* * *
Seohwa sniffled in an exaggerated way.
“How could you say such mean things… I still got a 70. That is a completely different level of score compared to these people.”
“Hunter Lee Yuje is the same. Just be glad I thought of a Plan B.”
The study sessions for both couples—this one and the other—were not going smoothly.
Because the scores were so terrible, Go Junyoung had decided on Plan B.
The New Humanity Sect and Enterra had also come to this island to buy items for the forced opening of gates.
I did not know how they prepared their Awakened and non-Awakened couples, but they would definitely be buying items in bulk before entering the Incheon Port Dungeon.
Plan B was simply to steal the items they had secured.
This was why Cho Wookwon and Anise had been sent toward them.
Choi Jihyung was also already sneaking onto the New Humanity Sect’s ship.
“Since it is our turn soon, we will take the test because it would be a waste to throw it away. But since you will fail anyway, please run over as soon as you get the signal.”
“Team Leader. Don’t be like that, please give us some hope and support. Sniff.”
When Seohwa dabbed at the corners of his eyes, acting hurt, Go Junyoung scowled deeply.
Only Wolf, who was listening, laughed out loud.
“Hunter Lee Yuje. Your eyes are very dry and crusty, so could you stop that fake sniffling?”
“I am truly hurt, how could you say such hurtful words. I am so hurt I could surf on a wave of my own tears.”
“Well, that would be fun. If you can cry within three seconds, I will make sure we get a 100 on the actual test.”
“How can I trust someone whose highest score was a 60?”
“Actually, I wasn’t being serious until now. If I really try to solve the problems, it is hard for me to get an answer wrong.”
“I have already heard things like ‘I wasn’t serious until now’ or ‘I’ll be serious from now on’ three times already. You are a ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf’ hunter. Instead of Wolf, you should change your name to Shepherd—”
At that moment, a massive chill was felt from the side.
Seohwa flinched and looked over.
Kang Yigeon was giving off a cold chill that was almost like murderous intent, with a freezing expression.
It was so cold that even the talkative Wolf shut his mouth and watched him warily.
‘Why is he angry?’
While I was wondering which part of the conversation triggered a chill from the Northern Grand Duke, Yoon Youngin started sniffling, perhaps having misunderstood something.
This was a real sniffle, unlike Seohwa’s exaggerated one.
“I am so sorry… I should have studied harder… If a signal comes from Wookwon or Anise, I will run over right away…!”
At the non-Awakened man’s determined shout, eyes turned to his fiancé, Kang Yigeon.
Kang Yigeon pulled back the chill that had been stinging everyone’s skin.
“Why would you run over, Mr. Yoon Youngin? A non-Awakened person should just stay in a safe place.”
“But… it’s my fault for failing the test that those kids have to do dangerous work…”
“They are not kids; they are proper adults and hunters. Do not worry about it, Mr. Yoon Youngin.”
His expression and tone while soothing his fiancé were quite soft.
‘A person who is cold and sharp, or a person who is light and sly like a slacker—when they love someone, they change completely. That is why they are popular.’
Ah, I finally understand what those words mean now.
The Northern Grand Duke deserves to be popular…
‘No, but if he loves him that much, why did he get a 30 on the test?’
Even Seohwa had memorized that Yoon Youngin’s MB…ZFP was IAAWWE, but Kang Yigeon was still confused about whether it was W or V.
“Looking at it this way, it seems all four of you have enough affection and interest in your partners…”
Go Junyoung clicked his tongue. Wolf shrugged his shoulders.
“It was going to be a difficult mission anyway, even if we memorized the profiles perfectly. The Market creates tests based on a person’s deep psyche and memories. I heard of someone who got a question like, ‘Exactly how many people does your partner want to have sex with right now?’ You can’t answer stuff like that no matter how much you study a profile beforehand.”
“Still, try your best. For now, I will wait at the pub.”
“Understood.”
Go Junyoung disappeared using [Teleport], and the group finally stepped off the yacht anchored at the port.
As expected of an island where Awakened people from all over the world gathered, it was crowded with people, and everyone showed off all kinds of hair colors.
Yoon Youngin went “Woooah,” in admiration.
“It’s amazing. There are many famous people too. Over there, is that Ribbon So-yi? And there is Tevi Sidiz… Oh, over there is Shin Sheya-hui…! I guess her partner is the non-Awakened person she married recently…!”
Seohwa also saw several famous Awakened people whose names and faces he knew.
Everyone had a non-Awakened person by their side.
