Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Chapter 33: Small World (2)
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“As you can see. How’ve you been, hyung? I heard you switched parties?”
My unexpectedly friendly attitude brightened An Ki-jun’s face.
“Ah, this is your first time seeing them in person, right? Wanna say hi?”
The fact that he was trying to introduce me to his party members suggested he figured I’d at least go that far.
And honestly, that much was fine with me, so I followed along without protest.
After exchanging greetings with the unfamiliar faces, I made sure to toss in a casual line to An Ki-jun, acting like we were on good terms.
“Take good care of hyung, yeah?”
Of course, it wasn’t out of any real concern for him.
‘Just paying what’s owed.’
Whenever I’d messaged him asking for Earth stuff, An Ki-jun had always delivered without a single complaint.
He had to know I was keeping tabs on him, yet he’d never shown a hint of discomfort.
He’d proven time and again that he had no intention of slipping my control, keeping his head down.
As proof, even though I knew where he lived, he hadn’t tried any funny business like moving out.
‘He must’ve figured staying tangled up with me like this is more beneficial.’
At the base level, he’d probably calculated it would pull me into his network.
‘As long as he stays quietly under my thumb, this much is whatever.’
It was a cheap price to pay for tighter control over a loose end who could bolt to Jong-hoon.
That said, I had no plans to get overly chummy.
‘Wouldn’t want him getting delusions and trying to worm into my party.’
I kept things at an appropriate distance with An Ki-jun, then headed back to my own group.
Kim Yul, who’d been staring blankly in our direction, was the first to speak up.
“...Were you close with the yokai hyung?”
“We message back and forth sometimes. I ask him for Earth stuff when I need it.”
“...Even with me and Uncle Tae-ho around, you go to the yokai guy? Why?”
“He’s just more convenient.”
I didn’t feel like spelling out that I was monitoring and managing An Ki-jun.
“...I had no idea you were buddies with him.”
“No reason I had to tell you about that.”
I brushed the conversation off vaguely.
Right on cue, a flash of light erupted from the spot where the outpost’s teleportation circle was.
Ahel emerged, craning his neck as if searching for us.
‘Perfect timing.’
No need to wait any longer—I planned to head straight to the contamination zone.
I raised my hand toward Ahel.
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh suddenly cut through the air.
I glanced toward the sound. Kim Yul wore a defeated expression.
He ducked his head the moment my eyes met his, but it was enough to catch his look.
‘What’s his deal all of a sudden?’
Before I could dwell on it, Kim Yul—who’d been staring at the ground—spun around and muttered.
“I’m gonna sit this one out today.”
“Huh?”
I scowled at his abrupt bailout.
Today was the day we’d aimed to clear a 4-star mission in record time.
If the schedule fell through, we’d miss out on anywhere from hundreds of thousands to nearly a million mana absorption.
‘This guy knows that full well, and he’s tanking a group hunt we all synced up for?’
Especially one where everyone had cleared their calendars?
His defection was a wildcard I hadn’t accounted for.
I strode after the guy retreating fast to grab him.
But I didn’t catch Kim Yul.
“Quit followin’ and yappin’ at him. Just let him go today.”
Yang Tae-ho blocked my path, trying to intervene.
“I was gonna stay outta this, but it’s too frustratin’. Time to cut it out, yeah?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean? I shot Yang Tae-ho a look.
“What’re you trying to say?”
He gave me a strange look in return.
“You really don’t know, or what?”
Know what? I didn’t voice it, but he seemed to get the point anyway.
“Heh, smartass.”
Yang Tae-ho clucked his tongue, muttering as he scratched his buzzed head and glanced back.
Just then, Kim Yul ran into Ahel, who was heading our way.
“Kim Yul?”
Ahel greeted him, but Kim Yul didn’t stop—instead, he blew past quickly.
He reached the teleportation circle and vanished from the outpost.
Only then did Yang Tae-ho speak up again.
“Ain’t it obvious? He’s bustin’ his ass tryin’ to impress ya, and you’re treatin’ him like dirt.”
No such thought had ever crossed my mind, not once.
‘Impress me?’
As I stared up at him silently, Yang Tae-ho pointed at me, then at Ahel approaching.
“Kid’s already shaky ’bout his spot in the group, and now new party members keep showin’ up. Gotta be eatin’ at him.”
“......”
“Ya go blabbin’ ’bout bein’ chummy with that other guy this and that, and it’s shreddin’ what’s left of his nerves.”
This time, he jerked his chin toward An Ki-jun’s direction.
“While we’re at it—ya always pickin’ on Yul more than the rest. What’s that about?”
Yang Tae-ho kept going, like he was unloading everything at once.
“With that stubborn streak of his, he ain’t changin’ his tune. Takin’ him on as a party member means you’re in it for the long haul, right?”
“......”
“So quit judgin’ him like he’s on trial and treat him nicer, yeah?”
Yang Tae-ho’s voice rose with emotion.
“What’s so hard ’bout actin’ all high and mighty, starin’ him down like ‘Let’s see how good you really are’? Quit glarin’ already!”
I stayed quiet, just listening, so he let out a heavy sigh.
Then, in a calmer tone:
“He’s had his rough patches too, y’know.”
Seventeen years old. I didn’t have to think hard to remember my own days back then.
The world of friends at school felt bigger than family at home, and proving my place in that little bubble was everything.
