#109
After Bora Moon left, there was about an hour remaining. Eunseok opened the laptop he had brought.
Headline News
▽Latest ▽Most Viewed
[Was the death of S-class esper Park Sunwoo inevitable?]
[The reason why ability users had to become Apostles of the End.]
[An S-class Hunter who killed an S-class esper.]
[Does a power gap exist even among S-class ability users?]
[Cumulative death toll due to Apostles of the End reaches 328.]
[Gate Break victims’ families demand severe punishment in large-scale protests.]
As expected, most of the news was focused on the recent incident. Although the series of events caused by the Apostles of the End had concluded, the aftermath was still shaking the entire country.
As Eunseok scrolled through the articles, a headline about himself caught his eye.
[S-class Guide Lee Eunseok safely returns after being kidnapped by Apostles of the End.]
[Need for enhanced protection measures for S-class Guides emerges.]
Eunseok didn’t bother clicking on the articles. Instead, he just skimmed through more headlines.
[Baekho Guild, the top domestic guild, solidifies its position once again by defeating the Apostles of the End.]
[Analyzing the combat power of Baekho Guild.]
After reading that far, Eunseok opened another site. The news on other sites mostly contained the same content. Just as he was about to click on the Ability User Management Bureau site, he paused.
[Baekho Guild Master Choi Hanseo, who recovered the S-class Guide, hits zero point.]
There was even a small photo next to the article. Unable to resist his curiosity, Eunseok clicked on the article. A series of photos appeared: Choi Hanseo entering the Ability User Management Bureau, and a zoomed-in image of the smartwatch visible under his sleeve. His watch displayed 0%, exactly zero point as the headline stated.
“I told him to cover it up better.”
Eunseok muttered, roughly rubbing his slightly flushed cheeks with the back of his hand. The implications of an S-class Hunter’s stats hitting zero were clear. It meant he had received guiding to the point where his stats hit zero. Obviously, people who saw the article and photo would think of Lee Eunseok.
To think it would come to this, being reported in real-time.
Eunseok despaired alone, holding his forehead. But no matter how much he sighed, there was nothing he could do about the article that had already been published.
As he scrolled down to get rid of the article, Eunseok’s eyes caught the comment section below.
[Baekho Guild Master Choi Hanseo, who recovered the S-class Guide, hits zero point.]
Author: Hunter Daily
(photo.jpg)
Hunter Choi Hanseo. / Photo=Hunter Daily reporter
Comments
Zero point!! I knew this couple would make it!!! (*≧∇≦)ﾉ
Crazy. S-class Choi Baekho hitting zero!
The dignity of an S-class Hunter who got an S-class Guide!
He went all the way to zero point~! (///∇///)
┗ He went there~!! (〃ﾉωﾉ)
Hey guys. Come to the official Choi Hanseo Lee Eunseok couple café. (≧∀≦*) Link
┗ Everyone. The official Choi-Lee couple café name was Zero Point ㅇㅇ.
┗ Running there in a hurry.
┗ Me too 2222
So when are they getting married?
Unlike the gloomy atmosphere of other news, the comment section of this news was like a festival itself. Eunseok finally couldn’t stand it and closed the window. Then he opened a bottle of water and gulped it down.
Just as he was trying to calm himself, a text message alert sounded.
Kim Hyunji
[Are you available for a call?]
It was a message from Secretary Kim. Eunseok immediately called her.
“Hello. This is Lee Eunseok.”
– Ah, Guide Lee. You called right away. Is the guiding over?
“Yes. I was taking a short break. What’s the matter?”
– It’s not urgent. Actually, we received a request from a magazine for a photo shoot.
“Ah… I see.”
– They want to take photos of both the Guild Master and you, Guide Lee. Would that be alright?
“Just the Guild Master and me?”
Eunseok asked, recalling the comments he had just seen.
– Yes. I asked the Guild Master first, and he said it would be fine if you’re okay with it.
“Ah….”
Eunseok was slightly embarrassed by the fact that Choi Hanseo had already given permission. But he still thought it would be better to decline. With all the talk about them being an official couple, wouldn’t taking photos of just the two of them be like pouring oil on a fire?
– Personally, I’d like to recommend it. After all, things have been quite noisy and unsettling in this field recently, and there was even a defector from Baekho Guild. It would be great for the guild’s image if the two of you, representing our guild, did a photo shoot. It could also help quell any unpleasant incidents.
Secretary Kim’s words made sense. Apart from their personal relationship, it seemed like a good opportunity to reinforce the strong image of a guild possessing both an S-class Hunter and an S-class Guide.
