Chapter 7
The next morning.
The moment I checked if Baek Hamin was still sleeping, he startled awake and wildly sprouted rabbit clover. Perhaps startled by the unfamiliar place, I watched him hide in the corner avoiding me, then quietly got up and headed to the kitchen.
As I was scooping rice and grilling eggs, Baek Hamin came running with short breaths and clung to my leg. I waited briefly until the eggs were cooked, then crouched down to meet Baek Hamin's eyes.
"You're awake?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Then go wash up. Let's eat."
"Okay."
Baek Hamin, shuffling toward the bathroom, stopped midway and felt his knee. Then he stared at me before going in to wash. Coming out after soaking all his clothes while washing like yesterday, Baek Hamin blushed when he saw the spoon and chopsticks with a rabbit drawn on them.
"...."
That damn Ppani, I bought it along with the rice this morning.
...If I knew he'd like it that much, I should have woken him up with "Heavenly Command" before going to the mart and taken him with me. Sighing, I asked Baek Hamin who was changing out of his wet clothes.
"How should I give you the rice? Mixed? Or just as is?"
"Mixed."
As Baek Hamin chose, breakfast was soy sauce egg rice and washed kimchi.
Baek Hamin, blowing on the freshly cooked warm rice, smiled broadly as he looked at the kimchi I placed on top of his rice.
"Uncle kept his promise yesterday?"
Really, and he was ready to tear me apart with his eyes just because I didn't mix the rice for him.
I don't know how he can be so similar to his uncle. Looking at Baek Hamin smiling so hard his dimples showed, I shook my head. Whenever I thought of Baek Eunseong, my insides truly boiled like lava.
Well, ever since awakening as an S-rank at 17, I was constantly compared to Baek Eunseong, so my insides must have rotted away. Trying hard to push Baek Eunseong out of my head, I asked Baek Hamin who, as if proving he was a hunter's nephew, was looking for bread after demolishing a whole pot of rice.
"I have to go to work, what about you?"
"Can I come with you?"
"If you can stay home alone, then stay."
"I'll come with you."
Baek Hamin, who had changed into his clothes that had been drying overnight, reached out his hand to me as if it were obvious. When I lifted his soft body, Baek Hamin hugged my neck tightly and whispered.
"Uncle, you know."
"Yeah."
"You're the first adult who kept a promise they made with me."
At his whisper, I reflexively thought of Baek Eunseong.
So there's a reason Seong Dohyeon hates Baek Eunseong. Not even keeping promises made with a child. Clicking my tongue, I headed to the place where last night's dungeon break had occurred with Baek Hamin.
"Hey, Seong Dohyeon's he—what? You really came together?"
"You told me to look after him until Baek Eunseong compensates."
Hiding Baek Hamin's face who was clinging tightly perhaps because he was shy of strangers, I looked for the Association President.
"How many are there?"
"Twenty-four. Support came from the Center, so go with them."
Where the Association President pointed, a man with dark brown hair was standing.
"Who is that?"
"What?"
The Association President, who looked at me with puzzled eyes for a moment, muttered "Ah, right. Memory loss."
"It's Jeon Jiyun. The next Center Director."
Jeon Jiyun... was one of the original work's characters. Do Yudam's guardian, a character who died saving Do Yudam in the later episodes.
While I was recalling my memories, Jeon Jiyun who had approached bowed his head in greeting.
"Let's go."
I looked at Jeon Jiyun's offered hand, then adjusted my hold on Baek Hamin.
This person's ability was definitely—
"Kyaaaaah!"
Wind.
At the enormous scream that made my vision go dark for a moment, not only I but also Jeon Jiyun was startled and looked at Baek Hamin. Perhaps because he flew up without any signal, Baek Hamin was flailing his feet in the air and screaming.
"Baek Hamin?"
"Now you know. Please put us down first."
At my words, the wind calmed, and soon I felt the soles of my feet touch the ground. I patted Baek Hamin's back with my palms damp with cold sweat.
"I'm... sorry?"
"As long as you understand."
"Um, how did you two end up together?"
"I rescued him from being kidnapped, but no one believed me."
At those words, I could see Jeon Jiyun biting his lip to hold back laughter.
"He was angry at me, saying I brought back a mimic."
Eventually letting out a "Hoo" of laughter, Jeon Jiyun looked me up and down with an expression that said, "Yeah, that's something you would do." Ignoring Jeon Jiyun's unpleasant face, I patted the trembling Baek Hamin's back while summoning "Ariadne's Thread."
"I believe Baek Woo Guild Master and Hunter Baek Eunseong are currently absent, but did you perhaps meet Hunter Yang Jihwan?"
"Yes. More importantly, the missing persons list?"
"Ah, here it is."
Jeon Jiyun, who handed me the list, reached out his hand.
