Editors: Spade, Roki
Proofreader: Sapphire
Yisun’s current situation of being hospitalized in the VIP ward with only a minor injury to his arm was surreal enough, but he never imagined that anyone would visit him once the news of his hospitalization spread. Ki Joohyuk, the first to visit, was currently kneeling in front of his bed, sobbing.
“I’m sorry, sob. Just kill me.”
He wailed while saying that it was all his fault, that it all happened because he had drawn aggro in the fourth dungeon. Yisun became very disturbed, not understanding why everyone around him was so eager to take the blame.
When he tried to rise from the bed to help Ki Joohyuk up, the latter was surprised and grabbed onto Yisun’s knees.
“How can you get up with those injuries…!”
“It’s my arm that’s hurt, not my leg…”
“I caused you to injure your hand and arm, the most important parts for a Restorer… I’m such a piece of garbage!” He was about to slam his forehead into the floor as he said this, only to be stopped by a surprised Yisun. He then explained that his arm was only had a minor fracture and that it wasn’t anything serious. It seemed like being hospitalized was a big deal for these Hunters.
While Yisun struggled to raise him up and Ki Joohyuk cried that he had to put his forehead on the floor, another person entered the room.
“Hey, can you not be so noisy when Restorer Yisun is resting??”
Han Arin grabbed the kneeling Ki Joohyuk’s arm and pulled him up. Ki Joohyuk was dragged along like a paper doll and struggled, insisting that he should apologize some more. Han Arin simply threw him onto the couch next to her, saying that he should stop bothering Yisun. What seemed like a light gesture sent Ki Joohyuk flying off, bumping into the wall and then landing on the couch.
As Yisun watched in horror, Han Arin smiled softly. “Restorer Yisun, I heard you were hurt. Are you okay?”
“We should probably ask Hunter Ki Joohyuk who went flying just now if he’s okay…”
“He should be fine, he fell on the couch.”
She smiled wryly and placed the drink box on the bedside table. Yisun once again protested that she didn’t have to bring him a get-well gift since he wasn’t seriously hurt, but Han Arin still put it on the table then sat in the chair next to the bed. Meanwhile, Ki Joohyuk was still on the couch, flailing and making dying sounds.
“He’s always hated dark places and bugs. Still, he ended up causing Yisun-ssi trouble in the fourth dungeon, letting him get away with that much is already being lenient with him.”
“Oh… It’s fine, really, the dungeon was pretty eerie, so it’s understandable.”
“You’re too nice. He deserves a slap or two. Should I slap him for you?”
“Huh…?”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Anyway, he’s more wary now that he’s getting fiercely flamed… I wonder if he’s worried about Restorer Yisun hating him?”
Yisun was puzzled by Han Arin’s words. He had no reason to dislike Ki Joohyuk, and he couldn’t understand why he was being criticized. It made no sense to him. However, he quickly realized the situation and let out a sigh. People held much interest in the current raid, so they must have watched the entirety of their fourth dungeon run on the broadcast… That must be why his behavior of using fire magic inside the temple was now being criticized.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Knowing that Ki Joohyuk was an internet addict, Yisun gave him a pitying look. Meanwhile, Han Arin was still updating him on the latest gossip.
“The articles are being unnecessarily provocative, exaggerating rumors and implying things like bad blood going on in our team…”
“Where did something like that come from?”
“They’re writing about how Restorer Yisun didn’t come to Chord for a week after the first dungeon. Then the second time, you only appeared after about five days, and came back in a day or two after the third dungeon clearance… so now they’re making a fuss about you not appearing for a week, implying it’s because there’s some friction in our relationship… and other things like that.”
Seeing Yisun’s bewildered expression, Han Arin smiled in understanding. Then, she suddenly muttered with a serious expression, “But there are too many articles coming out this time, could it be Sa Yoonkang’s doing…?”
