NoveLight ™
The plan Choi Kang-hu and Ryu Seo-ha developed based on the "Future Events Log" was simple.
First, they would gather all the conditions necessary to win, just as in the original timeline, and then cross into the higher dimension. Second, they would [Devour] the core of the higher being, allowing Choi Kang-hu’s abilities to experience explosive growth, as foretold in the original. Lastly, in the process of completing Choi Kang-hu’s revenge, they would also find a way for Ryu Seo-ha to survive.
The prerequisite for all of this was to summon the black hole, the passage to the higher dimension. The opportunity would come either by killing a Servant or when the cult offered sacrifices to tear a rift in the dimension. To trigger that situation, Ryu Seo-ha proposed a bait strategy, similar to a solution they had used in the past to rescue those who had gone missing.
It was a clear offer to use himself as bait, even if it meant being abducted on purpose. Naturally, Choi Kang-hu wasn’t having any of it. Even with all kinds of defensive measures in place, he couldn’t allow Ryu Seo-ha to be handed over for even a moment, adopting a frighteningly firm stance. In the end, Ryu Seo-ha came up with another plan to lure the cult’s Servants.
“So, you want me to watch while the two of you eat the items...?”
Dr. Han Gang-seok alternated glances between Kwon Se-jeong, Ryu Seo-ha, who each held an enhanced ginseng in their hands, and Choi Kang-hu, who had given the strange command. He cautiously repeated the instruction, still baffled, though less so than when he had been asked to analyze a kissing scene earlier.
“We're trying to use the changes after consuming the items as clues for further research. Can you help verify the hypothesis?” Ryu Seo-ha asked calmly.
With a subtle frown, Han Gang-seok looked down at the enhanced ginseng again. The plant-based monster, which increased random stats by about 10 points temporarily, was resting inside a box. It was incredibly rare and not something one could easily get their hands on, even with money.
“You're going to use such a precious item just for analysis? What exactly are you trying to achieve?”
“The discovery of a formula that can temporarily improve the quality of magic,” answered Choi Kang-hu, who had been staring quietly at the box in Ryu Seo-ha’s hands.
“...Are you trying to discover a new potion that could raise a Hunter’s rank?”
“Exactly. By using the structure of magic.”
Han Gang-seok was visibly shocked by the casual response, and Choi Kang-hu, looking irritated, reached out and gently grasped the box containing the enhanced ginseng. He then glanced at Ryu Seo-ha as if asking permission to take it, tapping the side of the box with his fingers.
“How is something like that even possible...?”
“If it's impossible, we’ll make it possible.”
“What?”
“Because it needs to be done.”
Choi Kang-hu’s reply was firm, carrying the tone of someone who wouldn’t waste time on doubts about feasibility. He tapped the surface of the box again with his finger while holding it together with Ryu Seo-ha.
“You're joining the second wave of the overseas dispatch mission, but now you're doing this... Is it that urgent?”
Han Gang-seok, sensing the urgency, worried that he might have to work overtime again. Meanwhile, Ryu Seo-ha gave a faint smile, loosening his grip on the box, which caused the tension on Choi Kang-hu’s face to ease.
“If you finish the research while we're at the disaster site, you can expect an incentive.”
“Oh! When will you be back?”
Han Gang-seok’s face brightened at his boss’s generous promise as he accepted the box.
“If it takes long, a full day; if it’s short, half a day.”
“I see... Well, I think that’s beyond my capabilities...” Han Gang-seok muttered in frustration, shaking his head.
“If you discover the formula within a day, I’ll increase your profit share by 30% for this result alone.”
Han Gang-seok, who had been about to give up, now widened his eyes. In the research lab, the royalties from published papers are shared between the guild and its members. Researchers enjoy access to expensive equipment and materials that freelancers cannot easily get, in exchange for a share of their work's profits.
Han Gang-seok, who had been scouted by the From Hell Guild, had a contract where the profit was split 60-40 in his favor, which was already a better deal than most. Adding 30% would push it to a staggering 90-10 split. It was an incredible offer. Moreover, if the research succeeded, it would lead to massive financial gains.
“I’ll work my bones off to analyze this!”
His sudden burst of enthusiasm was understandable. The equipment for observation was set up in no time.
“But why did you choose me for this?” Kwon Se-jeong, who had quietly been listening to the conversation while holding the box, finally expressed her curiosity. It was a fair question. They could have brought in a guild hunter for the job, yet they had specifically requested her participation from the Hunter’s Association, bypassing complicated procedures.
“To get meaningful results.”
Choi Kang-hu, who had been helping Ryu Seo-ha put on a pair of ceremonial gloves, answered nonchalantly. His reasoning came from the “Future Events Log.”
