* * *
Wolf wore an exaggeratedly surprised expression as he watched the flames circling him threateningly.
“I was only joking. You really intend to fight?”
“…….”
“Alright, I surrender. It was my fault for playing a prank on a boring man who can’t take a joke as a joke.”
Wolf raised both hands. Only then did the blue flames subside.
“Be on your way then. I’ll be on mine once I’ve seen you two off.”
Seohwa pulled on Kang Yigeon’s arm.
Protecting her, he slowly retreated backward.
Wolf stood exactly where he was, eyes wide and watching intently—as if he could recognize her the moment a finger or a hem of her clothing peeked out from behind that massive frame.
It was the most thrilling moment of the day.
‘Wait.’
Suddenly, Seohwa stopped walking. Kang Yigeon stopped as well and looked back at her.
Seohwa narrowed her eyes and sent him a look that said: ‘That foreign brat just broke into our National Hunter Headquarters and is trying to destroy part of our national protection system! As a Korean, I cannot stand for this!’
Whether he understood her silent message or not, Kang Yigeon let out a small sigh.
Seohwa stealthily picked up a rolling pebble from the ground.
“Why stop? Have you had a change of heart and want to introduce yourselves? I’m always welcome.”
Of course, we also just came from destroying part of our country’s system ourselves.
But it’s okay for us, and not okay for others.
It’s the rule: I can look down on and mistreat my family, but I get pissed off if someone else does it.
Ever the patriot, Seohwa—who couldn’t stand an overseas hunter strolling in and out of a key state institution like it was a picnic—flicked the pebble into the headquarters grounds.
Kwang!
It wasn’t a random throw; it struck the security item in front of the equipment room with pinpoint accuracy.
“Intruder!”
“I heard a noise over there!”
“Activate the shields!”
In an instant, a silver-gray shield shimmered into existence.
“Dear me. And here I thought we were comrades.”
Wolf lamented with a voice full of resentment.
From behind Kang Yigeon’s back, Seohwa peeked out her hand just enough to raise her middle finger.
“Interesting. Truly interesting!”
Hahahaha!
Wolf burst into thunderous, boisterous laughter before vanishing into the darkness to avoid the approaching agents.
Seohwa and Kang Yigeon also cleared the area before the agents could rush out.
Between the night and dawn, just as the sun began to show its face, the two packed their bags and left the villa.
Seohwa lightly tapped the cute, round animal sculpture at the villa’s entrance.
“I’ll miss this. I wonder when we’ll come back.”
“We will return soon.”
‘I hope so. It would be nice if it were soon.’
-Ggyuu.
Kobami, hanging onto her finger, ducked into her sleeve, complaining of the cold.
Even in midsummer, the seaside at dawn is quite chilly.
“Do you want to go into the Inventory?”
-Ggyu-iiing.
Usually, when it was cold, the snake would happily go into the Inventory, but it seemed to refuse this time.
Seohwa moved Kobami into the front pocket of her outer coat.
“I wondered why you brought a coat; so that’s what it was for.”
“Our Kobami catches chills easily. Even in the middle of summer, as soon as the sun goes down, it starts chirping and digging into my clothes.”
“It takes after its owner.”
“Wow. I’m not that bad.”
“For an S-rank Awakened, you do tend to feel the cold quite a bit.”
“That’s true. I’ll have to stick close to Mr. Kang Yigeon and steal your warmth.”
Seohwa clung tightly to Kang Yigeon’s thick forearm. He lifted his arm to make it easier for her to hold.
Once he actually made the posture comfortable for her, she felt self-conscious and let go.
As if he had expected that, the corners of Kang Yigeon’s mouth turned up slightly.
“Let’s go by the gravel path. I like the sound of stepping on gravel.”
“Yes. I know. That is why I made a gravel path.”
Seohwa’s eyes went wide.
“How did you know? I never told you.”
“You did. When we made the oath with Guys Jung.”
Hearing that, the memory flashed back instantly.
‘I really love this sound. It feels like walking on a pretty path made of gravel. It goes click-clack. It’s clear and lovely.’
It was a time when passersby would spit at Seohwa, yet she was being applauded.
When the Hate phenomenon was at its peak. Back then, Kang Yigeon had replied:
‘I will buy you something similar later, so focus for now.’
How shocked she had been.
He was surprised at himself, she was surprised, and everyone else was aghast, while only Guys Jung watched with sparkling blue eyes, finding the scene fascinating.
“I have also purchased several keyboards that make a similar sound. They are at the house in Seoul.”
“I’ll have to go see them sometime.”
“Whenever you like.”
