Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 150

Chapter 150

What kind of wordplay is this…?

Of course, I understand that a portable tent is designed to be convenient for mobility. But isn’t it a bit far-fetched to think it can move to different places?

‘…I’ve experienced it before, but I can’t understand the system.’

They always push me into dangerous situations, but then they offer something good when I need it. It’s perplexing whether I should consider them on my side or view them as enemies.

“…Is it just my misconception that the system seems strange today?”

It’s strangely kind to me… Perhaps that’s how I should describe it.

Of course, I know there are administrators in the system. And that they and I have a certain level of understanding.

But the system, which has undergone such a difficult reboot, feels completely different from before. It feels like there’s a completely different administrator…? Or perhaps it’s more like the feeling that the system moves according to my will.

For example, if I suddenly shout, “I want to eat ice cream!” here, it feels like the system might just grant it without question.

Unlike before, where I had to complete quests of considerable difficulty to get the rewards I wanted.

“Hmm.”

Should I ask Allen about the system when I get home? I clenched my lips and furrowed my brow. I knew well that pondering alone here wouldn’t lead me to an answer… And I didn’t have much time left, so I quickly dismissed the thought.

Anyway.

I must find a way back…

“Well, let’s head home for now.”

There’s about 10 seconds left.

I hastily threw the tent into the air. It was a very convenient tent that could be set up with just one touch.

Whish! The tent made a loud noise as it was installed near me. At the same time, the system window appeared before me.

[Would you like to move using the ‘Portable Tent’ installed here?

YES/NO

Note: The ‘Portable Tent’ installed here will be recovered to the inventory upon movement.]

The system window with the desired prompt shone brightly as if it wanted praise. Simultaneously, the darkness around me seemed to retreat from the light emitted by the system window.

Thanks to that, I now realized that the ground I was standing on was gray.

I grabbed Evan’s arm, which was lying on the ground, and supported him before softly replying to the system window.

“YES.”

Then, the entrance of the tent opened smoothly. To be more precise, it opened wide like the mouth of a monster house.

And then…

“Ahh!”

It swallowed Evan and me.

Contrary to the expected darkness and dampness, a bright and warm light enveloped my body. I couldn’t help but close my eyes in the familiarity that felt like something I had felt once before… or rather, like something that had been with me all my life.

Wrapped in cozy fluff, I felt like I was falling somewhere. Even though I had my eyes closed, I could sense the light changing around me.

At the same time, it became vividly clear to me which direction the wind was blowing, what the air contained, and even how the water moved. It felt as if the owner of this place was me, just for a moment. 

Boom! Along with a massive shock felt in my buttocks, everything that had warmly enveloped me vanished in an instant. 

The ecstatic sensations disappeared, leaving only a force that prevented me from breathing properly. Yes, this familiar dark mana… 

“…Hah.” 

I must have arrived safely. I opened my closed eyes and surveyed my surroundings.

“No, if you were going to move me, you could have at least brought me inside the tent… Do you have to make me land on my rear end again?” 

My buttocks are going to be bruised… The tent erected on top of the box containing the Black Ego Sword was wide open and grinning widely. It seemed like I had been bounced out and landed awkwardly on my rear end. 

Thankfully, I could count myself lucky. Even though Evan looked like his face had fallen apart. 

I softly apologized to him for ruining his face, which was like a piece of art. Then, I casually took out my phone from the inventory. I usually kept it in my pocket, but I always stored it in the inventory during battles or when riding Arvani. 

Even though it would be automatically restored… It’s still upsetting to see it broken. Plus, there’s a higher chance of losing it than breaking it, so I kept it safely stored in the inventory. 

“It’s fine to keep it in the inventory… but it’s so inconvenient not being able to check messages on time.” 

…Sigh, I’ve become dependent on it. While others were throwing tantrums over not being able to use it in the first place, I thought to myself that it had been a long time since I had looked at my phone, as I turned it on the bright screen revealed a bunch of missed messages.

And there were quite a few of them. 

“But they’re all from the same person. What could have happened?” 

