‘He’s worse than I thought.’
The incident with Taewhan had been more urgent, and since I wasn’t hurt, I had forgotten about it, assuming the Guild Management Bureau was handling it.
But knowing the inside story made it absolutely horrible.
If I hadn’t been an Awakened, but a regular civilian, what would they have done to them?
What demands would they have made of ‘Gray Coat’ using that person as a bargaining chip?
Just imagining it made my stomach boil with rage.
Whoever gave the order had a truly wicked heart.
But right now, calming my idol, who was bowing his head, was more important than getting angry.
“I-I’m fine! I wasn’t hurt at all. I was surprised, but… it was a good experience, in a way. It’s why I am who I am today.”
If that day hadn’t happened, wouldn’t it have taken me longer to realize the importance of close-quarters combat?
Then, if I had faced a situation like this, I would have been flustered.
I would have been dead weight, constantly needing help from ‘Gray Coat.’
“To call it a good experience… wasn’t it too dangerous?”
“Oh, I-I didn’t mean the kidnapping attempt itself! I meant that, as a result, I grew in a positive way.”
“…Ah, I see. I understand.”
He must have been very worried.
I could tell by the sigh of relief he let out.
Still feeling responsible, he hesitated to speak, so I stepped closer to him and smiled. I wanted to show him that I was truly okay.
“And it’s not the Hunter’s fault. It was a Dungeon that had to be cleared, and I helped in my small way. The people who hold a grudge over that are the abnormal ones.”
Even if the Wind Hole was a profitable Dungeon, its safety wasn’t guaranteed.
If Cha Taeyang and I hadn’t been there, everyone in the safety zone at the time might have died.
Afterward, if the monster had gone looking for new prey and attacked weaker Hunters, the damage would surely have escalated.
A great number of people, including many famous ones, were gathered in the Dungeon that day, but not everyone could fight that monster.
After all, the Dungeon had garnered more attention from non-combat guilds than from combat ones.
Completing the Dungeon by killing the monster was effectively preventing the horrible disaster that could have become a reality.
But what makes those people so angry and wronged that they would torment ‘Gray Coat’?
Did they think that monster should have been left alive?
Do they think magic stones are more precious than human safety and life?
In the end, magic stones are necessary for people to live more comfortably, so sacrificing human lives is a complete reversal of priorities, isn’t it?
I couldn’t help but frown.
I absolutely didn’t understand it, and I didn’t want to.
And more importantly, that Dungeon is already gone.
Tormenting ‘Gray Coat’ won’t bring it back.
What a waste of time and money on something that is nothing but a temper tantrum.
‘Gray Coat,’ who had been quietly watching me sigh, slightly bowed his head.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Did he feel a little relieved?
I couldn’t see his expression, but I thought so.
I grinned, feeling happy, and his large body took one more step towards me and he tilted his head slightly.
“Thank you also for coming to see me again today. I am truly happy.”
“……!”
He had noticed that, too, after all.
My face felt hot. I worried that I looked like a stalker.
And then…
Since I couldn’t speak, standing there with my mouth open, ‘Gray Coat’ tilted his face questioningly.
“……You didn’t come for me?”
“That…! For now, yes, I came because I was worried… I guess I wasn’t much help, though.”
“No. You were plenty helpful.”
“Is… that so?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Ah.
Hearing words of thanks is always a happy thing.
Hearing it from someone I respected made the happiness double, and I unconsciously let my mouth open and a giggle escaped me.
Perhaps seeing how happy I looked, he stared at me through his mask for a long time.
“Jung Jehee.”
“Yes. Yes?”
“I would like to formally court you.”
“……Huh?”
My eyes widened.
I clearly heard words spoken in Korean, using everyday vocabulary, but I couldn’t immediately process them. I felt stunned, as if struck by lightning.
Did he just say ‘court’? Not the ‘teaching material’ of ‘textbook,’ but ‘court’ as in ‘start a romantic relationship,’ right?
As in, become lovers.
I wondered if the word ‘court’ had another meaning, or if I had misheard, and I racked my brain.
