Chapter 6

By the time the world was getting used to dungeons, Hunters had become a famous money-making profession .

Not even mentioning S-Levels, even B-Levels could make whopping amounts of money . The annual income of C-Levels is also high . Even in D-Levels, you could make 100 million won . Below, not only the E-Levels, but also for F-Levels, if there is adequate combat aptitude, the income would be better than small and medium sized business men .

Mana Stones from dungeons have become a new source of energy, and also by-products for the development of new medicines and useful new materials . In addition, magic and science were combined and various new technologies have been created .

Is this world, Han Yuhyun who is all, handsome, and famous for his quickly developing Haeyeon Guild, do I need to explain any further? He is barely twenty years old, young and promising . (??: 창창하다 못해 어리다)

Even with just one interview, viewers’ ratings were several times higher, and magazines with photos sold out instantly .

‘If it’s let slip that he’s a family man, the reaction is going to be explosive . ’

I muttered inwardly, looking at Yuhyun’s back as he is pulling out a pot from the spacious induction kitchen . Of course, I thought we were going out for dinner . I never thought that we would be eating homemade cooking in his house .

For your information, Yu-hyun’s house was on the top floor of the Haeyeon Guild building . It is not widely known for security reasons, but it accounts for half of the floor . It is a place where people can only enter via filthily expensive mini-portals, and not stairs, elevators, or doors .

“I did not know you were a good cook . ”

Sitting at the dining table, I watched my brother finishing his cooking and accidentally let that slip .

“It’s better now that I’ve been watching what I eat . ”

“What? Why? You’ve got a lot of money . ”

Not even mentioning the ability to buy anything you want to eat after you’ve Awakened, you’re making enough money to hire a top-notch chef . He answered my question with some reservations .

“Now I have to detox items, unlike before . That’s why I feel more comfortable cooking my own food . Even now, when I go into dungeons, I carry my own dry rations . Dungeons are the most dangerous place to be . ”

“……detox? You do that?”

What did I hear? I mean, there were some bastards who put poisons and curses in the food, so I had to cook for myself… was that it?

“……”

I didn’t know . In the past, I thought that he was just a lucky, hotshot S-Level Awakening, and that he would only suffer a little after my return . To think that his life was being threatened, I never could have dreamt that it was such a mess .

For me, Yuhyun was so strong that I couldn’t even look at him . As soon as he Awakened, he got everyone’s attention and became popular . I saw only the term “S-Level” and closed my eyes to everything else .

“Don’t look like that . This was the result of my choice . ”

Yuhyun, who came to the table, said in a soft voice .

“The tall tree catches the wind . You think it’s nice to have a kid out there trying to make a guild for himself? If you just entered the right guild and made a proper living, you would not have to face such threats on your life . ”

I couldn’t do what he did . He laughed at me .

“That’s why I’ve been upset with my relationship with hyung all this time . It is also the result of my choice to monitor, interfere with, and bind hyung in the name of protection . I made my guild, knowing that they would touch my only blood related relative . ” (??: 그놈들이 하나뿐인 혈육에 손 댈 거라는 사실을 알면서도 나는 내 길드를 만들었어 . )

“……Why did you not tell me?”

“At first I didn’t want to burden you… and later I thought you wouldn’t understand . ”

…Certainly, if it was before my regression, I would either yell at my brother to let me live on my own or resent him .

“But I was totally wrong . You were still thinking about me and worried about me like when I was a kid . I misunderstood hyung without knowing it . I’m sorry . ”

Ugh, my conscience hurts . I was just going to loaf around after my regression . If you say these things, I feel like crap .

“……I didn’t do much good either . ”

“You were interrupted with everything you tried to do without knowing why . It’s understandable . ”

The inside of my chest was itchy . The warm ticklish feeling became stronger as the younger brother took a bite of the meal .

It was good to go back to the past .

It was the best choice I’ve ever made .

“I roughly understand the situation . But isn’t it too much for today? You don’t have to do all this to keep me safe . So far, nothing big has happened . ”

As soon as I expressed my desire to leave, Yuhyun’s face stiffened up .

“No . ”

“Why? I’ll be careful . I was okay this morning . ”

“This morning is different from now . The only reason hyung could have done so much is because I had cut off relationships with you . It’s illegal to lay a hand on an Unawakened and people would think it’s not worth the risk . ”

A heavier voice followed .

“But if I command the Haeyeon Guild to take note of hyung’s safety, and ask them to patrol your residence, my enemies will start targeting you . They’ll already start keeping an eye on you just because I brought you into my house . ”

“Then it’s better to keep pretending to be on bad terms on the outside, right?”

“You said you were okay with it . ”

“……what?”

When did I? I don’t have a single memory that allowed him to have me live in captivity .

Yuhyun replied with a cheeky face .

