JUST BEING reminded of Park Ruda’s scent was enough to make Wonhee feel nauseous.
She covered her mouth with her hand when she thought she was going to throw up.
Of course, her friends instantly got worried.
"Wony-ah?"
"N-Noona, are you okay? Is the side-effect of Guiding Hwang Frost-nim only showing up now?"
Wonhee inhaled the fragrant sll of her hand cream lingering on her palm.
Fortunately, it helped her forget about the sll of callia flowers that seed to be stuck in her mory.
"This might sound crazy, but I suddenly developed a fear of callia flowers," Wonhee confessed to her friends. "But I’m fine with normal callia scent. The one that I can’t stand is the callia scent that Ruda Oppa gives off."
"Ruda-ssi slls like callia flowers?" Ahyeon asked. "Did he give off the sa scent when we were at the restaurant before, Noona?"
Oh, right.
That was the last ti Ahyeon t Park Ruda.
"Yeah. His callia scent was so strong that it made dizzy," Wonhee said. "Did you not sll it back then, Ahyeonnie?"
Ahyeon shook his head. "I like flower scents, so I would have rembered if Ruda-ssi was wearing a scent that slls like flowers."
"T-Then is it possible that only I could sll it?"
"That’s possible," Yool said nodding. "But what do you an you developed a fear? What are you afraid of, Wony-ah?"
"I don’t know, Yool-ah. But I tremble every ti I sll callia flowers."
"But it has never happened before? We’ve been friends for five years now. You love flower scents."
"Right?"
"When did it start?"
"This sounds crazier, but it only happens when I et Ruda Oppa," Wonhee said. "It actually happened again when I t him this morning."
"So, it only happened after you awakened?"
"That’s right, Yool-ah," she said, nodding. "Do you think it’s sothing I should be worried about?"
"Of course it is," Yool said firmly. "It’s weird that you tremble over the scent of callia flowers, but it only started when you awakened." He turned to Ahyeon. "Ahyeonnie, do Awakened People unlock a new fear after being awakened?"
Ahyeon imdiately shook his head. "I have never heard of such side effects, Hyung. In fact, high-ranking Hunters and high-class Guides have gotten rid of most of their phobias after awakening."
"Then... what happened to ?"
"You don’t rember anything, right?" Yool asked, and then he knitted his eyebrows. "You awakened while you were in APA’s custody, and they mistreated you while you were there. Is it possible that soone tampered with your mory?"
"That can’t be, Hyung," Ahyeon said while shaking his head. "Newly awakened people are at their strongest during the first few weeks of their awakening. Plus, Wony Noona is an S-Class Guide. Noona is practically the 5th mber of the Big 4. Who could possibly tamper with an S-Class Guide’s mory?"
"Ahyeonnie, the Big 4 are the only naturally awakened S-Class Hunters RECORDED," Yool said, emphasizing the word ’recorded.’ "Who’s to say that there aren’t other natural S-Class Hunters out there who are hiding their real class by using a skill?"
"B-But it’s both illegal to hide that you’ve awakened and to hide your real class..."
"Ahyeonnie, that won’t stop people from breaking the law."
"Oh."
"How do I know if my mory was tampered with?" Wonhee asked worriedly. "I hate the feeling of not knowing what I’m supposed to rember."
"Let’s ask Song Moonho," Yool said. "His information network, as described in the novel, is legendary."
"Yool-ah, do you trust Song Moonho?"
"Well, he only beca bad in the novel because Graham killed his younger brother who harassed Ahn Kisoo," Yool said. "As long as Song Sunho is still alive, he won’t be a threat. Plus, we’re going to make a contract with him to make sure he won’t betray us. And if he still does, we have Hwang Frost to go after him."
"I don’t trust Song Moonho-nim, but I trust Yool Hyung’s judgnt," Ahyeon said. "What do you think, Noona?"
"Yes, we should ask for all the help that we can since the three of us don’t have access to the dark side of the Awakened World," Wonhee said, and then she paused for a mont. "I hope Ruda Oppa just happens to wear the sa scent that gives fear– I don’t want him to be the cause of it."
"Wony-ah, Park Ruda isn’t your friend."
"I know, Yool-ah..."
"If you can’t hate Park Ruda, then I’ll do it in your place," Yool declared. "I have so much hate to give."
Ahyeon nodded. "M- too, Noona. I’ll hate Park Ruda-ssi in your stead...!"
Aww.
That was touching.
Wonhee smiled at her friends, and then she changed the topic because she didn’t want them to suddenly build a ’Park Ruda Hate Club’ for her sake. "How’s Ahn Kisoo-ssi? Did he regain his abilities in the novel?"
"I don’t know," Yool said, frowning. "The last volu ended with the appearance of the villain. Unfortunately, the only thing I rember is the way the novel described the villain’s scent. But I’ll grab my diary once I get ho and re-read the stuff that I wrote five years ago."
"Thank you, Yool-ah."
"This is for my survival as well, so no need to thank , Wony-ah."
Wonhee just smiled and nodded. "So, what do you want for dinner?"
***
"CHU WONHEE, thank you so much for Guiding !"
Wonhee felt a bit flustered when Graham ran towards her with his arms open, as if he was about to give her the biggest bear hug ever.
[W-Will my bones break if he hugs ?]
Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about that.
Ahn Kaia, the Vice Guildmaster of the Sumr Guild, grabbed Graham by the back of his neck.
