I Tamed the First Rank Chapter 23

HoshiMiya
Apr 12, 2024
9 min read

Updated: May 8

“But Gyu-ha-ssi, don’t you have things like caps and sunglasses in your inventory?”

“No, ‘cause they’re not to my taste.”

“What about masks……?”

“Wow, the air is nice today.”

I had actually never seen Hyeon Gyu-ha wear a hat or sunglasses. However, it was true that if I walked around with a bare-faced Hyeon Gyu-ha, we would attract attention from all over the place, so it was a burden for me as an ordinary person.

‘Then should I just cover my face?’

Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was looking at him as he pondered, blurted out:

“Are you embarrassed of me?”

“N-no, I’m not saying it’s embarrassing! It’s because Gyu-ha-ssi is so famous, many people will recognize you and take pictures of you, but I’m just an ordinary person……”

After enjoying Yoo-shin’s distress and surprise as he scrambled for words, Hyeon Gyu-ha took out a scroll from his inventory.

“I have a good skill.”

***

Deputy Team Leader Lee bemoaned why a sudden gate would open up there and make her company force her to go to work on a public holiday. She was taking a quick stretch while looking out the window when she felt like her eyes were about to pop out.

‘It’s Gyu-ha!’

Just seeing people floating outside the tenth-floor window was enough to scare you, and Hyeon Gyu-ha was even scarier.

- Oh my godㅊㅊ;ㄴI saw Gyu-ha;;;;

Having left a final message on his private Twitter, Deputy Team Leader Lee was engrossed in filming with her phone, which was constantly buzzing with like and mention notifications. She felt like dying of frustration because of the closed window’s reflections.

‘Is the person next to Gyu-ha his boyfriend? He’s smaller, rounder, and cuter than Gyu-ha…… He looks like a hamster…… But what is that? It looks like a leash?’

***

The happy moment was short-lived.

‘What? Where did he go?’

Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been in front of In Yoo-shin just a moment ago, disappeared in an instant, and only his lover remained in the air.

“Huh? Gyu-ha-ssi? 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, Gyu-ha was there. Until just now, he was not Hyeon Gyu-ha but a person who appeared to have a very vague presence. It seemed that Yoo-shin could only see Gyu-ha properly if he was clearly aware that Gyu-ha was there.

“Wow…… that’s amazing. What kind of skill is this?”

“To put it simply, it erases one’s existence. As a bonus, this improved version prevents you from being filmed on electronic devices, so it’s mainly used by celebrities and criminals.”

“I think it would’ve been nice if I 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?

Although In Yoo-shin didn’t even say those private words aloud, Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled as if he knew how he felt.

“I really like the feeling of being in control of the world.”

They descended into an alley between the buildings and Gyu-ha held out his hand.

“Let’s take a walk, Master.”

In Yoo-shin blinked his eyes and looked at Gyu-ha’s partially-gloved hands.

“While holding hands?”

“Then let me put on a leash.”

“No!”

Instead of a leash, we could link arms instead of holding hands. He quickly grabbed his hand and Hyeon Gyu-ha naturally bowed. I was more concerned about the texture of our intertwined fingers than the smooth feel of his glove. His left hand was rough and hard, with calluses on the fingers, but they wrapped around mine warmly. It was the hand that I healed.

It may have been several years since I last held another person’s hand, let alone shake one.

“Have you had lunch?”

“I had 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 I do!”

At first, I was a little embarrassed to be holding hands with him, but we really didn’t seem to get recognized by passersby. I felt a little less embarrassed because no one recognized us.

“But how did you know I like tteokbokki?”

“You often go to the snack bar in front of your house.”

That’s weird. I think Hyeon Gyu-ha only called me when I was at the snack bar once. How did he know? While In Yoo-shin was tilting his head in thought, they walked through the alley and arrived at a snack bar.

Like I said before, the tteokbokki and fried food were unbelievably delicious. Since lunch was late, Yoo-shin 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 while they digested their food. While In Yoo-shin sang excitedly under the twinkling lights, Hyeon Gyu-ha only shook the tambourine. I thought he would eventually choose a song himself, but the sound of the tambourine only grew more elaborate.

‘It definitely felt awkward when Gyu-ha-ssi shook the tambourine the first time……’

He wondered if just shaking a tambourine also increased skill proficiency in it……

Although he was smiling softly as always, he didn’t look like he was enjoying himself at all, and it was surprising that he was only leveling up his tambourine skill. As expected, he ranked no.1 in the rankings for a reason.

Yoo-shin glanced at the status window.

[Current Status: Murderous. Intrigued.]

It was Hyeon Gyu-ha as usual. Murderous intent and curiosity were his basic states, so it seemed like he didn’t have any thoughts.

