<Episode 107>
Kang Min Hunter shrugged proudly, despite not having made it himself.
I hurriedly fixed my messy hair, straightened my clothes, and headed toward the conference room.
“Ah, Hunter Haneul! You’re here. I was wondering if I should go call for you.”
The Director, who had arrived earlier, greeted me with a bright smile.
I had heard she’d spent the entire night directing the response effort, yet far from looking tired, her face was practically glowing.
“By the way, thank you for all your hard work. Thanks to the item you created, we managed to get through the crisis.”
“We all worked together to make it. More importantly, I heard reporters are here…”
“Ah, right. They’ve been eagerly waiting for you. News that you’d created a new item has already spread everywhere!”
Leaving behind the visibly delighted Director, the Chief Secretary handed me a translation earpiece.
“Just relax and answer comfortably. A formal interview will be scheduled later.”
“Thank you.”
Feeling surprisingly nervous, I put on the earpiece.
Fortunately, the atmosphere was extremely friendly.
Questions poured in regarding my SS-Rank awakening, the principles behind Gongjindan, and its production process.
Avoiding sensitive topics, I answered calmly.
“…We’ll conclude here. Thank you.”
When the interview ended, I turned my head.
Leaning against a wall, Hyunwoo nodded as if to say I’d done well.
And he wasn’t the only one.
“Noona, you’re the best!”
“Unni, you looked so cool!”
Kang Min gave me a thumbs-up.
Ari was filming me with her phone while Suhyeon watched with sparkling eyes.
Even Ria, who had been talking with the Director, smiled when our eyes met.
“What the heck! Since when have you all been watching?”
Laughing brightly, I ran over to them.
For some reason, it felt as though I’d finally returned to the everyday life I’d missed so dearly.
***
We stayed at the center for several more days, producing additional Gongjindan for hunters showing mild addiction symptoms.
The work had become second nature.
At this point, I could probably roll perfectly round pills with my eyes closed.
On top of that, volunteers kept arriving one after another, allowing us to finish much faster than expected.
And about a week after producing the first batch of Gongjindan…
The Management Bureau officially declared the Nutrafil Incident resolved.
“Waaaaah! We’re finally free!”
“Everyone, great work!”
Watching the employees cheer, I couldn’t help laughing as well.
Even if the workload wasn’t as brutal as the first day, making Gongjindan nonstop for an entire week had been anything but easy.
‘For some reason, my palms still feel numb.’
Massaging my aching wrists, I let out a relieved sigh.
The Director granted three days of special leave to all hunters who had played major roles in resolving the crisis.
Naturally, that included our shop employees as well.
“Alright, everyone! Go get plenty of rest!”
I was just about to dismiss everyone when Suchan suddenly raised his hand.
“But Boss! Since everyone got vacation time, shouldn’t we all go on a trip together?”
At his suggestion, Ari’s eyes lit up.
“Ooh, sounds great! Let’s go to the beach! The beach!”
And just like that, a sudden summer vacation plan was formed.
The destination: Busan.
As it happened, Juhee and Gong Juwon had spare rooms where they lived.
“Wow! You can see the ocean right outside!”
The moment we pulled back the curtains at our lodging, a vast ocean view spread before us.
Ari jumped up and down excitedly by the window.
“Come on, everyone! Get ready and let’s go out! We have to play before the sun sets!”
When I turned around, Kang Min had already changed clothes.
Neon swim trunks.
A flashy Hawaiian shirt.
An inflatable tube.
Sunglasses.
From head to toe, he looked like he’d walked straight out of a tropical resort brochure.
“If we’re at the beach, we’ve gotta get in the water!”
“Absolutely!”
Not to be outdone, Ari pulled out the swim tube she’d brought.
Even Ria, whom I expected would decline, was carefully applying sunscreen with an excited expression.
“It’s a shame the manager of Branch No. 3 couldn’t come.”
“Seriously. He’s so quiet and cool!”
Before departure, we’d invited Kim Chasa as well.
However, he’d politely declined.
He said he’d be spending his vacation elsewhere.
‘I couldn’t exactly ask whether that “elsewhere” was the underworld or the living world.’
After unpacking briefly, we headed straight to the beach.
As soon as we stepped onto the shore, salty sea breeze swept through and tousled our hair.
“Oh, nice! There’s no smell at all, meow!”
As a temporary measure for Hanyang, who hated the scent of the ocean, I’d stuffed tissues into both sides of his nose.
Apparently he disliked the salty breeze, but enjoyed the feel of sand beneath his paws.
He waddled happily along the beach.
“Eek! It’s cold!”
Ari and Suhyeon splashed water at each other and ran around like children.
Juhee relaxed on a sunbed, leisurely tanning.
