The Hunter's Care for the Matron (Part 1)
Kim Jimin had not exactly been short on experience with men. To be honest, she had far more than most people would assume. Blessed with a figure that matured well beyond her years and a face striking enough to turn heads, she had begun modeling for shopping malls even during her school days. Then, in the early to mid-twenties, she founded her own mall, built it from the ground up, and made a fortune. Not only her appearance, but her business acumen and personality were equally exceptional.
She had never been the type to chase one-night stands. Still, men never failed to surround her. She never bragged about it, yet she had met countless attractive men—famous entertainers, business tycoons, and all manner of charming figures.
It was four years ago that Jihun entered her life.
She had just acquired a substantial plot of land spanning roughly three hundred pyeong in Seoul and was in the midst of erecting her dream new-build office building. Business was booming as rentals filled quickly.
Her phone rang with a call from the leasing manager. “Ma’am, there’s a young man at the first floor who’s interested in leasing. He’s looking to open a butcher shop right there—together with his father.” The rent was even lower than market rate.
With so many apartment complexes nearby and excellent foot traffic, she had hoped for something like a Starbucks or a franchise café, or at least a pharmacy. A butcher shop? And on top of that, one that undercut the price?
“Are you serious, manager?” she demanded, irritation rising. “That’s completely unacceptable.” She finally swallowed her anger, told herself to at least see the idiot’s face, and marched over to the office.
When she stepped inside, Jihun and his father were already seated. The moment their eyes met, she could not look away. A towering frame, shoulders broad enough to strain any suit, a proud posture despite the tension in his expression.
She had once dismissed men in tailored designer suits and luxury watches as “kinda cute.” After all, she had grown up among idols and models. Ordinary men no longer registered as men in her eyes. With age, the disdain only sharpened. Even the flashy models she met now were nothing but “brats” in her eyes.
Yet the scent of raw masculinity radiating from the twenty-something in front of her defied description. His only clothing was a simple Uniqlo shirt tucked into black slacks.
Her senses fogged. She somehow ended up discussing contract terms with Jihun and his father. Once she snapped back to reality, she was already escorting them around the building, pointing out the best first-floor spot, noting the abundance of affluent apartments nearby, advising them to install proper refrigeration for the meat, and so on.
The leasing manager glared and gave silent warnings about the bargain price, but Jihun simply stamped the document without flinching. To Jimin, that discount was nothing compared to the daily pleasure of watching the handsome young man.
The first two months followed the plan perfectly.
Jihun’s father would leave every morning for the shop. Jimin would watch him go, then return home. When her parents needed meat, she would remind them, “Don’t go anywhere else—come straight to me.”
Every time Jihun arrived with an excuse—picking up groceries or dropping off meat—he would grin and talk cheerfully. It felt like the lively days of her school years all over again.
That little rent discount was nothing. She was being paid handsomely in the form of time with such a beautiful young man.
Money is meant to be spent this way, hehehe!
Sometimes Jihun even invited her to the shop to inspect meat he had bought at auction. Although she worried about being alone in the narrow space, nothing untoward happened.
Instead, she got to enjoy the rare luxury of watching his muscular arms flex as he worked—veins popping, skin stretching, the white T-shirt clinging tightly. Every time he swung the cleaver, she caught herself biting her lip, the image replaying until she could barely sleep.
But her happiness was short-lived. Jihun’s visits gradually became less frequent. Most days his father alone kept the shop open.
Days passed… a week… even a month… he still hadn’t shown his face.
When he finally returned, Jimin could no longer hold back. She burst straight into the shop.
“Jihun-ah, why have you been so busy lately? We haven’t seen you in forever! Did you not want to see your noona’s face?”
She flipped his excuse around with a teasing smile. Then a troubling thought struck her. Does he even have a girlfriend?
She scolded herself. How many chances did I give him during these months? And I still didn’t notice?
“I wanted to, noona~ haha. But there have been a lot of gate incidents lately. I’ve been a bit busy.”
Jimin was relieved the delay was not personal. Still… is he really a hunter?
“Huh? Jihun, you’re a hunter? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? What rank are you? If you’re a hunter, you make good money and get strong, right? Your girlfriend must be so happy!”
But Jihun had never said he had a girlfriend, nor had he said he didn’t.
I can’t just let this important question slide.
