Chapter 202: Box (2)
Moon Hyunah’s movements were almost invisible to my eyes. The moment I registered that she had entered the restroom, Song Taewon was already blocking her punch with his forearm.
Crunch.
The sound wasn’t particularly loud. But whether she had used a charge or some other skill, Song Taewon couldn’t fully withstand it and was forced backward. The sink shattered, curving inward as if it had been scooped out.
Even in that moment, he shielded me with his body.
Crack. The tiles fractured as his left foot slammed down hard enough to leave a deep imprint, helping him maintain his stance. His right leg bent sharply before driving toward Moon Hyunah’s waist.
It was an incredibly close distance. I thought she wouldn’t be able to dodge, and I even heard the sound of impact. But before my eyes could fully grasp the situation—tap, tap—a light footstep followed as she swiftly leaped back.
She appeared completely unscathed.
As expected, without a skill like Teacher’s Insight, it was impossible to track an S-Class Hunter’s movements. Just what had happened in that split second?
“What exactly are you doing?”
Moon Hyunah asked, looking puzzled as she stared at me, still wrapped in Song Taewon’s arms.
Clatter. A piece of the broken sink fell to the floor.
“Why are you still protecting him, Chief Song?”
“I have no intention of harming Director Han Yujin.”
“You were acting so murderous it could be felt from outside, and now you say that?”
Instead of answering, Song Taewon simply furrowed his brows.
Moon Hyunah shrugged as she looked at him.
“Maybe you don’t even realize your own condition. You’ve been overworking yourself, haven’t you? Why not take some time off?”
“…I’m fine.”
“I’m serious, Chief Song. Your complexion is terrible. I can handle things for about a week. Sesung’s Guild Leader is occupied, and Haeyeon’s people are all diving into dungeons, so take this opportunity to rest.”
Moon Hyunah placed one hand on her hip, her expression genuinely concerned.
But Song Taewon didn’t budge.
“I appreciate your concern, but I must decline. There are too many legal issues at play.”
“But following Director Han and threatening him isn’t an issue?”
“As I said, I had no intention of harming him. I merely needed to confirm something.”
Song Taewon’s voice remained calm and even, as if he were responding to a routine complaint.
He kept repeating that he had no intention of hurting me.
That statement, repeated over and over, left both me and Moon Hyunah with strange expressions.
“You bared your teeth and practically growled right in his face. Even Director Han looks dumbfounded.”
“…Well, my body is intact, at least.”
Yeah, sure. He hadn’t actually laid a hand on me. In fact, he had even caught me when I nearly collapsed.
But my heart was still pounding, my spine tingling.
It wasn’t something I could dismiss as just my imagination. The weight of it, the sharpness of it—it was all too real. Even Moon Hyunah had sensed it and rushed in.
“There’s a mirror right behind you. Why don’t you take a look? See what your face looks like right now.”
“I’ve seen enough.”
The moment he said that, a chill ran down my spine.
I hadn’t realized it before, but of course—he had seen it.
I had been standing in front of the sink the entire time. The mirror was large, well-maintained, and spotless.
It must have reflected everything, from beginning to end, in perfect clarity.
Was that what he had wanted to confirm? His own reaction to me?
Was that why he had barely spoken—because he had been watching himself through the mirror the entire time?
“…I don’t know if I should ask for your thoughts or keep my mouth shut. So? What did you think, Chief Song?”
No answer came.
Instead, the arms that had been shielding me loosened.
Song Taewon took a step back.
“I was quite rude, Director Han Yujin.”
His polite apology sent my thoughts spiraling into darkness.
So he had been watching everything. Through the mirror.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that must have been like for him.
On top of that, I had deactivated my Fear Resistance.
I had reacted exactly as an ordinary F-rank would in front of a threatening S-Class Hunter—trembling, unable to breathe properly.
And that must have been the last thing Song Taewon wanted to see.
‘…This is insane.’
Not only had he been influenced by my words, but he had also deliberately observed his own reactions in real-time.
With his personality, he wouldn’t have looked away.
No—he would have committed everything to memory, engraving each detail into his mind.
It was utter madness. There were limits to self-destruction.
‘…In the end, I was never really in danger.’
Seong Hyunjae had said that I would be safe in places with a large number of unawakened people.
Because in such places, it would be easier for Song Taewon to restrain himself.
But the mirror had been an even stronger restraint.
As he stared into his own reflection, he must have reaffirmed to himself—I am not someone who can harm Han Yujin.
