[SEDUCE OR DIE!]

"Are you sure he's fine, doc? The whole time we were there, he just kept staring at the wall. Sometimes he'd make these weird expressions... even mumbled to himself."

Eli could hear his 'dad' speaking just outside the hospital room, his voice hushed but clearly laced with concern.

"He just went through something traumatic, Mr. Ahn," the doctor responded calmly. "You must understand—we've had multiple patients exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress. After what happened, it's not uncommon. Many are still refusing to leave the hospital… especially since the hole still hasn't been sealed."

That caught Eli's attention.

'So the rift is still open…? Shit.'

He kept his eyes fixed on the translucent, glowing screen hovering before him, barely blinking. Their voices were important. They were talking about him. But nothing could peel his gaze away from the absurd words burned into his vision.

"What do you mean I have to seduce the strongest S-Class hunters?" Eli hissed under his breath at the system, jaw clenched. "What kind of joke is this, huh? And multiple?!"

Ding.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Target briefing initiated.

Objective: Accumulate a total of 1,000 Affection Points.

> You will be given two primary targets.

> Each target must reach a minimum of 500 Affection Points to fulfill the core requirement.

Would you like to know who your targets are?

❏ YES

❏ NO

"A thousand points?!" Eli whisper-yelled, already massaging his temples. "System, are you aware that I've been single for as long as I can remember?! I can't seduce anyone, even if it was to save my life…"

'Which… technically, it is.'

The screen remained unchanged. The system was, once again, refusing to respond to his dramatic pleas. Only the blinking cursor beneath the question reminded him he didn't have the luxury to ignore it.

He groaned. "Fine. Yes. Which S-Class Hunters are we talking about?"

He crossed his arms tightly across his chest. It was ridiculous. He still didn't believe he was going to actually go through with it—but he needed all the information.

Especially if the targets were S-Class.

Because Eli knew them. All twenty-six of them.

He'd memorized their stats, guild affiliations, even their birthdays and power types like a fanboy studying for an exam he'd never get to take.

Ding.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

❖ Target 1: Caelen — Ranked No. 1 S-Class Hunter

Affiliation: Lion's Fang Guild

❖ Target 2: Kairo — Ranked No. 1 S-Class Hunter (shared rank)

Affiliation: Twilight Guild

Eli blinked.

Stared.

Then blinked again.

His entire face froze in horror.

'This has to be a joke… right? Please tell me this is a joke.' Even if it was. He wasn't laughing.

"System," Eli said blankly. "Jokes are supposed to be funny. This? This is the opposite of that."

Silence.

No ding. No message.

And that was somehow worse.

Eli's face drained of color.

"…Are you serious?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "The Caelen and Kairo?! Are you trying to kill me?! You're setting me up for failure! Literal, painful, humiliating failure!"

His panic spiked. Unfortunately, so did his volume.

The door burst open.

Eli flinched.

"Son… are you okay?" His 'dad' stood in the doorway, frowning in concern, his hand still on the knob. The doctor peered over his shoulder, eyes narrowed in curiosity.

Eli stared like a deer caught in headlights.

"I—yes," he said too quickly, voice unnaturally high.

"Who were you talking to just now?"

Eli's mind raced. His eyes darted—then landed on the still-playing TV across the room.

"Ah, no one!" he said. "I was just reacting to the show that's on."

The man looked past him.

Eli smiled weakly. 'Please buy it. Please just take the bait and leave.'

"…Since when are you invested in dating shows?" the man asked, tone laced with suspicion.

Eli froze, glanced quickly at the screen again, and forced a laugh so fake he could practically taste how sour it was.

The screen read: HEART ISLE — Episode 13: "Confession on the Cliffside."

Great. Of all things…

"Just now, actually," he said with a shrug. "There's nothing else to do in here…"

'I'm going to die of secondhand embarrassment. Forget seducing S-Class hunters.'

His 'dad' stared at him for a long moment. Then sighed.

"Alright. Just settle down. You're not fully better yet. Your mother will be back with snacks soon."

And with that, the door slowly clicked shut.

Eli slumped back against the pillows, exhaling a long, suffering breath.

"I've got to stop making people think I'm insane," he muttered to himself, dragging a hand over his face.

But staying calm in this situation?

That was impossible.

There were exactly twenty-six S-Class hunters registered in all of Korenea. A small number at first glance—until it's compared to the global statistics.

Korenea had the highest number of S-Class hunters in the entire world.

And in this world, S-Class hunters weren't just admired—they were revered. Treated like gods among mortals.

Their power, influence, and presence reshaped the battlefield. One S-Class could change the tide of war, wipe out entire hordes, or collapse dungeons others couldn't even breach.

But make no mistake—they weren't equals.

S-Class rankings existed for a reason. Some were faster. Some were smarter. Some were monsters in human form. That's why there was a ranking system, a constant contest of power and legacy.

The list only went up to twenty-five.

Because two people shared the top spot.

Two rivals so evenly matched that no one dared place one above the other.

Caelen and Kairo.

The living legends.

Both widely regarded as not only the strongest in Korenea—but potentially among the strongest in the world.

And just as legendary as their power… was their hatred for each other.

Their animosity ran so deep it bled into everything.

Their guilds? Enemies.

Their guild leaders? Infamous for publicly trashing one another.

Their squads? At each other's throats.

Whenever an S-Class dungeon was up for grabs, Twilight Guild and Lion's Fang Guild would start bidding wars so intense, the Association had to enforce rules to keep things from escalating.

But it wasn't just power and politics that made them notorious.

Both Caelen and Kairo were also considered the most eligible bachelors in Korenea.

Neither of them had ever been in a public relationship. Not one serious partner, not one confirmed lover.

Caelen flirted with women left and right, sure—but it was just that. Flirting. Playful, shallow, and over in a heartbeat.

Kairo? He didn't flirt at all. He was notorious for being cold, closed-off, and disinterested in anyone who wasn't already part of his inner circle.

He barely even tolerated strangers.

They weren't just difficult to approach—they were unreachable.

They didn't want love.

They didn't need it.

And Eli?

He was being asked to seduce both of them.

"If I need to seduce someone, why does it have to be them?!" Eli groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Why can't it be... anyone else?!"

Silence.

The system didn't respond.

Of course it didn't.

Eli scowled at the floating screen, trying to find a different option. An alternate route. Anything that didn't involve throwing himself at two demi-gods with zero interest in dating.

He hesitated, then whispered, "…What if I say no?"

The room remained still. The only sounds came from the television, where women squealed and men laughed on-screen, probably over some manufactured dating drama.

Eli let out a breath.

'Guess that's my answer…'

Ding.

[SYSTEM RESPONSE]

> Refusal to do challenge will ultimately result in PERMANENT death, as you have already agreed to the terms.

Eli stared.

"…Motherfucker."