Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Han Geon-ju (5)
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'No answer, huh? Looks like the reason you brought me here is even more important than I thought. Some kind of secret?'
'What makes you think that this time? What, did it show in my eyes again?'
'It didn't show. I just figured there must be a real reason since you haven't killed me yet. If I were someone else here, you'd have already made your move, but you haven't even lifted a finger.'
'So what? You trying to provoke me into hitting you?'
'You know that's not it.'
Even as they exchanged words that might seem like a battle of wills to outsiders, it was nothing but enjoyable.
Sure, he might look a bit rough around the edges, but they were steadily climbing the stairs toward his goal—it was impossible not to find that thrilling. On top of that, seeing a glimpse of flustered panic from someone who always came off as a total maniac was amusing, and his attempts to play it cool while hiding a secret were intriguing.
With the back-and-forth hitting the right rhythm, their conversation flowed more freely.
He already knew why the man was treating him so leniently. The guild members had spilled that he was playing favorites. Geon-ju had heard from them that Sa-yoon liked his decent-looking face.
But that alone wasn't enough. A guy like the Night Rat Leader wouldn't go this easy on someone he'd just met simply because of a pretty face or impressive skills.
As proof, one guild member with a handsome face and solid abilities had come in with a broken arm when he was recruited.
So what Geon-ju wanted was the reason behind the favoritism. What about him had triggered it and made Sa-yoon so lenient?
He could feel the topic inching closer to the 'Sa-yoon secret' that had been gnawing at him. It was a hard-won victory from enduring their tedious back-and-forth without giving up.
At this rate, he might actually uncover it.
If he just held out a bit longer, pushed a little more.
As he pondered how to prod further, the man suddenly grabbed the vodka bottle and filled a glass to the brim. Ignoring the wine still left in it, he poured anyway. Puzzled by the inexplicable action, Geon-ju watched as the man smirked faintly and made a proposal.
Let's make a bet.
He was already winning the exchange, so a bet felt disadvantageous and abrupt. That suspicion intensified when he heard what the bet was.
If he finished that glass, Sa-yoon would tell him what he wanted to know. Already buzzed, adding vodka on top of the swaying haze would lead to predictable results—no need to think twice.
Showing reluctance, Geon-ju heard the man say if he didn't want to, then don't. Sa-yoon grinned mischievously. The momentum Geon-ju had seized shifted back to him with this ridiculous bet. It felt utterly unfair.
You said you don't get drunk easily and don't even like it. Would you make a bet like this?
He grumbled inwardly. It was like telling him to drink and drop dead. The dubious man offered to drink first if he couldn't trust it, picking up his wine glass.
Then, without hesitation, he brought the glass—brimming to the point it would spill with the slightest shake—to his lips.
Gulp, gulp. The sound of him downing the liquor echoed across the terrace. It had to burn like hell going down, yet Sa-yoon didn't stop, chugging it relentlessly. Geon-ju would be lying if he said he wasn't shocked.
Who in the world one-shots that insane amount of booze?
Before he could intervene, Sa-yoon emptied the glass and flipped it upside down to prove it, shaking off the last drops.
Calling the provocative pose childish only prompted another taunt: so, you not doing it?
Victory was within reach. Giving up now or shutting his eyes and downing the vodka—which was better? No need to measure; it was obvious.
Better to die than suffer.
With no other choice, he took the glass and chugged it. The suppressed buzz surged back fiercely with the fresh alcohol.
Ignoring his stomach churning at its limit, he finished it, only to cough several times afterward. Clutching his mouth amid the hacking, he felt the vodka rush straight to his head.
Stumbling, he heard mocking words: drunk already? It might've just been a question, but coming from Sa-yoon, it sounded like ridicule. He snapped back defiantly and stood to prove he was fine.
After all this, it was time to get real answers. Showing he'd emptied even the vodka Sa-yoon had pushed on him, he brought up the dragged-out topic—only to hear that his gut feeling said he had to keep him around. That was it.
That was all?
Say something that makes sense if you want me to believe you.
Sa-yoon's excuse was utterly unconvincing. Geon-ju wasn't gullible enough to buy such a lame line. No matter how he chewed it over, it was a flimsy cop-out. That was the only conclusion.
So it wouldn't be that easy, huh.
...Tch.
Looks like answers weren't coming today.
World's worst guild, top ranker—Sa-yoon was indeed on a different level from anyone he'd met before.
Realizing persistence wouldn't work, he wasn't foolish enough to cling. Still, it wasn't a total loss; their relationship had progressed somewhat. Opportunities weren't just for today.
If not now, grab the next one. He cleared his cluttered mind.
With thoughts fading, the intoxication spread faster, flooding his body. As drowsiness pulled his eyelids down, he vaguely answered a question about his state.
The last thing he registered was Sa-yoon muttering something as he supported him into the room.
He woke in the morning because his body felt chilled to the bone. His warm body from before bed now ached with cold, and opening his eyes revealed an absurd sight.
