Chapter 266

“So, what are we now?”

Geon-joo, having carefully folded the contract and tucked it away, glanced furtively at Sa-yoon.

“What do you mean, ‘what are we’?”

“You know, like… are we lovers, or is this a business relationship, or…”

His words trailed off as he massaged the back of his neck. The tips of his ears, visible above his fingers, were red. A crimson hue was slowly creeping up his neck as well. Sa-yoon burst out laughing. Who would believe that the man asking this question was the same one who had kissed him just moments ago? He acted so bold when he was caressing the bare skin under his shirt, but he had this oddly cute side to him.

“Why, you want to hear me say we’re dating?”

“…”

Silence. It must have been a direct hit. The corners of Sa-yoon’s mouth twitched.

He covered his rising smile with a hand but eventually couldn’t hold it in and exploded with laughter. He laughed so hard he was slapping the side of the boat, which earned him a sulky glare from Geon-joo. Sa-yoon laughed for a long time before collapsing onto the boat, the muscles around his mouth aching.

“Do you really ask people that before you start dating? Like, ‘So, what are we?’ Wow, how sweet and innocent.”

It really hit him then just how much of a kid he was. At his mocking tone, Geon-joo swept his hair back.

“What’s so funny? If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have asked. I’m asking because it’s you, hyung.”

“What about me?”

“Because I feel like the moment things get a little difficult for you, you’ll run away and claim I misunderstood everything.”

“Look who’s talking. Who’s the one who’s been running away this whole time?”

“And who’s the one who complicated things because he didn’t want to be honest?”

“Not backing down an inch, are we?”

He clicked his tongue with a sharp inhale, and the other man shot him a look of disbelief. Hearing his reasoning, though, he had to admit it was valid. Sa-yoon crossed one leg and tapped his shoe-clad foot.

He’s right, the old me probably would have said that.

But not anymore.

“Do I look like the kind of guy who would hold your life hostage and then run away?”

“…”

“What’s with that look?”

“…All you have to do is say, ‘I like you, yes, we’re dating.’ Why do you have to talk in circles?”

“Then you should just say you want to hear it, instead of fishing for it. You need to fix that habit, pretty boy. Got it?”

“You’re always telling me to fix things.”

“What?”

“So I’m asking you, what are we?”

Look at this. The second he’s at a disadvantage, he tries to attack a weakness. He learned all the wrong things, Sa-yoon thought, looking at him resentfully before parting his lips.

Shit, we’ve already kissed, and I’ve already declared your life is mine. Do I really have to say the words?

Honestly, it was embarrassing. He just touched his lips without speaking, and Geon-joo’s gaze followed his fingers. His eyes darkened for an instant. Not missing it, Sa-yoon pressed his thumb down on his own lip.

“Why? You want to leave here with your lips all swollen?”

“…I was just looking.”

“I’m sure you were.”

He was just like a kid, trying to get physical at every opportunity. His constant attempts to touch him seemed like those of a child who had just realized his own feelings and couldn’t control his desires. And he said he had experience. Recalling the report he’d once received on Han Geon-joo, Sa-yoon beckoned with a finger. Geon-joo cautiously approached, not knowing why.

“What is it?”

He grabbed the collar of the man who was leaning in to ask. He tugged sharply, and the man, unable to resist, was pulled forward with wide eyes. Sa-yoon devoured Geon-joo’s lips. It was less a kiss and more of a marking, leaving teeth marks as he bit down as if to consume him. A small moan escaped Geon-joo. The sound was pleasant, so Sa-yoon moved the hand on his collar to the nape of his neck, pulling at the back of his shirt and sliding his fingers onto the white skin.

“Eum…”

Geon-joo tilted his head, his breathing quickening to match Sa-yoon’s. He closed his eyes, and his eyelashes trembled. A tongue pushed between their lips, trying to press closer, and Sa-yoon played along, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He bit the tongue gently, not enough to hurt, and Geon-joo’s shoulders flinched in surprise. This time he bit down with force, and he let out a full-on moan, his body trembling.

The way he opened his eyelids, as if anxious, was damnably cute. Seeing the fear and excitement reflected in his pupils, Sa-yoon exhaled and squeezed his neck.

Makes me want to eat you alive.

As a thrill coursed through him, Han Geon-joo shifted his weight, pressing a knee into Sa-yoon’s thigh. As the pressure moved to his inner thigh, Sa-yoon let out a low groan and moved the hand on his neck to grab a fistful of his black hair.

“Ah!”

He yanked, and Geon-joo’s head was pulled back obediently. A flustered gaze met Sa-yoon’s.

“Don’t you dare act like you’ve been around the block in front of me, or you’re dead.”

At the sudden threat, Geon-joo looked wronged. Sa-yoon admired the familiar expression for a moment before letting out a small laugh and releasing him.

“Do that. The ‘lovers’ thing.”

“What?”

“You were worried I’d go back on my word, right? So just put a label on it. Lovers. I didn’t say it with the intention of taking it back.”

He said it in a tone that meant stop being so anxious. Geon-joo’s eyes widened, and then he smiled. He’s so happy, the bastard. Finding him cute for no reason, Sa-yoon felt a little flustered with himself. He watched his expression for a moment before composing himself. Just then, a quest window appeared before them.

+++

<An escape quest has arrived!>

+++

[Escape Quest – Underworld Escape Number One!]

‘I waited because I wasn’t sure if I should interrupt, but it’s getting dangerous. Find the exit and escape the Underworld!’

+++

Warning: The exit from the Underworld will close in 10 minutes. Cross the river and go up the stairs to escape! Reward: Replenishment of lacking Karma. Failure: Cannot escape the Underworld.

