[ Even If You Tell Me to Rest (3) ]
After lunch, we were dragged to a cafe where Kang Soyeong joined us. The table was completely filled with a shaved ice dessert topped with layers of mango, fluffy pancakes, waffles covered in fruit and ice cream, cheesecake, tiramisu, and who knows what else.
Can we even finish all this?
“Noah, would it be okay if I just tried riding you once?”
Kang Soyeong asked with sparkling eyes. Noah, holding a spoon in his mouth, looked at me nervously from the side. He seemed uncomfortable with Kang Soyeong’s request. Honestly, they looked pretty good side by side.
…Hold on, so what about Yuhyun? Kang Soyeong probably wasn’t interested in Noah in that way, but feelings could develop unexpectedly. Should I intervene? Well, since Noah seemed uncomfortable with her, I might not need to.
“Noah isn’t a mount, Miss Kang. It’s inappropriate to keep asking like this.”
Kang Soyeong gave a small nod, apologizing.
“Comet’s here, too, so I really shouldn’t…but I just can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Just eat your shaved ice. Noah, try this. It’s delicious.”
“Yes.”
Maybe because of the intense stares directed at him, Noah seemed a bit intimidated. Seriously, these people need to calm down.
“Miss Kang, do you remember when exactly the Sesung Guild Leader’s way of speaking changed?”
I asked Kang Soyeong to clarify. Since Moon Hyunah didn’t interact with Seong Hyunjae regularly, there was a chance it could have been more than two months ago. At my question, Kang Soyeong tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Oh, come to think of it, he did change. When was it? About a month and a half ago? Maybe just under two months… I think it was a few days before Yerim was recognized as an S-Class.”
…Right when I regressed. It could just be a coincidence, but still.
“Did you notice any other changes? Or any reasons why he might have suddenly changed his way of speaking?”
“Reasons? I doubt there was any particular reason. It seemed completely natural. Other changes… um…”
Kang Soyeong’s gaze lingered on me.
“I’m a bit worried because he seems very…interested in you, Mr. Han Yujin.”
“Pardon?”
“The Guild Leader seems to be enjoying himself, but that kind of attention has rarely ended well. And honestly, our Guild Leader isn’t the nicest person, right? But he’s incredibly lenient with you. I was pretty surprised yesterday. Sure, he might come around for a unique dungeon, but he even ran errands for you. And the way he acts…he seems pretty close to you.”
“We’re not close. We’re just pretending for a week.”
Six days left. Kang Soyeong fiddled with her fork, her gaze softening.
“This time, he’s visibly more amused… For Comet’s sake, I hope you’re careful.”
“She’s right. It’s risky to deal so casually with both Hyunjae and Yuhyun. Even Yerim seems concerned. For our Blue’s sake, we should be cautious.”
Already calling her “our Blue,” huh? Even Noah nodded along.
“I agree. I think caution is necessary when dealing with the Sesung Guild Leader.”
I appreciated their concern, but what could I do about it?
‘If anything, I’ll have to make the first move.’
Honestly, I’d rather only see his face on TV. The shaved ice is delicious, though. The milky ice is really smooth.
Raindrops slid down the large windows of the cafe. Amid the gentle sound of rain, we shared laughs and lighthearted conversations. Mostly, Noah and I just listened, but it wasn’t bad. It was nice to see Moon Hyunah and Kang Soyeong enjoying themselves. And it made me happy to think of Yerim as part of their group.
I wonder if Yuhyun has at least one or two friends. …Does he? They’re about the same age, so maybe I should ask Noah if he’d consider being friends with my little brother. I mean, he’s doing well now, but let’s be real—at twenty, he should be enjoying campus life, not commuting to and from dungeons.
“Noah, have you ever thought about going to school?”
“School?”
Noah tilted his head, and Kang Soyeong exclaimed.
“I’m set to do a special university entrance next year. Want to go together? I probably won’t attend many classes, though. What about you, Mr. Han Yujin? Even though you’re a B-rank, with your skill influence, it might be possible.”
What’s the point of college now? And there aren’t many universities that allow advanced hunter special admissions, so I might end up as my brother’s junior. I couldn’t stomach that, even if the chances of seeing him there are slim. I shook my head, but even Moon Hyunah chimed in.
“You don’t even need to attend classes; you can substitute dungeon raids for credit and still get a diploma. It wouldn’t hurt to have a degree. In your position, it could come in handy.”
