The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C11
$11
I wanted to cut off my wrist right then if I could. I resented myself for excitedly wearing the gift Seo-heon gave me right away.
My gift was just an afterthought.
A petty question arose: Was it a gift for an anniversary? Should a normal friend be moved that they received a similar gift to the one given to a cherished lover? Or should I be angry?
It had been so long since I considered Seo-heon just a friend that finding an answer was terribly difficult. There was a ringing in my ears. I felt like I was drowning.
“Go in, Kang Seo-heon. Goodbye, Mr. Kwon Ho-jun.”
I had to escape immediately. If I didn’t, I felt like this terrible emotion would consume and kill me.
“…Alright. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Seo-heon opened his mouth to say something but changed his words. In truth, I didn’t want to talk tomorrow either.
“Goodbye, Woo-hyun!”
Seo-heon’s low voice kept ringing in my ears. He just moved away, lifting Kwon Ho-jun as if embracing him.
[You have 394 days of life force remaining.]
Only a meaningless notification window comforted my loneliness.
[Your body’s durability has decreased, and all skills will be deactivated for one minute.]
The pain, like a seizure, subsided instantly. I hurriedly went to the bathroom to wipe the blood from my mouth and returned home.
It’s fortunate no one saw.
I was worried about the conquest that would likely continue for at least two more days. The seizures occurred at 7 PM sharp, and lasted for one minute. But after about 40 seconds, it was possible to regain consciousness and move.
I could prepare for those 40 seconds during battle and pretend to be injured, but it would be troublesome if it happened during a lull.
No, I should worry about tomorrow first. I can only hope the association finishes their discussion early.
I laid my body on the hard mattress.
***
Mi-yeon, who oversees Ihwa Guild’s office work, arrived somewhat earlier than the appointed time and was waiting for us.
“Hello. You’re here early.”
Working with Mi-yeon often had made us comfortable with each other.
“Yes. You’re early too, Woo-hyun. The guild leader said he’ll arrive soon as well.”
True to her words, Kang Seo-heon arrived not long after. Seo-heon’s gait, walking slowly while being greeted by Kwon Ho-jun, remained leisurely even after seeing us waiting.
“The time is too tight.”
On behalf of the restless Mi-yeon, I expressed dissatisfaction to her for setting such a tight schedule.
“If we go too early, we’ll look anxious. There’s no need for that. If we’re late, we should make them wait.”
Seo-heon, answering in a nonchalant tone, seemed to wear leisure like a cloak. He never bends his back, even when dealing with social superiors. Instead, he sits at the negotiation table holding what they want most.
It was a way of life I could never imitate, always feeling poor at heart.
“But if you’re anxious, let’s hurry.”
Seo-heon matched his pace to mine.
When we arrived at the association, one guild leader and representatives were waiting anxiously. The representatives, shaking their legs, looked so gloomy it seemed as if they had been warned not to think of returning if they didn’t produce results.
Seo-heon passed through them with his hands in the pockets of his brown coat. All eyes turned to him at once, but he didn’t lose his composure at all.
“It’s been a while, but everyone looks unhappy.”
He threw out words that could be either provocation or greeting. Lee Jung-hwan, the guild leader of Vladi Guild, unable to suppress his emotions, stood up abruptly and strode towards us. I stepped in front of Seo-heon to block him. As I took a stance as if protecting Seo-heon with a sword, Jung-hwan raised the corner of his mouth crookedly.
“The loyal dog is here.”
Jeers were heard from behind. It was a sign that they didn’t welcome my appearance.
“Of course, with the Ihwa Guild leader here.”
Sneering words were also heard. Loyal dog, dog, son of a murderer… There were many words used to criticize me. I wasn’t hurt. They were all true, so I just had to endure silently.
“Loyal dog, you say.”
Seo-heon grabbed my shoulder and pulled me aside.
“Are you insulting my precious person in front of me?”
“That wasn’t my intention. Did it sound that way, Hunter Woo-hyun?”
Jung-hwan came out boldly, trying not to lose the initiative. Vladi was also a major guild with a reputation of its own. Knowing they wouldn’t back down easily, I wanted to wrap this up here. I was uncomfortable creating discord because of me.
“I’m fine.”
I meant it.
