Chapter 17: Seeds of Affection

“It’ll be resolved after just one day, right?”

“Yeah.”

At least it wasn’t going to last forever.

Yoon Bora sighed in relief.

“That’s a relief, right, Harang?”

She gently stroked Harang’s head as he lay in her arms. He looked up at her and smiled brightly, a smile so pure that he had never shown before.

‘Ack!’

Harang’s innocent grin was dangerously heartwarming. It wasn’t good for her heart at all.

“Hmm.”

Come to think of it, wasn’t this the perfect chance to play with Harang?

Gulp—Yoon Bora swallowed hard and pulled back her hand. She wondered where to start playing with this tiny little creature. Should she keep stroking him? Or maybe give him a tight hug?

Just as she was nervously clenching and unclenching her hands—

“Hehe.”

Harang grabbed Yoon Bora’s hand and raised it back to his head, as if asking her to keep petting him.

“Ugh…!”

Yoon Bora bit her lip to hold back the smile threatening to escape. How could something this cute even exist in the world? She began to doubt if she was perhaps dreaming the happiest dream of her life.

“Hahee.”

But when Harang rubbed his soft, squishy cheek against her, she knew it wasn’t a dream.

“Aww.”

So fluffy and warm. Yoon Bora was sure no human could resist melting before such softness, no matter how emotionless they might be.

‘Can’t we just stay like this forever…?’

Yoon Bora almost let her thoughts run away with her. But no, that wouldn’t be right.

She quickly shook her head. While there might be a way to keep things this way, erasing someone’s life like that was inhumane.

As much as it pained her, Yoon Bora decided to hold back. Besides, this wasn’t going to be the last chance to enjoy such a moment.

For now, she decided to savor the moment and do what she normally couldn’t.

Suddenly—

Yoon Bora grabbed Harang’s tail.

It was long and softer than any ordinary animal’s tail. As she admired it, she gave it a gentle nibble.

“Huh… Huhing!”

Harang jolted in surprise and burrowed deeper into Yoon Bora’s arms, curling up like a frightened child. His trembling body made her feel a little guilty, as if she had done something bad.

‘Ah…’

It seemed like Harang didn’t like his tail being touched.

Though it was disappointing, Yoon Bora had a rule never to do anything the other person disliked.

Yoon Bora smacked her lips in disappointment and let go of Harang’s tail.

“Sorry, Harang. I didn’t know you didn’t like it.”

Her apology was filled with sincerity.

At the sound of her voice, Harang lifted her head, her eyes showing a hint of fear.

“OO…”

“I’m sorry, I won’t touch it again. Okay?”

Yoon Bora awkwardly smiled and held out her hands, using the kind of gestures one would when comforting a child.

Seeing that, Harang placed her hand on her chest and closed her eyes tightly.

Was she still scared? Yoon Bora was worried when—

Thud

Harang gently lowered her tail onto Yoon Bora’s hands.

A silent gesture of permission to touch her tail.

But, seeing Harang curled up and trembling, Yoon Bora couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Especially with Harang’s ears drooping like that.

‘Aww…’

She must’ve given in because she didn’t want Yoon Bora to feel bad about her disappointment.

But Bora had no intention of taking advantage of that kindness.

She put Harang’s tail down and instead patted her head.

Only then did Harang smile again, giggling.

‘to…’

They say when a person loses their rationality, their true nature comes out.

When Harang lost her sense of reason, she became so pure.

‘This must be her true self.’

How did someone like her end up receiving so much hate?

There was definitely some connection between her and Jinhyang.

As Yoon Bora pondered this, she looked toward Jinhyang.

And just as she did, Jinhyang spoke as if she had been waiting for the right moment.

“Bora.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be staying at your place tonight.”

“Huh? Why?”

It wasn’t often that Jinhyang stayed over, so Yoon Bora looked at her, puzzled.

“I need to talk to Raxy.”

“Ah.”

Was she talking about that incident where Harang was harassed?

Yoon Bora nodded quietly.

Yoon Bora and Raxy Bora.

Jinhyang and Kang Harang.

Their conversation began that evening.

The twins spoke first.

“It’s probably Lee Taesung, right?”

“Yeah, I looked into it, and it seems like it.”

“Ugh, why is he always so annoying?”

“He has to be the best, but Jinhyang is more skilled, so he’s jealous.”

When the twins finished their conversation, they turned to Jinhyang.

“This dungeon too—”

As soon as Jinhyang was about to continue speaking,

Harang presented a fork with a sausage right in front of Jinhyang.

It seemed to be an invitation to eat.

“Ahh.”

“Ha.”

