I Picked Up the Greatest Villain in the Story

78.

Since Jian couldn’t put the whole box in, he picked up the potions one by one and placed them in his inventory. Seeing the pale pink liquid sloshing inside the bottles made him feel reassured.

“By the way, why did you ask for all the flash artifacts we had? I gave you what we had left from when we stocked up for the Dark Dungeon a few months ago.”

“I want to take everything we might need. I also don’t think many people will bring flash artifacts.”

“I guess you’re right. Since we have no information, it’s better to take everything as you said.”

While life recovery potions were important, flash effect artifacts were essential for dealing with the monsters that appeared on the 5th floor.

Jian remembered that Hyunwoo had recently bought a large quantity of flash artifacts, so he asked about them. Fortunately, there was still a generous amount left.

In addition to flash artifacts, he also received support with artifacts that could be used in various situations.

The final team selected as the advance party from the Dark Net Guild consisted of Jian, Sehun, Jungsu, and Jihwan.

As Jian had predicted, Hyunwoo decided to deploy Jungsu and Jihwan, the most veteran members in the guild, and was contemplating the remaining two positions.

Unlike most guilds that were cautious, they chose core personnel from among the A-rank hunters to ensure the advance party’s safe return.

Thanks to this, Jian was able to strengthen his resolve to join the advance party. He couldn’t bear the guilt if something happened to the two people he was close to while he just sat back.

Having worked together with the two several times before, they were well-prepared for unexpected situations. What worried him was Sehun’s abilities.

Currently, the abilities Jian knew Sehun had were mind control, telekinesis, and a skill using blood.

Sehun would likely use mostly telekinesis. He hadn’t told Jian about the last skill either.

Moreover, the mind control skill could make people wary, so it needed to be used cautiously. The smart Sehun surely knew this fact.

When Jian opened the door and came out, Sehun, who had been sitting on the sofa, immediately stood up. Although not much time had passed, Sehun’s expression was desperate, as if they hadn’t met for a day.

“What were you talking about that you had to exclude us like this?” Hyunsu asked, lowering the wet towel from his forehead. Though not as much as Sehun, Hyunsu’s face was also full of discontent.

“You’ll find out everything in due time,” Hyunwoo said.

“This is really suspicious,” Hyunsu couldn’t shake off his doubts.

Jian checked the time and gave Hyunwoo an urgent look. Hyunwoo sighed softly and patted Hyunsu’s shoulder.

“Come with me to the training room.”

“Why the training room?”

“You said you’re not sure about your skill abilities yet, right? I’ll watch you, so try using your power. You need to get familiar with your abilities quickly.”

“…Really? Earlier you said I shouldn’t even dream of using skills until my fever goes down completely.”

Hyunsu narrowed his eyes, finding Hyunwoo’s sudden change of attitude suspicious, even though he liked the idea of using his skills freely.

“Should I take it back then?”

“No, who said I don’t want to?”

Not wanting to lose this hard-earned opportunity, Hyunsu grinned broadly.

“Brother, can we use one of the training rooms too?”

“Of course.”

Seeing his chance, Jian chimed in. Then, pretending to go together, once Hyunsu entered the training room with Hyunwoo, Jian grabbed Sehun’s hand.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Okay.”

Although it was questionable, Sehun obediently followed Jian. While walking, Jian checked his watch and saw it was already full of messages from Jihwan and Leo.

As they took the elevator down to the first floor, the group huddled together spotted Jian and rushed over.

“Hey, is it true that you volunteered to join the advance party? And you’re taking this little piece of flesh with you?”

Leo shouted loudly, then realizing the surrounding gazes, lowered his voice and fired questions like a machine gun. Sehun raised an eyebrow at this news he was hearing for the first time.

“There are reasons for it.”

“What reasons!”

Leo stomped his feet, frustrated. While Jungsu and Jihwan were veterans who had been through thick and thin, he couldn’t understand Jian’s thinking at all.

“Shouldn’t we leave now if we don’t want to be late?” Jian asked.

“Oh, right,” Jihwan nodded.

Jungsu took out his car keys and tossed them in his hand.

“Let’s go in my car. Kim Leo, are you coming with us to the tower?”

“Of course! What if this is the last time I see your faces?”

