Chapter 36

After hearing Ji-eun’s question, Si-ho sipped her orange drink through a straw, then put it down and spoke with her small lips.

“Because it’s comfortable.”

When Si-ho spoke indifferently, Ji-eun’s pupils shook violently.

It was as if she had seen a well-behaved cat climb onto the stove first.

“Mischievous…”

It looked like she might tear up a handkerchief.

I glanced at Si-ho for a moment.

Si-ho’s behavior was probably a trauma reaction, similar to what happened with her mother.

After awakening her ability, she witnessed her mother’s death right before her eyes.

The shock of losing her once must still remain, and in my case, I might also mistakenly think that I hesitated and died, just like with my mother.

It’s natural for a child to hesitate when faced with the choice of erasing their mother with their own hands to save others.

‘At least, that’s what I’m speculating.’

Si-ho, with her small frame and wearing a school uniform, was drawing even more attention by acting like this.

I understand, but I wish she would stop.

“Me too!”

At that moment, Ji-eun sat down on the sofa where I was sitting.

Then she wrapped her arms around mine and hugged me tightly.

Seeing this, Si-ho, who had been watching Ji-eun, also scooted closer, pressing her hips against me.

People who were watching this started pulling out their phones.

I’m going to get sued!

I panicked and tried to shake them off…

Ah, right. They’re Hunter kids.

I had just started learning how to control my aura, so I could only use 1 or 100 units of strength, which wasn’t enough to shake them off.

I couldn’t escape from them.

Is this going to end with me being crushed and then reported to the police?

Feeling like this was a mess among minors, I pinched both their cheeks at the same time.

“Ow?”

“Ouch.”

“Stop it. Both of you. Si-ho, don’t compete over something like this. Seo-ho will worry.”

Si-ho, whose cheek was pinched, glanced up at me.

Her sharp eyes were the same as usual, but today they felt even sharper.

“Manager, why do you call Ha Seo-ho ‘Seo-ho’?”

“Huh?”

“Si-ho is ‘Si-ho,’ right?”

Is that the point?

Si-ho’s eyes grew even sharper.

Seeing her face full of dissatisfaction, I sighed and decided to humor her.

“Then I’ll drop the formalities like I do with Seo-ho. I’ll just call you Si-ho, okay?”

“Okay, that’s fine.”

Si-ho seemed satisfied and leaned her head against me again.

No, don’t lean on me.

“What is it, what is it! Oppa, what did you do with Si-ho! What is it!”

And because of that, Ji-eun started acting even more wild.

Now I don’t know what to do.

I want to quit.

After being stuck between the two of them and suffering for a while, I was finally able to break free when evening came.

Since it was time to leave work, I returned to the company.

‘Is being a Hunter manager always this draining?’

Managing Hunters’ conditions, moods, training situations, and investments were never easy tasks, but this is a bit much.

Maybe I was too friendly with them.

Since they’re not adults, it seems they have no sense of social distance.

If this continues, problems will arise sooner or later.

‘Maybe it’s time to establish some boundaries.’

Ji-eun clearly has feelings for me.

She hasn’t confessed, but she’s openly showing signs of liking me.

Even though I’m clueless and don’t have a girlfriend, I can tell that much.

Kids’ love can be blind.

“Idiot, what do you know?”

For some reason, Baeksan interjected, but I didn’t pay attention.

“This is serious.”

Right now, it’s just because I’m the opposite sex nearby and someone they can trust.

As time passes and their social circles widen, this problem will naturally resolve itself.

But starting next year, she’ll be assigned to my team as a Hunter.

If she gets into a power struggle with Si-ho like today, the team could fall apart.

‘What should I do?’

At 26, I have no idea what high school kids are thinking these days.

If only they were like Ayu, who just jokes around, it would be mentally easier even if it’s physically exhausting.

Maybe I should consult Ayu later.

At that moment, I ran into a familiar face at the company.

“Orzia!”

“Ah, Ha-chan.”

She greeted me with her usual faint smile.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I heard you got hurt, are you okay?”

“Yes, I sprained my arm a little, but it’s no big deal.”

She rolled up her white shirt sleeve to show me her arm as proof.

That’s a relief.

I was worried that something serious might have happened to her since I called her.

Seeing me relieved, Orzia tried to say something but stopped.

Her gaze shifted behind me, and I turned around curiously.

“What are you doing after calling me? Domi Oppa.”

It was none other than Ayu.

She had been called because of Gwak Sa-yeon and was wearing her usual cap, her face smiling brightly underneath.

“Ah, you’re here. I was just thanking Orzia for what happened last time.”

“Ah, right. Thank you, Sister.”

As Ayu approached me with a grin, Orzia glanced at me and then spoke quietly.

“Ha-chan, there’s an old saying that even if a tiger bites you, as long as you keep your wits, you’ll survive.”

“Huh? Right?”

“Back then, there were many tigers, but I heard you can’t see any these days. But even though times have changed, it seems there are still plenty of tigers around you.”

She clasped her hands together and quietly prayed.

