* * *
His hair was a mess, as if he’d rushed over in a hurry.
Why did he come all the way here in such a panic?
He knows I’m fine…
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
Baek Gunho frowned as he carefully inspected me.
After confirming no one else was around, I whispered.
“I took some medicine to lower my rank… that’s why.”
“Are you insane?”
He snapped, his face hardening. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him.
“I had no choice. What if I got caught during the tests? And needles won’t even go in.”
I shook the arm with the IV drip.
My S-rank body was so tough that regular needles couldn’t pierce it.
It was an unavoidable decision.
But Baek Gunho wasn’t convinced in the slightest.
“So you took some medicine? You call that medicine? If it lowers your rank, it’s poison.”
“Poison can also be medicine if used correctly.”
“Don’t give me that crap. What if something happened while that poison was in your system? You’d be helpless, unable to fight back, captured, or worse. Did you even think about that?”
He was right.
But what could possibly happen in the brief time I took it?
I wanted to say that, but I held my tongue, fearing he’d lecture me endlessly if I did.
“And why were you shooting at the dungeon break? An F-rank should have evacuated immediately.”
“I’m not really an F-rank. If I hadn’t stopped them, people would’ve gotten hurt. You think I’d run when I knew people could die?”
“Sigh…”
Baek Gunho rubbed his forehead, looking exasperated.
For someone who put most of his stats into something other than empathy, he sure cared about people’s safety.
He couldn’t just tell me to let people die.
His expression showed he had more to say, but I knew from experience that it was better to apologize now than to argue.
“I’m sorry.”
“You always just say sorry. Seriously, I won’t live long because of you. If I die young, it’s your fault.”
Maybe?
He attracts trouble like nobody’s business.
Given all the swearing he’s endured, he’ll probably live longer than me.
Baek Gunho seemed to calm down a little, though his expression was still displeased.
But I could tell the difference from before.
“Don’t ever do that again. And don’t take that kind of medicine.”
I couldn’t guarantee that, though. How could I ignore danger when it was right in front of me?
“Answer me.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
If I disagreed, he’d start lecturing again, so I reluctantly agreed.
Baek Gunho sighed, pulled up a chair, and sat next to me.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I am.”
“Then you can leave.”
“I’m staying until you’re better.”
I didn’t feel well enough to argue.
With the medicine still in my system, I was too weak.
And Baek Gunho wasn’t going anywhere.
“Where did you even get that medicine? It wasn’t from your uncle, was it?”
Just when I thought the scolding was over, he began questioning me again.
He was right.
My uncle might go to great lengths to help hide my rank, but he’d never do anything to harm me.
“I found… a way.”
“And how exactly?”
Baek Gunho scoffed.
He wasn’t wrong.
Other than my S-rank, I was just an ordinary citizen.
There was no way I could have obtained something to lower my rank, even temporarily.
“…It was a dungeon reward.”
“If that were true, you’d have said so from the start.”
My delayed excuse didn’t hold up.
I cursed myself for not thinking of it sooner.
Now what should I say?
“Stop trying to think up lies and just tell me the truth. I’ll find out either way.”
“…”
“Did Shinhae give it to you?”
“No.”
“So he did.”
I answered quickly this time, but Baek Gunho seemed even more certain.
It was as if he’d known all along and was just confirming his suspicions.
This sneaky guy.
“That crazy bastard…”
Baek Gunho muttered angrily, causing me to flinch.
“Hey, he’s older than us.”
“So what?”
Calling someone ten years older a brat or whatever doesn’t seem appropriate, especially in a country that values respect and decorum.
But Baek Gunho wasn’t exactly known for his politeness.
Baek Gunho held out his hand to me.
“Give me the meds.”
“There aren’t any left.”
“Don’t joke.”
“I’m serious. I took them all.”
“…”
Baek Gunho looked at me with suspicion.
Why doesn’t he trust me?
…Well, considering I’ve hidden things from him before, it’s understandable.
