This is a Foul (5)

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you think I’d just want to brag about it constantly?”

Kim Se-hyun looked at me with a subtle smile. Seeing him put on an arrogant expression as if he were already an SS-Rank, I spoke bluntly.

“Not really.”

“Why not?”

“Because I wouldn’t have any desire to go around spreading the word.”

“…Why is that?”

I didn’t understand why he was asking me back after posing the question himself. I answered as he looked at me with a face that said he truly couldn’t comprehend my logic.

“You just said it yourself. That you were an SS-Rank but pretending to be an S-Rank. If that were the case, there’s obviously a reason you’re hiding it. An acquaintance shouldn’t just go blabbing about something like that.”

Kim Se-hyun was already considered the undisputed top among S-Rank hunters. If it were revealed that he had been active while hiding the fact that he was an SS-Rank, the fallout would be immense. Whatever the consequences, they would surely exceed anyone’s imagination.

It was just a hypothesis, but the mere thought of it sent a chill down my spine simply because the person in question was Kim Se-hyun.

The same Kim Se-hyun who was already rumored to be the closest person to becoming an SS-Rank hunter.

For a moment, I nodded to myself, thinking it was a relief he was “only” S-Rank. Then I snapped back to reality, realizing that the man who usually never stopped talking had gone silent.

“…Se-hyun?”

Kim Se-hyun was staring at me blankly with his mouth slightly ajar. When our eyes met, I scratched my cheek, feeling awkward at his lack of reaction.

I’d seen that look a few times before, but it seemed I was far from getting used to it. How handsome did a person have to be for someone to still think they were good-looking even when they were making a face like that?

Ring— Ring—

The phone that had been quiet for a while began to chime. I turned toward the Team Leader’s direct line.

“Yes, this is Yeom Gi-tae of the Seoul Hunter Department. …You’re talking nonsense! Why is the payout of cooperation fees our fault? I’ve told you time and time again—if you’re so frustrated, come down and run the field yourself! Oh, you’re not a hunter so you can’t go? Then you should at least cover it with money! If we had more field officials, do you think we’d be begging the Association for help?”

“…Oh dear.”

“Looks like a call from City Hall.”

“It was strange that they hadn’t called for a while.”

They certainly had been quiet. Usually, they called at least once a week, but it had been several weeks since the last one. I counted the days while watching the Team Leader, swallowing hard as his expression grew increasingly fierce.

“No, I mean! If you have that many complaints, I’m telling you to come clear the dungeons yourself! Huh? If you hate the cooperation fees so much, hire more people for the Hunter Department! Or increase the number of state-affiliated hunters! It’s been ages since I appealed for more staff, and you finally give us one rookie—one!—and now you’re acting all high and mighty?”

Being able to irritate someone by repeating the same points over and over was a talent in its own right. So was prioritizing numbers on a page over the safety of the citizens.

In a way, since they were using taxpayers’ money, it was natural for them to say such things, but currently, this was the best we could do.

If only more government hunters were hired, the money flowing to the Association would decrease significantly. I didn’t understand why they chose the long way around and only bullied their subordinates. While I was listening to the call with a furrowed brow, I flinched at a cold voice beside me.

“Things really haven’t changed here at all, Ha-neul Hyung.”

“…….”

I was so focused on the call that I briefly forgot Kim Se-hyun was sitting right there. I felt a wave of embarrassment that the internal struggles of the Hunter Department were being laid bare before him of all people. I tried to hide my flushed face, but he kept touching my cheek, so I had no choice but to look at him.

“Ha-neul Hyung, I’m going to have some coffee. Should I make some for you too?”

“Yes.”

“…Alright. I’ll make it delicious and bring it over.”

It was obvious he was pretending not to notice the situation for my sake. Thinking he was surprisingly tactful, I touched the cheek he had just poked and kept my mouth shut.

I felt the heat rising, but I didn’t realize it had become this hot. My face must have been bright red. I pressed my hands against my cheeks to calm the heat, and only then did I process what he had said earlier.

“…….”

The comment that “nothing had changed” meant he knew the Hunter Department quite well. His expression and tone when he said it were unusual.

Given how long he’d been a hunter, he probably knew a lot. Much more than I, who was still learning about the department bit by bit.

While I was watching Se-hyun with my eyes and listening to the Team Leader with my ears, the Team Leader’s voice grew even louder, drawing my attention back.

“Don’t forget that you’re only sitting pretty in that seat because we’re out here running ourselves ragged! Ah, right. Speaking of which, why hasn’t that come out yet?”

What hasn’t come out?

I was aware of recent events in the department. I thought the Team Leader’s gaze was heading toward me, but I was puzzled when it shifted toward Kim Se-hyun instead.

I didn’t know why the Team Leader, who usually didn’t give Se-hyun the time of day, was looking at him—especially during a phone call.

After looking at Se-hyun with a serious face, the Team Leader looked back at me. Our eyes met, and when he nodded, I reflexively nodded back. And then….

“What do you mean, what is it! I’m asking why you’re ignoring the praise post for our Chick on the ‘Let’s Praise’ board! …What? It was just a DDoS attack?”

