IH Ch 106

Chapter 106

In the end, unable to contain his fury, Hwang Jae-i slammed his fist into the wall. The impact left a deep dent, and the elevator, which had been descending smoothly, came to a halt. The interior lights turned red. Noise erupted outside, and when the door was manually forced open, those looking inside flinched in surprise.

“…So this is where Guild Master Hwang Jae-i was.”

Understanding at once the reason for the elevator’s sudden stop, the expressions outside showed immediate comprehension.

Jae-i stepped out through the opened doors. Ignoring the people curious about the commotion, he turned and headed for the emergency stairs. Descending quickly, he immediately attempted to locate Ahn Yuna. He was suddenly deeply concerned about Dohwa, who remained with her.

The weight of the documents he had held in his hands earlier lingered heavily in his mind. If the Association had confirmed that Dohwa had indeed been involved with all the people listed within, then from their perspective, he would have been classified as dangerous. If they had taken advantage of the moment he and Dohwa were separated to capture him—

Jae-i muttered curses under his breath repeatedly, over and over. And when he finally got in contact with Ahn Yuna, he knew his voice had likely risen more than expected. Normally, she would’ve snapped back with a sharp “Why are you yelling?” but this time, things were different.

[We’re near the Guild Master’s house right now. We figured you’d be really tired today, so we came here to help you wrap up the day early…]

Trailing off, she seemed to be gauging his reaction. Jae-i stayed silent. Ahn Yuna had guessed Hwang Ha-jin was back in the country and had gone out of her way to be considerate. Things he’d ignored previously were, strangely, now crystal clear.

“I’ve finished talking with the Association President. I’ll be there soon. If anything suspicious gets near you, just head straight to the Guild. And… I’m sorry for yelling earlier.”

He hadn’t apologized for things like this in a long time. Doing something so uncharacteristic left Jae-i frowning harder than before. Ahn Yuna let out a sigh.

[Ah, so that fox of an Association President really came for your nerves today, huh. Let me guess—he lied right to your face, pretending he didn’t know anything. I knew he’d pull something like this. Just when you think you can rely on the guy, he always stabs you in the back. There’s no way this guild’s relationship with the Association is ever getting better. Anyway, come rest now. You’ll need it if we’re going to kick ass—uh, work hard—starting tomorrow.]

“……”

Things he had interpreted before as nagging felt different now. What was done couldn’t be undone. No matter how Hwang Ha-jin supposedly discovered that gate-erasing skill, there was no way it could be legitimate. At most, he was maneuvering to re-establish his position with the full support of both the Association and the government.

He’d manipulate the media to undermine Jae-i’s reputation, just like before. If Jae-i responded the way he usually did, he’d be the one who suffered the consequences. So this time—he had to do things differently. Things he’d refused to acknowledge were finally being accepted for what they were.

The café, like any you’d find in any neighborhood, was small and cozy. Most of the surrounding buildings were offices or officetels, so by 3 p.m., it wasn’t very busy. Still, delivery orders seemed relentless—a rider popped in every five minutes. Sitting in a corner and casually keeping an eye on everyone coming and going, Ahn Yuna tapped into her network, attempting to gather more information on the Hwang Ha-jin situation.

But nothing substantial came to light. To get anything concrete, she would have to offer information in return—but that ran the risk of leaking something she shouldn’t. It was around that time that Jae-i contacted her. Responding calmly, she kept her voice steady. Still, hearing him actually say “sorry” left her shaken.

This isn’t like him. What’s going on? Were the Association and Hwang Ha-jin more deeply entangled than expected?

Kim Wi, more than anything else, cared about his title as Association President. That’s why she had assumed he would never support Hwang Ha-jin. Considering Ha-jin’s wandering freelancer status, the easiest way to establish himself in Korea would be to claim that position for himself—something Kim Wi surely knew.

Just then, Ahn Yuna noticed that Dohwa hadn’t touched his drink or the cookies in front of him.

“…Why aren’t you eating?”

Dohwa had been so quiet, she’d let her guard down and focused on other tasks. Now, she blinked and asked again, puzzled.

“Is it not to your taste?”

To demonstrate, she picked up one of her own cookies and bit down with a loud crunch.

“They’re really good, though.”

Then why wasn’t he eating?