+++

Come to think of it, it was about time they left. We’ve been here too long. Sa-yoon exchanged a look with Geon-joo, nodded, and sat up properly on the boat. He grabbed an oar that Geon-joo hadn’t even known was there and began to row.

“Do you even know how to row?”

“I learned.”

“Learned? Where?”

“Here.”

What?

Stunned by the unexpected answer, he took the opportunity to ask how he’d gotten there in the first place. Han Geon-joo, his mood softened by a few kisses, told him everything without a single complaint—from receiving the quest to arriving in the Underworld and his conversation with the King. Hearing that Geon-joo had learned about their past from the King, Sa-yoon felt a mix of indignation and resentment.

Some of us had to go through hell for that information, and he gets it just by meeting the King once?

Grumbling about how twisted the world was, he suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

“I’m the hyung, pretty boy.”

“Who said you weren’t?”

Hmm…

He’d only said it to put him in his place in case he got any ideas, but it just made him look like he had a guilty conscience.

“What did you see in there, hyung?”

“What, the Gate?”

“Yeah.”

It was a conversation that had come full circle. He met the demanding gaze of the man who, tireless, was asking again. Sa-yoon shrugged.

“My past. Saw a bit of how I got the System and why I became immortal.”

“It was that important and they didn’t show me?”

“It’s my past. Is there a rule that says I have to show it to you? I have things I’d rather not show, too.”

The confident and logical rebuttal seemed to be more effective. Han Geon-joo raised an eyebrow in displeasure but didn’t press any further.

“Still, I wanted to see it with you.”

He just muttered a small complaint instead. It wasn’t unbearable, so Sa-yoon let it pass with a few laughs. He noticed a light flowing in from somewhere and turned his head. In the distance, he could see something that looked like the exit of a cave.

“Oh, the exit.”

At the change of subject, Geon-joo turned to where Sa-yoon was looking and took a breath. It didn’t take long to cross the rest of the river and reach the exit.

They stood before the stairs and stretched their stiff bodies. They were ready to ascend. Just as Sa-yoon was about to take the first step.

“I won’t dwell on the past anymore. So you shouldn’t either, hyung.”

“…”

A hand suddenly grabbed his collar, and a voice, which sounded like it had been chosen after much thought, spoke. He tilted his head to see the expression of the man who had spoken so seriously, and a breathy laugh escaped him.

“You worry about the strangest things. I have no intention of dwelling on it, so let’s just go.”

He held out his hand. Geon-joo stared silently at the offered palm before taking it. The two of them ascended the stairs together. One step, then another. The moment they finally reached the top and light flooded in, a notification window appeared.

<Quest successful! As a reward, your lacking Karma will be provided!> <Ten million Karma has been replenished. The Karma Shop will be forcibly opened!> <Remaining Karma: 1,200,829> <Trespassing Restriction Removal Item will be automatically purchased. 500,000 Karma has been deducted.>

“W-What?”

The notifications were appearing so fast he could barely read them. Sa-yoon, who rarely stuttered, stepped back in alarm. But the alerts weren’t about to stop.

<Condition met! Two items will be automatically synthesized.>

Then, a golden system window, the likes of which he had never seen before, appeared before his eyes.

<Congratulations! You have acquired the L-rank item ‘Fated Tower Gate Stone’ through synthesis.> <Gate Stone will now be automatically generated. Please be aware of dizziness! (º □ º l|l)>

“Hyung!”

As the suspicious golden light appeared in the air, Geon-joo grabbed Sa-yoon’s hand and pulled him close. It was a futile gesture, as the golden light swallowed them both.

Screeeech.

The exit from the Underworld closed.

***

<The Three Goddesses welcome the Awakened who have come to the Fated Tower.>

“…”

Sa-yoon and Geon-joo lowered the arms that had been shielding their eyes and read the welcome message. Their eyes widened at the words ‘Fated Tower.’

We’ve been waiting!

A bright voice suddenly came from somewhere, and both Sa-yoon and Geon-joo’s heads snapped in its direction. They saw a person wearing something like a paper bag over their head. Alarmed, they quickly looked around and saw a familiar face.

“Lee Jaehee?”

Sa-yoon spotted the man sitting at a table inside and called out to him. The man, a familiar smile on his lips, bowed his head.

“It was time to flip the board.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“How did you get here?”

As the two of them stood there in confusion at his cryptic words, the person wearing the paper bag clapped their hands. Clap!

Alright, you two, let’s get you your quest first!

At those words, a blue quest window appeared before both Geon-joo and Sa-yoon.

+++

<A special quest has arrived.>

+++

[Special Quest – War of the Gods]

Humans are not the only ones who wish to resist fate. Choose a faction and be victorious in the war of the gods!

Details: Other gods who wish to pull down the Seven Gods request your cooperation. Together with the other simultaneous participants, choose a faction and lead your team to victory. 

Reward: Gate Deletion 

Failure: Annihilation 

Simultaneous Participants (3/3)

• Kwon Sa-yoon: The Resister
• Han Geon-joo: The Ally
• Lee Jaehee: The One Who Twists Heaven’s Secret

At the sudden quest, Sa-yoon and Geon-joo both held their breath. Lee Jaehee looked at them and calmly sipped the tea on the table.

“You’ve suffered enough. Now, it’s time to strike back.”

In that moment, even amidst the chaos, Sa-yoon realized one thing.

Just as Lee Jaehee had said, the board had been flipped.

‘You just stay put, you bastards. Someday, I’ll come to shatter even those fake bodies of yours.’

It was time to keep his promise.

[End of Part 2]