Chapter 36: Tailing (1)

Yeom Haneul’s party members and I played a little family game, calling each other “darling” and “sister-in-law.”

Han Suhyeon, while with them, recalled the memories of playing with orphans in the orphanage during his hero days.

But that was short-lived, as Manager Jang returned with Manager Eun.

Manager Eun, looking at Yeom Haneul, who had shed her sharp exterior and melted like slime, and Go So-hye and Jeong Hana, who were strangely excited by the word “sister-in-law,” held her head and muttered.

“… That’s the top party in the country… I’m going crazy.”

After worrying about the country’s future for a moment, Manager Eun looked back at Han Suhyeon.

On the way here, she talked with Manager Jang about him and his skill.

Not only does it serve as a huge storage warehouse, but it also improves the quality of the stored items.

That must be why the monsters Han Suhyeon moved with his Inventory were overwhelmingly superior in quality compared to other corpses, unlike the other monsters sent by the association.

The more she looked, the more she couldn’t help but covet this man.

In addition, he was not at all inferior to those who had awakened combat-type skills in terms of martial prowess.

He was like… someone who had awakened two skills.

Until now, no Awakened who had awakened two skills had been identified.

Almost 100 years have passed since the first Awakened appeared, but research on skills has never been properly conducted.

No, there was a slight misunderstanding in saying that it was not properly conducted.

With modern technology, it was impossible to properly analyze the unknown power of skills.

Therefore, most of the work related to skills was done in a rough-and-ready manner.

Just look at the promotion requirements for E-rank hunters: demonstrating the ability to see skills with the naked eye.

If a person does not show what they have awakened through words or actions, it is impossible to know what skill they have awakened.

Because of this, there were some who missed out on talent at the right time and recruited them as hunters later, or who even turned to villainy with bad intentions.

The only Awakened in the world who has the skill to accurately know what ability someone else has awakened was also taken by the Queen of England…

It was obvious why those gloomy b*stards were demanding detailed information about Han Suhyeon.

They probably think that the Hunter Association, which administers the hunter qualification test, has some information about him.

But even Manager Eun didn’t know Han Suhyeon’s abilities exactly.

It’s a really frustrating situation.

Manager Eun shook her head to end her idle thoughts.

While she was lost in thought for a moment, Han Suhyeon and his party seemed to have already come to their senses and were about to return.

Manager Eun was about to approach Han Suhyeon, who was sitting in the back seat of the black sedan, to talk to him, but Yeom Haneul, who was next to him, gave her a sharp look.

Like a female wild animal threatening to protect her male, Manager Eun wondered if this b*tch was really crazy.

How could she, at 26 years old, go after a boy who had just turned 20…

Of course, she never said that thought out loud.

She seemed to be pretending to be a gentle woman in front of Han Suhyeon, but Manager Eun knew very well how far Yeom Haneul could go once she snapped.

Holding her trembling legs, Manager Eun approached Han Suhyeon and gave him a piece of advice in a voice that only he could hear.

“Han Suhyeon-ssi. For the time being, keep your house in order, and be as careful as possible.”

“…? Why?”

Manager Eun looked at the boy who asked back with a pure expression.

Even if you don’t know his true nature, his appearance was that of an angel.

Could this boy really withstand the pressure of the largest guild in Korea?

“… Yeonseong Guild is watching you.”

“…? Yes.”

Manager Eun wondered if Han Suhyeon understood what she had just said, but she thought that he would at least know the name of Yeonseong Guild, since he was a hunter.

Nevertheless, a surprisingly calm answer, devoid of any emotion, came back.

A typical D-rank hunter would be overjoyed to hear that a large guild is paying attention to them, or they would look down on those who are lower in rank than them.

But not just any large guild, but Yeonseong Guild.

The top guild in the country, boasting 6th place in the world ranking and 1st place in the domestic ranking, is interested in you, but you’re this calm.

Should I say it’s as expected… or should I say it’s an unexpected reaction?

“More importantly. Manager Eun?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks to me moving the monsters last time, the association must have made some money.”

“……”

Han Suhyeon looked at Manager Eun and smiled brightly.

“You had some fun, right?”

“… Thanks to you. Yes. We received about twice the expected amount.”

“Wow. Twice. Twice! I’m really envious! Hahaha!”

“… Since it’s an additional amount thanks to Suhyeon-ssi’s skill, if you give us your account-“

“No! There’s absolutely no need for that. Just help me out if I get into trouble later.”

“No-“

“Hana sister-in-law! Let’s go!”

“Yes! Brother-in-law!”

The black sedan let out a heavy exhaust sound and gradually moved away.

What? Pure expression? Angel-like smile? Ha.

How long has it been since I was fooled by that appearance, and I let my guard down again.

People are drawn to similar types, and it wasn’t for nothing that Han Suhyeon was sticking with Yeom Haneul.

Manager Eun thought that Han Suhyeon, who was making silent threats to make a debt even if the money was returned and to pay the interest, was a savage b*stard.

Manager Eun told me to be careful of a guild called Yeonseong or something, but honestly, I didn’t care at all.

I’m not going to join anyway, so what.

Besides, the name sounded a bit lame.

Yeonseong, what’s Yeonseong.

It’s not magic, it’s just a trivial name like a mere alchemist’s spell caster, and I laughed.

“Thank you so much for today. See you later, darling.”

“…! Yes. See you later…… darling.”

“Heehee. Why are you so shy? It’s just a title. Sisters-in-law, please go home safely.”

“Yes!”

“Go home safely.”

I closed the door of the sedan and said goodbye to Yeom Haneul’s party members.

Yeom Haneul gave me a ride to near my house, so I was able to come very comfortably.

The family game with them was much more fun than I thought.

No, is it right to express it as fun?

It was just calling each other family, but a warm feeling, as if I had a real family, gradually filled my heart.

It was a different kind of warmth from when I drank with Yu Ayeon.

I had never had anyone to call family, nor had I ever made a family.

But for some reason, when I was playing family games with them, it reminded me of the comrades who had accompanied me on the journey to defeat the Demon King.

I thought… this is nice too.

It seems like I have a reason to hang out with them sometimes.

With a much more relaxed heart, I acted as naturally as possible and headed home.

As usual, I reached for the doorknob to open the front door.

“……”

Without being conscious of my surroundings as much as possible, I naturally open the front door.

I take off my shoes, come in, and head straight to the kitchen to open the refrigerator door.

I drink water from a cup and squint my eyes, glancing around the house.

It seemed like they had put things back in their original places, but there were several items that had been moved very slightly compared to when I left the house.

After drinking water, I headed to the bathroom.

I usually didn’t wash up as soon as I got home from outside, but now I had to act like a very ordinary man.

A man in a gender-reversed world, at that.

I took off my clothes and hummed a tune as I went inside.

In the bathroom filled with the sound of the shower, I organized my thoughts while taking a hot shower.

‘Three… No, four.’

Three presences I had felt since I got off Yeom Haneul’s Rolls-Royce.

One presence I felt when I got home.

A total of four.

One presence was still inside the house.

Three presences were outside the house, slightly changing their positions and watching me.

They seemed to be using stealth-related artifacts or skills to hide their presence, but that only works on people who it works on.

And then I remembered Manager Eun’s advice.

So this is what she meant when she said Yeonseong was watching me.

Those fcking bstards have some nerve.