This Isn’t How I Wanted My Name to Get Out

Perhaps because of the words the guest left behind, my body feels unusually light today.
Opening the office door more cheerfully than ever, I see Officer Park and Officer Han.
I greet them energetically.

“You both worked hard yesterday.”

“The youngest is here.”

“Good morning.”

“By the way, just so you know, there was no separate cooperation from the Association on-site yesterday.”

“Understood.”

That was a welcome piece of news.
I unburdened my things at my desk, looking pleased.

“Oh, Ha-neul.”

I lift my head at Officer Park’s call.

“Anyway, what happened to all that food yesterday?”

“Why even ask? Both the Deputy Team Leader and our Ha-neul have such small appetites, so I’m sure it was all thrown away. Oh, the sweet and sour pork would have been fine to take home and reheat. Did you pack any?”

Since I had gone straight home from the site due to the late cleanup, it was natural for them to wonder how yesterday’s lunch had been handled.
I shake my head, recalling the plates that were cleaner than I’d ever seen them.

“Fortunately, a guest came by yesterday. We ate together.”

“A guest?”

“Yes, an aide of Hunter Kim Se-hyun stopped by.”

“…You ate with that guy?”

“Yes.”

I wonder if eating together is really such a shock.
Both of them stare at me with wide eyes.
I nod once more, then watch as they exchange looks.

“That’s unusual for a guy who normally just checks the money and leaves.”

“I’ll say. He’s the type to wave you off even if you offer him a single cup of coffee.”

“And even when he does speak, isn’t it always about money?”

“It got so bad people used to say he only works under Kim Se-hyun because they’re two of a kind!”

“…No way. Did he agree because our youngest asked?”

Officer Han suddenly looks at me.
Officer Kim looks at me with the same expression.
I let out an awkward laugh.

“Well, I suppose.”

“Think about how much of a relief it must have been to see our youngest after dealing with someone like Kim Se-hyun. If I were that guy and I finally met someone so harmless, I would have agreed immediately too.”

I don’t know why the conversation is heading in this direction.
And what’s with those proud gazes, as if watching the family’s youngest perform a cute talent?
Embarrassed, I can only laugh.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Team Leader!”

The office door opens and the Team Leader enters.
After greeting him, I notice something different and ask immediately.

“Did you have something to pick up?”

The only things the Team Leader usually carries when commuting are his phone, wallet, and car keys.
Looking at the paper bag cradled in his arms, my eyes widen at the sweet scent of bread wafting past my nose.

“A new bakery opened nearby. If you haven’t had breakfast yet, help yourselves. I bought plenty.”

“Ooh, as expected of the Team Leader!”

“We’ll eat well.”

I was actually feeling peckish since I skipped breakfast, so this is perfect.
Going straight to the round table, I find Officer Kim—who arrived first—pouring the bread out of the paper bag.
Perhaps because it’s freshly made, it couldn’t smell more fragrant.
Suddenly hit with a wave of hunger, I raise my hand high.

“I’ll go brew the coffee immediately!”

I want to express my gratitude more, but this is the priority right now.
The Team Leader, who was watching me quietly, lets out a chuckle.
I start to pull my lips into a smile when a sudden impact hits my back, causing my waist to buckle.
No, my waist practically folds.

“Hahat! Our youngest really is the best!”

“Whoa!”

“If you hit him like that, our little chick’s back is going to burst!”

“…Oh dear.”

Every time a loud thwack echoes, something hits my back and then pulls away.
Furthermore, each time it happens, my waist keeps folding forward.
The impact is considerable.
My vision repeatedly goes dark and then bright again.

“Are you okay?”

I hear words from the side, but I don’t have the mental capacity to answer right now.
Holding my knees with my hands for a moment, my darkened vision gradually returns to normal.

As I slowly straighten my folded waist, three pairs of eyes are fixed on me.
Seeing their concern-filled gazes, I straighten my back properly, acting as if nothing happened.

“Are you okay?”

“…I got too excited.”

