* * *
“Hello, Hunter Kim Jinsoo. Have you been well?”
A deep voice echoed in his ear, prompting Doyoung to momentarily pull the smartphone away before bringing it back. He then began speaking.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been truly living comfortably! Since quitting, I’ve been sleeping an average of ten hours a day, and my condition is fantastic.”
An image of a fluffy-eared dog wagging its tail popped into Doyoung’s mind.
‘He’d get along well with Yeo Giwon.’
The only difference was their size, but their overall vibe was strikingly similar.
Doyoung’s lips curled into a smile, and the mirth naturally crept into his tone.
“I heard the news. You quit, right? I was so surprised when I heard you submitted your resume to our guild.”
“Yeah, there were some complications after the last dungeon incident.”
“What kind of complications?”
Though he had some guesses, Doyoung feigned ignorance, prompting Jinsoo to enthusiastically recount what had transpired before he left the government organization.
“Chief Park, who handled dungeon exploration, was reassigned to another location. Turns out he’d been losing a lot of money on illegal betting sites and was covering it up with bribes.”
“Really?”
“Yes! But the place he’s been sent to is so remote that we jokingly call it ‘exile.’”
Hearing that, Doyoung’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Learning that things had gone as planned through someone else’s words gave him a sense of pride.
Moreover, the location where Chief Park had been sent was notorious for being nearly impossible to return from once assigned.
Doyoung had personally ensured it would be a permanent placement.
“And when my senior from the same team was transferred to another department, I felt like a duckling abandoned in the middle of the river.”
“That kind of situation would make anyone feel uneasy.”
“Exactly. The new person is nice, but they’re the type who doesn’t do anything, which is frustrating in its own way.”
“At times like that, you could just think of it as getting paid for minimal work.”
“But as a hunter, I have responsibilities to uphold.”
“So you quit and immediately submitted your resume to Chunho, along with some incredible information.”
Though it seemed like Jinsoo had been swept up in the aftermath of dealing with Chief Park, it wasn’t a bad outcome for Doyoung either.
Especially when Beom Sinje was planning on making an impulsive move, like now.
“Did that help?”
“Oh, absolutely. Thanks to you, the guild is preparing to send someone to investigate directly.”
“Oh no, did I make too big of a fuss?!”
It was true to some extent.
If Jinsoo hadn’t disclosed information about the biological experiments conducted at the lab, Beom Sinje probably wouldn’t have decided to venture so far.
“Thanks to you, we can verify things in advance, so it’s not a bad thing. By the way, when can you start?”
“What? Did I get the job?”
It seemed obvious, but was it not?
Jinsoo’s question left Doyoung momentarily confused.
He’d assumed that Jinsoo’s hiring was a given after seeing the positive reaction within the guild.
But he quickly realized his assumption was wrong when he spoke with Beom Sinje, who had just finished a meeting with government officials after Doyoung ended his call with Jinsoo.
“You’re still debating whether to hire Hunter Kim Jinsoo?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t the information he provided already prove his value?”
Perplexed, Doyoung asked, but all he got in return was a silent, piercing gaze.
A gaze that seemed to carry some reproach, leaving him utterly bewildered.
“Did you know he mentioned during his interview that you personally scouted him?”
“Oh, I heard.”
Doyoung didn’t think much of it. In fact, bringing in talent was something the guild should celebrate, wasn’t it?
Besides, Kim Jinsoo was set to become an irreplaceable asset to Beom Sinje.
“Did you really recommend him?”
What was this?
Why did Beom Sinje sound accusatory?
Doyoung couldn’t understand, but the sharpness in Beom Sinje’s gaze unmistakably conveyed dissatisfaction.
“What’s with you? Did I do something wrong?”
“…No.”
If not, then why the sigh and the face-rubbing?
Doyoung had no idea what was causing this reaction.
“I heard he left the government properly, following all official procedures. Plus, it’s not unusual for people to join private guilds after quitting there.”
“That’s true. It’s even beneficial for him to join us rather than someone else.”
So what’s the issue?
“Then why won’t you approve his hiring?”
Unable to comprehend, Doyoung eventually asked directly.
Normally decisive, Beom Sinje hesitated this time, merely rubbing his lips in silence.
“Well, whatever. It’s the guild master’s decision. I shouldn’t meddle. But I’ll say this—Jinsoo is far more capable than most hunters.”
Since pressing further seemed futile, Doyoung decided to back off.
Instead, he succinctly explained why Jinsoo’s recruitment was vital.
“As mentioned in his resume, he’s skilled with machines. And most importantly, his weapon-crafting abilities are exceptional.”
Leaning in close, Doyoung whispered to ensure no one else overheard.
This was information only he knew.
“If you’re still hesitant, you’re an idiot.”
Thinking that, he stared intently at Beom Sinje, whose brow twitched.
Still, his expression showed lingering dissatisfaction.
“You seem to know Kim Jinsoo well.”
What now? That was an odd question.
“What?”
“I mean, how do you two know each other? Don’t tell me you’ve known him for ages.”
“What nonsense—”
Doyoung stopped mid-sentence.
The suspicion in Beom Sinje’s gaze was unmistakable.
“Seriously? Did you think he was my former subordinate or something?”
“It’s just… you seem too familiar for someone you supposedly met during a dungeon incident.”
“What?”
Doyoung let out a scoff, utterly dumbfounded.
How Beom Sinje had arrived at such a notion was beyond him, but the fact that he considered Doyoung capable of such scheming was infuriating.
“What, so you think I planted a spy or something?”
“That’s not—”
Beom Sinje’s defensive tone faltered as he noticed Doyoung’s expression—a hardened face and icy eyes, clearly upset.
No, there was also a trace of disappointment.
“Listen, I never thought you’d still see me that way. Then again, I guess that’s why I stayed by your side in the first place. Fine, I get it.”
“Wait, no, that’s not—!”
Realizing his mistake, Beom Sinje reached out for Doyoung’s slender shoulder, only for Doyoung to step back swiftly, avoiding his grasp.
“Well, this just proves I should accompany the guild master on overseas missions. As I said before, someone needs to keep an eye on you, right? To make sure you’re not up to anything.”
Even his casual tone shifted, now distant and formal.
This change threw Beom Sinje off further, and he anxiously observed Doyoung’s now calm demeanor—ironically, a clear sign of his anger.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… you haven’t known Jinsoo for long, yet you act like you know him so well.”
Beom Sinje found himself at a loss, overwhelmed by frustration and confusion.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to admit his true thoughts to Doyoung.
He told himself it was jealousy, that it bothered him to see Doyoung paying attention to someone else, just like he used to care for him.
“So, what you’re saying is, that’s why you doubted me.”
Unable to admit the truth, Beom Sinje couldn’t resolve Doyoung’s misunderstanding.
“No, this is just my problem. You don’t need to think about it that way.”
“What exactly is your problem? That you can’t stop doubting me?”
“That’s not it.”
* * *
