“Do you like him that much?”

Ryu Jeong-ah asked in a voice resembling a sigh. With a look like a parent watching a love-blinded child trying to push through an opposed marriage.

He hadn’t said anything about his relationship with Choi Gang-hu yet. Was it that obvious? While nodding slightly, his cheeks flushed for no reason.

“Does he like you too?”

After nodding again, his entire face felt like it was burning red. As he looked down and just chewed his lips, Ryu Jeong-ah gave a hollow laugh.

“My little brother has grown up. I thought you’d still be digging tunnels alone.”

“What tunnels?”

“Don’t I know you? You must have been so worried, getting scared in advance, and suffering silently with all your overflowing thoughts.”

“That’s not true.”

“What’s not true? Anyway, since it seems pointless to try to stop you… Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Ryu Seo-ha obediently straightened his posture. It seemed like she was finally getting to the main point. The reason she boldly brought up this topic, knowing that Choi Gang-hu’s subordinate was listening and it would surely be reported to him.

“First, preparing protection before the relationship is essential.”

It was an unexpected sharp curve. He unconsciously opened his mouth, and Ryu Jeong-ah lifted his chin with her fingertip, making a stern expression.

“Even if pregnancy isn’t an issue between men, basic hygiene and disease prevention…”

“Wait, wait a second.”

“Why? Right, you do know what to use? Something thin made of rubber…”

“Sis, why are you suddenly like this?”

As he stood up abruptly at the untimely sex education, Ryu Jeong-ah also jumped up and glanced at Park Jehyun without malice.

“My brother is feeling shy. See, it would have been nice if you had turned around discretely.”

He felt more embarrassed by her words criticizing an innocent person. Especially seeing Park Jehyun, usually so stoic, standing awkwardly and fidgeting.

“What’s really going on…”

“You’ve never received sex education before.”

“Why suddenly sex education?”

“It’s content that parents or schools should teach before you become an adult. It’s a big problem if you learn wrong in practice.”

It was an ideal statement, but he couldn’t look his sister straight in the eye as she talked about “practice.”

“Let’s learn one by one slowly. First, how to protest against sexual violence and dating violence.”

He couldn’t flatly refuse when she was being so enthusiastic.

“No, I don’t want to, why are you doing this, let me go, it hurts, stop it.”

“…”

“What are you doing? Repeat after me.”

Was it his imagination that she seemed excited? Apart from the embarrassment, he doubted if this kind of education was effective. It seemed like an outdated method. No matter how much you memorize saying NO, it’s useless when faced with a situation where you can’t even refuse.

“You don’t know how the guild master treats other people, do you?”

He knew better than anyone. It was the reason he kept trying to push him away, thinking he was two-faced no matter how kindly he acted.

“Who knows when he might show his scary true colors to you too if he looks away once. You need to prepare in advance…”

“I’m seeing him with that in mind.”

“What?”

“The possibility that someday I’ll become useless, that he’ll get tired of me and turn cold.”

Regardless of whether Park Jehyun was listening or not, he wanted to tell his sister the truth. He thought she would try to dissuade him, asking why he was volunteering to be a super underdog, but Ryu Jeong-ah let out a short sigh and nodded as if she had expected it.

“Haa, right. With your personality, you wouldn’t have said you liked someone without such resolve, would you?”

Then she smiled bitterly. As a comrade who had shared hardships in a harsh environment where one could never easily trust people or give their heart without hesitation.

“Do as your heart tells you. But.”

Her expression, which had been serious all along, quickly became playful again.

“When you have relations, ask him to give you the initiative. Where to do it, when to put it in…”

“Sis!”

He shouted in surprise at the sudden burst of red words without warning, but Ryu Jeong-ah didn’t stop. She just continued her argument, listing explicit words that would have been entirely bleeped out if it were on broadcast.

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

To make matters worse, Choi Gang-hu appeared.

“Are you not feeling well? Your face is red.”

He asked, cupping Ryu Seo-ha’s flushed cheeks after quickly finishing the interview and appearing. In the corner of his vision, he saw Ryu Jeong-ah grinning with her chin propped up like a flower base.

“…I’m fine.”

Conscious of the warmth of the hand checking for a fever, he subtly avoided the touch by shaking his head. In the subtle atmosphere, Choi Gang-hu looked at Park Jehyun as if demanding an explanation.

That loyal man slightly avoided his superior’s gaze. Choi Gang-hu raised his eyebrows briefly and looked at the grinning Ryu Jeong-ah. Ryu Seo-ha was suddenly afraid of what might come out of his sister’s mouth.

“I need to go to the headquarters.”

So he brought up an excuse to leave for now. He had to go to the guild headquarters anyway to redistribute the rewards. It was a timely excuse.

