Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Words I Want to Say (1)
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“Jun-hyuk!”
Choi Yu-ra, who had received my message, visited the cafe after a long time.
She must not have gotten proper sleep while preparing for Gate Breaks at the guild every day, but her complexion was no different from usual.
“Long time no see.”
In a word, she was still pretty and full of vitality.
Of course, as someone with enhancement skills and an S-Rank Hunter, her physical specs would surpass any other hunter's, so it was natural that a few sleepless nights wouldn't show.
“Have a seat. I'll get your coffee.”
“Okay.”
After bringing out her usual drink and cake, I sat across from her.
“So, Go Jin-yo came by? What does that mean?”
“Well...”
I'd organized what to say while she was on her way.
So the explanation came smoothly.
“You counseled her just like you did for me.”
“Yes.”
Of course, I didn't tell her the whole truth.
That Go Jin-yo, or Lee Seo-yeon, had come to me to get revenge on Yu-ra.
That I'd persuaded her, counseled her on life.
And that in the end, she'd repented, deleted her channel, decided to live a good life, and our connection had ended there.
But today, she came to the cafe and said she'd keep coming.
“As for the Hypnosis... no way.”
It wasn't that I didn't trust Yu-ra.
I just couldn't tell her because we were close, and I wanted to get even closer.
“This is the power to manipulate people's emotions.”
If I told her that.
She might suspect if her current fondness for me was due to Hypnosis.
Even if we got past that, if we became lovers, unlike fairy tales with happy endings.
There would be days we fought while living together, and if my emotions calmed her down then.
Wouldn't she suspect I was using Hypnosis to control her?
“I'll never use it like that.”
Better to keep it secret than face suspicion.
I felt disgusted with myself for being such a coward.
But I wanted to be with Yu-ra even more, so I decided on this.
“...”
Yu-ra stared at me intently.
I couldn't tell what she was thinking, which made me a bit scared, but her smile soon after brought relief.
“You really are kind, Jun-hyuk. Lee Seo-yeon, right? You said she came to you for revenge against me?”
“Yes.”
“That means she planned to harm you. And you counseled her anyway. Even...”
I didn't need to hear the rest to understand.
I'd guided her that way myself, but even I was surprised by the change.
“...”
The prologue-like story ended.
Yu-ra fell silent, perhaps organizing her thoughts, looking out the window at the city instead of meeting my eyes.
What was she thinking?
Her expression was unusual, unlike when we first met.
A moment later, she finally spoke.
“Jun-hyuk.”
“Yes.”
“I don't mind. Whether you meet Lee Seo-yeon or become friends, it doesn't bother me.”
“But with you, Yu-ra...”
“That story's already over. She apologized on WhyTube, and I got a separate apology email.”
Was it really over just like that?
Wouldn't anyone hold a grudge even after an apology in that situation?
“And I'm grateful to her, actually. Thanks to her, I met you.”
Ah, that was the reason.
But it still felt like something was missing for full understanding.
“You don't seem convinced.”
“Well, I saw how distressed you were myself.”
“Hmm, keep saying that, and I might want to tease you a bit? Ah!”
She laughed.
“You said she hasn't found a job yet, right? I thought of something fun.”
It was brighter than any smile I'd seen from her.
Too bright.
It felt like she was hiding her expression.
“I'll come again tomorrow.”
＊＊＊
‘Heh heh.’
Lee Seo-yeon, who visited the cafe again today, wore a triumphant expression.
To forget yesterday's humiliation from that invisible hand, she'd prepared a lot.
‘Today, I'll show him my cool side!’
The moment she entered the cafe like that, she ran into someone she thought she'd never see in her lifetime.
“!?”
A red-haired woman sitting in the corner.
Someone she could never forget even if she tried—the main reason she'd regained her current life.
S-Rank Hunter Choi Yu-ra was here.
‘Ah, right...’
Only then did Lee Seo-yeon remember that Yoo Jun-hyuk's lover was Choi Yu-ra.
They say emotions blind you and narrow your vision?
