Chapter 137

From the moment she had already been rejected once, Ji-eun wanted to stay by Ha-chan’s side no matter what.

“Right?”

When Si-ho asked, Ji-eun quietly nodded.

“But there’s one thing Si-ho can never compromise on.”

Ji-eun looked at Si-ho.

“The first wife will be Si-ho.”

The first wife.

Seeing Si-ho burning with determination, Ji-eun’s face hardened.

Looking at Si-ho’s face, for some reason, she also wanted that position.

“…How are we deciding that position?”

But it was clear that both sisters wouldn’t compromise either.

Knowing that well, when Ji-eun asked, Si-ho slightly hugged her stomach.

“The one who has the manager’s child first.”

Hearing that, Ji-eun’s face gradually turned red.

“Eh, uh, Si, Si-ho, that’s…”

“Ji-eun, don’t you like the manager’s baby?”

“Well…”

Ji-eun thought of Ha-chan’s child.

It would definitely be the most beautiful child in the world.

Whether it was a son or a daughter, she was confident she would love them the most.

“Of course, I like it. If Ha-chan oppa wants, as many as he wants.”

“Right?”

Ji-eun answered with her face red.

Seeing Ji-eun like that, Si-ho spoke.

“Si-ho can’t compromise on this either. Ji-eun, remember that.”

With those words, Si-ho started to leave.

Watching her, Ji-eun clenched her fists tightly.

Those fists held her determination.

In the winter of Iceland, two high school girls, soon to be adults, ended their conversation with words that would make Ha-chan grab his neck if he heard.

—

The next day, we finished preparing to safely return to Korea from Iceland.

Regarding the events that had occurred, Iceland, of course, didn’t hold us responsible.

With the power of an S-class Hunter and an S-class Returner.

With such power, our words were trusted, and they even thanked us for killing the Rank-Outside Dimensional Being.

Thanks to the Korean Hunter Management Bureau knowing this and immediately taking action, we were able to return without any issues.

Of course, since I completely obliterated the Rank-Outside Dimensional Being, we couldn’t obtain any materials from it.

Instead, they decided to give us a modest compensation.

“Cheap, cheap. They only gave that much and wiped their mouths.”

“Woo-jung, you didn’t do anything against the Rank-Outside Dimensional Being.”

“Why are you like this? I fought so hard.”

She protested like that.

Though, she seemed the least tired among us.

“And you remember what you promised, right?”

“Speak properly.”

“A date. A date, Ha-chan.”

Well, I do remember.

I want to ignore it, but it’s a promise.

Above all, thanks to her, Ji-eun really grew a lot.

I couldn’t refuse her request.

“Alright.”

“Si-ho too.”

Then, Si-ho quickly popped out.

Knowing her efforts in this matter, I smiled and patted her head.

“Okay, got it.”

“…Isn’t the temperature difference between us too much?”

Of course.

At that moment, I felt a gaze and turned my head.

There was Eva noona, and when our eyes met, she quickly looked away.

Lately, it seems like Eva noona avoids eye contact with me more and more. Is it just my imagination?

“Ah, Eva noona, do you want to go on a date too?”

Seeing her, I playfully asked, and Eva noona suddenly turned her head sharply.

Her blue eyes widened, and I made a panicked expression for a moment.

At that moment, Eva noona seemed to realize what she had done and her face turned bright red.

“Noona?”

“Uh, ah, that’s, no. That time, the meeting ended weirdly because of me and oppa.”

She rambled on.

“So, how about we have another meeting? Damn it, anyway, that’s it!”

Eva noona started swearing in her panic.

Seeing her, I blinked and awkwardly scratched my head.

“Alright. I’ll set something up next time. Nae-ki has been making a fuss too.”

Nae-ki was really questionable for someone supposedly attending university, as she was in the game every day.

Despite that, whenever she logged into the game, she sang ‘Meeting? Meetingmeetingmeeting!’ every day, so I thought about setting something up soon.

When I asked Juk-sim, she said, “I’ll think about it.”

But when Nae-ki excitedly said, “I’ll go and bring her!” Juk-sim logged out.

Eva noona finally looked relieved after hearing my words.

Feeling something suspicious, I held back from asking more.

“Ji-eun, make sure to contact me when we get back.”

“Okay, I’ll definitely contact you!”

Meanwhile, Ji-eun was saying goodbye to Sa-ran.

In just a day, the two had become inseparable friends, hugging and talking.

