VSP 74

[Honestly, I think you’d need ten times that amount to feel truly free.]

“……”

[Once you hit 300, then 500, then… you’ll keep going? I’m certain.]

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with me being happy?”

[Not at all. No one wishes for your happiness more than I do.]

“Are you a T?” (MBTI Thinking type)

Sejun got angry.

[Hunter Ryu Sehyun has arrived.]

The system skillfully changed the subject, deflecting Sejun’s anger. Ryu Sehyun’s car was indeed approaching, so Sejun chose to shut his mouth with a sullen expression instead of shouting his frustration.

Today was the day Team 2, consisting of Ryu Sehyun and Sejun, would raid a dungeon.

“A-rank dungeons have become so rare lately. Why are there so many today?” Sejun grumbled.

It was an official fact known worldwide that dungeon spawns had decreased after the Final Dungeon. But to Sejun, it felt like the frequency of A-rank dungeons appearing lately was almost as high as it had been back then.

Especially since S-rank players were now rotating through A-rank dungeon raids, he was keenly aware of the numbers and frequency, perhaps even more acutely than before.

…Could it actually be increasing? Why?

Before Sejun’s sudden puzzlement could deepen, the approaching car glided smoothly to a stop before him.

Since both their homes weren’t far apart, Ryu Sehyun had personally come to pick Sejun up after suggesting they meet and ride together. The silver BenX complemented Ryu Sehyun perfectly.

Sejun found himself thinking anew how a person’s car choice truly reflected their character.

Sejun, who had naturally recalled his own PorXche and Cha Dogyeong’s MercXdes-BenX, promptly slid into the passenger seat.

“Hello, hyung.”

Glancing at the seat beside him, he greeted Ryu Sehyun, who was dressed differently than usual and returned the greeting.

“Hey.”

Ryu Sehyun wasn’t in his usual suit. The clothes clinging to his upper body looked comfortable for movement.

It was a sight he hadn’t seen in a long time. Before becoming the Association President, Ryu Sehyun had been an energetic and active hunter who mostly wore clothes like that. After becoming President, he’d always kept his bangs swept up and stuck to suits to avoid looking too young.

But during this special management period, Ryu Sehyun had temporarily returned to active duty. Dressed in easy-to-move-in clothes with his usually-tucked-up bangs down, he looked far more relaxed than usual, and younger.

Even though he’d recently spent so much time sitting at a desk he almost looked like an office worker, his physique was still impressive. As one of the strongest S-rank Hunters, his solid muscles were clearly visible.

This physique stood in stark contrast to Sejun’s, who, due to the nature of his Summoner role requiring little physical exertion, hadn’t seriously built bulging muscles.

“Maybe I should start working out seriously too…” Sejun mused while fastening his seatbelt, then cheerfully addressed Sehyun.

“This feels like the first time we’re moving together, just the two of us.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

It was true. Though they’d occasionally met privately for meals, the two had never raided a dungeon together alone.

Originally, when operating under former guild leader Park Hyungchul, Park would handle forming raid parties while keeping an eye on other guilds, or Cha Dogyeong would summon other hunters to clear dungeons.

Sejun rarely made it into official raid parties, always deemed lacking in skill and lacking guild affiliation.

Unless, of course, he was forcibly summoned by Cha Dogyeong to tackle impossibly difficult S-rank dungeons, dragged from place to place.

Come to think of it, maybe the author had deliberately used Sejun as a combat power gauge.

Now, having achieved a sort of half-enlightenment on that front, Sejun chuckled inwardly.

As he exited the parking lot, heavy rain poured down, proving summer had arrived.

“Is the rainy season already here?”

The weather had been gloomy for days, and the weather app showed nothing but rain for the entire week ahead. It seemed the rainy season had arrived early. Spring had been brief, and summer had long since begun, so it wasn’t surprising.

“Looks like it.”

Ryu Sehyun, unfazed by the rain obscuring his view, spoke casually as he smoothly pulled into the drive-thru lane of a large franchise cafe.

-Hello, customer! What would you like to order?

Sehyun placed his order effortlessly over the speaker.

