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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: An Awkward Lunch
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[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ is fed up with user ‘Kang Ha-ra’s’ lukewarm attitude.]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ is now certain she’ll dither like this until she’s sixty.]
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ searches for the keyword ‘Contract Relationship.’]
“You can search for that?” Ha-ra buried her face in her hands.
This is driving me crazy. Now the Constellation’s fixated on something weird because of Chief Jeong…
While Ha-ra was looking at the message window, Chief Jeong stood up, saying he needed to talk to Kwon Wook for a moment.
“Where did he go, anyway?”
In the end, Ha-ra was left alone. Meanwhile, the purple Constellation messages had gone quiet. *It’s probably looking at the search results.*
But a faint thought surfaced that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a bad idea. Chief Jeong wasn’t wrong. Rather than lurking around Yoon Se-heon without saying a word and being branded a weirdo, wouldn't it be better to just explain her situation?
Ha-ra recalled a contract marriage romance drama she had seen a long time ago.
In it, the male lead, who desperately needed to get married, asked the female lead to pretend to be his wife. The female lead agreed to his proposal to pass off the niece she was raising as the daughter of a good family.
However, Ha-ra quickly found herself caught in a contradiction.
Contract marriages usually worked because both parties had something to gain. In Ha-ra’s case, she would become an S-class if she succeeded in dating Yoon Se-heon. But what on earth would Se-heon gain from a contract relationship with her?
Yoon Se-heon was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Fame, family, looks—he lacked nothing. Which was to say, Ha-ra had nothing to offer him.
*Nothing. No way. Go back.*
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ is impressed with user ‘Kang Ha-ra.’ You really have nothing, do you?]
Ha-ra took off her glasses, wiped them haphazardly on her jacket, and put them back on. A sigh escaped her. Maybe things were better back at the Yeouido Dungeon. Didn't she seem at least a little cool back then? After all, it was true that she had saved his life…
“I’ll help you with anything.”
Ha-ra bit her lip, recalling what he had said at the hospital. The man who had said he would help with anything had turned cold at a single word from her.
*Well, I did sound a bit suspicious. But couldn't he have considered, just for a moment, that I might have my reasons?*
But after thinking that far, Ha-ra rubbed her dry face with her hands. Reasons, my ass. A reason like, ‘I have to date you because my Constellation told me to.’ It would be more surprising if anyone could ever guess such a reason existed.
Couldn’t she just make a living with the skills she had now? Kwon Wook had told her that her current skills alone were incredible.
Flight alone had so many applications. While training with Rae-young, Ha-ra had learned how to handle her body reasonably well. Her pathetic mana pool meant the duration was short, but even that was pretty useful inside a dungeon…
[The Constellation, ‘Cupid,’ asks if you’re truly satisfied with that.]
…Honestly, if asked if she really was, the answer was a definite no.
During her week of special training, Ha-ra had gotten an indirect taste of how an S-class Hunter lived.
Kwon Wook was much busier than she had known, and it seemed like he barely had a moment to breathe, but…
“Wook, we need this.”
“Yeah, buy it.”
The moment one of the Hunters who managed Team K’s supplies mentioned they needed something, he told them to buy it without even looking at the price.
“Wook, I made this. You should use it.”
Bok-hee made various pieces of equipment for Kwon Wook.
To be honest, it wasn’t the money or the equipment she envied.
Team K revolved solely around Kwon Wook. Watching him from the side, she found it fascinating and enviable. It was true that she’d thought, just once, she’d like to be like that.
He was just like the protagonist of a cartoon she used to watch as a child.
*‘And it’s true that S-class Hunters really do live like the protagonists of the world…’*
Ha-ra stared blankly down at her knees. She wasn’t even hoping for a relationship. But in any case, she had a usable skill that required her to be near Se-heon.
That was why she had long since concluded that she had to stick by Se-heon’s side. She had only been ignoring that conclusion because the Constellation was so damn annoying.
*So, what if I tried saying it like this?*
*‘I’m terribly sorry, but could you please just let me stay by your side?’*
*…The line is a bit weird, though.*
Anyway, Ha-ra desperately wanted to convey to Se-heon that she had no ulterior motives. She would ask him if he could help her out for a little while, given her circumstances.
*‘But there’s no reason for him to help me…’*
*Sir, have you ever considered awakening the patriotism sleeping in your heart? If you think about it, me becoming S-class is a contribution to the nation, so would you consider it official duty, close your eyes, and just stick with me for a bit?*
*…Wow, that sounds like complete bullshit.* Ha-ra buried her face in both hands, dumbfounded.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
That was when Se-heon approached. Ha-ra looked over, startled.
“Ah, I… am eating. Have you eaten?”
After saying that, Ha-ra realized the lunchbox in front of her was still unopened. She hadn't even touched it while talking to Chief Jeong.
