Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Han Ye-rim (1)
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Lee Ji-ah arrived home and slammed the door shut before storming into her room.
"......"
"Mister, where's my room?"
Han Yoo-jung was either shameless or tougher than she looked.
Even with Lee Ji-ah clearly radiating hostility, she didn't seem fazed at all.
"Just use the one next to mine for now."
It seemed like the best way to keep her within my ability's range. Han Yoo-jung nodded obediently without complaint.
"Oh, right. Want me to give you a house tour?"
"No thanks. I already checked it out thoroughly last week."
Come to think of it, she was an assassin.
Her chilling response sent a shiver down my spine, and I rubbed my arms as I headed to my room.
As I went to close the door, Han Yoo-jung called out to me softly.
"Mister."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
She scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed.
"For what?"
"The Association President thing earlier."
Association President? What was she talking about?
She must have noticed my confusion and elaborated.
"I was just planning to take him out, but you deleted all the evidence because you were worried I'd get in danger."
"That? Don't worry about it. Of course an adult would help out."
"......Some people don't."
Maybe it was in contrast to the Association President who'd tried to exploit her pain.
She seemed deeply grateful that I'd taken care of something she hadn't even considered.
She bowed her head politely.
"Good night."
"Yeah, you too."
Han Yoo-jung slipped into her room.
Ring ring.
The phone's ringtone jolted me awake. I grabbed my phone first thing.
[Chang-sik Hyung]
It was the owner of Cafe Bastard.
Why's he calling in the dead of night? But when I checked the time, it was only 10 p.m.
I rubbed my face and answered.
"Yeah, hyung."
Hey, Kim Hyun-woo you punk! I saw all the articles!
"What articles?"
The boss shouted excitedly.
The hearing with Lee Ji-ah Hunter! You were in the news too!
"Oh."
Yeah, it was probably the biggest story right now.
You punk! You should've told your hyung if something like that happened! I was shocked seeing your face pop up in the articles out of nowhere!
"Why are you so surprised?"
Huh?
The boss sounded dumbfounded.
You haven't seen the articles yet?
"Ugh, don't even ask, hyung. I've been pulling all-nighters with the lawyer prepping for the hearing. Haven't slept properly in days."
Training Peace of Mind with Ji-ah, prepping for the hearing...
It'd been total chaos.
I scratched my messy hair and turned on the computer.
He was making such a fuss, now I was curious.
I sat in my desk chair and waited for it to boot up.
The boss kept chattering nonstop.
How's work?
"Work? Brutal. Thought I was gonna die."
I really almost died to Han Yoo-jung.
Thank goodness for Peace of Mind. But thinking back on the hectic past month, it wasn't all bad memories.
No, it even gave me this weird sense of accomplishment that made my heart tingle. Helping an S-rank hunter with my own hands felt unreal.
"Still, it's fun."
Good to hear.
"And the pay? Can't even compare to Bastard."
You little shit.
"Ahaha."
I laughed and moved the mouse.
Click, click.
I logged into the internet and skimmed the articles.
Every refresh brought a flood of new articles.
Most were about Lee Ji-ah's hearing. I clicked the top one with the most views. Scrolling down to the comments, it was a total warzone as expected.
Lots of positive reactions.
It made sense since the incident framed Ji-ah as the victim.
Comments defending her with sympathy were topping the best replies.
I scrolled further.
Not everyone was positive. Malice didn't pile up without reason.
Even as a victim, Ji-ah remained an enemy to those who'd already taken a dislike to her.
I downvoted them all and closed the article.
Seen the articles?
The boss asked with barely concealed excitement.
"Yeah, pretty much what I expected."
Expected?
"I figured the comments would turn positive once we won the hearing."
No, not that... Punk, search "Lee Ji-ah manager" online.
"Huh?"
I typed it out as he said.
It wasn't even news—it was in the entertainment section.
What the...?
Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked.
A video started playing.
[Ji-ah!]
I called out to Ji-ah in the video. Spotting me, she grinned and ran over.
[Hyun-woo! Did you see? You saw me, right?]
[You were amazing.]
[Right?]
[Guess my cheers helped...]
My eyes darted side to side wildly in the footage.
Wasn't the camera off by then?
