RFH Chapter 23 — [R15]

Episode 23

***

The director of the headquarters looked at the woman sitting in front of him with a troubled expression. At first, he found it commendable when his beautiful subordinate expressed interest in having a meal with him, but now, sitting across from her, a sense of unease had settled in.

"Is there something you'd like to eat? Hahaha!"

"...Sushi."

The woman, Jung Yeseul, had said that, so they ended up at a sushi restaurant. However, instead of eating sushi, Jung Yeseul simply stared down at it, observing it as if it were something else.

"I like sushi."

"..."

"It's fresh. Can you feel it? It's alive, moving inside me..."

The director truly couldn't understand a word she was saying. In fact, he hadn't been able to hold a conversation with her since earlier.

"How long have you been with the company, Yeseul-ssi?"

For instance, if the director asked that, she would answer with something completely unrelated.

"...I remember that time. Director, I can't forget that person..."

Jung Yeseul gave such an answer.

"How's the work going?"

"Do you know? Humans watch movies to engrave the past in their bodies."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"So, every time I watch a movie, my elbows get dry."

And the conversation kept turning into strange, disconnected exchanges.

The director was about to ask her what kind of world she came from as a returnee, but something inside him instinctively told him not to ask that question.

For some reason, he felt it was a question he shouldn't ask.

'Anyway, this is strange. Maybe that beautiful team leader is better after all.'

Meanwhile, Jung Yeseul, with a subtle smile, looked at the director.

'This is troublesome, but...'

Since her team leader, Min Hyemi, wanted it, she could do something like this for her. 

Jung Yeseul glanced at the system window. She usually just typed on the computer in the office, so she hadn't really used her skills much. But since it was an important task given by the team leader, she decided she'd need her skills.

Jung Yeseul decided to use her favorite skill.

[Skill <The Peaceful World> Activated!]

The system explained the skill as follows.

[A calm and harmless world. The caster can temporarily remove unnecessary things from their world.]

At that moment, the director was startled as he saw his body become translucent and shouted.

"Ah! Ah! What's going on?!"

"...."

"Yeseul-ssi, can you see this? I'm becoming invisible!"

"Well..."

Despite his loud commotion, no one in the restaurant seemed to notice him. It was as though he didn't exist at all.

In Jung Yeseul's world, men were unnecessary.

To avoid any misunderstanding, she didn't dislike men. She simply had no interest in them, and there was no such thing as 'masculinity' in her world.

A little while later, the director stood up suddenly from his chair with a startled expression.

"Ugh, ugh..."

"Is something wrong?" 

Jung Yeseul looked at him with a meaningful smile, and he trembled.

"Ugh, what was that? Didn't I just disappear?"

"It seems like you were dreaming."

"Ah, right. It was a dream..." 

With a dazed mind, the director nodded.

But the dream had been so vivid. It felt as though his very existence had vanished in this world. 

It was like being trapped for a moment in a world where young women in monochrome clothes smoked and read poetry. It was an indescribably subtle feeling.

He tried to calm down and eat sushi, but suddenly realized his body was trembling.

'Damn, what a nightmare...'

Maybe because of the dream, Jung Yeseul now seemed scary to him.

"Cough, cough, I'm not feeling well, so I think I'll head out first."

"Well, if you have to..."

Jung Yeseul gave him a strange smile with her signature drooping eyes.

"Goodbye..."

***

"Team leader."

Min Hyemi noticed Jung Yeseul returning from lunch with her usual gloomy smile.

"Did you handle it well?"

"Of course..."

Jung Yeseul, who had come closer to her, whispered in her ear.

"You know there's no room for men in my world."

"..."

She could see right through her, which was a little annoying, but she supposed she should offer some kind of reward anyway.

When Min Hyemi reached out with the lighter in hand, Jung Yeseul lowered her head, a cigarette between her lips.

Their eyes met.

'Really, it's all a bit much...'

Whether it was Lee Ruri or Jung Yeseul, what truly wore her out was how things went with them.

There was a reason why Kim Chan-neul took over as acting team leader when she was absent.

After waiting for Jung Yeseul at the smoking area, they went together to the second team office, where they found two people standing inside.

"Team Leader Kwon Anna, Seon Jejun-ssi?"

"Ah, Hyemi-ssi."

Kwon Anna, with her short bob haircut, politely bowed to Min Hyemi as she greeted her.

"How have you been? Is your health better?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

Kwon Anna, known for her upright character, had been attentive toward her. After resolving Yoo Seongtae's obsession, she had sent a gift coupon to show her appreciation.

"By the way, do you have the by-products related to the material from the Pyeongchang-dong gate last month? I need to check something."

"Ah, I'll check it right away."

"Thanks, I need to confirm something with the director."

"The director?"

Upon hearing that name, Min Hyemi's expression immediately soured.

Kwon Anna responded with a cool smile.

"Yes. It seems like he's looking for an excuse to dig up old issues just because we haven't taken down Exodus yet."

Who has the guts to pull that on S-class hunters? Is he actually crazy? Is that delusion, or did he just forget what fear feels like?

"Are you alright?"

When Min Hyemi asked, Kwon Anna shrugged her shoulders and responded.

"I'm fine. Well, Jejun and Ian are fine too, but... Jinhyuk doesn't seem to be okay."

"Ah."

"I think Jinhyuk will visit the director in a few days. I don't plan to stop him."

After all, Kang Jinhyuk, who had lived as an ultimate survivor in a male-oriented apocalyptic world, wouldn't just stay quiet in this situation.

And knowing that, Min Hyemi again felt how brilliant Kwon Anna was.

"Even Hunter Kang Jinhyuk follows your lead… Your charisma is amazing, Team Leader."

"Is that what we're calling charisma now?"

Kwon Anna laughed lightly.

"We just fought when we first met."

"...What?"

"We settled the hierarchy back then."

She gave a sly smile.

"We still occasionally settle the hierarchy."

...As expected, since she was an S-class hunter, Kwon Anna wasn't an ordinary person.

'By the way, the director is the root of all evil.'

It was surprising to see such strong hunters suffering because of the director.

'Sigh, I wish the director would disappear quickly.'

While thinking that, Min Hyemi was about to go to her seat to retrieve the documents when she heard Seon Jejun's voice from behind.

"By the way..."

"Yes?"

Turning around, she saw Seon Jejun with his usual languid expression, but his eyes were fixed directly on her.

"I'm not trying to invade your privacy, but..."

"...?"

"I keep hearing wishes."

"Ah."

Come to think of it, Seon Jejun had mentioned that he could hear people's wishes.

Min Hyemi's face grew flustered as she asked.

"Do you know what my wish is?"

"You wish the director... would disappear."

"Ah..."

She felt a bit awkward. Damn, her true feelings were laid bare like this.

Min Hyemi awkwardly smiled, but Seon Jejun still seemed serious.

"You haven't made any wishes lately."

"Yes, that's true."

"Is he really that annoying?"

"Well, a little?"

Seon Jejun hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I'm sorry for not granting your last wish."

"..."

"If you want, I can grant this wish."

"Ah, no. I just forgot that you could hear wishes... I didn't mean to burden you."

"It's not a burden."

He answered in a soft tone.

"It's my responsibility, after all."

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