The room was frozen solid.
Anyone could tell it was Sa-yoon's doing. When asked why, the answer was to wake him up—forcing an early test of his patience. He'd thought their conversation had advanced things, but nothing had changed except Sa-yoon acting even more insane.
Was all that suffering yesterday just for this one thing?
The more he thought, the more hollow it felt. He hadn't expected Sa-yoon to turn normal overnight, but after sharing drinks and talk—some connection—he'd hoped for a touch of warmth. No positive effects at all.
In the end, Geon-ju gave up on playing nice.
No point fussing over image with someone who didn't bother in front of him. He dropped the forced smile twitching his lips and cursed instead. Grumbling in the bathroom, he heard laughter from outside—clearly having heard everything. Laughing after curses confirmed the maniac was a maniac.
Right after washing up, he was dragged to a C-rank gate, where he heard a bizarre rumor.
That he was Sa-yoon's lover.
How the hell did that nonsense start? Apparently, because they slept in the same room. Geon-ju grimaced in horror at people who could twist something so innocent into something lewd.
Asking if everyone was crazy only drew Sa-yoon's irritating laugh, and he seemed unbothered by the rumors between them.
Guess this happens all the time.
Feeling like the only one caring made him prickly again. He'd never competed, yet it felt like defeat. Age gap was barely under five years, but he felt childish.
Deciding to ignore it, he pretended not to hear and headed to the gate. Entering his first high-rank gate with some excitement and worry, what awaited was grueling labor.
Whether all C-rank gates were like this or just ones with Sa-yoon, it was nonstop grunt work—endless battles until exhaustion set in. Then, he was ambushed by a white entity he'd never seen.
Human? Something otherworldly? Borrowing Sa-yoon's words, the thing called an Unknown was the most threatening monster or Awakener he'd encountered in gates so far.
And Sa-yoon, fighting it on even terms, was the same.
S-rank.
The aura and combat of a top-tier ranker he'd only heard about were etched indelibly into his eyes—a moment unforgettable.
Along with the helplessness he felt.
Far from helping, he'd only been a burden. Even a toddler could see Sa-yoon would've handled the Unknown more easily without him.
The battle was so fast it was hard to track; he could barely gauge who had the edge or was pushing back. If the gate hadn't closed perfectly, leading to the reward room, one of them would've taken worse damage for sure.
Muttering 'crazy bastard' like a mantra, he still had a conscience.
Sa-yoon had gotten injured protecting him—how could he get treated alone and hold his head high?
Because he was human, not a beast, he felt compelled to do something. Sa-yoon shoved something into his hand and told him to use it, so he offered it instead—only to get called crazy.
Even trying to be nice, the response left no room.
It looked painful enough, bleeding badly, so he healed him. Why?
Not just 'are you crazy,' but a rare shout. The first yell made him feel even more wronged.
'Why are you mad?'
'Do you know how much this costs? Wasting it here?'
'Then why'd you use it on me?'
'You and I the same?'
'We're not?'
'We're not!'
Sa-yoon snapped back excitedly, looking genuinely exasperated. No matter the potion's price, life couldn't be bought—worth getting this mad? Unthinkingly, Geon-ju bit his lip. About to declare heading back to the guild, ignoring rewards, Sa-yoon sighed—sort of—and reverted to his usual energy.
Not that it'd quell his anger, but hearing Sa-yoon out softened it a bit. S-ranks don't die from this. His lack of high-ranker knowledge made him cringe for chugging the potion rashly.
Realizing something new, but apologizing now felt awkward. He sealed lips that nearly apologized under the mood. At first, prideful silence from embarrassment, but reflecting brought a flood of grievances.
Expensive potion? So what. Sa-yoon had given it freely. Once handed over, usage was the recipient's call. Common sense.
And wounds were wounds, even if non-fatal. He was bleeding in front of Geon-ju. Unchangeable fact. Listing dissatisfactions one by one, he nitpicked.
Voicing injustices raised his voice with rising emotion. Short time knowing him, but too many slights from Sa-yoon.
Potion too pricey to use?
Then what should've he done for him?
With the Unknown, he'd been useless, a total nuisance, and Sa-yoon got hurt protecting him.
Yet Sa-yoon calmly healed him—should he just meekly accept and brazenly ask why not use the potion earlier?
Powerlessness hurt, frustration boiled, and repaying kindness with scolding stretched his nerves taut. He felt his composure slip.
He spilled his inner turmoil in excessive detail. It'd been ages since venting so one-sidedly—Sa-yoon's reaction? Utter bafflement.
'What's this all about?'
After hearing him out, that was it.
No sorry, no reiterating the potion's cost or his mistake—just pure incomprehension: 'What's this all about?'
How could furrowed brows look so infuriating? Exasperated, incredulous, regretting his struggles to uncover this man's secrets, a self-mocking laugh escaped.
'Hyung, you're a real pro at pissing people off.'
He truly was a guy who made you sick of him.
A maniac who'd tossed common sense in the trash, too.