IH Ch 27

Chapter 27

 

Ahn Yuna looked over at the box placed on the tea table a short distance from the sofa. It was filled with neatly stacked letters and postcards. She was still gazing at it when she sensed a stare on her and lifted her head. Hwang Jae-i was glaring in her direction with a grim expression. Only then did Ahn Yuna realize she’d drifted off mid-sentence, and she quickly spoke up.

“There are people trying to use this opportunity to drive a wedge between you and the Association. It’s true your relationship with them isn’t great, but it’s not the worst either, right? You still work together when necessary… So please show up at the Association’s event tomorrow afternoon. I’m not asking for a handshake—even just appearing in the same frame as the chairman is enough. I’ll handle the rest.”

She didn’t know why Hwang Jae-i had handled the Gate alone. The rule was not to touch a Gate before it fully opened, but in the end, his actions had mitigated the potential damage to the area. Once it all blew over, people might even say, “Hwang Jae-i did well.”

However, there would still be those intent on making things worse between him and the Association. They couldn’t just sit back and take it. Whether he frowned or not, they needed the image of Hwang Jae-i standing alongside Chairman Kim Wi.

Who cares if they didn’t look like best friends. They had to push the narrative that “we’re really doing just fine.”

“The appointment’s at 2 p.m. tomorrow. I’ll come get you on time. So… you’ll do it, right?”

Though she was phrasing it as a question, her eyes were sharp.

Refusing here would be the equivalent of “if I die, you die too.” With that expression bearing down on him, there was no way he could outright say no. Hwang Jae-i simply sprawled back onto the sofa. He didn’t answer, but his body language was as good as consent. Ahn Yuna, expecting more of a fight, was a little surprised, but moved on quickly.

“By the way, where is that person? I sent Johan over last time. Did you get that ridiculous iron mask off him? I tried to ask, but you wouldn’t pick up your damn phone. From now on, if you don’t answer after two calls, I’m tracking your location and showing up myself. Do you know how stressful it is when I need you urgently and can’t get through?”

Though it ended up sounding like a rant, Ahn Yuna didn’t care. Muttering that she seemed to be the only person working in this Guild, she gave Hwang Jae-i a sidelong glance.

She didn’t want to assume the worst, but surely not…

“You didn’t kill him, did you?”

“……”

Hwang Jae-i, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly lifted his head. His scowl was sharp and threatening, and his reaction struck her as a bit much.

Seeing his expression drain of color, Ahn Yuna raised both hands to cover her mouth and murmured, “Wait… don’t tell me…”

“If you brought someone from the Association without asking, the least you could do was make sure they could breathe…”

“He’s still alive!”

The guy was still alive. Even now, he was probably curled up on the bed like a seaweed roll in a blanket…

At the same time, the memory of waking up while hugging him stark naked flashed through Hwang Jae-i’s mind, making his head spin. He leaned his head back against the sofa. That reaction unsettled Ahn Yuna. She should’ve followed up with Johan immediately after sending him. Taking a vacation after six straight months of nonstop work had felt necessary at the time, but maybe it was a mistake.

Ahn Yuna quickly scanned the house. In this massive place, where could the Iron Mask be? Asking would probably get her nowhere. Just then, she heard a faint creaking and tapping in succession. The sounds were quiet, but she heard them clearly with her ears—and moved immediately.

She rushed toward where the door sound had come from and flung open the door that had been closed. Not far from the entrance stood a figure who, startled, flinched and turned around. The whole moment seemed to play out in slow motion.

“……”

Long, shiny hair floated briefly in the air before settling over the thick blanket the figure was wrapped in. Through the slowly falling strands, a pale, small face and large round eyes became visible. A straight, well-shaped nose, slightly parted full lips, and a small chin. And—beautiful. The thought came to her instinctively. Ahn Yuna quickly shut her eyes and opened them again. But the figure, standing there clutching the blanket closed in front, didn’t disappear.

Realizing she wasn’t seeing things, Ahn Yuna raised her hand in surprise.

“Sorry for suddenly opening the door and startling you! I didn’t mean to—it’s just that I have business with the owner of this place…!”

Midway through speaking, Ahn Yuna suddenly realized something.

