Unlike Yun Yun, the first goblin and king of our world, the goblin race was harmless and possessed no significant abilities. Most only had low-level Stealth Skills, the Will-o’-the-Wisp Transformation Skill, and Flight. Of course, even just Stealth and Flight were considered rare Skills with high value for their rank, but the issue lay in the race’s inherent nature.

“Blood, scary!”

“No dying allowed!”

Goblins disliked hurting others first. Blowing up an island as a prank was fine, but people mustn’t die or get seriously injured. Even if attacked first, they claimed they couldn’t kill an enemy. That applied to monsters too.

As a result, it was impossible for them to level up, and unlike Skills, their base stats — with a few exceptions — were similar to or even lower than those of non-Awakened individuals. If one were to assign them a task, it might be espionage, but even that was tough due to their personality. Even if you told them, Follow that person and get information, before long they’d wander off after a butterfly or a puppy or a cat or a balloon — whatever caught their eye.

Even goblins with excellent abilities, such as those who could use short-distance teleportation, were the same. And perhaps because of their low rank, their teleportation was much more limited compared to Yun Yun’s.

Not only was the range short, but the size of the object they could transport was less than half their own body mass. They also couldn’t teleport any creature or item that had a higher rank than their own stats. Though items could be stored in an inventory to bypass that.

‘Thank goodness the strongest goblin’s stats were about the same as the baby water dragon’s.’

Size-wise, there was the Mini-Mini Cookie. I was really glad I bought the set. So useful. Anyway, goblins were a tricky race to put to work in any normal sense. They were better suited to peacefully goofing off and playing.

“Hey, I said don’t come so close.”

After the water dragon evolved into a wyvern, my bedroom was also relocated. The dragon wasn’t that big, but my old bedroom was just too cramped. I argued that it needed training, that having others nearby would stress it out — and managed to get the old training room instead.

“Especially those with high rank, please don’t approach. If it feels threatened, it’ll grow in that direction and its stats will drop.”

Shooing them away with a flick of my hand. Of course, that was a lie. The truth was I was worried they’d find out about the fake fins. They were seamlessly attached, but you never know. After sending the guards to the far edge of the room, I stroked the dragon’s head.

“Good boy, stay calm. Everything’s okay, no need to worry. Really, it’s fine. Let’s just lie here together, good boy.”

With three S-Rank Hunters present, I couldn’t afford to make a wrong move. I had originally planned to go with, Oh no, the baby water dragon disappeared, rather than using a fake… but since I was under strict surveillance, they wouldn’t suspect me. At most, they’d interrogate me a little, that’s all.

But our kind-hearted dragon got teary-eyed and worried, so I revised the plan a bit. If they turned the area upside down looking for the missing dragon, it’d make it harder for the goblins to act — so this way was better.

‘Now I just need to find Yun Yun and undo Park Hayul’s Skill.’

I still had no good plan for either. If I solved the latter first, at least the others wouldn’t be held back because of me, and I could join them in searching for Yun Yun. But why had Hwang Rim been so confident that I couldn’t break out of Park Hayul’s Skill?

‘He said I had to feel attraction toward the target, right? Then would the Skill break if I thought his face was ugly?’

But that wasn’t easy. With average aesthetic sense, you’d never be able to call that face ugly. He did say it was relatively easy, though — which meant the problem was probably with me. Something different between me and others.

Hwang Rim didn’t know I’d regressed, and monster breeding had nothing to do with it. My stats were low, sure, but so were most people’s. It wasn’t Cursed Resistance, nor Poison Resistance… Then—

‘…Fear Resistance.’

Could that be it? Hwang Rim had remarked several times about how I wasn’t afraid of anything. So what if I had to feel fear — either toward Park Hayul’s Skill or Park Hayul himself — in order to break free? Since it was a Skill based on attraction, that made a certain amount of sense. To test that theory, I asked to have Park Hayul brought to me.

“Yujin hyung!”

Not long after, Park Hayul appeared, smiling like a ray of sunshine. …Even without Fear Resistance, I don’t think I’d ever be scared of this guy.

