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dbgdbw · 1 year ago

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509.The Weapon Of Choice Has To Be

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In a large, empty room, two people appeared. Han Yoohyun and Song Taewon calmly proceeded to survey their surroundings. On one wall, there was a line of text–’Please stand by’–that pulsed with a faint light. It appeared to be a waiting room, of sorts.

Briskly donning his Coat, Han Yoohyun began taking stock of his equipment. His demeanor was as though he were about to face off against a high-level Dungeon or monster, with painstaking attention being applied.

“...Hunter Han Yoohyun.”

“It will not be an easy feat.”

Han Yoohyun replied, taking out an Item with poison-resistance properties.

“Since there’s no way Hyung would have proposed such a disadvantageous bet, without a contingency.”

“I will concede that as well. However, considering the parameters at present, it will be close to impossible for Han Yoojin-ssi to pull off a victory.”

Song Taewon began looking over his own equipment as well. The most useful objects seemed to be a wire, and a pair of handcuffs–both of which had been very nearly forced on him by Han Yoojin. Would it be fine to take these two with him, for this. Wouldn’t he have to return them to him before he departed.

“At present, Han Yoojin-ssi possesses F-rank Stats, while Hunter Sung Hyunjae has dropped to a B-rank. Even if he were to make use of the DPS Skill doubling ability, they would be hard-pressed to rebuff just myself in an altercation.”

On top of that, Han Yoojin presently lacked the Changeling that could buff him to the level of an S-rank. Eunhae, as well as other Items, and his poison-curse resistance would still be accessible, but it would be effectively impossible to snatch victory away from two S-ranks with only those in his repertoire.

“Only, there is the possibility that the environment here will prove to be advantageous to Han Yoojin-ssi.”

Song Taewon gazed towards one of the room’s walls, as though searching for an entryway that didn’t exist.

“If it should turn out that this area is one that has been overrun with poisons and curses at S-rank or higher, then simply waiting us out while remaining hidden would prove to be sufficient.”

“Poison can be incinerated.”

Had it been a venom that infiltrated the body proper through a wound, the outcome may have been uncertain; however, simple poisons would hardly be capable of harming Han Yoohyun. Wielding his fire, he could simply incinerate all of its traces. As poison tended to be weak to fire besides, with Han Yoohyun’s current power level, he would be capable of calling forth an SS-rank or higher flame to burn everything away.

Giving a small nod, Song Taewon took out a flame-resistance Item and equipped it. If Sung Hyunjae’s Skill level had also been dropped to B-rank, then it would be possible to withstand his attacks even without an Item with resistance properties equipped. Therefore, with Han Yoohyun–and not to mention, Han Yoojin’s bombs–taken into account, it would be advisable to favor the flame-resistance at this juncture.

“When Hyung’s jacket and shoes combine with his camouflaging Skill, it becomes increasingly difficult to triangulate his position. If he were to utilize the Cookie as well, even an S-rank would struggle to notice his approach.”

As Han Yoohyun recounted how he had utilized the Cookie and the Doppelganger Doll prior to pull off a feint, Song Taewon watched him silently for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Would you, Hunter Han Yoohyun, not be better off simply providing support in this situation.”

When met with an incredulous look, Song Taewon elaborated.

“Though it may hardly be my place to be saying such, it is my desire that Han Yoojin-ssi experience the least amount of harm possible. Therefore, I would opine also that Hunter Han Yoohyun, as the one who will remain by his side, should be refraining from taking a proactive stance during this engagement.”

“First, Hyung is formidable. Please discard any notion that this will be a certain victory.”

Han Yoohyun replied bluntly.

“At the same time, Hyung holds a tendency towards self-deprecation. Were I to limit my participation in this endeavor, there is a likelihood that it will, in fact, increase the difficulty involved.”

If he sensed that he wasn’t being taken seriously, if he lost in that kind of situation; the self-reproach he experienced would only worsen. As a result, Han Yoohyun had judged that the two S-ranks putting forth their full effort, would be the better alternative.

