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“Cough, cough.”

Startled by the sound of Tae Woong coughing, Jiho pulled away from Yiwon. At that, Yiwon glared sharply at Tae Woong. Jiho stood between them once again to control the situation.

“Joo Yiwon. And Hunter Seon Tae Woong.”

Jiho swallowed a sigh and said seriously.

“What you heard today… let’s keep it a secret for now.”

“Sure, that’s probably for the… better.”

Tae Woong had momentarily forgotten Anonymous’s words due to the flirtatious actions before him, but he frowned as soon as he was reminded. He feels like he’d prefer this eyesore than face that uncomfortable truth.

Though forced to see an unpleasant scene, Seon Tae Woong was also reassured by Joo Yiwon’s promise. He won’t ever admit that himself though.

Tae Woong sighed and scratched his head.

“F*ck, if it were up to me, I’d rather forget everything.”

“Would you like me to help you with that?”

Yiwon whispered, holding up a fist.

“No? Crazy motherf*cker.”

“Now, now, don’t fight… let’s go back first.”

Jiho stopped them with the attitude of a preschool teacher who has to stop preschoolers from fighting all the time. 

But how do they leave the ark? Usually, dungeons have a boss monster that they have to kill to leave, but the only thing that can be a “boss monster” here is….

All three people turned to Anonymous. Tae Woong was the first to raise his fist.

“Do we have to kill this thing to leave?”

“You want me to watch something that looks like my mom die?”

Tae Woong lowered his fist in embarrassment at Jiho’s growl.

“N-No, no no, of course there should be a peace…ful way?”

Tae Woong humbly asked Anonymous, his attitude flipping 180 degrees. Anonymous ignored him and spoke to Jiho.

“Normally, the Administrator can use the ark’s functions to go in and out. However, as you have yet to unlock its functions…. I cannot let you leave as I’d like, so I will open it as long as you successfully complete a quest.”

“Alright. What is that quest?”

Anonymous waved its hand in the air. A sparkling trail of mana followed its fingertips before something appeared from midair… a clear box filled with colorful balls. At the top of the box, there was a small hole just slightly wider than a hand.

“Complete the mission or meet the condition of the ball you pull.”

This… looks like something they’d see on TV variety shows. Tae Woong looked around in suspicion. 

“…Is this one of those TV show set-ups?”

“Who has the funds to create a set like this?”

“True.”

Tae Woong calmed down at Jiho’s reasoning. Making a set that fools an A-rank’s senses would require an astronomical amount of money.

But still, isn’t the way to raid this dungeon a complete shift from their discussion of world destruction and whatnot?

Anonymous explained. 

“According to what I observed of this world through the TV and internet, games that rely on luck like this are quick and easy. On top of that, since most of the missions in the balls are not difficult, you will easily succeed. And as the Blue Ark has yet to fully evolve, I cannot give you a difficult or complicated test in the first place.”

“I see. Well, since this guy said it’s here to help you…. It shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Yes. Even if should you fail this one, I will just give you the next test. However, because I must operate within the rules, I cannot give another easy test if you fail. It will be slightly more difficult than this one.”

“What is the next test?”

“You must find a gold coin from the white sand beach without using any skills.”

“…Are we looking for a needle in a desert?”

“How big is the coin?”

“About the size of a 10 won coin.”

“That’s tiny!?”

Finding a 10 won coin in the endless white sand beach without using a skill–just thinking about it is terrible. The unremarkable clear box suddenly resembles a horrible trap.

“You better pick one carefully. Carefully.”

Tae Woong, who had a playful attitude until now, stared at Jiho with serious eyes.

Feeling a heavy pressure, Jiho picked a yellow ball. Inside the ball cut in half was a slip of paper with a mission, just as Anonymous said. 

Jiho’s expression shifted subtly after reading it.

“What does it say?”

“Um, it says, ‘A small gift for you who is pure.’ Is this… figurative?”

“It is asking if you are a virgin.”

Jiho’s face instantly turned bright red at Anonymous’s direct interpretation. And because it said that with his mother’s face, Jiho felt three times the embarrassment. 

“Why ask something like that!?”

“The condition was that it must be difficult for the average human, yet easy for all of you to fulfill….”

That, that might be true, but…. Even so, how could they include something like this? Jiho poked Yiwon in embarrassment.

“Hey, Joo Yiwon….”

“Hm?”

“You. You said you’re pure, right? Give this guy the present.”

“Huh? Wait….”

Jiho didn’t listen to Yiwon and pushed him in front of Anonymous. Looking at Joo Yiwon, Anonymous shook its head with no expression. 

“This person is not a virgin.”

“…”

Jiho glared at Yiwon in contempt.

After bragging about his chastity and purity every day, now what? Jiho never believed him, but now that it’s been confirmed, he feels a surge of betrayal.

Seeing Jiho look at him in disgust, Yiwon sighed and pushed Jiho in front of Anonymous.

Fine. Even if Yiwon’s dirty, he can wait until they get out of here to scold him….

“Administrator-nim is also not a virgin.”

“Wh-what?”

Jiho, who thought of using himself to leave this place, was shocked. He’s not a virgin? But he has no memory of ever doing anything….

Wait. That photo….

“Jiho-ya.”

Yiwon pinched Jiho’s cheek before Jiho could delve any deeper.

“Wh-what?”

“Get ready to find a coin.”

“Ah.”

