Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 69
September arrived.
If anything had changed during that time, it was that the daily temperature range began to widen, she had returned home after being discharged from the hospital, and her contract with Siwoo had been terminated.
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' proposes a game of word chain, for the first time in a while. Will you accept?]
Perhaps satisfied with the contract termination, the cat had been in a very good mood lately.
Eunha stared blankly at the message window that appeared before her, then suddenly recalled a memory from the past.
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' begins to tremble, saying the outside is dangerous, too scary, and it feels like everyone hates it.]
The cat's attitude when she tried to escape the Unknown Gate.
The cat hadn't wanted to leave that place and seemed to want Eunha to stay there with it.
[It whimpers that it just wanted to play a little longer, and that sister is its only friend.]
In the end, it had given Eunha the last item it had hidden...
Eunha's gaze, fixed on the yellow message window, deepened.
Enemy or ally.
If asked which of the two the cat was to Eunha, it would undoubtedly be closer to an ally.
But despite that, Eunha couldn't shake off an inexplicable sense of unease.
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' urges, "Huh? Huh? Word chain, are you going to play or not?"]
...Watching it quietly, it seemed like a cat with no suspicious points whatsoever.
A cat, an animal not included among the Twelve Divine Beasts.
What on earth was this creature's identity, and why was it so kind to Eunha?
Thinking about it, Eunha knew very little about the cat.
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' exclaims, "Here, take it! My treat!" It promises to sponsor 1,000 coins if you win the word chain. Will you accept?]
[Starting word ▶ Saranghae (I love you)]
Eunha, staring intently at the message window as if she had something to say, eventually swallowed her words and spoke lightly.
"Haejilnyeok (Sunset)."
Clink—
[Congratulations! You have obtained 1,000 coins!]
For now, it seemed best to observe a little longer.
The next day.
"Congratulations on your discharge!"
Jehwi arrived early in the morning for Eunha's discharge party.
Actually, it had already been two weeks since Eunha was discharged, but according to him, such trivial details didn't matter when throwing a party.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I got this takeout on the way... Ah, it's kimbap and tteokbokki."
"And this, I secretly brought it from Jerim's house; it's quite expensive alcohol."
"Yes, that's right. Royal Salute."
For a day like today, this much preparation is necessary.
The back of Jehwi's hand, as he casually wiped his nose, was bruised bluish-green.
He said he had a bad fall while cycling recently, and it seemed a patchwork of bruises still remained all over his body.
However, Jehwi was reluctant to talk about it, saying it wasn't something Ms. Hunter needed to worry about.
"Ah, I also ordered pizza on the way, but I didn't know what you'd like, so I ordered half-and-half for now."
"..."
"Ah, I should tidy up the kitchen first. Goodness gracious. How many beer cans are these?"
"Did you drink this much again? How long has it been since you were discharged?"
Jehwi put on an apron with practiced ease.
Though it was an apron in Eunha's house, Eunha had never once worn it; it was practically Jehwi's possession.
"This is why the President worries... Ahem, ahem. Anyway, Ms. Hunter, the habit of drinking beer before bed isn't very good."
Clatter.
Jehwi, gathering and clearing away the beer cans.
Eunha, staring blankly at his retreating back, suddenly spoke.
"Manager-nim."
"Wow, where did all the peanuts I bought here go in just a few days... Yes?"
Jehwi widened his eyes.
"As I mentioned last time, it's really alright if you don't keep coming like this."
"...Ah."
Jehwi stealthily put down the recycling bag.
Then, with a slightly dejected face, he kept glancing at Eunha.
"Perhaps, am I being a nuisance...?"
"No. It's not that. I know you still haven't fully recovered from your injuries."
Feeling like she had unintentionally become the bad guy, Eunha lowered her voice a notch and spoke again.
"As you know, Shin Siwoo and I terminated our contract."
