Chapter 28: Like Caressing Something Precious

"Yes. Apparently so?"

As soon as Jin-wook heard Kang Tae-woo's answer, he seemed to have locked onto a target.

Saying "Really?" with a blossoming smile, he suddenly took out his smartphone.

I didn't know who he was trying to call, but it was clear that leaving him be would lead to significant annoyance in the future.

"I'll take this for a moment."

At Jin-wook's frozen action—as if it were a lie—I grinned and swiped the phone from his hand.

Then, unfreezing like a ghost, Jin-wook tried to grab me, shouting, "Hey, give it back!"

I pulled the phone back, deleted the number Jin-wook was trying to dial, and pressed the back button.

"Trying to sell me out, huh?"

No one disturbs my NEET life!

If this were at home, Jin-wook would have crushed me down and forcibly snatched the phone from my hand.

But this place is a cafe, a public space.

"Ah shit, give it back quickly."

"If you promise not to call Yu Ha-young, I'll give it to you."

"Got it, so give it."

If he crushed me like he did at home, he'd be publicly branded a pervert.

Jin-wook knew that too, so even though he was fuming and trembling, he couldn't easily touch me.

Eventually, after promising, Jin-wook took the phone back and shook his head left and right, saying, "Hopeless bitch."

"Well, if you oppose it, I can just call when you're not around later."

"Do that often and I'll chase you around like a stalker."

"Do it if you want. So, since you quit being a Hunter, are you planning to change majors?"

Nod nod.

I answered by nodding at Jin-wook's words, crossed my arms, and started searching the academic information system again.

To transfer majors at Cheoeum University where I attend, there had to be remaining spots (TO) according to school regulations, but it was rarer than I thought for spots to open up.

"Don't come to our department."

"Why?"

"It's a fucking hell, shit."

As if he was fed up, Jin-wook shook his head with a look of extreme disgust.

Sitting next to me now, he started badmouthing his own department, saying, "If they're going to give finals, they should at least reduce the assignments."

Just as I was wondering what other departments were like, since the topic was right there, I started listening with a satisfied expression.

"Oh? Jin-wook Sunbae (Senior). You were here?"

"Why. If you're going to be annoying, go away."

"Are you really not coming to the department farewell party tonight before finals?"

"Ah, I said I'm not going."

But Jin-wook's cursing didn't last long.

A few girls who seemed to be from his department entered the cafe and suddenly spoke to him, appealing that they were close to him.

"But everyone except Sunbae is participating..."

"I have work."

"Hing, that's a shame."

The gazes of the girls expressing regret soon turned to me.

As if determining whether I was friend or foe, their eyes quickly scanned me up and down.

Soon reaching a conclusion, they started asking about me in somewhat cautious voices.

"The person next to you is...?"

"Hwang Eun-ha, my friend."

"Ah~. Hello! We are juniors in the same department as Jin-wook Sunbae!"

Jin-wook seemed too bothered to answer properly, so he just gave my name and stopped paying attention to them.

They looked like the type who would become quite annoying if I got involved.

'This bastard.'

'Save me.'

When I glared at Jin-wook quietly, he sent me a pleading look so the female juniors behind wouldn't notice.

But what are you going to do?

Those bitches already recognized me as an enemy, you Jin-wook bastard.

And you're dumping that baggage on me?

"Yes, hello."

I know what kind of existence I am.

I'm about 170cm tall, have big breasts, and long legs.

On top of that, my skin is fair for someone who went around smashing Gates, and my eyes sparkle like black crystals.

To those aiming for a senior of the opposite sex in their department, a female friend close to that senior was a target easily recognized as an enemy at a glance.

"Kya! Unnie, you're really pretty."

Do all 'Insas' (social butterflies) overflow with energy like that?

Unlike Si-hyun Unnie I met before, these girls were radiating an energy that made people tired.

My unconsciousness and intuition were loudly sounding alarms, saying it's best not to get involved as much as possible.

"Thank you. But Jin-wook is talking with us right now, so could you talk about the farewell party later? We are in the middle of an important discussion."

But I couldn't just start swearing mindlessly.

Actually, my image within my own department is already ruined, but...

To live normally, there was no need to do that to other departments too.

"Ah, sorry."

"Then have a good talk!"

I wondered if I had to show myself holding his hand for them to get lost.

Fortunately, they were people who understood my meaning to get lost quickly.

Better than men who cling on asking for my number annoyingly.

My mental evaluation of them was adjusted upwards.

"Hey, wanna die? How dare you throw such baggage at me?"

"Sorry. I've almost never talked to girls..."

"Oh really? I'm not a wom..."

Just as I was saying that, I remembered crying and wailing asking if I wasn't a woman before, and shut my mouth.

Why the hell does that shitty memory have to surface now?

"Never mind."

"What, why stop talking suddenly."

"Just wondered if the human in front of your eyes is a man."

"What are you saying. If you're going to spout nonsense, just eat this."

Did he bring it during that brief conversation?

Jin-wook, I don't know when he got it, poked a piece of choco bread on a fork into my mouth taking advantage of the moment it opened slightly.

I could have been offended, but the sweetness spreading in my mouth melted that bad mood away in an instant.

"It's delicious..."

"Want more?"

"Give me all of it."

Somehow I feel like I'm being tamed.

But since the bread is tasty, I'll let it slide.

This guy knows my taste too well.

"But Eun-ha, don't you gain weight eating like that? You eat quite a bit of rice too."

