"You? You don't seem like the type to care about material things."
"I'm greedy, hyung. I need to have everything I want to feel satisfied."
"I wonder why that greed doesn't extend to weapon items."
"It's because I haven't seen anything that impresses me yet. Once I see a good weapon, I'm sure I'll want it."
"How about our little Riceball?"
Yoon Seo pulled out a dagger from his waist and tossed it to Kwon Jihan. The dagger transformed into the shape of a lizard and landed softly in Jihan's hand.
Biyu.
Kwon Jihan chuckled softly.
"Riceball is amazing. If it weren't a bound item, I would've done anything to get my hands on it."
Biyu!
As if understanding, Riceball stood proudly on two legs. Kwon Jihan scratched its belly with a smirk, and Riceball, clearly enjoying it, kept offering its belly for more. Yoon Seo watched the two of them with a quiet smile.
"Do you have SNS, hyung?"
"Huh? SNS? What's this all of a sudden?"
"I just remembered. Not long ago, someone with the username 'yoonyoon' followed me on SNS. Isn't that your gaming ID too?"
Yoon Seo's face flushed slightly. He hoped Kwon Jihan would think it was just the glow of the campfire.
"It's mine, but I don't really use it."
"Ah, really? I'll follow you too then."
"I told you, I don't use it."
"You made an account, so eventually, you'll use it. I'd better follow you in advance."
"I don't spend much time online."
"Guess there wasn't a will telling you to stay active on the internet, huh?"
"Can you stop with the everything-is-a-will theory?"
"I'd stop if it didn't already consume me. I've already got neurosis over this."
"I should be the one with neurosis, not you."
Yoon Seo clicked his tongue as Kwon Jihan shrugged.
"Anyway, now that hyung followed me, I feel like I should start being more active. What kind of posts should I make? If I post about Seo Chaeyoon, people will go wild, don't you think?"
Whether Kwon Jihan mentioned Seo Chaeyoon in a positive or negative light, it would certainly stir up quite a reaction.
"Why not post a challenge to Seo Chaeyoon? There's been a lot of speculation online recently about who's stronger between Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon."
Yoon Seo confessed that he had been spying on the internet.
"To be honest, I don't think I would lose. What about Kwon Jihan? Who do you think would be stronger between you and me?"
"…I also don't think I would lose."
"Really?"
"I don't think I would win either."
"...."
"...."
Yoon Seo anticipated Kwon Jihan's next words.
"Let's fight to see who's stronger since I'm curious."
But surprisingly, Kwon Jihan frowned as if he were troubled.
"Wow, that's scary."
"What's scary about that?"
"If it were in the past, I would want to fight because I was curious, but now I'm not so sure. Is there really a need to determine a winner? I don't understand why people love competition so much. Peace and harmony—how beautiful."
Yoon Seo was taken aback.
This wasn't something the fight-loving Kwon Jihan would say. He used to chase after fights at every opportunity…
"Don't you want to spar with me anymore?"
"Hmm…."
Kwon Jihan tilted his head, pondering for a moment, then nodded.
"I don't want to fight with you."
Yoon Seo was quite surprised. But Kwon Jihan blinked rapidly, as if he were shocked by his own statement.
"I really don't want to fight with you. Just thinking about battling you gives me chills. I'd rather solo an S-class Red Dungeon than fight you."
Kwon Jihan grimaced and rubbed his arm, genuinely feeling goosebumps. His complexion turned pale, and his gray eyes trembled as if he were imagining something frightening.
Yoon Seo frowned.
Just recently, Kwon Jihan had been so eager to fight that he had even signed a contract for it, and now he was going to such lengths to avoid sparring with him. It was obvious why. There was no need to ask.
'He doesn't want to fight against those weaker than himself.'
"Is it because I have healing resistance that you see me as a weak?"
Yoon Seo's voice turned ominous. As the atmosphere immediately darkened, Riceball let out a small chirp sound. Are we going to fight? Should I transform into a dagger? Should I transform? But no one paid attention to Riceball's eager gaze.
Kwon Jihan, noticing Yoon Seo's displeased expression, also wore a serious expression.
"Absolutely not. I know hyung is incredibly strong. I've said it before, you're my ideal type. I know better than anyone. I really don't think I could ever win against you."
"Then why don't you want to fight?"
"I know you're an amazing munchkin, but I just can't fight you."
"It seems like you're the one with the multiple personalities."
"I don't know. I feel strange myself. Why don't I want to fight? I've always dreamed of sparring with someone strong enough to give it their all, so why? Just the thought of us fighting makes me feel weak and horrified. I don't even want to imagine it. I don't know why I'm feeling this way, hyung, why is this happening to me?"
