IH Ch 3

Chapter 3

*

“What exactly are you doing?”

There was no answer to the scolding question.

Director Ahn Yuna, who had been staring at Hwang Jae-i sitting on the couch pretending not to notice, shifted her gaze to the side. Sitting there was a figure with a steel mask—whether a man or a boy, it was impossible to tell—neatly seated. Hwang Jae-i had a large build, and because he was sprawled lazily across the couch, the small frame and upright posture of the masked figure stood out in contrast. That contrast made Ahn Yuna press again.

The Hunter Association had declared the extermination of Lee Myunghwan’s group, but they had also informed them that some followers had escaped just before the end. Those who followed Lee Myunghwan were completely unhinged. Isn’t it said that crazy people are worth a hundred? Hwang Jae-i was already in a bad mood from having to do something he didn’t want to. Knowing that, she had planned to welcome him back with some light praise, something like, “You did your best, Guildmaster. Looks like the Association messed up the final calculations.” But Hwang Jae-i didn’t return alone. He brought with him an unidentified figure.

Though he’d often brought back odd things from gates with a smug, “Look at this,” this was the first time he had returned with a living human. Was this kidnapping? Anyone else, and she wouldn’t have thought so—but if it was Hwang Jae-i, she had to consider the possibility. Swallowing the words that nearly burst out, she had ushered them inside.

She had first asked him nicely. Who exactly was this guest he’d brought along? Of course, Hwang Jae-i didn’t respond. With a face that said “you don’t need to know,” he crossed his legs smugly. Ahn Yuna closed her eyes tightly.

Don’t get angry. Don’t stoop to his level, she told herself. Instead, she tried a different route to find out. It took her less than ten minutes to gather the information, and the first thing she muttered to herself was, “Crazy bastard.”

Why would he bring something like that? And from the place where Lee Myunghwan’s remaining cultists had been hiding, no less.

It felt like he’d done it just to get under the Association President’s skin. If so, he could’ve brought something else. Something at least remotely normal. But this steel mask…

Her conversation partner was supposed to be Hwang Jae-i, but her eyes kept drifting toward the steel mask. He had been sitting there so stiffly, it seemed he was frightened by the atmosphere. Since he wasn’t making any trouble, her guard lowered, and she began to notice other details.

First, the clothes looked like hospital wear, and he was barefoot. While part of it was due to sitting next to the much larger guildmaster, even so, his figure was exceptionally small. The hands resting on his knees were small and pale, with barely any flesh on the backs.

Surely not—

“He’s not a minor, is he?”

After a change in the law, even Awakened individuals received legal protection if they were minors. Let alone civilians. If the masked figure turned out to be underage, they would have to be separated from Hwang Jae-i, who ranked high on the danger index.

Just then, the steel mask quietly lifted its head and whispered, “I’m twenty-three.”

Ahn Yuna’s expression hardened.

Not because he had finally spoken after being silent, but because—

“Why does your voice sound so young?”

She suddenly felt the urge to remove the steel mask.

Hwang Jae-i already had more than enough lawsuits. Even if the person had ties to a cult, if they turned out to be a minor, there would be people who’d rush to condemn Hwang Jae-i. Ahn Yuna didn’t want any more headaches because of him. She grew impatient.

“We need to take that steel mask off first.”

“Leave it.”

Even though she’d been speaking for a while, Hwang Jae-i had stayed silent. Now he tilted his head toward the masked figure. The figure sat even more upright, tension visible in the shoulders. Seeing that, Hwang Jae-i snorted.

“I’ll keep him for a few days and send him back.”

“Then why bring him in the first place?”

“Just because.”

At that moment, she had remembered the Association President’s smarmy face.

Uncrossing his legs, Hwang Jae-i ran a hand through his hair and spoke as if it were nothing.

“You said I could rest once this operation was over, right? I’m cutting off all outside contact. If you try to reach me…”

“Guildmaster.”

Before he could finish saying you’ll regret it, a grim voice called his name.

That face, so unaffected even after doing something outrageous. That annoyingly handsome face, even in this situation. Ahn Yuna, her irritation boiling over, spoke in a low voice.

