[Something’s Wrong with My Brother (4)]
As the world began to adapt to dungeons, being a hunter became famous as a lucrative profession.
S-ranks were on another level, but even B-ranks could easily make tens of millions of won a month. C-ranks had annual incomes in the hundreds of millions, and even D-ranks could earn around a hundred million a year. Below that, E-ranks and even F-ranks with combat aptitude earned more than the average employee at a mid-sized company. (TL Note: 1 US Dollar = 1330 Won, as such, a B-Rank makes a six figure yearly salary)
Magic stones from dungeons became a new energy source, and the byproducts were used to develop new drugs and useful materials. Additionally, the fusion of magic and science led to the creation of various new technologies.
In such a world, Han Yuhyun, an S-rank hunter, the head of the rapidly growing Haeyeon Guild, tall and handsome—do I even need to elaborate on his popularity? He was only twenty years old, with a bright future ahead of him.
Even just one interview with him would send TV ratings through the roof, and magazines with his photos would sell out instantly.
‘If people knew that this guy is also good at cooking, the response would be explosive.’
I mused to myself while watching Yuhyun’s back as he lifted a pot off the induction stove in the spacious kitchen. I had assumed we’d be dining out when he mentioned having dinner together, but to my surprise, he had cooked the meal himself at home.
By the way, Yuhyun’s house was in the upper floors of the Haeyeon Guild building. The exact floor was undisclosed for security reasons, but apparently, it took up half the floor. It’s so ridiculously expensive that you can only get in and out using an exclusive mini-portal, with no stairs, elevators, or external doors.
“I didn’t know you were good at cooking,”
I said, sitting at the dining table and watching him finish up.
“I got better out of necessity.”
“Huh? Why? You’ve got plenty of money.”
He had been earning enough to buy anything he wanted and even hire top chefs since he first awakened. Yuhyun smiled a bit sheepishly at my question and explained.
“At first, I didn’t have any detoxification or curse-lifting items. So, it was just safer to cook my own food. Even now, when I go into dungeons, I bring homemade dried food with me. The inside of a dungeon is the most dangerous place.”
“…Detoxification? Curse-lifting?”
What did I just hear? So, what you’re saying is that there were people out there poisoning and cursing your food, so you had to cook for yourself…?
“…I had no idea.”
I had always thought of him as just another privileged, successful S-rank awakened. Even after regressing, I had assumed he’d gone through some hardships, but I never imagined his life had been this much of a battlefield, or that he had been in danger so often.
To me, Yuhyun had always been someone too strong for me to even approach. He was the center of attention from the moment he awakened, always in the spotlight. I only saw the surface, the S-rank title, and never considered the darker side of his life.
“Don’t look at me like that. It was the result of my own choices.”
Yuhyun approached the table with a soft voice.
“A rough stone gets the hardest hits. A young guy trying to start his own guild among the big, established guilds backed by major corporations was never going to be well-received. If I had just joined an established guild and taken a decent position, my life wouldn’t have been threatened.”
He paused, his smile tinged with bitterness.
“That’s why I always felt guilty about our strained relationship. I chose to create my own guild even though I knew that those people might go after my only family. I’m the one who made the decision, so it’s my fault that I had to keep you under surveillance, hold you back, and tie you down, all in the name of protecting you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“At first, I didn’t want to burden you, and later… I didn’t think you’d understand.”
…Honestly, before I regressed, I would’ve probably just yelled at him to let me live my life or blamed him for everything.
“But I was completely wrong. You were still thinking of me and worrying about me, just like when I was a kid, but I misunderstood you all this time. I’m sorry.”
Ugh, that hits me right in the conscience. Even after regressing, I just wanted to take it easy and enjoy life. If you say things like that, it makes me feel like a complete jerk.
“…It’s not like I did anything great either.”
“You were justifiably frustrated after being interfered with time and time again without knowing why.”
I felt a warm, fuzzy sensation in my chest as I took a bite of the food my brother had prepared. The warmth in my heart grew even stronger.
Going back in time was the right choice.
It was the best decision I’d ever made.
“I understand your situation, but wasn’t what you did today a bit much? Locking me up like this so I can’t even go outside? That’s going too far. Nothing serious has happened so far.”
But the moment I asked him to give me a break, Yuhyun’s expression hardened.
“No.”
“Why? I’ll be careful. I was fine up until this morning.”
“This morning and now are different situations. The only reason you’ve been safe so far is that I cut off all ties with you. I made sure that my enemies wouldn’t see any value in targeting you, because attacking a non-awakened is a serious crime, and I made them think it wasn’t worth the risk.”
His voice grew heavier.
“But now that I’ve taken steps to bring you and your residence into the Haeyeon Guild, my enemies will start actively targeting you. Just the fact that I brought you into my home will make them begin to keep an eye on you.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better if we kept pretending we were still on bad terms?”
“You said it was okay.”
“…What?”
When did I ever agree to this? I don’t recall giving permission for a life of confinement.
Yuhyun replied with a straight face.
“You apologized and said you loved me. Honestly, it’s my fault and my responsibility, but you forgave me for it all. That’s practically the same as giving me permission.”
