Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Forced Conscription Lacks Romance (1)
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Even after Yuna's confession, time flowed on endlessly. Naturally, no changes came to everyday life, and mornings dawned just the same.
In the early morning, when the sun was still too weak to rise properly, an angry voice echoed from beyond the bedroom door.
It was Sihyun's shout ringing in my ears now that she had ended her leave and returned to work.
- No, I mean, why am I being drafted! I told you I'm on vacation for a while and won't be entering any gates, so why!
She never used to raise her voice even when angry. Did she hate entering gates that much?
- What's with the stubbornness! You're the one being stubborn right now, Headquarters Chief! Have you lost your touch since it's been so long since you were out in the field? You think rank is everything? What!
I roughly combed my hair and opened the door. The atmosphere felt like it could erupt into a full-blown fight, so I figured I should step in quick.
"Sihyun~ Make me some food."
"Why should I understand! You're not even considering my situation!"
"Sihyun...? Are you super busy...?"
Even as I approached and called out to her from the side, Sihyun kept her face scrunched up, yelling into the phone without pause.
"Ugh, screw this, what kind of law is that! Can you just rip up the rulebook? That damn law—everyone high up dodges it anyway, so let me do the same!"
Oof, this wasn't a call with her boss. She was gonna beat the crap out of everyone at this rate.
"Sihyun. Don't get too mad...."
"I turned down promotions and slaved away like a dog for ten years, and you can't do this one thing for me? Is it that hard to pull one person? I've poured ten years into the Hunter Association? Ah..., this is total bullshit! What? Don't tell me not to curse! Fuck!"
"Sihyun...?"
"Ah, Oppa, just stay quiet for a sec! I'm freaking out right now because they're forcing you into conscription!!"
Ah, so it was me getting drafted.
I clamped my mouth shut and just clapped silently, cheering Sihyun on.
********
But she failed.
I cranked up the volume to eavesdrop, and it sounded like she was begging on her knees—anyone would think it was one of Sihyun's team members, not the headquarters chief.
Pleading for just one exception out of past favors, saying she'd drop dead if even I got dragged in too, grabbing at pant legs and all—Sihyun let out a sigh and turned to ask my opinion.
"Oppa..., you okay going into a gate this time?"
"If I don't, that guy's gonna come lie down in front of our house."
".... Ah, this is so annoying. Headquarters Chief, fine, I'll go, but assign me to the same gate."
- Of, of course! You think I can't even do that?
"...No, you can do this, so why can't you pull me out!!"
Whoa, thought my ears would bleed.
- Ah, no.... Team 2 Leader, cut me some slack.... And I'm the headquarters chief, give me some face....
"Hoo..., handle it yourself properly. I'm not coming in today, so take care of that too."
- Fine.... I'll bust my ass.... But you and Hunter Ansiu have to come to the Association tomorrow...?
"Yeah, hanging up."
Sihyun hung up and looked at me. Her eyes still burned with irritation, so I started to turn away stealthily, but she called me back, and I stopped.
"Oppa, sorry."
"Nah..., I'm fine...?"
"Still.... You didn't have to go. I feel like making you remeasure your rank was pointless too...."
I turned back to see Sihyun looking pretty deflated, her eyes full of apology. I spoke up.
"No, the rank-up feels pretty good actually. Wandering gates is decent exercise too. You know I'm kinda strong, right? Yeah, I caught that lich for you~"
"No...! Don't bring that up! It's still embarrassing, so shut up about it!"
Her face flushed red in an instant as she playfully swatted my back, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Really, don't worry. I just... wanted a bit more rest, but now I'm thinking of hitting some gates myself."
The fact that gates changed around me still filled my head, so I needed to resolve that mystery.
More than my own fatigue, the gates' strangeness mattered more.
"Sure~ Growing up isn't bad. The money from all those gates last time is enough to live off forever, honestly?"
Whoa, didn't realize it was that much.
"Really? Then maybe I shouldn't work!"
"No. If you've decided, stick to it."
Hing.
I pouted and headed to the bathroom with my lips stuck out.
"Huh? Oppa, where you going? Why wash up already?"
"Yuna called, gonna head out."
She'd messaged first thing in the morning, so despite the hassle, I got ready to go.
".... Just go live together already. Sigh..., no wonder they say raising a son is pointless."
"It's not like that. I just promised to come when she calls.... Don't you start too, seriously...."
Getting teased by friends was bad enough.
"Pfft...! Fine~ Go meet her quick. Staying out late?"
"Nah, back before dinner. Wanna eat out tonight?"
"Sure~ Quick on the uptake, good. Keep behaving like that~"
"Yup."
Aaah, this is what they call ten-year Pretoria side-eye.
********
The weather had turned quite chilly now—no visible breath yet, but streets were full of people bundled up tight from morning on.
Everyone out and about just grumbled about the cold and hurried indoors.
We followed suit and ducked into a café.
"Hey, isn't it boring always hitting cafés every time we meet...?"
Our meets always ended up at cafés, leaving my face full of boredom.
"Ah..., anywhere you wanna go...?"
Yuna, bundled thicker than most, looked up at me and asked. Actually thicker than anyone, waddling penguin-like after me—it was kinda funny.
"Ahem...! First, take off some layers. It's not even winter—why are you wrapped up like that?"
"I didn't... The guild made me dress like this 'cause it's cold today."
"S-Rank hunter and they're babying you. They turning you into Princess Maker or what?"
They let her talk casually, so maybe.
"What're you saying. So, anything you wanna do today...?"
Yuna ordered coffee casually and asked me.
Hmm, stuff to do. I've done it all already, nothing comes to mind.
"Oh, you ever play games?"
"Games? Never tried... Doesn't seem fun."
"Eh, games are fun though. What do you do for hobbies then?"
Come to think of it, we'd met so much but I never knew what she did to unwind.
"Hobbies...? Lying down?"
"You living just 'cause you can't die?"
"Ah, being with you feels best. Guess that's my hobby."
She beamed like she'd discovered her hobby and lobbed a straight ball.
"Yeah, yeah."
I brushed it off casually, of course.
"Tch.... Doesn't work either."
Someone must've fed her lines—lately she kept trying stuff like this, so I was used to it.
Yuna used to hate asking others anything, but now she came prepared with something new every day.
- Weird.... They said this stimulates guys' hearts effectively.
Her muttering regrets like that every time was ridiculous but kinda cute.
"Going gaming together might stimulate guys' hearts~"
Bored in the café, I whispered slyly.
"...! Siwoo, I wanna try games...."
Yuna's eyes sparkled at my words. She downed her coffee in a flash, grabbed my hand, and stood.
"Teach me games.... Let's go now."
Like time was of the essence, one hand searched nearby PC bangs while the other dragged me along, turning on her heel.
What. Am I feeling guilty for nothing? Feels like luring an innocent kid into bad stuff.
"Hurry...!"
Feeling that weird guilt, I followed Yuna to the PC bang.
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"Didn't you say you've never played games."
"This is my first time...?"
"Then why are you better than me."
My guilt vanished in an instant.
We hit the PC bang together for Legend of League. Figured she'd know nothing, so I planned to teach step-by-step, but after key setup, she just... did everything herself.
What, how, why is she good.
"I mean..., if you know how to move, just dodge everything and land all hits, right...?"
It's all visible—how do you not dodge or hit...?
"Plus, you're a hunter, so your gaming skills should be above average anyway...."
"No, but this is your first time?"
"I'm an S-Rank hunter. Actually, I wanna ask—why are you so bad, Siwoo...?"
That wiped out any guilt, leaving only injustice in its place.
How the hell is that possible.
Why am I the only one sucking at games...?