“Why are you scared? What is it? I told you I would definitely get you out of the dungeon.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha, whose indifference from just a moment ago had disappeared like an illusion, fidgeted, and grabbed In Yoo-shin’s shoulder.   “Yes, I do believe that you’ll send me off safely.”   “Then it’s fine.”   “Gyu-ha -ssi  will be left alone in the dungeon. I’m no help in the fight……”   “I’m sure there’s a way.”   “What way?”   “……”   Hyeon Gyu-ha did not answer. From his expression, I realized that even if he died like this, he wouldn’t care at all. Even death was meaningless in the face of his boredom.   “I don’t want to go out alone. If I apply a buff to you, wouldn’t your mana consumption be a little less? Let’s figure out a way together. There are a lot of things I picked up while working at the Department of Supernatural Affairs and Public Safety.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha groaned heavily and pressed his forehead.   “…… Don’t look at me like that.”   “What, look…?”   “I keep thinking about that kid from 19 years ago.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha muttered something meaningless in response, rubbed his face and turned his head.   “There’s only one way. I didn’t want to use it because it was a cruel method, but…… It’s better for you than being anxious.”   With that, he touched In Yoo-shin’s neck again. Thump, thump, thump.   “So please, don’t be anxious.”   “I won’t.”   “Please hold my hand just once.”   In Yoo-shin silently held Hyeon Gyu-ha’s hand. His fingers, slightly soaked in cold sweat, became entangled with his. It seemed like Hyeon Gyu-ha was more anxious than me. If it weren’t for that taming skill, Hyeon Gyu-ha would still have an indifferent gaze instead of feeling uneasy.   “…… I’m really sorry about the taming skill.”   “It’s okay. After all, the performance of the free buff is quite excellent.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled quietly and squeezed In Yoo-shin’s hand once before releasing it. He then took off the half-glove on his left hand and handed it to In Yoo-shin. The first thing Yoo-shin saw was a broken cross tattooed on the back of Gyu-ha’s left hand.   “I’m going to use some attribution artifacts later, but since I’m not expanding the field, I think you’ll probably feel a little dizzy—because we have a strong connection through our souls.”   Normally, I would have been a little embarrassed by his jokes, but this time, I was actually happy about them.  Hyeon Gyu-ha’s gaze was now directed downward. On the ground, Atabeyra was still aggrieved.   “The dungeon is a world of taxidermized illusions, and the god who appears here is not the body of the original, but a mere fragment of the shadow cast. It doesn’t mean humans can’t touch it at all.”   “But weapons didn’t work against her.”   “To defeat a god, you need a suitable weapon or divine power. Moreover, Atabeyra is a god who has already been defeated.”   With his words, Hyeon Gyu-ha stretched both arms forward. At the same time, Atabeyra’s body, which had been running wild on the ground, suddenly stopped.   【———!】   The woman’s face was distorted, and her frog body was twisted. Intangible pressures were squeezing Atabeyra from all directions. Even the wind stopped, and the concentrated air grabbed and entangled her limbs.   The beetle slithered in and out of Atabeyra’s body as she struggled to escape the enormous pressure that rivalled her force.   Atabeyra’s body seemed to be making a screeching and twisting sound as she struggled to escape from the enormous gravity-like pressure. Her twisted flesh was torn apart, and blood flowed forth. The earth was stained by the blood dripping from the maddened god.   Blocking a massive entity that obscures the sun would certainly not be an easy task. Cold sweat formed on Hyeon Gyu-ha’s temples as he slowly moved his fingers as if he were lumping invisible clay into a ball.   “Shit. It’d be easier to split the 63 Building.” (a landmark in Seoul)   Hyeon Gyu-ha muttered a low curse and raised his arms.   【———!】   As Atabeyra’s massive body floated in the air, it felt as if the entire mountain was moving. Atabeyra’s struggles became more intense. Her flesh was torn deeply, and her fresh blood flowed out.   As Hyeon Gyu-ha spoke, Atabeyra was thrown into the sea.   Kuaaang!   The water level rose by tens of meters. In Yoo-shin was startled and stooped down in surprise. The stream of water rising backward hit the force field and scattered beneath his feet. It was as if he were looking down from directly above a fountain. The droplets of water, reflecting and scattering sunlight in countless ways like prisms, were paradoxically beautiful.   A huge cavity was dug in the sea surface for a short while, and the seawater pushed out by the impact rushed into the deep cavity like a violent whirlpool. Atabeyra, buried into the sea floor below, must be receiving enormous water pressure.   Hyeon Gyu-ha sighed and rubbed his temples.   “It’s buried so deep that it’ll take time for it to come up.”   “Uh, are you just trying to buy time?”   “Just for the time being. I hope Yoo-shin -ssi  will feel safe and not be anxious.”   While Hyeon Gyu-ha was still talking, he jumped out of the force field. In Yoo-shin quickly followed him with his eyes.   【———!】   Emitting boiling, gurgling sounds, the sea was turbulent due to Atabeyra’s struggling to crawl up from below the surface. The tattoo on Hyeon Gyu-ha’s left hand shone.   [The artifact ‘Broken Cross of the Last Emperor’ belonging to Henry Raymond Charles Francois VII has been partially liberated.]   After partially liberating the attribution artifact, a vision in his head flowed through the bridge of the soul-link to In Yoo-shin.   It was of a cathedral, with majestic rays of light coming in through a high, round skylight, illuminating the symbol of the cross.   The final Eucharist that would last until the end of the empire was being held under the Son of God, who was crucified to atone for the sins of mankind. People wearing old, shabby clothes desperately prayed and sang hymns in despair.   「May the Lord God remember us all in his kingdom, now and always and forever.」   「Amen, to the King of all creation, surrounded by angelic hosts, receiving unseen protection. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.」   Thick tears flowed down the rough, wrinkled cheeks of the emperor who held the most ancient position.   When he woke up at the end of the dizzying fantasy, a brilliant light appeared on Hyeon Gyu-ha’s left arm. Atabeyra, bathed in the soaring, holy light, convulsed and screamed.   ‘Ah…… That’s why Gyu-ha -ssi  said he didn’t want to use it—because it was cruel.’   As he said, it was a truly cruel method. Weren’t parents and children killed by the same means?   At the same time, I thought it was ironic. Unlike those who massacred the children of Atabeyra with distorted beliefs, the memories of the artifacts released by Hyeon Gyu-ha were of faithful believers who sacredly upheld their faith until the end of their destruction.   The brilliant light that came from a decision of pure faith fell upon Supreme Deity Atabeyra.   ***   [The hidden boss of the dungeon, ‘Supreme Deity Atabeyra,’ has died.]   [The dungeon has been completely cleared.]   Supreme Deity Atabeyra did not leave her body behind like other demon beasts. The only trace of her existence was the crystal stone left behind her as she disappeared into thin air.   “Gyu-ha- ssi !”   As soon as Hyeon Gyu-ha stepped down from the air, In Yoo-shin ran to him.   “Are you hurt anywhere?”   “I’m fine. Please hold out your hand for me quickly.”   “You’ve suddenly become more energetic.”   “Ah, shi—! Stop ignoring what I say!”   In the end, when a harsh sound came out of In Yoo-shin’s mouth, Hyeon Gyu-ha flinched and obediently held out his left arm. The damage to his left arm was terrible. If his arm got run over by a 5-ton truck, got oil poured on it, and threw it into the fire, this was what it would look like.   ‘What if my healing doesn’t work?’   Wasn’t this a horrific injury that couldn’t even be compared to a stab wound? Despite only sweating a little, Hyeon Gyu-ha remained calm, not even uttering a single groan, while the one whose face had turned pale was rather In Yoo-shin.   He desperately gathered up mana and poured effort into healing. Milky healing power enveloped Hyeon Gyu-ha’s arms. And for a tamed entity, the Master’s skills were more effective than anything else in the world.   “Oh.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha briefly admired his cleanly healed left arm.   “The way it was supposed to go was, I had to go to a church, sprinkle some holy water, and get a blessing for it to be cured. I got better quickly that way too.”   “I’m really glad my healing worked……”   For some reason, In Yoo-shin was more exhausted than when he was watching the fight in full swing. After pouring in most of his available mana, he felt severely depleted. He was lucky he didn’t faint. Hyeon Gyu-ha gently supported In Yoo-shin’s waist using psychokinesis as he tried to sit down on the floor.   “I borrowed divine power without a holy relic, but it worked very easily with just one arm. Thanks to you, I also obtained the hidden boss crystal stone.”   The crystal stone that was floating on the sea flew through the air and landed in Hyeon Gyu-ha’s palm. Unlike the opaque crystal stones of ordinary monsters, it had a mysterious light that seemed to radiate five colors brilliantly from within.   Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was about to store the crystal stone into his inventory, pondered for a moment and held out his hand.   “Would you like me to show you something fun?”   “What is it?”   “Do you want to touch it?”   “May I?”   The brilliance of the five colors was amazing.  In Yoo-shin gently placed his hand on the hidden boss crystal stone. It even felt warm, as if it had been soaked in hot water for a long time and then taken out.   ‘When it’s cold, it would be nice to hug to keep warm.’   What an extravagant delusion it was to use hidden boss crystals, whose monetary value was difficult to pinpoint, as a substitute for a hot pack. While he was thinking nonsense, Hyeon Gyu-ha infused mana into the crystal stone.   It was that moment—   『Help me.』   The world changed completely.   P.A : I’ve been thinking… that maybe~~ both of them are connected 19 years ago. No! I’m convinced, I’ve been feeling this since Gyu-ha cut himself to test Yoo-shin’s healing abilities. Editor M: Ah, I don’t like writing styles that don’t put dialogue in the same paragraph as the respective speaker, but what can we do? … Okay, complaining aside, where did the guy who tossed IYS off a cliff go. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

2.   The LVS team that Chae Yoo-jeong belongs to naturally completed the playoffs safely and advanced to the finals.   Like the LVS team, the rival team TW, which had good results throughout the season, was selected as the final opponent. The finals were held on Saturday, and since it was a weekend, I went to the stadium and watched the game in person.   In the finals, which lasted 5 games with each team getting two wins each, the LVS team took the final victory and won the spring championship.   Chae Yoo-jeong, smiling brightly while holding the winning cup, looked really pretty under the flashing lights and white pollen fluttering.   ‘If I had known it would be like this, I would have bought a camera with me.’   Fortunately, my seat was close to the stage. I smiled happily as I eagerly took pictures of him with my cell phone.   It was Chae Yoo-jeong’s victory that I got to see in person for the first time. After I had enough to take pictures, I switched the mode to video. Next time, I’ll definitely bring a camera and take better quality pictures.   “I sincerely congratulate the LVS team on their win! Now, shall we interview the winning team players?”   The caster first passed the microphone to the top laner standing on the far left.   After the top laner’s victory speech, which was filled with excitement and trembling with the joy of his victory, the microphone was passed to Chae Yoo-jeong, who was standing right next to him.   “Yes, Hello. I’m Gamgack, who has been in charge of the jungle alongside player Tenet this season.”   Hurray! At the same time as Chae Yoo-jeong’s greeting ended, loud cheers rang out from the audience.   It’s a surprise. I was startled without even realizing it and looked back.   Those colorful cheering sticks and cheering pickets. No, these days, don’t you think pickets can be made to shine brightly with LEDs like that? Additionally, there was someone holding a large camera in the front row.   For a moment, I was really jealous of that person, but I changed my jealousy into gratitude because I would edit the photo I took well and upload it to Chae Yoo-jeong’s fan cafe.   Chae Yoo-jeong must have heard the shout, and smiled, raising his hand in front of him and gently waving it.   ‘Surprisingly, he’s good at fan service like that.’   I remembered him kindly signing autographs for two female fans he met on the street.   In addition, when looking at posts posted on her fan cafe or community, there was no mention of any problems with his attitude toward fans, showing that Chae Yoo-jeong was quite thorough.   “Wow, the response is amazing. You have already won several times, but do you still get nervous every time you compete in the finals?”   “Of course I’m nervous. I was very nervous today and made a few mistakes, but I think I achieved good results thanks to the support of my teammates.”   “Now, as the oldest player, you have become the leader of the team along with Tenet. From that perspective, what is this win like?”   “Even though I am a senior, I actually have a lot to learn. Because the flow of the game changes so quickly, there are a lot of things that player Tenet and I miss, but the younger players on the team are good at catching those things.”   Chae Yoo-jeong answered the caster’s question without any hesitation. He even looked relaxed and smiled slightly as he looked around in front of him.   ‘He’s a total idol, he’s an idol.’   With that face, holding a microphone under the bright lights, he looked like a male idol himself. The uniform he was wearing looked just like a stage costume.   As I looked at Chae Yoo-jeong on stage with a new feeling, I suddenly felt it.   ‘It looks really cool.’   A long time ago, I finally understood Chae Yoo-jeong’s feelings when he saw me winning the HOL offline competition held in Busan and felt that I was cool.   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was being interviewed on that high stage with the championship trophy in front of me, looked the brightest in the world. Chae Yoo-jeong’s smile made my heart so excited that I kept laughing along with him without even realizing it.   