Hyeonu and Yeongchanâs adventure met with difficulties from the very beginning. They naturally had to drive because the large supermarket wasnât close to Yeongchanâs officetel.
âDonât you have your car keys?â
âOf course not.â
Neither Yeongchan nor Hyeonu brought their car keys. They only realized this when they came down to the underground parking lot.
âWhy is there nothing?â
âWhat do you mean by nothing? I have my phone and wallet.â
Hyeonu pulled his phone and wallet out of the pocket of his padded jacket and shook it so that Yeongchan could see it well.
âThat is what I put in the padded jacket. You didnât bring anything.â
âThen Iâll give you time to take care of it. In any case, you are the one who didnât bring the car keys. What are you saying to me?â
There was a reasonable reason why neither Yeongchan nor Hyeonu came with their car keys. Yeongchan forgot to bring the car keys because he was busy packing Hyeonuâs padded jacket and organizing the things he needed to buy at the supermarket.
Meanwhile, Hyeonu was dragged away like he was abducted by Yeongchan the moment he stepped out of the cube. He naturally couldnât afford to grab the car keys.
âLetâs do rock paper scissors.â
âCanât you just go?â
Hyeonu and Yeongchan told each other to go back up and grab the car keys.
âThen letâs take a taxi and go,â Yeongchan recommended that Hyeonu give up on taking the car and take a taxi instead.
âIf you donât play, you lose. Rock, paper, scissors...â
Hyeonu quickly gave up and shouted while sticking his fist forward. Yeongchan was extending a wide-open paper and in front of him was Hyeonuâs fist that was as hard as a rock.
âBring any keys.â Yeongchan showed a full smile and patted Hyeonu on the shoulder. It was the relaxation of the winner.
It happened at this moment...
âUh? Hyeonu?â
He heard slightly clumsy Korean. Hyeonu and Yeongchan turned in the direction of the voice at the same time.
âReina?â
The owner of the voice was someone that both Hyeonu and Yeongchan knew. It was Reina, the owner of the place in front of them.
âAre you going somewhere?â Reina asked the two people.
âYes. What about Reina?â Hyeonu nodded and asked Reina in return. Reina was dressed in light everyday wear and held her car keys in her hand. Even if that wasnât the case, there was only one reason why someone living in this officetel would come down to the underground parking lot. It was to ride a car or motorbike parked in the parking lot. Otherwise, there was no reason to come.
âI made a reservation at the bakery... Iâm going to pick it up.â
âAh, is that so? Can I ask where the bakery is?â Hyeonu continued to question her. Yeongchan stood next to him and smiled as if he had noticed what Hyeonu was thinking.
âHe isnât originally this type of person.â
âIt is in Nonhyeon-dong. Did something happen?â By this point, Reina also noticed that Hyeonu had other intentions.
âCan you give us a ride to Nonhyeon-dong?â Hyeonu revealed his purpose. He meant to borrow a ride.
âTime is gold, gold.â
Now Reina had her car keys, while Hyeonu and Yeongchan didnât have their car keys. The time it would take Hyeonu to go back up to Yeongchanâs officetel using the elevator, grab the keys, and return was no different from the time it would take to ride Reinaâs car and arrive at a nearby large supermarket.
âGet in the car. Iâll take you.â
Reina smiled and nodded. After seeing it, Hyeonu and Yeongchan swung their hands at each other. Their palms bumped in a high five and a lighthearted sound came out.
âThatâs fine.â
âWe can take a taxi when we come back.â
The two people looked at each other and smiled. They looked like they were 4 years old, not 24.
âArenât you getting on?â Reina asked as she arrived at the parked car, sat at the driverâs seat, and beeped the horn. Yeongchan and Hyeonu were still on their way at this time.
âGet in.â
âIt is a taxi if we donât take this.â
Hyeonu and Yeongchan quickly got into Reinaâs car. Reinaâs car was a much better option than a taxi. It was a four-seater. Naturally, Hyeonu was in the passenger seat while Yeongchan sat in the back behind Hyeonu.
âThank you, Reina,â Hyeonu said while putting on the seat belt.
âWhat thanks? Isnât it Korean culture to help your neighbors?â Reina didnât turn her head because she was driving, but she could talk.
âBy the way, Yeongchan, what are we going to buy?â
Hyeonu looked away from Reina and made eye contact with Yeongchan through the mirror.
âThere is only rice at home. We should buy the urgent things first.â
Yeongchan recalled the list he had thought about in advance. They needed everything. There was literally nothing they didnât need. However, the most urgent thing was food. All they could eat at the moment was rice.
âWhy isnât there anything?â Hyeonu looked surprised by Yeongchanâs words. Recently, he had gone out almost every day, so he rarely ate at home. He had simple bread, egg, or a protein shake in the morning.
âYou, this jer... the proud Gang Hyeonu-ssi delayed the grocery shopping for a month, so can there be any living necessities at home? Letâs just buy some food today and order the rest to be delivered. It isnât like weâre going to die if we donât have toilet paper for a day,â Yeongchan spoke casually like it was nothing.
He might be financially well off, but like most young people, Yeongchan wasnât serious about housekeeping. If he didnât have it, he lived like it didnât exist and didnât move until it was time he felt uncomfortable. For Yeongchan, it wasnât difficult to endure for another day.
âAre they so lazy originally?â
Reina cocked her head at Yeongchanâs answer. The two people who didnât seem like this were living more recklessly than she expected.
