By Zephyria Lee Sa-young’s sofa was incredibly plush, like it was stuffed with something special. These days, they even made blankets out of Dungeon byproducts, so was this sofa made from Dungeon byproducts too? Cha Eui-jae desperately tried to change his thoughts, trying to accept the situation.
It was still uncomfortable to occupy a more comfortable spot than the Master of the house, but he couldn’t continue the argument here. If he did, he might really end up breaking the sofa and sleeping on the floor next to Lee Sa-young.
It wasn’t his intention, but he had ultimately contributed to breaking the bed, hadn’t he? He couldn’t sever the lifeline of another perfectly good piece of furniture. And of course, he didn’t have the money to pay for it.
‘Yeah, the elder should give in…’
Just as Cha Eui-jae, having rationalized with his innate old-man mindset, was enjoying the plushness of the sofa, Sa-young lightly tossed two pillows and two blankets. Eui-jae instinctively caught them, muttering.
“I don’t need two.”
“Just take what you’re given.”
Behind Sa-young, as he said that, blankets and pillows were piled up like a hill. He didn’t know where he got them, but he brought a lot. Eui-jae, who had no idea about the Wave Guild’s high-quality sleeping quarters, thought. Well, thanks to that, it didn’t seem like Lee Sa-young wouldn’t be able to sleep just because Eui-jae was getting two.
Only after confirming that Eui-jae was fidgeting, putting down the pillow, and covering himself with the blanket, Sa-young began to spread his share of the blanket on the floor.
After spreading several layers of blankets like a plush mattress, Lee Sa-young lay down, using a pillow. Soon, Sa-young clapped once, and all the lights in the house went out. Eui-jae, staring blankly at the dark ceiling, muttered.
“…Good night.”
No answer came back. It wasn’t a greeting he expected an answer to, so it didn’t matter. The sofa was plush, the blanket was soft, and the pillow supported his neck with just the right amount of elasticity and height. It was a good night’s sleep for the first time in a long time.
But if you asked if he could sleep comfortably because of that… that was not the case.
It had been about 10 minutes since he lay down on the sofa and the other on the floor. The reason he could pinpoint the time was because he was bored with a wide-awake mind, so he counted the seconds.
‘I can’t sleep.’
He wasn’t usually a big sleeper, and at this time, he would be preparing for business, not sleeping. Established lifestyle patterns are not easy to change. His body, perhaps born a commoner, couldn’t adapt to the sudden comfort and couldn’t fall asleep. With Lee Sa-young next to him, his mind became even clearer as time passed.
“…….”
Besides, Sa-young was still awake. He hadn’t moved like a dead person, but his breathing had been constant from the moment he lay down until now. Just as he had noticed, he must also know that he hadn’t fallen asleep. Eui-jae looked for other things to think about.
In the silence, all of Eui-jae’s thoughts were sucked into the Rift. Doomsday, Yoon Ga-eul’s kaleidoscope, West Sea Rift, people’s screams, the smell of blood… The thoughts continued endlessly into the bottomless pit. At this rate, he felt like he would be buried in gloomy thoughts again.
Reluctantly, Eui-jae bit his lip and opened his mouth.
“Lee Sa-young, aren’t you asleep?”
“What about Hyung.”
It wasn’t a voice that was hoarse from waking up, but the clear voice he had heard just a moment ago. And what was with answering so quickly? Hearing someone else’s voice made the tangled thoughts subside a little, and it felt like his consciousness was returning to reality. Eui-jae blinked and opened his mouth.
“I can’t sleep either, me too.”
“Hyung should be tired, though.”
“Why?”
“How can you ask why after causing such a ruckus…”
Sa-young laughed as if he was dumbfounded, but there was no hint of sarcasm.
“It wasn’t a big deal, what.”
Eui-jae accepted it comfortably. A short silence settled between them again. It was much more bearable than before. Eui-jae stared at the ceiling for a while, then spoke to Sa-young again.
“How’s Choi Goyo doing? Will he be okay?”
“Well… from Incheon to Seoul.”
Sa-young paused as if choosing his words, then continued.
“He’ll come to his senses in about a day. Tomorrow evening, maybe.”
“The penalty is stronger than I thought.”
“It’s too good of a skill to use infinitely.”
“That’s true…”
The conversation continued intermittently. Conversations between people could not continue infinitely without gaps, so silence inevitably came. But Eui-jae was no longer afraid of it. Even if something kept trying to squeeze in through the gaps, he felt like he could shake it off.
