* * *
“Let’s get going.”
Despite saying something so unsettling, Baek Gunho nonchalantly started the car, as if he was done with his business.
The address he input into the navigation system was none other than the Somang Guild.
“Drop me off here.”
“Stop saying ridiculous things.”
“I can just take a taxi.”
“It’s dangerous.”
Baek Gunho replied firmly. His unchanging attitude was both reassuring and frustrating.
While it was less awkward than if he had acted strangely, it still made me uneasy…
Because Baek Gunho refused to let me out, I ended up being driven to the Somang Guild against my will.
He headed straight to the Guild Leader’s office.
With nowhere else to go, I followed him closely.
As soon as he opened the office door, a sharp hostility greeted us.
It was a fierce energy, as if ready to strike. Instinctively, I hid behind Baek Gunho.
But he didn’t react at all.
Peeking out, I realized the hostility wasn’t from an enemy but from Jung Eunji.
“What are you doing here?”
“Baek Gunho…”
Jung Eunji muttered his name like a vengeful hound from hell, clenching her fists tightly.
“How dare you show up now? I’m going to kill you, you bastard. No, I’m quitting. I’m done with this damn guild!”
“At least I’m here now.”
“Is that supposed to be an excuse? What were you doing all day yesterday, ignoring my calls?!”
Yesterday, he and I spent the entire day… doing that.
I winced.
Feeling guilty, I averted my gaze.
Baek Gunho, however, was as shameless as ever, having long abandoned any sense of consideration for others.
“I had something important to deal with.”
“Hah… You’re unbelievable.”
Jung Eunji let out a deep sigh.
“Fine, just sit down and get to work. Organize the critical documents first and then get out to the dungeon.”
Although she was still visibly annoyed, it seemed like the work was urgent enough to take precedence over her anger.
“Sure. Take care of Heewon for me.”
“Heewon is my responsibility. You just focus on your work.”
Baek Gunho frowned as if dissatisfied with her response but eventually sat at his desk.
He must have let his work pile up.
Despite that, how could he have been so relaxed?
While Baek Gunho started working, I left the office with Jung Eunji.
As soon as Baek Gunho was out of sight, her expression softened, a sign of relief.
“I heard you’ve had a rough time, Heewon. Are you okay now?”
Jung Eunji asked kindly, her tone completely different from before.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear. What’s kept you from visiting lately?”
“It’s not like I have many reasons to come here.”
“You should drop by more often. So many people here say it’s like a perk when you’re around.”
Why would my presence be considered a perk?
My coworkers used to joke about things like that too.
People are so prone to exaggeration.
“Also, you should get back to practicing your shooting. You haven’t trained in a while, right?”
“Yeah, it’s been some time.”
“Hold on, I think Hayul is off today.”
“…Is it okay to call someone in on their day off?”
“Hayul comes here often, even on days off.”
“Why would they do that?”
I blurted out my thoughts.
The idea of coming to work on a day off was incomprehensible to me, a regular office worker.
“They come to use the training room. There aren’t many places where you can practice with hunter weapons freely.”
So it’s more like a hobby.
I still didn’t get it.
On my days off, I wouldn’t even want to be near the office.
This must be what real obsession looks like.
While I was quietly losing my mind, Jung Eunji called Jang Hayul.
I could hear Hayul’s cheerful agreement over the phone.
“They’re here. Hayul said they’d like to see your gun. Go on down.”
“Alright, I’ll head over.”
“I’ll escort you to the training room.”
With Jung Eunji’s guidance, I arrived at the training room.
After parting ways with her, I entered and spotted Jang Hayul standing amidst the mostly empty space.
“Hello.”
“It’s been a while. Has Soul been doing well?”
Trust Jang Hayul to ask about my gun’s wellbeing before anything else.
It’s just a weapon—what could possibly be wrong with it?
I took Soul out of my inventory and handed it over.
Hayul’s eyes sparkled as they inspected it.
“Soul looks… slightly different, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, Shinhae made some modifications.”
“My, how lovely…”
To me, it looked the same as always, but I supposed an expert would notice the differences.
After thoroughly examining the barrel, Hayul eagerly began shooting in the training room.
“Hah… Soul, today was wonderful.”
