Retired S-Rank Hunter (4)
The identity of the woman drunkenly sprawled at the convenience store's outdoor table was none other than Hyeun's mother. She was also a former S-rank hunter affiliated with the company, now retired. I'd seen her at Hyeun's house plenty of times, surrounded by a mountain of empty bottles as she drank herself silly, but I never imagined I'd run into her like this out in public. A flicker of embarrassment bubbled up in my mind.
"Son~!! Haven't seen your face around lately~??"
She was chugging soju straight from the bottle—not even bothering with a paper cup—and hollering my name loud enough for the whole street to hear. Naturally, every passerby turned to stare right at me.
"Hyeun's mom, you're pretty wasted."
"Son! Don't be like that, make me feel all lonely~~! I told you to just call me Mom~~!!"
"It's embarrassing. And kinda awkward if Hyeun sees."
"Then call me mother-in-law~~!!"
"Hyeun and I aren't at that stage yet…."
I tried dodging with my usual excuse, but Hyeun's face flashed in my mind. Come to think of it, we'd basically become official lovers just a few days ago. Calling her mother, Kang Eunyoung, "mother-in-law" didn't seem so strange after all.
"Alright, mother-in-law. Time to get up."
"Heh heh, not denying it anymore, huh~? So you really are dating my girl~~??"
"Hyeun told you?"
"As if she'd tell her mom something like that at her age~? A mother knows at a glance~~. And with all those sleepovers lately, only an idiot wouldn't suspect~~??"
"…Yeah, fair enough."
Since our first time, she'd slept over at my place three times already. If she assumed we'd been together even before the first one, it was plenty suspicious. I wondered what face she'd make if she knew we'd done it five or six times before even officially dating. She'd probably chew us out big time, just like always.
Taekyung! Hyeun says you skip breakfast these days! From now on, Auntie'll make it for you, so come over every morning, eat with Hyeun, and head to school together!
Taekyung, do you really have to go to Hunter Training High? Auntie's just worried. A male hunter in this world is so dangerous…. …Well, if you're set on it, nothing I can do. Just be careful. Think of how sad Hyeun would be if something happened to you.
Son! How long are you gonna keep calling me Auntie? I told you last time to treat me like Mom?? What, with Hyeun watching? Then mother-in-law's fine! Hyeun would probably like—
Mom!! What weird stuff are you saying to Taekyung now!!!
This kid! Who told you to yell like that!! You wanna burst my eardrums or what….
She'd been more than deserving of the title "mom" throughout my childhood and school years, taking care of me in every way. Sure, in this world where gender roles were reversed, her mindset wasn't all that different from a father in my previous life. But to me, Hyeun's mom felt even more like a mother than my actual one from before.
From the day I lost my parents and turned to her for help, she'd fussed over every little thing, showering non-blood-related me with devoted love that often left me touched. I'd even accidentally called her "real mom" a few times because of it. She always seemed pleased when I did.
That said, she wasn't lacking in this world's maternal side either. The S-rank hunter who'd saved me when I lost my parents? That was her—Kang Eunyoung.
…Mom? …Dad?
Taekyung, snap out of it!
Hyeun, take Taekyung and go! Hurry!
Mom? What about Mom?!
Mom'll come later—go!!
It was over ten years ago, but the memory was still vivid enough to replay. She'd blocked the monster's path without hesitation to save me after I froze watching it swallow my parents whole. That image of her was etched deep.
S-rank hunter Kang Eunyoung was famous enough for occasional TV appearances before retiring. But the first time I saw her wield her awakening ability in battle was that day. I'd only learned she lived next door afterward—and by then, she'd been retired for over three years, her powers mostly faded like most ex-hunters. She could still cook decently thanks to lingering sword skills, but that was it.
Normally, she couldn't have handled the Trerallodon that devoured my parents and came for me next. But that day, Hyeun's mom—no, S-rank hunter Kang Eunyoung—regained her lost powers temporarily. Armed only with a "No Entry" sign from the amusement park, she'd taken down two of them.
After that, other hunters arrived to clean up, and the government sealed the area as a dungeon since the monsters kept multiplying. None of those flashy latecomers slaughtering beasts with fancy techniques left as deep an impression as the retired S-rank who'd shown up bare-handed to save me.
Thinking back, that's probably when I started yearning to become a greatsword hunter. The sight of her wielding that sign like a two-handed blade, smashing monsters—it was beautiful.
She was the first person in this world to ignite my desire to become something, and the one who'd contributed most to raising me this far. That was the Kang Eunyoung I knew.
"Leavin' home~~hop on the train~~off to trainin' camp~~that day~~."
Even if she was now drunkenly belting out tunes in a residential neighborhood right now. The moment she spotted me, she'd gotten even louder, so I hurriedly pulled her up, tidied the mess to avoid more nuisance, and hoisted her onto my back against her protests. That's how we ended up heading home together.
"Hyeun's mom, singing that loud at midnight in a neighborhood is a nuisance to others."
"Callin' me Hyeun's mom again~~?? Keep that up~??"
"You're Hyeun's mom, aren't you?"
"Just call me Mom~~!! Makes me sad if you don't, son~~??"
"…Fine, Mom. Now lower your voice."
"Okay~~."
As we walked with her slumped against my back, a flood of thoughts hit me. From that childhood day I'd begged her for help, through middle and high school graduation, she'd helped me endlessly. Now here I was, a proper hunter who could protect and help others. It felt surreal.
When should I tell her I'm a hunter? Among everyone I knew, she'd be the happiest to hear I'd awakened. I wanted to tell her as soon as possible. Lately, post-awakening busyness had kept me away, but I needed to share that I'd awakened and was active as a hunter—repayment for all she'd done raising me.
"Another day~~slips away~~."
…Not that now, with her plastered, was the time. Sober, she embodied perfect motherhood; drunk, she couldn't contain her excitement and became a nuisance. At least she never got violent when drinking—small mercies.
She belted out three more songs from the same artist over my shoulder before finally going limp, resting her chin on it.
"Done singing?"
"……."
Passed out? Better than yelling in the neighborhood, at least. As I decided to carry her straight to Hyeun's, a half-drunken mumble came from beside my face.
"Taekyung's grown up so well…. Mom's so happy…."
"……."
"How'd he turn out so handsome…. So reliable, just like Hyeun's dad back in the day…."
"……Pardon?"
"But don't become a hunter…. Hunters are dangerous…. Should've stopped him too…. If only I'd done better back then…."
Her voice dripped with regret, followed by sniffles from behind me. Soon, my shoulder grew damp where her chin rested.
It was nearly twenty years ago, yet she still missed her husband. I had no idea how to comfort her, so I just kept walking silently through the night, carrying her on my back.