"Got bored after being stuck in a dull dungeon. Let's go out together."
"I'm busy."
"Busy knitting?"
Kwon Jihan glanced down at Yoon Seo's lap and let out a small laugh. Even now, Yoon Seo's hands were moving mechanically.
"I have to knit, and I have to watch TV."
"Doesn't look like you're watching TV."
"I was just about to turn it on."
Yoon Seo quickly turned on the TV. Since he had turned it off while searching for a drama earlier, the list popped up right away. Kwon Jihan chuckled quietly.
"Ah. Right, you said you liked dramas. Out of your hundreds of hobbies, watching dramas is your favorite."
Yoon Seo frowned. He didn't even have to ask who Kwon Jihan had heard that from. Park Soobin's contact name was permanently set as 'Spy.'
"I have a variety of hobbies. What about you, Hunter Kwon Jihan? What are your hobbies?"
"Your face says you don't care. Are you asking just to change the subject?"
"..."
"I don't have any hobbies. But more importantly, what's the title of that drama you've rewatched dozens of times? Even someone like me without hobbies should start one. Go ahead and convince me."
When Yoon Seo looked at him, Kwon Jihan's gray eyes really did seem interested. But Yoon Seo refused to be fooled and deliberately answered indifferently.
"'Love in Han River.'"
"Hm, what's it about?"
Since Kwon Jihan seemed genuinely curious, Yoon Seo set down his knitting needles.
"It's a grand kimchi stew drama that revolves around the schemes, betrayals, love, and friendship unfolding in kimchi stew restaurants all over the country."
"A grand kimchi stew drama…."
"There are four factions, tuna kimchi stew, mackerel pike kimchi stew, pork kimchi stew, and fish cake kimchi stew. They compete in a tournament to determine which restaurant makes the best kimchi stew. It's a masterpiece that will bring you to tears. Especially the final twist, it's mind-blowing. It really makes you realize how small the world is. But I can't say more since that would be a spoiler. If you're interested, want to start episode one now? The rewatch fee is 1,500 won, but I have a premium membership, so I can replay it unlimitedly—"
"Which faction wins?"
"I told you, no spoilers. Just watch it."
"No thanks. The title already sounds childish."
What the hell?
Yoon Seo shot Kwon Jihan a glare. Kwon Jihan's expression looked even more entertained than before, but now that he thought about it, that amusement wasn't directed at the drama, it was directed at Yoon Seo himself.
"Sure, some people might say 'Love in Han River' is childish, but at least it's less childish than someone who goes around picking fights all the time."
"You're the one picking a fight right now."
"Why do you keep using informal speech? Do you even know how many years older I am than you?"
"You want me to call you hyung? If you beat me in a fight, I'll call you hyung. If you want, I can even use formal speech."
"How about you just call me hyung, and we don't fight at all?"
"No can do. Even now, while we're talking, I feel like I'm going crazy from wanting to fight you. You're way more interesting than I expected. I want to fight. Right now."
Kwon Jihan's voice carried the weight of someone witnessing something overwhelming and grand. A golden glimmer flickered in his gray eyes.
['Kwon Jihan' has activated the
[The effect of the skill
['Kwon Jihan' is viewing your system profile.]
Yoon Seo's brows furrowed deeply.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"What else? I used an insight skill just in case. That little text box is still the same."
Kwon Jihan grinned brightly.
"So, if you really hate today, when should we fight? I have plans next week, so that's out. Want to fight after we get back from the S-rank Yellow Dungeon?"
His voice was full of excitement, his curved eyes and gaze overflowing with joy, he was just like a kid eager to play with a new toy.
Yoon Seo scooted half a handspan away from the fighting maniac.
He had tried searching for ways to avoid the fight, but he ultimately concluded that it was impossible. If he kept refusing while Kwon Jihan kept insisting, and rumors spread about it, that would be even more annoying and troublesome. So, he came up with a solution.
"Fine. Let's have a match."
"Well, obviously. I asked when."
"When we fight, it'll be just you and me."
"Of course. I'm not into three-person hobbies."
