DEB 136

“Everyone, stop bickering and sit down.”

At Huigang’s words, spoken while he and Hyeon bustled to set breakfast on the table, the disciples flinched and slowly gathered at the table. 

Ever since their self-organized meeting on “How should we treat Huigang?” concluded that, as Yasha’s older brother, he deserved the highest respect, the atmosphere between him and the disciples had grown… complicated.

They had agreed to use honorifics with him, though Huigang himself protested and said he wished to speak politely in return. 

But Zenith insisted someone needed to maintain order in the household, and after much hesitation, Huigang gave in—choosing to speak casually while the disciples continued to address him formally.

Huiyun briefly wondered if he wasn’t the one who should be maintaining order, but it hardly seemed worth fussing over.

So the disciples ended up watching Huigang with a kind of hidden tension. 

Really, if they were going to be so uncomfortable, they might as well have abandoned the whole meeting and done as they pleased. 

But seeing them stubbornly trying to show respect because he was Yasha’s brother, well, Huiyun wasn’t sure whether to find it endearing… or ridiculous that they couldn’t show even half that courtesy to him.

Maybe being too comfortable with one another really did have its drawbacks.

It had been over ten thousand years since he’d last seen disciples this polite.

While he watched with a trace of envy and nostalgia, Huigang gave him an awkward smile and lifted his spoon.

“Let’s eat.”

His deliberately cheerful voice broke the mood, and Huiyun sighed, starting his meal. 

One by one, the disciples followed suit, quickly emptying their bowls.

“…Watching them eat makes me think raising cattle would be easier. Am I imagining things?”

Hyeon looked exhausted as he watched the food vanish from the table. 

Since he received lodging in exchange for helping with chores, he often assisted Huigang with cooking, or handled it alone when Huigang wasn’t around. 

It had taken a toll; he’d noticeably lost weight over the last month.

Pushing a side dish toward him in encouragement, Huiyun watched as Vita and Ash snatched it up before Hyeon could touch it. 

He shook his head. 

After all this time, the disciples still hadn’t learned to treat Hyeon properly.

Over breakfast, they chatted idly about who had laundry duty yesterday, who kept leaving socks inside out, and who had wrecked the flowerbeds by sparring in the garden. 

Then suddenly, a phone rang.

“Hm.”

After checking his phone, Vina frowned and answered. 

Everyone paused, watching him. 

Among the group, only Vina still properly managed his guild work here in Korea, so any call he received was likely important.

When he returned to the table and sighed, Huiyun already knew the news. 

Lately, there had only been one source of Vina’s headaches. 

Strictly speaking, everyone’s headaches.

“So it appeared, then.”

“Yes. A new Contaminated-class Gate. They’re asking if we can assist. A mercenary team is already on standby at the entrance.”

“Then we’ll have to go.”

The Contaminated-class Gates. 

Of all the troubles since regaining their strength at the Fountain of Souls, these were the worst.

“The last one was rated at least High-class, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. Hunters who went inside said that if it had gone unnoticed for even another day, it would have reached Top-class.”

“…A Gate that grows. Truly troublesome.”

Unlike regular Gates, which had fixed ranks from Low to High, Contaminated-class Gates emerged when the system’s summoning process was disrupted by outside interference.

The system itself refused to explain further, so they only had two prior cases to judge from, and both had reached at least High-class difficulty within twelve hours of appearing. 

The system’s entry notice had warned that such Gates escalated in danger the longer they remained open, urging swift clearance.

The manual required either seven A-rank Hunters or at least two above A-rank, though the Bureau was still cautious enough to deploy multiple S-ranks if possible. 

Among the groups tapped for such raids were mercenaries, both well-known figures like Vina, Mute, and Ash, and reclusive Awakened like Huiyun.

The last two Contaminated Gates had been cleared by Bureau mercenaries. 

They couldn’t afford to miss this one.

They didn’t have time to sit around finishing breakfast. 

As most were done eating anyway, Huiyun rose to prepare for departure. 

Hyeon groaned at the mountain of dishes, but Huigang clapped him on the shoulder and promised to help. 

Hyeon’s eyes sparkled with gratitude, calling him brother, which Huiyun found both comical and oddly touching.

Selecting who to bring, Huiyun spoke.

“Vita, Verita, Vina. Change clothes and prepare to leave.”

A battle specialist, a healer/purifier, and a support type, perfect for this Gate.

“What about me? You’re not taking me?”

“……”

“Safe travels,” Zenith said smoothly, already expecting it.

Ash and Moot, however, looked distinctly displeased. 

Ash even stared at Huiyun like an abandoned puppy. 

Huiyun pushed his head aside.

“Someone specialized in combat needs to stay and guard this place. And your power, Ash, is too restricted by space and compatibility. Practice more until you can fully control it. Right now you can barely manage your strength as it is.”

“…But still—”

“No buts. And Moot, you already know why I can’t bring you.”

“I do. That’s why I didn’t say anything, isn’t it? Taking a necromancer along with a holy-type is idiotic. I get it.”

Understanding isn’t the same as agreeing, though.

His little jab made Huiyun hesitate before patting Moot’s head. 

“Hey! Why did he get a pat while I got shoved away?”

So Huiyun, half-exasperated, ruffled Ash’s hair too, then entrusted the three disciples at home with keeping watch.

“Then I’ll be going, brother.”

“Alright. Don’t worry about us,just be careful. With Zenith here, we’ll manage.”

Huigang, despite agreeing to speak casually, still addressed Zenith formally. 

Huiyun smiled faintly at the reliable disciple before leaving.

Outside, he joined the others in Vina’s car. 

The ride was so smooth it felt like a bed, allowing Huiyun to catch a little sleep.

“Yasha, we’ve arrived.”

Vina shook him awake. 

Blinking groggily, Huiyun fished out a wet tissue to freshen up. 

It wouldn’t do to meet mercenaries looking so disheveled. 

Vita snorted.

“If this counts as disheveled, then every man and woman alive is ugly compared to you.”

“…Looking neat is different from being handsome, Vita.”

“With your face, neatness is automatic. Don’t worry too much.”

“…”

Embarrassed by the compliment, Huiyun closed his mouth rather than argue further, stepping out of the car with a sheepish expression.

Sure, Mok Huiyun’s reincarnated face wasn’t bad, but compared to Yasha’s? 

He muttered the thought under his breath.

Vina clicked his tongue. “Remember who exactly you are comparing yourself to.”

The fact that it was his past self didn’t make the sting any less sharp. 

Huiyun’s brows knit faintly in response.