The SSS-Class Hunter’s Garden Log Chapter 27

“Ah, this isn’t right!”

 

Then, as if coming to his senses, Choi Kwon sniffled once for no reason and stepped down from the wooden bench with large strides.

 

The momentum of him approaching with large strides on his long legs was quite threatening.

 

Stopping right in front of Hana’s nose, Choi Kwon bent down and looked Hana straight in the face.

 

“You ran away from right in front of my eyes back then quite well, didn’t you?”

 

Hana blinked her eyes, playing innocent. 

 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Do I know you?” 

 

“Oh, look at you. Playing innocent, are we?” 

 

Choi Kwon took out his phone from his pocket, swiped the screen a few times, and shoved it right in front of Hana’s nose.

 

She wondered what it was. 

 

It was a picture of Hana taken while she was fleeing frantically with the fertilizer bag over her head.

 

Heup.

 

Hana clamped her mouth shut.

 

Because of all things, the overalls she was wearing in the picture were the exact same overalls she was wearing today.

 

“Did you think this was the end?” 

 

As if satisfied, Choi Kwon zoomed in on the screen again.

 

This time, it was towards the blurry fertilizer bag.

 

Choi Kwon pointed out the brand label that was barely visible amidst the blur.

 

“I searched through every single person who bought this fertilizer. How about it. You still gonna play dumb?”

 

Hana was terrified.

 

…Is he crazy?

 

There must be thousands of people who bought this fertilizer in South Korea alone. And he searched through all of them?

 

She didn’t know whether to call this persistent or having no plan. She was at a loss for words.

 

A subtle madness lingered in Choi Kwon’s eyes.

 

“Of course, I am thankful that my hair grew after eating the rice seeds you threw. But that’s that, and violating gate entry regulations is violating regulations. I really hate guys who don’t follow the rules.”

 

Judging by his appearance alone, he looked like the type who would take the lead in smashing every regulation in existence, but Choi Kwon was actually a famous stickler for rules and principles. 

 

He was the textbook definition of a straight arrow, so much so that a whole truckload of hunters had bolted to other branches, claiming they couldn’t survive under this man. 

 

In short, Hana was simply unlucky to have been caught by someone like Choi Kwon.

 

But what actually caught Hana’s attention lay elsewhere.

 

Hana abruptly stepped closer to Choi Kwon.

 

“Wait a minute. You ate the rice seeds and your hair grew this long?”

 

“Huh? U-Uhm.”

 

As Hana abruptly thrust her face close, Choi Kwon reflexively covered his lower face with his arm and took a step back.

 

“Hey, what’s wrong with you. Back off.”

 

“Oh my goodness. It really had an effect on hair loss.”

 

“It’s not hair loss!”

 

Choi Kwon flared up.

 

“My hair just didn’t grow back, that’s all!”

 

Isn’t that the same thing?

 

Hana thought as much, but her curiosity took precedence for now. 

 

As Hana stared intently, Choi Kwon cleared his throat and avoided her gaze.

 

Perhaps feeling shy in a way that didn’t suit him, his ears were dyed as red as his hair color.

 

But then.

 

The wind blew, and the red hair that had been flowing glossily until a moment ago began to scatter into the air.

 

Like dandelion puffs fluttering away in the spring breeze.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Unable to grasp the situation, Choi Kwon stared blankly at the red hair scattering before his eyes.

 

Just then, the hand of the Grandma from Room 301 moved, and the sound of a Janggi piece landing on the board rang out clearly.

 

“Ho ho. I won.”

 

“No, this can’t be happening. This is a dream…!”

 

Choi Kwon was prostrating on the floor, preciously clutching his fallen hair with both hands and screaming.

 

Oh my…

 

Hana covered her mouth in pity.

 

But pity is pity. Before getting further entangled, Hana stealthily moved her steps.

 

Then, making eye contact with the Grandma from Room 301, the grandma laughed hol hol hol and stepped down from the wooden bench. Carrying a basket holding knitting supplies.

 

“Can I come along too?”

 

“Of course. Come on.”

 

But right then.

 

Choi Kwon, who was becoming one with the floor, sprang up with reddened eyes and followed them.

 

“Where are you going! I’m not done talking yet!”

 

“Aack, go away!”

 

* * *

 

“Uaaagh, my hair. Oh, my haaaair!” 

 

Having persistently followed her into the cabin, Choi Kwon banged on the cabin floor, wailing loudly.

 

Hana, who was bringing out the corn and potatoes she had steamed in the morning, only lifted her head slightly to look down at Choi Kwon.

 

“I do feel bad for you, but,” 

 

Hana placed the potatoes and corn on the dining table and frowned.

 

“Why are you doing this on someone else’s floor? Please leave now.”

 

“Is this something that ends with just feeling bad?! All my hair fell out!” 

 

Choi Kwon snapped his head up. Tears were brimming in the corners of his resentment-filled eyes.

 

Right in the middle of such Choi Kwon’s vision, text from the system window popped up as if to mock him.