“I’ll take you.”

As always, Choi Gang-hu offered to accompany him. Despite his worries about whether his feelings had cooled, he felt relieved inside.

“No, I’ll go quickly by myself.”

But Ryu Seo-ha shook his head with a face as red as the baby bird. He was sure that if they moved together, there would be constant light skinship, and he wasn’t confident he could act nonchalant with a straight face.

Leaving behind the sound of his sister’s uncontrollable laughter, Ryu Seo-ha hurriedly left the house. Park Jehyun silently followed like a shadow. He suddenly realized how accustomed he had become to the surveillance.

After visiting the From Hell Guild’s administration team to register several items obtained as individual rewards, he notified them that he would use the priority guaranteed in the contract. Then he stopped by the production research lab.

“Seo-ha, you’re here? I heard you applied for exclusive rights to this main item.”

Behind Dr. Han Gangseok, who approached with quite an excited look, he saw the items registered in the guild’s computer network floating as holograms. Including a golden liquid in a small glass bottle.

“Isn’t that too hasty? It’s an item whose effects aren’t even known yet.”

Even as he said this, his expression showed interest in Ryu Seo-ha claiming ownership of an item he had never seen before.

“It’s S-class. And the world’s first item of its kind.”

“Just because it’s rare doesn’t mean it’s all good performance-wise, you know?”

“Still, it’s worth collecting, right?”

“I’m worried you might waste an exclusive selection right. It’s a right that could be worth hundreds of billions if used well. What if it turns out to be nothing special after appraisal?”

“Then I’ll consider it an expensive souvenir from the first conquest. When will the transfer of ownership be confirmed?”

“You should be able to receive it right away tomorrow morning.”

Status: Remaining lifespan 6 days 13 hours 55 minutes

There was enough time left. Yet his mind was in a hurry. He thought he should at least prepare to take the elixir in advance.

“It’s estimated to be a healing-type item, so I wonder if there’s any need for Seo-ha to covet it…”

Han Gangseok, who had been muttering information he had discovered as a researcher and search-type hunter, paused. It was because he saw Choi Gang-hu entering silently.

“Oh! What brings the guild master to this humble place!”

But soon he smartly saluted and subtly distanced himself from Ryu Seo-ha.

“I heard you said you’d use your priority right.”

Choi Gang-hu, who just nodded slightly in greeting, looked down at Ryu Seo-ha as if confirming the reported content. Ryu Seo-ha became anxious about whether he would ask for the reason like Han Gangseok.

He wanted to confess about the terminal illness after being cured. He still didn’t have the courage yet. He didn’t know what reaction he would get if he mentioned an unresolved fact.

“Yes… Oh, I should go to the reception room.”

“Now?”

“The PR team arranged a visit interview for me. I’ll see you later.”

This time too, he fled the scene hurriedly. He had decided to confess everything from the moment he acknowledged his feelings for him. But as the time to spill everything approached, he kept wanting to avoid it.

“Not much is known about this conquest. Like how you showed your skills at the IHL closing ceremony…”

His mind was full of thoughts about his past life memories, taking the elixir, and how to confess the truth. He couldn’t even clearly remember what answers he gave to the questions posed by the reporter he met in the reception room.

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

After dealing with several reporters in turn and walking absent-mindedly down the hallway, even those thoughts evaporated when he encountered Choi Gang-hu. All that remained was the thought that he needed to resolve the lifespan issue quickly.

“Let’s talk.”

It was a reflexive action to look for an escape route as Choi Gang-hu approached with his long legs.

“Ah, sorry, but I need to go to the Hunter Mall before the night shopping surcharge kicks in…”

As he backed away slowly, Choi Gang-hu, who had been reaching out his hand, frowned.

“It will only take a moment.”

“Let’s talk tomorrow.”

As he tried to turn towards the corridor corner, a large hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. Then he was pushed against the wall with a thud. A thick arm pinned next to his face, blocking the escape route.

“Why do you keep avoiding me?”

The lowered voice resembled the cool sensation of the wall against his back. It was a composition reminiscent of their second meeting when Choi Gang-hu had come to the bathhouse.

He was surprised and fascinated by his own state of mind, feeling sorry rather than scared even with a displeased Choi Gang-hu right in front of him.

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

Choi Gang-hu, growling like a beast, grasped Ryu Seo-ha’s slender chin. Then he made him lift his head. So that he couldn’t avoid his gaze.

 

Chapter 70

 

“Do you like him that much?”

 

Ryu Jeong-ah asked in a voice resembling a sigh. With a look like a parent watching a love-blinded child trying to push through an opposed marriage.

