EFME 113

The day after meeting Jeong Changyu was the day he had to go protect Yoo Seongheon.

Sunyul turned his body this way and that in an uncomfortable suit. To be sure, suits looked quite fine, but they only worked on people who had the body for it; when someone like him wore one, it didn’t look great at all.

‘Though the Guild Leader seemed to like it….’

Thinking of the first suit that needed to be laundered, Sunyul’s face flushed as he cupped his cheeks in his hands. It had been really nice, but it was just too embarrassing.

Fanning his reddened face, Sunyul headed straight to the front of Yoo Seongheon’s house.

‘I heard an Awakener stalker carried out a terror attack not long ago.’

Which was apparently why he was looking for a hunter bodyguard just in case. Being a celebrity was truly a difficult job.

Before seeing Yoo Seongheon, he ran into the manager first. Even though the manager had heard in advance that Sunyul was coming, he gasped in sheer shock.

“M-Mr. Lim Sunyul has r-really, really come.”

“Yes. I’m from the Cheongyeon Guild. As you were informed, I will be taking over the protection duty today as a substitute.”

“Ah, yes. Yes…. Ah, for Mr. Sunyul to come to such a h-humble place.”

The manager rambled before frantically pressing the doorbell. Just as Sunyul wondered if he should stop those relentless fingers, the door swung open irritably.

“Ah, hyung. What—”

Sunyul made eye contact with Yoo Seongheon, who wasn’t wearing a shirt. The body he caught a glimpse of was incredibly good. Trying not to stare for no reason, Sunyul averted his gaze and bowed deeply.

“Hello, I am Lim Sunyul, and I will be in charge of your protection today.”

“Ah, Mr. Lim Sunyul really came? It’s nice to meet you.”

Yoo Seongheon showed a surprised expression before narrowing his eyes into a smile. It was a charming smile, but the way his eyes swept over Sunyul felt somewhat chilling. Seongheon slowly licked his lips with his tongue. It was a momentum that looked as if he might devour something whole.

Right then, the manager gasped in horror, grabbed Seongheon, and smacked him right on the back.

“Hey! Get a grip, you idiot!”

“Ah, why are you hitting me?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know?! Hurry up, change your clothes, and get out here!”

“Good grief.”

Seongheon, who had gone inside grumbling, soon emerged looking neat and tidy. Sunyul approached him.

“May I use a skill on you?”

“Of course.”

[Using the skill ‘Blessing of Protection’.]

It was a defensive skill that could block most attacks. With this, any sudden attacks flying at Yoo Seongheon could be intercepted. Confirming that the skill had been applied, Seongheon smiled.

“This is nice. Thank you, Mr. Sunyul.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural since it’s my job.”

He had heard that many celebrities were arrogant, but giving bonus points to Seongheon’s quite polite attitude, Sunyul sat in the passenger seat next to the manager.

Then, glancing toward Seongheon and asking, “Are you alright?”, he checked his status window.

Yoo Seongheon / Glass Mask

Rank: A Health: B— Strength: C Agility: C— Mana: A+ Traits: Open Your Heart (A), Listen to Me (B), Immersion (B) Skills: Puppet Making (A), Hypnotist (B), Eyes Front (B), Fatigue Recovery Agent (C)

Sunyul had to struggle to maintain his facial expression.

It was suspicious beyond belief. Puppet Making and Hypnotist? Weren’t those blatant mind control skills?

Furthermore, Muyoung had clearly said that Yoo Seongheon was a B-rank Awakener, but he was an A-rank Awakener. He had even faked his awakening rank.

The rankings only showed the top 300 people. Just in case, he checked, but there was no one with the hunter name ‘Glass Mask’. As long as one didn’t appear on the rankings, it was entirely possible to fake a rank.

His mind was in a tangle. Sunyul stared straight ahead with a serious face, and because his vibe didn’t seem all that scary, the manager and Seongheon merely thought Sunyul was just quite nervous.

While harboring various thoughts, the car arrived at the filming set.

A brief moment after Sunyul got out of the car, someone naturally recognized him. The filming set, which wouldn’t care much even if a major celebrity showed up, was instantly turned upside down.

“L-Lim Sunyul is here.”

“Oh my god, is it real?”

“Insane. His head is so tiny.”

Not just the staff, but even the celebrities flocked to Sunyul’s vicinity. In the end, Sunyul had to give out autographs to celebrities who would normally be the ones signing them.

“Alright, stop bothering him.”

After a good while, Yoo Seongheon rescued Sunyul. Only then did Sunyul snap out of it. He didn’t know who was rescuing whom right now. Sunyul was supposed to protect Seongheon, but it had become the exact opposite.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do my job properly.”

“Not at all. You cast a skill on me, and you’re staying with me right now.”

Yoo Seongheon smiled softly. It was an angelic smile that clearly covered for Sunyul’s mistake. Sunyul was a little touched.

“Sit here. Just ignore the other people.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sitting on a chair placed in a corner, Sunyul watched Seongheon from a short distance away.

Perhaps Seongheon had given some instructions, because people didn’t approach after that, though some did walk past pretending to be busy just to steal glances at Sunyul.

It was while Seongheon was in the middle of acting.

The man who had taken the sixth or seventh autograph subtly approached Sunyul. He then lowered his voice and whispered.

“Be careful of Yoo Seongheon.”

“Why?”

“He hits on anyone with a pretty face without discrimination. He must have resolved to hit on you too, Mr. Sunyul.”

“Hits on? What?”

“Uh, um….”

“….”

“….”

“…Ah, I-I understand. I’m sorry. Since I have no memories.”

“Yeah, I know.”

