Chapter 20

Episode 20

The next day, as usual, I went to work and started fanning myself due to the increasingly hot weather.

If you’re curious about yesterday’s weapon restoration, let’s not ask.

‘Today’s the day.’

Shaking off thoughts of the game, I checked the time on my phone. Starting today, Si-ho was supposed to join us. Though, joining just meant getting closer to Ji-eun, who’s the same age, before becoming a Hunter.

‘Besides, even if she’s an A-class, it won’t be easy for the instructors to teach her.’

There are professional combat instructors, so I don’t need to intervene, but I’m still worried. If she’s an A-class and the younger sister of S-class Hunter Seollsan Iri Ha Seo-ho, the instructors will have a headache.

‘When I asked the team leader about Ha Seo-ho later, he casually laughed and said, “Oops, I forgot to mention.”‘

That expression clearly meant he deliberately didn’t tell me. He enjoys playing pranks, that guy.

“When will she arrive?”

“She’s here.”

I was waiting for her call when I heard a voice from behind and turned around. There stood Si-ho, dressed in a different school uniform from Ji-eun. Her ponytail and sharp impression stood out as she stared at me.

The time was 4:40 PM. For high school, it’s just after school without any extra classes.

“Uh, you came this early?”

“I’m a Spatial Ability User. It’s convenient.”

She answered bluntly, as if asking why I was surprised.

Spatial abilities are amazing. Commuting to and from school has become so convenient. It’s like Doraemon’s Anywhere Door from my childhood.

“What are we doing today?”

“Ah, there’s a Hunter I’m originally in charge of. Should we talk when they arrive?”

“Sure.”

She’s quite prickly.

Si-ho plopped down on a chair and pulled a cardigan from her bag, probably feeling cold from the company’s AC.

Then, she leaned on the desk and started playing a game on her phone. It was a cute cat-building game.

Seeing her like that, she seemed very accustomed to playing alone.

‘Well, even with Hunter work, she leaves school so precisely.’

I vaguely thought she probably doesn’t talk much with friends. High school’s 7th period ends at 4:30 PM, and after a few teacher announcements, it’s 4:40 PM.

Since she arrived, I texted Si-ho’s mom, “Si-ho came straight to the company,” and decided to finish my work. There wasn’t much to do until Ji-eun arrived.

“Ah, another nosebleed.”

“Here’s a tissue.”

As blood dripped from her nose, I quickly handed her a tissue. She nodded and stuffed the tissue into her nose. She’s used to it.

While Si-ho was playing her game, my phone rang. It was Ji-eun, so I got up.

“Si-ho, Ji-eun’s here. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Fortunately, Si-ho listened well, putting her phone in her pocket and stretching. Her pretty face drew attention, but I didn’t mind and headed to the elevator.

Lately, being around exceptionally good-looking people has made me immune.

Ding-

Arriving at the first floor with the silent Si-ho, I saw Ji-eun in her school uniform. She brightened upon seeing me but her expression slowly fell as she noticed Si-ho beside me.

“Who’s that?”

“Ji-eun, this is Ha Si-ho. She’s your age and joining our team starting today.”

“Ah, I see.”

Ji-eun made a slightly annoyed face but soon smiled.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Ji-eun.”

“Ha Si-ho.”

It was awkward. The two just stared at each other without much conversation, so I took the lead.

“Let’s go to a nearby café.”

This is something an adult should handle.

After taking Ji-eun and Si-ho to the café, I told them to order anything. After all, I had the company card.

The team leader wasn’t lying about generous support. He said to spend as much as needed to keep them happy.

“Then, this, this, and this.”

Thanks to that, Si-ho actively participated. Despite looking like she’d only drink espresso, she ordered a bunch of cakes.

Normally, I wouldn’t dare order such expensive items, but I swiped the company card without hesitation.

Cake flex.

After receiving the cakes and drinks, Ji-eun naturally sat next to me.

She watched Si-ho unwrap her cake and then turned to me.

“Was I not enough?”

“Don’t say weird things. Hunter teams are usually three people. Si-ho is an A-class Hunter.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Ji-eun pouted, took a sip of her drink, and watched Si-ho eating her cake.

“She’s pretty.”

“? Thanks.”

Si-ho responded as if it was obvious. Her self-esteem is quite high.

‘Well, isn’t it natural?’

With her looks, an S-class Hunter brother, and being an A-class Hunter herself, her self-esteem would naturally be high. It’d be weird if it wasn’t.

“So, when do we start Hunter work?”

Just then, Si-ho, having swallowed her cake, asked me. She seemed more interested in Hunter work than team matters.