“I-it’s fine.”

My whole back is ringing, and I felt a brief moment of terror at my body folding so helplessly, but it wasn’t on purpose, so it’s okay.
Worrying they might fret more, I pull the corners of my mouth up.

“Are you really okay?”

“My… my bones are ringing a bit, but I’m fine.”

“What? Your bones are ringing?”

The Team Leader’s voice rises at the mention of ringing bones.
I add more words.

“It’ll be fine after a little while.”

“…….”

Right, an impact like this would pass with time.

“Do you have any idea how hard you hit him, Team Leader? I was shocked; I thought the youngest’s bones were going to break!”

“…I… I’m sorry.”

The Team Leader scratches the back of his head at Officer Han’s protest.
Seeing him look so genuinely sorry makes me feel even more apologetic.
I keep babbling, trying to show him he doesn’t need to be sorry anymore.

“Something like this is nothing after a moment. It’s just that it was an unexpected touch, so there was a bit of a shock! It’ll be fine soon, so you don’t have to feel sorry.”

“…Still, it’s my fault for hitting the youngest too hard.”

For some reason, the more I talk, the more the corners of his eyes droop.
Seeing the Team Leader looking dejected with his shoulders slumped, I hurriedly head toward the water dispenser.

Right—to show him I’m really okay, moving around would be better than just saying it.

I quickly brew the coffee and deliver it to everyone, then straighten my body stiffly, putting strength into my shoulders to show I’m unharmed.

“I’m as fit as a fiddle, Team Leader!”

“Pfft!”

“Puhahat!”

“Really, youngest, you’re the best!”

I don’t know why they suddenly burst into laughter.
I’m confused for a moment until I catch the mischief on their three faces and realize the situation a beat late.

“Sigh.”

I thought things were going too smoothly; it seems their playful streaks have flared up since this morning.
Looking at the three of them laughing heartily, I smile as well.
Yes, it’s better for them to be happy like this than to be moping around.

“Hm? Did something interesting happen?”

“Deputy Team Leader!”

I was laughing so hard I didn’t even notice someone had entered the office.
The two of them explain the situation to the Deputy Team Leader, who is looking over with a puzzled face.
It wasn’t a big deal, but they seem to be exaggerating it.
I fidget with the bridge of my nose.

“Puhahat! Please take good care of our youngest in the office! We can’t let him outside!”

“He didn’t even know it was a joke and was working so hard! Where else could you find a kid this dim-witted!”

“Haha.”

The Deputy Team Leader, having heard the story, also bursts into laughter.
When Officer Kim arrives a few minutes later and hears the story, he joins in the fun.
Watching them, the words I heard from the guest yesterday naturally come to mind.

“…….”

Yesterday was good, but he said today would be an even better day, and it really feels like the day is flowing just like that.
Since it started on such a good note, I hope the rest of the day goes smoothly.
After finishing the bread with my team members, I start the workday with more energy than any other day.

…Right, that’s how it started.

“…….”

Who on earth sent this?

Looking at the flower basket sitting on my desk, I couldn’t be more bewildered.
Recalling how I had checked with the deliveryman several times to see if it was a mistake, I narrow my eyes.

My social circle is so narrow that anyone else would find it pitiable.
In fact, what little social life I had was almost completely severed while I was preparing for the civil service exam.
Because of that, trying to guess who sent this flower basket is like trying to pluck a star from the sky.

Since it was delivered precisely in my name, a stranger wouldn’t have sent it.
The more I think about it, the more complicated my head becomes.
I’m agonizing over it when I immediately respond to the Team Leader’s call.

“Youngest.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Are you seeing someone?”

“Not at all.”

The only time I’ve ever ‘seen’ someone in my life was in kindergarten.
And even that was for exactly three days.
While answering the Team Leader’s question firmly and eyeing the flower basket, I discover a small card nestled among the lush blooms.

“Did you find something?”

“Yes.”

After answering Officer Kim, I unfold the card that had been folded in half.

[To my angel]

“…….”