“Even when up against an opponent vastly stronger than oneself, so long as the fight is a fair match, even a loss will conclude in one’s heart feeling less burdened–is what I had been told. Is that not the case?”

Eyes like glass, devoid of any emotion, regarded Song Taewon. A completely different set of eyes, than when he was beside Han Yoojin. In Han Yoojin’s presence, Han Yoohyun was capable of passing as a ‘normal’ person; but at the same time, it was that very juxtaposition which also made him feel far less human.

“That… is feasible, certainly. Particularly so where Han Yoojin-ssi is concerned, perhaps.”

“And as Hyung has accepted me, this much should be permissible. Because even if I behave in a way contrary to human standards, he’ll still try to understand me. Of course, I’m putting in my fair share of work as well.”

Without having to perpetually repress himself as he had done in the past, fulfilling Han Yoojin’s wants as well simultaneously. Bak Yerim in particular was proving to be an ideal surveillance subject.

As Bak Yerim had been picking up Han Yoohyun’s combat style and workplace conduct, Han Yoohyun had also been observing with keen eyes the robustly sentimental lifestyle Bak Yerim led, so unlike his own. More than anything, that she was another blood-tied Nurtured at the same level, who also lived with Han Yoojin, was proving helpful in a number of ways.

Han Yoohyun’s lips pulled into a soft smile. The lifeless, doll-like visage bloomed with vitality. Contained within his gently curved eyes was Hyung, out of view from this place.

“...Hunter Han Yoohyun, you.”

Song Taewon bit back words. In a different way than Sung Hyunjae, Han Yoohyun too felt alien, and difficult to comprehend. Without Han Yoojin, all he became was an emotionless S-rank Hunter. However, by virtue of Han Yoojin’s existence, he became suffused with a brilliant light.

And then–with ‘Sung Hyunjae’ and ‘Han Yoojin’ brought to mind, Song Taewon’s teeth clenched unconsciously once more. Deliberately, he forced himself to turn away from the emotion curled in on itself, within the deep recess of his heart.

“Like Han Yoojin-ssi very much, I see.”

Ultimately, he glossed it over with banal words. A smile still gracing his face, Han Yoohyun nodded.

“Yes. I’m in love with him.”(1)

Song Taewon turned his head away, as though burdened. The urge to flee from this situation came over him.

[ 10:00 ]

Just then, the letters indicating that they should prepare themselves shifted into numbers. As it had changed to include markers for seconds, it appeared that it was indicating the waiting period would be over in ten minutes’ time.

“It will be advisable to attempt to conclude this quickly.”

Han Yoohyun said, sucking in a short breath.

“Hyung may have been the one to make the bet, but it is still an aberration that lies outside of our established plans. The longer this is drawn out, the more likely it is to prove to be disadvantageous further on.”

“...Yes.”

Resolutely attempting to cast off those thoughts, Song Taewon began winding the wire around his arm. It would all be over soon enough, at any rate. He would be departing, and Han Yoojin would live on. And after a brief memorial, those around Song Taewon would also move on as well.

The familiar faces they had encountered in the Christmas Nightmare Dungeon came to his mind. Now, there should be a solitary black sheep counted among them as well. And Han Yoojin would be the one to conscientiously care for the ones he'd left behind.

That would have to be enough. He couldn't afford to be any greedier than that.

“Songie, he–... No, it’s nothing.”

Was it because the weather had turned cold recently. Lately, he had been trying to climb up onto the bed to sleep. He liked to trot along the top of the back of the sofa, too. Maybe because his wool was black, it seemed like he felt more secure when snugly cloistered by other black-colored objects. He didn’t mind taking baths, but disliked getting his wool wet in the rain. He’d either make a big loop around a muddy puddle, or come begging to be picked up instead.

“Concerning the young lamb, please pass along to Han Yoojin-ssi that he should exercise caution if it attempts to nibble at his fingers. It is accustomed to my own.”

