Prologue
Yoon Seo couldn't remember the first time he met Lee Seokyoung. It had happened during a tense battle with a monster. But he remembered their second encounter vividly.
"Seo Chaeyoon. We've fought together once before, haven't we? It's really good to see you again."
"Yes, hello."
Yoon Seo shook the hand that Lee Seokyoung extended. Lee Seokyoung gave it a light shake twice before releasing it.
"As you've probably heard, I'll explain it again. I'm planning to start a guild. It will be an organization composed solely of awakened ones, that is, hunters. You, who are called the world's strongest hunter, must join the world's first hunter guild. If you have any conditions, I'll meet them as best as I can."
"I'm not interested."
"You don't have to reveal your face. As a joining gift, I've prepared a mother-of-pearl mask handcrafted by a living national treasure."
Looking at the shiny mask Lee Seokyoung pulled from his coat, Yoon Seo thought that showing his bare face might be a better option.
"I don't need it."
"You're really firm on this. I wonder how saddened the 68-year-old master artisan Kim Soolbok would be if she heard about this."
"She won't be sad if you don't tell her."
"'You' is a bit distant. Isn't there a more familiar term, like 'Seokyoung hyung'?"
"Let's skip the small talk and get an update on the flood situation."
"As you can see, it's nearly handled here. Just head to the camp and rest. I'll call for you if needed."
"I was informed it was an emergency."
"There seems to have been a miscommunication. It's not as dangerous as you think. You can just go rest."
Gueeeeck!
Arghhhhh!
Save meee!
Yoon Seo let out a short sigh as he witnessed the scene unfolding behind Lee Seokyoung and tried to walk past him. But Lee Seokyoung grabbed his arm. Yoon Seo frowned and shook off his hand.
"What are you trying to do? You're still struggling, let alone finishing up. There's no time for small talk about guilds."
"Seo Chaeyoon, you look seriously exhausted. It's not Apollo's eye infection, is it?"
"Right now, it's you raising my blood pressure."
"I heard you haven't slept a wink in four days."
Yoon Seo realized it right away.
Upon hearing the news that he was being urgently called to Wonju, Lee Domin, with worry overflowing from his eyes, ended up contacting him through the radio.
"What does that have to do with anything? I'm an S-rank hunter."
"If Seo Chaeyoon, who's been up for four days straight, gets seriously injured in this battle, it'll be a massive national loss, and all the public criticism will fall on me. I'm someone who dreams of becoming president, so I care a lot about public opinion. So, go get some rest."
"I'm perfectly fine right now. Are you saying that in a situation where we're short on firepower, and we've got a tank in hand, we shouldn't use it? Are you an idiot?"
"I'm not an idiot. In more ways than one, I'm not an idiot. Putting you to sleep right now isn't for your sake, it's to finish this battle perfectly. When the absolutely crucial moment comes, even if you're begging to sleep more, I'll drag you by the collar onto the battlefield. But for now, just go rest."
With that, Lee Seokyoung turned around.
Watching his firm and unyielding back, Yoon Seo had one thought.
'He is an idiot.'
Because Lee Seokyoung's eyes were so bloodshot they looked painful.
Since that second meeting, they hadn't had a proper conversation.
Yoon Seo had been busy with his duties, and Lee Seokyoung was busy with his, so the only time they crossed paths was when they briefly encountered each other during battles with monsters.
During those moments, they strategized or shared the monsters' weaknesses, but Yoon Seo didn't consider that real conversation.
Lee Seokyoung likely felt the same.
After escaping the Great Dungeon, Yoon Seo heard that Lee Seokyoung had entered an S-rank dungeon and, after failing the raid, had died.
Though Yoon Seo now knows the saying "good people are fools" isn't always true, when he heard of Lee Seokyoung's death, all he could think was, He really was a fool. He lived like a fool and died like one.
***
#1
"Hyung, Riceball is asleep."
"Yeah, it's sound asleep."
"Ego Sword only gets tired after playing intensely with an S-rank hunter for about thirteen hours."
"Riceball doesn't get tired. It's more like it's so satisfied that it 'fell asleep.'"
"Yeah. Anyway, it's in a deep sleep now. Look at it, wings stretched out, round belly, lying flat on its back. I bet even if we were jumping on the bed, it wouldn't wake up."
"Is it a baby? Jumping on the bed?"
Yoon Seo chuckled, and Kwon Jihan paused thoughtfully before speaking again.
"I'll be more blunt. Even if we were kissing and rubbing against each other on the bed, it wouldn't wake up."
"…"
"I'm ready, hyung."
Yoon Seo stopped his squats.
Kwon Jihan, sitting on the bed, spread his legs wide, patting the space between them as if inviting Yoon Seo to sit.
