“What is it?” Hyeon Gyu-ha moved his lips as if he was reciting an encyclopedia. "Dalgasa Temple. Completed in 1392. Founded with the support of the Jeong clan, it is famous for the crazy remarks of the first chief priest, who named the temple after Jeong Mong-ju less than two months after the Seonjuk Bridge Incident." It was the origin of the temple that even In Yoo-shin, who had lived there for over 10 years, often forgot. "But why is that a pity?" "If the world had been one where religion had such a huge influence, Buddhism might have also joined the fray at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty. Then, Joseon might have done the opposite, suppressing Buddhism and driving temples into the mountains." "Oh, so that means I might have grown up in the mountains? It must have been incredibly difficult going back and forth from the mountains to school……" "Walking on mountain trails is great exercise. Running around like a flying squirrel through the mountains like that, Yoo-shin-ssi might have naturally built up some muscle. It's nice to still be chubby, but sometimes I'd like to lick Yoo-shin-ssi's abs…,.." In Yoo-shin quickly covered his mouth with his palm to prevent inappropriate remarks from spilling out on public transportation in broad daylight. "Because of Gyu-ha-ssi, I'm always stuck at the gym, so I'm not that flabby anymore……!" "Then will you let me lick it?" "Why is the conversation going back to that!" As he listened to the remarkably irreverent words of a Buddhist monk on the way to a temple, a familiar sight suddenly appeared. A young novice monk was waiting in front of Dalgasa Temple, situated in a scenic location overlooking the Yesong River. “Yoo-shin-ah!” “Woo-ju Hyung!” Seong Woo-joo, who grew up in an orphanage like In Yoo-shin and then became a monk, happily welcomed his younger sibling. Although he was given a Buddhist name, he was still more familiar with his secular name. After exchanging greetings, he also put his hands together to pray to Hyeon Gyu-ha. "You're Hunter Hyeon-nim, right? I've heard a lot from Yoo-shin." "Even if you cursed at me, whatever Yoo-shin-ssi said was true." "I didn't curse you or anything!" Seong Woo-joo smiled at In Yoo-shin's startled reaction and guided him to the temple. The temple's signature sandalwood scent mingled with the scent of the plants and trees planted throughout the temple grounds. Hyeon Gyu-ha found the scent, steeped in In Yoo-shin's childhood, sweet. Inside, people were waiting, including the head monk and the monks who mainly looked after the orphanage. In Yoo-shin, sitting next to Hyeon Gyu-ha, felt as if he were being interviewed. He sipped his first cup of flower tea, which he hadn't had in a long time. He had once tried to cover the azaleas in his backyard with petals, only to fail miserably. In Yoo-shin carefully engraved the memories that filled his eyes everywhere he looked. The monks welcomed Hyeon Gyu-ha with open arms. He was just as courteous as when he spoke to In-jeon, who had mistakenly thought In Yoo-shin had attempted suicide. After a warm conversation, Joo Ji-seung started to talk. "Yoo-shin-ah, does Hunter Hyeon know the story of before you came to our temple?" “Yes. Everything.” “I see.” He smiled broadly with a relieved expression. "Our Yoo-shin has suffered many wounds since he was young. I am truly fortunate to have formed a precious relationship with such a dependable person as Hunter Hyeon-nim to him." "You think so? I think the opposite." Hyeon Gyu-ha lowered his eyes and smiled faintly. "I don't know if you know, but I don't have parents. That's why I had a rough time during puberty. In fact, it's still ongoing…… Every time that happens, Yoo-shin-ssi helps me live as a human being. If I hadn't met Yoo-shin-ssi before, there might have been a crazy murderer here instead of Hunter Hyeon Gyu-ha." The monks seemed to think it was a cruel joke, but In Yoo-shin held his breath as he remembered him from 14 years ago. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had stopped laughing, bowed his head politely. "Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to meet you again, Yoo-shin-ssi." As they stepped outside, the children from the orphanage, who had just heard the story, were milling about. Even as they greeted In Yoo-shin, the children, who had been unfamiliar with him, widened their eyes when Hyeon Gyu-ha took out the toys and snacks he'd brought. Then, as their bodies floated in the air, they swayed with excitement. He's the type of person who doesn't seem to be very friendly with children, but I was happy to see him secretly playing well with Min Anna and others. While the children were running wild and exhausted, I took the opportunity to tour the orphanage. Part of my goal was to capture the scenery I'd grown up in before I left for Iad, but more than anything, I wanted to show Hyeon Gyu-ha photos from my childhood. In Yoo-shin, who brought the album that the monks had periodically developed and stored away, felt a little embarrassed. It felt similar to exposing hidden shameful details, or revealing a naked face. "You shouldn't laugh at me and say I have a strange face." "You have to hold onto them so I don't steal your album, even though you have a cute face, right?" "It's really weird......." After his hair grew thicker, he gently slid his finger through an old album he'd barely seen before. Opening the old album, Hyeon Gyu-ha found In Yoo-shin. A child, stuffed with the sorrow of his parents' death and abandoned amidst his grandmother's sobs. In silence, Hyeon Gyu-ha slowly flipped through the album. The shadowy, wounded face of the child, once reluctant to even take a single picture, slowly, over a long period of time, broke into a bright smile, transforming into the In Yoo-shin he now knew. He closed the album with his high school graduation photo as the last, covered his face, and took a deep breath as if he was letting out something he had been holding in for a very long time. "I've often thought that. If only I could have recognized the young Yoo-shin-ssi 14 years ago, when the flames hadn't roared so violently and my vision hadn't blurred…… If only I had known that child was alone and could have brought him back." “……” "But after looking at old photos of Yoo-shin-ssi, I realized I was wrong. I was young back then, and I wasn't a proper human being, so maybe it wasn't good for us to be together. I'm so glad Yoo-shin-ssi was able to grow up in Dalgasa." Hearing his words, In Yoo-shin also imagined the moment when 14-year-old Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had lost those he had relied on, was reunited with his 8-year-old self. As Hyeon Gyu-ha said, I may not have been able to heal his wounds, but I would have spent more time with him instead. I thought that life wouldn't have been so bad. Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled and gently brushed In Yoo-shin's disheveled hair back with his fingertips. "Unlike 14 years ago, I'm currently a person who is trying to be in the good group, right?" Hearing that Hyeon Gyu-ha was a good person would make him jump out of his sleep, but In Yoo-shin nodded enthusiastically. To him, Hyeon Gyu-ha was always a good person. "It's a bit of a shame that young Yoo-shin-ssi missed the chance to call me 'Hyung-ah.'" Hearing that, something suddenly came to mind. "If I had grown up with Gyu-ha-ssi since long ago, would I have become close with the Vice President and called her 'Noona'?" "That must have been the case. If it was Geut-nyeo Noona, she would have definitely pushed Yoo-shin-ssi hard." "In that case, I might have become close with the guild leader, who dated the vice president for a long time and married them and would have had a Hyung & Dongsaeng relationship." “……” Hyeon Gyu-ha's expression hardened. He sighed heavily and pressed his palm to his forehead. "Wait. Wait a minute…… No, how is this a choice......" Watching him contemplate so seriously, In Yoo-shin thought to himself that it would have been nice if he had grown up with him since he was little. Not listening to the word "Hyung-ah" VS the young Yoo-shin who calls him "Hyung-ah". However, Gong Tae-seong ends up being called "Hyung-ah" by him too. What is your choice in this case? It was while eating dinner together and walking around the temple under the streetlights that Hyeon Gyu-ha found the answer to the world's most difficult problem. “It won’t work either.” “What is it?” "I can't put the cute Yoo-shin-ssi, who calls me Hyung-ah', in Gong Tae-seong's eyes. That's something only I can see." “……” Are you saying you were still pondering that? Even while In Yoo-shin was secretly sweating, Hyeon Gyu-ha continued to lay out the conclusions of his long deliberation. "First of all, Gong Tae-seong is much older than me. That person's first digit will change to 4 in just a few years. Yoo-shin-ssi, you like older men, so you absolutely can't be near him." "I've never really liked older men." "Huh? You said you liked older men last time!" “When did I?” "You definitely said you were!" After hearing Hyeon Gyu-ha's urgent explanation, In Yoo-shin finally recalled his memories. It was the day he was first introduced to Choi Jin-hyeok and Song Chan-young. Listening to it, I think we had that kind of conversation. "It's true that older men are good…… but doesn't that just mean they're good as humans?" "......You don't like older men?" "I don't like men either." A gloomy shadow appeared on Hyeon Gyu-ha's face. "......Will you like me if I become a woman?" "Wh-what's going on?" "You said you don't like men…… It's sad that I couldn't use it on you properly, Master, but I'm sorry for your……” "If it's to be loved, that little lump of flesh......." Before the forbidden words could leave his mouth, In Yoo-shin shouted urgently. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

- The headquarters of the largest criminal guild in Northern China, the Chongjitau, located in Tianjin, was mysteriously destroyed overnight…… The strategic materials Chongjitau had been holding were lost, and the Northern China government…… While watching the news on his phone, In Yoo-shin suddenly remembered a conversation he had with Hyeon Gyu-ha a while ago. It was a light walk, as if he was going to the market next door to buy weapons…… Could it be that he had turned into a criminal guild? In Yoo-shin checked Hyeon Gyu-ha's condition while sweating profusely. [Name: Henri Raymond Charles François VII] [Current Status: Affection. Separation anxiety. Refreshing. Insufficient.] I guess it’s refreshing that he has worked out after a long time, and it doesn't mean that he's still lacking in weapons, right……? Despite his anxious mind, news of the destruction of the biggest and worst criminal guilds in Russia, Japan, the United States, and Mexico continued to pour in, and In Yoo-shin decided to pay no attention. He was busy simply chatting with Hyeon Gyu-ha, who regularly called and texted him, even though the time difference meant he was busy. It's a journey where I don't know when I'll return, and maybe I won't. While organizing my surroundings, he contacted Park Seung-gi and met him. "You're going on a trip with Hyung-nim?" "Uh. I'm going to be going a bit far away, so I don't think I'll be able to contact you for a while. I'll ask you to take care of the succulents." "I have my own, so it's no trouble to look after yours too. But where are you going that you won't have service? Are there still places without cell phone reception these days?" "It's a trip to a remote place." I was planning to cancel my cell phone soon, so I thought about going on a trip to a remote area as an excuse to go somewhere out of reach. Park Seung-gi agreed without hesitation. "Well, if you're going with Hyung-nim, wouldn't it be as comfortable as a five-star hotel?" Seeing my friend, who seemed unsuspecting, made me feel bad about lying. But revealing the details was already a tedious process, and I was also worried that Park Seung-gi, concerned about me, would try to dissuade me. I hope I can get back safely and can tell him the truth. The setting was a stylish cafe, famous as a hot spot on social media. In Yoo-shin took out his phone. "Hey. It's been a while since we took a picture together." “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you being so creepy? 