Because he couldn’t allow him to come to harm, or let him cause harm, he mustered the words. 5 minutes, then 3 minutes, then 1 minute. The two exchanged words in a low conversation. Barring the topic of the little lamb, it was solely focused on combat strategy, and their plan of action.

[ 00:00 ]

The blinking timer vanished. And then, a message window appeared in front of the two.

[ All Awakened will hereby be turned into non-Awakened. ]

Han Yoohyun and Song Taewon’s eyes grew wide.

* * *

“This wasn’t what I’d had in mind!”

The environment before us shifted, and a room enclosed by walls on all sides took shape. It was a waiting room. Letting out a deep sigh, I turned back to look at Sung Hyunjae.

“Don’t laugh.”

“How cruel. And besides, a smiling face is more pleasing to look upon, no.”

Yeah, you’re good-looking, whatever.

“If your rank’s dropped, shouldn’t your visuals(2) have plummeted correspondingly as well, sir?”

“There was little that changed post-Awakening, you see. Aside from a slight growth spurt.”

…though Yoohyunie had been handsome to begin with too, so. Even if there were slight differences that could be attributed to the age difference.

“180s?”

“Over 190 at least, naturally.”

“Good-for-fucking-you!”

Of course, other S-ranks didn’t tend to grow more than 10 centimeters or so either, so long as they’d Awakened past their mid-twenties, but the younger kids in their teens or early twenties tended to shoot up in stature still. Yoohyunie and Yerimie were both steadily growing, too. Would Noah-ssi grow a bit more as well, maybe?

“I would so dearly love to crack open that preeminent skull of yours, sir, to see what kind of mental calculations might be in there. Look at you, having a grand ol’ time! Even though you’re in that kind of shabby state!”

“Do calm yourself.”

“You really think I’m gonna calm down right now! My poor future. You’re straining my neck, so sit down, sir! The hell are you brainlessly standing around for!”

Sung Hyunjae docilely took a seat on the ground. Watching him sit while hugging his knees, I felt my frustration boiling over. The fuck did he need to sit like that for.

“Are you attempting to appear pitiful right now, sir?”

“The floor is so very cold. With these B-rank Stats, the chill creeps steadily in.”

“So F-ranks should just freeze to death then, I guess! Hell, if your Stats are in that kind of shape, then you could’ve called Evelyn-ssi and asked her to protect you or something. Why on earth were you stupidly sitting there by yourself, sir? Even if you can’t be killed, do you have any idea what might’ve befallen on you still? When there are so many S-ranks on this island!”

“Hunter Miller’s bedside manners are frankly nonexistent, you see.”

“Then Soyoung-ssi at least, sir!”

“Soyoungie possesses less foresight than one might expect, and would likely opt to engage in combat.”

“What a series of gre~at life decisions you’ve made till now, huh, Sung Hyunjae!”

Don’t fucking laugh! Why were you laughing! How could you even laugh in this sort of situation! Yeah, alright, so proceeding himself had probably been the safest option available after all. Since unless they knew about Sung Hyunjae’s condition, they were unlikely to be able to muster the courage to approach him in the first place anyway. When working up the nerve to approach him in a cafeteria even resulted in bread crusts being dropped into your hands, how many people would be capable of going up to his office to knock on the door.

I let out a series of heartfelt sighs. How had things ended up in this state, honestly.

“Initially, I’d hoped to gain some advantage from the esteemed Seseung guild leader. Well, I suppose I did reap my fair share of perks, with that being said, sir, but. …maybe I should just throw you away here. You’re only a B-rank, right.”

“Yoojin-ah…….”

“Oh, don’t bother pretending to be pathetic. I can clearly see you grinning. This is fun for you, huh? Huh? When other people are going through a crisis!”

“That, I shall extend an apology for.”

“Fuck, even though you know I can’t just let go!”

