Chapter 32: The Price of Authority and an Unexpected Visitor

“It’s fine.”

The nature of Authority was such that it was harder to resist its temptations than to succumb to them.

The allure of great sin often overshadowed virtue, drawing one in with a single misstep, ultimately consuming them entirely.

As long as Agon possessed the ‘Authority of Envy,’ this desire would relentlessly drive and torment him until his dying breath.

Han Dokyeom, however, did not believe it was necessary to suppress or distance himself from this power entirely.

He knew that even a moderate release could dilute the intensity of such desires.

“I won’t tell you to hold back,” Han Dokyeom said. “Do exactly as you please. Just don’t kill anyone, don’t kill anyone.”

From the very moment he decided to give Agon his magic, and to implant the Authority within Agon’s body, Han Dokyeom had been fully prepared for this.

It was the only treatment he could offer Agon, who was tormented by the Authority.

The instant a strange light flickered in Agon’s aqua eyes, his desires erupted with furious intensity.

The hand that had been caressing Han Dokyeom’s cheek now gripped his slender neck, pulling him closer.

Before Han Dokyeom’s shoulder could even register the sharp impact, Agon’s tongue darted out, pressing against his collarbone.

Then, he began to suck at the flesh, moving upwards until his lips crushed against the Seal. Low, ragged gasps echoed in the air.

“Gently… don’t bite… ugh! You bastard, gently…”

Han Dokyeom, his hands trembling, reached out of the bathtub, fumbling for the showerhead.

As soon as he blindly grasped it, he pulled it over and gently sprayed water onto Agon’s body. A low growl rumbled deep in Agon’s throat.

“Quiet… Ah… just suck, okay?”

While his demeanor wasn’t exactly gentle, Agon no longer lunged at him with bared teeth as before.

Han Dokyeom found himself thinking, ‘Well, this is progress.’ Especially since it wasn’t an act to steal his magic, but merely to satisfy Agon’s possessive desires.

Of course, regardless of that, bathing remained an ordeal. There was still a long, arduous journey ahead.

Even while sensually licking, if Agon’s mood soured, he would chew on Han Dokyeom’s earlobe and frantically suck at his skin.

Once, while lathering his hair, Agon bit him hard enough to leave tooth marks.

Eventually, Han Dokyeom’s patience snapped, and he kicked Agon in the stomach, leading to a cacophony of growls echoing in the bathroom for some time.

By the time that torturous bath finally ended, several hours had passed.

Only after bathing Agon and finally coaxing him out, did Han Dokyeom strip off his own clothes and collapse exhaustedly into the tub.

The struggle had left him not just weary, but utterly drained. Every ounce of his fatigue seemed to mingle and float in the steam.

‘First, register Agon as a familiar, then save up money to move to a place with a bigger bathroom… Ah, what else was there?’

He wondered if saving Taeseongyeon was next on his list. ‘So much to do,’ he thought.

As he splashed water on his face, mentally listing his tasks, a faint doorbell chime suddenly reached him from outside the bathroom.

*Bzzzzzt—*

The doorbell, accompanied by a bird-like chime, rang intermittently, filling the room. Han Dokyeom sighed, replacing his thoughts with a resigned breath, and began to wash.

‘I desperately want to rest,’ he thought.

Even as he finished his bath, the doorbell continued to ring at regular intervals, refusing to stop.

Han Dokyeom vigorously towel-dried his hair as he approached the door, declaring, ‘Let’s see who it is,’ before flinging it open with an air of challenge.

The persistent ring of the doorbell belonged to Han Yuseong.

Unlike their previous encounter, Han Yuseong was impeccably dressed, his expression devoid of emotion as he looked down at Han Dokyeom.

It was the same Han Yuseong from their very first meeting, standing before him now.

“I wasn’t aware you were bathing,” Han Yuseong stated. “My apologies for the late hour, Hunter Han Dokyeom.”

“Yes. But why me…?”

Han Dokyeom’s question, tinged with curiosity, conveyed: ‘Hadn’t their business concluded already?’ In response, Han Yuseong retrieved a black bracelet from his chest pocket and extended it to Han Dokyeom.

“I’ve come to deliver this to you.”

The plain, jet-black bracelet, which didn’t even reflect light, was a byproduct obtained from slaying an SS-grade mutant.

At the time, Han Dokyeom had given it to Han Yuseong, reasoning it was a ‘weapon.’

“According to the guild appraiser, it’s a ‘Weapon’ item capable of manifesting a weapon. I believe Hunter Han Dokyeom should possess this rather than me.”

Despite being in the spotlight, Han Yuseong’s face wasn’t particularly bright.

While others might have enthusiastically inflated their own value, seeing it as an unexpected windfall, Han Yuseong had attributed his survival in all briefing processes to ‘luck’ rather than skill.

Some scoffed at him, calling him foolish and spineless for rejecting such a golden opportunity.

“Why? If it’s a Weapon item, it seems even more appropriate for you to have it, Han Yuseong.”

“Han Dokyeom.”

“Han Yuseong, you know my rank, right? I’m an E-grade. The kind of person deployed for cleanup after a Gate, not for the actual raid.

