#77
There were several things that gave Kang Won-hyeok great motivation in life. The exhilaration of successfully clearing dungeons and coming out safely, the thrill of luckily finding rare items, posts saying “Kang Won-hyeok is handsome” on internet community sites, and so on. It was fair to say that he could endure this hunter work because he relieved stress through such things.
But still, there was one ultimate stress relief method for living life.
“Wow, to be able to have a company dinner safely – I think I’m really going to cry.”
That was alcohol. Won-hyeok made a gesture of wiping away tears while looking at the bottles placed before him. Company dinners among team leaders at Nameless were very difficult to schedule. Befitting the nation’s number one guild, work was overflowing and the team leaders who had to be the backbone of the guild were even busier.
Even when they barely managed to set a date by coordinating schedules, that wasn’t the end of it. When that day actually came, there would always be sudden gates breaking out or support requests coming in from other guilds or the management bureau. In other words, the fact that these pillars of Nameless could gather all at once was a miracle in itself.
“Exactly. I prayed today that no sudden gates would break out.”
Won Hye-seong, the leader of Team 3, smiled as he placed glasses in front of everyone.
The place Nameless chose for today’s company dinner was a nearby private bar. The small bar was reservation-only and was always quickly booked due to its popularity, but today Nameless had rented the entire place. Of course, renting a popular establishment for a whole day wasn’t easy, but Han Shin-woo, who was in charge of reservations, had somehow succeeded by using Nameless’s fame and promising to get autographs from each team leader.
“So everyone must give one autograph each when you leave later.”
Shin-woo, who was the youngest at this gathering, diligently went around the table making earnest requests.
“Especially the guild leader-nim. The owner’s daughter here is apparently a huge fan of the guild leader-nim.”
Shin-woo also placed plates and utensils in front of Do-hyeok.
“Did you come here to work part-time? We can eat by ourselves, so go back to your seat too.”
At Do-hyeok’s firm words, the team leaders including Won-hyeok agreed and advised Shin-woo that he didn’t need to play the youngest role here too.
“But anyway, what girls in Korea these days aren’t fans of our guild leader-nim?”
Min Hye-jun from Team 2 laughed heartily and immediately gulped down his beer.
“Right. Even though he’s so strange and has no manners, his popularity reaches the sky.”
Park Seong-cheol from Team 5 also chimed in with Hye-jun’s words.
“Is that a compliment?”
When Do-hyeok spoke with a sullen face, boisterous laughter erupted from the table. As the company dinner safely began, Won-hyeok, who was extremely excited, suddenly stood up from his seat.
“Now, now, everyone’s filled their glasses, right? Hmm, then it’s been a long time since we all gathered like this, so we should toast! But before that, our guild leader-nim should say something, right?”
Won-hyeok gestured to Do-hyeok sitting in the corner. It wasn’t really a seat befitting someone of guild leader status, but for Do-hyeok, who didn’t assert such authority in the first place, it was the optimal spot.
“Never mind. You do it.”
“Come on, guild leader-nim, don’t be like that and say something!”
Everyone supported Won-hyeok’s words. Do-hyeok made an even more sullen expression and then sighed deeply. Then he slowly stood up from his seat. Amid everyone’s cheers, Do-hyeok opened his mouth gently.
“You’ve all worked hard so far, and feel free to run wild in the future too.”
Then earth-shaking cheers erupted from the table. It was a short statement, but it was enough to touch the hearts of the team leader hunters. Only Won-hyeok among them earnestly added that they should only run wild to the extent that it wouldn’t catch the management bureau’s attention, but the team leaders, who were already excited to the max, were busy enthusiastically drinking.
When the ordered snacks filled the table and empty bottles began rolling on the floor one by one, Won Hye-seong spoke up.
“Ah, but guild leader-nim, how is that guild leader’s direct purifier?”
He seemed to be talking about Do Ha-seong. Then Do-hyeok’s hand paused slightly.
“Oh, I was curious about that too. That’s the purifier who got caught up in the incident that Lee Hyeon-woo the purifier caused before, right?”
When Park Hyeon-jin’s contract renewal failed and it became known that the newly hired purifier was C-grade, there was apparently a subtly puzzled atmosphere within Nameless. Of course, there were many opinions that purifier grades couldn’t be trusted, and unlike hunters, their skills weren’t greatly influenced by grades, so it didn’t matter. But above all, the fact that this purifier had entered the guild leader’s direct team surprised the guild members a bit.
Since Cha Do-hyeok’s team was literally a one-man team with just Cha Do-hyeok alone, many found it strange to put a purifier on his team. But when considering the number of dungeons Do-hyeok cleared, having a dedicated purifier might actually be better, and such follow-up comments made the small curiosities quietly disappear.
“But our team members were really praising that purifier?”
The speaker was Min Hye-jun.
“He came out to purify for our raid in an emergency before, and they said he was really agreeable and good at his job.”
“Our guys said that too. Quiet and skilled.”
When Won Hye-seong also added on, praise for Ha-seong sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain among the team leaders. Kang Won-hyeok also praised extensively, saying he had talked a lot with Ha-seong and knew there couldn’t be such a good person.
Watching that scene, Do-hyeok felt a bit strange. While he was secretly pleased that others recognized Do Ha-seong’s good points, on the other hand, he also felt like he wished they didn’t know anything about Ha-seong at all, that only he knew he was a good and warm person.
“How is it? Guild leader-nim?”
While he was just drinking without purpose due to his own petty feelings, Hye-seong threw the question back to its original owner.
“…Just so-so. He’s probably not as good and amazing a person as you all think.”
When Do-hyeok made that statement containing his petty feelings after much deliberation, puzzled voices erupted from the table. Only Shin-woo, who roughly knew the situation, just stared at Do-hyeok with narrowed eyes.