Kwon Jihan genuinely looked confused, as if he couldn't understand his own feelings. Seeing his troubled eyes, Yoon Seo sighed.
"How do you expect me to know?"
"Hyung, are you okay with the thought of fighting me?"
It was a tone filled with injustice and resentment. Yoon Seo lowered his eyes and quietly pondered.
In truth, Yoon Seo felt a small desire to fight Kwon Jihan with all his might.
He wanted to wield the
"Wow, unbelievable… Are you smiling while imagining a fight with me right now?"
Yoon Seo cleared his throat and tried to compose himself.
"I'm not particularly smiling, though."
"It's heartbreaking, really. I've changed so much, but thinking that hyung hasn't changed at all is so frustrating and unfair. Riceball, your master is cruel and harsh. But why are you giving off such a hostile aura?"
Beep.
"I'm not fighting. No combat now, so turn back into the cute little lizard. Seriously, both the master and his companion item are making my life miserable together."
Kwon Jihan grumbled, even exaggerating a crying act.
His words seemed to mix sincerity with frustration, making Yoon Seo feel a bit guilty. But at the same time, he felt wronged.
Haven't I changed?
Of all people, to say that to someone who's changed far more than Kwon Jihan—what nonsense.
Even thinking about wanting to fight was a change. Kwon Jihan had no idea. And Yoon Seo didn't bother to explain.
***
16. The Black Market
Even after defeating the boss monster, the treasure chest did not appear. It was natural to question whether treasure chests really existed, given their extremely low drop rates. However, the members of the Rainbow Guild, including Jo Mani, thought differently.
'Seokyoung must have obtained the treasure chest without us knowing.'
There was a tremendous sense of victimhood. As they parted ways, Jo Mani gritted his teeth, vowing not to forget this incident. It was a relief that Seokyoung didn't mention the treasure chest during the press conference, as it seemed he didn't want anyone to know he had gained something.
The Seokyoung guild members smiled brightly, like athletes who had just won gold medals at the Olympics, thinking, 'Oh, Hunter Kwon Jihan must have taken it,' as they waved goodbye to the Rainbow Guild members boarding the helicopter. The Rainbow Guild members all disappeared with expressions similar to Jo Mani's.
As they flew back to land in the helicopter, Yoon Seo asked Kwon Jihan.
"Have you ever encountered a treasure chest during a raid, Hunter Kwon Jihan?"
"Yeah, about five or six times."
"Isn't that quite a lot? Did any truly good items come from them?"
"An item called 'Twilight,' which enhances the attack power of all skills, came from a treasure chest.
"What happened to the rest?"
"I gave them to Juncheol and told him to handle it."
"Huh, Hunter Kwon Jihan is really not greedy at all."
Kwon Jihan raised one eyebrow. He lowered his voice as if warning a child ignorant of the world.
"I'm very greedy, you know. Way more than you think."
"Sure. I'll see tomorrow at the black market whether that's really true. If you show me a greedier side than my standards, I'll give you a compliment."
Kwon Jihan had already told Yoon Seo that today's black market entry time was over, so they planned to go tomorrow. Kwon Jihan pouted.
"What if there aren't any good items at the black market? There has to be something worth being greedy for me to be greedy."
Kwon Jihan grumbled and subtly leaned his shoulder against Yoon Seo.
"If hyung were displayed, I'd show a truly obsessive and greedy side that would satisfy you. You'd witness a level of obsession and greed far beyond what a vice guild master like Rainbow could offer. You might even try to avoid me, thinking I'm a madman."
"No matter how greedy you get, it'll probably just be cute."
"You don't know me yet, hyung. I'm not just a cute person."
"You're not always cute, true. Sometimes you're not."
"Our hyung doesn't understand the fear of a tiger, huh? But I can't scare you too much and make you run away, so I'll hold back, really."
Kwon Jihan let out an exaggerated sigh. Yoon Seo couldn't help but laugh because he found him genuinely cute. Kwon Jihan pressed his solid body against Yoon Seo, like a large beast cuddling with its trainer, trying to assert his own fierceness. Yoon Seo, having grown accustomed to it by now, didn't shy away from the one-sided skinship.
"What time shall we meet tomorrow?"
"I'll come pick you up at six."
"In the morning, right?"
"Yeah, at six in the morning."
"If you tell me the location, I'll go there myself."
"I'll pick you up, so just wait patiently. Look, you can see the land over there. The guild members are waiting. They'll definitely ask about the treasure chest, and thanks to Jo Mani, it's going to be a hassle."
Kwon Jihan changed the subject. Yoon Seo looked out the window at where Kwon Jihan was pointing and smiled.
He felt good.
Because they'd be able to spend the whole day together tomorrow as well.