EFME 48

Bada was annoyed for no good reason at the sight of Sunyul thinking deeply about Muyoung’s lover. However, he knew well enough that revealing his feelings plainly right here would be a pathetic thing to do.

“Hah……. Whatever, let’s go.”

In the end, Bada chose to cut off the thought, albeit in an ambiguous way. Sunyul replied, “Yes,” and obediently went along with Bada’s idea.

Bada dropped Sunyul off at the guild, listening to him chatter on and on about Christmas-related topics, such as why Christmas, a religious day, became such a big event, what the advantages of a white Christmas were, why people eat cake, and why Christmas Eve isn’t a holiday.

When they arrived at the Guild Master’s office, Muyoung stopped what he was doing and looked at Sunyul. As soon as Sunyul saw Muyoung, he looked incredibly happy and ran over to him.

“Guild Master!”

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. Are you hurt anywhere, Guild Master?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Having a good time, I see.”

Bada commented briefly as he watched them. Muyoung, after greeting Sunyul, turned to look at Bada.

“I heard you looked after him while I was away. Thanks for your trouble.”

“Yeah, well, I’m off then.”

“Mr. Hunter, have fun.”

“Yeah.”

Bada replied gruffly and left the Guild Master’s office, thinking he should just go drink instead of worrying about useless things.

Sunyul felt a pang of disappointment as Bada, who he had spent the last few days with, left. Thanks to Muyoung, however, he thankfully didn’t feel too empty.

“Hunter Lee Bada is going to hang out with his friends.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Today is Christmas Eve, don’t you have to go out and have fun somewhere, Guild Master?”

“Why would I go out on a crowded day?”

Muyoung said with a face that showed not the slightest interest in Christmas Eve.

“It’s a day to spend with your significant other.”

“It’s not necessarily that kind of day.”

“Anyway. Is it okay for you not to spend time with your girlfriend?”

Sunyul asked, as if subtly sounding him out. At those words, Muyoung looked at Sunyul as if he were absurd.

“Do I look like I have a significant other? I’m with you all day.”

“No. But… you might be unable to meet them because of me.”

“It’s nothing like that. I’m too busy to have time for dating.”

“I see…….”

Sunyul felt a strange stirring in his chest. It was good that Muyoung didn’t have a significant other, but… the words that he had no time to date made a corner of his heart twinge strangely.

“Then you’ll be with me today.”

Sunyul ignored the complex stirring and drew out only the advantages of the current situation. Muyoung gave a short nod.

“We’ll be in the same space, I suppose. I have a lot of work……. I have to finish this first, so go rest inside.”

Sunyul was about to go into the break room as usual, but he paused. Today, the guild’s administrative staff had left work early, so the office was empty. Naturally, there would be no staff members stopping by the Guild Master’s office.

“Can I rest here?”

“Of course.”

At Muyoung’s approval, Sunyul was secretly thrilled. Although being in the same space didn’t change anything significant.

Sunyul sat on the sofa and played ‘Squishy Farm’ for a while, then took out the scarf he had been knitting and started working on it again. He had no idea when he would ever be able to finish it.

As he was playing quietly by himself, Jihyun came to visit.

“Hello, Guild Master.”

Jihyun had come in person for a brief report. Just as Jihyun, her business quickly finished, was about to leave, Muyoung stopped her.

“What’s the schedule for the rest of the day?”

“I’m on standby until the afternoon… why?”

“It’s about Lim Sunyul, could you take him and play with him for a bit while he’s at the guild? I don’t think my work will be done until nighttime.”

At Muyoung’s uncharacteristically cautious words, Jihyun almost burst out laughing. He was just like an owner who feels bad for their puppy playing alone and entrusts it to someone else.

“I’d love to. Is that okay with you too, Sunyul?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

It was nice being with Muyoung, but he didn’t want to disturb the busy Muyoung……. Sunyul obediently followed Jihyun out.

The place Jihyun headed to was the café on the 26th floor. Thanks to most of the guild members leaving early, the area was very quiet. Even the employee who ran the café had gone home early, and a homunculus was manning the place.

Sunyul followed Jihyun as she walked towards a group that had all but taken over the quiet café. There, quite a few of the members who had cleared the dungeon with him last time were gathered.

“Hi, Sunyul.”

“Oh, hi.”

“Hello.”

Sunyul politely greeted the people who recognized him. They all had smiling faces as they looked at Sunyul.

“What brings you here?”

“The Guild Master asked me to play with Sunyul for a bit since he’s playing alone.”

“Wow, he was that considerate?”

“I know, right?”

Jihyun laughed lightly, as if in agreement.

“You came at a good time. The cake will be here soon.”

“Cake?”

“Yeah. We played rock-paper-scissors to see who would buy the cake. We decided on strawberry cake.”

“You like sweet things, don’t you, Sunyul?”

Sunyul nodded. He was happy just to be there, but now that he heard cake was coming, he started to get excited.

