Chapter 59: Kim Jihyeok

“Uuung…”

I forced my body up, which felt especially heavy today.

The first thing I checked was the time.

‘…It’s been a while since I slept in.’

The day after the D-Rank Gate commotion.

I’d told Deneb she could take the remaining two days off and rest easy.

Originally, I’d planned to take two days to clear that D-Rank Gate we went to together, but thanks to Deneb finishing the boss in less than half a day — not even a full day — I decided to take today off.

I didn’t get to watch Deneb’s fight because of that annoying business that came up, but she proved she could handle a D-Rank boss on her own, so I figured letting her rest a few days was fine.

Honestly, I wanted to rest too. Besides, today’s that day…

‘It’s better than before, at least.’

Thanks to the medicine Mr. Luca got me, and since I’ve been through this once already, it’s definitely milder than last time.

‘And unlike when I did nothing, my mind feels at ease.’

Before my body changed, back when I was holed up in my room after that series of events, I used to feel a faint guilt whenever I thought about myself doing nothing.

But maybe it’s because now my social life equals my Hunter life? This time feels like a right I’m entitled to enjoy, so my heart’s pretty calm.

Maybe that’s why I haven’t had nightmares lately. I still hear voices sometimes, but at least not in my dreams.

‘Today, I’m really going to rest without a care…’

Hugging the pillow I was holding, I buried myself in the blankets with the force of becoming one with the bed. I’m staying like this, doing nothing, for two days!

…But sadly, my wish didn’t last long.

BANG BANG BANG!

‘Fuck!’

—Verdi!

Mr. Luca’s voice came through the door.

I clearly said I was resting today, so why’s he acting like this?

‘If I pretend to be asleep, he’ll probably leave soon.’

Having made up my mind, I buried myself back under the covers.

But.

BANG BANG BANG!

The knocking on the door continued for over ten minutes. By then, even I — someone who usually sleeps a lot — had my drowsiness chased away.

—I know you’re not asleep. Come out for a second!

Does that old man have nothing better to do?

Seeing how idle the owner, Mr. Luca, is, this inn must not have many guests. Might go bankrupt soon.

I almost wish it would go under. Then I could keep occupying this room forever.

Of course, that’s a secret from Mr. Luca.

BANG BANG BANG!

“I’m coming, I’m coming!”

Giving up, I got up and opened the door, and there was Mr. Luca.

“What’s the matter? You kept knocking.”

“You little shit, if you’re awake, say so!”

“For starters, Mr. Luca, you have a key. You could come in even if I didn’t open it.”

“That’s my own kind of consideration.”

Consideration, my ass. Knocking for over ten minutes to force me out — that’s consideration?

“I haven’t forgotten what you looked like before your body changed, but right now you’re a girl, aren’t you? I’m respecting your privacy.”

“Oh please, just a few days ago you broke the door down to get in.”

“Anyway, I have something important to tell you.”

“What is it?”

If it’s something pointless, I’ll stomp on your foot right now.

“Jihyeok is coming today.”

“…Jihyeok?”

I could feel my eyes go wide at the name that popped out of nowhere.

Kim Jihyeok. The guy I used to call just ‘that guy,’ the only man I ever acknowledged as a partner.

—How about we stop here?

—…Are you serious?

But that ending wasn’t exactly pleasant.

I disbanded both the party and the guild because I was afraid Jihyeok would get hurt because of me, and just like that, we became strangers.

After that, I never met Jihyeok again. He never sought me out either.

I thought I’d never see him again.

“…Forget it. We’re strangers now anyway.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“You didn’t tell Jihyeok about my current state, did you?”

“No, I didn’t say anything.”

“Then that’s the end of it. I have no intention of telling Jihyeok that my body changed.”

Not that he’d believe me anyway.

“And I’d like you to keep it a secret too, Mr. Luca.”

“Can I ask why?”

“Why?”

“Well.”

…Surprisingly, my deliberation didn’t last long.

“Because that guy’s an idiot. No matter what happens, he’d try to help me. I hate that. He’s best off the way he is now. Right now, when he can move forward on his own without being forced down a path by anyone else.”

“…Got it. I’ll keep it a secret.”

Mr. Luca wore a somewhat reluctant expression, but in the end, he seemed to accept it.

“So you’re not even going to meet him?”

“No.”

That guy has a weird personality, so nothing good would come from being in his sight.

“But why did he suddenly come to see you?”

