Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Dangerous Invitation (2)
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A suffocating silence weighed heavily on Cha Su-ho's shoulders. In the reception room of Center 1, Dae-geon, the representative of Branch 1, sat facing him.
"So."
Breaking the long silence, Dae-geon spoke first.
"The reason the Branch 2 Director fainted was because Hunter Cha Su-ho..."
Su-ho squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again, as if the moment he had been dreading had finally arrived. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and slowly opened his mouth.
"Yes. I... on the Branch 2 Director's head..."
When Su-ho couldn't bring himself to finish, Dae-geon did it for him.
"Vomited, right?"
"...Yes. That's right."
Miriam had thought something had simply fallen on her head, but the moment she realized it was from Su-ho's mouth, she freaked out, thrashing wildly before fainting.
Naturally, the Center had erupted into chaos. The security agents assigned to her wiped her head with their jackets and teleported her straight back to Branch 2.
And now, as Su-ho explained everything to Dae-geon, he was overwhelmed with self-loathing. He pressed his hands to his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"I'm sorry. My stomach was really acting up at the time."
"Hahaha."
Suddenly, Dae-geon burst into loud laughter. Looking up at the sound, Su-ho met Dae-geon's gaze as he spoke.
"Miriam's perfume is pretty overpowering, huh? I think I heard last time that a hunter from Branch 3 puked on her head too."
"...Pardon?"
"It's not the first time, so don't worry about it."
Not the first time?
'I've seen it happen twice.'
'Wait, have you witnessed it too, hyung?!'
'You and that Branch 3 hunter.'
'Then why were you laughing so hard earlier?'
'Sorry, it was just hilarious. The Branch 3 guy at least got it on her clothes, but I never imagined you'd puke right on her head.'
It was gruesome even by his own standards. He truly hadn't expected vomit to come out of his mouth, let alone for it to land squarely on the Branch 2 Director's crown.
Even when he first retched, Su-ho couldn't believe the situation. It only sank in after Miriam fainted.
"...Still, I'm truly sorry. I should go apologize in person..."
As Su-ho dropped his gaze in dismay, Dae-geon spoke up.
"It's fine. They won't even care over there."
Miriam would see it as more beneficial that she now had a favor owed to her from Su-ho because of the incident, rather than dwelling on the vomit itself.
"Might as well use this as an excuse for the Branch 2 Director to tone down her perfume. We've been suffering through meetings because of it every time. Even with the windows open, the smell lingers."
Dae-geon picked up a neat square paper envelope from the table and held it up.
"And look. Even after that happened, they still sent an invitation to Hunter Cha Su-ho."
"The invitation?"
"Yes. It came with word that Miriam woke up. You're invited the day after tomorrow at noon."
Dae-geon handed the invitation to Su-ho as if to say, read it yourself.
"How long you stay is up to you, Hunter Cha Su-ho, but try not to exceed a week. Branch 3 is waiting too, after all."
Dae-geon finished plainly and stood from his seat.
"When you get back, let's have some tea. Coffee mix like last time works too."
Just tea? It was surprisingly mild. Su-ho had half-expected earnest warnings or half-joking pleas not to leave Branch 1 behind, but all he got was an invitation for tea upon return.
"Understood."
"Safe travels."
Su-ho silently watched Dae-geon's retreating figure as he left first. Then Jin Seong-hyeok spoke up.
'Anyway, he's something else. Even the Branch 2 Director.'
'Yeah. Inviting the guy who puked on her head...'
'Guess she needs you that badly.'
Branch 2 Director. Jin Seong-hyeok let out a small chuckle.
'Well, look on the bright side. Just brace yourself before you go.'
'Brace myself...?'
'Branch 2 is full of women as stunning as An Ji-young.'
'...You're not saying I need to brace for that, are you?'
'Exactly.'
A brief silence fell, then Su-ho shot to his feet. Jin Seong-hyeok followed up with more words, but Su-ho breezily ignored him.
Branch 2, Germany Headquarters.
Word spread that someone had puked on the Branch 2 Director's head while she was out meeting the new SSS-grade hunter. And when it turned out the culprit was an SSS-grade hunter, everyone was shocked—but couldn't hold back their laughter.
The examiners, who suffered the most from Miriam, were especially delighted.
"Hahaha, isn't that hilarious? Puke on Miriam's head."
"She fainted right away, they say. Yesterday, I saw two security agents carrying her in."