As if to cement it for me, he continued speaking.
The man, who was always so composed, stammered a little with an uncharacteristic, slightly excited voice.
“I understand that you are surprised to hear this from a suspicious figure wearing a mask and that we don’t know each other well yet, and I understand you might not trust me. To be honest, even if by some chance you accept, I have circumstances that prevent me from immediately revealing my identity to you, so I would have to ask for your understanding… Asking to court you while not being able to reveal my identity—you might feel I’m not sincere.”
…It was truly like someone had fallen in love.
As if he liked me too much and was so concerned about my reaction that his mind couldn’t function properly.
As I just listened, my face blank, he seemed to lose some confidence and even looked a little downcast, which made my heart drop.
“But my feelings for you are genuine. I-I don’t know how to prove it, but…”
He hesitated, then took a step closer to me.
He, who was easily a head taller than me, bent his knees, placing himself lower than me, and asked.
“Could you give me a chance?”
My God.
The passionate emotional resonance that cut through the noise-like sound once again made my head spin for a moment.
I returned home in the car sent by the Guild Management Bureau.
Even while washing up, I was half-dazed.
All my actions were practically on autopilot.
I roughly dried my hair and staggered toward the bed, collapsing onto it.
The soft blanket and mattress wrapped around my body.
Normally, I would have been immediately assaulted by the urge to sleep, but today my mind was wide awake.
‘Could I see you somewhere other than a Dungeon?’
‘Yes, I’m asking you on a date.’
Just recalling that moment made a groan, ‘Aww’, escape me.
I buried my face in the blanket out of embarrassment.
‘A date…’
Dating ‘Gray Coat’—I had never imagined it. An offer to court me, even less so.
What did he like about me?
Today, all I showed was my violent side, and in the end, I couldn’t solve the problem alone and needed help, didn’t I?
Ah, no… He said I was helpful enough and thanked me, but… it wasn’t enough to fall in love, was it?
“Haa…”
Lying face down, I just turned my head and turned on my phone.
After pressing a few buttons, the message he sent popped up.
That’s right.
Somehow, I had ended up getting his contact info.
…Though, perhaps it was only natural since I had been asked on a date.
[Unknown User: You can take your time with your answer.]
[Unknown User: Please feel comfortable treating me without burden.]
How can I treat this person ‘without burden’?
His very existence is so meaningful to me that I can’t help but feel a burden.
I don’t even know what to save his name as, or how.
He’s a well-known public figure.
If I were to lose my phone and it fell into the hands of someone with malice, like the group I met today, and became gossip fodder, it would be a huge disservice to him…
‘But it’s also strange not to save the name of your lover… Ah.’
I gasped, startled by my own thought, which had surfaced unintentionally.
Lover.
Me and the ‘Gray Coat’ as lovers?
My head is a mess. It’s true that I wanted to get closer to him, but becoming his lover… I didn’t want that, did I…?
Do I love him? Am I even gay?
The ‘love’ Taewhan spoke of was…
“…”
The moment I recalled the hard fingertips that fumbled with my private lower part, my face flushed with heat.
I still don’t know. I’m just confused.
Is it okay to start dating with such ambiguous feelings?
What if it’s rude behavior…?
Woong.
My mind, which had been blankly wandering, returned to me upon hearing the phone vibrate.
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: Jeheeeeeee at home?]
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: Did you get home safely?]
I had reported to him once as I was leaving the Dungeon, but he must have still been worried.
As I told him I arrived home safely, I decided that since the timing was good, I would ask him for dating advice about the ‘Gray Coat.’
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: WAH LMAO]
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: What’s the problem, that’s such a goooooood thing!!!!!!!!!]
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: How about meeting up this weekend, right! I’ll tell you lots of good places ^^]
[Hunter Cha Taeyang: I’m 100% in favor of you guys]
“Ah, no…”
Messages started pouring in at an incredible speed as soon as he heard the full story.
Even if I replied with only consonants, it would be slower than this.
I was surprised by the extremely enthusiastic response.
It was as if he had been waiting.
