I Tamed the First Rank Chapter 22
- HoshiMiya
- Mar 31, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: May 8
In Yoo-shin glanced at Park Seung-gi, who was making a fuss.
“I haven’t even shown it to you yet.”
“You could say it was a business showmanship reaction to really please our client. Anyway, how was your date?”
“‘Date…… I don’t know if it was a date, but it went well.”
What he took from the dungeon before it was cleared and closed completely was sand, seawater, and a few broken tree branches. To be honest, in my eyes as an outsider, I wondered if there was any difference between sand from inside and sand from outside the dungeon, but Park Seung-gi was happy upon receiving it.
“What dungeon was it?”
“It was one like the time Columbus arrived in the Americas.”
In Yoo-shin explained what he experienced in the dungeon. I tried to speak objectively at first, but the more I talked, the more excited I became. Park Seung-gi was the only friend whom I felt comfortable talking about this with.
Listening closely, Park Seung-gi asked in surprise.
“Wait for a sec. What did Hyeon Gyu-ha say?”
“I heard from him that it was normal in the era in which the dungeon was set. At the time, religion was the most important thing in Europe, and Columbus was a devout believer who had no hesitation in citing religious reasons for the massacre.”
“No, how does Hyeon Gyu-ha know that?”
“Doesn’t everyone who does gate studies knows?”
“I didn’t know!”
In Yoo-shin, who was talking excitedly, only then realized that Park Seung-gi’s face was filled with astonishment. Park Seung-gi wailed in embarrassment, gulping down the rest of his coffee while his legs shook.
“The illusion inside the gate is something you can only see for a very brief moment, before the dungeon recognizes people! Even then, the reality is that we can’t properly study it unless it’s a newly opened dungeon, since hunters are holed up inside all day hunting and gathering. Those damn hunters don’t even care about the dungeon once they use the illusion to predict the boss monster! But how does Hyeon Gyu-ha even know the background of Columbus? The Columbus we know was just a guy crazy for gold, not someone of faith!”
Was that right? That’s probably what experts said.
In Yoo-shin chewed the salt bread until Park Seung-gi, who was tilting his head and talking gibberish, calmed down. The taste of salty butter was delicious. Should I buy more on the way home?
“You do realize that gates are not the same as the Earth we live on, right?”
“Uh.”
“Because dungeons are where all sorts of past things happened, the accepted opinion was that they are nothing more than twisted distortions or illusions, and that was taught in schools as well, but these days, the accepted view in academia is that dungeons are a parallel world.”
In Yoo-shin blinked. The idea of a parallel world sounded better than just being an unexplainable distortion.
“Although it’s being hushed up because of Russia, they say there was a time when a dungeon opened and inside it had a city called Trotskygrad as the background setting.”
“It was named after Trotsky (A/N: a Russian revolutionary eliminated by Stalin) rather than Stalingrad (A/N: the city that Stalin named after himself; current Volgograd)? So, in that parallel world, Trotsky did the opposite and made Stalin go away?”
“Well, I guess?”
“I heard that Trotsky was extremely averse to naming cities, so was the Trotsky of that world different? That’s interesting.”
I pondered about how world history would have changed if Trotsky had become the leader of the country, instead of Stalin.
“Doesn’t our country have anything?”
“What is there…… Ah, that’s right. I heard that portraits of Kim Il-sung, presumed to be in his old age, are often found in dungeons set in old North Korean territory, like Pyongyang.”
“Kim Il-sung fled to Manchuria during the Korean War and disappeared.”
“So, in that parallel world, there is a possibility that June 25th did not occur and the 38th parallel was solidified, or North Korea won the war and unified Korea.”
“I’m so glad I wasn’t born in that parallel world.”
Had luck not been on our side, Gaeseong would’ve been under North Korean control. Long live the Republic of Korea. The patriotism that Yoo-shin didn’t usually have suddenly filled him up.
