POSSESSED 13

Wrinkling the bridge of my nose, I got up from my seat and thrust my fork right in front of Baek Joomyeong’s lips. I made sure to wear the brightest smile possible.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The pork cutlet was practically brushing against his lips, and Yeonji was pressuring him with her gaze while pretending not to. In a situation where it was impossible to refuse in many ways, Baek Joomyeong slowly opened his mouth.

He acted awkward when he accepted food from Yeonji earlier, so perhaps the act of being fed by someone is just awkward for him in general.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it? Since we’re sharing.”

I asked pointedly so that Yeonji could hear. This time, Baek Joomyeong played along. He replied as if he also wanted Yeonji to hear.

“It’s delicious because Teacher is feeding me. To the point that I find myself wanting more.”

Huh? For a moment, I couldn’t control my expression, but then I remembered the joke he made back at the daycare. He’s telling a joke with a serious face again. Realizing his intention, I chimed in.

“If you’re okay with it, Hunter, shall Yeonji and I feed you together?”

“Unfortunately, I will yield that privilege to Yeonji.”

With a gentle smile, Baek Joomyeong turned his gaze toward Yeonji. I followed his lead and checked on her.

The child didn’t know what to do with herself. To explain the situation from an adult’s perspective, she seemed proud that the adults were granting her wish, but she also appeared embarrassed about how openly she had been sulking. Even if she’s just a child, her emotions are so easy to read.

“Yeonji-ya, sit up straight…. Do you want to come sit next to Teacher?”

I asked while tapping the seat cushion, inviting her to sit beside me. Yeonji, who had been sitting half-turned away, nodded her head. As she scurried over to sit by my side, her face began to glow with joy.

Yeonji really likes me.

Seeing the child’s heart so clearly made my own heart swell. To be precise, it made it ache.

Looking at what happened with the Jeoksang Guild hunter, I’ve committed a terrible sin. Both to Yeonji and to Baek Joomyeong. How on earth am I going to resolve that matter with that hunter….

“Please eat comfortably, Hunter. I’ll eat while watching over Yeonji.”

For now, let’s focus on Yeonji. I placed Yeonji’s pork cutlet plate in front of her.

Yeonji began to eat on her own without being told, and while Baek Joomyeong seemed to feel sorry about the arrangement, he didn’t stop her for the child’s sake. It was more comfortable for me that way, too.

🍥

After finishing our meal, I was given a tour of the Wolhwa Guild. At first, I worried whether an ordinary person like me should be looking around the inside of the headquarters, but since Baek Joomyeong didn’t seem to mind, I just feigned ignorance and enjoyed the sights.

Even so, it was mostly just the history room detailing the guild’s lineage, an exhibition room for trophies obtained while subjugating Gates, a conference room where hunters gathered for discussions, a lounge where they could rest comfortably, and the administration office for handling clerical work. They probably wouldn’t show me the spaces related to combat or training.

Actually, the space I wanted to see the most was Baek Joomyeong’s private area.

According to the novel’s description, he had been a core member of Psychokinesis Team 1 before becoming the Vice Guild Leader and obtaining a separate space. In that space, he mostly shared his heart and exchanged emotions with Lee Kangseoo. Like a tourist at a famous landmark, I wanted to see what that space actually looked like, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

But what time is it that there are still so many people here?

“The guild is busy even at night. Quitting time passed long ago, but the lights are on on every floor and I see people quite often…”

“That is because duty personnel are on standby for each team. We must have personnel to prepare for emergency situations.”

“Ah…. By teams, do you mean things like the Elemental Team or the Psychokinesis Team?”

Baek Joomyeong nodded. This was information that wouldn’t cause any problems even if an ordinary person like me knew it. People who were in the loop knew it anyway.

Teams were mainly classified into Elemental, Psychokinesis, Support, and Summoning teams, and within those, they were further divided into Team 1 and Team 2 based on sub-classifications of abilities. The criteria for these sub-classifications were at the guild’s discretion, and during Gate subjugations or mission deployments, the required number of hunters would be drafted from the teams according to the request. Furthermore, teams existed on every floor, while the offices for the Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leader were located on the floors above them.

We went down to the first floor and stood before a screen that appeared to be a Gate status board. This screen was everywhere you went. I suppose it’s to instill a sense of vigilance regarding the Gates.

Baek Joomyeong pointed toward a side where a blue light was blinking. He mentioned it was a newly formed Gate.

“When this Gate opens, I will be drafted again.”

“Ah….”

“We suspect it will open this evening, so I am worried this time as well. I hope Yeonji doesn’t have nightmares if possible… I wonder if it’s for psychological reasons….”

So Baek Joomyeong has a vague idea of the reason as well.

The atmosphere became somber with concern for Yeonji. As soon as Baek Joomyeong made eye contact with me, he stepped closer. He then examined Yeonji’s face as she lay cradled in my arms.

“Are your arms not hurting? If it gets difficult at any time, please give her to me. I will hold her.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m afraid she’ll wake up if she’s moved. I should let her sleep well.”

It happened a while ago, around the time we were looking through the trophy exhibition room. Yeonji began to yawn and blink her eyes slowly before falling asleep in my arms. I had intended to hold her for just a little while and then wake her, but I was still letting her sleep.

Baek Joomyeong suggested we leave and led me to the parking lot. I had come here alone, but I wasn’t leaving alone. Baek Joomyeong insisted on giving me a ride, saying he was grateful that I had made time today.

The way home was awkward and uncomfortable. If I had sat in the passenger seat, would we have made small talk? Since I sat in the back seat to keep an eye on Yeonji in her car seat, I ended up just staring blankly at the back of Baek Joomyeong’s head.

I wish I could say something. What would be good to say?

“…The occupation of a hunter must be very difficult. They say there’s no easy job in the world, but there’s no profession with a worse work-life balance than a hunter.”

“Still, we earn a corresponding amount of money. The state provides housing as well.”

Hunters received a lot in many ways. The country provided housing, offered high interest rates on savings, supported fuel costs, and even discounted education fees for hunters’ families; the benefits were lavish.

People who are prone to jealousy might be envious, but usually, people just let it go. It was because when you think of all these things as the price of one’s life, it feels futile. A hunter is someone who might be alive today but gone tomorrow.

I checked on the sleeping Yeonji’s face once and then cast my gaze out the window. Suddenly, I spotted a couple sticking close together on the street. Staring at them, I asked reflexively.

“Don’t you feel lonely, Hunter?”

“Pardon?”

“…Ah, I’m sorry. I asked something unnecessary.”

Once spring comes, he’ll meet Lee Kangseoo. He’s a man who will soon forget his loneliness and live life deeply in love.

Yeonji will probably like Lee Kangseoo more than me by then, too. That’s a bit saddening….

“Are you lonely, Teacher?”

Baek Joomyeong turned his head toward me. Even in the dark and quiet atmosphere, his blue eyes did not lose their spirit and shone with a mysterious light.

Am I lonely? Well.

When I was buried in work, I didn’t even know if I was lonely. Work was my love, chores were my dating life, and overtime was my marriage. And I divorced through death.

I never got to have a proper relationship like others, but the reason I don’t particularly regret it is likely because I’ve never done it. You have to experience something to miss it or feel regret. Since I haven’t, I simply don’t know. Just as people want to eat more of the food whose taste they already know.