Chapter 32

"Chahaya, what did you feed Chaseo-won?"

"Love that Hondon-hee didn't give."

"You're a lunatic. Why isn't this kid waking up? Should we call a healer?"

Chaseo-won had been sleeping for 12 hours straight without opening his eyes once. It seemed he didn't even feel the need for physiological urges, only breathing steadily. Concerned guild members checked on Chaseo-won's condition several times in Chahaya's bedroom.

Chaseo-won's bedroom was intact, but they couldn't put him there. The living room was wide open, making it easy for mutants to enter. There was a concern that the seemingly unconscious mole-rat might be killed.

"Is there a healer nearby right now?"

Hondon-hee, unable to wait any longer, prepared to go out.

"A 6th-level healer is the only one who can help. Since there are no visible injuries, let's wait a bit."

Hondon-hee thought of Jo Kyung-min but immediately frowned.

"But isn't 6th-level Woo-gwangseok a bit different?"

On the table leaning against the wall, a Woo-gwangseok the size of two fists combined was visible.

Woo-gwangseok comes in various colors and sizes, but they had never seen one in this form before. Inside the transparent gemstone, red threads were swirling. Upon closer inspection, they looked more like blood vessels, moving irregularly within the gemstone.

"Isn't it a bit wasteful to use it for lodging fees?"

"Is it?"

"Isn't this a really expensive gemstone?"

"Stop being interested in my things."

"Hey, if it disappears, I'm the suspect."

Hondon-hee threw the gemstone and caught it again.

"When Chaseo-won wakes up, let's go inside the tunnel."

"Our kids too?"

"We'll decide when Chaseo-won wakes up."

"You don't plan to take Chaseo-won, right? You, you said that if you can't protect him, everyone will die. Did you bring him to this state? He really has no injuries, right?"

Hondon-hee suddenly pulled back the blanket covering Chaseo-won.

"Ah, damn."

He quickly put the blanket back, and Chaseo-won's bangs fluttered.

"Are you crazy? Why did you undress a sleeping kid? You're blind."

"Why is Chaseo-won's penis so pretty?"

"Ugh, a guy's penis being pretty? It just rots your eyes."

"How do you look at your own monstrosity every day? Oh, that's why your eyesight is bad."

"Penis worshiper? Don't compare your ugly thing with mine."

"…Go fight outside."

At Chaseo-won's deep voice, the two stopped bickering.

"Chaseo-won, are you awake? Where does it hurt?"

Hondon-hee's worries poured out. Though grateful, Chaseo-won felt anything but refreshed after hearing such insults right after waking up. He slowly blinked and looked at his friends.

Looking up at Chahaya and Hondon-hee made him feel like a newborn. He forced his heavy body to sit up and grabbed the water bottle on the bed's headboard. After taking a sip of lukewarm water, his dry throat felt a bit smoother. Of course, a sip of water wouldn't solve the cracked throat from lack of moisture.

Without answering the question about how he was feeling, Chaseo-won just drank water. The water that dripped from the corner of his mouth ran down his chin and neck. Looking down, he saw he was completely naked.

Fortunately, his lower body was covered by the blanket, so he just kept swallowing.

"Phew… I feel like I'm alive."

Chaseo-won shook his head.

"Did that guy do something to you?"

"No… Chahaya also suffered a lot."

Blinking, he looked at Chahaya, who smiled.

"Did you sleep well?"

"How long did I sleep?"

"About 12 hours."

The more you sleep, the more you want to sleep. The urge to crawl back into the blanket surged. It was the same feeling he had every morning when he tried to get up for school. To avoid being overwhelmed by laziness, Chaseo-won deliberately opened his eyes wider. Wrapping the blanket around his body, he headed to the bathroom, and Chahaya said,

"I washed Chaseo-won."

Chaseo-won was puzzled but soon understood. His hair and body, which should have been dirty, were clean.

Despite Chahaya's devoted efforts, Chaseo-won only pursed his lips.

They had seen each other naked in the swimming pool during high school, but that was before he became aware of Chahaya. After he started seeing Chahaya in a different light, he avoided situations where he had to undress. On days with physical education, he even wore his gym clothes to school and avoided the changing room when Chahaya changed. Chaseo-won entered the bathroom without saying thanks. He wet his body with warm water and looked for shampoo. The shampoo with colorful flower patterns had a sweet scent. All the body wash products seemed to be for women, but he couldn't be picky.

After washing off the remaining foam, Chaseo-won dried himself with a towel. Thanks to the long sleep, his face in the mirror looked rosy.

"Hey! Bring me some clothes to change into!"

Chaseo-won opened the door halfway and shouted. When there was no response, he assumed they had gone out and wrapped a towel around his waist. He started looking for clothes he could wear.

The remaining room was a closet, but it only had dresses and small-sized pants. The only thing he could wear was a unisex hoodie.

