34. Change (6)

“What? You and I are the closest.”

Ye-Hyeon burst into laughter at Yoon Seung-Jae’s childish jealousy.

“Isn’t it?”

Yoon Seung-Jae asked, drooping his eyebrows. He even looked uneasy at first glance.

“Yes, yes. I’m the closest to you. Hahaha.”

Ye-Hyeon smiled broadly and pinched Yoon Seung-Jae’s cheek. He lost a little baby fat, but it was still cute because it was plump.

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

Yoon Seung-Jae spoke bluntly and held Ye-Hyeon’s hand tightly. Yoon Seung-Jae was obsessed with his hands today.

‘Cute guy.’

Ye-Hyeon gave his hand quietly and folded her eyes into a half-moon shape.

“I was just asking how to read and avoid monster attacks. What do you do?”

“…well?”

Yoon Seung-Jae tilted his head and spat it out. Ye-Hyeon wasn’t trying to tease him but wasn’t able to explain. Yoon Seung-Jae also opened his eyes wide as he answered.

‘I knew it.’

Ye-Hyeon held back the laughter that was about to come out. It was as expected.

Contrary to Shin Do-Gyeom, who analyzes the situation rationally, Yoon Seung-Jae was the type to fight based on instinct. He didn’t even think about how he managed to kill the monster.

Kwon Joo-Ho was similar to Yoon Seung-Jae. Listening to the discussion, he was using his brain compared to Yoon Seung-Jae.

Baek Hae-won is as rational and calm as Shin Do-Gyeom, but the fighting method differs. Shin Do-Gyeom found the best way depending on the situation, and Baek Hae-Won pushed with firepower no matter what kind of monster came out.

Baek Hae-Won did not move during the battle because he melted the monster with overwhelming attack power, even for the S class. It may have been possible in the C-class dungeon because of the wide gap between grades and levels, but it was great.

“Hyung, let’s go on a date tomorrow.”

Ye-Hyeon, briefly lost in thought, faltered at Yoon Seung-Jae’s suggestion. He may have jokingly referred to going out with him as a date, but the way he touched his hand was unusual.

Yoon Seung-Jae tickled Ye-Hyeon’s palm with his fingertips, and their fingers were intertwined and joined.

“Uh……”

Ye-Hyeon was flustered. It felt very different from his reckless admiration. The sense of alienation he had secretly felt since morning has come to reality.

“How can I date a baby?”

Ye-Hyeon smiled as if he were joking and tried to pull up his arms, but Yoon Seung-Jae gripped harder and wouldn’t let go.

“You said you were fine with someone younger.”

Yoon Seung-Jae mumbled while pouting. Yoon Seung-Jae rubbed his cheek on the back of Ye-Hyeon’s hand as if to look nice.

Ye-Hyeon coughed in vain for no reason. He couldn’t bear to deny what he said.

Ye-Hyeon touched his earlobes and rolled his eyes around.

“But being eight years younger is a little…….”

“What eight years? Hyung and I are only five years apart. Can’t you do addition and subtraction?”

Yoon Seung-Jae was furious when he said he was eight years younger. Yoon Seung-Jae was paying considerable attention to the age difference.

“……I’m saying this because for my own good.”

Ye-Hyeon said with a sigh.

“What are you talking about?”

Yoon Seung-Jae gave strength to his round eyes. Yoon Seung-Jae was unlikely to back down easily.

“Your Hyung doesn’t want to be taken away by the police, Yoon Seung-Jae.”

Ye-Hyeon tapped Yoon Seung-Jae’s hand, which was holding his hand tightly.

Yoon Seung-Jae shouted with his whole body that he liked Ye-Hyeon, not just saying it himself. Yoon Seung-Jae also seemed to have no intention of hiding it.

Ye-Hyeon held his tongue. He was grateful to Yoon Seung-Jae for following him blindly even though he didn’t do anything special, coming up to him first at any time and liking him no matter the meaning.

But apart from that, Yoon Seung-Jae was still too young.

If it was Yoon Seung-Jae’s personality, it was apparent he would attack the moment he realized his feelings. Ye-Hyeon can’t allow that.

The Hunter world was as widespread as the entertainment industry regarding gossip.

If Ye-Hyeon had accepted the favorable behavior of Yoon Seung-Jae, a minor, there would have been bad rumors. Even if Yoon Seung-Jae didn’t mind, Ye-Hyeon couldn’t.

‘I’ll be careful.’

When Ye-Hyeon pretended to be scared, Yoon Seung-Jae puffed his cheeks, showing dissatisfaction.

“Yes, then come back in a few months.”

Ye-Hyeon stroked Yoon Seung-Jae’s forehead with affection.