'Long time no see?' We've never even taken a picture together before." "If I go somewhere, I might forget your face." "Why would do you forget a face you've seen for over 10 years?" "I think that if I just look at the handsome face of Gyu-ha-ssi in this remote area where there are few people, I'll forget about other people." He forced himself into a seat next to Park Seung-gi, who was glaring at him, as if to say, "So, am I a squid?" He snapped a photo. Though his face still looked displeased, In Yoo-shin was satisfied. Even with Park Seung-gi, he liked this kind of thing. A few days later, Hyeon Gyu-ha also returned to the country. "I really wanted to see you, I thought I was going to die!" As soon as he met him at the airport, where he had gone to pick him up, he clung to him, rubbing his back as he recharged. I was so happy to see his broad chest, his unwaveringly pleasant scent, and the comfort of his embrace. I don't know if he raided other places besides the criminal guild, but Hyeon Gyu-ha looked quite satisfied. "Yoo-shin-ssi, I bought a new sleeping bag while traveling abroad, and I also bought a gift for you, so can't we sleep together today?" “It’s okay.” “I haven't been with you for a few days, so I'm lacking the master's energy…… Unn?” “It’s possible.” Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had assumed he would initially reject the offer and had prepared a sophistry to push through, opened his mouth narrowly. Then, covering his forehead, he examined In Yoo-shin with a serious expression. "What? You are my master…… But let me ask a question just to confirm. Do you know what size I am? Something other than three?" "If you keep acting like that, I'm going to kick you out." "Okay, okay." Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled brightly and quickly wrapped his arms around In Yoo-shin's shoulders. It was a new feeling, but it was a truly beautiful smile. [Current status: Affection. Murder. Happiness.] It was a wonderful feeling to share the same happiness in the little things of everyday life. *** He picked up a flyer on the street, cut it in half, drew on one side, and on the other. Then he placed dried broccoli, 6-se's favorite, on each side. Coincidentally, 6-se’s cheek pockets were already bulging. It was great. In Yoo-shin gently took 6-se, who had been staying up late for a rare moment, out of the cage, placed him on the palm of his hand, and looked him in the eye. His shiny black eyes sparkled as he gazed at him. "6-seya, I'm going to be going away for a while. It's a long journey. I don't know when I'll be back, and I might never see you again." “Squeak!” "I can't leave you behind, you're old and need my care, but it's a dangerous road with no end in sight. I'm worried you might get hurt." “Squeak.” "If I leave you behind, I plan to ask the monks at the temple where I grew up. They're good people, so I'm sure they'll take good care of you. What do you want to do? If you eat this, I'll understand that you'll come with me, and if you eat that, I'll understand that you'll stay here." In Yoo-shin pointed to the 'O' and 'X' he had drawn on the leaflet. The 'O' meant that they were going together. As he carefully set it down on the floor, 6-se looked around and scrunched up his nose. Then, he started moving his feet without hesitation. He was heading for the leaflet with the 'O' drawn on it. “6-seya……!” In Yoo-shin felt a surge of emotion as he watched 6-se effortlessly stuff the broccoli into Omnomnom's cheek pouch. Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched 6-se's precious heart, unwilling to leave his master's side no matter how dangerous the path. "Yes, no matter what danger I face, I will protect you!" And 6-se, who had quickly stuffed the broccoli, soon crawled to the other side of the flyer and ate the rest of the broccoli. “……” It was just a pig hamster that ate well. In Yoo-shin sighed deeply, watching the satisfied 6-se. Even if I could communicate to her some degree, it was difficult to make her understand such a complex and lengthy subject. She was healthy, so it was fine. While he was filming 6-se being moved to a cage and groomed, Hyeon Gyu-ha rang the doorbell outside. He quickly went to open the door and the first thing that hit me was the thick scent of flowers. A smile spread across In Yoo-shin's face as he held a bouquet as large as his torso. In the past, I had wondered what use a bouquet of flowers could be if they weren't even edible, but every time I received one from him, my heart swelled with joy. A bouquet of flowers was truly a precious and meaningful gift. "There are white flowers today." "It's a perfect match for Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VI Noona. A gift for her has arrived just in time." What Hyeon Gyu-ha pulled out of the inventory was a five-story maze room for hamsters, its interior lined with small styrofoam pieces. In Yoo-shin's eyes sparkled. It was a toy he'd seen on YouTube before, but couldn't find anywhere in Korea, and above all, it was so expensive that he'd never dared buy it. When placed on the top floor, 6-se looked around, initially unfamiliar, but soon became curious. Hyeon Gyu-ha filmed 6-se as he navigated the maze, slicing through the Styrofoam, descending floor by floor, while In Yoo-shin and 8-se cheered him on enthusiastically. "Over there, over there! You can do it!" “Squueak! Squeak!” "Go for it." With the encouragement of his owner and siblings, 6-se successfully completed the remarkable task of making it through the first floor maze and out. Then, without a trace of pride, he calmly returned to his cage and fell asleep. In Yoo-shin's shoulders were tense. "6-se is a real genius, right?" "Such dignity, just like Noona. The house is a bit small, so I'll put the toys in my inventory for now. Next time, let's try assembling them a different way." After having breakfast and lunch together, the two left the attic, escorted by their eight-year-old. Today was the day they planned to visit Dalgasa. They'd gone shopping at the supermarket the day before, stocking up on toys and snacks. The bus to Gaeseong was familiar, as I always took it, but the mere presence of Hyeon Gyu-ha next to me felt strangely unfamiliar. I didn't mean it in a negative way. I felt both embarrassed and excited at the thought of guiding him to a place filled with memories from my childhood. He looked up quietly and his eyes met Hyeon Gyu-ha's. The affectionate, deep gaze he always directed at him gently curved. "I couldn't sleep at all last night because I was so excited. I thought I might not be able to go to Dalgasa with Yoo-shin." In Yoo-shin, who had been reluctant to suggest going to the orphanage together to say hello, smiled sheepishly. Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered, kissing his forehead. "I did some research to understand the anxious feelings of a son-in-law meeting his father-in-law, and I found something disappointing." ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

“What are my attributes?” Hyeon Gyu-ha continued speaking as if comforting In Yoo-shin, who was startled by those words, while rubbing his shoulder. "That's, um....... Simply put, it's the arch-rival of the vampires, which is my father's current form. It's an attribute that originated from someone who learned magic directly from God in order to hunt immortal vampires." "Vampires don't die when a stake is driven through their heart or when exposed to sunlight…….?" "Those who die like that are either young or light-blooded vampires. On the other hand, my father is practically a true ancestor(眞祖), so he probably won't die by normal means." "Then…… is the characteristic of Gyu-ha-ssi, who you said was a set, the same?" Hyeon Gyu-ha's expression softened and he gave a faint smile, then realized that Inyushin wouldn't be able to see him in the dark, so he kissed her forehead again. "The fate of those who first possessed our traits was not taken away by the gods, but passed on through generations. That's why we are tied together as a set…… Well, I'm just a half-vampire and half-human. Compared to Yoo-shin-ssi, I'm nothing special." “……” "I really don't know how Yoo-shin-ssi was born with that trait in this world where there are no vampires or gods." The fate of those who first manifested their traits was dismissed as a trivial matter. Fortunately, Inyushin, surprised by the revelation, paid no attention to the matter. After being lost in thought for a while, he finally made up his mind and opened his mouth. "Gyu-ha-ssi, can your father see everyone's status windows?" Hyeon Gyu-ha's expression hardened in the darkness, where his face couldn't be seen clearly. I hoped his thoughts hadn't reached that far, but he was indeed a smart man. Should I lie? If I hadn't considered it, it would have been a lie. But I couldn't even lie to him about this. "Just as a god cannot see everything about a person's destiny or abilities, my father is likely similar. However, he likely possesses the ability to explore the essence of humanity." "It means you can't be sure." “......That’s right.” "I will keep my attributes well hidden and not tell anyone." In Yoo-shin quietly raised his hand and caressed Hyeon Gyu-ha's cheek. Though shrouded in darkness, his fingertips could sense his expression. "I know what you're worried about, Gyu-ha-ssi. But it's purely selfish of me to want to go with you. I'm truly sorry……" Hyeon Gyu-ha sighed deeply and took In Yoo-shin's hand in his own. The trace of his lips touching his grasping palm spread like a hot flame. Feeling the fear and trembling in that heat, In Yoo-shin bit his lip. This man, who fears nothing in the world, becomes absurdly weak in front of him. In Yoo-shin is acutely aware that his weakness is anything but romantic. It could become a stumbling block. It could become a burden to him, and he might regret it. Yet, this feeling that prevents me from deciding to remain here alone is an utterly vicious selfishness. A selfishness that wants to stay by his side no matter what the risk. And the selfishness of hoping that the hand of someone named Hyeon Gyu-ha could hold me. The selfishness of hoping that at the moment of death, I, who had valued myself, could embrace something that would take precedence over all other values. I'm not sure if this change, born gradually from Hyeon Gyu-ha's sincerity, is necessarily the right thing to do. But seeing him cherish and give meaning to himself more than anything else in the world, I feel compelled to change, to stop stagnating and become stagnant. Because that would be a small reward for him who held himself, so ordinary and insignificant that he could not leave any trace in the world, at the center of his true heart. "But can I go with you?" If he had finally refused, there would have been no choice, but Hyeon Gyu-ha looked down in silence, his lips moving thinly. As his lips moved, the palms that covered his mouth and cheeks tingled. "Is that your true feelings, Yoo-shin-ssi?" A low whisper, tickling his skin, mixed with his light breathing, made In Yoo-shin lift his heels. Then, he pressed his lips to the ones he had just held in his hand. The sensation was slightly cracked and rough. For a moment, Hyeon Gyu-ha seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. He froze, unable to even respond. As In Yoo-shin's lips parted slightly, his feet slightly struggling to lift, he roughly hugged his waist. The overlapping flesh pushed his lips apart even wider, burrowing inward. Every inch it touched felt scorching hot. The flesh, pressing against the roof of her mouth, scraped and rubbed violently, stealing In Yoo-shin's breath impatiently. As if clinging to it. His hot breath mixed with his saliva, making breathing difficult. But instead of patting his shoulder and pushing him away, In Yoo-shin held him tighter. A familiar scent drifted through his gasping airway. A large hand wrapped around his neck, pressing down on his shoulder and entangling him. The pressure, so tight that he couldn't move, was actually pleasant. The tingling sensation seemed to penetrate not just his oppressed skin, but his entire body. The tongue, which had been thrust deep into his throat as if it were going to take over, fell regretfully, leaving behind a clear sound of water. “Huah……” Only then did In Yoo-shin gasp for air, his breath still choked. His lips, once again seemingly overlapping, held a bitter smile, and instead of pressing deeply, he dropped a light kiss, like a bird pecking. In Yoo-shin leaned listlessly against his shoulder, unable to even think of wiping his swollen, red lips. Only after the cool summer night's sea breeze had cooled his flushed skin a little did she realize his lower abdomen was aching from the swell of heat. His cheeks flushed again. Hyeon Gyu-ha must have noticed, since he was pressed so tightly against his thigh. He leaned back slightly, and Hyeon Gyu-ha gave a small smile and nibbled on his earlobe. "You said it wasn't attached." "Uh, th- 8,8-se, is in my pocket……" "It's heavier than the arm." "6-se too......" "I held back because it wasn't rubbing against my left thigh." In Yoo-shin's face flushed red and then turned white repeatedly as he remembered what was stored in his left thigh. He couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse. Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed In Yoo-shin by the waist and lifted him lightly, placing him on the fence. It was the first time he'd seen him, and it was a shame that his face couldn't be seen clearly in the darkness of the night. Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered softly while looking up at In Yoo-shin. "But promise me one thing. You will never do anything dangerous." "Once I get there, I'll do whatever Gyu-ha-ssi tells me to do. Even if you lock me in a secret room and tell me not to wander around, I'll stay quiet and not try to escape." "I would feel a little more secure if I could have a cage made just the right size for me and have my owner carry me around." “…….” He thought it should be the other way around, but In Yoo-shin nodded vigorously and responded anyway. Hyeon Gyu-ha's gaze, blinking his eyelashes, seemed to be asking for something, so he hesitated and lowered his head. A breath mingled with his soft lips. Perhaps it was the right answer. In Yoo-shin secretly made a promise as he gently pushed his tongue between his lips, which had become smoother than before due to the rough kiss. 'Next time, when it's bright, I should ask to sit higher than Gyu-ha-ssi.' As if answering him, Hyeon Gyu-ha clicked his tongue. *** In Yoo-shin, who returned to Seoul after a fulfilling summer vacation, submitted his leave of absence first. He was uneasy about whether it would be okay to submit his own, given that it had only been a few days since Hyeon Gyu-ha submitted his, but Manager Kim didn't say much. "Team Leader Hyeon is on leave, so there's no way Yoo-shin-ssi would come to work alone." It stung. Still, it was a little easier because everyone around me recognized me as a group of people who were all just like that, and everyone accepted me without having to make excuses. "It's strange that Gyu-ha stays stuck at one job for so long. Let's recharge together." "I hope that you can educate the incompetent person to become a self-reliant person before he is reinstated." "Have a good rest with Hyeon Hunter!" I decided to take it as a bit of encouragement. Before taking a leave of absence, In Yoo-shin was busy, organizing work and organizing his surroundings. Hyeon Gyu-ha was away for a while. His whereabouts were reported in the news. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

"The guild leader can do it, but why can't I?" "Are you and Gong Tae-seong the same?" “What’s different?” "It doesn't matter to me whether Gong Tae-seong lives or not, but that's not the case with Yoo-shin-ssi." “Can’t you have a lover’s fight without me?” Gong Tae-seong, who had returned in a circle, was finally able to go to Iad as originally planned, and leaned comfortably on the sofa. In Yoo-shin's words grew stronger. "The whale knows where the rift is anyway. Even if Gyu-ha says no, I'll go with the whale." 『That's right! His lover isn't a child, and he's making his own decisions. Why would the prince object? The prince is a bad person who doesn't even respect the opinions of those precious to him!』 "Look. Even a whale would find it strange." Just a few days ago, Somnoros, who had said he wouldn't want to put someone precious in danger, suddenly shifted his stance and clung to In Yoo-shin. It was a swift act of survival instinct. "There are many ways to put Yoo-shin-ssi to sleep and sneak away." "If you don't take me, I won't tell you what I heard from your aunt." "Squk! Squeak!" The seemingly endless, childish, and exhausting argument was interrupted by the irritable whining of 6-se, annoyed by the noise. Inyushin bowed and apologized, taking out a snack and offering it to him. Hyeon Gyu-ha wiped his forehead with a look of embarrassment. "Yoo-shin-ssi, you have Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VI Noona to take care of. You're going to leave Noona alone, she's so old. But you can't take her with you, right?" "That’s......" He was speechless. It was hard to imagine leaving 6-se, who was already so dependent on myself, alone and entrusting him to someone else. It was even harder for a hamster who tried to hide his injuries. "Besides, the fact that the world is on the verge of destruction means there's no telling what dangers lie ahead. It could even be an apocalypse or a harsh dystopian world. And you want me to take Yoo-shin-ssi to that place? In that case, I'd rather not go." “……” What should I do? Seeing him even talk about giving up on the path he had dreamed of his entire life, I felt like no amount of persuasion would work. I didn't want to send him away alone, nor did I want him to give up what he wanted because of me. While In Yoo-shin was at a loss as to what to do, 8-se, perched on the hamster cage, licking the candy he'd stolen from Gong Taeseong's pocket, shouted. “Squk! Squeak!” Somnoros blinked his large eyes. 『Right now, ®AC isn't as affluent as this place, so it's a bit tough, but it's still a decent place to live. The peninsula where this country is located is said to be in particularly good shape.』 Gong Tae-seong, who was watching Min Anna's video on his phone, ignoring the argument, also added a word. "That makes sense. Being depleted of vitality means at least that disaster didn't strike overnight, right? It must have been difficult, but I'm sure they found a way to adapt somehow." “Squeak.” 『There are small animals like you. He says that because he knew what kind of animal a hamster was, he was able to change and adapt before meeting Prince’s lover.』 In Yoo-shin stared intently at Hyeon Gyu-ha, and he roughly rubbed his face with a sigh for the umpteenth time. "No, that doesn't mean..." As soon as the conversation, excluding the issue of accompanying people, was over, Gong Tae-seong got up from his seat. “I don't think we can narrow our differences right away, so let's try to resolve that issue through dialogue. But before that, Hyeon Gyu-ha, there's something I'd like to ask you." "What." "Why the hamster... No, that's enough." He wondered why he always call his hamsters "Noona," and he came up with the answer, "Because it's Hyeon Gyu-ha," and was convinced. As Gong Tae-seong, who had reclaimed Somnoros's contract, departed, a sudden silence descended upon the villa. In that eerie silence, only the noise of two hamsters could be heard, Hyeon Gyu-ha stroked In Yoo-shin's hair. "I think Yoo-shin and I need to cool our heads a bit. You must be tired today, so let's rest for now." He somewhat agreed with Hyeon Gyu-ha's suggestion that he needed to cool his head, but even lying in bed, sleep didn't come easily. Liberating some of the attribute artifacts consumed mana, a resource he rarely used, and despite being exhausted, his eyes remained wide awake. Hyeon Gyu-ha said he had no intention of returning from Iad because he had no attachment to this world. Then what about me? In Yoo-shin stared up at the dark ceiling, lost in thought. My parents are gone, but I've placed them in a place where I can visit them anytime. I have close friends and family members who cherish them. I managed to make ends meet, however meager, and get by day by day. And if I follow Hyeon Gyu-ha to Iad. Since there was no definite answer as to when or how I would return, it was easier to assume that everything I had accumulated here would never be reclaimed. In Yoo-shin assumed that he had let it all go. Leaving everything behind, only Hyeon Gyu-ha. In Yoo-shin jumped up from his seat. This wasn't a problem that needed to be weighed. As Min Geut-nyeo said, she, too, received a new world from Hyeon Gyu-ha. She connected with people and gained experiences she never could have imagined without him. She no longer thinks that all of this was a shallow connection born from forced taming. How far can the string of Hyeon Gyu-ha hold himself back? In Yoo-shin wanted to know that. He quietly stepped out of the bedroom. The living room was still quiet, the only sound being the sound of 6-se running on his wheel. He looked around, relying on the small mood light next to the cage. A dark figure appeared on the terrace in the distance. As he approached, Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been leaning against the fence, gently turned his head. "You're still not asleep?" “What about you, Gyu-ha-ssi?” “I’m going to sleep soon.” As they stepped outside, the salty smell of the sea grew stronger. In Yoo-shin stood beside him, gazing up at the night sky. The moonlight was blue. "®ÀÇ also has one moon, right?" "If the moon were to split, it would almost certainly be on the verge of destruction." "I'll have to go and check it out myself." “……” Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled bitterly when he heard again that he would not bend his opinion. "......Yoo-shin-ssi. For me, there was a word that resonated in my head even before I understood language. Even now, sometimes, when I'm really agitated, I hear it." “What do you mean?” "It is the voice of the Father, telling me to come to him." This was something I didn't want to tell In Yoo-shin. How could I possibly tell him, abandoned by his biological parents and bereaved by his adoptive parents, that the source of the murderous intent that dominated my entire life was my biological father? But if he could convince him by revealing his true face, Hyeon Gyu-ha had to do it. Nothing could take priority over In Yoo-shin's safety. "My father is a monster who has lived since before Christ. Despite his age, I am his only child. Why would he have me when the world is nearing its end?" In Yoo-shin couldn't open his mouth easily because a chilling thought flashed through his mind. And then, Hyeon Gyu-ha calmly laid out a conjecture even more brutal than his own. "Father, like he once did, wants to offer me up as a living sacrifice. He wants to make me a cornerstone to support the world once again. I don't know if it's because even my immortal father is about to die, or if the world is rushing toward destruction and he can no longer endure." Hyeon Gyu-ha touched In Yoo-shin's cheek, whose expression was pale and as if on the verge of tears. A gentle warmth enveloped him, contrasting with his self-deprecating tone. "It was my duty, imposed on me before I was even born, and I intend to negotiate with my father to refuse it. And before that, I will find my mother." ".....If I don't go at all, what will happen?" “Well, I don’t know, but wouldn’t it be a bit difficult because of the headache?” It's a lie. From the moment I started feeling a terrible sense of boredom in the process of finding the key, I had a vague certainty. If I were to let go of everything, drowning in that boredom, my father's voice, ringing like a curse, would eventually kill me…… There were times when I thought it wouldn't matter if I died like that. He bent down and pressed his lips to his pale forehead. Only then did In Yoo-shin, who had been shaking, take a deep breath and grab his jacket. "The process of negotiating with Father won't be smooth. Even if ®ÀÇ is a relatively habitable world, I'm not sure we can keep Yoo-shin-ssi safe during the process." “……” "And also, Yoo-shin-ssi's hidden attributes." Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been slowly unraveling the story he'd been holding in his heart, hesitated for the first time. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, choosing his words, but eventually opened his lips. "If Father finds out, it's really dangerous. If he finds out about Yoo-shin-ssi's attributes, there's a pretty good chance he'll try to kill you." ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