Hmm? Have we ever coordinated together before? No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't remember. Then that means we must have done it with Seong Dohyeon before the possession.
I let out a light sigh and spoke.
"Um, Hunter Jeon Jiyun."
"Yes?"
"You might not believe it, but I've lost my memories right now."
"Yes?"
"So I don't remember how we worked before."
"Yes?"
"Let's just find the missing persons separately. I'll call if I need help."
Flying up without a word like earlier is something I'll pass on.
I did want to fly in the sky, but not in that manner. Frowning, I quickly moved away from Jeon Jiyun and used my skill.
[Ariadne's Thread]
In response to my call, threads that sprouted from beneath my feet stretched out in all directions.
[I hear the daytime words, and I hear the nighttime words too.]
When I pointed to where people's groans could be heard, the Association hunters, who through several days of staring contests had become better at following my words than my own limbs, rushed out competitively.
Jeon Jiyun, who had chased me all the way even though I kept avoiding him, looked at me holding Baek Hamin tightly and let out a hollow laugh.
"I did feel that something was different... So you've lost your memory."
"Yes. I was severely injured when fighting those wolf heads before."
"Are you okay now?"
"Yes."
I was about to nod, then looked at Jeon Jiyun with questioning eyes. So there were people who asked about Seong Dohyeon's well-being.
"Please be careful."
Something... it was novel.
Looking at Jeon Jiyun who was telling me to avoid the pile of rocks, I patted the back of Baek Hamin who was hugging me like he was choking me.
"You're okay now. Do you want to get down and walk?"
"No!"
"I, I'm sorry."
Even at Jeon Jiyun's apology, Baek Hamin buried his face in my neck and didn't move an inch, like a frightened turtle hiding in its shell.
That's what happens when you send people flying without warning.
"He says it's fine. He's not a scary person. He looks like your uncle."
At those words, Baek Hamin peeked his head out and looked at Jeon Jiyun.
"No! My uncle is much more handsome!"
"Haha..."
"He does look like him though."
Except that Baek Eunseong has pink eyes and Jeon Jiyun has sky-blue eyes, the two were exactly alike with their drooping eye corners. The difference would be that Baek Eunseong gives a languid feel while Jeon Jiyun looks sleepy?
Aha. So that's why Seong Dohyeon hated Jeon Jiyun too.
No wonder my insides were boiling furiously whenever I saw Jeon Jiyun. I patted the back of Baek Hamin who was whining about when we were going back.
"Let's hurry."
"Yes sir!"
It was the moment I was about to walk while extending 'Ariadne's Thread'. I felt the ground beneath my feet collapse and my whole body swayed. Just as I was about to demonstrate the nimble reflexes befitting an S-rank hunter, my wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Having safely regained my balance on the soft grass, I shook my captured wrist.
"Let go."
The person who grabbed me was Jeon Jiyun, and the one who had laid soft rabbit clover beneath my feet was Baek Hamin.
"Thanks."
As I patted the bottom of Baek Hamin who was still clinging to me, I saw him swaying with his forehead flushed red, and I smiled without realizing. I wish your uncle would smile a bit like that too.
Every time he sees a person, he only sends looks of disgust, really.
Clicking my tongue, I sent 'Ariadne's Thread' flying in all directions. Pointing at the golden threads swaying as they searched for missing persons, I looked back at Jeon Jiyun.
"What are you doing, not going?"
And so the work progressed smoothly—me finding the missing persons, Jeon Jiyun blowing away debris with wind, and the other hunters rescuing the missing persons. Looking at the hunters working in perfect coordination, I confirmed that the 'Ariadne's Thread' I had sent out to find the last missing person was returning.
"We're done."
When I reported to the Association President, he immediately deposited the wages. While I was checking the deposited amount, Jeon Jiyun, who had finished the search just in time, flew over. Looking at Baek Hamin who was held tightly in my arms, Jeon Jiyun asked carefully.
"By any chance, how long do you plan to look after Hamin?"
At Jeon Jiyun's question, Baek Hamin hugged my neck even tighter.
"Until I hear from Baek Eunseong or Baek Woo Guild Master."
He seemed to be asking if I had any intention of handing Baek Hamin over to him, but no way. I was planning to get a hefty compensation after delivering Baek Hamin, and also firmly receive an apology from Yang Jihwan who treated me like a liar.
At my answer, Jeon Jiyun hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I don't know the detailed circumstances, but Hunter Baek Eunseong will contact you soon."
"Right, Eunseong cherishes his nephew so much. He'll contact soon. If he's really Baek Hamin as you say."
Looking at the Association President grinning beside me, I almost flicked my fingertips but stopped. There were too many people watching, so I couldn't even hit him.
Just try stepping down from the Association President position.
Grinding my teeth, I turned around holding Baek Hamin.
However, unlike the expectation that he would contact soon, it was a full week later when Baek Eunseong finally came looking for me.