* * *
“…Huh?”
Wondering what was going on, I turned—and saw a familiar face.
The center of attention was walking straight toward me.
“Jehee, did you pick a tent you liked?”
“Ah.”
So it was because of Taehwan.
Yeah, I guess it was about time for him to show up.
Even though he had a cap and sunglasses on—pretty decent disguise—he still somehow drew attention like he was standing in a spotlight.
“Is he a celebrity?”
“I swear I’ve seen that face somewhere before…”
“Maybe a model? His proportions are insane. Look at those legs…”
“And that body… wow.”
Guys and girls alike were basically drooling over him.
I guess that meant anyone could tell he was ridiculously good-looking.
Not just his face, but his tall, lean frame and solid build were something people naturally envied.
The more I overheard, the harder it was to stop the corners of my mouth from twitching upward.
‘Handsome, right? He’s my friend!’
There were times I wondered if I thought Taehwan was good-looking just because I’d recently regained my sight and hadn’t seen that many people yet.
Like I was some frog stuck in a well.
But seeing how people reacted—yeah. It wasn’t just me.
He really was objectively handsome.
I usually hated assumptions and gossip, but if my awesome friend was becoming the object of admiration for good reasons, I didn’t mind it at all.
He always did like being in the spotlight, and if he was going to be noticed, it was only right that it be in a positive light.
I even felt a sudden urge to brag—to tell everyone that he’s been my best friend forever, that he was cute and good-looking even as a kid.
That he’s not just all surface—he’s kind, smart, successful, strong.
Practically too perfect.
I wanted to shout it so the whole world would know.
But I had to hold back.
If I so much as opened my mouth, Taehwan would freak.
And it wouldn’t even be him showing off—it’d be me, his friend, being loud about it, and that might make people talk crap about him.
I didn’t want to cause trouble for him, not over something dumb like that.
While I was keeping my mouth shut and trying to tamp down the urge, Taehwan had already reached me and was standing right in front of me.
He stared down quietly.
“Jehee, what’s with that face?”
“My—my face? What about it?”
“You look like a total idiot.”
“….”
I take it back—my friend isn’t perfect.
That sharp tongue of his is a major flaw.
A seriously fatal one.
The smile that had been tugging at my lips instantly vanished.
And then Taehwan burst out laughing.
“Relax, it was a joke. Are you mad? Don’t be mad, okay?”
…Honestly, I’m the problem here.
The second he cups my cheeks and grins like that, all the irritation I felt just melts away.
I used to be better at handling him.
But now that I can see again, it’s like I’ve lost that edge.
I think his face might actually be a weapon.
Ever since I opened my eyes again, I’ve been way too easy to sway.
Still—being able to see is about a million times better.
No comparison.
“I’m not mad.”
“Knew it. That’s my Jehee, cool and collected. Total class act.”
“What’s with the sudden flattery?”
“You did it too. In the car. Had to get you back for that cheesy line.”
“I’m actually cool, so I’m not embarrassed by stuff like that.”
“Oh, sure. Talk big, why don’t you.”
Once he confirmed I was no longer grumpy, Taehwan moved in close and wrapped one arm around my waist.
He gave a slight tug, and our bodies pressed together.
His subtle cologne clung to me like it might actually rub off.
‘He’s… close.’
And since he’d ducked his head to match my height, his face was right there.
Just a turn of my head and I could see the lashes behind his sunglasses, the sharp line of his nose, those red lips shaped like a painting…
His lips… I think Gray Coat’s were just about that full, too…
‘Stop it. Please stop. No more kissing thoughts, Jung Jehee.’
I’m seriously losing it these past few days.
What the hell is wrong with me?
And Taehwan of all people?
I hastily looked away, a cold sweat breaking out down my spine.
When will this damned kiss demon leave me alone?
Okay, fine, that nonsense’s on me.
But still, is it okay to be this close in front of people?
Then again, knowing we were already attracting attention, maybe he was trying to block me from view—kind of shielding me with his body.
That’d be better than just openly hugging, at least.
Or… maybe he wasn’t thinking about any of that at all.
I was the only one feeling self-conscious, while he took it a step further and leaned in so our temples were touching, side by side.
“You’re still holding the flag. Couldn’t find a tent you liked?”
“Oh? Ah. Yeah. All the good spots are already claimed. There aren’t that many people, but there sure are a lot of flags. Why’s that?”
