More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers (1)
It was the early dawn when Kang Hyeun, after finishing an unexpected night shift, emerged from the dungeon. Inside the hunter lounge of the Hunter Guild, Silver and Jade Co., four women were gathered around a table.
Since it was still early, the other hunters were either clustered two or three to a table, waiting for their party members, or taking a brief rest before heading straight into the dungeon.
The four female hunters seated at one round table were organizing the intel from that day's dungeon raid. Starting with Sky Blue Shield's leader and A-rank hunter Kang Hyeun, then clockwise: Cheon Jihee, Cha Yuri, and Han Mina.
Except for Cheon Jihee, who was sitting a bit too close to her on the left, pressing in affectionately, the rest were positioned neatly at the four sides of the table.
"From what we confirmed on this expedition, conquering the Wasteland Desert still seems too tough for us right now."
The other three nodded in agreement at their party leader Kang Hyeun's words.
"Honestly, an A+ dungeon is still beyond us. We barely made it this time with S-rank seniors tagging along, but if it had been just us... someone probably would've died, no question."
"Agreed."
"Don't push yourself next time, Hyeun. What if something happened to you?"
Cheon Jihee spoke from the left, stroking her hair with a worried look, but Kang Hyeun brushed it off as the usual—nothing major—and continued with the next assessment.
"Even accounting for the fatigue from back-to-back day and night raids, I doubt we'd have fared better even with full prep and peak condition. At our level, we can barely handle one Red Giant Scorpion."
The Wasteland Desert, where they had to face three or four of those A+ monsters at once, was a stage far too grueling for Sky Blue Shield's four A-rank hunters to tackle yet.
Of late, all members had been maintaining top condition daily, so Kang Hyeun had gained a bit of confidence as leader. But the reality they'd faced was pure danger incarnate.
Without S-rank swordmage Jeong Noeul and S-rank superheat fortress Seong Chaeun accompanying them, disaster would've struck for sure. Not just severe injuries requiring days of intensive care, but even the possibility of her or Cheon Jihee—the frontliners—losing their lives in the dungeon wasn't out of the question.
"We need to judge more carefully next time. I thought tagging along with two S-ranks was a great chance to test our limits, but I almost put everyone in danger with my mistake."
As Kang Hyeun bowed her head apologetically, the other three comforted her in their own ways.
"I-It’s fine, you idiot! Hunting’s always a life-on-the-line gig anyway. We’ve been A-rank for a while now—what’s wrong with aiming higher? I think it was a good call!"
"...Agreed. Better to check our limits now than later. If we'd gone in solo without realizing... the outcome might've been worse."
"...We all agreed to your proposal and went in, so don't beat yourself up. Seeing you so down makes me sad too..."
Cheon Jihee hugged her subtly as she spoke. The clinginess was a bit much, but the genuine concern came through, so Kang Hyeun felt grateful in her own way.
At the same time, as party leader, she was already rethinking Sky Blue Shield's path to S-rank.
We need to bolster our forces.
Originally, she'd anticipated members retiring one by one, including herself, so adding firepower hadn't been on the agenda. But with retirement delays confirmed for certain reasons, Sky Blue Shield needed a new strategy to match.
The best would be Sung Taekyung quitting the company soon and joining her party. But waiting indefinitely for him—without a solid plan yet—was too risky with too many variables.
The biggest variable: Sky Blue Shield's eldest, Cheon Jihee. Four years older than her, already twenty-six this year—an age where retiring wouldn't surprise anyone.
Of course, her current momentum made retirement seem distant...
Who knows. Like Yuri unnie, her awakening might weaken out of nowhere someday.
They'd witnessed it firsthand in the party, so impatience was natural. In Sky Blue Shield, where every member was vital, losing even one would shatter the balance.
To prevent that, new measures were essential. Recruit at least an A-rank hunter, or...
...Seriously, me. Scheming without asking Jihee or Taekyung first.
