The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log Chapter 23

In her dream, she had a large wound on her stomach, as if she had been attacked by something. 

 

No matter where she looked around, everything was pitch black or blood red. 

 

As she pressed down hard on the wound where blood was seeping out in gulps, a white light burst before her eyes and someone’s scream was heard.

 

“Sunbae!”

 

It was a voice close to a desperate cry. 

 

The moment she heard that sound, her consciousness soared upwards at once, as if she had sunk into water and was being forcibly pulled up.

 

“Gasp!”

 

Waking up from the dream, Hana bolted upright and panted.

 

Perhaps day had broken in the meantime, bright sunlight was pouring in through the window.

 

Her heart was pounding crazily, as if she had just had a nightmare. 

 

She had broken out in such a cold sweat that the pillow was damp. 

 

With a hazy consciousness, Hana groped the part of her stomach where she had seen the wound in the dream.

 

However, the only thing she could feel was the rustling fabric of her pajamas. 

 

Even when she lifted the fabric, her flat stomach was completely smooth without a single scratch. 

 

Only then did Hana let out a ragged breath and rub her numb eyes.

 

“Why is a dream so vivid…”

 

【SYSTEM】 

<‘A Fragment of Lost Memories’ reward distribution has been completed.> 

 

Hana’s breathing gradually calmed down.

 

Her heart was still beating fast, but at least she didn’t feel like she was suffocating like a moment ago.

 

Hana sat blankly on the bed, scratching her hair that had become a bird’s nest.

 

Then, without even opening her eyes properly, she pressed down firmly on the system window as if groping the air.

 

“The reward has been distributed?” 

 

A hoarse voice came out.

 

“Was it that dream just now?”

 

The system window clearly displayed the text <‘A Fragment of Lost Memories’ reward distribution has been completed.>, but that was all.

 

Hana stared blankly at the screen for a moment before soon tilting her head.

 

“What am I supposed to know from this…”

 

What she saw in the dream was too fragmentary.

 

Because a pitch-black sky and a vision spreading red were the end of it.

 

On top of that, even that voice calling out ‘Sunbae’ toward someone. 

 

Hana placed a hand on her forehead and slowly caught her breath, retracing the scenes from the dream one by one. 

 

But no matter how much she thought about it, there was almost no information to glean from it.

 

But after calming down a bit, a strange sense of déjà vu suddenly hit her.

 

“It was somewhat familiar.”

 

The voice she heard in the dream. 

 

The low tone that was quiet and calm, yet strangely sharp, thoroughly resembled someone’s voice. 

 

“…Did it sound a bit similar to Seo Kanghyun-ssi?”

 

As soon as she thought that, Hana shook her head vigorously.

 

“No way, that’s impossible.” 

 

Why would Seo Kanghyun appear in my dream?

 

Thinking that she was letting all sorts of thoughts into her head because she wasn’t fully awake yet, Hana stretched her arms wide. 

 

“I don’t know. If I perform missions more diligently from now on, more memory fragments will be collected, right.”

 

Then someday the puzzle would be pieced together.

 

Right now, she simply didn’t have enough pieces yet. 

 

Having roughly convinced herself, Hana finished stretching and glanced at the clock.

 

“Ack!”

 

A scream erupted from Hana’s mouth. 

 

She thought it was exceptionally bright outside today of all days. The clock was already pointing to noon.

 

If she messed up, she might miss the bus heading to Seoul.

 

“This is crazy, absolutely crazy. How did I sleep until now?” 

 

It seemed she hadn’t even heard the alarm sound because she had relaxed too much last night.

 

Popping out of bed like a spring, Hana started running around the room frantically.

 

“Waaah, I’m late!”

 

* * *

 

“Thank you, Hospital Director!” 

 

“Don’t mention it. Call me when you’re done. Hana-ssi, fighting!”

 

The hospital director clenched both fists to show his support and waved his hand brightly. 

 

The window rolled up and the van slowly departed.

 

As a result, Hana arrived safely at her destination.

 

It was thanks to the hospital director, who spotted Hana rushing out frantically and drove her straight to the Haechi Guild building.

 

Lest Hana should feel sorry, the hospital director had even made an excuse that he happened to have an appointment in Seoul as well. 

 

Really.

 

Could there be another person as kind as him? 

 

Overcome with emotion, Hana wiped her eyes for no reason.

 

“Thank you, Director. I’ll make sure to earn a lot of money and pay back all of this kindness.” 

 

Following suit towards the receding van, she firmed her fighting spirit by tightly clenching both fists.

 

Hana took a deep breath in front of the Haechi Guild.

