WONHEE let out a sigh of relief when Yejun’s face finally lit up.
It wasn’t like she was only worried about his feelings.
[I have to also think about my side quest: to win Yejun’s favor in order to unlock my S-Grade skills faster.]
"Are you not upset anymore?" Wonhee asked carefully. "Am I forgiven?"
"I just found out that I’m not capable of getting mad at you, Chu Wonhee," Yejun said, playfully tapping the bridge of her nose with his finger. "Anyway, how’s your arm?"
Oh.
She belatedly realized that she could now move her arm freely.
"It’s good," Wonhee said, surprised. "Did you use so potion on ?"
She also belatedly realized that the ’gross’ feeling she had as soon as she woke up ca from the sticky potions on her clothes and skin.
"I used three potions on you to numb your pain and cleanse your wounds," Yejun explained. "The last potion I gave you refilled half of your Mana Tank, so you woke up right away. But, unfortunately, I don’t have a potion that deals with burns. Since I’m confident that no fla in the world could burn , I didn’t bother to stock up on potions that heal such injuries."
"That was arrogant of you, Yejun-ah."
"I know, and it has co to bite in the ass," Yejun said, looking at her hand. "Let’s call Semi Noona and ask her to heal your burn marks."
Wonhee looked at her hand and saw the burn marks on her palm. "I didn’t know it would leave a scar like this since I barely touched Graham-ssi’s fla."
"You touched Graham’s fla voluntarily?"
"The System said I had to be in pain in order to activate the skill that summoned the Big 4. Having a broken arm wasn’t enough to reach the required pain level, so I thought getting a bit burned by Graham-ssi’s fla would suffice."
"Wonhee-ya, Graham’s fla is hot enough to burn even the mbers of the Big 4."
"I learned that the hard way."
Yejun’s jaw clenched, and then he glared at the forgotten "friend" sitting quietly next to Wonhee. "You talking orange. The System acted like Wonhee was its most treasured Guide. So, what’s this? Wonhee almost died because the System required her to hurt herself."
"I’m sorry," Tannie said apologetically. "The System has to ask for that much because summoning the Big 4 cos with a heavy price."
Wonhee didn’t say anything because she kind of understood that logic.
[Not even APA could force the Big 4 to gather together in the past.]
However, it seed like she was being small-minded.
"Don’t lie," Yejun said, scoffing at Tannie. "The purpose wasn’t to simply gather the Big 4. Although the situation was dangerous for Wonhee, it wasn’t sothing that even a half drunk-half sober Graham couldn’t handle. The System didn’t have to summon our entire group."
Oh, was it like that?
"We clearly received the sa notification," Yejun continued with his deductions. "It was as if the System was only using that chance to gather the Big 4 in one place."
Wonhee wondered why Tannie was keeping quiet.
[Tannie always has sothing to say back to Yejun, but he’s being unusually quiet this ti. Does it an Yejun is right about everything he has just said?]
"Yejun-ah, can I ask sothing?"
"Of course, Wonhee-ya."
"Is it a big deal for the Big 4 to gather?"
"Yeah," Yejun said, nodding. "It’s not only because we hate each other’s guts, but it’s also because our combined aura scares Civilians."
Oh, right.
She experienced it firsthand, after all.
"Worse, Cracks tend to burst open when the four of us are together in one place as if our combined aura is attracting the dungeons," Yejun added. "The System knows that, so it’s strange that the System gathered us to protect you when the situation wasn’t calling for it." He then looked at Tannie suspiciously. "The System wants us to do sothing, right?"
Tannie let out a sigh. "Let’s wait for the other mbers of the Big 4."
Wonhee’s eyes widened in shock. "They’re coming? I need a quick shower then!"
***
GRAHAM let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Ahn Kisoo, unlike what he had seen in the news, looked alright. "I thought you were fatally shot, Kisoo-ya."
As Semi promised, she took Graham to the hospital when Graham cald down.
It was the hospital owned by Semi’s family, so they had easy access to the VIP floor where Ahn Kisoo was confined.
Graham sent their other team mbers out in order to talk to Ahn Kisoo in private.
"The bullet only hit my shoulder," Kisoo explained. "But we had to announce that I’m in a critical condition. I know that I should have gone to you, but I couldn’t."
"What do you an by that?"
"Graham, I lost my ability as a Guide."
"What?!"
"I can’t summon my Status Window either."
Graham knitted his eyebrows. "Was it the bullet?"
"Kaia already took the bullet to our lab," Kisoo said. The ’Kaia’ that he ntioned was Kisoo’s older sister, also the Vice Guild Master of their Master Guild. "But we might need Yeon Soobin-ssi’s help since he’s the expert when it cos to weapons that work on Awakened People."