Hearing that I wouldn’t need to attend classes made me waver a bit. There’s plenty of time until next year, so maybe I’ll consider it. If I do go, I’ll make sure it’s not the same university as Yuhyun’s.
Beep—
Suddenly, a loud alarm went off on my phone. Not just mine, but everyone’s phone in the cafe was blaring. It was an emergency alert related to a dungeon.
“Did something blow up somewhere?”
Moon Hyunah got up and checked her phone. I did the same. It was a notice about a rampaging high-rank hunter, restricting access to certain areas.
It was a rare occurrence right after a dungeon raid, but something felt off. I opened a news portal, and a breaking news headline popped up.
“…These crazy idiots.”
I muttered without thinking, and Moon Hyunah’s expression showed she felt the same.
“It says the Haeyeon Guild Leader clashed with the Association and destroyed part of the new Hunter Association building. Seems like the Association is coming on stronger than expected.”
“They’re crossing a line. I should head over.”
“They say it’s your vacation. Besides, your brother might not even be there.”
Moon Hyunah said meaningfully. She was right. The photo showed a part of the building on fire, but that’s an effect anyone, not just Yuhyun, could easily achieve. Now, if lightning struck out of nowhere, that’d be a different story. Fire is pretty common.
“If it’s a false charge, I can’t just let it slide, can I? And seeing my little brother doesn’t count as work.”
“Want me to come along?”
“Could you try contacting Yuhyun? I can’t seem to get through. Noah, will you help me?”
“Of course. I’ll gladly assist.”
With traffic restrictions in place, flying would be faster. And with Noah by my side, the risk of danger would be lower. Even if there was poison, it would be hard for most to approach us.
After sending a quick message, I stepped out of the cafe. Noah shifted into his dragon form. Passersby gasped, and some dropped their umbrellas and ran away. Sorry about that. Though a few brave ones started taking pictures instead.
Once I climbed onto Noah’s back, he unfurled his long wings and soared into the sky. The scales were slicker than usual because of the rain, making it feel a bit unstable. But putting a saddle on a person seems too awkward. If I fall, he’ll catch me. Besides, I have Grace.
As we flew past buildings, I made a call. The voice I least wanted to hear today answered before I even said anything.
[I don’t know the whereabouts of the young master.]
“Really?”
[I appreciate the high regard, but I can’t know everything just sitting around. Sounds like you’re getting yourself into trouble again.]
“If you’re so concerned, why don’t you come and help? Your helicopter looked nice.”
[It’s sad to think you regard me so lightly, Han Yujin. If you truly want my assistance, come and ask politely in person.]
“Found yourself a better item than me, have you?”
[If that were the case, you’d already be standing in front of me. I wouldn’t show restraint the second time.]
“Lucky for me, I’m the best.”
Though I spoke lightly, I knew it wasn’t a joke. Noah glanced back at me, worry evident in his eyes. I reassured him it was fine. I mean, if there were anyone else as strange as me, I’d have words with the gods themselves.
‘He doesn’t seem like he’ll intervene, but he won’t ignore it completely either.’
If this debt piles up any further, I’ll have to start planning my escape. I thought about reaching out to Do Hamin but then remembered Yuhyun had broken his phone. He also lost his wallet when he and Peace went dungeon-crawling, so he probably had to reissue his Hunter license and driver’s license too.
-Is that it over there?
At Noah’s words, I pocketed my phone and looked up. In the distance, smoke was rising from a building. It was the new Association building, next to the Awakening Center. It looked like they had only demolished part of the two-story annex, maybe because it’d be a shame to ruin the main building. The rain had mostly put out the fire, leaving only smoke.
‘Pretty petty.’
If Yuhyun had really gone on a rampage, the main building would be rubble by now. The news photos really exaggerated things. I felt a surge of annoyance as I sent another message. It wasn’t far; I’d be there soon.
[How about smashing the Awakening Center? The round building. I’ll take responsibility.]
Just then, a helicopter approached. A Hunter onboard gestured for us to descend, but I ignored him and snapped photos and videos to send to Seok Gimyeong.
-Should I take down the helicopter?
“Not yet. Let’s land first.”
We descended near the damaged building, and I took a selfie for proof. It seems my little brother isn’t here, I recorded. While I couldn’t send it to Haeyeon because of a signal block, as long as my phone survived, it would be fine.