If anything, he would have rather—killed the monster reflected in the glass.
My stomach churned with frustration.
What kind of person does this?
“…Chief Song Taewon.”
Maybe it was because I wasn’t using Fear Resistance, but the thought itself terrified me.
Instead of discarding a box that didn’t fit him, was he willing to mutilate himself just to force himself inside it?
That’s what it felt like.
Thinking about it, a wolf that tried to live as a herbivore wouldn’t last long.
It was suicide.
“I think you’re a good person, Chief Song. And of course, someone the world needs.”
“I will never harm you in the future.”
Song Taewon spoke softly.
His voice was gentle.
“I admit that I felt threatened by you, Director Han Yujin. I might even be afraid of you. Even now, I have the urge to strangle you. But it should be fine now.”
…This lunatic, seriously.
“Before I ever harm you, I will be the one to die first.”
He would keep the image of the monster in the mirror burned into his memory. And before he ever reached for my throat, he would recall it and drive a blade into his own instead.
“Chief Song, I hope you live a little longer.”
“I won’t die so easily.”
“…Can’t you loosen up a little? We managed to get along decently well, didn’t we?”
“I’m fine even now. And now, Director Han, you will be safe. I apologize for not answering your calls. It won’t happen again.”
“I’m worried about you, Chief Song Taewon.”
This time, it felt like he wouldn’t survive.
Not because of Seong Hyunjae. But because of me.
That ominous feeling gripped me.
Song Taewon tilted his head slightly, looking down at me.
“You’re still keeping your skill lowered?”
“Yes.”
“Director Han, you’re a good person. I know that well.”
His tone was almost as if he were comforting me.
“It could be dangerous. You should restore it.”
“Chief Song. Song Taewon.”
“I’m fine.”
Like hell he was.
I wanted to say something, anything, but I couldn’t find the words. As I hesitated, Song Taewon turned his gaze to Moon Hyunah.
“The damage to the sink should be reported to the Awakened Management Office—”
“Oh, no. No. I started it first, didn’t I? Just file the compensation claim with Breaker. Let’s say I went into the wrong restroom, got startled, and made a mistake. That way, I’ll feel better too.”
“…Understood. Thank you.”
Song Taewon gave a slight nod before turning and leaving the restroom.
As I watched his retreating back, Moon Hyunah came up beside me and whispered.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but… did you just get dumped?”
“…If you put it that way, I suppose so.”
“You picked someone way too difficult. He’s been festering for three years. If he’s ever going to change, he’ll have to be broken open first. And if things go wrong, he won’t just fail to heal—he’ll die from it.”
“But if we leave him alone, he won’t live long anyway.”
“That’s true.”
Moon Hyunah sighed.
“I don’t get why he lives like that. It’s honestly fascinating. He could just compromise a little.”
At her words, I let out a bitter smile.
I hadn’t been able to compromise for eight years either. I couldn’t let go.
And even now, I still couldn’t.
I had no right to talk.
That was why I wanted Song Taewon’s ending to change. But instead, it felt like my actions were only tightening the noose around his neck.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Moon Hyunah patted my shoulder.
“No matter what, he’s still an S-Class. If nothing happens, he’ll live far longer and healthier than you, Director Han. You should worry about your own body first. You need to start taking care of your health while you’re still in your twenties.”
Saying that, she started walking ahead, saying we should head back.
I glanced at the broken sink before following after her.
Clink. Chains rattled.
Every link in the chain sparked with faint golden electricity.
-Grrr.
A low growl rumbled.
The beast resembled a tiger, with sharp, bristle-like fur standing on end like spikes. It was easily three to four times the size of an ordinary tiger.
Its claws raked against the ground, and its fur bristled. A chilling wind coiled around its body, swirling ominously.
Crack.
The gust it released shattered a boulder in an instant.
Anyone who approached carelessly would end up shredded like they had jumped into a blender.
“…Strange.”
A man stood before the threatening monster, murmuring softly.
His gaze slowly swept the surroundings.
But nothing caught his eye.
-Kyaaa!
The monster bared its razor-sharp fangs and lunged.
The wind surged violently, kicking up dust from the torn-up ground.
Despite his obscured vision, the man—Seong Hyunjae—moved his fingertips without hesitation.
The chain, which had been coiling around him like a serpent, shot forward.
Clang!
The wind clashed against metal, sparks of electricity flickering.
Even a solid boulder would be reduced to rubble by that wind.
But the chain remained unscathed.
It tore through the wind barrier, slicing through it like an arrow aimed straight at the monster.