“What is it? What is it? Why do you have that look on your face…?”

I don’t particularly want to check what kind of look I have.
At the request to see it, I immediately hand it over to Officer Kim.
A moment later, looking at his expression, I can roughly guess what kind of face I’m making.

“Why is everyone making that kind of face?”

This time, the Team Leader snatches the card from Officer Kim’s hand.
And soon, I confirm that the ‘rotten’ expression has spread to the Team Leader as well.

“Youngest, do you know the person who sent this?”

If I only knew that, I would have brushed it off as a simple prank.
And, of course, I wouldn’t be making such a face.

There was one person nearby who might play this kind of joke, but he didn’t have the stomach to call me an angel.
I shake my head.

“I don’t know.”

“Just what exactly is written on it…?”

“Why is everyone making that kind of fac—”

The expressions of the team members who check the card become one.
The Deputy Team Leader, the last to check the card, hands it back to me.
I immediately tuck it under the flower basket to make it vanish from sight.

“No, why look for an angel here?”

“Aren’t angels things that only appear in high-rank dungeons?”

“Gasp!”

While discussing angels, Officer Park suddenly shudders.
I look at him as he seems to have realized something.

“I just thought of something.”

“What is it?”

“The flower basket. Could it have been sent by someone trying to pick a fight with the Hunter Department?”

“If that were the case, shouldn’t they have sent it to the Hunter Department in general?”

“But he’s our team’s youngest! And he’s a little chick!”

“…That sounds plausible.”

No, I don’t know what part of that is plausible.
The Team Leader, who fell for Officer Park’s conspiracy theory, strokes his chin with a serious face.
Not only him, but it seems the entire team except for me has fallen for the conspiracy.

“Thinking about what’s happened so far, it’s a perfectly understandable story.”

“So they’re targeting our team’s youngest, is that it?”

They haven’t just ‘fallen’ for it; they’ve completely surrendered to it.
Before I know it, the team members start a heated discussion, claiming it’s clearly a provocation against the entire Hunter Department.
Leaving them behind, I focus on the flower basket.

“…….”

Who on earth, and for what reason, sent me a flower basket like this, even writing such a nonsensical card?
If this were a game, there’d be a hint, but the situation is frustrating as I’m only catching at clouds.
I’m staring at the flower basket with a serious face when the Team Leader’s direct line rings, and I look up.

“Team Leader, you should answer the phone first.”

“First, find out if there’s anyone nearby who’d pick a fight. We don’t avoid a fight that’s brought to us! Yes, this is Yeom Ki-tae, Team Leader of the Seoul City Hunter Department.”

The Team Leader gives orders to the team members while heading to his seat to take the call.
It was a phone that never rang, except for calls from the city hall higher-ups coming to pressure us about cooperation fees.
I assumed it was that kind of call today as well, but I soon noticed the Team Leader’s behavior was different than usual.

The Team Leader, who seemed to be letting the words slide while picking his other ear, looks over here—at me.
I tilt my head at his gaze, which is tinged with bewilderment.

“…Ha! What kind of nonsense is that! You’re going to give him a promotion just because there are some posts there? If you have money to spend on things like that, he’s the type who’d rather have three square meals! I don’t have time for idle chatter, so I’m hanging up!”

The Team Leader pours out his words and hangs up.
I swallow hard and watch his mood, then immediately respond to his call.

“Yeon Ha-neul!”

“Yes, Team Leader!”

As expected, something had definitely gone wrong.
I feel tense as the Team Leader calls me by my name instead of ‘youngest’ or ‘little chick’ like usual.

“The guy who sent that. I think we definitely have to catch him.”

“The flower basket?”

I don’t know what kind of call it was to make him say we definitely have to catch him.
An unknown anxiety envelops my entire body.
I try to quell the anxiety by interlacing my fingers, but my mouth goes dry at the sound of the Team Leader’s sigh.

“That guy… he spammed the Seoul City website’s ‘Let’s Praise’ section with posts praising his ‘ang—,’ our team’