Housewarming (2): Can I Return as a Hunter?
Return to being a hunter, you say... Grabbing my hand so tightly and looking up at me with those sparkling eyes while asking something like that? That's a bit of a foul, isn't it? Makes it hard to just say no. But I couldn't lie to her either. There was only one answer I could give Yoo Seo-ah.
"No. That's probably impossible."
I had no idea what the future held, but right now, the odds of me returning as a hunter were approaching zero.
"I've only awakened a unique ability. My mana circuit is still shattered."
My mana circuit remained in pieces, just as it was. Hunters are people who wield superhuman abilities using mana. The mana circuit is, as the name suggests, the vessel that holds mana. Hunters strengthen their circuits through training, elixirs, enlightenment, and the like to grow stronger. It's the essential container needed to live as a hunter.
"How could I be a hunter without using mana? Haha."
But mine was smashed to bits. With a body that couldn't store mana anymore, returning as a hunter was obviously out of the question. I'd already retired from the industry a month ago, so I'd come to terms with it. That's why I stated the facts so calmly—hell, even with a chuckle.
"...I'm sorry."
Yoo Seo-ah didn't seem able to take it lightly. She hung her head low, her voice trembling as she apologized to me.
What's with this girl?
"Why are you apologizing, Team Leader?"
"You got hit with the Shattering Curse in my place. If you hadn't thrown yourself in front of me back then..."
Yoo Seo-ah wasn't just trembling in her voice—her whole body was shaking. Right now, she looked like a sandcastle that would crumble at the slightest touch. Even after giving me enough compensation money to buy this house, she was still drowning in guilt.
The mood's totally killed now.
I was sure that if I gently reassured her here, saying it was fine and she didn't need to feel sorry, she'd burst into tears on the spot. I didn't want to deal with that hassle on such a good day. So, I chose firmness over kindness.
"Gal!!!"
"Hik?!"
I furrowed my brows hard and bellowed. Yoo Seo-ah, who had been endlessly fragile, jumped in surprise and lifted her head. Our eyes met naturally—her blue ones staring right into mine. I looked her straight in the eye and continued.
"If I hadn't thrown myself in back then, we'd all be dead. I told you before, right? That was the best choice."
"B-but you did it to protect me..."
"Ehey! What's wrong with you, Team Leader? That choice I made is something I'm proud of. Thanks to me jumping in, both you and I are alive to see each other like this. Why turn it into some pitiful sob story at my funeral with a mad movie montage?"
"Ah, ahh."
Unlike usual, when I snapped at her, Yoo Seo-ah floundered and apologized.
"S-sorry."
"You get it now? That it was rude? Then don't feel guilty about my choices anymore. I think I did the right thing—not the wrong."
"Y-yes... Got it."
I accepted her apology and urged her not to feel sorry. Yoo Seo-ah hunched her shoulders and nodded vigorously at my words.
Even during an admission of fault, doesn't an A-rank hunter need a bit more dignity? How's she gonna survive that brutal hunter world like this?
We'd worked together for four years, so I couldn't help worrying about her in all sorts of ways.
Ugh...
What am I gonna do with this pure-hearted fool?
I didn't want to see her acting all submissive anymore, so I decided not to drag this out.
"That's it. Nothing to be sorry about from either side."
"Y-yes."
Anyway, the shout worked wonders. Yoo Seo-ah, who had looked so precarious moments ago, stopped trembling.
"......"
"......"
But the ruined atmosphere didn't come back. Awkward silence weighed down on our shoulders.
This dead quiet mood is fucking infuriating.
I doubted Yoo Seo-ah would break the silence first in this situation. She was my former team leader, an A-rank hunter, and the benefactor who bought me this house—but it was on me to speak up.
"By the way, Team Leader, how long are you planning to hold my hand?"
"Eh? Oh... Ah, ah?! Sorry!"
At my words, she jolted back and let go. She'd been holding it the whole time since earlier, so I wondered if this was her INFP-style flirting, but her surprise said she'd just forgotten.
Our team leader's always had this airheaded side.
Suddenly, I remembered when we first met. Back then, it was just the two of us on the team. Teaching her back then was fun as hell. Compared to that, she'd grown so much she towered over me no matter how high I craned my neck—but seeing her like this now, it felt like she hadn't changed much.
Yoo Seo-ah was way stronger and greater than me, but watching her strangely stirred my protective instincts. Of course, today would be the last time for that.
"Whew, I'm suddenly starving. Shall we head in and eat?"
"Ah, y-yes!"
Like four years ago when we first met, I led the rigidly obedient Yoo Seo-ah inside the house at last.
Glug glug glug glug glug.
The first thing I did after washing our hands and sitting at the table was fill her glass to the brim with liquor.
"Eh, eh? Jinseong-ssi? Are we drinking right away...?"
"When the mood's weird, you fix it with booze."
She was still sneaking glances at me, gauging my mood. Even after I explained I was fine, she kept it up—it was frustrating, but unavoidable. Unless she straight-up refused the drink.
"Team Leader, do you not want the drink I'm pouring?"
"Ah, no!"
Didn't seem like it. I filled her glass to the brim with red-cap soju, then glanced at her reaction.