"Listen carefully. I mean, we'll meet up and fight without telling anyone."
"Sounds good. I don't like having an audience either."
"After the fight, when we talk about it with others, we'll only mention who won and who lost. We won't discuss what happened during the fight, including which skills we used."
Kwon Jihan, still smiling, gazed steadily at Yoon Seo.
"You sure have a lot of conditions. What if I agree and then don't follow through?"
"We'll write a contract."
"…A contract?"
Kwon Jihan asked a beat late. Yoon Seo, busy checking his skill window, didn't notice the intrigue flickering in Kwon Jihan's gray eyes.
"A contract bound by the Gaia System. A forced contract that inflicts pain if broken."
"Aha…."
Kwon Jihan let out a long sigh, then burst into laughter.
"This is fun. I didn't know something like that existed."
But his tone didn't sound like someone who truly didn't know, it sounded more like he was pleased to hear it. His laughter was open and carefree, his eyes trembling slightly, not from fear or surprise, but from sheer excitement.
Yoon Seo felt slightly uneasy but continued explaining.
"It's not an item, it's a skill called
[
He handed one of them to Kwon Jihan.
A system log appeared before Kwon Jihan.
['Kwon Jihan' has received '
The contract materialized in his hands. It was already filled out, all that was left was to sign.
"We'll create two identical copies and keep one each. The contract states that if 'Yoon Seo' wins, his identity must remain secret. There's also a special clause that even if we learn about each other's skills and items during the duel, we won't share that information with anyone. If the contract is broken, physical pain will be inflicted. I've heard it causes severe headaches. Any questions?"
"It looks like explaining the contract is a condition for using your skill."
"…That's correct. Now, sign it."
Yoon Seo flicked a pen from the pencil holder on the waiting room table toward Kwon Jihan. He caught it effortlessly but didn't sign right away, just twirling it between his fingers.
"What exactly do you mean by 'identity'? It's too broad and vague."
"There's nothing vague about it. Just don't talk about me to anyone. Simple, right?"
Yoon Seo had deliberately left it ambiguous but acted as if it were nothing. Kwon Jihan, instead of signing quickly, maintained his indifferent expression. Yoon Seo raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing? You agreed. Do you not want to fight me?"
"I really fucking do. But the contract seems a bit unfair. Since you added a bunch of conditions, I'm adding mine too."
"..."
Yoon Seo clenched his fist tightly. He had hoped to push this through, but Kwon Jihan had a point. The entire contract was written to Yoon Seo's advantage, and there was nothing in it for Kwon Jihan if he won.
"What do you want?"
"All I want is to fight you, so nothing extra. But the contract terms should only apply if you win. If you win, I'll keep quiet about whatever skills you used. But if I win, the confidentiality clause disappears. If you don't like that, no deal."
Kwon Jihan casually waved the contract and leaned back against the sofa, exuding complete ease.
Yoon Seo cleared his throat once and threw out some bait.
"If you don't sign the contract… I won't fight you."
"Then I'll send a press release to the whole world about how an S-rank hunter named Yoon Seo just joined Perfect."
"..."
When negotiating, it was best not to show weakness. Unfortunately, this was a game Yoon Seo had lost from the start. In fact, he should be grateful that Kwon Jihan didn't outright announce that an S-rank hunter had appeared but instead made a deal, if he lost, his identity would remain secret.
"…Fine. We'll add that condition."
In the end, Yoon Seo added Kwon Jihan's terms to the contract. Without dragging things out further, Kwon Jihan signed with a flourish. Once Yoon Seo signed as well, a notification appeared for both of them, confirming the contract's activation. The contract was automatically stored in their inventories.
"Is
"It's a C-rank skill."
Yoon Seo lied, but for the first time, Kwon Jihan's ever-present smile faintly crumpled.
"Don't act dumb when the truth is obvious. There's no way a C-rank skill could bypass my
"You mean that skill you activated as soon as you stepped onto this floor?"
"Oh? So you got the notification?"
Kwon Jihan grinned again. He was an easy guy to amuse.
"