Ji-ah and I looked way too chummy in the clip.
Far from a professional hunter-manager relationship—we were practically glued together.
I'd never realized how close we stood.
"What the hell is...?"
I'm just a civilian— is it okay to post this everywhere?
Guess it's fine since it's news. Damn media vultures.
I was cursing the reporters in my head when the boss laughed over the line, like he'd heard the audio.
Look at you, got some moves, punk.
Ring ring.
Another call came in while I was on with the boss. It was Park Ji-young from the cafe.
"Hyung, isn't Ji-young off today?"
Yeah.
"She's calling me. I'll call you back later."
Got it. Don't just say it—actually call, punk.
"Sure, sure."
I picked up. Park Ji-young screamed.
Oppa! Oppa! Are you really dating Lee Ji-ah Hunter??!!
"No! We're not dating!"
I hung up and flung the phone onto the bed.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
It vibrated like crazy with texts.
I ignored it and kept browsing.
Honestly, besides the hearing, there was one other thing I was curious about.
Searching the Association President brought up a slew of related articles.
Seemed like the backlash was already hitting hard.
Seeing photos of the haggard president felt so damn satisfying.
I hammered at the keyboard.
This was the vibe for malicious comments? I grinned smugly and kept browsing. I was passing time reading hearing articles when...
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
It was already midnight.
Then disaster struck out of nowhere.
"Kyaaaaack!"
"Eek!"
Piercing screams from Lee Ji-ah and Han Yoo-jung.
"W-what?!"
I jumped up, about to rush to Ji-ah, when...
Bang!
Ji-ah and Yoo-jung flung open the door and barreled into my room. They scanned the surroundings frantically. Their eyes gleamed in the dark, locking onto me.
"Hyun-woo!"
"Mister!"
They charged at me. Panicked, they clung to me tightly.
"What... are you both okay?"
I stroked their shoulders, and their ragged breathing steadied a bit.
Lifting their chins from my chest, they looked up. Tears streamed down both their faces.
Ji-ah asked in a trembling voice.
"H-Hyun-woo... did you just turn off your ability?"
"Huh? My ability?"
"Peace of Mind. Did you turn it off?"
I clamped my mouth shut, not understanding. Ji-ah pouted and tapped my chest with her forehead.
"Are you sulking because I got pissy after the hearing?"
"......"
"But think about it from my side too. Can you blame me?"
"......?"
The conversation made no sense, so I asked.
"Turn off Peace of Mind? I never did."
Ji-ah looked flustered.
Sulking? Why would I sulk at Ji-ah?
And even if I was, I knew exactly how much she'd suffer if I turned it off. No way I'd do it over something petty.
"Then why...?"
We puzzled over it when...
"Ah."
Han Yoo-jung gasped like realization dawned.
She raised her hand sheepishly.
"I think it's my fault."
"What?"
"Truth is, I was nearby during your Peace of Mind training with Mister..."
"And?"
"I overheard you complaining about the range fluctuating wildly. Seems like covering more people shrinks the range."
It was a plausible theory.
Peace of Mind suppressing not just Ji-ah but Yoo-jung's Heavenly Killing Star too must've contracted the range.
That explained the instability during training.
But one thing was off.
Yeah, it fluctuated during training like she said, but nothing as drastic as now.
Noticing my doubt, Yoo-jung smiled awkwardly.
"W-well, I didn't warn you ahead since it was my first time too..."
"......"
"The murder impulses come weekly. If you don't vent them, they spike dramatically each cycle."
"......"
"My mind just went blank. Never felt killing intent this strong before."
"......"
"Ahaha..."
Watching her scratch the back of her head, my vision darkened, and I pinched my forehead without thinking.
So, Yoo-jung's killing intent resets every week.
Mild on day 1, but building to an uncontrollable explosion by day 7.
Previously, assassinations for the Association President reset it.
But staying with me meant no jobs, so she let the cycle pass unvented.
The backlash made this week's intent insanely stronger.
Peace of Mind straining against it shrank the range drastically.
"Okay, got the situation. Can you both... back off a bit?"
I tried stepping back, but they panicked and clung harder.
"H-Hyun-woo. We can't separate."
"Mister, can't we stay like this?"