This time, Sa-young called Eui-jae first.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know I still have the letter?”
“Letter? What letter?”
“You gave it to me and you don’t remember…”
Eui-jae rummaged through his memories, but nothing came to mind. He didn’t remember giving Sa-young anything that could be called a letter? He heard a rustling sound as Sa-young turned over. Eui-jae also turned his body to the outside of the sofa.
Sa-young was propping his chin with his hand, looking at Eui-jae. A playful look was on his pretty face.
“Touch it and you’re dead.”
“…Ah.”
Could it be that threat he wrote on the business card? It seemed like he found the right person to go to… As Eui-jae looked at him with a sullen face, Sa-young chuckled and lowered his head.
Suddenly, a blue light crossed his vision diagonally. One side of the living room was a full window, and the sun was dimly rising in that direction. Had time already passed like this? Cha Eui-jae rubbed his face roughly and asked.
“What time is it now?”
“Well… maybe it’s around 4:30.”
“…….”
“Why, are you going to go do business again?”
“Hey, I have to open the store.”
“Tell Bae Won-woo to do it.”
“Will he be able to?”
“If he’s eaten that much, shouldn’t he know how to make Hangover Soup…”
Sa-young muttered sullenly, but got up anyway. Eui-jae also got up from his seat and stretched. It was a bit tight on time, but with the newly acquired trait, preparing for business itself would be over quickly.
Lee Sa-young said he had the clothes he wore yesterday laundered, so in the end, Eui-jae had to borrow Sa-young’s clothes again today. After putting on the black turtleneck and black slacks that Lee Sa-young had picked out, the two of them boarded the elevator side by side.
Yes, side by side. Eui-jae stood neatly diagonal to Sa-young, but stuck to the corner of the spacious elevator to widen the distance. Sa-young, standing in the center of the elevator, sneered.
“Why don’t you come a little closer.”
“I’m comfortable here.”
“You broke my bed and borrowed my clothes.”
“Don’t say things that people will misunderstand if they hear.”
“We’ve done everything, why are you suddenly acting like this…”
“Shut up, please.”
Cha Eui-jae had no intention of receiving Lee Sa-young’s escort, but the elevator in the Wave Guild building, where Lee Sa-young’s residence was located, had a structure that required a Guild member card to operate, like a hotel. Even if he wanted to run out to the stairs, the door connecting to the stairs could only be opened with a Guild member card.
Inevitably, Cha Eui-jae had to bring Lee Sa-young, a huge access tool. Moreover, because of what Lee Sa-young added, Cha Eui-jae had no choice but to be even more careful.
“You’re famous, Hyung.”
“Me? Why?”
“Do you think there’s anyone in this Guild who hasn’t eaten Hyung’s Hangover Soup?”
“…….”
“What if the Guild members ask why the part-timer is here?”
Isn’t it because you prepaid five million won at the Hangover Soup Restaurant that my face was sold to Wave… Eui-jae was dumbfounded, but now was not the time to argue about who was at fault.
It was 4 a.m., so he wouldn’t run into other Guild members, but what if he did? It was also true that he had no excuse. He couldn’t say he was delivering Hangover Soup. He had made it clear that the Hangover Soup Restaurant didn’t do deliveries, so if he made that excuse, he might have to hold a press conference on suspicion of Wave Guild Master’s special treatment.
Suddenly, the elevator glass caught Cha Eui-jae’s eye as he pondered. The outside of the elevator, which was made of full glass and had good lighting, began to look like a door. Just break it… and jump out? Even if he did, his body wouldn’t be seriously injured. The problem was…
“Hyung?”
“No, never mind…”
The price of the glass he would have to pay for. Cha Eui-jae, already heavily indebted from the bed, neatly folded away his distractions and stared straight ahead. He also considered using the Silent Steps skill, but that only concealed his presence without being noticed, not hiding his appearance itself, so it was useless in such a narrow space.
Soon, the moment the door opened with the notification that he had arrived on the first floor, an ominous voice was heard.
“Aish, it’s dawn after clearing the Dungeon… Oh, Guild Master?”
“Get some sleep in the sleeping quarters and go to work… Oh? Good morning! You’re up early… Huh?”
“…Huh?”
