Chapter 30: A Morning’s Interruption

As Ji-ho was lost in thought, Yi-won rose from his seat and casually pulled on some clothes. His manner was quite relaxed as he donned the tracksuit and T-shirt he used to wear at home.

Once fully dressed, Yi-won gestured with his chin towards Ji-ho, who remained seated on the bed.

“Get up. It’s time for breakfast.”

Ji-ho glanced at the clock. The hour hand hovered between seven and eight.

“Are you going to eat before you leave? Won’t you be late?”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m late.”

Yi-won’s nonchalant attitude utterly astounded Ji-ho.

“What do you mean, ‘it doesn’t matter’? You have to go to China, don’t you?”

Today was the day Joo Yi-won was scheduled to assist in clearing an S-rank dungeon in China.

Nations often sent requests to Yi-won for assistance when they faced dungeons too difficult or dangerous for their own hunters to handle.

Despite the risk of Yi-won taking a certain percentage of the dungeon’s drops, it was still preferable to losing precious S-rank hunters.

Consequently, the demand for Yi-won, an SS-rank hunter capable of effortlessly clearing any dungeon, was always immense, keeping him perpetually busy. Though, he always acted like a jobless slacker in front of Ji-ho.

For some reason, Yi-won wore a subtly satisfied smile at Ji-ho’s words.

“You know me well.”

“Well, your exploits are quite famous, after all…”

“But not many people know my schedule day-by-day.”

“Anyway, aren’t you busy?”

Ji-ho frowned as he asked, and Yi-won chuckled softly.

“It’s fine. Hwang Hye-rim agreed to accompany me since she has business in China anyway.”

“Ah.”

Hwang Hye-rim was one of the four S-rank hunters in Korea, and a rare Spatial Mage globally.

While her combat abilities might not quite reach S-rank, her unique skill as the world’s most exceptional Spatial Mage earned her the S-rank designation.

Indeed, with Hwang Hye-rim’s power, they could reach China in little more than ten minutes. Since Joo Yi-won was scheduled to enter the dungeon at 11 AM, her accompaniment meant they had ample time.

Reflecting on it, Hwang Hye-rim often traveled with Joo Yi-won.

Hwang Hye-rim’s abilities were both useful and unparalleled, making her a frequent target for other nations. While she employed personal bodyguards, Joo Yi-won was considered the strongest and safest escort, so they often traveled together abroad.

It even seemed they had been involved in a few scandals. However, both vehemently denied them, and as there were no private meetings outside of official engagements, the rumors eventually faded.

‘But if Hwang Hye-rim can teleport, couldn’t she just visit Joo Yi-won at his house?’

‘The two of them could easily meet, even avoiding Shin Ji-hye, who knows Yi-won’s schedule inside and out. Hwang Hye-rim could simply teleport to Joo Yi-won.’

‘Moreover, Joo Yi-won’s ability is Copy. While it wasn’t perfectly compatible with Hwang Hye-rim’s ability, preventing him from fully copying it, Yi-won could still perform minor spatial movements himself.’

‘They would be the ideal partners for a secret date.’

“Ji-ho?”

“What?”

“Hwang Hye-rim and I aren’t dating.”

Yi-won spoke as if he had read Ji-ho’s mind. Feeling exposed, Ji-ho shook his head, pretending he hadn’t been thinking anything of the sort.

“I wasn’t thinking that. And what does it matter to me if you two are dating?”

“What does it matter? Darling, you’re clearly very concerned right now.”

“I am not.”

“I don’t like older women. I prefer people my own age, you know?”

“So what?”

Ji-ho snapped back ferociously, then stormed out of the room.

His vehement denial, despite not having said a single word, only made him seem more suspicious.

Ji-ho recalled a newspaper photo of Hye-rim and Yi-won standing side-by-side. Even as a news photo, it was so stylish, like a fashion shoot, that it had become a minor topic of conversation.

Hye-rim, tall and slender, a recognized beauty, and Yi-won, undeniably handsome and a head taller than most, looked perfectly suited for each other in anyone’s eyes.

“…”

To banish the persistent stray thoughts, Ji-ho sharply slapped his own cheek.

He didn’t want to mistakenly assume things about their relationship based on mere speculation. It would be disrespectful to Hwang Hye-rim, whom he barely knew, let alone Joo Yi-won.

Returning to his room, a cold shower washed away the unnecessary thoughts, leaving his mind feeling lighter. Ji-ho pulled clothes from his closet, changed, and went downstairs right on time.

****

It was 8 AM.

The time when his parents, who had risen early for a light walk, would be having breakfast. Joo Yi-won was already seated opposite them, so Ji-ho took the empty seat beside him.

“Mom, Dad. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Mom sleeps well these days. Did you sleep well too, Ji-ho?”

“Yes, it’s nice to sleep at home for a change. Did you sleep well too, Dad?”

“…Yes.”

His father, Shin Jung-ho, replied, still unable to fully hide his discomfort, just as he had yesterday.

“You don’t look so good, Dad. Shouldn’t you get a health check-up?”

“It’s nothing like that. I’m fine.”

Shin Jung-ho spoke curtly and began eating without another word.

Usually, meals at home were quiet affairs. Yesterday’s gathering had been a regular social event, so they had enjoyed dinner and conversation.

Ji-ho was accustomed to silent meals, so it didn’t feel awkward. He, too, closed his mouth and began eating quietly.