“Anyway, it may be the environment inside the gate, but it’s best to infer the culture and historical trends in a piecemeal way. For someone like Hyeon Gyu-ha, it’s not possible to know in detail how people lived at the time or what Columbus’ beliefs were. Doesn’t he lie to make himself look good to you?”
In Yoo-shin shook his head. I didn't know about the other things, but Hyeon Gyu-ha would never do anything to make himself look good.
“Gyu-ha-ssi said he saw several dungeons featuring Columbus, besides the ones that he owns. Could it be that he researched them in his own way?”
“That could be possible…… Hyeon Gyu-ha also majored in gate studies at our school.”
“Gyu-ha-ssi attended Korea University as well?”
“You didn’t know?”
Being met with a look that said, ‘How could you not know your boyfriend’s academic background?’ I could only scratch my head, at a loss for words. I didn’t know the university he dropped out of was Korea University.
In Yoo-shin looked around again. That didn’t mean I could find traces of someone who dropped out seven years ago, though.
“But Yoo-shin-nim—”
“No.”
“Hey, it’s nothing major. I just wanted to ask your boyfriend if he could take a friend like me along if he had more dungeons.”
“I can’t.”
“He’s even lying to impress you, so won’t you do me a favor that isn’t too difficult?”
“I don’t know how long we’ll be together, but whatever.”
It was after my true feelings inadvertently came out that I realized my mistake. Park Seung-gi’s eyes widened.
“You’re already thinking about breaking up when it hasn’t even been a while since you two got together?”
“It’s just that…… he lives in a different world from me.”
“Hey, In Yoo-shin. What do you have that’s better than Hyeon Gyu-ha? Your face…… Hyeon Gyu-ha’s is better. Money…… He has a lot too, and his job…… Hyeon Gyu-ha wins by a landslide victory. About his personality…… It’s easier to get by in this world if you’re a little rude. But instead, you have a friend like me. Cheer up, man.”
I didn’t know if Seung-gi was a friend or a foe.
On the way back after returning Park Seung-gi to the lab room, In Yoo-shin became absorbed in his thoughts.
‘Seung-gi said that for no reason……’
It’s not just me who wanted this relationship to end quickly, but Hyeon Gyu-ha as well. Since Hyeon Gyu-ha seemed to know the reason why he was tamed, would it be possible to end the taming by following him, obtaining the hidden boss crystal stones, and meeting the saintly old woman?
He was so lost in thought in front of the crosswalk that he inadvertently ended up following someone who was jaywalking. When he realised he had made a mistake, he was already on the crosswalk with the red stop light flashing.
“Gasp.”
I tried to quickly turn around, but my body lifted into the air. It was a familiar feeling. The moment Yoo-shin blinked, a handsome man who seemed to turn even the scenery of an ordinary big city into a wonderful photo album appeared in the air. At the same time, screams were heard everywhere around them.
“…… Gyu-ha-ssi?”
“Sudden quest: praise the pet rodent that saved Master from danger.”
“T-Thank you.”
“Just with words?”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, lying face down in the air, raised his head, and In Yoo-shin’s face turned red. As the distance between the two people got closer, gasps and muffled reactions arose rapidly here and there. I was grateful that he saved me, but I could clearly hear the whispers of those around us.
“Crazy. It’s Hyeon Gyu-ha.”
“Is the person next to him his boyfriend?”
“No way.”
“No, I think that is his boyfriend……”
Trying not to look at the passersby who were taking out their cell phones, In Yoo-shin slightly stretched out his hand and gently stroked Gyu-ha’s hair. It’s not even my first time stroking it, but my fingers were stiff and creaky, probably because there were so many eyes watching. I couldn’t even feel the texture of his fine, soft hair.
“Can’t you be a little sweeter?”
Hyeon Gyu-ha held onto In Yoo-shin’s hand, stroking it and kissing the fingertips. When the kiss made a loud noise, Yoo-shin’s cheeks burned brightly, and blood rushed up to his face. Why did a pounding sound echo through my heart?
