POSSESSED 11

I was at a loss for words at Baek Joomyeong’s rather flustered remark. I was thinking I should wrap this up by saying I was truly fine and he didn’t need to worry, when Baek Joomyeong slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

What? Why is he laughing?

Baek Joomyeong’s smile even managed to make a person feel flustered. This wasn’t some “give and take” concept, and it was troublesome for things to go this way—just because I applied ointment on him didn’t mean he had to do the same for me.

It would be strange enough even if this man were just a hetero Hunter….

He stroked the nape of his neck. It seemed my struggling reaction was actually making him feel awkward.

“It is a joke. If it’s you, Teacher, you would probably take good care of applying the ointment yourself even without me.”

“Ah…. A joke. Haha.”

I laughed since he said it was a joke, but it was absurd. What kind of person tells a joke so seriously?

“The reason I asked if you had time is because of Yeonji.”

“Do you have separate business with me regarding Yeonji?”

“Yes, because Yeonji really likes you, Teacher.”

I had heard it earlier, but hearing the news that Yeonji really liked me directly from Baek Joomyeong made me feel proud. After all, wasn’t I someone who especially cherished Yeonji and was especially weak for her? It felt like my heart and sincerity had gotten through.

If I were to brag a little, it wasn’t just Yeonji; many children at Eden Daycare liked me. My efforts to provide childcare tailored to the children’s individual personalities were paying off.

While I was secretly feeling a sense of accomplishment, Baek Joomyeong wore a quite serious face.

“What you said a moment ago, Teacher… Honestly, you’re right. Yeonji has nightmares every day I go out to a Gate.”

“Every day you go out to a Gate?”

To have nightmares every day a Gate breaks open….

Yeonji lost her parents at a very young age. Even if she doesn’t say it, a child who would be aware of her parents’ absence couldn’t possibly be ignorant of her uncle’s absence. Even if she doesn’t know much about Gates, she already knows the cold cruelty of reality—that if things go wrong, she could lose her uncle too.

The child’s pitiful situation instantly made my heart feel heavy.

The original Jang Taeyeon used this child’s uncle as bait to run scams and…. Is he seriously trash?

“If I think of the child, it’s right not to go out. But putting aside internal Guild matters, Gate cases are national affairs, so I have no right to refuse. To the nation, I am just a single Hunter.”

“…….”

“Even if the Management and Control Bureau shown in the media looks friendly, the reality is the same as the General Headquarters. As much as they value obedience to orders, they are scary and strict. They do not forgive the disobedience of Guilds and Hunters.”

“…….”

“So I do call the lady every time I have a Gate business trip, but…. I was a fool to think that was enough. I just thought she was angry because I tied her hair wrong.”

Maybe I just wanted to think that way. Baek Joomyeong said that and lowered his head. Since he considered himself disappointing, I had nothing to say. I just felt more heavy-hearted and sorry.

I shouldn’t have meddled. Even if I spoke, I shouldn’t have spoken as if I were lecturing him like before. It would have been fine just to say that Yeonji is scared of the nights her uncle is gone.

“I suppose I am still very lacking.”

“No. I think I hastily blamed you, Hunter-nim, without knowing your circumstances. I’m sorry.”

I bowed my waist deeply.

Moreover, Baek Joomyeong is still twenty-five. He’s at an age where dating suits him better than marriage, and he’s in the prime of combat as a Hunter. It was an age where looking after a four-year-old child wouldn’t be familiar.

“I am the one who should be sorry. Because as a gift for Yeonji… I’m thinking of borrowing your time, Teacher.”

Borrowing my time as a gift for Yeonji? So that’s why he asked if I had time? But even if I did have time, what kind of help would that be?

To me, who was stunned, Baek Joomyeong brought up the main point.

“Would you have dinner with Yeonji?”

“Dinner? Just the two of us with Yeonji?”

“I will eat with you as well.”

As soon as the eyes with blue irises curved softly, I nodded my head slowly. Baek Joomyeong is eating too? Before my heart could even be surprised, it had already become soft like tofu.

For Yeonji’s sake, there is nothing I wouldn’t do.

🍥

I can’t do this. How am I supposed to eat dinner with Baek Joomyeong?

I was anxious all the way until clock-out time. No matter how much I thought about it, eating together didn’t seem right. There wasn’t just one or two things that bothered me about having a meal together.

My fellow teachers often said this: if you eat together once, you’ll end up eating together twice. They also said one person becomes two. Moreover, there might be parents who view it negatively, so they told me to avoid it if possible if I wanted to work comfortably.

Leaving all that aside, I didn’t want to have a private meeting with Baek Joomyeong. Thinking of Yeonji, I do want to eat dinner together. Not just dinner, I want to take care of the child by eating breakfast and lunch together too, but Baek Joomyeong and I needed a proper distance. Even if just for my peaceful life.

The Jeoksang Guild Hunter matter hasn’t even been resolved yet….

Maybe I could just delay my clock-out time. Even though I intentionally helped with event preparations for another class, in the end, after work, I received a contact from Baek Joomyeong and ended up having dinner together.

The place I arrived at was none other than the Wolhwa Guild office building. I never dreamed he would call me here of all places instead of another restaurant. From Baek Joomyeong’s perspective, considering the people who would recognize him, this would be the best option.

Goodness, what is happening? To think I’d end up coming all the way to the Wolhwa Guild while living as Jang Taeyeon….

The restaurant was in the basement. Although this place operated specifically for Hunters in principle, outsiders related to Hunters—namely family or acquaintances—could occasionally come and eat.

Above all, I was relieved because there was no risk of being caught by others here.

Could there possibly be someone who knows Jang Taeyeon? They probably don’t even know I’m a daycare teacher. Since Yeonji is the only child sent from the Wolhwa Guild.

Still, I couldn’t completely relax. Doubts about whether this was right and whether Jang Taeyeon should be here wouldn’t leave me.

Let’s not let my guard down. I mustn’t relax. I have to full-throttle even my villain cells to make sure I don’t make a mistake.

I hid my nervous heart behind a cabbage salad and scanned the surroundings. It was relatively deserted. It seems Hunters don’t come to the restaurant at this time. Well, they might come for lunch, but there was no reason for them to stay even for dinner.

I looked at Baek Joomyeong and Baek Yeonji sitting side by side in front of me. Baek Joomyeong was cutting the pork cutlet for Yeonji to eat, and Yeonji was looking up at me with her two small hands neatly gathered on the table.

As soon as our eyes met, I gave Yeonji a bright smile. Then, the child thudded her forehead down onto the back of her small hands. Perhaps because she heard the news that she really liked me, she seemed quite shy.

“I’ll cut yours for you too, Teacher.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll do mine. You should eat quickly too, Hunter-nim, you must be hungry.”

My menu was also pork cutlet. Yeonji had personally picked it, saying she wanted me to eat the same thing as her.

Despite my protest, Baek Joomyeong took my plate and sliced the pork cutlet. Whether it was because of Yeonji, his knife skills were proficient as if he had done it more than once or twice.

“Wow. Uncle cut it deliciously for you.”

I took care of Yeonji on his behalf. Speaking gently, I poked a piece of pork cutlet with the child-sized fork, thoroughly coated it in sauce, and gave it to the child.