Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Ominous Premonition
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Quiet alley depths, a small restaurant where few footsteps passed.
Pushing open the door, a warm broth scent subtly wafted through.
The achromatic afternoon light reflected in the glass window slowly sank into the restaurant interior, and cozy lighting softly enveloped the three faces.
"Really quiet here."
I looked around, took the innermost table, pulled out chairs for the two women first, then sat down.
The held breath eased a little.
"That's why I brought you here."
Seol Yu-bin said, setting down the menu.
"Hidden gem, usually crowded, but right now with the time... hardly any people, no prying eyes... and most importantly, today Hyun-sol's recovery comes first."
Her words and accompanying actions were, as always, natural and warm.
In public, she always maintained the image of a strong mage, but
like this, just the two of us... no, among close friends, she seemed strangely mature and delicate.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-an was already peering over.
"Junior, I looked it up—this place's broth is good for the body. Helps mana recovery too—oh, pass on that one, too fatty. That one's high salt. That one—"
"No, aren't you showing excessive interest?"
I muttered in disbelief.
Seeing my reaction, Seol Yu-bin giggled.
"Oh, listen to Hyun-sol? Such a pretty girl consistently caring for you—you should be bowing in thanks, but you're playing coy?"
"...Not playing coy."
"Then you really dislike it?"
"...No. Anyway, I'll have this."
Judging further talk on this would drag all day, I quickly called the owner.
After ordering, a brief silence fell.
I sipped the hot ginger water, feeling the lingering emptiness after mana extraction slowly filling.
A moment later, the steaming broth dish was placed on the table.
A clear aroma wavered, saliva pooling naturally.
"Try it first! The scent alone is killer—must be delicious."
Yoo Ji-an picked up her chopsticks, sparkling eyes waiting for my reaction.
I carefully scooped a spoonful into my mouth.
Subtle sweetness forming gently, followed by clean umami spreading—warmth seeping deep into my body.
"Oh... incredibly warm. Like gaining warmth, no, a revitalizing feeling? Nice."
Honest words.
"Right?"
Yoo Ji-an smiled.
"Junior, as an experimental subject—"
"Can you avoid that word at meals? And why keep treating me like an experimental subject?"
"Ah... sorry. Habit—alchemists love test subjects most."
"...."
Doesn't that mean she likes me enough to call me a test subject?
Suddenly dropping that here?
As I froze without reaction, Seol Yu-bin lightly gripped her throat and coughed exaggeratedly.
"Ahem, anyway—Hyun-sol needs to recover, let him eat. Ji-an, you eat too."
"Ah, right. Sorry~ sorry."
Yoo Ji-an covered her mouth laughing, but didn't stop sneaking glances at my face.
As the meal neared end, warmth rising to my throat—like a rare comfortable time flowing.
Seol Yu-bin set down her chopsticks and looked at me.
"Hyun-sol, today was tough, right?"
"...Yes. But I got a lot of help."
"That's good."
Seol Yu-bin smiled quietly.
And after finishing the meal and paying, as we stepped outside, cold winter air brushed our faces again.
Unlike Yoo-ga Market, the air here strangely restored a sense of reality.
City noise, wind grazing building walls, reddening sky shifting to afternoon.
Seol Yu-bin pulled the car right up front, lowered the window, and shouted.
"Hyun-sol, time to head out—Mom's waiting. We can rest midway en route."
I nodded, and beside her, Yoo Ji-an pouted slightly.
"Ah—and junior."
"Yes?"
Turning at her voice, I saw her clutching the end of her lab coat, expression less playful than usual.
Anxiety lingered in her eyes.
"Saying this out of nowhere sounds weird, I know, but... please come back alive."
"Yes?"
"Not sure if it's alchemist intuition or just a passing ominous feeling,
but seeing you lying there today kept stirring unease.
Like the anxiety right after that Descent-type Gate—like I might never see you again?"
A smile slowly spread.
"And need to keep monitoring your condition... experiment with potions... um, plenty of reasons."
Yoo Ji-an bowed her head slightly, unable to hide her anxious eyes, and finished.
"So... definitely visit Yoo-ga again once vacation ends."
I took a short breath in and out.
"Don't know why you feel that anxiety... but got it. I'll return safely for sure."
Yoo Ji-an's face brightened noticeably.
"Good! Promise~!"
Watching us from the car, Seol Yu-bin shouted overly loud.
"Come on, miss. Head in quick. Night breeze still chilly."
