Chapter 9
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Guild Leader's Invitation
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"Then what......"
"Creatures."
"Pardon?"
"Monsters have a distinct scent about them."
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
It was a smell that an ordinary person like Myeongjin could never detect, even if they died and came back to life.
"Is that so?"
It was hard to keep up with Do Jaegyu's sudden talk of scents.
So what is that smell? How am I supposed to know?
It was the best response Myeongjin could muster when he couldn't exactly snap back with "So what?"
In return, Do Jaegyu fixed him with an openly skeptical stare. Myeongjin followed his gaze and turned his head.
"Suspicious."
"That woman over there?"
Do Jaegyu nodded instead of answering and downed the rest of his drink.
What does he plan to do?
As Do Jaegyu shot to his feet, an overwhelming pressure hit like an impenetrable fortress wall.
Myeongjin faltered with a flustered look, but Do Jaegyu beckoned him over.
"Clear everyone out."
"Everyone?"
His glare screamed, Is Korean that hard for you?
Damn, what the hell.
He'd graduated from a top university, a certified genius, yet here was his boss questioning his intelligence, making something boil inside him.
Ah, screw it. Should I just quit? Ignoring his subordinate's inner turmoil, Do Jaegyu kindly elaborated.
"Yeah. Everyone except that woman."
Myeongjin's mood had soured, but there was one thing he couldn't overlook.
His boss, Do Jaegyu, not only paid him handsomely but had incredibly sharp instincts.
Make that extremely sharp.
He'd scouted unregistered hunters before they even registered—nothing ordinary about that sense of his.
Myeongjin scrambled to his feet, staring at Do Jaegyu's confident stride, and hurried off to find the shop owner.
***
Do Jaegyu walked leisurely, twirling the watch on his wrist, and even the whispers died down.
Weaving through the gukbap shop like a runway model, he looked so effortlessly cool it made you forget where you were.
Clack. Clack.
His gleaming black shoe tips stopped right in front of Sejin.
Ha......
Her pounding heart plummeted in that instant.
Oh no, this is bad!
Whatever it was, a bad premonition flashed through her mind.
Why are bad feelings always spot on?
[D-detected?!]
Sejin rubbed her forehead awkwardly at Breaking Army Star's panicked outburst.
Something had felt off. Her body's warning signals weren't wrong after all. Regretting ignoring them too late, she bit her lip then quickly released it.
Do Jaegyu leaned forward slowly toward her.
Was he really moving that deliberately slow, or was it just her eyes? Her mouth went dry from the tension.
His massive hand—big enough to rip apart a small creature in one go—loosely clenched into a fist.
No way. Is he attacking?
Sejin swallowed hard to calm her churning stomach.
Her strength from the gate hadn't recovered yet, and she anxiously rolled her eyes.
From Do Jaegyu's view under her cap, only her pursed lips were visible.
Her mind filled with thoughts of whether she could shake him off.
Of course, the idea of going all out in a fight crossed her mind for a second, but she dismissed it immediately—it was obviously a no-go.
Do Jaegyu's slow-moving fist tapped the table.
Tap. Tap.
"Mind if we talk?"
Sejin looked up at his languid voice. The man who'd come with him was apologizing to the other customers.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for understanding."
He handed out white envelopes—prepared who knows when—and bowed repeatedly.
The customers filed out with their envelopes, faces lit not with bewilderment but thick joy from the hefty packets.
Ah, hey! Don't leave me behind!
The owner and kitchen staff followed suit, envelopes in hand.
No! Owner! Take me with you! Don't abandon your customer!
Oblivious to her frantic inner pleas, everyone left the shop.
Unable to believe the situation, Sejin sat soul-drained as Do Jaegyu pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
Wait, when did I say we could talk?
Perplexed by Do Jaegyu plopping down on his own, Sejin clamped her mouth shut like a mute covered in honey.
[What could he be thinking?]
Before long, the shop held only Do Jaegyu, Sejin, and the man he'd brought.
The interior was eerily quiet.