*** “Um?” The young man, who had been leaning back on a long chair as if asleep, opened his languid eyes. A strange light flickered across his pale amber eyes. "The door closed again as soon as it opened? What happened?" The young man raised an opaque window into the air. The name of the area where the door had briefly opened was Ganghwa Island, an island known in this land. But there was no change. He tapped his chin rhythmically with a long, elegant finger, as if puzzled. "If that child had crossed over, I would have sensed it right away. Something must have happened.... There's nothing I can do. Connecting worlds isn't easy. Should I try sending Cufflinks again? Are there any Cufflinks left? Sora, what do you think?" He lowered his gaze and asked, but the woman, whose eyelids closed and slept peacefully, didn't respond. The young man smiled and moved his hand in the air, as if stroking her forehead. "No matter what happens, I'll definitely bring my son back. So you don't have to worry about him." *** After a terrifyingly heavy silence, Hyeon Gyu-ha groaned and pressed his head against his chest. A terrible headache, something he hadn't felt since the third Ursitoare he'd met at age nine, suddenly surged forward. 'Come to me, to our world, my son.' With that curse-like sound. The eerie sound of teeth clinking together echoed through Hyeon Gyu-ha's teeth. The ring's inability to wear was ultimately overlooked because In Yoo-shin was safe. But, but this... The murderous intent he'd harbored for most of his life suddenly boiled over, but that rat belonged to In Yoo-shin. The disparity made Hyeon Gyu-ha unable to take any action, and the veins on his hardened jaw stood on end. In Yoo-shin also didn't blindly protect 8-se. He was so shocked that he urged 8-se on. "8-seya! Do you have any idea what you've done? What are you going to do?" “Squk!” 8-se, shaking his head, crawled up his master's body. Quickly reaching his right shoulder, he extended a short forepaw and tapped In Yoo-shin's earlobe. It was right where the symbol of the artifact was engraved. "Artifact? Are you telling me to use the artifact now?" “Sqieak!” "No, right now there's a problem with the artifact......." "Squeek! Squk!" Somnoros, who had been frozen with his mouth wide open, finally stammered out a word. 『Uh, uh. He is saying that you'll know why once you try it... Ah. He says you just have to release some of it.』 It wasn't a refreshing explanation, but 8-se's eyes were serious, and with no other option at the moment, In Yoo-shin cast the binding artifact with a perplexed heart. [Partially releases the bound artifact 'The World Beyond the Seven Gates'.] A vision of Inanna descending into the underworld flashed through his mind, and a young girl's voice echoed in In Yoo-shin's head. It was a voice transmitted through his will. 『We finally meet! I'm so glad we succeeded! Honestly, it was almost like gambling, so I was almost giving up. Ah, Doomnezeul. Thank you.』 “W-who are you?” As In Yoo-shin opened his mouth as if talking to someone, Hyeon Gyu-ha and Gong Tae-seong also came to their senses and looked at him. The sudden voice startled In Yoo-shin, but he felt a sense of foreboding. He had clearly heard it before. Not so long ago, and just moments ago. "Well, whenever I met Gyu-ha-ssi and the elderly women, I heard some voices asking for help.” 『As expected, unlike Gy-uha, you can hear the voice I planted in the key! There's a different voice in Gyu-ha's head.』 The owner of the voice chattered in a very excited tone. 『I'd love to talk at length, but there's no time. My name is Stoya. You could say I'm Gy-uha's aunt. How much do you know?』 "That, you were buried underground...?" 『Yeah, that's right. Was it Kallikantzaros who prevented me from using my heart?』 "Yes. I got a message saying it was damaged." 『I'm sorry to startle you. But I shouldn't have come straight to Iad. Stoayn would have detected Gyu-ha as soon as he had arrived at lad, and I really wanted to meet you before that...』 "Can you open the door again?" 『I can't tell you the exact timing, but it is possible. Sometime a rift will open in your world, and there, you must use my heart and bloodline.』 Stoya's voice brightened as she quickly explained how to use it. I couldn't actually see her face, but I could feel her smile in her voice. 『I don't know for sure, but you're with Gyu-ha right now, right?』 "If you have anything to say, may you tell me?" 『No. I'll tell you when we meet in person. But more importantly, what's your name?』 "My name is In Yoo-shin. My last name is In and my first name is Yoo-shin." 『Yes, Yoo-shin. Thank you so much for meeting Gyu-ha. Thank you so much for being by Gyu-ha’s side.』 With those words, Stoya's voice vanished, seemingly lost in the darkness. He tried using the artifact again, but the voice never returned. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been keeping his mouth shut the whole time, asked quietly. "......Did you meet my aunt?" In Yooshin, who was taken aback by the sudden change in circumstances, stammered and answered. "Uh-uh, I guess so. More importantly, I heard you can go to ®AÇ through the rift between the worlds......." All three people's gazes turned to one place simultaneously. Somnoros, who had been absentmindedly listening to In Yoo-shin, blinked, realizing belatedly that all eyes were on him. "Unn?" Once inside the villa, 6-se, who woke up and started to get active, was eating his food. The conversation resumed in the living room. “Squeeak!” 『I guess you had to connect with ®AÇ once to use that power to speak to his lover, even if only briefly. Apparently, 8-se came to this world for that very purpose. I don't know the details myself, but it was the dead king's plan.』 "Really? I almost killed him when I received 8-se as a gift……” “Squek.” 『Even so, I couldn't force them to follow through with the plan, so there was nothing I could do. And the dead king had already made various arrangements for this matter, even within his reach.』 Somnoros, who had been interpreting 8-se's words, furrowed his eyebrows. 『What's wrong with ®AÇ? Are the two kings are at odds?』 “Squuueak.” 『Don't you know that? What do you know?』 “Squeak!” 『Of course you know better than me! I haven't even heard anything from home in a while!』 Hyeon Gyu-ha looked at In Yoo-shin, leaving the two who had started arguing for some reason behind. "Anyway, did my aunt tell you how to get to ®AÇ, right?" Hyeon Gyu-ha let out a low sigh as he watched In Yoo-shin nod his head. "I'm really annoyed that she took advantage of Yoo-shin-ssi.” "Could it be because of my hidden attributes?" “Damnit." For some reason, when he brought up the topic of hidden attributes, Hyeon Gyu-ha looked even more irritated. He gently rubbed the back of his hand, as if to cheer him up, and his expression softened, intertwining our fingers. Feeling the warmth enveloping his hand, In Yoo-shin recalled his conversation with Stoya. Though she hadn't said a word of coercion, she seemed to subtly wish In Yoo-shin would accompany him to Iad. And that’s the same wish as In Yoo-shin. "That, that rift in the world." Somnoros, who was bickering with a hamster smaller than my pupil, turned his eyes. "Can multiple people pass through the rifts in the world?" 『Unn. Sometimes, monsters wander off and pop out. I crossed through that rift when I came to the Iron Age, but I don't know if they're still around.』 Hyeon Gyu-ha sighed again. "I saw a monster coming out of a rift a while ago, so there must be some left." "Gyu-ha-ssi, I…” “You can’t.” Before he could even begin to speak, Hyeon Gyu-ha cut In Yoo-shin off like a knife. His firmness was a far cry from the usual laxity he'd shown with In Yoo-shin. "I want to go with Gyu-ha-ssi too." "As I said last time, it's a world on the verge of destruction. You can't even eat Korean beef or chicken there." "It's okay to just take protein supplements three times a day." “Last time, you ran away because you didn’t want to take protein supplements.” “The bigger problem back then was health!” "No way. Absolutely not." It was an attitude that seemed like it wouldn't even work. In Yoo-shin frowned, trying to find a way to persuade him, but Gong Tae-seong intervened. "If it's okay for several people to come along, I'd like to go and find Anna's cure myself." “Do whatever you want.” Unlike when he spoke to In Yoo-shin, Hyeon Gyu-ha gave Gong Tae-seong a cool, no-nonsense approval and even returned the blood sample. In Yoo-shin was dumbfounded. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

“Sure.” "......?" He slowly raised his head at the strange answer, and Hyeon Gyu-ha was smiling faintly. His eyes were subdued, a stark contrast to his playful response. "Of course I want to sleep. I wonder how sweet it would be to lick Yoo-shin-ssi's skin, and I want to carve my marks all over her pale skin. I also really want to see what kind of face Yoo-shin-ssi would look at me with when he's all red." In Yoo-shin, who hadn't even imagined the specifics, felt his face flush with heat. But this time, he didn't interrupt and listened intently. Hyeon Gyu-ha gently pressed his finger against his earlobe, which was now bright red. That alone made his shoulders flinch and his eyes close tightly. He kissed his lowered eyelashes. The warmth of her trembling, thin eyelids sent a tingling shiver down his heart. If he continues kissing In Yoo-shin like this and moves his hand deep inside him, In Yoo-shin will obediently put his arm around his shoulder. The rest will probably be quite easy. But Hyeon Gyu-ha suppressed the desire boiling within him with a shallow kiss. He carefully licked her lower lip, withdrawing his tongue from its lingering strokes. In Yoo-shin's breathing became shallow and ragged. The desire to steal every breath of his and make it his own seemed poised to surge forth at any moment. Hyeon Gyu-ha took a deep breath and rested his forehead on In Yoo-shin's shoulder. He still couldn't hold him back. His heart and mine are different in size, color, and desire. If I were to unleash the desires seething within me, he would be helplessly swept away and drown. At least when I can become someone you can lean on, even if I can't completely hold him, when times get tough. When I can fully share the love you learned from your mother and father with you. So, Hyeon Gyu-ha tried to moderately cover up this desire and whispered. "Honestly, I'm going to be away for a while, so I don't feel like I'm being chased for no reason, right? That's why I said the same thing earlier, right?" “......But if Gyu-ha-ssi leaves, I don't know when I'll see you again." “I’ll be back.” "What will I do when I become a grandfather?" "You can still have sex even when you're a grandfather." When In Yoo-shin looked at him with a look of resentment at his natural response, Hyeon Gyu-ha narrowed his eyes and played with his hair. “I don’t even have the supplies I need to prepare right now.” “Ah……” “First of all, it’s a Gong Tae-seong’s villa. It’s a bit much to do it here, isn’t it?” That was certainly the case. In Yoo-shin, in his impatience over Hyeon Gyu-ha's departure, had forgotten that this wasn't a lodging, but a villa rented for a few days, and he felt a little disheartened. Hyeon Gyu-ha tugged at In Yoo-shin's hair, burying his lips in it, and pulled him closer. "Let's not think about anything else and just focus on having fun during our vacation." The steady, pounding sound of Hyeon Gyu-ha's heart gently spread across their touching skin. In Yoo-shin leaned her face against Hyeon Gyu-ha's chest, enveloped in that tenderness. She would never forget this warmth. For the rest of his vacation, he decided to focus solely on having fun, as Hyeon Gyu-ha had suggested. Although it was an unfamiliar environment, 6-se adapted without stress thanks to his owner. He even escaped from his cage once to look out the window. Happy times always fly by. The sunset, a blazing crimson that seemed to burn the distant horizon, was slowly fading. It was the last day he planned to spend at the villa. In Yoo-shin turned his head to avoid seeing Gong Tae-seong getting out of the car. As if doing so could extend this time indefinitely. However, Gong Tae-seong walked towards them in the backyard of the villa, and Somnoros appeared and greeted them warmly. 