Everyone else enjoyed the vacation in their own way, floating on tubes, swimming, or riding the waves.
I settled beneath the shade of a parasol.
Enjoying the cool sea breeze, I opened the YouTube app on my phone.
‘Shinhye said there was a video I absolutely had to watch…’
The moment I entered, I saw my own face plastered across a thumbnail.
So this was the video she’d been talking about.
<Foreigners React to an Interview with Korea’s SS-Rank Hunter, the Only One in the World kekek>
“That interview from yesterday? But it has four million views…?”
Unable to resist my curiosity, I immediately clicked it.
The video had been edited so that every time I spoke, it cut to foreign journalists reacting with amazement.
Translated comments from overseas viewers were also displayed below.
➝ That tiny woman ended a terrible addiction crisis in just a few days! Incredible.
↳ She’s not an ordinary woman. She’s an SS-Rank Hunter. Go watch the previous video if you don’t know!
➝ The name “HaNeul” translates to SKY in English, and I think that’s adorable. Such a beautiful name that matches her cute appearance.
➝ Even ordinary civilians came to help make the items? Voluntarily? I can’t imagine that happening in America. That’s genuinely moving.
Some comments were entirely focused on Hanyang, who was sitting on my lap.
➝ My goodness. What is that giant cat? It’s as big as a tiger. Hahaha!
➝ The cuteness is on another level. I’ve fallen in love with him (or her).
➝ I’m so jealous I can’t stand it. I want a giant cat like that too.
I patted Hanyang’s head.
At some point, he’d wandered over and was loafing quietly beside me.
“Hanyang, you’re a complete star now. Everyone’s freaking out over how cute you are.”
“Hmph. This great one isn’t cute… I’m cool, meow.”
Though he turned his head away as if uninterested, he soon glanced back toward the screen.
Judging by how his ears twitched, he seemed pretty interested after all.
“Ah…!”
Something cold touched my cheek.
Startled, I turned around.
Hyunwoo was holding out an iced Americano.
“Are you not going into the water, Haneul?”
“I was just getting thirsty! Thanks.”
Accepting the coffee, I shook my head.
“I like looking at the ocean more than actually going in. Besides, having to shower afterward is a hassle.”
“I feel the same way.”
Naturally, Hyunwoo sat down in the empty chair beside me.
Together, we sat beneath the parasol, watching everyone play under the sunlight.
As I took in the peaceful scenery, I hesitated.
If I didn’t say it now, I felt I’d miss my chance.
“Oh, right. There’s actually something I wanted to tell you.”
“Something you wanted to tell me? What is it?”
Hyunwoo turned to look at me.
For a moment, his direct gaze made me lose my words.
Still, I gathered my courage and spoke.
“It’s nothing major… but I think it’s finally time for me to move back into the dormitory. I need to keep an eye on the Side Effect Treatment Center… and our shop keeps getting busier too.”
Honestly, I’d tried several times already.
But every attempt failed because Hyunwoo would immediately look like the world was ending.
‘But this time I really have to go.’
I clenched my fists, determined to reject him firmly even if he tried using his handsome face again.
And yet…
“Oh, I see. It can’t be helped.”
Huh?
That was it?
I blinked in confusion.
“Wait. That’s all?”
“Hm? Is there a problem?”
“No, I just thought you’d try to stop me or seem disappointed or something…”
“Ah.”
Resting his chin on one hand, he smiled mischievously.
“Of course I’m disappointed. But I’ve already finished the necessary preparations, so it’s fine.”
“…Preparations?”
He pulled something from his pocket and casually waved it.
A familiar plastic card.
A Hunter Management Bureau dormitory access card.
“I submitted a request to transfer back to the bureau dormitory as well. So from now on, I look forward to your continued company, Haneul.”
“Uh… y-yes.”
As the corners of his lips curved upward gently, I could only stare blankly.
‘Somehow… am I imagining things, or is his personality getting more and more sly?’
***
After our sweet vacation ended, we returned to our normal lives.
Branches One and Two reopened.
The Side Effect Treatment Center resumed producing Golden Bungeoppang.
“Unni! We need twenty glutinous rice donuts!”
“I’ll make them, so can you skewer some fish cakes?”
The hectic morning eventually passed.
During a lull in customers, I collapsed into a chair.
Reaching into my apron pocket to wipe away sweat, my fingertips brushed against the texture of unfamiliar paper.
“…Huh? What’s this?”
It was a crumpled note I definitely hadn’t put there.
Carefully unfolding it, I found hastily scribbled, crooked handwriting.
[Wouldn’t it be interesting if people found out that bastard Lee Hyunwoo is actually my biological son?]
[If you don’t want this to become a huge mess, come see me alone.]
…
Park Seongcheol?
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