“So confident. Maybe I’ll drop by abruptly at dawn to startle you.”
“By all means.”
Seohwa decided then and there to time her visit for when he was showering.
No matter how thick-skinned a man decided to be, he wouldn’t be able to help being flustered then.
The gravel path ended, leading to the gate connecting the villa garden to the beach.
“I’ll do it here.”
“Yes.”
Using Skill [Magician’s Door].
‘I want to save a new location.’
All three slots are saved.
Which location would you like to replace?
1. Home
2. Pacific Island
3. Hunter Center Infirmary
‘I’ll delete the Center Infirmary.’
Saving to Slot 3.
What is the name of the new location?
‘…….’
‘Should I call it a Safe House? Or just the Villa?’
Seohwa pondered for a moment before deciding.
‘The White Villa by the Sea.’
Current location saved to Slot 3 as ‘The White Villa by the Sea’.
It’s such a beautiful place.
I want to see it often ⋆͛♡⋆͛
“It’s done. Let’s go now.”
“The sun is about to rise. Shall we watch it before we go?”
“Ah, we can’t miss that.”
The two decided to watch the sunrise over the ocean one last time before leaving.
As Seohwa buttoned her front pocket to keep the sea breeze out, she suddenly realized something.
“Even though we were together for five days and four nights, this is the first time we’ve watched the sunrise since the first day.”
“I suppose it is.”
“Even newlyweds wouldn’t have been hotter than us. Don’t you think?”
“I found it insufficient.”
He certainly looked it.
If she hadn’t begged him to stop at the end, she probably wouldn’t even be able to stand right now.
‘Would I have had to call Cho Wookwon?’
Being choked, spanked, or forcefully suppressed—Seohwa had masochistic tastes for such things, but she had never considered dying from exhaustion in bed.
“Let’s do 50 days and 49 nights next time.”
“Yes.”
She said it as a light joke, but seeing Kang Yigeon nod with such dead seriousness made Seohwa a little bit afraid.
On this beautiful beach, which felt too precious to be private land, there was a white bench in a spot with a perfect view.
Seohwa sat down first, followed by Kang Yigeon; they were close enough for their shoulders to touch.
A smile escaped her at the cute flirting.
The sea breeze wasn’t harsh. It was just enough to lightly ruffle her hair. The waves rolled in softly, wetting the sand, and red clouds reflected on the surface of the water like spilled paint.
Slowly, the sun rose over the vast horizon.
As the light lifted its head, declaring it was its turn, the darkness quietly bowed and retreated.
A flock of seagulls, starting their day early, flew over the sea.
Someone might say those birds were a distraction to the beautiful scenery, but right now, those seagulls were a flourish that Mother Nature had painted with great care to enhance the sunrise.
The cool breeze and golden sun, the waves tickling the shore, and the birds crying in the distance.
When they first arrived.
And now as they were about to leave.
It was dawn.
“It is beautiful.”
“Yes… it really is.”
“I will never forget the experience of seeing two dawns here with you.”
His voice was so full of wonder that Seohwa couldn’t help but turn to look at him.
The sunlight softly enveloped his strong, masculine profile and jawline.
His jet-black hair shimmered like a night sky full of stars under the brilliant morning rays, and his purple eyes were filled with nothing but hope for the future.
Sensing her gaze, Kang Yigeon smiled and met her eyes.
His eyes were full of nothing but happiness without a trace of anxiety, but seeing Seohwa’s expression, a look of confusion crossed them.
“Why do you have that expression?”
“What kind of expression do I have?”
“Tell me yourself. What kind of expression is it?”
If you ask what I’m feeling right now…
“You know, I…”
She thought about not saying it, as it felt like it would ruin the mood.
But Kang Yigeon gazed at her with a tender, firm look that gave her courage.
If his eyes had only held tenderness, or only firmness, she would never have uttered it.
Because they held both, she opened her mouth.
“Why do I feel so uneasy?”
“…….”
“It feels like it’s the last time. Like I won’t be able to come here again. Like nature is giving me a parting gift.”
“…….”
“Because it’s so beautiful… I keep having thoughts like that.”
The moment she said it, she regretted it.
Voicing negative emotions only increases the number of negative people to two.
‘I should have held it in.’
Kang Yigeon looked at her silently with an unreadable gaze before taking Seohwa’s hand, which was resting on her knee.
“It is alright. Even if you have such thoughts.”
His eyes, his hand, and his voice were all filled with warmth.
He seemed like a man who always carried the dawn within him.
“To me, this feels like the beginning of peace.”
An ominous end and the beginning of peace.
Even while looking at the same scenery, their hearts were so very different.
* * *
