Nari looked at Kang I-hyun, bewildered. I-hyun smiled awkwardly amid the slightly tense atmosphere.

“What?”

“Friendship. I want to be friends with you, Nari. I should have said that first. I was too greedy. You have your own life, Nari.”

“No… I never imagined that. Why?”

Nari, tears gone, looked at I-hyun with wide eyes. I-hyun touched his chin momentarily, his ears reddening slightly as he spoke shyly.

“Actually… six years ago, when I was trapped in a gate, you saved me… Since then, I wanted to become friends with you. It’s no exaggeration to say I became the second-ranked hunter thanks to you. I wanted to stand right beside you!”

“Huh?”

Confused, Nari fidgeted. After pondering for a moment, she spoke softly, much more gently than before.

“I don’t remember.”

“Of course. That was six years ago, and I’m very different from then.”

At his words, Nari shook her head, disbelieving.

“No, it’s just for that? I’d understand if you asked for money…”

“Just for that? Nari, you’re my hero!”

Nari looked at her fidgeting fingers, feeling… strange.

“Me…?”

Nari had always been ‘invisible’ in society. Or rather, she was someone who ‘shouldn’t be visible.’ That was the only way she could survive.

She didn’t dislike being an alt character. It was part of who she was. However, paradoxically, all her achievements as a hunter belonged not to Nari, but to her avatar, Lud.

It was only when Nari donned Lud’s avatar that she could face people.

Looking at the man before her, I-hyun seemed so much larger – in stature and presence. In comparison, Nari felt incredibly small.

Yet, she was his hero. Not Lud, but her.

Lost in thought, Nari met I-hyun’s gaze, and he smiled broadly.

“That’s why I wanted to become friends.”

“I’m not that great. I, I did it for the money. I probably didn’t intend to save you…”
“It doesn’t matter. Because you came, I was saved!”

Kang I-hyun smiled broadly. For Nari, in the past ten years, except for her manager, this was the first time someone had been so positively engaging with her.

To think that the person I saved became an S-class hunter. Nari felt she had contributed to making the world a better place.

After a long silence, Nari, unable to make eye contact with I-hyun, spoke in a tiny voice.

“…I haven’t had friends since middle school, so I don’t know what to do.”

“Just like now, eating together, sometimes contacting each other, and asking about each other’s well-being.”

“I don’t have money.”

“That’s okay. Just being there is enough.”

“I’m not as handsome as you.”

“Thank you. But Nari, you’re cute too.”

“Why, why with me?”

“Because you’re my hero. I even rose to the second place just to get closer to you.”

Every statement he made could knock out anyone listening.

Stunned by a compliment for the first time in ten years, Nari’s face turned bright red. Meanwhile, the Chaos Sovereign was teasing her with status messages.

Nari swiped away the message window and covered her head. Straightforward people are troublesome. Popular people are dangerous. Really…

“Ah, forget it. Let’s do it!”

“Really?! I’m excited~ Then shall we do the contract like this?”

A fountain pen and a contract were pushed in front of Nari. Neatly written conditions were already on it.

‘Eul (Kang I-hyun) will never divulge the secret of Gap (Shin Bitnari).

In return, Gap (Shin Bitnari) will maintain a friendship with Eul (Kang I-hyun).

Additionally, as long as the effect of this contract is in place, neither party will harm or deceive the other with malicious intent.

If breached, the violator will immediately plummet to hell, guaranteed by the Archangel of Purification’s Rod.

The contract can be terminated or modified by mutual consent.’

Is it really okay to have such terms? Nari glanced at I-hyun, who was just smiling happily.

Honestly, Nari couldn’t understand him. But… he didn’t seem like a bad person.

Really. Hesitating slightly, Nari reluctantly signed the contract. A golden status message appeared in front of her.

[You have entered into the Covenant of Holy Fire.] [Awakened Shin Bitnari-Kang I-hyun / Duration – Unlimited] [Violators of the contract will immediately plummet to hell.]

“Ouch, hot…!”

The fountain pen transformed into a holy flame and flowed into Nari’s palm. I-hyun’s holy power entered her heart, a strong sensation making it all feel real. Only then did Nari realize the gravity of the situation. She looked around, then spoke to I-hyun in a slightly deflated manner.

“You’ll regret this. I’m not kidding.”

“We’ll think about that when it comes. Right now, I’m just happy! Aren’t you, Nari?”

“I am…”

Certainly, she felt much better than before, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit it outright. Was it possible to feel better without trying so hard? Confused, Nari abruptly stood up and strode towards the door.

“Nari! Let’s go together. Why go alone…”

“Shut up! I’m going home!”

“Wait, wait! We didn’t eat much. Are you really going to leave like this?”

Suddenly, Nari glanced at the grill.

‘Now that I think about it, that beef intestine was tasty… it was full and not too chewy… no smell either…’

Embarrassed, Nari looked at I-hyun, who was still smiling. It was incredibly embarrassing and annoying. This guy, he was really good at handling people.

But returning to her seat to eat more felt like losing.
But… Gurgling, as Nari thought that, her stomach let out a loud rumble. Kang I-hyun’s eyes widened, and then he laughed and said,

“Should I ask them to pack the leftovers?”

“Yeah.”

‘Darn, darn, darn…!! But if there’s a chance to eat beef intestines again, I’ll have to come back here…’

With flushed ears, Nari closed her eyes tightly. Regrettably, beef intestines were among her favorite foods.

After all, nothing beats good food.