EFME 125

Just then, his phone rang. When he checked to see who it was, an unexpected name appeared on the screen.

It was Yoo Seunghun.

“Yes, hello?”

─Mr. Sunyul. It’s Yoo Seunghun.

“Oh, yes. Hello.”

─Are you at the guild right now by any chance?

“Yes, I’m at the guild… why do you ask?”

─I’ve actually just arrived at the Cheongyeon Guild. If you have some free time, do you think I could see you for a moment?

Sunyul glanced back at Haemin. Ordinarily, he would readily meet up with Yoo Seunghun since he was a suspicious target, but the person he was spending time with today wasn’t a fellow guild member he saw every day, but Haemin, whom he hadn’t seen in a while. He didn’t want to leave Haemin behind.

“I have another guest with me right now.”

─Ah… I see. I don’t mind even if it’s a bit later.

“I’m sorry. I think it might be a bit difficult today.”

─Not even for a brief moment? I really wanted to see your face.

“Mmm.”

Despite Sunyul’s hesitation, Yoo Seunghun wouldn’t back down. As Sunyul wavered a bit, wondering what was going on, Haemin chimed in with interest.

“Who is it?”

Sunyul asked Yoo Seunghun for a moment, pulling the smartphone away from his ear to speak.

“It’s the actor Yoo Seunghun. Do you know him?”

“Yeah. Park Heena is a huge fan of his.”

“Really?”

“Is he asking to meet up?”

Haemin’s eyes suddenly sparked with curiosity.

“Ah, yes.”

“Ask him if I can join too. I want to tease Park Heena.”

“Uh… really?”

“Yeah.”

Sunyul lifted the phone back up.

“Um… the guest I’m with says they’d like to meet you too. Would you mind if we all met up together?”

─Pardon? Who is your guest?

“It’s Hunter Park Haemin.”

─Uh… by any chance, the S-rank Crafter Hunter Park Haemin?!

“Yes, that’s him.”

─I would absolutely love that, of course!

And just like that, an impromptu meeting was arranged.

The meeting spot was set at a nearby restaurant. Sunyul headed to the restaurant along with Haemin. Dakyung skipped out, saying she wasn’t interested in male actors and told them to call her later when they were meeting a female idol instead.

Just as he had mentioned beforehand, Yoo Seunghun was waiting with some other people. Both of them looked to be actors as well, just like Seunghun.

“Mr. Sunyul, you’ve met Seokwon before last time, right?”

“Ah… yes.”

“I’m Jo Seokwon. I felt like I didn’t get to properly greet you last time.”

Since he did remember seeing him, Sunyul nodded. It was definitely the man who had warned him to be careful of Yoo Seunghun on the first day they met.

“H-hello, I’m Im Youngwoon.”

“To be honest, Youngwoon here is a massive fan of yours, Mr. Sunyul. He kept throwing a tantrum saying he just had to see you at least once….”

“I-I’m sorry for bothering you when you’re busy.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s okay.”

Sunyul checked the status windows of Jo Seokwon and Im Youngwoon. Both were non-awakened citizens with absolutely nothing showing up. Regardless of the warning from before, they seemed quite close if he was willing to bring them along to a private gathering.

Or… Yoo Seunghun could have brainwashed them using a skill.

Was that too far-fetched of a guess?

“So, did you come here specifically to see Sunyul?”

“Not quite, these guys had some business at the market so we came together.”

“What are you planning to buy at the market?”

“Yes, we bought some self-defense items.”

Jo Seokwon replied, gesturing between himself and Im Youngwoon.

“Aha.”

“Self-defense items are really popular these days.”

Just as Haemin said, self-defense items were selling like hotcakes. This was all because the number of monsters had increased.

“Since it’s fate that we’ve ended up having a meal together like this, I’ll give you these. They’re self-defense items.”

Haemin pulled three items out of his inventory and handed them over. The eyes of Yoo Seunghun and his friends sparkled.

“Are these items made by Mr. Park Haemin?”

“They aren’t mine; Park Heena made them. Though they aren’t as good as the items I make… well, they’re still quite useful. They’re reusable, so if you recharge them with mana, you can keep using them.”

Haemin explained how to use them. The three men bowed so deeply they looked ready to fold themselves in half as they poured out expressions of gratitude. Then, Yoo Seunghun put his item into his inventory, while the other two slid theirs into their pockets.

“What brought you here today, Mr. Yoo Seunghun?”

“Ah, I came because of my bodyguards.”

“Did a problem arise?”

Yoo Seunghun had already signed a security contract with the Cheongyeon Guild. Wondering if something had gone wrong, Sunyul asked with a serious expression, and Seunghun nodded.

“Yes, I think I need to sign an additional contract. No, the stalker… the stalker keeps….”

Yoo Seunghun clutched his head, muttering under his breath.

“Before, they left behind something truly horrifying.”

“Something horrifying?”

“Since it’s right before our meal, I won’t go into detail.”

Sunyul nodded. He had asked back automatically, but he didn’t particularly want to hear it anyway. If it was horrifying enough to make him react like that, he didn’t even want to imagine it.

“…Anyway, it seems this damn stalker is an Awakened.”

