The Secretary's Invitation
"At this rate, we might actually turn into a famous restaurant… that's what worries me."
Filming was done, so I closed up shop early as a little gesture of employee welfare. Yujin had changed back into her regular clothes. She wiped the sweat from my face with a handkerchief as she spoke.
"We'll get more famous, sure. But we'll actually end up with fewer customers."
"Fewer?"
"Yes. They just paid ten million won, five million won. That's going to scare people off. And if it weren't for Shion, we wouldn't have gotten a flattering TV appearance anyway."
"Korea's full of rich people."
Yujin straightened my tie, then went so far as to smooth out the wrinkles in my suit.
"If this were a restaurant, they'd come. But it's just a noodle shop. They won't."
"That so?"
"Yes."
"Yujin. You don't have to do all this."
"Please speak informally with me."
She was even retying my shoelaces. I'd been treated like a half-emperor in my previous life, so it had taken me a while to notice, but… this woman was overdoing it.
I waved her off, awkward.
"I'll drop the formalities, fine. I was already uncomfortable as it is. But don't go this far. People are going to get the wrong idea."
"…I'm not just a part-timer, you know."
"Huh?"
Yujin smiled quietly.
"I'm your secretary, and your bodyguard. Of course, with your abilities, you hardly need protection. But even S-rank Hunters hire bodyguards these days. They don't want to waste energy on petty things."
"Why do I feel like this is the first I'm hearing of it?"
"I thought it over during my vacation. What I could actually do to help you. My conclusion was: I'll do everything I can."
The last light of the day caught her. The way it fell across her face was almost seductive, and my mind started drifting toward some rather unsavory places……
No. Wrong direction.
"Yujin."
"Yes."
I shoved my hands in my pockets and lifted my chin with all the arrogance I could muster.
"A normal person would turn you down. I'm not going to."
I mixed it with a half-joke. But it wasn't entirely a joke. If I had to choose between playing the good guy and being the bastard, being the bastard suited my temperament far better.
Yujin grinned, as if she'd known I would say exactly that.
"I was going to do it even if you refused. Of course, I also knew that with your personality, you wouldn't refuse."
The flow of this conversation was a little strange, but it amounted to the same thing either way.
I nodded.
"I like that initiative. Secretary, huh. I can only pay you minimum wage."
"…I don't care about the money."
"Then that's a yes? Looking forward to working with you."
I grinned and held out my hand. Yujin took it. I felt a little like a villain.
It felt amazing.
"Oppa. I told you not to just dump your trash anywhere."
"And put your clothes in the washing machine. It's not that hard."
"Ugh, Han Seonghun…! Stop walking around in nothing but your underwear!"
I wilted.
I'd come home all puffed up with swagger, but the moment I stepped through the door, my standing dropped below that of a henpecked husband.
I scratched my head and sprawled out on the couch. Tomorrow was the golden weekend — the one day of the week the shop was closed.
I was all set to be as lazy as humanly possible and watch some TV, except the remote was all the way over there.
I glanced over at Chaewon. My little sister was doing the dishes in a cute pink set of pajamas.
Those were the house rules. I cooked. Chaewon did the dishes, the laundry, and the cleaning.
The division of labor was a little lopsided, admittedly. She handled most of the housework. (She also cooked Friday dinners and weekend breakfasts. They were terrible.)
If I posted this on some women's university forum they'd call me a pig and a relic, but they could go fuck themselves.
I was pretty much the last man left in this era who still had any masculinity. I had no intention of yielding an inch.
"Chaewon."
"Hm?"
"Pass me the remote."
"Ugh… you could just get up and grab it yourself. I'm doing the dishes."
She grumbled, but she picked up the remote and handed it over. I nodded to myself.
See? Best-trained little sister in the country.
I flipped through the channels, and a good movie came on. One of those films people called a masterpiece.
Luck like this?
It happened to be exactly the movie I'd been wanting to watch. I tried to focus, but the fluorescent lights blazing overhead were killing the mood.
I stared at Chaewon without a word. My sister was humming to herself as she washed the dishes.
"Chaewon."
"What?"
She answered the moment I called.
I yawned and pointed at the lights.
"Turn the lights off."
"You do it."
"I'm too lazy. Please. Do this one thing and I won't bother you anymore."
"Ugh… seriously."
In the end, Chaewon even turned off the lights. I could feel the irritation in her footsteps.
"Hey. Han Chaewon."
"Say one more word. I won't let it slide this time."
Chaewon cracked her eyes open into slits and glared at me. One more request and she was going to explode.
Can't let that stop me.
