"Alright. I won't wipe anyone else's tears anymore."
"Just don't care if others cry or not."
Is Kwon Jihan trying to turn me into a cold-hearted person?
Yoon Seo couldn't understand it, but he nodded to defuse the situation.
"Okay, I won't care anymore, so please calm down."
"I'm calm now."
"...."
Kwon Jihan, still gripping Yoon Seo's wrist tightly, shamelessly declared he had calmed down.
Unable to do anything else, Yoon Seo, with his wrist still held, turned towards Park Kang on the other side.
Park Kang was watching, his lips slightly parted. Though his tears had stopped, his eyes were still red. As their eyes met, the startled man quickly bowed his head.
"Hunter Park Kang. Now that you've stopped crying, could you tell me why you want to buy 'Cold Wind'? This isn't a threat. I'm just curious why a non-S-rank would want an S-rank weapon."
Park Kang's shoulders trembled.
Yoon Seo felt both his wrist and head starting to ache. Fortunately, Park Kang spoke up.
"I, I wanted to g-give it… to Hunter Seo Chaeyoon… I heard he's re-returning to the Great Dungeon after so long… and I, I was w-worried…."
"…What?"
"Also, that time… when I tried to steal Hunter Seo Chaeyoon's weapon…."
"...."
"I, I was just k-keeping it safe until I could r-return it someday…."
"...."
Yoon Seo was at a loss for words.
Seeing Yoon Seo speechless, Kwon Jihan, his anger slightly subsiding, asked in a low voice.
"Are you in the Seo Chaeyoon fan club?"
"F-For the Seo, f-full member… met m-my wife there…."
"Hm."
"My ch-children are also For the Seo junior members…."
"You should've said so earlier."
Kwon Jihan finally let go of Yoon Seo's wrist.
Yoon Seo quickly looked at his wrist, and sure enough, there was a handprint. If he hadn't been an S-rank, he would have gotten a nasty bruise if he were just A-rank. He decided to scold Kwon Jihan later and focused on Park Kang for now.
"Hunter Seo Chaeyoon already has the exclusive weapon 'Existing Spirit.' There's no need for you to spend a fortune buying another weapon for him."
"The more weapons, the better…"
"It seems best to give 'Cold Wind' to Hunter Kwon Jihan. He'll make better use of it."
Park Kang glanced at Kwon Jihan. Kwon Jihan took a step back as if it was none of his concern, wearing a cynical expression as if he had never been provoked or angered.
When Park Kang still didn't answer, seemingly reluctant, Yoon Seo added a final push.
"If you give up the reservation rights to 'Cold Wind,' I'll pass on a message to Hunter Seo Chaeyoon for you—that a Hunter named Park Kang wanted to gift him a weapon."
"D-Do you know Hunter Seo Chaeyoon?"
"Yes, we're close."
"Hah… Hah…"
Park Kang took a sharp breath.
"So, what will it be? Will you give up 'Cold Wind'?"
"W-Will you really deliver the message for me…?"
"Yes. Do you not trust me?"
"H-Hunter Yoon Seo… you don't l-like me…"
Yoon Seo frowned, sensing a bad premonition.
"Y-You hate hanbok, right…? Even my uniform is hanbok… A-And my skills are also related to tradition, so I thought you'd dislike me…"
He still misunderstood? Even after I complimented his hanbok-style sleepwear?
Yoon Seo, suppressing his irritation, spoke with a voice filled with strained restraint.
"I don't dislike it. I like hanbok and our country's traditions. I've always thought well of Hunter Park Kang for wearing the Hahoetal among so many masks."
"R-Really…?"
"I believe Hunter Park Kang, not Kwon Jihan, should be chosen as the representative hunter for our country."
"T-That's not… t-true. T-The representative hunter for our country is… Hunter S-Seo Chaeyoon!"
This guy is tricky.
Next to Yoon Seo, whose forehead was throbbing, Kwon Jihan laughed quietly, as if it was none of his business.
***
Yoon Seo spent another thirty minutes convincing Park Kang, eventually obtaining the reservation rights to 'Cold Wind.' Without giving Park Kang time to change his mind, he hurried off to pay and handed it over to Kwon Jihan.
After purchasing the weapon, the two entered the black market's food court, which was set up in a cafeteria style. Korean food took up about 80% of the menu. Despite that, all the chefs glimpsed in the kitchen were foreigners.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I'll have mackerel kimchi stew, pork cutlet, seafood pancake, and chicken tender salad."
"Is that enough for you?"
"I'll also order stir-fried gopchang. And extra rice."
"I'll go order. Sit tight."
Yoon Seo found a spacious enough table and sat down. Kwon Jihan went to pay.