Yeah, that’s on me.
“I swear on Uncle, I really don’t have any left.”
Swearing on someone I’d never joke about finally made Baek Gunho accept it, withdrawing his hand.
Right, no way I’d lie while swearing on him.
And truly, I had none left. I could ask Lee Shinhae for more if needed.
“Lie down now.”
I obediently laid down.
Baek Gunho carefully pulled the blanket over me.
“Get some sleep.”
“I’m not sleepy, though…”
“At least rest your eyes.”
“It’s fine. I’m really not tired.”
“Hurry up.”
Pressed by Baek Gunho, I closed my eyes.
I wasn’t tired at all, but before I knew it, I dozed off.
I woke up to the sound of someone nearby. I opened my eyes and groggily sat up.
“You should sleep more.”
“I’m fine. Oh, hello.”
Next to Baek Gunho was his secretary, Ahn Sangwook. Ahn Sangwook bowed slightly to greet me.
“Hello. I was going to come and go quietly, but I’m sorry for disturbing you.”
“No, it’s fine, I…”
“Yeah, you should apologize.”
Baek Gunho cut me off. Seriously, it’s not that big a deal to wake someone up.
Ahn Sangwook, seemingly used to Baek Gunho’s sharp remarks, apologized once again to me.
I felt awkward.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, are you leaving already?”
“I just came to deliver something to the guild leader, so I must go. Please rest well.”
“Thank you. Take care.”
He seemed busy, so I didn’t stop him, just waved him off.
Baek Gunho sat back down on his chair and started cutting a large melon from the fruit basket.
“Did you buy that?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t even get a chance to thank you.”
“I told someone to buy it. Just eat.”
“That’s not the only reason you called him, right?”
I looked at Baek Gunho suspiciously.
I hoped he’d deny it, but he didn’t respond.
He’s not one to make excuses, not even out of politeness.
“You called someone all the way here just for that?”
“It’s fine. It’s part of the job.”
“Even so, it’s a bit much.”
“He earns several times more than you do for jobs like this.”
“…”
Suddenly, I felt less sorry for him.
Yeah, hunters earn way more than I do to begin with.
When you factor in the extra allowances, the difference could easily be tenfold.
I’m jealous.
I’m deliberately hiding my rank to live as an ordinary person, but at times like this, I can’t help but feel a pang of envy.
Meanwhile, Baek Gunho neatly cut the melon and placed it on a disposable plate.
I speared a piece with a fork and ate it.
Then I speared another piece and held it out to Baek Gunho, who had started cutting an apple.
“Eat. It’s good.”
Baek Gunho accepted the melon and ate it.
“Not bad, right?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
I gave him a piece of melon for each one I ate.
After finishing the melon, we moved on to an apple, and then a pear.
When we’d eaten it all, I stood up, but dizziness hit me, making me wobble.
Baek Gunho glared at me fiercely.
“Why are you getting up? Stay in bed.”
“Bathroom.”
At my response, Baek Gunho stood up and grabbed the IV stand to help me.
It’s not like I’m so sick that I need this much fuss.
Treating me like a critical patient was ridiculous.
“I can go by myself, you know?”
“Just lean on me.”
He was being overprotective.
Arguing would be pointless, so I let him help me to the bathroom.
But then Baek Gunho followed me into the bathroom.
“Why are you coming in?”
“To help.”
“Are you insane? Help with what?”
“With peeing.”
Baek Gunho replied nonchalantly.
It’s not like I didn’t know what he meant.
It’s just that the ridiculousness of it made me ask.
“Get out.”
“What if you collapse?”
“I’m not that weak! Get out, now!”
I practically threw a fit to kick Baek Gunho out.
That crazy bastard.
He’s not just a regular nutcase—he’s completely off his rocker.
Maybe I’m the most insane for liking someone like him.
Looking in the mirror, my face was flushed red.
I might be the most foolish of all for liking someone like him.
* * *
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