That’s pretty random. I never even thought Jihyeok would still be in touch with Mr. Luca.

The relationship between the two that remained in my memory wasn’t as deep as mine and Mr. Luca’s.

After all, I was the one who handled getting funding from Mr. Luca directly, so the two of them barely ever crossed paths.

As far as I remember, they were just acquaintances who exchanged greetings when they happened to run into each other.

“Actually, that kid did come looking for you once a month after you holed up in your room. He asked about how you were doing every time. He’s been less frequent lately, though.”

“Really? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I did. You just ignored me.”

I started to argue with Mr. Luca’s words, then stopped. Because when I thought about it, he wasn’t wrong at all.

Right after I locked myself in my room, I was a complete Wretch…

I remember cutting off everything from the outside, just sleeping, waking up to drink, and then going back to sleep.

“Did Jihyeok ever try to find me?”

“He didn’t go that far. Hey, he’s the person who’s been by your side the longest. The one who knows you best. He probably thought it would upset you.”

…Well, he’s always been perceptive.

“Brings back memories. Jihyeok was really good to you, wasn’t he? That kid has a kind personality, always calling you ‘senior’ properly.”

“Well, that’s—”

The reason he calls me senior is because I possessed this world before Jihyeok was even born.

I started to say that, then swallowed the words.

I’ve been thoroughly hiding the fact that I possessed another world from everyone, including Mr. Luca. I’ve never talked about my original world or my hometown.

The only person who knows this is Jihyeok, who, like me, has an ‘ancestor who possessed another world.’

“I started my Hunter life before he did, so of course I’m his senior.”

So I glossed over it with that explanation.

“Honestly.”

Mr. Luca made a bewildered face, but he seemed to accept it.

“Then I’ll handle him alone, so you stay in your room and wait. If he sees you, explaining it will be a headache. Got it?”

“Got it.”

And with that, Mr. Luca left. I feel bad for Jihyeok, but I have no intention of revealing my identity right now. I don’t plan to let him know I’ve returned, either.

Of course… I do have the desire to party up again, knowing the good memories from before and how excellent his skills are.

But now isn’t the time. I’m the one who caused the downfall of us, who were once doing so well. I ruined everything, and Jihyeok was just caught up in it absurdly.

Still, one thing was fortunate: probably because I drew so much aggro, no one held Jihyeok responsible. Not that I intended it.

I need to apologize to Jihyeok. Until I properly apologize, we don’t deserve to meet. No matter how Jihyeok thinks of me, that’s how I think of myself.

I buried my face in the bed again. I still need time. Still…

* * *

“It’s been a while, Mr. Luca.”

“Yeah. You doing okay?”

“More or less.”

The two people sat across the table from each other on chairs and exchanged light greetings.

The man with a ponytail, wearing black training clothes — Kim Jihyeok.

He was an S-Rank Hunter, once a comrade of Verdiol.

When funding Verdiol’s guild, that guy always came to pick it up in person, so back then, Luca and Jihyeok’s relationship wasn’t as close as Verdiol and Luca’s. To put it simply, it was a business relationship. Just that.

But after Verdiol holed up in his room, Jihyeok started visiting Luca’s office more often. The reason, of course, was to check on Verdiol’s condition.

To Luca, Jihyeok’s monthly visits looked like a pitiful young man waiting for his lover. Of course, back then, they were both men.

Luca approached Jihyeok first and handed him a cup of coffee. That was the catalyst. As they opened up about their thoughts on Verdiol, the two found they had a lot in common and became quite close.

“I’ve been a bit busy lately.”

“Oh, did you find a new guild or something?”

“No, not that. I left the guild and started my own business. A big job came in recently.”

“Business?”

“Yes. I’m a fixer.”

“…A fixer?”

At the unfamiliar word, Luca’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

Jihyeok pulled a small business card from his pocket and handed it to Luca.

“Kim Jihyeok, the Black-Haired Fixer. I solve anything…”

Even after reading it, Luca still didn’t quite understand. Jihyeok smiled faintly at him and spoke.

“Well, there are things in this world that ordinary people can’t solve, right? I’m an Awakened One, a Hunter, so I help them with things they can’t handle.”

“Is that so. But it seems like a Low-Rank Hunter could handle that just fine.”

“I can’t talk about it because of security secrets, but it’s not usually easy work.”

“Not usually easy… No way.”

A chilling thought crossed Luca’s mind.

Kim Jihyeok, you’re not… people?