According to the original timeline, C-rank Hunter Kwon Se-jeong would become an A-rank Hunter after a battle near the DMZ. She had consumed an enhanced ginseng in a crisis, but its effects manifested in an unexpected way.
It was the only recorded case in history of a Hunter’s rank being officially revised. Later, Han Gang-seok, upon discovering that Kwon Se-jeong was a mutant, would develop a way to temporarily apply this trait to non-mutant Hunters.
“Alright, both of you can go ahead and eat the items. Everything’s ready,” the genius researcher, who once claimed that observing the moment of consumption would have yielded faster results, signaled with a gleam in his eyes.
Kwon Se-jeong, eager to earn her bonus, grabbed the enhanced ginseng with her bare hands and began chewing on it without hesitation. The plant-based monster began twisting its roots as she bit into it.
Ryu Seo-ha, trying to convince himself it was like eating live shrimp or octopus, followed suit, bringing the enhanced ginseng to his mouth. He was determined to fulfill his role as the control group for the experiment.
“Oh?”
Han Gang-seok’s expression shifted to surprise as his [Analyst’s Eye] detected a different response than expected. Adjusting his glasses, he placed a hand on each of the participants’ shoulders.
[You are exposed to the effects of the ‘Enhanced Ginseng (S-rank)’ item.]
[Your Sense stat temporarily increases by 12 for 30 minutes.]
“What’s this? Your internal reactions are completely different. Which stat increased?”
“My Sense stat.”
“I didn’t see any stat increases, but something feels... different.”
While Ryu Seo-ha gave a clear answer, Kwon Se-jeong seemed confused, trailing off as she examined her hands.
“Focus on observing Hunter Kwon Se-jeong closely,” Choi Kang-hu instructed, as previously planned. Before Han Gang-seok could ask more questions, Choi Kang-hu activated a spatial skill, creating a transparent barrier that isolated himself and Ryu Seo-ha from the outside world.
“Choi Kang-hu?” Ryu Seo-ha asked, puzzled by the unexpected action that wasn’t part of their plan.
“You already know that I possess a skill that protects my body’s moisture, even in lava, right?”
Choi Kang-hu was referring to the [Moisture] skill he had obtained in the volcanic region of the Abyss. But why bring that up now?
Before Ryu Seo-ha could voice his confusion, Choi Kang-hu suddenly leaned in, pressing their lips together in a rushed kiss.
Ryu Seo-ha reflexively tried to push him away, but Choi Kang-hu held his slender arms firmly, inserting his tongue through the gap of Ryu Seo-ha’s slightly parted lips, an act driven by long-suppressed desire. His large hand gripped the back of Ryu Seo-ha’s head, preventing him from turning away.
“Mm...!”
Startled by the sudden kiss, Ryu Seo-ha struggled, all the while trying to prevent himself from swallowing his lover’s saliva. Drool—whose it was, he couldn’t even tell—trickled down his chin. Like a snake that hadn’t eaten for months, Choi Kang-hu’s tongue moved desperately, teasing Ryu Seo-ha’s heightened senses.
[Status: Remaining lifespan 86 days, 19 hours, 57 minutes.]
Ryu Seo-ha tried to shake off the overwhelming sensation by focusing on his status window. His eyes widened when he saw the numbers hadn’t budged. At the same time, an unfamiliar and unique sensation touched the sensitive inside of his mouth.
Ryu Seo-ha, who had stopped resisting, concentrated on what was happening in his mouth. Choi Kang-hu’s familiar mana was moving in a strange pattern, as if covering his tongue with an incredibly thin layer. It was as though an invisible membrane was separating their bodily fluids, making them slip and slide past each other without mixing.
Could it be that Choi Kang-hu was using the [Moisture] skill, which provided resistance to fire, to artificially prevent any loss of bodily fluids? Before Ryu Seo-ha could marvel at the ingenious use of the skill, his mind went blank. Choi Kang-hu’s kissing had grown far more skilled than it had been before, effortlessly breaking his train of thought and stealing away his focus.
The desperate kiss continued for the full 30 minutes, only ending when the time had been completely exhausted. The sound of their ragged breathing echoed in the enclosed space, filling the air with heat. As Choi Kang-hu gently wiped the drool from Ryu Seo-ha’s wet chin, Ryu Seo-ha felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Had Choi Kang-hu been searching all this time for a way to kiss him without causing him harm?
“...”
Ryu Seo-ha, who had been standing dazed for a while, suddenly stepped forward and closed the distance between them. This time, it was he who initiated the kiss.