Published at 5th of March 2023 8:46 am

Chapter 208 Anomaly (2)

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Translated by: Ddomigan

Purr. As Peace shook its body vigorously, the droplets of water hanging on the tips of its fur scattered in all directions.

“You have to sit still, Peace.”

- Kkeuang.

“I’ll dry you up really quick.”

Yoojin wrapped Peace in a soft towel and as he took out a blow dryer, Peace mumbled and licked his hand.

“He can dry himself.”

Yoohyun muttered when he came out of the bathroom.

“He must be tired though, and there’s really no need to use up more mana. Peace's fur dries up quickly. So, it'll be over soon. Would you like me to dry your hair too?”

“Sure.”

“Then, sit over there.”

Yoohyun sat down on the chair obediently and Yoojin promptly blow-dries Peace’s fur. He notices that Peace’s hair seemed to fall out more than usual. It could just be Peace’s shedding season now that it’s September.

The amount of fur shed during the transition from a summer coat to a winter coat was still relatively modest. The real problem would be when the seasons changed from winter to summer. Back when Yoojin was working part-time in a vet, he came across a medium-sized dog that was still shedding, whenever he would touch the dog, its fuzzy fur would fall out in clumps.

Yoojin thought about getting a couple more robot vacuums and tape cleaners. He then let go of Peace and approached Yoohyun.

“In the past, I would sit you in front of me while I dry your hair.”

Back then, both of them could be seated down. But now, Yoohyun was the only one sitting, while Yoojin had to stand up. Yoojin wiped Yoohyun’s damp and frizzy hair with a new towel. Yoohyun styles his hair straight these days, but back when he was younger, he would leave it be, and it made him look really cute.

Yoojin put away the towel before taking out a blow dryer to dry Yoohyun’s hair. Despite being Yoojin’s younger brother, Yoohyun was handsome. What’s good for the geese is good for the gander too (t/n: God should be fair), but it was only natural that his younger brother, who couldn’t be any more amazing than he already is, was this perfect.

“Done. You must be sleepy. You should go to bed.”

Yoojin wanted both Yoohyun and Peace to sleep together, but Yoohyun didn’t want to bring Peace into his room for some reason. Was it because of the fur?

“Are you going out?”

Yoohyun asked while looking up at Yoojin.

“Going out...? Oh, I was about to bring some snacks for Sorok. By the way, you shouldn’t eat the dried fruits I stored in the kitchen basket. Those are for the beasts. Most of them have yet to be evaluated for human consumption.”

“...Did you dry all the beasts’ fruits yourself?”

“I asked a favor from Myeongwoo since there were too many of them. It’s thanks to Ismoire that the fruits dried up nice and quick, the speed at which Myeongwoo cut them up was also really something. I couldn’t keep up at all.”

It was really embarrassing for Yoojin to request such a favor from a distinguished entity, but if he were to make those snacks for Sorok by himself, he would certainly be unable to do anything else. There were too many of those tough and unwieldy fruits, and what Myeongwoo was able to cut up in one minute can take over an hour for Yoojin.

After he explained that Sorok would only get up if it was given snacks, his younger brother got up to follow him.

“I’ll follow along.”

“It’s going to be quick though.”

“But just in case..."

“In case of what?”

“...In case hyung decides to go looking for Volleyball himself.”

So, that was his concern. But, it is true that Yoojin hoped to go and visit Volleyball since he's worried about Yerim.

“Don’t worry, I won’t go alone. Though, I would like it if Yerim came back tomorrow.”

After insisting that he wasn’t so impatient to the point he couldn’t wait for even a day, Yoojin made his way towards Sorok, and when he did, Yoohyun casually followed behind. Peace also followed suit, and after passing through the living room, Chirpie and Velare joined in as well, and suddenly they were all lined up in a single file. This... was really something.

With Peace tucked in Yoojin’s arms, Chirpie nested on top of his head and Velare wrapped around his waist, they left the house. As for the fruits basket, it was carried by Yoohyun.

“Sorok.”

- Bbiaeaeaeng!

As soon as Sorok, who was lying down in the garden of the rearing facility, saw them, it quickly jumped up. And that was the first time Yoojin saw Sorok react that fast. The unicorns came out too, but somehow, they seemed hesitant. Was it because of Peace? Or maybe Yoohyun? Yoojin tried to pass Peace over to Yoohyun, but when Yoohyun didn’t seem like he had any intention to carry it, Yoojin simply placed Peace on the floor. He approached Sorok by himself while holding the fruit basket, and Sorok wagged its tail.

