Why was the system suddenly handing out such an incredible gift?
You bastard, System. If you had a skill this good, you should’ve told me earlier! I would’ve been rubbing lips with any protagonist I could get my hands on!
Thump, thump. Cha Seohu’s heart pounded—not because of the kiss itself, but because of the skill effect that increased the buff duration.
“Hunter Cha Seohu, are you alright?”
Ryu Sunghyun, watching his dazed expression, glared at Kwon Taehyuk, who was still collapsed on the floor.
His head and neck were bowed low, flushed bright red. Judging by that, his reasoning had returned even if the side effects lingered.
As well it should. What kind of shameless bastard kisses the Supporter giving them a buff?
Ryu Sunghyun conveniently forgot everything that had happened in the Great Dungeon and cursed Kwon Taehyuk inwardly with all his heart.
“I-I’m alright.”
Only after the status screen disappeared did Cha Seohu finally snap out of it and respond.
He raised his gaze and met Ryu Sunghyun’s worried eyes. Swallowing dryly, he opened his mouth.
“...Vice Guildmaster.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll give you a buff.”
In other words: please take your clothes off.
Grabbing Ryu Sunghyun’s arm and pressuring him to strip, Cha Seohu’s dark eyes burned intensely.
“From now on, all buffs come with a kiss. No exceptions.”
Refusal? That was not an option.
A six-hour buff had become an eight-hour buff just from a kiss.
And it hadn’t even been a long kiss.
Apparently, all that was needed was fulfilling the condition of mucosal contact. Just a brief touch of the tongue had been enough to extend the buff duration.
It would be stupid not to do it.
“We’re already hugging shirtless—why not just rub lips while we’re at it?”
In fact, it might be easier between men! Doing this to a woman would make you scum, but between guys? Totally fine!
Cha Seohu, eyes spinning with efficiency calculations, let his mind run wild in his own favor while Ryu Sunghyun stood frozen, unable to pull his arm away, overwhelmed.
“No, the buff...”
Ryu Sunghyun furrowed his brow.
“Hold on. You don’t have to push yourself, Hunter Cha Seohu.”
He calmly examined Cha Seohu standing in front of him.
Flushed cheeks, anxious and urgent expression. He was trying to act composed despite what had just happened, but his trembling eyes revealed his unease.
He was just forcefully kissed. He must be shocked and uncomfortable... yet he still wants to give us a buff...
A sigh escaped Ryu Sunghyun’s lips.
Sure, the buff was nice. And yes, having it for whatever came next would be reassuring. But... it wasn’t like they’d die without it.
The fact that Cha Seohu was willing to go through this no matter what, just to give them buffs, felt both admirable and heartbreaking.
He’s not doing this with other dealers too... right?
If so, it ends here. Ryu Sunghyun and the other two were the only ones who’d understand and bear it.
Suppressing the complex feelings welling inside him, Ryu Sunghyun gently removed Seohu’s hand from his arm.
“Hunter Kwon Taehyuk couldn’t even hold back and messed things up. How could I take the buff now? Let’s just do the hug-with-clothes method. That’s plenty.”
“What? I’m fine with it though!”
“No. And we’re really running out of time—”
Before Ryu Sunghyun could finish speaking, a shrill noise split the air.
KIIIIIIIIING!
The high-pitched sound pierced their ears and skulls, making Cha Seohu stagger briefly before jerking his head up in realization.
“That’s the signal of a rift opening!”
Ryu Sunghyun, having already experienced it during the Royal Palace incident, instantly recognized the sound and turned his gaze outside.
Cha Seohu, hurriedly shoving his removed formalwear into his inventory, pulled out a black turtleneck and threw it on as he dashed out of the hotel.
“What in the world...”
The outside was dyed crimson.
Looking up in horror, he saw the sky colored blood-red—too much so—and six rift gates, each one widening steadily at equal distance from each other.
“Six rifts?”
Ryu Sunghyun, who had followed him out, muttered in disbelief.
The same kind of red rift from the Royal Palace incident—six of them, opening all at once. That shrill, brain-rattling sound rang on ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) and on without stopping.
“If monsters start pouring out of those...”
A chill ran down his spine.
“Can we stop them?”
For just a moment, Cha Seohu couldn’t help but think that.
...No, they had to stop it. Somehow, they had to.
Biting his lip, he turned and headed back into the hotel lobby.
Sensing the ominous shift outside, Kwon Taehyuk had already changed into a new outfit. Thankfully, his complexion looked much calmer than before.
Not forgetting what happened earlier, Cha Seohu cast a healing skill on the ribs Ryu Sunghyun had kicked, then hugged both Ryu and Song Jiwoon in turn, tightly.
《Skill: Bond of the Guardian (SS-rank) activated!》
It was unfortunate, but he gave them the buff fully clothed. He wanted to kiss them too, but the moment he finished buffing Song Jiwoon, all four of their phones started buzzing like they were on fire.
It was really time to go.
Swallowing his disappointment, Cha Seohu gave a last reminder.
“Please, be careful. If you’re hurt, go straight to the treatment facility.”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Kwon Taehyuk, who had somehow ended up with the best buff, replied with dignity. Then he hesitated—but in the end, said nothing more and turned to leave.
His heart was pounding—not just because of the buff.
It was insane to think about in this situation, but the memory of his loss of control, the kiss he’d forced earlier, kept echoing in his mind.
“I should apologize.”
He had kissed him without permission. Of course he had to apologize.
And yet, the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
What would Cha Seohu say if he said he didn’t want them to be the kind of people who had to apologize for a kiss?
He’d probably be dumbfounded. Already reeling from the kiss, and now some lame confession too?
But he still wanted to say it. After all, once he’d crossed that line, he didn’t think he could keep hiding his feelings from Cha Seohu.
“...Once this is over.”
There would be a chance to talk.
Taking a deep breath, Kwon Taehyuk stepped out of the hotel and looked up at the blood-red sky.
“Please come this way.”
Following the Association staff member assigned by Choi Gyeonghui, Cha Seohu looked around.
Compared to earlier, the surrounding area was utter chaos.
People shouted and ran in every direction. Reinforcements kept pouring in from outside.
An irregular incident involving six rifts opening in one place.
Terror was written all over the faces of the people sprinting around.
The hunters brushing past Cha Seohu muttered pale-faced. What if this really is the end of the world?
“......”
Cha Seohu had been pushing down a rising wave of anxiety for some time.
If he lost his cool now, there’d be nothing he could do. Just then, the Association staff leading him to the treatment center spoke up.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Then, receiving another message, he rushed off elsewhere. He seemed completely swamped.
Which was actually a good thing. Cha Seohu had something to do now—away from prying eyes.
He looked around and slipped behind a nearby building.
The narrow alley between the building and wall was just wide enough for one adult and was dark enough to be perfect.
Making sure no one was nearby, Cha Seohu whispered softly.
“Kiddo.”
Like a spell being cast.
The shadow at his feet flickered like flame and began to swell in size. It stretched out and then shot upward, forming a large figure.
KREEEEEE!
A black bird appeared first and soared into the sky.
And then—stepping through the shadows—emerged a face Cha Seohu knew all too well.
“Hyung.”
The boy raised his hand, and the bird that had been circling above landed on his wrist, flapping its wings.
Looking into Cha Sahyeon’s clear green eyes, Cha Seohu opened his mouth slowly.
“Cha Sahyeon.”
He had prepared himself for this moment, and yet his mouth felt dry.
Locking eyes with the brother who stared back at him silently, Cha Seohu continued.
“...I’m giving you a buff.”

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