The most beautiful and shining jewel in my life.   ‘Congratulations on winning.’   ***   “Hyung!”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who came to see me in a hallway that was far from the stadium and not often visited by people, ran up to me and gave me a fierce hug.   “Great job.”   “No. I’m really, really happy that Hyung came all the way here in person.”   Gosh, this is too much. It’s ridiculously cute.   I was surprised by Chae Yoo-jeong’s cuteness and returned the hug. Chae Yoo-jeong’s body was full of vitality that could not be hidden despite the fact that he had just competed on stage.   After patting me for a while, Chae Yoo-jeong suddenly sighed.   “I just want to go home with Hyung like this.”   I smiled slightly at Chae Yoo-jeong’s regretful appearance.   Chae Yoo-jeong now had to go to the after-party with his teammates. I heard he made a reservation at an expensive restaurant, and although I was equally disappointed, it was right for him to go to the after-party on the day he won.   “For now, enjoy your meal.”   Still, Chae Yoo-jeong wasn’t the type to drink in such a situation, so I was a little less worried.   Chae Yoo-jeong had his first drink in the presence of my friends and I, and since then he has never touched any alcoholic drink.   “Hey, Hyung.”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was contemplating for a moment while being held by me, soon opened his mouth.   “By any chance… if you don’t have any special plans tomorrow.”   “Uh-huh.”   “Can’t you just… go to my house now instead of your apartment?”   “What?”   When I was surprised by Chae Yoo-jeong’s unexpected suggestion and asked back, his face blushed and he spoke urgently.   “Well, of course, if it’s okay with you! Since I’m on vacation from tomorrow on, I’m going to stay at home instead of at the dorm... We’re planning to meet tomorrow too, so I think you’ll be tired if you go back and forth... !”   “No, of course it’s fine with me. Is that really okay?”   Even if he usually stayed in a dorm, home was home. Even if I’m his lover, is it okay to just go into an unattended house...?   “Of course it’s okay. To be honest, I wish you would come. Then, after the after-party, I can see you again when I go home…”   Chae Yoo-jeong hesitated and honestly revealed his feelings. I was so touched and moved by that sight that I responded by hugging Chae Yoo-jeong’s body in my arms even more tightly.   “Okay. Send me the door lock number via message later.”   “Really?”   “Yes. Actually, I’m very sad to part ways like this too.”   Tomorrow was also the weekend, so I didn’t want to go back to my room and leave Chae Yoo-jeong behind. We hadn’t seen each other even once during the playoffs, but we finally met today, and I didn’t want to part ways like this.   “……Ah, but if I return late, you might leave at dawn……………….”   Chae Yoo-jeong, who was pleased with my answer that I would wait at home, immediately became sullen. I thought Chae Yoo-jeong was cute for worrying about nothing, so I gently stroked his cheek and spoke.   “I’m waiting at your house, not outside, so what’s there to worry about? It’s okay to be late, so just take your time and enjoy yourself.”   “Are you really, really going to wait?”   “That’s right. Spend a decent amount of time. If you happen to drink even a little bit of alcohol, always take a taxi. Or call me. I’ll come pick you up, okay?”   There are many adults on the team, including coach Yoo Gyung-seok, and he has his friend, player Tenet, so it would be okay, but when I actually wanted to send him off, I was worried about various things.   Chae Yoo-jeong, who noticed my concern, tilted his head with a shy expression, while my hand rested on his cheek.   “I’ll finish it quickly and come back. Rest at home, Hyung.”   As soon as he finished saying those words with good timing, Chae Yoo-jeong’s cell phone buzzed and vibrated. It was a call from coach Yoo Gyung-seok.   “Go on. Enjoy your meal. See you later.”   Chae Yoo-jeong looked around us while holding his cell phone in his hand, confirmed that no one was there, and lightly placed his lips on mine. A tickling sound rang out.   Only then, with a look of satisfaction, did Chae Yoo-jeong pull away from me.   “See you later, Hyung.”   TGITG fans, hello, we were planning to write the fanfic of TGITG series as the continuation for the novel, but our editor got too busy to join us. I want a *co-writer* to join us. The plot line and storyboard for each chapter is already finished. It’s around 10-20 chapters. In return, you will get to read the rest of the chapters around 13 chapters left as of now. Please contact me directly to discuss about this. Please join the discord server on the below link. We made a Discord Server ! please join us! --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

#1 01. Jealousy On an early Friday morning, Chae Yoo-jeong opened his eyes to a small sound from outside the bedroom. "Hyung……?" Out of habit, he felt around next to him, searching for a familiar presence, but it was empty. After rubbing his eyes, Chae Yoo-jeong got up and headed towards the living room, the sunlight streaming in through the half-closed curtains as the faint scent of coffee tickled his nose. “Why are you awake already?” Dalgrak, Yoo Ji-han, who had put his glass down on the table, approached Chae Yoo-jeong, who was standing and looking around. "Hyung……." "Look at the hair sticking out." Cute . Yoo Ji-han got up and stroked Chae Yoo-jeong’s messy hair. Chae Yoo-jeong hugged his waist and leaned his face on his shoulder. Yoo Ji-had had woken up early and dressed in a suit, ready to go to work. Everyone wears a suit, but it feels so much more cool and exciting when Yoo Ji-han wears it. My heart raced at the sight of Yoo Ji-han's neat and tidy appearance, but I was sad that I wouldn't be able to see him until he got off work. "Do you have to go to work?" “Do you know you’ve been saying that since Monday?” Yoo Ji-han, who burst into laughter, patted Chae Yoo-jeong on the back. “You also have to go to the company for an interview today.” "Yes……." “At what time are you planning to leave?” Yoo Ji-han looked down to his wristwatch, let go of Chae Yoo-jeong, and walked towards the front door. Chae Yoo-jeong gloomily followed him to the door, disheartened that Yoo Ji-han had to leave. “The interview time is a little late, so I’m going to leave slowly.” “Ah, you said 4pm? Then it’ll be a little past 6 when everything’s done?” "Yes." Yoo Ji-han adjusted his tie, crooked from hugging and looked back while putting on the coat he hung on the hanger. “Then should I pick you up?” "What?" “I’m going out on a business trip today and I’m going home straight away. Since I’m going to drive there anyway, why don’t I pick you up? You said you were going to do the interview at the company, right?” “That……!” Hyung, it's so hard. You're already tired from going out on business trips and coming home from work. Chae Yoo-jeong was about to mindlessly refuse, worried that he would be burdening Yoo Ji-han, hesitated before speaking. Still… I wish you could come pick me up. Then I can see Hyung a few minutes earlier. Maybe since it’s Friday today, it wouldn’t be bad to go out to eat together and come home. “……” Yoo Ji-han quietly looked at Chae Yoo-jeong, whose face was flushed, lips trembling. Let’s wait patiently without rushing , hesitating to answer, Chae Yoo-jeong’s face turns even redder as he tries to pacify himself. “Please… come and pick me up.” " Unn ." At those childish wods, Yoo Ji-han smiled fondly and cupped Chae Yoo-jeong’s face tenderly. The gentle touch praised him, telling him that he did a good job. “Do your best today.” "Yes." “I’ll contact you whenever I have time.” "Yes." “See you later, honey.” After a warm farewell and a peck on the cheek, Yoo Ji-han finally left the house. Chae Yoo-jeong, who was left alone after the front door closed, stroked his pounding heart. 'Ah, I still can't get used to it…….’ The fact that I can sleep in the same house as Yoo Ji-han and see him off to work or wake up with him. 'Still, it's so good.' It's already my fifth day doing it, but every time I do it, my heart is filled with joy and happiness. It had already been a year since Yoo Ji-han moved out of his studio apartment and moved into Chae Yoo-jeong’s apartment. When Yoo Ji-han was thinking about moving after his lease ended, Chae Yoo-jeong persistently persuaded him, citing all sorts of reasons, from the distance to his company, to the spaciousness of his home and how convenient it was to travel. Yoo Ji-han initially refused, saying that it was too early for them to live together, but eventually relented and gave into Chae Yoo-jeong’s pleas, and moved in with Chae Yoo-jeong, using the former's desperation as an excuse. But then what?  Chae Yoo-jeong had to eat, sleep, and practice at the company dormitory to prepare for the HOL competition. The only time I can come home is when the season is over and I am given a vacation, like now. Fortunately, there is a long vacation in November when the World Championship, an international competition, ends, but now that the domestic regular season is over and the next competition is scheduled right away, there is only a two-week vacation. Now that the Spring season is over, next up is the MSI tournament. After that, the Summer season begins, and if we do well in the Summer season, we can start preparing for the World Championship right away. It's a very packed and hectic schedule. 'Ha…….' It's a schedule that repeats every year, but I've never been more disappointed than I was this year. How absurd would it be if you desperately tried to persuade someone to live with you, but then the person you persuaded actually moved out and started living together? 'I'm so glad you understand, Hyung.' Yoo Ji-han must have anticipated all of this and accepted Chae Yoo-jeong's proposal. There's no way he didn't know about his lover's occupation. Instead, Yoo Ji-han managed their apartment when Chae Yoo-Jeong left for the season, keeping it warm and lively. After he realised Yoo Ji-han’s feelings again, Chae Yoo-jeong’s heart started to ache. “......I have to do well.” Chae Yoo-jeong clenched his fists and made a resolution again, then headed to the bathroom with confidence. The interview was scheduled later in the afternoon, but I still didn't want to slack off. I was planning to eat a good breakfast and go exercise so that Yoo Ji-han wouldn't worry. *** The LVS team interview, which started at 4 p.m., was more or less concluded after two hours. With Kwon Do-hyun, who stood as the jungler with Chae Yoo-jeong under the name of Tenet, retiring after the HOL Cup held last year, Chae Yoo-jeong became the only jungler on the LVS team. Could it be because Chae Yoo-jeong and Kwon Do-hyun have been in charge of being jungler for the past few years, but only Chae Yoo-jeong remains this year? A related question was also asked in the interview. “You’ve been working with Tenet for quite some time, but starting this spring season, you’ve been in charge of being a jungler alone. Do you feel a lot of pressure?” “I’m more worried about my teammates who are on different lanes compared to me. Since I have an aggressive style, my younger teammates had to try hard to adjust to me. Still, we practiced hard while understanding each other. I think the results were good because of that.” “As expected, the secret to winning is solid teamwork and practice. When I think back to the performance that the LVS team showed in the finals, your answer feels even more impressive. Ah, this is a bit of a side note. Tenet won the HOL Cup last year and retired right away. Many fans, including me, were really saddened by his retirement. Is there any news about how Tenet is doing these days?” It was a bit strange, but it wasn't really a problem,  so Chae Yoo-jeong answered appropriately. “……?” That was a question that was not part of our prior discussion. “I heard he’s very busy because he’s learning how to coach.”  “I see.” The reporter smiled faintly, pushing her hair behind her ear. “Then I will ask you the next question.” The subsequent interview proceeded smoothly without any problems. 'Why did you ask about Kwon Do-hyun?' Chae Yoo-jeong thought it was strange, but he was so excited about his upcoming meeting with Yoo Ji-han that he soon lost interest. “Thank you for your hard work.” After the interview, the reporter and team members stood up and thanked each other. “Hey, Chae Yoo-jeong, Gamgack Sense.” Chae Yoo-jeong, who was about to leave with his team members, looked back. The reporter, who had been looking at him with complicated eyes, soon opened his mouth with a determined expression. “If you don’t mind, can I ask for your cell phone number?” Chae Yoo-jeong raised an eyebrow at the unexpected request. “Huh.” A sharp inhale was heard from behind Chae Yoo-jeong. The members of the LVS team, flustered by his expressionless face, had begun to nervously look between Chae Yoo-jeong and the reporter. A tense atmosphere settled over all of them. It was at that moment where Chae Yoo-jeong frowned, about to reject the reporter completely. “Wait, um, I spoke too hastily. If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you separately for five minutes.” “Why me?” “Is the interview over?” Chae Yoo-jeong's second rejection was cut off again. It was because of Coach Yoo Kyung-seok who opened the interview room door and came in with a bright smile. "Ah, reporter. Thank you for your hard work. I don't know if the kids answered well because they were shy. Haha!" "Coach, let's go out quickly." “Quickly.” “Huh? What, why?” "Hyung has something to talk to the reporter about." "Really? Hey, okay, I get it, so don't push me, you guys!" The team members who had been standing there in shock cheered and ran out of the conference room, dragging Yoo Kyung-seok with them. A reporter approached Chae Yoo-jeong, who was looking at the sight, dumbfounded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen either.” The reporter smiled awkwardly, coughed briefly, and then carefully opened his mouth. "In fact……." *** HM: the old editor got so busyTwT so this is a new editor, editing this. The author published this side story after 2 years. I’m guessing it’s like an inauguration for the manhwa adaptation. I think many of you are from the manhwa adaptation. I still haven’t read it, because I got busy reading IDWTR. I wrote the fanfic with respect to the side stories 2. FF: I’m the new editor; hi! Glad to be here. Let’s hope for more sex between Ji-han and Yoo Chae ^^ --- Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Fanatic fan We made a Discord Server ! please join us!