Yoon Seung-Jae looked at Ye-Hyeon with hurt eyes as if it were too much and buried his head on Ye-Hyeon’s shoulder.

[system] ‘Target 4: Yoon Seung-Jae’s affection level increased by 1 point.

“……then don’t go out with anyone until then.”

Yoon Seung-Jae rubbed his forehead on Ye-Hyeon’s neck and whispered desperately.

Ye-Hyeon was speechless for a moment.

“I didn’t say I’d go out with me when you turned 20, right?”

“I know. But promise me.”

Yoon Seung-Jae’s voice drooped.

“Yoon Seung-Jae, what’s wrong with you?”

Ye-Hyeon patted Yoon Seung-Jae’s back restlessly. He was worried that Yoon Seung-Jae would cry like when Scream Raven hurt him.”It’s unfair that I’m the only one behind. I want to be older than you.”

Yoon Seung-Jae hugged Ye-Hyeon’s waist hard, vented his anger, and inhaled heavily.

Ye-Hyeon, comforting Yoon Seung-Jae, made eye contact with Baek Hae-Won. Ye-Hyeon smiled awkwardly.

Kwon Joo-Ho did the same, but Baek Hae-Won didn’t seem to care, even if Ye-Hyeon was hugging another person.

‘At this rate, I don’t think I’ll succeed at the end of this year.’

It would take at least a year. In addition, even if it wasn’t Yoon Seung-Jae’s request, he couldn’t get along with one person since he needed to talk with four targets.

‘Am I too trashy?’

Ye-Hyeon nodded slowly while feeling uneasy.

“Okay. I won’t go out with anyone until you’re twenty, as you say.”

Ye-Hyeon promised Yoon Seung-Jae, thinking he might not be able to date anyway.

“Really? Really? It’s a promise.”

When Ye-Hyeon said okay, Yoon Seung-Jae quickly felt better. If he allowed him, Yoon Seung-Jae would hug Ye-Hyeon and run around.

“Yes, so let it go now.”

Ye-Hyeon was embarrassed and tousled Yoon Seung-Jae’s curly hair for no reason.

“Yes,”

Yoon Seung-jae answered immediately, but he finally let Ye-Hyeon go after a long time.

[system] Intimacy points increased by 5 points.

Since last time, Yoon Seung-Jae has been slowly raising intimacy points.

‘I need a point of affection, not intimacy.’

Ye-Hyeon looked around with a regretful expression.

While there was a commotion, the break time was all over.

Dungeon, which features Root Bloom, had a particularly long travel distance. You’ll have to walk for another 10 minutes.

Ye-Hyeon followed the winding road and pondered how to raise affection points.

‘Should I just take anyone and kiss them, pretending it was a mistake?’

Ye-Hyeon smirked. It was impossible in a space where all the other hunters were together.

According to experience so far, getting hurt has worked best.

‘But it’s the last resort.’

Ye-Hyeon was the party’s leader, even if it was an unexpected position. Being hurt won’t make you a charismatic leader. He at least needs to earn their trust.

He was indeed anxious to get the skill quickly, but Ye-Hyeon couldn’t go further after trying to make a small profit.

About two and a half years are left until the S-class super-large gate appears.

‘There’s still plenty of time. Let’s do it step by step.’

Ye-Hyeon took a deep breath and glanced at Kwon Joo-Ho’s back as he walked forward without shaking. From the morning, he had been around Kwon Joo-Ho whenever he had time, but he rarely had a chance to talk to him. Even if he barely spoke, the conversation was often cut off by Kwon Joo-Ho’s short answer often cut the conversation.

‘He’s an iron wall, an iron wall.’

Ye-Hyeon couldn’t find a gap. He wondered why he had to be tied to Kwon Joo-Ho.

‘I need to know what Kwon Joo-ho likes and dislikes.’

First of all, it was clear that he liked swords because he carefully groomed them every break.

‘And then… is it me?’

Ye-Hyeon shook his head reflexively. He is used to it.

Ye-Hyeon tilted his upper body slightly and peeped at Kwon Joo-Ho’s profile. Kwon Joo-Ho was expressionless as always.

Kwon Joo-Ho did not clearly show his likes and dislikes, and he spoke little so that he couldn’t figure out anything. Ye-Hyeon could see why the store was selling the target information.

“Oh.”

Ye-Hyeon, who was snooping toward Kwon Joo-Ho, made eye contact with Baek Hae-Won again. He just turned his head naturally as if he was looking ahead, but his feet went numb for no reason.

Ye-Hyeon wanted him to pretend not to know, but Baek Hae-Won slowed down and came next to Ye-Hyeon.

“What happened earlier?”

Baek Hae-Won hinted with curiosity.

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