– If it’s too burdensome for you…
Secretary Kim trailed off. But it still sounded like she was saying it would be better to do it.
Eunseok briefly questioned whether he was ashamed of his relationship with Choi Hanseo. But that wasn’t it. He wasn’t ashamed of their relationship. It was just that he felt shy and embarrassed about such a private and intimate relationship becoming known to others.
Whether we do the photo shoot or not, the rumors will only grow, not diminish.
Thinking that to himself, Eunseok made his decision.
“I’ll do it.”
– Ah… Really?
Secretary Kim welcomed his decision with visible delight.
– Okay. Then I’ll schedule it soon! Good luck with the rest of your guiding!
As if worried that Eunseok might change his mind, Secretary Kim rattled off her words and ended the call.
After putting down his phone, Eunseok stared blankly at his laptop’s desktop for a moment. Then he finally opened the internet browser again.
Comments
Hey guys. Come to the official Choi Hanseo Lee Eunseok couple café. (≧∀≦*) Link
After hesitating for a moment with the mouse cursor over the link, Eunseok finally clicked it.
A new screen popped up. At the top of the screen was a large photo of Choi Hanseo and Eunseok, and the café name “Zero Point” was decorated with pink and hearts. The confirmed member count was a staggering 100,000.
100,000 members?
Eunseok couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the unexpectedly enormous number of members. The fact that so many people were deeply interested in Choi Hanseo and Eunseok’s relationship was not just embarrassing but astounding.
As he scrolled down the page, he saw the latest posts. There were many new posts, as many as the number of members. Eunseok couldn’t believe his eyes as he checked the latest posts.
[Chat/Gossip] ▶▷▶▷Breaking News◁◀◁◀ Choi-Lee couple agreed to magazine photo shoot!!
“……”
Eunseok furrowed his brow in disbelief and read the title again. But the content remained unchanged.
He had just talked with Secretary Kim and agreed to it. How could such a post appear in just a few minutes?
Two possibilities came to mind.
One was that Secretary Kim was a member of this café. The other was that someone from the magazine planning the photo shoot was a member here.
Eunseok desperately didn’t want to think it was the first case. In the end, for the sake of his mental health, he had no choice but to close the laptop. Curiosity really does kill the cat.
After finishing all the guiding, it was time to leave work. Choi Hanseo sent a message saying he would be late today and to eat the prepared dinner first.
Instead of going straight up to the penthouse, Eunseok headed to the weapon shop. He had lost all his armor and weapons, so he needed to get new ones. Having to get all new equipment every time he was kidnapped was truly nothing but a sigh-inducing situation.
“Welcome.”
Lim Gyucheol, still disguised as an employee, approached in a suit and greeted him. A knowing smile was on his face.
“You need to get new armor and weapons, right?”
Lim Gyucheol asked as he guided Eunseok inside. Eunseok nodded silently.
The place he was guided to wasn’t the armor or weapon section. It was a small display room set up separately in a corner. Various pieces of armor and weapons were laid out on a red velvet cloth.
“The Guild Master had these prepared in advance. Please choose the products you like, and we’ll deliver them for you.”
Lim Gyucheol said, pointing to the table. Eunseok raised one eyebrow slightly. Choi Hanseo was very busy. He didn’t expect him to take care of even this so meticulously.
Lim Gyucheol introduced the armor and weapons set up for exactly one person, one by one. Every piece was A-grade or higher equipment. But Eunseok let Lim Gyucheol’s explanations go in one ear and out the other, fixing his gaze on one spot. There, a familiar dagger was neatly placed.
“Ah. The Guild Master said he had a hard time recovering this from the black market. He mentioned it was a meaningful item.”
Eunseok picked up the dagger and pulled it out of its leather sheath. The ivory-colored blade made from a venomous dragon’s fang was revealed. Seeing the well-maintained blade, he suddenly felt sentimental. In fact, Eunseok had been thinking about this dagger continuously while coming here. While other armor and weapons could be newly acquired, this one was special to Eunseok.
“It’s fortunate that it was recovered.”
Lim Gyucheol quickly said, noticing Eunseok’s satisfied reaction. Eunseok stiffened his expression, wondering if he had shown too much emotion. But Lim Gyucheol continued to rattle off introductions for the rest of the equipment, unconcerned.
“Please deliver them to the penthouse.”
Eunseok ordered, tucking the white dagger into the back of his waistband.
“Yes, understood.”
Lim Gyucheol nodded with a slight smile. Eunseok nodded lightly in greeting and turned around. Suddenly, he felt a strong desire to see Choi Hanseo.
