Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Lee Ji-ah (5)
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My vision was shrouded in darkness. I tried to move my hands, but they wouldn't budge, as if tightly bound by something.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
I screamed for help, but a rag stuffed in my mouth muffled the sound.
"Hyun-woo-ssi."
A familiar woman's voice rang in my ears.
Who is it?
The hand stroking my cheek felt soft and plush.
Lee Ji-ah!
This was Lee Ji-ah's voice.
Damn it, what the hell are you thinking?
Even as an S-rank hunter, do you think this is legally protected?
If I get out of here, I'll sue you at the Hero Association! I swear I will!
"Without you, Hyun-woo-ssi, I'd die anyway."
Her response came as if she'd read my mind.
"You just need to live here with me."
In the darkness, she smiled vividly.
"Forever."
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
I snapped my eyes open.
Where am I?
Still half-asleep, I scratched my head, and yesterday's memories flooded back.
Lee Ji-ah dragging me to her place under the pretense of lodging.
The movers she'd somehow arranged hauling every last bit of my stuff from my old monthly rental to here.
No matter how I thought about it, it didn't feel real.
Am I still dreaming? This has to be reality, right?
I scratched my messy hair and got up.
Creeeak!
"Ah."
"Ah."
As I opened the door and stepped out, Lee Ji-ah emerged from the room next door at the same moment.
The first time we met, she looked like a walking corpse with hollow eyes.
Now, her cheeks were plump and glowing, slick as if oiled.
She seemed more vibrant with each passing day. It wasn't just my imagination, surely.
"Did you sleep well?"
"...Yeah, thanks to you."
Like hell I did.
I'd tossed and turned all night because of her two-faced nature, and even had a nightmare.
For a split second, the Lee Ji-ah from the dream flashed in my mind—her words and actions.
"Ugh, gives me chills."
I found myself rubbing my arms vigorously.
"Pardon? Are you cold?"
Lee Ji-ah blinked her long lashes with concern. As she approached, I instinctively backed away step by step.
"...Haha, the weather's gotten chilly."
I couldn't exactly tell her about the dream. Whether she sensed my turmoil or not, Lee Ji-ah smiled gently and led me to the dining table.
"Just wait a moment!"
Lee Ji-ah rolled up her sleeves and prepared food with practiced hands. Neatly plated Korean dishes quickly filled the table.
"I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I went with safe Korean food."
She said as she set down the stew. I'd assumed she had a live-in chef, but this was unexpected.
"...Ji-ah-ssi."
"Yes?"
"Is there nothing I can help with from now on?"
I asked cautiously, the nightmare still lingering. Lee Ji-ah propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hand.
"You don't have to do anything..."
She murmured softly, lost in thought. Her lips suddenly looked parched.
Is she gonna snap and lock me in the basement?
Was that nightmare actually a premonition?
...No, don't even think such horrifying thoughts.
"Ah!"
Clap!
Lee Ji-ah clapped her hands. I flinched, shoulders hunching.
"Come to think of it, I left the guild."
"R-right."
"As a freelancer, it's too much to handle alone. I was already thinking of hiring a manager..."
Lee Ji-ah trailed off, glancing at me. After all that, only an idiot wouldn't catch on.
I stepped up readily.
"Then I'll do it."
"Really? Thank you, Hyun-woo-ssi!"
She beamed with delight.
From her perspective, there were eyes on her from the outside.
Even if I vaguely called it 'mental care coaching,' people would believe what they wanted.
All sorts of scandals would follow.
Just the news of her return yesterday had drawn curses...
Separately from soothing her depression with my ability, getting flak for it wasn't pleasant.
Yeah, manager sounds better.
It carries more weight when introducing myself.
'What do you do?'
'I'm the manager for S-rank hunter Lee Ji-ah-ssi.'
'Whoa.'
Social perception matters.
Ding-dong.
Phone ring. Lee Ji-ah pulled it from her pocket.
"Hello?"
—Ji-ah, the hearing schedule's set.
The Association President.
Must be about the hearing she mentioned yesterday.
I perked up my ears and picked up my spoon.
Mm, the stew's good.
"Faster than I expected."
—It's a national issue. Seen the internet?
"It's a mess. So, when's the schedule?"
—Tomorrow.
"Got it—"
The stew caught in my throat and came back up.
"Cough!"
