Chapter 182

Yoo Juncheol accepted Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon's request for a long-term vacation. When it was announced that both of them would stop hunter activities for a year starting in the fall, many people grew concerned. With the situation barely entering level 1, could the two strongest hunters afford such a long break? Despite their wishes, various media outlets held polls on the issue, with support and opposition split 50:50. Yoon Seo was surprised by the amount of support, while Kwon Jihan, on the other hand, clicked his tongue, remarking that he expected fewer objections.

A month later, support had risen to 80%. This was thanks to Seokyoung's successful media efforts. However, the marketing slogan being used…

"A honeymoon trip, seriously? Can't we ask Guildmaster Yoo Juncheol to stop people from using that phrase?"

Yoon Seo grumbled as he threw his tablet.

They were in the car heading toward the Memorial Park, and Kwon Jihan quickly caught the tablet before it hit the window.

"Hyung, the window might break."

"This wouldn't break the window."

"Master, are you going to abandon me now?"

"What?"

Yoon Seo's eyes went wide at Sticky Rice's question. The car's navigation screen displayed a 'ㅠㅠ' emoji.

"Are you trying to break the car on purpose so you can replace me? Are you going to abandon me in the used car market? Who would want me? You're my only owner, but you'll probably forget me the moment you get a new car, happily riding off together…"

"Happily riding…? No, I'm not abandoning you. I won't throw it again."

"Thank you, Master. Please be careful."

Yoon Seo sighed, wondering why his AI, Sticky Rice, was so sensitive while Kwon Jihan's Chewy Barley AI was clean and composed. His one and only partner chuckled softly beside him.

Peep-peep?

Yoon Seo stroked the ferret poking its head out from his sleeve.

"We're not even getting married, so I don't think the word 'honeymoon' is appropriate."

"They're using the term because it resonates best with the public. The whole world is obsessed with 'II Lovers,' so they're capitalizing on that."

"What's 'II (AI-AI) Lovers'?"

"It's the fan club for people who support us as a couple."

Their couple name had become 'II Couple.' People also used the term 'ung-ung,' because when laid flat, 'II' (아이아이) supposedly sounds like 'ung-ung.' (웅웅). Seokyoung even registered copyrights and trademarks for both terms. Their relationship had become a symbol of world peace, as well as a highly profitable business venture.

(note: please refer to chapter 175 for details about the 'II Couple' name.)

The money earned in that way was all used for the welfare of hunters, so Yoon Seo often participated in couple interviews. Later on, they were even planning to shoot a couple photoshoot while wearing masks.

"If you're feeling uneasy about it, should we make it look like a honeymoon?"

"How?"

"We could get married."

"...."

"They say the same-sex marriage bill might pass by the end of this year. We could be the first same-sex couple in the country. How about it?"

"There have been plenty of same-sex couples before, it just wasn't legal. Also, I'm not really interested in getting married. From the standpoint of hiding my identity, there would be all kinds of legal issues."

Up until about 3 or 4 years ago, the aftermath of the apocalypse hadn't been cleaned up properly, so in the system, dead people were alive, living people were dead, genders were swapped, or ages were incorrect. It was a mess. But over the past three years, the government conducted a thorough population census, and now the system was clear.

"What if we hire a genius hacker and create someone named Seo Chaeyoon?"

"And how would you keep that genius hacker quiet?"

"We'll recruit from your fan club. They're crazy about you, so there wouldn't be a need to keep them quiet. They'd do anything for Seo Chaeyoon, even if it's illegal. I hear there are a lot of talented people in 'For the Seo.' Should I ask Alec about it?"

Alec had become the honorary advisory chairman of 'For the Seo.'

Though 'advisor' was just a fancy title, he was really a spy.

As an S-rank hunter on the same team as Seo Chaeyoon, Alec would report to the members of 'For the Seo' what color clothes Seo Chaeyoon wore that day or what food he had mentioned recently. Then, from the next day onward, they would be flooded with gifts of that color or food. Yoon Seo had only started receiving gifts two months ago, and already, two-thirds of his inventory was full. Although his total inventory space was smaller than Kwon Jihan's, it was still bigger than most guilds.

"If someone named Seo Chaeyoon exists in the system, there wouldn't be any problem with our marriage. Then the honeymoon wouldn't just be an excuse, it'd be real. It's a perfect plan, right?"

"Stop with the nonsense. Anyway, I get that we'll have to go with the honeymoon excuse, so let's just drop it."

Peep peep.

Riceball peeked out from the back of Yoon Seo's neck. The white ferret made a sorrowful noise, and both lovers turned their attention to their companion item at the same time.

"Riceball, what's wrong? If my clothes are uncomfortable, come over to me."

Peep peep peep.

"Why is it crying? What's wrong? Say something."

Kwon Jihan reached out his hand, but instead of coming to him as it usually would, Riceball burrowed back into Yoon Seo's clothes, still crying sadly. Kwon Jihan looked concerned.

"What's going on? Is it sick?"

"Please remember that Riceball is an item and doesn't feel pain. It's just bored. Throw it a toy, and it'll be fine."