“Si-ho, minors can’t do Hunter work.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“To form a team before becoming a Hunter.”

She seemed to accept that without much complaint.

“So, this is Yoon Ji-eun, who will be on your team.”

Si-ho looked at Ji-eun for a moment, then spoke with cake in her mouth.

“Are you two dating?”

“Does it look like that?!”

Ji-eun slammed the table and leaned back, her eyes sparkling. Si-ho, feeling pressured, leaned back and nodded uncomfortably.

Ji-eun, excited for some reason, snorted and crossed her arms.

“I like Si-ho.”

“That’s good. And Si-ho, adults don’t date minors.”

“Really?”

Why the questioning tone?

Like Yoo Ah and other Blackstar members, girls at this age seem to interpret any male presence as romantic.

‘Another trauma stack today.’

Lately, being around more women, I’ve gotten used to them, but I still can’t forget my college experiences.

I wish they wouldn’t misunderstand or act like that. It’s quite traumatic.

Si-ho, uninterested in me, turned her attention back to her cake.

Later, I explained to Si-ho what Ji-eun and I had been doing before becoming Hunters. Mostly YouTube stuff.

“So, this is that YouTube!”

Ji-eun proudly showed her YouTube channel.

Her channel recently hit four-digit subscribers, thanks to support from Rodri Company’s YouTube channel. It’s growing fast.

At this rate, five digits aren’t far off. Though, the views are still low.

Si-ho, taking my phone, watched the videos for a while and nodded.

“It’s fun. The puppies are cute.”

“Right, right? Si-ho, let’s go together sometime! The subscribers will love it!”

“I don’t like cameras.”

“Aw, too bad.”

It was a decent review.

“Si-ho, why do you want to be a Hunter?”

I asked her the same question I asked Ji-eun. Si-ho remained silent for a moment, then looked at me.

Her black eyes held a mysterious emotion.

“It seemed easier.”

Easier?

Blinking in confusion, Si-ho covered her mouth as if she made a mistake and looked out the window.

“Because my brother did it.”

Her brother is an S-class Hunter. That’s enough influence. Though, I had a vague feeling that wasn’t the whole story.

“Your brother? He’s a Hunter?”

Ji-eun, unaware that Si-ho’s brother is Seollsan Iri Ha Seo-ho, asked. Upon hearing about her brother, Ji-eun even screamed, but I won’t elaborate.

After Si-ho and Ji-eun had a smooth meeting, I sent them off and went home after work.

My small one-room apartment is still home.

As soon as I entered, a deep sense of comfort washed over me, and I took a shower. The increasingly hot weather had soaked my suit in sweat.

Si-ho wearing a cardigan in this weather is strange.

‘Maybe I should buy another suit soon.’

It’s an old suit, and with work like this, I might need another one.

“Not long ago, I was struggling with rent, and now I’m worrying about suits.”

Haha, money really is the best. Thrilling.

With that thought, I sat at my computer.

I planned to log into Road of Academy, but first, I wanted to check for any news.

Since Returner and Hunter-related news updates daily, it’s good to stay informed in this industry. What caught my eye was the recent Dimensional Gate incidents in urban areas.

Dimensional Gates rarely occur in cities.

Returners and Hunters work together to distort dimensions in large cities, intentionally avoiding Dimensional Gate phenomena. Thus, urban areas have relatively few Dimensional Gates.

If a Dimensional Gate appears in a densely populated area, traffic and more would be paralyzed.

‘Though, they still occasionally appear.’

It’s rare. But for some reason, these Dimensional Gate phenomena are happening simultaneously worldwide. This is definitely unusual.

“Was it something about the Tower of Apocalypse?”

Thinking of the entity causing these phenomena, I scratched my head. It’s not something a commoner like me can understand.

The only thing that comes to mind is the strange laptop I saw with Ggotbi and Ayu. But Ayu took it to the Returner Association, so I can’t know more.

Scrolling through articles, I noticed another one: in Korea, Dimensional Gates sometimes flicker and disappear just before appearing.

What’s this about?

I started looking for related materials, but they were scarce.

‘To dig deeper, I’d need the deep web or higher clearance.’

Times like these make me feel a bit disappointed.

Even though I work at a Hunter training company, I’m just an employee. I don’t have the ability to access such information.

“Long way to go.”

With no way to access such information, how did I confidently say I’d create a world where Returners can return comfortably?

Ring ring!

As I pushed my chair back, I realized my phone was ringing. Startled, I picked it up and saw an unexpected name.

“Ha Seo-ho?”

S-class Hunter, Seollsan Iri Ha Seo-ho. We exchanged numbers yesterday, but I didn’t expect a call the very next day.