CHAPTER 31………………………………….
I finished getting ready for discharge. After making sure I wasn’t leaving anything behind, I sat on the bed and took out my phone.
[I’ve been discharged.]
Then I opened SNS and left a message in the group chat of our newly created guild. I didn’t want anyone to make a wasted trip visiting me in the hospital.
“Take my car.”
Right on cue, Baek So-hyuk came back into the room and lightly placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I don’t need it.”
My body, deprived of proper sleep, was screaming with exhaustion. I could’ve sworn Baek Woo-jin in the game was stronger than this—why was my stamina so terrible?
Is it because of the low synchronization rate?
If so, that meant I was using less than half of Baek Woo-jin’s actual strength and endurance. I hadn’t even tried using all his skills yet.
“You might collapse on the way. And what if we run into an enemy in this state?”
Pretending to give in, I let Baek So-hyuk guide me into the car. I grumbled the whole time, but honestly, I was just grateful for the ride home.
Maybe once my synchronization rate increases, I’ll start feeling better too.
As I stared out the window, my thoughts drifted back to where they’d left off. I wanted to live comfortably, yes—but not to the point of becoming dead weight. If the day ever came when I settled in some quiet, clean mountain valley, I wanted to be strong enough to fend for myself against wild beasts or monsters.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?”
“It has absolutely nothing to do with you, and you don’t need to care. You might walk away unscathed from an accident, but I wouldn’t—so keep your eyes on the road.”
“As you command.”
His answer carried no formality, only a hint of playful mischief. I hadn’t realized Baek So-hyuk had this softer side. But it lasted only a moment. Soon he returned to the calm, serious demeanor I knew, eyes fixed straight ahead.
We’ve gotten pretty close, and yet the quest still isn’t marked complete?
Maybe unlike other quests, this one’s goal wasn’t to finish, but to maintain—like a relationship-sim where you have to keep the affection level steady. If only there were some kind of affection meter, things would be so much simpler.
As I was spacing out, my gaze caught a long line of people outside a newly opened “Dream Shop.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve ever wasted time on something that ridiculous.”
By now, I knew Baek So-hyuk wouldn’t take offense at sharp remarks unless the situation was serious. Sure enough, he kept his expression neutral and eyes forward as he replied,
“I tried it once. It just felt meaningless, so I quit right away.”
He didn’t seem like the type to act on impulse or seek escape out of curiosity. Maybe it was during that rough period after losing his parents, when he’d needed something to hold onto.
“That’s unexpected. I thought you lived for your own excellence and looked down on people like that.”
I’d assumed he’d think the same way Kang Kwon-hoo did about the Dream Shop—but apparently not.
“Guess I’ve lived my life wrong if that’s how I came across.”
He might’ve sounded rough around the edges, but my impression of Baek So-hyuk wasn’t far off. He was someone who’d throw himself into his convictions and hold others to high standards—a perfectionist. I’d thought he’d see escapists as pathetic.
But knowing him, he wouldn’t stop at criticism. He’d also feel compassion for them and try to help however he could—because he’d believe that’s the right thing to do.
That’s why Baek So-hyuk would keep growing into a great Hunter—and a good person.
Unlike Baek Woo-jin. Maybe that’s why he didn’t hesitate to deal with Woo-jin, someone I’d once been attached to. Because in his eyes, it was the right thing to do for a better world.
A bitter taste rose in my mouth.
It’s strange, though. He’s changed the way he treats me. He even took back what he said about seeing me as just another person.
Maybe people who still have ties to their parents really are different. Still, what if this was all part of some plan? Maybe he was trying to make me lower my guard—so he could stab me in the back later.
Then again, if that were his goal, he’d have started by changing his tone of voice.
That’s when it happened.
Screech.
“Hold on tight.”
Baek So-hyuk clenched his jaw as he spoke. Suddenly, the car’s speed surged—within seconds, the speedometer needle shot past 130.
Even if this area’s usually quiet…
I gripped the handle tight and looked at him. He was checking the rearview mirror.
No way…
I twisted around.
We were being chased.
Even as the speedometer needle crossed 140, our pursuer showed no sign of giving up.
“Ugh.”
At this point, it felt less like a car ride and more like a roller coaster. With one arm, I clutched the huge cage holding Ya-ong, and with the other, I gripped the passenger-side safety bar for dear life.
Screeeech.
The tires screamed as Baek So-hyuk turned the wheel sharply. The view outside spun so fast it made me dizzy. I’d never gotten carsick before, but now I was experiencing it for the first time.
“Hang on just a bit longer.”
Despite the confident tone, Baek So-hyuk’s lips were pressed tight as he kept glancing at the car behind us. No matter how recklessly he drove, the pursuer didn’t fall back—if anything, they were closing in. I hated to admit it, but the other driver’s skill surpassed his.
Well, it’s not like Baek So-hyuk often drives at this speed. It’s impressive he can handle the car this well at all.
As the leader of a famous guild and an S-rank Hunter himself, he had money to spare. He could’ve easily used a one-time teleport item instead of driving anywhere. Besides, with his speed skills, running would probably be faster.
Unfortunately, our pursuer seemed like a seasoned expert behind the wheel.
“This won’t work.”
Just a few more blocks ahead, the streets would start getting crowded. Baek So-hyuk seemed to realize he couldn’t shake them off before then. His hands repeatedly tightened and relaxed on the wheel, betraying his tension as he weighed his options.
“When I count to three, grab the cage and move toward me.”
What he said next was completely out of left field.
“What?”
His explanation was short, unhelpful—and extreme.
“No time to explain. One.”
He didn’t even give me a full second to process before starting the countdown. The car behind us wasn’t slowing down either, while Baek So-hyuk began easing off the gas. Judging by the way our pursuer was coming at us, they were ready to ram us outright.
“You should at least tell me what you’re—”
“Two.”
He was completely focused on driving and monitoring the chase. I only had two choices: stay in the car that was about to be torn apart by who-knows-what kind of bomb or ability, or do as Baek So-hyuk said. At least I knew he didn’t intend to kill me.
“Three!”
The final count left his mouth.
Screw it!
Hugging Ya-ong’s cage tightly, I threw myself toward Baek So-hyuk—trusting he wouldn’t let me die. At the same moment, he flung open the driver’s door, pulled me into his arms, and leapt out. Whatever skill he used, his movements were too fast for my eyes to follow.
Crunch.
When our bodies hit the ground, Baek So-hyuk slammed his hand against the asphalt, producing a tremendous sound. Somehow, instead of rolling across the pavement, we stopped dead.
“Haa…”
His fingers were literally embedded in the road. He had stopped the momentum from our fall with sheer hand strength alone. The entire shock that should’ve been shared between us had been absorbed by him.
BOOM!
The pursuer’s car slammed into the one we’d just been in. As expected, both vehicles collided and exploded. Baek So-hyuk’s arms tightened protectively around me.
Hot.
His broad chest pressed hard against my back, heat and weight radiating through me. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it had climbed into my throat.
It’s just because I’m shocked and grateful. That’s all.
Watching the blazing wreck only made my pulse race even faster.
Still… even knowing how strong he is, I never thought he’d go this far.
He could’ve easily ignored the chase and gone his own way. Even if he’d been caught in that explosion, it wouldn’t have posed much danger to him.
Idiot. Kind, self-sacrificing idiot. Doing something like this… for me.
Even though I was in a Hunter’s body strong enough to hold my own, Baek So-hyuk hadn’t treated me like a burden. But I knew—no matter what—he would’ve done the same even if I weren’t under a curse.
“Are you hurt?”
He’d taken all the impact himself, yet the first thing he did was worry about me.
