S-Class Hunter Kim Soyeon (2)
The bewilderment hadn't even had time to fade yet.
I could feel her hand gripping my shoulder trembling. Her pupils were darting around, completely lost and shaking violently.
What should I say? How could I act properly flustered in a natural way?
"I know who you are...!"
"It's me...!"
"Huh? Who are you?"
"It's me, I said!"
When I still didn't seem to recognize her, Kim Soyeon slightly lifted her hat to show me her eyes.
Come on, how was I supposed to recognize her from just her eyes?
"Hey, that person over there...."
"Isn't that Hunter Kim Soyeon?"
...They recognized her?
People began gathering, murmuring among themselves.
The sound of camera shutters clicked, as if someone was taking photos.
"It really is Hunter Kim Soyeon?!"
"Is it actually her?"
Doubt fed on doubt, and the growing suspicion quickly turned into certainty.
Another camera shutter sounded. Kim Soyeon's whole body flinched hard.
Her flustered eyes couldn't find focus and trembled. They shook intensely.
"But why is she holding onto that guy like that? Is he a pickpocket?" "A criminal?" "An S-class Hunter catching a criminal in the act? I can't miss this."
When a crowd gathers, the group mentality always flows toward the most sensational direction.
Before I knew it, I was turning into the caught-in-the-act criminal being restrained by an S-class Hunter.
If things continued like this, it was obvious that not only the Hunter Gallery but every broadcast outlet would be running the story about South Korea's youngest S-class Hunter Kim Soyeon perfectly subduing a criminal.
If it had been someone else's problem, I would have been munching popcorn and chatting about it too, but unfortunately this was my problem.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one option available right now.
"Hey, run."
"H-huh?"
I forcefully seized the hand that was gripping my shoulder.
With the dog carrier holding the puppy in my right hand, I broke into a sprint.
There was no time to ask where we were going or argue about it.
I just ran at full speed without looking back once.
I could hear people shouting behind us, but it didn't matter.
I wove through the narrow, tangled alleyways, picking up more speed with every turn.
Kim Soyeon seemed startled by my sudden decision to flee at first, but she soon matched my stride and followed right behind me.
After running like that for a while, we finally arrived in front of a building.
It was the officetel I had signed the contract for just an hour or two earlier.
I punched in the communal entrance code, stepped inside, got on the elevator, and hammered the close button repeatedly before finally letting out the breath I'd been holding.
"Haaah..."
"......"
Inside the elevator, only my ragged breathing echoed.
When I turned to look at her, she was staring blankly into space.
Even through the mask, her face was still flushed bright red.
Ding—
We got off the elevator and I entered the door code.
"For now, come in."
After the door lock clicked shut, I turned on the living room light, revealing the inside of the officetel.
It was fully furnished, so everything was there except the bed.
I carefully set the dog carrier down in the middle of the living room.
Despite being shaken violently during the run, the puppy showed no sign of motion sickness. Instead, it wagged its tail enthusiastically.
"Whiiiine..."
It was begging to be held.
I was just starting to unpack the paper bag while listening to the puppy's adorable whimpers when it happened.
"Ah..."
A soft moan escaped Kim Soyeon's lips.
The moment she took off her shoes, her knees gave out and she sank straight down to the floor.
Then she began waving her hands exaggeratedly to get the puppy's attention.
"Oh, hello there? Aww, you must've been shaken up so much, huh? Are you okay?"
Oh my god. What on earth was that nasal, cutesy voice?
I could hardly believe it was the same woman I'd spoken with yesterday.
She gently lifted the brown fluffball into her arms and rubbed her cheek against it with an expression that suggested she'd forgotten every worry in the world.
"...Ha, seriously."
Whether I clicked my tongue or not, Kim Soyeon simply continued pouring every bit of aegyo she had onto the puppy.
Thinking I couldn't be the only one witnessing this ridiculous scene, I secretly opened the gallery in the air.
And activated the live chat.
Naturally, the one reacting most violently was the Kim Soyeon from the first playthrough.
Even though it was just text, I could feel how mortified she was.
"Ujju-ujju, oh my, this little paw smell—mmm! *sniff* *inhale* haaa~."
"How can something be so small and precious..."
I wondered if that Kim Soyeon even realized her first-playthrough self was screaming in agony right now.
She eventually flopped onto her back on the living room floor, placed the puppy on her stomach, and started playing airplane with it.
The puppy flailed its short legs. When it licked her chin, a bright, clear giggle filled the living room.
