<Episode 9>
“Ah! There’s some grass over there.”
Spotting the bluish-silver glowing grass, Haneul hurried over.
Nice. 19 pieces. The goal was finally within reach.
“You’re the first person I’ve seen pulling grass instead of collecting magic stones in a gate.”
“Hahaha, is that so? Well… people aren’t really interested in grass.”
Hunter Lee Hyunwoo shook his head.
“Everything except magic stones loses its form and disappears once you leave the gate. That’s why analyzing gate environments is difficult.”
“Disappears?”
Then what about the grass I worked so hard to collect…?
As I glanced at Hanyang in my arms, she replied casually,
“Don’t worry, meow. The materials you collect won’t disappear.”
“…What exactly is that talking cat?”
“Uh, a helper that assists me? Something like that.”
Seemingly curious, Lee Hyunwoo poked at the cat with his finger, but Hanyang hissed and bit him.
“I’ve heard of beings that assist awakened individuals, but… this kind of form is new.”
“What’s wrong with me, meow!”
“Our Hanyang might be a little chubby, but if you think about it, she’s actually super subtle, you know?!”
He gave me a dumbfounded look.
“Those kinds of beings are usually invisible to ordinary people. That’s what I meant… not her appearance.”
“Ahh, I see….”
I thought he was calling my cat fat for a second and got defensive.
Honestly, it would’ve been nice if he had explained properly from the start.
Grumbling, I brushed my hair behind my ear.
‘Still, the grass isn’t showing up as easily as before.’
Earlier, I could find them just by walking a bit, but now it took quite a while to find even one.
I carefully scanned my surroundings, worried I might have missed some, but all I saw was barren land.
“…Should I give this back to you?”
“It’s fine.”
The longer this took, the more guilty I felt about wearing his combat jacket.
Even if he didn’t say anything, it had to be really hot… What if he regretted giving it to me?
I glanced up at his face.
‘Wow, not a single drop of sweat.’
He looked completely fresh, like he was standing under an air conditioner.
Do S-ranks not feel heat well? That’s totally unfair.
Also, the more I looked at him, the more unreal his face seemed. How do his eyes, nose, and mouth all fit so perfectly on such a small face?
“Do you have something to say?”
“Ah–n-no!”
I had been staring blankly when he suddenly turned his head toward me.
Startled, I shook my head frantically… but then something caught my foot.
And I stumbled…
‘Ahhh, I’m going to fall–!’
“Are you alright?”
“Ah….”
Thankfully, Lee Hyunwoo caught me before I fell, sparing me the embarrassment of rolling on the ground.
But his face suddenly being so close made me shut my eyes tightly.
“I-I’m fine!”
I pushed him away and marched forward briskly. Meanwhile, Hanyang cluelessly spoke up.
“Why is your face so red, meow?”
“Jung Hanyang! Please, shh, quiet!”
“Ah. Are you hot?”
“…A-a little? Haha!”
I fanned my heated face with my hand. Wow, the gate really is hot.
After walking so much, I felt a bit hungry and took out a snack from my inventory.
As I was about to take a bite, I noticed Lee Hyunwoo beside me.
Oh, right… I brought some fish-shaped bread too.
“Would you like some fish-shaped bread?”
When I offered one from my inventory, he hesitated before carefully taking it.
‘Last time he refused, but not this time.’
“…About last time, I’m sorry.”
An apology? I widened my eyes at the unexpected words.
“Sometimes people disguise poisoned food as gifts. I reacted sensitively because I thought it might be one of those cases.”
“Wait… poison?”
He gazed into the distance as if recalling something.
“After investigating a recent incident, the culprit turned out to be someone who lost their younger sibling at the gate. They shouted that their sibling died because I, an S-rank, didn’t step in.”
Apparently, the culprit had sent poisoned food as a “gift,” wanting to make him feel the same pain.
What kind of unreasonable person does that?! No matter how sad they are…
“But that incident and this item are different matters. So, I apologize.”
“I didn’t even know something like that happened. But I would never do that!”
“I know. You’re the type whose face would give it away if you tried something like that.”
My face gives it away? Really?
With a faint grin, as if teasing me, he took a bite of the fish-shaped bread.
I watched nervously.
How would it taste to an S-rank?
“…So this is what it’s like.”
After savoring it quietly, he made a subtle expression.
What does that expression mean?
“Is it good?”
“Hmm… my tongue tingles slightly. It must be sweetness.”
Tingles? So is it good or not?
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“…It’s been so long since I felt taste that I can’t really tell.”
“How long has it been?”
“Since my awakening. So, over ten years.”
Ten years.
That meant he had lived without tasting anything for over a decade… and was only now experiencing taste again.
“It’s not that it tastes bad. It’s just… feeling taste itself feels unfamiliar.”
I understood now why he seemed unsure even after eating it.
For him, “taste” was a long-forgotten sense.
“…It must’ve been really hard all this time.”
“It’s fine. I’ve gotten used to it.”
He spoke calmly, as if not being able to taste didn’t bother him at all.
Clenching and unclenching his fist, he muttered,
“After awakening, everything changed. I could feel the heartbeats of all living things. Some days, unbearable killing intent would surge. Other times, I’d lose all sensation in my body.”
“…That sounds awful.”
“In the face of those side effects, losing taste was a trivial issue.”
He gave a bitter smile, saying that even such twisted sensations eventually become something you adapt to.
Only then did I truly realize that he was the only S-rank in the country.
‘The greater the power, the harsher the side effects….’
I found it incredible that he had endured all that alone.
I forced a bright tone.
“I’m actually working on a special kind of fish-shaped bread. I’m sure it’ll help you too.”
“I hope so.”
“You should come visit my shop sometime. I’ll make you some.”
He nodded.
If I unlock the special effect with the Solsol Grass, it might work for him too.
I should give him some as a gift later.
“…It’s finally appeared.”
Shing
He drew his sword from his waist.
I couldn’t see anything. As I looked around, dust began rising in the distance.
‘Don’t tell me those are all monsters?’
KUEEEK!
KUEK, KIIEE!!
KIIIK! KIK!
The already disgusting centipedes were now swarming in a massive group.
Lee Hyunwoo stepped in front of me protectively.
“Stay here. I’ll deal with them quickly.”
Before I could respond, he kicked off the ground and disappeared into the swarm.
“H-Hunter Lee Hyunwoo!”
Even knowing he was S-rank, I flinched instinctively.
As I anxiously watched the distant battle, Hanyang nudged me.
“There’s the grass you’re looking for, meow.”
“Wait, that’s not important right now. Hunter Lee Hyunwoo is surrounded by centip–huh?”
I had only glanced at Hanyang for a moment, but when I looked back…
The piercing screeches of the centipedes had vanished.
‘Don’t tell me it’s already over?’
As the dust slowly settled, I saw him walking back calmly.
Not a single hair out of place.
He scanned the area.
“Are you alright?”
“Wow….”
I stood there, mouth agape, clapping.
It ended so quickly that the time he told me to wait felt longer than the fight itself.
So this is the power of an S-rank.
“Ah! I found the last piece too!”
I ran to the spot Hanyang pointed out and plucked the final Solsol Grass.
20 complete!
At that moment, a ding sounded, and the system window appeared.
—
Material Collection Status
Solsol Grass (20/20) Complete!
Returning to the designated location.
Hold on tight!
—
Hold on? To what?
Before I could even think, my vision wavered, and the ground beneath me dropped.
“Wait–!”
The last thing I saw before being pulled away was Lee Hyunwoo reaching out his hand toward me.
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