Without hesitation, Yoon Seo approached him, placing his knee on the bed, and Kwon Jihan naturally wrapped his arms around Yoon Seo's waist. Yoon Seo's hand, just as naturally, rested on Kwon Jihan's shoulder.
Their lips met immediately, tongues intertwining. With soft, wet sounds, they exchanged heated breaths and saliva. Yoon Seo's tongue explored Kwon Jihan's mouth, from the palate to his teeth, before gently pushing him away by the shoulder. Kwon Jihan pulled Yoon Seo further into the center of the bed, holding him close.
They hurriedly undressed each other. If nothing else, they were the fastest in the universe at undressing.
Kwon Jihan was already massively aroused. Yoon Seo still hadn't gotten used to the size.
"When did it start?"
"From the moment you began squatting. Your ass is so damn sexy."
"How did you hold back?"
"Are you seriously asking me about patience? You're kidding, right? I'm a master at being patient."
Yoon Seo climbed on top of Kwon Jihan, feeling a slight twinge of guilt. Truthfully, Yoon Seo was already aroused too. That's what happens when your lover wears short shorts and spreads his legs wide like that. As Kwon Jihan's hand reached for Yoon Seo's center, Yoon Seo grabbed his wrist.
"If you touch me, I might come right away."
"I know. Same here."
"How long has it been?"
"31 days, 18 hours, and 20 minutes."
"We don't know when we'll get another chance like this. Let's go all the way today."
"Damn. Is today really the day? I'm all for it. Let's hurry up."
"Keep it down. Riceball might wake up."
"Yeah. Hyung, the top drawer."
Using
When he inserted two fingers into the tightly closed hole, Yoon Seo's hot breath hit his shoulder.
"Does it hurt?"
Yoon Seo wrapped his arms around Kwon Jihan's neck and replied.
"It doesn't hurt, so hurry up."
Kwon Jihan felt a thrilling sensation from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. It always happened when Yoon Seo spoke to him in that way, with such informal, commanding language.
He quickly pushed in a third finger.
"Ugh…"
"Bite my shoulder, hyung."
Like an obedient child, Yoon Seo gently bit down on Kwon Jihan's shoulder. The tight, burning heat clinging to his fingers left Kwon Jihan no time to register any discomfort. His heart was pounding.
Are we really doing this?
Are we finally going to do it today?
It had been two years since they'd become lovers.
They had kissed endlessly. They had touched each other, even pleasured each other with their mouths.
But they had never taken that final step.
Penetrative sex.
The decision of who would be the one to insert and who would be the one to receive was made naturally, without any argument.
It should have been simple: just insert and thrust, but several reasons prevented them from reaching that stage.
The biggest reason, of course, was…
'Peeeep!'
It was because of the clingy and separation-anxious guardian of their relationship, the ego sword.
While Yoon Seo tried to sneak into the bedroom to get things moving while Riceball slept, the little bluebird would suddenly wake up, squawking and crying, and start pecking at the bedroom door.
Although Riceball was a small bird, it was fundamentally an almost indestructible weapon, so when it set its mind to it, destroying a door was no trouble at all. Yoon Seo had to replace the bedroom door five times, while Kwon Jihan's door had to be replaced three times.
There were times when Yoon Seo knelt down and begged Riceball.
'Riceball, can't you just let us sleep together for one night? Just one night.'
'Peep. Peep! Peeeep!'
'I'm not going to eat hyung. I'm just trying to do something nice for him.'
'Peep!'
'What's with that cold stare? Is it necessary to look at me with such disdain?'
'Just give up. You're out of luck today.'
The second problem was Yoon Seo himself.
Yoon Seo was weak against Riceball, especially when it came to its tears, which made him immediately give up on sex.
'I'm sorry, Riceball. Come here.'
Seeing Yoon Seo, who had put on clothes and was hugging the squawking bluebird, looked so gentle and warm, it was hard to believe that just moments ago he was eagerly grinding his butt against Kwon Jihan.
In the end, it wasn't just one or two days that Kwon Jihan had to take care of himself in the bathroom, feeling lonely.
"Hurry up and insert it."
"I'm not ready yet. Doesn't it hurt?"
"Ugh, damn… It doesn't hurt, so just put it in."
But now, finally, thanks to Kwon Jihan, who had played with Riceball all day, Riceball was sleeping soundly and contentedly.
Yoon Seo, who rarely swore, was now urging him to insert it.
Kwon Jihan was so excited that he almost thought a notification would pop up saying his Berserker gauge was full.
Thump, thump, thump.
His heart raced wildly.
'Is this okay?'
That was the thought that crossed his mind in that moment.
'Will I be able to keep my composure?'
This was the last problem.
At the final moment, Kwon Jihan always hesitated.