Let’s say I take that Weapon item. Do you know what happens to me the moment a passing B-grade Hunter thinks, ‘Wow, that looks good’?”

He would disappear without a trace, so thoroughly that being encased in concrete and dropped into the ocean would be considered a good death. Such was the pervasive corruption within the Hunter world.

Dragging an E-grade into a Gate, killing them, and then emerging with crocodile tears would complete a perfect scenario. Why wouldn’t they kill a mere E-grade?

A good item? A valuable possession? It wasn’t that Han Dokyeom didn’t want it.

The problem was his lack of power to protect it, and at this point, possessing it would only attract a swarm of tenacious, parasitic reporters. Yes, those reporters!

“Not only would I vanish without a trace, but I’d probably lose a limb, or even worse, be drugged and sold overseas.

Then I’d end up fishing on a boat, or jumping from Gate to Gate under illegal contracts, only to die without ever getting a proper meal.

Oh, and if I’m unlucky, I could even be sold to perverts, especially with my Seal so exposed.” Han Dokyeom deliberately brought up these extreme examples, speaking almost as if to threaten. These weren’t mere rumors; they were actual incidents reported in the news.

Han Yuseong remained silent, though a flicker of disillusionment crossed his heavy features, the tips of his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Han Yuseong’s gaze lingered on Han Dokyeom’s Seal for a long moment.

When his eyes finally blinked shut, Han Yuseong tucked the black bracelet back into his pocket with a sigh.

“I understand perfectly, so please cease with such extreme examples. There’s no need for such… I admit I acted solely from my own perspective.

If the situation is as you describe, then I will hold onto this ‘Weapon’ item for the time being. Speak up whenever you need it.”

“No, why don’t you just use it?”

‘A weapon, you know, it needs to absorb the touch of its wielder to truly embody the spirit of a craftsman, right?’

After a brief back-and-forth, Han Dokyeom ultimately had to conclude the situation in the form of a deal.

“Alright, let’s do this. In exchange for you keeping that ‘Weapon’ item, you’ll grant me one favor later on.

I’ll ask for something within reasonable limits, so don’t frown. But don’t think it’ll be easy, either. I might just change my mind and demand ten billion.”

“Given the astronomical value of the ‘Weapon,’ regardless of the number of times, in addition to compensation…”

“Let’s just go with three times, three. And if you brag about money one more time, I’ll hit you, understood?” Han Dokyeom punctuated his words by vigorously shaking the water from his hair, effectively cutting off the conversation.

Han Yuseong did not prolong the discussion further.

However, contrary to expectations that he would leave, Han Yuseong lingered, as if he had more to say.

After a brief pause, he finally spoke, as if mustering great courage.

“The Guild Master knows about Agon’s grade,” Han Yuseong said. “Did you inform them, Han Dokyeom?”

Han Dokyeom paused his towel-drying for a moment. This implied that Taeseongyeon knew Agon was AA-grade.

Taeseongyeon had only encountered Agon that morning, when he’d spoken with Han Dokyeom in the car.

Either Taeseongyeon possessed exceptional observational skills, capable of discerning an opponent’s grade from a single glance, or perhaps S-grade Hunters had the ability to perceive an adversary’s true power.

It had to be one of the two.

“Han Yuseong, what do you think Agon’s grade is?”

“I can’t be certain, but I instinctively feel that he’s not C-grade. However, that’s because I’m aware of Agon’s true grade.

To those who aren’t, he’d likely appear to be a slightly higher C-grade. Agon himself seems quite adept at concealing his presence.”

“Then that’s fine. Taeseongyeon must just have unusually sharp observational skills.

As long as you, Han Yuseong, don’t go around talking about Agon to everyone. I’ll talk to Taeseongyeon myself when I get the chance.”

‘I’ll just sew his mouth shut if I have to.’

“Han Dokyeom, do you have any clothes to change into?”

“I don’t, but I’m not going to ask you to handle my laundry or anything like that, you know?”

At Han Dokyeom’s words, Han Yuseong began rummaging through his pocket again.

What his hand found was a crisp business card. Han Yuseong extended it to Han Dokyeom.

“If you ever need help, contact me. I’ll assist you to the best of my ability.”

“If you say this and then don’t pick up the phone, you’ll be in big trouble.”

Han Dokyeom accepted the pristine business card, noting the title, name, and number.

While he had no immediate use for it, one never knew what the future held. After all, an A-grade Hunter’s utility would surely be boundless.

“It’s late; you should rest.”

Han Yuseong offered a terse farewell, as dry as his personality, and turned his back.

Han Dokyeom watched Han Yuseong’s retreating figure before closing the door and stepping back into his room. His gaze was drawn to the sturdy back of Agon, who stood gazing out at the darkened night sea.

Agon stood rigidly before the window, staring endlessly outside.

Perhaps the city, ablaze with neon lights, appeared to him like a lighthouse illuminating a night sea. Or perhaps like the shimmering glow of bioluminescent plankton drifting along a shoreline.

To Agon, this place, though vast, must feel confined compared to his homeland.

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