“Kid’s already strugglin’ with school and all that crap. Takin’ turns watchin’ out for him wouldn’t hurt. Even the best can’t make it solo—we gotta look out for each other. We’re the grown-ups here, way older than him. Can’t we manage that much?”
I had only one response to give.
“What’s with the mood? Why’d Kim Yul just bail? No purification work today?”
Swallowing a shallow sigh, I turned to Ahel, who’d just arrived.
* * *
Kim Yul returned to Havon from the outpost via teleportation circle and portal at Bilea Castle.
He headed straight for the temple entrance.
But as he reached the World Tree statue guarding the gate, his feet stopped against his will.
He’d tried holding out with his last scraps of pride, but in the end, he turned to look back.
Nothing but unfamiliar players he’d never met.
No sign of K or Yang Tae-ho.
‘Yeah, no way they’d follow.’
He’d known it already—no room for disappointment.
They’d probably reworked the hunt plan accounting for his absence.
That was how the guy operated, always with four or five contingencies.
The thought dried his mouth out.
“Argh...”
Seeing K suddenly buddy up with An Ki-jun had sparked a flash of anger, making him screw up.
He knew it was pathetic, getting jealous over something like that.
‘But still, that’s going too far.’
He’d been the one adjusting to everything by K’s side, yet An Ki-jun was the one getting closer?
“Ugh!”
Kim Yul yanked at his newly grown-out hair and stomped the ground.
He’d acted on impulse, but now cleanup seemed impossible.
He groaned like a madman in front of the World Tree statue for ages.
Once his agitation settled a bit, he sighed and looked up.
Locals adapted to outsiders and various players hurried along their paths.
Kim Yul stood in the same space.
‘Where do I even go...?’
Unlike them, he had nowhere.
Back to Earth? The military brass glued to the NIS made it awkward.
They always grilled him about K whenever they crossed paths.
A motel room felt too final, like no turning back.
That could mean real expulsion from the party.
‘Head to the dorm first.’
He left the temple for his lodging.
Going back on his own felt embarrassing, but no one would show today anyway.
‘Wrapping up 4-star without me’ll take extra time.’
He could cool off during that, then act like nothing happened...
‘Yeah, like that guy’d let it slide quietly.’
Imagining K’s reaction post-hunt drew another sigh.
“Argh, this wasn’t the plan...”
Frustrated, he paused at a street stall, ruffling his hair.
‘He hates when plans go off the rails.’
From watching him, K was a hardcore perfectionist.
He despised variables that derailed schedules.
Sure, he’d hit goals anyway.
‘Only ’cause he’s got counters for everything.’
His stance on surprises was crystal clear: no thanks.
Yet here he was, tanking a hunt scheduled since last week.
Would K take him back?
‘Should I grovel now?’
Nah, it wasn’t that bad, right?
He wavered in the middle of the street—toward the temple once, toward the dorm next.
A surge of anger made him yell out.
“Argh! Why act all chummy with Ki-jun hyung right there?!”
Moments later, he grumbled, scrubbing his dry face.
‘Just hole up at the dorm.’
No way he was begging.
‘I’ve got pride too, y’know?’
If they kicked him out over this...
‘Crash at the Lobole orphanage for round two.’
K had a soft spot for kids, so playing with the orphans should work.
‘He carves out personal time to go there regularly, so meeting up ain’t hard.’
Surely that’d earn one more shot?
Decision made, Kim Yul trudged toward the dorm.
Step by heavy step.
Doubt crept in—why was he even doing this?
It started as simple curiosity.
Seeing K’s line in the sand made him wonder what it felt like inside, what perks came with it.
So he’d tried earning K’s approval, got a bit serious, worked harder.
But crossing that weird line K drew? Tough.
‘Maybe I was blacklisted from the start...’
Those cold eyes, like he’d ditch without hesitation.
Scoring every move, deciding keep or cut.
Facing that constantly planted the seed: I’ll never make it in.
Seeing K cozy with An Ki-jun flipped the switch.
Kim Yul berated himself for the slip-up.
‘You knew his temperament.’
The deep distrust was obvious from day one.
Building trust took forever—he knew.
But constant judgment from outside the line hit harder than expected.
Back at the dorm, he slammed the front door and stomped upstairs.
Thud thud thud—his rough steps fueled his rage.
“Dictator bastard.”
Once out, the words snowballed.
“Always cool as ice amid corpse piles—no shock, no nothing. Psychopath machine...”
Do this, do that, endless training nag.
“If that was it, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.”
Push back on brutal schedules or workloads? He’d hit back with that awful tone every time.
- Can’t handle this? Why not?
- Less talking excuses, just do it. Make it happen.
Recalling it spiked his blood pressure.
‘I’m too young for BP worries!’
He’d toughened up under K’s Spartan ways—no complaints on hard marches anymore!
Yet K treated him like an outsider still.
Grinding his teeth, Kim Yul stomped harder.
‘Quit stringing me along if you’re gonna be like this.’
Lately, Dictator K had adjusted schedules for party stamina.
He’d dared hope he’d crossed the line.
- No reason I had to tell you about that.
Today’s gut punch said otherwise.
Lost in turmoil, Kim Yul vented every curse at K.
No way he’d hear, so the profanity escalated, got rawer.
Bursting into his room, door flying open—he froze mid-rant.
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m the dictator.”
K sat there, having beaten him back with Ahel’s magic.