Sorok’s nose tip twitched as it ate the fruits deliciously. The unicorns were given some to eat as well. After advising the hunter in charge to feed no more than 5 pieces of fruits a day and to use them as rewards when they take strolls, Yoojin handed over the basket and left the rearing center.

“Both of them have really grown up. I’m practically out of reasons to see them now.”

Yoojin decided to stay at home, but it’s not like he had nothing to do. The gaze... could just be Newbie or another system admin performing a simple examination in the dungeon. Yoohyun had said that other than the gaze, there was nothing unusual.

When Yoojin sat on the sofa in the living room, Yoohyun and Peace followed suit once again. Don’t they want to sleep? ‘But if Peace wants to sleep on my lap, he’s free to do so,’ Yoojin thought to himself.

“How did a person who just turned twenty be more clingy than he was when he was younger.”

“Can’t I?”

“It’s not that you ca-… No, I mean, of course you can’t. You should go meet up with your friends or go on a date when you're free. And while we're on that topic, do you really not have anyone you’re interested in?”

Isn’t twenty the age where people would have been in at least one or two relationships?...Although, Yoojin wasn’t in a place to lecture about that. When asked if anyone of the opposite sex caught his eye, Yoohyun turned on the TV. The people on the TV talked about Yoohyun’s record clear time.

“None.”

“Not even one?”

Yoohyun was silent for a moment, and then slowly opened his mouth.

“Do I really have to like someone else?”

“...What?”

“Apart from you, I don’t really know how to like anyone else.”

...Yoojin remembered something the Immoral People told him some time ago. Natural S-classes don’t get along well with each other. Could it be that it’s difficult for the S-classes to take a shine on other people? But Riette didn’t seem that way, and as for Sung Hyunjae... Yoojin honestly doesn’t know whether he’s being sincere or just putting on a show.

“At the very least, I do like you.” Yoojin said.

“Yeah.”

“Then, wouldn’t other people like you too?”

“But there won’t be anyone that likes me as much as you do, hyung. You’re just a little different.”

“Hey, what do you mean ‘won’t,’ don’t talk like that.”

Those melancholic words needlessly upset Yoojin. He wondered whether it was because of the cold treatment Yoohyun received from their parents. Yoojin did make an effort to be a substitute for their parents, but despite that, their parents’ coldness still had an effect on Yoohyun.

“But there are a lot of people that like you. There’s also a lot of people in Haeyeon that value you. And don’t you get along well with Peace too? Yerim also said that, to some extent, you take fairly good care of her. You even bought her pajamas, didn't you? You look after Yerim too, am I right?”

“Since Park Yerim is, well, not a bad person. And I do seem to get along well with Peace.”

“It’s perfectly fine to like someone no matter how insignificant the feeling, right? It’s not that big of a deal. If you keep being around someone, and then take care of them, get to know them and spend time with them, then they’ll start to develop warm feelings towards you. Then gradually, the intensity of that feeling will grow.”

There are times when people fall in love quickly and times when people develop feelings after steadily getting to know each other. And if it were the latter, then generally, the relationship will remain stable and unwavering for a long time.

“Surely by then, there will be people who likes you as much as I do, or even more than that.”

“I don’t think so.”

“There will be. Anything can happen.”

Since they were natural S-classes, they were hard to understand. For Riette, Kang Soyoung was able to get along well with her without any aversion whatsoever because of her skill....If Yoohyun had a Dragon Title, then he might have a chance as well. Or maybe a skill that’s elemental-related or fire attribute-related or something like that.

“I want everyone in the world to like you, Yoohyun. And it’s the same for Yerim.”

Both of them deserved to be loved. Although, in actuality, they were already quite popular, it’s just that Yoojin desired their popularity to be even greater.

“But still, the best-case scenario is that you can be with someone who really loves you a lot. You have to love that person too, but that person will have to love you more than that. I will be against it, if that was not the case.”

It’s nice being the one that is given more love in a relationship, and it’s even more so in a marriage. This applies to Yoohyun as well as Yerim. Since both of them don't have parents, there was a high possibility of their feelings being taken advantage of. But if they were given enough love and care, then something like that will never happen.

At that moment, in Yoojin’s mind, the numerous accounts of unhappy marriages, family problems, and even the plot of the last soap opera he watched right before the regression emerged one after another. Even if it's still too early to talk about the kids’ marriages, the thought of it still made Yoojin anxious.