"Exactly. She should ease up on the perfume. Everyone she meets ends up puking, but she stubbornly douses herself head to toe every hour. What the hell is she thinking? She'll probably blame us again."
Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack. The sharp, rapid staccato of high heels echoed. The chattering examiners' mouths snapped shut. They knew exactly who owned those shoes.
The crisp footsteps, slicing through the hallway, halted abruptly—then turned toward the examination room where the examiners were talking.
"Good day, Director."
They greeted her with rigidly disciplined voices.
"Yes."
The woman in vivid hot pink, chin held high, was Branch 2 Director Miriam.
"Listen up, examiners."
She handed her designer handbag—emblazoned with its logo—to her secretary standing beside her and crossed her arms.
"SSS-grade Hunter Cha Su-ho is visiting our branch tomorrow. You all know exactly what needs to be done."
Miriam scanned the room before adding,
"Oh, right. Is my perfume ready?"
At her question, one examiner rushed over with something in hand.
"Here it is! The scent matches the one you usually use exactly."
"You're sure?"
"Yes! The fragrance is identical..."
"No!"
Frowning sharply, Miriam continued.
"The scent has to be the same, obviously. What I'm asking is if it's guaranteed not to make anyone puke!"
Everyone in the examination room shared the same thought at Miriam's demand.
Just spray less of it. She loved the headache-inducing intensity but drenched herself from head to toe hourly.
"...Yes. We diluted the concentration as much as possible, so it should be fine."
Miriam eyed the examiner suspiciously before snatching the perfume. She popped the cap and started spritzing wildly.
Psst, psst, psst. She doused herself so thoroughly that even the stone-faced security agents nearby twitched their eyebrows. Satisfied, Miriam nodded.
"Ahem. Anyway, Hunter Cha Su-ho arrives tomorrow. Make absolutely sure he stays here. You know what I mean? Do whatever he asks. Bring him anything he needs. And obviously, no mistakes. If anyone screws up in front of Hunter Cha Su-ho..."
Miriam glared at the examiners with a venomous expression.
"I'll wipe your memories and dump you in civilian territory. All your assets confiscated, of course."
Examiners earned quite well—far beyond civilians. Considering the secrecy and living at the Center, it was fair pay.
But losing it all at once, memories erased, and abandoned?
Becoming a civilian wasn't so scary. Retirement mindset, earn more money. But total memory wipe? Horrifying just to think about.
Rumors persisted of examiners who'd been mind-wiped, only to suicide soon after. No wonder they were terrified.
In the solemn atmosphere, Miriam extended her hand. Her secretary cautiously offered the bag. Snatching it with a flick, Miriam turned and click-clacked away.
Once she was gone, the examiners who had been holding their breath sighed in relief.
"That lady's at it again."
Someone rose from under a desk. At the voice, the examiners' faces paled.
"Killian... Hunter?!"
Killian, a mental-type hunter in Branch 2. He was an outsider among the branch's hunters and helpers. Partly because he was the youngest, but mostly because he preferred solitude.
He used to hide in obscure spots, but now everyone knew his haunts, so this time he'd snuck into the examination room.
"How long have you been here...?"
"Since morning?"
There was a reason the examiners hadn't noticed Killian arrive.
His ability. Killian, wielder of control and hypnosis, could hypnotize people to ignore his presence.
Sure, sharp-sensed hunters spotted him quickly, but civilian examiners? Easy. He'd slipped in and blanked himself from their minds right away. Just resting—until he overheard Miriam.
"Ugh, the smell. No wonder everyone pukes. Someone fix that lady's nose instead of perfume."
At Killian's gesture, the room's windows flew open with a rattle. A fierce gust swept in, purging the perfume scent completely.
Bonus: Killian also controlled wind. Though his control and hypnosis were stronger, limiting wind to ventilation levels, not monster-slaying power.
Sweeping back his golden hair, Killian spoke.
"So, that SSS-grade hunter's coming here tomorrow?"
One examiner nodded at Killian's question.
"Yes. By noon tomorrow... that's what she said."
"Hmm."
SSS-grade hunter. To Killian, barely out of his teens, they were like superheroes. He'd worshipped Jin Seong-hyeok like a god since childhood, even visiting Korea to mourn his death personally.
And now, another SSS-grade with Jin Seong-hyeok's abilities?
Killian's eyes sparkled as he continued, more excited than he'd been in ages.
"This is gonna be awesome!"