Ranker's Return

Chapter 700

Hyeonu and Yeongchan’s adventure met with difficulties from the very beginning. They naturally had to drive because the large supermarket wasn’t close to Yeongchan’s officetel.

“Don’t you have your car keys?”

“Of course not.”

Neither Yeongchan nor Hyeonu brought their car keys. They only realized this when they came down to the underground parking lot.

“Why is there nothing?”

“What do you mean by nothing? I have my phone and wallet.”

Hyeonu pulled his phone and wallet out of the pocket of his padded jacket and shook it so that Yeongchan could see it well.

“That is what I put in the padded jacket. You didn’t bring anything.”

“Then I’ll give you time to take care of it. In any case, you are the one who didn’t bring the car keys. What are you saying to me?”

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 Hyeonu’s 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 couldn’t afford to grab the car keys.

“Let’s do rock paper scissors.”

“Can’t you just go?”

Hyeonu and Yeongchan told each other to go back up and grab the car keys.

“Then let’s take a taxi and go,” Yeongchan recommended that Hyeonu give up on taking the car and take a taxi instead.

“If you don’t play, you lose. Rock, paper, scissors...”

Hyeonu quickly gave up and shouted while sticking his fist forward. Yeongchan was extending a wide-open paper and in front of him was Hyeonu’s fist that was as hard as a rock.

“Bring any keys.” Yeongchan showed a full smile and patted Hyeonu on the shoulder. It was the relaxation of the winner.

It happened at this moment...

“Uh? Hyeonu?”

He heard slightly clumsy Korean. Hyeonu and Yeongchan turned in the direction of the voice at the same time.

“Reina?”

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.

“Are you going somewhere?” Reina asked the two people.

“Yes. What about Reina?” 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 wasn’t 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.

“I made a reservation at the bakery... I’m going to pick it up.”

“Ah, is that so? Can I ask where the bakery is?” Hyeonu continued to question her. Yeongchan stood next to him and smiled as if he had noticed what Hyeonu was thinking.

‘He isn’t originally this type of person.’

“It is in Nonhyeon-dong. Did something happen?” By this point, Reina also noticed that Hyeonu had other intentions.

“Can you give us a ride to Nonhyeon-dong?” Hyeonu revealed his purpose. He meant to borrow a ride.

‘Time is gold, gold.’

Now Reina had her car keys, while Hyeonu and Yeongchan didn’t have their car keys. The time it would take Hyeonu to go back up to Yeongchan’s officetel using the elevator, grab the keys, and return was no different from the time it would take to ride Reina’s car and arrive at a nearby large supermarket.

“Get in the car. I’ll take you.”

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.

“That’s fine.”

“We can take a taxi when we come back.”

The two people looked at each other and smiled. They looked like they were 4 years old, not 24.

“Aren’t you getting on?” Reina asked as she arrived at the parked car, sat at the driver’s seat, and beeped the horn. Yeongchan and Hyeonu were still on their way at this time.

“Get in.”

“It is a taxi if we don’t take this.”

Hyeonu and Yeongchan quickly got into Reina’s car. Reina’s 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.

“Thank you, Reina,” Hyeonu said while putting on the seat belt.

“What thanks? Isn’t it Korean culture to help your neighbors?” Reina didn’t turn her head because she was driving, but she could talk.

“By the way, Yeongchan, what are we going to buy?”

Hyeonu looked away from Reina and made eye contact with Yeongchan through the mirror.

“There is only rice at home. We should buy the urgent things first.”

Yeongchan recalled the list he had thought about in advance. They needed everything. There was literally nothing they didn’t need. However, the most urgent thing was food. All they could eat at the moment was rice.

“Why isn’t there anything?” Hyeonu looked surprised by Yeongchan’s 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.

“You, this jer... the proud Gang Hyeonu-ssi delayed the grocery shopping for a month, so can there be any living necessities at home? Let’s just buy some food today and order the rest to be delivered. It isn’t like we’re going to die if we don’t have toilet paper for a day,” Yeongchan spoke casually like it was nothing.

He might be financially well off, but like most young people, Yeongchan wasn’t serious about housekeeping. If he didn’t have it, he lived like it didn’t exist and didn’t move until it was time he felt uncomfortable. For Yeongchan, it wasn’t difficult to endure for another day.

‘Are they so lazy originally?’

Reina cocked her head at Yeongchan’s answer. The two people who didn’t seem like this were living more recklessly than she expected.

“We aren’t particularly strange, Reina. This is how it is to live alone.”