As if to prove that it was on a different level from the dungeon boss, when the hidden boss began to take shape, the dungeon itself vibrated and shook. Mana swirled like a whirlpool down to one point, where a crystal began to form clearly.   The location of that point was above the sea. In other words, the crystal stone was so large that it could be seen even by In Yoo-shin, who was floating in the air a long way away. The size of the crystal stone was usually proportional to the strength of the monster.   “Hahaha.”   Appalled, In Yoo-shin shook Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was just laughing out loud.   “D-don’t just laugh!”   “Then shall we cry?”   “Don’t even cry! What should we do about that?”   “I don’t know either. The hidden boss I expected and prepared to fight against was a legendary hero, not the Supreme Deity. If we compare this to Greek mythology, we were preparing for Odysseus, but Zeus suddenly appeared—this is like that.”   It was an explanation that stuck in my head right away, more so than an unfamiliar name. Thanks to this, In Yoo-shin screamed.    “How do we beat Zeus!?”   “Haha. That’s what I’m saying.”   “I told you not to laugh!”   What do we do? What do we do? Should I run away quickly and call for reinforcements before it’s fully formed? No, but even if you call in a reinforcement of decent hunters, will they be able to beat Zeus? In order to defeat Zeus……!   “Gigantomachia!” (A/N: In Greek mythology, a war between the Giants and the gods of Olympus, including Zeus.)   “Calm down, Yoo-shin -ssi .”   “Isn’t there a dungeon somewhere on Earth with a titan or Gaia as a hidden boss? What if we summon the hidden boss and fight Zeus……!”   “It’s a good idea, but the thing before us now is Supreme Deity Atabeyra. It’s not actually Zeus.”   “Ah.”   “Get a grip and do as I say—calmly take deep breaths. Breathe quickly and then exhale slowly every third breath.”   “P-P-Phew……”   As In Yoo-shin followed Hyeon Gyu-ha’s breathing techniques, he gradually came to his senses.   “It worked. What was that? Next time when I have another mental breakdown, I’ll try to follow it.”   “Lamaze breathing.”   “……”   How does an unmarried man without a lover—that is, a real lover—know things like the Lamaze breathing method?    Despite In Yoo-shin’s now lukewarm and subtle gaze, Hyun Gyu-ha turned his gaze forward, unaffected. He seemed to have completely given up, appearing as if he was merely observing the hidden boss taking shape.   Supreme Deity Atabeyra was slowly taking shape. She was a god with the body of a frog and the face of a woman.   “The basis of this dungeon is Columbus and Taino people, so I did some studying. Atabeyra is the first god and goddess of creation in the Taino religion, and she is also the mother of the gods. She’s both benevolent and cruel at the same time. You see that the body is of a frog, right? That frog is the sacred animal (聖獸) of Atabeyra.”   “That was a very useful exposition, but will it help us survive the dungeon?”   “Well……”   Hyeon Gyu-ha rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression. He seemed to be quite reluctant about something.   “Don’t worry. Even if I die here, I’ll definitely send you out of the dungeon.”   “I…… don’t like that.”   In Yoo-shin shook his head with uncharacteristic resolve.   “I don’t want someone dying in front of me to protect me.”   “……”   “So, Gyu-ha -ssi , I hope you don’t even joke about saying that you’ll die just to protect me.”   “It wasn’t a joke, but I understand anyway.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha looked down for a moment with deeply sunken eyes, but then he roughly tousled Yoo-shin’s hair instead of asking any deeper questions.   Then the sun disappeared.   A figure so large that it blocked out the sunlight rose from the sea and opened its huge eyes.   A feeling of intimidation made me suffocate. It seemed like it was going to strike us with a ferocious and bloody force at any moment.  In Yoo-shin was very nervous and grabbed Hyeon Gyu-ha’s clothes.   However, the hidden boss of the dungeon, Supreme Deity Atabeyra, just moved her eyes and looked at the ground. Rather than the black corpses of countless monsters covering the floor, the ground was haunted by the remnants of Taino illusions that made up the dungeon’s disconnected time. She saw them as they were mercilessly slaughtered.   They were dying.   They died after being shot, slashed with knives, stabbed with spears, and bitten by dogs. They were extorted of gold, sold into slavery, abused, and then they died.   【———!】   A mournful howl erupted. The god cried out in terrible sorrow and pain as her internal organs were torn apart. Her tears were the bloody tears of a god who had no choice but to watch with her own eyes as her children were brutally slaughtered.   An intense sadness rushed through him like a tidal wave.   “Ah……”   In Yoo-shin blinked his eyes blankly. After Hyeon Gyu-ha wiped his eyes, he realized that he had been crying. The sorrow and pain of the transforming god overwhelmed his own emotions.   “Don’t be too empathetic. After all, they’re all just remnants of the past.”   “Do you really want to fight a boss like that when it’s in so much pain? I heard that although it is extremely rare, a hidden boss sometimes lets go of hunters at its discretion.”   Even while they were whispering in a low voice, Atabeyra’s cries continued.   “You’re welcome, by the way. This is the worst and most dangerous situation.”   “Is it because she mistook us for the white people who slaughtered natives in the illusion earlier?”   “No. The identities of the people are now meaningless to that god.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s smile had suddenly disappeared at some point.   “Yoo-shin- ssi , are you feeling Atabeyra’s emotions right now?”   “She seems very sad and in pain.”   “That’s the problem. Gods are higher-dimensional beings compared to humans, but it’s unacceptable for us, as humans, to understand a god’s emotions.”   Because his words were difficult to understand, Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered in a low voice to In Yoo-shin, who tilted his head.   “It’s a crude metaphor, but do flying insects or earthworms understand human emotions? Can they understand human emotions and share joy or sorrow together?”   “…… They can’t.”   “But both you and I understood Atabeyra’s feelings. This means that god is crazy. It means it’s fallen so far from grace, utterly corrupted and insane, that it now dares to possess a mind a human can even comprehend.”   The corner of Hyeon Gyu-ha’s lips twitched sardonically.   “The Taino people who served Atabeyra were massacred by the arriving white people, cutting off their roots and destroying their religion and culture. There was no way she wouldn’t have gone crazy.”   What they had to deal with was a god who had gone mad after terrible sorrow and pain.   Atabeyra remembered.   Forgetting is a blessing given by gods who cannot forget to human beings, their creatures, and children. A god who cannot forget remembers everything.   Therefore, Atabeyra, the goddess of the moon, fresh water, and fertility, remembered.   When her son, Yokahu, god of the sea and cassava, created the first human being. When the hero Deminan overcame the pain of his swollen back to continue the bloodline of Karakaracol, which connected gods and humans. Thus, there were moments that allowed her to look at humans more closely.   Her children who served her were brutally slaughtered by the white men who came from the east. The cries of her children, who desperately searched for her and begged her to save them. Her child whose arms held a simple statue, carved in the image of his god, even in his tragic dying moments. The last remaining child spat out his last breath in hatred towards the gods who could not protect him.   Atabeyra remembered everything.   The sky shook and the earth roared. A god who had lost all her believers and lost her faith and gone crazy could not control her divine power and manifest miracles. She was just blindly angered without any reason, so she just blindly struck.   Nevertheless, the attack of the huge body blocking the sun was a deadly weapon in itself. With each swing of her arm, the earth shook, and with each stamp of her foot, the ocean boiled as if a volcano had erupted from the bottom of the sea.   “Huaaah!”   The water boiling from the sea rose up like a sharp spear blade. The moment In Yoo-shin screamed in surprise, Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had wrapped his arms around his waist, had already avoided the spot and moved around to the back of Atabeyra.   Kuuung! Her heavy arms flew out as if chasing away flying insects. Atabeyra’s hand passed under Hyeon Gyu-ha’s legs as he leaped through the air and pressed down on the ground cluttered with the corpses of monsters. Their bodies were crushed, pieces sent flying, and the bloody smell became thicker.   Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was swerving his body here and there, pulled out an anti-tank firearm from his inventory and shot her straight away. In Yoo-shin briefly had hopes for the rocket bomb explosions, but it was in vain. As the thick smoke cleared, Atabeyra’s huge body was revealed to be intact, without a single wound.   She’s still a god, even if she’s insane, unable to control divine power, and nothing more than a falsehood. Gods could not be harmed by the crude weapons that humans had created.   “Well, that didn’t work either. I bought it at a high price directly from the US military.”   “T-then what should we do?”   “What do you mean by that? We have to survive.”   “What?”   “Let’s just hold on until we lose all our strength.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha held In Yoo-shin’s waist and launched himself into the sky beyond Atabeyra’s head.   【———!】   Atabeyra on the ground cried out, but her arms could not reach them. Even the shockwaves that shook the sky were all bounced away when a force field using psychokinesis was applied.   Hyeon Gyu-ha, who placed In Yoo-shin down, lay diagonally in the air and gazed down indifferently.   “Since it’s not a true god but an imaginary god, it’ll get tired at some point. As long as we’re in the dungeon, the boss won’t be able to get out. After I’ve diminished its strength, I’ll carefully maneuver Yoo-shin- ssi  out of harm’s way.”   “Then, what about Gyu-ha- ssi ……? Gyu-ha- ssi ’s mana isn’t infinite either.”   “Well, I guess I’ll work out something.”   “……”   “I should’ve brought something so Yoo-shin -ssi  wouldn’t get bored waiting.”   In Yoo-shin suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu as he stared at Atabeyra, who was running wild in anger, throwing out her arms and stamping her feet. It was those pupils. The gaze that I encountered at the bank, steeped in sheer boredom.   In Yoo-shin quietly brought up the status window.   [Current Status: Murderous. Intrigued. Bored.]   That was it.  Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had gone through the initial shock of meeting the Supreme Deity, had now calmed down and lost any emotional agitation.  Did he always feel this way while going into battle? Even though he might die?   No matter how cool you were, there were limits to your mana and abilities. Keep Atabeyra locked in the dungeon until it reaches its limit, and then what? What if you ran out of mana? What if your brain, overloaded, could no longer use psychokinesis, Hyeon Gyu-ha?   In Yoo-shin became very anxious.   “…… Yoo-shin -ssi .”   Suddenly, Hyeon Gyu-ha stretched out his hand. The hand that grazed his chin gently touched the nape of In Yoo-shin’s neck. Thump, thump, thump.  The pounding of his anxious heart was clearly conveyed to him, and Hyeon Gyu-ha’s complexion suddenly changed.   [Current Status: Murderous. Intrigued. Anxious. Anxious. Anxious. Anxious.]   In Yoo-shin was the only being who erased Hyeon Gyu-ha’s boredom and made him anxious. PA : I like how panickly Yoo-shin is, while Gyu-ha was jas all chill and relaxed until he got extreme anxiety.  Editor M: Do dungeon bosses have pronouns? ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