"I’m going to Chu Wonhee’s house later. Soobin Hyung might be there. I’ll talk to him about the bullet," Graham said. "Should we call Geon Hyung? He’s the director of the National Guide Center, after all. And I trust him more than I trust APA. I’m sure Geon Hyung will help you while keeping your secret safe."
"I already called Geon-ssi," Kisoo said, nodding. "He said he’ll be here soon."
"That’s good to know. What else do you need?"
Graham’s entire team was already stationed in the hospital to protect Ahn Kisoo.
[I asked them to bring Kisoo back to our guild once the doctors allowed him to leave.]
Unfortunately, Graham couldn’t accompany Ahn Kisoo because the System’s order was absolute.
"Graham, can you check on Gong Yool-ssi?"
"Yool-ah?" Graham asked, surprised. "Did sothing happen to Yool?"
"He caught Song Moonho’s attention, it seems."
"Jisung gave a report of what happened while I was gone, but I haven’t read it yet," Graham said worriedly. "Can you give a gist of what happened between Yool and Song Moonho?"
"Yool-ssi saved from Song Sunho, but because of that, Song Moonho was picking on Yool-ssi now."
Graham let out a sigh. "Alright. I’ll give Song Moonho a warning.’
"Thank you, Graham."
"Just focus on your recovery, okay?" Graham said while patting Ahn Kisoo’s head. "And don’t worry about your ability. I’m sure it will return later. Geon Hyung didn’t beco the director of the center for nothing."
Kisoo nodded. "I saw the video. Did Miss Chu’s Guiding work well?"
"It did, surprisingly. I can’t believe that it worked. But..."
"But what?"
Graham’s gaze landed on Kisoo’s lips. "I don’t care if you lost your guiding ability– I still want to kiss you, Ahn Kisoo."
Kisoo laughed, and then he opened his arms. "Co here, then."
***
ARGH.
Soobin was an S-Class Hunter.
Well, he wasn’t a naturally awakened S-Class Hunter, but his title still held so value to it, okay?
But in front of the three original S-Class Hunters of Korea...
"Can you step back a bit?" Soobin complained, covering his mouth with his hand. Just being in the presence of three of the mbers of the Big 4 was making him feel nauseous. "Wow. This is why you shouldn’t gather in one place, for real."
Soobin went to the hospital when Semi said she was headed there.
It was perfect timing since Geon received a call from Ahn Kisoo. Hence, he dropped off his husband at Ahn Kisoo’s secured VIP room before he t up with the Big 4 on the rooftop of the hospital.
[Anyways...]
Fortunately, Graham and Song Moonho stepped back.
Semi, on the other hand, approached him while handing him a vial of potion. "Drink this, Soobin-ah. It will help with your nausea."
"Thank you, Noona," Soobin said, then he drank the potion right away. It worked imdiately since he felt a lot better– enough to use his ability on three other people. "Alright, good monsters."
It wasn’t an insult.
People would often call the Big 4 ’monsters’ because their abilities were beyond human capabilities already.
[And they know that.]
"Let’s hold each other’s hands," Soobin said, grabbing Semi and Graham’s hands, then he glared at Song Moonho. "I’m bringing you to our Hee-ya’s penthouse. Song Moonho, please act your age and don’t pull any stupid prank on my vulnerable baby sister."
Song Moonho sighed and complained lightly. "Why is everyone treating like I’m a bad guy?"
Soobin, Graham, and Semi answered at the sa ti. "Because you are."
***
KWON Jiwoong clenched his hands after watching the video that Pineapple, the most annoying mber of the Watchdogs, had posted on their channel.
[Chu Wonhee’s ability as an S-Class Guide is the real deal.]
"Kwon Mina, contact our PR Team and tell them to prepare a press conference for Chu Wonhee," Jiwoong said to his secretary. "Tell Director Ana to get in touch with Chu Wonhee’s agency. It’s ti for APA to introduce the first S-Class Guide in history to the world."
"I understand, President," Kwon Mina said. "I’ll go ahead then."
And then Kwon Mina left his temporary office silently.
That left him with one remaining guest.
"Lee Seodam, have you seen the video?"
Seodam, whose eyes were glued to his phone, raised his head to look at Jiwoong. "President, do you think Wonhee will help level up as my new Guide?"
"Chu Wonhee has no choice since APA is the new law of the country," Jiwoong said, getting up from his seat. "So prepare yourself to be Chu Wonhee’s next Hunter-client."
***
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