"So, Manager-nim, you no longer have an obligation to take care of me—"
But she had to close her mouth before finishing her sentence.
Because Jehwi, his shoulders slumped dejectedly, wore an incredibly sad expression.
"Ms. Hunter, I'm fine. It just looks like bruises, that's all."
"Thanks to the President... No, I'm really okay. Please believe me."
"Or perhaps, are you saying this because of my nagging? It's all for Ms. Hunter's sake... No, it's not."
"I won't say anything anymore."
"..."
"This is something I'm doing entirely because I want to."
"Ms. Hunter, you are the lifesaver of me and my sister."
"But you must have other things to do, don't you?"
"Other things... I don't."
His hesitant reply, avoiding eye contact, seemed a bit suspicious.
Sure enough, Jehwi actually had two things he hadn't told Eunha.
First, that he had already submitted his resignation.
Second, that Siwoo, upon receiving the resignation, had cancelled it and then ordered him to assist Eunha from afar for the time being.
Though, looking at the current situation, he definitely wasn't observing 'from afar'.
"If it's alright with Ms. Hunter, I would like to work for Ms. Hunter, not for official duties."
Jehwi bowed deeply before Eunha.
"...Alright."
Eunha finally nodded.
She couldn't just kick him out of the house when he said it like that.
Moreover, Jehwi's presence truly wasn't inconvenient at all.
Rather, thanks to him, the house was sparkling clean.
The refrigerator was never empty, and the clothes and blankets always had a pleasant fabric softener scent.
About 10 minutes later, Jehwi, with his sleeves rolled up, had literally set out a feast.
"Here, please eat quickly, Ms. Hunter. Congratulations again on your discharge."
"Oh, and also on the end of your hunter activity suspension."
"Thank you."
Eunha, receiving the plate, offered a brief thanks.
As Jehwi said, Eunha's hunter activity suspension had ended as of yesterday.
Last evening, a notice from the Korean Hunter Association had arrived in the mailbox.
"It's truly a relief. It seems the Association doesn't know that Ms. Hunter entered the Busan Unknown Gate."
Jehwi was overjoyed.
Jehwi couldn't be unaware that the internet was currently buzzing with various rumors related to the Princess of Dark Flare.
Perhaps he had been pretending not to care, as Jehwi now spoke with a relieved expression.
"Indeed, the Monkey King. The rumor that he built his guild on loyalty alone must have been true."
"Isn't this perhaps a form of gratitude for rescuing the Immortal guild members?"
A smile of relief from Jehwi.
And so, the two raised a toast to the 'revocation of the Princess of Dark Flare's hunter activity suspension'.
About an hour later.
"Oh my, oh my stomach!"
Sniffle, sniffle.
Jehwi, his nose thoroughly askew, banged his forehead repeatedly on the dining table.
"Where in the world is there such a law! Ms. Hunter! You've gone through all sorts of hardships, and achieved all sorts of accomplishments!"
"..."
Eunha, sipping her drink, glanced at Jehwi.
Jehwi, looking utterly heartbroken, stared intently at his phone.
"Why on earth did that rotten machine rate Ms. Hunter as F-Class?"
"If not for that, Ms. Hunter might have reached A+, no, even S-Class by now! Isn't that right?"
"She's someone who didn't fall behind even a bit in a battle against the Monkey King!"
"Manager-nim, you're drunk."
"No! I am, without a doubt, perfectly sober! What's not sober is this world!"
Screaming, Jehwi pounded his chest as if wronged.
"How on earth does Ms. Hunter look like an F-Class concept hunter?"
"Even if she wears a flamboyant dress, huh? And carries a bizarre parasol! Huh?!"
"Where in the world is there such a strong concept hunter?!"
"..."
Eunha gave up trying to stop Jehwi and averted her gaze from him.
"Normally, she should be raking in wealth and fame by now... It's unfair, so unfair..."
This won't do.
Jehwi snapped his head up.