“Mr. Han Yujin.”
A man in a black suit approached, but he froze under Noah’s intimidating gaze after he reverted to human form.
“I just came here to see my dear little brother. Do you know where he is?”
Can’t seem to find him. The news said he’d be here. I asked with a smile, but the stares I received were ice-cold. Harsh.
More personnel were surrounding us. I discreetly scanned their levels—three A-ranks, the rest B or below.
“You can’t stay here. Please come with us.”
“I’m curious—are there people inside that building?”
“Everyone has been evacuated. As the news reported, Haeyeon Guild Leader Han Yuhyun—”
“So where’s my brother, then?”
You’re telling me all he did was punch a wall? Get your story straight.
“He’s on the run.”
“This is insane.”
“Given your familial relationship, it must be difficult to accept. We’ll explain the details once we relocate.”
“Details? From what I see, this building’s practically flattened.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, it’s not my brother’s doing, obviously. Looks like a dungeon we hadn’t detected just broke out nearby.”
They stared at me, dumbfounded, like they didn’t understand a word I’d said.
“You guys don’t see it yet, huh? The massive black dragon.”
Even Noah looked around, startled. These idiots still wore confused expressions.
“Seriously, you guys are so petty. If you’re going to report that the Haeyeon Guild Leader went wild—”
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed. I continued speaking without a blink.
“This is the level of destruction we’re talking about.”
Even without looking, the dumbstruck expressions around me made it clear what they were seeing. The sound of buildings shattering and debris falling continued.
-And a low, menacing growl shook the air.
“D-Damn it! Dungeon Break!”
“A dragon-type, at least an A-rank dungeon!”
“Noah, could you ensure everyone here stays safely unconscious?”
With an S-rank dragon here, it’d be dangerous for low-ranks to get riled up. Noah charged at the fleeing Hunters. One by one, they collapsed unconscious. His movements were so fast that, to my lower stat eyes, he looked like a shimmering golden wave.
After confirming there were no more bystanders, I turned back. There, atop the ruins of the Awakening Center, sat the enormous black Venom and Curse Dragonkin, its head lowering toward me.
With the Awakening Center destroyed, maybe I could extend my vacation a bit longer.
-Hey, I’m having fun, but are you sure this is okay?
“Of course. We’ve taken care of a Dungeon Break, so the Association should be thanking us.”
The headline “Haeyeon Guild Leader went on a rampage” was just a false report. The evidence left by these unconscious fools and the massive dragon’s traces would prove it. Those in the know might suspect Liette’s involvement, but I could just deny it. And as for the Dungeon Gate that mysteriously vanished? Gates have disappeared before, so it could happen again.
“There’s no one in the neighboring building either, right? Why not finish it off, my evil dragon? Make it tidy.”
-As you wish, Princess! This makes up for babysitting fees, right?
“I’ll take care of you with all my heart.”
With a booming laugh, the dragon rose on its hind legs, its tail pounding the ground, and its scales rippling.
Crunch. The ground groaned under the pressure.
Boom!
The dragon charged into the building with a powerful blow. All the windows shattered at once. Glass shards sparkled as they scattered, but there was no time to admire them. The towering structure cracked like a brittle sugar sculpture, with steel and concrete shattering as it crumbled.
“Watch out.”
Noah pulled me back and swatted away the debris with his arm. Liette stomped on the remaining rubble, smashing it to dust. Well done. That was so satisfying.
“Dungeon Breaks are dangerous, after all. Thank goodness S-rank Hunter Noah was here.”
Noah, blinking, let a small smile slip.
The rain continued to fall. Despite it being summer, I worried about catching a cold. That’s when I noticed cars approaching. Several of them, including an ambulance. And among the people getting out, I saw Yuhyun. He approached and held an umbrella over me.
“Why are you standing in the rain?”
“Look around. Nowhere to take cover.”
“You should’ve at least brought an umbrella.”
As we exchanged casual banter, out of place in the scene, people were busy tending to the unconscious Hunters. I turned my head at a familiar gaze. Chief Song Taewon. He didn’t have an umbrella either. I gave him a friendly smile, and his rain-soaked face turned stony.
Even though it’s technically my vacation, it seems I won’t be able to avoid some questioning. When will I ever get a real break.
–TL Notes–
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