The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C75
$75
Seo-heon noticed the guide window Woo-hyun was looking at. Normally, one couldn’t see others’ guide or skill windows, but this fantasy world was created based on Woo-hyun’s memories. In other words, Seo-heon could see everything Woo-hyun saw.
[Using S-rank skill, Flame of Life. While the flame burns, you can exert your skills at 200%. As a skill penalty, your life force is reduced by 1 day.]
‘Was it because of that skill?’
Seo-heon vaguely knew that Woo-hyun had a buff-related skill, but he hadn’t thought its penalty would be consuming life force. In fact, he had thought one of the fire-based attack skills might have been the problem. His prediction was wrong again.
‘Why didn’t you seal such a skill and keep using it?’
Seo-heon read the guide window that appeared for Woo-hyun more carefully.
[Your remaining life force is 11,000 days.]
Upon closer inspection, Woo-hyun’s lifespan, while not long, still had quite a bit left. At least, it wasn’t a life force that would disappear completely after 3 years.
‘He had plenty of life left then. So when did he start abusing that skill?’
Seo-heon traced back to when Woo-hyun’s growth had become unusually steep. Then he recalled a specific point.
‘No way…’
While Seo-heon was feeling ominous, the screen switched again. It was the party held right after the S-rank dungeon conquest, where Woo-hyun had thrown himself and gotten injured.
Seo-heon was also very mindful that it was Woo-hyun’s birthday then, but he had no choice. The opportunity to contact Kwon Ho-jun wouldn’t come for another 5 months if not at that moment, and Seo-heon couldn’t afford to wait.
‘It’s because you were trying to abandon me.’
Seo-heon, not wanting to acknowledge his own fear, forcibly blamed Woo-hyun. Having lived without really understanding emotions until meeting Woo-hyun, he was clumsy at naming what he felt.
Woo-hyun, seeming excited, was reserving a restaurant with a faint smile.
‘Damn it…’
Seo-heon hung his head low. While Woo-hyun was doing that, Seo-heon, who had come down from the platform, hurriedly contacted Kwon Ho-jun. In fact, this time he had only planned to just meet.
[You look great. I’ve always wanted to meet you, as you’re a guild my father has been paying attention to.]
Of course he would be paying attention. It was a guild created by people who were essentially his own misdeeds.
Seo-heon inwardly sneered at Kwon Ho-jun. Knowing about the evil acts his father committed while living in luxury, and committing various acts behind the scenes to gain his father’s approval, it was all too laughable.
[The honor is mine. If I had known the son of Assemblyman Kwon was such… an attractive person, I would have arranged a meeting sooner.]
Seo-heon lied without even wetting his lips. This meeting was supposed to appear coincidental at all costs. The fact that ‘Seo-heon wanted to meet’ should not reach Assemblyman Kwon’s ears.
[Really…?]
What Seo-heon hadn’t perfectly anticipated was that Kwon Ho-jun was more gullible than he thought. Targeting him, who usually craved his father’s approval, was as easy as breathing.
‘He’s not into men.’
But he didn’t seem to like women either. Marked by an inferiority complex, he wasn’t the type to sexually like anyone. Kwon Ho-jun hated men with a twisted affection for his father, and had no interest in women.
This was rather fortunate for Seo-heon, who had no intention of having deep sexual contact with him.
[Isn’t it hot in here? Shall we go outside to talk?]
Seo-heon naturally put down his champagne while touching the tip of Kwon Ho-jun’s hand. The twitching sensation was as unpleasant as if a bug had touched him, but he forced a smile.
[S-sure, let’s do that.]
Kwon Ho-jun seemed to think, ‘What’s with this person? Is he interested in me?’ but didn’t seem to dislike his attention. Kang Seo-heon was one of the hottest figures and also the closest confidant of ‘Baek Woo-hyun’, a name his father occasionally mentioned. He was pleased that such a great person was showing this side to him.
‘I hate all men, but maybe this person is okay?’
Even in these days when homosexuality isn’t a flaw, Assemblyman Kwon was such a stubborn person that he didn’t hide his phobia.
‘But what if it’s Kang Seo-heon?’
While it’s equally disgusting, if it benefits him, he won’t be able to refuse. Then it’s an opportunity to gain his father’s approval while also getting back at him. Kwon Ho-jun looked far ahead despite not having had much conversation with Seo-heon yet.
‘It’s nice that I can see right through what he’s thinking.’
Little did he know that Seo-heon had planned all of this.
Once outside, Seo-heon’s attitude became more blatant. While constantly showing an air of ‘I’m being considerate enough of you,’ he simultaneously demonstrated ‘I’m interested in you.’
[People usually see me only as someone’s son.]
[For someone as charming as you, it’s a shame to be called just the son of Assemblyman Kwon.]
Seo-heon’s last words were the key point. Kwon Ho-jun was convinced that Seo-heon was genuinely interested in him.
[Actually, I don’t like men. But somehow I’m attracted to you, Seo-heon. If it’s alright with you, would you like to go out with me?]
It was a rude and bold question, even though Seo-heon hadn’t fully expressed his feelings yet.
‘I hadn’t planned to go this far today.’
[Are you really giving me a chance?]
However, he couldn’t back down now. Once you trample on the pride of someone like Kwon Ho-jun, they’ll never let you close again.
[Sure.]
To prove his feelings, Seo-heon brought his lips to Ho-jun’s. He thought it was the most perfect way to prove his heart.
‘This is the limit.’
He thought that while kissing. His mistake was not hearing Woo-hyun’s presence while enduring the disgust.
When he faced Woo-hyun, who looked like his world had collapsed, even his own heart sank. He had wondered before what expression Woo-hyun would make if he found out. He had contemplated whether venting his anger like this would make him feel refreshed. But he didn’t know it would be this painful.
Seo-heon felt despair once again seeing that face. And, right after that, in the dungeon Woo-hyun entered…
[Using S-rank skill, Flame of Life. While the flame burns, you can exert your skills at 200%. As a skill penalty, your life force is reduced by 1 day.]
[Using enhanced S-rank skill, Flame of Life. You can exert all skills at 500%. As a skill penalty, your life force is reduced by 10 days.]
Woo-hyun used his skills recklessly, as if releasing some emotion. He had misjudged, thinking he might lose the right to be by Seo-heon’s side if he didn’t prove his worth.
Seo-heon’s thoughts came to a halt.
‘Because of me?’
Suddenly, nausea rose.
‘Baek Woo-hyun became like that because of me?’
Woo-hyun’s life force was wearing away in real-time. Realizing that the things Seo-heon had painstakingly built up were actually destroying Woo-hyun, he couldn’t come to his senses due to some indescribable emotion boiling up from his stomach.
In that battle, Woo-hyun wasted 50 days worth of life force at once. Seo-heon, who had watched it all, closed his mouth.
Only then did Seo-heon understand what Halo had said. There was a deeper quagmire below what he thought was rock bottom.
[Should I show you something else to make you give up? This is a fresh memory received from the dragon.]
The dungeon where Woo-hyun was standing changed to a familiar background. It was the S-rank dungeon they had conquered recently. Seeing Kwon Ho-jun in the dungeon, Seo-heon thought, ‘How ridiculous.’ He felt it was incredibly stupid to have followed this far, sensing he would be abandoned.
‘The stupid one was me.’
However, seeing Woo-hyun frantically consuming his life force to protect Kwon Ho-jun, Seo-heon had no choice but to fall to his knees.
The way he loved Woo-hyun, and the things he had done to obtain Woo-hyun, were actually choking him. The moment he realized this, all meaning in his past life vanished.
Now Seo-heon couldn’t even resent Woo-hyun. What could he possibly say to someone who had withered away because of him?
A black swamp crept up Seo-heon’s feet. The more he struggled to escape from the past, the more strongly the past bound him.
[Despair is sweet and delicious. Especially the despair of arrogant ones like you is like nectar.]
Woo-hyun was the only being who could make Seo-heon despair. Although this was the first time experiencing such enormous despair, Seo-heon realized once again.
‘I can’t give up on Baek Woo-hyun.’
That one phrase was what saved him from losing his mind in despair. Now that everything in the world had lost meaning, the last will holding him was only Baek Woo-hyun.
Seo-heon calmly closed and opened his eyes. Woo-hyun’s pain engraved in his eyes didn’t disappear, but the task at hand was laid out before him.
He had to find whose face the succubus in here was wearing. With a feeling of cutting his own flesh, he turned his back on Woo-hyun. He had to find the awkward point among familiar faces.
‘Is that it?’
Seo-heon discovered a being wearing shoes backwards. It was Kwon Ho-jun, the figure he had been hating until just now.
Memes From Aida