[Oh, Ahn Kaia-ssi is so tall...]
Wonhee was already tall at 173cm, but Ahn Kaia was 184cm.
[Plus, Ahn Kaia-ssi is toned...]
"Were you startled, Miss Chu?" Ahn Kaia asked worriedly. "I apologize on behalf of our Guildmaster."
"I-It’s alright, Miss Ahn," Wonhee said, smiling. Then she turned to Graham and checked his eyes. "I’m glad your eyes have turned back to normal, Graham-ssi."
"It’s all thanks to you, Chu Wonhee," Graham said, and then he pointed at himself. "Just call ’Oppa.’"
"No," Soobin, who appeared from behind Wonhee, said while "smiling" at Graham. "I’m the only person my baby sister will be calling ’Oppa’ here."
Graham was about to say sothing, but Ahn Kaia covered his mouth with her hand.
"We’ll make sure to compensate you for this, Miss Chu," Ahn Kaia said in a hurry, and then she turned to Soobin and bowed to him politely. "We’ll go ahead, Vice President."
Wonhee wanted to say that she didn’t need compensation, but Ahn Kaia already dragged Graham away after saying their polite goodbyes.
[Graham-ssi can really be overwhelming...]
No wonder Yool hid in the guest room when Graham woke up.
"Just accept whatever they give you," Soobin said, patting Wonhee’s back. "You deserve it, Hee-ya. I’m sure the Sumr Guild will give you sothing useful."
"Is it really okay to accept it, Oppa? I just did my job as a Guide."
"People get paid for their jobs, don’t they?"
"Oh. Then I’ll accept it with a grateful heart."
Soobin nodded and patted her head, and then he glanced at Ahyeon (standing by the door) before turning to her again. "Where’s Hwang Frost?"
Oh.
Wonhee was worrying about what to say when, suddenly, she felt a gush of cold wind behind her.
[He’s here.]
"Did you miss , Hyung?"
Soobin rolled his eyes at Yejun’s sarcastic remark. "Our Hee-ya has a eting with her agency tomorrow. Don’t leave my baby sister’s side."
Wonhee sighed while shaking her head. "Oppa, Yejun doesn’t need to stick to all the ti."
"It’s alright, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said, and then he turned to her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I like sticking to you like glue."
Soobin glared at Yejun.
Wonhee, on the other hand, prayed that she didn’t blush.
[I thought we were gonna act awkward around each other after the kiss, but I guess not.]
It was scary how normal physical intimacy was between a Hunter and a Guide.
"Hyung, I’ll make sure Wonhee will arrive at her agency tomorrow, but can I leave her for a mont while she’s in the eting?" Yejun asked. "The baby herbivore will be there anyway."
Wonhee sighed while shaking her head.
[Ahyeonnie looks sad that Yejun still calls him ’baby herbivore’ instead of his na. I’ll scold Yejun later.]
"Hwang Yejun, if you’re going to enter a dungeon illegally again–"
"Nah, I’m eting with Song Moonho, Hyung," Yejun said, cutting off Soobin casually. "But we’re just going to talk." He even raised his hand as if he was taking an oath. "Promise."
"One has a foul mouth and one is a master of sarcasm," Soobin said while shaking his head. "Can you and Song Moonho really start a decent conversation?"
"Probably not, so I’m bringing Gong Yool with ."
Wonhee’s eyes widened in surprise. "Gong Yool– my friend?"
"Yep," Yejun said, tilting his head to one side. "Can I borrow your friend, Wonhee-ya?"
[That’s up to Yool, you know?]
***
["YOOL-SSI, see you tomorrow. ^^"]
That was the ominous ssage that Yool received from Song Moonho.
And now, he understood what the old man ant.
Yool really should say goodbye to his NPC life now.
[I can’t escape anymore, so might as well work harder for my survival and my young friends’ sake.]
"Gong Yool, you’re going with , right?"
That was an order disguised as a question.
Yool, who was sitting across from Hwang Frost, avoided the Hunter’s sharp gaze. "I-I’ll go..."
"Great."
"Yool-ah, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to," Wonhee, seated beside Hwang Frost, said worriedly. "Don’t let Yejun intimidate you."
"Wonhee-ya, I asked your friend nicely."
"Yool is easily scared, though."
"Nah, that one is a vertebrate."
Yool cleared his throat.
He glanced at Hwang Frost, but he quickly avoided his gaze. So, he just focused on Wonhee.
[They look so picture-perfect together.]
"Wony-ah, shouldn’t we tell Hwang Frost-ssi the thing that we talked about earlier regarding Park Ruda?"
"Oh, right."
Yool let Wonhee tell Hwang Frost what they talked about.
"But we’re not sure because apparently, no one could have tampered with my mory since I’m a newly awakened Guide," Wonhee said, sighing. "Ruda Oppa can’t do that since I have a higher rank than him, right?"
"Nah, it’s possible," Hwang Frost said casually, and then he turned to Wonhee with a serious look on his face. "Wonhee-ya, I can’t give you an explanation yet. But please avoid Park Ruda in the anti. If you see him, ask the baby herbivore to put a barrier around you."
Wonhee looked like she wanted to ask questions, but in the end, she just nodded. "Okay, I got it."
Yool wished Wonhee listened to Hwang Frost’s advice that ti.
[But the main characters don’t get a break, do they?]
***
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