"Ey~ it's summer—how's the night breeze chilly? Jealous?"
"No~"
"Totally jealous."
"Nope."
Leaving the women's endless bickering behind, I slowly exhaled.
Warm meal and short rest.
And another day after vacation ends.
Yet strangely, my chest felt light.
No matter how things unfold ahead... right now, I felt I could endure.
Gazing at the sunset-fading sky, I muttered like a vow.
"I'll get as strong as possible—even overdoing it. Strong enough to laugh off any variable."
Thus, the Yoo-ga schedule wrapped up completely.
At that moment, Hunter Association's top-floor President's office.
The space where Association President Yoon Seo-jun—always monitoring world affairs one by one, deciding villain and demon disposals—stayed alone.
Today, one more figure besides Yoon Seo-jun.
Casual modified hanbok attire, armament indistinguishable as sword or plain wooden stick.
A man perfectly controlled—not even faint mana or presence detectable.
Yoon Seo-jun stared blankly at Wol Cheon-mu across from him, sipping tea lost in thought.
"Something on my face?"
Feeling the gaze, Wol Cheon-mu cracked his eyes open and asked. Yoon Seo-jun coughed once, then slowly spoke.
"Ahem, nothing much. Just staring, hoping you'd get to the point."
"The point..."
At Yoon Seo-jun's words, Wol Cheon-mu took a sip of tea before diving in properly.
"Simple. Came to ask how the Association plans to move forward... if there's anything I can assist with."
"How it moves? What do you mean?"
At his feigned confusion—or acting—Yoon Seo-jun's expression, Wol Cheon-mu let out a smirk.
"Descent-type Gate incident before, now this Multi-Gate—S-Rank overlapping catastrophe—and Association... you sitting idle? Laughable."
"...Hiding from you is still near impossible, elder.
First, inspect every gate under Association management,
then secure Seven Major Guilds' cooperation to investigate all gates in Korea."
"Seven Major Guilds' cooperation... feasible?"
Seven Major Guilds.
Over long years, steadily growing influence—rivaling the Hunter Association alone.
I.e., alliance of seven guilds wielding equal or greater sway than the nation-run body.
Like hyenas for decades pretending obedience while subtly checking Association, eyeing total swallow of Korea's hunter affairs.
Aware of that fact intimately, long-time observer like Wol Cheon-mu posed the question.
Yet Yoon Seo-jun, who suppressed those guilds' influence for decades as Association's top power, shrugged nonchalantly.
"Might throw initial tantrums. But ultimately, they'll cooperate obediently."
"Hoo... so confident why?"
"Ice Castle Guild, former head Seol Ye-eun—from her to daughter, current top ice mage Seol Yu-bin—actively cooperating with Association."
"...Then definitely doable."
In truth, though lumped as Seven Major Guilds forming a bloc, internal hierarchy is clear-cut.
Seol Yu-bin's influence ranks top-tier—could feud with the six guild masters without issue.
Her active cooperation means the rest six will follow suit.
"Then planning direct Seol Family visit around early August—Association quietest during Academy summer break?"
"Busy schedule—can't carve time otherwise."
"Hmm..."
Wol Cheon-mu snorted briefly, setting down his cup.
That utterly ordinary motion, devoid of presence, made the office air sink slightly.
"Well, you'll squeeze it in. Business done."
He leaned back on the chair, then slowly rose.
Casual hanbok hem brushed the floor lightly.
Yoon Seo-jun stood simultaneously, bowing.
"Thank you for the visit, elder."
"Don't just talk—buy drinks later. Not cheap swill like last time."
"That's... Association budget constraints."
"Tsk, President whining over that? Anyway, off I go."
Light banter exchanged.
As Wol Cheon-mu took steps to the door, hand on the handle.
"...One moment, elder."
Yoon Seo-jun's voice held him.
Wol Cheon-mu turned only his head back.
Yoon Seo-jun seemed momentarily hesitant, swallowed once, lips pressed tight, finally spoke.
"Originally... meant to let it pass without asking."
His gaze flicked to the window sky.
Sinking sunset seeped through glass into the office.
"Somehow... for my granddaughter's sake, confirmation seems essential."
Wol Cheon-mu's eyes narrowed thinly.
"Granddaughter?"
"Yes. Seo-rin."
The name slipping out shed his Association President facade, filling the void with an old man's cautious anxiety.
"...Wol Cheon-mu-nim."
After careful pause, Yoon Seo-jun voiced the core.
"What do you make of student Kang Hyun-sol?"