CHAPTER 42: BIG DECISIONS

WONHEE’S eyes were red and puffy after crying her heart out to her friends.

Yool and Ahyeon comforted her by staying with her while listening to her endless rants. Then they ordered pizza, chicken, and beer. They had ice cream for dessert after that.

Then, for the finale, the three of them watched their favorite singer’s online concert.

Maru the Man was their favorite soloist/idol who was more famous for his memes than his actual talent.

Many people would argue that Maru was more of a variety person than an idol. Unfortunately, it was because Maru wasn’t conventionally attractive and he looked older than his age (nineteen years old). Maru was a tall, big young man with long hair who, according to the mean internet trolls, "looked more of a thug than an idol."

But Wonhee, Yool, and Ahyeon became Maru’s fans when they heard the child’s heavenly voice during an audition program that became famous the year the entertainment industry got back on its feet. Since then, they decided to "adopt" Maru as their "son."

[I just wished Maru didn’t debut so young.]

"Are you alright, Wony-ah?" Yool asked while handing her two cold spoons. "Use this to reduce the puffiness of your eyes."

"Thank you," Wonhee said, then she leaned against the sofa and closed her eyes before putting the cold spoons on them. "I got distracted for a moment and remembered how we became fans of our "son.""

"Oh, Maru," Ahyeon said while giving Wonhee a shoulder massage. "Speaking of Maru, I saw the advertisement for his upcoming fan meeting. Should we go?"

Wonhee and Yool answered at the same time. "Of course."

"I’ll go and buy us some tickets then."

Wonhee knew she’d be busy soon, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make time for Maru the Man.

"Oh," Yool said when they heard the door opening. "Your family is here, Wony-ah."

"Yejun, too," Wonhee said, removing the cold spoons on her eyes before she turned to Yool. "How do I look, Yool-ah?"

Yool slightly turned his head away from her direction, and then he squinted his eyes as if he was blinded by something. "Wony-ah, didn’t you notice that I barely look at your face all this time? I’ve always known you’re beautiful. But ever since you’ve awakened as a Guide, your beauty has reached new heights."

"I agree with Yool Hyung," Ahyeon added. "Wony Noona is blinding."

Pfft.

That made Wonhee blush.

[At least, I won’t look like a squid next to Yejun.]

"Hee-ya?"

Wonhee put the cold spoons on the coffee table before she stood up and greeted Soobin. "Oppa, you’re here?"

Of course, her brother didn’t come home alone.

Yejun, who was walking behind Soobin, raised his hand. He didn’t have to do that since he was taller than Soobin anyway. "I’m also here, Wonhee-ya."

"I can see you, Yejun-ah," Wonhee said, smiling. "Hello."

Yejun suddenly raised his arms. "Wonhee-ya, I worked hard. I deserve a hug for not freezing Seoul. Don’t you think so?"

"I appreciate your hard work, but I don’t think doing the bare minimum as a decent human being deserves to be rewarded," Wonhee said. Instead of running into Yejun’s embrace, she simply held his hands. "This should be enough to show my appreciation."

Yejun looked satisfied by holding hands with her. "Your touch really feels good, Wonhee-ya."

It would have sounded inappropriate out of context.

But for Awakened People, it was something one would usually hear between a Hunter and a Guide.

However...

Soobin smacked the back of Yejun’s head. "I understand what you mean as a fellow Hunter, but don’t say that to my baby sister in front of me."

Yejun let out a frustrated sigh. "Do you see how Soobin Hyung treats me, Wonhee-ya? He still treats me like a dummy, even though he’s not testing his new weapons on me. Our country is lucky that I have you now or else I would have snapped already."

"Why are you complaining to my baby sister? And it’s not like you’re hurt. It’s actually my hand that suffers from hitting your stone-like head."

Wonhee was amused while watching Soobin and Yejun bicker.

However, there were people who didn’t enjoy that.

"N-Noona..."

Wonhee turned to her friends.

Oh.

Ahyeon was helping Yool stand up while Yool looked pale. Upon looking closer, it appeared that even Ahyeon looked uncomfortable.

"You should send them home," Soobin said. "They can’t handle Yejun’s presence."

Right.

Yool was a Civilian while Ahyeon was a low-level Hunter.

"Yool-ah, Ahyeonnie, thank you for staying with me," Wonhee said. "See you later."

***

[ARE ALL Hunters really this clingy to their Guides?]

Wonhee couldn’t help but wonder as Yejun sat next to her while holding her hand and leaning his head against her shoulder.

Yejun was practically attached to her hip.

"Do you have to sit that close to my baby sister, huh?" Soobin complained while glaring at Yejun. "You should know our Hee-ya loves her personal space."

"What a coincidence," Yejun said indifferently. "I also love Wonhee’s personal space."

"This bastard..."

"Oppa, I’m alright," Wonhee assured her older brother. "I’m doing my duty as Yejun’s Guide. My position is already confirmed, right?"

Soobin nodded before he elaborated. "Kwon Jiwoong already approved your registration as a Guide. Every newly approved awakened Guide automatically gets affiliated with the National Guide Center. It’s the ’national’ center for Guides, after all."

