Chapter 216: Remaining There
‘At least we’re still partners.’
I thought he might say, “Let’s reconsider our relationship due to lack of qualifications.” No, that might actually be the reason he called me here. He hadn’t contacted me separately since then, and today, he hadn’t said a single word all day.
My mind was a mess, but I deliberately tried not to overthink it. Instead, I simply replied, saying I understood and asked where I should go.
I can’t do anything except paint. That’s all I can barely manage—so what does he expect?
“I need to stop by to see Guild Leader Seong for a bit.”
At my words, Yuhyun made a reluctant expression. My younger brother walked up to me and studied my face.
“You don’t have to push yourself. Even if things go south with Sesung Guild, it’s not like we wouldn’t be able to handle them. Right now, we’re more than capable of facing them.”
“Why would things go south? Why would the Sesung Guild Leader do something that would make him give up both his monster mounts and his blacksmiths? It’s nothing serious.”
Yeah, what could possibly happen? It’s just that I don’t have confidence in myself. Honestly, anyone would shrink back in front of Seong Hyunjae. It’s not that I’m lacking—it’s just normal.
Yuhyun and I left the guest room together. Seong Hyunjae had called me to a bar on the top floor of the hotel. The entire floor seemed to have been cleared, as I didn’t run into a single person after stepping out of the elevator. The outer wall of the wide hallway was made of glass, and beyond it, the water in the rooftop pool shimmered faintly under the lights.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“No need for that. If Guild Leader Seong has any conscience, he’ll see me off properly.”
My brother sat down on one of the chairs sparsely placed along the hallway instead of responding.
I figured as much.
“If anything happens, call me, Hyung.”
“I will.”
It was reassuring.
I opened the door, which had an elegant pattern carved into it. The bar was dimly lit, and as expected, the wall facing the pool was made of glass. The interior was mostly Western-style, but the outdoor garden was planted with low bamboo, and paintings of women in Japanese clothing, along with other Japanese-style decorations, hung on the walls.
‘Pick one theme, just one. It’s giving me a headache.’
“This way.”
Seong Hyunjae was standing behind the long bar counter. Behind him, the lighting and glimmering glasses created a picturesque scene. Even if the drinks were borderline toxic, his face alone would ensure good business.
…Judging by how Japan reacted, as long as the drinks weren’t lethal, people would probably line up for them.
Thinking of the overly dramatic TV shows there, I felt a bit calmer. The Thunder God’s Cocktail—A Shocking Taste! No, stop it. I might end up laughing. …Would Yuhyun’s be a cold, ice-blue color with flames on top? And Yerim’s… No, let’s stop this useless train of thought. I can’t let myself get influenced by Japanese TV.
“Sesung Guild’s finances must be in pretty bad shape these days, if even the Guild Leader has to take on side jobs.”
I realized halfway through that I had misspoken, but I just went with it. At least I hadn’t called him Thunder God.
‘I’ll help boost your sales, so give me something electrifying, Thunder God. Also, please provide your own background music.’
“You seem to be feeling much better.”
Seong Hyunjae gestured for me to sit as he spoke. I took a seat at the bar counter. At this point, I almost felt like I had to place an order, but I didn’t know anything about cocktails. Did they serve peanuts or something here?
“The local TV shows here are pretty entertaining. Amaterasu Guild is fun to watch too.”
The Lion King guy and the samurai guy from Japan were amusing. Just thinking about how Yerim was going to stomp on them made it even better. I should’ve made a banner or something.
Seong Hyunjae placed an empty glass in front of me. With practiced ease, as if he had been doing this for years, he took out various ingredients and put them into a shaker. The smooth movement of the silver container caught my eye. A vibrant green-tinted drink was poured seamlessly into the glass, and a decorative straw was placed inside.
It looked like just juice. And sure enough, it was sweet.
“This isn’t why you called me here. What’s the real reason?”
The sweetness in my mouth only made the situation feel more bitter. This was basically the carrot before the stick.
“I wanted to make you an offer.”
A card was placed beside the cocktail glass. A black credit card.
“The old one must be unusable now.”
“Are you saying you want me to quit and go back to the way things were?”
I had somewhat expected this, so it wasn’t surprising.
“I’ll remove the ‘partner’ title, but I won’t take the card.”
Just Guild Leader and Breeding Facility Director. That’s enough. There’s no real need to call it a partnership. It’s not like we’re going to become enemies now. At the very least, we can still cooperate when necessary.
“Let’s just draft a simple contract for the sake of clarity. You don’t want the world to fall apart either, do you, Seong Hyunjae?”
For a moment, I recalled when I first met him. From the very start, I had treated myself like a commodity. I spoke jokingly, and others probably took it as a joke too.
Three months had passed since then. Not a long time.
I had thought getting closer to him would be beneficial. Above all, having him on our side would be reassuring. Seong Hyunjae was, after all, the number one ranked Hunter, and the ability to share his combat foresight as a teacher’s skill was still something too valuable to pass up. Not to mention his vast international influence.
And also… well, various other reasons.