Hyeonu read Reina’s expression and made an excuse. Hyeonu’s words weren’t wrong, but as always, the story from the person involved was unreliable.

“Ah... I understand.”

“Your expression shows you don’t understand at all? Right now, you are thinking that we are pitiful. Am I right? Still, it is true that we aren’t the only ones like this?” 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.

‘The two of them have become a lot closer.’

However, it was a change that Reina and Hyeonu, the people conversing, didn’t 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.

“Uh, uh!” Yeongchan was watching the two of them like it was a talk show on television, only to suddenly groan.

“What is it? What happened?” Hyeonu looked up into the mirror at Yeongchan’s sudden behavior.

“Passed it...”

“What?”

“We passed it. We went too far while you were talking nonsense.”

“What are you saying? It isn’t too far because we are in Nonhyeon-dong.”

“Are we supposed to go here first? We went too far while you were talking nonsense...”

Yeongchan and Hyeonu started bickering again, like they had forgotten they were in Reina’s car. Reina drove without saying anything like she had given up. Then Reina’s car stopped gently.

“I will go and grab what I have reserved. Wait a little bit.”

Reina got out of the car and disappeared with quick steps.

“I guess she is going to drop us off on the way back.”

“I guess? That’s why you should look out the window, Yeongchan.”

“This again. It is your fault, you jerk.”’

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.

“Can you put this next to you?” Reina opened the back door and offered a large shopping bag to Yeongchan.

“Yes.” Yeongchan carefully received the shopping bag and placed it on the seat next to him.

“Hyeonu.”

“Huh?” Hyeonu instinctively responded to Reina’s sudden call.

“Can you find the location on the app? I have something to buy as well.”

“I understand. Wait a minute.”

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 Hyeonu’s smartphone. Hyeonu placed his smartphone on top of the dashboard to make it easier for Reina to see. Reina’s car broke through the tight road and arrived at the destination guided by the app.

“Thank you, Reina. I’ll buy you a meal later,” Hyeonu said as he undid his seat belt and opened the door.

“By the way, why are you getting off together?”

Hyeonu’s expression changed. It was because Reina was preparing to turn off the car and get off.

“I have something to buy as well. I was going to go at least once.”

“Really? Then let’s go.”

Hyeonu nodded kindly. Reina was free to go to the supermarket if she wanted. This wasn’t something that Hyeonu should care about. Additionally, they could ride Reina’s car back to the officetel if she went shopping with them. Rather, it was a good thing for Hyeonu.

‘Since I am taking her car... I need to help her shop.’

It felt like he should do something for Reina.

“Reina, what do you need to buy?”Hyeonu asked Reina with a friendly smile.

“I want toilet paper and... I’d like to buy some meat. Coffee as well.”

“Meat? I know meat very well. I will help you.”

Hyeonu naturally pushed the cart and disappeared with Reina.

“Excuse me... Aish.” Yeongchan knew Hyeonu’s purpose, but he couldn’t help being angry.

‘It is good to pay her back for the ride.’

“Then I’ll fill it up...”

A sigh emerged from Yeongchan’s mouth as he looked at the backs of the disappearing Hyeonu and Reina.

“They are a handsome man and a beautiful woman. They match well.”

Just then, someone spoke words of praise when they saw Reina and Hyeonu looking at things together.

“What handsome man and beautiful woman? They are a fairy and a woodcutter,” Yeongchan grumbled.

***

As the players were moving to Alfore, Hyeonu was also moving to Alfore with two people.

“Marquis Gang Hyeonu,” the emperor moved lightly while calling out to Hyeonu.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyeonu felt great anxiety when the silent emperor spoke. He was already worried about what nonsense the emperor was going to say this time.

‘Please, I hope he doesn’t say anything strange...’

The emperor started to speak, regardless of whether he knew Hyeonu’s heart or not.

“You said there were originally seven demon kings in the demon world?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There are a total of seven, including Baler, who you met last time.”

“One of them is myself.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then there are a total of five demon kings I can face?”

The emperor’s 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.

“No, Your Majesty.” Hyeonu shook his head. He had to take one more out. “One of the five is Duke Blake, Your Majesty. So it is four. I think it is more likely to be three.”

“Three...” The emperor groaned. He seemed to be thinking hard about something. “Is this a number that doesn’t include that guy from last time?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Naturally, the three didn’t include Baler. It was because he was the subject of the plot.

“Is there any way to get rid of that guy?”

Hyeonu’s eyes widened after hearing the emperor’s words. At this moment, the emperor's greed was piercing the sky.

‘He is too much.’

“That is too much...”

Hyeonu inwardly sighed and continued to talk.