The man smiled genially and stepped a bit closer to Sunyul.

“Can I take just one photo together?”

“Umm, yes.”

Sunyul didn’t particularly like taking photos. Once he started taking them, there would be no end to it. So normally he wouldn’t have done it, but since the man had given him a warning, he showed some generosity.

Sunyul took a photo with the man. Checking the photo, the man grimaced.

“I thought you wouldn’t know how to pose, but you look surprisingly good in photos.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I came out looking like a squid….”

“You came out well though?”

“…Thank you for the comfort.”

Despairing yet thanking him for the photo, the man left. Sunyul focused on Seongheon again.

The stalker did not appear. No matter how bold a stalker might be, it would have been hard to show up with Sunyul around. Still, just in case, he remained alert to his surroundings until the very end and escorted Yoo Seongheon all the way back to his house.

“Then, I will take my leave now.”

As Sunyul tried to return immediately, Seongheon caught him. Then, wearing that somewhat scary smile he had shown when they first met, he stared at Sunyul.

“Come inside for a bit before you go.”

“No thank you. I have to head back right away.”

“Then shall I see you off?”

“I go instantly if I use a skill. Goodbye.”

Sunyul bowed his head quickly and flat out used his skill to escape.

[Using the skill ‘Researching Magician: Warp’.]

The place where he opened his eyes again was in front of his house.

Taking off his shoes and heading inside, Muyoung was sitting on the living room sofa waiting for Sunyul. Sunyul approached Muyoung and immediately tucked one leg under himself to sit down.

“How was Mister Changyu?”

“I didn’t feel any immediate danger…. But it’s too early to be certain.”

“Hmm.”

“More importantly, how was Yoo Seongheon?”

“He was a bit strange. Mr. Yoo Seongheon was an A-rank, you know? Plus, his skills are very suspicious.”

Sunyul laid out the details regarding Yoo Seongheon’s skills. Muyoung, who listened to the report with a serious face, soon formed a faint, satisfied smile.

“You went through a lot. Good job.”

“Since I did well, isn’t there some kind of reward?”

“Should I give you pocket money?”

“…Not something like that.”

Muyoung swept Sunyul up into his arms. Sunyul wrapped his arms around the neck of the rising Muyoung and kissed him.

The next day, Sunyul ran into Bada at the guild cafe. Bada approached Sunyul with a face that looked completely exasperated.

“When weird guys cling to you, shake them off properly!”

“What do you mean?”

“These bastards are acting all close to you!”

Wondering what was going on, Sunyul checked what Bada was thrusting forward.

A photo of Sunyul standing among the crowd had been uploaded to Yoo Seongheon’s Outstagram. To top it off, the actor who took a selfie with Sunyul had also uploaded their photo together to Outstagram, drawing massive attention.

“No, well. Just because they posted a photo once….”

Right then, his smartphone vibrated. Seeing Yoo Seongheon’s name pop up, Bada clutched the back of his neck.

“See! Because you accommodate them, they keep crawling all over you!”

“Calling it crawling all over me is a bit much….”

Speaking awkwardly, Sunyul answered the call from Seongheon.

“Yes, hello.”

─Hello. Mr. Sunyul?

“Yes.”

─I was wondering if you got home safely yesterday. I sent a message, but there was no reply.

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep as soon as I arrived….”

He hadn’t slept, but had been doing something else. Seongheon was silent for a moment before asking carefully.

─I didn’t make you uncomfortable in some way, did I?

“It’s nothing like that.”

─That’s a relief. Let’s have a drink together sometime later.

“Um, sure.”

Since it felt awkward to say no, Sunyul said sure. But Seongheon laughed as if he were incredibly happy.

─Right. Thank you.

Sunyul exchanged a few more words before hanging up. For some reason, the other party’s conversational tension seemed significantly higher than Sunyul’s.

And… the face of Bada standing before his eyes was terrifying.

“He’s clearly making a sly move!”

“It’s just a greeting, that’s all.”

“….”

Bada thumped his own chest repeatedly. He hit it so hard that it looked like it might bruise, so Sunyul stopped him.

“Alright, I get it, so calm down. I won’t drink with him. It was just something he said.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

As Sunyul nodded his head, Bada let out a sigh.

“Huu… Rather than a complete scumbag like that, the Guild Leader is… hu, that Guild Leader bastard is… bet… haa… better.”

Bada squeezed out each and every word with immense difficulty.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine….”

Looking at Bada speaking bitterly, Sunyul felt genuinely sorry. Since this was an issue Sunyul couldn’t do anything about, he felt even more apologetic.

Sunyul fidgeted with his hands for no reason.

‘I need to give him that.’

As if by fate, the item he had placed an order for this morning had arrived. He had to give it to him, but it felt somewhat awkward. Should he just shove it to him right now and run away….

“…Ugh.”

“Sunyul-ah?”

Suddenly, his head throbbed with pain. It was a pain that felt as if someone were slicing through his mind with a saw blade.

“Sunyul….”

“I-I’m fine.”

It was a terrible pain, but it lasted only a flash. Because he felt fine again right away, Sunyul waved his hand to say it was nothing.

“Are you really okay? Maybe you should go to the infirmary….”

“I’m really fine. Thanks for worrying.”

When Sunyul spoke with a smile, Bada’s ears flushed bright red out of nowhere. Bada nodded his head with a slightly blank face.

Right then, an alert chimed from his smartphone.

It wasn’t an alert that chimed from the smartphones of everyone in the cafe. It was an alert that rang out only from Sunyul’s and Bada’s smartphones.

This was a signal that an S-rank hunter was needed in a faraway place.