Looking back, it made me feel a little melancholic. But what could I do? I was the one who wasn’t good enough.
“…You have less patience than I expected.”
In the end, the words slipped out bluntly. Seong Hyunjae opened his mouth to respond.
“The opposite, actually. I’ve been holding back all this time.”
“All this time? I’m terribly sorry for being such an unbearable, pathetic F-rank that you had to endure.”
I didn’t realize he’d been holding back that much. Maybe I should be groveling in apology for frustrating him so much.
“I could have forced the truth out of you. About that incomprehensible attitude of yours. About everything Han Yujin is hiding.”
Seong Hyunjae smiled gently, as if to say he wasn’t someone who usually restrained his curiosity.
“But I care about you, Han Yujin.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“You could call it being a guardian. That’s my offer.”
He started walking along the length of the bar.
“If exposing the core would only make it collapse, then instead of painting over it, you should build a support structure. Carefully and solidly, taking the time to ensure it can withstand even if the inside is completely hollow.”
Turning a corner, he stepped out from behind the bar and approached me. I considered standing up but ultimately just turned my chair to face him. His silent footsteps halted in front of me.
“So… you’re saying you want to be that support?”
But why him of all people? I already had my younger brother, people who were practically family, and friends.
“There’s nothing wrong with relying on others. In a world where no one lives alone, it’s even an ideal way to live. But before that, one must establish their own foundation. At the center of everything is oneself. If you can’t properly hold onto yourself, then everything around you will easily crumble as well.”
“…Are you telling me to go on some kind of self-discovery journey?”
“You already push yourself hard enough and tear yourself down constantly, Han Yujin. What you need is rest, not training.”
“I don’t exactly have the luxury of free time.”
“Then I’ll create an environment where you can rest. Perfectly and meticulously.”
Seong Hyunjae spoke gently, as if reassuring me.
“If you accept my offer.”
He lowered himself, bringing his body down so that one knee touched the floor. His gaze dropped below mine, like an adult lowering their eye level to avoid intimidating a child.
I had relied on him a little, but was this really necessary?
“In case you forgot, let me remind you—I’m twenty-five. I may not be that old, but I’m an adult. I started working early, too. Thanks to that, I have far more life experience than I look.”
Technically, I’m thirty. I’m definitely not young.
“There’s no need to treat me like a child without a guardian.”
“Adults and children are the same. They feel sadness, joy, and every other emotion just the same. The only difference is that as people grow older, the number of things they have to endure and take responsibility for increases, one by one. They start holding back their tears even when they want to cry, suppressing their laughter even when they want to laugh, constantly checking how others perceive them.”
“Because that’s what it means to be an adult.”
If I just did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, how would that make me a proper adult? Unlike children, who are given unconditional protection, adults have to survive on their own, which means constantly holding themselves back. You have to wake up early even when you don’t want to. You have to go to work even when you’d rather rest. You have to force a smile even when you can’t stand your boss. You have to suppress your cravings, limit your spending, and always adjust to what your wallet can handle.
I just had to start all of that a little earlier than most. I had to take on responsibilities and suppress my own desires sooner than others.
“You don’t have to take responsibility. You don’t have to hold back.”
His words were so sweet, they felt almost sickening.
“You don’t have to care about anything. You can follow your heart and do whatever you want. No one will interfere. You won’t have to worry about how others see you, and you won’t have to be responsible for anything. You can look only at what you want to see, listen only to what you want to hear.”
“Uh… isn’t that just another way of saying you want me to be your possession?”
“A guardian and a ward. Once you’re strong enough to stand on your own, you’ll be free to leave anytime. I can let you go.”
I couldn’t quite understand. More than anything, I didn’t understand why he was saying this to me.
“This is… honestly, an absurdly generous offer. So what’s the price? And don’t say there isn’t one.”
“When you’re ready to handle it. Then, I’d like you to tell me everything.”
“…That’s it? I can accept you holding back from forcing the truth out of me, sure. But waiting while acting as my guardian? No, seriously—why?”
“Because I want to.”
His answer was so simple that I had no words.
It wasn’t for my sake. He was doing it because he wanted to. That was so like him. In the end, it meant I didn’t even need to feel guilty about it.
“…Honestly, it’s tempting.”
If Seong Hyunjae truly put his mind to using everything at his disposal to act as a guardian, there would be no better protection. It was hard for me to even imagine.
It would be an incredibly comfortable, happy life.
If I hadn’t regressed.
“But, Seong Hyunjae, it’s too late.”
The person I am now can’t accept it. And because I am who I am, that’s exactly why Seong Hyunjae is being patient and offering his hand. If I were in a state where I could give up and choose rest, he wouldn’t have been interested in the first place. The irony was almost amusing.
“Maybe if you had reached out ten years ago. Or twenty. When I was six or seven years old. Then I would’ve gladly followed you. With my brother in tow.”
“My apologies. I was still inexperienced back then.”
“Even so… thank you.”
I stood up from my chair and extended my hand.
Seong Hyunjae took my hand—not to lean on it, but simply to grasp it. And then, he rose to his feet.
