The Hunter’s Return and a Breaking Call
Bang!
The door slammed open with a harsh crack.
“Soo-ah! So-hee!”
“……?”
“Why…?”
The words died in the strong voice of the cheerful girl as Su-a and So-hee turned to look at her cautiously.
The three had grown close these past months.
So-hee spent most of her time here when she wasn’t in the dungeon or staying at the hospital with her mother.
Seeing them, Partima shouted, “Do-jin’s back!”
“Eh? Really?”
“The uncle’s back?!”
The two shot up from their seats, cheering.
Partima flashed a grin and said, “I went to the company to buy something tasty for Gyeong-taek. I overheard the secretary’s people.”
Now that Partima had even picked up the rougher speech patterns, the girl looked like she had gone straight to SW Technology headquarters on her own after asking where he was going earlier.
It didn’t matter.
“Let’s go see him quickly!”
“We have to go pay our respects!”
Su-a and So-hee tore off the pajamas they were wearing and changed into their outer clothes.
Soon the three girls hurried to SW Technology headquarters.
“Dad!”
“……Soo-ah. No, all of you.”
Taesan, who had come running upon hearing the news, burst into a quiet laugh when he saw the three entering the lobby.
The intent was clear.
“Wait a moment. The chairman is still speaking with someone.”
“Yes.”
“All right.”
Su-a and So-hee replied.
“Uncle, can I have one of those while we wait?”
Partima pointed at the cakes on display in the café showroom.
The four headed to the café together.* * *
“You’ve worked hard.”
“No. Thanks to the chairman, we were finally able to achieve what we wanted.”
“Ho-ho…”
Gu Jin-mo’s eyes narrowed.
Achieved what we wanted.
Do-jin’s words always carried an odd power that drew people in.
Gu Jin-mo asked, “Have you obtained what you wanted?”
“Yes.”
A short reply, yet it carried a quiet confidence.
Kim Gyeong-taek, standing beside the chairman, stared at Do-jin with a strangely tense expression—no longer his usual composed self.
It had been two months since Do-jin left.
Many changes had occurred here as well, yet…
‘What exactly is this person…?’
When Do-jin had boarded the chairman’s private jet and returned, Gyeong-taek had stopped walking without realizing it.
The strange aura rolling off him was so heavy that it prickled the skin just by facing it.
Now it was contained, but he could never forget that first impression.
“……Secretary Kim Gyeong-taek.”
“Y-yes! Chairman!”
“What are you thinking so hard about that you don’t even notice when someone calls?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Gyeong-taek bowed deeply in haste.
Gu Jin-mo shook his head.
“Hoo-ho, a young man can be like that. But did you hear what I said?”
“P-please say it one more time?”
“There’s a new item I’ve been developing.”
“Yes.”
“Change every piece of equipment on Ha Do-jin the hunter except for his weapon.”
“Anyone who grows should upgrade their gear.”
“I’ll contact the tech team right away.”
Do-jin lowered his head slightly in reply.
“Thank you as always, Chairman.”
“Hoo-ho, not at all. Watching you lately is the one pleasure left in my life.”
How was it possible for someone to change so wildly?
He had not shown it, but cold sweat poured down Gu Jin-mo’s back from the pressure rolling off Do-jin.
But did the chairman know?
That even this was Do-jin holding himself back out of consideration for Gu Jin-mo.
Soon Do-jin followed Gyeong-taek to the tech team.
After a quick check of his body measurements, the master blacksmith spoke.
“Whew. The atmosphere here has changed a lot.”
Hanseo, the legendary blacksmith, looked at the two months younger Do-jin and spoke.
Do-jin asked, “Is life here treating you well?”
“Extremely well. My wife is doing much better too.”
Hanseo smiled at Do-jin.
“I am truly grateful. Every day I thank Ha Do-jin the hunter.”
He had been pulled from that place.
If things had gone wrong, he might have been forced into a slave contract with Red Circle Guild.
Do-jin shook his head.
“It’s all thanks to you, Hanseo.”
“Hoo, I’m grateful for the words. Items will be sent directly to your home as soon as they’re ready.”
“No. Just contact me when they’re ready. I’ll come pick them up myself.”
“Very well.”