Recently, being busy had meant breakfast was often just a sandwich, but the warm soup and neat Korean meal invigorated his appetite. Just as Ji-ho was about to finish his first bowl of rice, his father spoke.

“Ji-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Your father will arrange a meeting for you. Go on a blind date.”

“…A blind date?”

Suddenly?

They say your mind goes blank when you’re too flustered, and that was precisely Ji-ho’s state. His mind completely whitened from the suddenness of the remark, only to clear once he felt the gazes of all three converging on him.

A blind date at his age?

Ji-ho was only twenty-four. Compared to the recent average marriage age, it was quite young.

Furthermore, both his elder brother and sister had chosen free love marriages.

He had therefore assumed his parents wouldn’t interfere with his marriage. Yet, being suddenly told to go on a blind date—though he honestly disliked the idea—Ji-ho soon nodded.

“Uh… if you need me to, I will.”

In the past, he would have protested, asking what they were talking about, but circumstances had changed.

A year ago, the controversy surrounding Ji-ho’s rank had escalated into accusations of corruption against Cheongram.

His father, who had always managed his company transparently, was suddenly labeled a corrupt chaebol, embroiled in baseless controversies.

The numerous rumors circulating at the time had now subsided. However, an ingrained perception would take much longer to completely disappear.

It remained a deeply regrettable memory for Ji-ho. He had worried his parents, who had loved and cherished him his entire life, and had seen the values they had worked for their whole lives dragged through the mud in an instant.

One reason Ji-ho stubbornly clung to his hunter work was to thoroughly correct those past rumors. Although his parents had not wanted him to.

In many ways, he was an unfilial child who had caused them much distress. He had never imagined an arranged marriage for himself, but if it were necessary, he was prepared to comply.

But then.

“…”

Ji-ho’s face paled as he turned to Yi-won.

For a fleeting moment, a terrifying surge of magical power erupted from Yi-won. Not only Ji-ho, an Awakened who was sensitive to magic, but even his parents flinched, sensing something amiss.

“What are you…”

“Oh, look at him. How old is our baby that you’re telling him to go on a blind date?”

Before Ji-ho could properly challenge Yi-won, his mother intervened.

Moreover, his mother, unaware of the true nature of the odd sensation she had just felt, directed her scolding entirely at his father for bringing up the blind date.

His father, hit by his mother’s words, frowned and cleared his throat.

“Ahem…”

“Honestly, old man. Why are you pushing our quiet boy? Just pushing him.”

His mother glared at his father. Immediately, a look of apology spread across Shin Jung-ho’s face.

They, too, were well aware of Ji-ho’s guilt. They knew that their usually obedient and good son would comply with anything, except for his stubborn insistence on continuing his hunter work.

“No, I’m not forcing him… I just thought I’d suggest he meet some young people these days. Not a blind date, but, what do they call it these days? Anyway, just for young people to meet. I hear many girls like you because you’re handsome. My friends are all clamoring to have you as a son-in-law, it’s utter chaos!”

His father belatedly added an explanation.

It seemed the talk of a ‘blind date’ had been somewhat exaggerated; it was more akin to a casual introduction. Only then did Ji-ho feel relieved.

“If I don’t absolutely have to, then I’m sorry, but I’ll decline. I have no intention of dating right now.”

“You don’t?”

“No. Honestly, this isn’t the time to be focused on such things. There are far more important matters to attend to.”

This was a turning point in his life, a chance to overturn the reputation of being a ‘B-rank corrupt hunter.’ He had no time to waste on romance.

Moreover, Ji-ho actually held romantic fantasies.

Throughout high school, he had rejected countless confessions, citing the need to study. In college, too, he had turned down numerous advances.

His lack of experience only fueled his romantic ideals.

Ji-ho was naturally kind to everyone. He held his close friends in special regard, and though he had never had one, he would undoubtedly cherish a significant other with even greater devotion.

‘I’ll confess dramatically, take them to places they love, text them every day, get matching couple rings, and treat them wonderfully.’ His fantasies grew grander with each passing day, untempered by experience.

Thus, it was impossible for him to start dating at this juncture. His priority was work, and he intended to pour all his energy into it. He planned to attempt romance only when he was stable and had the leisure to properly care for a partner.

His mother, for some reason, looked between Yi-won and Ji-ho before smiling kindly.

“Mmm, that’s right. Our baby is still a bit too young for dating, isn’t he? He can date when he finds someone he likes and connects with.”

His father, seemingly displeased by his mother’s words, frowned and slammed his spoon down.

“Still, a relationship forms when two hearts align. You can’t just push someone into it when the other person hasn’t even said they like them, hm? Those kinds of people are truly base.”

“Oh, come on… The kids will figure it out themselves.”

Ji-ho blinked, roughly grasping the situation.

So, this whole ‘blind date’ discussion was likely prompted by Yi-won’s constant strange antics, linking him and Ji-ho together. His parents probably wanted to set Ji-ho up with a real girlfriend to stop such talk altogether.

‘But that’s just a joke we’ve been playing since childhood.’

Ji-ho glanced at Yi-won, who, as if oblivious to the conversation’s true meaning, slyly raised an eyebrow before resuming his meal.

‘Next time, I’ll twist his neck to prevent him from giving such interviews.’

Of course, it was impossible for Shin Ji-ho to twist the neck of an SS-rank Joo Yi-won. Regardless, thinking of him as a needlessly exhausting individual, Ji-ho also finished his meal.