Wait, that’s how you interpreted it? This guy is definitely off!
“Don’t be ridiculous. I absolutely refuse to live locked up!”
“Just endure it for three years. I’ll take care of everything by then.”
Stop smiling while you say something that terrifying! And it’s not three years—it’s five! Five years!
Damn it, this wasn’t the best choice after all. My frustration was building up so much that I felt a throbbing in the back of my neck, but I tried to calm myself with deep breaths. The guy sitting across from me was my brother, yes, but he was also an S-rank awakened. And not just any awakened—he was a guild leader who’d been through all sorts of battles. There was no point in getting emotional with him; I wouldn’t even scratch the surface.
I couldn’t beat him with force, so I had to find a way to resolve this through dialogue.
“There’s no way I can stay locked up for three years. I’d get depressed just from being stuck indoors for a month. Even if there are people targeting me, they wouldn’t dare try anything in broad daylight. And if it comes to that, I can always have a bodyguard with me. Seonghan could accompany me, for example.”
“I’ll let you go out occasionally.”
“How occasionally?”
As soon as I asked, I was hit by a wave of reality. I was negotiating with my younger brother about how often I could go outside, like some kid asking their parents for permission. I’m old enough that even parents wouldn’t have much say, yet here I am…
“It depends on the schedule. When we start tackling dungeons, I won’t be able to spare any A-ranks to protect you. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving you in the hands of B-ranks either.”
So, in other words, I’d be free as long as there was an A-rank available to guard me. I confidently spoke up.
“Then if I find an A-rank guard of my own, will you let me go out freely?”
“…You’ll find an A-rank guard?”
“That’s right.”
Yuhyun’s eyes, which had held a hint of curiosity, suddenly sharpened.
“Hyung, you’ve awakened, haven’t you?”
“…Huh?”
How did he know? This guy’s intuition is scarily sharp.
“You were a non-awakened this morning, since you were planning to meet with a broker. When did you awaken? Just before we met? After? That’s why you gave up contacting the broker so easily. Your real destination was probably the Hunter Association.”
…No way to argue with that. Might as well set up a fortune-telling booth.
“Your stat rank must be D or lower.”
“How can you tell?”
“Those with C-rank or higher find it hard to control their newly enhanced physical abilities, so they tend to move awkwardly at first. Especially if their strength surpasses the B-rank average—they end up breaking everything around them for at least a few days until they adjust.”
Makes sense.
“Was it the same for you?”
“Yeah. But S-ranks seem to adapt more quickly—everything felt normal after just a day. Of course, if someone’s Willpower or magic power is unusually high, it might not show even if they’re C-rank or above.”
“I’m just a plain old F.”
“Your initial skill must be some sort of special ability, then. For you to be so confident about bringing in an A-rank, it must be something that lets you assess potential awakening ranks or even assist in awakening, or maybe both. At the very least, it’s likely C-rank.”
Actually, it’s S-rank. But there’s no point in arguing with him. Judging by the way Yuhyun’s expression shifted from stern to slightly relieved, I decided it would be better to downplay the skill a bit.
“You’re right—it’s an awakening-related special skill, and it’s C-rank. I can help non-awakened people awaken and get a vague sense of their potential rank.”
“How accurate is it?”
“About fifty-fifty. I can generally tell if someone’s strong or weak. I couldn’t distinguish between you and Seonghan, so I assume it divides at around B-rank. The more precise check has a cooldown of 30 days per use. If it didn’t have that cooldown, it would probably be an A-rank skill.”
Yuhyun nodded at my explanation, and the shadow on his face seemed to lighten.
“If it’s only that, then even if it gets exposed, it won’t make you much of a target. Being able to preemptively identify B-ranks or higher is useful, but with such a long cooldown, and with the awakening centers coming soon, it won’t be as valuable. Even if you could find A-ranks or S-ranks, there’s no guarantee they’d sign with you.”
“Awakening centers?”
I feigned ignorance.
“The general mechanics of awakening have been figured out. Construction of the centers will start soon. The association’s goal is to allow anyone to awaken safely within six months. The upper ranks of the guilds have already been informed and are investing in the project. I’ve contributed a bit myself.”
“That’s impressive. The number of awakened people will increase dramatically.”
“The official announcement will be in four months, so don’t go around talking about it.”
“Will you let me meet people to talk to?”
He responded with a smile instead of words. Seriously, why not just lock me up in solitary confinement?
“Anyway, I’ll find an A-rank to protect me, so just give me a chance.”
“With a 30-day cooldown, that won’t be easy. A-ranks aren’t exactly common.”
“But it won’t take three years, right? If I’m lucky, I could find one right away.”
Luck? Who needs luck? I already know who the A-ranks are.
After a moment of contemplation, Yuhyun spoke.
“Alright. If you really do secure a contract with an A-rank, I won’t try to overprotect you anymore. But they must be specialized in combat or defense.”
Finally, I got his permission. Damn, this stubborn little brother of mine. He added a condition, but it wasn’t a problem since Park Yerim was a renowned combat mage. The real problem is the keyword. Damn it.
–TL Notes–
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