“If you’re going off-grid, take him with you.”

“What are you saying?”

Hwang Jae-i jumped up as if he’d just heard the most ridiculous thing.

As he tried to leave, Ahn Yuna grabbed his arm and smiled sweetly.

“Take. Him. With. You.”

Even Hwang Jae-i, who never flinched at anything, twitched slightly at her tone. But as he tried to shake her off as if nothing had happened, Ahn Yuna quickly spoke.

“If you keep this up, your next schedule will include CF shoots, print ads, talk show appearances, and photo walls for every domestic and international event.”

“……”

“We can handle gates just fine with the other guild members. From now on, you’ll only do those things.”

Grinning so widely her eyes disappeared, Ahn Yuna spoke through gritted teeth.

“I’m not joking. I really will reschedule everything, so you’d better think carefully.”

She was the kind of person who would actually do it. Knowing that, even the mighty Hwang Jae-i could do nothing but grimace.

CFs, ads, events—just imagining them made his skin crawl. He hated crowds of strangers trying to act friendly, people touching him without permission. He hated being photographed and filmed.

He glared at the steel mask. The figure, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, flinched in surprise. Through the small opening in the mask, Hwang Jae-i saw eyes looking back at him. He ground his teeth and muttered,

“Should’ve never brought this useless thing.”

The steel mask, stunned, blinked slowly a few times before lowering his head.

He looked so hurt by Hwang Jae-i’s words that even Ahn Yuna, startled, began hitting Hwang Jae-i’s arm and back with her fist.

Ahn Yuna was an A-rank Hunter. If she hit for real, it would hurt even Hwang Jae-i, who flailed his arms, yelling, “What are you doing?”

She ignored him, shouting that he deserved it, venting all the frustration she’d been holding in.

With each dull thump, the masked figure flinched and lowered his hands.

Honestly, he had no idea what was going on.

It had started as a normal day. Then, instead of breakfast, Hwang Jae-i appeared. He was grabbed by the scruff of his neck and dragged around. Judging by what he’d overheard, the place from earlier was the Korea Hunter Association, and this was the Jae-i Guild.

Jae-i Guild. Hwang Jae-i.

He repeated the names silently in his mouth and swallowed dryly. That brought to mind the sweet milk he had earlier. It had been delicious. He had been trying to savor it slowly, but he hadn’t even finished half before it was knocked away. Hwang Jae-i had slapped it from his hands, but he didn’t want to resent him for it. The fault lay in his own slowness.

Pressing his thumb into the center of his palm, he bowed his head. He was growing tired.

The weight of the steel on his head made him want to lie down, but now was not the time. He tried to hold on, but his eyelids were so heavy. To stay awake, he pinched his thigh hard.

He was back in a small room.

He sat up in bed and looked around. He tried to tilt his head, but the weight on it made him give up.

Strange. He could’ve sworn that big man, Hwang Jae-i, had burst through the door yesterday. He clearly remembered being dragged from place to place.

Then why was he here again? His head was full of disorganized thoughts, but despite that, his body moved on its own.

Just like always, he tidied the bedding and sat at the desk by the door.

‘……’

Now all he had to do was sit still and wait, but his body kept twitching.

Was it really just a dream? Am I still in this small room? If not—

The door opened with a loud noise. He looked up in surprise and froze.

A dark mass in the shape of a human stood at the door.

‘……’

Seeing it, he instinctively lowered his head.

As if he hadn’t seen anything, he bowed. A cold breeze brushed over his head. He clenched his hands on the desk tightly. Then, the thing on his head split in half and fell to the floor.

Thunk.

He stared blankly at the steel mask lying on the floor, stunned that it had come off. Then he looked up. His head felt light. The figure in front of him became clearer.

The eyes on the dark mass were staring down at him.

Though it did nothing physically, not even lifting a finger, he couldn’t move.

And then, it whispered low.

“You beautiful thing. How could you be so lovely?”

A rough, cold hand caressed his face.

He felt goosebumps rise on his skin, but he could not avoid the touch.