She'd kidnapped him for that reason in the first place, but she'd completely forgotten!
‘No. It's too early to give up!’
There's that trashy saying about scoring even without a goalkeeper.
But in this era, it wasn't trash anymore.
‘If she allows it, I can date him too, right?’
Yoo Jun-hyuk had only focused on becoming a hunter.
So he was surprisingly lacking in social knowledge.
Including his views on polygamy.
‘Jun-hyuk would definitely date multiple women.’
The reason he dismissed polygamy as nominal was men's lust.
As a man of this era with low libido, and before getting skills himself, he'd naturally held that bias.
But that was only half true.
Ordinary men, especially those with ordinary partners, were as he thought.
But men with hunters or heroes as lovers mostly practiced polygamy.
Not because the men wanted it, but because the women did.
‘Especially if his lover is Choi Yu-ra.’
The reason was simple.
The probability of a hunter dying on the job before retirement: 42%.
For a hero: 31%.
Such high mortality in dangerous jobs meant women pushed for polygamy even if men refused.
Someone to be with their husband in case they died.
If they could know who beforehand through polygamy, they could die in peace.
Thus, polygamy wasn't just a law.
It was a social custom born from women's protective instincts and maternal love for cherishing men.
‘Whew, let's go! Don't chicken out!’
Steel-ing herself, Lee Seo-yeon strode confidently to the counter.
“I'm back. One iced Americano, please.”
“Sure.”
They call iced Americanos 'a-as,' right?
Feeling proud of her research, she took her drink and sat down.
‘But isn't he too formal with me just because I have a lover?’
She'd approached him friendly yesterday.
He hadn't lost interest in her act, had he?
As she grew a bit anxious, someone sat across from her.
“Mind if I sit here?”
“!?”
It was Choi Yu-ra, who had been sitting elsewhere moments ago.
‘W-what, suddenly!?’
Startled, Lee Seo-yeon trembled.
Worried if she'd figured out her identity, but she realized there was no need to panic.
‘No one knows who I am now. No reason to feel guilty.’
But what if.
What if Jun-hyuk had figured out she was Go Jin-yo and told her?
She'd sent the apology email, but it was ignored as worthless, and now she was here to warn her not to approach her lover?
Her pounding heart calmed at Choi Yu-ra's gentle voice.
“Are you Lee Seo-yeon?”
“Y-yes!”
“I heard from Jun-hyuk. You do security consulting, right? Our guild needs manpower for security lately. He said you haven't found work yet.”
“Huh?”
“Want to give it a try?”
“N-no, why ask me... You don't even know my skills yet...”
“We can check your skills there. And isn't this fate? We're both regulars at the same cafe.”
What should she do?
Honestly, Lee Seo-yeon had no better opportunity.
Working at Millennium Guild would let her show off to Jun-hyuk and earn big money.
“But does Millennium Guild do security work?”
“Not the guild itself, but affiliated conglomerates need intelligence skill awakeners. They excel at security.”
“Ah, collaboration.”
What should she do?
The dilemma was brief.
“Yes.”
Just impressing Jun-hyuk wouldn't make her his lover.
She'd probably need permission from the woman in front of her too.
“I'll do it.”
So she'd score points with Choi Yu-ra this time.
Reveal her identity when the moment was right to ease her burden.
Then, after gaining approval, become Jun-hyuk's girlfriend!
“Please take care of me!”
“Likewise.”
＊＊＊
‘Take care my ass!’
Today marked three days since Lee Seo-yeon joined Millennium Guild.
Just three days, but she hadn't slept a wink.
“W-why is there so much work!”
The initial skill test hadn't been too bad.
There was work, but she finished it quickly with her skills.
[...Not bad. You pass.]
Passing coolly was great.
And starting work that same day, nodding happily at the recognition of her skills, was fine too.
“Ugh...”
The problem was the hell that followed.
Finish one task, and more poured in.
Not from one place, but countless companies, so she felt swept in an endless wave of work.
“I want to sleep...”
But she couldn't quit.
