I never expected an answer like 'I love you' in the first place.
In fact, if that answer had come out, I would have been even angrier.
I thought the one thing she would say was, 'I don't love you.'
Her behavior towards me until now had been typical of a couple who had lost their love.
But the answer she gave was merely…
“You don't know…?”
Whether she loved me or not.
To think she would give an answer that even she herself didn't know.
The Blood Oath between her and me was still in effect.
If I focused my mind even a little, the knot tied in a corner of my chest was proof of that.
In other words, for this question alone, she couldn't utter any lies to me.
Did that even make sense?
As I wore an expression of disbelief, she smiled forlornly and continued.
“You might not believe it, but it’s true. The me right now… I don’t know. What feelings I hold for that person.”
Her eyes, as she spoke, held a murky quality.
Her saying 'I don't know' didn't seem to be because her feelings for her husband, Son Si-woo, were vague.
Rather, I suspected it was because too many distinct emotions arose when she thought of Son Si-woo.
So many emotions, difficult to prioritize, had hidden their true nature.
That's why I was curious.
Why exactly her feelings for me had become so varied and complex.
At the same time, I was angry.
It was as if someone so decisive in everything else she did was only indecisive when it came to me.
If she didn't know, shouldn't she have at least tried to figure it out?
No, if she didn't even want to do that, she should have at least told me.
If she had, I would have at least tried to understand her.
What if.
Just, just if that had been the case, then even if our bodies had changed, our hearts might not have.
As if nothing had happened, she composed herself and put on her mask.
“That’s enough for today.”
Han Ju-hee cut off the conversation abruptly and turned away coldly.
“Thanks to you, the research could proceed quickly. I’ll send the finalized spell formula to the Association right away, so let’s call it a day.”
Click-clack.
I asked, addressing her retreating back as she walked ahead, her sharp heels clicking.
“When will the next experiment be?”
Regardless of my increasingly cold feelings, I wanted to know even more.
What was the reason your emotions became so complicated when you thought of me, or looked at me?
What exactly was it you intended to do by researching and acquiring my talent?
To do that, we needed to meet more often, and grow a little closer.
So that it wouldn't feel so awkward for you to open up to me.
So that more stories than the questions I asked would flow from your lips without you even realizing it.
She stopped a short distance away, turned her head slightly to reveal her profile, and answered.
“This time, it truly won’t take that long.”
Having said her piece, she left immediately.
The appearance and subjugation of the disaster-grade monster Kraken.
The birth of South Korea's first S-rank Healer.
After that, society, which had been quiet without any major incidents, was once again hit by a fierce wave.
【New Type of Drug Discovered, Undetectable by Drug Tests.】
【Powerful New Drug Appears, Affecting Even Awakened Ones' Bodies.】
It began with the emergence of a new type of drug.
News that a new drug, undetectable by tests and several times more dangerous than existing narcotics, had begun to spread quietly, heated up not only the real world but also online communities.
ㄴLifeIsLikeABigOne: A drug that can't be detected in tests? That's insane;;
ㄴNamgungHyungSaidIt: Kkya, I wondered where it came from, and it's Chinese-made too.
ㄴIWantToBeGood: China just being China… Is there a problem?
ㄴBetweenBigAndSmall: This is seriously f*cked up right now;; I heard it makes even Awakened Ones have anger management issues.
ㄴAngGaeKkulTti: If we just throw all the anger-management-issue Hunters into China, ang gae kkul tti~!
ㄴIWantToHaveSex: Don't do drugs, kids, just have sex.
A new type of drug that latched onto mana and harmed the human body.
As experts detailed how it could cause even greater harm to Awakened Ones, who typically had strong resistance to drugs, and the potential secondary damage they could inflict, tension began to rise.
Then, another piece of news hit South Korea.
【New Drug Trafficking Ring Apprehended!】
【Drug Trafficking Organization Busted, Kim Dojin the Hero?】
【Kim Dojin Continues to Set Major Records, There's No Other Hunter Like Him.】
Youngest B-rank Hunter.
Holds multiple records for fastest Dungeon clear times.
Subjugation of the disaster-grade monster Kraken.
Even a string of romantic rumors with South Korea's first S-rank Healer, Han Juyeon.
Kim Dojin, who had consistently appeared as both a main and supporting character in the hottest issues recently gripping South Korea.
It was the news that he had busted an organization selling the new drug, whose dangers were recently coming to light.