I hurriedly checked the messages. The worried expression on my face gradually turned into a relieved smile. 

“Seung-hoo is so cute. Just because I didn’t respond for a little while, he’s texting and calling like this.” 

I started by quickly reading the first message sent by Han Seung-hoo. 

At first, it was just like usual, expressing his worries and saying he wanted to see me. But as I read further, I could feel something was off. 

[Are you very busy right now?] 

[When can you be reached? Did you happen to delete my number?] 

[Sister Yeonoh.] 

[Sister, I heard you met Jung Ta-eil. I want to go to Sister too. Today, work ended quickly for the first time in a long while so I can come now……]

[…Why aren’t you answering? Did something happen?]

[It’s frustrating. I’m in a situation where I can’t run to you, Sister… Why is your house inside a gate….] 

Seung-hoo sent messages every thirty minutes. And the last message made me even more dumbfounded.

[It had been a whole day since we last contacted each other. Is something wrong? …I’m worried. Please respond as soon as you see my message, Sister Yeon-oh.]

Han Seung-hoo’s earnest words not only made me stare blankly at my phone but there was also another reason.

“…A whole day?” 

Does that even make sense? The fact that time had passed ridiculously quickly left me feeling bewildered. It hadn’t even been five minutes since I landed in Inu’s space. Yet, a whole day had passed…

“…Considering that Seung-hoo’s messages had been accumulating before this… Could it have been around 12 hours there?” 

…Even thinking about it like this doesn’t make sense, right? Is this some sort of interstellar thing? Am I supposed to experience relativity here? Ugh, what’s going on? I rubbed my head roughly and immediately contacted Jung Tae-il. It rang only twice before I heard Jung Tae-il’s voice.

– …Seo Yeon-oh.

“Ah, Mr. Tae-il. Could you come pick me up?”

– Right now…? Haa… Are you hurt anywhere?

“…T-There’s something you need to know about where I’ve been. Didn’t Allen tell you where I went?”

– …Yeah.

“Don’t worry, Allen wouldn’t put me in danger, not as long as he had something he wanted from me.”

– …You seem completely unaware of what’s happened to you.

Jung Tae-il let out a deep sigh. It was a sigh that seemed to contain words he wanted to say but was holding back.

“…What do you mean?”

– Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up, so tell me.

“…I’m where the Black Ego Sword is, but I’m not the only one.”

– …Haa. Wait, I’ll be there soon.

Before I could say anything else, the call ended. He still just says what he wants to say and hangs up. I lowered and raised my phone, thinking. I remembered I hadn’t sent a message to Han Seung-hoo yet.

Hastily, I moved to the messaging app and started typing frantically.

[Seung-hoo, sorry, it was a situation where contacting was difficult. I’m sorry for making you worry.]

Even after pressing send after typing an appropriate message, I couldn’t easily put down my phone due to a nagging feeling. So, I added some more words and sent it.

[It’s difficult to contact right now, so I’ll call you when I have time later, Seung-hoo.]

“…Is this enough?”

In truth, there was another message that I hadn’t sent, which I had hesitated to send. It was something about wanting to see him or show him my face.

With my current situation, I didn’t have the luxury to deeply contemplate anyone. Therefore, I didn’t want to leave any room for Han Seung-hoo, who had feelings for me.

It felt like needlessly torturing with hope.

“Hah. This is probably why I’ve never been in a relationship.”

I want to quickly escape from this endless swamp of incidents. Then, I’ll be able to think differently.

I sighed deeply as I put my phone back into the inventory. Then, I flipped Evan, who was still face-down on the ground. I wiped his dirt-covered face with my sleeve and sat down next to him.

Surely, Jung Tae-il would be coming soon on Arvani.

I planned to sit here for a while.

Shortly after, there was a loud noise!

With a loud cry, Jung Tae-il leaped from the air. Overjoyed, I raised one arm to greet him. Surely, as soon as Jung Tae-il saw my face, he would start nagging me as usual. Anticipating the familiar flow of events, I looked at Jung Tae-il, who landed firmly on the ground.

And then…

“……!”

He hugged me tightly.

In an instant.