Wonhee beamed. "Oh. Is Geon Oppa my boss now?"

"You can say that. Temporarily, at least," Soobin said, smiling while nodding. "Once the fact that you awakened as an S-Class Guide is announced, APA will officially recruit you. Other guilds will do, too."

"Wonhee-ya, come to my guild," Yejun said, his voice a bit excited. "The Winter Guild."

Soobin scoffed. "You don’t have a guild, Hwang Frost. The Winter Guild is currently under APA’s control. If my baby sister comes to your guild, then it would be like entering the tiger’s den."

"Exactly," Yejun said. "One must enter the tiger’s den to catch its cubs."

Oh.

Yejun made a valid point, hence Soobin couldn’t really say anything back.

But...

"Oppa, do I need to choose a guild right away?"

"No, of course not," Soobin said while shaking his head. "APA has more power over the National Guide Center when it comes to Hunters. But when it comes to matters related to Guides, the National Guide Center becomes more powerful than APA. Hence, your brother-in-law can keep you safe while you’re with the center, Hee-ya."

That was a relief to know.

APA and the National Guide Center were both branches of the government.

Fortunately, Soobin was working in APA and Geon was working in the National Guide Center.

[I’m really lucky, huh?]

"Then what exactly is my current status as a Guide, Oppa?"

"Guides affiliated with the National Guide Center are considered freelancers up to four months after they awakened. The Center will send them to different guilds that require their services," Soobin explained. "After four months, the Guides affiliated with the National Guide Center have three choices. First, they can be Independent Guides who don’t belong to any group. Second, they can go to APA and become National Guides who only work for APA Hunters. Third, they can go to private guilds."

"Those positions don’t apply to Wonhee, Soobin Hyung," Yejun chimed in. "A-Class Guides are given the right to choose one of the Big 4’s Guilds. Since Wonhee-ya is an S-Class Guide, she gained the right to be a part of our circle." He then turned to her and looked at her with sparkling eyes. "Wonhee-ya, APA can’t force you to come to them as long as Geon Hyung is protecting you. I promise to reclaim my S-Class status and regain my right to lead the Winter Guild. So, once I become the powerful Hunter that I was before my downfall, come to my guild."

"I’ll think about it," Wonhee said, then she revealed the new mission that she had received from the System earlier. "Yejun-ah, Oppa, actually the System asked me to save Hunter Graham next."

Naturally, Yejun and Soobin both looked shocked.

"The System asked you to save another one from the Big 4?" Soobin asked in disbelief, then he blinked. "Wait. Does it mean Graham will snap soon?!"

Yejun clicked his tongue. "I know this is bound to happen, but I still don’t wanna share you with anyone else, Wonhee-ya."

"Too bad that’s not how the world works, Yejun-ah," Wonhee said while gently patting Yejun’s cheek with her free hand. "I told you the System wants me to save as many high-class Hunters as possible."

"Do you have to tuck Graham in bed, too?" Soobin asked nervously. "I’m not sure if taking care of two high-class Hunters would still be safe for you, Hee-ya."

As if on cue, her Status Window popped up in front of her.

"Oh, don’t worry about that, Oppa," Wonhee assured her brother. "My skill The Sleeping Salon

allows me to become more powerful than any Awakened People in my salon, and it says I need to make a contract with the Hunters first."

***

LEE SEODAM knitted his eyebrows while reading the messages that he had received from his mother and older sister since last night.

He didn’t pick up their calls because he was... uh, busy.

But now that he had time, he was left confused.

"Why are they asking me to meet up with Wonhee now?"

Seodam only realized that he asked that out loud when Park Ruda, half-naked on the same bed he was, answered.

"Seodam-ah, you didn’t know because you were stuck in the dungeon, but it was revealed that Wonhee is the baby sister of both Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi."

"Huh?"

Park Ruda smiled before he added: "And Wonhee also awakened as an S-Class Guide."

"An S-Class Guide?" Seodam asked in disbelief, his eyes widened a bit. "It’s possible for a Guide to awaken as an S-Class?"

***

"WONHEE-ya."

"Yes?" Wonhee responded when Yejun called her name. She was busy rejecting Seodam’s family’s calls then, so she couldn’t face Yejun properly. "What is it?"

Soobin had to receive an important call.

But it seemed like it was confidential because her older brother had to leave the penthouse for a moment.

Hence, only Wonhee and Yejun were there at the moment.

"Can I be honest with you, Wonhee-ya?"

"Sure."

"I want to get into your pants."

Wonhee almost choked on her saliva, then she turned to Yejun in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"We have a hundred percent matching rate, so we’re legally allowed to sleep with each other," Yejun said bluntly. Then he had the audacity to look at her with those "innocent" eyes of his. "Wonhee-ya, shouldn’t we discuss whether we’ll do the Advanced Treatment or not?"

Oh.

***

sola_cola’s thoughts on this Chapter: Oops... Yejun, you need to calm down. *nervous smile*

***

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