“You got new glasses.”

“Yes, they arranged it as a gift from over there. They said it… blocks something, allowing you to stare at each other for a long time.”

“It suits you well. Without Kang Ihyun, you can still look at Rood’s face for a long time.”

In the guild leader’s office of the Holy Temple, Kang Soojin blinked her eyes and looked at Rood, who was quietly standing alone in front of the desk.

Since returning from the War God, a sophisticated pair of glasses hung on his nose.

Upon Kang Soojin’s remark, Rood lightly touched his glasses. When he lifted the glasses to show them, the item information appeared.

[Item Information]

Name: Refraction Glasses (S)

Type: Equippable item, Special Class

Effect: Energy is refracted around the lens. Energy outside the lens cannot enter, and the energy inside the lens cannot escape.

Special Note: Uses a special lens. It never breaks.

These suppression items were often used by hunters who couldn’t control the energy emanating from their eyes, but the attached grade was exceptional.

Originally, only a handful of people could make S-grade items, and lower grades were said to shatter as soon as Rood put them on.

Thanks to the best domestic crafting hunter, who custom-made these glasses, after wearing them, Kang Ihyun could communicate with people around him and walk alone even without Rood.
‘…If this continues, only Rood will remain, and Shin Bitnari will truly disappear.’

As Rood casually entertained such thoughts, he briefly flicked his finger. Kang Soojin flipped through documents and then looked back at Rood.

“Well, anyway… Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Rood. You’ve brought back even more extraordinary things than expected.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, due to your relationship with the War God or political reasons?”

[It seems that since you played a significant role in the resurgence of the owls, the Controller of Chaos, talking about the future, says that the relationship between the War God and the Holy Temple will become more intimate.]

‘Is that so.’

Regardless, Rood had no interest in such political matters, and it seemed that he didn’t want to know about them either.

“Anyway, I know you weren’t called here to discuss such things.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Usually, Kang Ihyun and Rood were summoned to the guild leader’s office of the Holy Temple, or Kang Ihyun went alone. However, today, only Rood was standing here.

Kang Ihyun was in the hospital.

Thinking it was probably because of that, Rood looked at Kang Soojin. Kang Soojin had both arms on the desk, supporting her chin.

“First of all, thank you for noticing and reporting Hunter Kang Ihyun’s condition. Hunter Kang Ihyun won’t be able to act for a while. He needs treatment until his powers return at the Foundation-owned hospital.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“This is highly confidential. So… Mr. Rood, you must also keep Hunter Kang Ihyun’s secret.”
As if it were natural, Rood nodded his head, and at that moment, Kang Soojin presented something.

It was a black file, similar to when she wrote the employment contract. Rood accepted the file with a puzzled expression and opened it.

The contents were densely written, requesting an inquiry about Kang Ihyun’s secret. Even a law firm’s stamp was visible, indicating that a lawyer was involved. Rood raised an eyebrow slightly.

“…To this extent? I was already planning to keep it a secret. I’m not the kind of person who casually spreads such things around.”

“I’m sorry, but the reason for using that is to protect Mr. Rood.”

“Me?”

Kang Soojin touched her forehead. After briefly contemplating something, she made a sound like “kneung” and then spoke again.

“Magi is a power that only the Punishment Priests possess. When Ihyun awakened, he used both Aura and Magi simultaneously, and due to my younger brother’s marriage, that fact had to be kept hidden secretly.”

The fact that the child of two heroes was born with a curse would be a significant flaw.

Moreover, Kang Ihyun’s parents and even his grandfather were not such good people, weren’t they?

Whether she was thinking about her own family or not, Kang Soojin furrowed her brow and continued.

“Anyway, as a member of our family, we still want to maintain the elite image of being good and strong. So, Ihyun’s condition is a flaw. Maybe it will also put pressure on Mr. Rood.”
“Still, I am the top-ranked hunter. I’ve endured even the Holy War; who would dare?”

“Ihyun’s grandfather. So, our father is a politician. He plans to send our youngest in the next presidential election.”

Rood casually lifted a fountain pen.

Threatening the top-ranked hunter might not resonate with everyone, but cut off all social ties, isolate someone for months, even years—how many could withstand it properly?

Force alone wasn’t the only means of harm. Humans were not creatures meant to live alone.

And Nariknew that fact better than anyone.

“So, with that contract, if Mr. Rood leaks the secret, he plans to take care of it from my end. It’s a contract to protect you. That’s it.”