* * *

Looking at me differently? Did he mean that?

If Baek Gunho’s words were true, then he must not feel this way about just any friend.

In a way, that was reassuring.

But if it was purely physical attraction, it wasn’t something I could be happy about either…

“There’s no rush. Take your time to think about it.”

Even though it had seemed like Baek Gunho was ready to settle things right then and there, he stepped back.

I wasn’t sure if I should feel relieved.

It only made me more conscious of him.

At some point, Baek Gunho picked up his fallen cap and mask, putting them back on.

He climbed into the driver’s seat, started the car, and said casually, “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Home, of course.”

Right, he had said he’d pretend to be injured for a while.

Given the situation, he couldn’t exactly head to the guild or his place.

Looking closer, the car wasn’t even Baek Gunho’s.

It was probably a company car or one borrowed from someone else.

His own car would draw too much attention in a situation like this.

Thinking about how he’d shoved me into a borrowed car to pull such stunts made my face heat up.

What a crazy bastard…

“How did you even get out at this hour?”

“I took half a day off.”

“Convenient. Guess we can head back together, then.”

Naturally, Baek Gunho drove us to my place.

While some people might know he visited often, he still took precautions, only removing his cap and mask once we were inside.

Baek Gunho tugged me over to the couch and sat me down.

“Wait here for a second.”

He headed to the kitchen and came back with a cup of warm tea.

Its sweet aroma filled the air.

I hadn’t even realized we had tea like this in the house.

Sipping the slightly hot tea, I set it down after a few sips.

“Feeling calmer now?”

“…I wasn’t that startled to begin with.”

Baek Gunho let out a disbelieving chuckle.

“You’re the type to cry even over nothing, Heewon.”

“Shut up.”

Would it kill him to pretend he didn’t notice?

Baek Gunho smirked at my irritation and stood up.

“I’m going to make a quick call.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

As the guild leader, Baek Gunho must have left the Somang Guild in chaos by getting injured.

He wouldn’t be able to stay idle for long.

Even if he couldn’t act directly, he could still give orders behind the scenes.

I sipped the tea again.

Even though I’d acted all tough, claiming I wasn’t shaken, my nerves were shot, and I felt drained.

I decided to take a shower to snap myself out of it, but the reflection staring back at me was a mess—tear-streaked and disheveled.

The thought of Baek Gunho finding this attractive made me want to curse.

What a lunatic.

There had to be a limit to spouting nonsense…

Even after the shower, my energy didn’t return.

Lying on the couch, I felt like doing nothing but drifting off.

After a while, Baek Gunho returned from the other room.

“Mind if I bring Jung Eunji over for a bit?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Before long, Jung Eunji arrived, carrying a juice gift set she didn’t need to bring.

She handed it to me and scanned me with a worried expression.

“Heewon, are you okay? You must’ve been so scared.”

“He was bawling his eyes out in worry for me.”

“What? You cried, Heewon? Really?”

Eunji’s dramatic reaction made me want to bury myself in the couch.

“For Baek Gunho? He’s not worth your tears, Heewon.”

Was that supposed to comfort me…?

Why did Baek Gunho always say unnecessary things?

He wasn’t even a talkative guy normally, but he just had to harp on about me crying.

It was infuriating.

“Is that the reason…?”

Seriously, why does Baek Gunho keep saying unnecessary things?

He wasn’t usually talkative, yet he made a point to emphasize that he cried. It was irritating.

“This is Hunter Seo Heewon’s place, huh…”

Jung Eunji glanced around as if she found the place fascinating.

“Hmm, as expected,” she murmured in admiration, though I had no idea what specifically impressed her.

After a brief look around, Jung Eunji signaled Baek Gunho with her eyes.

“Heewon, I’ll borrow Baek Gunho for a moment.”

“Wait. Let me explain to Heewon first.”

“Explain what?”

“The Black Sea Guild’s statement.”

“Oh, that… Hmm, right. He’ll find out anyway once the embargo is lifted.”

Speaking in their own coded language, Jung Eunji pulled out her phone.

“It’s the statement the Black Sea Guild issued after bombing our guild master. It goes, ‘We will sacrifice everything for the god, and the god will save everything.’ That’s what they said.”

“…”

“I don’t get it at all.”

Neither do I.

Completely insane.

Sacrifice everything for a god?

They’re a bunch of fanatics.

No wonder they’ve teamed up with the Baekmyeon Sect.

