Before In Yoo-shin, who was puzzled, could ask any more questions, Hyeon Gyu-ha interrupted him.
“If you know you’re not in a position to interfere, then be quiet.”
“K-heum, you are also a human whose brain changes when you’re in a relationship.”
“Because you, Yoo-shin, are my master.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who calmly uttered the word “master” and shut up In Yoo-shin, completed the registration of the mana signature. In Yoo-shin quickly removed his hand from the handle and stuck it into his pants pocket. No matter how many times he rubbed the cloth in his pocket, Hyeon Gyu-ha’s warmth still lingered on the back of his hand.
“Anyway, since the repairs are finished, this uncle will stop disturbing your date and leave.”
“Already? I should at least treat you to a meal………”
“I have a lunch appointment. And don’t worry, Gyu-ha will pay for the repairs.”
Kwon Seong-gil smiled kindly and whispered as he slipped his business card into In Yoo-shin’s hand.
“If you think Gyu-ha is doing something strange, contact me for help.”
“I can hear everything.”
“I’m saying this for you to hear too, man.”
Kwon Seong-gil turned down Yoo-shin, who said he would send him off to the parking lot, and left with a sad farewell, telling them to visit him next time. The benefactor who saved the lives of a monk and other children was a much better person than I thought.
As In Yoo-shin smiled while fiddling with the business card, Hyeon Gyu-ha spat out at him.
“He is a married man with a child.”
“I know. His wife is Hunter Lee Hye-yeon.”
“It’s just that… Separation anxiety and strange symptoms come as side effects, but it’s annoying……”
“……?”
Without considering whether In Yoo-shin got confused, Hyeon Guy-ha muttered to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Anyway, it’s lunch time, and the only things in the refrigerator were a few small side dishes and ramen. It wasn’t enough to treat guests. I was about to go out and have lunch, but then I got a phone call.
In Yoo-shin, who checked the name on the screen, was stunned. It was the monk who mainly took care of the children in the orphanage. In Yoo-shin cleared his throat with a dry cough and carefully answered the phone.
“Hello, monk-nim.”
- Yoo-shin-ah! Are you alright? Is everything alright?
“Uh, I’m alright.”
In Yoo-shin was also surprised by the frazzled voice that was transmitted over the radio waves. He thought he might have called after seeing the post, but In-jeon’s voice was unusual.
- I saw an article about a hunter rescuing a man from a fall. Is that person you? How hard it must be to work alone and live alone in a foreign country. If you have a hard time, you can always tell me. I’ll try to help you as much as I can. Got it?
In Yoo-shin, who was taken aback by the sudden words, understood it only after thinking for a while. It seemed that the crash was misunderstood as a suicide attempt.
“Absolutely not, monk-nim. I didn’t jump on purpose; it was an accident.”
- It’s a big deal that the rooftop isn’t equipped with enough safety equipment for adults to accidentally fall! Even if I were to complain right away!
Somehow, the incident seemed to escalate. Hyeon Gyu-ha took his cell phone out of his hand as he panicked, not knowing how to deal with it.
“Excuse me, I’ve taken the phone for a moment. This is Hyeon Gyu-ha, and I was with Yoo-shin-ssi that day.”
- Ah, Hunter Hyeon Gyu-ha-nim? This is Dalgasa’s In-jeon.
In-jeon was surprised by the sudden intrusion, and In Yoo-shin was almost frightened. Was that guy about to cause shenanigans with his mouth again?
Hyeon Gyu-ha continued talking to In-jeon, who hurriedly greeted him.
“It was completely my fault that Yoo-shin-ssi almost fell. My ability is psychokinesis, but I made a mistake in my control and Yoo-shin-ssi got caught up in it. I apologize for causing you any concerns.”
In Yoo-shin’s eyes widened, anxious about what to do if the word ‘Master’ popped out when he spoke to the monk. It was such a polite attitude he hadn’t even thought about.
Only then did he calm down at the serious tone of putting all the responsibility on his own. In-jeon sighed in relief at In Yoo-shin, who got back his phone again.
- I’m glad I was mistaken, but it’s true that you always depend on me if you are having a hard time.
“Sure. I know that.”
- Okay.
“By the way, monk-nim! I also met Kwon Seong-gil-nim today.”
In Yoo-shin deliberately brought up the topic of Kwon Seong-gil. Thanks to that, by the time he hung up the phone, In-jeon’s voice seemed completely relieved.
After hanging up the phone, In Yoo-shin glanced up at Hyeon Gyu-ha without realizing it. There was a slight crease in Hyeon Gyu-ha’s forehead.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I didn’t know you would say that to a monk.”
“I think you would be more surprised if I said I dropped you.”
It was the same with In Yoo-shin. Maybe I may have reported it for attempted murder.
“I too grew up in an orphanage when I was little. I was taken to the training center right after it was revealed that I attacked the gate.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who spat out the words, gently raised his hand to the top of In Yoo-shin’s head.
[Current Status: Murderous. Interested. Exhibiting strange symptoms.]
“I’m leaving now.”
When he said that he was leaving so easily, In Yoo-shin opened his eyes wide in surprise, but his thoughts flew away at the words that followed.
“In the future, don’t ignore my calls, always answer them, and don’t hide or run away. Make sure to keep your cell phone on at all times. I don’t know what I’ll do if my separation anxiety explodes because I feel like I was abandoned. Master.”
“Yes, yes!”
Recalling that Seoul almost got destroyed, In Yoo-shin tensed up and nodded his head eagerly. A smile crept across Hyeon Gyu-ha’s lips.
But what were those ‘strange symptoms’ that popped up from earlier?
Left alone in a house that had been buzzing with two guests since early morning, I suddenly felt desolate. It was a sensation that I was used to after leaving the orphanage and starting to live on my own, but it felt unfamiliar today.