– Krrrr.

“No, no. Be good, just this once. Hayul, don’t come closer — sit over there.”

I pointed to a table set a bit away. Then, calming the dragon again, I slowly approached Park Hayul. He looked at me with a worried expression.

“Does your leg hurt a lot?”

“What do you think? Of course it hurts. You seem to be doing fine though.”

He was kind of annoying, honestly. Still, I sat down. I was about to ask him straight-up, Does your Skill stop working if someone feels fear? but the words wouldn’t come out. Couldn’t even voice a theory? Then I guess I’d have to test it physically. I was a little worried, but it was just a brief test anyway.

I took a short breath and deactivated my Fear Resistance Skill.

“It’s hard to find a non-violent S-Rank Hunter, you know. Still, could you try acting a little more tame?”

My heart began to race. The injured leg throbbed anew. My bandaged hand caught my eye.

“Hyung?”

Park Hayul stood up and reached toward me. As the events of the morning piled on top of each other, my body reflexively tried to flee.

Clatter!

– Kyaruk!

“Hyung! Are you okay?”

I toppled to the ground tangled with the chair. My leg gave out when I tried to stand quickly. Just like before.

A cold gaze directed at me came to mind. It wasn’t hard to imagine how much rage might be burning behind those eyes. I hurriedly reactivated the Fear Resistance Skill and shouted.

“I’m fine! I just fell, that’s all.”

I shook my head, telling him not to come closer, then let Park Hayul help me up. Damn it.

“Be careful, Hyung.”

“…Yeah.”

It worked. I wanted to run away from Park Hayul, from this place. But once the Fear Resistance Skill was back on, the feeling reverted immediately. I no longer wanted to escape.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

That bastard Cho Hwawoon — I’d get used to it after a while. I was used to this sort of thing. But not until my leg healed. I looked down at my fingertips, still faintly trembling.

Things had gotten disgustingly complicated.

Chief Song Taewon of the Awakened Management Bureau was seriously injured and transported to a hospital. It was an incident that occurred while he attempted to stop the Sesung Guild Leader, who was protesting the Hunter Association and the government’s handling of Director Han Yujin’s abduction.

The Sesung Guild released an official apology, yet continued to express strong disappointment at the lack of firm response against China. The statement also included regret over failing to protect a Korean Hunter — even if he was only F-Rank — despite being Korea’s number one guild and having a close contract with the Monster Mounts breeding facility.

Thanks to this, many who had been suspicious of China’s response began supporting the Sesung Guild Leader and lamented his decision to remain under self-restraint at home.

“On the other hand, it seems Chief Song Taewon’s sense of duty is being praised. There was even an article noting that though he’ll be spending his vacation in the hospital, the facilities and services in the VIP room are on par with a luxury hotel.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke as he read the related report.

“As the perpetrator, I should probably pay him a visit. How’s your condition, Mr. Song Taewon?”

Song Taewon responded with silence. Han Yuhyun and Park Yerim had already departed for China, and the plane for the two remaining individuals was also prepared. Since the Sesung Guild was more active in international affairs than other domestic guilds, they openly stationed a private jet. They didn’t even hide the fact that they were headed for China. The stated purpose was cooperation in the search for Director Han Yujin.

However, the official passengers were all guild members ranked A or lower. They were scheduled to meet with military officials in China, then return the next day — leaving the two behind. It was a brazen ploy, but China did not refuse. They likely anticipated that Seong Hyunjae would be involved.

“It’s not the first time I’ve gotten into trouble overseas. When the Sesung Guild Leader causes a scene, they might figure that Chief Song Taewon will have to follow using that as a pretext.”

As had happened multiple times before.

“Or perhaps they’re thinking I had Chief Song hospitalized on purpose to avoid that outcome. Which do you think it is?”

“…Most likely the latter. The government and Association have already shown a passive stance, so the Sesung Guild Leader probably doesn’t want any interference.”