After a brief farewell, Do-jin descended to the first-floor lobby.
He had received word that Taesan was waiting for him there.
But…
“……That’s how it is.”
Do-jin stared blankly at the three girls sitting beside Taesan.
It wasn’t that they had come without being told.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you all eating whole cakes in a café. One each, no less.”
“Ah… wasn’t this how we usually ate?”
“Master should learn some things.”
Taesan, who had ordered whole cakes because the girls wanted them, had barely stopped So-hee from protesting.
Partima stood up and said to Do-jin, “Do-jin, did you take care of your business?”
“Yes. You’ve put on some weight, Partima.”
“Hee-hee, the food here is so delicious.”
“You look great.”
Su-a and Partima had both been painfully thin before they came here, barely able to eat properly.
Now, with proper nutrition, their beauty shone through.
“We’ve worked hard, uncle.”
“Have you leveled up a lot?”
“Of course. With this, maybe we can get stronger than the uncle?”
So-hee placed a hand on her hip and spoke confidently.
Do-jin gently ruffled her hair.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“A-ah?!”
So-hee jolted, then smiled bashfully.
Su-a stared with wide eyes.
“Ah… I… um…”
She seemed flustered.
Do-jin looked at her curiously.
So-hee tilted her head.
But then…
“Ah, how clueless!”
Partima suddenly shouted and snatched Do-jin’s hand.
She placed it atop Su-a’s head.
“Do-jin, stroke Su-a’s head too!”
Do-jin looked at Su-a, who stared at the hand resting on her head, unable to move.
“……”
She couldn’t pull it away and simply fiddled with his fingers in silence.
Do-jin gave a soft chuckle and stroked her head.
“Is life here fun?”
“Y-yes! Yes!”
She lowered her head like a puppy under his touch.
“I… I am truly grateful every day. Thanks to the uncle… I’m so thankful.”
“Your Korean has improved a lot.”
“I’ve been studying hard. Thanks to So-hee.”
“Impressive.”
Do-jin turned to Partima.
“Keep scolding me like this in the future too.”
“Leave it to me, Do-jin!”
Partima raised her thumb.
Then Do-jin looked at Taesan.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Yes, Master.”
The two moved to a quiet corner.
Do-jin said, “How have things been lately?”
“What can I say? I finally feel like I’m alive again.”
For the past ten years since losing Su-a, Taesan had been dead even while breathing.
Do-jin had pulled him back from the brink of death.
“I will live my life grateful to Master forever. If you wish, I will give this life anytime.”
His words were sincere.
But Do-jin shook his head.
“You should keep that life safely, Instructor. And what about the Shadows?”
“We don’t train as before, but we’re maintaining our senses through training.”
They were training their hardest in the facility SW Technology had provided.
Each one was in the mid-100s level.
With training close to real combat, they would naturally surpass ordinary hunters.
Taesan’s expression hardened.
“Is the time here?”
Taesan already knew Do-jin’s plan.
Do-jin nodded.
“It won’t be long.”
“I’ll prepare.”
A faint smile touched Do-jin’s lips.
He hadn’t expected those words to sound so reassuring.
“When it’s ready… I’ll contact you.”
“Yes.”
Do-jin stood up.
After a moment with the three girls, he walked slowly toward the mansion.
He simply wanted to walk today.
And…
—Thank you. Every day I thank Ha Do-jin the hunter.
—I am truly grateful… Thanks to the uncle. I’m so thankful.
—I will live grateful to Master forever. If you wish, I will give this life anytime.
Hanseo.
Su-a.
Taesan.
People who should have been able to do nothing but kill now looked at him with such gratitude.
A life far removed from the hatred and endless rage of his previous existence…
‘Not bad.’
It felt good.
But then…
Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing!
Do-jin’s phone rang.
The caller ID showed a number he rarely knew.
—Mr. Yoo Seong-hyun
“……Seong-hyun?”
Do-jin answered.
“Hello?”
—Hyung…
“What’s wrong, Seong-hyun?”
His voice was unusually low, almost trembling.
Do-jin’s question broke Seong-hyun.
—Please save us, hyung. Uuugh.
Do-jin’s face hardened as he listened to the rest of the call.