She swallowed hard and asked carefully, “Aha! I’m D-rank. And a girlfriend? Hahaha, I’m single! Fuha~!”
The reply was far more satisfying than she expected. Jimin barely managed to keep the smile from spreading as she stepped out of the shop.
So he’s a D-rank hunter… I could probably hook him easily~
She already knew the pay structure. In Korea, among A-rank awakeners, 84% remained active. For B-rank it was 80%. But below C-rank the numbers dropped sharply—C-rank at 54%, D-rank only 28%. Lower ranks meant far lower active-duty retention because the pay was poor and the danger was high.
From that day on, whenever Jihun was on guard duty at the shop, Jimin would walk over and flirt shamelessly.
“Jihun, you should quit being a hunter and do part-time modeling for my company. I’ll pay you generously!”
“Jihun, magestone prices have been dropping lately, right? Why don’t you stop that and become the representative for my new men’s mall launch? Mr. Min, how does that sound? It suits you perfectly~”
Every time he would smile politely and decline. If money were the only issue, he would have accepted long ago. Frustrated, Jimin once asked his father.
“Father~ I came by again. Jihun’s been so busy lately… Is he still working as a hunter? Hehe… Anyway, he keeps refusing to help with anything at the shop. Father, you know Jihun is talented in modeling—far more profitable than hunting. Could you talk some sense into him for me? Please?”
She rambled on, worried he might notice her feelings.
Jihun’s father’s hand froze mid-reach for the meat. He sighed deeply.
“Jihun… really…”
“When I was young, a dungeon break took my mother… Jihun got caught in it too. Fortunately, his boxing coach saved him, even giving up his own arm.”
“You know what happens in a dungeon break, right? Monsters come out, but the magestones left behind are just empty shells. At the time, good gates opened, so most hunters rushed over. By the time we realized, our whole family was caught in the crossfire.”
“At first I thought it was because Jihun was young and struggling to make ends meet. Now that I’m making decent money, he still refuses to help at the shop. Only then did it hit me—his mother…”
“No matter how much I persuade him, he says he doesn’t want to leave any kids behind… so he refuses to quit.”
Jihun’s father spoke between occasional sighs, explaining everything to the end. He considered it the least he could do for the woman who had been so kind to his son.
Jimin listened in silence, took the meat, and left without a word.
Hunters today chased money and fame far more than duty. Yet here was a man still driven by a sense of responsibility.
With a pretty face and a sudden demand to lower rent, she had assumed he was just an innocent young master. She had never imagined such a tragic backstory.
That’s why he smells so manly… Jihun, you’re amazing.
After hearing his story, Jimin only wanted him to quit hunting. It was too dangerous for someone who should have given up the risk.
From then on she visited his father often, buying meat and checking on him. When Jihun finally returned, she openly asked, “You’re going to marry noona, right? But you have to quit being a hunter—I don’t want to become a widow.”
Each time the innocent twenty-year-old would flash a bright, kind smile and brush it off, never taking it seriously.
Sigh… everything’s my fault. I’m getting old and reckless, Jimin.
One day Jihun returned to the shop with a haggard appearance—his entire body covered in dark bruises.
“Jihun? Why is your face like that?”
Jimin burst through the glass door.
“Noona! You’re here today! We just got a great batch of wagyu yukhoe!”
“……Jihun, why is your face like that?”
“Aha, I got a little scratched up, haha. Anyway, look at this meat, noona! This is the one I bought at auction this morning…”
“……Jihun… please… why is your face…”
“This meat has been perfectly aged until today! If you take it home today and eat it tomorrow…”
“YAAAAAACK!!!!”
“Who’s talking about meat?! Why are you saying that?!”
Jimin finally snapped and shouted. Seeing her shocked face, Jihun realized too late that the water was already spilled.
“A… a… aha noona! It’s nothing! I was dispatched to an A-rank gate break yesterday and got scratched a bit, haha!”
“……You went into an A-rank gate… you… you said you were D-rank…”
“Ahahaha! Come on, noona, when a dungeon break happens the magestones are just empty shells anyway! That’s why it was so hard to gather hunters. I finally got to vent my energy after a long time!”
“……”
Jimin’s head drooped. She wanted to shout at him to quit being a hunter right then and there, yet all she could think was to pull him into her arms and cry until her heart burst. She turned and left the shop.
