Chapter 141

“Guildmaster, a guest from Seoul brought some desserts for you…”

The staff member trailed off mid-sentence. Jae-i knew exactly why—but he did not push Dohwa away. Instead, he tightened his arms around him as if worried Dohwa might startle and slip. Ahn Yuna, halfway into a grimace, redirected quickly.

“Dohwa-ssi, someone just delivered really good strawberry cake. Come take a look and pick a few before they’re gone.”

At that, Dohwa’s head snapped toward her.

He had already eaten breakfast and a few macarons, but strawberry cake must have occupied a different category in his heart. Jae-i loosened his grip. Dohwa glanced at him, speaking in a small, rambling tone as if embarrassed.

“I’ll go look—and I’ll bring one for you too.”

“Alright.”

Having received permission, Dohwa slid off Jae-i’s lap. He pulled up his hood and tightened the drawstrings, covering as much of his face as he could before hurrying after Ahn Yuna. The door shut behind them, and Jae-i recalled that particular gesture—how Dohwa had instinctively tried to hide his face before stepping outside.

“……”

He rose slowly to his feet and approached the sofa. The beast was curled there, face buried in its folded arms—and bizarrely, its features resembled his far too closely.

Of all the faces in the world, why his? It could have chosen to resemble Dohwa, or literally anyone else.

Annoyance simmered under his skin. Jae-i spoke coolly.

“Hey.”

The beast opened its eyes instantly, glaring at him with sharp hostility. On any other day, Jae-i would have snapped back—Who are you looking at like that?—but not today. He simply stared down at it.

“That dream. Did you show it to me?”

“……”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

The beast stared, unblinking, then sprang up. It leapt over the sofa and darted to the door. Jae-i didn’t bother trying to stop it, but he didn’t remain standing there either—he immediately returned to his desk, settling into his chair just as Dohwa entered with a large cake box in his arms.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Dohwa immediately checked on Jae-i, noticing the beast clinging tightly to his leg. Jae-i crossed his arms, cut Dohwa off before he could ask further, and stated flatly:

“I didn’t do anything.”

“…Right.”

Dohwa stroked the beast’s head gently, though his tone made it clear he didn’t entirely believe him.

Clinging even more tightly to Dohwa’s leg, the beast cast a brief glance at Jae-i. If it had mocked him or acted up in any way, Jae-i would have peeled it off Dohwa immediately—but it simply clung quietly. Calm. Watchful. As if its stillness itself was an answer to his earlier question.

Two nights in a row, he’d had those dreams. And both times, the beast had been nearby. That wasn’t coincidence. The dreams were too vivid, too pointed. Was it trying to show him something?

“Look,” Dohwa said, opening the cake box. “There’s so much strawberry. Want to see?”

“……”

Jae-i lifted his eyes.

Dohwa’s cheeks were flushed pink with excitement as he set the heavy cake down.

“They only sell fifty a day. It sounds like the person who came from Seoul bought two on the way down. I think the guild members’ families are starting to arrive today.”

Jae-i himself had approved the construction of family housing near the new guild site—a gesture meant to ease the move for those who wanted to bring loved ones along. Several new mansions were already near completion. Perhaps the cake was a way of saying thanks. If they hadn’t relocated the guild, none of these small upheavals or gestures would have happened.

“I heard one of the staff tried it earlier. The cake and bread from that shop are supposed to be amazing. The strawberries are huge.”

Dohwa’s voice was unusually bright. It was impossible not to notice.

Jae-i rose slowly.

“Let’s eat it.”

“Right now?”

“Mm.”

Dohwa’s eyes lit up instantly. He lifted the cake with both hands and carried it over to the table, the beast gripping his pants leg and toddling along behind him. Jae-i followed, gaze fixed solely on Dohwa.

The beach—usually quiet—was alive with motion.

Children ran across the pale sand. Several adults lounged on beach chairs, watching the waves. Others swam in the clear water or tried their hand at surfing. Though the shoreline was typically calm, some riders wanted bigger waves and had the ability to create them.

“Make the waves higher!”

Immediately, the sea surged upward. The hunter on the surfboard was launched into the sky, clutching the board with a panicked yell.

“Uwaaagh—!”

Children nearby stared wide-eyed, then burst into excited cheers.

It painted an absurd scene: on one side, gentle waters where children splashed; on the other, towering waves raised by hunters manipulating water pressure with their abilities.

Hunters seldom got to use their powers outside of gates or training grounds. Now, faced with an ocean playground, they behaved more childishly than the actual children.

“Haaah—!”

Another hunter shot into the air, then crashed into the water, sputtering as he surfaced. He winced at the saltiness, but the spectators’ laughter made it worth it. Even Jae-i, not easily amused, found himself frowning in disbelief at the repeated antics.

The sea lay directly in front of the relocated Jae-i Guild building.

They hadn’t chosen this spot for recreational reasons—it simply met the safety and structural requirements. But the moment the guild members saw the view, they had abandoned all pretense of restraint. After setting up purification buffers and safety wards in the water, they had dashed to the shore like excited teenagers.

Adults and children alike—guild staff and their families—filled the beach with noise and energy. Jae-i hadn’t realized how many of his hunters had kids until now. Or how carefree they could be.

He caught sight of the beast wriggling in Dohwa’s arms. Masked, swim-capped, wearing goggled eyes, it suddenly reached out toward the children.

“No—you can’t. It’s dangerous,” Dohwa whispered, hugging it firmly.

“……”

Dangerous?

For the beast?

If anything, the danger was the reverse.

Still, the creature kept trying to slide off the chair. Finally, Jae-i nudged the beach chair with his foot, warning sharply:

“Stay still. Or you’re going back inside.”

The beast snapped its head toward him instantly. Even behind goggles, its insolent little glare was unmistakable. Jae-i’s eyebrow twitched upward.

The new guild-family residences were rising rapidly beside the main building. Jae-i hadn’t intended to come check the progress personally. But when he walked past the window earlier, he saw Dohwa pressed against the glass, eyes shimmering as he watched the guild members preparing to head for the shore.

He’d known exactly what that expression meant.

He had prepared to take Dohwa out alone for a brief walk, nothing more. Then the beast had become an unexpected obstacle—wrapping its arms around Dohwa’s leg and refusing to let go. Dohwa promised he’d be right back. Jae-i threatened to lock it in the birdcage again. But the beast only tightened its grip, lips pressed into a stubborn line, glaring with eyes so similar to Jae-i’s that it momentarily rendered him speechless.

Dohwa, flustered by the little creature’s desperation and constant glances toward Jae-i, couldn’t bring himself to pry it off. So Jae-i let it come—with strict conditions.

No noise.

No wandering.

No revealing what it was.

And if even one person realized anything was amiss, they were returning immediately.

Whether it understood or not, the beast simply burrowed deeper into Dohwa’s embrace and stayed there.