Chapter 164: Two People Trying to Understand
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Two People Trying to Understand
With a sharp cracking sound, the explosion began to crumble into dust at my fingertips and disappear.
What the hell.
A look of bewilderment crossed my face.
I’d never imagined my ability could erase an explosion.
But the dimensional entity was even more stunned than I was.
Perhaps because it possessed intelligence, its emotions were clearly visible on its face, despite its insectoid appearance.
The moment I realized this, I didn't miss the opening and reached out my hand.
The entity, realizing the danger of my touch, tried to pull back in a hurry, but it was too late.
Fzzt!
With red sparks coiling around my body, I accelerated, and my hand was already on its body.
Crack—!
The instant my hand made contact, its entire body began to fracture, starting from the point of contact, before shattering into pieces.
Watching the obliterated dimensional entity, I caught my breath.
I looked down at my own hand.
I knew my ability was effective against dimensional entities, but I never thought it would work on something like an explosion.
The entity’s expression in its final moments, as if it were accepting death, reminded me once again that it was an intelligent life form, but I turned my attention to Baeksan instead.
I was hoping he might know something about the effects of my ability.
When I looked at Baeksan, his eyes were wide open too.
“Kang Ha-chan, you…”
His reaction was one of complete disbelief, as if he never thought I could do something like that.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to respond, I heard voices from behind me.
“Woah!”
“As expected of an SS-rank hunter!”
Exclamations of awe erupted from the hunters.
I decided against asking Baeksan my question and stopped myself from scratching the back of my head.
A jolt of pain shot through my hand when I touched it.
It seemed I needed to get treatment before anything else.
“Baeksan.”
I called out to Heuksan, and she stared at me quietly.
“Sorry to ask, but please don't tell the others about what happened today.”
If they found out about this, I’d definitely get an earful.
Hearing my words, Heuksan looked at me with an expression of disbelief.
“…You’re worried about that in a situation like this?”
“Well, I don’t want to make them worry.”
“Hah, do whatever you want.”
After saying that, Baeksan turned and walked away. I spoke with the hunters for a moment before heading to the hospital.
*
4
After arriving at the hospital, I received treatment first.
When I asked the hunters to keep this a secret, they had nodded eagerly.
I’d even told them they could take credit for handling this dimensional gate.
It would be a headache for me if rumors started spreading that an SS-rank hunter actually existed.
Of course, people talk.
It wasn't a promise that was easily kept.
[I can’t even. You got hurt again. Worrying about you is going to be the death of me, Ha-chan!]
And just like that, I was on the phone with Seol-hyang, getting a lecture.
I had completely forgotten about Eunhyeon, who was watching over me even when I didn't say anything.
So asking Heuksan to keep it a secret was pointless.
Though, thanks to Seol-hyang, I was getting treated at the best hospital.
“Sorry, I’ll be more careful.”
[Hah… so the one you met this time was that intelligent dimensional entity, right?]
“I’m sure of it.”
I said with conviction.
Judging by its final actions, it was definitely a dimensional entity with proper intelligence.
As soon as she heard my answer, Seol-hyang made a contemplative sound.
[Alright. And Baeksan?]
“She’s right here. Want me to put her on?”
I looked ahead, and Heuksan was standing there in a leather jacket with her arms crossed.
She had been staring out the window with a look of disinterest, but she seemed to feel my gaze and turned to look at me.
“What are you looking at?”
So prickly.
[It’s fine. You don’t have to. We can talk at home later.]
“Okay.”
[Don’t get hurt, and make sure you take all your medicine. Seriously, don’t make my heart ache like this. Got it?]
“Yeah, I’ll take it.”
I answered Seol-hyang several times, reassuring her.
She just sighed once more.
After hearing another warning to be careful, I ended the call and walked over to Heuksan.
“Baeksan, shall we head back?”
“…”
Hearing my suggestion, she just stared at me.
“…You.”
Heuksan pushed herself off the wall, her glare fixed on me as she spoke.
“What on earth were you thinking back there?”
I tilted my head at her question.
“What do you mean, what was I thinking?”
“I’m talking about you protecting those guys.”
She looked at me as if she couldn't understand.
Seeing that, I tilted my head again.
“Is it so strange to protect them?”
“Why?”
“Well, because they looked like they were in danger.”
Heuksan and I stared at each other for a moment.
Our eyes met, both filled with a sense of mutual incomprehension.
“…”
We remained silent for a while before we started moving.
We decided to just head back for now.
As I started driving the car, she, sitting next to me, spoke up.
“…I don’t understand you.”
“You mean about saving those people earlier?”
“Yes.”
Looking at her, so deeply afflicted with a distrust of humans, I made a right turn and said, “Has that been bothering you this whole time?”
“…I always thought that kind of thing was just an act.”
Hearing her say it was an act, I glanced at Baeksan, who was sitting in the back, through the rearview mirror.
Baeksan, whose eyes I met in the mirror, clicked his tongue.