Tell a human being not to do something and they want to do it even more. Especially someone with antisocial tendencies like me. I physically could not let this go.
"Go make me some perfectly chewy rice, you brat."
That night, I got kicked out of the house.
"Yujin."
Kicked out in my pajamas, I trudged down the empty street. I could've just asked her to let me back in and she would have opened the door immediately, but since I was already out, I figured I might as well take a walk.
I hung up and slipped the phone into my pocket. The evening air was a little chilly.
I thought back to what had just happened. Even I had to admit it had been a spectacularly punchable piece of asshole behavior. And yet the corners of my mouth kept climbing, higher and higher, like they didn't know there was a ceiling. I couldn't stop grinning.
How long had I waited for this ordinary, peaceful(?) daily life.
This is good. Let's just keep it this way.
I was in no position to talk, having just been thrown out of my own house, but this was how Chaewon and I had always been.
I'd lost that original resolve to treat her with nothing but kindness. If anything, I'd started to feel that it made her uncomfortable.
I am never repeating the stupid shit I pulled in my last life.
I was satisfied with the way things were now. A comfortable enough environment to take proper care of Chaewon. And a perfectly decent, ordinary sibling relationship.
If I could just maintain this, I wouldn't ask for anything more.
But the world isn't going to leave us alone. Living as a Hunter is harder than people think.
I sat on a bench in the park near Yujin's place, crossed my legs, and thought.
How do I keep her safe without revealing who I am? How do I take care of my sister without blowing my cover?
There were still three years left, technically.
Academy life was grueling, but it wasn't dangerous. In my previous life, Chaewon had graduated just fine even in an environment that was basically neglect.
The problem was what came after graduation.
I should start preparing now…
Nothing useful came to mind. The most promising option was making the people around her stronger.
Yoo Sia, for instance — she already knew my identity. Helping her grow was the most stable approach. Sia knew how to keep her mouth shut, she had the talent, and she was closer to Chaewon than anyone.
Should I train Sia a bit?
You didn't become an S-rank Hunter overnight just by awakening. You had to claw your way there through blood, sweat, and growth. Every S-rank Hunter alive had gone through that process.
Except me, of course, with my instant-death skill.
Might as well give her some real combat experience while I'm at it.
Sia had the Absolute Shield, and I'd be with her, so there wouldn't be any real danger. Academy field training was a tutorial, if you thought of it like a game.
It was about time I showed her the real thing.
"Oppa, look at that guy. I think he got kicked out of his house."
"Shh. He's a lunatic. Just pretend you don't see him."
I looked around. At some point, a couple had sat down on the other end of the bench.
I can hear all of that, you know.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Right on cue, Yujin walked up to the bench in a comfortable tracksuit. The outfit was plain, but there was no hiding those striking features.
Clothes make the person?
Complete bullshit.
Fashion starts with the face.
"Nah. Perfect timing, actually."
The guy who'd been talking trash just a second ago was now staring at me with a look of pure resentment.
This is how life works, pal.
I flashed a grin and mouthed the words.
Good luck.
A moment later, I heard from behind me: "You were looking at that woman just now, weren't you."
Happy ending, I guess?
Thanks to Yujin, my shoulders went up a notch.
"Oh my god, boss… you actually got kicked out in your pajamas?"
"Yeah, well. That's what happened."
I smiled, a little awkwardly. I was a shop owner, technically. Being seen like this was mildly embarrassing.
"If you walk around dressed like that you'll catch a cold. Let's go inside."
"I don't catch those."
My body wasn't a civilian's. I didn't get colds. And if any other disease showed up, I could just instantly kill it.
"Still, let's go indoors. Just in case."
"I'm fine."
"I'm your secretary. Managing your condition is part of my job. Please let me help."
Yujin's expression was resolute. I was inclined to go along with her, generally speaking, but…
"Walking into a building dressed like this is a bit much."
Me, in pajamas. I didn't care, but I had to consider Yujin, who would be walking in with me.
"That's true."
Yujin nodded in understanding, then opened her mouth.
"Then let's go to my place."
"Your place?"
"Yes."
"Right now?"
I stared at her, startled.
"Please make yourself comfortable."
I perched gingerly on the sofa, my heart doing something unhelpful. I'd followed her to her apartment in a daze, but now that I was here—
What is this situation, exactly?
I'd called Yujin for a casual walk. And now I was being invited into her home?
Yuri would be here, too.
"Yuri's out for her regular checkup."
Had she heard me thinking? Yujin's voice drifted in from the kitchen, accompanied by the clink of dishes.
Is this what I think it is?
