Chapter 136: Unknown Trauma (1)

The next day, Ion got out of the car hugging Sanse.

“Leader, you’re he… re.”

Jin Seong-ha, ready to greet from the moment he spotted the car, paused.

Ion looked up at him, waiting for the rest.

Jin Seong-ha smiled handsomely.

“Dressed up even more today. Super pretty and cute.”

Referring to Sanse—ladybug accessories, dewdrops, colorful mushroom props.

Ion had personally visited a terrarium decor shop for San-kku (Sanse decorating).

He’d earned money but never spent—lately learning the joy of spending.

“Sanse is so pretty anything suits it.”

“I see. Let’s match couple items with Ppuru sometime. Ppuru wore a knit outfit today.”

Ppuru!

Ppuru wore clearly hand-knitted clothes—Christmas theme, Rudolph nose on chest.

Ion, praised for Sanse, gladly praised Ppuru.

“Cute. Perfect fit. Where’d you get it?”

“Fan gift. Grateful people.”

“Fans?”

“Yeah, my fan club. ‘Saranghani’—combined ‘love’ and end of my name.”

“Hunters aren’t idols—why fan club?”

“Probably have one too—ask guild to manage.”

Jin Seong-ha raised hand. Ion’s gaze followed large hand upward.

It landed on Ion’s head.

“Hair sticking up.”

Pat pat.

Jin Seong-ha smoothed crown and back, then walked ahead. Unexpected touch.

What. Just now? Patted my head?

Ion froze briefly, loaded curse—followed.

“Oh my. Welcome, Horizon Hunters!”

Head of Central 119 Rescue waiting in parking lot—Ion missed cursing chance.

Middle-aged, older than them—extremely polite.

“Awakener rescue team outside my direct control. I warned them, but some may resent. Few days only—bear with it.”

“Resent us?”

“Yes, Hunter Jin Seong-ha. Rescue seen as job for awakeners lacking dungeon stats… though untrue.”

Many awakeners forgo high pay to save lives—tragic reality, head added.

“Understood. Public-facing jobs often undervalued. Leader Ion, heard? Ignore if they pick fights.”

“Don’t pick fights with me.”

“When did I?”

“You touched my hair.”

“Fixed bedhead—how’s that picking fight? Harsh standard.”

Jin Seong-ha walked. Head watched fondly—Ion couldn’t retort, followed.

Soon after.

“Wow~ celebrities finally here.”

“Hey, Ma Team Leader. No picking fights.”

“Why fight? Calling celebrities celebrities a fight? Head, celebrity job discrimination?”

“Not discrimination… Ma Team Leader. They’re hunters, not celebrities.”

“Hunter my ass. Coffee truck saying ‘please take care of our hunters’—celebrities or what. That one face all wrapped. Victims see that face—real reassured. No interest in rescue—forced by higher-ups.”

One rescue team member immediately hostile.

The “resentful member” head mentioned.

C-rank awakener, Ma Seo-jin. 50s.

Ion recalled briefed profile, peeked from behind Jin Seong-ha blocking view.

“Stop it. They’re here to help… Sorry, Hunters.”

“Fine, haha.”

“Why bow so much, Head? We’re field workers…”

Graying hair.

Thick build.

Pot-lid huge hands, thick forearms.

Ma Seo-jin: large, burly middle-aged man.

“Sigh, hopeless. Ma Team Leader, come here.”

“What. Say it here.”

“Come when told!”

Head took Ma Seo-jin aside—probably to warn.

Team leader gone—watching members swarmed.

“Jin Seong-ha Hunter! Wow, real life insane. Photo together? Ignore our team leader—he hates hunters generally.”

“Expected big names from Horizon. Honor. Hahaha.”

“Honored meeting reputed rescue team. Please take care of us four days.”

While Jin Seong-ha chatted warmly with team, Ion stayed quiet.

Fingers tingling—readjusted Sanse.

“Leader, greet too…”

Jin Seong-ha approached smiling—then oddly stiffened seeing Ion clutching Sanse with both arms.

“Ion, what’s wrong?”

“What?”

