<Episode 74>
The entire time I packed my belongings in the dormitory to move to Hunter Lee Hyunwoo’s house, a heaviness lingered in one corner of my heart.
“So we’re really going somewhere new, nya?”
“Yeah. This place is dangerous, so we’re moving somewhere safer.”
I planned to return as soon as everything was resolved, so I only packed the essentials, but even then, my suitcase ended up full.
Just as I was dragging my large luggage past the Management Bureau…
“Sniff… Hunter-nim! Are you really leaving?!”
Trainer Choi Ganggeon came running over with a tearful face. Seeing such a muscular man looking like he was about to cry made my chest ache too.
“I was just starting to see some muscle form over those soft parts! What a waste of talent!”
So he wasn’t sad because I was leaving… he was sad because my muscles might disappear?
“…I’ll still keep up with my training on my own.”
“You promise! At least 200 squats a day, don’t forget!”
I even hooked pinkies with him to seal the promise.
Hunters who used to visit the shop often also saw my luggage and offered words of comfort with regretful expressions.
After exchanging bittersweet farewells with everyone, I checked my phone.
The screen was filled with worried messages.
[Haneul-ah, it’s the salon director. If you need help, tell me anytime.]
[Don’t mind people cursing at you. As long as you know you’ve done nothing wrong, that’s all that matters. Got it? – From the sign shop ajusshi –]
They were neighborhood people who had stood up for me more than anyone else when my parents’ old shop was taken away by the landlord, and we were forced out.
The salon director, the sign shop owner, the café owner…
Even after so much time had passed, they heard the news about me and reached out first.
The sincere comfort made a corner of my chest tighten warmly.
After replying to each message one by one, I finally called Juwon, the manager of the Busan second branch.
—Boss, I heard what happened.
“I’m sorry, Juwon. Because of the headquarters’ situation, the second branch got dragged into this too…”
The controversy surrounding the main shop had spread to Busan in an instant.
I told him it would probably be best to temporarily close the second branch too. I was worried it might get attacked as well.
—Why are you apologizing?! This isn’t your fault. Honestly, I was kind of wanting a break anyway, so it’s okay. The Busan ocean is really beautiful, haha!
“…Thank you for saying that.”
His joke made me laugh softly.
After clearing his throat, Juwon continued in a serious voice.
—Don’t worry too much. The truth always comes out eventually. For now, just think of this as time to recharge and get some rest.
At his calm comfort, I bit my lip tightly and nodded.
Right. It’s not like I’m leaving forever.
Let’s not be too sad.
“I’ll just think of it as a long vacation. Then there’s nothing to be sad about!”
After wiping away my tears, I left the Management Bureau together with Hanyang, trying to look cheerful.
After walking for a while, I spotted a gray sedan parked on one side of the road in the distance.
As I cautiously approached and opened the door, I saw Hunter Lee Hyunwoo sitting in the driver’s seat.
“You must have had a hard time coming all this way. I should have at least carried your luggage for you…”
“No, it’s okay. It’s better if people don’t know where I’m going.”
I didn’t want anyone to see me leave together with Hunter Lee Hyunwoo.
Reporters were still camped around the Bureau area.
“From here on, you can relax a little. I’ve already confirmed there’s no one watching nearby.”
As he spoke, the car quietly started moving.
Hanyang climbed onto my lap and settled down.
I stroked his soft fur while gazing out the window.
Even though I kept telling myself I’d return soon, the feeling was strange.
***
“So this is… your official residence, Hunter-nim?”
After driving for a little over an hour, we arrived at a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of Seoul, surrounded by forest.
Passing through towering walls and a strict security system, we stepped inside to a breathtaking sight.
“Oh, this is on a completely different level from the place you used to live, nya!”
“…Seriously.”
The spacious living room was decorated as neatly as a model home.
A plush-looking sofa, marble tables, soft lighting…
I stared with my mouth slightly open at the unexpectedly stylish interior.
“Haneul Hunter, you’ll be staying on the second floor.”
As I followed his guidance upstairs, Hanyang, who had been quietly resting in my arms, suddenly leaped down and ran ahead.
“There’s even a space prepared for this body, nya!”
The place Hanyang ran to was a giant cat tower placed right in front of the staircase.
Beside the wooden cat tower that nearly reached the ceiling was a massive cat wheel like a hamster wheel.
Hanyang excitedly bounded to the very top of the tower in one jump.
“…When did you prepare all this?”
“I ordered everything in a hurry before you came. I didn’t want there to be even the slightest inconvenience.”
Hunter Lee Hyunwoo awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.