Han Arin explained that Sa Yoonkang was trying to keep Chord in check following their skyrocketing rise in popularity. She looked fed up, saying that since Chord had been successful in clearing the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World dungeons so far, he might have been spreading these rumors on purpose.
“They also filmed me coming to the hospital. I wonder what kind of article they’ll come up with today…”
“Wouldn’t Chord’s record in clearing the dungeons also boost the Guild’s standing? I heard that the Vice Guild Leader even lobbied with the Hunters’ Association in order to get Chord priority for the entry rights…”
“That’s right, but it would still be trouble for him if we did too well and overshadowed him. He’s so confident that he’s going to be the Guild Leader, so he’s trying to raise the guild using Chord. But now that Chord is clearing dungeons successfully, there are a lot of people saying that Sa Hyeon should be the next Guild Leader.”
Yisun was about to ask something else when Ki Joohyuk woke up with a start. He groaned with a pale face, muttering about how he had almost visited the afterlife. Yisun gave him a look of genuine concern. Somehow, it felt like Ki Joohyuk should be the one confined in this hospital room, not him.
Yisun stood up with a sigh, heading to the coat hanger and pulling on a hooded zip-up. Even though the doctor had said that a splint would have been enough, Sa Hyeon had insisted on him getting a cast, so it always took a while to get dressed. After a brief battle with the jacket, Yisun said to Ki Joohyuk with a short sigh, “Let’s go outside.”
“Yes…?”
“Um, so I’m saying… Let’s get some of those drinks over there and then we can go outside together.”
Yisun looked around and pointed to the drink box that Han Arin had brought with her. By then, Han Arin had caught on to what Yisun was planning. After a brief moment of admiration, she opened the box and grabbed three bottles, before dragging a bewildered Ki Joohyuk outside.
Yisun reflexively put on his hood, but eventually pulled it back slightly with a hesitant hand. He’d always hid behind his hood, but today, he wore it so that his face was visible.
The hospital had a very nice garden with a designated path where patients could take a walk. The space was enclosed by a fence, making it for the exclusive use of the hospital visitors. As Yisun kept glancing at the fences, Han Arin told them to leave it to her, and after a quick look, led them to a bench.
Ki Joohyuk looked around, still puzzled, and then spoke in a voice full of concern, “By the way, Restorer-nim, is it really okay for you to be walking around like this?”
“I only hurt my arm…”
“That wound hasn’t healed in a whole week! Our healer must be frailer than me—Ugh!”
” …….”
“Hey, Ki Joohyuk… Can’t you tell that Restorer Yisun is looking at you with barely restrained curses in his eyes?”
“What?!”
Surprised, Ki Joohyuk turned to look at Yisun. Unable to deny Han Arin’s words, Yisun swiftly averted his gaze. Ki Joohyuk’s shaken expression sent Han Arin into a fit of breathless laughter.
The spring breeze was warm and gentle.They stayed outside for quite a while, sitting on the bench for close to an hour or two, chatting and occasionally walking around together. Their discussions were mainly centered around the fifth dungeon, and Yisun learned that this time, it was not only Han Arin, but Ki Joohyuk would also be standing at the frontline of their formation.
“We’ll be fighting in the sea, and if it’s a sun god, there’s a high chance that they’ll be using fire. So I, a dual fire and water wielder, should be up front.”
“Won’t the boss take less damage from attacks with the same attribute as them? I remember that was the reason Crusade had a hard time fighting against Zeus in the third dungeon…”
“It takes less damage, not none at all. Our leader thinks I can steal the monster’s attacks, so he’s been abusi–…training me lately…”
Ki Joohyuk smiled, a little sheepish. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Yisun couldn’t help but feel a little more sorry for him. He patted him on the shoulder in support, knowing how hard it must be with Sa Hyeon personally overseeing his training. It was also a deliberate gesture, conscious of the outside gazes.
