Free Web Novel“As I thought.”
Ryu Taeyoung nodded without hesitation, as if he hadn’t doubted me at all. I took the chance to hammer the wedge in.
“Ah, but if you mean that younger hunter, the short one, then... well.”
“You know something about him?”
“He seemed a little... unhinged. Honestly, he’s still young. It’s a shame he ended up like that.”
Half true. Judging from the way Choi Jeonggil had been rambling earlier, the guy did look like he was out of his mind.
Well, Jeonggil... every protagonist needs trials. I offered him some empty comfort in my head. Ryu Taeyoung, hearing me, seemed convinced and keyed in his comms. I just watched in silence before asking:
“Then I can go home now?”
“Yes. Though the detectives asked for your cooperation. Not right this instant, but would you be willing to show up sometime soon?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll drive you home. As for the Gate, we’ve cordoned off the area. Once we secure enough manpower, we’ll attempt entry.”
I followed him and got into the passenger seat of his car. Never thought I’d be riding in this thing again.
Once he started the engine, I nodded calmly. Sooner or later they’d figure out it was a Quest-type dungeon. They’d also realize half the participant quota was already filled, so they wouldn’t dare jump in too rashly.
“Thanks for the ride.”
He paused briefly at my words, then drove onto the road. His head must’ve been buzzing with thoughts. I had no desire to ease that burden, so I kept my mouth shut.
Luckily, worry comes with an expiration date. Tomorrow I’d be inside that dungeon, draining it down to the marrow. I leaned back comfortably, gazing out the window.
Ryu Taeyoung didn’t say a word for a long while. The silence finally broke once we’d crossed into Seoul.
“There’s something else I want to apologize for.”
“...Excuse me?”
Again? Was this a sequel to the apology he’d made when I left the Awakener Management Center last time?
I couldn’t understand what the hell he had to be so sorry about. But it wasn’t me apologizing, and since he was the one offering, I wasn’t about to stop him.
After some hesitation, he spoke in a quiet voice.
“I think I misunderstood you more than I realized.”
“......”
“I judged you too hastily. Even this time, I thought maybe the report wasn’t sincere, that you had some ulterior motive... Ridiculous, I know.”
“It’s fine.”
“I’m truly grateful you trusted me enough to call today. Really. I mean it.”
I turned my gaze and stared at his profile. His ears were flushed red from the apology.
“...Why are you staring at me like that?”
“If it bothers you, I won’t. I just have a habit of looking people in the eye when I talk.”
Man, demanding much? I obediently turned back to face forward. Same car, same man, yet the atmosphere was completely different this time. His hostility and his goodwill—what a gap. I deliberately lightened my tone.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“...What?”
“I’ve been misunderstood like that more than a few times.”
True enough. Even someone as good-natured as me had been mistaken for having “bad character” more than once. I dug up one of the clearest memories.
“My parents probably thought the same way.”
Strictly speaking, only “my father” and “my kind mother” had thought that way. But since neither existed here, maybe it didn’t apply.
“...Your parents?”
“They’re not around anymore.”
“......”
I’d answered casually, but the air instantly turned heavy. Did he think I meant they were dead? In this world, both my father and mother were alive and well—it was just ties with me that were cut.
But letting him misunderstand wasn’t necessarily bad. After all, Ryu Taeyoung had a soft spot for the weak. An F-rank hunter who lost his parents early? That’s practically a cheat key.
'Hmm.'
Originally, I hadn’t planned on keeping ties with Ryu Taeyoung. But I adjusted that plan a little.
This man was different from the novel’s supporting role. More useful, more three-dimensional.
And with today’s events, knowing the captain of the Special Response Team felt like a major advantage.
'Maybe I should get closer to him.'
After a long drive, his car finally stopped near my place. Before getting out, I looked straight at him.
“Thanks again for today. You saved my life.”
“...No, really, I’m just glad you weren’t seriously injured.” freēwēbηovel.c૦m
“If you don’t mind, maybe we can meet privately next time.”
“...Huh?”
“I’d like to buy you a meal. Politeness, you know?”
I ended with a grin. He blinked at me, dazed, then nodded.
