Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

“Considering this, isn’t it fate between you and me?”

…If this is fate, it’s kind of creepy.

Without any reaction from me, the other person continued to chatter with an even more cheerful smile.

“I regretted that I only heard your voice during our last call. It’s nice to meet like this. Well, it’s not just me who feels that way, right?”

He turned his head desolately, feigning disappointment.

However, despite his convincing acting, I remained vigilant and cautioned Kang Yoon-soo. Despite receiving some help from a familiar face…

“Mr. Kang Yoon-soo.”

“Yes, Ms. Seo Yeon-oh.”

“…Tell me the truth, Mr. Yoon-soo. Did you put a skill on me for location tracking?”

No, isn’t it suspicious that I encountered him as soon as I came out of the gate into the real world? Not a bit. It was very, very suspicious.

I hadn’t implanted a location tracker in my body, nor had I installed any app on my phone.

The circumstances here were so unusual, and…

When I stared at him with eyes full of suspicion, he casually shrugged.

“I told you before, Ms. Seo Yeon-oh, that I decided to catch that blond man you missed. How would that be possible?”

“……”

“Just kidding. I came out for a moment because I sensed the possibility of a gate opening nearby. Even if it were me, how could I always detect your mana every time?”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

He smiled coolly as if telling me not to worry. Although it was very suspicious, Kang Yoon-soo wasn’t an ordinary unemployed person, and it was unlikely that he was using a skill to find me every time.

I decided to let it go just this once.

Having confirmed that my guard was down, Kang Yoon-soo asked curiously.

“By the way, how was Ellie Kim? Has she returned now? If she uses Ms. Seo Yeon-oh’s ‘door,’ she should be able to return right away, right?”

“Ah, Ellie? Um… Mr. Yoon-soo was right; she’s a nice person. Being quirky is also charming. But Ellie is still at my place.”

“…?”

He made an expression that conveyed the question, ‘Why is she still at your place after so much time has passed since the call?’

Well, there were a lot of things that happened.

I didn’t need to explain everything to Kang Yoon-soo, so I gave a different answer.

“The reason I came here is also because of Ellie.”

“Hmm?”

“…Ellie said she wanted to try live octopus.”

Yes.

The place I was in right now was a fish market. Moreover, it was strategically located on the West Coast, making good use of the benefits of the ‘door leading to reality.’

As soon as the pests’ extermination project was over and it became the next day, she confidently told me that she wanted to try a live octopus.

“Yeon-oh! I want to try a live octopus! Last time, I couldn’t challenge it because I was too busy trying something!”

She was asking for it in exchange for lending me her mana… If there were no live octopuses, I’d have to catch at least three-footed octopuses, yum yum.

For this reason, after having a decent breakfast, I left Cha Jae-joon and Ellie Kim at home for a moment and went out. But as soon as I arrived here, I met Kang Yoon-soo, who knew that I had met Ellie Kim.

He might be tracking my location… well, I’ve explained it, so let’s move on for now.

Kang Yoon-soo still seemed to harbor the question ‘Why bother with a live octopus.’ Of course, even that was quickly nodded in agreement.

“Well, Ellie Kim likes challenges. She enjoys exploring unknown territories.”

“…So it seems.”

“In that sense, Ms. Yeon-oh must have gone through a lot with Ellie Kim. Ellie Kim is a person with a lot of curiosity. Even to me, who has experienced all sorts of things as a hunter, she is truly unique.”

“…Haha.”

I could only laugh at Kang Yoon-soo’s words which reminded me of my pal.

“Well, since we’ve met like this, let’s go buy live octopus together.”

“…Didn’t you say you have something to do?”

“Ms. Yeon-oh is more important, so it’s okay.”

“…You’re making jokes quite harshly.”

“Jokes? Ms. Yeon-oh, I am the master of ‘Janwol.’ Right now, the most important thing for me is to scout Ms. Yeon-oh for Janwol.”

…Ahaha, I see.

Kang Yoon-soo and I looked at each other and laughed lightly.

One wanted to quickly get out of this situation, and the other just enjoyed it.

…Darn it.

However, I couldn’t firmly say here, ‘This is a sensitive topic, so I would appreciate it if you could refrain a bit.’

