Where Every Story Blooms

    Hoo Eui-sung naturally took the seat the section chief had vacated. Dressed neatly, with his hair neatly combed back and intelligent-looking glasses, he greeted Ha Do-heon with the same demeanor as a week ago.

    “I’m Hoo Eui-sung, assigned as the investigator for the Shinlim Station incident. This is our second meeting, Ha Do-heon. Did you get home safely that day?”

    “…Yes. Haha, thanks to your concern.”

    Today, without Moon Tae-yi, the gatekeeper, there was no way to avoid his statement. Hoo Eui-sung placed his laptop and a simple measuring device on the table and took a long, deep breath. Seeing his obvious nervousness, Ha Do-heon also felt uneasy and clenched his hands.

    “…Before we begin with the statement regarding the Shinlim Station incident, I have something personal to say to Ha Do-heon. It might not be pleasant for others to hear, so please excuse me for a moment.”

    Hoo Eui-sung looked up at the air and blinked slightly, and a translucent barrier surrounded them. Do-heon, seeing the reddish membrane, pressed his lips tightly.

    What kind of grand thing is he going to say that he needs to use a skill?

    Hoo Eui-sung’s skill, ‘Soundwave Blocking,’ was a special confidential ability that prevented the target’s lip movements and conversation from leaking out. From the outside, their lips would appear to be shaking with noise, making it impossible to identify their lip movements. Of course, no sound would escape either.

    “The conversation we have today is a strictly personal matter, and only Ha Do-heon and I should know its contents. Furthermore, the statement will not be recorded. I will arbitrarily write Ha Do-heon’s statement in this report.”

    “Excuse me?”

    “We have already reviewed the CCTV footage from the Shinlim Station intersection. The Hunter who killed the Poison Chameleon will be identified as an Intruder, presumed to be an Unregistered Being, and the Hunter Management Bureau will dispatch an investigation team to track them down. Therefore, Ha Do-heon will be considered a victim unrelated to this incident.”

    At this point, Ha Do-heon couldn’t help but feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. Ha Do-heon knew better than anyone that Hoo Eui-sung wouldn’t act this way without some ulterior motive.

    “So, let’s talk frankly.”

    Hoo Eui-sung removed the eye patch and mask he was wearing. Hideous scales covered his eyes and cheeks. Hoo Eui-sung’s infected monster was as Ha Do-heon expected. Reptilian. To be precise, it was the giant monster lizard with a six-way split mouth.

    “You’re not surprised, as expected.”

    “…I am very surprised. It’s just that I don’t show it on my face.”

    “Is that so? Then, I’ll get straight to the point.”

    Hoo Eui-sung openly revealed his flaws to the other person without hesitation. This was only possible if certain assumptions were underlying. For example, he thought it was a risk worth taking to win over a fellow kind, or he was trying to foster a sense of kinship.

    Hoo Eui-sung was convinced that Ha Do-heon was a Weirdness Hunter like himself.

    “About a year ago, I was drafted for a Gate suppression and was injured. After that, I had a fever and abdominal pain for ten days. As a result of the examination, my rank was upgraded from E-rank to B-rank. Then, these scales started to appear all over my body.”

    “……”

    “At first, I was so hideous that I didn’t look like a human. The Hunter Management Bureau took me in, treated me as confidential, and accepted me. They said that my blood was mixed with the monster’s DNA, causing an infection. They estimate that’s why my rank was upgraded, but the research team is expressing concern.”

    Concern. Ha Do-heon bit his molars to hide his agitation.

    “They say they don’t know when I might turn into a monster.”

    In the previous life, the controversy over Weirdness Hunters was more intense than political issues. Public opinion was divided: half believed they should be treated as monsters because they had monster genes, and the other half believed they should be accepted as citizens of this land who were alive and had reason.

    The conflict between the two highest authorities also affected the Hunter Management Bureau organization, dividing the forces and intensifying the conflict. It was a well-known fact that the power structure was greatly influenced by public opinion.

    ‘Even a trained hunting dog bites its owner when cornered.’

    Proving their own stability became another mission for the Weirdness Hunters. So, like hunting dogs, they replaced muzzles with masks modeled after beasts, and became guard dogs protecting people.

    “I want to protect Hunters like me. I will let them know that hiding is not the best option. Although they may not be accepted by society right away, if a few gather and become many, and prove their necessity, coexistence is possible.”

    Let’s call it experience. Hoo Eui-sung’s hopeful experience was no different from the wishes Ha Do-heon had in his previous life. But if you ask if that’s really possible, well, not really.

    The example was the difficult treatment Ha Do-heon saw and experienced in his previous life. Oppression, confinement, surveillance, abuse.

