Chapter 86

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 86

Chapter Title: The Owner of the Cheesecake

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Two days had passed since the incident.

Yesterday, it seemed like all I'd done was sleep.

It was ambiguous whether I'd actually slept or just passed out.

When I opened my eyes, it was already dark outside again.

That made sense—fatigue from unknowingly pulling all-nighters had piled up.

On top of that, the system had been running at max capacity.

Reading and analyzing the inner thoughts of dozens of people simultaneously, detecting demonic energy.

Inevitably, fatigue had accumulated from continuously using and building up the ability.

I called out to it in a hoarse voice upon waking.

"Friend..."

I was so exhausted that I wondered if something was wrong with my body.

A moment later, a dimly flickering system window appeared in my view.

But my system was asleep too.

I chuckled at how funny it was, even in its sleep, and let it go.

In the end, when I opened my eyes, it was Friday.

The counseling office and remote sessions were shut down until next week anyway.

I'd put up that notice the moment the incident broke.

If it hadn't been a curse that needed to be resolved in a speedrun like this, I'd still be working on the antidote.

In conclusion, I was on vacation...

I dragged my still-groggy body to the kitchen.

At least to drink some water.

Looking out the window, the sun was high in the sky.

It was 1 p.m.

I'd slept in really long.

- Creak.

"Ah."

But there was one problem.

The moment I opened the fridge door, I spotted something I'd forgotten about.

A neatly placed cake box.

Cheesecake.

I was supposed to give it to Jin Sea, but I'd been too busy.

Of course, the fridge was cold and the sugar content high, so it was safe.

It might even taste better after some aging.

Still, it was about time to hand it over.

Being Friday... Jin Sea was probably busy.

I had no idea what her schedule was like.

After work would be best...

"......"

I checked her status first.

I frowned the moment I saw her current status.

Oh dear.

She seemed really worn out...

I gave a wry smile.

Then I looked down at Jin Sea's Main Stance.

Oh...

Perfect timing.

I was just about to prepare it anyway.

- Tap tap tap...

I sent a message first.

[Yoo Seon-woo]: Sea-ya, you free after work today?

With her schedule, it might take a bit for a reply.

However.

[Jin Sea]: Yeah, got time.

A sharp reply came back in less than a second.

Good that she had time... but where to meet?

Before I could ponder that, more messages arrived in succession.

[Jin Sea]: Heard you worked really hard. Rumor has it.

[Jin Sea]: I'll treat you to some nourishing food.

Such a grateful thing.

Jin Sea said she'd send restaurant info later and ended with a message to meet in the evening.

Thank you very much.

All plans were set in an instant.

I stretched long again and returned to the study to enjoy the remaining rest.

Sitting in the chair, I thought.

"......"

So... what now?

Maybe because I'd been living so intensely lately, I had no idea how to relax when I tried.

I didn't have a ton of friends to hang out with anyway.

And my only hobby for fun was baking.

Honestly, that was more like work than a hobby...

I turned on the computer, but had nothing to do.

I sneaked over to the Hunter Gallery.

Really had nothing else to do.

As soon as I entered, various posts caught my eye.

I skipped the generic ones.

You could only get decent info from highly recommended posts, so-called concept posts.

[Haetae stock really looks like total shit?]

[Why We Should Watch the Recently Transferred Otherworlders]

[Which fucker uploaded furry porn calling it beastkin pics?]

[Wanna hug Lily]

As you can see.

So I went to the concept post list.

I clicked the most intriguing title among them.

A ton of contracts expiring at year-end.

Even big fish from top 10 guilds seem to be up for grabs?

There were many more hunters besides Mary up for grabs.

I felt something off.

Like déjà vu.

I scrolled down to check the comments.

The source of the déjà vu was that only female hunters were listed.

I get it.

The gallery itself has that vibe.

After reading a few more posts, I went back to the main list.

Then, one post particularly caught my eye.

[Mary, what if she joins Haetae Guild?]

It was a thought I'd had too.

Thinking the poster knew something, I clicked it.

Seriously, what do you think?

Heard she might not re-sign with Daehae?

I watched the heated debate for a bit, then cautiously left a comment.

Just my personal opinion.

The author mocked my comment, but lightning and holy power inherently mesh well.

By nature. Both pure forces of nature, powers of the gods.

Personal chemistry between people, I wouldn't know.

I saw no need to waste more time debating and shut off the computer without regret.

Just then, messages arrived.

[Jin Sea]: (map photo)

[Jin Sea]: Come here~

The photo showed a famous samgyetang place.

Famous for restoring energy, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠apparently.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Free food? No reason to refuse.

I got up, changed into going-out clothes.

Finished preparing to head out.

And picked up the box.

Time to meet the owner of the cake.

When I arrived at the meeting spot, she was already there.

I opened the door to the reserved room, and Jin Sea, who had been looking out the window, spotted me and smiled.

"Somehow... feels like it's been forever."

She narrowed her eyes at the sight of me and said.

"Yeah."

I nodded in agreement.

It hadn't actually been that long, but maybe because I'd been awake so little, it felt like ages.

I handed her the white box I was carrying.

"Put an ice pack in, so it should be fine."

"Hng... Thanks..."

She hugged the box preciously.

Then set it down for a moment and looked up at me with worried eyes.

"Heard you worked really hard?"

The ones who resolved this incident were me and Mary.

The media reported it that way.

So she'd heard the rumors.

"A bit?"

I shrugged nonchalantly, pretending it was nothing.

Jin Sea just gave a faint smile at that.

Couldn't fool her. The bravado didn't land.

After a pause, Jin Sea hesitantly asked.

"So... um... nothing weird happened inside?"

"Huh?"

"No~ just... you were stuck together for days, right?"

Was she talking about Mary?

She'd overcome the curse, so no issues.

"Nothing. Just work. Mary beat the curse too, so..."

"Really? Well, you said before your relationship hadn't improved much..."

Jin Sea smiled brightly.

"Oh, right. About that."

Suddenly, a funny story came to mind.

About the misunderstanding I'd had.

"I thought we'd just grown apart? But nope. We both kept putting off contact because we were busy, so we both misunderstood the same way. Ended up avoiding each other and drifting."

Thinking about it still baffled me.

After stewing for years like that.

I burst out laughing.

"...... Haha. Yeah...? I see..."

Jin Sea's lips twitched up.

"...Funny. Hilarious."

She nodded and added.

"So, not actually bad blood. You'll keep in touch from now on?"

"Probably?"

I answered without much thought.

"Yeah... got it. But from your side, might be a hassle? You're busy, Seon-woo."

"Nah, contact's fine."

"Ah... okay. Yeah."

Jin Sea nodded once more.

Then abruptly stood up.

"... Suddenly kinda hot? Seon-woo, mind opening the window?"

"Huh? Sure..."

It felt a bit chilly.

- Bang!

Jin Sea roughly flung the window open.