<Episode 70>
Even though the weather had warmed up considerably, it was still only early spring. The lake water was unbearably cold. On top of that, I was afraid of water.
‘Ugh, I can’t… breathe…!’
I struggled to get back up to the surface, but the more I flailed, the deeper I sank beneath the water. Panic made my breath run out even faster.
Through my fading vision, I saw someone diving into the water. It was Hunter Lee Hyunwoo.
I slowly blinked as I watched him reach his hand toward me. The scene felt strangely familiar.
‘This scene… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before?’
But the thought didn’t continue any further. My brain, deprived of oxygen, was already sending warning signals.
Fortunately, Lee Hyunwoo reached me quickly, slung my arm over his shoulder, and brought us back to the surface.
“…Gasp!”
The moment I barely escaped the lake, I collapsed onto the ground and coughed violently. I must have swallowed a huge amount of water because my nose burned painfully.
“Are you alright?”
Lee Hyunwoo brushed his wet hair neatly back and lightly patted my back. After some time, when the coughing finally subsided, I sprawled flat on the dirt ground.
“Haa… I seriously almost died just now, didn’t I?”
“That’s not true. I would have saved you no matter what.”
“Ahahaha! You’re right. I guess I wouldn’t have died.”
I burst out laughing, completely forgetting how serious the situation had been. I was truly glad Lee Hyunwoo had been there. Looking at me worriedly, he asked,
“Are you perhaps afraid of water? The way your body stiffened didn’t look like simple panic. It seemed more like a fear response.”
As expected, the keen eyes of an S-rank couldn’t be fooled. Brushing my wet hair back, I slowly nodded. Putting just my feet in water was fine, but whenever I tried to enter deep water, my body would freeze on its own.
“My parents told me I fell into water when I was little. I don’t really remember it, though.”
“So you have trauma related to water. I’ll remember that from now on and make sure we never go near water again.”
“Well, it’s not that serious…”
I was about to say he didn’t need to remember it since all I had to do was avoid going into the water myself, when suddenly a gust of wind blew past.
It should have been a warm spring breeze, but after coming out of the lake, it felt as harsh as a winter wind.
‘Ugh… It’s so cold.’
Seeing my body trembling uncontrollably, Lee Hyunwoo slipped a hand behind my knees and lifted me up with ease. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
Wait… this posture?
“W-Wait a second!”
“Your body temperature has dropped rapidly, and you’ve started shivering. I believe we should move indoors immediately.”
“That’s true, but… do we really have to go like this?”
No matter how anyone looked at it, this was a full-on princess carry. I pounded weakly against his firm chest with my fists, trying to signal for him to put me down, but he simply kept walking without a care.
“You said you’re afraid of water, so your muscles may still be tense. Right now, Hunter Haneul needs rest.”
“…T-Then please just get us inside quickly.”
Rather than keep struggling, it was better to get indoors fast. People passing by were already sneaking glances at us. A soaking-wet man carrying a woman in his arms… it was impossible not to stare.
‘Thankfully, they don’t seem to realize this man is Lee Hyunwoo Hunter…’
Since no one would expect an S-rank Hunter to be here, they probably thought he just resembled him. Or rather, I desperately hoped that was what they thought. I ducked my head low so no one could see my face.
The moment we entered through the back door we had come out from earlier, Hunter Kang Min raised his voice.
“Huh? Noona and Leader… wait, did you guys go swimming in the lake? That’s illegal, you know!”
“So unfair! You two had all the fun by yourselves!”
Ari, that’s not it… we fell into the water.
But I didn’t even have the energy to explain and only waved my hand vaguely.
After bringing me into Kang Min Hunter’s villa, Lee Hyunwoo handed me a large towel.
“Please wash up first. I’ll prepare a change of clothes for you.”
“…What about you, Hunter?”
“There’s another bathroom upstairs. I’ll bring you clothes first, then wash up myself.”
After thanking him once again, I hurriedly shoved my trembling body beneath the showerhead pouring out hot water. The body that had been frozen by the icy lake slowly thawed out.
When I came out dressed in the clothes left by the door, Lee Hyunwoo was already sitting on the living room sofa. Drying my hair vigorously with the towel, I sat beside him.
“I feel much better after washing up with warm water! Thank you again for helping me.”
The clothes I borrowed belonged to Hunter Kang Min, so they were huge on me. I had to roll the pants up several times. And judging from the logo on the sweatshirt, it was an incredibly expensive brand.
‘I should send these safely to a dry cleaner.’
If I washed them myself and ruined them, that’d be a disaster.
