I felt eyes on . Without even a mont to sort through my tangled thoughts, I hid completely. The Seedling Skill I hadn’t fully checked turned off, and I heard Moon Hyun-ah’s laughter.
“I’m going to lose Director Han like this. I can’t see him at all.”
“I’m just ordinary, that’s all.”
Protesting that these people were simply huge, I stepped out from behind Jason’s back. Chloe was still looking at , but she didn’t seem to know exactly what I’d done. She tilted her head slightly and slowly averted her gaze.
‘S-Rank.’
Not A-Rank. Chloe Alger was S-Rank. My mouth went dry. No way... Let’s not jump to conclusions. It wasn’t unheard of for hunters to lie about their rank. Even Yu-hyun once disguised himself as B-Rank Kim Min-ui. So perhaps Chloe had hidden her rank too.
It might not be due to ties with the Filial-Obsession Cult or Park Ha-yul’s sister—she could simply have been S-Rank from the start, before and after my return.
‘...But I can’t just pretend not to notice.’
Entering under a false rank was a cri. If it were soone else, I’d quietly tip off Director Song, but damn.
‘There might be a very important reason she needs to hide being S-Rank.’
Perhaps a contract, blackmail, soone she must protect. Awakening to S-Rank wasn’t purely good—rarely, but with notice ca targets. The S-Rank hunter herself might manage, but anyone around her wouldn’t.
If Yu-hyun weren’t S-Rank but B-Rank, he wouldn’t need to keep his distance from . A young mid-Rank hunter might be prey, but they couldn’t compare to a top-Rank, especially S-Rank. ...If she hadn’t been born S-Rank, even a hatchling lizard wouldn’t approach her.
‘Director Song is trustworthy, but—’
His strict adherence to law was the problem. Unless extenuating circumstances, he’d put legality first. An S-Rank breaking the law? He’d almost certainly call it out.
“Hyung, this way.”
Yu-hyun appeared beside , gripping my arm. My feet had unconsciously followed Chloe and the Beonkeibeu party.
“We can’t ride the sa vehicle.”
“O-okay.”
“Wow, sir really likes that hunter unnie, doesn’t he?”
Ye-rim whispered. I still did... I boarded the limousine where the Beonkeibeu party waited. With their sizes, a regular car would be cramped. When I ca to, Yu-hyun, Ye-rim, Moon Hyun-ah, Seong Hyun-je, and Director Song were all watching intently.
“Sir, I think this is more serious than you realize.”
Everyone seed to assu I’d simply zoned out as a fangirl. Director Song hadn’t noticed anything odd, but Seong Hyun-je—
‘...Must have sensed sothing.’
His amused, sightseeing expression had settled into calm focus. Catching my eye, he lifted the corner of his lips.
“By the way, Director Han, you do have that date planned, right? At the aquarium.”
He ant to ask if I needed to discuss it. That aquarium ant my ho, I supposed. Moon Hyun-ah poked his arm with her elbow.
“I don’t think you can go on that date until Chloe departs the country. What will you do?”
“I’m not going to follow her hunter unnie all day. But I do need to entertain the guest, so not right now.”
“Talking about right now—it’s after departure, after departure.”
“Hyun-ah, really! I’ll keep the promise within three days. I’ll contact you.”
She got my aning: there was a problem, but I’d look into it further.
“Thank you for your precious ti. Let’s prepare thoroughly to welco her.”
Seong Hyun-je would investigate discreetly without Chloe noticing. Moon Hyun-ah asked if I liked aquariums. After Mr. Noah, Yu-hyun, Ye-rim, and Seong Hyun-je, I’d gone there several tis.
“Hyun-ah, want to co next ti?”
“Thanks for the invite, but I’d rather fish than watch trapped fish.”
“You like fishing?”
“I prefer spearfishing. Big ones, not tiny. Sitting idle is boring.”
That sounded more like hunting than fishing.
Since I didn’t need to go to the Association, I decided to head to the breeding farm first. Seong Hyun-je and Moon Hyun-ah returned to their guilds; only Song Taewon stayed to accompany us.
‘...I should talk more with Chloe.’
I couldn’t blurt out that I thought she was actually S-Rank. She’d just claim she’d had reasons to hide it. That might be fine—unless it involved a transcendent or Ha-yul’s sister.
‘Maybe I should et her alone.’
Luring her was best, but perhaps another way...
“Hyung.”
Yu-hyun, sitting beside , spoke in a serious tone.
“Senior awakened hunters are opposed.”
“...Huh?”
I looked at my brother’s face, dark with worry—almost sulky.
“If she’s stronger than you, it could be dangerous.”
“Well... of course, but why bring it up now?”
“If you start dating, there’ll be tis you two are alone. Then I can’t guarantee your safety.”
...What? Ye-rim, sitting next to him, chid in.
“That’s right, sir. There’s dating violence and dostic abuse. With potions, evidence can disappear easily—it’s dangerous. And you just t her.”
Why dating violence? But she had a point. Alone with soone, they could use a potion and no one’d know. Chilling thought.
“Exactly. Don’t date anyone S-Rank or above. Date soone weaker than you.”
“When I date, I’ll be the strongest. Don’t worry.”
“Got it. Though I won’t date.”
Ye-rim answered confidently; Yu-hyun halfheartedly. I’d given up on watching them date too.
“So hyung, date soone weak.”
“...I can’t do that. I’m barely managing myself. If I date an F-Rank, what then?”
I was worried about the non-awakened around —did I need another headache?
“But senior hunters are too dangerous.”
“Yu-hyun, for it doesn’t matter if they’re mid-Rank or top-Rank. S-Rank and C-Rank are both just mouthfuls to .”
