The path leading from the association main entrance towards the headquarters.
The weather was clear, and the gentle breeze made the moment naturally uplifting as one walked. The Hunter Association, akin to a public institution, seemed to have put considerable effort into landscaping its vast grounds, giving it the appearance of a park.
“Ah, what a lovely day!”
Jeonghyun, too, found himself enjoying this leisurely moment, taking in a deep breath to savor the pleasant atmosphere.
Whether it was the atmosphere of a government agency or the fact that the Hunter Association seemed to have paid attention to landscaping its extensive grounds, it felt almost like being in a park.
However, as Jeonghyun stretched his arms wide to take in a breath, he froze upon spotting someone.
“Why is Cha Yerin here?”
Cha Yerin was approaching him in a straight line from a distance.
There was no apparent reason for concern, but suddenly, his heart tightened, and the refreshing feeling from a moment ago vanished.
Jeonghyun subtly folded his outstretched arms and turned away as naturally as possible.
Even if he were to leave the association again, he wanted to avoid any interaction with Cha Yerin.
“Ha, did you enjoy the weather?”
Jeonghyun, trying to relish this rare moment of leisure, suddenly stiffened upon seeing a person approaching.
For some reason, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy and breathless, despite having done nothing wrong.
“Ah, why did she come?”
Cha Yerin was steadily approaching Jeonghyun from a distance.
Although there was no reason to be alarmed, the feeling of a constricted heart and breathless discomfort persisted.
Jeonghyun discreetly folded his arms that were wide open and turned away as naturally as possible.
Even if he had to leave the association again, he wanted to avoid any entanglement with Cha Yerin.
“Geez, why is an A-grade Hunter working at the association? Why not join another guild or something…”
It wasn’t the peak commuting or leaving time, and yet, who would have thought of encountering Cha Yerin at the entrance of the association?
Jeonghyun, grumbling inwardly for no apparent reason, turned back, retracing the path he had walked.
However,
“Did you never think, ‘Why is an A-grade Hunter working at the association?'”
“Hehehe, what a surprise!”
Startled by the unexpected sound behind him, Jeonghyun let out a scream.
“How…?”
“Huh? Really? It’s disappointing. How many A-grade Hunters are there working at the ‘association’ besides me?”
“No, I didn’t think that way!”
“More importantly, how long are you going to keep turning away? I want to see your face.”
Only then did Jeonghyun realize that he was still being caught by Cha Yerin.
As if facing a formidable beast, he couldn’t muster the strength when faced with Cha Yerin.
“Hehehe, you were so surprised. How have you been?”
“Oh, not great.”
“…?”
Was this an appropriate response to the question?
Certainly, the geographical location of the association, known as the ‘Abnormal Zone,’ might not be easy to deal with.
Today might turn out to be a challenging day.
However, receiving greetings in such a manner was not normal, was it?
Jeonghyun, who was not the cause of this, realized why Yerin seemed so intimidating.
He moved his joints like a malfunctioning robot and faced Yerin.
Despite Yerin’s smiling face, there was something about that beautiful smile that hinted at the hidden aspect of a formidable beast.
“Oh, I heard you went hunting with Jungjin Guild?”
“Oh, I didn’t really want to go, but from there… No, how did you know?”
“Well, forget about that. How about going hunting together with me?”
“Is this deliberately changing the subject? How cheeky.”
Somehow, he had a suspicion.
It wasn’t that surprising given that the other party was Yerin.
Knowing that he had entered the gate with Jungjin and the guild reservations were organized by the association, it wasn’t impossible for someone at the level of an association chief to know.
There might also be some connections with the guild.
Nevertheless, going hunting with Yerin.
Although he didn’t want to die, there was something he couldn’t help but ask.
“What… level are you?”
“Well, if you go into a light 5-level gate, it should be fine, right?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“I hope not.”
Without any hesitation, a counter-question and an immediate response followed.
A 5-level gate.
For someone like Jeonghyun, who was at the level of almost reaching the 4-level gate, it was an invitation that implied an immense pressure.
He had faced some hardships even in a 3-level gate.
‘Even if I were close to level 4, I thought about trying it soon, but… No, what’s with this person?’
“Are you really level 5?”
“If you’re curious, we should go hunting together, right?”
Yerin responded with a relaxed smile.
Though Yerin might have tried to lower her level for consideration, the pressure of level 5 was still significant.
It was a clear limit that even lower-level individuals couldn’t reach, a turning point that set a distinct boundary among higher-level individuals.
Regardless of how impressive A-grade was, reaching level 5 at such a young age required talent and experience.
‘This person is more of a monster than I thought…’
What could be hidden behind that beautiful face and delicate body?
Anyway, now that it has come to this, Jeonghyun was reluctant to go hunting together, let alone going together to the gate entrance.
“Unfortunately, I can’t go hunting together. Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
“To the rental station. It was nice meeting you.”
Even to an onlooker, it was clear from Jeonghyun’s tone that he didn’t want to see the other person’s face any longer.
After a brief handshake, Jeonghyun left the street with determination.
However,
“Why do you keep following me?”
Yerin began to follow Jeonghyun, not in the direction he was originally heading.
Jeonghyun, as if unwilling to give her any room, fixed his gaze forward and asked.
Yerin chuckled and replied, “Jeonghyun, aren’t you a special figure? Maybe going into the hunter’s secret area?”
“It’s not like that!”
He wondered why he was considered a special figure. Well, if he were revealed to be an EX-grade, then he would indeed be a special figure, but for now, he was just an ordinary unregistered individual.
Above all, it was more burdensome because Yerin was the one coming out like this, unlike anyone else.
But since she had decided to follow, there was nothing Jeonghyun could do.