‘…This is a mental battle.’

Here in this place, I would continue to be swayed by that cunning fox.

I absolutely cannot lose.

I employed the tactic I had learned over the years of facing superiors, which was to never agree immediately with their words.

“Oh, come on, what am I saying? Still, it’s an honor since Mr. Yoon-soo says so.”

“No big deal. The impressive one is Ms. Yeon-oh.”

“Hahaha.”

“Ahahaha.”

This person is not easy…

Will the day come in this life when I can beat Kang Yoon-soo in words?

Feeling unnecessarily frustrated, I bit my lip and forced a smile.

Upon this, Kang Yoon-soo covered his lips with his hand and let out a genuine smile.

“I think this every time, but Ms. Yeon-oh is truly an interesting person.”

“…Really?”

“I never know how you’ll behave. Even though I’ve dealt with various people, you always keep things interesting.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course.”

He casually shrugged his shoulders and said he would quickly introduce us to a place he knew well, where outsiders easily get lost, along with the saying that in such places, newcomers often become pawns.

He’s a person skilled in instantly redirecting the flow of conversation in the direction he desires. I sighed and stared at him as if urging him to lead.

Then, he smiled warmly and extended his hand to me, like a medieval knight escorting a princess.

“Shall we go to the headquarters?”

“……”

“Come on. The paths are confusing, and newcomers might get lost.”

“I’m not a child; I won’t get lost, will I?”

“It’s a habit. And I wanted to use this excuse at least once.”

How could I refuse his gentle words and laughter?

After silently throwing a tantrum inside, I gently took his hand. Kang Yoon-soo gripped it ever so slightly and started walking slowly.

As he said, the entrance to the store was hidden deep in the seafood market.

The restaurant located in a place not well-known to locals was a hidden gem, even at a glance.

It met the three major criteria of a great restaurant.

No signboard, a menu consisting of only three items, and a friendly owner who playfully teases customers about why they came.

‘Wow, I feel overwhelmed by the atmosphere.’

Having a shot of soju in a place like this would probably be enjoyable…

Without realizing it, my mouth watered. Whether he noticed it or not, Kang Yoon-soo chuckled beside me.

“Do you want to eat first?”

“Oh… no. Ellie is waiting for me at home.”

“You can call and let them know.”

“I can’t keep a guest waiting. Arvani is probably missing me too.”

“…Too bad.”

Leaving him behind, looking genuinely disappointed, I placed an order for a live octopus to go. It was much cheaper than the usual price I paid, a secret I was surprised about.

As we left the store with my hands full, Kang Yoon-soo looked at me as if expecting something.

“Thanks for introducing me to this great place. I appreciate it.”

“Well, then invite me too. Seung-hoo and Tae-il have been there again, you know.”

“Has it already reached Mr. Yoon-soo’s ears?”

“Seung-hoo was bragging about it.”

“Oh…”

Despite getting a live octopus at a discounted price thanks to his recommendation, ignoring him as he hinted at an invitation made me feel a pang of guilt.

‘…I still have Cha Jae-joon at home.’

Since the two of them met last time, it should be okay, right?

After a brief hesitation, I nodded.

“Okay. I’ll invite you to the octopus party.”

“Thanks for the invitation.”

“…Just keep it a secret from Seung-hoo. If he finds out, we might have to throw another party.”

“Got it. Seung-hoo tends to get jealous.”

He lightly nodded and playfully raised his little finger to me.

Sigh, more guests to handle.

Will there ever be a day when no guests come to this place?

I was lamenting my fate when it happened.

“…!”

A powerful mana wave was felt nearby.

Even Kang Yoon-soo, sensitive to mana, turned his head toward where the wave was coming from with a serious expression, indicating that something sudden had occurred.

‘…He said he came because he thought a gate would open here.’

Moreover, if I could sense it, it was likely a gate of quite a high level…

Confirming my thoughts, Kang Yoon-soo opened his mouth with a serious tone.

“…Ms. Yeon-oh, go back home first…”

But his words didn’t come to a proper conclusion.

Because…

“Aaargh!”

“…Darn it!”

A gate had appeared in a completely different direction from where the wave was sensed.