At this news, the communities, which had been quieting down for a while, flared up once again.
ㄴHunterGalleryFave: No;; what the hell is this guy? He pops up whenever you forget about him and surprises everyone.
ㄴSweetChineseManBest: First time seeing a B-rank Hunter appear in the news this often.
ㄴOnlyDojin: As expected of our oppa…♥
ㄴFactBomber: Ma'am in the comment above…, Kim Dojin is only twenty-one.
ㄴB_Rank_Is_Average_They_Say: Just go be an A-rank…, don't muddy the waters for B-ranks.
As a series of events unfolded that were hard to believe a B-rank could accomplish alone, some even raised conspiracy theories, suggesting everything was fabricated.
National Hunter Son Si-woo couldn't remain South Korea's guardian deity forever.
They speculated that the Hunter Association was taking advantage of his sabbatical to directly create a 'next-generation Hunter.'
Upon hearing this, the Hunter Association vehemently denied it, even pulling out the card of legal action.
Thanks to this, such articles could no longer be found, but as various stories continued to be created and disappear, spreading quietly among those who loved to gossip.
One subsequent piece of news overshadowed all of it.
【Magic Tower Develops World's First Spell Formula to Counter New Drug!】
【Spell Formula to Combat New Drug, Developers are Scarlet Witch and Kim Dojin?】
【Kim Dojin, What Did He Do to Develop the Spell Formula?】
The discovery of the new drug.
A few days later, the apprehension of the drug trafficking organization.
And then, a few more days later, the completion of the spell formula to counter the new drug.
This, in turn, caused an enormous stir.
Because the dangers of the new drug, first reported in South Korea, were spreading worldwide.
In such a situation, not only was the trafficking organization apprehended, but a spell formula was also developed to detect the drug through tests—how could national pride not swell?
ㄴLongLiveKorea: Kyaaaaaa~! Jumo! Close the shutters today!!!!
ㄴJuhee'sBeautyBreaksTheEarth: We are living in the era of Han Ju-hee… Ju-men.
ㄴDogBarksAtBeauties: Woof woof! Grrrrrrrrrr...! Bark bark!
An atmosphere close to a festival.
At this point, conspiracy theories began to spread again.
This time, not from news articles, but from online communities.
ㄴKimDojinAgain: No, but seriously, isn't this weird? Kim Dojin is involved in this too?
ㄴSoarHigh: Honestly, it's f*cking weird ㅇㅇ;; It makes no sense for an S-rank and a B-rank to be co-developers.
ㄴFabrication: Can't everyone smell it? The faint scent of a fabrication tree burning.
ㄴPassingDog: A mere B-rank co-developing with an S-rank lolol. Even a passing dog would laugh.
Even granting a hundred concessions and admitting Kim Dojin played a significant role in apprehending the drug trafficking organization, the question was whether it was even possible for him to collaborate with Han Ju-hee on spell formula development.
Thanks to this, reporters eagerly began writing articles.
This time, since people had first spread the conspiracies through online communities, the reporters merely transcribed them. Even if legal action were taken, it would be difficult to find fault.
As their tone and actions grew increasingly aggressive.
Then, a newspaper exclusively uploaded an interview with Han Ju-hee.
Most of it was about the spell formula development, and to summarize, it was as follows:
【Han Ju-hee, Co-developer of Spell Formula, States Kim Dojin Responsible for Over 80% of Work】
【Han Ju-hee Speaks Out on Current Situation: “Kim Dojin is an Undoubted Genius. I Was Amazed by His Ingenuity.”】
【Han Ju-hee Showers Praise: “The Next Generation of the Magic World Will Revolve Around Kim Dojin.” She Declares.】
Han Ju-hee, the very person who was rumored to be a victim forced by the Association to give up her share, began to shower Kim Dojin with praise.
Anyone with even a slight interest in the Hunter industry knew.
How incredible and unbelievable this was.
That Han Ju-hee, who rarely praised anyone, was showering him with praise meant that Kim Dojin was truly exceptional.
After this interview, stories slandering Kim Dojin could no longer be found.
No, if one looked closely, groups envious of him continued to pick apart his achievements, but they were astonishingly ignored and quickly faded into obscurity.
Just as this positive attention towards Kim Dojin reached its peak.
The final piece of news was delivered.
【B-rank Hunter Kim Dojin, Promotion Confirmed!】
It was the news that his promotion to A-rank had been confirmed without a promotion test, thanks to his contributions in this matter.