“Since you claim to have endless patience, I’ll be counting on you from now on, Partner.”
My heart felt a little lighter.
Seong Hyunjae looked down at me. It wouldn’t be so bad if I were the one looking down for a change, but this height difference was more familiar. He pulled a deliberately regretful expression.
“No matter how much I yield, it only makes people back away even more.”
“What do you mean, ‘people’? Have you made this kind of offer to someone else too?”
“Not to this extent, but I once suggested to Chief Song Taewon that I could discreetly watch his back.”
“And he turned you down, didn’t he?”
“After that, I started openly covering for him.”
Wouldn’t that be considered corruption? Then again, knowing Chief Song, he probably found it easier to deal with that way. It was ambiguous, but in a way, Seong Hyunjae seemed to be taking good care of him. In his own, typically vague manner.
“Well, out of respect for the Guild Leader’s generosity, I’ll keep this as an emergency backup.”
I picked up the card lying next to my glass. I wasn’t planning to use it as freely as before. Maybe I’d just keep it as a souvenir.
Before leaving the bar, I told him there was no need to see me out since my brother was waiting for me. Then, I turned back to look at Seong Hyunjae.
“Since you’re being so generous, I’d like to make one request.”
“Go ahead.”
“Stay as you are. Don’t change, don’t disappear. Just stay the same.”
The words until I can stand where you are stopped at the tip of my tongue. I wasn’t confident enough to say them out loud. If I had been alone on that cruise, I wouldn’t have been able to stand so proudly.
“And, if possible, don’t die either.”
“All right.”
He answered lightly, as if we were just making plans for dinner.
Outside, Yuhyun was already on his feet.
“You weren’t sitting?”
“I heard footsteps, so I stood up.”
Hopefully, he hadn’t heard our conversation from inside. Seong Hyunjae wouldn’t have called me without checking for that first, but still.
“As expected, it was nothing. Should we head back to the room and order some room service? I’m a little hungry.”
I’d had a solid dinner, but after soaking in the bath for so long, my stomach felt empty again.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
Yuhyun mumbled quietly.
“Oh? Are you getting jealous of the Sesung Guild Leader again? You don’t need to. You’re always my priority.”
Everything happening now started with my brother.
“No matter what anyone says, no matter what happens, Yuhyun—you are the most important person to me.”
So relax and let’s just enjoy a late-night snack. My brother nodded and smiled.
Now, where’s the room service menu…? They probably didn’t have it in Korean. Should I call the guide?
As soon as I woke up in the morning, I let out a long yawn, still groggy. The hotel was nice, and the bedding was comfortable, but I didn’t get much sleep.
I had asked the guide to translate the TV channel schedule for me, and I stayed up watching it for too long.
My main objective had been to learn more about Japan’s Hunter scene.
‘A budding romance between Yuhyun and Yerim?’
More like a budding killing intent. No, that was too much—maybe just a mild hostility. But romance? Yeah, right. They weren’t even at the stage of a budding friendship yet. Besides, Yerim was still a minor, and the age gap between them was five years. That was pretty significant. If I had to pair her with someone, Noah would make more sense.
‘Still, those two weren’t the worst of it.’
What really made me lose my mind was seeing people trying to ship me with Seong Hyunjae and Kang Soyeong.
Seriously, what kind of lunatics thought it was a good idea to pair me up with those two?
They were rambling on about how I was close with the Guild Leader and speculating about some deep connection. I wanted to sue the broadcasting station on the spot.
And why did they keep calling Kang Soyeong British? She had dual citizenship, but she was affiliated with Korea.
‘Love may transcend age, nationality, race, and gender, but come on—at the very least, the younger party should be in their late twenties before you even think about that!’
And even that was being generous—thirty was preferable. A person should have enough life experience and be at a stage where they can take responsibility for their own life before they start claiming age is just a number!
Trying to pair an actual child with an adult—where was their conscience?
Anyway, I am strongly against this ship! Even Moon Hyunah would be a weird match. Evelyn Miller was a much more reasonable choice.
Then again, Seong Hyunjae only ever looked at Kang Soyeong like she was a kid. Obviously, she wasn’t his type, but I had to wonder—had he ever dated anyone?
Damn it, now I was curious.
I considered ordering room service again but decided that meals were best enjoyed together, so I went downstairs for breakfast instead.
Yerim, Noah, and Moon Hyunah had gone out shopping last night and came back with an assortment of random items. Among them was a fake Peace doll and a Chirp plushie. I decided to take the Chirp plushie and hand it over to Haeyeon’s legal team.
“There was a Hunter-exclusive shopping mall too!”
“The Hunter Market? You mentioned that yesterday.”
“No, this one was for regular people! They were selling things like photos and bromides of Hunters. There were even stacks of lion plushies!”
…Like idol bromides?
That reminded me of the plush dolls modeled after Yuhyun and Yerim that I had seen yesterday.
They were pretty cute.
Maybe if I had some free time, I’d sneak over and check it out.
–TL Notes–
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