Right—she had come here because of the house’s owner. Hwang Jae-i. And if someone was living here with him—someone he normally wouldn’t let anyone near—then…

“……”

Ahn Yuna looked at the person standing before her with fresh scrutiny.

Perhaps uncomfortable with the intense stare, the figure shrank slightly and turned their head, pulling their long hair forward to hide their face. But even that couldn’t draw Ahn Yuna’s eyes away. Because under that blanket were bare legs. And strewn across the floor were large articles of clothing.

Her mind raced. Anyone else, and she wouldn’t even consider it—but this was Hwang Jae-i. That kind of thing should’ve been impossible. And yet, with someone that pretty… how could anyone not be tempted?

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Ahn Yuna quietly shut the door and bolted back to Hwang Jae-i.

Still standing with arms crossed in thought after finishing their conversation, Hwang Jae-i scowled at the thudding footsteps. It was fine when he made a fuss himself, but he couldn’t tolerate others doing the same. He was about to complain about the noise when Ahn Yuna, now standing right in front of him, grabbed him by the collar.

“You did it, didn’t you?”

“……”

“You forced yourself on that person, didn’t you?!”

Hwang Jae-i’s face hardened in disbelief. Then Ahn Yuna’s words spun in his head, and his expression contorted as their meaning sank in.

“What the hell are you…”

“Answer the question! Did you do something weird to that person?!”

“I didn’t!!”

Hwang Jae-i slapped her hand away roughly, shouting in disbelief.

“Are you insane? What the hell are you even saying?!”

Even with his sharp retort, Ahn Yuna couldn’t let go of her suspicion.

Hwang Jae-i had never allowed anyone into his home before. When he said he was taking in the guy in the iron mask, she hadn’t expected him to treat the person well. She’d assumed he’d house him for a few days, then call her to take him back.

As always, whenever Hwang Jae-i caused trouble, it was her job to clean up the mess. And this time, she hadn’t wanted to make it easy for him. That’s why she’d sent Johan to remove the mask. Then a sudden scheduling conflict forced her on vacation, and she’d gotten so caught up in relaxing that she hadn’t kept up with things—but still…

“You really didn’t touch him?”

“Why would I ever lay a hand on a guy like that—?!”

“He was naked. And he was pretty.”

“……”

“Seriously pretty.”

Murmuring to herself, Ahn Yuna replayed the image of that person in her mind.

Due to her environment, she often interacted with S-rank Hunters. Most of her colleagues were high-level Hunters. Just awakening those abilities came with perks—and on top of that, most of them were good-looking too. Even Hwang Jae-i, standing in front of her now with his terrible personality, wasn’t bad-looking.

Ahn Yuna had high standards, but she’d immediately thought that person was beautiful. Not a flashy kind of beauty, but the kind that drew you in and made you want to keep looking. Delicate and fragile-looking—someone you’d want to protect. Could nothing really have happened during those days they spent alone together?

Come to think of it, celebrities, CEOs, and other Hunters had tried approaching Hwang Jae-i, drawn by his looks. But none of them ever got anywhere. He was too foul-tempered for anyone to conquer.

Maybe the guy had just been lounging around wrapped in a blanket. Maybe she was overthinking. As she looked up, ready to apologize for getting worked up and grabbing him by the collar, her gaze met Hwang Jae-i’s deeply troubled face.

Though he had flatly denied Ahn Yuna’s accusations, this morning had been different. They were both naked. He couldn’t remember a single thing from the night before. Could he really declare that nothing had happened?

Trying to recall the night, he suddenly noticed a gaze on him. Looking up, Hwang Jae-i flinched. Ahn Yuna was glaring at him like he was a criminal. Wondering what now, he realized the expression he’d just made had probably deepened the misunderstanding, and he shook his head urgently.

He wanted to say no—say confidently that nothing happened, like earlier. But the words wouldn’t come. Because if, by any chance—just maybe—he had done something…

At that moment, Ahn Yuna clenched her fists and glared at him sharply.

“I believed that, at the very least, someone like you would be different!”

“Don’t say weird shit like that! It pisses me off!”

She didn’t ask what made him “different.” She knew whatever the answer was, it would only ruin her mood. Though Hwang Jae-i clearly didn’t want the conversation to go any further, Ahn Yuna continued to stare at him like he was some kind of beast.