Chapter 76

As soon as the hand stopped, Riceball began to vibrate its shell, expressing dissatisfaction. Yoon Seo stroked the egg with his left hand while retrieving a vial from his pocket with his right. Although he felt Kwon Jihan's gaze, he ignored it. He opened the vial's lid with practiced ease and was about to swallow the egg when Kwon Jihan spoke up.

"Why aren't you taking the medicine with water, hyung?"

"It's bothersome."

"Where did you put ?"

"There are times when even using magic is too much trouble. I'm not as diligent as Hunter Kwon Jihan."

"This seems different from being diligent… Anyway, got it. I'll pour it for you."

Kwon Jihan stood up. Yoon Seo narrowed his eyes in disbelief as Kwon Jihan briskly walked to the water dispenser, filled a cup, and then approached Yoon Seo, handing him the cup.

"…I'll drink it now."

"Okay."

Their fingers brushed. Yoon Seo was startled and almost dropped the cup, but with his S-rank reflexes, he managed not to spill a drop. With Kwon Jihan's help, he swallowed the medicine with the water and put the vial away.

"Why did you do that to me? Why did you try to frame me for something I didn't do?"

"…Because I love you."

"What?"

"I said I love you, damn it! At first, I thought you were just some annoying person, but somehow I ended up loving you. I didn't even know I could feel this way."

A dramatic love confession continued as if from a soap opera.

After finishing the cup of water, Yoon Seo placed it on the table with a sharp clink.

"Do you want me to pour more?"

"No, I'm fine. Go watch some drama or something."

"Okay."

Kwon Jihan sat down in the chair next to him.

"It seems like this drama is surprisingly addictive. The plot is ridiculously childish and absurd, but it has some solid foreshadowing and a well-developed world. The final twist was really surprising."

"A twist?"

"Yeah, hyung, you watched it so entertainingly that I ended up watching all of it at home for a few days. From the first episode to the last."

Yoon Seo pursed his lips.

'Love in Han River' was a lengthy drama with 42 episodes. It meant that, having visited the hospital from morning to evening, he had watched all 42 episodes between night and dawn. Even if he watched a few episodes here, it meant he spent all his personal time watching the drama.

Could it be… he's not lying?

Unable to believe it, Yoon Seo narrowed his eyes and asked, "What was the final twist about?"

"Are you testing me?"

"Yes."

Kwon Jihan chuckled and replied

"In the last episode, someone approaches the winning couple from the restaurant. It turns out that this competition was actually to select the Kimchi Jjigae masters who would reach the ultimate Kimchi Jjigae world, and it ends with a message saying that the new Kimchi Jjigae world will unfold and that they should become the pioneers. In other words, it was a tutorial for the newbies before entering the new Kimchi Jjigae universe."

"…You really did watch it."

Yoon Seo said, dazed, with his cheeks turning red.

"It was fun. I understand why you like it. But I think the title should be changed to 'Love in Kimchi Jjigae.' Han River was just used."

"I thought so at first, too. But considering that the places where the protagonists' conflicts were resolved were all around Han River, 'Love in Han River' seems more fitting."

"Ah, now that you mention it, the progress in their relationship all happened at Han River."

"You'll see it more clearly if you watch it again. This drama reveals new things each time you rewatch it."

"I'll have to watch it more diligently. I liked the main couple, but I also enjoyed the supporting couple. It was hilarious to see a bold child and a worldly adult become a couple, and their personalities were so opposite."

"That's right? I also found that couple amusing. Later on, their tastes even changed, and they were eating the main couple's dishes along with mackerel and pork."

"I got so hungry watching that, I made mackerel kimchi stew in the middle of the night."

"I've done that too. I couldn't resist."

Yoon Seo's face turned completely red. He was thrilled to have a conversation about a show he was passionate about. Even though Goh Heeiwon of the Falling Leaves and Park Youngbum had only mocked 'Love in Han River' and never gotten into it, Yoon Seo had genuinely believed he would never talk about the drama with anyone before he died. When he was at the great battle, he couldn't enjoy the drama enough to talk about it, and when he finally did, he had no one to share it with.

Yet, here he was, discussing it with Kwon Jihan…

"I'm planning to pitch this to Juncheol hyung and Jaehee as well. I'll tell them it's worth watching as long as there are no barriers to entry. Maybe I should even issue a directive to make it a must-watch? You should help me promote it when I do."

"Of course."

He's even planning to promote it!

'Kwon Jihan is truly a good person.'

Even though it had been only a short time since he'd resolved to distance himself after discharge, his heart was opening up more and more.

***

Late at night, after tidying up the hospital room, Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo arrived at Yoo Juncheol's mansion using a portal stone. Waiting for them were Yoo Juncheol and Do Deungsoo, standing right in front of them.

"Hello, Hunter Seo Chaeyoon."

"Hunter Seo Chaeyoon, nice to meet you. I'm Do Deungsoo, Vice Guild Master of Seokyoung."

"Hello."

Yoon Seo greeted Yoo Juncheol and Do Deungsoo in turn. Both men flinched slightly upon seeing the egg in Yoon Seo's possession but did not mention it. It seemed they had heard something from Kwon Jihan.

"Have you recovered your magic power sufficiently?"

"..."

In truth, Yoon Seo planned to complain that he hadn't fully recovered, was still very tired, dizzy, and found standing difficult. However, seeing the two men in front of him made him reconsider his plan to complain.

