Chapter 39

— Huh. Oh, I see. Is there something wrong with ‘Mir’?

— Nothing worth talking about. — said Si Hoon, who had acted friendly up till now.

Dae Su realized he’d probably hit a nerve and bowed his head down.

— It seems like something bad must have happened with them. I shouldn’t have asked.

— No. It’s just that it’s complicated… I’m sorry for reacting so rudely. — Si Hoon put aside his irritation, smiled kindly again and relaxed his tense muscles. — I feel better now, so we can keep going…—

— I think it’s better to stop our hunt for today. I mean, your body hasn’t fully recovered.

— I’m okay, really.

— There’s no need to overdo it. It’s enough that we met today, we can continue hunting tomorrow.

— Um… Got it. — Si Hoon nodded and turned around.

Kang Yu gathered everyone and headed for the gate’s exit.

— Hyung! Are you coming tomorrow, too?

— No, you guys will hunt by yourselves tomorrow. And don’t forget my advice.

— Аh…

— It’s not like I can keep an eye on you guys forever.

— I see. Hyung! I, Kang Dae Su, will focus on hunting so I can raise my level and start hunting with you!

— Okay. I’ll be waiting. — Kang Yu smiled as they came out from the gate.

— Well, I’ll be going this way.

— Yes, I’ll see you later, Oppa!

After the hunt was over, everyone headed home.

Han Sol and Kang Yu went to the railway station together, since they lived in the same house.

— Han Sol.

— Yes, Kang Yu?

— I need to go somewhere for a little while, so head home first.

— Is it… something important?

— Yes, it is.

— Okay, I understand. What do you want for dinner?

— Eat alone tonight. I’ll probably be late.

Han Sol, who was looking forward to going home with Kang Yu, looked at him with disappointment and went to the station.

— Well… — Kang Yu, after parting with Han Sol, turned to go in another direction. — Let’s get started. —

With a smile, he pushed off the ground with light movement and went up in the air.

***

— Ha… the Mir Guild, huh… — Kang Yu remembered Dae Su and Si Hoon’s recent conversation.

Kang Yu knew a man from that guild. He felt a pain in his chest when he remembered that person.

He shook his head, trying to forget those unpleasant feelings.

— Kang Yu? — At that moment, Si Hoon, on his way to the bus stop home, spotted Kang Yu and raised his head in surprise.

Kang Yu looked around and came up to Si Hoon.

— I needed to talk to you, so I’m here.

— Did something happen?

— Um… it’s something serious. Can we go somewhere where there are no people?

— Okay. — Si Hoon nodded his head and they went into a deserted alley. He turned his face to Kang Yu. — What is it that you want to tell me…? —

Kang Yu hit him in the solar plexus.

Not expecting the attack, Si Hoon grabbed his stomach and fell to the ground.

— Ah… what the…

— It’s just to be on the safe side.

— Safe side…? For what!

Kang Yu sat on top of Si Hoon, who was lying on the ground, and continued indifferently:

— You’re going to become stronger and stronger, much more than the other Players. So I’d like to have a good relationship with you.

— You want a good relationship…?

— Simply put, I want us to be friends.

— Ah! You do this and you want to talk about friendship?! — Si Hoon, angered by Kang Yu’s actions, tried to get up.

Kang Yu looked down at him and the corner of his lips twitched.

— That’s what the safety net is for.

— What do you…

Kang Yu concentrated Magi in his hands and thrust it into Si Hoon’s chest.

Through his skin and bones, Kang Yu’s hands touched the boy’s heart.

Mustering up as much Magi as he could, he used the Power.

[Power of Subordination]

A Power that can make a person submit to Kang Yu’s will.

Simply put, the Power that makes a person subordinate to a demon.

It was even more powerful than the Power of Fear. In fact, Kang Yu had a lot of these kinds of powers.

— Ah… Stop it…

— Don’t worry about it. You’ll forget about what just happened here.

Kang Yu looked down on him and continued peacefully:

— Once you open your eyes, you’ll continue about your day like nothing ever happened. You’ll continue to hunt monsters and increase your strength just like you did today. As you continue to develop with Han Sol and Dae Su, you will become the most powerful party.

— Huh!

— Ah, and if you become my subordinate, you can use some of my powers. They’ll be a great help to your development.

After making sure that Si Hoon was completely under his control, Kang Yu pulled his hand out.

There wasn’t a single wound left on Si Hoon’s chest where he pulled his hand out from. In fact, all his clothes were still in a normal condition.

— Ahh… — Si Hoon waved his hands in the air like he was trying to grab something.

— Don’t worry… — Kang Yu caught his hands and whispered quietly: — We’re going to become the best of friends. —

***