EP.73
‘Hmm. Not bad.’
I felt a lightness in my heart.
On the subway heading home, it was packed with people, but I felt good. It seemed like the various events of today had liberated me in some way.
‘Hmm, Chae Suhyeon, this girl…’
I never expected she’d come all the way to the company.
Of course, it was very neat, thanks to Lee Sooah. They seemed to want to have a separate conversation, but… she would handle it herself.
Clearly, moving forward, Chae Suhyeon would likely increase her attempts to approach me. From her perspective, she needs to regain my points to survive.
‘Yeah. No. You’re totally done for now.’
I gradually tightened the noose around her.
I could definitely lead people to doubt her rank.
‘And I also need to quickly raise my rank.’
“Uh? Is that Lee Sooah?”
It was just after I had passed one station on the subway when the entrance became chaotic.
“What’s happening? Is that Lee Sooah?”
“Wait, I heard recently that she takes Line 2? Is it true?”
“Is it really Lee Sooah?”
The crowd’s movement created pressure around me.
‘Lee Sooah?’
I definitely just parted ways with her at the office.
“Excuse me… could I get through? Please step aside for a moment.”
As she pushed through the immense crowd, Sooah was approaching me.
‘What? How did she get on here? Did she take a car then switch trains?’
Of course, I was at a loss for words when I saw her face.
It looked like she was talking to Chae Suhyeon about something…?
“Ah, there you are, Jihoon!”
She smiled brightly upon finding me.
“Wait, Sooah? You came looking for me?”
“Yes… right?”
“How did you find me?”
“It seemed like Jihoon always takes the same car as me?”
Indeed, that was the case.
‘No, how did she know that?’
We hadn’t ridden together that many times. But she quickly picked up on things like this.
“So how did you get here? I thought I left the guild building first?”
I couldn’t help but ask with a puzzled expression.
“Well… I just ran?”
“What?”
It was a baffling answer.
“From Gangnam Station to Gyoeng Station?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that far?”
“If you just run a bit faster, it’s quick.”
Ugh.
It seemed I’d hear about a crazy woman running through the Gangnam area on the news soon.
“I’m an S-Rank Hunter, you know. I can run that much…”
“That’s true.”
While that was accurate, the conversation was not about whether an S-Rank Hunter could run, but rather why she’d do such a thing.
“Why is that? Why did you do that?”
“Ugh, Jihoon, you saw it, right? Chae Suhyeon came? I just had a brief chat with her, and it’s clear she intends to scout you for the Baekho Guild. They definitely want to recruit you.”
Lee Sooah wore a deeply furrowed expression, clearly displeased.
‘As expected, Chae Suhyeon wouldn’t want to admit the truth.’
I could pretty much guess the situation from the tension.
“Therefore, I have a duty to protect you, Jihoon. I will defend you against the monstrosities of the Baekho Guild.”
With a determined expression, she declared her intent.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“No, I want to. I won’t be a hindrance.”
“This is already a hindrance.”
“Ah, then… I’ll stand 50 cm away.”
She took a step back.
“That won’t do.”
“Then, how about 1 meter?”
She stepped back a little further.
“Hm. That also won’t do.”
“Ugh… then 10 meters?”
She retreated even more into the distance.
Now it was so far that it was hard to hear each other in the noisy subway.
I nodded, looking at Sooah’s face.
‘Well, this much is manageable…’
Seeing me nod, Sooah made a slightly pouty expression. She seemed dissatisfied with the distance.
*
‘We’re almost there.’
Arriving at Sillim Station, Sooah had kept about a 10-meter distance from me the whole way.
“From here, I’ll provide close protection!”
Then she got right up next to me.
“I don’t need that.”
“Ugh, Jihoon. Most guys would be crazy with joy if someone offered to do this for them. What’s wrong with you? Are you just too full of yourself?”
She grumbled.
“I’m Lee Sooah, you know? S-Rank Hunter number one!! …or I was…”
Her expression seemed to darken again.
“I do know about Miss Sooah. But you really don’t have to do this.”
I had no intention of leaving the Blue Guild.
Nor did I plan to part ways with Hunter Class 6.
I was quite satisfied with it all. I liked even the somewhat amusing Manager Cha and the assistants. And I found Sooah not particularly bothersome either.
EP.74
There’s really no need to make such a fuss.