“Y-yes, then... next time.”
“I’ll be in touch. Get home safe.”
I bowed slightly, stepped out of the car, and shut the door. Just as I’d thought, nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. But thanks to Infinite Guild’s insanity, I’d gained plenty—so it wasn’t a total loss.
Dragging my still-stiff body, I looked up at my home.
Yeah, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) home really is the best. With that thought, I unlocked the door with a strange, almost nostalgic sense, and opened it gladly.
“You fucking bastard, Seo Jehyun!”
Scratch that. Sometimes a hotel might be better than home.
The moment the door opened, I saw Joo Seowon—and reflexively slammed it shut again. My gut screamed that going inside now would be a pain in the ass.
***
The instant I stepped in, Joo Seowon exploded.
“You son of a bitch, you said you’d call me back!”
“Oh.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
Right, I had said that. I’d been so caught up in everything, I’d forgotten. Seeing my face, he realized I’d completely blanked on it, and his eyes went wide as he screamed.
“You didn’t even explain what was going on, just spouted some shit about being kidnapped. Are you insane? No, you are insane!”
“There was no time to make small talk. Do you think people have time for chit-chat when they’ve been kidnapped?”
“Then don’t say you’ll call me back, you lunatic! I waited for your call all night! Do you know what fucking time it is right now?!”
“Ugh, I’m not feeling well.”
I shoved him away with one arm and walked to the kitchen, drinking some water. When I turned back, it wasn’t Seowon staring at me this time, but Do Yehyun.
“What?”
“Hyungnim. Your face... what the hell happened?”
My face? The potion should’ve taken most of the swelling down. Probably just a few cuts left.
But Yehyun’s eyes weren’t his usual mild ones. They were sharp, full of discontent. I tilted my head slightly.
“Can’t you let me explain later? I’m exhausted.”
I didn’t feel like I was about to pass out again, but my condition was still lousy. Instead of letting me rest, Yehyun clamped his mouth shut, glaring, then raised a hand to my cheek. The sudden contact made me instinctively want to slap it away—but I covered the back of his hand with mine instead. He flinched, then said quietly:
“...I can only do simple healing. For now.”
“Since when?”
The other day, after fighting Infinite Guild, there’d been no mention of him being able to heal.
A faint light glowed from Yehyun’s palm against my cheek, seeping into the cuts. The scratches and swelling from the beating faded back to normal.
“Better than I expected.”
“I practiced for the first time yesterday. Hunter Sung Minju was injured, so...”
“From SH Guild?”
“Yes.”
I pushed my tongue against the inside of my cheek. No more taste of blood. For him to awaken this level of healing without even running dungeons yet—he’d really been grinding hard.
“Thanks.”
“This is why you brought me, isn’t it?”
“You thank a barista even when you pay for your coffee.”
“...Hyungnim, seriously...”
A society where people say thank you freely is a good one, isn’t it? Maybe not. Yehyun, still unhappy, withdrew his hand and bit his lip.
“What’s this about a kidnapping? Please explain.”
“An illegal guild tried to nab me for money. The Special Response Team hunters showed up and cleaned up the mess. That’s all.”
“They kidnapped you... for money? You?”
“Life of an F-rank hunter, Yehyun.”
“You’re not hurt anywhere else?”
“Plenty.”
I quickly held out my wrist. Yehyun examined the rope burns and scraped skin there, falling silent.
“It hurt.”
I urged him. He looked between my wrist and my eyes, then slowly wrapped his hand around it. Again, a faint glow spread and seeped into the wounds.
The cuts closed, but the deep indentations didn’t completely vanish. Yehyun focused on those spots, repeating the skill.
When I glanced aside, Joo Seowon was quietly watching Yehyun heal my wrist.
Finally, Yehyun let go once he was satisfied.
'Hmm. Not bad.'
I rotated my wrist, testing mobility. The ache in the bone from earlier was still there—probably a sprain from fighting—but that could be treated at a hospital. No big deal.
“...Are you okay now?”
“Good.”
Meeting Yehyun’s eyes, I confirmed my decision once more. I’d have to bring him into that Quest-type dungeon I’d just discovered.