Soon, another guild member arrived with the cake. It was a guild member Sunyul was seeing for the first time, but thankfully, they didn’t shy away from Sunyul and greeted him with a smile.

Soon, a slice of cake was handed to Sunyul. Given a rather large piece with the encouragement to eat a lot, Sunyul hesitated instead of eating the cake.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I was thinking maybe I should give some to the Guild Master…….”

“Huh? It’s fine. The Guild Master doesn’t like sweet things anyway.”

At those words, Sunyul tilted his head. Whenever Sunyul suggested eating something, Muyoung would usually eat it without much thought.

Perhaps he just doesn’t seek it out on his own. In order not to bother him, Sunyul gave up the idea of bringing it to him.

Meanwhile, the guild members all took their share of the cake and began to chat boisterously.

“Hah, I should be eating this with my boyfriend.”

One guild member sighed, poking at her cake. At that, another guild member snickered.

“You don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Shut up.”

“Hey, I have a girlfriend and I’m still here eating cake with you guys.”

“That’s because you’re a money-grubber… you’re doing this right now to earn money.”

“That’s right. If you want to make money, you have to aim for the holidays.”

“Is your girlfriend okay with you not seeing her?”

“She said it’s fine since we’re meeting at night. Her girlfriend has to work anyway.”

Somehow, the topic shifted to dating. Sunyul listened to the rather exciting conversation while eating his cake.

“Sunyul, is there anyone you’re interested in?”

An unexpected arrow flew at Sunyul, who had only been listening. Surprised, Sunyul blinked his wide eyes.

“What? Me?”

“Would he? He only ever sees the Guild Master.”

“That’s true.”

Everyone giggled as if something was incredibly funny. The topic now shifted to Kwon Muyoung.

“Did you know? There’s a rumor going around that the Guild Master is gay because he doesn’t date anyone.”

“What, just because he doesn’t date women, he suddenly becomes gay?”

“It’s ridiculous. It’s just a rumor.”

“The Guild Master isn’t seeing anyone… right?”

Everyone looked at Sunyul with eyes full of curiosity. Sunyul nodded.

“I asked him today, and he said he’s too busy to have time for dating.”

“Oh…….”

“I guess that’s to be expected.”

“That’s so like the Guild Master.”

“Will he not get married?”

“He might suddenly announce his marriage one day without any prior news.”

“Somehow… a contract marriage would suit him well too.”

“Haven’t you been watching too many dramas?”

Listening to a guild member’s chiding, Sunyul fell into thought.

‘If the Guild Master gets married… we probably won’t be able to live together, right?’

Many people chattered about him being an item or a monster, but he was, for the most part, humanoid. They couldn’t live together as if he were raising a dog or a cat. He would naturally be kicked out.

Muyoung said he wasn’t dating anyone, but… isn’t love something that comes suddenly? He couldn’t help but worry that Muyoung might suddenly announce he was getting married.

Because he didn’t want to be separated from Muyoung.

After chatting a little more, it became five in the afternoon. It was time to go, so Sunyul got up from his seat. Then, he returned to the Guild Master’s office with Jihyun.

“Guild Master, we’re back.”

“Good work.”

“Not at all. We had fun with Sunyul too.”

Jihyun, smiling brightly, waved at Sunyul.

“Bye, Sunyul.”

“Yes, have fun.”

“Okay.”

He walked Jihyun, who said she was having a Christmas party with friends at home, to the door. After closing the door, Sunyul quietly settled down on the sofa in the Guild Master’s office.

“Lim Sunyul.”

“Yes?”

“Did you find the break room a bit stifling usually?”

“No. It was fine, but…….”

“You’ve been out here all day today.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just out here because the office is empty for once.”

“That’s a relief, then.”

Muyoung turned his gaze back to his documents. Just a little more and he should be able to go home…….

He tried to focus again, but he could feel Sunyul’s persistent gaze on him. Muyoung looked up from the document he was reviewing and turned around.

“Um, Guild Master.”

Sunyul spoke up as if he had been waiting for this very opportunity.

“What is it.”

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you…….”

“What is it.”

Sunyul rarely asked for favors. He had no idea what he would ask for, but he thought he should grant it as long as it was reasonable. After hesitating a bit more, Sunyul carefully opened his mouth.

“Um… can’t we buy a Christmas cake on our way home?”

Muyoung couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. He had wondered what grand favor he was going to ask……. It was a truly small request.

“Go ahead.”

“No, I don’t mean having Chief Choi buy it for us.”

Muyoung’s hand, which had been reaching for his smartphone, paused.

“I want to go buy it myself. Can’t I?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Wow, really?”

Muyoung glanced at the clock.

“We’ll leave before seven, so let’s buy it then.”

“Great!”

Sunyul’s cheeks flushed red. As if he were extremely excited. Muyoung thought he’d have to finish his work without delay and focused his mind back on the documents.