"How are we supposed to sleep?"
At my question, their gazes drifted over my shoulder.
Following it, there was my small bed.
What the hell is this situation?
Lying there staring at the ceiling, it felt so unreal I wondered if it was a dream.
Ji-ah on one side. Yoo-jung on the other.
Sandwiched between them, our bodies pressed together on the bed.
Ji-ah called my name in a shaky voice.
"......Hyun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"The bed's too small... Could we lie on our sides?"
Made sense.
Three people crammed into a single bed was insanely tight.
With me lying flat as the guy, it had to be uncomfortable for them.
"Sure..."
I started rolling over but froze.
Yoo-jung's sleeping face was right there, facing me.
A high schooler? That's risky.
I flipped quickly.
As I settled my head on the pillow, my eyes met Ji-ah's—she was staring right at me.
"......"
"......"
She blinked her long lashes at me.
Our noses nearly touching. Her skin's scent filled my senses.
My reflection in her eyes looked embarrassed.
Honestly, Ji-ah's face wasn't much different.
"......Ji-ah, not sleeping?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Can't sleep."
Nothing for it if sleep wouldn't come.
I closed my eyes, but felt her gaze lingering.
"Hyun-woo."
"......Yeah?"
"Asleep?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Can't sleep."
She giggled playfully at my answer. Each time, her breath brushed me. Finally, I said,
"Ji-ah, could you turn around?"
"That'd be even more embarrassing. Just bear it."
Is she gonna get closer?
Oh, she is.
I shut my mouth like she said.
"Mm......"
Our talking must've disturbed her—Yoo-jung stirred. Mindful of her, Ji-ah whispered.
"Hyun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
I cracked one eye open. Sure enough, she stared intensely.
"For what?"
"Everyone pointing fingers, saying it was my fault... It was so hard. But you stayed by my side and fixed everything so easily."
"......It wasn't your fault."
I couldn't turn wrong into right.
Ji-ah hadn't sinned to begin with, so shedding the false charges was straightforward.
"Still, being there and helping when I was struggling meant the world."
"......"
"You stopped my suicide attempt, cleared my name with the hearing. Oh, I saw the news earlier—all the haters on my posts vanished."
Don't gild the lily. Embarrassed, I just listened silently.
"Before you, I dreaded tomorrow so much I couldn't sleep. Now, I look forward to it every night."
She wasn't just saying it—her face glowed with genuine happiness.
Seizing the moment, I spoke up.
"......Ji-ah, then... could you do me one favor?"
Her eyes widened like saucers. She nodded with a trembling smile.
"......What is it?"
"The hearing's wrapped up, so how about we get back to some real hunter work..."
"No."
Where'd the warm vibe go? She said her piece and shut her eyes.
"Ji-ah? Ji-ah?"
"......"
No response.
Maybe because of the hearing.
Unlike me, eager to manager an active Ji-ah, she often seemed weary of the world.
Bad timing to ask; she wasn't ready.
Ring ring.
Phone buzzing from my pocket.
Fearful of waking Yoo-jung, I answered quickly.
"Hello?"
Hyun-woo, it's Ye-rim.
"Whoa, when'd you get back to Korea?"
Today!
"Why didn't you tell me? I could've picked you up."
Wanted to surprise you!
Han Ye-rim's voice suddenly turned gloomy over the line.
But I saw your face on the news?
"You saw?"
......Can we meet tomorrow?
"Yeah. Of course."
See you tomorrow then.
Click.
Call ended. Bzzz, bzzz. Texts arrived.
[Han Ye-rim: Hyun-woo, you must be beat. Sleep well and see you tomorrow!]
[Han Ye-rim: /(^3^)/]
I turned off the phone when a prickling chill crept up the back of my neck.
What? AC on? No. Must be the crisp fall night air.
I rubbed my goosebumps and went to close the window.
Something tugged my collar.
"Huh? Ji-ah, let go for a sec..."
My words caught in my throat.
Ji-ah gripped my collar so hard it felt like it'd crush my hand.
After glaring for a long moment, she forced heavy words out.
"Who was that just now?"
Her voice was ice-cold.
I stammered involuntarily.
"Y-Ye-rim?"
"Who the hell was on the phone?"