“This bastard, saying such ominous things.”

As Leo couldn’t hide his anxiety and whimpered, Jihwan put him in a headlock and mischievously messed up his hair.

Leo wanted to go in too, but since it was decided that only A-rank or higher hunters could join the advance party, there was nothing he could do.

On the way to the tower, a strange silence filled the car. Jian sat in the very back with Sehun.

He found it both curious and worrying that Sehun wasn’t asking anything. Sehun just held Jian’s hand, occasionally squeezing their interlocked fingers playfully.

“Why aren’t you asking anything?” Jian asked cautiously.

A calm voice replied, “You said it, didn’t you? That you’d be with me no matter what happens. I feel the same way.”

Seeing Sehun grin as if pleased, Jian couldn’t help but laugh like a sigh. Every time he confirmed Sehun’s blind emotion towards him, a corner of his heart grew heavy.

Doesn’t this kid fear the tower at all? Well, ‘fear’ might be one of the emotions Sehun lacks the most.

It probably means he dislikes being separated from me more than entering the tower.

* * *

The car arrived at the tower earlier than expected. Thanks to hunter police and hunters from the Hunter Management Bureau controlling the surrounding situation, they were able to park in a temporary parking lot near the tower only after passing through the first checkpoint.

After getting out of the car, they could see barricades nearly 2 meters high circling around the tower in a ring shape.

Jian briefly glanced at the cafe building before quickly looking away. It was a space that would disappear without a trace if they couldn’t clear the tower anyway.

The atmosphere was more organized than when they left home for the Dark Net Guild, but it was still chaotic with people looking for missing family members and acquaintances, and those who couldn’t resist their curiosity and came to watch.

The barricades were helping to control the situation to some extent.

“How may I help you?” An armed hunter police officer blocked their way again as they approached the barricade.

“We’re the advance party dispatched from the Dark Net Guild.”

“I’ll need to check your hunter licenses for a moment.”

The man checking the hunter licenses one by one was taken aback when he received Sehun’s. His stern expression crumbled instantly.

His wavering eyes frantically moved between the license and Sehun’s face.

“…Please wait a moment.”

Deciding it wasn’t enough, he took out his radio to contact someone and headed inside the barricade.

“What are we looking at right now?”

“…I think I’m having vision problems this time.”

“Wow.”

The other three had assumed Sehun’s hunter rank was A, since they heard he had recently awakened as a hunter and was included in the advance party with Jian.

Given that he had always been extraordinary since childhood, they had secretly guessed he wouldn’t have awakened below B-rank.

Leo rubbed his eyes until they turned red and blinked repeatedly. Though to varying degrees, the others’ reactions weren’t much different.

Especially Jihwan, who muttered to himself about how unfair the world was, looking at Sehun’s handsome face and the rank written on his hunter license.

Soon, three pairs of piercing gazes landed on Jian. A similar situation to when Sehun said he was dating Jian unfolded before their eyes. Only Sehun remained calm in this situation.

“…I missed the timing to tell you,” Jian said.

It was understandable, given how pressed for time they were. Jian had to convince Hyunwoo first that he and Sehun needed to join the advance party.

He also had to relay the conversation he had with the Director, and in the meantime, figure out how to leave Hyunsu behind.

He could have talked about it in the car on the way here, but Leo’s mood was too gloomy to bring it up easily.

“Lee Jian, you really…”

Jihwan sighed deeply and shook his head. Everything else was fine, but Jian had this very bad habit of sometimes not discussing important matters in advance and making decisions on his own.

On the other hand, Leo, having recovered from the shock, laughed more freely. Although he felt a bit upset about the part that had been kept silent, his mind was at ease.

“Still, I feel a bit relieved. To think Sehun is S-rank. Brothers, if it gets dangerous, hide behind Sehun.”

“That’s embarrassing. How can we hide behind a kid?”

“Jihwan, don’t you know rank is everything in this world?”

Leo patted Jihwan’s shoulder and whispered advice to make a good impression on Sehun. Jungsu was already extending his right hand to Sehun.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes.”

Despite Sehun’s blunt response, Jungsu smiled pleasantly. Seeing how they looked at Sehun like a reliable shield, Jian felt a little uneasy.