“Please keep your wits about you.”

Even in her office attire, she looked like a real nun.

As if praying for salvation to the humble servant before her.

“Tigers, my foot! Scram! Cultist! Namu Amida Butsu!”

Suddenly, Ayu growled like a mad dog, and Orzia looked at her with pity, bowed her head, and left.

Watching her retreating figure, I soon raised my fist and planted a knuckle on Ayu’s head.

“Ow!”

“What’s with your attitude towards Orzia? So rude.”

“Ugh, no! That nun keeps getting in the way!”

“In the way? Show some respect next time you see her. She’s lived for centuries by Earth’s standards. I didn’t raise you like this.”

Ayu trembled and started hitting my back.

She resorts to violence when she has nothing to say.

“Violence is wrong! I strongly oppose it!”

“Really! Because of! Domi! Oppa! I can’t! Live! Without! Being! Expelled!”

I’m going to die at this rate.

Before I got beaten to death, I grabbed Ayu’s wrists.

“Gotcha?”

After struggling for a while, Ayu alternated between looking at her captured wrists and my face, then gradually calmed down.

Finally, she’s quiet.

“Ayu.”

“Huh!”

“Why, why, what.”

When I called her, she turned bright red for some reason, then averted her eyes and hesitated.

Luckily, her strength was slowly fading from her hands.

This is my chance.

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat first.”

And then I got hit again.

“Even if I get hit, it’s worth it.”

Even with Baeksan’s curse added to it.

I don’t know why everyone hates me.

After much trouble, we finished dinner, and I headed to the Korean branch of the World Returner Association with Ayu.

Earlier, at my request, Ayu had asked the Association if I could come along, and fortunately, they readily agreed.

“That Iron Blood woman is really something.”

But for some reason, Ayu seemed quite displeased with that.

I don’t know why she’s acting like this when they agreed to her request.

She’s always been a bit of a brat.

“Stop being so grumpy. I’ll play games with you when we get home.”

“I’m going to play all night.”

“I have work tomorrow.”

“So?”

Oh.

I didn’t answer and opened the door to the Association, stepping inside.

The lobby came into view.

The lobby was so large and dazzling that it was overwhelming at first glance, and I marveled at it once again.

As expected of the World Returner Association, they must have a lot of money.

As I approached the counter, the woman standing there immediately smiled.

“Yes, welcome. You must be Cheon Hong-ryun.”

Is she a Returner too?

I’m not sure, but I was glad Ayu was with me.

If I had come alone, I might have been turned away without being recognized.

“And Kang Ha-chan.”

Since Ayu had mentioned bringing me, she recognized me too.

But for some reason, the way she looked at me wasn’t ordinary, and I hesitated slightly.

Why is she looking at me like that?

“I’ll help guide you. If you wait a moment, someone will come to guide you from the elevator over there.”

As she spoke kindly, the elevator dinged and stopped.

A tall woman in a suit stepped out.

I’m not short, but she was tall enough that I had to look up.

She must be at least 190cm.

With an air of mystery, she brushed her ash-gray bangs aside, revealing an eyepatch over her right eye.

She looked at me and Ayu, then curled her lips into a smile.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Eun-hyeon, your guide.”

“Silver Fox, why are you guiding?”

“Long time no see, Cheonma.”

“Don’t call me Cheonma.”

“You still call me Silver Fox, don’t you?”

They seemed to know each other, as they both had familiar expressions.

Then Ayu seemed to remember something and immediately frowned.

“Is that Iron Blood Empress woman behind this?”

“No comment.”

“Tch.”

Ayu clicked her tongue with a look of complete incomprehension.

“What’s with that woman always sticking to Domi Oppa…”

As Ayu was about to say something, she looked at me, then took off her cap and ruffled her hair in frustration.

“Just when, where, and how did you get involved with her.”

Then, for some reason, she started poking my side with her finger.

Why is she taking it out on me?

I don’t know the reason, but since I know Ayu doesn’t get along well with Baekseolhyang, I decided to leave her alone.

Seeing me like that, Ayu shook her head as if giving up and turned to Eun-hyeon.

“Fine. Just guide us.”

“You’ve become more well-behaved than before.”

As she said that, Eun-hyeon glanced at me.

“Though I’m not sure who to thank for that.”

If this is well-behaved, I shudder to think what she was like before.

Remembering how Ayu always fooled around in the game, I made a serious face.

What kind of person was Ayu in the past?

If she was even more mischievous than this, I might not have been able to handle her.

“Domi Oppa, for some reason, I feel like you’re thinking something rude about me right now.”

“Oh, you’re right. I was wondering how bad you must have been before if this is considered well-behaved.”

“Fine! I’ll show you myself!”

As Ayu spat on her hand and started rolling up her sleeves, I raised my hand and shouted to Eun-hyeon.

“Please guide us!”

“Ah, running away, huh? Just wait till I catch you. I’ll make you say, ‘Ayu, please go out with me!'”

Why is she getting embarrassed while saying it herself?