Kwon Jihan ordered spicy braised chicken, soybean paste stew with beef brisket, seafood pad thai, chicken curry, bibim noodles, and a set of fried dumplings. Although they ordered a large amount, all the dishes were served in just twenty minutes. Other hunters passed by, casting glances at their table, which was full of food.
"Here, the food court is run by hunters with cooking skills, so it's quick and delicious."
"Better than Hunter Kwon Jihan's cooking?"
"Oh… daring question. Try it and decide for yourself."
Yoon Seo took a large spoonful of the mackerel kimchi stew broth first. The deep red broth carried the distinct aroma of mackerel. It must've been made with spicy chili powder, because after swallowing, a satisfied "Ahh" escaped him. The kimchi was well-fermented enough to be easily torn with the spoon, and there was no hint of fishiness in the mackerel.
"Those who have cooking skills really are different."
"Does that mean it tastes better than mine?"
"But it's a bit disappointing that the rice is plain white. I prefer mixed grains or black rice. Also, the onions are too mushy. Fermented kimchi is better when it's soft, but not onions."
"See, mine's the best, isn't it?"
Truthfully, Yoon Seo thought both were delicious. The dish was nowhere near deserving criticism, but he nitpicked on purpose to give Kwon Jihan some extra points.
"You are good at cooking. Now, hurry up and eat."
"Okay. What should I eat first?"
Kwon Jihan's fork poked at a tonkatsu from the many dishes on the table. Yoon Seo chuckled softly.
"What? Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. Enjoy your meal."
"Sure."
Although he tried to get used to eating spicy foods, it seemed it was still difficult for him.
'Good thing I ordered the tonkatsu.'
Yoon Seo didn't touch the tonkatsu until the meal was over.
After having a hearty lunch, the two moved to an empty field—more accurately, Yoon Seo dragged him there.
"Hyung, why'd you bring me to such a secluded place? I'm not mentally prepared yet…"
"I need to test the weapon."
"Yeah, of course you do."
Kwon Jihan took out four long swords that he bought today from his inventory.
"Shall we start by swinging the 'Sword of the Cold Win' that I managed to get?"
He grabbed the dark-colored sword, which was exuding a gloomy aura. The smile on his face showed he was eager to test it out.
['Kwon Jihan' has activated the
Holding the sword upright, Kwon Jihan used the skill. A black and red aura flowed from his body into the sword. Yoon Seo sat down on a flat piece of concrete among the debris of a collapsed building.
In less than a minute, monsters started to gather around Kwon Jihan. Their eyes were tinted red, and even while staring at the formidable Kwon Jihan, they drooled.
Kwon Jihan kicked off the ground, and in an instant, the head of a nearby monster flew off. The speed was so fast that not a drop of blood splattered on the blade of the Wind-Cutting Sword. He tested it in various ways, cutting off the monsters' limbs, piercing their abdomens, and slicing through their tough horns. Yoon Seo could understand why people thought Kwon Jihan had telekinetic powers. He moved so quickly that to the average person, it would seem like he was killing without moving at all.
[The God of Death has taken an interest in 'Kwon Jihan.']
The God of Death had shown interest in Kwon Jihan for some time now. It would be great if he just became his patron deity, but he only seemed interested.
Piyu, piyu, piyu.
Riceball tugged at the hem of Yoon Seo's clothes with its mouth, urging him. Seeing the fierce fight—or rather, the enthusiastic slaughter—had sparked its own battle instincts.
Yoon Seo patted Riceball's back gently as if to calm it, then stood up.
"Hyung, where are you going?" Kwon Jihan asked, stabbing his sword into the back of a monster's neck. Despite all the movement, he wasn't even slightly out of breath.
"Riceball got excited watching the battle. I'll be at the café next to the restaurant where we ate earlier, so come by when you finish the test."
"I want to come too."
"Hunter Kwon Jihan, you need to finish the test."
"It won't take long, let's go together."
Yoon Seo held up Riceball, who was squeaking incessantly. With its quills standing on end in Yoon Seo's hands, it was obvious to anyone that Riceball was extremely agitated.
"Get rid of all the monster blood smell, then come."
"Alright…"
Kwon Jihan answered gloomily. Yoon Seo quickly left while soothing Riceball.
Although he said he was heading to the café, Yoon Seo didn't actually go in. Instead, he entered a street selling rare items in the black market.
There were two reasons for coming to the black market.
One was to find a good weapon for Kwon Jihan.
The second was… to get an item that could break a bond.
In truth, Yoon Seo was wandering.
His determination to die after fulfilling all the wills had not wavered once in ten years. But recently, as he found himself anticipating the future and wanting to do more, his once firm resolution had started to shake.
But he hadn't officially changed his goal. Since he still planned to die, he couldn't ignore the thought of bound items in the event of the owner's death.