Holy B-Class Life

#057

Seeing that look in his eyes, I suddenly came to my senses. My throat also felt very dry all of a sudden. It seems I was about to let my guard down again due to all the unexpected events today.

I need to stay alert.

“Stop talking nonsense. If we’re not going to the gate, let me out.”

“Hmm.”

Yoon Pa-ran swallowed dryly and spoke casually, trying to sound natural. He averted his gaze to look out the passenger window, not wanting to show that he was nervous.

However, this time his eyes met Dan Joo-hyuk’s reflection in the window.

Seeing those eyes take on a slightly dangerous gleam again, Yoon Pa-ran frowned deeply.

He needed to change the subject somehow. As he thought this, something suddenly crossed his mind.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

“Speak.”

“Didn’t you feel anything from that stone earlier? It seemed to be the same kind we saw at the gate we went to.”

“Ah.”

Fortunately, since it was gate information that the guy was obsessed with, the answer came immediately. Even though his aura was still pressing down on my skin with a tingling sensation.

Recently, I had become somewhat used to Dan Joo-hyuk’s aura like this. It was probably because I was always tired and exhausted. There were many times when I just wanted to collapse, regardless of any killing intent or anything else.

It’s strange how one can get used to anything.

With this sudden realization, Yoon Pa-ran absently rubbed his nape and glanced at Dan Joo-hyuk.

Then, another unexpected sound was heard.

“That stone from earlier.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, a status window appeared.”

“What?”

It was unbelievable that he would say this now, after so calmly stating earlier that there was no status window.

Wait, didn’t he scold Heo Sang-yeon for useless information?

“It seemed to be the same object as the stone we saw before. I don’t know why Hunter Heo Sang-yeon couldn’t see the status window, though.”

“Huh…”

“I wondered if he could see it and was just testing us, but it really seemed like he couldn’t see it.”

“…”

A dumbfounded sound escaped involuntarily.

Dan Joo-hyuk’s meticulous personality was a bit scary, if anything.

“But the status window wasn’t exactly the same.”

“Then?”

It seemed like there wouldn’t be anything more surprising today.

So Yoon Pa-ran asked lightly, resolving to just open the passenger door and get out if he mentioned anything about an information fee.

“Back then, it only said ‘purified fragment’, right?”

“…”

But Dan Joo-hyuk’s words were a bit strange.

“This time, it said ‘■■■ fragment’.”

Could it be that Dan Joo-hyuk had seen a different status window from him back then?

“Uh…”

“What’s wrong?”

“No… You mean… strange characters appeared in the status window this time?”

“Yes. There weren’t any hidden characters like this last time. I wonder why it changed. The word ‘fragment’ and the shape are the same, though.”

“…”

My mind was racing. From what he was saying, it seemed that what I saw last time was a different status window from Dan Joo-hyuk’s.

[Purified ■■■ Fragment]

This is how that stone fragment had appeared to Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes from the beginning.

Heo Sang-yeon, who couldn’t see the status window at all. Dan Joo-hyuk, who saw it with missing information. And my own status window, which included the hidden information.

Moreover, the amount of information in Dan Joo-hyuk’s status window had changed between then and now. What could have changed? The only variable in there was that Dan Joo-hyuk’s perverse behavior had increased.

Is the [Sacred Energy] skill really the problem?

The recent series of events didn’t seem like mere coincidence. Trying to use my brain that I hadn’t used in a while was giving me a sudden headache.

“What? Do you have any idea?”

Noticing my strange reaction, Dan Joo-hyuk asked sharply.

“No…”

I reflexively answered without thinking. Dan Joo-hyuk narrowed his eyes and looked at me suspiciously.

The weight of the [Sacred Energy] skill seemed to be increasing, which was burdensome. It would be enough to have just enough power to feed my family, but this is troublesome.

For now, Yoon Pa-ran tried to change the subject as best he could. In fact, his secrets had been exposed to Dan Joo-hyuk as much as they could be, but for some reason, he still wanted to keep his abilities hidden.

Cold sweat ran down his back due to the tension.

“Anyway, then I might have broken it if I had held it this time too.”

“I’m not sure.”

Dan Joo-hyuk spoke ambiguously, but Yoon Pa-ran thought the probability was high. The moment he touched the stone, Heo Sang-yeon would have discovered his ability too.

So the lie he told today had actually helped Yoon Pa-ran. Even going so far as to lie to a close S-class hunter.

Is this also part of the contractual protection Dan Joo-hyuk talks about?

“…”

Thinking about this, the tightly wound tension loosened a bit.

With a newfound gaze, Yoon Pa-ran observed Dan Joo-hyuk. It was fascinating how he lived obsessed with his interests, yet still strictly adhered to contracts.

Quite unexpected.

