Chapter 22: Question

“Hiccup.”

When I sincerely said that Han Yu Ri was pretty, she started hiccuping.

‘Why is she doing that?’

‘Did I say it too directly?’

‘Ah, maybe she dislikes being complimented on her appearance?’

I don’t, but I’ve heard that there are people who dislike it.

Han Yu Ri has heard that she’s pretty so many times, so it makes sense, but I didn’t manage to be considerate.

“Are you alright?

Here, have some water.”

Feeling sorry, I poured some water.

“Thank you! Hiccup.”

Han Yu Ri hiccuped while thanking me.

I thought it was so cute.

Han Yu Ri drank water while covering her face with her hand.

She seemed incredibly embarrassed.

“Perhaps you dislike being complimented on your appearance? If so, I apologize…”

Shake, shake.

Hiccup.

Perhaps she wanted to strongly assert that she didn’t, Han Yu Ri shook her head vigorously from side to side before I could even finish speaking.

She hiccuped the moment she shook her head.

“Ah, you don’t dislike it?”

Nod, nod…

Hiccup.

Han Yu Ri nodded her head.

This time, she hiccuped while nodding her head.

She seemed greatly surprised somehow.

‘She doesn’t dislike it, so why is she like that?’

“Hunter Han Yu Ri is truly incredibly pretty.”

She said she doesn’t dislike it.

Then it’s okay to say it, right?

She was defenseless because of her hiccups.

She was cute like that.

Other than today, when else would I be able to meet Han Yu Ri like this in my lifetime?

So I conveyed what I genuinely thought about her beauty.

If I don’t say it now, when will I?

I should say everything I want to say when I have the chance.

When I said that, Han Yu Ri stared at me blankly.

‘Why?’

‘You said you don’t dislike it.’

Her eyes felt like they were trembling somehow.

‘Is she flustered?’

‘Why?’

‘It’s not like she’s heard she’s pretty just once or twice.’

‘With that face, she must have heard it five thousand times.’

“It’s true. I know one S-class female Hunter too, and Hunter Han Yu Ri is much prettier than her.”

The only female S-class Hunter I know.

That was my ex-girlfriend.

There’s no one else.

How else would I know an S-class Hunter other than her?

Ah, I know one more.

That damnable Kim Joon Hyuk bich.

Anyway, I sincerely think Han Yu Ri is much prettier than Joo Hyun.

Of course, it’s a matter of taste.

Someone might think Joo Hyun is prettier.

But for my taste, it’s unconditionally Han Yu Ri.

People who say Joo Hyun is prettier than Han Yu Ri need to see an eye doctor.

Ah, I should respect different tastes.

I shouldn’t think like that.

Because of what Joo Hyun did to me, I keep thinking unfairly without meaning to.

“Really?”

Han Yu Ri, who had been hiccuping, stopped hiccuping soon.

And she asked me cautiously.

‘What do you mean, really?’

‘Of course.’

‘You can tell just by looking in the mirror, not by asking me.’

“Yes. Of course.”

“S-class Hunter… Who?”

Han Yu Ri’s eyes, peeking out from between the hat and mask, seemed to sparkle somehow.

‘What is it?’

‘Is she anticipating something?’

Surely Han Yu Ri knows Joo Hyun too?

The whole world is buzzing with news of Joo Hyun, after all.

There’s no way Han Yu Ri, an S-class Hunter, wouldn’t know Joo Hyun.

“Ah, Hunter Lee Joo Hyun.”

I spoke honestly.

You are truly much prettier than Joo Hyun.

“Really? She’s truly pretty though…”

As expected, Han Yu Ri also knows Joo Hyun.

“Come on. What’s pretty about her? Hunter Han Yu Ri is much prettier.”

To be honest, Joo Hyun is also incredibly pretty.

But I didn’t want to admit it, and even putting aside the personality issues and judging objectively by face alone, it was true that Han Yu Ri was much prettier in my eyes.

When I said that, Han Yu Ri put both her hands to her face with the mask on.

‘Hmm, I just wanted to clearly say ‘You are prettier’.’

‘Did it become too much like a confession atmosphere?’

‘Since Han Yu Ri might feel burdened, I should stop talking.’

“But how did you… Ah, first, I want to express my gratitude. Thank you so much for saving me.”

Han Yu Ri stopped asking about Joo Hyun and extended her hands gently towards me.

‘What is this?’

‘Asking for my hand?’

At Han Yu Ri’s actions, I subconsciously extended my right hand.

“I wanted to tell you earlier. I waited because I wanted to tell you properly in a quiet place.

Thank you so much.

Kwon Geon-nim, you saved me and saved many people.”

Han Yu Ri gently held the hand I extended with both her hands.