“…”

Jin Seong-ha stood large, blocking people’s view of Ion, raised hand.

“What. Trying to touch hair again?”

“No, just… checking.”

He lifted one side of Ion’s mask.

“…”

“?”

Jin Seong-ha’s brow furrowed seeing Ion’s face. Ion puzzled.

“Why?”

“…Expression bad.”

“What… expected me grinning under mask?”

“No, not that. Like squirrel meeting hawk…”

Jin Seong-ha trailed off, sighed.

“That team leader’s words upset you much? Bear few days.”

“Not upset. He’s right anyway.”

“Right?”

“Yes. You may not know, but I have zero interest in rescue—just forced by higher-ups.”

“You uninterested in rescue. Thought we knew everything about each other—still not honest.”

“Stop that look? I’m not that person.”

“What look?”

Like watching righteous but dishonest boy hero quietly clearing rural dungeons cheap.

How long wrong interpretation?

Ion sighed; Jin Seong-ha chuckled low.

But eyes still stiff.

Ion thought Jin Seong-ha odd—but Jin Seong-ha thought Ion odder.

Seems unaware himself.

Ion trembling slightly, hands cold.

Clutching Sanse like lifeline, full alert.

Like facing terrifying sight—truly strange.

Ppuru?

Even shy Ppuru tilted head.

Used to criticism…

If asked “scared?”—probably “Me? Scared? Nonsense.”

Didn’t ask.

Problem: Ion’s odd behavior continued.

Work smooth: snow removal from blizzard, rescuing few slipped pedestrians on ice—no major incidents.

Hostile Ma Team Leader: super strength skill—capable rescuer.

Gruff but tried kind to victims.

Frowned slightly when civilians recognized Jin Seong-ha for autographs/photos—but hid feelings in public.

“Hey, hunters! Hurry pass thermal blankets!”

“Hunters what doing—slow!”

“Hunters there, blocking—stay corner!”

Ma Team Leader only hostile to Jin Seong-ha and Ion.

To death-experienced Jin Seong-ha, this level cute.

Not biting throat or mind-controlling—adorable.

Problem is Ion.

Every loud shout from Ma—flinch, flinch.

Better from distance; approach—bite lip.

Mask hid expression outside, but indoors Ion uncovered—visible.

Subtle change only close observer noticed.

“Ion Hunter cute-looking but super stoic. My daughter same age—bursts laughing at rolling leaf.”

“Your daughter high schooler. Ion Hunter adult. Compare properly.”

“Ah, right. Daughter two years older—become stoic? Sad.”

Team didn’t notice Ion’s odd reactions to Ma.

Who noticed: me, and…

“Hey, hunters!”

Ma Team Leader called returning Jin Seong-ha and Ion from meal.

Papers in hand, approached fast—corridor thumped from size.

Ppuru…

Shy Ppuru slipped into Jin Seong-ha’s clothes.

“…”

Ion tensed, looked up at Ma.

“Fill and submit today. Mandatory for hunters.”

Ma extended papers—Ion flinched, slightly hid Sansevieria behind Jin Seong-ha.

“Yes, submit soon.”

Jin Seong-ha took papers.

Ma glared at Ion with bulging eyes.

“Hey, why you keep—”

Flinch.

“No, what did I—”

Grind grind.

“No, why—!”

Ma raised hand.

Startled Ion shoved Sanse to Jin Seong-ha, pushed Jin Seong-ha behind him.

“…Ha, driving me crazy.”

Ma scratched head with pot-lid hand, heavy sigh.

Yes. He noticed too.

Bizarre: S-rank hunter scared of C-rank awakener.

Ma scratched head, left.

Ion’s rigid shoulders visibly relaxed.

Ppuru…

Ma gone—Ppuru crawled out. Jin Seong-ha stroked, reassured.

Wondered if he should pat Leader Ion too.

Raised hand. Ion frowned, stared—what?

“Hm.”

Doesn’t fear me.

Trusting gaze.

Trouble.

Jin Seong-ha patted Ion’s head. Ion bristled at touch—missed Jin Seong-ha’s smiling lips.