Of course with gear and items it’d differ, but in unguarded life it was the sa. Yu-hyun sighed deeply at my words.
“Do you really like that hunter that much?”
“I’ve only seen her on video. But still—seeing her in person made like her more. Am I going to confess?”
These kids... I said it wasn’t that feeling, but wait.
“A confession....”
At my mutter, their eyes flew wide.
“Whoa, wait sir. That was a joke!”
“Hyung, is it for real? You barely know her. If you marry, she might move in here or you’d have to move out!”
“Sir! These days people date and marry at thirty! So by registered age!”
They each grabbed my arm. Director Song glanced back at us from the passenger seat.
“I told you no dating or marriage—thirty or twenty-five, none of it.”
“But you said you’d confess!”
“Hyung... you’re not going to kick out, right?”
“Han Yuhyun is an adult, but I’m still young!”
“Kick you out? No way! I’m not dating.”
“Really? When I’m older I can date, but now’s too early.”
“I don’t have the energy for dating.”
I truly didn’t. And dating now is a recipe for heartbreak.
“I’m already overwheld raising you two and the kids. I have no strength left to add anyone else.”
However...
“I just want to confess once.”
“Hyung!”
“Sir!”
“Just say the words, just say them, only say them.”
I love you. Considering the misunderstandings, it’d be a good chance. A situation where I could openly say I love her. One confession alone wouldn’t apply a Keyword easily, but if it did, great—and if not, oh well.
‘At least I can verify if she’s tied to Park Ha-yul’s sister.’
If she grew thanks to that sister’s skill, as before we’d get a “cannot apply Keyword” ssage. A confession would filter one side for sure.
‘Depending on her reaction, I can check ties to transcendent beings too.’
If she was from Chatterbox or a cult, she might accept. I’d never miss such an opportunity. If no “cannot apply” ssage and she rejects, then she likely hid her rank for personal reasons.
I hoped so.
“To be honest, my heart... well, it’s not entirely untouched. Don’t look at like that.”
I’d seem like a wretch abandoning you all to remarry.
“I just want to lay it all out and cut off regrets. And Chloe would never accept anyway.”
“Why not?”
“She’s a professional hunter, of course she’d accept from , hyung.”
They both saw too prettily.
“If you consider Han Yujin’s worth, she’d likely accept.”
“...Huh?”
I didn’t expect Director Song’s voice.
“I ask that you think carefully before dating a foreign top-Rank hunter.”
“I’m not planning on dating.”
“I’m concerned for Hunter Chloe’s safety as well.”
Song Taewon looked at Yu-hyun and Ye-rim.
“Please, act with utmost caution.”
“...I’ll only convey my feelings and that’s it, really.”
Good grief. I didn’t have an ulterior motive—just wanted to confirm.
Though I swore I wouldn’t date, Yu-hyun ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) and Ye-rim stuck by my side all the way through the breeding farm tour to prevent Chloe from approaching. Even Director Song didn’t stop them.
“I’ve heard rumors, but you two really are close.”
Jason couldn’t hide his bewildernt at the two S-Ranks’ behavior. Thanks to that, everyone assud I’d fallen in love at first sight with Chloe Alger. Chloe showed no reaction, but the other hunters whispered as they glanced between us.
If Chloe had no problem, I felt guilty. I’d have to compensate her well... I felt truly sorry.
“When a large monster grows beyond a certain size, we move it to a city breeding facility.”
“Can we see that too?”
“Of course. I’ll make the arrangents.”
Aside from my romance subplot with Chloe, everything proceeded smoothly. Jason and the Beonkeibeu guild showed no suspicious behavior. Jason was fairly polite for an S-Rank.
The real issue began after the breeding farm tour.
[Hyung really going to confess?]
Ye-rim must’ve told them, starting with Hyun-ah’s text.
“Lord! You said you fell in love at first sight!”
“Yujin-ssi, is this for real?”
Dohamin and Noah heard the rumor and rushed over.
“...Just the confession, just the confession. A confession to let go of regrets! Why don’t you go watch that hamster you love?”
“Our Geumdong-nim is well cared for. It’s best not to approach during his adjustnt period. Look at him—so beautiful! His fur glistens even after the flight—amazing, right? Look at his little feet nibbling on his cheek. So cute! Those cheek pouches—wow. And when he pushes food into them with his front paws—so adorable!”
I realized I must never talk about Geumdong’s “gold” or “hamster” in front of Dohamin again. Soon Suk Sim-myung arrived with a worried look.
“I think you’re far too young to date. You’re not considering marriage, are you?”
“...I’m not.”
“I don’t distrust your fraternal bond, but dating and marriage affect family relations—”
“I said I’m not doing it.”
Suk Sim-myung lectured on why dating was useless now, that the farm wasn’t even established yet, that marriage was for later, that many married after forty—only when he’d finally exhausted his points did he leave.
The Seokhayan team texted asking if it was true, and farm staff began to inch closer with questions. Even Myung-woo ca from the forge to speak earnestly.
“I also think a foreign top-Rank hunter isn’t a good match. Besides, you just t.”
“...No, really.”
“Yujin, there are so many good people in the world. Please decide carefully.”
Their heartfelt concern made feel guilty. No, I truly wouldn’t date.
And the next day.
“A hotel would be best.”
“Obviously. The weather’s chilly, outdoors would be terrible. Hyung, what kind of hotel do you like? I’ll book the whole place!”
Seong Hyun-je and Moon Hyun-ah volunteered to help with my proposal. Fun, huh? They really seem to be enjoying this!
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