『Prince! His lover! Hello!』 In Yoo-shin, whose toes had been tapping the dirt, lowered his head slightly. Gong Tae-seong handed Hyeon Gyu-ha a square case the size of his palm. "Anna's blood sample. Please." "I can't guarantee it." Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been putting the case away, stroked In Yoo-shin's forehead, who had been silent for a while. "Are you going to see me off with that expression?" In Yoo-shin just turned his face away without responding. Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had retrieved the Hidden Boss Crystal Stone he'd received from Gong Tae-seong and Baek Su-eon in the inventory, placed In Yoo-shin's hand on it. In Yoo-shin wiggled his fingers on the crystal stone's surface, which felt as warm as body heat. Once Hyeon Gyu-ha had completed the key, he too would depart. "If you don't feel like it, should I go see Grandma alone?" ".....no." Reflexively, he gripped the crystal stone a little tighter. Infusing mana into the crystal stone would cause time to flow differently than in reality. I wanted to spend just a little more time with Hyeon Gyu-ha. Hyeon Gyu-ha placed his hand on In Yoo-shin's and injected mana into him. In an instant, the surroundings darkened, and seven stars gazed down upon them. It was a sight I'd seen before. It felt like ages ago, but in reality, it was only a few months ago. 『Help me.』 Just like before, the girl's voice was followed by two elders standing under stars shining in the west and south, waiting for Hyeon Gyu-ha from across a vast expanse of time. The shadows showed people bleeding and starving—an unchanging omen of ruin. A saint who could only watch as the world rushed toward its end. The Saint of Wednesday, Spunta Mierkuri. The Saint of Sunday, Spunta Duminică. Hyeon Gyu-ha just stared at the eldery without saying anything, and they bowed respectfully with expressions of extreme weariness and pain. Even in the Iad I was about to go to, would such a arduous destruction await me? As such thoughts began to occupy his mind, he became even more depressed. After the final farewell, the world returned to the backyard, where the sunset was slowly fading. Hyeon Gyu-ha gathered the keys, which had been transformed into flesh and bone, into one place. The large and small chunks of flesh writhed as if alive, finally becoming one whole. [Henri Raymond Charles François VII acquired the 'Heart of Stoya'.] Even without checking the message, the fist-sized, crimson lump of flesh resting on Hyeon Gyu-ha's palm truly looked like a heart. A heart so vibrant and vibrant it seemed ready to pound and pulsate at any moment. Gong Tae-seong frowned. "Could it be that the key was the heart?" Of course, Hyeon Gyu-ha ignored those words, but when In Yoo-shin asked, "Is that the heart of the person who was buried in the ground?", he kindly explained it. "That's right. Our Master is so full of talent." "I just read the message......." "You can send people messages all day long, but there are so many who can't turn them into useful knowledge. Gong Tae-seong, for example." "Haa." Gong Tae-seong, who was guilty of committing a sin, just sighed, which was unusual for a choleric person. "My aunt is also a king who supports ®ÀÇ just like my father, so she said that she cut her heart into pieces and scattered them so that I could later find the key to ®ÀÇ. It seems that scattering the heart as a whole was too much." 『To distinguish her from prince’s father, she is usually called the dead king!』 "The pendant I saw last time contained my aunt's blood." "Is she alive without a heart?" "They say that she became a resident of the underworld after being buried underground. Perhaps her physical body was unnecessary." I wasted a lot of time asking questions, but I didn't even know what else to ask. Somnoros swam in circles in the air, flapping its fins. 『Prince! Hurry up and make a contract with me and take me with you!』 "It didn't help here, so what good would it do if I went there?" "It's better than just sleeping here." 『Both of you are too much!』 Somnoros's large eyes were tearful. "Even if you pretend to be a whale, you're still a fish. What kind of fish sheds tears?" Contrary to his cold words, Hyeon Gyu-ha signed a contract with Somnoros. [Henri Raymond Charles François VII made a contract with the 'Divine fish(神魚) Somnoros'.] ......Now everything is really ready. Hyeon Gyu-ha took In Yoo-shin's hesitant hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. Before him, his lips, always soft, formed a gentle curve. "Okay, I'll be off." As if he were just going out for a bit. As if he would see me again soon. Hyeon Gyu-ha said his final goodbyes. In Yoo-shin, who was aware that he was deliberately using light language to comfort him, took a deep breath and forced a smile. "......You can come slowly, Gyu-ha-ssi, you have to finish everything you want to do." "If time flowed differently, I might come back in five minutes. Even if I become a grandfather by then, don't abandon me." In Yoo-shin silently held Hyungyuha's hand. Then, Hyeon Gyu-ha injected a final dose of mana into Heart of Stoya. A dazzling blaze of blood, like blood spurting from the crimson heart, illuminated the scene. [Uses the 'Heart of Stoya' owned by Henri Raymond Charles François VII.] [The passage to Iad has been connected.] [Time remaining: 05 minutes 00 seconds] The door leading to Iad glowed with a sinister, blood-red glow. No, no. In Yoo-shin quickly dismissed his thoughts. Ominous? That's not it at all. I'm just feeling down because of the separation with him. In Yoo-shin painstakingly controlled his expression, determined to leave a smile in his memory. A soft, always-present smile appeared on Hyeon Gyu-ha's lips. "Yoo-shin-ssi, come find my lawyer later......." It was then. “Squeak!” At some point, 8-se, who had crawled up to the top of In Yoo-shin's head, leaped down, spreading his limbs. Unfurling his wings between his legs, 8-se glided through the air, his sharply pointed tail extending as fast as his falling speed. Boom! A piercing sound rang out, the tail piercing the heart. It happened in the blink of an eye. Even two S-rank hunters couldn't keep up. [The 'Heart of Stoya', owned by Henri Raymond Charles François VII, was damaged.] [Unable to maintain a passage connected to Iad.] The swarm of light disappeared. “……” “……” “……” 『…….』 (This one is the whales one. It’s in Japanese dialogue endings.) A heavy silence descended. Amidst the three people and one divine fish, no one could find a word to say. "Kyuuu?" Only 8-se who landed on the floor tilted his head in a cute pose as if nothing had happened. *** HM: I’m surprised at myself for being able to read the kanji lol. I guess my japanese studying is paying off. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

"The Bo-Gyu-ha doll is really cute, isn't it? Ah, of course Gyu-ha-ssi is cuter!" Hyeon Gyu-ha perked up his ears at the last words he had hastily added and smiled happily. "But every time I look at that doll, I feel like something important is missing." “What is it?” “Here.” Hyeon Gyu-ha lifted the doll, took off all his clothes, and pushed his middle finger between the doll's legs near the crotch area. “In an indirect expression, it's 'that place.' In a direct expression, it's 'p....'" “Wait a minute.” "Considering the proportions of the short legs, which are abnormally long and have no joints, it's probably over here……" "Gyu-Gyu doesn't have such an ugly thing hanging on him!" In Yoo-shin almost screamed as he snatched the doll away. "Huh?You have one of those between your legs too, Yoo-shin-ssi?" "It's not there! I don't have one!" "Then, shall I show you what's attached to me? Hyeon Gyu-ha's top secret, which I'll only confess to Master. It's the same color as my hair......." "I don't need to hear a confession to know that!" In Yoo-shin, exhausted since morning, stumbled out of the attic, accompanied by Hyeon Gyu-ha, who held a 6-se’s cage in one hand. An important issue arose late. "How do we get to Ganghwa Island?" "Well, for me, I'd like to experience the experience of Master crying and clinging to me again." “……” "I hired a driver out of respect for the elderly." “Elderly?” “Even though he is a seasoned veteran, Henri Raymond Charles Françoise VI Noona is over two years old.” In Yoo-shin thought of 6-se sleeping in a cage covered with a blackout cover. 8-se was also in the same cage, caring for 6-se. I hoped 6-se enjoyed this trip, too. I thought I was going to ride in one of the Yuchun series, but when I left the house, there was a long black limousine parked there. "I will make you feel comfortable!" In Yoo-shin, who bowed to the knight who greeted him in full uniform, turned his curious gaze to Hyeon Gyu-ha. How could he hire a chauffeur for his limousine? He awkwardly entered a limousine he'd only seen in movies, but the interior was surprisingly comfortable and spacious. I wasn't thirsty, but I felt strangely curious, so I grabbed a drink from the mini-fridge and drank it. Hyeon Gyu, sitting next to him, used psychokinesis to firmly support Cage, ensuring he wouldn't sway during the drive. In Yoo-shin gazed at the sight of his hair, almost golden, shining in the sunlight streaming through the window. Most people probably have similar memories of beaches during peak season. The beach is overflowing with parasols and crowds so thick it's hard to tell if you're there to see the ocean or to see people. In Yoo-shin, who had visited the beach while at daycare, had similar impressions, but this time, it felt like it needed to be changed. "I didn't know the summer beach could be this quiet." “Is that not good?” “It’s perfect.” The secluded property, where all you could hear was the sound of crashing waves, was the best. Next time I see Gong Tae-seong, I think I'll be able to at least say thank you. “Squeak.......” Even 8-se couldn't take his eyes off the sea, fascinated by its beauty. They say it originally lived underground, only coming up to the surface at night. If so, this must have been the first time even he'd seen such a vast, blue horizon. "Sea water is really salty. You shouldn't drink it because it'll make you even thirstier. Okay?" "Squek!" 