With a resolute face, he began to tap vigorously on his phone screen.
"I have to let people know too. How strong and righteous our Ms. Hunter is..."
"Manager-nim."
Eunha muttered softly.
"It's alright."
"But..."
"Really."
Eunha said again.
In the corner of the table, a bankbook lay face down.
It was the last thing Siwoo had left before the contract termination.
Was it minimal loyalty?
Or perhaps just pity?
She couldn't tell.
With that money, she could live for several years, no, even decades, without worrying about food.
It was that substantial an amount.
Moreover, this officetel was now under 'Lee Yura's' ownership.
"But no one recognizes Ms. Hunter."
"I've never wished for anyone to recognize me."
It was like that before, it was like that now, and it would be like that in the future.
"It's already enough."
Eunha lifted her head to look at Jehwi.
"Manager-nim is here, your sister is here, and the Immortal Guild all know."
"It's enough."
She had never once thought of wanting to become a famous hunter.
'No. Rather.'
If possible, she now wanted to find something she wanted to do, something other than being a hunter.
A normal life.
She wanted to try returning to that 'normal life' she thought she had lost that day.
If it wasn't too late.
"...Ms. Hunter."
The moment Jehwi sniffled.
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
Could the pizza have arrived?
"I-I'll get it."
Jehwi, who had his head on the table, quickly snapped to attention and stood up.
Was he pretending to be drunk...?
A few tens of seconds later.
"Wh-what business does the C-C-Corps have... here?"
Jehwi's voice came from the entrance.
Corps?
Eunha, sitting at the table, slowly rose from her seat.
"By order of the Master, I've come to escort the Princess of Dark Flare."
An unfamiliar male voice.
Eunha stopped walking.
On the green cloak draped over the man's back were stars embroidered with gold thread, and—
"I am Bae Joonhwan of Corps."
—Corps (軍團), Trickster Song Minjoo's guild name, shone brightly.
Despite appearances, Jehwi had worked in this industry for over 10 years.
There was no way he wouldn't know who he was.
'Corps' Deputy Guild Leader, Bae Joonhwan.'
Why was he, famous for being a top-ranker even among A-Class hunters, here?
Could it be he knew about the Unknown Gate?
Even so, it shouldn't have any connection to Corps.
No, more importantly... Ms. Hunter, what kind of connections does she have with Maestro and Trickster?!
Jehwi glanced towards Eunha.
He had long since sobered up completely.
"...?"
A tilted head and slightly narrowed brows.
Looking only at her outward appearance, Eunha seemed to be treating him like a complete stranger.
"I heard you rescued our Master at the Yeouinaru Station gate."
"And also that you received an activity suspension because of it."
"...Ah."
Only then did the question on Eunha's face disappear.
She remembered who he was.
He was definitely one of those who had tailed her when she was heading to the gukbap restaurant with Minjoo earlier.
She hadn't known then, but she knew now.
That he wasn't a kidnapper, but someone from the same guild as Minjoo.
Since she had brought Minjoo home at that time, he must have heard Eunha's home address from Minjoo.
"My apologies for the previous discourtesy."
"Not at all. We are the ones who should apologize."
As Eunha bowed her head slightly, Joonhwan bent his upper body even more deeply.
"On behalf of the Corps family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you very much."
"I only did what needed to be done."
A blunt reply came back.
Joonhwan slowly lifted his bowed head.
He had thought she was an F-Class concept hunter of unknown identity.
'Master, what did you like so much about that concept hunter?'
'If you just talk to her a little, I'm sure you'll like her too.'
"..."
Staring blankly at Eunha, Joonhwan, clutching his removed beret, bowed his head slightly again.
"The Master requests your presence at headquarters, as the figure you promised to build together has arrived."
Eunha, staring at the back of Joonhwan's bowed head, blinked slowly.
Figure...?
A question also bloomed on the face of Jehwi, who had been quietly observing the two from the side.
