* * *
“I’ve always had a sweet tooth. When exactly was it again?”
“The day after Mr. Yigeon woke up… Back when they first brought up the engagement, it felt premature, but after he was in a coma and made me worry so much… He brought it up himself.”
Yoon Youngin spoke shyly. Yigeon stopped eating and held Youngin’s hand.
“I should’ve given you reassurance sooner. I’m sorry.”
Well, isn’t that adorable. What a load of crap.
“No, it’s okay… I understand why you hesitated, Mr. Yigeon…”
“Why did he hesitate?”
“Because of his job… It’s dangerous, you know… He thought he shouldn’t start a family.”
It was a reason hard to argue with.
“When did you two start dating?”
“I joined the company last year… So it’s been about a year.”
“Who confessed first?”
“Uh… I did…”
Youngin’s pale face lit up with an embarrassed smile.
“I’m really not the type… But I made the first move. Mr. Yigeon wasn’t even interested in me at first…”
If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have let you keep pushing.
Seohwa grumbled internally as he stabbed at his slice of cake with a fork, absolutely demolishing it.
Geon’s sharp gaze landed on the ravaged cake like an expert appraising ancient relics.
Youngin also narrowed his eyes, smiling, but clearly taking note of the mess.
Normally, Seohwa would’ve picked up on those looks in an instant, but today wasn’t a normal day, so he was completely oblivious.
Mutilating the innocent cake further, he fired off another question.
“But I never saw a single article about your engagement. Isn’t it risky showing up to a public event like this together?”
“It’s fine… The articles are bound to come out soon anyway…”
Guess I won’t be touching the internet for a while.
“But Mr. Yuje… You’re really… plain, aren’t you?”
Is he picking a fight?
Seohwa lifted his head.
Youngin stared at Yuje’s face, startled when their eyes met.
“Oh, sorry. I work in the Awakening Safety Department, so I meet Hunters often. They all have unique hair and eye colors, and their looks are… very striking. But Mr. Yuje, you’re a C-rank, yet you’re so… Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you… It’s just surprising…”
Despite repeatedly apologizing, Youngin couldn’t take his eyes off Seohwa’s face.
Should’ve gone with E-rank or F-rank instead of C-rank.
But then I wouldn’t have made the cut for Danbaek’s mercenary recruitment.
“It’s okay. When’s your birthday?”
“Huh?”
“Birthday.”
“Ah… July 6th…”
“Blood type and MBTI?”
“W-what…?”
“Motto. Historical figure you respect most. Hobbies and special skills. Last book you read?”
Youngin blinked rapidly, flustered.
Just then, Wang Jungsoo plopped down beside them, laughing boisterously with a plate piled high with food.
“Forgive him. This punk’s in the Can’t-Eat Club. What was it, Hongsi-tier or something?”
“Ah… So, you’re a big fan of Mr. Yigeon?”
“Once the engagement becomes official, the fans are gonna lose their minds.”
“I’m ready for that… He’s loved by so many people. I’ll just have to endure…”
Youngin covered his mouth, laughing shyly.
“But Mr. Yuje, you’re still young, yet you believe in MBTI? That’s something my grandparents always ask… Honestly, dividing people’s personalities into sixteen types doesn’t make any sense…”
“What do people ask these days then?”
Thankfully, Wang Jungsoo asked instead of Seohwa.
“Usually, they ask for your MBZFP score…”
“What the hell is that?”
Again, Wang Jungsoo spared Seohwa from asking.
“It’s like a combined profile—MBTI, blood type, zodiac sign, Four Pillars of Destiny, Five Elements, even palm reading. I’m an IAAWWE. Double A, double W, plus an E… You’ll want to be careful around me…”
What exactly are we supposed to be careful of…? No clue.
Then Youngin clapped his hands together.
“Oh, right.”
He pulled out a slim bag, took out small ivory envelopes, and handed them out politely, one by one.
“We’re having an engagement ceremony next month. We both have small families, so we’re inviting close friends for a simple gathering… Please don’t feel pressured. Just come for a good meal if you have time.”
“Engagement ceremony?”
“Yes, the engagement ceremony.”
“Who even has engagement ceremonies these days?”
Seohwa blurted out before thinking.
Youngin’s brows furrowed into a worried expression.
“Oh… Is that so? Maybe we should just have the wedding right away…”
“No, no! Have the engagement ceremony! There’s romance in that!”
Seohwa enthusiastically praised the engagement ceremony as he accepted the invitation.