âWe arenât particularly strange, Reina. This is how it is to live alone.â
Hyeonu read Reinaâs expression and made an excuse. Hyeonuâs words werenât wrong, but as always, the story from the person involved was unreliable.
âAh... I understand.â
âYour expression shows you donât understand at all? Right now, you are thinking that we are pitiful. Am I right? Still, it is true that we arenât the only ones like this?â Hyeonu spoke to Reina like he was speaking to Yeongchan or his other friends. It was proof that the two of them had become close.
âThe two of them have become a lot closer.â
However, it was a change that Reina and Hyeonu, the people conversing, didnât notice. The progress of this conversation was the result of coincidental meetings. Such a change was so gradual that it was difficult for the parties to feel it.
âUh, uh!â Yeongchan was watching the two of them like it was a talk show on television, only to suddenly groan.
âWhat is it? What happened?â Hyeonu looked up into the mirror at Yeongchanâs sudden behavior.
âPassed it...â
âWhat?â
âWe passed it. We went too far while you were talking nonsense.â
âWhat are you saying? It isnât too far because we are in Nonhyeon-dong.â
âAre we supposed to go here first? We went too far while you were talking nonsense...â
Yeongchan and Hyeonu started bickering again, like they had forgotten they were in Reinaâs car. Reina drove without saying anything like she had given up. Then Reinaâs car stopped gently.
âI will go and grab what I have reserved. Wait a little bit.â
Reina got out of the car and disappeared with quick steps.
âI guess she is going to drop us off on the way back.â
âI guess? Thatâs why you should look out the window, Yeongchan.â
âThis again. It is your fault, you jerk.ââ
The two of them started fighting again when Reina disappeared. There was no peace for Yeongchan and Hyeonu. However, there was a time when peace was forced between the two men. The moment Reina walked out of the building with a large shopping bag, Yeongchan and Hyeonu immediately shut their mouths.
âCan you put this next to you?â Reina opened the back door and offered a large shopping bag to Yeongchan.
âYes.â Yeongchan carefully received the shopping bag and placed it on the seat next to him.
âHyeonu.â
âHuh?â Hyeonu instinctively responded to Reinaâs sudden call.
âCan you find the location on the app? I have something to buy as well.â
âI understand. Wait a minute.â
Hyeonu quickly turned on the map app and found the location of the large supermarket they were trying to go to.
-Starting the route guidance.
A clear voice came from Hyeonuâs smartphone. Hyeonu placed his smartphone on top of the dashboard to make it easier for Reina to see. Reinaâs car broke through the tight road and arrived at the destination guided by the app.
âThank you, Reina. Iâll buy you a meal later,â Hyeonu said as he undid his seat belt and opened the door.
âBy the way, why are you getting off together?â
Hyeonuâs expression changed. It was because Reina was preparing to turn off the car and get off.
âI have something to buy as well. I was going to go at least once.â
âReally? Then letâs go.â
Hyeonu nodded kindly. Reina was free to go to the supermarket if she wanted. This wasnât something that Hyeonu should care about. Additionally, they could ride Reinaâs car back to the officetel if she went shopping with them. Rather, it was a good thing for Hyeonu.
âSince I am taking her car... I need to help her shop.â
It felt like he should do something for Reina.
âReina, what do you need to buy?âHyeonu asked Reina with a friendly smile.
âI want toilet paper and... Iâd like to buy some meat. Coffee as well.â
âMeat? I know meat very well. I will help you.â
Hyeonu naturally pushed the cart and disappeared with Reina.
âExcuse me... Aish.â Yeongchan knew Hyeonuâs purpose, but he couldnât help being angry.
âIt is good to pay her back for the ride.â
âThen Iâll fill it up...â
A sigh emerged from Yeongchanâs mouth as he looked at the backs of the disappearing Hyeonu and Reina.
âThey are a handsome man and a beautiful woman. They match well.â
Just then, someone spoke words of praise when they saw Reina and Hyeonu looking at things together.
âWhat handsome man and beautiful woman? They are a fairy and a woodcutter,â Yeongchan grumbled.
***
As the players were moving to Alfore, Hyeonu was also moving to Alfore with two people.
âMarquis Gang Hyeonu,â the emperor moved lightly while calling out to Hyeonu.
âYes, Your Majesty.â
Hyeonu felt great anxiety when the silent emperor spoke. He was already worried about what nonsense the emperor was going to say this time.
âPlease, I hope he doesnât say anything strange...â
The emperor started to speak, regardless of whether he knew Hyeonuâs heart or not.
âYou said there were originally seven demon kings in the demon world?â
âYes, Your Majesty. There are a total of seven, including Baler, who you met last time.â
âOne of them is myself.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYes, Your Majesty.â
âThen there are a total of five demon kings I can face?â
The emperorâs calculation was simple. One of the seven had died at the hands of the emperor and he witnessed the death of the other one in front of his eyes. Thus, he thought five was right.
âNo, Your Majesty.â Hyeonu shook his head. He had to take one more out. âOne of the five is Duke Blake, Your Majesty. So it is four. I think it is more likely to be three.â
âThree...â The emperor groaned. He seemed to be thinking hard about something. âIs this a number that doesnât include that guy from last time?â
âYes, Your Majesty.â
Naturally, the three didnât include Baler. It was because he was the subject of the plot.
âIs there any way to get rid of that guy?â
Hyeonuâs eyes widened after hearing the emperorâs words. At this moment, the emperor's greed was piercing the sky.
âHe is too much.â
âThat is too much...â
Hyeonu inwardly sighed and continued to talk.