While thinking such realistic thoughts, my eyes suddenly landed on what Lee Hyunwoo was wearing beside me.
‘Wait. A character hoodie and sweatpants?’
Unlike his usual attire, where he mostly wore hunter uniforms, seeing him in casual clothes felt oddly unfamiliar. The clothes were even slightly too small, making his sleeves ride up.
“…I don’t normally wear clothes like these.”
Perhaps embarrassed by my stare, he kept tugging his sleeves down. For some reason, a desire to tease him began bubbling up from deep inside me. Grinning broadly, I started making a huge fuss.
“Wow, Hunter! Anyone would think you’re a college student.”
“No, not quite…”
“So that’s why you never dress like this! You look way too young. Right?”
Flustered, he finally realized I was teasing him and puffed up with annoyance.
“…Please stop making fun of me.”
“Ahahaha! It’s because you’re too cute. This style suits you really well too.”
It was true. It was just different from his usual style, but it suited him perfectly. Maybe because his hair wasn’t styled and lay calmly against his forehead, he genuinely looked like a college student.
‘…If he really were a college student, he’d definitely be top of the class.’
Combined with his naturally cold gaze, he looked like an intelligent honor student. As I drifted into strange imaginings, I quickly shook my head hard.
“Ah! Right, were you taking a walk by the lakeside earlier?”
I hurriedly changed the subject. After a brief silence, he slowly nodded.
“That’s right. And if I stayed there, the others wouldn’t have been able to enjoy themselves comfortably.”
“Ah…”
Only then did I realize why Lee Hyunwoo had kept his distance from the group. He’d been considering the others so they could enjoy the picnic without feeling uncomfortable.
‘Right… Hunter Yoon Kanghyuk came today.’
The people from Team 1 were already used to working with Lee Hyunwoo. But Yoon Kanghyuk wasn’t. Worried that an S-rank Hunter’s magical pressure might make him uncomfortable, Lee Hyunwoo had voluntarily chosen to stay apart.
‘And here I was, thoughtlessly thinking everyone together would just be more fun…’
When Shin-hye asked if Yoon Kang-hyuk Hunter could come too, I should have thought things through more carefully. I had invited Lee Hyunwoo to the picnic, only to create a situation that would make him uncomfortable instead.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through.”
“This isn’t your fault, Hunter Haneul. Strictly speaking, it’s mine.”
“How is this your fault?! It’s not like you chose to awaken as an S-rank Hunter.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“Sometimes you have to take responsibility for things you never chose.”
“…But I was the one who insisted on the picnic.”
“Simply talking with you like this is already more than enjoyable enough for me.”
Feeling my ears suddenly growing hot, I lowered my head quickly. After clearing my throat awkwardly a few times, I carefully spoke to him.
“Should we come on another picnic next time? Um, if possible… just the two of us.”
“Sounds good. I’ll look forward to that day.”
After drying our hair and heading outside, the front yard was already filled with delicious smells.
“Boss! Hurry over here. We grilled the meat already!”
“Wow, barbecue?”
The charcoal grill Kang Min Hunter had specially prepared for the occasion was sizzling with beautifully cooked pork belly and sausages.
“Even if we can’t really taste it well, isn’t food like this all about the atmosphere anyway?”
“Oh gosh, you’re ridiculous!”
Yoon Kanghyuk burst into hearty laughter while holding the tongs after Shinhye scolded him. Nearby, Ari and Hunter Suheon were swallowing hard while staring at the food.
For the other hunters, I made a spicy fish cake soup with chopped Cheongyang peppers. Warm soup alongside grilled meat completed an incredible feast.
“Wow…! The meat is seriously delicious!”
“Suhyeon, can you actually taste it?”
“That’s just an expression, Ria unni…”
Hunter Suhyeon laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head, while Ria Hunter smiled at her fondly and nodded.
“Still, it’s a shame Hanyang isn’t here.”
“That fat cat! All he ever likes to do is lie around the house…. You have to bring him next time, okay?”
Since I couldn’t exactly explain that Hanyang had left to submit some kind of midterm report, I simply said he decided to stay home and rest. I smiled and nodded, but a small emptiness lingered in my chest.
‘It’s okay. He said he’d be back in a week.’
After that, my days became hectic again… opening the café, greeting customers, and attending shooting practice.
Today, as well, I had just finished training and dragged my exhausted body back to the dormitory.
Beep.
“What took you so long to get back, nya?”
The giant cat I had missed so terribly was sprawled out on my bed, greeting me.
“Hanyang!!!”
With a huge grin spreading across my face, I dashed toward him in a single bound.
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