I Tamed the First Rank Chapter 36
- HoshiMiya
- Aug 9, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 7
In Yoo-shin did not know that, although healing from a tamer could cure minor problems such as wounds or colds, it was impossible to cure diseases that had even altered genes.
The three white rats grew cold before the end of summer vacation.
1-se was forced to leave his home as its adoption was dissolved. In Yoo-shin found out later that 1-se had died when the link between their souls disappeared. Up until its death, 1-se had been searching for the whereabouts of its master that had suddenly disappeared.
2-se died during a dungeon break.
The 3-se, 4-se, and 5-se died while he was feeling foolishly optimistic that he would be able to keep raising them.
As he cried in fear for the warmth slowly cooling down on his palm, In Yoo-shin acutely realized what taming really was.
*
In Yoo-shin looked up at the ceiling and blinked his eyes blankly. The corners of his eyes were a little stiff, as if he had shed tears in his sleep.
No matter how much energy I restored to 6-se, she wouldn’t live that long since she was a hamster. The reason I decided to tame bats was because they had a longer lifespan than rats.
“Did you sleep well?”
In Yoo-shin gave a weak morning greeting.
“You woke up early.”
“I usually have trouble sleeping at night.”
The man, who would live much longer than a hamster or a bat, smiled as he caressed the hand he had been holding all night.
[Name: Henry Raymond Charles Francois VII]
[Current Status: Murderous Intent. ??.]
*
What on earth were those question marks?
In Yoo-shin was puzzled by the question marks that appeared in the status window. Was it something similar to murderous intent, like hostility or hatred?
I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but since ‘??’ seemed like a default status, I guess he’d just say he’s not thinking about anything again if I asked. In the past, I didn’t take it seriously when he said he wasn’t thinking, but now I’m worried about how he really didn’t think about anything.
‘Eh, I don’t know. The letters may have malfunctioned and that’s why question marks appeared. Whether it’s murderous intent or hostility, I think it’s good for Gyu-ha-ssi to have something on his mind.’
Because I got involved with Hyeon Gyu-ha, I felt like the only skill I had improved was ignoring things I didn’t understand. The fact that I was even thinking about this meant that I had gotten used to riding this bike.
Clinging to the back of Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was steering the bike, In Yoo-shin put the status window away.
Due to the nature of the work, civil servant hunters and the Hunter Affairs Department operated in shifts. Even though it’s the weekend today, there were still quite a few employees visible, though not as many as on a weekday.
“Hm?”
I didn’t know if it was because of my mood, but the employees we encountered today seemed to greet us with awkward smiles. In Yoo-shin gently grabbed the sleeve of Hyeon Gyu-ha as they walked side-by-side.
“Gyu-ha-ssi, don’t you feel that today is a little strange?”
“After sleeping with you, Master, the world looks so beautiful.”
“……”
I shouldn’t have asked.
When In Yoo-shin tried to gently let go of his sleeve, his hand was grabbed. He wiggled his fingers, trapped in the warm embrace of the hand that was larger than his. The festival from just yesterday came to mind……
‘Oh, only people who came to the school festival would have seen it, so how much interest would there be if an eyewitness account was posted on the internet? It wasn’t even live-streamed! Haha!’
After shaking off his discomfort, In Yoo-shin opened the office door with a cheerful smile.
“Good morning!”
“Yoo-shin has arrived!”
Paper streamers and confetti rained down on their heads with a popping sound.
“Congratulations on breaking up with your stalker, Yoo-shin-ah!”
“Congrats.”
The falling pieces of paper were blocked by Hyeon Gyu-ha’s force field and fluttered down.
“Huh? Nu-nim, what do you mean by that?”
“I heard you dumped Gyu-ha while eating tteokbokki!”
“What?!”
“However…… since I still see Gyu-ha clinging to your side, I guess you two have reconciled.”
Lee Hye-yeon clicked her tongue, showing her disappointment.
“N-no, we didn’t break up in the first place! Before that, how did you find out?!”
“We saw a video on the internet?”
In Yoo-shin searched Hyeon Gyu-ha’s name on his cell phone and despaired in just thirty seconds. I understood now why I had received a text from Park Seung-gi in the morning saying ‘Cheer up.’
‘Why did that happen!? On a livestream!? Aahhhhh!’
Lee Hye-yeon patted In Yoo-shin’s shoulder as he covered his face with his hands, unable to bear the embarrassment.
“Gyu-ha covered your face well, so it wasn’t exposed.”
“That’s a relief, but……”
“But the sight of Gyu-ha begging you not to abandon him was pretty clear in view.”
In Yoo-shin glanced at Hyeon Gyu-ha with a tearful expression.