“He says he’s fine.”
Jung-hwan turned around, satisfied. He seemed to be returning to his seat.
“Mr. Lee Jung-hwan.”
Seo-heon called out to stop him. As his low voice spread through the room, the hall filled with cold air. People without cold resistance shivered.
“I was warning you. Remember that.”
Contrary to his heavy words, Seo-heon smiled softly.
“I have no intention of being understanding if you forget due to stupidity.”
“What? This bastard…”
Jung-hwan, unable to control his anger, shouted with a reddened face. However, the association people entered with perfect timing for mediation, and his anger lost its way.
The Guild Dispute Mediation Association was a government agency that mediated conflicts between guilds, like today. In other words, it was a place you didn’t want to offend.
“Please, everyone take your seats.”
Jung-hwan ended up like a dog that had been chasing chickens, but eventually found his way back to his seat.
“Today, we are here to discuss the objection raised regarding the re-awarding of the S-rank dungeon to Ihwa Guild.”
A slow, low voice relayed the circumstances of the case.
“Vladi Guild, Scarlet Guild, and Fantasia Alliance passed the conquest rights to Ihwa Guild, who didn’t participate in the original auction, for three times the price. However, a week has passed, and now you want to reclaim these rights?”
“Yes. This is nothing short of exploitation, taking advantage of our failure to recognize that the dungeon was a Hetzling’s nest.”
Jung-hwan started aggressively from the beginning.
“Are you blaming us for your slow information?”
But Seo-heon wasn’t the type to just let that slide.
The meeting dragged on. Since this was a matter already decided, we wouldn’t lose. Everyone in this room knew it was just a formality. However, since the three guilds with ill feelings towards Ihwa Guild had colluded, things weren’t progressing quickly.
After sufficiently conveying each other’s positions and exchanging arguments, with no progress made, a break was given. Seo-heon had his eyes closed with his legs crossed, as if bored. I carefully went to the bathroom to wash my hands. These kinds of situations were extremely uncomfortable.
Bang!
“You bastard.”
The person who entered, nearly breaking the door, was Jung-hwan. Judging by how he grabbed my hair without warning, he must have been watching me and followed. Not wanting to escalate the situation, I quietly let him do as he pleased.
“You, feeling high and mighty because you became an S-rank hunter? I hear ignorant people praising you as decent, but look at how good life is for the son of a murderer?”
I had heard such words more than dozens of times. After that incident, Seo-heon was the only one who didn’t say such things behind my back. I preferred people who spoke openly like this. Of course, it was extremely rare for someone to speak so bluntly even after nearly 10 years had passed.
“If I’ve been disrespectful, I apologize.”
“Looks like you still have the spirit to act noble.”
Jung-hwan gritted his teeth and struck my stomach. The punch was nothing. I was confident in my physical endurance, having been hit countless times before. Moreover, my unnecessarily strong body endured well. Pain always passes with time.
“You, just try to catch my eye one more time.”
When I was younger, hearing such lines made me feel wronged, wondering if I was supposed to become invisible. Now I knew that they just needed a target for their anger, and there was something about me that irritated them. Strong hunters tended to have large emotional fluctuations and couldn’t stand being suppressed by others.
It seems being told off by Seo-heon earlier was quite humiliating.
Jung-hwan spat and left. I stood in the bathroom a bit longer before returning to my seat.
“Boring.”
Seo-heon said in a small voice, glancing at me.
“Just bear with it a little longer.”
I thought he would say something like “Then you entertain me” as always, but no answer came. Finding it strange, I looked at him and saw Seo-heon scrutinizing me thoroughly.
“Woo-hyun.”
Thinking he might have found out about what happened in the bathroom, I answered with a delayed “Yes?”
“Your clothes are disheveled.”
Seo-heon reached out and touched my stomach. More precisely, he was smoothing out my crumpled shirt, but I was so surprised that I leaned back.
Seo-heon’s long arm followed, undeterred. I could feel his body heat through my clothes. His hand touched my solar plexus and repeatedly stroked down to my navel. Since my body tends to be particularly hot, I could vividly feel his cold hand sliding.
“Oh. Thanks.”
“Don’t wander around alone.”
His hand fell away as nonchalantly as it had approached. In the meantime, the meeting resumed.