Jinhyang hesitated, her expression hardening as she glanced between the sausage and Harang.

She wanted to tell Harang to put it away, but the child wouldn’t understand anyway.

So, Jinhyang reluctantly accepted it.

Munching—

Jinhyang had no choice but to keep her mouth closed while chewing.

Speaking with food in her mouth was not her manner.

Watching this, Raxy Bora thought,

Those with conversion syndrome sometimes revert to childhood, and the Harang in front of her had truly become an adorable child.

‘To think Harang could handle Jinhyang so easily.’

That was indeed Harang.

But I should have sat next to Harang.

As Raxy Bora was expressing her disappointment, Jinhyang opened her mouth.

“The probability that Lee Taeseong is involved in today’s dungeon is quite high.”

“Really? Isn’t it naturally generated?”

“It hasn’t been long since the inspectors came to the building.”

“Of…”

Dungeon inspectors.

They were officials who measured abnormal energy and searched for places where dungeons could form.

The fact that he left without saying anything clearly indicated that the chances of a dungeon forming were low.

“Of course, the surveillance cameras malfunctioned at that time. There are ability users among Lee Taeseong’s subordinates.”

“…..If I report this, people probably won’t believe me, right?”

“Well, at least his public image is good. Even if he did it, people wouldn’t believe it—”

Before Jinhyang could finish, Harang extended the fork towards her again.

This time, it was filled with a red-colored cucumber salad.

“……You, go away.”

“Eh?”

Jinhyang pushed Harang’s chair away.

She was careful not to let Harang fall off the chair.

Drrrl—

As Harang was pushed away, she landed beside Raxy Bora.

With her target changed, Harang presented the fork to Raxy Bora.

“Ta-da.”

“O….!”

Raxy Bora happily accepted it.

She tried her best to ignore Yoon Bora, who was looking at her enviously.

It was then that Jinhyang began to speak again.

People would believe there was a terrorist attack, but they wouldn’t believe it was done by Lee Taeseong. There’s no evidence.”

“Ha…”

That psycho, Lee Taeseong.

People needed to recognize the reality of that guy quickly.

Crunch— as Raxy Bora bit into the food Harang had offered.

Yawn.”

Harang let out a yawn.

Nodding her head and blinking repeatedly, she was clearly sleepy.

“Harang, you should wash up and sleep.”

If she goes to bed right after eating, her teeth will rot.

Raxy Bora shook Harang’s shoulders.

‘Huh?’

Then, a sudden question popped into her mind.

Would Harang be able to wash herself in that state?

Did someone need to wash her?

Such doubts.

‘Me……………?’

Thump-thump, Raxy Bora’s heart raced.

Knowing Jinhyang’s personality, she would terribly dislike washing someone else.

The only competitor was her twin sister right in front of her.

Tightening her fists, Raxy Bora thought,

A girl who feels maternal instinct just by being nearby.

She couldn’t miss the opportunity to wash that adorable girl.

“…….”

The eyes of Yoon Bora and Raxy Bora met in the air.

As twins, they were thinking the same thing.

However, it was Yoon Bora who was next to Harang.

“Mine!”

“Ah!”

Yoon Bora picked up Harang and dashed toward the bathroom.

Raxy Bora desperately chased after them.

Watching their retreating figures, Jinhyang let out a sigh.

It seemed like the conversation could wait.

The first clear of a dungeon was the most significant moment for a hunter.

The dungeon energy imbued the hunter, creating the first ‘seed.’

That seed was the hunter’s desire.

I want to be stronger.

I want to use magic.

The first seed that blooms the hunter’s desire for growth.

However, Harang, having lost her senses, had no desires like others.

She only remembered how happy she had been that day.

“Hehe.”

Harang lay on her bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

Recalling how happy her day had been.

When she nestled into Yoon Bora’s arms,

the gentle touch was comforting.

When Raxy Bora washed her hair,

the bubbles rising were lovely.

When Jinhyang fed her sausages,

munching happily was a joy.

There was no moment that could be anything but happiness.

“Yawn.”

Nod, nod.

Harang closed her eyes and thought.

She wanted to spend even happier times with them.

Someday, she wanted to sit on Jinhyang’s lap.

She wanted to shower again with Raxy Bora.

She wanted to be held and stay all day long with Yoon Bora.

What Harang yearned for was ‘affection’ or ‘charm.’

The energy that sensed that desire planted a seed in Harang’s heart.

A new seed that could not have existed in a hunter who originally pursued only strength.

That first seed possessed a more powerful potential.

Holding onto it, Harang closed her eyes.

Unaware of what was happening to her.