“But Gyu-ha-ssi, aren’t there things like caps and sunglasses in subspace?”
“No. Because it’s not my taste.”
“What about the mask...?”
“The air is nice today.”
Actually, he has never seen Hyeon Gyu-ha wearing a hat or sunglasses. However, it was true that if he walked around with a bare-faced Hyeon Gyu-ha, he would attract attention from all over the place, so it was a burden for him as an ordinary person.
‘Then should I just cover my face?’
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was looking at him pondering, blurted out his words.
“Are you embarrassed of me?”
“N-no, I’m not saying it’s embarrassing! Because Gyu-ha is so famous, many people recognize you and take pictures of you, but I am an ordinary person...”
After enjoying the embarrassment of him picking up words in surprise, Hyeon Gyu-ha took out a scroll from subspace.
“You have good skills.”
Assistant Manager Lee, who was cursing that the gate would suddenly open at the company that had let him go to work on a public holiday, looked out the window and stretched for a moment, and thought his eyes were going to pop out.
‘It’s Gyu-ha!’
Just seeing people floating outside the 10th-floor window was enough to scare you, and it was even scary.
-And ㅊㅊㄴI saw Gyu-ha;;;;
Assistant Manager Lee, who left his last words on Twitter, was absorbed in filming with his cell phone, which continued to receive heart and mention notifications. He feels like he’s dying because the window is closed, and the light is reflecting.
‘Is the person next to Gyu-ha, is his boyfriend? It’s smaller, bouncier, and cuter than Gyuha... He looks like a hamster... But what is that? It looks like a leash?’
The happy time was short-lived.
‘What? Where did you go?’
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been in front of him just a moment ago, disappeared in an instant, and only his lover remained in the air.
“Huh? Gyu-ha? Where have you gone?”
In Yoo-shin looked around in panic.
“I’m here.”
He was startled by a hand tapping his shoulder, and when he looked, he was there. Until just recently, he was not Hyeon Gyu-ha, but a person who was thought to have a very vague impression. It seems that he can only be seen properly if he is clearly aware that he is there.
“Wow… that’s amazing. What kind of skill is this?”
“To put it simply, it erases one’s existence. As a bonus, it is an improved version and cannot be filmed on electronic devices, so it is mainly used by celebrities and criminals.”
“I think it would have been nice if I could have had these skills before awakening.”
Wouldn’t it have been better for my presence not to be revealed at all rather than being quietly ostracized because I was an orphan living in an orphanage?
Even though he didn’t even say those secret words out loud, Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled as if he knew how he felt.
“I really like the feeling of being in control of the world.”
Then he came down the alley between the buildings and held out his hand.
“Let’s take a walk, master.”
In Yoo-shin blinked his eyebrows and looked at his half-gloved hands.
“Holding hands?”
“Then let’s put on a leash.”
“No!”
Instead of a leash, you could link your arms instead of holding hands. He quickly grabbed his hand and Hyeon Gyu-ha naturally bowed. He was more concerned about the texture of the intertwined fingers than the smooth feel of the gloves. The hands are rough and hard, with calluses on the fingers, but they wrap you warmly. It was the left hand that In Yu-shin healed.
It may have been several years since he last held another person’s hand, let alone shake his hand.
“Have you had lunch?”
“Coffee and some bread with a friend.”
“Well, it’s a little late, but let’s go have lunch.”
“Do you know a good restaurant?”
“I haven’t eaten anywhere near school since I dropped out, but there’s a snack bar that I’ve heard is delicious. You like tteokbokki, right?”
“Of course!”
At first, he was a little embarrassed to be holding hands with him, but he really didn’t seem to be recognized by passers-by. He felt a little less embarrassed because no one recognized him.
“But how did you know I like tteokbokki?”
“You often went to the snack bar in front of your house.”
Strange. I think I only received a call from Hyeon Gyu-ha once at the snack bar. How did you know? While In Yoo-shin was tilting his head, they walked through the alley and arrived at a snack bar.
Just as he said, the tteokbokki and fried food were unbelievably delicious. Since it was a late lunch, he was just trying to fill his stomach, but he ended up ordering kimbap and eating it.
After lunch, they stopped by a coin karaoke room to digest food. While In Yoo-shin sang excitedly under the twinkling lights, Hyeon Gyu-ha only shook the tambourine. He thought they would select the song on their own, but the sound of the tambourine only became more dazzling.
‘It definitely feels awkward when Gyu-ha shakes the tambourine for the first time...’
Does shaking a tambourine also increase skill proficiency?
Although he was smiling softly as always, he didn’t look like he was enjoying it at all, and it was surprising that he was only leveling up his tambourine skill. As expected, it ranks first.
He glanced at the status window.
[Current status: Murderous. interest.]
It was the usual Hyeon Gyu-ha. Murderous intent and interest are the basics, so it seems like there is just no thought.
“Gyu-ha, what are you thinking?”
“I have no idea.”
“Don’t you sing?”
“I only know old songs.”
“I don’t even know any idol songs these days. Instead of doing that, let’s sing together.”
“Do you want to hear me sing?”
It was just that he was bothered by his silence, and he didn’t really want to listen, but In Yoo-shin learned that he had to respond eagerly here.
“Totally.”
