Chapter 118

“Not even hiding your face anymore?”

Did you get penalty exemptions for everyone except me after catching Ephe?

Wait, am I really the only one left out? Like that music teacher’s joy?

I was staring up at him in disbelief when…

He stood up and lightly hopped down in front of me.

“…?”

No, it only looked light. I clearly saw him stumble slightly to one side.

My boosted stats let me see it plain as day.

An S-rank’s sense of balance shouldn’t falter from that height.

I watched him stagger for just a split second before asking,

“Are you hurt?”

Shin Jae-heon raised an eyebrow at my words.

“Me? Why?”

His voice sounded perfectly normal, just like always.

Thud.

But when I quickly stepped closer and reached for his left shoulder…

Instead of twisting away, he grabbed my hand with his right.

“Your shoulder’s not hurt? Your movement looked off.”

I stared at his shoulder and asked. Shin Jae-heon slowly shook his head.

“I’m not hurt.”

But you are. It sure seems like it.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Confess before I strip you myself.”

I definitely saw you stumble. And if you’re not hurt, why grab my hand?

“… “

Shin Jae-heon blinked a few times at my words, then let out a sigh.

“Can’t fool you, huh.”

“We’ve known each other too long for that.”

I was crossing my arms when…

He didn’t move his left arm at all as he pulled open his outer jacket with his right hand.

Pop.

Then, as he undid a few shirt buttons, white bandages wrapped tightly around his skin came into view.

And the bandaged area was much larger than I’d imagined.

“What the—looks like a serious injury.”

I reached for his clothes when…

Shin Jae-heon stepped back again, buttoning up as he did.

“It’ll heal in a few days.”

Too much bandage for something that heals in days.

“Even S-ranks don’t heal that fast.”

You think you’re the only S-rank?

Plus, the red bloodstain seeping through was spreading unnaturally wide.

Proof the wound was big and bleeding heavily.

A wound needing that much wrapping? Obvious. He’d been in a fierce fight with someone.

And it wasn’t there when Joo Yian treated him before, so it happened after.

…Probably while we were out of contact.

“… “

I abruptly asked the silent Shin Jae-heon,

“Did you go to the Eastern Empire during that time?”

He stared at me for a long moment before starting to shake his head.

Lying face again. I cut him off before he could answer.

“Don’t lie.”

Lies are for fooling strangers.

Shin Jae-heon let out a small chuckle.

Then he rubbed his face dry a couple times with his right hand and confessed honestly.

“Yeah, I went.”

Knew it. I figured, but asked anyway.

“You got hurt there? This?”

He pointed to his left shoulder. He didn’t go there to get hurt, obviously.

“How’d it happen?”

As I kept pressing, he paused, then held up his right hand.

I flinched but glanced at his left hand, which hadn’t risen.

Pain flickered briefly across his face—severe pain.

The kind that could drain the color from your face.

Proof of how bad the wound was. As I narrowed my eyes slightly…

“That’s all the questions for today.”

All? I waved my hands.

“No way. Spill everything while you’re here.”

I didn’t want to let him go when he was clearly hiding something.

No, I couldn’t let him go.

“… “

“… “

In the early dawn light of the training grounds, our gazes met.

A heavy silence settled for a moment.

I stared straight into his deep blue eyes.

Shin Jae-heon had been firm up until sealing So Yeri the hunter: we could take out the Eastern Empire’s crown prince when he left this RP dungeon.

But right when contact cut off, the prince vanished.

And Shin Jae-heon came back injured.

‘… ‘

I remembered him after defeating Ephe.

He’d been glaring furiously at So Yeri the hunter’s apocalypse vision.

Where did that anger go?

But Shin Jae-heon didn’t answer.

Like he didn’t want to, or couldn’t.

I finally asked him,

“Fine, I won’t ask anything. Then tell me where else you’re hurt. Or no—”

If he’d gone to the Eastern Empire alone, without even a disguise potion…

He’d have taken way more penalties than just wounds.

“Tell me what penalties you got.”

Our eyes met, and Shin Jae-heon slowly opened his mouth.