Seeing her puzzled expression, Dohwa looked down. The soft cream had deflated, and while the cookies and cake were visually appealing, he didn’t have much appetite. He suspected it was because he’d eaten plenty back at Chairman Ma’s meeting. He simply wasn’t hungry right now.

“I’m fine. Please, help yourself.”

“….”

He even pushed the plate slightly toward her. Ahn Yuna blinked.

From what little she’d seen, Dohwa—contrary to his delicate appearance—had quite the healthy appetite. During meetings at the Guild Master’s office, it had mostly been Dohwa who ate the snacks. He never skipped meals. He constantly sipped fruit drinks, yet never seemed bloated or affected by it—remaining slim and composed.

The beverages and desserts here were all ones he normally enjoyed. Maybe he felt awkward eating without the Guild Master present.

Watching him closely—face obscured beneath a hoodie and oversized glasses—Ahn Yuna finally spoke.

“You know…”

As if he’d been waiting for it, Dohwa raised his head.

“You do like the Guild Master, don’t you?”

“……”

“You’re not going to betray him or pull some backstabbing trick on us, right?”

Resting one arm on the table and leaning in slightly, Ahn Yuna’s tone was calm but serious. Maybe she should’ve softened him up before jumping into this, warmed him up with small talk. But it felt unnecessary. They already knew enough about each other—no need to dance around it.

“Frankly, the Guild Master’s never acted like this before. And he probably never will again, either. When I first saw you wearing that weird metal mask, I had my doubts… I wondered if Guild Master had strange tastes or something. I mean, it’s his business, so I let it go—”

“……”

“But honestly, it looked to me like the Guild Master fell for you at first sight. And I really hope you feel the same way about him. Because if not, I’ll be seriously disappointed.”

She paused, her gaze fixed on Dohwa. Her eyes seemed to press him—say something already. Dohwa adjusted his glasses. Placing his hand slowly on the table, he finally spoke.

“I like Jae-i.”

“……”

“A lot.”

Hearing all that, Ahn Yuna tapped the table a few times and nodded.

“Well, that’s good then.”

There were some things bugging her still, but for now, she swept them to the back corner of her mind. Honestly, it was a relief. She’d always expected the Guild Master to die alone, so the fact that someone had come along at all…it was progress. She sipped her drink with a slurp.

Then she noticed something else: Dohwa looked a little deflated, like her response had disappointed him somehow. He leaned toward her, voice slightly subdued.

“Aren’t you worried about me being around Jae-i?”

“…Sure, I’m a little worried. But what matters more is whether or not you betray him. As long as you stay loyal, it’s fine.”

“……”

“You might not see it that way, but to me—and to everyone in our guild—we’re pretty serious about the Guild Master. If anyone messes with him, we don’t stand by quietly.”

“……”

“Just saying. Figured it’s something worth knowing.”

Jae-i wasn’t the type to get along with everyone easily. If he didn’t like someone, even a guild member, things could get downright frosty. But not with them. Even if they bickered or clashed, they would be back to normal the next day. Watching all of this, Dohwa found himself smiling softly. At the very least, it was clear that Jae-i had made things work in his workplace.

“Really… Jae-i is kind. He acts cold, but he’s always looking out for the people around him. That’s probably why you treat him so well too, Ahn Yuna—”

“Nope. That’s not it. You’re mistaken.”

Before he got too sentimental, Ahn Yuna cut him off sharply and lifted her hand, making a circle with her thumb and forefinger.

“We treat him well because of this. This.”

“……”

“It’s a full package deal when you join. Housing, health insurance—for the employee and their family. On top of that, monthly allowances for meals, hobbies, grooming—you name it. Even if you’re injured on the job, you still get paid.”

“……”

“Our guild even distributes a portion of dungeon earnings directly to hunters. You won’t find that kind of treatment just anywhere. Sure, the Guild Master’s got a nasty temper, but if you can put up with it, the benefits are solid. Entry requirements are tough, yeah. And if you mess up or slack off, there’s no mercy. But if you work, you get rewarded.”

And for them to enjoy all that, Hwang Jae-i had to remain firmly in place.

Honestly, if he had stayed exactly the same—if he’d refused to change—she might’ve considered quitting in five or ten years. But he hadn’t. He’d softened. If things kept going this way, she’d easily stick around for another 20.

Then, Ahn Yuna caught sight of Dohwa’s shoulders drooping, as though deflated by her practical reasoning.