Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 90
"Huh? Dog grooming?"
Slurp.
Ayeon, sipping her drink through a straw, widened her eyes.
A cafe near Eunha's academy.
Ayeon and Eunha had decided to have lunch together after a long time.
"It's only been a week."
Eunha replied calmly, twirling pasta noodles with her fork.
Dog grooming... Isn't that too much of a mismatch?
Ayeon blinked her round eyes rapidly.
This Unnie was truly new every time she saw her.
"How are you doing?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Those guys, have they been quiet since then?"
"Ah."
Ayeon grinned.
"What can they possibly do? It's better for both sides to just let it pass as a happening; if they have any brains, they'll think so too. Well, if they come looking for me again, I'd actually be thankful."
Because I have proof of being beaten up.
Ayeon proudly presented her cellphone.
It was a selfie of Ayeon with a black and blue bruise on her face, lightly making a V sign.
"I've recorded everything too. The story of those guys framing me as a thief is all in here."
Tap, tap.
After tapping the screen a few times, Verde's recorded voice came through the phone speaker.
【It was you, wasn't it? Who stole my items.】
What are you talking about? Do you have any proof that I stole them?
【I can't think of anyone else but you.】
Hey, mister. That's suspicion, not proof, you know.
A conversation mixed with English and Korean.
At the time, there was no problem with communication thanks to the badge's help, but the recorded voice was brazenly raw English.
Nevertheless, it would be sufficient as evidence.
...She's a thorough child.
Eunha thought, looking at Ayeon who wore a meaningful smile.
It was truly amazing how she managed to record something like this while getting beaten up like that.
"By the way, what about the Pixie Powder Unnie won the bid for? Did you give it to your friend?"
Ayeon, putting away her phone, clapped her hands as if she had just remembered.
The Pixie Powder she had worked so hard to earn chips for, and then won the bid for at such a high price.
She was so surprised at first when she heard she was going to give it to her friend.
"Yeah. They say he's gradually getting better. I don't know if it's the effect of the Pixie Powder, though."
"Oh. Really?"
Ayeon, arms crossed, fell into deep thought, then soon smiled brightly and abruptly leaned her head towards Eunha.
"If Pixie Powder comes up for auction next year, should I participate too? If it's quite effective, I think I could store it and sell it for a very high price! Right, Unnie?"
"Maybe."
In front of Eunha, who replied blandly, Ayeon's eyes sparkled.
"Unnie, speaking of which, let's go to the Hunter Auction together next year too!"
"Well. I'm now..."
Now?
Seeing Eunha trail off, Ayeon looked bewildered.
Eunha put down the fork she was holding and lifted her head.
"Starting next month, I'll be in the employment class, and I'm planning to get my dog grooming license soon too."
"Huh...?"
Employment class...?
License...?
This Unnie, what on earth is she talking about?
"I mean, I don't know what will happen next year."
Eunha said, stirring her cola glass with a straw.
Ayeon, who had been sputtering, her mouth agape, seemed to come to her senses and abruptly stood up.
"No, wait a minute. Unnie, does that mean you're planning to quit being a hunter just like this?"
Eunha, who was sipping her straw without answering, glanced at her cellphone.
12:43 PM.
I should probably get going soon.
"I'll get going first. I have class from 1."
"Uh, Unnie?"
"See you next time."
Eunha hurriedly left the cafe.
The distance from the cafe to the dog grooming academy was about a 10-minute walk.
Eunha, standing in front of a clothing store window nearby, meticulously covered her face with a hat and mask, then headed to the academy.
"Just a moment!"
Right before she got on the elevator, someone rushed over.
As she stopped her hand, which was about to press the close button, a young man peeked his head through the elevator doors that were about to close.
"Oh, Ms. Yura?"
Han Yoonho.
He was someone who attended the same academy as Eunha.
"That's a relief. Seeing Ms. Yura here, I guess class hasn't started yet. Phew. I ran so hard I didn't even check the time."
A stylish gray checkered shirt and jeans.
Holding a black eco-bag, he smiled warmly and stood beside Eunha.
He had reportedly taken a leave of absence from a prestigious university, started tutoring part-time, and began learning dog grooming to pursue his dream.
The reason Eunha knew so much about him was because he was the most popular guy in the academy.
Kind and affable to everyone, and even handsome, he was highly praised by the director, instructors, and students alike.
"Are you on your way back from lunch?"
"Yes."
"Ah. Me too. Where did you eat? Is there anywhere good nearby?"
"Just, a cafe in the downtown area over there. I don't know the name."
"What did you eat?"
"Pasta."
"With whom?"
"A frien..."
Eunha, who was about to answer "a friend," stopped and stared blankly at Yoonho.
He blinked foolishly, then soon scratched the back of his neck and laughed sheepishly.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Did I pry too much?"