Seong Hyunjae said, stepping onto the stairway leading into the plane.

“I’ve entered the country with him before, but this is our first time leaving together.”

As Song Taewon followed and boarded the aircraft, he halted after a few steps. The spacious, lounge-like cabin was awash in pink. The pink walls were adorned with rainbows and unicorns, and the large sofa was also pink, with hot pink cushions. On the pale pink table stood a full-sized Peace doll — one of the rare winged versions.

Seong Hyunjae walked into the absurd scene with a sigh full of regret.

“I had it prepared for Han Yujin’s kidnapping.”

“…Excuse me?”

“My partner seems to have a particular fondness for the color pink. I figured decorating it like this would help soften the anger over being abducted.”

In Song Taewon’s mind, an image of Han Yujin flaring up, threatening to jump out of the plane, appeared vividly. Then, grumbling for ages about the misunderstanding that he liked pink more than the kidnapping itself, before casually sprawling out on the sofa.

The cabin door closed, and Seong Hyunjae took a seat. Song Taewon remained standing, looking at him.

“Why are you leaving Mr. Han Yujin alone?”

“Did I say the destination was the U.S., or India, or Spain?”

“You could have protected him. The Sesung ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Guild Leader could have.”

Even if it meant restricting his freedom somewhat, his safety would have been guaranteed. In fact, letting Han Yujin roam free didn’t suit the Seong Hyunjae that Song Taewon knew.

This was a man who, even toward fellow S-Rank Hunters, never treated anyone as his equal. He never regarded anyone as more than a source of interest.

“Why leave him be instead of taking possession?”

Song Taewon asked again. It was rare for him to do so. Seong Hyunjae tilted his head slightly and looked up at Song Taewon. His lips curved faintly as he began to speak.

“I do find you quite adorable, Mr. Song Taewon. But I didn’t think you’d act this spoiled.”

“…”

“It seems Han Yujin really is a difficult presence for you.”

“That’s…”

“If I were to take Han Yujin the way I do with other Awakened who are exceptional enough to be desirable, then your mind would certainly be at ease. He’d become an F-Rank Hunter under the care and consideration of the Sesung Guild Leader.”

It is strange for a lamb to mingle with wolves by its own will and strength. But if the strongest wolf whimsically places the lamb under its protection, then, as if borrowing that power, it might be treated casually even by the other wolves.

The golden eyes narrowed, as if mocking or pitying.

“If Han Yujin were under my jurisdiction, you wouldn’t need to hesitate or feel any resistance about protecting him. Maybe it’s because another little lamb has been added to the flock. I didn’t expect you to say you want to push him onto me and run away.”

Song Taewon pressed his lips shut, unable to say anything. Though his question had simply expressed doubt toward Seong Hyunjae’s attitude, he couldn’t deny there wasn’t at least a little truth in those words.

“Sit.”

As if following an order, Song Taewon sat down on the sofa opposite. At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

“Excuse me.”

A Sesung Guild member entered after receiving permission. He respectfully handed a tablet PC to Seong Hyunjae.

“A video of Director Han Yujin has arrived from China. According to the Chinese military’s tracking, Director Han Yujin’s abductors passed through Dalian Airport and headed toward the Middle East.”

“The Middle East, huh.”

“They’ve reported that he’s expected to appear at a free auction there.”

It meant he was kidnapped simply for money. This had happened twice before, so no one would be surprised if it happened again. Though no one present actually believed that story.

Song Taewon stood and approached as Seong Hyunjae pressed play on the video. Both of their eyes narrowed at the sight of Han Yujin on screen.

[I’m safe.]

They had made an effort to edit the footage naturally, but they couldn’t hide the choppy cuts.

[They said they’re going to demand ransom before the auction. If they needed money, they should’ve just asked me. This is way too— Anyway, I’m doing fine.]

The video ended. Seong Hyunjae silently handed the tablet PC back to the guild member. After the Sesung Guild member exited, a short silence passed before Seong Hyunjae spoke.

“Even more unpleasant than I expected.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep