EVS Chapter 38

To be honest, even with talent and exceptional sense, Han Geon-joo’s current skills could be generously rated as A- at best. He had the ability to barely defeat or fail against a B-grade gate boss alone. It would be difficult to take him to an A-grade gate, let alone an S-grade one, under normal circumstances.

If it were any other time, he would have given up, but Geon-joo’s growth was rapid. Moreover, the person accompanying him as his mentor and guardian was none other than himself.

It would be excruciatingly difficult, but Geon-joo wouldn’t die. That was the one thing he could be confident about.

If he could protect Geon-joo from that Unknown, after rolling around in this field that now felt like his own home for a year, how could he fail to safeguard him?

If by any chance Geon-joo’s life were to be endangered, he was prepared to use the special privilege that could be utilized once every three months to save him, no matter what it took.

In any case, Geon-joo had just awakened and lacked information about gates. Since “field” wasn’t the official term for gates anyway, he could just take Geon-joo there without revealing that it was an S-grade, making up some appropriate excuse.

What did it matter if Geon-joo realized it was an S-grade and was belatedly surprised when the time came? Once they entered, they couldn’t come out until they cleared it without a return stone, as was the nature of gates. Regardless of the process, once they entered, whether Geon-joo liked it or not, they would have a delightful field life together.

Sa-yoon, who had planned a pleasant field life with his dear one without any regard for Geon-joo’s opinion, paused for a long moment.

To smoothly carry out the plan he had in mind, he first needed to deal with the current situation well.

As his answer grew lengthy, Geon-joo became suspicious. Sa-yoon presented an appropriate lie.

“It’s an A-grade. But…”

“An A-grade?”

A dissatisfied voice cut off the ensuing explanation. Sa-yoon immediately tightened his arm around Geon-joo’s neck.

“Ugh.”

A small groan escaped from Geon-joo’s mouth.

Finding himself suddenly restrained by a single arm, Geon-joo tried to break free from the arm pressuring him, but the more he struggled, the more force Sa-yoon applied, continuing the interrupted explanation.

“Listen until the end, pretty boy. It’s an A-grade, but among the existing A-grade gates, it’s the lowest level, so even a first-timer like you can handle it.”

“I haven’t even experienced a B-grade gate, so how would I know that?”

“Why do you need to know? It’s enough if I know.”

He held the upper hand. Geon-joo’s opinion was merely a topping sprinkled on top of the food, while his own thoughts were the main opinion, so he confidently retorted, causing Geon-joo to stare at him, at a loss for words.

He looked utterly dumbfounded.

Disregarding Geon-joo’s reaction as if he were impressed by his words, Sa-yoon continued his explanation.

“You said you’d catch an Unknown. But this isn’t child’s play, and there’s no time to waste clearing B-grade gates. You can go straight to an A-grade.”

“With just one C-grade gate cleared.”

“That’s why I’m saying this, because you cleared that C-grade unimpressively. I wouldn’t make this offer to anyone else, pretty boy. I’m only doing this because it’s you.”

Softening his voice a bit more, Sa-yoon poured out words like “You’re receiving special treatment right now” and “I’m telling you to try because I see potential in you” without pause. The easiest way to shatter a person’s resolve was through praise.

“If you still don’t want to go after this, then forget it. I have no intention of taking someone who’s scared, anyway.”

Using the carrot and stick approach appropriately and finishing with a provocation, Sa-yoon observed as Geon-joo, who had been swaying slightly but still standing firm, lost his composure at those words.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh?”

“We can go to the A-grade gate, can’t we?”

Geon-joo, who had finally succeeded in removing Sa-yoon’s arm, spoke sullenly. For the amount of time he had carefully pondered, the reason behind his agreement was transparently visible in his answer.

No matter how much a hedgehog raised its quills, it was still just a hedgehog in the end.

His actions were subtly petty. Seeing no resemblance between the hedgehog in front of him and the leisurely and kind Han Geon-joo from the reports who managed his image in front of his friends, Sa-yoon’s lips twitched, but he soon regained his usual composure and ruffled Geon-joo’s hair. When he praised him for making the right decision, a sullen gaze met his eyes.

“Why?”

“Are you always this physically affectionate?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You keep touching me. Stroking my hair, hugging me…”

Did I do that?

At Geon-joo’s muttered words, Sa-yoon blinked. It seemed that without realizing it, he had treated him like a close younger brother because of his cute behavior.

Noticing that his hand had unconsciously reached for Geon-joo’s head, Sa-yoon shrugged and used the coping method he had devised earlier.

“I told you. I fell for you.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Even if it’s not exactly that, why are you complaining when I’m just doting on my pretty boy?”

“Because it’s my body, of course.”

“How pitiful. There’s none of that after you stamp the contract.”

“People call that fraud, you know.”

Geon-joo retorted as if he found it pathetic. When Sa-yoon snorted and ignored him, Geon-joo fell silent for a moment before asking why he called him “pretty boy.” It took him quite a while to ask, considering it was the first time he had used that nickname.

“It’s because you have a pretty face.”

He had the typical pretty boy look. Sa-yoon himself had received quite a few street castings during his school days, and he thought Geon-joo must have experienced the same. The only difference was, well, if Sa-yoon had received idol offers, Geon-joo had probably mainly received model offers.

“You call me ‘pretty boy’ just for that reason?”

“In a world full of ugly people, you’re asking ‘just for that’?”

“You seemed too used to calling me that from the very beginning for it to be just that reason.”

“If you really don’t believe it, then let’s say I fell for you at first sight.”

“Ah…”

When Sa-yoon used the destruction method on Geon-joo, who was starting to doubt him again, a quick look of disgust returned. It was an exceptionally effective way of speaking.

I should use it whenever the situation calls for it.

While Sa-yoon entertained such thoughts, Geon-joo, who had fixed his tousled hair, put the sword he had been holding into his inventory.

“But it really is an A-grade gate, right?”

Was distrust of others newly added to his traits?

If Sa-yoon’s specialty was fraud, then Geon-joo’s specialty seemed to be bringing up already concluded conversations and doubting them. What’s more, the topics he brought up were all the ones where Sa-yoon had lied, making him click his tongue as he reaffirmed that it was indeed an A-grade gate. Even when he stated it definitively, the subtle suspicion in Geon-joo’s eyes didn’t disappear.

At that moment, the car that Jongsik had brought arrived with perfect timing.

“Ah, Jongsik is here.”

Sa-yoon naturally mentioned that fact, changing the subject. Just as expected of the commendable Jongsik. His timing was uncannily impeccable.

He led Geon-joo into the stopped vehicle. After checking the concealed license plate and getting into the backseat, Jongsik examined Sa-yoon and Geon-joo’s appearances through the rearview mirror.

“You’re in one piece?”

“…?”

“No, don’t give me that look! It’s not a rude question. Since you came out early, I thought Geon-joo might have been seriously injured.”

“Ah.”

Sa-yoon, who had cursed Jongsik with his eyes for abruptly asking “Your limbs are intact?” before even greeting him, understood the situation upon hearing the reasonable excuse. Jongsik sighed, soothing his startled heart.

The parked car began to move. Sa-yoon concisely addressed Jongsik’s query.

“We came out early because he did well. He’s uninjured because we used some potions.”

“Potions?”

“Yeah, an Unknown appeared.”

“An Unknown?”

“Hey, eyes on the road!”

Screech!

The car hurtled towards a utility pole as the startled Jongsik turned his head. Fortunately, he stepped on the brakes at the right moment, avoiding a collision. Jongsik looked at Sa-yoon again with astonished eyes.

“You encountered an Unknown?”

Is that what’s important right now, you brat?

Sa-yoon narrowed his eyes, having almost reflexively used a skill due to the near-accident.

“We encountered it, dealt with it skillfully, and his injuries healed nicely, so let’s focus on driving properly, Jongsik. Should I bring Kyung-Jin instead of you?”

“…I will drive properly.”

Although Jongsik constantly complained about wanting to stop driving, he didn’t seem to like the idea of having Kyung-Jin as the driver.

Sighing at the dejected Jongsik, Sa-yoon looked to his side. Geon-joo, who could have sat close to him but was stubbornly pressed against the window on the opposite side, seemed unfazed by this level of surprise.

No.

It wasn’t that he was unfazed.

Upon closer inspection, something unusual caught his attention. Sa-yoon slowly opened his mouth.

“Pretty boy.”

“…”

“Han Geon-joo.”

“…”

“Geon-joo.”

“…?”

He only responded after being called three times. Rather than deliberately ignoring him, he seemed to have been lost in thought for a moment.

Sa-yoon found himself contemplating the fact that today, Geon-joo had cleared a C-grade gate for the first time and even encountered an Unknown.

He recalled the memory of Jongsik, still an A-grade at the time, falling to his knees with weak legs when he encountered an Unknown. If Jongsik, an A-grade, had nearly passed out that day, he wondered how exhausted Geon-joo, a B-grade, must have been, eliciting a low exclamation.

He must be tired.

A quick decision was made.

“You look tired.”

“…Not really.”

“Don’t be stubborn and get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

“It’s fine…”

“Now, now, don’t decline and just sleep.”

Sa-yoon took out an A-grade sleep anesthesia perfume from his inventory. Although it didn’t work on A-grade or higher entities, it was an item that would be sufficiently effective on B-grade Geon-joo.

Click, click.

Without hesitation, he pressed the pump twice, and Geon-joo, who inhaled the scent right in front of him, lowered his head before long. His body leaned to the side. Reaching out to prevent Geon-joo’s head from hitting the window hard, Sa-yoon gently released him and brought the back of his pale hand close to Geon-joo’s nose.

He confirmed the steady breaths touching his skin. Sa-yoon sat upright in his seat.

“Jongsik.”

“Yes?”

“Go straight to the field.”

“…Pardon?”

Startled by the unexpected command, Jongsik widened his eyes.