"..."
"I, I just wanted to get to know Ms. Yura. Since we're in the same class..."
His wandering eyes, lost.
His ears were bright red.
Yoonho cleared his throat loudly, then subtly lifted his gaze to look at Eunha.
"Um, Ms. Yura, do you by any chance have a boyfriend—"
Ding dong.
The elevator arrived.
"Oh, Mr. Yoonho is here! I saved you a seat."
"Ah, ah... Hello."
Yoonho hurriedly got off the elevator and glanced back.
Then, looking at Eunha who was walking out after him, he whispered softly, almost just mouthing the words.
'See you in a bit.'
Yoonho, disappearing with a shy smile.
And so, the class began in earnest, and Eunha, looking slightly nervous, took out her grooming tools from her bag.
The instructor meticulously went around to each student, offering advice or demonstrating.
"Oh my, Ms. Yura. You're so fast. Have you done this before?"
"No, this is my first time."
"Oh my, then you must have a talent for it. Ms. Yura, you can stop brushing fur from tomorrow and start practicing scissoring right away."
If you learn just a little more, you'll get your license in no time.
The instructor was full of praise.
Eunha blinked, slightly dazed.
"It's no exaggeration to say you're the most talented student I've ever taught. I can tell just by watching you brush. I've been doing this for 10 years."
Eunha lowered her gaze to stare at the brush in her hand, then spoke lowly.
"...Thank you."
Squeeze.
Her grip on the brush tightened slightly.
Leaving the training room after class, her steps felt somehow lighter than usual.
Her full bag didn't feel heavy at all.
On the way home.
It was definitely the same path she had walked yesterday.
Nothing had changed, yet why did it feel different from yesterday?
[Manager Park]
Hunter-nim! I've made rice in the rice cooker, so please don't order chicken feet today and make sure to eat a proper meal!!
PM 6:58
I've also put various side dishes in the refrigerator, so take them out and eat them ㅎㅎ
PM 6:58
It was a message from Jehwi.
Eunha stared blankly at it on the screen, then slowly typed on the keyboard.
Okay
PM 6:59
Thank you
PM 6:59
After a moment, a new message arrived with a short vibration.
[Manager Park]
(Emoticon)
PM 6:59
A flushed frog giving a thumbs-up appeared on the screen!
It was an emoticon Jehwi often used.
"...Looks like him."
Eunha let out a faint laugh and put her phone away.
Swaaaaah—
A cool breeze brushed past her cheek.
Autumn leaves, dressed in vibrant colors, danced in her vision.
Eunha gently swept back her fluttering black hair.
The scent of autumn lingered at the tip of her nose.
'...Nice.'
Such a thought suddenly came to her.
Under the fading sunset sky, Eunha, who had been enjoying the breeze for a long time, eventually, slowly began to move her paused steps.
However.
"...?"
There was a gaze staring intently at her.
To her left.
Eunha turned her head in that direction.
"..."
"..."
Near a utility pole, a dog sat motionlessly, staring intently at Eunha.
'A Husky? No... a Malamute?'
Eunha, as if mesmerized, approached the dog.
Despite a stranger approaching, the creature didn't even bark, let alone flinch, and remained docilely seated.
Seen up close, it didn't seem to be a Husky or a Malamute.
Though it definitely had blue eyes, its entirely white fur made it look like a Samoyed.
But then again, its fur was short, and its sleek, hound-like build was puzzling.
Could it be a mixed breed?
"Good boy."
Eunha, squatting down, muttered softly.
The dog blinked slowly, as if it understood her words.
"Why are you alone? Where's your owner?"
Wag, wag—
Its tail moved slowly.
Eunha gazed at its neck.
There was no object that appeared to be an identification tag.
Nor was there a leash tied to a nearby utility pole.
Its fur was clean, and it didn't run away or bark at the sight of people, so it seemed likely to have an owner...
Eunha, squatting on the ground, silently gazed into its blue eyes.
"..."
Looking at the blue eyes, Siwoo suddenly came to mind.
Come to think of it, was he doing well?
Perhaps finding the gaze burdensome, the white dog remained frozen like stone, without even a slight movement.
Its wagging tail also paused.
Eunha, staring blankly at the dog, eventually smiled faintly without a sound.
"Sorry. For staring so much."
Eunha tilted her head slightly.
Her long black hair cascaded down like ebony.
"It's because your eyes are so pretty."
Was it her imagination?
The creature seemed to flinch.
Even though she hadn't touched it.
Could it be stressed?
Perhaps it was because it had been with a stranger for too long.
"Bye, doggy."
The moment she slowly stood up.
Grab!
The white dog, which had been docile until now, suddenly bit Eunha's pant leg.
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' shouts, "Let go of that right now, meow! This is a butler with an owner, you stupid dog!"]