Although it was uncomfortable and irritating, he couldn’t do anything unless he defeated the A-grade Level 5 hunter.
‘I only deal with A-grades…’
There was nothing he could do but grumble and bear it.
In the end, Yerin quietly followed him all the way to the rental station behind the main building.
Creak-
“Welcome… Huh?”
As the rental station door opened, Cheolyong greeted them with his usual cheerful tone.
However, before he could finish the greeting properly, he raised his eyebrows.
Whether he was surprised that Jeonghyun had come before a month had passed, or whether he was surprised to see Yerin following Jeonghyun with a smile.
“I understand about the young man, but why is Director Cha here?”
It seemed to be the latter.
“Oh, there’s nothing special at the rental station. I’m just following a special figure.”
If security were compromised, it would be a big problem, right?
Yerin added with a smirk.
Now Jeonghyun was too tired to argue or get angry.
“Really, a special figure. What business do you have?”
Cheolyong spoke with a somewhat apologetic tone.
Jeonghyun suddenly remembered why he had come to the rental station.
Come to think of it, wasn’t it more annoying than Yerin following him all the way here?
“No, sir. Look at this mace, how it ended up like this. Can you trust and rent equipment like this?”
“What’s this? Oh, this is quite unfortunate.”
‘Unfortunate? Yes, it’s unfortunate for me, my life is unfortunate!’
Now that Cheolyong had received the separated mace with the hilt and head, Jeonghyun began to complain as if his patience had run out.
“Because of this, I almost died. Huh? Is the forge scraping here? Huh?”
Although it seemed like the pent-up frustration had exploded in a timely manner, the momentum was quite impressive.
However, Cheolyong was not someone easily intimidated.
“Oh my, it’s a loss for sure. What happened, Cha Young-hyun?”
‘Loss? Yes, it’s a loss. A loss for my life!’
Now that Cheolyong had received the separated mace with the hilt and head, Jeonghyun began to complain as if his patience had run out.
“Really, a loss. What is it, young man?”
It was hard to tell who would easily back down in this situation.
When they were silently staring each other down.
“Well, I vaguely heard that the mace borrowed by Hunter Jeonghyun seemed to have broken during the battle. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“That’s it!”
Yerin intervened.
Although she wasn’t the party directly involved, realistically, she was probably the most influential person present.
Looking at her with eyes filled with various expectations, she continued.
“Yes. If the equipment is damaged during combat, according to the rental regulations, in addition to the rental fee refund, a compensation of 200 will be added. Isn’t that right, Director? I’m not sure because I’m in the Investigation Department.”
In fact, with Jeonghyun as the opponent, the outcome was already decided.
“Ah!”
“What? Is that so?”
“Do you have such a rule?”
“Umm, well, that rule… I forgot because such incidents are rare.”
In an instant, the situation was reversed, or rather, the victory was decided.
Jeonghyun, boiling with anger, questioned Cheolyong.
Instead of the hesitant Cheolyong, it was Yerin who answered in his place.
“Yes, that’s right. If you charge the hunter for the equipment, isn’t that like being a thug or something? Maybe the rental station manager had a momentary lapse.”
“Right, I confused it with the everyday life damage regulation! If it’s during combat, of course, compensation should be given.”
Cheolyong, sweating coldly, tried to justify himself, but Jeonghyun, who knew the truth, was not fooled.
‘Have I seen such a pathetic human before?’
In any case, Cheolyong couldn’t be seen favorably, even if one tried.
Attempting to exploit even the struggling hunters who had to rent equipment, he went so far as to charge them for their lives.
At that moment, Yerin placed the equipment taken from Cheolyong’s hands on the counter.
“When…?”
Jeonghyun, who hadn’t even realized when his equipment was taken from his own hands, stared at Yerin in astonishment, but she just smiled and spoke to Cheolyong.
“Well, you take care of returning the rented items yourself. Make sure to deliver the compensation through the association to Hunter Han Jeonghyun.”
“Hmm, understood. I won’t forget.”
“Now that we’re done here, let’s go out, shall we?”
“No, this needs a bit more—ugh!”
Seeing Jeonghyun, who was clearly angry with Cheolyong, attempting to argue further, Yerin grabbed his wrist and quickly left the rental shop.
“Hunter Han Jeonghyun.”
“Yes?”
“Perhaps the owner didn’t receive any money like that. Well, I guess he didn’t even give compensation.”
“That’s right! Rules must be followed!”
“Well, there might be reasons of their own, right?”
At that moment, Yerin’s voice, looking at him straight without a trace of mischief unlike before, made Jeonghyun unable to speak.
Reasons, huh?
“I’ll make sure to pass this matter to the relevant department for a proper resolution. Do you have any other business?”
“Oh, I need to go pick up the cake I ordered. Get yourself together. You’re busy, so go handle your business first.”
Unable to adapt to Yerin’s seriousness for a moment, Jeonghyun almost mentioned the remaining schedule.
However, Yerin’s gaze had already lit up once again after a brief pause.
“Indeed… a Hunter who awakened just a month ago is using the production studio. You’re an interesting figure.”
“It’s not the production studio; it’s a cake order—”
“Well, then, let’s go wherever you need to.”
“…Are you going there too?”
Despite Jeonghyun’s question, Yerin just smiled without saying a word.
Having exchanged glances with her for a moment, Jeonghyun sighed and took the first step.
Of course, the direction was towards the production studio behind the rental shop.
Come to think of it, thanks to Yerin, he could receive compensation, so maybe there might be some help available at the production studio too?
“By the way, you make excellent use of the association facilities. Have you ever thought of joining the association—”
“Please, just shut your mouth!”
Certainly, he would have to endure that much stress.
