EFME 85

Sunyul, who had briefly stopped by the Jinseong Research Institute, went straight to work, doing his part-time job as always. He had gotten quite familiar with the members of the item maintenance team.

Although, the maintenance team members still treated Sunyul like a rare gem, their eyes sparkling at his every word and frequently asking for his autograph. Still, it was much more comfortable than at first.

In the first place, this part-time job was not created out of a need for a worker, but rather to draw Sunyul, who had been cooped up at home, outside. Because of that, the atmosphere was free, and the work was very relaxed.

In particular, all sorts of guests came to see Sunyul. There were simple onlookers, as well as Sunyul’s acquaintances.

Having received permission that it was fine as long as they were not too loud, Sunyul’s guests would sometimes stay for a while in a corner of the lab.

Jaehoon often brought drinks under the pretext of paying off his younger brother’s debt. Of course, he would also express a determination that was quite unnecessary from Sunyul’s perspective, saying that the drinks were just interest and to rest assured that he had no intention of calling it even with something like this.

Bada also brought drinks and snacks every time, emphasizing that they were gifts for a friend. He seemed to talk well in front of Sunyul, but sometimes, when Sunyul stared at him intently, he would speak like a broken robot.

Dakyung came the most often, and each time he came, he would help Sunyul a little with his work before leaving. Perhaps because he used magic skills that handled magical power delicately, he had a knack for the work. Sunyul felt a slight sense of rivalry toward Dakyung.

And the person who came today was Jihyun.

“Ah, our Sunyul, you’re doing so well.”

Even before his memories were revealed, Jihyun had treated Sunyul like a child, but for some reason, he had started treating him even more like a child now that it was revealed Sunyul was twenty-seven.

“Ooh, you did it like that?”

He wouldn’t listen even when told to stop, so Sunyul was in a state of half-resignation. When Sunyul looked at Jihyun with soulless eyes, Jihyun giggled.

“Haa, our Sunyul… you’ve completely become a baby now.”

“I’m not a baby, I’m twenty-seven years old.”

“Who would see you as twenty-seven? Should we ask anyone who sees you as twenty-seven to raise their hand?”

Sunyul shut his mouth. Jihyun laughed again, finding something so amusing. Sunyul wanted to tell him to stop talking and concentrate, but the task at hand was simple, and Jihyun’s skill was so perfect there was no room for criticism.

“You used to be sooo cool back in the day, Sunyul.”

“I was?”

Sunyul asked, dazed and finding it hard to believe. Jihyun nodded with a serious face.

“Yeah. But now you’re just cute.”

“……”

The fact that he said that with a serious face was a little annoying. Sunyul lowered his head to ignore Jihyun and continue with the work he was doing. He could feel Jihyun smirking without even looking.

Just then, the door opened. Thinking another visitor had arrived, Sunyul turned around.

The one who entered was Saebyeok. After bowing his head to a researcher who spotted him, Saebyeok approached this way.

“Hello, Sunyul.”

“Mr. Saebyeok, you knew Sunyul?”

Jihyun asks as if slightly surprised. Saebyeok nodded his head.

“A little. I’d like to get closer.”

“……You know the internal regulations, right?”

Jihyun asked with a grave expression. His calm, subdued face felt somewhat chilly. Sunyul tilted his head.

“What are the internal regulations?”

“There’s something like that.”

Jihyun didn’t give him a straight answer. These guild people, they have a lot of things that only they seem to know. Well, since Sunyul isn’t a guild member, it can’t be helped. Sunyul pouted his lips.

Saebyeok smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth at the serious Jihyun.

“Of course. Sunyul, does my doing this make you uncomfortable?”

“No? I was saved last time thanks to your help.”

As Sunyul answered promptly, Jihyun’s eyes went wide in surprise.

“He helped you?”

“Yes, I was in pain, but he helped me… and I got completely better.”

“That’s great. Um, um. Please have a seat.”

Jihyun offered Saebyeok a seat with a much more favorable attitude than just moments before. Saebyeok immediately sat down in the seat next to him.

“But where did it hurt?”

Jihyun asked with concern.

“Ah, I sometimes get headaches.”

“Have you seen a healer?”

“I’ve been before… they said there’s nothing particularly wrong.”

“Hmm.”

Although he had been recognized as a human as his memories of Sunyul returned, his body, separate from that, had mutated to be different from a human’s.

He had discreetly mentioned it to the Jinseong Research Institute, but they had not found any particular abnormalities. Naturally, there was no solution either.

