The Rumor That Became Reality

There was no issue with the citizen certificate issued without proper procedure.

Lee Jaehun was a high-ranking ranker, and bringing in one person wasn’t something anyone would complain about.

The problem began afterward.

He made Garum stay next to his own room, and even gave him an entire floor of the artificial farm.

Considering the astronomical costs required to build such a facility, it was an extravagant gift.

People naturally began searching for a reason.

“It’s unfair!”

“Why give a perfectly good farm to some useless guy?”

Those who briefly met Garum insisted he was incompetent.

Because his ability wasn’t something that appeared flashy, they concluded it without hesitation.

And that only twisted people’s insides further.

If Lee Jaehun had openly said “He’s my lover,” it might have been better.

But he stayed silent.

The position of a lover whom the powerful do not openly acknowledge is always miserable.

Because of that, Garum was being harassed for reasons he didn’t even know.

At first the pranks were small, but they gradually crossed the line.

People tripped him as he walked.

Someone spilled a drink on him “by accident.”

Some cursed at him directly to his face.

Garum didn’t tell Jaehun because, compared to his suffering outside, this was nothing.

Only Park Deokpal clutched his chest in frustration.

“Are you stupid?”

“You call me stupid one more time and you die?”

“And can you kill someone? You know people here are showing hostility. Shouldn’t you tell Lee Jaehun something by now?”

“This much is fine.”

“How long do you think it’ll stay at ‘this much’?”

“It’s not even hurting me. I’m satisfied with this life.”

“I’m not satisfied!”

Park Deokpal roared.

At that moment, Kang Yujun happened to be passing by and overheard.

He thought he should ask Jaehun about it.

This was the first time Jaehun had brought someone into the city, and he didn’t want anything to go wrong.

It was time to straighten things out.

People were already telling Jaehun that he should cherish something more than a potted plant.

If the two were actually lovers and Jaehun publicly supported him, the situation would improve.

For that reason, Kang Yujun approached Jaehun.

“You should pay more attention to Park Garum.”

“Why?”

“He seems to be having a hard time lately.”

“What’s there to be hard about?”

Kang Yujun briefly explained the situation.

“I know you’re normally indifferent, but if he’s your lover, you should show some care. Otherwise dissatisfaction will keep growing.”

Jaehun’s expression twisted slightly.

‘I knew strange rumors were spreading.’

He had simply ignored it.

There was nothing for him to feel guilty about.

But seeing even Kang Yujun bring it up meant the rumors weren’t going to go away quietly.

Jaehun briefly calculated the gains.

Would it be better or worse for Park Garum to be tied to him as a lover?

As rank 1, he had many allies—but also many enemies.

If the rumor spread further, how safe would Garum be?

It didn’t take long to decide.

“Fine. He is my precious lover.”

Saying this would make it easier to keep Garum close and protected.

So he answered yes.

“I see. I’ll spread the word.”

News that Lee Jaehun had acknowledged Park Garum as his lover—and warned others not to touch him—spread quickly.

Eventually, it reached Garum while he was tending crops.

“They say you’re dating Lee Jaehun?”

The first person to ask was Park Deokpal, who had built connections here and there.

He often brought bits of information.

Far more useful than Kang Jungbae.

“What?”

But this information was absurd.

“Who’s dating who?”

“You.”

Park Deokpal pointed at Garum.

“And Lee Jaehun.”

He pointed upward.

Garum wanted to smack him for the gesture, but that wasn’t the pressing issue.

“I don’t know where you heard it, but that’s not true.”

Someone must have seen Jaehun entering his room and misunderstood.

Garum waved his hand dismissively, but Park Deokpal continued explaining.

“No, it’s real. Lee Jaehun said so himself.”

“Who?”

“Lee Jaehun.”

Garum froze and stood up from his crops.

“That lie is real?”

Before Park Deokpal could answer, a voice came from behind.

“It’s true.”

Jaehun appeared.

“We’re dating?”

Garum had never heard anything so absurd in his life.

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“For a while now.”

What nonsense!

Garum wanted to drag him in front of the scarecrow.

“We’re not in any kind of relationship!”

“No.
We’re in a fairly deep one.”

Connected by a potted plant—no one would call that deep!

He understood Jaehun’s intention: to declare them “lovers” so he could move freely and protect him.

Since only Garum could raise the plant, that reason was clear.

But still!

“I’ve never even dated anyone!”

His dreams collapsed.

He wanted to earn money, meet a good woman, and build a family one day.

But who would approach him now?

They’d avoid him or resent him.

“And we’re both men!”

He shouted as if realizing something late.

Jaehun gave him a baffled look.

As if gender didn’t matter at all.

Garum swallowed tears and had no choice but to go along with it.

“Congratulations?”

Park Deokpal said—but clearly to tease him.

Garum kicked him immediately on the shin.

“How about you date him instead of me?”

The moment he said that, Jaehun’s expression darkened.

“Cancelled.”

Garum yelled before a full three seconds passed.

“I could never date someone like him! Absolutely not!”

“What do you mean someone like him?”

“A shady-looking punk.”

“I’m actually more innocent than I look.”

“What are you saying?”

While they bickered, Jaehun stepped between them.

“You can’t be acting like this anymore.”

“Huh?”

“You have a lover now. Be careful.”

Garum almost fainted.

They weren’t real lovers!

He wanted to say it, but he held it back.

Jaehun was a famously powerful ranker—offending him would only bring trouble.

Endure now.

When he leveled up and his scarecrow got stronger, then he could think again.

Hiding his inner plans, Garum smiled.

“Yes. I’ll be careful!”

Who would dare touch him anyway?
Still, he answered politely.

“Good. And tomorrow, we’re going out into the city.”

He almost said “Why?”

“Date.”

Jaehun left those shocking words and exited the artificial farm.

“What’s a date?”

Garum knew the meaning, but hearing the word from him short-circuited his brain.

“A couple walking around holding hands?”

“Couple…”

Garum inhaled sharply.

Park Deokpal snickered beside him until Garum snapped and kicked him again.

“Hey!”

He yelled, but Garum ignored him.

If needed, he would remove his name from the scarecrow’s “registered” list.

‘Let’s just work.’

He would think about tomorrow tomorrow.

Garum focused on the young sprouts.

Using Touch of the Sun so much had raised its mastery quickly.

As the skill rank increased, it became an area-of-effect skill.

The range was small for now, but as he grew stronger, it would expand.

One day, it might cover the entire field.

A normal day passed, and the next morning arrived.

Garum woke early, thinking about Jaehun.

If a normally indifferent man like Jaehun insisted on going on a date, it was likely to protect him.

When people saw the rank 1 taking care of someone, they wouldn’t dare pick on that person.

Knowing that didn’t stop his heart from pounding.

‘It’s morning.’

This was the day of their “date.”

‘A date between two men.’

And one carried a potted plant around.

Changing clothes was easy, but the plant?
Impossible to hide.

Who would believe they were a couple?

‘Let’s just go.
If it doesn’t work, he’ll give up.’

Garum jumped out of bed and changed into the clothes the manager had prepared beforehand.

Instead of his usual overalls, he wore brown pants, a white shirt, and a knit vest.

His bangs had grown messy, but he didn’t bother fixing them—this wasn’t a real date anyway.

Right then, Jaehun arrived.

Without breakfast, Garum was dragged out the door.