Despite both being A-rank Awakeners, they looked gaunt and worn out. Understandably so… the amount of attention they must have received due to Seo Chaeyoon was unimaginable. There was no room for complaints or anger in their appearance.

"Yes, I've fully recovered."

"That's a relief. Please, come in."

The reception room was already prepared for a long discussion. Tea and refreshments were set out, along with a video sphere at the center of the table… And seated at the table was a woman with long, flowing blonde hair.

"Hello, Hunter Seo Chaeyoon. I am Grace Elysia, Guild Master of Europae."

Grace stood up and greeted them. She was wearing a translation device.

At the sight of the S-rank prophet he had only seen on TV, Yoon Seo bowed politely.

"I am Seo Chaeyoon."

"It's an honor to meet you. Hunter La Bijina wanted to come as well, but she's currently in a very unstable state, so she couldn't make it."

"I see."

Yoon Seo didn't inquire further about La Bijina's condition. La Bijina likely wouldn't have asked about him either.

As Yoon Seo walked over to sit down, Grace's gaze remained fixed on him. She found Seo Chaeyoon so intriguing that she didn't even consider it might be impolite.

Yoo Juncheol and Do Deungsoo sat side by side on the left, and across from them, Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan took their seats.

A stack of documents was placed on one side of the table. Yoo Juncheol pushed the papers toward Yoon Seo and began to speak.

"Before we get to the main discussion, there's something I need to hand over. These are documents related to your pension, Hunter Seo Chaeyoon. Our guild has personally requested the pension from the government. You just need to sign, and we'll take care of the complicated procedures."

Yoon Seo skimmed through the documents. Without signing, he set them down, and Yoo Juncheol signaled with his eyes. Do Deungsoo quickly pulled out several small vials from his inventory and laid them out on the table. Yoo Juncheol explained.

"These are S-rank potions that remove various status effects. We thought they might be of some help…"

Even so, when Yoon Seo remained silent, Yoo Juncheol and Do Deungsoo began to pull out more S-rank items.

The Seokyoung Guild was trying to appease Seo Chaeyoon with riches.

"How could you…"

Yoon Seo finally spoke. Yoo Juncheol, Do Deungsoo, and Grace all flinched simultaneously.

"I didn't expect you to announce my return while I was unconscious. Was it so difficult to wait for me to wake up?"

"No, it's just that… considering our guild's experience points were drastically reduced, and with the impending disaster-level event we'll be discussing shortly, we were in a situation where we had no choice but to—"

"..."

Yoon Seo silently stared at Yoo Juncheol. The atmosphere grew cold. Sensing the tension, Yoo Juncheol, who had been stammering out excuses, instinctively fell silent under the gaze of an A-rank Hunter.

Kwon Jihan spoke up from the side.

"Why stop, hyung? Go on. I was just learning from you how not to apologize. An apology filled with excuses isn't an apology at all. I've made that mistake before, and I'll reflect on it."

Kwon Jihan's calm voice made Yoo Juncheol's already pale face turn even whiter. He finally offered a sincere apology to Yoon Seo.

"I apologize for releasing the article without your consent. It won't happen again."

"Good."

Yoon Seo accepted the apology without hesitation.

"Now, let's start the discussion."

Yoo Juncheol realized from Seo Chaeyoon's demeanor that he had never intended to be angry about this matter, which only made him feel more uneasy than before he had apologized.

'There are two reasons why someone wouldn't get angry in a situation where they normally should. Either they're extremely kind and gentle, or they have absolutely no expectations of the other party.'

Seo Chaeyoon clearly had no expectations of us. Despite knowing that this was the result of their own actions, it left a bitter taste in Yoo Juncheol's mouth.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. After taking a sip of tea, Yoo Juncheol began to speak.

"I understand that Jihan hasn't told you anything yet."

"He only mentioned that it's a serious matter."

"A serious matter indeed."

Yoo Juncheol's expression darkened. The dim lighting in the reception room cast shadows across the faces of Grace, Do Deungsoo, and everyone else present.

"Since this is a top-secret matter that concerns the fate of the entire world, Hunter Seo Chaeyoon, you must keep everything you hear today completely confidential."

"Understood. Also, please just call me Yoon Seo. I want to continue hiding my identity from the public."

"Yes, Yoon Seo."

Yoo Juncheol swallowed nervously.

As he hesitated to bring up the main topic, Yoon Seo ran through several simulations in his mind, trying to figure out what this conversation could be about.

Why had Seokyoung been searching for Seo Chaeyoon for two years?

Was it to help Kwon Jihan level up by gaining experience?

Or did they want him to be the guild's public icon?

Neither of these reasons seemed serious enough to warrant such a heavy atmosphere. In the end, there was only one possible answer.

'It must be related to the Gaia skill.'

Kwon Jihan was a Gaia skill holder, one of the "Chosen Ones." Yoon Seo had always intended to talk to him about the dangers of that title. Having the "Chosen One" trait brought nothing but trouble. Everyone who had possessed it had died. Even though there was no known way to remove the trait, Yoon Seo had planned to warn him regardless.

Yoon Seo waited calmly for Yoo Juncheol to speak.

"First, let me explain why we've been tracking you, Yoon Seo."

With a heavy expression, Yoo Juncheol finally began.

"In a month and a half, a massive dungeon is expected to appear in the Arctic."