“But Hunter Yoon Saebyeok-nim here helped me.”

“Wow… what a relief.”

Come to think of it, it seemed like Saebyeok didn’t have a skill like that when he saw him before.

“Excuse me… Hunter Yoon Saebyeok-nim.”

“I told you to call me comfortably. Hm? Try saying, Saebyeok hyung.”

“……Saebyeok hyung.”

At the simple title, Yoon Saebyeok smiled as if he was incredibly happy.

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Can I take a look at your status window?”

“Sure, look all you want.”

Sunyul immediately used his skill to check Saebyeok’s status window one more time.

[Yoon Saebyeok/The Uncoming Dawn]

Grade: A

Stamina: B+

Strength: B-

Agility: C+

Magical Power: A

Traits: Superior Healer (A), Tough Body (B), Fount of Mana (B), Resistance (B), Pain Mitigation (C)

Skills: Hymn of Regeneration (A), Joy of Healing (A), Well of Recovery (A), Pain Transfer (A), Advanced Recovery (B), Agility Bestowal (C)

……Hadn’t his traits and skills increased a lot more than last time?

It’s not that new traits or skills never appear. But it’s rare for them to change like this in a matter of days. Sunyul was confused.

But this skill stood out.

[Pain Transfer]… doesn’t that mean he didn’t get rid of the pain, but that Saebyeok took that pain upon himself?

“A-Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Saebyeok brought his index finger to his lips. It wasn’t polite to carelessly blurt out the effects of someone else’s skill when they didn’t want you to. Sunyul closed his mouth but was confused. To take that pain on himself instead.

‘Then… he took on that pain and was still that okay?’

It was unbelievable. Of course, Saebyeok did have the [Pain Mitigation] trait, but……

“Actually, I have a secret method.””A secret method?”

“Yeah. A secret method to make something painful hurt less.”

“There’s something like that?”

“Yeah. Curious?”

Asking that, Saebyeok wrapped his arm around Sunyul’s waist. He was surprisingly strong.

‘Even though his strength is B-.’

Sunyul thought, not considering that it was higher than his own, which was a C. It was a partial escape from reality. The body pulled tightly against his was at an uncomfortably close distance. He could see Jihyun on the other side muttering, “Oh my,” and his eyes widening.

“Should I tell you how this happened?”

“Uh… yes.”

It was uncomfortable, but he was extremely curious. If he just knew that secret method, Sunyul’s life would be a little more bearable. Just as he was about to ask him to tell him from a bit farther away, Saebyeok began to whisper in Sunyul’s ear.

“That is……”

At the very secretive voice, Sunyul forgot everything else and focused intently. Saebyeok was silent for a moment.

“……I’ll tell you later.”

Saying that, Saebyeok moved his hand away from his ear. Sunyul turned to look at Saebyeok, dumbfounded. Saebyeok was smiling with a very amused face.

[‘Traveler of the Eternal Night’ tells you to look to the side.]

At that moment, a constellation’s message cut in out of nowhere. Sunyul, who had glanced to the side without thinking, was startled.

For some reason, Muyoung was standing there.

“……”

Sunyul’s eyes met Muyoung’s. He blinked, and blinked again, but something about the atmosphere was strange.

Team Leader Jin Seoyeon approached this way.

“Guild Leader-nim. Good day.”

“I came to pick up Lim Sunyul. There’s something he needs to do.”

“Ah, yes. There’s nothing urgent, so we’ll call it a day for him.”

No one could open their mouth in front of the strangely ill-tempered-looking Guild Leader. Slowly, Saebyeok let go of Sunyul’s waist. Sunyul scrambled up from his seat.

Sunyul turned and followed Muyoung, who was already walking away. Muyoung, striding along, was silent, unlike his usual self. Sunyul became very tense. He tried to think if he had done something wrong, but nothing came to mind.

They entered the Guild Leader’s office in silence.

After they had walked a little ways inside, Muyoung grabbed Sunyul’s shoulder and stopped him. As Sunyul went, “Uh, uh,” his body was pushed until his back hit the wall.

“What were you doing.”

Muyoung’s questioning voice was heavy. Sunyul answered tensely.

“……My part-time job?”

“I’m asking what you were doing with Yoon Saebyeok.”

“I wasn’t, doing anything……”

“……Right, I’m sure you weren’t.”

Muyoung sighed.

“I know. I know, but……”

“Guild Leader-nim?”

“Why do I want to kill him so badly.”

At those harsh words, Sunyul’s eyes went wide. On that face that knew nothing, Muyoung pressed a kiss.