"Ahem. Hm."
I cleared my throat again, but she didn't even acknowledge it.
It was entertaining watching the Kim Soyeon in the gallery suffer, but if I left her like this, she would probably stay like that until dawn.
With no other choice, I deliberately made loud footsteps as I approached her.
"Looks like you've made yourself right at home."
Only then did Kim Soyeon flinch. Still holding the puppy, she lifted her head.
She must have finally realized what kind of display she'd just put on.
I could sense her eyes filling with embarrassment in an instant.
She shot up from the floor, straightened her clothes with an awkward smile.
"Ah, um... so this is..."
"What?"
"I mean..."
"You mean what?"
Kim Soyeon tried to form words, but she only ended up stuttering.
She probably had no good excuse.
Grabbing me out of nowhere, dragging me home without asking, then refusing to let go and causing all sorts of misunderstandings.
"Got nothing to say?"
At my scolding tone, she could only move her lips like a mute who had eaten honey.
Clutching the puppy tightly to her chest and glancing around nervously, she looked exactly like a child caught doing something wrong.
It was so cute I almost laughed, but I forced it down and glared at her with a deliberately serious expression.
"Do you even realize you're an S-class Hunter? Do you remember what you were doing in the middle of the street?"
Kim Soyeon's head dropped.
She simply kept her head down and said nothing.
"Even if you covered your face, what were you going to do if people recognized you? Oh, right. They already did and even took photos. By tomorrow the articles will be everywhere! S-class Kim Soyeon flees with a civilian man. Right?"
"T-that... wasn't on purpose... and I was wearing a mask and a hat..."
"Not on purpose? So because it wasn't on purpose, my privacy can just go to hell?"
"......"
"What should you be saying right now?"
"...I'm sorry."
"You?"
"...am."
Kim Soyeon spoke with her shoulders hunched up. She was sorry.
Of course she was. Her careless actions had caused trouble for me, who was still technically a civilian.
"Because of that impulsive stunt of yours, my face is going to be completely exposed and all my personal information will get dug up. Do you have any idea how much influence your fans have?"
"I was wrong..."
...Honestly, what exactly did they think I was going to do?
I let out a sigh, then took a step closer to Kim Soyeon.
"Fine. The water's already spilled and we can't turn back time, so let's just say that's that."
"...?"
"So?"
"Eh?"
Kim Soyeon tilted her head slightly, looking confused.
Like she had no idea what I was talking about.
"You weren't planning to just wipe your mouth and walk away, were you?"
She blinked in panic.
Of course not. If you cause damage, you should obviously compensate. Was she joking?
"U-um... what should I give you?"
"Give?"
"...you?"
She was asking what I wanted.
But answering directly with my own mouth felt lame, so I stayed silent.
After a moment, Kim Soyeon watched my expression carefully, trying to figure out my intentions.
She seemed to be weighing whether I wanted money or something else.
Since I had to climb the Tower, there was only one thing I wanted.
Material compensation.
"Tell me. What should I give you?"
For some reason, the look in her eyes as she watched me was quite impure.
What exactly did she think I wanted?
"...I can tell what you're thinking, but I have zero interest in that, so I'm asking for material compensation."
"Ah."
Kim Soyeon looked flustered.
It was obvious she thought her inner thoughts had been exposed.
"T-then! I'll give you an artifact! One!"
"An artifact?"
"Among the things I have, there's one artifact that's useful for mages. A ring that increases mana recovery."
"...Hmm."
"I think it would really help you since you're a mage!... One!"
I stared at her with a dazed expression.
An artifact. I had been thinking it was about time to get some proper gear anyway.
An artifact that boosted mana recovery would be genuinely useful equipment.
It was definitely sufficient compensation, but... it still felt a little short.
"One more."
"Y-yes? One more? Then... oh, how about a bag enchanted with spatial expansion..."
I had only thrown the words out casually, but she was actually going to give it.
I looked at her carefully, dumbfounded.
Even while talking to me, she was still hugging the puppy tightly.
She was holding it so close, clearly not wanting to let go.
...So that was her goal.
"Don't tell me you..."
"...!"
"You're not thinking of using this as an excuse to come over sometimes to see the puppy, are you?"
"......"
"......"
"......"
Silence stretched between us.
I glared at her, and she avoided my gaze, looking nervous.
Then she asked if she couldn't.
So I flashed a bright smile, grabbed her by the shoulders, pushed her toward the door, and said,
"Just bring the ring."