Chapter 126After taking down five Ancient Serpents, Min-Ji leaned against the wall for a break.

    Recalling the previous day’s presentation session held by Icarus Guild at Hunter Academy, she said, “Supervisor Lee, about that special contract...”

    “Yes?”

    “Was it really necessary to explain the special contract to the students?”

    The special contract with the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division already had predesignated recipients. Even if the students were told about it, they didn’t meet the qualifications to apply.

    The only individuals who qualified were S-rank Hunters or those with S-rank capabilities, and only a handful in the country met these criteria. Aside from two exceptions, they were all S-rank Hunters without fail.

    The predetermined recipients were naturally the top ten Hunters of Korea, who also served on the evaluation committee.

    On the surface, the contract would be with the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. In reality, however, the contract was effectively with Do-Jun.

    Min-Jin said, “To be honest, I thought you would turn down this whole thing, Supervisor Lee.”

    Young-Chul had proposed the division of command authority to Do-Jun. Previously, the Bureau Chief’s exclusive authority allowed him to oversee S-rank Hunters nominally. Yet now, he had suggested partially transferring this authority to Do-Jun.

    In response, Do-Jun counter-proposed the special contract, aiming to facilitate cooperation between the S-rank Hunters and Seoul City Hall.

    From Young-Chul’s perspective, this was hardly a bad deal. In fact, it was advantageous—he could now visibly leverage Do-Jun’s strength.

    “On the surface, it’s just a collaboration agreement between the Hunter’s Bureau and Seoul City,” Do-Jun explained.

    “But the reality is that Korea’s four major guilds will essentially fall under Seoul City Hall—or rather, under you—starting next year,” Min-Ji said.

    “Yes, it seems so.”

    “Don’t you find it bothersome?”

    “A bit.”

    Do-Jun spoke without hiding his true feelings. He understood Young-Chul’s intentions clearly: to gradually pull him into the spotlight.

    “May I ask you one thing?” Min-Ji asked.

    “Can I say no?”

    Not expecting this response, Min-Ji looked momentarily flustered.

    Amused by her expression, Do-Jun smiled slightly and said, “I’m joking. Go ahead.”

    “Aha... Anyway, with the kind of power you have, why do you choose to live so quietly?”

    Min-Ji thought back to the time when Do-Jun served as the Commander of an S-rank Fissure operation. He defeated the boss monster, Malanuh the Titan, with just a single strike.

    Just thinking about the scene sent a brief shiver down her spine as she waited for Do-Jun’s answer.

    “I think we should tweak the question slightly,” Do-Jun replied.

    “What do you mean by that?”

    “To put it simply, I believe it’s because I have power that I can live quietly.”

    “Because you have power... you can live quietly?”

    Do-Jun nodded and reflected on his past. In the Central Plains, where he had struggled to survive when he had no power, his life was inevitably noisy and chaotic. He had lived through fiercely tumultuous days.

    “To protect this seemingly ordinary life, you need power. Without it, one risks losing everything to others or external interference, completely helpless.”

    Staring into Do-Jun’s eyes, Min-Ji suddenly saw her own reflection. Her eyes widened, and she remembered that ten years ago, she had her precious daily life stolen from her. If she had power back then, her parents might still be here with her.

    “That was a silly question, I’m sorry,” Min-Ji apologized with a bitter smile.

    ***

    As the streets darkened, they stepped outside after successfully raiding the Ancient Serpent’s Cave.

    Returning to the outside world, Do-Jun’s previously silent smartphone started buzzing incessantly. As communication within the Fissure was impossible, all the delayed messages flooded in at once. All of them were from Yoon-Hee.

    Yoon-Hee: Father, when will you be home? (12:07)

    Yoon-Hee: You ate lunch, right? (13:11)

    Yoon-Hee: The kids and I are going to the department store. (13:58)

    Yoon-Hee: I bought clothes for Siel and Byeol. What do you think? (photo) (15:42)

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    Yoon-Hee: Massterr, Im hungrry. (18:11)

    Glancing over the messages briefly, Do-Jun slipped the phone back into his pocket.

    Still messy from the long hunt, Min-Ji had changed out of her suit into casual clothes, yet she still bore the marks of battle, coated in serpent mucus and blood.

    “Thank you for today, Supervisor Lee,” she said.

    Thanks to Do-Jun, they had successfully raided the Ancient Serpent’s Cave.

    While packing the camera that contained the footage of the hunt as proof to be submitted to the Hunter’s Bureau, she added, “I couldn’t have done this without you, so if you give me your bank info, I’ll transfer today’s earnings to you.”

    Do-Jun shook his head. He hadn’t joined the mission for the money.

    “Don’t worry about that. Ah, if you really want, you could buy some snacks for the kids.”

    “The kids...?”

    Tilting her head, Min-Ji hesitated before nodding in realization. Right, he had two pets.

    ***

    Min-Ji hesitated at the door of unit 301 of Changshin Villa.

    “Supervisor Lee, maybe I should just head home...”

    Even though Do-Jun had informed his family beforehand, walking into someone’s home in dirty, sticky clothes felt embarrassing. To make matters trickier, it was dinner time.

    Ignoring her, Do-Jun punched in the passcode and opened the door.

    The first to greet them was none other than Byeol. Having heard that her dad would be home soon, Byeol had been waiting by the entrance. When she saw Min-Ji walking in with Do-Jun, she blinked her big eyes.

    “Supervisor Lee, who is this baby...?” Min-Ji asked.

    The small girl, about four or five years old, wore an adorable panda onesie. Looking down at her, it was as if a tiny, cute panda had come to life.

    Kneeling, Min-Ji met Byeol’s gaze.

