duo leveling [Solo Leveling]

Chapter 8

You threw your head back, chugging the large glass down in one go. Ripping the empty glass from your lips you let out a heavy exhale, the refreshing taste buttering you up.

"Whoa, you haven't changed at all." Min Byung-gyu grins, nursing only his second beer that was surely lukewarm by now.

You flash him a smile. "Wouldn't it be stranger if I did?"

He reluctantly agrees. "Yeah well, I at least hoped the part of you leeching off of people changed."

"How dare you?" You gasp in mock horror. "You, a former S-rank, think that I'm going to pay for all of this?" You gesture to the table filled with food and alcohol. "I was a med student then, a non practicing surgeon now. Somehow I'm even more broke."

He chuckles. "Ok, I'll give in. I'll pay this time."

"And next time." You chime.

"And next time." He rolls his eyes.

You giggle, your face flushed. Although you had been given 'The Great Spellcaster Kandiaru's Blessing', unable to be affected by poisons and the whole lot, after a few years you've found a little loophole in the blessing itself. If you used one of the toxic medical potions, the blessing could ward off the effects of that potion while your body itself could experience similar symptoms to being 'drunk'. It never worked for very long, but you never drank often so it didn't bother you.

"So, what's with the sudden visit? Heard you've been super busy being a teacher." You begin to take a few sips of the nearby glass of water, your head reeling from stuffiness.

The former S-ranker only smiles. "Nothing, just wanted to visit you. Still single?"

"As a pringle." You finish, cracking open one of the soju bottles and pouring into your empty beer cup. "Why? Wanna try me out for a spin?"

"Hah, no thanks. Tried that a few years ago, my pelvic bone still feels fractured." He snickered, poking at the simmering pieces of meat on the grill. "It's just..." He trails off and you glance up at him, raising a brow. "I kind of want to start a family."

"With me?" You ask, confused and a little awkward, glancing around to make sure he was talking to the right person.

Byung-gyu only smiles, a familiar thing you've always seen in your intern and resident years. No matter what you could never really know what he was thinking. And you weren't inclined to use your skill to find out. You were afraid of knowing.

Min Byung-gyu was the type of guy to stay silent about these things. He was probably the posterboy for awakened healers across the nation or even the world. Kind hearted, compassionate, and humble. All qualities attributed to healers, though you might sometimes digress.

But he only just wanted a normal life. You've never met him before he was awakened and introduced to skilled doctors over the nation, yet when you first saw him there was something about the look in his eyes that made you pause.

Maybe he thought the same thing about you. It wasn't everyday that an S-ranker would take interest in a civilian. At first you thought he had ulterior motives, but you found out he just wanted a companion. A normal companion, outside of his colleagues or people from his guild or association. Why he chose you, you never knew.

"I can set you up with someone." You suggest, shoving the wrapped up combo of the meat, rice, kimchi, and five different condiments into your mouth, chewing obnoxiously. "Dunno how mixers with kids these days work, though."

"Hah! How attractive could I be? A thirty-something year old with an average face like me could never." Byung-gyu barks out in laughter.

"Hey!" You warn, pointing at him. "Are you saying that one time I slept with you was because I was easy? Careful with your words, teacher." You stare at him, only half serious. "Besides, lots of women like teachers. Indulge in their fantasies." You narrow your eyes at the befuddled expression on his face. "On second thought...nevermind."