No question. Letting a man into your apartment late in the evening, when you were alone.
…A green light?
Well, someone as handsome and impressive as me was plenty worth falling for. Still, being invited over this suddenly was a little disorienting.
"I haven't cleaned, so it might be a bit messy."
…This is messy?
The place was so immaculately organized it looked like a model home. I ran a finger across the table. Not a speck of dust, as expected.
"…Nice place."
"Thank you."
Yujin came out of the kitchen and handed me a cup of warm coffee, smiling softly. She looked like she'd stepped out of a coffee commercial.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."
"If you need anything, just say so."
She sat down beside me, naturally, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
"……"
An awkward silence settled over the room. I tried to think of something to say and came up empty. This was the first time I'd been in a private space of Yujin's like this.
I kept sipping at the coffee for lack of anything better to do.
"This is a first for me."
Yujin was the one who broke the silence.
"What is?"
"Having a man in my home."
I'd gotten this impression before, but Yujin didn't seem to have any dating experience, despite how she looked. They said that when a woman was too beautiful, men actually wouldn't approach her.
Not a word of that was wrong.
"Then why'd you let me in?"
"You're my boss. I didn't want to leave you out in the cold."
"That so?"
Not very honest, was she.
Why couldn't she just say she liked me?
"Come by whenever you like. Yuri says she wants to see you too. And I cook a little, you know. I'll make you something good."
"Fine by me. I like cooking, but I also like eating good food."
"Then shall I make you a simple dessert, at least?"
"Right now?"
"Yes. I get to eat those special noodles of yours all the time. I wanted to return the favor somehow."
The "special noodles" Yujin was talking about were probably the ones that raised her stats. She worked at the noodle shop, but her real profession was Hunter.
Making the people around me stronger would make my own life easier down the line. I'd been consistently giving Yujin noodles laced with elixir.
"I'll just take the thought for today."
I'd eaten not that long ago, after all.
"Alright. Whenever you like, just say the word."
I thanked her and glanced at the clock on the wall. More than thirty minutes had already slipped by.
Time to head back.
Chaewon would be worried. She'd thrown me out, sure, but by now she'd be feeling guilty about it.
My little sister had a good heart.
It definitely wasn't because I was afraid that if I stayed at Yujin's too long, I wouldn't want to leave.
I rose slowly from the sofa.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah. My sister might be worrying."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Yujin's face. But as if it had never been there, she smiled brightly.
"Call me whenever you need anything."
Beep-beep-beep!
"Oppa's home."
Chaewon came barreling toward me like a puppy.
"Oppa, you didn't get rained on, did you? I told you to get out and you actually left… I was so worried."
The moment I'd tried to leave Yujin's place, a sudden downpour had hit, so she'd driven me home. I hadn't caught a single drop.
She's feeling plenty guilty, I see.
The way she couldn't even meet my eyes told me she was reflecting, in her own way. That dejected look of hers was pretty cute, too.
"I was about to go out and find you, actually."
Chaewon was bundled up tight in a raincoat. She'd probably been worried I'd get soaked.
I considered teasing her, then decided against it. I'd been in the wrong earlier, too.
"I didn't get wet. Don't worry."
I took off my shoes and stepped inside, as if to put her at ease.
"I'll make you ramyeon instead."
I froze on the spot and said, a little too quickly:
"No! I'm good! I ate not that long ago."
I felt bad saying it, but Chaewon's cooking was atrocious. When she boiled a single pack of ramyeon, the result was less "broth" and more "the Hangang River" — no, Niagara Falls. And it didn't even come out red. It came out gray. That should tell you everything.
"No, I'm making it. Sit down. I feel bad."
Cold sweat ran down my forehead.
"I was hungry so I bought a triangle kimbap. I really can't eat anything else. I'll take the thought, though."
Chaewon nodded, looking like she had no choice.
"Yeah? If you're going to put it like that, okay."
I live another day.
I let out a silent sigh of relief. I'd promised to fully support whatever Chaewon wanted to do. But if she ever said she wanted to be a chef, I would talk her out of it with everything I had.
Chaewon smiled sweetly and looked at me.
"Oppa. Where were you, though?"
"Me? Just out for a walk."
Chaewon's cheeks puffed up.
"Liar."
Then she came right up to me and started sniffing.
"You smell like women's perfume."
"Huh?"
"Oppa. You didn't go meet some girl while you were out, did you?"
"I did not."
"Liar."
Chaewon huffed, turned her head, and stomped into her room with a bang.
I'm fucked.
I swallowed dryly.
A woman's intuition was terrifyingly accurate.
Was she mad at me?