Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 161

Chapter 161

As if they had emerged from a year-end stage, they appeared shrouded in a blue light, still not revealing their identities. However, those in Kang Yoon-soo’s office did not guard against them. 

Normally, it would have been right to be cautious, even drawing weapons. But they had chosen peace instead of attack for one reason only. 

At the top of the blue light, there was a familiar figure proudly displaying itself. 

Arvani lifted his front paw high, squinting his eyes with a grin. Those who had supported him looked puzzled, their expressions faltering. 

Witnessing this, Kang Yoon-soo left only one comment. It was like the wicked laugh of a prankster that might occur once in a millennium.

* * *

After the abrupt appearance event had somewhat concluded, I awkwardly exchanged greetings with the people gathered in the office. 

Since then, I barely exchanged formal greetings with Mr. Kim Chok and the recruiter, whom I seemed to be meeting for the first time. But apart from them, the rest argued over who was closer to whom, pouring enthusiasm into displaying their friendships. 

“I haven’t seen you that much, our Yeon-oh… Seems less interested than I thought.” 

“…What? Hey, what does that mean, Seol-ah?” 

“You haven’t contacted me first since that day. I’ve asked you what you’re been up to whenever I had some spare time.” 

“Ahaha… I’ve been busy. A lot has happened since then.” 

“Still, it’s upsetting, it’s really upsetting.” 

Yoo Seol-ah revealed her dissatisfaction, even performing a tear-stealing performance with her sleeve. Understandably so, as after exchanging contact information for the first time, Yoo Seol-ah had expressed her feelings first by sending texts or a single emoticon whenever she had time. 

But… 

‘…I was busy too.’ 

With a series of events that were difficult to handle alone, I hadn’t properly replied or continued the contact.

The only person I could say barely maintained contact with was… Seung-hoo, perhaps. 

Anyway, I awkwardly smiled and comforted Yoo Seol-ah. Then she murmured, ‘Yeon-oh is a bad girl,’ and dashed towards the climax of tear acting. When sweat would be dripping down her back, Jung Tae-il sighed and pulled Yoo Seol-ah away from me. 

“Who is this? Isn’t it our Master who suddenly lost contact?” 

“…Yoo Seol-ah, stop it, Seo Yeon-oh will be embarrassed.” 

“…Hmm. Well, this should be enough teasing.” 

Yoo Seol-ah pushed Tae-il away regretfully and approached me again. Then she showed me a beautiful and elegant smile. 

“Yeon-oh, you have to reply promptly to my texts next time, okay?” 

“…Yes!” 

“If you ignore them again, I won’t let it slide this easily next time.” 

“…Okay!” 

“Good. Now, go, because someone over there seems to be waiting eagerly for you.”

Looking at what Yoo Seol-ah referred to as ‘over there,’ I swallowed hard. Strangely, even though ‘over there’ and I was in the same office, it felt like a different temperature and brightness.

What’s even more surprising is that the person creating that atmosphere is just one person. Exactly…

“…Seung-hoo.” 

“…….” 

“Seung-hoo, are you going to ignore me?” 

Han Seung-hoo kept his head turned away even though he knew I had approached. He had been glaring at me as if he could pierce through my back when I was talking to Yoo Seol-ah. 

‘…What should I do with Seung-hoo.’ 

…He’s strangely cute. 

If there was one person who persistently contacted me, it was Han Seung-hoo. But with the lack of timely communication for a while and the fact that he didn’t like Jung Tae-il, it was enough to cause trouble just with the two of us.

I understood, but it was still cute. 

I gently took Han Seung-hoo’s hand with the most melancholic voice I could muster. He flinched for a moment but didn’t pull his hand away. 

“There were circumstances. But are you going to ignore me because of that?” 

“…..” 

“Hmm?” 

“…The medicine isn’t for me, it’s for sister.” 

“…Me?” 

“Yes.” 

Finally turning his head to look at me, Han Seung-hoo muttered expressionlessly. To his firm response, I awkwardly laughed it off. Then Han Seung-hoo squeezed my hand, irritated. 