“They’re just spewing nonsense.”

Baek Gunho’s brief comment on being bombed was dry.

Jung Eunji nodded in agreement.

“Agreed. Well, the Hunter Management Agency is in chaos, though.”

“Of course.”

“It looks like you won’t get any rest. People are too on edge.”

“…”

“Our guild’s stock is plummeting, too.”

Jung Eunji sighed heavily.

She didn’t seem pleased with Baek Gunho’s decision to fake being injured as a cover for taking time off.

With the Black Sea Guild releasing such an ominous statement, there was no way Baek Gunho could insist on resting.

After all, he’s the strongest hunter in the country.

If word got out that even Baek Gunho was taken down by the Black Sea Guild and lying in bed, people would naturally panic.

“Fine. Say I’m recovering and that it’s nothing serious.”

“Sure, sure. That’s the right approach.”

Jung Eunji, looking satisfied, immediately made a call.

After giving short instructions, she hung up and turned to smile at me.

“Then I’ll have a quick chat with Baek Gunho.”

“Don’t leave. It’s dangerous.”

Baek Gunho’s gaze was serious.

This wasn’t just his usual overprotectiveness.

The Black Sea Guild, which had been quiet so far, was finally taking action.

Since they believe I’m their god, I’ll inevitably be affected by their movements.

“Got it. I wasn’t planning to go out anyway.”

My answer made Baek Gunho smile contentedly before he followed Jung Eunji into his private room.

Left alone, I turned on the TV. Every channel was discussing today’s bombing.

Apparently, the attack was a remotely detonated bomb that had been pre-installed.

The bomber got lucky—the explosion happened close enough to injure Baek Gunho.

The blast destroyed everything nearby.

Fortunately, Baek Gunho was working alone.

If it had been an ordinary hunter, they might have died.

Panels on TV debated Baek Gunho’s condition and how the Hunter Management Agency should respond.

As I half-listened, breaking news came in: Baek Gunho was recovering well and would soon be back on his feet.

“That’s a relief. I knew Hunter Baek Gunho would be fine.”

“Given his usual capabilities, it’s hard to imagine an injury of that scale causing significant harm.”

Seeing the previously serious commentators genuinely relieved lifted my spirits a bit, but only momentarily.

What on earth is the Black Sea Guild thinking?

They claim I’m their god, yet they target someone closest to me with a bombing?

“Sacrifice everything for the god,” they say.

They tried to kill one of the two most important people in my life.

If they’d said they’d take everything away from me, I might have understood.

This is absurd.

If they came here, I’d grab them by the collar and shake them… Instead, they pull stunts like this from the shadows.

A sudden wave of worry washed over me, and I immediately called Uncle.

Thankfully, he answered quickly.

“─Heewon?”

“Uncle, are you all right?”

“─Of course. Are you worried?”

“Yes.”

If the Black Sea Guild is targeting those close to me, Uncle is just as much at risk.

I heaved a sigh of relief but couldn’t feel entirely reassured.

“─Don’t worry. I’ve taken enough precautions for any situation, so there’s no need to be concerned.”

“That’s a relief…”

“─Are you at work?”

“No, I took half a day off and came home with Baek Gunho.”

“─Good. Stay with Gunho.”

“Yes, I will.”

“─All right, then. I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now.”

“Okay. Take care.”

Uncle hung up in a hurry, probably because he was busy.

I’d called to check on him, but somehow, it felt like I’d been the one being reassured instead.

Still, it was a relief to know he was safe.

“Ha…”

I had so much on my mind, but I felt drowsy as the tension ebbed away.

I glared at the TV to stay awake, but eventually, I fell asleep.

---

It’s a dream…

A vivid dream, as real as the hallucinations I saw recently.

I thought Baek Gunho was standing before me as usual, but he wasn’t.

The figure in front of me… was someone I’d only seen in photos: Lee Jaehee.

Kneeling on one knee, Lee Jaehee stared up at me with fervent eyes.

It should have been overwhelming, yet dream-me gazed down at him without a hint of discomfort.

“Heewon.”

“…”

Lee Jaehee crawled closer on his knees and cautiously grasped my hand.

Only then did I notice I was wearing gloves.

Lee Jaehee gently pressed his lips to the glove.

I looked at him with disdain, but I didn’t stop him.

If he’d asked for more, I might have killed him, but this despicable bastard never dared cross that line.

* * *