After hearing from Han Arin that Ki Joohyuk was currently embroiled in rumors about discord with himself, he purposely went outside with him. He was aware that there were reporters following them on the way to the hospital, so this scene was probably being captured somewhere. Yisun felt very awkward and a little uncomfortable creating this situation, but he didn’t want Ki Joohyuk to get caught up in unnecessary controversies. Even if he were criticized, Yisun wouldn’t mind at all, but Ki Joohyuk was chronically online and would be more likely to be affected by online criticism.
It wasn’t until two hours later that he and Ki Joohyuk entered the building. Han Arin, noticing that Ki Joohyuk hadn’t realized the situation until the end, informed him briefly. “Restorer Yisun was worried about the rumors of you two having beef, so he went out with you intentionally.”
Ki Joohyuk’s eyes widened at that, his pupils glistening as unshed tears welled up.
“You should really bow down to Restorer Yisun and thank him properly.”
“I can do that right now, immediately!”
“No, really, I don’t want you to–”
After a brief scuffle in the hallway, they finally made it to the hospital room, where a strange scene awaited Yisun. About ten Chord Hunters were huddled together in his hospital room, chattering away. As soon as they saw him, they jumped out of their seats and asked how he was doing.
“We came as soon as we heard you were hospitalized. Are you okay?”
“We’re sorry… It’s our fault for not handling the situation properly…”
Each of them apologized, expressing regret for not being more attentive toward a non-combatant’s well-being, and lamenting the fact that they hadn’t done enough for him. Listening to their sincere reflections, Yisun wondered if this was Sa Hyeon’s way of cautioning the Chord Hunters. Did he intentionally hospitalize him to make them feel even more guilty? Some kind of new warning?
Yisun fiddled with the collar of his hood, feeling a little embarrassed.
“You didn’t have to come all the way here, it’s only a minor injury… And you’re probably busy preparing for the next dungeon too, I’d feel bad for taking up your time…”
“Restorer-nim, you don’t need to be so considerate!!”
“Aww, these guys are just trying to look good in front of you, Restorer-nim. After all, it’s because of you that we can enter dungeons so easily!”
After Ki Joohyuk spoke, Han Arin quickly added, grinning at Yisun, “And whether the wound is big or small doesn’t matter, we care about you all the same.”
The words made Yisun pause for a moment. Suddenly, he remembered the way his friends would fuss and worry about him when he was injured. He remembered them raving and ranting and screaming “betrayal” about a paper when “the good and benevolent Yisun, who couldn’t harm a single fly let alone a person,” got a papercut on his hand. Yisun opened and pursed his lips a couple of times, but eventually kept his mouth sealed.
Then, through the open door, Yisun heard the echoing sound of low-heeled shoes. Yisun’s gaze turned curiously toward the sound, and faintly he caught a very subtle fragrance. The scent seemed to get closer and closer, until finally, two figures appeared in the doorway.
“Sorry for arriving so late.”
It was Shin Jian, her chest-length hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Beside her was a woman with neatly arranged white hair that hinted at her age, dressed in a dark gray three-piece suit.
Yisun blinked slowly as he took in the appearance of the familiar woman with the jacket slung over her shoulder. He didn’t know much about Hunters, but he recognized her. It was the Guild Leader of the second nationally ranked Guild Crusade and an S-class Thunder Mage, Shin Seoim.
As he stood there in a daze, wondering why the Crusade Guild Leader was at the door of his hospital room, Ki Joohyuk and Han Arin greeted her warmly.
“Wow, it’s been a while, Guild Leader!”
“Long time no see!”
Yisun was dumbfounded, finding it harder and harder to keep up with the situation. Ki Joohyuk exclaimed in realization, but then he nodded and pointed to Shin Seoim and Shin Jian with both hands in a polite introduction.
“Guild leader Shin Seoim of the Crusade Guild, and our Chord’s Hunter Shin Jian. These two are related, they’re aunt and niece.”
“… Huh?”
