I Tamed the First Rank Chapter 30
- HoshiMiya
- Jun 9, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: May 8
“Are they doing this because of you, Gyu-ha?”
“It’s wonderful proof that everyone recognizes Master and me as one set.”
In Yoo-shin, who would have pretended not to hear Gyu-ha’s shameless nonsense at any other time, nodded with a blank expression. Hyeon Gyu-ha gently waved a plastic bag, having packed a sandwich for In Yoo-shin who said he had no appetite.
“Let’s eat lunch first.”
“Sure……”
Contrary to his words of agreement, In Yoo-shin chewed his sandwich as if he were lost in thought. Even though it’s my favorite egg mayo sandwich, I couldn’t seem to taste it at all.
Hyeon Gyu-ha’s eyes narrowed. What’s the problem? His annual salary, which barely surpassed minimum wage, had already increased several times.
“Isn’t it good? With that money, you could go to the university you wanted to go to.”
“But it’s not money I got because I’m good at my job.”
“Since it’s something that Master’s pet mouse is getting for being so capable, it’s also Master’s money, right? Just think of it like you won a lottery called Hyeon Gyu-ha.”
“No. It’s different.”
In Yoo-shin, who rarely expressed his opinion, spoke with an unusually firm tone. Hyeon Gyu-ha knew when his firmness came out.
“It’s like some kind of fraud. When the taming skill is lifted, it will be over with Gyu-ha.”
Ahh. As expected.
One corner of Hyeon Gyu-ha’s mouth went up at an angle.
“Actually, I even refused the offer from the manager of the Hunter Support Bureau that he would specially hire me to level 7 if personnel changes are made next week. All the attention that comes to me should be enjoyed by Gyu-ha-ssi, not me.”
“……”
“But it’s tough to find a way to undo taming. I’ve been looking through papers and books from time to time, but I’ve made no progress so far. I’m sorry.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha stared in silence at his Master, who was struggling to quickly let go of the leash attached to his neck. The sense of security of being leashed, the fulfillment of serving Master, and the joy that came from it.
…… It’s like I was becoming a dog for real.
His lips twisted. Murder. The intent to murder. The emotions that had always dominated him since the age of nine were stirring.
Should I kill him? There was no need to imitate an absurdly tame dog. Easy. Fast. Convenient.
〈I know. It’s presumptuous of me to worry about Gyu-ha-ssi.〉
His eyes, which looked on worriedly despite his extreme weakness. The colorful changes in emotion whenever I saw him. The scale in my mind, with murderous intent placed on one pan, creaked fiercely and tilted.
In Yoo-shin was a master who provided pleasure worth being held by a leash. Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled and traced his finger along his Master’s cheek. If I were truly a dog, I would have licked it with my tongue. It’s soft and warm. His skin, covered in fine downy fuzz, trembled slightly, but he did not shy away from Gyu-ha’s touch.
“You have no intention of moving to another guild, no matter what the conditions are?”
“Yes. Even if I have to move, I want to do it with my own capabilities.”
“Then I’ll warn them not to bother Yoo-shin-ssi anymore.”
In Yoo-shin was surprised. He wondered if Gyu-ha was going to send a warning through an inter-guild communication channel, but Hyeon Gyu-ha just took a few selfies with the rooftop garden in the background.
“Well, they’re perfect without any filters or edits. Choose a photo you like among these.”
“What is the picture for?”
“One is going to be used as the wallpaper on Yoo-shin-ssi’s phone and for authentication purposes.”
“……?”
It was still a bit confusing, but he chose one of the selfies. It was a secret to myself that I found it difficult to choose just one because they were all good-looking.
Hyeon Gyu-ha texted the photo to In Yoo-shin, then ignored countless chat rooms with +999 unread messages and entered the open chat room at the top. It was a room where only Hyeon Gyu-ha's photos were being uploaded without a single message.
He posted a photo there, with the following comment:
[I don’t mind if you bother me, but don’t bother my boyfriend.]
For a moment, it felt like the chat room had paused and a heavy silence descended. Then, messages started rushing in all at once, to the point that it became hard to read.
[?????????????]
[What the fuck is this trolling???]
[But this is my first time seeing that photo; Gyu-ha has never posted a selfie before.]
[Wow, really?? Really, really??]
[I love you Hyeon Gyu-ha!!! ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Gyu-ha, what are you doing now? Did you eat lunch?]
[Who is bothering your boyfriend? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
“What on earth is this chat room for?”
“It’s for Hyeon Gyu-ha only.”
“Huh?! That chat room where fans just post pictures without saying a word? Isn’t it difficult to get into chat rooms of famous hunters because they’re always full? How did you get in?”
“I’ve been in it since it was first made.”
“…… It must have been several years, but you haven’t talked in the chat room even once?”
“Yes.”
“……”
It was a confident response that left me with nothing more to say. Well, it’s not wrong to go into your own chat room and just lurk……
As Gyu-ha held the sandwich to In Yoo-shin’s lips, he reflexively took a bite and began to munch while still wearing a confused expression.
“Now this will be screenshotted and spread across most online communities, and by the end of today, even the guilds will all know about my warning. Still, if there’s a guild that ignores the warning and bothers you…….”
“…… If that happens?”
Instead of answering, Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled brightly.
It was three days later that Yoo-shin learned the meaning behind that smile. While the scout calls were cut off, there was miraculously still a reckless guild that bothered him, and Hyeon Gyu-ha, having found their business card before he threw it away, went out for about an hour and came back.
“……”
“You have an interesting expression. Why?”
“…… It’s nothing.”
In Yoo-shin silently closed the browser window on an internet article about how Hyeon Gyu-ha pulled up the entire building of the guild that had given Yoo-shin a business card that morning, turned it upside down, threw a blank check at the stunned guild leader, and then leisurely disappeared.
It’s certain that he would be ranked first in terms of personality.
*
Hunters who were civil servants belonging to the Ministry of Ability—that is, those affiliated with the state—were permitted dual employment unlike other civil servants, even if joining attack squads was impossible for them. This was because no one would try to become a Ministry of Ability hunter without at least earning money by hunting independently like freelancers did.
The Ministry of Ability’s work was not extremely dangerous or difficult, but it was complex. In other words, it was miscellaneous work.
Whenever a new dungeon was discovered, they would conduct a preliminary search and were dispatched when a problem arose in the dungeon, and as a priority during an unexpected gate or monster wave, responded to crimes committed by awakeners that the police could not handle, and provided security for key personnel.
Learning that hunters from the Ministry of Ability had separate uniforms and also served as decorative backdrops at state events, Hyeon Gyu-ha’s fans seemed to be secretly waiting alongside In Yoo-shin.
“You should come visit often!”
While receiving greetings from employees who were sad about parting ways with the totem, In Yoo-shin and Kim Ji-yeon moved to the Hunter Affairs Department of the Hunter Support Bureau, which was responsible for assisting affiliated hunters. It was a completely different building from the Department of Public Welfare. Although In Yoo-shin was still a contract civil servant, everyone knew that he was Hyeon Gyu-ha’s dedicated manager. The president probably knew too.
On the first day of their move, Section Chief Kim from the Hunter Affairs Department personally took them around the office and introduced them to the hunters and staff. The field positions of the on-call hunters, who were specialized civil servants, were team-based, and Lee Hye-yeon, the leader of the Alpha Team, was the head team leader who oversaw all field staff. Although Hyeon Gyu-ha should have belonged to an existing team on principle, a separate team was specially created for him. The team members and team leader were solely Hyeon Gyu-ha.
The hunters on standby mainly stayed in the fitness room which also served as a training area. Furthermore, when they went down to the basement fitness room…
“Oh, it’s a gym. I was planning to sign up for a gym membership anyway, so that’s worked out.”
Ignoring the greetings of the hunters, in whom feelings like envy, jealousy, and longing mixed together, Hyeon Gyu-ha looked around the interior before turning back to look at In Yoo-shin, his eyes sparkling brightly. The moment Yoo-shin met the gaze of those vibrant eyes, akin to that of a child who had found a toy, an ominous premonition for no known reason sent a chilling shudder down his spine.
“The gym looks like a perfect match for you, doesn’t it?”
“M-me? Not Gyu-ha-ssi?”
“There is no need, as my muscles are still perfectly maintained, and this will be our date spot for you, Master-nim.”
“What? Why me? Why at the gym!?”
In Yoo-shin was scared and grabbed Hyeon Gyu-ha, but Hyeon Gyu-ha shamelessly patted his protesting head and looked back at Team Leader Kim.
“Just ‘cause you’re my manager, doesn’t mean you have to be in the office, right?”
“Of course.”
Having completely understood the power dynamics of this currently most famous couple in Korea during this brief introduction, Team Leader Kim nodded without a second thought. As a bonus, even Kim Ji-yeon, who was being guided along, turned a blind eye to In Yoo-shin.
“Yoo-shin-ssi, you should also get a hunter’s license.”
In Yoo-shin tried to run away from the fitness room, but Hyeon Gyu-ha caught In Yoo-shin and held him by his side, then spoke affectionately as if he were asking for a date.
“I don’t need a hunter’s license.”
“I need you.”
“Why……”
“I have to go on dungeon dates with Master-nim from now on. You definitely don’t plan on leaving me alone while I work in the dungeon, do you?”
HM: this scene is so comically funny lol
PA: And that’s how Yoo-shin got his Hunter’s License without being sus ¬‿¬
Editor M: Hyeon Gyu-ha sure acts like he doesn’t mind being a tamed pet, so the moment he considers killing In Yoo-shin again surprised me. Maybe stop comparing yourself to dogs when you’re really a bat… That is, batshi— 💥
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: PsycheAsylum, Ghostx
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