“It is one of the virtues of a pet rat to give in to its master’s tricks.”
Next to In Yoo-shin, Hyeon Gyu-ha carefully pressed the karaoke remote control, which seemed to be the first time he had touched it and chose a song.
In Yoo-shin, who thought he would choose a song that was out of style at most, was taken aback. It was a song that went way too long ago, even if it went out of style. But it was a famous song. Even if you just sing the first verse, 95% of the country will reflexively sing it again.
With that green meadow in the background, this song that made you feel like you had to dance while shaking your shoulders and shaking your hips was a trot song from the 70s.
I thought he was teasing me again, but Hyeon Gyu-ha sang very seriously. Meanwhile, a subtle unbalance was felt due to the profound vocal quality of a ballad singer.
“I’ve only heard it, but it’s fun to sing it.”
And the song he chose again was also a trot song from the 70s. The only thing he really knew was old trot.
‘Well, what do you think? That can happen when people live busy lives.’
What are the advantages of Trot? It is a national song. In Yoo-shin also grabbed the microphone while shaking a tambourine. Although his tambourine skills may not be sufficient, he was confident that he would not fall behind in terms of entertainment. It’s a joy developed on a karaoke machine at a daycare center.
“Wait.”
After wasting time at a coin karaoke room until his throat was a little hoarse, thanks to which his stomach emptied quickly, he ate dinner, walked around a nearby park, and only after Hyeon Gyu-ha led him to the alley in front of his house did In Yoo-shin realize what was wrong.
“This isn’t a walk…isn’t this a date?”
“Do you understand now?”
A question mark floated above In Yoo-shin’s head. date? A date, not a walk? why? suddenly?
“We’re dating.”
“Oh, that’s true, but... that’s a lie.”
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a lie or not. Everyone in the world knows we’re dating.”
“But as soon as we find out how to release you from taming, we’ll break up.”
Instead of answering those words, Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed his hand, which he had not let go of yet, and shook it lightly.
“To be honest, killing you and then untaming you is still an attractive plan. I’m still quite attracted to it. But I’m not doing that. What do you think is the reason?”
“Because I’m a stimulant...?”
“Answer.”
A kiss as light as a feather fell on the back of In Yoo-shin’s hand as he was being held. A moist texture seeped in, and the skin that touched it became hot.
His fingertips twitched as if an electric current was flowing through them, but for some reason, he couldn’t pull them away. The sound of thin breathing between his lips tickled his skin. As he wiggled his fingers, his firm grip on my hand gained some strength.
“Yoo-shin’s fingers are so soft as if he has no bones. I’m worried that if I hold it too hard, it might break.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha placed his lips on the back of his hand and smiled, the corners of his eyes curling up nicely. The breath of his laughter spread thickly over his skin. He knows that he has no intention of doing so, but when he meets eyes with a subtle softness, it seems as if they are trying to enchant him.
“You have to pay the right price for stimulants.”
At those words, In Yoo-shin was startled and came to his senses. ’Are you possessed? Come to your senses, In Yoo-shin.’ The narrowed amber eyes glowed even brighter under the light of the streetlamp.
“If there’s anything you want to ask me, just tell me. Also, what do you need? Whatever it is, I will serve you faithfully. That’s my only joy.”
“………”
“I serve you to get your due. Then it makes me feel better. Then I’ll pay you a fair price again. I feel better. It’s the circular logic of a miracle, isn’t it?”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, smiling mischievously like a boy, kissed the back of his hand one more time and let go of his hand.
“Good night.”
“Yes……”
“Ah, this is my gift to my sister, Henri Raymond Charles Francoise VI.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had even given the hamster snacks he had taken out of the space, waved his hand and told him to go up quickly. In Yu-shin hesitated and then asked cautiously.
“Actually, my friend who majored in gate studies was wondering if he could go to the dungeon with Gyu-ha. Or even a few dungeon appendages. There will be a reward.”
“Is it the friend from the daycare I told you about last time?”
“Yes.”
“Then, the reward will be a photo of Yoo-shin when he was young.”
“What?!”
“Okay then.”
“Wait!”
Before he could catch anything, Hyeon Gyu-ha flew up into the air and disappeared. He raised his blank gaze to his shadow, which quickly turned into a black dot and disappeared. What on earth are you going to use those childhood photos for?...
‘Eeei, I don’t know.’
I scratched the back of my neck and opened the door.
Anyway, Hyeon Gyu-ha said something that meant it was a transaction. It seems to imply that even if you maintain a close relationship now, it will end as soon as the taming is turned off. After checking Hyeon Gyu-ha’s words and actions again, my heart feels lighter. He doesn’t have to have any expectations from him. He was really fortunate.
In Yoo-shin vigorously rubbed away the remaining feeling of lips on the back of his hand.
***
Although the dungeon was conquered and one continuous gate was completely closed, no special changes occurred in In Yoo-shin’s life. A typical day continued with the human totem fighting off Jinsang.
......he thought, but Hyeon Gyu-ha opened his mouth seriously. (Meaning he took it seriously.)
Support on Kofi:
------
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: PsycheAsylum, Ghostx
PA: I’m really smiling while reading this chapter, then the author decides to insert some spice like… you know…( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑
HM: I know, right ? hehe