* * *
“Ah, I’m tired.”
Ha-seong burst out of the guild building as soon as 6 o’clock struck today too. He headed straight to the bus stop. Luckily, a bus going toward Cha Do-hyeok’s house came right away and he got on. Since it was rush hour, there were quite a few people on the bus. Having no choice but to stand, he leaned against one side and grabbed a handle.
The bus started smoothly and Ha-seong habitually took out his phone. He made a meaningful expression while checking something.
“Hmm.”
He made a low sound and was about to turn off his phone and put it away when it briefly vibrated. Checking, he found a message had arrived.
[Cha Do-hyeok: Are you getting home safely?]
This guy should be having fun at the company dinner, so why is he sending texts and making a fuss? Ha-seong shook his head as if he couldn’t understand.
[Do Ha-seong: Yeah. You stop contacting me too and focus on the dinner.]
He was about to put his phone back in his pocket when it vibrated again immediately. It seemed Do-hyeok had sent another reply.
[Cha Do-hyeok: OK.]
“Ah, this is really.”
At the ridiculous reply, Ha-seong couldn’t help but chuckle. Anyway, it was just like Cha Do-hyeok to not let someone have the last word. Still, thanks to that, the bus ride home alone didn’t feel so boring.
After riding for about 15 minutes, Ha-seong walked for another 5 minutes or so and arrived at Do-hyeok’s house. Honestly speaking, during the trip here, he had briefly, really briefly thought about running away to his real home, but no matter how he thought about it, that didn’t seem like something to do as the older person. In the end, Ha-seong safely entered the entrance password and went inside the house.
The large, spacious area was dark. Ha-seong fumbled around and turned on the lights. Perhaps because Dal-pyeong wasn’t there either, the tremendously large house was quiet without a single sound.
Ha-seong went into the room, grabbed clothes to change into, and headed straight to the bathroom. Moving his arm perfectly was still a bit uncomfortable, but this level was almost completely healed.
“Hmm, what should I eat?”
Since Cha Do-hyeok wasn’t there, he had to prepare and eat alone too. After washing and changing into comfortable clothes, Ha-seong went to the kitchen, pondered what to make, and finally opened the upper drawer. As expected, there was one package of instant ramen left over from the first day he came here.
Thinking it was too bothersome to cook anything, Ha-seong just boiled the ramen and sat alone at the dining table. Come to think of it, he suddenly realized that thanks to Cha Do-hyeok’s surprisingly good cooking skills, he had been eating quite well. When Ha-seong lived alone, he did cook for himself to save money, but that was just simple things to fill his stomach rather than quality cooking.
“Something tastes bland.”
Even though it was ramen cooked by Ha-seong, who had achieved max level in ramen-cooking skills, somehow his appetite wasn’t stimulated. Ha-seong suddenly looked at the empty seat across from him. Then his gaze shifted to the vast interior of the house where only lonely silence existed.
‘Don’t feel empty just because I’m not there.’
Suddenly, the words Cha Do-hyeok had said earlier came to mind. At the time, he had responded with curses saying it was nonsense, but why was he thinking of those words now?
“……”
Ha-seong got up from his seat holding the pot with leftover ramen. It didn’t seem like anything more would go into his mouth today. Ha-seong perfectly cleaned up where he had eaten and headed to the living room. Thinking it would be good if some sound filled the empty space, he turned on the TV.
Just then, the familiar program <Which Hunter is Most Handsome?> weekly edition was playing on terrestrial broadcasting.
“Now, it’s the long-awaited first place! Who will take first place this week?”
It’s obviously going to be Cha Do-hyeok. Ha-seong stared at the screen with an indifferent face. The famous male MC holding the microphone kept stalling for time while staring at his cue cards.
“Wow, this time the vote difference between first and second place isn’t very large! How unexpected!”
Then Ha-seong, who had been lying down indifferently, suddenly sat up straight. The vote difference wasn’t very large? How could that be possible? And unexpected too. Cha Do-hyeok was someone who had firmly held the first place for 36 whole weeks! The background music intensified as the host continued to build suspense.
“Ah, really. Just tell us quickly.”
Before he knew it, Ha-seong was even shaking his legs while concentrating on the screen.
“Yes! Then this week’s first place is…!”
Ha-seong gulped.
“Hunter Cha Do-hyeok from Nameless Guild! Wow, Cha Do-hyeok has taken first place again this time too. Although the vote difference with second place wasn’t very large, he firmly defended his first place position this week too!”
“Phew.”
When the expected result came out, Ha-seong let out the breath he had been holding. Then he found his own behavior puzzling. He definitely hadn’t cared before when he saw Cha Do-hyeok taking first place, and rather seemed to have been annoyed that the guy kept appearing on TV.
“…Let’s just sleep.”
Somehow, since coming home, he seemed to only think about Cha Do-hyeok. Ha-seong shook off his thoughts and went into the room.
It was already well past 10 PM. For someone who lay down to sleep early, Ha-seong was wide awake. Strangely, sleep wouldn’t come.
“Hasn’t that guy come home yet?”
Looking at how he hadn’t heard the door, he definitely hadn’t come home.
“No, even if it’s a company dinner, still, you never know when a sudden gate might break out, right? Right? For hunters.”
Ha-seong sat up abruptly and vented his complaints. Forgetting that he had told Do-hyeok earlier that such company dinner gatherings were good, Ha-seong just stared at his phone.
“Is he going to be even later?”
That’s when it happened. The doorbell sound faintly came through the bedroom door. Startled, Ha-seong almost dropped the phone he was holding.
“Who could it be?”
If it were Cha Do-hyeok, he would open the door and come in. Moreover, there was no one who would visit this house at this hour. After much deliberation, Ha-seong got up and walked toward the front door.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