“…….”

Wait, was that nod earlier asking if he could say that?

If I had known, I would have shaken my head first. Frozen in embarrassment, I turned around as I felt someone approach from behind.

“…Se-hyun?”

Kim Se-hyun, who had just been making coffee, was glaring—specifically, at the Team Leader. I was just watching him, worried by his angry aura, when I noticed brown liquid dripping from his hand.

“Are you okay?”

The paper cup was completely crushed, and I didn’t understand how he could have no reaction despite the hot coffee covering his hand. Coffee had splattered not just on his hand but on his body too. I quickly grabbed some tissues and wiped the coffee off his hand first.

“Doesn’t it hurt? It must be very hot!”

Since the water dispenser hadn’t been used much today, the temperature was likely at its maximum. I was frantically wiping the coffee away when I heard him growl.

“Is what that ‘Big Guy’ said true?”

“…What part?”

“The reward for the ‘Let’s Praise’ post… it didn’t come out?”

“Ah.”

Coming from Kim Se-hyun, the very person who had crashed the city hall website for days, I didn’t know how to answer. I avoided his eyes as he pressed me, but eventually, I spoke up.

“…I’m fine.”

“Is it because you think they’ll just give you some ‘Good Civil Servant’ award and call it a day?”

“Pardon? No. I’m really fine.”

“Even though there’s a bonus involved?”

“Well… yes?”

“Even though it’s not a small amount—a whole million won?”

“…….”

I didn’t know the winners of the ‘Let’s Praise’ corner received that much money. My heart wavered for a second at the amount, but it was still better for my face and name not to be exposed to the public. I nodded, and as Se-hyun moved his hand, I let go of the hand I had been holding.

“…Ha-neul Hyung.”

“Yes.”

“Hold my hand again. It’s better if you hold it tight.”

“…….”

I had let go thinking he wanted his hand back, so I didn’t expect him to ask me to hold it again. Though confused, I took his hand once more.

“Hyung.”

“Yes.”

“I think… my hand might hurt a little.”

“If it hurts, say so! Why did you hold it in?”

I dragged Kim Se-hyun toward the sink.

“Mmm.”

“Do you know how annoying it is to get a burn? Even if you’re an S-Rank, you always have to be careful!”

Burns were one thing, but the resulting scars and inconvenience were a hassle. No matter how much of an S-Rank hunter he was, hot liquid on the skin would still hurt.

As I held his hand under the running water, I remembered coffee had splattered on his body as well. I turned toward him to check.

“Is everywhere else okay?”

“…….”

I wished he’d just speak plainly instead of hesitating. Worried he might be hurt elsewhere, I scanned his body and asked again.

“What about the other spots?”

“There is… another place that hurts.”

“Let me see!”

The hand was easy to check, but I had to lift his clothes to check the areas where coffee had splattered underneath. Luckily, he was wearing a jacket, so the area I had to check was limited.

“You want me to take it off here?”

His blue eyes grew wide as he looked at me in disbelief. I nodded.

“Then are you just going to leave it burned?”

“…I was only planning on showing you, Hyung, but if you want me to, then of course I’ll strip.”

The word “strip” was a bit strong, but he did need to take some clothes off for me to check. I was nodding along when I was jolted by a sudden shout.

“Of course—!”

“We are NOT okay with this!”

“Chick, get over here and work! He won’t get a burn from just that!”

“But I still need to check….”

“Check? Fine, I’ll do it, so you go back to work! An A-Rank hunter’s eyes are much better at checking for injuries!”

The Team Leader, having finished his call, rushed over huffing and puffing and squeezed himself between me and Kim Se-hyun. It was true that an A-Rank hunter would have a better eye for injuries than a civilian like me.

“Chick, back to your seat!”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

I wasn’t sure I really needed to leave, but it wasn’t a big deal, so I went back and watched the two of them.

“Now, let’s see! Face is fine! Body is fine! Hand is fine!”

The Team Leader gave a cursory glance and declared him uninjured. It didn’t seem very thorough, but as he said, an A-Rank’s eyes were better suited for this.

Kim Se-hyun glared at the Team Leader for a moment, then made another cup of coffee and sat back down next to me. I felt relieved when he handed it to me and explained:

“Ha-neul Hyung, I think it didn’t turn into a burn because you wiped it and washed it for me.”

“That’s a relief.”

“…Why are you so kind, Hyung?”

“Kind? Not at all.”

Anyone would have helped in that situation. It was embarrassing to be called kind for something so obvious. But that feeling didn’t last long. I tilted my head at his next cryptic remark.

“That’s why I’m going to try even harder.”

“At what?”

“Oh, just something.”

“…….”

I didn’t know what it was, but hearing that Kim Se-hyun was going to “try harder” gave me a strange feeling. Despite his bright smile, something about it weighed on my mind.

“Hurry up and drink. I made it delicious.”

“Thank you.”

I decided the strange lingering feeling was just because of how he’d ignored his own potential injury. With a mind to stop overthinking, I drank the coffee he gave me and let the thoughts drift away.