POSSESSED 56

I looked into ways to ensure proper discharge so that mana wouldn’t accumulate, but the explanations were mostly centered around officially registered Hunters. You were supposed to correct it while receiving mana education and, in severe cases, take medication. It also stated that it was particularly good to discharge a large amount of mana by using your abilities whenever there was a Gate battle or an engagement with an opposing group, but all I could do was sigh. For me, a daycare Teacher, it was a frustrating method.

In the end, it means you can only fix it if you become a Hunter. Is there no way while living as a daycare Teacher? What if I just don’t fix it? Wouldn’t it be okay as long as I don’t use my abilities? Does it still become a problem even if I don’t use them?

There were too many things I was curious about to simply think optimistically. And there were many things I was anxious about. So, aiming for the children’s nap time, I contacted Baek Joomyeong. Worried he might be busy, I asked for Ho Seowon’s contact information via message. I wanted to ask Ho Seowon, a fellow Mental-type, various questions.

After about 10 minutes, a reply came.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

I do not want to tell you.

“…You don’t want to tell me?”

The unexpectedly cold reply made me doubt my eyes. I was typing a reply asking if it was because of personal information, but Baek Joomyeong sent consecutive replies to me.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

This is the first time the Teacher has contacted me first.

So I was overjoyed,

But I didn’t know the business would be for Hunter Ho Seowon’s number.

I say it again, I do not want to tell you.

It’s not because of personal information; he’s just acting like this because he got his hopes up on his own and then got disappointed. Goodness. It was just the first message I’d sent.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

Don’t be like that, can’t you please tell me?

It’s because I have something to ask him ㅠㅠ

Ask me.

I told you I could be a better mentor.

Hunter, you’re not a Mental-type….

You can’t even see my mana….

And I’m not looking for a mentor….

I’m asking a favor.

Please give me the contact info, yes? Yes? Yes?

A bit of time passed since I sent the reply, but no message came from Baek Joomyeong. It’s not like I’m saying I’ll join the White Night Guild, so is he that against it? Is this something to bring personal feelings into? Baek Joomyeong felt like a child, uncharacteristic of him.

It was the moment I was about to put my phone into my apron pocket. The screen lit up. A reply came from Baek Joomyeong. Don’t tell me he’s going to say no again this time.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

[Hunter Ho Seowon’s Contact Information]

I went and asked Hunter Ho Seowon first.

I’ll give you the number.

As expected. I thought Baek Joomyeong would give me the contact info anyway.

I drafted a reply saying thank you with a faint smile on my lips. I just had to press the send button now, but Baek Joomyeong sent messages to me one after another. I seriously began to wonder if my messaging speed was just slow.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

Don’t save Hunter Ho Seowon’s number.

Don’t contact only Hunter Ho Seowon, either.

If you’re going to contact that guy, you must contact me as well.

I gave it to you on that condition.

Where is the logic in such a forced demand….

I’m just trying to ask about what I heard yesterday….

That kind of logic is right here.

Since you think I’m not an ability-user and won’t be of help, it doesn’t even have to be about abilities.

Whether you’ve eaten, whether you slept well—

Any business is fine, so contact me too.

Seriously, why is he being like this.

I’m only looking at text, yet I feel like my ears are ringing. I sent a concise reply saying I understood and then saved Ho Seowon’s number. I was about to send him a message when Baek Joomyeong cut in.

Yeonji’s uncle (Hunter Baek Joomyeong)

Let me know when you get off work today.

As I said before,

I will take you home.

I have overtime today.

And I told you I’m not a child, right?

I can go on my own, so don’t worry.

I decided to ignore the messages after that. I didn’t read the reply that came from Baek Joomyeong and contacted Ho Seowon.

Hunter Ho Seowon

Hello, Hunter Ho Seowon.

I am Jang Taeyeon.

I’m messaging you after asking Hunter Baek Joomyeong for your number.

Would it be alright if I asked you something?

Yep, I already got a call from Joomyeong-i!

What are you trying to ask?

It’s nothing major, but it’s about mana….

I didn’t get to tell you yesterday,

But the truth is, I can’t see my own mana….

I confessed to Ho Seowon that I couldn’t see mana and asked the things I was curious about.

How can one see mana? Is there a way to hide mana so other Mental-type Hunters can’t see it? Is there no harm as long as I don’t use my abilities? Is there no way for a non-Hunter to change the circulation of mana? And does it really lead to death if it gets severe?

Ho Seowon replied kindly within the scope of what he knew whenever time permitted, but as I read his messages, my face gradually stiffened. There is a saying that I’ve come to realize anew.

Haah, ignorance is bliss.

I did overtime today. I worked with Mr. Kim Ayong to make teaching materials to be used for the children’s education tomorrow. Kim Ayong said her boyfriend came to pick her up, gave a lively greeting, and left first. I trudged toward home alone, appreciating the already darkening sky.

I can’t believe it’s only Monday. Does it make sense that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are still left?

I already miss the weekend. I want to go home and rest quickly. I’ve used up all my energy for the day.

“…I’m hungry.”

Humans are truly fickle. Being tired is being tired, and being hungry is being hungry, so as soon as I saw a convenience store, I ended up going inside. While debating what to eat, I bought a cup of ramyun and some stone-plate roasted eggs and sat at the seating area inside the convenience store. While waiting for the ramyun to cook in the hot water, I peeled an egg and put it in my mouth.

The moment I cast a casual glance out the convenience store window while tasting the plain flavor of the egg, I froze upon discovering someone standing across the way. At first, I doubted if I was seeing things wrong, but looking a second and third time, I was certain. The person standing there was indeed Cho Cheolsoo.

Cho Cheolsoo waved his hand toward me, as I had stiffened at his appearance. He smiled and spoke very friendly-like, as if he were someone who had discovered an old friend.

Is it bad luck because it’s Monday? Or has the time come for those bastards to bully me again?

Cho Cheolsoo, who had entered the convenience store before I knew it, came straight to me and sat in the seat in front of me without permission. The man I was seeing again since that day still had a cursedly gentle atmosphere. However, for some reason, I felt a headache coming on.

Having experienced it once, I know. Cho Cheolsoo is even more suspicious and troublesome than Lee Sunghwan.

“You’re not disappointed that it’s not Lee Sunghwan, are you?”

“…I’m not glad to see whoever comes.”

Cho Cheolsoo asked slyly, and I answered nonchalantly to avoid showing that I was nervous.

“But I’m glad to see you. My expectations were high because permission to meet you finally dropped.”

“…….”

“Today is great since Baek Joomyeong isn’t here either.”

Seeing as he brings up Baek Joomyeong, he really must have been watching me.

“Aren’t you eating your ramyun? It must be all cooked.”

“If you’re worried about me not eating, don’t talk to me anymore and leave. I don’t want to eat in front of you.”

“Are you afraid I’ll grab the head of someone eating ramyun and shake it? If I were going to do that, I would have ambushed you while you were going home, right?”