***   『Help me.』   ***   In Yoo-shin blinked his eyes.   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s smirk, which was not appropriate for an emergency, was surprising, but more than anything……   “What did you just say?”   “What?”   In Yoo-shin urged Gyu-ha to stop being pretentious, and he looked down at him with a naturally virtuous gaze.   “You called me by a strange name. The pronunciation is exactly……”   As if the pronunciation was distorted due to a glitch. It was as if there was an encoding error, and the letters were broken and did not appear properly.   An even more eerie chill ran down his spine than when he encountered the dungeon outbreak. This man knew something. Why did the system encourage taming him?   As if aware of the confusion reflected in In Yoo-shin’s eyes, Hyeon Gyu-ha bent down to meet his gaze and smiled.   “I told you this before we entered the dungeon, right? If you’re here, you can find it. That’s all I can tell you.”   “…… What you were looking for was a dungeon outbreak?”   “To be exact, it’s a consequence of a dungeon outbreak. For now, let’s just focus on blocking the monster wave.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha stretched out his arm before he could finish speaking. Did this man, who knew something, also know how to end this relationship?   An impulsive question tickles the back of Yoo-shin’s throat.   〈I’ll also find out how to cancel taming, so Yoo-shin- ssi , study your abilities well.〉   Suddenly, a conversation we had in the past came to mind.  Even if you knew the meaning of this taming, did you not know how to cancel it?   In Yoo-shin let out a shallow sigh.  I didn’t have time to think about it for long. The monster wave was about to arrive.   “Can you explain later?”   “I’ll think about it.”   “……”   “Come here.”   The man, who did not give a clear explanation in the end, motioned for Yoo-shin to come closer. He looked up at him and walked closer.  I still didn’t know what kind of person Hyeon Gyu-ha was, and I didn’t know how much I knew about him, but one thing was certain.   He was a hunter who reigned at the top. He was a strong man.   So I wouldn’t die before he did.   Hyeon Gyu-ha wrapped his arms around In Yoo-shin’s waist and lifted their bodies into the air. The feeling of floating that Yoo-shin thought he became accustomed to felt particularly unfamiliar to him. As he inadvertently clung to his arm, Hyeon Gyu-ha lowered his gaze and wrinkled his eyes with a satisfied expression.   ‘You’re still at ease even under these circumstances.’   Looking at Gyu-ha’s expression, which was no different from his usual one, it was true that his distraught and complex emotions were diluted in one way or another.   In Yoo-shin, who held Gyu-ha’s arm and looked down, swallowed his words. Countless monsters were rising from the ground, the sea, and the air from far away on the vast horizon.   The strange calls unique to the monsters rang out in a jumbled mess. The sound of wings flapping, the sound of heavy bodies moving, and the sound of wild leaping. The chaos of the disorderly swarm of monsters had only one goal.   The destruction of living beings. And there were only two living beings on Earth in this dungeon.   Like a colony controlled by a single command system, the eyes of the monsters moved and locked on in unison. In Yoo-shin, who caught the attention of the monsters, was shocked.   “Ugh……”   “It’s like a horror movie when people look at each other at the same time, as if some kind of command has been input, right?”   Contrary to Gyu-ha’s carefree voice, the monsters flocked to them, beating their wings, trotting heavily on the ground, and jumping high.   The ground was so dark that it could not be seen due to the swarm of monsters rushing in. In Yoo-shin’s eyes became dizzy. It was fortunate that I was floating in the air. If I had been on the ground, I might have fainted.   “What should we do about this? There are too many. How about requesting support now?”   “No. If I let those out of the dungeon, I’ll go bankrupt.”   “What?”   “The responsibility to manage private dungeons lies with the successful bidder or guild. If my dungeon overflows and causes damage, I’ll have to compensate for it in full. If I let those guys go, the city would be completely devastated. No matter how much money I have, if I do that, I’ll go bankrupt.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha then made a very pitiful expression.   “What if my Master abandons me because I fell into debt?”   In Yoo-shin was astonished. On the one hand, he was impressed.   “No, Gyu-ha -ssi , how can you say such bullshit even in this situation?”   “It’s sad that Master’s tone is becoming harsher.”   “That’s all because of Gyu-ha -ssi. ”   “Well, anyway. I brought my Master here expecting a dungeon outbreak, but I’m not so irresponsible that I can’t do anything about it, right?”   Certainly, it was so.   Hyeon Gyu-ha released his arms that were wrapped around In Yoo-shin’s waist, clasped his hands together, and extended them upward as if stretching. Letting go of his hand didn’t cause him to fall to the ground, but In Yoo-shin was startled by it and hugged Gyu-ha’s waist. His shy voice came out.   “I don’t mind your holding my back, but can you put your arms up a little?”   “Ah, are you uncomfortable?”   “The placement is a little dangerous.”   “The placement is…… Aghhhhhh! ”   In Yoo-shin freaked out and raised his arm vaguely around Gyu-ha’s long bones.   They only shared a few words, but in the meantime, the monsters were flooding beneath their feet. A flying monster flew towards them in the air. On the ground, the monsters leaped and climbed each other’s bodies, baring their fangs and claws.   The wet breath of a monster was close by. Rolling white eyes shot a sharp look. A strange cry, like grinding stones, follows. In Yoo-shin took a deep breath, burying memories from 14 years ago.   “It’s alright.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered, patting the back of In Yoo-shin’s hand, which was in an ambiguous position between his chest and his waist.   Hyeon Gyu-ha didn’t know what happened to In Yoo-shin 14 years ago. It occurred to him that he might be afraid of female monsters.   Despite it being just a single phrase from him, it anchored In Yoo-shin’s confusion more securely than any elaborate rhetoric. Was it because I knew this person was strong?  In Yoo-shin swallowed his sigh.   “Good. This would be good.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha muttered to himself, lifting their bodies higher into the air and taking in the entire horizon.   In Yoo-shin was also an awakened person, albeit a weak one. He could feel the flow of mana centered around Hyeon Gyu-ha fluctuating. Goosebumps rose on his skin. I realized that until now, I had never properly seen him fight with psychokinesis, a godly ability.   Blasting guns indefinitely was a means of attack that anyone could use as long as they have enough mana and weapons. Although Gyu-ha had amazingly accurate vision and motor skills, the only time he used psychokinesis was when he levitated the machine guns up in the air and fired them.   There were some awakeners in the world who had psychokinesis. However, no one would be able to demonstrate miraculous abilities like Hyeon Gyu-ha could.   “It’ll smell a little bloody.”   While speaking softly, Hyeon Gyu-ha slowly raised his arms upward. Yoo-shin’s vision turned upside down. No, tens of thousands of monsters, pitch black all the way to the horizon, rose into the air at once.   The monster that was trying to scratch them with claws that sprouted from the tips of its wings flipped over. The three legs of the demon, which had been heavily pushing and thumping forward, thrashed in the air. The harpoon-like snout of a monster, which was about to shoot up and pierce them with it, got bent.   Kirrk! Kkiaah! Kyahaaaa!   The monsters howled. The land that was covered with a swarm of black monsters was revealed, and the blue sky was now filled with monsters.   In Yoo-shin could not even utter an exclamation and just stared ahead with his mouth shut. His tongue was frozen. It didn’t even feel real—it felt more like a movie or CG than reality.   “Uwaah……”   Only when his eyes met those of the monsters, struggling and being dragged up into the air barely a meter in front of him, did he let out a yelp. In Yoo-shin hid behind Hyeon Gyu-ha, shaking his shoulders. Today was the first time I learned that even monsters could be embarrassed or startled.   The swarm of monsters ascended into the sky.  Higher.   And higher. And higher. And higher. And higher.   When In Yoo-shin’s head, following their trajectory, was tilted back, Hyeon Gyu-ha lowered both arms that he had been raising near-vertically.   Kkiaaaaa!   With drawn-out screams, the monsters soaring into the sky fell. The time to fall was long. Kwang! Bam! Puck!  Craters on the ground were made in succession. Monsters fell again on the corpse of another monster, bodies having become so exhausted that their form was unrecognizable.   The ground shook with the roar of monsters falling one after another. The sound of flesh and bones breaking apart rang out dully even amidst the dying monsters’ screams.   It didn’t stop there—sailing ships lined up in the rolling sea were also levitated high into the sky and then dropped on top of the monsters. Kwang! Bam!  The rocks and trees on the ground went through the same process as the ships. The breath of monsters that were barely holding on was lost as they fell to their deaths.   [The monsters of the dungeon have been wiped out.]   In Yoo-shin swallowed dryly. It was an easy and instant massacre—as if it were child’s play.   The thick bloody smell rose later.   The good news was that the aftermath of the fall raised so much dust on the ground that I was unable to see the spectacular view. If I had witnessed it clearly, I would not have been able to sleep at night for quite a long time.   “You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”   “That, uh…… yes……”   Though I felt a sense of emptiness even when he instantly defeated the dungeon boss, right now, my mind is completely blank. This man, smiling radiantly without a single drop of sweat, felt like an entirely different species.   “Ah, I think I’m feeling a little better now. I can’t do this outside the gate because I’ll go bankrupt from paying compensation, even if I defeat the entire monster wave by myself.”   “That’s…… definitely……”   Roads and buildings would all be destroyed, and sewer pipes and subways beneath the ground would also be destroyed.   As he listened to the same jokes as usual, the shock slowly began to wear off. In Yoo-shin tried not to look down and hugged Hyeon Gyu-ha tighter around the waist.   “Is it all over now?”   “No. As Yoo-shin knows, if you clear the outbreak in a dungeon, there’s a 100% chance that a hidden boss will appear. That’s what I’m looking for.”   “Could the hidden boss be a second Columbus?”   “That would be convenient, but I think it’s probably the hero of the Taino people’s legend, as opposed to Columbus. My guess is that it will be a hero named Deminan……”   [The hidden boss of the dungeon, ‘Supreme Deity (虛神) Atabeyra,’ appears.]   I don’t know what it was, but since it’s a deity, it must be very dangerous. But knowing Hyeon Gyu-ha, wouldn’t he have a solution somehow?   “Gyu-ha -ssi , what is that?”   In Yoo-shin, who talked to Hyeon Gyu-ha without much worry because he had watched his expression until now, became shocked. Gyu-ha’s face, which had never lost its composure even in the face of a monster wave, had become stiff.   “…… That’s the highest god in Taino mythology.”   “Really?? A g-god?”   “Yes. A god.”   Roughly rubbing his face, Hyeon Gyu-ha looked down at In Yoo-shin and smiled brightly.   “We’re screwed.” HM: definitely not me, thinking about IDWTR when Hyeon Gyu-ha took off while grabbing In Yoo-shin by his waist. PA: Their skinship is definitely evolving. Hehehe Editor M: Oh, to show off your martial prowess to your little pathetic man who’s clinging onto you for dear life…   ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

“Can you guess the intention of the system, Gyu-ha -ssi ?”   “Your question implies the system is sentient. But why all of a sudden?”   “Well, I just can’t understand why it would force such a ridiculous idea—saying a bat is a rat—and pair a great hunter like Gyu-ha-ssi with someone like me, a lowly awakener.”   “I’m not a great hunter.”   Hearing the words of humility from Hyeon Gyu-ha’s mouth, In Yoo-shin was taken aback. What? Was there still such a thing as monsters that deceived people by whispering nonsense?   “Why is your expression like that?”   “No. I didn’t make any expression.”   “It’s as if you’re surprised that I don’t know how to say humble things.”   “That’s not it. I know very well how humble you are, but that can’t be true.”   “Hmm.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha narrowed his eyes with a doubtful expression, but In Yoo-shin tried to endure with a calm face. Fortunately, he took a step back.   “Anyway, it’s true. It’s because of my hunter lineage.”   “Ah, Gyu-ha -ssi ’s mother was also a hunter, right?”   Even so, I knew that Hyeon Gyu-ha’s mother was a hunter with a certain name. However, she disappeared at a young age, leaving behind her only son, and she never ranked higher.   Gyu-ha didn’t respond to that and just rubbed his shoulders with a sigh.   “It’s time for the dungeon boss to appear, so get ready.”   Just in time, the system’s notifications were also updated.   [The boss of the dungeon, ‘The Slayer of Distorted Oblivion’ appears.]   In Yoo-shin also got ready—to admire and support Hyeon Gyu-ha’s battle.   Boss monsters form over a somewhat longer period compared to ordinary magic beasts.   “Khaaaagh!”   As soon as the monsters let out wild cries, they wriggled and reformed themselves from the shadow of the ‘Distorted Slayer.’   As expected, to a certain extent the ‘Distorted Slayer’ was a human body dressed as a fifteenth century European. Its face looked similar to the portrait of Columbus that remained today. However, it had six legs and three arms, as well as being the size of a three-story building.   The ‘Distorted Slayer’ had a telescope in one hand, a native’s blood-soaked neck in another, and gold in the other hand. In Yoo-shin’s face turned pale at the gigantic appearance that seemed as though it could swallow him.   ‘I have a bad feeling about this.’   Like the monsters, that bizarre figure must be proof that the world inside the gate was twisted.   He swallowed dry saliva with nervousness. It would be difficult to deal with the dungeon boss alone, no matter how smart Hyeon Gyu-ha was. Buffing was…… I left it as a last resort and focused on not mistiming my healing.   Thud!   When one of the six legs moved, the land shook as if an earthquake had occurred. The monsters cheered and bounced around.   In Yoo-shin whispered behind the back of Hyeon Gyu-ha, who just stood there.   “How do you beat something that big?”   “With more firepower, more weapons, and more bullets.”   With those words, Hyeon Gyu-ha pulled out his weapon from his inventory. It was a heavy machine gun. More firepower than a rifle that could shoot dozens of rounds in a single burst…… Huh?   