Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Dangerous Invitation (1)
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Vacation was over. Cha Su-ho had heard from Min Gi-uk that the hunters and helpers who had left the center would be arriving soon. Just as he was wondering if they might all show up today, Kwon Oh became the first to arrive at the center.
“Su-ho!”
Kwon Oh, who had returned not just with the bag he'd taken but with two more, headed straight to the helper room and started unpacking.
“This is galbi. My mom makes it all the time. This is kimchi, this is japchae... Ah, and these are side dishes.”
He pulled all sorts of food from one bag and began filling the fridge.
“Wow...”
It had been ages since anything made his mouth water like this. Having subsisted on protein shakes and rigidly controlled hunter meals every day, Su-ho had lost all joy in eating. But one look at Kwon Oh's haul, and his appetite roared back to life.
And it was all Korean food to boot. Galbi, japchae, a spread of side dishes, kimchi—no one could say no to that lineup.
“Kwon Oh hyung... Mind if I snag just one bite?”
“Go for it! This is tonight's dinner. I invited everyone.”
“Invited?”
“Yeah. You'll see at dinner.”
Who had he invited? But right now, that took a backseat to his craving for white rice topped with kimchi and galbi.
“Kwon Oh hyung... Can't we just eat now? Rice and kimchi alone would make me happy.”
‘Cha Su-ho.’
Su-ho, already too far gone, couldn't hear Jin Seong-hyeok at all.
“Hold on a sec. It'll taste even better if we eat it as a group at the party.”
With that, Kwon Oh unpacked the other bag. Out came instant ramen, every kind of snack food imaginable.
“Kwon Oh hyung, you dipped into instants too?”
“Nah... well.”
He scratched the back of his head before continuing.
“Mom stuffed my bags with them—couldn't say no. I'll leave 'em here; grab whatever whenever.”
Su-ho's eyes locked on the ramen first. Wait—his eyes flew wide, like he'd spotted treasure.
Cup ramen, the kind he'd devoured nonstop back as an F-grade. Su-ho snatched it up.
“Whoa... I lived on these.”
It had basically been his staple. Lunch was always one of these plus a rice ball. He'd been sick of them then, but now? Pure temptation.
“Total nostalgia.”
Kwon Oh grinned at Su-ho, who fiddled with it but held back under Jin Seong-hyeok's watchful eye.
“Save it, Su-ho. You know the drill—keep it right where you can see it. That sweet torture of temptation? Eat it when you finally crack.”
If it was torture this good, he could savor it. Su-ho tucked the cup away.
“Alright, mine then.”
“Yep.”
Kwon Oh hummed as he tidied the kitchen, then pulled the galbi from the fridge. The tub, kimchi-container sized, held easily ten servings.
“Kwon Oh hyung...? You planning to polish off all that?”
“Gonna fall short.”
“Short? Who's coming...”
Su-ho counted on his fingers.
“An Ji-young, Lee Eun-woo, Airin, Yoo Kwon-oh, Cha Su-ho...? That's five.”
Even big eaters would struggle to finish that galbi tub, let alone the rest of the sides.
Right then, someone knocked on the helper room door.
“Get that!”
Su-ho opened it at Kwon Oh's urging—and froze, shock plain on his face at the crowd outside.
“Wha—everyone?!”
Ji-young beamed.
“Surprise! Mind if we come in? We've got tons of bags.”
Scarlett followed, winking one eye.
“Oh! So this is Center 1's A-grade helper room?!”
“Yeah! Made a huge batch of my shakes today—figured you'd all be craving 'em!”
Ronnie and Leri, of course.
“Whoa, been forever. Helper room.”
“Together, Airin.”
Eun-woo and Airin too.
Su-ho stood there, stunned, as they claimed the helper room like they owned it.
“So...”
“Kwon Oh said you'd been solo your whole vacation, so dinner together. Scarlett and I were inbound anyway, same with Eun-woo and Airin. You're tight with Leri and Ronnie, so I asked—they jumped right in.”
Bottom line: Kwon Oh had rallied dinner for the guy stuck alone at the center all vacation. Everyone showed.
“Wanted Center 1 folks too, but it'd balloon. Cool?”
First time ever. Someone looking out for him with a meal invite—and this turnout.
“This... kinda touching?”
Everyone stared, surprised—then cracked up laughing.
“Man! Real men don't cry!”
“Didn't cry. Wasn't gonna.”
“Mmm, yummy smells!”