Crunch.
The chain pierced through the monster’s head, exiting beneath its jaw.
The beast, now impaled like a carcass in a slaughterhouse, thrashed wildly.
But only for a moment.
Golden light surged along the chain, spreading in an intricate pattern.
There was no scream.
Because its head had been obliterated before it could even make a sound.
The headless body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Even as the corpse fell, Seong Hyunjae remained deep in thought.
He scanned the area once more before delicately manipulating his magic.
Tiny electric currents spread in all directions—across the ground, beneath the surface, and into the air.
As if searching.
Then, his gaze locked onto a specific point.
And—
Boom!
Lightning struck.
A surge of raw magic crashed down mercilessly, and whatever had been lurking within his senses vanished.
He had taken care of the disturbance.
But—
“What could it be this time?”
Even he couldn’t identify what it was.
But he had a feeling.
That it was somehow related to Han Yujin.
As always.
“It might be time to secure some monster mounts.”
Seong Hyunjae murmured to himself as he watched the raid team members dealing with ordinary monsters from a distance.
Monster mounts were certainly useful, but they weren’t an urgent necessity. The dungeon wasn’t particularly difficult, nor was there any pressing reason to clear it quickly.
So, he had no plans to rush in obtaining his own.
He intended to take his time, searching for a monster that suited him perfectly—not just in attributes but in every aspect.
However, he found himself wondering about the events unfolding outside the dungeon.
His partner was surely not behaving quietly.
And what was that unsettling gaze from earlier?
Curiosity sparked within him, and he was not the type to suppress such emotions.
Which meant the only solution was to find a faster way to clear the dungeon.
After glancing once more at the spot where something had disappeared, Seong Hyunjae turned his steps toward the monsters.
“Are you really going to be okay?”
I looked at Yuhyun and Peace with a gaze full of concern.
I had tried my best to talk him out of it, but in the end, my stubborn little brother decided to enter an S-Class dungeon alone with Peace.
He insisted it wasn’t dangerous and that they could clear it faster this way, but how could I not worry?
“This dungeon is shorter than the last one. Because of that, the monster packs are larger than in wider dungeons, but that actually makes it easier when going in solo.”
“You’ve got the marble Myungwoo gave you, right? If Peace goes into ethereal form, you can still protect him. And you packed two gate stones, didn’t you?”
“I’ve got everything.”
He reassured me with a bright smile.
Now that he smiled more often, he looked even younger, which only made me more uneasy.
But I couldn’t stop him from entering dungeons.
He needed to grow stronger.
“Peace, you be careful too.”
-Kiyaaang.
Still in his ethereal form, Peace let out a cry and rubbed against my leg. Then, with a spin, he circled me once before growing to his full size.
I used My Kid Is The Best to enhance his Fire Resistance skill growth.
We needed to get his Fire Resistance up to S-Class quickly so Yuhyun could use his fire skills more freely.
Burying my hands in Peace’s thick, full-grown mane, I gently stroked him.
-Grrrr.
“Both of you, make sure to eat properly. Here, these are dried fruits. I made them myself after learning from Myungwoo, so take them with you. Since they’re dungeon-grown, they’ll fit in your inventory.”
I handed a jar of dried fruit to Yuhyun.
“Alright, I’m heading out. And hyung, don’t overwork yourself. Try to stay at the breeding facility if possible.”
“You… You didn’t have Rin leave another one of her summons on me, did you? Where is it? Show me.”
A red lizard suddenly poked its head out from Yuhyun’s right shoulder.
It flicked its tail as if greeting me.
“Take care of yourself, Mister. He’ll come back without a scratch, you know.”
Yerim, who had accompanied me as a guard, grumbled.
I knew she was probably right, but still.
“Guild Leader, have a safe trip. You too, Peace.”
With Yerim’s parting words, Yuhyun stepped through the gate first, and Peace followed after him, vanishing from sight.
They’ll be fine, right?
“They’ll be fine, seriously. Han Yuhyun is seriously strong.”
Yerim grabbed my arm, pulling me along.
Tomorrow, her team was scheduled for their first dungeon raid.
It wasn’t an S-Class dungeon, but a mid-tier A-Class one, chosen to help them get used to working together.
“This time, let’s go out to eat, just the two of us!”
She still hadn’t forgotten what happened last time.
I laughed and agreed, then turned back to look at the gate.
Sending them off left me feeling strangely empty.
The house was going to feel so quiet for a while.
–TL Notes–
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