Se-heon saw this and scoffed, then sat down in front of her. It was the same spot Chief Jeong had been sitting in just before. Then he placed the bag he was carrying on the table.
Wondering what it was, she saw that the bag contained a tiered lunchbox.
“An acquaintance packed this for me, but I didn’t think I could eat it all by myself at home, so I brought it.”
The expensive-looking lunchbox was filled with side dishes. All sorts of savory pancakes and seasoned root vegetables made her mouth water.
Ha-ra was dumbfounded. What was this situation? Yoon Se-heon was unpacking a lunchbox, asking her to eat with him.
*Why is he doing this?*
As she unconsciously grew wary of him, Se-heon, who was picking up his chopsticks, raised an eyebrow.
The look in Se-heon’s eyes as he naturally offered her the food made Ha-ra hesitantly unwrap a pair of wooden chopsticks and pop one of the savory pancakes into her mouth.
*‘This is insane.’*
The thought dominated her mind the moment she put it in her mouth. Amazingly, the food in the lunchbox wasn’t just delicious. A savory, rich flavor spread across her tongue.
“Mm, this food is amazing. Your acquaintance must be a great cook.”
It wasn’t just something she said to lighten the mood; she meant it. Se-heon, who was arranging the containers neatly, muttered bluntly.
“My stepmother bought it.”
*Ah, so much for the atmosphere.* The air grew strangely uncomfortable, and Ha-ra darted her eyes around.
Se-heon looked at her and let out a short laugh.
“My apologies. I’ve made things awkward.”
Ha-ra pretended to open her own lunchbox and didn’t answer. She couldn’t very well just say, ‘Yes, it is awkward,’ could she?
But it seemed Se-heon had wanted her to say just that. He watched her for a moment before smoothly taking the lunchbox from her hands—as she pretended it wouldn't open—and popped the lid off with one large hand. The clear plastic lid came off with a crack.
“Please, eat.”
“Thank you…”
The two of them ate in silence for a while. Over on the other side, the production crew and Team K members shot glances their way, but they soon returned their focus to their own meals.
“I find this uncomfortable.”
Ha-ra flinched in surprise. Se-heon continued speaking, his chopsticks moving calmly.
“I know why Chief Jeong was acting that way earlier. It was because of you, Ms. Kang Ha-ra.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?!”
Ha-ra’s face flushed. It seemed Se-heon had approached her because he felt the need to draw a line after Chief Jeong’s abrupt question.
Se-heon spoke without even looking at Ha-ra.
“Ms. Kang Ha-ra. I am truly grateful to you. You saved my life, after all.”
“Yes…”
“But if people dated just because someone saved their life, there’d be about a million people marrying firefighters.”
*I mean, you’re not wrong!*
Ha-ra felt her stomach sink, as if she were being scolded for hitting on Yoon Se-heon without knowing her place.
*‘I’m not that into you, either! You’ve got it all wrong!’*
She wanted to say that, but it would only make her look even stranger in this situation. Se-heon would surely ask, ‘Then why did you ask me out?’
*Oh, wait.*
*If I explain… the situation properly… would that work?*
*‘Actually, it’s because my Constellation told me to date you.’*
Should she lean her elbows on the plastic table and explain it seriously? Ha-ra was lost in thought. She remembered Chief Jeong mentioning a contract relationship earlier.
Chief Jeong was of the opinion that she should explain the situation to Yoon Se-heon and then insist, ‘Let’s just date for a few months! Let’s do it!’ But wasn’t this classified information?
*So, is it okay to explain it without Chief Jeong here, or not?*
Ha-ra was caught in a dilemma. She looked around for Chief Jeong, but he was nowhere to be seen.
*Ah, Chief! Why are you gone at a time like this!*
The meal continued in a natural silence. Feeling awkward, Ha-ra just stared blankly and picked at her food.
That was when it happened. Suddenly, a strange clamor arose from the other end of the cave.
Shouts of “Hey, get that! What is that!” A loud noise. The sound of something crashing. A tearing sound. At the same time, a gust of wind, *whoosh*, blew from deeper inside the cave.
“Get back!”
Chief Jeong shouted.
Ha-ra instinctively staggered to her feet. *This is the dungeon entrance, what’s going on?* The next moment, with a scrabble of claws, something burst out from the darkness of the cave.
It was Yoon Se-heon who shot up and snatched her out of the way.
“Whoa—”
A sudden gust of wind blew past. She belatedly realized it was because she’d been pulled to the ground by Se-heon.
A stinging pain flared across her palm. *Ah.*
“Ha-ra!”
Rae-young’s piercing scream rang out. *What is this?* The moment Ha-ra raised her head, her eyes fell on the werewolf from before.
Charging on all fours.