Kwon Oh fired up the galbi grill. Airin and Leri volunteered help and headed to the kitchen.
“Oh! Shake tasting as appetizer while we wait? Yeah!”
Su-ho blocked the hyped Ronnie mid-reach into his bag for a massive container.
“Rice! Rice first! Shake later...!!”
“Oh, too heavy? Man, gotcha.”
Su-ho exhaled, relieved, as Ronnie stowed it.
The helper room buzzed with life for the first time in ages. Not bad at all. Close friends, good food, lively chatter.
Su-ho pitched in prepping. Scarlett joined last, and it wrapped quick.
The table groaned under the feast. Some dishes he hadn't seen forever. No leaving it uneaten.
‘Hyung, today...’
‘Eat.’
Su-ho blinked at Jin Seong-hyeok.
‘For real?’
‘Yeah. One meal. Strict diet tomorrow on.’
‘Roger!’
Permission granted—no more holding back. Su-ho's chopsticks flew.
The massive dinner wrapped. Kwon Oh's spread vanished clean. Stuffed and blissful, everyone sprawled lazily. Kwon Oh surveyed them, beaming satisfaction.
Su-ho was among the loungers. Belly full from the feast—then Leri's nagging forced a protein shake down too. One wrong move, and it'd come right back up.
‘Ugh, I'm done for.’
‘Overeating won't kill you.’
‘Nah... it's a figure of speech. Shake-free would've been perfect... urp.’
Talking hurt. Su-ho clapped a hand over his mouth. Digestion time.
He hauled himself off the sofa. Everyone scattered: TV, naps, heated monster debates.
Su-ho debated sneaking upstairs—but his gut said walk it off. He headed out of the helper room. A lap around to settle the food from throat to belly.
Strolling slow, he spotted a cluster: black-suited security agents, white-coated examiners. One screaming red outfit stuck out dead center.
Who got security and examiners trailing them? Whatever. None of his business.
No desire to be seen, he turned—
“Cha Su-ho Hunter?”
Trevor's voice. Guess Trevor was in the pack. Su-ho schooled annoyance from his face and pivoted.
“Long time, Chief Examiner Trevor.”
Someone in the group spotted him, startled—whispered to the red-clad middle-aged woman.
“Oh my! The famous Cha Su-ho Hunter?!”
The shrill voice grated; Su-ho's eyes narrowed on reflex. Not just the tone. That choking perfume cloud rolling in.
“What a coincidence! Was just on my way to you, Cha Su-ho Hunter.”
She marched up, seized his hand.
“Nice to meet you! I'm Miriam, Center 2's rep.”
Center 2 rep?
‘Here to invite you, looks like.’
Jin Seong-hyeok's words jogged Su-ho's memory: Center 1's Director Dae-geon mentioning Center 2 and 3 invitations.
Su-ho met Miriam's eyes, enlightened.
“Hello... urp.”
“Urp?”
His gut roiled. Truth was, it'd started at her first perfume hit.
What cologne reeked that bad? Escape, now—that was the only thought.
“One sec...”
Couldn't straight-up pinch his nose, so he cupped his mouth casual-like.
“Ah, stomach acting up. Gotta go.”
He bowed quick, spun to bolt—Miriam latched his arm.
“Oh, we bump into each other—where to?”
Fresh perfume wave. Gut twisted harder.
Run soon or puke right here. Not in this crowd. Not with Center 2's rep watching. Su-ho blurted desperately.
“Uh, see... stomach's real bad...”
“What? Speak up—can't hear.”
She pressed closer. Su-ho shoved her back gentle with one hand.
“Hold up, back off a bit.”
“Cha Su-ho Hunter, first time at Center 1 in ages—gotta know my way around.”
His stuffed gut flashed the limit warning.
“So you walk with me, chat invitation details...”
Every step she took wafted more perfume. Straight into Su-ho's nose.
He clamped his mouth by force—but no holding it.
“Depart right now. Thoughts, Cha Su-ho Hunter?”
Urrrrp. The flood burst from Su-ho's mouth. Straight onto Miriam's head—she'd glued herself right there.
“Hm? What's th—KYAAAAAAAA!!”
Screech split his ears. Miriam flailed, stomping mad. Security agents urgently brushed chunks from her jacket atop her ruined hair—pure panic.
Jin Seong-hyeok's laughter boomed in his skull. Su-ho squeezed his eyes shut, mumbling.
“Damn.”