Everyone’s attention was focused on the two of them. To be exact, it was in the order of being startled by Lee Sa-young, whose face was shadowed, bowing politely, and then discovering Cha Eui-jae, who was huddled in the corner, as they raised their heads. There were Hunters who had returned after clearing the Dungeon, as well as Bae Won-woo, who was wiping sweat with a towel, as if he had finished his early morning run.
“Huh? Aren’t you the part-timer? What’s going on here?”
Bae Won-woo greeted him happily and approached the elevator door, then looked at Lee Sa-young, who was standing in the center, and began to rack his brain, which was confused and not working. Cha Eui-jae muttered flower names with a Soul gone face.
“Ah… yes… well… yes….”
“Yes?”
“Haha… that’s how it is.”
Neither Cha Eui-jae nor Bae Won-woo knew what he meant by that’s how it is. Only Lee Sa-young stood calmly in the very center of the elevator, glaring at Bae Won-woo. Of course, Bae Won-woo’s nerves were so thick that they were like very strong wires, so he attached himself to them without noticing even Lee Sa-young’s sharp gaze.
“But what’s the part-timer doing here?”
“…….”
“What are you doing here?”
Sa-young was silent. Bae Won-woo looked at Eui-jae, as if he didn’t expect Lee Sa-young to answer. The part-timer would answer, right? They had some affection for each other. But Eui-jae was the same.
Amid the silence, the Hunters’ questions only amplified, and Bae Won-woo, with his keen observation skills, caught that the part-timer’s clothes were different from usual. A black turtleneck and slacks. The dark color was the visual that Lee Sa-young would usually wear.
‘Huh?’
That turtleneck, I remember seeing it somewhere….
Surely Lee Sa-young wore it not long ago? Forbidden knowledge that should not be realized struck Bae Won-woo’s head in an instant. The part-timer is… wearing Lee Sa-young’s clothes? And a crazy brat who doesn’t even lend clothes to others, let alone like anyone coming near him? Coming down with the part-timer? Lending clothes?
Bae Won-woo’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. He pointed at Lee Sa-young with a trembling finger.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, this, hey. Huh? Hey, this is.”
“Bae Won-woo.”
“Hey, you crazy brat! What the hell is going on? Explain!”
“How about going out and running two more laps around the Han River.”
On the surface, it was a kind suggestion, but Sa-young’s true meaning was ‘get lost’. No matter how clueless Bae Won-woo was, he would understand everything if he said this much.
However, Bae Won-woo did not give up his attachment and continued to hover around the two of them. As befitting a Tanker, his persistence was no joke.
‘…At this rate, I’ll arrive at the store after 5 o’clock.’
In the end, Cha Eui-jae moved first. He came out of the corner and put his arm around Sa-young’s shoulder in a friendly manner. The Wave Guild members in front of him were silently horrified. Sa-young also seemed to be glaring at him with wide eyes, but he didn’t care.
Eui-jae patted Sa-young’s shoulder and gave him a kind smile.
“There was some trouble yesterday, and Guild Master Lee Sa-young kindly helped me, hahaha.”
“Yeah? What kind of trouble? What crazy brat broke the table again?”
The shoulder he was holding seemed to flinch very slightly. Eui-jae shook his head with a serious face.
“I can’t tell you the details right now, but I received a lot of help from the Guild Master.”
“Sa, Sa-young did such a thing?”
Great confusion settled on Bae Won-woo’s face. He wanted to believe the words of the Hangover Soup Restaurant part-timer, but he couldn’t believe why Lee Sa-young had helped the Hangover Soup Restaurant part-timer. Eui-jae drove in the wedge.
“After all, I’m the Hangover Soup Restaurant part-timer that Bae Won-woo-ssi likes. So I think he took care of me.”
“What? …Is that so?”
Unfortunately, Bae Won-woo was completely captivated by Eui-jae’s meager three-inch tongue. Sa-young coldly ignored Bae Won-woo’s eyes, which seemed to be somewhat moved. Regardless, Eui-jae quickly got out of the elevator and waved his hand, as if avoiding a Monster’s attack.
“Ah, I have to open the store soon, so I’ll be going, customers! See you at the store!”
“Oh? Oh, goodbye, part-timer!”
Bae Won-woo waved his muscular arm. After Cha Eui-jae disappeared, Bae Won-woo looked at Sa-young again with a dazed face.
“…So why did the part-timer come here? Is it true that you helped him with something?”
Sa-young, who had been silent all along, clicked his tongue and retorted coldly.
“You’re really not helpful.”