Hunter Academy: Song Yu-na (3)
"Nngh..."
A pleasant warmth spread through me. I snuggled closer, trying to savor the energy even more.
It feels so good... Ah...?!
I suddenly realized what—or who—I was holding, and my eyes flew open. Right in front of me was a man's bare upper body, and my hands were resting on it. Memories from last night flooded back: dinner with Hunter Kwon Yong-jin, drinks afterward, checking into a motel... and eventually, sex.
I'm crazy, crazy, crazy...!
I yanked myself away from the embrace and rolled over, lying on my back.
"Mm..."
Hunter Kwon Yong-jin's murmur startled me, and I clamped a hand over my mouth.
What do I do...? S-say it was a mistake...!
I'd never gotten drunk before, no matter how much I drank. So why had I blacked out last night? Careful not to wake him, I slipped out of bed, grabbed my underwear from the floor, and hurriedly tried to put on the clothes hanging on the wall.
"It's still damp..."
Come to think of it, I'd thrown up last night, and my clothes were soaked in it. But now they were clean, the smell gone, still slightly wet. Had he hand-washed them? My blouse looked pristine, without a single trace.
"That one's probably not dry yet."
"Kyaaah!"
"Whoa, easy. Stop freaking out."
I whipped around to see Hunter Kwon Yong-jin sitting up, leaning against the wall.
"You feeling okay?"
He stepped closer, his hand gently touching my abdomen.
"Uh, th-that... Ah!"
"Hmm. Even hunters can't avoid this, huh?"
"W-wait a sec!"
My body floated up as he scooped me into a princess carry and carried me back to the bed. He laid me down carefully, making sure I wouldn't hurt myself.
"Let's loosen you up a bit right now."
"Wh-what?"
His thick, warm hands slid onto my thighs, gently stroking and massaging them.
His movements were so swift that I couldn't find the words, just letting him continue.
I'll take this much and call it quits... Haa...
"Um... about last night..."
Song Yu-na fidgeted, tapping her fingers together nervously. She probably wanted to keep it a secret.
I hadn't planned on it being a one-time thing anyway.
"Pretend it never happened?"
"...Yeah."
"Get home safe. Oh, and you've got a hickey on your neck—cover it up good."
"Eek! G-got it!"
Still wincing in pain, she threw on her damp clothes, glancing at me warily before slipping out of the motel room.
I could sense Song Yu-na hurrying away. She had no idea, but I'd already coated her womb with plenty of black particles.
Speaking of which, Hyung Sang-min's skrama was seriously effective. Drug-like, but no addiction symptoms—just clouds the judgment, gets you drunk, and feels good. Gotta help him out next time he asks for a favor.
A low-rank gate will open near Hunter Academy tomorrow. Practice session: Eliminate the monsters that emerge.
I checked the notification on my phone. Perfect timing—I'd use this.
I messaged Gabriela right away, asking her to secretly boost the gate by one rank. Just one step up.
Honestly, even low-rank was too low. Sure, it was their first practice, but starting too easy could breed overconfidence. Better to crush their spirits early—if they freak out over this, they're done for.
I sent a casual "Got it" reply, then got up from the bed to leave the motel.
"Haa..."
My steps toward Hunter Academy felt heavy. How had I ended up sleeping with Hunter Kwon Yong-jin...?
Alcohol is the enemy. Why did I get so wasted? Why did I say those things...?
Until now, the most I'd done with Shin-woo was hold hands. But last night, I lost my first time.
Drunk at the motel, I'd said things so unlike me to Hunter Kwon Yong-jin, spilling all my self-loathing. Then the kissing started.
Ugh... I can still feel it.
Truth be told, from midway through, the sex with him felt good. Just thinking that fills me with guilt.
Lately, I'd only thought about Shin-woo, but in that moment, it was all Hunter Kwon Yong-jin.
"Haaa..."