I gave Sung Hyunjae’s leg a hard kick. Of course, it only ended up hurting my foot more, but he should at least feel some kind of sensation too, right. As I kicked him again, Sung Hyunjae took out a handkerchief. Taking the offered object, I roughly scrubbed my eyes. The area around my eyes stung, and my chest felt tight, too.

“I can’t give up on this, sir. Even if I’m labeled as idiotic, and get subject to abuse. That we’ll all be doomed like this, and some things are just impossible, no matter how much I might regret it to death.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t ‘of course’ me! Is this the behavior of someone who’s self-aware? While Section Chief Song-nim might’ve gone too far too, you’re not any better than him, either!”

But Yoohyunie… When compared to pre-regression, he was doing loads better. In any case, when I was already flipping out because of my dongsaeng, these assholes just had to go and… Were they hoping to make me flip out again so I’d end up right-side-back-up, I wondered.

“If you’re going to push anything off to me, it should be an inheritance! I don’t need anything other than that! This damn bastard, when you already know very well……!”

Massaging my aching temples, I took deliberate, measured breaths. Let’s calm down. Since even a year’s worth of yelling still wouldn’t be enough, let’s calm down for now.

“I do have more to say to Section Chief Song-nim, too, but since he’s not here at the moment.”

“Then, my turn–”

“Isn’t over yet, sir. Throw out any thoughts you have of turning tail, as we’ll be going up against Yoohyunie and Section Chief Song-nim.”

As I was reminded of this myself, I felt overcome with bleak helplessness yet again. Why did it have to be those two, of all people. Rising from his seat, Sung Hyunjae looked towards me.

“It should hardly draw out any longer than a minute, I imagine.”

“If it’s a straight fight, probably under 30 seconds. No, 10 seconds. It’ll take 10 seconds to approach us.”

If there was a significant enough distance between us, we might be able to flee for 5 seconds more. I took a look at our surroundings, but the only things that came into view were the walls and the ceiling. I didn’t know how the outside of the room might look, either. Just.

“Go ahead and thoroughly empty out your inventory, sir.”

That there was still a fighting chance. I began to take out everything in my inventory, for starters. Sung Hyunjae, too, began to take this and that out.

“You’re still holding onto that spatula, sir? Is that goddamn ball of yarn multiplying in your inventory, or what. The hell’s with this commemorative towel, when did you even grab this.”

“There’s a Peace doll that’s capable of entering inventories, as well.”

“Is this a rent-a-locker? Huh? A warehouse?”

“The bike I’d gifted, I see. And what might that basket be.”

“It’s a laundry basket, sir–very handy.”

I said, dropping down an armful of firearms. Aside from the Leopard Cat Gun, the assembled firearms were all low-rank equipment.

“Do you have experience operating a firearm, sir? Have you served?”

“Though I might look like this, I was in the marine corps, mind.”

“...for real, sir?”

“I wonder.”

I couldn’t believe it. Considering that he was laughing, it seemed like it’d been in jest–so did you finish your military service, or not.(3) As assorted items came to be littered across the floor, a 10-minute countdown had appeared on the wall. Unconsciously, I swallowed, my throat dry.

“Once 10 minutes have passed, sir, we’ll become non-Awakened.”

Sung Hyunjae showed a faintly startled expression.

“To be precise, we’ll be swapped into bodies that match the parameters. Reminiscent of the Dungeon in Japan, it’s a kind of artificial avatar-body system. That’s why it’s safe, too, sir. I wheedled Chatterbox into it by selling it as a no-Skill, no-Stat, pure combat-ability matchup. Initially, I’d planned on using it to suppress the S-ranks that had been invited here by Chatterbox.”

Without Skills or Stats, just simple man versus man.

“Of course, S-ranks tend to have been in outstanding physical condition even prior to Awakening. However–having something you’d taken for granted suddenly taken away has a bigger impact than you’d expect, as it turns out, sir. And they all tend to be juiced up with buffing Skills, too. They should have a more difficult time adjusting to becoming non-Awakened than an unremarkable F-rank, for example.”

