Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 89
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' shouts loudly, "Hey—! Get rid of that dog smell—!"]
Eunha, her hat pulled down low, lifted her head with a slightly tense expression.
"Is this your first time with dog grooming?"
A man wearing horn-rimmed glasses asked in a gentle tone.
Eunha nodded faintly.
"...I've been interested for a while, but I never had the chance."
"I see. They say starting is half the battle. If you look at our academy students, they range from middle and high school students to housewives."
He took out a pre-prepared pamphlet and placed it on the table.
[Kang Haengwook Dog Grooming Academy]
"Now, if you look... as you can see from the curriculum here, we have renowned instructors and offer thorough theoretical classes as well as practical training. We also professionally run certification classes and business startup classes."
He flipped through the booklet, then opened a page and presented it to Eunha.
"Hmm, well, if you're a complete beginner, the basic class would be good, but many people also start with the hobby class."
"Hobby class?"
"That's right. The hobby class only has lessons on Saturdays and Sundays. Since you're likely balancing it with work, time can be an issue. Excuse me, but may I ask what your occupation is?"
"Unemployed."
"..."
"..."
A brief silence.
The man, who had pushed up the glasses that had slipped down his nose, soon skillfully managed his expression and spoke.
"Ahaha. Well, everyone's struggling with job hunting these days. Once you get your certification, starting a business is entirely possible, and, um. Well, yes. You've come to the right place."
The consultation continued for about 10 minutes after that.
Afterward, Eunha toured the academy herself and even briefly observed a class in session.
It was a truly strange and exciting experience.
She didn't even think about how much worry and courage it had taken to come this far.
Eunha stared blankly at the students practicing beyond the glass window.
"Well, do you have any more questions?"
The answer was already decided.
Eunha, who had been watching the students' practice from afar, slowly turned her head.
"...I'll register."
Silvermoon Management Headquarters.
Siwoo picked up the document lying on his desk.
The red word 'Confidential (機密)' stamped largely at the top caught his eye.
"S-Class Emergency Summoning Order?"
They're trying all sorts of methods now.
Smirking, Siwoo practically threw the document he was holding onto the desk.
It had been quite a while since the Association had summoned Siwoo, 'Baekrang'.
After recruiting Maestro to the Korean Association, it had been quiet for a while.
'Their feet are on fire.'
Siwoo gazed indifferently at the documents scattered on his desk, roughly guessing the Association's current situation.
Excluding Maestro Baek Yijun, who had changed his nationality, and Baekya Shin Siwoo, who had no official activities, there were only 5 S-Class hunters in Korea.
Among them, excluding the terminally ill Gwihoon and the troublemaker Ayeon who ignored even the President's summons...
'Effectively, only three S-Class hunters are active.'
Monkey King, Doctor Plant, and Trickster.
They could be said to be the actual pillars of the current Korean hunter community.
However, one of those three pillars had recently collapsed.
Siwoo had already heard the news.
Trickster, who had left to subjugate an Unknown Gate that suddenly appeared in Pohang, had returned not only with severe injuries but also with an unknown curse.
Thanks to that, Doctor Plant was reportedly neglecting even her guild, Rose, and focusing entirely on his treatment.
Though it hadn't been announced to the public yet, if this became known, it would surely cause anxiety among the citizens and earn sympathy or ridicule from other countries.
In other words, it was a situation where the previously quiet Association had no choice but to reach out to Baekrang again.
"...What should we do?"
Jehwi, who had been cautiously observing Siwoo's mood, spoke carefully.
"Do what?"
Siwoo, resting his chin on his desk, lifted his gaze blandly, as if asking what was there to ask.
"Get rid of it."
Though it had a grandiose title like Emergency Summoning Order, what they would say was obvious anyway.
'Hunter Shin. Please contribute your strength to the Association, to the nation. Korea needs you.'
—Something like that, probably.
Siwoo sighed with a fed-up expression.
"..."
Meanwhile, in front of Siwoo, Jehwi, for some reason, was hesitating.
He couldn't readily dispose of the document he was told to get rid of, and instead, holding it in his arms, he began to glance around furtively.
Then, finally, he cautiously parted his lips.
"Um... Still, how about checking the contents once? The Association's attitude seems quite different from usual."
"Different, you say?"
"They've reportedly commissioned a large number of enchantments from crafting guilds. Moreover, they've issued summoning orders not only to S-Class hunters but also to A-Class and above dark and fire attribute hunters."
"..."
Siwoo's gaze changed slightly.
He moved the hand supporting his chin to his lap and then leaned back loosely in his chair.
Enchantment meant imbuing equipment with specific attributes or resistances.
If the Association, which worked with hunters of various attributes, judged that they were short on manpower, there must be a good reason.
At his gesture to continue, Jehwi cleared his throat and spoke again.
"It's just my guess, but I think a summoning order might fall upon this Hunter-nim soon, too..."
