#221
“……”
“What’s wrong, Hunter Yoon Pa-ran?”
“It’s nothing.”
When he suddenly stopped and looked around, the escort hunters approached tensely. Yoon Pa-ran, who had snapped back to attention, quickly shook his head and got into the car.
His earlier thought had been ridiculous. Even if Dan Joo-hyuk had followed, it wasn’t like they would move together anyway.
‘Deceiving Yoon Pa-ran.’
‘So I’m sorry.’
“……”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s voice from yesterday kept crossing his mind whenever he was about to forget it, which was very troublesome.
It was fortunate that he had heard a proper apology, but it was somewhat deflating. When someone says they’re sorry, what more can you say?
Usually, after hearing an apology like this, Yoon Pa-ran would forget about it cleanly. Although there were few people who properly apologized in the first place.
But this time, this tangled emotion wouldn’t disappear. Especially after newly realizing that it was truly deep betrayal.
……He said he would prove it by staying by my side.
“We’ll depart now.”
“……”
Suppressing the thoughts that suddenly arose, Yoon Pa-ran swallowed a sigh inwardly. He repeatedly dry-washed his face to try to pull himself together. Whether Dan Joo-hyuk was hovering around in front of him or not, he had to focus on work first.
“The Minister is also coming to the site.”
“Got it.”
Minister Byeon, who heard the news of the orphanage attack, was truly shocked and jumped up. He seemed surprised by the fact that while they had devised all sorts of means for safety, the enemy had actually been infiltrating the orphanage for quite some time already.
Yoon Pa-ran was also dumbfounded, so it couldn’t be helped. However, Minister Byeon comforted Yoon Pa-ran in a unique way.
‘Since it’s come to this, let’s make even more use of it before the information spreads.’
Minister Byeon’s opinion was that just spreading the safe zone would make hidden enemies pop out like bugs hit with pesticide.
Yoon Pa-ran thought that made sense. That employee hadn’t revealed his identity by his own will either.
So today, using other work as an excuse, he had gathered hunters at the preliminary safe zone sites. He intended to properly identify the hunters he would have to work with in the future.
Like that, they decided to open safe zones in more than three places just today. Since they had installed a safe zone at the orphanage, it seemed like a good time to accelerate the installation of safe zones in other places too.
It felt somewhat hastily decided, but he wanted to make maximum use of it before information leaked out. Since those bastards knew how to hide their energy even in front of Yoon Pa-ran, this method might be blocked at any time too.
‘How about entrusting the orphanage’s security to the government as well?’
He had declined that proposal from the Minister for now. If they took responsibility for the security of the orphanage building beyond his own escort, it would be reassuring.
However, doing so would put all of Yoon Pa-ran’s weaknesses and personal safety under the government. It would be troublesome to rely too much on the government like this. Yoon Pa-ran could only be safe for a long time by negotiating with the government as an equal.
This too was something Dan Joo-hyuk had taught him.
Recalling that, he couldn’t prevent strange emotions from rising up in his chest again.
“We’ve arrived.”
Just then, the car arrived at the site where they would open the safe zone. Yoon Pa-ran, who deliberately slammed his thoughts to the ground, hurriedly got out of the car.
However, this time truly, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t cut off his worries about Dan Joo-hyuk.
“Yoon Pa-ran.”
Because the person himself was standing right in front of him.
“……”
Honestly, Yoon Pa-ran was momentarily flustered. He had definitely been angry that Dan Joo-hyuk didn’t appear, but seeing him waiting at the site as if he had been there lost him his words.
So it was when he couldn’t continue speaking for some time. Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly opened his mouth.
“Are you perhaps angry?”
That question was quite unexpected, so Yoon Pa-ran was dumbfounded.
Yoon Pa-ran, who had barely recovered from his confusion, glanced around slyly. Was there something he should be angry about again?
Unable to hide his anxiety, Yoon Pa-ran asked.
“……Why?”
“Because I came here on my own.”
“……”
At those words, he unconsciously blinked with a bewildered expression.
The thought that suddenly surged accidentally slipped out of his mouth.
“Since when have you cared about such things?”
At those words, Dan Joo-hyuk smiled as if painted.
Yoon Pa-ran sent his gaze as if enchanted by that handsome face as usual. Then he suddenly discovered something strange about his face.
Dan Joo-hyuk seemed oddly tired today.