 

The guild’s towering building was so high its top couldn’t be seen.

 

She felt intimidated by its imposing presence even before entering, but Hana confidently straightened her shoulders.

 

However, she hadn’t taken more than a few steps into the building before her path was blocked.

 

The guard stationed at the entrance stopped Hana.

 

“Are you affiliated with the guild?”

 

“No. I came because I have an appointment with the Guild Master.”

 

“What is your name?”

 

“Yoon Hana.”

 

The guard gave a short nod and radioed somewhere.

 

Then, a moment later, he turned his body towards Hana.

 

“Please follow me.”

 

While taking the elevator, passing through the hallway, and heading to the Guild Master’s office, Hana found herself looking around without realizing it.

 

As expected of South Korea’s number 1 guild, the interior was majestic to the point of being excessive.

 

The wide corridors, organized pathways, and even the luxurious equipment placed here and there.

 

There was nowhere that didn’t catch the eye.

 

Following along while looking around the building as if half-bewitched, she soon arrived at a large door.

 

“The Guild Master is waiting inside.”

 

Following the guard’s guidance into the Guild Leader’s office, she saw Seo Kanghyun sitting with his back to a full-length window.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Whether Hana entered or not, Kanghyun kept his gaze fixed on the documents.

 

“Just a moment. Let me just process this matter.”

 

Only after processing the remaining documents did Kanghyun raise his head.

 

An outfit perfectly put together from head to toe. 

 

Legs crossed relaxedly, posture without a single disruption.

 

Seo Kanghyun, without a single flaw anywhere, looked infinitely composed. 

 

She felt like she knew anew why all the mass media praised Seo Kanghyun’s appearance so highly they ran out of spit.

 

As Hana watched him while briefly spacing out, Kanghyun lightly tapped his toes. 

 

“From Yangpyeong to here, it must be closer than I thought?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

It takes a good hour, so how could it be?

 

As Hana retorted with a dumbfounded expression, one corner of Kanghyun’s mouth curled up.

 

“Seeing as you seemed to have left more leisurely than I thought. Usually, for a long distance, people tend to leave with some time to spare so they aren’t late for the appointment time, don’t they?”

 

Creak.

 

The gaze of Kanghyun, who was sitting leaning back in his chair, headed to the clock hanging on the wall.

 

It was exactly 10 minutes past the appointment time.

 

“I’d like you to keep time in the future. I’m a bit busy.” 

 

Anyway, late is late. And it was true she overslept.

 

Hana bowed her head and apologized without making excuses.

 

“I’m sorry. I won’t be late from now on.”

 

“I’ll trust you on that.” 

 

Kanghyun gave a short reply and pointed to the sofa with a hand gesture.

 

“Then please have a seat, Yoon Hana-ssi.”

 

While sitting on the sofa, Hana thought to herself. 

 

Seo Kanghyun was polite but strangely, no, quite annoying.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

As long as he kept her secret well and paid her well anyway. What would it matter even if he were more annoying than this?

 

Right now, there was something more important for Hana.

 

Namely, how she could coax him well to get him to share some energy for the rice seeds.

 

Getting up from his chair, Kanghyun approached the opposite side of Hana.

 

Moving to sit on the sofa, he handed the contract to Hana.

 

“This is the contract prepared with the details we discussed yesterday. Let’s sign.”

 

While making various plans in her head, Hana picked up the contract pushed in front of her.

 

According to the people at the hospital, they said a contract must be examined thoroughly, word by word. 

 

Following that advice, Hana began to scan the paper with eyes wide open.

 

Seeing that, Kanghyun asked in a low voice.

 

“Why. Were you worried I might hand you an unfair contract?” 

 

Was it an illusion that his tone seemed to have weirdly become shorter?

 

Inhale.

 

Hana, who had been narrowing her eyes, shrugged her shoulders. 

 

“It’s not that, but you never know what might happen in the world. I learned that contracts are meant to be read thoroughly. Besides, didn’t I recently get stiff on the remaining balance as well?” 

 

“Hah.”

 

Whether he felt like he had suddenly become the same breed as ‘KingKongIfTheKingFalls,’ Kang-hyun crossed his arms askew and turned his gaze away. 

 

Meanwhile, Hana, having flipped to the last page of the contract, picked up a pen.

 

Now all she had to do was sign and it was over.

 

But suddenly, a loud noise erupted from outside the Guild Master’s office, and the door burst open. 

 

“Kanghyun-ah! Seo Kanghyun! Is it really true?!”

 

At the sudden shout, Hana’s hand stopped and stiffened.

 

“That the cherry tomato seller came to sign a contract with our guild?”