Completely satisfied, Hayul bid the gun an affectionate farewell before handing it back to me.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that the one caught up in the dungeon break was you, Heewon. Is that true?”
I was relieved my name hadn’t been explicitly mentioned in the news, but apparently, word had spread in the industry.
“Yeah, it was me.”
“That must have been intense. Were you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“They said your performance was amazing. It seems all the training paid off. You were incredible.”
“It’s all thanks to your guidance.”
We exchanged some light-hearted compliments before getting down to shooting practice.
Maybe because of the intense recent experiences, my accuracy had improved significantly.
Of course, in real situations, I’d often used the gun as a prop, but during the dungeon break, I’d relied solely on it.
No wonder my skills had sharpened.
“You’re doing great. Let’s wrap up for today.”
Jang Hayul ended the class with a satisfied expression and glanced at his watch.
“I’m about to grab lunch. Want to join me?”
“That sounds great.”
I immediately accepted, and we headed to the first-floor lobby together.
Since it was just past the usual lunch hour, the lobby was relatively quiet.
As we reached the lobby, the elevator opposite ours opened, revealing people stepping out.
Jang Hayul’s face lit up as he recognized someone.
“Jooyun!”
I flinched at the familiar name.
Were they acquainted?
I knew Jang Hayul was friendly with the Vice Guild Master, Jung Eunji, but I never imagined she’d also be close with Lee Jooyun.
Their departments were entirely different, after all.
As Lee Jooyun turned to face us, he froze for a moment when his gaze landed on me.
Unaware of the awkwardness between us, Jang Hayul cheerfully approached.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“I was just heading down for lunch.”
“Let’s eat together! You two know each other, right?”
“Well…”
Lee Jooyun glanced at me, and I nodded politely first.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hello.”
“Hey, don’t you owe me lunch? Treat us to something.”
Jang Hayul nudged Lee Jooyun teasingly.
Lunch?
What was she talking about?
I had no idea.
At those words, Lee Jooyun studied me briefly.
“Like Hayul said, I’d like to treat you to lunch. Would you care to join us?”
Though it felt a little awkward, it wasn’t as though our relationship had soured to the point of avoiding meals together.
After a moment’s thought, I agreed.
“What should we eat? Heewon, what do you feel like having? Let’s go for something tasty.”
“If we don’t hurry, the break time will start.”
“Right, let’s head to ‘Hometown’ next door. Heewon, are you okay with meat?”
“Yes, I like it.”
“Then let’s go.”
As we stepped outside, both Jang Hayul and Lee Jooyun glanced behind me.
Curious, I was about to turn around when a hand landed on my shoulder.
“Where are you headed, Heewon?”
Baek Gunho’s voice murmured close to my ear.
The unfamiliar gentleness in his tone sent shivers down my spine.
Calling me by name so intimately in front of others…
Did he have to?
While others might not find it strange, I wasn’t so sure…
“…”
“…Huh.”
Judging by the reactions of Lee Jooyun and Jang Hayul, they didn’t seem to think it was normal, either.
“Where are you going, Heewon?”
“Out for lunch.”
“Why do you keep eating with other people?”
I couldn’t exactly eat alone at work.
And today’s companions weren’t exactly dangerous—just guild colleagues.
What was his problem?
“Would you like to join us, Guild Master?”
“Sure.”
I was stunned by his casual acceptance, and even Jung Eunji, who had been watching, seemed equally surprised.
A sharp, threatening energy suddenly filled the air.
When I turned to find its source, I saw Jung Eunji glaring our way.
She quickly approached.
“What are you doing here? Get to the dungeon if you don’t want me to quit the guild.”
She spoke in a low voice, likely aware of the curious eyes in the lobby.
Before Baek Gunho could reply with something infuriating, I jabbed him lightly in the side.
“Go already.”
“…”
Baek Gunho looked at me with a strange expression but shrugged.
“Well, if I must.”
Surprisingly, he listened.
Maybe the matter really was urgent. His hand finally left my shoulder.
“Make sure to take Heewon home after lunch,” he said to Jung Eunji before shooting a sharp glance at Lee Jooyun.
His gaze was fleeting but intimidating.
Without another word, Baek Gunho left.
“Did you do something to piss him off?”
Jang Hayul asked Lee Jooyun.
* * *