Across all timelines, this was the first time Yigeon had an engagement ceremony.
Well, technically, this whole present timeline was a first.
After saving the world with blood, sweat, and tears… I get hit with the penalty of attending Yigeon’s engagement ceremony.
Unlike the tangled mess in Seohwa’s head, everyone else cheerfully chatted about the engagement.
Seohwa quietly slipped away, pretending to go get more food.
He wandered with an empty plate but wasn’t hungry, and nothing looked appealing.
Not wanting to go back to the private room yet, he downed a glass of cold water instead.
Seems like a good person.
Though being non-Awakened is a bit concerning.
There’s something suspicious, like they’re hiding something.
But love conquers all, right?
Not my business anyway.
I should be supportive.
…Then why does my stomach feel so scratchy?
Why does my head ache like this?
Feeling stifled, he poured another glass of cold water, but a large hand suddenly intervened.
“Drinking only cold water isn’t good for you.”
Geon took the cup from his hand and replaced it with a new one filled with warm water.
“Why are you wandering around alone when your fiancé’s here?”
“Even when we’re apart, our hearts are connected, so it’s fine.”
Are you insane?
Seohwa made no effort to hide the thought on his face.
“I’m not insane. But…”
Geon locked eyes with him, gaze intense.
“Love is similar to madness. If enough time passes, I might just go insane.”
“Oh, is that so.”
Seohwa chugged the warm water.
Then immediately poured himself more cold water, but this time Yigeon let him.
As he turned to leave, Yigeon followed close behind, striking up conversation.
“Do you like animals?”
“What animal, out of nowhere?”
“Do you like snakes?”
Seohwa was genuinely stunned.
The animal question was random enough, but snakes?
Not cats, not dogs—snakes?
Unlike before, he didn’t let the surprise show on his face.
Instead, he answered with a curious pout.
“Not really. They creep me out.”
“Favorite color?”
“Green.”
“Hobbies?”
“Reading and playing Go.”
“You read books?”
“I like books. Mostly Korean literature from the 1920s. You know Grapes Are Innocent?”
“You’re not into physical activities?”
“I’d rather sit quietly at a desk than move around. I’m a quiet, introverted person.”
Everything that came out of his mouth was the polar opposite of how Seohwa should answer.
It was his desperate attempt to slip through Yigeon’s net.
Figuring it was better to be around the others than alone with Yigeon, Seohwa made his way back to the private room.
Geon trailed so close behind their shoulders practically brushed.
Just as Seohwa was about to tell him to back off before his fiancé misunderstood, he spotted a small child struggling to scoop jelly with a ladle.
Most guests had already left the dining area since the meal was over.
Seohwa tapped Yigeon’s arm lightly with his finger.
“Mr. Yigeon, do you see that kid over there?”
Kang Yigeon glanced down at his forearm, then belatedly turned toward the spot Seohwa was pointing to.
“Jelly.”
“Yeah, I think they’re too short to reach it. Go help them.”
Seohwa asked naturally, and Kang Yigeon helped the child without a word.
The kid didn’t recognize him but happily bounced around, saying, “Wow, mister, you’re even bigger than my dad!” before skipping back to their seat.
“So cute. So innocent.”
“Why didn’t you help them yourself? Why tell me to go?”
There was a clear reason for that.
The child looked around eleven or twelve.
Kids that age still harbored rejection toward Seohwa.
It wasn’t just humans—even young animals instinctively hated him.
Right after Seohwa had disappeared for a while, thinking the side effects had finally worn off, he once tried to pet a newborn puppy that couldn’t even open its eyes yet.
But the puppy had foamed at the mouth and convulsed violently.
Seohwa had been so shocked he couldn’t even breathe for a moment.
He thought maybe the binding oath had stopped working.
If the mother dog hadn’t come over right after and licked his hand until it was soaked, he would’ve gone straight to look for Gaius Jung.
“A special memory means more when it’s not some bland C-rank Hunter, but the world’s strongest EX-rank Hunter helping them.”
“Contrary to your plan, that child didn’t recognize me.”
“They might not have known it was you, but they’ll remember the giant guy who helped them. Either way, one innocent kid is happy now. Happy ending, happy ending.”
Seohwa winked lightly with one eye.
Kang Yigeon said nothing.
They were about to head back to the room when he suddenly grabbed Seohwa’s wrist.
The strength of it made Seohwa flinch instinctively—it was strong enough to hurt.
* * *