“...There’s no way I’ll let that happen. Both of you must find someone who will love and risk their lives for you. I would rather have dirt in my eye than acknowledge a relationship that's unrequited or with a partner that’s non-committal. I worry more about Yerim since she's still so young. Hopefully, there aren’t any strange people around her."

“Don’t worry, hyung. Even if Park Yerim is approached by strange people, I’ll take care of it quietly.”

Yoohyun declaring that he’d take care of Yerim even was really admirable. That’s right, one must take care of those younger than them. Anyway... When is he going to sleep? While Peace wasn't in its usual curled-up slumbering position, it had already fallen asleep on Yoojin’s lap.

Eventually later though, Yoohyun fell asleep on the sofa crumpled up. Yoojin decides he’ll go into his room and sleep comfortably.

That evening, as expected, Yerim did not return, but the following day, against their expectations, she was still not back yet. The dungeon gate was still intact and that was a clear sign that everything was alright, but Yoojin began to get increasingly worried. While one lacked experience and the other was still a beginner in raiding high-rank dungeons, they were both still S-classes. Their team composition should be sufficient to finish an A-rank dungeon within four days.

Despite Blue being a nimble mount that’s capable of flight, and Yerim possessing powerful area-of-effect attack skills, they weren’t able to clear the dungeon within the estimated timeframe.

“Hyung, calm down. We won’t be able to get to the other side of the sealed dungeon anyway.”

Yoohyun said as he followed closely behind Yoojin.

“But you never know. There might be a way.”

“So, what if there is? There’s surely a price to pay for it, and Park Yerim wouldn’t want hyung to sacrifice something again.”

It’s not like it had no chance of that being true, but Yoohyun seemed confident about it. However, just sitting tight made him very anxious.

Yoojin then said, “If you are anxious because you’re going alone, then...”

Right after Yoojin left the dungeon building, he waved his hand towards the direction of the facility building. Recently, Noah hung out with other people mostly while indoors, but today he was sitting on the roof of the building in the form of a dragon. Noah turned back into a human being and descended downwards, as he did, he looked back and forth between Yoojin and Yoohyun.

“What is it, Yoojin-ssi?” Noah asked.

“Noah-ssi, if you’re free, would you like to accompany me and enter a dungeon?”

Even though Noah is a support class, he will still be helpful in many ways in an S-rank battle.

“I’m fine with it, of cour-”

“No way.”

A chilly voice spoke behind Yoojin, and right then...

“Keuk-!”

Noah's neck was seized by Yoohyun. Yoohyun had moved behind Noah instantaneously and with one hand, he grabbed his neck. However, Noah didn’t just take the assault quietly, he tried to attack Han Yoohyun with his bestialized hand, but his wrist was grabbed before the attack could land.

At that moment, Irin was already mounted on top of Noah's free hand. Underneath the flickering flames of the lizard, Noah’s dragon scales were dyed reddish.

“Yoohyun!”

“He’ll just be a burden.”

“Hey, just how many hunters do you think are stronger than you!”

“If Hunter Park Yerim were to come back and enter a dungeon that’s occupied by either a big river or lake, while also becoming successful in securing a strategic position, I wouldn't be able to lay a finger on her effortlessly. However, I can’t say the same for Hunter Noah.”

Noah bit his lip tightly as if he was angry. But he couldn't refute what Yoohyun had said. It was true that Noah could be easily subdued if Yoohyun decided to do so. Poison could be stopped with fire, and even if Noah transformed into a dragon and flew, it would be still impossible to do anything other than to flee.

If Yoohyun were to wear the Blue Thunderbird Robe that enhances his speed, the chase will be over the instant he begin approaching. The difference in their abilities were so vast that this outcome would be inevitable. It was the same with Riette, that's why Noah kept running away from her during the Ranking Event.

“I heard that Blue is quite playful. The raid could’ve just been delayed due to his mischief. Since it is Park Yerim’s first dungeon raid with her team, it’s also possible that she intentionally slowed down to match the pace of her teammates.”

Yoohyun said as he withdrew his hand and took a step away from Noah. Irin slid back and returned to him as well.

It’s true that Blue likes to play around with the monsters, and his last dungeon raid was delayed because of it too, but...

“...I get it. I’m sorry, Noah-ssi." Yoojin said.

“No, don’t be. The fact that I’m weak... is true, after all.”

Noah stepped aside while rubbing his neck. He glanced at Yoohyun, and said with a sigh.