 

He hadn’t said anything about his relationship with Choi Gang-hu yet. Was it that obvious? While nodding slightly, his cheeks flushed for no reason.

 

“Does he like you too?”

 

After nodding again, his entire face felt like it was burning red. As he looked down and just chewed his lips, Ryu Jeong-ah gave a hollow laugh.

 

“My little brother has grown up. I thought you’d still be digging tunnels alone.”

 

“What tunnels?”

 

“Don’t I know you? You must have been so worried, getting scared in advance, and suffering silently with all your overflowing thoughts.”

 

“That’s not true.”

 

“What’s not true? Anyway, since it seems pointless to try to stop you… Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha obediently straightened his posture. It seemed like she was finally getting to the main point. The reason she boldly brought up this topic, knowing that Choi Gang-hu’s subordinate was listening and it would surely be reported to him.

 

“First, preparing protection before the relationship is essential.”

 

It was an unexpected sharp curve. He unconsciously opened his mouth, and Ryu Jeong-ah lifted his chin with her fingertip, making a stern expression.

 

“Even if pregnancy isn’t an issue between men, basic hygiene and disease prevention…”

 

“Wait, wait a second.”

 

“Why? Right, you do know what to use? Something thin made of rubber…”

 

“Sis, why are you suddenly like this?”

 

As he stood up abruptly at the untimely sex education, Ryu Jeong-ah also jumped up and glanced at Park Jehyun without malice.

 

“My brother is feeling shy. See, it would have been nice if you had turned around discretely.”

 

He felt more embarrassed by her words criticizing an innocent person. Especially seeing Park Jehyun, usually so stoic, standing awkwardly and fidgeting.

 

“What’s really going on…”

 

“You’ve never received sex education before.”

 

“Why suddenly sex education?”

 

“It’s content that parents or schools should teach before you become an adult. It’s a big problem if you learn wrong in practice.”

 

It was an ideal statement, but he couldn’t look his sister straight in the eye as she talked about “practice.”

 

“Let’s learn one by one slowly. First, how to protest against sexual violence and dating violence.”

 

He couldn’t flatly refuse when she was being so enthusiastic.

 

“No, I don’t want to, why are you doing this, let me go, it hurts, stop it.”

 

“…”

 

“What are you doing? Repeat after me.”

 

Was it his imagination that she seemed excited? Apart from the embarrassment, he doubted if this kind of education was effective. It seemed like an outdated method. No matter how much you memorize saying NO, it’s useless when faced with a situation where you can’t even refuse.

 

“You don’t know how the guild master treats other people, do you?”

 

He knew better than anyone. It was the reason he kept trying to push him away, thinking he was two-faced no matter how kindly he acted.

 

“Who knows when he might show his scary true colors to you too if he looks away once. You need to prepare in advance…”

 

“I’m seeing him with that in mind.”

 

“What?”

 

“The possibility that someday I’ll become useless, that he’ll get tired of me and turn cold.”

 

Regardless of whether Park Jehyun was listening or not, he wanted to tell his sister the truth. He thought she would try to dissuade him, asking why he was volunteering to be a super underdog, but Ryu Jeong-ah let out a short sigh and nodded as if she had expected it.

 

“Haa, right. With your personality, you wouldn’t have said you liked someone without such resolve, would you?”

 

Then she smiled bitterly. As a comrade who had shared hardships in a harsh environment where one could never easily trust people or give their heart without hesitation.

 

“Do as your heart tells you. But.”

 

Her expression, which had been serious all along, quickly became playful again.

 

“When you have relations, ask him to give you the initiative. Where to do it, when to put it in…”

 

“Sis!”

 

He shouted in surprise at the sudden burst of red words without warning, but Ryu Jeong-ah didn’t stop. She just continued her argument, listing explicit words that would have been entirely bleeped out if it were on broadcast.

 

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

 

To make matters worse, Choi Gang-hu appeared.

 

“Are you not feeling well? Your face is red.”

 

He asked, cupping Ryu Seo-ha’s flushed cheeks after quickly finishing the interview and appearing. In the corner of his vision, he saw Ryu Jeong-ah grinning with her chin propped up like a flower base.

 

“…I’m fine.”

 

Conscious of the warmth of the hand checking for a fever, he subtly avoided the touch by shaking his head. In the subtle atmosphere, Choi Gang-hu looked at Park Jehyun as if demanding an explanation.

 

That loyal man slightly avoided his superior’s gaze. Choi Gang-hu raised his eyebrows briefly and looked at the grinning Ryu Jeong-ah. Ryu Seo-ha was suddenly afraid of what might come out of his sister’s mouth.

 

“I need to go to the headquarters.”

 

So he brought up an excuse to leave for now. He had to go to the guild headquarters anyway to redistribute the rewards. It was a timely excuse.