Moreover, it would only attract strange glances from others. Surely, rumors about me and Lee Sooah must be spreading little by little. With her following me around like this, it’s only natural that there would be gossip.
“Sigh. You don’t understand yet, Jihoon. You’re still unfamiliar with this Hunter industry. The competition for talent is fierce! I really despise the idea of our team leaking to other guilds. So please, understand my intention.”
“But why are you crossing your arms?”
I snapped back to reality and noticed that Sooah had somehow gotten right next to me, crossing her arms.
“Um… well…”
Sooah was rolling her eyes, clearly trying to come up with an excuse.
“Ah! Close protection! I read somewhere that it’s the most effective method for close protection.”
“I’d like to see that book. Do you know the title?”
“Nope?”
Her response was as if it were obvious.
“10 meters.”
I stated firmly.
“I don’t like it when you’re too close. Please maintain some distance.”
“Ah, Jihoon!”
“Hmm. Where was that Baekho Guild contact information?”
Sooah quickly stepped away.
Without saying another word.
“Seriously, this is too much, Jihoon.”
I could barely hear her grumbling voice.
*
“I’m going in now. And you don’t have to follow me like this.”
“Ugh! Following you is my choice, so don’t say anything! As long as I’m 10 meters behind, it doesn’t matter if I follow you or not, right?!”
She huffed and walked away, apparently a bit sulky.
‘Phew. Things seem a little more settled now…’
I felt as though I could wrap up my day nicely.
*
“Sigh… really… Sooah…”
Chae Suhyeon recalled Lee Sooah’s face.
“Has she already fallen for Jihoon oppa?”
At that moment, Chae Suhyeon was in a totally chaotic state of mind, swirling with a mix of complex emotions.
‘Jihoon oppa should only belong to me. But why Sooah? This is really annoying! Why does she have to interfere with someone else’s man?’
‘I mean, I did let him go, but still, this isn’t right.’
‘What on earth is the nature of their relationship? How far has it progressed?’
‘Sigh…’
Then, as if something had struck her mind, she began contacting someone.
“Yes, Director?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you about?”
“Sure, didn’t you mention that our Baekho Guild has a spy in the Blue Guild?”
“Yes, that’s right. Who is that person? I want to meet them, when would that be possible?”
“Oh, it’s possible now? Ah, thank you! Where should we…?”
She hurriedly left the house.
“Hmm? Where are you going?”
Lee Jinhyeok shot her a strange look.
“Ugh. Just some urgent business.”
“How’s your condition? Are you sure it’s okay to be out like this?”
He looked displeased with her wandering around.
“I’ll be fine… Just wait a bit. I’m trying to resolve this. And I wish you wouldn’t worry about where I go.”
Chae Suhyeon spoke sharply and left.
‘What’s she trying to resolve…?’
Jinhyeok fiddled with his smartphone, pondering whether he should investigate Chae Suhyeon.
‘This could end up tarnishing my reputation…’
He displayed the expression of one who holds a Pandora’s box he doesn’t want to open. If he discovered something unusual about her, it would affect him too.
He hoped things would proceed without any issues.
‘Right. For now, I’ll trust Suhyeon. She said she’d handle it herself, so…’
Settling on that thought, he decided to trust her and wait.
*
“Hello.”
“Ah! Hello!”
A handsome man with a tidy appearance was waiting for her in a cafe.
“I’m Park Jinsoo, an A-Rank Hunter from the Blue Guild. Wow, seeing you in person, Hunter Chae Suhyeon, you’re truly stunning. Even more beautiful than on TV!”
He gazed at her with an utterly starstruck expression.
‘Wow. Is he one of those love-at-first-sight types? I don’t really have a reason to flaunt my abilities here.’
Chae Suhyeon smiled brightly as she thought.
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, I’d like some information on Hunter Lee Sooah.”
“Uh… I’m already providing information to the Baekho Guild regularly.”
“I mean, I want to hear it directly from you. I need some specific information.”
“Uh… what exactly do you want to know?”
“About Lee Sooah and someone named Baek Jihoon, the two of them.”
“Baek Jihoon?”
Park Jinsoo nodded.
“Why?”
“That person is secretly dating Hunter Lee Sooah, isn’t he?”
Chae Suhyeon’s expression turned serious, her face contorting in shock.
—
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