 

【SYSTEM】 

<The trial version effect of the ‘Flame-Resistant Rice Seeds🌾’ item has ended.>

 

“…Trial version?”

 

Choi Kwon’s lips trembled rapidly.

 

The following text was even more cruel.

 

【SYSTEM】 

<To maintain the corresponding effect, you must periodically consume ‘Flame-Resistant Rice Seeds🌾’ cultivated by a specific User.>

 

“Who is the specific User!”

 

【SYSTEM】   

<User ‘Yoon Hana (F-rank)’ has been confirmed as the cultivator.>

 

Choi Kwon’s tear-stained face turned very slowly towards Hana.

 

“It says I have to periodically consume them. Periodically…….” 

 

Mumbling, Choi Kwon knelt right in front of Hana without any hesitation.

 

“Benefactor, please save me.”

 

“W-what are you doing?” 

 

“Please give me some rice seeds. I won’t ask for them for free. I’ll revere you as my benefactor for the rest of my life. And I’ll properly pay the price too!”

 

“N-No. Excuse me, wait a minute. I can’t sell crops anymore.”

 

“I was a bit rude when we first met, wasn’t I? If you’re offended by that, I’ll even help with the farming from now on. I’ll carry fertilizer, pull weeds, anything!” 

 

Hana jumped up from her seat and backed away.

 

“No, a moment ago you were talking about regulations and trying to arrest me!” 

 

At that, Choi Kwon shouted very confidently.

 

“I don’t care! Do whatever you want! I’m about to live as a bald man, do regulations matter? People are meant to change!” 

 

Hana was momentarily at a loss for words.

 

The only one calm amidst this chaos was the Grandma from Room 301.

 

“Hohohoho.” 

 

The Grandma , who had entered the cabin with them, let out her characteristic chuckle and placed a woolen hat on top of Choi Kwon’s head. 

 

It was an item that didn’t suit the bright and sunny weather these days at all.

 

The yarn extending long from the beanie was connected to the Grandma from Room 301’s knitting needle.

 

“It’s almost finished, so wear this around, young man. It’ll be cold since you have no hair.”

 

“No thank you!”

 

Choi Kwon, having thrown off the beanie, grabbed the handful of red hair he still had left.

 

And as he held it out to Hana with the most pitiful expression possible, the hair he was clutching slipped out powerlessly with a rustle.

 

With moist eyes, Choi Kwon climbed right onto the dining table and knelt down.

 

“Wait a minute! Why are you climbing up there!”

 

“I was told that when you beg, you should beg where you can be easily seen.”

 

“The table legs are going to break!”

 

The table groaned with a creeeak under Choi Kwon’s weight.

 

This dining table was one of the few pieces of furniture in the cabin, including the bed.

 

And it was even something the hospital director had made up his mind to buy for her, feeling sorry after seeing Hana eat her meals with her bowl roughly placed on the floor every time.

 

But that precious dining table was in danger of breaking because of Choi Kwon.

 

“I’ll completely forget about the unauthorized gate entry or whatever. So please just help me this once. If I don’t have the rice seeds, I have to live like this for the rest of my life.”

 

Perhaps thinking that appealing to her compassion wasn’t enough. Choi Kwon abruptly gave a thumbs up.

 

“Our new Fertilizer Bag Man! The hero of this era! The legend of F-rank—mmph! Mmph!” 

 

“Seriously, why are you doing this to me!”

 

Embarrassed, Hana covered Choi Kwon’s mouth.

 

She was just lightly grabbing his jaw, but Choi Kwon was quite flustered.

 

Because he, an A-rank Hunter, couldn’t pry off the hand of Hana, an F-rank.

 

Moreover, it hurt tremendously. 

 

As Choi Kwon flapped his arms at the stinging pain spreading through his lower jaw, Hana relaxed her grip.

 

“What’s wrong, why are you overreacting like this?”

 

“I’m not overreacting. Why are you so strong?”

 

Choi Kwon muttered while rubbing his tingling jaw.

 

A short while later.

 

“It is a pitiful situation, but.”

 

Hana opened her mouth carefully.

 

“Because I can’t sell crops to anyone other than the Haechi Guild. It’s really true.”

 

As she explained that she had already signed an exclusive contract with Haechi, Choi Kwon’s face was instantly dyed with despair.

 

But shortly after, Choi Kwon sharply lifted his head again.

 

“If it’s that kind of problem, wouldn’t it be solved if I become affiliated with Haechi?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“If I’m a Haechi guild member, I’m qualified to buy the rice seeds, right?”

 

He sprang up and clenched his fists tightly.

 

“I have to transfer guilds.”

 

“Wait a minute—!”

 

“I’ll be right back, so you wait right here!”

 

Before she could even stop him, Choi Kwon kicked open the door and ran out.

 

Feeling like a typhoon had just swept through, Hana stood blankly for a while.

 

“…Transferring guilds shouldn’t be that simple.” 

 

Before those words were even finished, the door opened again, and a drooping Choi Kwon walked in.