 

“I’ll take you.”

 

As always, Choi Gang-hu offered to accompany him. Despite his worries about whether his feelings had cooled, he felt relieved inside.

 

“No, I’ll go quickly by myself.”

 

But Ryu Seo-ha shook his head with a face as red as the baby bird. He was sure that if they moved together, there would be constant light skinship, and he wasn’t confident he could act nonchalant with a straight face.

 

Leaving behind the sound of his sister’s uncontrollable laughter, Ryu Seo-ha hurriedly left the house. Park Jehyun silently followed like a shadow. He suddenly realized how accustomed he had become to the surveillance.

 

After visiting the From Hell Guild’s administration team to register several items obtained as individual rewards, he notified them that he would use the priority guaranteed in the contract. Then he stopped by the production research lab.

 

“Seo-ha, you’re here? I heard you applied for exclusive rights to this main item.”

 

Behind Dr. Han Gangseok, who approached with quite an excited look, he saw the items registered in the guild’s computer network floating as holograms. Including a golden liquid in a small glass bottle.

 

“Isn’t that too hasty? It’s an item whose effects aren’t even known yet.”

 

Even as he said this, his expression showed interest in Ryu Seo-ha claiming ownership of an item he had never seen before.

 

“It’s S-class. And the world’s first item of its kind.”

 

“Just because it’s rare doesn’t mean it’s all good performance-wise, you know?”

 

“Still, it’s worth collecting, right?”

 

“I’m worried you might waste an exclusive selection right. It’s a right that could be worth hundreds of billions if used well. What if it turns out to be nothing special after appraisal?”

 

“Then I’ll consider it an expensive souvenir from the first conquest. When will the transfer of ownership be confirmed?”

 

“You should be able to receive it right away tomorrow morning.”

 

Status: Remaining lifespan 6 days 13 hours 55 minutes

 

There was enough time left. Yet his mind was in a hurry. He thought he should at least prepare to take the elixir in advance.

 

“It’s estimated to be a healing-type item, so I wonder if there’s any need for Seo-ha to covet it…”

 

Han Gangseok, who had been muttering information he had discovered as a researcher and search-type hunter, paused. It was because he saw Choi Gang-hu entering silently.

 

“Oh! What brings the guild master to this humble place!”

 

But soon he smartly saluted and subtly distanced himself from Ryu Seo-ha.

 

“I heard you said you’d use your priority right.”

 

Choi Gang-hu, who just nodded slightly in greeting, looked down at Ryu Seo-ha as if confirming the reported content. Ryu Seo-ha became anxious about whether he would ask for the reason like Han Gangseok.

 

He wanted to confess about the terminal illness after being cured. He still didn’t have the courage yet. He didn’t know what reaction he would get if he mentioned an unresolved fact.

 

“Yes… Oh, I should go to the reception room.”

 

“Now?”

 

“The PR team arranged a visit interview for me. I’ll see you later.”

 

This time too, he fled the scene hurriedly. He had decided to confess everything from the moment he acknowledged his feelings for him. But as the time to spill everything approached, he kept wanting to avoid it.

 

“Not much is known about this conquest. Like how you showed your skills at the IHL closing ceremony…”

 

His mind was full of thoughts about his past life memories, taking the elixir, and how to confess the truth. He couldn’t even clearly remember what answers he gave to the questions posed by the reporter he met in the reception room.

 

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

 

After dealing with several reporters in turn and walking absent-mindedly down the hallway, even those thoughts evaporated when he encountered Choi Gang-hu. All that remained was the thought that he needed to resolve the lifespan issue quickly.

 

“Let’s talk.”

 

It was a reflexive action to look for an escape route as Choi Gang-hu approached with his long legs.

 

“Ah, sorry, but I need to go to the Hunter Mall before the night shopping surcharge kicks in…”

 

As he backed away slowly, Choi Gang-hu, who had been reaching out his hand, frowned.

 

“It will only take a moment.”

 

“Let’s talk tomorrow.”

 

As he tried to turn towards the corridor corner, a large hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. Then he was pushed against the wall with a thud. A thick arm pinned next to his face, blocking the escape route.

 

“Why do you keep avoiding me?”

 

The lowered voice resembled the cool sensation of the wall against his back. It was a composition reminiscent of their second meeting when Choi Gang-hu had come to the bathhouse.

 

He was surprised and fascinated by his own state of mind, feeling sorry rather than scared even with a displeased Choi Gang-hu right in front of him.

 

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

 

Choi Gang-hu, growling like a beast, grasped Ryu Seo-ha’s slender chin. Then he made him lift his head. So that he couldn’t avoid his gaze.