Yoon Seo pulled out one of the ferret's favorite toys from his bag—a round ball that made a jingling sound.

Peep!

Riceball shot out and pounced on the round ball, wrapping its sleek, slender body around it and biting it. Watching this, Kwon Jihan chuckled softly.

"Did we have a conversation that was a bit too difficult for it to hear? Let's rest now, Hyung. How about some coloring?"

"Sounds good."

The two took out their coloring books and colored pencils, which they always carried in their inventory.

Most of their dates were like this.

Whether at home, outside, or on the move like now, Yoon Seo always balanced his will-fulfillment activities. Whether it was knitting or coloring books…

In fact, both coloring and knitting had long been finished in terms of fulfilling wills.

So, instead of calling it "will activities," it was more accurate to call them "hobbies" now.

Yoon Seo had completed many will-fulfillment tasks with Kwon Jihan.

They had checked off the hiking list, caught sea bream at dawn, written poetry, and rented a bakery for a week to bake 50,000 choco-crack cookies for donation. It was an overachievement compared to the initial will targets.

Of course, there were still wills they hadn't completed, like squats and jogging. There were also other tasks they hadn't finished yet, like standing in line at a famous restaurant, painting landscapes, playing the piano, doing volunteer work, and gaining 10,000 followers on social media.

"Social media should be done soon." 

Yoon Seo thought, and opened his phone to check his SNS.

"Kwon Jihan."

"Yes, hyung."

When Yoon Seo called him by name instead of the usual 'hunter,' Kwon Jihan responded playfully.

"Put on your disguise item."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Got it."

Kwon Jihan obediently put on his glasses.

Click.

Yoon Seo took a picture. Even though Kwon Jihan had his photo taken without permission, he just smiled warmly.

"Are you going to post it on SNS?"

"Yes."

Yoon Seo was currently running an SNS account under the name of B-rank hunter Yoon Seo. He created it a week ago to dispel rumors of an affair with Kwon Jihan and accusations of being an animal hoarder.

The first post was photos of Riceball and his other pets—ferrets, hedgehogs, cats, lizards, squirrels, all lying around in luxurious comfort, making it clear that he wasn't the kind of person who neglected his pets.

The second post was a photo of Kwon Jihan in his disguise item. Though Yoon Seo thought even that face was too handsome, it wasn't Kwon Jihan's real face. He was trying to show that B-rank hunter Yoon Seo and Kwon Jihan were just close brothers, and that Yoon Seo's boyfriend was actually a bespectacled civilian.

According to Park Youngbum and Goh Heewon, who handled information, rumors of an affair and animal hoarding had died down since the SNS launch. But there was an unintended side effect. Yoon Seo began attracting attention in a different way.

"But hyung, you've got 8,000 followers already. That's super fast in just a week. Only 2,000 more to go for your will, right?"

"Yes… Once I hit 10,000, I'll close it right away."

He had gained 8,230 followers in a week, and the reason was clear.

When top hunters who frequently used social media, like Hong Euiyoon, Soo Jaehee, and Yelena, followed Yoon Seo, ordinary people who followed famous hunters also began to follow him, wondering who this person was that their hunters were following.

"Come on. Do you really need to close it? Once you hit 10,000 followers, you could just tell other hunters to unfollow, and people will naturally drop off."

"Do you think that will work?"

"People followed because they wanted to see the interactions between the stars. So once the hunters stop following you, they'll leave naturally. And the ones who stick around are probably just here to see your adorable Riceball."

Peep!

As soon as Riceball heard its name, it stretched its neck up. Yoon Seo gently petted Riceball.

"Right now, the world only knows *Riceball's* new appearance. But look at how cute it is in all its forms. Don't you want to show it off?"

"They don't even know it's Riceball anyway."

"Still, by spreading the existence of such a cute creature to the world, you're contributing to world peace."

Yoon Seo nodded, thinking it was a good idea.

"Okay. I'll keep the account running."

"Yeah. Oh, but make sure you unfollow Hong Euiyoon. He has too few people he's following, so you stand out too much."

"Got it."

"You should probably unfollow Park Soobin, too. That guy didn't even have SNS before you made one, and you're the only person he's following. How suspicious does that look to the public?"

"Park Soobin's account isn't official, so civilians don't even know it's him."

"Sharp people might figure it out."

Even though Yoon Seo thought it was unlikely, he agreed because Kwon Jihan seemed to want it. Only then did Kwon Jihan look satisfied. If Hong Euiyoon and Park Soobin had been there, they would probably have followed a thousand people right away to cover it up. But they were both in the middle of a dungeon raid.

"I want to post a picture of you, too. How about one of you coloring?"

"Alright. But post it tomorrow, not now."

"Okay."

Kwon Jihan snapped a photo of Yoon Seo with his brightly colored zoo-themed coloring book.

This picture would be posted on Kwon Jihan's SNS tomorrow, and fans would gush over how it seemed like Seo Chaeyoon and Kwon Jihan had gone on another cute date. It was their secret, personal love Instagram. 

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