Stats were one thing, yes; but they’d no longer be able to use their Skills, either. It meant that the battle parameters they’d been acclimated to up till this point would undergo a complete transformation.

“Just like how it’s difficult to restrain one’s strength immediately after Awakening, they should struggle to adjust to the change, sir. If things work out normally, I mean. On top of that, equipment will turn into ordinary items, and the inventory will be blocked off too. Compared to us, who were able to prepare beforehand, sir, they’ll be at a definite disadvantage.”

The issue was.

“But Yoohyunie and Section Chief Song-nim… are kind of outliers, huh, sir. Particularly Section Chief Song-nim.”

“As Song Taewon is hardly predisposed to rely on equipment or Skills from the onset, indeed.”

“He’ll probably acclimate quickly, too, sir. Yoohyunie as well, of course.”

In the end, it was difficult to say that we would hold an advantage still. And during that span, the time had trickled away even more. I tossed a gun towards Sung Hyunjae.

“At any rate, when it comes to a fight between non-Awakened.”

“Guns are the answer, of course.”

Yoohyun-ah, hyung is sorry. Section Chief Song-nim–this time, I’m not sorry.

- - - - -

(1) “예. 사랑하고 있습니다.”

this particular phrasing (‘사랑하고 있습니다’) also gets used when you’re disclosing to someone that you’re pining after x/involved with x (depending on context)

(2) konglish ‘visuals’

(3) kr’s mandatory military service, another hot-button social issue that requires more extensive bg knowledge to understand its significance in the brief context it’s being mentioned in.. as a reductive explanation, military service for kr men basically acts as the ‘divide’ from boy/man, and draft dodgers/men who skip out on military service are viewed as scum of society/not treated as equals/people (in business, personal matters, etc) (also see: steve yoo). as an anecdote, someone i know who’s a kr-american moved to kr to take over his father’s business after getting hitched to a native korean, and one of the main roadblocks he’s been encountering is how other kr men won’t do dealings with him because he’s not a ‘real’ man to them, as he never enlisted after forfeiting his kr citizenship prior. that’s also why the checkbox of ‘served in military’ is directly linked to ‘upstanding adult male citizen’ in the shj military q&a below, and why it’s clarified that yj’s already done his service at the beginning of the novel too; shj wants to keep yj from finding out that he’s a non-군필 because it’ll make yj’s low view of his character plummet even further. (and before you ask: yoohyunie wouldn’t be under the same scrutiny, despite the exemptions s-class get as well for ‘serving the country’, because the standards would be different for him vs men who were past enlistment age prior to the appearance of the Dungeons (which is why sigma wanted to be be younger, ‘bc moon hyuna said it’s a bad look’). this attitude re:exemptions for persons who have ‘served the country’ via achievements is reflective of real life sentiments btw, as seen in this thread discussing Faker’s potential exemption, which skews largely positive) of course, times are changing, and following the brutal killing of Private Yoon, the 2014 shooting, and other such incidents making the news, it’s been said that conditions in the military have improved a significant bit–but the issue of mandatory conscription has also seen a recent flare-up in regards to gender/feminist issues in korea (which isn’t to say it wasn’t already relevant even back in, say, 2009), which is a whole ‘nother animal to tackle in footnotes for a different ch…

hyj&shj try-not-to-brag-abt-or-mention-yh&stw-even-while-separated challenge level: impossible

happy chuseok~ ( ˇ͈ᵕˇ͈ ) ¨̮♡⃛

relevant language notes for the ch (+ old doc):

+ (Q&A)