The manly scent is gone.
On that day Jihun smelled only of disinfectant and damp blood from his bandages. The man who once carried the scent of raw masculinity now smelled weak. At only twenty-four, the boy she had once called manly suddenly felt pitiful.
From that day, Jimin began to feel a fierce protective instinct toward Jihun. She wanted to shield the boy who refused to protect himself but still risked everything to save others. With the contract nearly up, she told his father in advance to lower the rent. She also added more promotional posters for the shop in front of the building and, on holidays, brought him special soups to thank him. “Eat with Jihun and don’t hold back.”
She helped quietly, without anyone noticing. Then a Kakaotalk message arrived—late at night, well after dinner.
Noona, do you want to drink alcohol?
The message was garbled, as if drunk. If it had been from another man, Jimin would have blocked him without a second thought.
Is this even from the butcher shop?
Despite the doubt, her heart pounded as she hurried to Jihun’s shop. It was cool for late summer. She had thrown a thin cardigan over her dress. When she arrived, Jihun was leaning against the shutter, sitting on the cold floor, already drunk, muttering to himself.
“Kih… kih… noona smells so good…”
She finally managed to help him to the sofa, remove his shoes, and sit him down. Just as she tried to pull back, Jihun suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms, burying his face against her chest.
“Ji… Jihun? Don’t do that. Let’s take off your shoes first, okay? I’ll do it for you.”
She tried to push him away, but he would not budge. His broad chest felt like it had been carved from stone.
“Hey, Kim Jimin. What do you mean ‘take them off’?”
“Instead, I’ll take them off you.”
Jihun spoke in the most casual tone she had ever heard, his tongue curling as he reached out and began gently caressing her breasts.
The soft, warm feel of his hands on her chest made Jimin close her eyes. His hands moved upward, slipping off the straps of her dress and cardigan, burying his face between her neck and cleavage, inhaling deeply.
“Ha… hah… hih…”
She had never imagined this would happen with Jihun, yet a soft moan escaped her. Maybe this is the only chance I’ll ever have… She stroked his hair tenderly.
“Hih… mmm, Jihun, yes… there… mmm… noona smells good? Haah…”
As if seeking comfort, Jihun placed his cheek on her palm while still nuzzling her chest.
Jimin brushed her fingers across his cheek, and the man who had pinned her down like an animal vanished. In his place, she heard the gentle sound of a baby sleeping.
“You look so cute sleeping, Jihun~ hih.”
With a twinge of regret, she carefully lifted his body and placed him on his stomach. His nose is so straight… his cheeks so soft…
She watched his side profile until her own eyes grew heavy and she fell asleep beside him.
Jimin woke to the sensation of someone gently massaging her breasts.
Still half-asleep, Jihun was mumbling and rubbing her chest. Jimin’s face flushed bright red. Unsure what to do, she simply waited.
“Hic… sorry noona!”
Jihun snapped awake and looked back at his usual self.
His usual self was adorable, but the aggressive version from earlier was even more tempting. She could not help but want to see it again.
“Hmm, too bad~ Where did the Jihun who left kiss marks disappear to? Are you here, Jihun?”
She playfully lifted the cushion on the sofa. Jihun looked flustered, glancing away as if remembering how he had touched her earlier.
Oh?
The teasing had begun. Jimin found Jihun’s reactions so cute that she gradually coaxed him further until she was lying atop his thighs, face buried against them.
Are my thighs… cute?
Embarrassed yet thrilled, she buried her face between his legs. This was definitely not a deliberate provocation. Yet something hard pressed against her.
Jimin instantly understood what it was.
It was a man’s…
But the size was enormous. She could not believe it. She could not touch it either.
Is it really a remote control? Could he be hiding an eggplant in his pocket?
Just as she wondered if she was overthinking, she caught a faint masculine scent.
That’s… A wave of heat raced from her ears down her neck and across her chest. Her heart raced wildly.
Unable to hold back any longer, her hand reached for him.
“N-noona, sorry… hih…”
Jihun had a cramp from being pinned too long. He spread his legs slightly.
The hard shaft sprang up and smacked her nose with a loud thud.
“Wah… this is…”
This is almost as big as my entire arm!
Jimin let out a stunned breath, unconsciously imagining an airlock.