“Gyu-ha-ssi, what are you thinking?”

“My mind is blank.”

“Aren’t you going to sing?”

“I only know old songs.”

“I don’t even know any mainstream idol songs. Instead of doing those, let’s sing together.”

“Do you want to hear me sing?”

In truth, he was bothered by Gyu-ha’s silence and didn’t actually want to listen to him sing, but In Yoo-shin learned that he had to respond eagerly here.

“Totally.”

“It’s one of the virtues of a pet rodent to give in to its Master’s tricks.”

Next to astonished In Yoo-shin, Hyeon Gyu-ha carefully pressed the karaoke remote control— seemingly the first time he had touched it—and chose a song.

In Yoo-shin, who thought Gyu-ha would choose a song that was out of style at most, was taken aback. It was a song that was from so long ago, it went out of style, but it was a famous song; even if you just sang the first verse, 95% of the country would reflexively sing it again.

This song that made you feel like you had to dance while shaking your shoulders and hips with that green meadow in the background was a trot song (a genre of Korean music) from the 70s.

I thought he was teasing me again, but Hyeon Gyu-ha sang very seriously. Meanwhile, I felt subtly unbalanced due to his profound vocals, the quality akin to that of a ballad singer.

“I’ve only ever listened to it before, but it’s fun to sing it.”

And the next song Gyu-ha chose was also a 70s trot song. He really only knew trot songs.

‘Well, whatever. That can happen when people live busy lives.’

What were the advantages of trot? It’s the nation’s song. In Yoo-shin also grabbed a 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 from the karaoke machine at a childcare facility.

***

“Wait.”

After wasting time at a coin karaoke room until his throat was a little hoarse, thanks to which his stomach emptied quickly, they ate dinner and walked around a nearby park. It was 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?”

“Did you realize it just now?”

“……?”

A question mark floated above In Yoo-shin’s head. Date? A date, not a walk? Why so suddenly?

“We’re dating.”

“Oh, that’s true, but…… that’s a front.”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a front 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 to get untamed by you is still an enticing plan. I’m still quite tempted by it—but I’m not going to do it. What do you think is the reason?”

“Because I’m a stimulant……?”

“Here’s my answer.”

A kiss as light as a feather fell onto the back of In Yoo-shin’s hand as Gyu-ha held it. A moist texture seeped in, and the skin that was touched 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 Gyu-ha’s lips tickled his skin. As Yoo-shin wiggled his fingers, the firm grip around his hand gained some strength.

“Yoo-shin’s fingers are so soft, as if he has no bones. I’m worried that if I hold your hand 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 my skin. I knew that he had no intention of doing so, but when I met his subtly soft eyes, which seemed to be trying to enchant me……

“You have to pay the right price for stimulants.”

At those words, In Yoo-shin was startled and came to his senses. Were 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 say it. What else do you need? Whatever it is, I will serve you faithfully. That’s my only joy.”

“……”

“I serve you to pay you fairly. Then I feel good. Then again I pay you fairly. I serve. I feel good. It’s a miraculous cycle of logic, right?”

Hyeon Gyu-ha, smiling mischievously like a boy, kissed the back of Yoo-shin’s hand one more time and then let go.

“Good night.”

“Yes……”

“Ah, this is my gift to my sister, Henry Raymond Charles Francois VI.”

Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had even given him the hamster snacks he had taken out of his inventory, waved his hand and told him to go up quickly. Yoo-shin hesitated and then asked cautiously.

“Actually, my friend who majored in gate studies was wondering if he could go to a dungeon with us, Gyu-ha. Or even get a few dungeon materials. There will be a reward.”

“Is it the friend from the orphanage you told me about last time?”

“Yes.”

“Then, my reward shall be a photo of Yoo-shin when he was young.”

“What?!”

“I’ll get going then.”

“Wait!”

Before Yoo-shin could catch him, Hyeon Gyu-ha flew up into the air and disappeared. Yoo-shin raised his befuddled gaze to his silhouette, which quickly turned into a black dot and disappeared. What on earth were you going to use those childhood photos for……?

‘Ugh, who knows.’

He scratched the back of his neck and opened the door to his home.

Anyway, Hyeon Gyu-ha said something that meant it was a transaction. He seemed to imply that even if we maintained a close relationship now, it would end as soon as the Taming turned off. After ruminating over Hyeon Gyu-ha’s words and actions again, my heart felt lighter. He didn’t need to have any expectations of me. I 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. The days typically continued with the human totem fighting off Karens.

…… That was what In Yoo-shin thought, until Hyeon Gyu-ha opened his mouth seriously.

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

Editor M: In Yoo-shin, please be wary of contracting rabies from the Hyeon Gyu-ha species.

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