"Ahhhh..."
Yeah, clueless. The polite thing is to fill the other person's glass once yours is full, but she didn't know that.
Glug glug glug glug.
Asking her to pour for me felt weird, so I filled my own. As I did, the hesitant Yoo Seo-ah cautiously spoke up.
"Um, Jinseong-ssi, but it's just the two of us here..."
Hm? What're you getting at?
The confusion in my head cleared with her next words.
"And, well, I'm a woman and you're a man..."
"...You worried or something?"
"Pardon? No, I-I trust you, Jinseong-ssi. It's just..."
Yep, worried. Not knowing pour etiquette, mentioning it's just us and the gender difference—she saw this situation as risky.
Hmm, fair enough. Walking into a single guy's house and getting a full glass of soju right away? Normal people would freak.
But that was normal people logic. Our case was different.
"Team Leader, no need to worry."
"Pardon?"
"Even if you get so drunk you pass out, you could smash a guy like me with one finger."
Yoo Seo-ah was an A-rank hunter making waves, while I was a retired normie with a shattered mana circuit. The gap between us made any funny business impossible.
"...Ah."
She got it, her face going blank. But only for a moment—her pale cheeks flushed bright red.
"Ugh, J-Jinseong-ssi. Shall we cheers? No, please cheers with me. I wanna get drunk fast..."
With her cheeks blazing, she begged for a cheers.
"Sure, cheers."
She was so cute I chuckled, clinking my glass against hers.
Clink!
The clear chime started our drinking session.
"Kuhhh..."
"Kya. Good stuff."
It didn't take long for the booze to warm up the mood. We toasted to her joining Cheongmyeong Guild, to conquering the A-rank dungeon Red Oak Garrison, and just kept celebrating wildly until we were buzzed.
Tongue finally loose, Yoo Seo-ah—red from neck to crown—slurred at me.
"U, uu, Jinseong-ssiii. Thish ish my firsht time gettin' drunk..."
"Whew. Really? At twenty-four, you've never been wasted before? Why?"
"Cuz of youuu!"
"Me? How's it my fault?"
"Cuz, cuzuu! Cuz you never drank with meee!"
Looking super aggrieved, she clenched her fists and shook them up and down. Her massive tits jiggled violently in sync—brutal. Just watching made my mind go blank with that insane motion.
Staring dazedly, a light thwack hit my forehead.
"Ah."
"Why no sorry? You gotta say shorry for bad stuff!"
"Pardon? Oh, sorry."
Too obvious? Shit, am I screwed? What if she reports me for eye-rape or something?
"Heehee, ish fine. Cuz yer drinkin' with me now..."
Ah, not about the tits. Phew.
Come to think of it, we'd had team dinners, but never boozed together. The other team members always refused parties with me, saying it ruined the vibe. So our team of four years never had a proper drinking session. I didn't mind skipping drinks with those assholes, but apparently our team leader felt differently.
Felt kinda bad for neglecting her the past four years. But apologizing would just spiral into infinite sorrys with her personality: I'd say sorry, she'd counter with "No, I'm more sorry," I'd say "Nah, I'm sorrier," and loop forever. Didn't want that, so I just downed the rest of my glass instead.
Gulp.
"Huuu. Body's so hottt. Feels like floatin'..."
"That's how getting drunk feels."
"Reallly... Feels gooood, ehehhehe."
"Doesn't mean overdo it."
"Pffhee... Worryin' bout me? Ah, right! I got a questionnn!"
Grinning drunkenly, she clapped and stared at me.
"This thing on my chesht, you shaid it was yer unique ability, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wha' kinda ability?"
She pointed to the temporary access pass on her chest, asking about my unique ability. No secret, so I answered casually.
"It's called Safe House. Turns this house into a safe haven and protects members."
That was all I knew about my Safe House unique ability. Details unlocked with new members. And the first one I'd earmarked was still a month out from the dungeon.
Guess I'll wait. Might as well make it work.
"Wooow... Shounds nice..."
As I inwardly grumbled about Safe House, she said something weird.
"Pardon? What's nice?"
"Gettin' protected by youuu..."
"That's what you like?"
"Yessh... A looot."
An A-rank hunter saying she liked being protected by a normie like me? Weird words, but I didn't hate hearing them. Honestly, it felt good. Geom-hwa Yoo Seo-ah needing me? Awesome.
Buzzed and in a great mood, my mouth moved on its own.
"Then, Team Leader, wanna be the first member of my safe house?"
"Eh? Fer realsh?"
I'd never considered her as the first member. But saying it out loud, it didn't sound half bad.
"Of course. I was gonna pick someone trustworthy anyway. Who better than you? Symbol of trust."
I nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"H-hueeng. Th-thanksh, Jinseong-ssiii..."
"Whoa? Crying? Why?"
"Cuz I'm thankfuuul."
With her tongue twisted from booze, bawling her thanks—she was ridiculously cute. Hard to believe this was the hotshot Geom-hwa Yoo Seo-ah everyone raved about.
"Hahaha! Cryin' cuz yer thankful. You're fucking adorable, Team Leader."
Couldn't hold back the laughter. She cried for a while, I laughed, we polished off three more bottles of red-cap, and our session ended.