The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C56
$56
***
Sitting in the office, I reflected on what had happened yesterday. I tried to handle it maturely, but I questioned whether I had really done the right thing. Even knowing I had important work to focus on, it was very difficult to block out Lee-han’s face that kept popping into my mind. Even the information team conducting the meeting realized I couldn’t concentrate and quickly ended it.
“Just causing trouble.”
It was pathetic that Lee-han, who had actually come to work today, seemed fine. As I was reading documents that I couldn’t even take in, a visitor came. Two knocks announcing their arrival – only Seo-heon would enter so boldly without identifying himself. The worry inside the office welcomed the new worry coming in.
“I didn’t say you could come in.”
“If you knew it was me and didn’t tell me not to come in, that’s permission.”
Seo-heon sat down across from me with a brazen attitude.
“You weren’t able to concentrate at all today. Looks like something happened?”
For him to come just because of this, I must have looked serious to anyone. I sighed involuntarily, feeling like I had exposed a weakness.
“Well, it’s not a common occurrence. And I’m unsettled because according to my plan, I’ll be leaving the guild after this mission.”
“You’re still saying that.”
Seo-heon muttered while erasing his faint smile. Of course, he said it knowing I would hear.
“I told you. That I want to rest.”
Seo-heon tapped the chair with his finger.
“Even putting that aside…”
In the blink of an eye, my body lurched forward. It took a few seconds to realize that Seo-heon had risen from his seat and grabbed my shoulders.
“That’s not the reason you couldn’t concentrate today.”
His eyes shone brightly as we faced each other. Even if I wanted to run away, it wasn’t easy due to the strength of the hands holding me in place. It felt jarring to see Seo-heon, who usually maintained a composed appearance unless something major happened, showing this kind of attitude.
“Why are you doing this? As I said before, this attitude of yours…”
“I know you went out with Shin Lee-han yesterday.”
The words I was about to say to draw a line stopped abruptly. It was because Seo-heon unexpectedly brought up a topic that hit the mark. It was just like someone who knew better than anyone how to silence me.
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”
“I guess you received a confession from him?”
I had a feeling when Lee-han’s story came up, but hearing it from his mouth made the shock even greater. He already knew everything – that Lee-han liked me, and that he would say such things to me.
“Even if that’s true, or if it’s not, I have no reason to tell you. I won’t show this kind of appearance again tomorrow, so don’t worry.”
I knew that my words were as good as admitting that Seo-heon’s words were correct. However, even if I tried to lie, he would surely see through it immediately, so just changing the subject was the best option.
“So, do you want to play house with him?”
“Kang Seo-heon, I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
The strength in Seo-heon’s hands gradually faded. My shoulders, which I thought would be in pain, were surprisingly fine. Even in a somewhat irrational situation, he had gripped me just enough not to hurt me, like a ghost.
I can’t tell if he’s being kind or cruel.
“Fine. For now, feel free to mingle with the prophet or the lump of flesh. As long as you don’t throw away your heart out of pity, it’s better than when you were in a frenzy saying you were going to die.”
My body stiffened.
“After it’s all over… Yeah. Let’s talk after it’s all over.”
Seo-heon’s gaze drifted to empty space and then settled. Strangely, his shoulders seemed to slump.
“Seo-heon. I think we’ve already reached an end.”
“I know that too. That’s why I’m trying to start again.”
I’m not sure if it’s friendship or some unidentifiable obsession. But whatever it is, I didn’t have the energy or time to start again, and Seo-heon didn’t know that.
Amidst the ominously creaking noise, the day of the S-rank dungeon conquest was rapidly approaching. The conclusion from the research and meetings so far was that “the monster appearing in this S-rank dungeon is likely to be a Salamander Hetzling, and its core may be larger than usual.”
“Of course, we can’t be certain because it’s an exceptional situation. However, studying overseas cases shows that anomalous signs sometimes occur when large-scale dungeons open. And these anomalous signs are often related to the boss monsters appearing in S-rank dungeons.”
The content from the information team essentially meant that it was difficult to find a way to interpret this any further.
“We’re preparing a lot of equipment to counter fire. We’ve also gathered research materials on monsters under Salamander’s command and other Hetchlings, so those who need them for image training can refer to them.”
Today was the last major meeting before the conquest day. Only Seo-heon, myself, and the information team were expected to participate in the minor meetings that would follow.