In reality, there were likely more non-Awakened people hired for Market entry than actual romantic partners.
“The people here for the Market and the people here for sightseeing are clearly divided.”
Those whose purpose was the Market had stiff faces from worrying about the test.
Those whose purpose was sightseeing had excited faces like children on a field trip.
The former headed straight for the Market without looking around as soon as they landed, while the latter were busy taking photos at the port.
“Kang Yigeon…?”
“Oh, he really woke up.”
“Is the person next to him Gam’s fiancé?”
Kang Yigeon was so famous that many people recognized him.
“That grey-haired guy is Wolf. A director of the Korean Hunters Association.”
“I enjoy his Huntube channel, should I get an autograph?”
“Kang Yigeon and Wolf. What a combination of the world’s most devoted man and a man who is ‘easy’ for everyone.”
“Hey, shh. Shh. They can hear everything.”
“I can hear everything,” the ‘easy man’ next to them said with a smirk.
“But who is the guy next to them?”
“Gosh, how can a face be that plain.”
“What a shame. How did such a plain guy end up stuck between those people…”
Being next to Kang Yigeon, Yoon Youngin, and Wolf made his already plain face look almost pitiful.
‘Once the Incheon Port Dungeon is over, I’ll kill Lee Yuje and make a different [Stooge].’
Seohwa made a firm resolution.
As the group turned toward the Market, the whispering grew louder.
“Look at that. I knew it. It was a fake engagement for the Market.”
“Ah, there is no way Kang Yigeon would forget Seohwa so quickly.”
“It’s not surprising. Actually, nobody believed it anyway.”
“But if it’s for the Market, is there a reason to officially get engaged?”
“I get it. His plan is to trigger Seohwa by bringing in a romantic rival. Kang Yigeon is resorting to childish tricks now. He must be desperate.”
Seohwa moved his feet, thinking it was a relief that Yoon Youngin, a non-Awakened person, could not hear this conversation.
The Market was a building with a pink heart-shaped appearance.
It wasn’t painted pink; the outer walls were made of a pink rock called white-sun stone.
It is a calculated byproduct found only in Grade 4 dungeons or higher.
There is a rumor that if you give a ring made of this stone and confess your love, it will definitely come true.
Rather than a pastel pink, it was a color closer to fluorescent pink, so it sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight.
It was bright enough to make one worry about going blind, so quite a few people were wearing sunglasses while looking at it.
The building was six stories high, but each floor was tall, making it about the size of a normal ten-story building.
On the outdoor gardens at the two top peaks of the heart, two strangely shaped statues stood with their arms open toward each other.
This large and grand pink building clearly did not look like a human legacy.
It looked like a mysterious relic left behind by aliens who came to Earth in ancient times.
However, the pious feeling was a bit lessened because of the pink heart exterior and the large banner hanging at the Market’s main entrance: ‘❥･• Welcome to Love Effect Market ͞͞➳❥’.
The waiting line was crowded with people. Some groups had already set up tents.
“Welcome! Those who just arrived, please speak to me to get a number!”
NPCs created by the system moved through the crowd to guide them.
The NPCs were human-shaped, but their coloring was pale, and parts like the tips of their hair, shoulders, arms, and waists were pixelated and sparkling, so they were clearly distinguished from real humans.
“We are from Danbaek.”
“One moment. The system is checking… Ah! You are from the Danbaek Guild. Awakened Kang Yigeon, non-Awakened Yoon Youngin, Awakened Lee Yuje, and non-Awakened Wolf Thomas Watson. You four are two couples, right? You are fifth and sixth in line. Please follow me.”
A short-haired NPC cheerfully led them to the waiting line.
“Please spend your time freely until the test starts. It was nice to meet you. Goodbye!”
“Wait a moment.”
Seohwa stopped the NPC and took out some chocolates and candies from his pocket.
The NPC’s eyes sparkled.
“Eat these.”
“Thank you, Awakened Lee Yuje. I will enjoy them. Thank you!”
The NPC bowed and scurried away. The back view was quite cute.
“Wow… NPCs eat snacks too…?”
“They really like them. Sweet things.”
Seohwa had never entered the Market himself, but he had come to the island a few times to cheer on guild members who had the important mission of entering the Market.
Every time, he would give sweet things to the NPCs.
“I have some cookies too, I should give them some…!”
After that, every time Yoon Youngin ran into a passing NPC, he handed over the chocolate cookies he had.
Before long, he had given away all the snacks he had prepared to pass the long waiting time.
He was a simple and innocent person.
* * *