“Didn’t you say the previous stalker was an Awakened too? Don’t tell me they still haven’t caught them?”

“No, it’s not that. After the previous stalker was caught, I felt relieved for a while… but a new stalker has appeared.”

“Oh my goodness.”

“On top of that, they’re so clever that this stalker won’t get caught. That’s why I came by the Cheongyeon Guild since it’s my day off.”

“You handle things directly yourself? Celebrities usually leave this kind of work to their managers.”

Haemin, who had been listening quietly, chimed in. Yoo Seunghun shook his head side to side.

“There are many people who do, but it’s been a long time since I’ve promoted without a manager, so it’s more comfortable for me to handle it alone. Mmm.”

Seunghun’s gaze subtly drifted toward Sunyul.

“And I also thought it would be nice if I happened to run into Mr. Sunyul by chance at the guild.”

“It turned out well since we met.”

Sunyul smiled brightly. Seunghun smiled back happily as well.

Meanwhile, Haemin clicked his tongue inwardly. Anyone could see he was flirting…. He wondered if Kwon Muyoung knew that this kid was running around acting so cluelessly.

Just as Haemin was debating whether he should intervene, the appetizers arrived.

“Let’s eat for now.”

The food was quite delicious. It truly deserved to be called a famous restaurant. The meal proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere. By the time dessert arrived, the relaxed mood grew even warmer and friendlier.

“I’m really honored that Ms. Heena is a fan of mine. But are you sure I shouldn’t do an autograph for her?”

“Of course. Absolutely do not give her one. The whole point is to tease her.”

Haemin nodded firmly.

“Since we’re siblings, I understand that feeling well. Haha.”

“If I had a younger sister, I think I’d treat her really well….”

Sunyul tilted his head to the side. Siblings were truly a mystery.

“No, a younger sister is like a monster-like existence….”

“…Do you hate her enough to kill her?”

“Huh? No! I-I mean she’s destructive to that extent.”

Yoo Seunghun corrected himself in a panic. Everyone laughed seeing his flustered reaction.

“But if Sunyul had a younger sister, I feel like he really would treat her well.”

Haemin said with a laugh. Sunyul nodded, wondering why he was stating something so obvious.

“Isn’t that just a given? People only complain because they actually have one. I think it’d be cute.”

“Not cute, definitely not cute.”

Haemin shook his head. While they were chatting about the existence of younger sisters for a good while, a laughing Yoo Seunghun stood up, saying he needed to use the restroom. At that, Jo Seokwon stood up to join him.

Sensing a strange premonition, Sunyul subtly activated a skill.

[Using skill ‘Researching Magician: Summon’.]

The small, summoned homunculus transformed into the shape of a bug and followed the two men. Completely unaware of this, Haemin took a sip of his water.

“Ah, this is fun. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Once those guys come back from the restroom, I should go too.”

Sunyul nodded as he shared his senses with the homunculus.

As soon as they entered the restroom, Yoo Seunghun suddenly grabbed Jo Seokwon by the collar.

‘Ugh….’

‘This is a rare opportunity, so do it right.’

‘A-Alright, I get it.’

The threatening voice of Yoo Seunghun was completely different from the one Sunyul knew. Startled, Sunyul’s eyes widened into circles.

“Sunyul, what’s wrong?”

“Ah… it’s just, I suddenly remembered something I forgot.”

“Something you forgot?”

“…It’s a secret.”

“Geez, how harsh.”

Sunyul brushed it off with a random excuse and waited for the two to return. Yoo Seunghun and Jo Seokwon walked back as if nothing had happened. Following that, Haemin headed to the restroom.

“Mr. Sunyul.”

In Seokwon’s gentle voice calling out to Sunyul, not a single trace of being threatened could be found. It seemed he wasn’t an actor for nothing. It only left Sunyul feeling nervous and cautious on his own.

“Yes?”

“Could we exchange numbers as well?”

“…Numbers?”

“Yes.”

Was the thing Yoo Seunghun told him to do properly an exchange of numbers?

Sunyul exchanged numbers with him for the time being. At that, Seokwon smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“When Mr. Haemin gets back, should we take some photos together too?”

Yoo Seunghun said in a cheerful voice.

“Photos?”

“Photos are the only things that remain in the end, after all.”

Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable deep down, Sunyul nodded in agreement.

Soon, Haemin returned. Hearing Yoo Seunghun’s suggestion, Haemin frowned as if he found it troublesome.

“A proof shot? I’m not really big on taking photos…. I’ll take it for you guys, the four of you take it.”

“Then Mr. Sunyul should be in the center.”

“M-Me?”

“You’re the smallest. Standing in the middle makes it the most balanced.”

“….”

It was an unfair reason. Sunyul wasn’t short by any means, but all the others were tall. Sunyul had no choice but to stand in the middle.

“One, two, three.”

Sunyul smiled awkwardly. Since he didn’t take photos often, it felt unnatural. Yet, the resulting photo turned out… better than expected.

“Mr. Sunyul, you look like someone who wouldn’t be photogenic, but you take photos well? Of course, you look much better in person, though.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Well, maybe not that a lot. Since he hadn’t taken photos that many times anyway. Though he had taken quite a few recently…. Sunyul smiled bashfully.