Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Ruined World (1)
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Honestly speaking, no matter how talented and sensible he was, Geon-ju's current skill level was generously rated at A- at best. The kind of ability where he'd barely solo a B-rank gate boss or fail outright. By all rights, he shouldn't even be taken anywhere near an A-rank gate, let alone an S-rank.
If it were any other time, Sa-yoon would have given up. But Geon-ju grew fast. And the person going with him as both mentor and protector was none other than Sa-yoon himself.
It'd be grueling enough to feel like death, but he wouldn't actually die. Sa-yoon was confident of that much.
He'd protected Geon-ju from that Unknown, after all. No way he'd fail to keep him safe in a field he'd been grinding in steadily for a year now—one that felt like his own home.
If his life ever hung in the balance, Sa-yoon would use that once-every-three-months perk if he had to, anything to keep him alive.
Geon-ju was freshly awakened anyway, short on gate info. The field wasn't even its official name, so Sa-yoon could just gloss over it without revealing it was S-rank and drag him along. Done.
What good would it do if Geon-ju figured out it was S-rank too late and freaked out? Once you entered a gate, there was no leaving without a return stone until it was cleared. Good or bad, like it or not, he'd be stuck living that happy field life with Sa-yoon.
Sa-yoon planned out this delightful field adventure with his pretty boy, completely ignoring Geon-ju's own wishes, then paused for a long beat.
To pull off the plan smoothly, he first had to navigate the current situation.
Geon-ju started looking suspicious at the delayed response. Sa-yoon tossed out a suitable lie.
"It's A-rank. But..."
"A-rank?"
A displeased voice cut off the follow-up explanation. Sa-yoon immediately tightened the arm he'd draped around Geon-ju's neck.
"Guhk."
A small groan escaped his lips.
Suddenly pinned by one arm, Geon-ju struggled to escape the intensifying pressure, but Sa-yoon just gripped harder and resumed his interrupted explanation.
"Listen to the end, pretty boy. It's A-rank, but the lowest level among existing A-rank gates. Manageable even for a first-timer like you."
"I haven't even tried a B-rank gate. How would I know?"
"Why do you need to know? I know, that's enough."
The initiative was his. Geon-ju's input was just a topping sprinkled on the meal—Sa-yoon's thoughts were the main course. He shot back confidently, and Geon-ju fell silent, staring at him in stunned disbelief.
He looked utterly dumbfounded.
Leaving the seemingly awestruck Geon-ju behind, Sa-yoon continued.
"You wanna hunt Unknowns, right? No time for kid games like clearing B-ranks. Straight to A-rank."
"We barely cleared a C-rank once."
"You cleared that C-rank too easily, that's why. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't make this offer, pretty boy. It's because it's you."
Sa-yoon softened his voice a touch, unleashing a barrage: You're getting special treatment right now.I see talent in you, that's why I'm saying go for it. Praise was the surest way to sway a person's resolve.
"If you still don't wanna go, then forget it. I don't plan on dragging some scaredy-cat along."
Carrot, then stick, capped with a taunt. Geon-ju, who'd been holding firm despite slight wobbles, finally cracked.
"Fine, I'll go."
"Oh?"
"A-rank gate. Happy now?"
Having finally pried Sa-yoon's arm off, Geon-ju grumbled curtly. For someone who'd pondered it so carefully for minutes, the reason for his acceptance was transparently obvious.
What a hedgehog, bristles and all.
His pettiness was almost endearing. He didn't resemble the laid-back, kind Geon-ju from the report who'd managed his image around his friends. Sa-yoon's lips twitched into a smirk, but he quickly regained his usual rhythm, ruffling Geon-ju's hair. Good call, he praised, earning a reluctant glare.
"What?"
"You always this touchy?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. You've been touching me nonstop. Petting, hugging..."
Did I?
Sa-yoon blinked at Geon-ju's mumble. He'd unconsciously treated him like a close little brother because he'd been so cute.
His hand was already drifting back toward Geon-ju's head. Sa-yoon shrugged and deployed the excuse he'd just cooked up.
"Told you. I'm smitten."
"Ugh, come on."
"Even if that's not it, I'm just doting on my pretty boy. Why complain?"
"Because it's my body."
"Aw, poor thing. No clauses like that after you stamped the contract."
"People call that fraud, you know."
Geon-ju shot back pityingly. Sa-yoon scoffed it off, and after a brief silence, Geon-ju asked why he called him "pretty boy." Pretty early to question it, considering when he'd first used it.