    “I’m not baby,” Byeol said. “I have a name. Byeol.”

    Do-Jun smiled warmly and added, “She’s my daughter.”

    “Your family just keeps growing, doesn’t it?” Min-Ji remarked. Sёar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just then, Yong-Yong yawned from atop the shoe cabinet. He had approached without anyone noticing.

    ***

    Min-Ji was in the bathroom for a shower. Thankfully, Yoon-Hee didn’t seem to mind her coming over for dinner.

    When Do-Jun asked her to have dinner together, she didn’t think it was an invitation to his place. Min-Ji sighed as she stepped out of the tub and dried herself with a towel.

    There was a knock on the door accompanied by Yoon-Hee’s voice. “I’m leaving clothes for you to change into.”

    “Sorry for showing up unannounced...”

    “Oh, no, it’s fine. I actually like having you here,” Yoon-Hee said, presumably smiling on the other side of the door.

    Feeling thankful for her thoughtfulness, Min-Ji took the undergarments and clothes Yoon-Hee had prepared before quietly closing the door.

    “Ah...” The underwear didn’t fit.

    Min-Ji put on the panties and shorts, followed by the T-shirt. The bra was too small to wear, so she returned it to Yoon-Hee with an embarrassed look.

    “T-the bra is a bit tight.”

    Yoon-Hee glanced back and forth between Min-Ji and herself, then silently went to the bedroom to return the bra to the wardrobe.

    ***

    After dinner, Min-Ji went to the store across the street with Yong-Yong and Byeol.

    “Is there something you guys want to eat?” she asked them.

    Remembering Do-Jun’s suggestion to buy the kids some snacks with today’s earnings from the hunt, she had brought them down to pick out whatever snack they wanted.

    Yong-Yong looked around the store, drooling. If he could be honest, he really wanted to try the expensive tub of ice cream that cost over seven thousand won—something he had never dared to ask for before.

    “I like this,” Byeol said, picking up a three-hundred-won choco pie.

    It was a fluffy sponge cake coated with sweet chocolate.

    Watching from behind, Min-Ji bit her lower lip and thought, How can someone be this cute?

    With the hood attached to her pajama pulled over her head, Byeol looked like a baby panda. She was so adorable that Min-Ji wanted to scoop her up and hug her tightly.

    “Hey,” said Yong-Yong.

    “Hm?”

    He pointed to the tub of ice cream and remarked, “This one’s seven thousand won.”

    Yong-Yong kept picking up and putting down the tub, stealing glances at Min-Ji to gauge her reaction. Seeing this, Min-Ji couldn’t help but chuckle.

    “Go ahead, get it.”

    ***

    The hands on the clock were already pointing to 11 PM.

    Byeol, who had been doing jigsaw puzzles with Yong-Yong and Karsiel, succumbed to sleepiness and dozed off. Do-Jun gently lifted her and carried her to the bed.

    “It’s late. Hunter Min-Ji, you should stay the night,” Do-Jun said.

    Her clothes, smeared with the Ancient Serpent’s slime, were still in the washing machine and hadn’t dried yet.

    “But I feel like I’m imposing...”

    “Hunter Ae-Kyung stayed here for four days and had no issues.” Do-Jun casually mentioned this as he brought out spare bedding and a pillow from the bedroom.

    Min-Ji looked at him in surprise, tilting her head as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

    “Hunter Moon Ae-Kyung? For four days?”

    Why would she need to stay for four days? It didn’t make sense.

    Yoon-Hee let out a small sigh from the dining table. She still remembered how Ae-Kyung had left behind her belongings—even her underwear, as if marking her territory.

    Min-Ji frowned slightly, her expression growing serious, and eventually came to a conclusion. There was only one explanation for an adult woman to stay at an adult man’s house for four days.

    “Are the two of you... together?” she asked, cautiously.

    Do-Jun’s answer was brief. “No.”

    Then why in the world would she stay for four days? Min-Ji was curious but couldn’t bring herself to ask.

    Do-Jun cleared the living room, pushing the table and sofa to the side. He spread out a large blanket on the floor, setting up a pillow and a light comforter.

    “You can sleep here, Hunter Min-Ji.”

    Min-Ji nodded, thinking that the rest of the family was sharing the king-sized bed in the bedroom.

    “Well then, good night.”

    ***

    Moonlight filtered through the balcony window, casting a soft glow in the living room.

    Min-Ji slowly opened her eyes, her gaze drifting toward the bedroom. She couldn’t sleep—not just because she struggled to sleep in unfamiliar places, but because it was almost unbelievable that she was sharing a roof with Do-Jun.

    The bedroom door opened, and Do-Jun stepped out. Min-Ji quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. She heard the sound of something being placed beside her head.

    It was a pillow.

    Do-Jun lay down next to her and said, “I know you’re not asleep.”

    “B-but what’s with the pillow?”

    “On second thought, having you sleep on the floor felt wrong.”

    “What?”

    “I’ll sleep here. Please use the bed and rest comfortably.”

    “No, if you think about it the other way, making the host sleep on the floor is not right.”

    A brief silence followed.

    Min-Ji gazed at the moonlight streaming through the balcony and murmured, “It feels... comfortable here. Your home.”

    Unlike most other homes, this one didn’t feel awkward. It felt familiar as if she’d been here for a long time.

    “I’m glad you think so,” Do-Jun replied.

    “It feels... full of happiness.”

    The house radiated warmth.

    For the first time in ten years, she felt that feeling again. Her eyes slowly closed, and she fell into a peaceful sleep, her breaths steady and quiet.

    Do-Jun gently pulled the blanket over her.