"What?"
This time, his gaze definitely changed.
Seeing his neat eyebrows twitch greatly, Jehwi also flinched.
"Th-this Hunter-nim uses 'Dark Flare', doesn't she? And the Association is looking for dark and fire attribute hunters."
Swallowing dryly, Jehwi added in a barely audible voice.
"Could there be anyone more suitable than Hunter-nim..."
"..."
Siwoo closed his mouth.
There could be no more chilling silence in the world.
Did I say something unnecessary?
Jehwi belatedly regretted it.
"I-I'll get rid of it."
It would be better to burn this right now.
Just as he was about to hastily grab the documents and turn away.
"—Wait."
Siwoo suddenly stopped him.
"Leave it there."
"Huh?"
"I'll check it later."
Siwoo said, tapping the tablet on his desk.
Jehwi, staring blankly at his indifferent profile, eventually, slowly placed the documents he was holding down.
"Ah... Yes, I understand."
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of tapping on the tablet walked over the silence.
Had some work suddenly come up?
Perhaps he was just fiddling with it for no reason.
"Hasn't Sunbae received a summoning order yet?"
Siwoo, his gaze fixed on the tablet, asked as if throwing out the question.
"Yes, since Hunter Lee Yura was officially measured as F-Class, it's probably... Even if they issue a summoning order, wouldn't it be towards the very end?"
In other words, a last resort, a stopgap role.
Jehwi didn't bother adding that.
"Really?"
Siwoo, answering blandly, closed his mouth again.
Tap, tap...
After tapping the tablet a few more times, Siwoo abruptly changed the subject.
"How's Sunbae's refrigerator."
"Huh? Refrige...rator... are you asking?"
Jehwi blinked.
"Yeah. Refrigerator."
It seemed he hadn't misheard.
...Wait a minute.
So suddenly like this?
Jehwi quickly tried to recall the contents of Eunha's officetel refrigerator.
"Um, I've been stocking it up from time to time. We went grocery shopping recently, so food shouldn't have run out yet."
"Did you tell her to cut down on beer and internet?"
"Yes. I did tell her."
"Does she still watch old broadcasts and stuff? Like that popular music show special or whatever, things like that."
"Well... yes, I suppose...?"
Jehwi, answering hesitantly, stared intently at Siwoo.
Did he sense the strange gaze?
Siwoo, who had been staring at the tablet, frowned deeply and lifted his head.
"What are you looking at."
"Ah, no..."
Jehwi quickly lowered his gaze.
'He seems curious.'
However, contrary to his gaze fixed on the floor, the corners of Jehwi's mouth kept trying to creep upwards.
The CEO is definitely curious.
About how Eunha was doing, quite a bit, no, a lot.
Jehwi, forcefully suppressing his telltale smile, spoke in the most nonchalant tone possible.
It's not because you're curious, it's just that I thought of it.
As if exuding such a nuance.
"Oh, right. Recently, Hunter-nim's favorite drinking snack changed from dried filefish to chicken feet."
"..."
"She prefers boneless."
"..."
"For reference, she eats it at about spiciness level 3."
It was an astonishingly unsubstantial story.
Siwoo showed no particular reaction.
However, Jehwi knew.
That his ears were perked up this way.
As proof, Siwoo never once interrupted Jehwi's words.
Emboldened, Jehwi no longer watched his mood and continued his story.
"Um, and last week, she also registered for a dog grooming academy."
"Dog grooming academy?"
Siwoo, who had maintained no reaction until now, slowly lifted his head.
"It seems she's been very interested in dog grooming for a long time. Originally, she even planned to go to university for that."
"I see."
A short, bland reply, as if uninterested.
However, Siwoo's fingers, which had been tapping the tablet, stopped abruptly.
Though his gaze was on the tablet, he guessed Siwoo was thinking about something else.
It was definitely that kind of look.
Beside him, Jehwi, though hesitant, cautiously began to speak.
"It's Kang Haengwook Dog Grooming Academy."
Glancing, Siwoo, without moving his head, only turned his eyes towards him.
Jehwi smiled awkwardly and added.
"The academy Hunter-nim is attending, I mean. Well, just, in case."
"...You've become quite cheeky."
"I believe I've become more competent... Haha."
"Get out."
"Yes, sir."
So I'm getting kicked out after all.
Did I say something unnecessary?
Jehwi quickly left the room and quietly closed the door.
Click—
Only after Jehwi left did Siwoo take his eyes off the tablet.
'It's Kang Haengwook Dog Grooming Academy.'
'It seems she's been very interested in dog grooming for a long time.'
"..."
Flipping the tablet face down on the desk, he now turned his eyes to the documents placed beside it.
Confidential (機密).
Siwoo, after staring at the red letters at the top of the document for a long time, eventually, slowly reached out his hand towards it.