"'Cause you're pretty."
He had that classic pretty-boy parasite vibe people talked about. Sa-yoon had gotten plenty of street castings back in school; Geon-ju probably had too. The difference? Sa-yoon got idol offers, while Geon-ju likely got modeling gigs.
"That's it? Just 'cause I'm pretty?"
"The world's crawling with uggos. 'Just' my ass."
"Feels too natural from the first time you said it to be just that."
"If you won't buy it, pretend it's love at first sight then."
"Ah..."
Geon-ju recoiled in disgust at the deflection. Man, what an effective tactic.
Gotta use this on the fly from now on.
While Sa-yoon noted its utility from the exchange, Geon-ju straightened his mussed hair and stowed his sword back in his inventory.
"But it really is an A-rank gate, right?"
Did he just unlock a new trait: human distrust?
If Sa-yoon's specialty was scams, Geon-ju's seemed to be dredging up settled conversations for suspicion. And they were always the ones where Sa-yoon had lied. Clicking his tongue, Sa-yoon reaffirmed it was A-rank. Even as he stated it definitively, faint doubt lingered in Geon-ju's eyes.
Right on cue, the car Jong-sik had brought pulled up.
"Ah, Jong-sik's here."
Sa-yoon smoothly shifted topics by mentioning it. Good ol' Jong-sik. He had an uncanny knack for perfect timing.
Sa-yoon dragged Geon-ju into the stopped car. After checking the obscured plates, they climbed into the back seat. Jong-sik eyed Sa-yoon and Geon-ju via the rearview.
"You're in one piece?"
"...?"
"Not being cheeky, don't glare like that! You guys came out early, so I thought maybe Geon-ju got banged up bad."
"Ah."
Sa-yoon, who'd been cursing him with his eyes for the abrupt question before greetings, got the reasonable excuse and understood. Jong-sik sighed in relief, patting his startled chest.
The parked car started moving. Sa-yoon cleared up Jong-sik's lingering doubts concisely.
"We finished quick 'cause he did well. No injuries thanks to some potions."
"Potions?"
"Yeah, an Unknown showed up."
"Unknown?"
"Hey, eyes front!"
Screeech!
Jong-sik whipped his head around in shock, sending the car veering toward a pole. He slammed the brakes just in time to avoid crashing, then gaped at Sa-yoon again.
"You ran into an Unknown?"
Is that the priority right now, you idiot?
Sa-yoon narrowed his eyes, having nearly reflexively activated a skill to avert the near-accident.
"Yeah, handled it fine, healed up perfect. So drive straight, Jong-sik. Want me to call Kyung-jin instead?"
"...I'll drive properly."
His go-to line was about quitting driving, but apparently he didn't want Kyung-jin as chauffeur either.
Sa-yoon sighed at the deflated Jong-sik and glanced beside him. Geon-ju could've sat close but had crammed himself against the opposite window, unfazed by all this.
Or not.
Looking closer, something was off. Sa-yoon slowly spoke up.
"Pretty boy."
"......"
"Geon-ju."
"......"
"Geon-ju-ya."
"...?"
Only on the third try did he respond. Less deliberate ignoring, more like he'd spaced out.
Sa-yoon reflected anew on today's Geon-ju: first C-rank gate clear, then an Unknown encounter.
He recalled how Jong-sik, back when he was A-rank, had collapsed with shaky legs after meeting an Unknown. If A-rank Jong-sik nearly fainted, a B-rank Geon-ju must've had it worse. A low whistle escaped Sa-yoon.
Exhausted, huh.
Quick decision made.
"You look beat."
"...Not really."
"Don't be stubborn. Sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."
"I'm fine..."
"No buts. Rest."
Sa-yoon pulled an A-rank sleep anesthetic perfume from his inventory. Useless on A-rank or higher, but plenty effective on B-rank Geon-ju.
Pssht. Pssht.
Without hesitation, he pumped it twice right under his nose. Moments later, Geon-ju's head drooped. His body slumped sideways. Sa-yoon reached out, cradling his head to keep it from smacking the window, then gently released it. He held his pale hand near Geon-ju's nose.
Steady breaths brushed his skin. Sa-yoon sat back properly.
"Jong-sik."
"Yes?"
"Head straight to the field."
"...Pardon?"
Jong-sik's eyes widened at the unexpected order.