8-se nodded, but couldn't overcome his curiosity and licked the shallow seawater before spitting it out. It seems like a guy who eats raw garlic well can't drink sea water. While he was playing with 8-se, Hyeon Gyu-ha unpacked his luggage at the villa and came out carrying a bag of clothes. “Yoo-shin-ssi, please change into your swimsuit before entering the water." In Yoo-shin's expression became strange as he lightly accepted the swimsuit that was offered to him. "What is this?" "It's a swimsuit." “This?” "For Master's legal exposure." In YOo-shin looked down at the triangular swimsuit, the size of his palm. No matter how I looked at it, it wasn't a swimsuit, it was more like a thong. I'd rather just wear shorts than something like this. “It’s a couple-look match with me, but you don’t want to wear it?” In Yoo-shin raised his head at the sullen voice and saw another triangle swimsuit he was holding. A furrow formed between his eyebrows. If Hyeon Gyu-ha were to wear that…… no, no matter how much I think about it, I don't think he'd be able to wear it. Hyeon Gyu-ha blushed shyly as if he had read the expression. "I haven't tried them on yet, but I don't think I'll be able to fit them all. Actually, the drawers sold in Korea don't fit, so I'm buying them overseas." "Then why do you insist on wearing it in a triangle shape?" “Couple look.” “Is there anything else?” “I don’t have any.” Looking at his chubby face, it was clear that there were other swimsuits. "8-se! Hold on!" “Squeak!” While 8-se bravely stretched out his tail and wrapped it around Hyeon Gyu-ha's wrist, In Yoo-shin quickly searched through his bag and found a rash guard. Fortunately, it was a style that could be worn over leggings and shorts. In Yoo-shin, holding a rash guard with a hand-embroidered hamster patch, quickly went inside to change clothes and came out. Seeing Hyeon Gyu-ha, also wearing a rash guard as a couple outfit, a question suddenly occurred to him. "Gyu-ha-ssi, last time you got wet at the research center, I bought you some panties. Didn't you wear them properly then?" "Of course the size didn't fit. Please explain in detail where and how it didn't fit……" "No! I think I know!" "But I still have those underwear. They were a gift from Yoo-shin-ssi." In Yoo-shin paused at those words. Up until now, the only gift I'd given Hyeon Gyu-ha was a pair of panties I'd bought at a convenience store. Hyeon Gyu-ha smiled brightly as if he knew In Yoo-shin's belated realization and his mind was flustered, and lightly pressed his lips to the top of his head. "You gave me something that no one else could give me." “Still……” "If it weren't for Yoo-shin-ssi, I would never have known that I could enjoy my days without having to scour dungeons for keys." Hyeon Gyu-ha then wore a mischievous smile. "Enough with my stuffy story, let's start with some fun stretching." After completing his warm-up, Hyeon Gyu-ha lifted In Yoo-shin high and plunged him into the sea. Screams of joy erupted. We played until the sun went down and even had a barbecue. In Yoo-shin, who had been struggling to push Hyeon Gyu-ha out of the bathroom, still felt the afterglow of the water play. I didn't know you could see the ocean like that. Wrapping my body around the force field and diving, I was able to gaze effortlessly beneath the surface without needing goggles or an oxygen tank. The limited air supply meant I had to surface within a few minutes, but there was still something to it. It was a pleasant day, just as Hyeon Gyu-ha had said. Just like every day I spent with him was always like that. In Yoo-shin stroked his right earlobe, examining his face in the bathroom mirror. He consulted a specialist, and the cuneiform inscription revealed that it was the Sumerian word for "Kur," meaning "underworld." I was hoping this artifact would be helpful, but I never found a use for it. “8-seya, why did you tell me to get this?" "Sqk?" 8-se, who was lathering up in the sink, tilted his head. In Yoo-shin simply chuckled. Since Hyeon Gyu-ha had safely found all the keys, that was probably the point. As he remembered that fact, a bitter taste rose from deep within his stomach, so In Yoo-shin quickly washed himself. Outside, Hyeon Gyu-ha had finished preparing for bed. He was surprised when he lay silently on the bed, patting the empty space with his hand as if to show off. "What aren’t you saying anything? I came here prepared to be kicked out." In Yoo-shin struggled to find a way to begin. Even though he'd finished his thoughts while washing, they wouldn't connect. He just gulped helplessly. In the end, In Yoo-shin rested his forehead on Hyeon Gyu-ha's shoulder as he lay on his side. “What’s going on?” Hyeon Gyu-ha, his playful side cleared, placed his arms under In Yoo-shin's neck and pulled him closer. The feeling of his slow breath gently ruffling In Yoo-shin's hair, the touch of his hands gently stroking his back, as if comforting him, were all gone. In Yoo-shin slowly turned his mind around. If you ask me if Hyeon Gyu-ha's heart is sincere, I can now answer without hesitation: yes, it is. Realization isn't just about the dramatic, mind-blowing moments. "That's exactly how I feel. It was just the same as how you saw me, Yoo-shin-ssi." As he once said, everything about him, every fragment of his daily life shared with me, was genuine. How could anyone deny that? A person who was not angry at himself for acting like a traitor, but rather desperately tried to hold on to me. A person who will definitely return to my side. So, what about me? What about me? In Yoo-shin asked himself. Cowardly and selfishly, he didn't want to let go of the comfort he felt in his arms. But compared to the weight of life he carried, his own existence felt so insignificant that he couldn't even hold onto him. So what can I do? In Yoo-shin moved his lips slightly, feeling depressed at his own pathetic state of being able to say such foolish things. "Gyu-ha-ssi, you want to sleep with me, right?" ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

Gong Tae-seong, who quickly noticed, came out to the balcony in silence, and Somnoros naturally followed behind. "You said that if you collected all the keys, you could open the door to ®AÇ. Can't two people go through that door?" 『You can’t go.』 Somnoros answered so firmly that any hopes he might have had were dashed. "It's not a naturally formed rift in the world or a breach skill, but rather a forced opening. That's why only one person can pass through. My true self is in the divine realm, so I can accompany the prince, but you, his lover can't." ".....I see." Somnoros slowly circled around the dead Inyushin as if comforting him. "®AC is on the verge of destruction, so even the prince wouldn't want to take his beloved. Who would want to bring his precious loved one to a world that's about to be destroyed?" “…….” In Yoo-shin didn't respond, just tapping the balcony floor with his toes. Only after a long pause did he open his mouth. "Are you sure you can find a way back here?" 『I don't know much about that. But don't be discouraged yet. Honestly, I don't know much about the laws of the world, because I sleep a lot. If the prince returns to ®AÇ, he'll find a way to communicate with the gods. They might know a way.』 Was that what Hyeon Gyu-ha meant when he said he'd find a way back from Iad? That would be nice. Min Anna, who had been spinning around excitedly in the sky, eventually collapsed from motion sickness and was carried back to her room by the sitter. "Uncle Tangerine... please come see Anna again…...." Hyeon Gyu-ha Gyu-ha Gyu→ Ah, it must be 'tangerine' then. I'm not sure why 'Gyu' turned into 'tangerine,' though. [tangerine (귤 - gyul)] Even after Min Anna disappeared with a pale face, Gong Tae-seong couldn't easily resume what he'd interrupted earlier. Uncharacteristically hesitant, Hyeon Gyu-ha nodded. "I'm not going right away, so get ready." "What?" "Something like Anna's blood sample. We need to know which god's divine power she's addicted to so we can bring her a cure or something." “…….” Gong Tae-seong remained silent for a moment, one hand covering his lower face. Just as he was about to utter a slow, "Thank you," Somnoros interrupted without noticing. 『I've been wondering this for a while now. Couldn't you have just asked the prince from the beginning?』 “I don’t want to talk about that right now.” Gong Tae-seong, who didn't want to upset Hyeon Gyu-ha by speaking his honest feelings, held back his words, but Hyeon Gyu-ha laughed instead. "Anna is my Guet-nyeo Noona's daughter, so I would have done it if she had asked me to, but that's not a priority for me." Gong Tae-seong's face paled slightly at the implication that he couldn't guarantee he'd bring medicine to treat Min Anna. However, he nodded gravely. “......I know. But for now, I have no choice but to believe it." "How did the guild leader plan to find the medicine?" 『Even if I can't reopen the door, I can at least hold it in place to prevent it from closing completely. I was planning to seek advice directly from the gods in the divine realm, procure the medicine, and then send the vial to this world. So……』 Somnoros glanced at Hyeon Gyu-ha. 『Prince, if you could spare just a little bit of your time, it would be fine.』 "It depends. I'll try to get Anna some medicine, but if it interferes with my work, that's the end of it." "Still, please." Gong Tae-seong, who had been mumbling like a sigh, added softly. ".....thanks." Instead of answering, Hyeon Gyu-ha just shrugged his shoulders. After a brief errand, he was on his way back from Gong Tae-seong's apartment. Before getting on his parked bike, In Yoo-shin looked up at him. “Gyu-ha-ssi.” "Unn?" "If you're separated from me, you know, Gyu-ha-ssi, that's just how it is. Is it really okay if you completely goes over to ®ÀÇ?" Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had maintained his usual composure to avoid agitating In Yoo-shin, wavered. He smiled faintly and gently pressed his forehead against In Yoo-shin's. Their skins touched as if they were about to stick together, and a gentle breath caressed their skin. A tingling sensation in his fingertips made In Yoo-shin curl his fingers. "I want to say it's okay, but that's such an obvious lie……" “……” "I guess I'll just have to endure it somehow. But if I feel separation anxiety, it means I'm still connected to Yoo-shin, so that's not a bad thing." He pretended to laugh and gently rubbed In Yoo-shin's firm lips with his thumb. "You promised me you'd find a way back. The constant, uneasy feeling of anxiety will keep nagging at me, so I might come back sooner than I thought." "......I wish I could go with you." "If we go there, we won't be able to eat as much chicken breast or Korean beef as Yoo-shin-ssi likes, right?" "I don't need to eat when I'm with Gyu-ha-ssi." "Is this the mouth that's saying things that make me want to devour my Master?" Hyeon Gyu-ha playfully whispered and kissed his lips like a bird pecking. "There may be a lot of things like artificial protein supplements." ".....Uh, that's a bit." "It's a shame, Master, that I didn't get the chance to bulk up. Instead, I'll give you that flabby belly you love, so you can look forward to it." I don't care if you gain belly fat, love handles, or get so chubby all over that you'd roll if someone poked you – whatever it is, I just want you to come back. "Rather than that, let's think about our summer vacation. Where do you want to go?" "I think it would be nice to have a quiet place where I can stay with Gyu-ha-ssi." "Well, I'm thinking of a beach house, but I'm not really into real estate, so I don't own one." Hyeon Gyu-ha hesitated for a moment before picking up his phone. He then called someone and said just one word. "Give me a villa with a private beach." The call didn't last long. Hyeon Gyu-ha hung up and smiled brightly. "I got a villa. It's in Ganghwa Island." “Who are you?” “It’s Gong Tae-seong.” I felt bad for him because it felt like I was ripping him off, but when I remembered that he had tried to kill Hyeon Gyu-ha, the feeling of guilt melted away like snow melting in the sunlight. In Yoo-shin decided to be a little more brazen. I didn't have much time left with Hyeon Gyu-ha, and I was going to stick close to him, regardless of whether it was a nuisance to others. As the bike started and pulled away, In Yoo-shin, in the back, held tightly onto Hyeon Gyu-ha's waist. [Current status: Affection. Murderous