I hacked and coughed nonstop. Lee Ji-ah dashed to the fridge, grabbed water, and rushed back.
"A-are you okay?"
"Cough! Hack!"
I waved her off to say I was fine.
—Ji-ah? Whose voice was that? Are you out right now?
The President kept calling the silent Lee Ji-ah. She patted my back and spoke into the phone.
Lee Ji-ah, what are you doing? Are you insane right now?
I snatched her phone in a panic.
"...?"
Lee Ji-ah blinked in confusion. I covered the mouthpiece and mouthed to her.
'Say tomorrow won't work.'
"Huh?"
'Say no for any reason. And ask to check the committee list.'
—Ji-ah? You listening?
I urged her with my eyes. Her dazed expression shifted as she opened her mouth.
"P-President?"
—Speak.
"My injuries from the Abyss Dungeon haven't fully healed yet. I don't think I can do it right away."
—...Bad enough you can't attend the hearing?
"Yes. And..."
Lee Ji-ah glanced at me. I exaggerated my lip movements.
'Hearing committee.'
"Could you send the list of hearing committee members?"
A sigh came from the President. That raccoon bastard. Trying to brush it off thinking she's some naive girl?
—...The list will be formally notified in writing per procedure.
Seemed like the conversation was wrapping up. Better end it before Lee Ji-ah slipped up.
I sliced my throat with my hand. She nodded.
"C-cough! I-I'm not feeling well. I'll call back later."
She sucks at acting.
That raccoon probably caught on.
—...Sigh, fine. We'll talk later. Take care.
He emphasized the last part. Call ended.
"......"
"......"
I rubbed my face with both hands.
This is driving me crazy.
What do I do with this girl?
"...Ji-ah-ssi."
"Y-yes?"
She answered, cautiously gauging my mood. I tamped down my rising anger and spoke calmly.
"The hearing's tomorrow, and you just say 'got it'?"
No organization schedules a hearing in one day.
There was a minimum prep period for materials.
This was hugely disadvantageous for Lee Ji-ah. From yesterday's call, she'd already refused once.
'—Reschedule the hearing.'
'Didn't you say you didn't want to deal with the hearing?'
The committee side had likely prepared all their attacks on her. Recycling old materials was easy.
We had one day—no prep possible.
Of course, we'd lose a winnable fight. They'd throw numbers and witnesses at us, and what could we do?
Go parrot "That's not true" and "Sorry to the public," then come back.
As I spoke, Lee Ji-ah's head drooped lower and lower.
"You're right, Hyun-woo-ssi. I was too hasty..."
"And—"
"Th-there's more...?!"
"Obviously! Park your butt!"
Don't try to end it solo.
The hearing's atmosphere would vary wildly by committee members' personalities.
Some might want her as a star for political reasons; others could drag it into the mud per interest groups.
The list was the bare minimum to gauge their leanings.
They wouldn't drag some random Kim from a mountain village onto the committee.
With names and positions, we could investigate tendencies and prepare accordingly.
"So—"
I was explaining eagerly when I realized Lee Ji-ah wasn't reacting.
I turned to see her staring at me, mouth agape.
She stammered in admiration.
"A-amazing, Hyun-woo-ssi."
"...Not really."
An S-rank hunter's the amazing one.
Top authority in the industry.
Mere social knowledge was nothing before her experience.
Maybe that's why.
Her sparkling eyes made me embarrassed; I picked up my spoon.
The stew had cooled a bit but was still tasty.
"...On my first day doubling as manager, I already handled one thing, huh?"
I teased lightly. She nodded vigorously.
"Of course! All thanks to you, Hyun-woo-ssi! Without you, I'd have gone into that hearing blind and gotten butchered!"
I licked my dry lips with my tongue.
Keep it playful.
Yesterday's talk. Today's nightmare.
They kept flickering in my mind.
I brought it up casually.
"Then about separate lodging—"
"No."
Her gentle smile turned icy in an instant. A winter gale blew through.
Lee Ji-ah speared a cherry tomato with her fork.
Crunch!
Is that really the sound of a cherry tomato?
The cheerful breakfast vibe turned like eating spicy beef stew at a funeral.
Unable to bear the silence, I muttered awkwardly.
"Ah... Th-this stew's spicy and delicious."
"......"
Lee Ji-ah said nothing.