I stared blankly at him before asking,
“What would you have done if I refused to come with you? What about all this furniture?”
At my question, he blinked.
As if he had never even imagined that possibility.
“…Honestly, I didn’t think that far ahead.”
“What? What do you mean–”
“I simply had to prepare the safest place possible for Haneul Hunter.”
His simple, almost blindly straightforward answer made me laugh.
Was this how an S-rank hunter’s mind worked?
Still, ordering all this furniture from scratch…
“This is the room you’ll be staying in. I’ll also be staying here instead of the dormitory for the time being, so if you need anything, feel free to tell me.”
The room he showed me was as comfortable as a hotel suite.
The moment I threw myself onto the soft bed, all the tension drained away, and exhaustion washed over me.
‘…I should unpack.’
The thought crossed my mind, but it was hard to pull myself out from beneath the blankets.
Enjoying the safe space Hunter Lee Hyunwoo had prepared for me, I drifted into a sweet sleep for the first time in a long while.
***
“Mmm… where am I…?”
When I opened my eyes to dazzling sunlight, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
I stared blankly for a moment before remembering this was Hunter Lee Hyunwoo’s house.
“Ah! The shop opening!”
I instinctively grabbed my phone to check the time, then froze.
Oh right. Our shop was closed.
This same thing had already repeated itself for several days now.
It seemed I still hadn’t adjusted to the fact that the shop had closed against my will.
‘Hunter Lee Hyunwoo probably already went to work.’
Judging by the silence, he must have left already.
I picked up my phone, then put it back down.
At least while staying here, I didn’t want to look at the sharp reactions online.
“You finally woke up, nya?”
Hanyang pushed open the door and hopped onto the bed.
Come to think of it, Hanyang probably hated that I’d closed the shop.
He had asked me to spread blessings to many hunters…
“Hanyang, I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for, nya?”
“For closing the shop on my own. I should’ve endured it somehow…”
I hugged Hanyang and muttered weakly.
I had wanted to grow the shop and feed many people, but instead, it had only gained infamy.
But Hanyang pressed his jelly-like paw pads against my cheek.
“Stop saying useless things, nya. You’re already doing more than enough.”
“But I can’t even reopen the shop right now.”
“Don’t worry, nya. There’s always a way.”
A way?
When I lifted my head, Hanyang grinned.
“We can just open the shop somewhere new, nya!”
“Come on, I thought you had some amazing idea. My face and shop name are already all over the place. Where could I possibly do business? Unless I flee overseas, it’s impossible.”
I shook my head weakly.
In a country as small as Korea, there were limits even if I tried to run away.
Did I really have no choice but to sit around and wait for public opinion to change?
“Sigh, I don’t know anymore. Let’s just eat breakfast first.”
Together with Hanyang, I headed downstairs.
After checking the refrigerator, my eyes widened at the ingredients inside.
‘There’s a lot more food in here. Did he order all this in advance?’
Maybe he felt bad seeing me skip meals these past few days because I had no appetite.
Just as I looked through the refrigerator with tear-filled eyes…
Beep beep.
The sound of the front door lock opening echoed through the house.
“Huh? But it’s only ten o’clock…?”
It was far too early for the homeowner to be coming back from work.
I hurriedly tried to hide just in case…
“…Hunter Lee Hyunwoo?”
Unlike usual, he was dressed in comfortable casual clothes.
When he saw me, the corners of his lips lifted lazily as though pleased.
“You’re awake. Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Not yet. More importantly, at this hour… did you forget something?”
“No. I took an urgent leave of absence.”
He answered casually while taking off his jacket.
I blinked in surprise at the sudden news of his vacation.
“But is that really okay? If an S-rank hunter leaves their post, wouldn’t the Management Bureau go crazy?”
“Haha, it’s fine. I haven’t used my vacation days at all until now.”
Apparently, he had warned the Director, “Do not contact me unless an S-rank gate appears.”
It was practically a strike.
“Normally, I would never take leave, but I was worried about you being here alone, Haneul Hunter.”
Before I realized it, he had walked over and was standing in front of me, holding out his hand.
“If you’re willing, could you share some of your time with me? I’d like to go on the picnic you once promised… just the two of us.”
“…Right now?”
He said he had already found a place he wanted to take me.
After hesitating briefly, I nodded.
After making simple preparations, we headed out to…
“This is the entrance to a gate?!”
Hunter Lee Hyunwoo nodded as though there was absolutely nothing strange about it.
Watching him smile with complete satisfaction, Hanyang shook his head in disbelief.
“That human clearly has no idea what a picnic is, nya.”
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