In Yoo-shin unconsciously straightened his curled fingers in amazement and extended his palm to Gyu-ha’s head once more. He pulled back his fingertips a little as he stroked and felt the softness and length of his hair. It smelled good. So, this was Hyeon Gyu-ha’s scent.
Smiling with satisfaction, Hyeon Gyu-ha flew into the sky, holding In Yoo-shin with both arms around his waist and below his knees. The passersby who had been watching, and unable to breathe, finally opened their mouths.
“Hyeon Gyu-ha! You’re handsome!”
“Oh my god. I guess you really have gotten a lover!”
For some reason, that was the last thing Yoo-shin heard as he covered his mouth and struggled. He usually carried me by his side like a piece of luggage, but why did he carry me like a princess at times like this……?
But I didn’t dare to ask questions because I was afraid of what the answer would be. Instead, he calmed his pounding heart and asked a question that could easily be answered.
“How did Gyu-ha-ssi happen to be here? Where were you going?”
“Stalking you.”
“……”
“I’m just kidding. I was on my way home from school because I had to run some errands.”
“Ah, by the way. You went to Korea University, right? My friend is attending graduate school at Korea University, and I heard about it today.”
“Now you know I went to Korea University? I hope my Master will pay attention to me.”
“Ye-yes.”
In Yoo-shin decided to memorize Hyeon Gyu-ha’s official profile and wiki when he got home.
“……”
“……”
They were about as high as a ten-storey building. Hyeon Gyu-ha just looked down while holding him.
“Is there anything else you want to say to me?”
“Doesn’t my sister, Henry Raymond Charles Francois VI, need to go for a walk?”
In Yoo-shin answered him, timidly hoping that Gyu-ha would just call her 6-seya and not by her full name.
“Hamsters don’t go for walks. There’s no need to do that. They get exercise just by running on a hamster wheel, and since they’re already small, they’re harder to find outside of their cage. They can die accidentally if you do something wrong. 6-seya sometimes escapes her cage and hides in some corner, but she can communicate with me, so she comes out when I call for her.”
“That truly is a pity.”
Why was it a pity that hamsters don’t go for walks……? In Yoo-shin examined his expression and asked carefully.
“Would you like to take a walk with me?”
“I also brought a walking leash.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha answered instantly, as if he had been anticipating that question, and what he took out of his inventory was a genuine leather leash.
“Human leashes are only sold for SM use, so it’s unavoidable……”
“Uaaaghh! I don’t wanna hear that!”
In Yoo-shin screamed and covered his ears. Hyeon Gyu-ha took out a few more leashes.
“Would you like to try something with a good grip?”
“Even if I tell you to put a real leash on, you won’t do it!”
“I’m going to do it. I’m an honest person with no shame.”
“In the end, am I the only one who feels embarrassed……?”
“Master, please live your life proudly.”
Only after gleefully teasing the horrified In Yoo-shin did Hyeon Gyu-ha, with a face like a contented cat, put away the leashes. In Yoo-shin felt a little wronged since a glossy sheen seemed to appear on Gyu-ha’s face every time he teased him.
‘Even if he’s not a blood-sucking vampire, I think he’s an energy-sucking vampire.’
What sort of everloving pet would cheer itself up by teasing its owner? … No, wait. Maybe a cat would do that.
Anyway, the embarrassing conversation made me think of something. It was an essential issue for taking a walk with Hyeon Gyu-ha.
HM: I have to say that Author has a great sense of humor, and the world-building is really good that I expected…
PA : I can’t with the leash, then he pulled out many different leather leashes…. Hehehehe.
Editor M: Hyeon Gyu-ha is a certified Freak™ and I’m dying from the way he springs his nonsense on In Yoo-shin without any warning. 😭
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: PsycheAsylum, Editor M
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