“We’re here.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly coming to his senses, Yoon Pa-ran looked out the window and saw they were near his studio apartment.

It seemed they weren’t going to the gate today. If they were, he would have told him to bring equipment.

“I’m going.”

For now, he wanted to cool his head alone. So, as if welcoming this situation, he immediately grabbed the passenger door handle, preparing to get out.

Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly spoke to the back of his head.

“Take a break for a while.”

“For a while? How long?”

“Well, about two weeks?”

Surprised by the sudden long vacation, Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes widened. Forgetting he was about to get out, he turned around to face him.

Why so suddenly?

“What? That long?”

“I’ll be a bit busy with my work.”

“So?”

“…”

The implication was ‘What does that have to do with me?’, but Dan Joo-hyuk didn’t seem to understand, or at least didn’t answer.

It wouldn’t be strange for his accompaniment to the gates with Dan Joo-hyuk to end at any time. It was just strange that Dan Joo-hyuk was saying Yoon Pa-ran should also rest from the gates while he was away.

Playing around for two weeks would be good for his body. But he hadn’t been feeling at ease lately.

Why does he keep interfering with other people’s gate entries?

“Are you saying you’re going to block my gate entries again?”

Yoon Pa-ran asked sharply, intending to settle this once and for all.

However, Dan Joo-hyuk sent a deep gaze his way and then calmly asked.

“Do you really think now is the time to enter gates? Even after what happened at the police station today?”

“That’s…”

Dan Joo-hyuk spoke as if deliberately mocking him.

Naturally, Yoon Pa-ran’s face hardened immediately. While he didn’t like this situation, it seemed he couldn’t voice any objections from his slightly parted lips.

As Dan Joo-hyuk scanned that pale face with his gaze, he tried to control his feelings that were acting up unusually today.

The two weeks were calculated including the time to travel to and from Russia. Since he couldn’t know the situation inside the gate there, he had deliberately set a generous schedule.

Especially, the variable of having to deal with Korea’s S-class gate before going had come up.

Russia was eager for Dan Joo-hyuk to come right away, but was hesitant because of this. They knew well that nothing could take precedence over their own country’s crisis.

It was first discussed to entrust the Korean gate to another S-class hunter, but Dan Joo-hyuk was postponing the decision for now. There were reports that the S-class gate that appeared in Korea this time also had somewhat peculiar waves.

Anyway, this new S-class gate was kept confidential. The Special Administrative Security Department was disguising the surroundings as an ordinary A-class gate and secretly organizing an attack team.

Despite the system message warnings, the frequency of S-class gates appearing was too high.

There was a judgment that the moment it was announced, social chaos would be extreme. Especially with doomsday theories running rampant due to the SS-class gate incident in Russia.

“It’s not my fault, so why should I be careful?”

“…”

In fact, it didn’t matter what Yoon Pa-ran did while he was away. He just needed to receive the skill transfer when he needed it.

But why did he want Yoon Pa-ran not to enter the gates while he was away?

For some reason, he had that intuition after picking up that strange stone earlier.

“You won’t be short on money anyway. The deposits should be coming in well.”

“Even when you say it like that…”

Dan Joo-hyuk carefully observed the aggrieved emotion settling on that small face.

In truth, it was just an excuse he had made up on the spot. They say an S-class hunter’s intuition is treated as quite credible, but there was no need to explain that.

“…”

Even while thinking this, his gaze kept going to Yoon Pa-ran’s furrowing brow.

It had been a day with too many irritating things. Yoon Pa-ran being taken to the police station, and even speaking politely to Heo Sang-yeon while putting on airs.

Come to think of it, why did I bring Yoon Pa-ran there in the first place?

This time too, it was just an impulse. But I hadn’t expected Heo Sang-yeon to recognize Yoon Pa-ran right away.

Remembering that fact made my irritation surge again. A strange feeling of impatience kept urging Dan Joo-hyuk on.

There was no other intention in hiding Yoon Pa-ran’s connection to the item. I just wanted to monopolize the information about the skill Yoon Pa-ran possessed.

That’s probably why. Heo Sang-yeon’s gaze observing Yoon Pa-ran was so irritating.

“Hah…”

Seemingly annoyed, Yoon Pa-ran finally pressed his fingertips hard against his brow. While staring at that face as if mesmerized, Dan Joo-hyuk thought.

If I just had him completely in my grasp, there would be nothing more to be irritated about.

“Well, fine. I’m going.”

Seeming to have no intention of arguing further, Yoon Pa-ran turned his back again without hesitation. Now he wouldn’t see him for about two weeks, but what could he do?

Two weeks.

“…”

With a click, the sound of the door opening, Yoon Pa-ran was about to move away.

Dan Joo-hyuk unconsciously grabbed his forearm.