“This wound.”

He paused briefly.

Is that it?

I’d just started thinking that was a relief when he continued in a calm voice.

“Debuff: Unspecified pain, full-body pain amplification. All stats permanently down 5% at full HP, skill ranks permanently lowered.”

My mouth fell open slightly.

What the hell happened?

Why push yourself so hard you’d take penalties like that?

I wanted to ask what happened, but I couldn’t.

I’d promised not to.

Instead, I asked something else.

“…How’d you make it here in that condition? This one’s okay to ask, right?”

Why come all the way without resting?

Shin Jae-heon answered abruptly.

“Missed you.”

The answer came so fast I almost missed it. As my eyes widened slightly, he repeated,

“Wanted to see you.”

He smiled, eyes narrowed.

That smile wasn’t his usual light one, nor playful.

“Wanted to act spoiled with you.”

Maybe because the sun was just barely rising, or because of his strange vibe.

His words sounded off. Especially since they didn’t sound like him.

To you. Even after getting hurt this bad.

He muttered softly. His smile bordered on self-mocking.

I studied him and said,

“…Whatever it is, if it’s tough, tell me everything. I’ll listen. I’ll help.”

No matter what’s tormenting you.

Shin Jae-heon smiled silently.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

The exchange flowed without hesitation.

What wouldn’t I hear if it’s your story?

As I looked into his eyes with that thought, something felt off.

And in that moment, Shin Jae-heon spoke.

“Then just 10 seconds.”

He closed his mouth, then said slowly,

“For 10 seconds, pretend I’m not your friend.”

“What?”

As I asked again, he continued without breaking eye contact.

“One.”

Pretend you’re not my friend? Suddenly?

I blinked.

“Two.”

His calm voice echoed between us.

You and I aren’t friends?

Why?

What changes?

“Three.”

If we weren’t friends, standing here like this…

Hunter Shin Jae-heon. Not childhood friend Shin Jae-heon.

I quietly murmured his name in my mind.

Just… you.

‘I told you.’

‘When the chance comes, I’ll die before you.’

You who suddenly went from behind me to beside me.

You who stood by me after grueling effort.

‘I want to stand proudly by your side.’

When asked how you became S-rank, your simple answer.

“Five.”

If you weren’t my friend?

[Promise, I’ll keep it.]

Would you still make that promise?

Yeah.

No doubt. No surprise. No matter when or where we met, you’d promise me.

If I were ever in danger, you’d… die in my place.

“…Six.”

His deep blue eyes stared unwaveringly.

Suddenly, another memory surfaced.

‘Joo Yian, do you like me?’

Just a casual question from not long ago.

But in front of Shin Jae-heon, those words wouldn’t come lightly.

“Ah… “

My mouth parted slightly.

The moment I realized it, I sensed the thin glass wall between us.

“Seven.”

If you weren’t my friend.

If you weren’t the one who’s been by my side since forever.

“Eight.”

His soft voice rang out.

If you were looking at me like that, not as childhood friend Shin Jae-heon, but just Shin Jae-heon.

Then.

“Nine.”

Could I… have never wavered around you, not even for a second?

Thump.

I felt the thin glass wall between us vibrate in my heart.

Beyond it, he watched me quietly. Waiting for me to move.

As my eyes widened…

“Ten.”

His calm words fell.

Magic time ended.

His face shifted instantly, as if those 10 seconds never happened, to a light smile.

The face I knew, the playful expression I might have imposed on him.

The glass wall vanished, silence lifted, and the familiar him said,

“I’m going.”

“What?”

Before I could say more, he turned.

Whoosh!

He leaped away, vanishing from me in an instant.

Before I could react. My raised hand fell back down with a twitch.

“… “

I was alone in the training grounds.

Shin Jae-heon was gone without a trace, like he’d never come—like a dream.

My mouth parted slightly.

‘For 10 seconds, pretend I’m not your friend.’

Exactly 10 seconds.

Those ten he’d counted felt like numbers from another world.

I couldn’t forget those deep blue eyes watching me.

Enthralled for those ten seconds.

By him. Enthralled by him.