Chapter 373: Dyeing (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 373: Dyeing (6)
It had a humble, simple beginning.
It was a time when my fame as a Hunter wasn't yet all that great.
The moment my reputation truly began to spread was after I married her and started receiving support from my in-laws—the first family I ever had.
In their wealthy household that lacked for nothing, I was the black sheep.
They would exaggerate even my smallest achievements as if they were grand accomplishments and publish articles about them.
After a few rounds of this image management, I even appeared on TV, and people started to recognize me.
As a good Hunter with a heroic image.
From that point on, my life began to change.
Her parents, who had always disapproved of me, began introducing me as their son-in-law with smiling faces in public. When I walked down the street, children would give me a thumbs-up, saying their dream was to become a Hunter like me.
How did I feel back then…? It felt good, you know?
Finally being accepted as part of their family, and the fact that I had become someone's dream.
They say praise can work wonders.
Once I got a taste of it, I started putting in the effort myself.
"When I became the 'National Hunter'… you say."
Regardless of what happened later, it was a path I had started down for her and her family.
I always felt sorry for her—for having to get married amidst her parents' disapproval, and for having to stand up to them at every family gathering because of me.
That was why I chose that path.
The only way for everyone to live in harmony was for me to earn her parents' approval.
It is an honorable title I finally earned through painstaking effort, starting with only that thought in mind.
That’s why it’s all the more shocking.
That the fruit of my labor for everyone’s sake was the very thing that disappointed her the most.
At the same time, I don't understand.
My name has only ever helped her; it has never caused her harm.
So why on earth?
Just as I was barely suppressing my emotions, biting back the urge to speak, her angry voice pierced my ears.
“Why on earth are you asking something like that?”
Her voice was surprisingly calm and cold.
The deep-seated anger within it stabbed at my chest.
Scowling, she snapped.
“Did someone put you up to this?”
I answered.
“No.”
She asked again.
“If not that, then what is it? What is your real motive for asking such things…!”
Her voice was tinged with a hint of indignation born from resentment.
“What is it?”
Her eyes and tone seemed to reprimand me, as if to say, Why are you making me so uncomfortable with questions like that?
I didn't know what was making her so uncomfortable.
Was it because she hated spelling out her personal affairs to me?
Or was it because the memory itself was so terrible for her to even recall?
Either way, since I couldn't reveal my identity right now, there was only one answer I could give.
“I wasn’t put up to this by anyone, nor do I have any ulterior motive.”
“Then why on earth…!”
“I told you at the beginning, didn't I? It’s to satisfy my personal curiosity.”
“……”
Her emotions seemed to have flared up, making her momentarily forget, but she and I had made a vow.
She, to answer my questions truthfully.
And I, to never reveal what I heard from her to anyone.
“Yes, that’s right. I’d forgotten about that,” Han Ju-hee said weakly after staring at me for a long moment.
Despite her words of acceptance, her expression was one of resignation.
No.
“You worked hard today. I’ll see you again soon.”
Perhaps it was a declaration of war—a vow to expose the true intentions hidden behind my curiosity.
The sight of her turning her back on me so coldly and walking away felt just like a reflection of the distance between us.
* * *
On the way home, just in time for dinner.
Sunk deep into the back seat, she was lost in thought.
‘Personal curiosity…?’
She found that hard to believe.
What Kim Do-jin was teaching her were things any mage would dream of learning.
It was precious knowledge that a high-ranking mage would gladly pay billions for.
And yet, all he wanted in return was her personal history.
‘Something’s suspicious.’
Although it was a vow that placed strong restrictions on the other party, one should never trust it blindly.
Kim Do-jin’s abilities were clearly a cut above those of modern mages.
There might be ways to minimize or bypass the vow’s restrictions.
She pushed the superficial reason of ‘personal curiosity’ to the back of her mind and considered every possibility.
‘What if someone really did put him up to it?’
Who could it be?
Someone who would be that curious about her personal life.
‘Almost anyone is a possibility.’
The vile people who coveted her body, the powerful figures who wanted to control her, those who wanted to drag her down no matter what.
The world was full of people who wanted to get a hold of her weaknesses.
With so many candidates, she couldn't rashly pinpoint anyone.
But she had to find out.
‘I won’t forgive them.’
She never forgave those who bared their fangs at her.
That was how she had climbed this far, and it was also the reason she held her position so firmly.
It didn't matter how long it took.
As long as she could sink her teeth into their neck for sure.
While she was engrossed in these murderous thoughts, the car arrived in front of her house.
“We’ve arrived, miss.”
“Thank you.”
Getting out of the car and entering the house, she came across a father and daughter sitting opposite each other in the living room, having a meal.
“Ah… you’re home? You’re early today.”
Her husband’s awkward greeting.
“…Welcome home.”
Her daughter’s sullen tone, still seeming to hold some complaint against her.
It felt strange.
The sight of the two of them, who rarely saw each other, eating dinner together was utterly unfamiliar.
Was it because she was staring blankly at the dinner table?
He, holding his chopsticks and bent over awkwardly, made an offer.