“I’m sorry and I love you . Honestly, it’s my fault and I’m supposed to be responsible for it, but you shouldered it . That’s as good as permission . ”

Is, is that how you interpreted it? This kid’s weird, too!

“Don’t be ridiculous! Life in captivity is a no-no!”

“Just put up with it for three years . I’ll wipe them out in three years . ”

Don’t laugh as you say it! And it’s not three years but five years! It took five years!

Damn it, the right choice is bullshit . The heat extended across the back of my neck and my back straightened, but I tried to calm my mind with deep breathing . The guy in front of me is a S-level awakening before he’s my brother . That’s a guild that’s experienced many hardships . Emotionally, you won’t get a scratch .

I could never win with force and this had to be solved through dialogue somehow .

“How can I live in imprisonment for three years? I already get depressed if I stay in the room for only a month . Even if there were people who were after me, it wouldn’t be hard to make a fuss in broad daylight . And if you do not mind, I can stick with a guardian . I can go with Sunghan or something . ”

“Of course I’ll let you out sometimes . ”

“How often?”

I have arrived here in the present . I’m sitting with my younger brother, not even my parents . At my age, my parents wouldn’t even say anything . How did this happen?

“It depends on the schedule . If we start hitting the dungeons, we won’t be able to hire A-Levels to protect you . You can’t leave it to B-Levels . ”

The bottom line is that all you need is an A-Level with a lot of time . I opened my mouth with confidence .

“Then you’ll let me go if I get a dedicated A-Level guard . ”

“…you’re going to get an A-level?”

“Yes . ”

Yuhyun’s eyes, that were filled with wonder, suddenly turned sharp .

“Hyung, you’ve Awakened . ”

“……huh?”

H, how did he know? This jerk’s dirty fast on the uptake .

“Even in the morning, you were going to meet a broker, so you must have been Unawakened, so when did you Awaken? Right before you met me? Right after we met? That’s why you gave up on contacting the broker . Your destination would have been the Hunter’s Association . ”

…I have nothing to say . I’m going to lie down .

“I’m afraid the rating is less than D . ”

“You can tell that?”

“C-Levels or higher would be a little awkward as they are not able to adapt to excessive physical abilities . Especially if muscle strength exceeds the average B-Level, you would not be able to adapt for three or four days . You wouldn’t be able to control your strength so you would destroy everything you touch . ”

I guess so .

“Did that happen to you to?”

“Yeah . However, the adaptability of S-Levels is high, and it gets better in a day . Of course, if you have extremely high mental strength or mana, it won’t be noticeable even if it’s above C-Level . ”

“I’m an ordinary F-Level . ”

“Initial skill, special skill? If you are confident that you can get an A-Level, you will be able to know the Awakening Level, Awaken the target, or both . It should be at least Grade C . ”

It’s S Level . I can’t say anything in front of him . Given that Yoo Hyun’s expression is very shaky, I think it’s better to speak less about it .

“It’s a special Awakening skill, and it’s C-Grade . I can awaken the Unawakened and roughly know the expected Level of Awakening . ”

“How accurate is it?”

“It’s usually half and half . It’s either strong or weak . I can’t tell you apart from Sunghan . Perhaps B-Level or less . There’s a 30-day cooldown per usage . If it weren’t for the waiting time, it would be Class A . ”

He nodded at my words . His face, which had been shadowed, also lit up slightly .

“That’s enough to get caught, but I’m not going to get shot . (??: 그 정도면 들통 난다 해도 크게 노려지지는 않겠어 . ) It would be useful if you could find out more than grade B in advance, but the waiting time is too long . Even if you find an A-Level or S-Level, there’s no guarantee that you can sign a contract . The temptation of Awakening cannot be used because there is going to be an Awakening Center . ”

“Awakening Center?”

I pretended not to know .

“The Awakening Mechanism has been roughly identified, so the construction of the center is about to begin . It’s the association’s goal to make sure that in the next half year, it would be safe for anyone to Awaken . Each of the top guilds has already talked about it, and they’ve invested . I’ve invested too . ”

“That’s great . The number of Awakenings will increase tremendously?”

“The official announcement is in four months, so don’t go around talking . ”

“Are you going to let me meet someone to talk to?”

Instead of answering, the smile came back . Why don’t you let this madman lock you up in a prison cell?

“Anyway, I’ll find an A-Level to protect me, so just give me a chance . ”

“It wouldn’t be easy once every 30 days . A-Levels are not common . ”

“But it won’t take three years . If I’m lucky, you can find it right away . ”

Of course I don’t need luck . I already know who’s an A-Level .

Yuhyun’s mouth opened after a while .

“Okay, if you really sign a contract with an A-Level, I’m not going to overprotect you . They have to have an offensive or a defense ability . ”

Finally, I was given permission . He’s such a horrible, strict little brother . Although there was one more condition, Park Yerim was famous as a combat wizard, so that was no problem . The problem was the keyword, dammit .