In Yoo-shin scratched his head once and took a pot of water to boil for eating ramen.
“Hey! In Yoo-shin! Hyung-nim is here. Open the door.”
When the water just started to boil, In Yoo-shin grumbled at the sound he heard outside the front door, turned off the light, and opened the door. What was that guy going to do when I’m away if he didn’t even call me first?
“What would you do if I weren’t home?”
“Where are you going during the weekend? You’re probably gonna be stuck in a corner inside the house.”
“It’s arrogant of a graduate student to bring up the word, ‘weekend’.”
“You haven’t eaten lunch yet, have you?”
Since there’s jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) alongside sweet and sour pork in Park Seung-gi’s hands, In Yoo-shin decided to forgive the cheeky graduate student. Park Seung-gi, who graduated from Pyongyang University early and was now attending graduate school at South Korea University, was the only friend he was able to meet at the orphanage school in Seoul.
Of course, the first thing Park Seung-gi said as he slurped jajangmyeon was obvious.
“What’s your relationship with Hyeon Gyu-ha?”
“Uhh…… just dating…… I guess?”
In Yoo-shin was terribly awkward when he lied that he was dating. The truth about taming Hyeon Gyu-ha was a confession he wouldn’t be able to make, even to his best friend.
“What on earth?”
“That’s……”
“Ah! Didn’t you say Hyeon Gyu-ha saved you when you went to the bank last week? That’s when you realized?”
“Uhm.”
“I don’t think you would’ve made the first move, but then that means Hyeon Gyu-ha made the first move?”
“Mhm.”
“Gosh. How lucky. Falling in love at first sight makes you go through all sorts of things in your life.”
Even without In Yoo-shin talking, Park Seung-gi knew how to string together a story.
“I heard that he’s not rude, but is he nice to you?”
“I…… think so?”
He bought me sneakers, late night snacks, and fixed the door, so he’s being nice to me…… right? The reason why my slippers came off was because of Hyeon Gyu-ha, the reason why I woke up and had a late-night snack was because of Hyeon Gyu-ha, and the reason the door was broken was because of Hyeon Gyu-ha, but whatever.
“Well, first of all, you’re in a relationship and he’s six years older than you, but if he doesn’t treat you well, he’s a bastard. But even so, you’re not gay for Hyeon Gyu-ha, are you?”
“Hunter-nim— no, Gyu-ha is handsome.”
This time, it was pretty difficult to say although it was a prepared answer. I said he was handsome enough to overcome my sexual orientation, but what should I do? And Park Seung-gi nodded his head because his handsome face was a plausibility that convinced him of everything.
It was fortunate that my friendship with Park Seung-gi, whom I shared joys and sorrows with at the orphanage, was not so shallow that he felt awkward just because I was gay.
“I’m satisfied that you’re dating a hunter.”
“I’m the one who’s dating, so why are you happy?”
“Hey, my best friend is a famous hunter’s lover, so shouldn’t I be able to get some info? Like a sample from a gate? Information about new artifacts?”
Park Seung-gi’s major was gate studies. Would Hyeon Gyu-ha kindly go through the trouble to provide a sample for a friend of a lover he was barely dating?
In Yoo-shin shook his face skeptically.
“Don’t do that. You just have to date someone who’s a hunter.”
“Where’s the time for a lab slave in graduate school to meet a girl?!”
“If a stranger hears you, they would assume you were forcibly sold to graduate school.”
“Damn it. I shouldn’t have been taken in by the professor then.”
While preparing for his early graduation, Park Seung-gi ate sweet and sour pork wet with tears, cursing at the stupid college student who fell for a professor’s sugar coating.
“Look at you, coming this far. Do you think you’re free?”
“Dobby is free on the weekend.”
“Then let’s go to Kaesong together. I was on the phone with Monk In-jeon earlier, and he misunderstood that I had attempted suicide, and he was incredibly surprised. Let me show my face to him after a long time.”
Of course, Park Seung-gi was welcome. The two hurriedly ate the rest of their lunch and set off for Kaesong. They rode the bus for about an hour and headed to Dalgasa Nursery School with snacks they bought at a marketplace in both hands.
The weekend flew by as they hung out with the happy monks and children. Hyeon Gyu-ha’s tri-hourly phone call was answered right away. It wasn’t burdensome because it was about such trivial things, like whether I had eaten or what I was doing.
In Yoo-shin was having a fun time.
[Hey. No matter how much I think about it, it feels uncomfortable. Did you know that the skill you are using on In Yoo-shin is no different from stalking, right?]
[Hyung doesn’t know love.]
[What kind of love is it to implant location tracking in a person’s body!?]
[I’m thinking of having matching couple rings with In Yoo-shin, so please make it for me.]
[What kind of heinous skills are you going to use with that!?]
……There was no way to know that these texts were passed between Hyeon Gyu-ha and Kwon Seong-gil.
And Monday began.
It must be an illusion of self-consciousness to get the feeling that almost everyone passing by the building, starting from the first security guard, was looking at me.
‘It’s been two days since the problem broke out on Friday. There’s no way people who are busy with their lives will still be interested in other people’s love affairs……!’
It was unlikely that Hyeon Gyu-ha will show up at the government building again and stir up a scandal. I would just have to pick up my phone diligently.
In Yoo-shin greeted everyone brightly as usual and entered the office.
“Good morning.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa with his feet stretched out, waved his hand.
“Good morning, Master.”
------
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Editor M
We are looking for an editor for this novel series. → https://forms.gle/5C3rBo1Wt1TU2mtp8
Rather than keeping his phone on all the time, couldn't he just set heon gyuha's texts and calls as an exception whenever he turns on "do not disturb"? Lol