    Of course, at that time, he thought it was natural. When you’re in an extreme situation, you can convince yourself that it’s natural, reasonable, and there’s a good reason for it. But looking back, weren’t these guys actually sons of bitches?

    Ha Do-heon realized this like a bruise in his heart as he watched his colleagues die in the Yakum Dungeon.

    His life motto was ‘live moderately and go with the flow,’ and he followed the path that others had set for him, but it turned out that his path was way off.

    Could he easily correct it? No, he had to make a fuss. People don’t recognize you just because you sit quietly and raise your voice. That’s why Ha Do-heon was prepared to become a son of a bitch himself when the ‘time’ came.

    “So, are you saying that you think I’m that infected Hunter, Hoo Eui-sung Hunter?”

    “…I believe that Ha Do-heon caught the Poison Chameleon. And if that assumption is correct—”

    “……”

    “I believe that Ha Do-heon is a re-awakened Hunter with an A-rank or higher ability control that is more perfect than mine. That’s why you’re hiding your identity so perfectly.”

    “Are there any other infected Hunters in the Hunter Management Bureau besides you?”

    “…No.”

    Hoo Eui-sung answered in an unsure tone. But he didn’t back down. He insisted that his guess was correct. The cells in his body throbbed explosively when he saw Ha Do-heon, and they all stood up straight, feeling stiff. He had goosebumps and chills down his spine every moment.

    But this person is only a B-rank Hunter? Even a passing dog would laugh.

    “You will state that you have 0.1% stake in this matter, right?”

    “Yes, well. That’s the truth.”

    “It’s a strange thing. There are a lot of Unregistered Beings these days, but for some reason, when something happens that is directly related to Ha Do-heon’s safety, an incident occurs. After I ordered Ha Do-heon to be followed, two Intruders, presumed to be Unregistered Beings, suddenly started attacking Dungeons at random.”

    Hoo Eui-sung slowly raised his arms, clasped his hands together, and continued softly.

    “When the Inspection Team Leader was kidnapped, he asked specifically about B-rank Hunters. Why are you following him? Is that all? When Ha Do-heon was summoned to the Hunter Management Bureau, the building was torn apart. Ah. The building won’t be torn apart today, will it?”

    “What kind of over-interpretation is that…”

    “It’s just my guess. There are a lot of Unregistered Beings that didn’t exist before, but even though S-ranks have been deployed, they haven’t been able to find any clues. It’s as if they’re not citizens of the Republic of Korea.”

    “……”

    Ha Do-heon became speechless and avoided his gaze altogether. Hoo Eui-sung smiled at his action of hunching his shoulders and subtly turning his body to the side. If the other person doesn’t seem willing to open his mouth, there’s no point in pressing him further.

    “Then, shall we do this?”

    Hoo Eui-sung took off the glasses he was wearing for work. The atmosphere loosened instantly.

    “The Hunter Management Bureau will no longer bother Ha Do-heon. We will never summon Ha Do-heon again until you come here on your own and reveal your identity.”

    Hmm… this is a bit tempting. But sweet offers come with a price.

    “Instead.”

    …See? Ha Do-heon inwardly suppressed his pounding heart and calmly faced him.

    “Anything is fine. If you ever feel like you want to ‘trade’ with me, please come find me. Requests or demands are fine. I will trade with you a total of three times.”

    “……”

    “But when all three times are used up.”

    Hoo Eui-sung rarely smiled. His eyes were calm and composed, while only the corners of his mouth were gently raised, softening his rigid image. But Ha Do-heon saw it differently. It was as if he was predicting that Ha Do-heon would definitely make that choice someday.

    “Then, please come and tell me yourself. About your identity. And about what we need to achieve together in the future. That’s all I need.”

    He’s a smart person, as expected.

    Ha Do-heon came out into the world prepared to become a son of a bitch, but he had no intention of joining hands with the Hunter Management Bureau. Of course, there’s no need to say that now.

    “Please keep this. It’s my business card. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me anytime.”

    A business card was handed over on the table. Since he had nothing to say, he nodded vaguely without a word, and Hoo Eui-sung packed up and stood up.

    “That’s all for the statement. Thank you for cooperating with the statement regarding the Shinlim Station incident, Ha Do-heon Hunter. I hope to see you again if the opportunity arises. I hope you have a safe trip home.”

    “Y-yeah…”

    Following Hoo Eui-sung, who was bowing, Ha Do-heon also awkwardly stood up and bowed his head reluctantly. He followed the trajectory of the man who left first, and when he was left alone, Do-heon leaned back against the backrest and sighed.

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