Survive! Gwanggong!

“Are you alright?”

< Gwanggong Score has decreased by 2! >

Almost simultaneously with the system’s alert, Gwak Seung-hyeon’s voice rang out. His expression was one of surprise and confusion, as if he had no idea what was happening, but his tone remained calm in contrast to his face. It seemed like an instinctive question—he didn’t even wait for a response before scanning Seon-woo’s complexion on his own.

Although it had improved, the lingering headache, the dizziness from the fever, and the overall sense of lightheadedness left him in bad shape. It was difficult to think clearly. Because of that, Gwak Seon-woo couldn’t immediately push away Seung-hyeon’s arm, which was wrapped around his back as if supporting him.

Slowly, he turned his head to look at Gwak Seung-hyeon. The arm supporting his back felt cold. It could be because of the fabric between them, but more likely, it was because Seung-hyeon’s body temperature was lower than his own. His fever had spiked so suddenly that his face was burning hot.

“I was just going to leave… but something felt off, so I followed you.”

Seung-hyeon murmured as if talking to himself. Seon-woo had finally adjusted somewhat to his hazy state. As his mind cleared a little, one thought immediately surfaced—he needed to get away from Gwak Seung-hyeon.

Just receiving help from him was enough to lower the Gwanggong Score. Though he appreciated the concern, he couldn’t afford to stay near him right now.

Normally, the system would have already urged him to beat Gwak Seung-hyeon to a pulp, shove him away violently, or at the very least, unleash a stream of curses. But strangely enough, it remained silent this time.

Seon-woo slapped Seung-hyeon’s arm away and snapped coldly,

“Who told you to do that? Stop wasting your time and leave.”

Since he had said it without the system’s intervention, it wasn’t as harsh as usual. However, his tone was still icily blunt, and the sharpness in his expression was unmistakable.

Yet again, Seung-hyeon showed no sign of flinching or being intimidated. Still, he obediently stepped back as Seon-woo pushed him away.

“With you in that condition, how could I just leave you alone?”

Seung-hyeon replied matter-of-factly, shrugging his shoulders. The movement seemed lighthearted, but his gaze remained sharp, watching Seon-woo’s face closely without a hint of relaxation.

Seon-woo’s mind raced. Even if he met Seo Eun-jae, it would only be a temporary fix. Medicine wouldn’t work on him. And worst of all, Gwak Seung-hyeon—who only worsened the Gwanggong Score—was standing right in front of him.

‘First, I need to get rid of him somehow…?’

After that, maybe he’d have to find a quiet place alone and do something insane. If he could prove that “Gwang” in “Gwanggong” truly meant madness, maybe the system would adjust the Score somehow.

Even when alone, his actions had influenced the Gwanggong Score, fluctuating up and down. He had been too overwhelmed by his condition to notice until now.

Realizing this, he regretted rushing out mindlessly, fixated on the thought of meeting Seo Eun-jae. That impulsive decision had only made things more complicated.

But there was no time for regrets. Right now, his priority was getting rid of Gwak Seung-hyeon and escaping to a place where he could increase the Gwanggong Score again.

The problem was—he had no good way to do it.

‘…Do I need to act even worse?’

He had already said plenty of harsh things over the past two days. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of anything nastier to say, at least not on the level of a proper Gwanggong. He even found himself 

hoping that the system would offer a choice to help him out.

And for once, the system didn’t disappoint. Only at times like this.

▶ “Get lost. How many times do I have to let you off the hook before you stop crawling back? Do I really need to spell it out for you that even talking to you makes me sick? You actually think you’re in a position to feel pity for me? If you’re so desperate to show off your precious kindness, go do it somewhere else. It’s disgusting.”

There was only one option, and it was ridiculously long—so long that it took him a moment just to read it all. And the longer it was, the angrier it sounded. It was so intensely hateful that even Seon-woo had to wonder if it was really necessary to go this far.

‘Damn, this is way too much.’

He had wanted something harsh, sure, but this was excessive. He only needed to get rid of Seung-hyeon for a while, but with words like this, the guy might never come near him again. And on top of that, it was so long that he’d have to spit it out like some kind of rapid-fire rap to say the whole thing.

It was absurd.

But he didn’t have a choice.

With an icy expression, Seon-woo opened his mouth. He wasn’t even sure if he could memorize it all, but thankfully, his lips moved on their own.

“Get lost. How many times do I have to let you off the hook before you stop crawling back? Do I really need to spell it out for you that even talking to you makes me sick? You actually think you’re in a position to feel pity for me? If you’re so desperate to show off your precious kindness, go do it somewhere else. It’s disgusting.”

< Gwanggong Score has increased by 2. >

The system chimed in as if praising him. Even so, his score hadn’t reached 50 yet, but at least it was something.

Speaking such a long sentence while feeling this sick left him slightly out of breath. Once he finished his impressive tirade, Seon-woo carefully observed Seung-hyeon’s reaction.

Honestly, he wouldn’t have been surprised if Seung-hyeon spat at him and cursed him out before storming off.

But once again, Gwak Seung-hyeon remained perfectly composed.

No—rather than composed, he actually looked… a little bored.

To be exact, he had the expression of someone who had listened to every single word and then promptly let it all go in one ear and out the other.

“You have a fever, don’t you?”

“…What?”

“You seem like you have a fever.”

Seon-woo blinked in disbelief. That was his response? After all that?

But Seung-hyeon didn’t seem to care about his reaction in the slightest. Without hesitation, his hand reached toward Seon-woo’s forehead. It was the same gesture Seo Eun-jae had made earlier to check his temperature.

Flustered, Seon-woo instinctively tried to dodge—just like he had with Eun-jae.

But unlike Eun-jae, Seung-hyeon didn’t pull back. Instead, he shamelessly pulled Seon-woo closer, all for the sole purpose of pressing his hand to his forehead.

“Yeah. You definitely have a fever.”

In the end, with his hand pressed against Seon-woo’s forehead, Seung-hyeon muttered in a flat voice. It almost sounded like he was exasperated.

“…Get lost!”

Seon-woo spat out the words in sheer frustration. At this point, he didn’t even expect Gwak Seung-hyeon to listen. And, of course, as expected, the words slid right past him like they meant nothing.

“You can swear at me later. For now, let’s just go. You’re burning up—do you really think you can walk by yourself?”

Then, without hesitation, he slipped an arm around Seon-woo’s shoulders as if to support him.

Seon-woo thrashed like he was having a seizure, desperately trying to shake off that touch. But it wasn’t because he hated being touched by Gwak Seung-hyeon.

< You are receiving support from a hostile individual. As a Gwanggong, this is a humiliating experience. Gwanggong Score has decreased by 1. >

His score kept dropping mercilessly every time Seung-hyeon offered help.

But no matter how hard he struggled, there was no way his fever-weakened body could put up much of a fight. Besides, Seung-hyeon, despite appearing to hold him up with minimal effort, had ridiculous strength—he didn’t even budge.

“Just stay still. I get how you feel, but if you keep this up, you’re really going to collapse.”

In the end, Seon-woo had no choice but to give up resisting.

Truthfully, everything Seung-hyeon said was entirely correct. From his perspective, Seon-woo was just being stubborn because of his personal grudge. His patience and kindness in this moment were genuinely remarkable.

‘Seung-hyeon… You’re such a good guy. You’re really a good guy… I mean, I appreciate it… I do appreciate it, but…’

He lamented internally, on the verge of tears.

He had only met this guy yesterday—some distant cousin of a relative he didn’t even know—and yet here he was, grumbling to himself and addressing him so casually in his mind. Countless but still…s stretched endlessly in his thoughts.

Was this what it felt like to have an unstoppable spear meet an immovable shield?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Seon-woo decided that the analogy was wrong. No—Gwak Seung-hyeon was both the spear and the shield.

Seung-hyeon, in many ways, was considerate. Maybe he figured Seon-woo would hate being seen in such a pathetic state because he deliberately chose an elevator on the less crowded side of the building to take them down to the parking lot. Thanks to that, Seon-woo avoided the disgrace of having others witness him being half-carried—thus preventing his Score from dropping even further.

But Seung-hyeon’s consideration didn’t end there.

Even after going through all the trouble of supporting him to the parking lot, he didn’t stop. Without a single complaint, he guided Seon-woo to his car, effortlessly held him steady with one arm while opening the door, gently helped him into the seat, and helpfully fastened his seatbelt—because apparently, nothing could stop this guy from being irritatingly kind.

< A hostile individual has fastened your seatbelt for you. This is a disgraceful experience. Gwanggong Score has decreased by 2. >

Only after finishing all of that did Seung-hyeon finally get into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

Seon-woo’s head was still pounding. His fever was raging. His dizziness hadn’t gone away. And on top of all that, he felt emotionally drained, completely at a loss, and pathetically miserable all over again.

But after all the curses he had hurled at Seung-hyeon, the guy was still treating him kindly.

And honestly… what crime had Gwak Seung-hyeon committed, other than being unbearably nice?

As he thought about his steadily plummeting Score, Seon-woo squeezed his eyes shut in utter resignation.