“Are you okay to have rumors like this floating around, Gyu-ha-ssi?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s all true, anyway. I don’t care if my begging for Yoo-shin-ssi is live-streamed—not just here, but all over the world. I won’t be able to survive even a day without you, Master, so please don’t abandon me in the future either.”
“Ew, that’s gross.”
Shuddering, Lee Hye-yeon pushed a cup of coffee and a macaron at him.
“I bought these because I thought you might need them today.”
“Thank you for this food……”
Still, the macaron was delicious. After regaining some energy, Lee Hye-yeon motioned to the other hunters in her office.
“I guess we’re a bit late in introducing ourselves? These are the guys who’ve returned today after being dispatched to the countryside. The guy with the black hair is the Gamma team’s leader, Choi Jin-hyeok, and the guy with glasses is Song Chan-yeong. Now that you’ve met these guys too, I’ve pretty much introduced you to everyone except for those on leave or training.”
Even though I knew there were strangers when I came in, I was so preoccupied that I forgot to say hello. In Yoo-shin quickly wiped away the macaron crumbs from his mouth and bowed his head.
“Hello, I’m In Yoo-shin.”
“I’m Choi Jin-hyeok.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Ah, Hunter Choi Jin-hyeok-nim! Are you the hunter who cleared the Taebaek Mountain gate back in January?”
In Yoo-shin remembered Choi Jin-hyeok a beat later and let out an exclamation. The man who had previously given a terse “Congrats,” to Lee Hye-yeon’s teasing now gave a cold nod.
Choi Jin-hyeok, whose awakening ability was toxikinesis (power of toxins), was one of the few top rankers in the ability department like Lee Hye-yeon.
“And, hi there……”
In Yoo-shin greeted him warmly, but he couldn’t remember who Song Chan-yeong was. Song Chan-yeong smiled cheerfully at him as his face turned red with embarrassment.
“It’s obvious that you don’t remember, so don’t worry. I graduated from medical school the year before last and am a healer currently working as a resident at the Ministry of Ability.”
Healers with medical knowledge could treat injuries more efficiently. Because of this, there were some healing practitioners who completed nursing degrees or higher. Amateur healer In Yoo-shin felt a pang of guilt.
‘Would it be a good idea to study even just at the surface level?’
Song Chan-yeong smiled amiably and held out one of his hands.
“Please take care of me in the future.”
Of course, In Yoo-shin also wanted to shake hands.
“……?”
Before he could reach out, Hyeon Gyu-ha’s hand quickly darted out from behind his back and seized Song Chan-young’s hand instead. Their forearms brushed, and a status window popped up.
[Current Status: Murderous Intent. ??. Restraint. Competitive Spirit.]
‘Competitive spirit? What competitive spirit?’
Hyeon Gyu-ha placed his hand on top of In Yoo-shin’s head, who was embarrassed, and spoke confidently.
“I’m Yoo-shin-ssi’s pet, Hyeon Gyu-ha.”
“Erm, uh, wh-what?”
“No one else can become one of my Master’s pets, so don’t waste your time here.”
Song Chan-yeong, who experienced Hyeon Gyu-ha for the first time, was very embarrassed, and In Yoo-shin was also embarrassed and his face turned red. Meanwhile, Lee Hye-yeon frowned.
“I could just sew that jerk’s mouth shut, but I can’t.”
“This guy really doesn’t change.”
Choi Jin-hyeok, who was already acquainted with Hyeon Gyu-ha, shook his head and left the office.
“Sorry, sorry. Our Gyu-ha-ssi usually speaks his mind without thinking first.”
“Ahaha…… He’s just like what I’ve heard.”
Fortunately, Song Chan-young was not upset. What a good person.
Taking Hyeon Gyu-ha to a corner, In Yoo-shin jabbed his side and whispered to him.
“What do you mean by ‘pet’?”
“It’s a bit like being a hamster.”
“Well, you do give off a friendly impression, but…… what do hamsters have to do with it?”
“Aren’t they Yoo-shin-ssi’s type?”
“No, I think?”
It’s true that I like hamsters, but I didn’t particularly like their faces. In Yoo-shin was confused; at the same time, Hyeon Gyu-ha said, “Hmm.” He seemed to think about it, then bowed his waist.
His gaze from above suddenly descended and made eye contact with In Yoo-shin. They had met eyes countless times, but today his heart reacted to Gyu-ha’s face as it got closer. When he took a step back in embarrassment at the sound of his heart pounding, Hyeon Gyu-ha held him still with one arm around his waist.
His long eyelashes shimmered in the morning sunlight, and a soft smile appeared on his lips.
“Then, what kind of man do you like?”
***
HM: 0-0 this author loves to end in cliff-hangers
Editor M: Actually, I get the feeling that the length of each part is determined by the original website.
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Editor M
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