“Uh… if you haven’t eaten, why don’t you join us? We just sat down.”
“……”
Perhaps because she had been focusing hard on her training, she was quite hungry.
“Alright, then.”
“Oh, okay.”
And so, the dinner for three began.
The only sound was the clinking of utensils.
The only person in this house with a gift for conversation was Son Si-woo.
But he wasn't himself anymore.
The current Son Si-woo wasn't sociable enough to start a conversation in a situation like this.
In the middle of the meal, which continued under a heavy silence.
As Han Ju-hee, having eaten enough, was about to get up, her gaze fell on her husband.
Something was a little strange.
‘Normally, he would have tried to start a conversation about something.’
Today, he was quiet.
No, come to think of it, he’d been strange lately.
They didn't spend much time together during the day, so it was hard to pinpoint exactly what…
‘Something has changed.’
He no longer swung his sword at dawn, nor did he laugh with that easygoing charm.
Did something happen to him?
Or had his mindset, which had never once wavered until now, begun to change?
‘Wait a minute.’
As she was subtly watching him, their eyes met as he looked up from his meal, his head previously bowed low.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
A listless expression and question.
A thought suddenly occurred to her.
‘Could it be…’
The possibility that the person who told Kim Do-jin to ask all those things about her was her own husband?
Her gaze on Son Si-woo narrowed even further.
* * *
I returned home with heavy steps.
When I went downstairs at Jeong-hee’s call for dinner, Shin Yu-jeong was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Yu-jeong?”
“She said she’s studying for the written exam with her teammates.”
“Ah…”
I remembered.
Right, she was supposed to study with Na-eun.
That wasn't a bad idea.
She was the type to get near-perfect scores on the practical exams but always get tripped up by the written ones.
On the other hand, Na-eun, who was strong in written exams, would be a good teacher for her.
Does that mean it’s just Jeong-hee and me in the house tonight…?
When I shot her a suggestive glance, she smiled.
“Let’s have dinner first.”
“Okay.”
Right.
Can’t enjoy the view on an empty stomach.
We quickly finished a dinner of hearty side dishes.
While I was popping the dessert she gave me into my mouth, she finished the dishes, took my hand, and led me to the sofa.
Are we doing it here today?
As I was thinking that, she sat demurely on the sofa, patted her lap, and said.
“Here, lie down.”
“…Lie down?”
“Hurry.”
“……”
Unable to resist her firm pull, I let myself be led and lay down on the sofa, using her lap as a pillow.
“Comfortable?”
“Yeah, it’s comfortable, but… are we not doing it today?”
At that, she asked me back with a prim expression.
“Do-jin, are you only seeing me for sex?”
“No, that’s not it.”
How could she say something so disheartening?
Seeing my crestfallen expression, she smiled as if she’d never said it and stroked my hair.
“This is just right for today.”
“……?”
“Your expression says so, Do-jin.”
My expression? What kind of expression am I making?
“What’s my expression like?”
I asked, raising a hand to touch my face, and she answered with a pitying smile.
“You look tired. You look worn out… and like you have a lot on your mind.”
“……”
I look tired… huh.
My body wasn't tired, but my mind might be.
On the way home, during dinner, and even as she led me by the hand.
Her answer to my question kept replaying in my mind.
How could the title of ‘National Hunter’ have disappointed her?
I just couldn't find the answer.
As I was lost in thought with a frown, Jeong-hee’s hand covered my eyes.
“What worries could have possibly piled up for my Do-jin, who always used to smile so cheerfully?”
Her tone was full of concern for me.
Just having someone ask me what’s wrong in such a worried tone made my heart melt.
When I lifted my head, I saw her large breasts and benevolent face.
I suddenly became curious.
“Jeong-hee.”
“Yes?”
“Um… what if. What if your husband was the National Hunter?”
“The National Hunter… you mean Hunter Son Si-woo?”
“Y-yeah, right. What do you think it would feel like to live with someone like that?”
Not just for Han Ju-hee, but for any woman.
What would a wife with the National Hunter for a husband really feel?
“Hmm… I wonder. What would it feel like?”
Jeong-hee didn't dismiss my random question and gave it serious thought.
After pondering deeply, she finally spoke.
“First, I’d be proud, right? It means my husband is acknowledged by so many people and is giving them hope.”
“Right…?”
Yes. This is the right answer.
As I thought, Han Ju-hee is the strange one…
“But I think I’d also be a little… no, very worried.”
“Worried…?”
“Well, Hunter Son Si-woo goes into dangerous dungeons every day and fights villains to save people, doesn't he?”
“That’s only natural for a Hunter…”
“Do-jin.”
“Yes?”
Wiping the smile from her lips, she continued in a serious tone.
“You can’t just take it for granted because he’s a Hunter. He’s the person I love, isn’t he? If someone like that went to a dangerous place every day, I think… I’d be on pins and needles until I heard news that he was safe.”
Having said that, she asked me back.
“Wouldn’t you feel the same, Do-jin?”
I answered.
“…I suppose so.”
I’m sure… I would.