It seemed that escaping the crisis together had strengthened their bond.

Seeing Sa-ran, I turned my head and there was Jeroni.

A bit older than me, he was a kind-faced man.

When I actually talked to him, he was a good person.

I could see why Woo-jung thought highly of him.

Jeroni, meeting my eyes, bowed his head in greeting.

He even gave me his contact information, saying to contact him if there were any issues with Gold Piece, who was with Ji-eun.

With someone like that, it’s no wonder Sa-ran liked him so much.

“I’ll visit Korea later.”

“You’re in the US now, right? I’ll visit there too.”

“Okay, let’s double date when you come.”

“Alright! Let’s definitely do that!”

Watching the two of the same age talk, Jeroni and I simultaneously had to smile awkwardly.

He had his own struggles too.

After saying goodbye to Sa-ran and Jeroni, we returned to Korea through Si-ho.

Since we had defeated a Rank-Outside Dimensional Being in another country, the Korean Hunter Management Bureau had taken measures.

Thanks to that, I had to face a familiar face.

“Jin So-yeop.”

“Long time no see.”

Jin So-yeop gave me a brief, bitter smile.

The fatigue on his face was so thick I couldn’t even say anything.

It seemed that hunting Ilbeli had turned the Hunter Management Bureau upside down.

“Ah, no need to make that face. This incident raised our country’s status.”

He smiled at me, telling me not to worry.

He explained that even though the workload increased, this incident was good for Korea.

Having defeated a Rank-Outside Dimensional Being the moment it appeared, he said it was something to be praised.

“And the Hunter Management Bureau secretly made something for you, Kang Ha-chan.”

Saying that, he handed me something.

Taking it, I saw a shining Hunter ID.

With a prominent SS-rank.

And a clear stamp certifying it from the Korean Hunter Management Bureau.

I stiffened upon receiving it.

I had suddenly become a recognized SS-class Hunter by the Korean Hunter Management Bureau.

For a moment, I wondered if this was okay.

“If any issues arise related to Hunters, showing this will suffice. The F-rank you have would limit your activities.”

“Uh, wouldn’t showing this cause a commotion?”

“We’ll take responsibility. Use it when you think it’s necessary.”

They were leaving it entirely to my judgment.

“The Bureau Chief thought it was better than restricting Kang Ha-chan’s actions.”

Hearing that, I finally accepted the Hunter ID and carefully placed it next to my Beom card.

I’ll try to stick to using the F-rank as much as possible.

“Then, thank you for your hard work. We’ll handle the rest, so go back and rest.”

Saying that, he bowed to me.

Hoping he could see his daughter today, I returned to everyone.

I suggested we disband for now.

Everyone agreed, tired from yesterday’s events, to go back and rest.

“Ha-chan oppa.”

At that moment, I turned to Ji-eun calling me.

Did she have something more to say?

Ji-eun looked up at me with a slightly red face, smiled softly, and then leaped.

In the brief moment I let my guard down, I felt a touch on my lips.

When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, Ji-eun had stepped back two steps.

Her pink lips were slightly moist.

Realizing Ji-eun had kissed me, I froze, and Ji-eun looked at me before speaking.

“I won’t give up. I’ll keep liking Ha-chan oppa.”

Hearing that bold statement, I twitched my lips, and Ji-eun’s eyes turned towards the female group.

There, all three were frozen, staring at Ji-eun.

Especially Si-ho, who met Ji-eun’s eyes, seemed to say, ‘This is my answer.’

It seemed they had talked about something without me knowing.

Embarrassed, Ji-eun ran away.

“Wow, Ha-chan, getting a kiss from a high schooler, lucky you. Should I give you one too?”

Woo-jung teased me with a sly smile.

I tried to ignore it, but then I saw Si-ho standing next to her.

Si-ho’s body trembled slightly, and soon her eyes were slightly moist as she looked at me.

“…Si-ho was waiting. Waiting for the manager to do it first.”

She was waiting for that?

I felt sorry for Si-ho, but I had already had my first kiss stolen by Seolhyang long ago, and recently, as an adult, by Ayu.

But I decided to keep that fact to myself and quietly closed my mouth.

“Everything else, Si-ho will do first.”

Then, looking at me sharply, Si-ho spoke, and I stiffened.

I realized what that meant.

‘…I don’t know.’

Future me will handle it.

I decided to trust that future me would figure it out.