"Ung-aeng-ong-ang-ee-ung-eh?" (Mumbled sounds while chewing)

"Chew first then speak."

Jin-wook scolded me from the side.

Lightly ignoring him, I swallowed the choco bread with coffee, nodded with a melting smile.

"Yeah, I don't really gain weight?"

"Stop 'Bitik' (humble-bragging)."

"It's true though..."

It was then.

Kang Tae-woo answered a call on his phone, said "I have to get going first," and stood up quickly.

Perhaps something urgent came up, he left the cafe quickly.

In the cafe where only the two of us remained in an instant, Jin-wook asked, "Shall we leave too?" I restrained him, shaking my head saying just a moment.

"Just finish eating this."

"You really like the choco bread here..."

"Yeah. It has the perfect sweetness for my taste."

"Eat slowly. You might get indigestion eating too fast."

If I go out alone personally, I always stop by here.

Ah, once I graduate, what joy will I have coming out?

"Yummy."

At this moment, I had no idea what kind of gaze Jin-wook was looking at me with.

I only focused on the sweetness spreading in my mouth.

After the time spent diligently indulging in two servings of choco bread passed and we left the cafe, Jin-wook told me, "I'm going back to school."

"Huh? Not going home?"

"Yeah. Have to prepare for finals."

"Really?"

I grinned at him.

Originally, the plan was to go home and smash some games.

But considering what we talked about earlier, and since I became curious about other department buildings...

Since it came to this, the thought of following Jin-wook around crept in.

"Then shall I go with you?"

"Why are you coming again."

"I'm curious. How our Jin-wook lives at school."

Me, Hwang Eun-ha.

A woman in appearance who does what she sets her mind to.

Rather than calling Yu Ha-young and getting annoyed, I thought it wouldn't be bad to wander around the Art Department for a day while following Jin-wook, partially for surveillance.

"Hmm?"

"If you promise not to disturb me."

Nod nod.

When I indicated affirmation with a nod toward Jin-wook, he turned his gaze away from me slightly and added, "One more thing."

"And if you hold my hand..."

"Hand?"

What's difficult about that.

Thinking, 'Whatever, I can just hold it,' the moment I grabbed his hand without much thought.

My physical senses, more sensitive than others, informed me that Jin-wook's heartbeat was faster than usual.

Realizing what the act of holding this hand meant to Jin-wook, heat rose slightly to my face in an instant.

"That much is..."

That our relationship can never be the same as before.

Did I forget that for a moment while hanging out naturally?

"Here."

Because I hadn't expected the meaning of simply holding hands to approach me this greatly.

I couldn't possibly give my gaze back to Jin-wook.

"Here, my hand..."

Current me hadn't particularly weakened my physical abilities.

Even though his hand could be crushed if I gripped it wrong.

Jin-wook held my hand slightly and carefully, as if caressing something precious.

After that, we walked side by side toward the Cheoeum University Art Department building quietly, without saying a word to each other.

Korea Hunter Association President's Office.

And the Association President, Park Jung-tak, sitting in his seat.

Recently, he had been wrapping his head around one serious problem.

'Who on earth should be seated as the training instructor for the Hunter Academy opening soon?'

Actually, it wasn't that there was no one in mind.

A retired former S-Class Hunter, and unofficially evaluated as Korea's strongest combat power.

Hwang Eun-ha.

Those three syllables of the name were still not leaving Jung-tak's head.

A veteran among veterans who survived countless life-or-death situations starting from 5 years ago when even dungeon strategy guides weren't shared properly.

He was confident that if he had her, who possessed the monstrous record of solo playing half of those dungeons, he could definitely raise the quality of Korean Hunters.

'But how to coax Hunter Hwang, that is the problem.'

The only problem was that Hwang Eun-ha had returned her license saying she wanted to live normally.

In other words, it meant she absolutely did not want to be involved with the Hunter world anymore.

A 5-year veteran S-Class Hunter is an existence that any workplace...

No, leaving aside workplaces, countless large guilds would want to bring in even if they had to pay a fortune.

Yet she kicked all that away and left abruptly.

'I can't bring her by force either, hmm...'

Because of that, Jung-tak had many worries.

The unique recruitment skill combined with nuisance—throwing things and dragging them in—which he sometimes used on uncommunicative Hunters, didn't work on Hwang Eun-ha.

The memory of when he appointed her as the Association's Dungeon Raid Team Leader and threw the paperwork at her...

Only to almost have the Association building thrown upside down into the Han River... was dizzying even thinking about it now.

So, Jung-tak erased that method from his head entirely.

'Hmm. How do I persuade someone who would flatten a building if she doesn't like it...'

It was when Jung-tak was worrying seriously.

A knock was heard from outside, and the voice of the person he had been eagerly waiting for came, "Association President, I'm here."

"Come in."

"S-Sorry. I had some piled-up work."

Yu Ha-young.

The woman evaluated as top-class in work ability, holding the title of Assistant Manager, who successfully managed/marked Hunter Hwang Eun-ha whom no one wanted to take on.

"It's fine, sit down."

Since he didn't expect Ha-young to be this late, the green tea Jung-tak had prepared in advance had cooled down.

But knowing it was green tea brewed by Jung-tak himself, she bowed saying, "I will drink it gratefully," and tasted the tea.

Just as she was thinking that the tea tasted excellent, as expected of a reputed tea lover...

Jung-tak cautiously brought up the opening to realize the thought he had been harboring.

"Assistant Manager Yu. Are you, by any chance, still in contact with Hunter Hwang Eun-ha?"