“An iced Americano for me. Sejun, what about you? A soda?”

“Yeah, any soda will do.”

“One lemonade, please.”

The cafe employee, recognizing Sehyun’s face, reached to hand over the coffee but hesitated, his hand trembling slightly and spilling a bit of the drink. Despite this minor mishap, the two successfully bought their drinks and headed back toward their destination.

“Hyung, you’re not having anything sweet today.”

Sejun had shared meals with Ryu Sehyun several times, but they rarely had coffee together. Even in those infrequent moments, whenever they did drink something, Sejun knew Sehyun always chose something sweet.

But an Americano? And selecting it without hesitation, as if he drank nothing else. Sejun tilted his head.

“Hyung, you never liked sweet drinks?”

Having asked the question, Sejun missed the fleeting look of embarrassment that crossed Sehyun’s face.

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

“I like sweet drinks. I always enjoyed the ones you bought me.”

“Today I just felt like having an Americano,” he added with a gentle smile, finally putting Sejun at ease.

“Oh.”

Right. Deliberately drinking something you dislike just to please someone else was something only love could explain. It was impossible without a certain depth of affection. Even Sejun’s father would complain, “Dad doesn’t like this flavor,” if brought something he disliked.

The car ride to that day’s destination was filled with their chatter, leaving no moment of silence. Though Sejun did most of the talking, Ryu Sehyun being the quieter one, Sejun found him comfortable to be around.

After slurping down his refreshing lemonade, Sejun shook the plastic cup, now empty save for a pile of sliced lemon and lemon seeds at the bottom, and suddenly remembered.

“Cha Dogyeong iked lemonade too.”

Seeing the lemonade had suddenly reminded him of that. Cha Dogyeong’s insanely sour lemonade.

“…Oh?”

Ryu Sehyun, who usually responded instantly to whatever Sejun said, was a beat late this time, but Sejun didn’t notice.

“Oh, but not just any lemonade, super sour stuff. Tastes like they squeezed fresh lemons into it. I got a sip last time and spit it out right away. He says he likes it.”

An incomprehensible taste. Remembering how he’d made him run coffee errands despite that preference, it was clearly just spite.

Then Sejun shook his head, remembering that first kiss bursting with lemon flavor. Why is he thinking about useless things?

After that, Ryu Sehyun became strangely quiet. Watching him sit in silence, Sejun cleared his throat and made small talk.

“You are not having a hard time lately?”

At those words, Ryu Sehyun, who’d been keeping his mouth shut, let out a soft chuckle. Ah, he laughed. Sejun felt satisfaction at having drawn a rare smile from the usually stoic man and smiled back.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you’re asking me what I always ask you. It’s funny.”

Is that so? Thinking about it, it seemed plausible. Ryu Sehyun was a natural leader, not a counselor. He wasn’t the type to fuss over or manage each person individually, but he always made an exception for Sejun.

Thinking about it, compared to how much Sehyun cared for him, Sejun hadn’t really shown him much care in return. Seizing the opportune moment, Sejun asked again.

“I’m just saying because it seems like you must have a lot on your plate.”

“Well, nothing really.”

Ryu Sehyun said there wasn’t, but there had to be. It was essentially a crown forced upon him through shifting responsibilities. No matter how capable he was, there was no way someone in his position wouldn’t have troublesome matters to deal with.

But knowing Ryu Sehyun’s personality, if he decided not to open up, he absolutely wouldn’t say anything. After pondering, Sejun changed the question.

“Then who’s the most troublesome person lately?”

“Hmm.”

“Besides me.”

At that, Ryu Sehyun chuckled softly. Haa. He let out a small sigh, seeming to hesitate whether he should say it, but finally spoke.

“Lee Yongseok?”

The name that came after a long pause was one Sejun knew well.

Lee Yongseok, an A-rank Hunter. Guild Master of the Bacheon Guild.

Among A-rank Hunters, he was considered top-tier, or openly called the undisputed number one. Yet more often than not, he was known by his infamous nickname: the Unlucky S-rank.

Just hearing the guild’s name made Sejun’s skin crawl. He shuddered violently.