For S-rank hunter Dan Joo-hyuk to show fatigue on his face was not ordinary. His recovery power that surpassed monsters maintained his body so that fatigue wouldn’t show on the surface.
“I’ve always been caring about it.”
Then Dan Joo-hyuk said, tilting his head. Only then did Yoon Pa-ran realize that he had taken another big step toward him.
To think he had been staring blankly without even noticing him coming this close.
Why am I like this?
“And I plan to care even more in the future.”
“……”
Saying that, Dan Joo-hyuk slightly extended his hand.
Yoon Pa-ran, who had been particularly conscious of the shortened distance, unconsciously flinched at that touch.
“……”
At that moment, Dan Joo-hyuk stopped like a lie.
“……”
He met eyes with Dan Joo-hyuk, who had a rigidly hardened face. In the somewhat subtle atmosphere, Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
However he interpreted that, Dan Joo-hyuk whispered slowly.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“……”
“I said I would protect you, Yoon Pa-ran.”
He said it seriously. Yoon Pa-ran, who had been gauging whether he was currently afraid, soon realized that wasn’t it and murmured.
“……Who said I was afraid?”
It was also somewhat pride-hurting to hear. So he knocked away Dan Joo-hyuk’s hand that was still near his face.
Because if Dan Joo-hyuk touched him casually like usual now, his mood would become even stranger.
Dan Joo-hyuk didn’t avoid that hand. So the sound of flesh hitting flesh rang out louder than intended.
“Ah.”
“……”
Yoon Pa-ran, who had exclaimed in surprise without realizing it, hurriedly shut his mouth. Dan Joo-hyuk was looking down at his hand with a somewhat dim expression.
It shouldn’t have hurt, so why is he like that?
As expected, when he looked at Dan Joo-hyuk’s face again, deep fatigue was evident. Because it seemed unusual, Yoon Pa-ran became lost in thought.
Because of that, he also didn’t notice that the numerous hunters gathered around them were stirring while watching the two.
“Let’s go to that spot for now.”
Soon, Dan Joo-hyuk raised his head and spoke with his usual smile. Thanks to his softened tone, the awkward atmosphere from earlier was nowhere to be found.
Since his attitude had returned to normal, it should have been fine to just let it be, but Yoon Pa-ran was bothered by even this. Realizing that he was acting very strangely in front of Dan Joo-hyuk, his expression naturally crumpled.
Without any response, Yoon Pa-ran turned around sharply. Dan Joo-hyuk immediately followed behind Yoon Pa-ran again.
“When will you start answering phone calls?”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s usual tone had also returned. At that attitude as if coaxing a child, Yoon Pa-ran somehow felt anger rising.
Only sullen words kept popping out of his mouth. He couldn’t understand why he kept acting like this.
“I won’t answer.”
“I see. It can’t be helped. I’ll have no choice but to wait in front of the orphanage every day.”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s leisurely appearance somehow kept irritating his eyes. Because it seemed like only he was being swayed by his every word, his mood wasn’t good for some reason.
Not knowing what to do about this situation, Yoon Pa-ran hardened his expression and spoke curtly again.
“If it’s inconvenient, then quit.”
Dan Joo-hyuk who heard those words made a subtle expression. He was definitely smiling, but Yoon Pa-ran momentarily couldn’t take his eyes off that expression and stopped walking abruptly.
Why is he making that face?
“Hunter Yoon Pa-ran!”
Just then, Minister Byeon approached. As soon as he came over, he started pleading urgently without even greeting.
“Oh my, telling Hunter Dan to quit. Please reconsider once more.”
The Minister seemed to have cleverly heard Yoon Pa-ran’s last words.
While constantly fidgeting restlessly, he stubbornly continued speaking.
“Well, our Hunter Dan does have a tiny, speck-sized difficulty with his personality, but still, isn’t his skill the best?”
While making sounds that were ambiguous whether they were praise or insults.
Dan Joo-hyuk also seemed dumbfounded as he sent his gaze to the Minister who had approached nearby.
Anyway, Yoon Pa-ran came to his senses a bit and composed his mood. It was also strange that he felt a very troubled mood from the Minister’s words. Wasn’t he acting as if there was no alternative other than Dan Joo-hyuk?
So Yoon Pa-ran unconsciously asked the Minister out of pure curiosity.
“What about Hunter Heo Sang-yeon?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