“It seems like I’m still a kid to sister.” 

“Well, you are kind of young.” 

“It’s just a two-year age difference.”

“Usually, that age difference makes the older one seem like a stickler.” 

“…Sister.” 

What I’m saying isn’t that. Han Seung-hoo grimaced in disgust. However, he didn’t let go of my hand. Instead of saying what he wanted to say, he said something else. 

“I won’t look at you next time either.”

“Hearing that repeatedly, I feel like I’ve become some kind of century-old libertine.” 

“It’s not wrong. This level of obsession is necessary to win sister’s heart.” 

“…Ahaha.” 

Suddenly becoming the notorious libertine, I sent a pleading look toward Jung Tae-il but was completely ignored. In the brief eye contact we shared, he seemed to agree with that sentiment as well. Realizing that there was no one to trust in this world, I quickly raised my voice to change the subject. 

“So why is everyone gathered here? Even if we say Arvani suddenly moved here, it’s surprising to see all these people gathered in one place.”

The people in the office, sensing my hurried attempt to change the topic, showed various reactions. 

Kang Yoon-soo and Jung Tae-il laughed, Seung-hoo sent a slightly annoyed and impatient glance as if asking where I was going, while Mr. Kim Chok and the recruiter didn’t seem particularly interested. Yoo Soo-hee and Yoo Seol-ah just seemed to find the situation amusing. 

It seemed like there was no one here to answer my question. But thankfully, Kang Yoon-soo took on the role of the savior. 

“Did you see the text I sent you, Ms. Yeon-oh?” 

“Ah, yes. I read the message and came here right away.”

“Then the conversation will be quick. As you, Yeon-oh, may have been feeling, the concentration of atmospheric mana has been soaring since the phenomenon of gold in the sky occurred.”

“…Ah.” 

I almost overlooked it due to its familiarity, but I realized Kang Yoon-soo’s words. The fact that the concentration of mana was much higher than usual. 

Since my house is a gate… I had been accustomed to living with the concentration of mana within the gate, so I hadn’t noticed this fact. 

I nodded with my lips bitten. Then, Mr. Kim Chok, who had been silent until now, continued with the next words.

“If this phenomenon had only occurred in Seoul, it might have been less severe. But the problem is that this phenomenon is happening in countries all over the world. People collapsing due to mana maladjustment are increasing, and at this rate, except for hunters, ordinary humans will all die.” 

Speaking nonchalantly as if mentioning someone else’s pet’s name, Mr. Kim Chok took out his tablet PC and showed some data. The data wasn’t properly organized, probably hastily put together, but it was evident that the situation was grave. Pictures showing severe gold in major cities or capitals as if a mirror had shattered over them were attached, with records below them about the abnormal phenomena occurring from the gates. 

It mentioned that these phenomena first occurred at lower-grade gates and had a 1 in 100 chance of connecting to higher-grade gates. Reading through them, I had some memories flicker in my mind. 

‘…The current phenomena… I’ve experienced them all.’ 

Once I encountered a Lich, and another time when I met a Red Dragon. I had experienced all the phenomena, and each time, dangerous things happened. Things that could only be resolved by risking my life.

If what is happening on Earth right now is on the same level as what I experienced… That was it. 

With a loud thud on the table, Mr. Kim Chok was looking at me with a stern gaze. His gaze, resembling that of a wild beast, seemed to penetrate my mind. 

“Seo Yeon-oh, do you know anything about this situation?” 

“.….”

“If you do, tell us right away.” 

It was nothing less than an interrogation implying that I must know the answer. Those focused on this conversation also understood it was an interrogation, yet they didn’t interject with other words. Because they also assumed I knew the answer, the pressure from their gazes made me bite my lip tightly. 

At that moment, a hand rested on my shoulder. I instinctively turned to confirm whose hand it was. A hand with thick bones but slender fingers.

It was a hand I had grown accustomed to seeing. 

At that moment, I realized one thing. That Jung Tae-il had been with me in every moment when I experienced these phenomena.