“...I think it would be good for me to raid dungeons regularly too.”

Before Yoojin could tell Noah that it was fine, Yoohyun opened his mouth to speak first.

“That is a commendable consideration. I'm grateful that Noah Hunter protects this place, but it would be a waste to continue prolonging this situation. While either Hunter Park Yerim or I are staying outside, you should enter a dungeon.”

...Yoojin agrees with that plan too. Noah nodded and looked at Yoojin.

“I will try not to be a nuisance for Yoojin-ssi.”

“That’s not it, you’re helpful even as you are now. Hey, Han Yoohyun. you should’ve been polite about it from the beginning.”

What's with striking first and then assessing later? Didn’t Noah almost die because of that? Despite Yoojin’s criticism towards him, Yoohyun still spoke to Noah nonchalantly.

“Some simple sparring can help with that.” Yoohyun said.

“Thank you.” Noah responded.

Sparring, huh, that’s good. In some way, Yoohyun was actually taking care of Noah.

In the end, Yoojin decided to be patient and wait for one more day, hence time flowed slowly. The following day, however, it was announced that Sung Hyunjae had emerged from the dungeon instead of Yerim. The news came earlier than expected, and Yoojin headed straight to the site of the dungeon which Sung Hyunjae conquered.

“I’ll be fine, so let me in.” Yoojin requested upon arrival.

The members of the Sesung Guild wore troubled expressions at Yoojin’s request. Sung Hyunjae has yet to leave the dungeon building.

The S-rank dungeon building was situated in a downtown area in the center of Seoul. The areas around high-rank dungeons are usually deserted as people avoid staying nearby, but this place was different. Although the value of the land right around the dungeon had dropped, the streets remained bustling and lively, no different from before.

If the surrounding area becomes abandoned due to the appearance of a dungeon, then there would be nowhere left to go for its residents. In such cases, the management of the dungeons would receive greater attention to prevent that from happening. As such, this dungeon has been entrusted to Sesung.

“I heard that the guild was contacted and were told that there are no problems.”

"That's true, but that contact came directly from the guild leader instead of the other team members."

He said that when Sesung Guild’s conquest teams finish their raids, they would normally wait for an hour or two before leaving the dungeon building. Even though no one was particularly enthusiastic about it, that was the basic rule they had to abide by.

As the rule applied to Sung Hyunjae too, his team members would normally contact the guild immediately after completing the raid and then proceed with the waiting. However, this time, it was the guild leader who had initiated the contact rather than the team members.

In other words, it’s possible that it meant that, other than the guild leader, no other team members were in any condition to make contact with the guild.

“It could just be a whim, but you should prioritize your safety.”

“Even so, I’ll be okay. I want to go further in.”

This was out of the ordinary. To put it another way, the likelihood of Sung Hyunjae having sensed an anomaly just as Yoohyun did, was high. It shouldn’t be difficult for Yoojin to wait an hour or two, but perhaps because he had already waited for two days prior, he couldn’t stop feeling anxious.

“Even if you say that... Since we cannot assess the internal situation, we can’t let Haeyeon’s guild leader go through under any circumstances."

Yoohyun furrowed his brows upon hearing those words. Since Yoojin was only a C-class, he wouldn’t be able to move a muscle against Sung Hyunjae who’s inside, but that wasn’t the case for Yoohyun.

“Let’s just wait, hyung.”

“But...”

‘Should I make a phone call? But, will it go through?’ Yoojin wondered. There were too many ears around for Yoojin to communicate properly, so just as he was about to get into his car and make the call, Evelyn approached him.

"So, you’re okay with not entering, Director Han?"

Evelyn said with a slight smile.

“We are worried about him too, so if you could just look into the situation on our behalf, we’d appreciate it.” Evelyn said.

“Hyung, I can’t let you go in by yourself.” Yoohyun protested.

“It’s just right around the corner. How about I get you an emergency beacon? And, here...”

Evelyn then held out a hand. Above the hand, a large bow appeared and spun before settling itself on her palm.

“Just give me a signal and I’ll blow up the building.”

She assured Yoojin’s safety and told him to enter whilst her eyes sparkled under those glasses. Her supposed worry for the Sesung guild leader almost felt like it was partly just an excuse to have fun.

Even so, Yoojin had no reason to refuse her help, so he accepted the emergency beacon. Yoojin reassured Yoohyun before advancing into the dungeon building, after which he activated Grace at S-rank efficacy.

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