Guilt weighing me down, I kept sighing as I walked to Hunter Academy. And today was gate practice—my head was a mess.
"Yu-na!"
"Ah... Shin-woo."
Just as I neared the academy, Shin-woo spotted me from afar and ran over.
Seeing him brought back memories of last night with Hunter Kwon Yong-jin. I checked the choker around my neck again.
"Why haven't you answered your phone? I was worried sick all day!"
"You called...? Sorry..."
My head had been too foggy to check my phone. Unlocking it now, I saw a flood of missed calls and texts.
"Something wrong? Guild stuff?"
"N-no, I joined the guild..."
"Really? That's great! Then why the long face? I thought you'd be excited for your first gate practice."
Looking at Shin-woo's face made the guilt worse.
"Huh? Since when do you wear a choker?"
"Oh? Uh, just... for a change of pace."
I pulled my hand away from the choker.
"Looks good! Really suits you!"
"Thanks..."
If he knew it was hiding a hickey, would Shin-woo despise me? Point fingers? Scary.
A massive black sphere floated before us. The gate I'd only seen in videos.
I glanced at Yu-na. She'd ignored me all day yesterday, and now she kept fiddling with her choker. Probably nervous about the practice.
If I shone here, maybe she'd fall for me?
The gate began to shake. Soon, monsters poured out, turning the quiet area into a battlefield.
The lowest-grade ones were no threat—even academy students could handle them.
Easier than I thought?
Everyone here must've thought the same.
Boom!
The ground quaked as the battle nearly ended. Eyes turned to the source: a massive scythe emerging from the gate, stabbing the earth. The blade alone was over 3 meters.
No way it was less than C-rank. Something needing a team of C-rank hunters.
The monster emerged—easily over 6 meters, skeletal like a centaur. Four legs on the ground, massive scythes where arms should be.
"Kuuuaaaarrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Its roar compressed the air. Some kids fainted from it.
This is impossible...!
My sword hand trembled against my will. Everyone else too—they backed away slowly.
Hunter Kwon Yong-jin...! Wasn't he here to handle stuff like this?!
Looking back, he floated midair, arms crossed, just watching.
Is he insane?!
He showed no sign of moving. Some kids bolted.
Then—Bang!!
A few students charged the monster. Yu-na was among them.
Damn, damn...
My feet wouldn't budge—like they were glued. I knew we couldn't win, but Yu-na fought without hesitation.
I'd thought they'd lose for sure, but Yu-na's party took it down.
Cheers and applause erupted for them. As others backed away, Yu-na shone brightest in the center.
That moment.
"Kuoaaarrr!!!!!!"
The "dead" monster's scythe convulsed, slashing wide like it devoured space. Yu-na was in its path.
"Nooooo!!"
Kwang!!!
Images of Yu-na dying flashed in my mind as I reached out—but it didn't happen. Black branches burst from the monster like cordyceps, piercing its skin and killing it instantly. The scythe aiming for Yu-na was caught in one hand by Hunter Kwon Yong-jin, who held her with the other.
I almost died. No, I thought I had.
I opened my eyes. A massive scythe hovered inches from my face. Somehow, I was in Hunter Kwon Yong-jin's arms.
I looked up at him.
"Hic...?!"
I hadn't known him long, but he'd never looked annoyed or angry before. Now, his face was terrifying as he glared at the gate.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Phew... Let's end this here."
The remaining monsters froze, like a paused video.
Crack.
A faint splitting sound. Barely audible unless you focused.
Crack, crack.
It came from everywhere. Cracks spiderwebbed across the frozen monsters' bodies like glass.
Kwaaaang!!
Black trees erupted from their bodies.
"...!"
In an empty lot, a black forest sprang up instantly.
The space fell silent, save for rustling branches in the wind.
This... is Black Tree's S-rank Hunter Kwon Yong-jin...?
No warning—he'd wiped out every monster in a blink. Only his signature black trees asserted their presence.