Chapter 124

Ahn Yuna headed to the floor directly beneath the guildmaster’s office—a large conference hall furnished with enough seating for every guild member.

The layout resembled a movie theater, designed so that all eyes naturally focused on whoever stood at the podium.

The guildmaster, who despised that very setup and had never once stood before everyone, was now standing rigidly at the center of the platform—wearing the official hunter uniform, no less.

“…I used to practically break my back trying to get him into that thing.”

They had attempted to make him wear it for his guildmaster inauguration, but failed.

Despite the designer being a well-known hunter enthusiast—someone whose designs were coveted even by foreign hunters—the effort had ended in total defeat.

Since at least one commemorative photograph was needed, Ahn Yuna had chased him around for nearly two months before he finally relented.

The photo taken that day, with Jae-i scowling like thunder, was probably still stuffed somewhere in his office.

Should’ve just left him alone back then.

Seeing him voluntarily put it on now made her wonder what the point of forcing it had ever been.

She scanned the room.

It was 1:50 p.m.

In ten minutes, they would begin a surprise live broadcast.

Experts from Hyesung had even come to assist.

They did have professionals on their side too, so nothing should go wrong—but the nerves came from the simple fact that she had never done anything like this before.

More precisely, they had never done a live broadcast with Hwang Jae-i, the most unpredictable man alive.

She had stayed up all night preparing a script, but whether he would actually read it was anyone’s guess.

“……”

Worrying was pointless, but she couldn’t help it.

While checking on Jae-i—currently speaking with the camera director—Ahn Yuna surveyed the hall.

Amid the people standing here and there, one figure stood out: Dohwa, sitting quietly in a corner, swallowed up inside a gray hoodie far too large for his body.

Yuna glanced at Jae-i, then immediately walked to Dohwa.

“Are you tired?”

“……”

Dohwa, who had been perfectly still, turned when she sat beside him and nodded.

“No, I haven’t really done anything.”

“That’s not true. You’ve done a lot. You’re doing something nobody else here can do.”

“…Me?”

His genuine bewilderment made Yuna smile gently.

From yesterday to today, everything had gone smoothly because Dohwa was here.

They had faced countless clashes of opinion preparing for this moment.

Under normal circumstances, Hwang Jae-i would have stormed out and done everything his own way.

But every time, Yuna made sure he could see Dohwa.

And like magic, the deep, frightening crease in his brow would smooth out.

Guild members noticed too.

They glanced at Dohwa with curiosity—though they quickly looked away whenever the temperamental guildmaster twitched.

Still, the impression had settled: Dohwa was the tranquilizer of their ferocious guildmaster.

Thanks to that, even those who usually snapped under pressure pushed back, saying, “No, but… still…” and stubbornly voicing their own opinions.

Jae-i, startled, had to recalibrate—because for once, he was not the only immovable force in the room.

If the others had been unreasonable, he would never have conceded.

But since they weren’t, he took a step back.

Watching Hwang Jae-i hold his tongue was truly a rare spectacle.

Yuna beamed.

“Just being here helps more than you think, Dohwa-ssi.”

“……”

“In times like these, I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you’re here. Really—I’ve lost count of how many things you’ve helped with.”

At her words, Dohwa turned his head and looked at Jae-i.

Staring at him, he murmured softly:

“If I can help even a little, I’m glad.”

Something in his tone made Yuna pause.

She felt the weight of a piercing gaze on her.

When she turned, Jae-i was staring at them with eyes sharp enough to kill.

What is his problem? He’s practically a stalker.

Muttering inwardly, she rose to her feet.

The moment she did, Jae-i strode toward them.

The broadcast would begin in mere minutes—why was he moving around?

Even when she gestured for him to stay put, he ignored her completely.

His long legs carried him to them in an instant.

“Three minutes,” Yuna said tightly.

Jae-i dropped into the empty seat with a thud.

Yuna frowned—until she remembered Dohwa was watching.

She immediately smoothed her expression and gave a sweet little wave before walking off.

As soon as she left, Dohwa took Jae-i’s hand.

Jae-i had purposely rested his hand on his thigh.

When Dohwa’s smaller hand slid into his, he laced their fingers together.

Dohwa looked at him—something about the hunter uniform, or perhaps the overall style, made him seem…

“Jae-i-ya. You look handsome.”

“……”

Jae-i’s jaw tightened.

At the same time, he squeezed Dohwa’s hand and brushed his thumb gently across his palm—ticklish, warm, and pleasant.

He tried to suppress the rising laugh, ducking his head.

He was just about to look at Dohwa—when something black flashed in the corner of his vision.

A dark lump was peeking out from the slightly open zipper of Dohwa’s hoodie.

Flattened to reduce its size—but unmistakably a beast.

Dohwa lowered his head, realizing Jae-i had noticed.

“You can’t come out. You promised you’d behave.”

But the beast paid no attention.

Its body slowly rounded out, swelling into its usual plump, ball-like shape.

It popped right out of the hoodie and landed on Dohwa’s lap, bouncing lightly.

Jae-i ground his teeth.

“You little—”

Before he even finished lowering his head to glare, the beast zipped behind Dohwa’s back, clinging to his shoulder and peeking around with only its eyes visible.

Jae-i clenched his jaw again.

It truly was disobedient.

Judging by its behavior, it didn’t seem likely to hurt Dohwa—but the fact that it clung to him at all made Jae-i instinctively bristle.

He was about to order it to get off when a voice called from below with careful restraint:

“Guildmaster, it’s time to prepare. Please put on your microphone.”

“……”

Once the mic went on, the broadcast would begin immediately.

Still glaring at the beast without blinking, Jae-i drew in a deep breath, let it out, and spoke in a low voice:

“If you get caught, it’s over. So behave.”

Then he leaned toward Dohwa.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Mm.”

There was no “Do well.”

No instructions.

Just Dohwa’s bright and trusting smile.

Jae-i rose slowly.

The beast crept out from Dohwa’s shoulder and hopped into his hand.

Jae-i strode down to the lower level.

Staff swarmed him, fastening the microphone and giving rapid instructions.

Whether he was listening or not was unclear.

Watching him tap the mic with his knuckles, Dohwa murmured:

“He looks cool, right?”

The beast snorted—as if to say ‘He’s not cool at all.’

Dohwa glanced down at it.

“Don’t be like that. Get along with Jae-i. If he hadn’t allowed it, you’d still be locked in a cage.”

The beast flinched and peeked up at him.

If there was room to wheedle, it would have tried—but Dohwa’s eyes were calm and firm.

Whimpering, the beast flattened again.

Seeing it gloomy, Dohwa gently tickled its belly.

His soothing touch was soft.

The beast puffed up again—only to remember how fiercely Jae-i had glared at it earlier.

Such a terrible human.

And yet, thanks to him, the beast was no longer trapped in a cage and could now be with Dohwa.

He even fed it plenty of Mana stones.

The moment it remembered the Mana stones, the beast let out a pleased rumble.

Sprawling comfortably, it thought again: Dohwa was wonderful.

Why did it like him so much?

It usually hated humans.

Then a memory flickered.

The beast blinked, suddenly realizing something—

It had seen Dohwa somewhere before.

With new focus, the beast gazed up at Dohwa’s profile.