"Oh oh...this is delicious!"
slurp slurp
Raith struggled to express his enjoyment because he couldn't make time to look up as he gobbled up the ramyeon that was in front of him.
"I know right, it is even more delicious when I used some of my secret formulas to mix it. We'll try it when we get to my place."
Min-ho replied gesticulating with the wooden chopsticks in his hand, compared to Raith whose hand was messed up because he struggled with using the chopsticks. At least now he's even better, the first time he tried it some weeks ago, they kept falling off his hand and he frustratingly dropped it and ate with his hand.
His company had brought an atmosphere of humor to the hospital.
It has been one week since Raith has been in the hospital and he is already popular.
His looks were one thing, he was pretty average but what stood out was his eyes. Yes, those damn heterochromia eyes that people used to stare at with scornful gazes. In this world, Raith was adored because of it. Although many would often address him as Raven.
He was most popular among the old patients and the nurses.
"You still don't want to go yet?"
Min-ho pointed out the question as Raith feigned ignorance when he talked about showing him some secret recipe when they get home.
He sighed.
He had been pestering Raith to leave the hospital and move to his house but the strange fellow had been so hung up on staying with the people in the hospital even though he was long due to being discharged from the hospital, he still stayed and walked around in the hospital patient wear.
He dropped the disposable ramyeon plastic on the table where he was cross-legged seated and looked at Min-ho who was on the chair opposite the table.
Towards the window was a table and chair, not just your regular table and chair but an exquisite, glass-made one–just like the one you find in the office of the head of a department.
The ventilation of the room was enduring and sat well with the neat arrangement of furniture which was very few. Opposite Raith and Min-ho was a flat-screen television that was hung on the wall.
"I like it here, why bother to leave. Even you live here most of the time."
Raith pointed out, shrugging his shoulders.
"Ah... you're right."
Min-ho sighed and leaned into the chair after dropping his ramyeon plastic. He observed Raith who stood up and began to look around with his hands behind his back, for the first time almost looking like his age.
"Do you want to tell me... about your home... your own earth."
Min-ho said, with hesitation as he completed his statement.
"It's not earth..."
"Huh?"
Raith's unexpected response pulled his body forward as he sought to pay attention.
"My human world looks just like this one but it is different and it is not called Earth, it is called Therut. We have several countries, I think altogether there are twenty-three countries including free cities. Of all fifty-three, Pomei Empire is the greatest, well arguably because Verto Mount too is extraordinary but they don't mix with the others and separated from us by the sea..."
"Your world sounds so interesting."
"Trust me, I have been to an even more interesting world."
Raith said, as his mind journeyed down a recent and hurtful memory lane.
'I can't waste time like this. First I must get stronger and return to Felfhiem to save Volmak.'
He said looking at his clenched fist.
"Is something wrong?"
Min-ho asked, worried about his sudden change in mood.
"I'm sorry Min-moo."
"It's Min-ho."
"Ah, Min-ho. Do you know where other dungeons are situation or field monster locations?"
"Other dungeons as in gates."
"Yes, and field monsters."
"I can tell you about other dungeons but I am not too sure about field monsters. Since the only place we can find monsters are in the gates. Well, the Americans and Japanese have succeeded in subjugating a monster while it is alive and has even been able to come to a common understanding but Korea is far from that area."
'Hmm... so, unlike Therut. They don't have field monsters.'
Raith rubbed his chin with his index finger.
"Can you take me to these other dungeons or gates that you know of?"
He asked Min-ho with a definite resolve which humbled Min-ho and filled his replies with honorifics.
"It won't be easy."
"Why?"
"Number one, the association has a fundamental right over all the gates whether new or old. Number two, gates are largely owned by guilds, so we can get sued for clearing it, or better still, we will get no payment and the loot will be taken from us."
"Hmm... that is reasonable. This association... are they the same people that came to my hospital room?"
"Yes, those ones."
"Hmm... I see."
There was a brief five seconds of silence between the two.
"Can I borrow your phone Min-mo"
"Min Ho..."
"Sorry, my bad."
Raith smiled and stretched his palm forward.
Min-ho slowly dropped the android smartphone on his hand while locking his gaze on Raith's suspicious smiling face before finally letting him go.
Rairh walked outside hastily and began to type the number from the card he received.
=Hello.
"Yes, this is Raven Raith. I was given this card by a person from the association."
=Ah, so it is you. The one who is due for evaluation.
"Huh? Ah, yes, evaluation."
=Okay. Please come to the association for evaluation. Tell them you have a reservation with agent Jong-Su
"Okay, thank you"
Raith hung up and–
"What the fuck?!"
He flared as he turned back to see Min-ho calmly standing beside him.
'I didn't sense him... was it because he didn't have any killing intent...?'
Raith's perception by far is far from okay. Transcendent sense enabled him to sense an incoming attack which meant he lacks bare perception.
"I‐
"No need to explain, Hyung. I heard everything. You know nothing about this world, the association is desperate, they will use you and throw you away."
"Still, I have to be able to enter dungeons."
"I understand, then you should have just talked to me about it. That I disagree with doesn't mean I won't help you."
"Ah, you will?!"
"Of course, but you have to trust me with everything."
'Trust huh...'
A memory plagued him in that instance causing a baleful thought to cross Raith's mind.
'Well, I don't have any worries, I can just kill him if he betrays my trust.'
His eyes squinted into a slit in that millisecond.
"Okay, so when do we go to the association."
"First let's get you some clothes. I might get used to seeing you in these scrubs."
Min-ho said and patted Raith's high shoulders as he walked away with the pride of a rich man.
Raith followed after looking at his back for a few more seconds.