A sigh naturally came out at their harsh reality. The thought Jiho had just now sank under his other thoughts. 

As Jiho was about to reluctantly return to the white sand beach they first arrived at, Tae Woon grabbed Jiho and Yiwon.

“…Hey.”

“Yes?”

Instead of explaining, Seon Tae Woong stood in front of Anonymous. Anonymous smiled gently as it clapped once. The illusion of a small gourd cracking open and floating confetti appeared behind Anonymous. 

“I will hand a small present to he who is pure.”

“…”

“…”

Jiho and Yiwon both turned their gaze to Tae Woong.

Seon Tae Woong is a virgin?

Though they didn’t say anything, Tae Woong shouted angrily with red ears.

“WHA, WH, WHA, WHAT! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT AFTER YOU MARRY THE PERSON YOU LOVE!”

“Oh my god.”

Tae Woong, who looks like someone who’d enjoy debauchery and drinking, just said something unbelievably innocent. But Jiho holds a similar value.

He doesn’t like casual dating. He wants to marry his first love. He doesn’t want to start a relationship with someone he’s not sure is The One. But he must’ve been certain about ⬛⬛to….

‘My head hurts….’

The deeper he thinks into it, the dizzier his head.

The seal on Jiho’s memories had long since dug its way deep inside his consciousness and it feels natural. So that he’s more comfortable with his memories suppressed than free; so that he can’t escape easily.  

That’s why the pain that entails removing the seal can’t be helped. Jiho stumbled from the awful pain starting, but Yiwon grabbed him.

“Shin Jiho.”

Yiwon’s call was strangely so clear that Jiho stopped. His thoughts paused, then suddenly shifted.

Unable to remember what he was just thinking, Jiho’s vision cleared, and he saw Tae Woong perfunctorily accept a mana stone.

After gifting the mana stone to Tae Woong, Anonymous bowed and said. 

“The Blue Ark is, by nature, a place that only the Administrator can enter. Although it has been revealed thanks to That One… I will hide it once more until the day you are qualified.”

“Who is That One?”

Is it referring to the cat with such high respect? But Anonymous’s voice and appearance slowly dissolved without answering Jiho’s question.

“It left.”

Tae Woong shrugged. It looks like he’s in a good mood now that a gate appeared where Anonymous has stood.  

Well, Jiho didn’t expect to get an answer so easily. Since they’ve gained something else, so be it.

Now they just have to leave. Yet. 

Though Tae Woong looked like he was going to be the first to leave, he turned around. He approached Jiho with a determined expression and held his hand out. In his hand is the mana stone that he had just received from Anonymous. 

“…Are you giving this to me?”

“Yeah. Anyways, it said you’re the only one who can enter this dungeon. Since I forced myself in here…. And I think you’d make better use of it. I don’t even know where this can be used.

From first glance, it looks like a F-rank mana stone with no value. Jiho checked the round stone’s system window. His eyes widened in an instant. This is something he can’t refuse. Jiho accepted the stone from Tae Woong before he could take it back.

“I will use it well.”

“Don’t forget that I was the one who gave it to you.”

Tae Woong smirked as he gloated. Jiho nodded. 

Suddenly, Yiwon, who was looking at the two in dissatisfaction, pulled something out of his inventory. Yiwon carelessly threw an obviously high-priced, sparkly mana stone at Tae Woong. 

“Consider this an exchange.”

“Hey, why are you exchanging something?”

Judging from the dazzling light sparkling off the stone, that’s at least S-rank, maybe even SS-rank. Jiho was upset and it wasn’t even his. 

“True. Why are you giving me something?”

But Tae Woong only sounded reluctant; in reality, he didn’t miss this good opportunity and carefully placed the mana stone in his inventory. Jiho stared regretfully at where the stone disappeared before giving up.

It’s a shame, but… well, an SS-rank mana stone is worth nothing compared to the stone Tae Woong just gave him.

‘I gained a lot today.’

They soon made it out. As soon as they left, the gate disappeared like it was never there and an elaborate barrier went back up, making the area hard to recognize once again.

Geon Ho, who was waiting outside alone, grinned at the three people’s appearance. 

“Ah, you have returned. Was it worth it?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

He better raise Park Geon Ho’s salary and give him a bonus. Jiho walked down the mountain with the others with pride. 

Though Tae Woong insisted on eating together, Yiwon coldly shut him down. Because Jiho tricked Yiwon and dragged him here today, he didn’t stay either and they left.

Yiwon drove on the way back. The road was slightly congested, and Jiho kept stealing glances at Yiwon. 

Jiho’s stare continued even after Yiwon parked the car and they started walking to a restaurant. Enjoying the stare, Yiwon asked. 

“Honey, why are you looking at me like that?”

“No… just.”

“Just?”

“…Who did you do it with?”

Jiho blamed his light mouth for being unable to beat his curiosity. Why did he ask him that? That’s Joo Yiwon’s privacy. Isn’t that none of his business?

Seeing Jiho blame himself, Yiwon’s smile was unreadable. 

“Of course it was with Jiho. My first experience as well as my last are all Jiho’s.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Naturally, Jiho’s first experience as well as your last are all mine.”

“…”

It’s his fault for talking to someone crazy.

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LaZ Bird Corner

This chapter had me dying from laughter and second-hand embarrassment. Also is this why this section’s called The Last as well as The First???

Next chapter is a Hunter Space chapter!

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