Of course, the second option that had popped into her head was swiftly shot down. Guilt washed over her for even entertaining it—as party leader and Sung Taekyung's girlfriend. She shook her head, banishing the thought.
"Oh yeah, Jihee unnie, didn't you say you had somewhere to be by 8?"
"...Ah."
At Han Mina's voice, Cheon Jihee glanced at the clock showing 7:40 and shot up from her seat.
"Sorry I couldn't stick around to wrap up the meeting. Gotta head out now..."
"No worries, Jihee. It's your day off anyway, and you stayed for my night raid request. That's plenty."
"See you in three days, then."
"T-Take care, Jihee unnie~."
"...Bye."
With Sky Blue Shield's eldest leaving first for personal reasons, the remaining three resumed their post-raid debrief.
They briefly summarized knowledge gained shadowing the S-rank seniors, the terrain and features of the A+ Wasteland Valley dungeon, reconfirming it was still a stretch for them.
"...Anyway, that's enough shop talk."
With their leader's next words, the conversation shifted gears.
"Mina. Your next heat cycle's coming up soon, right?"
"...".
"We all know your cycle inside out, so silence won't help."
Han Mina's face flushed faintly as she nodded quietly.
"W-Well, yeah..."
"Exactly when?"
"Roughly, in like two or three days, by feel..."
"Then take mandatory leave in two days. Party leader's orders."
"W-What?!"
Han Mina immediately pushed back against the sudden vacation mandate.
"What the hell! Why're you deciding my schedule?!"
"You know breaks boost efficiency. Forgot collapsing after 150 straight days?"
"Th-That was then! I haven't done long streaks since! It's only been three weeks since my last break..."
"Normal hunters rest two or three days a week. You're a workaholic."
"...".
Workaholic.
It wasn't a title she'd sought, but it pierced her. Han Mina shut her mouth, unable to retort.
"And it's not just 'rest.' During your break, sort out your heat with Taekyung."
"...W-Why him, specifically..."
"'Cause it's good for you and him. I told you last time."
"Yeah, but..."
Han Mina glanced warily at Kang Hyeun before continuing cautiously.
"You're really okay with it? Me sleeping with Sung Taekyung...?"
"...Honestly? Not thrilled."
"...".
"Deep down, I'd love for him to quit this crap, ditch hunting altogether, and just stay by my side."
"...Th-Then I'll just..."
"But he wants this. That's enough."
"...".
"He wants to use his awakening to get stronger, become the top hunter, chase his dreams. He needs your help for that. So I'll endure. It's what I can do for him."
Confirming her childhood friend's profound love, Han Mina thought quietly: Bailing now would just leave a bad impression on both.
And it wasn't like she hated the idea of sex with Sung Taekyung. Weighing it all, she nodded.
"F-Fine, whatever... Saves on suppressants anyway."
"No pregnancies, though. That's non-negotiable—I'm first."
"Duh! Never crossed my mind! Hunters can't afford that anyway, and I don't even like him that much..."
"You don't like Taekyung? What's he lacking...?"
"I didn't say lacking!"
Kang Hyeun's suddenly icy glare and tone set Han Mina's animal instincts screaming danger.
Damn it, make up your mind—which tune am I dancing to?!
She cursed inwardly at the inscrutable psychology—but lacked the guts to voice it.
"I don't mind you and Yuri unnie hooking up freely with him either. Just always use protection."
"Got it. ...I'm satisfied as long as he holds me."
A classic Cha Yuri response—least lust or possessiveness toward Sung Taekyung among the three. Ironically, she relied on him most.
She hadn't yet grasped her own feelings clearly.
For now, maintaining her awakening via sex with him—and the pleasure it brought—sufficed.
"Want me to tell Taekyung? 'Mina's heat in two days—handle it.'"
"I-I'll do it myself! I can manage that much!"
"Alright, Mina. Meeting adjourned, Yuri unnie."
"Good work, you two."
Silver and Jade Co.'s A-rank party, Sky Blue Shield. Three women with varying feelings for Sung Taekyung. Their impromptu meeting thus concluded.