Q) has sung hyunjae completed his military service? i’d been curious about whether he was someone who’d finished his mandatory service, but since i didn’t have a place to ask, i’d only wondered about it on my own till now A) as the time period where sung hyunjae started to gain a foothold and become active was past his mid-twenties, he never went to the military. however, as crescent moon’s parameters were set up in such a way that he would be perceived as a ‘model male adult citizen’ of whichever nation he was dropped in, not only sung hyunjae himself, but also those around him, perceive him as someone who had already completed his military service in his early twenties. in the present timeline, sung hyunjae is aware that he never enlisted, though as he’d held tenure in various armies over the course of his long life, he considers himself to be an ex-serviceman regardless. in particular, he has no intention of letting han yoojin discover this fact. the place sigma had been installed was akin to a military environment, as well. additionally: sigma petitioned to the puppeteer that he be registered as a juvenile, as moon hyuna had mentioned that an adult non-serviceman gives a derogatory impression, but was rejected. as, if he were to be put on record as sung hyunjae’s relative, he would’ve needed to be under 20 y.o. by the time the Dungeons had appeared in korea, there’s a good chance that he was registered as being in his late twenties^^

steve yoo:

+ (Q&A)

Q) i’m curious about han yoojin’s ideal type. is it only ‘almost 2m height’ for han yoojin’s ideal type, and not particularly anything else besides? A) as han yoojin lacked that kind of support when he was young, he prefers a dependable older partner. his liking for ‘tall height + strapping size’ stems from that as well. he feels a desire to be protected, but because he has his dongsaeng and the kids, he thinks that he needs to be a protector, and so tends to repress and distance himself from that desire. if you get involved with the wrong older partner, the likelihood you might end up divested of everything from your liver to your gallbladder as you get swept up and used, is fairly high. because his expectations(criteria) for an older partner, a model adult, is excessively high, unless it’s an exceptionally outstanding person, he’s at least not likely to be easily swayed. at the conclusion of the novel, marissa is probably the most dangerous ^^ on the flip side, because he tries to become a protector as the model adult with a younger partner, it may run contrary to his ideal type, but being with a younger partner will probably be safer for him. of course, during the novel, the circumstances make it difficult to date.

+ (Q&A)

A) when han yoohyun returned to a human body from his state as a ‘flame,’ he became 198cm. it was han yoojin’s usual view that, while 2 meters was too tall, 198cm would be just right, that influenced the outcome. his body growing even bigger was because of to han yoojin’s influence, as expected ^^ the s-ranks who were there picked up on the difference, and was able to estimate that ‘ah, han yoojin made him like that’ and ‘ah, han yoohyun lined himself up with his hyung’s tastes’ was roughly what had happened. due to overexertion, han yoojin did not grow as much as from his level-up. if he takes good care of his body, he might still grow a bit more. bak yerim is speeding towards mid-170 or so. since her growth rate is more accelerated than han yoojin had initially predicted, if it keeps up, she might be able to hit 180cm before entering high school.

+ (Q&A)

Q) then, would it be possible now for han yoojin to surpass 180cm in height? with everyone around him being 180~190cm, he’s the only smol one… (dainty..) since the puppeteer was able to surpass 180 too, would yoojinie be able to do grow over 180 as well? is it impossible? how many years would it take for him to finish growing all the way..? A) if he takes good care of his health while honing his abilities, it would be possible to see physical growth once he leveled up in rank. if, for example, the young chaos sticks to his side to personally oversee his training, he would probably be able to clear 180 easily within a year. if han yoojin is left to his own devices, and nothing out of the ordinary happens, saying that he’s busy enough raising the kids, he'd probably remain at the same point even after 10 or 20 years. at the very least, han yoohyun or bak yerim will force him to take care of his body. irin, who wishes to increase han yoojin’s lifespan for han yoohyun’s sake, will likely come to stick close to him so as to chaperone his condition

+ (Q&A)

Q) i would like to know the ideal type(s) of the sclass cast A) han yoojin’s has been answered in a comment further up. because han yoohyun is completely disinterested in interpersonal relations with anyone other than han yoojin, his ideal type as well, in every sense, is han yoojin

#509화 #the s classes that i raised #tsctir #sctir

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