Yisun’s face was colored with embarrassment and wonder. At first, he was surprised that they were related. Then, he started wondering why in the world Shin Jian was in the HN Guild’s Chord. If she was a relative of the second largest Guild in Korea’s Guild Leader, then normally she would have joined that guild, so why? As he pondered, Han Arin answered his questions.
“Hunter Jian likes to fight a bit intensely. The Crusade Guild leader refused to send her young niece to the dungeons, so there was some friction. Then Hunter Jian got scouted into Chord and left right away.”
When Arin said it was almost a declaration of independence, Yisun nodded in agreement. After the story-telling was over, Shin Seoim gently lifted the white box in her hand. It seemed to be the source of the sweet smell that Yisun had been inhaling for a while now.
It was the smell of freshly baked bread.
“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while now, but I heard that you were hospitalized. Jian also told me that Restorer Yisun likes freshly baked bread, so I brought some…”
Her voice was monotone, without a hint of a smile, but the box she held out in that tone was filled with warm bread. Yisun, now convinced that she and Shin Jian were related, looked at the box with strange eyes. Inwardly, he was surprised that Shin Jian told her about such a thing.
As Yisun sighed, Shin Jian looked at him with a puzzled expression. “You don’t like it?”
During the fourth dungeon, a whole hotel lounge was reserved because he had said he liked bread, so of course she would think so. Not expecting even the blunt Shin Jian to remember this and come to visit him, Yisun hesitated before finally nodding.
“Ah, I do… Thank you…”
And that’s when Ki Joohyuk rushed over excitedly to the table and cheered.
“Wow, it’s bread!”
“Hey, you should let Restorer Yisun enjoy it first!”
“Of course, I’ll bring it to him first, I came all this way to make it up to him!”
“I brought plenty, so everyone should be able to eat.”
Ki Joohyuk smiled as he took out the bread from the box that Shin Seoim had placed on the table. The other Chord Hunters also came over to help, asking Yisun what kind of bread he wanted. The bread and pastries they listed were so long that it turned into a discussion. There were Mont Blancs, apple pies, scones, and more….
“…….”
Watching them, Yisun was overcome with a really strange and awkward feeling.
Earlier, he was briefly reminded of his friends, but now he couldn’t think of them at all. There were too many people around him to be lost in thought, and the noise of their conversations filled his ears. Even the smell of bread filling his nose brought back not memories of the past, but scenes of a hotel lounge, which made Yisun feel very strange.
He blinked slowly. It had been so long since he’d experienced such a commotion around him when he was ill, although it was only a minor injury. This didn’t feel too bad.
Gradually, he smiled faintly.
It was a day when the gentle spring sun spilled warmly through the window.
Min: Hello everyone, sorry for the long wait! Been struggling with physical health problems(who doesn’t), as well as preparing for civil exams in December(I’m totally failing)… The events currently happening around the world also deeply affected my mental health, so I barely managed to translate a single chapter in a whole month haha…ha 
Thanks for the update.
Take care of yourself. Take enough rest, think positive thoughts and focus on yourself.
Thank youu sm, ur too kind 🥹💞
It’s ok, remember to take care of yourself first!! Thank you for the chapter!! <3
Thank youu for reading, ur too sweet💞
Thanks for the update and take care ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, thank youu☺❤
It’s okay. We can wait for the chapters but your health is more important
Thanks for the chapter
Thank you for your kind words ;-; 💞
Provides you with infinite internet cookies 🍪🍪🍪
Thank you so much 🙏🏻
AAAA puts the precious cookies in an interned jar thank youu I’ll trasure themm 💞
This scene from the manwha was always touching to me but reading the chapter with Yisun’s thoughts… 🥲🥹. It’s always the little gestures of warmth (such as remembering someone likes bread) that really builds camaraderie.
Thanks for the chapter, Min999! Please be gentle with yourself ❤️
Saame, i remember feeling sooo happy and proud when Yisun finally allowed himself to open up to these people who clearly consider him family ;-;
And thank youu 🥹❤
Thank you for your translation and fighting 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