“As you prepare for the conquest, please work in your respective positions. Appropriate tension is important, but since you’re all people who have successfully handled upper A-rank dungeons, I won’t worry too much.”
Seo-heon stood up as soon as the meeting ended. He became even busier as he had many things to do besides the dungeon conquest. After Assemblyman Kwon’s visit, there were rumors that he and our guild were collaborating to establish a center to protect people on the verge of awakening.
In fact, as Seo-heon had formed a related team, the rumors were quickly becoming reality. Since it was a national-level project, everyone in the information team except those focusing on the conquest was devoted to it.
Words like ‘So this is why they were dating?’ and ‘They seemed to get along well, could it have been an act?’ circulated among the employees, but these talks subsided due to Kwon Ho-jun visiting the guild daily to see Seo-heon.
Of course, it was true that the attitude between the two had become subtly colder. At first, I couldn’t judge properly due to feelings of guilt, wondering if it was because of me. However, thinking more deeply, I wondered if it might be related to the conversation I had overheard with Halo.
‘But Seo-heon isn’t the type to do something he dislikes just for power and money.’
Especially the kindness he had shown to Kwon Ho-jun had a familiar aspect, like how he used to treat me before, so it didn’t seem like an act. Perhaps conversely, Kwon Ho-jun had approached Seo-heon wanting something from him, and Seo-heon’s love had gradually cooled?
‘Let’s not indulge in unnecessary fantasies.’
If they had fallen out because of me, I would be willing to pay any price for that sin, but if that wasn’t the case, it was now Seo-heon’s business to handle. Despite trying not to care due to the constant talk I kept hearing, my mind kept turning to that topic.
“Good work, hyung.”
Lee-han put down an iced Americano on the bench. Seeing me sitting blankly after the meeting ended, he seemed to have bought it from the cafe inside the guild.
“Ah… thank you.”
Before, I would have simply thought that a kind and gentle boy had brought it for me, but now my heart felt heavy. Knowing this, Lee-han was treating me more plainly than before. Even now, he deliberately handed me the drink indirectly so our hands wouldn’t touch.
‘He’s much more mature than me.’
I felt bitter, thinking that perhaps I was the one who hadn’t grown, even though I had been treating him like a child.
“It’s in two days.”
Lee-han, sitting next to me, said in a low voice.
“Yeah. Are you a bit nervous?”
“It’s just conquering a dungeon one rank higher, what’s there to it? We just need to do what we always do.”
Lee-han replied with a soft smile. He had been in the spotlight since before as a hunter likely to rise to S-rank if he gained some good skills and leveled up, but I heard he hadn’t had the chance to enter an S-rank dungeon due to his young age and lack of experience.
Many people were excited about participating in high-rank dungeon conquests as it was an opportunity to make a name for themselves, while others were anxious due to the danger, but Lee-han was neither.
“I was a bit scared when I first entered.”
My first S-rank dungeon conquest was when I was in the hunter corps that was a military in name only. I was selected as a person to go abroad for support, and unlike now, I had to go prepared to die. At that time, I was anxious because I couldn’t perfectly control my power and wasn’t as skilled as I am now. Moreover, there was little information and few strong, trustworthy fellow hunters.
“If I had to say, I’m more nervous and excited about going on a conquest with you, hyung.”
I closed my mouth tightly at the sudden attack. Even though I had been somewhat conscious of it, it was difficult to respond to such words. After a brief pause, it became awkward to answer. Lee-han’s hand covered the back of mine.
“Isn’t it a new feeling for you too, going on a big conquest with the kid you saved back then?”
“Yeah. Already all grown up.”
He expressed his feelings while not giving me a place to run away.
‘I shouldn’t run away either.’
“They say ducklings think the first thing they see after breaking out of their egg is their parent. They call it imprinting.”
The topic of conversation changed quickly. I just nodded and replied, “I see.”
“I imprinted on you, hyung.”
His tone was calm. He had been so flustered he blushed when he confessed last time, but now…
“What did I do?”
Not wanting to say hurtful words, I swallowed comments like “Why do you like someone like me?” or “There must be better people out there.” I knew better than anyone that feelings of love can’t be controlled by will.
“To me, the world was full of bad things. Parents who fought and were violent towards me every day, peers who avoided me, people too busy to care about others’ misfortunes. So at that time, I thought that’s just how the world was.”