And then she said seriously to me.

‘She knows my name?’

‘Did she see it when I used the Hunter Watch earlier and memorize it?’

‘An S-class Hunter memorized my name.’

‘I’m touched.’

“Not at all. Anyway, without Hunter Han Yu Ri’s buff, I would never have been able to defeat that opponent.”

I said, feeling bewildered while holding her hand.

It felt slightly strange that an S-class Hunter was so grateful.

Suddenly pulling my hand away seemed like it would be rude.

There was no reason for her to feel bad about it.

To think I’d get to hold hands with Han Yu Ri.

If I told Sung Hoon, the S-class Hunter fanboy.

He would honestly die of envy.

Of course, even if I told him I held hands with Han Yu Ri, he would never believe it, thinking I was spouting nonsense.

“How were you able to win despite being C-class?

Perhaps…

Are you a secret Hunter whose identity cannot be revealed due to circumstances?”

Han Yu Ri asked cautiously.

‘That’s not it.’

And if I were really a secret Hunter, I wouldn’t honestly tell you, would I?

“No. I’m truly C-class. I’m not secretly affiliated anywhere either.”

“But how… Even if you received my buff. It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m an Uncertified Hunter. Perhaps my unknown characteristic is somehow strange.”

“Still, you’re an Uncertified C… You killed a 3rd-class monster in just two hits. That’s at least top A-class, S-class level.”

“I had a time when I had this strange power before. So I tried it just in case it would work.

But I didn’t know I could win in such a short time. I planned to hit it once and if it took damage, I’d keep fighting, and if not, I’d have no choice but to run away.

Taking Hunter Han Yu Ri with me.”

I said, smiling awkwardly.

“You didn’t even know if you could win or not, it was too dangerous.

Truly. I’m genuinely so relieved that you are safe. I’m so happy.”

Sincerity could be felt in Han Yu Ri’s voice.

Han Yu Ri continued to speak while holding my hand.

Perhaps, she didn’t seem to realize that she was still holding my hand.

‘How long is she going to hold it?’

‘Well, I like it too.’

‘Should I just leave it like this?’

“I was saved thanks to Hunter Han Yu Ri. Just before I was about to get countered, you gave me a protection blessing just in time, and I barely survived. I’m also thankful.”

“It was really dangerous. Truly…

If you had been even a little late…”

Even though I couldn’t see it because of the hat, I could feel from her voice that Han Yu Ri was furrowing her brow slightly as she spoke.

“Still, thanks to the world’s best Buffer, Hunter Han Yu Ri, doing so well, we both survived in the end.”

I said to Han Yu Ri with a gentle smile.

Han Yu Ri stopped again.

She was silent for a while.

“Ah!”

Han Yu Ri, who had been staring blankly while holding my hand tightly, as if she was stunned, suddenly let out a startled sound.

And with that, she let go of my hand that she was holding.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be.”

There’s nothing to be sorry about.

I liked it.

“I also think it’s really fortunate that Hunter Han Yu Ri is safe. Hunter Han Yu Ri is the hope of humanity, after all.”

“No. What do you mean…”

Han Yu Ri said, covering her face with her hands over her hat.

She must have been very embarrassed by what I said.

It’s true that she’s the hope of humanity.

She seemed to have a more humble personality than I thought.

Unlike Kim Joon Hyuk, Lee Joo Hyun.

Completely different from those guys.

“But why were you there alone?”

“Ah… About that. It’s a bit of a long story…”

Han Yu Ri said that and started her story.

Han Yu Ri said she couldn’t tell me how she got there in this open cafe because it was a guild secret.

But because I was her savior, she said she would tell me everything if I came to her guild building later.

‘What is this?’

‘I can meet Han Yu Ri again?’

Jackpot.

Han Yu Ri invited me.

I felt so happy.

Han Yu Ri said her other guild members were dispatched to different places, so she came alone.

Han Yu Ri said she was planning to prevent the situation at that location by giving buffs to other Hunters.

She thought that would be enough to stop it.

But a 3rd-class monster unexpectedly popped out, and she was in mortal danger, she said.

Just when she was about to give up everything.

She was so grateful that I came to save her.

“Why did you come in alone to save me? It was too dangerous. Something serious could have happened to you.”

She asked.

“As I said before, Hunter Han Yu Ri is the hope of humanity, isn’t she?

I thought I had to save you even if I died.

I went in thinking I would at least buy you a little time to escape.”

“Ah…”

“Since I saved you by risking my life, be more careful from now on. You are a precious person. Be sure to bring escorts with you.”

Han Yu Ri was silent for a while.

‘She won’t cry again in the cafe, will she?’

There are many people here.

Buzzing.

The vibrating pager rang, indicating that our coffee was ready.