“Probably marked early—maybe they dropped off their gear and went shopping or are planning to come after work. Whatever. It’s not like we ever cared that much about picking the perfect spot anyway. Let’s just grab whatever’s available.”
“Yeah, I’m honestly fine with anywhere.”
Well, hiding was already out of the question.
I could hear people whispering about us even now.
Can’t be helped, I guess—that’s what happens when your friend is way too good-looking.
Might as well lean into it.
So, we chose the nearest empty tent and just went for it.
If you can’t avoid attention, might as well enjoy it.
We stuffed the food we brought into the mini fridge that came with the tent and headed straight inside.
It was a big tent, probably meant for up to four people.
Thick, plush blankets lined the floor, and there was even a heating unit installed, making it feel warm and cozy.
I flopped down right away, curious to see what this whole “indoor camping” thing would be like… and yep, it was as comfy as it looked.
Not quite a bed, but definitely not hard ground either.
Honestly, the living room floor I’d been crashing on all weekend was way worse than this.
I turned my head to look at Taehwan, who’d lain down next to me.
“What do we do? This doesn’t feel like camping at all. It’s way too comfortable.”
“Well, this is like… warm-up camping, so yeah, it’s not gonna feel totally real. Just use this to ease into it. I’ve been raising you delicately for over ten years now—you think I’d just throw you into the wild all of a sudden and risk something happening to you?”
“Why do you keep saying you ‘raised’ me? And I’m an S-class hunter now. I’ll be fine.”
“Even S-class hunters can get hurt. Jung Jehee, nature is terrifying. Even the awakened are nothing more than tiny creatures passing through when it comes to the natural world.”
“R… really?”
Oddly enough, that was actually convincing.
Technically, monsters—what hunters risk their lives fighting—are still part of nature, right?
And when it comes to things like typhoons, earthquakes, or tsunamis, awakened people fare slightly better than civilians, but survival’s still not guaranteed.
We’re not immune to disease either.
Being cautious isn’t a bad idea.
Still, it doesn’t mean I’m okay with being babied.
I mean, come on—my age, my rank, and now I’m officially a registered hunter.
I didn’t expect to get thrown into the world just to be sent straight into another sanitized bubble.
How long does he plan on treating me like some fragile baby rabbit that dies from a little stress?
Sure, I might still be a bit clueless when it comes to common sense, but physically?
I’m tough.
I survived getting hit by a monster, responded great to healing potions, and didn’t even need hospitalization.
I just went straight home.
He could stand to rough me up a little more.
…No, wait. I mean, not that I need his help anymore—I’ll grow on my own now!
That’s how it should be!
“…I just thought, even if it’s the first night, being around people might be safer than being alone together right away.”
“…Huh?”
At first, I thought he was joking—but his face was completely serious.
What was that supposed to mean?
Sure, I’m still kind of green, but I’m an S-class.
It’s not like danger’s just going to sneak up on us.
If he’s saying that other people are at risk because I’m inexperienced, wouldn’t it make more sense to go somewhere with fewer people?
I tried really hard to interpret what he meant, but no matter how I twisted it around, I couldn’t figure it out.
I scooted closer to Taehwan and asked,
“What’s dangerous?”
“…Mm.”
“Huh?”
“……”
“What the hell? What is it?”
Taehwan wouldn’t meet my eyes.
He didn’t say a word.
He just covered his mouth with a hand and sat in silence.
Why won’t he say anything?
Is there some secret I don’t know about?
If “being with civilians is safer” has nothing to do with monsters, maybe it’s something else.
Could he be caught up in something shady?
I mean, assassinations, kidnappings—those do happen, even if they’re rare.
“If even two S-classs need to be this careful, then just how bad is it…?”
Unlike Choi Taeyang, I’m not really into conspiracy theories, but with how blunt and honest Taehwan usually is, the fact that he wasn’t talking made my mind spiral into worst-case scenarios.
I was starting to feel seriously anxious.
No matter what happens, I’ll be on your side—determined, I reached out and squeezed Taehwan’s hand tight.
“That’s….”
Maybe it worked. Finally, his tightly sealed lips parted.
“Yeah? Tell me.”
I stared at him, tense… and then a huge mischievous grin spread across his face.
“I thought I might eat you up.”
* * *
