls him "Hyung-ah". However, Gong Tae-seong ends up being called "Hyung-ah" by him too.
What is your choice in this case?
It was while eating dinner together and walking around the temple under the streetlights that Hyeon Gyu-ha found the answer to the world's most difficult problem.
“It won’t work either.”
“What is it?”
"I can't put the cute Yoo-shin-ssi, who calls me Hyung-ah', in Gong Tae-seong's eyes. That's something only I can see."
“……”
Are you saying you were still pondering that? Even while In Yoo-shin was secretly sweating, Hyeon Gyu-ha continued to lay out the conclusions of his long deliberation.
"First of all, Gong Tae-seong is much older than me. That person's first digit will change to 4 in just a few years. Yoo-shin-ssi, you like older men, so you absolutely can't be near him."
"I've never really liked older men."
"Huh? You said you liked older men last time!"
“When did I?”
"You definitely said you were!"
After hearing Hyeon Gyu-ha's urgent explanation, In Yoo-shin finally recalled his memories. It was the day he was first introduced to Choi Jin-hyeok and Song Chan-young.
<But there will always be a guy you like.>
<Someone like Seong-gil Hyung-nim.>
Listening to it, I think we had that kind of conversation.
"It's true that older men are good…… but doesn't that just mean they're good as humans?"
"......You don't like older men?"
"I don't like men either."
A gloomy shadow appeared on Hyeon Gyu-ha's face.
"......Will you like me if I become a woman?"
"Wh-what's going on?"
"You said you don't like men…… It's sad that I couldn't use it on you properly, Master, but I'm sorry for your……”
"If it's to be loved, that little lump of flesh......."
Before the forbidden words could leave his mouth, In Yoo-shin shouted urgently.
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
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