His eyes, as he looked at Heuksan, were filled with the disdain one has for their own pathetic past self.
Seeing that, I stopped at a red light.
“But you didn’t feel like it was an act this time?”
“I did think it was an act.”
Heuksan said, leaning her head back against the seat.
“…I thought you were trying to show me something intentionally.”
Her words made me feel the full weight of her distrust for humanity.
Even though I’d acted without any ulterior motive, that’s how it appeared in her eyes.
“But it was obvious you’d never met those guys before.”
Heuksan clicked her tongue, looking confused.
“…And seeing you get scolded by your sister, it was hard to see it as intentional.”
I let out a bitter laugh at that.
“Besides, even if you were intentionally trying to show me something, it didn't seem like you had anything to gain from it. You’re stronger than me, after all. I don’t understand what you would get out of doing that.”
Nothing to gain.
She was right about that.
Just as I had no hidden motive, no matter how much Heuksan thought about it, she couldn't find an answer.
“It’s not like I do that for just anyone.”
“…It’s not?”
“I only help people who are right in front of me, or people I know. That’s about all I’m capable of.”
Heuksan looked at me for a moment before turning her head back to the window.
“…The world is in this state because there are so few people like that.”
“I thought it was a pretty decent place to live.”
“It must be, since you live surrounded by women.”
I couldn’t exactly laugh at that.
“Don’t put it like that. Everyone has their own circumstances.”
Grrrrowl—
I flinched at the sound that came as I was making a U-turn.
When I turned my head, Heuksan was staring intently out the window, refusing to look my way.
I could see the back of her ears had turned bright red.
She must have been embarrassed that it happened in the middle of a serious conversation.
“There’s a hamburger joint up ahead. Want to get some?”
“…Yeah.”
Looks like we were having hamburgers today.
*
4
Several days had passed since I started spending time with Heuksan.
Ever since that day, Heuksan had started looking at me strangely more often.
It seemed she was observing me, unable to comprehend me at all.
It was a strange feeling, like being an animal in a zoo.
Still, her abrasiveness seemed to have lessened, just a tiny bit, recently.
The only thing that worried me was that she often got lost in her own thoughts, but there was nothing I could do about that.
“Baeksan, am I doing the right thing?”
“Probably.”
Hearing Baeksan’s words, I fiddled with the back of my hair.
Baeksan sighed and added, “Just keep doing what you’re doing. She’s started to question things, so even if she can’t understand it with her head yet, she’ll gradually get better.”
I finally felt a sense of relief at his words.
If Baeksan said so, then things must be going well.
Right, it’s the weekend.
I looked at the clock.
I wasn’t with Heuksan today.
Seol-hyang had also said she was taking the day off, so I figured she was probably with Heuksan right now.
The reason I wasn’t with Heuksan today was because I had someone else to meet.
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
Hearing the sound, I walked to the door, and a voice came through.
Knock, knock-knock, knock-knock!
“Do you wanna build a snowman~?”
A playful voice accompanied the knocking.
This girl, honestly.
When I approached and opened the door, Ahyu was standing there with her small fists raised, wearing a hat and a mask pulled down low.
The moment she saw me, she took them off, a wide smile spreading across her face.
She always covered her face when she went outside, but with me, she always showed it like this.
“Domi-oppa, your girlfriend is here! Aren't you happy to see me? Aren't you?”
“Yeah, I’m very happy. It’s good to see you, even though we played games together just yesterday.”
“Heehee, me too!”
At my words, Ahyu excitedly threw her arms around me in a hug.
She was holding something in her hands.
Looking closely, I saw it was a grocery bag.
“What’s all this?”
“To make something delicious for my oppa, of course.”
My eyes widened at her words.
It made sense, since no one had ever done something like this for me before.
“Heehee, are you touched?”
My expression must have given it away, because Ahyu smiled at me. I cupped her cheeks.
“Yeah, this really got me.”
When I said I was touched, Ahyu’s eyes widened just like mine, and then her expression softened into a gentle smile.
“Hee, heeheehee.”
Laughing like a fool.
“Come on in. It’s cold.”
I led Ahyu into my apartment.
As she walked inside, Ahyu glanced around my room here and there.
She looked like she was sightseeing, which made me laugh.
“Why are you staring so hard at someone else’s room? Are you a pervert?”
“I was just checking to see if you were keeping it clean, you know?”
From what I could tell, Ahyu didn’t seem very skilled at housework, but I just nodded and told her to look all she wanted.
“The kitchen’s here, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Just wait a little bit! I’ll make you something delicious!”
Still, she looked so happy just at the thought of cooking for me. It was really cute.
Looking around, I saw that Baeksan was already gone.
He probably saw the situation and decided to make himself scarce.
For that reason, I always felt a little sorry toward him.
Just then, I heard the bustling sounds of Ahyu starting to cook.
She was even wearing an apron she must have brought with her.
My girlfriend in an apron.
The scene looked like something I’d only ever seen online, and a short, incredulous laugh escaped me.