The man stood demurely at a distance, watching them.
Seemingly annoyed, Do Jaegyu tilted his chin up slightly. The man adjusted his glasses, bowed, and slipped outside.
Oh no!
Abandoning her too? Sejin stared in blank despair at the unbelievable reality.
All I wanted was some gukbap!
Her wavering gaze met Do Jaegyu's at his low, floor-piercing voice.
"Right?"
"Pardon?"
Sejin blinked at the sudden question. But Do Jaegyu's expression was so smug she wanted to smack it.
"Black Shadow."
"Excuse me?"
"That's you."
Do Jaegyu propped his chin on one arm, eyeing her.
Unlike his friendly tone, his eyes gleamed like a beast hunting prey.
"A-ah. No, it's not."
Her throat suddenly clogged.
Her heart might explode.
It pounded so loud she feared Do Jaegyu could hear it thumping against her eardrums.
[Stay calm.]
Despite Breaking Army Star's reassurance, her throat bobbed repeatedly. Guess I'm no good at lying. She barely held back the urge to sob.
"Hm."
Do Jaegyu's eyes narrowed.
"Well, anyway. I've got a proposal."
He clearly hadn't even registered her denial.
His eyes screamed total certainty she was Black Shadow. Sejin clenched her hands tightly on her thigh.
Her palms were slick with sweat.
"I said no."
Her voice pitched up abruptly, trembling unsteadily.
"A-hem. No. I'm not Black Shadow."
"Aren't you, though?"
His confident tone carried weight.
"Wh-what? What proof do you have that I'm Black Shadow?"
"Hm...... I've got a great nose."
Her tension deflated at the answer.
He's spouting nonsense like it's fact.
Absurd, Sejin gaped. Do Jaegyu's eyes sparkled with amusement at her.
"It's you. I can smell it."
"What...... smell......"
Sejin sniffed and pulled up her hood. What smell? Nothing.
"Told you. Great nose. And pretty good instincts too."
"Huh?"
She stared at him blankly, and he gave a charming wink.
"Kidding."
Unlike his words, he scanned her thoroughly, as if dissecting her.
Sejin snapped out of it and glared sharply.
What's his angle?
Do Jaegyu's amused smirk stiffened.
"If I said I've always been interested in you, would that explain it?"
What kind of interest? Sejin's guard shot up.
"The way you screwed over Han Kitae and slipped away was just......"
Do Jaegyu covered his lower face with his hand to hide a smile, but Sejin caught the upturned corners peeking through his fingers.
"So fun."
She knew they weren't on good terms, but this......
He's weirder than I thought.
"The guy who didn't bat an eye when he dumped crap on the Hunter Promotion Agency and started his own guild."
Shaking his head and chuckling intermittently, Do Jaegyu seemed genuinely enjoying this.
"Seeing him that pissed? Made me curious about you despite myself. Just who is this Black Shadow hunter that riles up Han Kitae so much?"
His deeply intense gaze carried an obsessive edge, leaving Sejin speechless.
Denying it now was pointless—he was 100% convinced.
"So I kept a close eye."
Do Jaegyu shrugged and looked straight at her.
"Watched every video of you that exists. Over and over. Even dream about it."
His certain gaze set her insides ablaze.
Hah, what now? Anxiety gripped her; she clenched her hands under the table, nails digging into her palms.
"Maybe that's why. I spot you right away, even by chance."
Leaning forward with arms crossed, Do Jaegyu waved a hand as if to stop her scooting back.
"I've got a proposal. Don't be so on guard."
His wounded tone clashed with his chilling eyes still raking her from head to toe.
Not thrilled, Sejin's brows furrowed.
"Hm. You know who I am, right?"
His self-assured tone oozed confidence. Irritated, she almost sniped back but sighed instead—it suited him too well.
"Do Jaegyu the hunter?"
"Thanks for recognizing me."
His natural wink made her empty stomach churn.
"Straight to the point."
Gulp.
Sejin moistened her parched mouth and stared at his smiling face.
"Join our guild."