intent. Hesitation.] Even though he had achieved the goal he'd been pursuing his entire life, it wasn't joy that dominated his emotions. He felt like a bad person for feeling a perverse pleasure at his hesitation. In Yoo-shin simply tightened his grip on her arm. *** Each day passed quickly. The Hunter Affairs Department, which seemed to be a close friend, was once again stuck together, and Choi Jin-hyeok chuckled, saying it was actually better. In Yoo-shin worked out diligently under Hyeon Gyu-ha's training, and they even went hiking together. He eventually collapsed and had to be carried by Hyeon Gyu-ha. We finally had our movie date. I was so busy being wary of Hyeon Gyu-ha's hand creeping up my thigh that I don't quite remember what it was about. When Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed In Yoo-shin's wrist and placed it on his thigh, je nearly screamed in the movie theater. Late that night, In Yoo-shin groaned from the lingering sensation of his palm. ......Can someone be that shamelessly size? There was an incident where Manager Kim rejected the leave of absence request after seeing the reason given as 'assisting Master', but the leave of absence was processed without incident. And the first day of summer vacation came. Although they had practically robbed someone else's villa, this was their first trip with Hyeon Gyu-ha. In Yoo-shin decided to focus solely on the fact that it was their "first trip." He tried not to dwell on the thought that it might be both their first and last. The excitement that kept him awake the night before was undoubtedly the cause of his trouble falling asleep. Even though he thought he had everything packed, the morning of his departure felt chaotic and hectic. In Yoo-shin meticulously packed the last of the hamster food and snacks, which he had divided into small portions. It was around that time that the package arrived. "Gyu-ha-ssi, can you please accept the package?" "Should I tear it apart and separate it for recycling?" "I would appreciate it if you could do that." Hyeon Gyu-ha, still crouching beside 6-se, who was still wary of him, received the package. The rustling of the delivery slip and the sound of boxes being unpacked could be heard. "What was supposed to be delivered today? Oh! That thing!" It had been so long since I'd applied for the tool that I'd forgotten. It was the day the Bogyuha, or rather, the hamster Hyeon Gyu-ha, doll was supposed to be delivered. When In Yoo-shin turned around, he saw that Hyeon Gyu-ha had already brought not only Bo-gyu-ha, but also Gyu-gyu, and was staring down at me with a serious expression. He had even taken off the clothes the doll was clearly wearing. ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

In Yoo-shin was very embarrassed. "Uh, why did you skip all the intermediate steps and just do this……?" Hyeon Gyu-ha also couldn't hide his embarrassment. "I forgot to get praised for hunting down monsters last time, so I came prepared to get lots of praise from Yoo-shin-ssi in this dungeon!" "No, I won't praise you while hunting. If I do, it just leads to that outcome!" “Isn’t it time you got used to it?” "How do you get used to that kind of thing!" Meanwhile, crystals were slowly forming in the air before his eyes. The hidden boss Yonggungchasa Su-eon-baek appeared, using the crystals that formed while vibrating the air violently as their core. His appearance, with his pale complexion like a corpse and wearing a red official uniform, felt somehow eerie. With dark circles under his eyes and a haggard, tired face, he looked exactly like a company employee suffering from constant overtime work and overwork. Instead of raising his weapon, Su-eon-baek yawned and took out a scroll from his sleeve. It looked like the life and death scroll that the grim reapers carried around. “I am Su-eon-baek, the Dragon Palace Guardian of the King of Hell. Let me check first. Name: Hyeon Gyu-ha, age 28.......” "What?" "Ah, my mistake. My eyes have been a bit blurry lately." Su-eon-baek rubbed his eyes and took out his glasses. Then, he checked In Yoo-shin and let out a low exclamation. "Wow, in this world, you were originally destined to die at the age of eight, but the Lord Hyeon saved your life." When In Yoo-shin heard those words, his eyes widened, and Su-eon-baek grumbled with a tired look on his face. "Somehow, recently, people in this world have been living past their normal life spans or dying early due to accidents. It turns out that you are the culprit. Because of you, our envoys have more work to do." "Does that mean I'm a human who shouldn't have been born in the Iron Age?" "That's right. It's rare to have hybrids with other worlds, so it's an existence that can't be measured even by the Book of Life and Death." "Anyways, why did you come out?" The boss and hidden boss of the dungeon must be related to the background. That was the law of the world that made up the gate. It was a law that even gods could not easily break, so didn't Inanna have to wait 19 years for Hyeon Gyu-ha to enter the dungeon that she was connected to? "Originally, this place…… In the language of this world, it's called a dungeon and a boss, right? Anyway, the hidden boss of this dungeon was supposed to be the daughter of the Dragon King of the West Sea, the Dragon Lady of Jeomin, but well, there are circumstances from the higher-ups." Su-eon-baek seemed to be trying to gloss over it as if he was tired of explaining things at length. Then, when Hyeon Gyu-ha’s expression turned fierce, he continued speaking in a solemn voice as if he had never intended to be so vague. "Your maternal aunt, Stoya, is not a dead queen buried underground and a resident of the underworld? The underworld is similar to the afterlife, so there was some kind of agreement with our King Yeomra to hand over the key to you. I do not even know what the agreement was." Su-eon-baek sighed deeply with an even more tired look on his face. "Thanks to the Yongnyeo's willingness to accept, I was summoned here as a Yonggungchasa with a connection to the Yonggung. I'm already very busy......." "It looks like Dad's got a fire under his feet because he's kicking my butt and telling me to come running to him right now." “I don’t know anything about the situation in that neighborhood.” "How did you know I'd come in here?" "Stoya has consulted not only with King Yeomra but also with the various gods of the underworld. It was unfortunate that you entered this dungeon and Sojik, who had been waiting, was summoned. Anyway, if it is fate that we met like this, then it is fate. If you are curious, I can tell you the names of your parents." When he was talking behind my back, his gaze was directed at In Yoo-shin. In Yoo-shin shook his head without thinking. When I was young, I really wondered who my parents were, but not anymore. "My parents are the ones who raised me." "Huhu, that's right." Su-eon-baek, who was happily stroking his beard, glanced at Hyeon Gyu-ha with an expression that asked if he had anything more to say. There seemed to be nothing more to ask of the low-ranking official who only did what he was told. Hyeon Gyu-ha answered with a shrug. "Then I will take my leave now. I wish you good luck. Is this how people greet each other these days?" Su-eon-baek disappeared while making a heart with his hands. [The dungeon's hidden boss, 'Yonggungchasa Su-eon-baek', has acknowledged you.] Only a large rock crystal remained in the air. In Yoo-shin silently calculated in his mind. Originally, there were three keys that Hyeon Gyu-ha had, one from Atabeyra, one from Nzinga, one from Gong Tae-seong, and the one he saw in front of him. “……” He calculated it again and it was seven. That crystal stone is the last key. In Yoo-shin slightly lowered his head, afraid of what kind of expression he was making right now. Hyeon Gyu-ha casually took the crystal stone and threw it into the inventory. "That fish was useless in the end." “......I guess so.” In Yoo-shin rubbed his cheek with his palm. Isn't this the key that took 20 years to complete? I should congratulate him. “Chu……” But as soon as he raised his face, Hyeon Gyu-ha bent down and lightly kissed his right earlobe. The sound of him kissing his was unusually loud and flowed into his ear. "It's fortunate that I don't have to use Yoo-shin-ssi's artifact. If the grim reaper had appeared and I had seen a ghost, I would have been in trouble." Hyeon Gyu-ha’s voice, as he spoke, did not sound all that happy. Could it be because my bad selfishness was distorting it? In Yoo-shin took a deep breath and moved his lips. "That’s the last key? That's really good." “I was just wasting my entire life trying to get three, but after meeting Yoo-shin-ssi, I got the rest in a few months.” Hyeon Gyu-ha, with his back to the light, was leaning forward, his lips pressed against In Yoo-shin’s ear, so his face was not clearly visible. What kind of expression could he have on his face? Was it a relieved expression, since he finally got what he wanted? Or a happy expression? "I told you that I was lucky enough to get the key quickly when I was with you." “Yes……” The lips that had gently licked his earlobe moved slowly along his jawline. The slight warmth that touched his skin slowly spread, mixing with his breath. In Yoo-shin couldn’t move, fearing that the warmth would be lost if he even breathed, so he barely moved his hands to grab his jacket. Soon, warmth gently spread over his dry lips. The sensation of lightly rubbing against his lips was so uncomfortable that In Yoo-shin closed his eyes with difficulty. With their lips still pressed together, Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered softly. "I want to take back what I said, really. It was too fast." 14. Manager Kim just sighed deeply at the confident explanation that he had cleared the dungeon by 'accident'. Still, it was spilled milk, and judging from the footage, it was a dungeon that would be difficult to use as state property, so it ended well with Hyeon Gyu-ha paying the expected winning bid. The two then went to Gong Tae-seong's apartment. Somnoros was shocked when he heard that he had obtained the last key. 『I wanted to show my trustworthy side to your lover by telling her that the dungeon was open!』 “Why mine?” 『I have to look good in front of your lover!』 "......?" Somnoros fluttered around, even his fins trembling, and when Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had become frantic, glared at him, he quietly hid behind Gong Tae-seong. Gong Tae-seong coughed faintly. Just as he was about to open his mouth with a cautious expression, the door opened wide and a little girl rushed in. The person who looked like a babysitter also bowed to Gong Tae-seong. Although it was the first time they had met, In Yoo-shin recognized her at a glance. She was Min Anna, Gong Tae-seong's daughter. "Dad, I'm back! Huh? It's Uncle Tangerine!" Min Anna charged at Hyeon Gyu-ha with the strength of a bull. Of course, Hyeon Gyu-ha frowned and dodged, but she did not give in and rushed at him again, hanging on to his waist. "Uncle Tangerine! Me, me! Do that! That! Sky! Whoosh whoosh! Quickly, quickly!" "Annoying." "I won't let go until you do it!" Hyeon Gyu-ha covered his ears with both hands, but he couldn't overcome the stubbornness of a 5-year-old. He used psychokinesis to float her up in the air, spinning her around and flipping her over, causing chaos as it burst out in breathless laughter. 'I think it'll be really dizzy, but I guess it's okay. A 5-year-old's stamina is really amazing, huh? I was impressed, but at the same time, I felt very sorry. Such a lively and bright child had only a few more years to live. "Do you live with Anna?" "The child is going back and forth between us." He nodded and motioned for him to go out to the balcony. While Hyeon Gyu-ha was busy looking after the child, he had something to ask Somnoros. *** HM: I guess these days they defeat the boss monster without fighting ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!