Hyeon Gyu-ha pulled out another heavy machine gun. He pulled out another heavy machine gun. He pulled out another heavy machine gun. He pulled out another heavy machine gun……   Countless heavy machine guns, which Yoo-shin gave up counting after the tenth one, were levitated into the air by Gyu-ha’s ability. The target was ‘the Slayer of Distorted Delusion.’   And Hyeon Gyu-ha just shot at it.   He used mana in a simple and radical way, such as coating mana on all bullets, which numbered in the thousands or even tens of thousands.   Fireworks and bullets rained down from the heavy machine guns, filling the air with the thundering sound of the sky tearing and the ground splitting. Yoo-shin didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Hyeon Gyu-ha was still standing right before his eyes.   [The boss of the dungeon, ‘The Slayer of Distorted Oblivion,’ has died.]   [The dungeon has been cleared.]   It had six legs, but it died without being able to take six steps.   “……”   Hyeon Gyu-ha leisurely walked towards In Yoo-shin, whose mouth was hanging open in shock. Even though he had just brute-forced his mana in such a simplistic and ignorant way, his face was annoyingly unscathed.   “As expected, hunting is best when done solo.”   “……”   “I know. You don’t have to make that face since you know that I’m not just a good-looking guy but also a capable man. However, any praise from my Master is always welcome.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha quickly lowered his head for him to pet, but In Yoo-shin screamed instead.   “No! How does this make any sense? That boss was so easy for you to beat!”   “Praise your able-bodied pet rodent for its lovability.”   “Ugack.”   “Won’t you praise me?”   “Praising you now, right after the fight, is the same as giving a buff!”   “Sheesh.”   His eyes must be playing tricks on him, making him think that Hyeon Gyu-ha clicked his tongue with the expression ‘You got me.’   In Yoo-shin collapsed on the floor in vain. There was no point in being nervous. It was so pointless to be able to clear the bosses and complete the dungeon raid……   ‘If I were a hunter, I think I would’ve been frustrated after seeing Gyu-ha and never raid a dungeon ever again……’   Raiding dungeons alone was a noble task for the sake of protecting the mental health of hunters…   “Ah, by the way, when will the gate be closed once the boss is defeated?”   “When the reset is over. There’s still a long time left, so if you want to take the crystal stones, go ahead.”   There were countless monster corpses lying around to the point that the ground could not be seen, and each corpse contained one crystal stone. In a word, it was a goldmine.   “What about Gyu-ha -ssi ? Will you come back later with the workers?”   “Well, I’ll just take the big one.”   Dismantling the force field, Hyeon Gyu-ha took the crystal stone from the corpse of the ‘Distorted Slayer,’ which had now become a piece of meat. Seeing the crystal stone the size of a child’s fist, In Yoo-shin was involuntarily amazed.   “Wow. Usually, crystal stones are about two fingers big, but the crystal stones of dungeon bosses are huge. This is S-class, right?”   “I can pay my taxes this year with this.”   In Yoo-shin wondered if it would be equal to his annual salary if he removed a single crumb from that large crystal stone.   Hyeon Gyu-ha, observing his admiring expression, tilted his head crookedly.   “If you want it, I’ll give it to you.”   “What? Gyu-ha -ssi ’s taxes? Me?”   “It would be nice to convert it into money, but absorbing the mana of this crystal stone will help your abilities as well. Maybe you can make an army of tamed hamsters?”   In an instant, a paradise-like scene unfolded in my head, of being surrounded by an infinite number of small, cute hamsters munching with their little mouths. Warm, dense, cozy creatures. It was a very happy image, but……   ‘ Gasp!  Wake up! It’s a trap.’   I hurriedly escaped my happy daydream.   “I decided not to take on any more younger brothers of Gyu-ha -ssi , so no other hamsters.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s lips went up in satisfaction. In Yoo-shin breathed a sigh of relief. If I decided to tame another hamster, Seoul would get destroyed. Another problem—if Seoul were destroyed, even the nearby Kaesong would be destroyed.   “It’s wonderful that you remembered.”   “But did you find the artifact you’re looking for?”   “An artifact?”   “You said there was something to be found in the dungeon. Wasn’t that an attribution artifact?”   “No. It would be convenient to have more attribution artifacts, but the two I have are good enough.”   “Then what were you looking for?”   “If I had to describe it, the word ‘artifact’ would be very wrong…… Wait a minute.”   Suddenly, Hyeon Gyu-ha’s gaze went up to the sky. At the same time, In Yoo-shin also looked up at the sky, but he, who had a smaller supply of mana than Hyeon Gyu-ha, detected the abnormality only after a new message was displayed on the system window.   [A dungeon break has occurred.]   In an instant, In Yoo-shin’s complexion turned pale.   A dungeon break—in which monsters many times as the number of people in a normal dungeon pour in at once. This is generally known as a phenomenon that occurs when a dungeon is reset repeatedly or when the mana in a dungeon is excessively concentrated— that is, when the dungeon is not cleared out.   There are also cases wherein the boss is left unattended, and the dungeon is artificially congested to generate a break. However, Yoo-shin had never heard of a case in which the break triggered at a gate that was already cleared by killing the dungeon boss.   “W-what should we do, Gyu-ha- ssi ?”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s skills were confirmed with his own eyes. He spent that much weapon and mana just for clearing the dungeon, but could he alone handle a break that was several times greater than the monsters he just experienced?   “Shouldn’t we hurry out and call for support?”   Even if Hyeon Gyu-ha had exhausted all his strength, wouldn’t it be possible for Hyeon Gyu-ha to hold out until other hunters arrived? It would help a little if I collected all my mana and gave him heals and buffs.   With tension, In Yoo-shin clenched both hands into fists. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t scary. However, Hyeon Gyu-ha leisurely cleared the dungeon and saved me from bank robbers. If it were him by my side, I had faith that somehow this would be resolved.   “Gyu-ha- ssi , I can do anything to help……”   Resolutely raising his head, In Yoo-shin’s pupils expanded. Because Hyeon Gyu-ha’s gaze was positioned so much higher, he hadn’t been able to properly observe his expression until now.   Hyeon Gyu-ha was reflected in his eyes.   “In Yoo-shin. My ¦°ø¾sð. You really are the best. I’m glad I brought you here with me.”   He was smiling very cheerfully.       HM: Basically Yoo-shin got a front row seat while watching Gyu-ha fighting the monsters….. And also became a one-member audience. PA: Gyu-ha is lowkey giving Gilgamesh vibes …. Editor M: I’m really enjoying how HGH unabashedly leans into deranged pet/girlfriend behavior. If IYS looks at me with those big dewy eyes, I would also chain myself to him. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

“With me there?”   In Yoo-shin was puzzled.   “I don’t have any search or exploration skills, so how can I help?”   “It’s a baseless hunch, so you don’t have to do anything.”   “Aha.”   I guess he just wanted to say that to sound good. Convinced, In Yoo-shin nodded.   “Have you ever tried to raid a dungeon?”   “No. The first gate I went through was the one with Gyu-ha the other day.”   It was the first time I raided a dungeon, but it wasn’t scary. It was not an unknown dungeon but one that Hyeon Gyu-ha had owned and already explored. Besides, the first rank will be right next to me and protect me, so I’ll be safe as long as we don’t get unlucky, and the dungeon doesn’t go off track.   As long as I don’t give buffs in the dungeon, it will be alright. I even gave your “thing” a buff by mistake……  In Yoo-shin shook his head and quickly brushed off his thoughts.   “What about the environment in dungeons?”   “I don’t purposely search for and study them, but I learned a little about them because my friend, who is in the masters and doctorate courses, majored in gate studies.”   “Hm, that’s a relief, but it’ll be more overwhelming than what you have been told, so prepare your mind.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha raised one arm to his side. Yoo-shin looked at him, wondering what to do, and Gyu-ha gestured lightly.   “Come here so that you can enter the gate.”   Ah, it was the sea as soon as we entered.   In Yoo-shin was held to Hyeon Gyu-ha’s side, and in that manner they crossed a gate for the second time. A slight dizziness ran over my body, and the same view of the sea as before unfolded before my eyes.   In Yoo-shin looked at the sea with his arms raised. Everywhere I looked, there was only a vast horizon that touched the sky.   [Time remaining until dungeon reset: 18 hours 41 minutes 09 seconds]   “Do the monsters come up from the sea? Is this a naval battle or a place with pirates?”   “The word ‘pirate’ is pretty accurate. We need to go a little further to the west.”   The bodies of the two people floating in the air moved towards the western skies. Hunters without abilities like Hyeon Gyu-ha’s would have to bring a rubber boat to move around.   In Yoo-shin was a low-level awakener and he could not even graduate from college. He had never thought that he would be able to tour a dungeon because he was certain he had no chance of becoming a hunter or a gate researcher now. Because of that, the last time he came in, he wasn’t ready to look around properly, but this time the situation was different.   ‘I should show off when I visit the temple orphanage later, once I’m done looking around as much as I want.’   Soon after, In Yoo-shin realized that his effort to explore the unknown world was absurdly superficial. And the reason why Hyeon Gyu-ha told me to prepare my mind.   「Sa-save me! Help!」   「They are non-believers who can’t even go to heaven anyway! Kill them all!」   His brain translated the unfamiliar languages instantly. A crowd of people, colorful enough to be fantasy and opaque enough to be real, were divided into two and chased after each other.   Karawka Kaerebelo , white men clad in sailor suits poured over the land, shooting, brandishing swords, thrusting spears, unleashing beasts, and spreading plagues. The indigenous people resisted by throwing stones and swinging clubs made of obsidian. It was a one-sided slaughter.   The white people brutally murdered and robbed the indigenous, cut off their wrists, and took them into slavery. Women of all ages were led away crying before the bodies of their fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers.   An unfamiliar symbol resembling one short and one long stick crossed over the bodies of the indigenous people. The white people laughed gleefully, splashing blood-red wine and gold on the symbol.   “Th-this……”   I was suffocated by the scene of brutal massacre unfolding beneath my feet. They were illusions. Although the air of slaughter may be frighteningly wafting at the tip of my nose, this was only an illusion of a disconnected world that was not real.   Although he knew it was an illusion, his voice trembled, and the inside of his throat was tight. Unknowingly, sweat broke out in his hand that was clutching Hyeon Gyu-ha’s arm. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who must have witnessed this scene many times, explained it indifferently.   “This is Christopher Columbus. At first, when I only saw the invasion of white people, I thought it was Vasco da Gama, but the people being killed were not Indians, but the Tainos.” (Da Gama was the first European explorer to sail to India, while Columbus was a European explorer credited for establishing European presence in the Americas. Both engaged in massacring natives; the Tainos were Caribbean natives.)   A dungeon is a disconnected world in which only a fleeting moment from the great flow of history has been cut and fixed. The illusion in the dungeon resets and repeats the time recorded in the flow of history.   This historic event belonged to the earth they lived on, but it also did not.   In Yoo-shin did not know the identity of the symbol that Columbus and his sailors revered.   “What the hell is that……? Why do you go so far as to kill people……”   “It’s a cross.”   Gyu-ha gave a further explanation to In Yoo-shin, who did not understand his words right away.   “It’s a symbol of Christianity.”   “Ah…… I had no idea.”   “There are only a few churches and cathedrals in downtown Seoul, so it’s natural to not know about them. Can you hear what the white people say?”   “Yes. They say they’re non-believers who’ll go to hell if left alone……”   “It’s religious fanaticism. They say it doesn’t matter if they kill them because they’re sincerely convinced that if they don’t believe in Christianity, they’ll fall into hell after death. It’s the same belief as slaughtering an animal. In those days, which was natural.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha explained the historical background, but In Yoo-shin was even more unable to understand. It was because his religious perspective did not dominate his common sense.   “Just because of religion?”   Religion can be a culture and a place of support for the heart, but it cannot force a lifestyle in general. That was the common sense of In Yoo-shin.   “It was just one of the reasons. Actually, the Columbus that Yoo-shin -ssi  and I know about slaughtered and oppressed the indigenous people without any religious justification.”   His eyes looked at the unfamiliar illusion again. The use of the cross, a sacred symbol of religion, as a justification for greed and slaughter was considered extremely disrespectful, even if it was an illusion.   “Anyway, it’s good sense to pay attention to the cross. I’ve seen five dungeons, including national ones, where the time of  Columbus trampling indigenous people from Hispaniola was preserved, and among them, the cross stood out in three.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s explanation ended there.   “I need to prepare for the upcoming fight.”   [The dungeon has detected your presence.]   The illusion of those slaughtering and being slaughtered began to ripple.   Hyeon Gyu-ha, descending to the ground, put down In Yoo-shin and took out a rod from his inventory. Four translucent rods reaching up to In Yoo-shin’s chest were inserted into the ground on his front, left, and right sides.   “What’s this?”   “A force shield smelt only from adamantium. Made by Kwon Seong-gil.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha replied and placed the bottom of his hand on one of the rods. He injected mana, and a transparent barrier unfolded from the rods, enveloping In Yoo-shin who stood in the center.   “Does Gyu-ha -ssi  use it for hunting?”   “.......”   “You couldn’t have bought it for me?”   In the end, it was a defense gear that was prepared for In Yoo-shin. Adamantium is a rare ore that can only be mined in dungeons, but since this was a force shield made of 100% purity, he couldn’t even imagine how expensive it was.   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s voice was indifferent, whether or not he knew In Yoo-shin’s feelings.   “Since it has a concealment function, you’ll be safe unless I lose mana and die.”   While he was getting ready to protect in Yoo-shin, the illusions were melting together like slime, creating monsters using the mana of the dungeon as a core.   The distorted monsters, which resembled creatures on Earth but were not exactly the same, spat ferocious cries. Fur sprouted on their skins. In Yoo-shin remembered the disgusting fishy smell from the beasts’ snouts, yellow fangs, and sticky saliva.   Also, I almost thought I should have died then.   〈Of all people, why you!? Why did you survive!?〉   Raising my head from the wails that tore at my chest and cursed us, I saw a broad back before me. The length of a back that didn’t feel any tension. A black leather jacket with a subtle sheen. A slender, tightly stretched, muscular body.   After some time, I got used to that back before I even knew it.   In Yoo-shin murmured softly.   “Good luck.”   Hearing his awkward cheering, Hyeon Gyu-ha seemed to smile.   “I’ll show you that a well-bred pet rodent is better than a pet dog or cat.”   “I’ve never had a dog or a cat……”   “Don’t raise them in the future. There’s already Henry Raymond Charles Francois VI -Noona , and even if that’s the case, I don’t think I’ll be able to stand it if I get younger siblings.”   Why did this remind me that when a younger sibling is born, the oldest may experience separation anxiety? For the sake of protecting Seoul, I shouldn’t adopt more hamsters.   The thought itself meant that In Yoo-shin was not aware of the danger. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who stood in front of the tyrannical beasts, took out his weapons from his inventory.   In general, a hunter’s weapon is a cold weapon coated or infused with mana. Firearms can also inflict damage, but witches have some degree of defense due to crystal stones that replace their hearts. There’s a limit to the ability of individual hunters to subdue with firearms alone, unless they push forward with overwhelming firepower like the military.   Of course, if you use the worst cost-effective skill that infused mana into a gun and coated countless bullets with mana, it’s possible to hunt monsters with only a gun. And Hyeon Gyu-ha’s mana was an EX-class that could not be measured.   It was only for a moment that he was surprised by the absurdity of holding an assault rifle with  only one hand.   A monster, which looked as if it had been cut from a bear and a crocodile and then mashed together like clay, rushed forward, and leaped through several meters of space. The moment In Yoo-shin blinked, a bullet from the rifle held in Hyeon Gyu-ha’s right hand pierced its head—it died instantly.   The gun in his left hand exploded the body of a huge six-winged falcon that had slammed down from above. Then, sparks flew from his right hand. The loud rattling sound of the assault rifle filled the air, tearing apart the monster’s roars.   In the middle of a group of monsters radiating murderous intent solely to crush intruders, Hyeon Gyu-ha didn’t budge an inch. When his gun ran out of bullets, it got replaced with a new gun from the inventory in an instant.   It was as though he were at the center of a circle with a two-meter radius, a line dividing the spaces of life and death. The constantly raging monsters screamed in agony outside the line, in the space of death. The absolute proposition of strong and weak, predator and prey, was overturned.   [There are 2 surviving monsters in the dungeon.]   [There is only 1 surviving monster in the dungeon.]   [The dungeon’s monsters have been annihilated.]     It usually took ten minutes for other hunters to set up an advance base and annihilate the monsters in the dungeon that they were raiding.   In Yoo-shin remembered one of Hyeon Gyu-ha’s nicknames.   The One-Man Army .   One who countered the monsters alone. Although he did not belong anywhere, he was a self-reliant man who could not be touched by anyone.   It was too unreasonable to tie Hyeon Gyu-ha to me by the ridiculous means of taming.   In Yoo-shin recalled a belated question.   “We’ve cleaned up the minor mobs.”   He asked Hyeon Gyu-ha, who brushed his hands off and turned around with a nonchalant expression.         PA: This chapter is really cute, Gyu-ha never missed a bit to flirt….. Anyway, One Man Army is so cool. Editor M: Gyu-ha keeps hyping himself up as the best pet in the world, lol. He’s already jealous of other pets that aren’t even here yet. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

In Yoo-shin was puzzled.   ‘Stand up,’ you say? Why would you do that when you’re on a bike—wouldn’t you get into an accident? Don’t tell me Gyu-ha means something else…… Surely…… not……   “What do you mean……?”   “Exactly what you imagined.”   “ Eek! ”   The arm tightly holding Hyeon Gyu-ha’s waist flinched. It was annoying how Hyeon Gyu-ha’s status window kept automatically popping up every time we made contact, so I pushed it to the corner of my vision, but it caught my eye anyway.   [Current Status: Murderous. Intrigued. Delighted. Excited.]   Kyaaah.   Could I keep holding the waist of a man who said he got his thing  to stand in a place like this? Wouldn’t it be better to fall off?!   “He-he-hey?!”   “It hasn’t stood up yet —and since we’re going a little fast, hold on tightly to my waist. You can handle it.”   “Can’t you just drop me off?”   “No, I can’t.”   “Haaaagh!”   Hyeon Gyu-ha drove the bike at breakneck speed, regardless of whether his passenger was screaming. Yoo-shin wanted to live, and his survival instinct made him cling tightly to Gyu-ha’s waist.   In Yoo-shin swallowed back his tears. It really wouldn’t have been so unfair if I’d actually given it a buff. Why did a buff that restores energy or mana work on such a useless body part?   ‘Ah god, I should have just said I’d take the subway.’   Ignoring the road and speeding through the air between buildings, Gyu-ha’s bike quickly arrived at the Department of Supernatural Affairs and Public Safety.   As soon as they stopped inside the parking lot, In Yoo-shin leaped off his bike and took a few steps back. Hyeon Gyu-ha put on a rather pleasant expression at his reaction while Yoo-shin took a defensive stance, holding his bag tightly in front of his chest.   “I’m heterosexual, so don’t worry. There’s no chance I’d get excited about your body or your ass.”   “B-but you just said…… No, I heard that’s how it is! Why!?”   “Does that make you feel better?”   “I mean, why would it?!”   “I’m fine now. Can’t you see?”   Hyeon Gyu-ha bent his thumb down and pointed at his lower body, but In Yoo-shin never looked in that direction.   “Don’t dog like it when their owners praise them, pet them, and pamper them? Your buff is like that—the grace of a pet’s owner. If I were a pet dog, I would have broken my tailbone from wagging it like a propeller.”   “Come on, petting a dog doesn’t make them do that!”   “I’m telling you, it’s not that kind of reaction right now.”   When Hyeon Gyu-ha took a step closer, In Yoo-shin freaked out and took two steps back. Hyeon Gyu-ha laughed out loud at the sight of a prickly small animal.   “Teasing you is the most cost-effective way to change your mood.”   I didn’t want to hear that as confirmation.   “To put it into words, I get happy when I get a buff from you because I feel like I’m being loved and praised for doing well. Normally, my emotions are only heightened. But during battle, your brain secretes endorphins, right? What do you think would happen if my emotions are heightened while endorphins are being secreted?”   “Um, uh……”   “It means that a reaction will come from the other end of me as well.”   “T-then……”   In Yoo-shin glanced at Hyeon Gyu-ha’s expression.   “It’s okay to give you buffs normally…… right?”   “If you’re anxious, should I go get neutered?”   “You wouldn’t do that even if I told you to!”   “Sometimes there is pleasure in disobeying your master. But I’ll do it on one condition—if you preserve “it” and enshrine “it” in your room, like Rasputin, I’ll consider it.”   (Rasputin was an infamous Russian mystic who got assassinated. Allegedly, his p*nis is on display at a Russian museum.)   “Th-that’s sexual harassment!”   I couldn’t help but be frightened even though I clearly knew that he was joking. I didn’t know if it’s true or not, but I felt bad when I imagined Rasputin’s specimen photo preserved in a museum.   ‘Why did you remind me of something like that at the break of dawn?’   Looking at “it” with a bit of resentment, Hyeon Gyu-ha said, “Hmm.” He rubbed his chin and brushed his fingers through In Yoo-shin’s hair.   “Your reaction was funny, so I was exaggerating. Anyway, it’s fine to do buffs normally, so don’t worry about it.”   I had heard that, but maybe it’s a little too much not to care.   “But it really does feel good to be buffed by you. I have something to check. Would you like to pet me?”   “What? Me, pet Gyu-ha- ssi ?”   While Hyeon Gyu-ha often stroked my hair, I didn’t think it was strange because he was six years younger than me. However, when the situation was reversed, it suddenly became strange.   ‘Because he said he had something to check……’   Yoo-shin hesitated a little, then raised his arm; Hyeon Gyu-ha leaned down. Feeling as though he were handling a hamster, In Yoo-shin carefully touched his hair.   Hyeon Gyu-ha raised his head and smiled lightly.   “Even just stroking my hair definitely made me feel better. It’s not as good as serving you, but it’s not bad value for money.”   “Uh, then…… is it fine?”   “It’s fine. It’s also efficient.”   Then, he took In Yoo-shin’s hand and put it on his shoulder. It was a body that felt hard and muscular, just like when I was hugging his waist.   “The word pet means to love, cherish, and adore. So please love me, cherish me, adore me, and pet me a lot too.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha had a knack for spouting shameless remarks casually. There was no need for In Yoo-shin to worry about how to react to such a shameless and obvious remark.   “What the heck!?”   Having heard the two’s conversation while getting out of her car, Kim Ji-yeon’s shout represented her feelings.   “Staff member, hello! I think you misunderstood something!”   “Hello.”   Kim Ji-yeon greeted them and ran to the building with her face covered. In Yoo-shin was frustrated by the fact that she also got embarrassed by Hyeon Gyu-ha today.   There’s no way she was trying to hide her reddening cheeks and her excitement, the kind an anime fan might feel after seeing their favorite couple together.   ***   -As of today, I’ll withdraw my support for Hyeon Gyu-ha’s boyfriend. Get out of supporting them and become understanding. Hyeon Gyu-ha’s love attack on his boyfriend is regarded as a love attack on me.   If it weren’t for his boyfriend, would Hyeon Gyu-ha have thought of filming promotional material? Even now, while going around the dungeon, he must have picked up crystal stones;   ㄴThat’s also the case... I think it would have been less disturbing if I had heard the wedding news...   ㄴGyu picking up the crystal stones is cuteㅈㄴ ㄱㅇㅇ........   ㄴㄴGyu collecting crystal stones is like a hamster cheek pouchㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ So cute cryㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ   ㄴWhat’s wrong with dating openly when he’s not even an idol?   ㄴHyeon Gyu-ha, a soloist who only works like a dog and forcibly extracts rice cakes once or twice every few months vs Hyeon Gyu-ha, who makes rice cakes every day with his boyfriend. (rice cakes: fanservice)   ㄴㄴ no, this is unconditional stanningㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ   ㄴㄴ hey, I’m the first comment? I can’t believe it fuckㅋㅋㅋ   ***   “Let’s go to work soon. Are there any free days at the weekend? I’ll adjust according to Master’s schedule.”   “I don’t have anything to do other than wallow at home on the weekends.”   So they decided to explore a gate right away on the weekend of that week. Coincidentally, Monday was a public holiday, so they should be able to relieve their fatigue after going to the dungeon.   In present studies, gates were classified into three major categories. First of all is a continuous gate that shows when and where it would appear through the mana flow and cohesion of the atmosphere, which began to be tracked at the start of the Great Revolution. This gate is a passage leading to a disconnected world, commonly referred to as a dungeon.   The second category is a gate that appears suddenly and unexpectedly. The sudden gate spews out demonic monsters and disappears naturally, so there are no separate dungeons connected to them.   Other minor gates were treated as mutations and grouped into the third category. One example was an erosion gate that invaded reality. It was also the gate that Hyeon Gyu-ha fought through alone at the age of 9.   Korea was a country that resolved the chaotic early stage of the revolution with the U.N. forces as the main axis. Koreans had become accustomed to state-led control just as they had become accustomed to the appearance of gates and monsters.   The monster’s bones and skin become weapons, luxury goods, and industrial goods, the beast’s meat becomes food, and the crystal stone, the core of the beast, becomes an essential energy resource. The government owned about half of the gates measured and provided them as free hunting grounds, while the rest were put up for auction.   “I thought guilds would take all the gates that were put up for auction.”   “There are no restrictions on the conditions for participating in the auction. If you just want to win a bid, a group has a better financial situation than an individual, so guilds tend to take it.”   I was curious how much money one should have to outbid a guild and win the dungeon auction as an individual.   “You look like you have something to ask.”   “I do, but I won’t ask.”   “Why? I’m willing to tell you even the three secret properties that I’ve been hiding.”   “It seems like Gyu-ha- ssi  lives in a different world from me, but I don’t think I’ll see you as the same person once I know how much property you have.”   In Yoo-shin had the skill to pretend he didn’t hear a thing when Hyeon Gyu-ha said something embarrassing.   Anyway, Hyeon Gyu-ha said he owned not one expensive dungeon, but several. It must have been true that he was so crazy about his work that his face was never shown in the media.   “Guilds may own several dungeons, but they have many members to raid them, so how did you manage everything by yourself, Gyu-ha -ssi ?”   “I’ve got something to find in the dungeons. I’ve been raiding dungeons by picking out a few likely ones and checking them, and if it’s not there, clearing them, but lately there’s been no progress at all, so I’m falling into a rut, you see.”   “How long have you been searching?”   “About 20 years?”   While In Yoo-shin was at a loss for words under the heavy weight of time, the bike arrived at Yasan. It was the same dungeon he had been to before.   When he took off his helmet, Hyeon Gyu-ha straightened his hair.   “Still, with you there, I’m sure we can find it.”             HM: I’m KIM JI-JEON–lol PA: KIM JI-YEON is me!! ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

“It doesn’t matter. Since it’s already been 20 years, I probably already forgot who was worried about me.”   After saying that, Hyeon Gyu-ha let In Yoo-shin down from the bike and patted him on the head.   “Let’s continue next time, with Master’s other abilities that we haven’t checked yet. Stop cluttering your head with useless thoughts and go upstairs to rest. You will feel refreshed after taking a good night’s sleep.”   As always.   After seeing the lights in the rooftop room turn on, Hyeon Gyu-ha drove off on his bike.   “6 -seya .”   Back in the dark room, the rattle of the hamster wheel grew faster. Her mood seemed to improve when she heard me.   In Yoo-shin squatted in front of the cage without saying a word.   It’s the same scene I always saw whenever I returned home, but my legs were sagging, and I felt empty. I had a delicious meal, and I didn’t have any symptoms of illness, so why was I like this?   In Yoo-shin knew why.   It was because I had a good dinner.   ‘It’s been a while since I ate with someone other than Seung-gi.’   In Yoo-shin lived and worked alone in Seoul, which was not his hometown, and he had no known acquaintances to have dinner with. Park Seung-gi, his only friend living here in Seoul, was a graduate student, so he was very busy.   Except for the irregular meetings with Park Seung-gi to get dinner together or the periodic times I had to attend a company dinner, I always ate dinner alone.   It was a constant daily routine. I had never been dissatisfied with it, and I had never felt regret………… or so I had thought.   Hyeon Gyu-ha made him realize his loneliness with just one meal.   He broke the hard shell of Yoo-shin’s heart, which he had turned away from and ignored despite how deep he felt it and revealed his loneliness. Gyu-ha stepped boldly into my life, when I always lingered a step behind others due to my inferiority complex from being an orphanage graduate, and he revealed my loneliness to myself.   His consideration for me during the meal, his calmly chasing eyes, and his warm conversation all awakened my loneliness.   “He really lives in a different world from me.”   Didn’t you already realize that you didn’t know Hyeon Gyu-ha at all today? I do recall that our relationship is merely forced by the means of taming, but still.   “6- seya .”   When he opened the cage door and held out his palm, 6- se  came down from the wheel and stood up slightly. I felt a sense of relief as I caressed the cuddly creature.   I even borrowed a magnifying glass from my grandpa to check, but there was no tattoo of my name on 6- se ’s body. Was Hyeon Gyu-ha special? If so, what was the reason? And……   How could I cancel taming?   “Will you always stay by my side?”   “Squeak.”   As if comforting my heart, 6 -se  wrinkled the tip of her nose. In Yoo-shin smiled lightly and kissed the hamster.   I wanted to end this relationship with Hyeon Gyu-ha as soon as possible. Before sinking further into loneliness, before having false expectations.   For In Yoo-shin, who suffered two instances of annulled adoption and one of death…   The scariest thing was the expectations of other people.   *****   When his mana signature was injected into the door lock, the lights in the room turned on all together. However, the officetel (studio apartment designed for both residence and work), which was not a space for people to live in but was like a model house, was quiet and dreary.   Hyeon Gyu-ha threw his riding jacket onto the couch and lay down in the air. Without even looking at his refrigerator, he gestured lightly, and the fridge door opened in the kitchen, then a cold can of beer flew into his hand.   ‘I think it’s about time to fill up the fridge.’   After all, it’s a refrigerator with only alcohol and bottled water. He took a gulp of beer and looked around.   In many ways, it was a space that contrasted with In Yoo-shin’s house. Compared to In Yoo-shin’s rooftop room, which was narrow and shabby but smelled like people living there, his officetel was only a shell of desolate luxury.   In the first place, the space he called home was enough as long as it was safe to lie down and sleep. It was a useless high-class officetel, and it was not his will to equip it with furniture.   When he thought of In Yoo-shin and his house, Hyeon Gyu-ha realized that they were apart. His heart started to beat uncontrollably. It’s a sound I had become accustomed to.   “Eye of Munin.”   After briefly reciting the keywords, a map of coordinates spread out in front of his eyes, and a specific point flickered. That target point was his ‘Master,’ made by utilizing that generic artifact from before. His heart, which had been anxiously thumping, quickly calmed down upon learning his Master’s location.   In Yoo-shin seemed to be idling in his room. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been drinking beer with satisfaction while tracking In Yoo-shin, jumped up.   Because suddenly, In Yoo-shin started moving.   ‘Where is he going alone in the middle of the night?’   It’s a dangerous world! A gate might open unexpectedly out of thin air, he might get hit by a car, he might get beaten up, or he might find an abandoned hamster.  For Hyeon Gyu-ha, the last one was the most fatal.   He was going to chase after him right away, but In Yoo-shin returned home. It seemed that he went out for a while to take out the trash.   [I’m going to sleep early today, so I don’t think I’ll be able to answer your call later, Gyu-ha. Have a good night.]   He looked down at the message that arrived on his phone and touched the screen.   [Goodnight. Dream of me.]   Even after sending the reply, he stared at the map with a blank expression for a long time. The position of In Yoo-shin’s tracker, which had stopped in one place, did not move afterwards. As said in the contents of his text, it seemed that he really did fall asleep. Only then did I feel complete relief.   “Fuck. What am I doing.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha laughed at his psyche and threw his body back into the air.  The indescribable feeling that surged and spread through me when I heard what In Yoo-shin said.   I was on the verge of turning away because of how unfamiliar I was with my own mental state, blindly looking after the safety of just one person. If the symptoms of my servitude hadn’t distracted my mind, which was steeped in an almost melancholic boredom, I really might have commissioned a contract to kill him, regardless of what ¦°ø¾Îð was or who he was.   ‘Wait, there’s no need to hire someone to kill him, is there? It’s possible to put a lethal trap on the road where In Yoo-shin passes by every day.’   In my head, countless ways to kill In Yoo-shin without using my hands came to mind and then scattered as quickly as they came.   〈…… Who was the first person to worry about you?〉   Hyeon Gyu-ha recounted the emotions he felt on his own among the emotions In Yoo-shin stirred up within him. When he remembered In Yoo-shin’s words, he felt a strange emotion spreading inside him.   “Who cares about whom, for goodness’ sake?”   He looked up at the hand which he pierced with a knife. I thought of him, flustered and in pain as if he  were the one wounded, his smooth, bloodstained yet unscarred hands wrapping around mine with healing power.   It’s just... to see such a weak life form, that I could kill with one finger, worrying about me.   〈 Hyung - ah , aren’t you hurt?〉   The child who was crying in fear with a pale face, clutching the hem of his clothes and worrying about my wounds.   Hyeon Gyu-ha suddenly wondered what kind of adult the child from 19 years ago would be now.     2.   I couldn’t sleep because I was immersed in complicated thoughts and eventually I overslept. I didn’t have time to eat breakfast, so I stopped by the local supermarket before going to work.   ‘I shouldn’t be late, so I’ll take my food to the office and eat there.’   It was time for Hyeon Gyu-ha to arrive at his house and give him a ride to work. In Yoo-shin, who came out of the supermarket, instead got frightened.   “How did you know I was at the supermarket?”   “It’s the instinct of a pet mouse to follow after its owner. Are you going to work right now?”   “Yes, but…”   In Yoo-shin was in a daze as he got onto the back of the motorcycle. Hyeon Gyu-ha, as usual, tidied his bangs and put his helmet on him.   Thanks to that, I started my day without feeling awkward even after the way we parted yesterday, but I was still in no hurry.   ‘Really, how did he know I was in a supermarket? Did he see me go in?’   However, before Yoo-shin could voice his confusion, Hyeon Gyu-ha started the bike. In Yoo-shin quickly wrapped his arms around his waist.   “Let’s hear about your buff on the way. What kind of buff is it?”   “It restores vigor and mana. I’ve only tamed rodents so far, so I’m not sure how effective it’ll be on you.”   “Try using it on me.”   “Now?”  Although I didn’t know exactly how he intended to utilize mana on our way to work, I went ahead and applied a buff.   Hyeon Gyu-ha used his mana in a simple way.   “Wow……”   The motorbike that was running down an alley rose into the sky. On the slowly floating bike, In Yoo-shin’s field of view also broadened.   The familiar scene of the town unfolded beneath his feet like a model from a bird’s eye view. When he raised his head, he saw the backdrop of skyscrapers rising into the sky past the hills. The bike had only risen a few meters, but it felt as if the clouds were close enough to be grasped by hand.   Even the cold wind was pleasant. It was as fun as riding a ride in an amusement park.   “I guess this is what it feels like to fly through the sky.”   “Do you like it?”   “Yeah!”   The sense of floating up so high in an instant made me a bit dizzy, but it wasn’t scary. After all, I knew Gyu-ha would save me if I fell.   Hyeon Gyu-ha laughed in a low timbre.   “But it would be better not to use your buff while I’m hunting monsters or inside dungeons.”   "Ah, is it not very effective?"   “No. The problem is, it’s too good."   “…….”   “… going to stand up, I think.”           PA:  Reaaaallllllyyy, when I see ‘Vigor’ I already having dirty thoughts………. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° ) And when did Gyu-ha put a tracker to Yoo-shin?????≖ ͜ʖ≖) ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!