The hoodie barely covered half of his buttocks. Chahaya must have brought his underwear somewhere, but the closet only had the original owner's items. Thinking it might be in the bedroom, he left the room, and Chahaya was coming through the entrance.

He was holding his hoodie and jeans.

"Did you wash them?"

Chaseo-won approached Chahaya, pulling the hoodie a bit lower.

"Yeah, including the underwear. True love, right?"

He threw the underwear. Catching it, Chaseo-won's bottom was exposed. He put on a calm face and turned around to put on the underwear.

"Chaseo-won."

When he put one foot in, Chahaya was right behind him. Stabilizing his wobbling body, Chahaya held him up. Despite his scolding, Chaseo-won quickly pulled up the underwear.

"Why did you call me?"

Chaseo-won looked at him with a hint of irritation. His irritability was not due to Chahaya but to himself. Chahaya probably had no ulterior motives, but he was acting like a fool. It might have been better for his mental health to keep his distance from Chahaya.

"Wow, you're getting mad at true love."

"If you're going to talk nonsense, just give me the clothes."

Seeing no intention to hand over the clothes, Chaseo-won snatched them from his hand. The jeans had slightly faded from being washed so thoroughly.

After changing into his own clothes, Chaseo-won finally stood confidently in front of Chahaya. Of course, he couldn't completely wash away the gratitude for the laundry.

"Thanks."

"I feel like I just peeked at something naughty."

Chahaya said with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, maybe because Chaseo-won kept trying to cover up?"

Chahaya pulled down his shirt, mimicking Chaseo-won's earlier action. Chaseo-won muttered a low curse at his innocent act.

Don't worry, you don't look bad.

The guy whispered in his ear.

"You're a piece of trash if you look at your friend that way."

Chahaya, with a mix of laughter and seriousness, headed to the fridge. Chaseo-won muttered to himself.

Yeah, you should always stay clean.

"Do you want pizza?"

Saying "pizza," Chahaya shook the frozen pizza package.

"100 pieces."

"Then we have to wait three hours."

"Does it take that long to heat up?"

Chaseo-won had never eaten frozen pizza and didn't know how to heat it. There didn't seem to be an oven either... While looking around, Chahaya walked to the entrance. But in his hand was a sword, not a pizza.

"Pizza?"

"Our deputy guild leader wants 100 pieces, so I have to go to the Nether and bring them all. Tacheon! I accept your command."

Chahaya saluted.

"Crazy guy! Just one piece is enough!"

The guy put his mask back on, looking disappointed.

"There are more in the office, let's share?"

"Do as you please."

The sweet scent of the body wash he used wafted from Chahaya's arm on his shoulder.

***

All Tacheon guild members, except Yeong-il, gathered in the first-floor office. It was rare for everyone to be together, but they were all chatting in a disorganized manner.

Kang-san and Yoo-chan were fighting over seats, Chahaya and Hondon-hee were eyeing each other, and Abdulraziz was looking curiously at the salamander Woo-gwangseok.

The pizza, which should have been fully digested, seemed to be coming back up.

Most guild matters were handled by Uncle and me, so it was rare for everyone to gather like this. But without Uncle, I couldn't make all the decisions alone. I called this meeting to gather opinions, but I sighed first.

"Should we just disband?"

"No! I'll be quiet! If Kang-san gives up his seat."

What's the problem with the seats?

Standing at the head of the spacious 10-person table was Chaseo-won. On his left were Chahaya, Hondon-hee, and Abdulraziz, and on his right were Kang-san and Yoo-chan.

"Kang-san, just switch seats with Yoo-chan."

"Damn! Why do you always favor Yoo-chan, Hyung?"

"If you're jealous, get Hyung to like you. Look, Kang-san is upset because of discrimination."

"Does it feel good to smirk like a dog?"

Thud! Chaseo-won hit the blackboard with his hand.

"I told you both to stop."

They glared at each other but, fortunately, kept their mouths shut.

"Who took all the frozen pizzas from the office?"

"That was Chaseo-won's share."

"Don't sell Chaseo-won. If it was his, one should have been left, but they all disappeared. You ate them."

"Are you itching for a fight? I'll take my share when the landmark resets."

"Chahaya, can't you let go of your basement habits?"

"People shouldn't lose their初心."

Chaseo-won was about to lose his mind. He sent a distress signal to Abdulraziz, but his brother just kept turning the Woo-gwangseok.

Thud thud! Chaseo-won hit the blackboard again.

"From now on, only those who raise their hands will have the right to speak."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yoo-chan raised his hand. Wearing a sleeveless shirt, he covered his armpit with one hand.

"Yoo-chan, you don't have the right to speak now."

Yoo-chan pouted, and Kang-san silently mouthed that he was dying of laughter.

"I called you all here because... I've stepped down as deputy guild leader, but there's something I want to discuss."