[Master. This useless, bad pet rat has something to say.] Hyeon Gyu-ha was sitting right next to In Yoo-shin and In Yoo-shin, who was looking at his cell phone in turn, opened his mouth, wondering if he should also reply with a text message. "But why by text?" [My heart is pounding so hard I can't speak.] Even while he was writing, his fingers shook and he missed a couple of letters. It was a text message that was no different from usual, with no emoticons and even periods at the end. However, when he saw his face flushed with a bright red with his long eyelashes down, he felt like his own face was also blushing. He didn’t know why, but the emotions clashing so openly were quite hot. Hyeon Gyu-ha explained while tapping the screen of his phone. He learned that he had been in the same orphanage as In Yoo-shin, he met a teacher he had worked with in the past to confirm this, and he first experienced the erosion gate. A surprised expression appeared on In Yoo-shin's face. "I had no idea…… I don't remember anything about that time." [Of course. Who remembers what happened when you were 3 years old? But I should have known. At least I should have realized it when I heard that Yoo-shin-ssi had passed through the darkness at the Erosion Gate.] "Ah, now that you mention it......." Another lock blocking his memory was released. The words of the third Urshitoare, who I had met for the first time in 19 years. The identity of the sense of foreboding I had occasionally felt. In Yoo-shin rubbed his cheek as his heart began to pound slowly. For some reason, his face also felt hot. "It's really amazing. Gyu-ha-ssi saved me twice when I was a child, even though I don't even remember it." [We should leave out what happened when I was three. If it weren't for me, Yoo-shin-ssi wouldn't have needed to get caught up in it. "But you said I was the one who approached you first because I thought the pendant was pretty?" Hyeon Gyu-ha's thumb, which had been tapping on his cell phone, stopped, then quickly started moving. [you are so damn cute] In Yoo-shin, who was reading the messy text message that was typed as if he was drunk, asked for no reason. "More than Hunter Hyeon Gyu-ha-ssi?" Hyeon Gyu-ha's face moved up and down so fast that it was almost invisible. In Yoo-shin blushed and laughed without a trace. It was a pity that I had no memories of my childhood. Still, Hyeon Gyu-ha had that memory. Even though we had not been in the same orphanage for that long, it was nice to have something to talk about. [You don't suck your thumb while you sleep these days, right?] "Of course!" [Back then, you used to suck your thumb a lot, so it'd be covered in saliva. One time, you gave me a snack to eat, and it had so much of your spit on it.] In Yoo-shin felt very embarrassed after reading the text saying that he cried because he couldn't receive the snack. Did I really act like a child? No, I was a child, but……. [So next time I thought I should at least pretend to eat the snack covered in spit, but then the erosion gate opened.] "I missed the chance to feed Gyu-ha-ssi a snack with baby spit on it." [I'd gladly accept any of Yoo-shin-ssi's bodily fluids now, whatever they may be.] In Yoo-shin, who saw that dangerous content was being written on Hyeon Gyu-ha's cell phone, quickly covered the screen with his hand. While holding that hand, Hyeon Gyu-ha put his lips next to his ear. “Can I kiss you?” The voice asking softly had a really thin trembling to it. “This is a cafe……” "It's in a corner and no one can see it. Unn?" He glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention to them in the corner. The scroll that erased their presence was still taking effect. "But I don't know if you'll see it, so just stick your tongue out like this." As soon as he allowed it, his lips overlapped, his thumb and index finger barely wide enough to separate. The tongue that seemed to be dividing the gap between his teeth quickly slipped out. As he looked at the kiss that ended almost as soon as it touched, Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed his heart and fell on the table. "We're going slowly…… I feel like my heart is going to stop……" In Yoo-shin just smiled, feeling regretful that he couldn't remember him. *** That notable figure from Hunter Affairs Department, who'd cling to his partner and publicize his romance everywhere, completely disregarding the fact that this is a workplace, has suddenly become weird. Lee Hye-yeon tilted her face. At first, I thought they had fought because he sat apart from each other in the cafeteria. But as I continued to watch, it didn't seem like they had fought. If they had, they wouldn't have made eye contact and smiled bashfully while eating. She looked at Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was sitting at the corner of the table diagonally away from In Yoo-shin, and asked him a question. "Why are you and Gyu-ha suddenly awkward with each other?" "I think Nu-nim would think I'm being too harsh if you heard this........" "I've seen you guys act strangely for more than a day or two, so what's the big deal?" In Yoo-shin explained with an awkward smile. "Apparently, they need time to get used to it, because my affection level, which hit maximum just by me breathing, is now literally going through the roof." “Ugh.......” Lee Hye-yeon, who was a person of character, didn't say anything and just made a face as if she had asked for no reason, but Choi Jin-hyeok, who was listening from the side, put down his spoon with a look on his face as if he had lost his appetite. "This is really fucking ridiculous." "Hey, but that's too harsh." "Then, will the General Team Leader just stand by while our Hyung-nim makes such a scene?" "Ahem, wouldn't it be nice for them to feel like newlyweds once in a while?" "If that's the average for newlyweds, then I'll never get married." "What are you talking about when you don't even have a lover because you're taking care of your younger sibling?" While eating, In Yoo-shin decided to think positively rather than thinking that he was being treated unfairly, as he waved at Hyeon Gyu-ha, whose eyes met his. Isn’t this enough to gain recognition from Lee Hye-yeon, who is known for being kind and gentle in the hunter world? Even though they kept their distance as if they were in a long-distance relationship while dating in the office, there was a time when they had to stick together again. It was Hyeon Gyu-ha's business trip. The destination was the newly created Sustainability Gate on Mt. Bukhansan. If it had been the top of the mountain, In Yoo-shin would have wanted to run away, but fortunately it was the entrance to the hiking trail. "Thank you for your hard work." The official guarding the entrance scanned the hunter license as a courtesy. In Yoo-shin bowed and took his first step into the unfamiliar dungeon that no one had ever entered before, together with Hyeon Gyu-ha. [Time left until dungeon reset: 130 hours 07 minutes 49 seconds] As he stepped inside, the smell of the sea wafted in. "Wow, the sea is really clear." It was a pebble beach covered with small pebbles that resembled waves. The weather was also quite cool. Hyeon Gyu-ha’s lips were also loose. "If you don't have a place in mind for your summer vacation, would you like to go on a trip to the beach?" “I’d love to!” It was only after I answered that I realized that summer vacation was just around the corner. I had been so busy with various things that I hadn't even thought about it. "Where did you go last year?" "When I'm on vacation, I like lying around at home and doing nothing the most. What about you, Gyu-ha-ssi?" "I've never really had a vacation. The advantage of being a freelancer is that you can take a break whenever you want." He said that, but in reality, he would not have had time to take a vacation because he was busy going back and forth between gates to find the key. Thinking of him, he thought it would be better to find the key in this dungeon, but the secret whisper in his heart was directed elsewhere. “......I wonder if there's a key here?" "I called Gong Tae-seong to check before coming just in case, but he said it wasn't true." In Yoo-shin swallowed a bitter taste in his mouth that he couldn't tell if it was relief or regret. "It's not possible to gather all the keys without having experienced something with Master first." “……” "Aren't you going to ask what I'm going to do?" "I think it's better not to ask." "If you rush things like this, you might end up with a heart attack......." “I didn’t ask!” Unlike his babbling lips, Hyeon Gyu-ha took deep breaths, clearly showing his nervousness, and carefully hugged In Yoo-shin with one arm. It seemed like he hadn’t gotten used to the rising favorability yet. The shoreline at the entrance was narrow. The rest of the dungeon, excluding the entrance, was a vast sea stretching to the horizon. Hyeon Gyu-ha took detailed pictures of the surroundings with a drone. "I should write a report arguing that it would be better to auction off this dungeon rather than keeping it under state ownership." *** HM: They came to vacation on a dungeon okay~ ------ Credits: Translator: Hoshi Miya Editor/Proofreader: Hello, we are looking for Editors and Proofreaders for this series, please feel free to directly contact me if you would like to participate it this. If you wanna become a translator, editor or proofreader, please use the discord link given below and follow the instructions in the recruit channel. We made a discord server! please join us!