Hunters Keep Coming To My House - Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Meanwhile, inside a dark warehouse where no light entered.

One person furrowed their brow, wearing a serious expression, while the other person was grinning broadly.

It wasn’t clear what was so amusing about that.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I laugh because I want to. Do I need permission for that?”

“…There must be a reason for your laughter.”

“I’m just finding this situation amusing.”

“…”

“How could she disappear so smoothly? I’ve never missed someone I marked even once.”

This person who fueled such a competitive spirit was probably a first.

Seated on a large box in the warehouse, the recruiter swung his legs back and forth, letting out an unpleasant smile.

Kim Chok couldn’t help but sigh at the innocent behavior. To proceed with the task, they needed to involve Seo Yeon-oh, but the recruiter, having failed in that regard, was confidently laughing.

“So, what’s the plan? Even if you hadn’t failed to chase Seo Yeon-oh, the situation wouldn’t have become this complicated.”

“I never said I failed.”

“Really?”

“I said I missed her. Seo Yeon-oh is inside the gate now. I missed her because I couldn’t follow.”

“…”

“Oh, I knew it.”

He thought he would be surprised and fall backward. Disappointed, the recruiter, who had been waiting for that emotionless face to crumble, muttered as if regretful.

“Even if you knew, it doesn’t change the fact that you failed.”

“I didn’t say it was a failure.”

“Huh, then what do you call this? Success?”

“I didn’t say it was a success either.”

“Are you playing word games with me now?”

Kim Chok blinked his eyes, growling like a beast. The recruiter, still wearing an unpleasant expression, didn’t care.

“It’s just on hold. Why can’t you understand my words? Is your government-trained ear that dull? Can’t comprehend unless it’s from a superior? Is that it?”

“…You seem to want to die.”

“Mr. Kim Chok can’t kill me.”

He chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand. The desire to grab his neck and twist it was overwhelming, but Kim Chok only clenched his fist.

As the recruiter had said, Kim Chok couldn’t kill him.

Even though their understanding of each other seemed aligned, it was not the recruiter but Kim Chok who held the upper hand. 

Kim Chok couldn’t move freely, partly due to the government’s influence, while Guinza had the freedom to act. This might be why he was willing to accept illegal activities without hesitation.

Kim Chok exerted pressure, fully aware of this, radiating energy that kept the recruiter in check. The extent to which he could threaten the recruiter was limited.

“Why are you so angry? I only spoke the truth… And I even wrote that Mr. Kim Chok should be comfortable in advance.”

“…What?”

“When the woman disappeared, there were others around.”

There was Han Seung-hoo, Jung Tae-il, and Kang Yoon-soo. The recruiter recited their names, folding his fingers one by one. He added that they hadn’t noticed him because he had been watching from a distance.

“So, what did you do?”

“Mr. Kim Chok has quite a temper. Let me explain. With so many people around, I couldn’t stick around to do the job. So, I came up with a plan.”

“…Stop beating around the bush and tell me quickly.”

“Alright, I get it. It’s fun to talk like this.”

The recruiter sighed slowly, tilting his head back. Fortunately, he also mentioned that he hadn’t registered as a hunter with the government.

As the recruiter continued to scratch at the truth, Kim Chok’s patience reached its limit.

“Commander! We’re all set now!”

Even from a distance, a young girl suddenly revealed herself. Kim Chok, who had felt no approaching presence, furrowed his brow.

“Oh, Yul is here. Did Chang-ho finish the shutters already?”

“Yes! Uncle said he was done and asked for the Commander to come quickly. But who’s this big person? A monocle? Did you finish that too? Is it a military decoration?”

“Haha! Is it because of the monocle that we can’t communicate? Yul shouldn’t catch ‘middle-aged syndrome’ like me.”

“I don’t have that! Anyway, I’ll go back to Uncle now! Come quickly, Commander!”

Waving her hand energetically, the girl disappeared again. Kim Chok, scrutinizing her with curiosity, noticed something in her eyes.

“…A doll?”

“It’s our youngest precious doll. Could you not look at it so casually, Mr. Kim Chok?”

“…Did you go crazy wanting to die?”