She'd use this chance to become a woman worthy of Jun-hyuk.
And gain Choi Yu-ra's approval!
“Hup! Let's go! Fight!”
Now chugging energy drinks instead of coffee, she pulled two more all-nighters.
An ordinary woman would've collapsed from overwork long ago.
But as an awakener, even with manipulation skills, her stamina outdid normals.
She'd held on so far.
“D-done...”
She barely finished and collapsed on the desk, passing out.
While Lee Seo-yeon slept, Choi Yu-ra got the report and said flatly.
“Got it. She's done? Good work.”
Hanging up, she looked out the window.
Seoul's nightscape was beautiful, but her eyes shook endlessly.
“She's got unexpected grit.”
She opened a door in the corner.
As an S-Rank Hunter, she had her own private room in the guild, complete with a bedroom.
She sat on the luxurious, hotel-like bed.
But its softness.
The room's splendor.
Worthless to her.
“Haa...”
Anxiety filled her chest.
Choi Yu-ra recalled what the guild master told her recently.
[An EX-Rank Gate will open soon.]
The frequent Gate Breaks blaring on TV.
Not guaranteed to herald an EX-Rank Gate, but when it did, it was thunder from a clear sky.
[All S-Rank Hunters in Korea must attend mandatory.]
And she was required to join the EX-Rank Gate elimination operation.
[...Sorry.]
The guild master's apology.
EX-Rank Gates had high hunter mortality.
Especially enhancement skill users like her, often frontline.
In unknown monster EX-Gates, they took first hits.
Rushed enemies first.
Mortality always topped charts.
“...95.8%.”
Frontline EX-Gate death rate.
Even survivors mostly retired from severe injuries or couldn't live normally.
“Why now...”
She feared death.
Hunters lived near death, but effort covered it.
EX-Gates were different.
Stats proved S-Rank Hunters like her died regardless of talent or effort.
“Haa...”
Yet Choi Yu-ra wouldn't run.
As hunter and hero.
She couldn't allow deaths and crushed hopes from her flight.
“Is this the end?”
Worse than death was Yoo Jun-hyuk.
She'd steeled for death, but their budding romance felt regrettable.
If she died like this, how sad would he be?
“He'd be sad. He's kind.”
So kind he'd counseled Go Jin-yo, Lee Seo-yeon, helped her live better.
Thinking of Lee Seo-yeon furrowed Choi Yu-ra's brow.
“But Jun-hyuk, having feelings for her already. Too much.”
A while back, when all three were at the cafe.
Choi Yu-ra noticed Jun-hyuk's gaze on Lee Seo-yeon.
Half of what he gave her? No, less, but definite fondness.
“Not a fan.”
Not liking it.
But she'd introduced her to a Millennium Guild job as a 'candidate.'
And contacted connected conglomerates to dump work on her to torment a bit.
“Should've found better candidates if time allowed.”
Never dreamed she'd endure.
“He'll handle the rest. Jun-hyuk would...”
He could find better women than her anytime.
“...”
Choi Yu-ra.
She already sensed death.
Not resolve—resignation, as nothing changed.
“A bit... greedy, maybe...”
So.
Despite Gate Breaks, she'd made time for the cafe.
Hoped he'd forget her, stayed away a while.
“Selfish, maybe...”
Aside from becoming strong as hunter.
Choi Yu-ra was selfish for once.
“Don't want it to end like this.”
She called the guild master.
“Guild master, can I take tomorrow off?”
-Suddenly why?
“Someone I want to see.”
-...Yeah. Got it.
He knew what it meant in this time better than anyone.
Millennium's guild master approved silently.
“...”
Approval granted, Choi Yu-ra messaged Jun-hyuk.
[Tomorrow's Friday night. Want to grab drinks if you're free?]
Moments later, reply.
[Sure.]
Should be joyful.
But it stabbed like a dagger, chest aching.
“Sorry.”
Selfish woman.
“But I like you too much. So...”
Don't forgive me.
“Want to be with you one last time.”
With a face about to cry.
Choi Yu-ra closed the message window.