“I know I’m good-looking, so you don’t have to stare at me with such enchanted eyes.”   “Ah, that’s not why I was looking at you.”   “Are you saying I’m ugly? This is the first time I’ve been insulted like that.”   “That’s not it……”   Even if I knew in my head that I was being teased, it was difficult to cope every time I experienced it .   He was In Yoo-shin, someone who secretly stayed out of the spotlight since his school days because he was from an orphanage.  It was embarrassing to be treated like this since Gyu-ha was the first person to come into my life without hesitation, crossing the line I had drawn between myself and others.   Yoo-shin tried to grill the meat, but Hyeon Gyu-ha refused to give him the tongs. He even rolled beautiful lettuce wraps and fed them to him.   “Aa~h, open your mouth.”   “I can eat it by myself……”   “Shall I use my psychokinesis to open your mouth and let the lettuce wraps fly into it?”   In Yoo-shin quietly opened his lips. The meat of the lettuce wraps melting in my mouth was amazingly well-grilled.   It was the first time I had eaten animal meat since the orphanage celebration party, the day I became independent with Park Seung-gi. At that time, I consumed pork.   “Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve ever had Korean beef.”   “Is it delicious?”   “It’s amazing. I don’t think gravy can compare.”   “I’m happy that Yoo-shin -ssi enjoyed eating it. Monster meat usually goes through more processing to remove the smell or toxicity. It’s also tough because it has a lot of muscle.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha gave him another wrap.   “I want you to eat something delicious and relax.”   “……Was my excitement obvious?”   “Because what you think shows on your face.”   As he ate the wraps, In Yoo-shin scratched his cheek.   “I don’t know if it’s okay to put the promo video on my performance evaluation, since it’s not something I have to work hard for, and I feel sorry for the others.”   “If it weren’t for Yoo-shin, I wouldn’t have agreed to the promotional video—it’s for the sake of improving your performance. Would they have rejected my proposal out of consideration for me if there were another person in In Yoo-shin’s position?” Most of the office staff were nice people, but they wouldn’t readily answer ‘yes’ to Hyeon Gyu-ha’s words.   “And if you were to change your point of view, this contract is also mutually beneficial.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha gently squeezed In Yoo-shin’s hand, which was lying far from him on the table. His was a big, firm hand that completely wrapped around mine, just like the time when he helped me inject my magical signature into the front door.   Warmth spread throughout my body. It was warm to the point my chest tickled, and I wiggled my fingers at the feeling of their being unraveled. Even then, my fidgeting was soon completely wrapped in his hand.   “You are my one and only……”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s deep, deep voice flowed in my ear, among the sound of the TV that no one was watching, the fragrance of grilling meat, and the noise of people tilting their glasses and chatting loudly.   “... Drug, after all.”   Ah .   “Specifically…………… Well, what would be appropriate?”   “Can’t we compromise and say stimulant drugs?”   “Yeah. Shabu .”   (slang for solidified meth)   “Didn’t you say that using Japanese was unpleasant, since your mother’s family was involved in the independence movement……?”   “I can use it for you. Since it’s for Yoo-shin -ssi , I’ll speak Japanese as much as you like.”   “Ah, thank you.”   I didn’t know what to be thankful for, but whatever.   “The point is, I’ll be happy as long as I help you, so think of it as a fair trade and accept it.”   “Can I really feel that comfortable?”   “Naturally. You helped me get out of depression, which I couldn’t overcome even after consulting a psychiatrist. Of course, the first emotion you made me feel was deep anger.”   “I must find a way to remove the tattoo……”   “It’s okay. Now that I’m used to it, it’s nice to feel like I’m always with Master.”   The words “drugs” and “Master” made my mind confused, so as a result, my distraught thoughts entangled in the PR matter subsided a little. Whatever the reason, Hyeon Gyu-ha was a person who thought of only himself. The inside of my chest now feels tingly.   Thanks to him.   “One day, when I have enough money and time, I want to go to Bangtong University. I have a complex about not being able to go to college. I also like to study.”   “I dropped out of college.”   “Oh, really?”   “I went to a related department thinking it might be helpful in hunting monsters, but later I thought it would be better to work in the field. Come to think of it, I spent all of my youth just fighting monsters.”   “So we’re both high school graduates.”   He also brought out a little bit of the past that was inside himself.   “This restaurant’s soybean paste stew is delicious.”   “Since we’re at a meat restaurant, we should eat soybean paste stew last.”   “I agree. I like soybean paste stew more than naengmyeon (cold noodles).”   We also found some unexpected similarities.   While the part-timer was busy bringing soybean paste stew, this time In Yoo-shin secretly made a wrap and placed it on the plate in front of Hyeon Gyu-ha. Seeing that, Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled and took it into his mouth.   “I’ll savor the food given by you, Master.”   In Yoo-shin pretended not to see the startled part-timer’s face.   They also walked side by side on the way back to his rooftop room.  It’s a pity that it’s only a 5-minute walk from the meat restaurant.   “Go up.”   Even after hearing Hyeon Gyu-ha’s farewell, In Yoo-shin, who hesitated for some reason, remembered the business he had forgotten about.   “By the way, I can give some healing and buffs to the creatures I’ve tamed. I wonder if it’ll possibly be of some help to Gyu-ha- ssi  when clearing dungeons.”   “Healing?”   “A little bit, really. Colds and broken bones can be cured, but it’s only to a certain extent for humans……”   Before Yoo-shin could finish speaking, Hyeon Gyu-ha took out a sharp knife from his inventory. Then he stabbed the back of his hand with the blade. Deep. All at once.   Not understanding the situation before his eyes, In Yoo-shin’s jaw dropped slightly.   In the alley, where the streetlamps and the lights of the residential area mixed together and gave off a sense of everyday life, the sudden bloody stench felt very strange. Red blood dripped from the blade that had pierced the back of his hand to the floor.   “Uh, uh……”   Just like when Hyeon Gyu-ha stabbed the back of his hand with the knife, he indifferently pulled out his blade. His hand, dripping with blood, came up in front In Yoo-shin’s face.   “Try healing me.”   I barely came to my senses at his indifferent way of speaking, which contrasted with the bloody smell. Healing was possible, but only to the extent of fixing a hamster’s cold or fracture. What if a human bled so much that my ability became useless for them? What should I do?   Covering the wound, In Yoo-shin’s hand trembled. Circles of white light leaked out between his fingers, a visual effect of Yoo-shin’s healing.   “Oh.”   Hyeon Gyu-ha blew a low whistle.   “It healed perfectly without any scars. If you have this much healing power, you won’t starve to death anywhere. Too bad that it’s only limited to tamed creatures.”   “……”   “Yoo-shin -ssi ? Are you sick from what you ate earlier?”   Hyeon Gyu-ha’s face, looking at him with a tilt, was utterly composed. Meanwhile, the expression on In Yoo-shin’s face looked so shocked that he couldn’t even guess why his face had gone white.   After a while, the strength in his legs gave out. Hyeon Gyu-ha gently supported In Yoo-shin’s body, which was about to collapse, with psychokinesis, and made him sit on the saddle of the bike.   “Should I get some digestive medicine from the pharmacy?”   “…… Why do you treat yourself so carelessly?”   “What?”   “I was really surprised that you suddenly hurt yourself with a knife……”   “Ah, I’m sorry. Yoo-shin is a normal person, so you must not be used to seeing blood.”   “That doesn’t matter.”   “……?”   I really didn’t understand Hyeon Gyu-ha, but his face suddenly became unfamiliar to me. In Yoo-shin grasped his trembling hands, denying the thought that had just occurred to him. Was there any need to question the unfamiliarity? I hadn’t even known him for a month.   I wasn’t unfamiliar with him—I just didn’t know him. What kind of person was Hyeon Gyu-ha?   “I’m not even sure of my abilities…… If I couldn’t heal you, why would you suddenly injure yourself?”   “Then we can go to the hospital.”   “Bleeding like that?”   “To me, this doesn’t even hurt. I’m alive. There was a time when my arm was nearly cut off by a monster.”   “This time, you are the one who’s hurt yourself. So don’t do that.”   Only then did Hyeon Gyu-ha realize it.   He looked at his healed hand and at In Yoo-shin’s face, which was distorted as if he were crying, and then muttered in an unfamiliar voice.   “Are you worried about me?”   His voice was mixed with strange emotions, something like bewilderment, and also laughter.  In Yoo-shin lowered his head.   “I know. It’s presumptuous of me to worry about Gyu-ha -ssi .”   “It’s not like that—it’s because I’m really surprised. You’re the second person to ever worry about my scars.”   “…… Even though you have been a hunter since you were a child, Gyu-ha- ssi ?”   Hyeon Gyu-ha shrugged his shoulders at Yoo-shin’s disbelief.   “Well, everyone worries about me out loud. But their worries are, ‘If Hyeon Gyu-ha collapses here, I’ll get hurt, I’ll have to fight, I might die, and my property will be damaged.’ That’s what they mean.”   “That’s……”   In Yoo-shin looked up, but quickly averted his eyes upon meeting Hyeon Gyu-ha’s stare. Gyu-ha’s clear, amber-colored eyes looking down at him contained indifference and calmness, which came from a life of experiencing much rougher ups and downs than Yoo-shin, who had a relatively boring life.   I, In Yoo-shin, had never been thrown into a gate at the age of nine and didn’t know the harshness of life—so I had no right to speak over Hyeon Gyu-ha’s assertion.   I did not know Hyeon Gyu-ha and I did not know his life. And now that I realized it, I felt pathetic compared to him. He was forced into the shackles of taming, all the while acting considerate of me, and without realizing it, I had seemingly grown fond of him.   “…… Who was the first person to worry about you?” PA: From cute and light chapter at start to heavy and slightly depressing end (T.T) HM: I know right? Editor M: (ignoring the angst) How did Hyeon Gyu-ha’s Stockholm syndrome set in so fast? lmaooooooo ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Editor M We made a discord server! please join us!