“Well, if that’s what you think. Now that the preparations are complete, I’ll tell you quickly. There are too many Rankers around that woman Seo Yeon-oh, making it difficult to approach. So, I thought of a way to separate them.”

“And then?”

“I have a gate in my possession. I plan to use that.”

Before his words could finish, Kim Chok found himself involuntarily grabbing the recruiter by the collar. Thanks to this, the recruiter’s eyes, which had been covered by his bangs, were revealed.

Chuckling, even though he couldn’t breathe properly, the recruiter continued to smile.

“How is the gate in your hands? Answer quickly.”

An unregistered Hunter cannot obtain a gate. All gates, once discovered by Kang Yoon-soo, are reported to the government, which then assigns them to guilds or conducts auctions. 

In this cyclical process, there is no loophole for a gate to fall into the hands of an unregistered Hunter. 

If the recruiter’s words were indeed true, either Kang Yoon-soo overlooked one that Kim Chok hadn’t found, or he sold the gate to them while avoiding Kim Chok’s scrutiny.

“Did the guild hand the gate over to you?”

“Uh, kufghh! Haha… Well, I can’t say that.”

He just received a fair compensation for it.

Smirking, the recruiter slowly transformed into a black mist, slipping out of Kim Chok’s grasp. Now standing at the warehouse door, he looked back at the frozen Kim Chok with a sunny smile.

“Sacrifices are necessary for a greater cause. So, Mr. Kim Chok, please wait here. You won’t be able to move for at least half a day in that state.”

“What! Ugh…!”

“I’ve wondered why I haven’t been caught until now. My killing ability isn’t top-notch, but… I can temporarily incapacitate anyone I touch.”

Indeed, why can’t he control his anger?

With that, he’ll be going.

With a sinister laugh, he left the warehouse wearing the reversed hood of his black hoodie.

* * *

Chi-i-i-eak.

This place, where the meat was sizzling and cooking deliciously, was the yard of the house with the orange roof. 

Jung Tae-il held tongs in one hand and scissors in the other, skillfully grilling the meat. Next to him was Kang Yoon-soo, placing kimchi, mushrooms, garlic, and more on the grill. And even Han Seung-hoo, who was drawing a picture with ketchup to hide the failed egg roll.

They were all preparing for a pork belly party in their respective positions. Once the meat was all consumed, I, who had finished preparing the inevitable fried rice, returned to my seat at the party.

And so, the much-anticipated pork belly party began. Kang Yoon-soo playfully opened his mouth after placing a plate full of meat on the table.

“Tae-il grilled this delicious pork belly, so everyone is shoveling it into their mouths.”

“…That’s a bit much.”

“Then, Seung-hoo, you grill it.”

“I guess you want to see a meat-grilling show, Brother.”

“You can’t sacrilegiously grill sacred meat.”

With a big laugh, Kang Yoon-soo advised us to enjoy the meal and returned to Jung Tae-il’s side. I chose a few pieces of meat without much fat and placed them on a plate. Then, I cut them into small pieces and handed them to Arvani.

Kyoo! Kyuuwoong!

Arvani’s eyes sparkled as he generously spread oil all over his face and enthusiastically ate the meat. While watching this contented sight, a large wrap suddenly appeared in front of me.

“Huh?”

“Eat this, Sis. I made it deliciously.”

“Oh, thanks, Seung-hoo.”

“Then say ah, Sister.”

“…I’m not a kid.”

“Ah…”

Unable to resist Han Seung-hoo’s persistence, I finally made an “ah” sound and accepted the wrap he handed me. It was so large that it puffed up like a hamster’s cheek when I bit into it.

While I was chewing diligently, Jung Tae-il and Kang Yoon-soo came to the table. They looked at me and burst into laughter. 

For a moment, a lettuce leaf and a perilla leaf were placed in their hands.

“I should make one for you too.”

“…I guess I have no choice.”

Jung Tae-il piled a plate full of meat onto a wrap, and Kang Yoon-soo made a wrap with meat, garlic, kimchi, and even peppers. They each pushed the completed wraps toward me, eyes filled with anticipation.

What’s this… it’s a bit overwhelming.