“Are you really planning to quit?”
Madam Yoo Seo-ha, unable to bear the silence, broke it with a question.
The boy she had picked up from the Hunter Association’s parking lot had transformed so drastically over the course of a single year that it was hard to believe he was the same person.
Even before the evolutionary effects of mana had taken hold, Si-woo had been handsome.
But after the changes, he had become someone who looked like he belonged in the celestial realm.
At 188 cm, his slender yet muscular frame was a masterpiece of physical perfection.
The proof lay in the stares of women around them, all mesmerized by him.
His well-defined muscles and broad shoulders were visible through his shirt.
Unlike male Hunters whose excessive muscles seemed overblown, Si-woo’s physique struck a perfect balance, exuding a refined, restrained allure that enchanted anyone who saw him.
He was no different from an incubus.
“Let me be honest. If you continue working as a host, you’ll make a fortune,” Seo-ha declared, her sharp eyes meeting Si-woo’s deep brown gaze.
Over the past year, Si-woo had demonstrated unimaginable potential as a host.
The effects of his Symbol of Allure engraving were undeniable, but it wasn’t just the engraving that captured people’s hearts.
He had a natural charisma that could steal the affections of even those who shouldn’t be swayed.
If he stayed in the host business, he might not gain fame or honor, but wealth? That was a certainty.
Despite Seo-ha’s confident words, Si-woo gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
“I’ve reached my target amount. Now I need to prepare for the academy entrance.”
The amount of money Si-woo had amassed in just a year was beyond imagination.
Even an F-rank Hunter who cleared hundreds of gates couldn’t earn what Si-woo had.
If one factored in the gifts he received alongside the cash, the total wealth was unimaginable.
More importantly, he had also built a network of connections that no ordinary 20-year-old could dream of acquiring.
As Seo-ha had said, if he continued as a host, he wouldn’t have to worry about money ever again. He could live a life far removed from the concerns of ordinary people.
“Madam, you already know this,” Si-woo said firmly.
But for Si-woo, there was a goal—no, a purpose—that he couldn’t ignore.
As a host, Si-woo would share drinks with the women who came to see him, listen to their complaints, and fulfill their fantasies.
Dealing with stalkers that forced him to move several times and handling toxic clients who harassed other customers was troublesome, but not every connection he made was a bad one.
Building relationships this way and someday settling down, getting married, and starting a family wouldn’t have been a bad life.
But Si-woo had a dream.
“Is going to the academy that important to you?” Seo-ha asked.
“It’s not about wanting to go to the academy. I want to become a Hunter.”
He didn’t want to live without a goal.
Living an ordinary life wasn’t a bad option, but more than that, Si-woo wanted to achieve his dream.
“Even if this damn engraving is perfect for being a host, I’m going to become a Hunter.
That’s what I’ve decided, and that’s what I’ll do.”
“Haah…”
Stubborn.
Seo-ha couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
As someone who had once burned her own life in pursuit of her goals, she didn’t feel she had the right to stand in Si-woo’s way now that he had made up his mind.
She looked at his face once more.
A face that seemed to embody the very concept of beauty.
There were many who thought it was a waste for someone like him to pursue life as a Hunter, but even among the most beautiful, Si-woo’s eyes stood out—they were the eyes of a Hunter.
Eyes like a moth drawn to a flame, ready to sacrifice everything, even his life, to achieve his goal.
With a deep sigh, as though the ground might collapse beneath her, Seo-ha relented.
“Fine, but suppress your engraving’s effects. Some of it’s leaking out.”
“Excuse me?”
At her words, Si-woo glanced at the engraving etched on his wrist.
The faint purple glow emanating from it was no different than when it had first awakened, meaning it was properly restrained, just as he intended.
“I’m suppressing it just fine,” Si-woo said, confused.
“What?” Seo-ha’s expression shifted as she scrutinized him.
Si-woo’s remark left Seo-ha with a peculiar expression.
If he was suppressing the effects of his Symbol of Allure, then it should be at the same level as when he first awakened it—enough to influence C- to D-rank Hunters.
However, there was no way it could affect Seo-ha, who had once been among the top A-rank Hunters.
Though she had retired three or four years ago, her body hadn’t aged enough for something of that level to impact her.
Even if her physical prowess had declined slightly since her prime, her mana remained intact.
A properly restrained engraving like Si-woo’s shouldn’t have affected her at all.
And yet…
“…Hah.”
No, it wasn’t affecting her.
After circulating mana throughout her body to confirm, Seo-ha let out an exasperated sigh, her expression tinged with disbelief.
“This is ridiculous. Acting like this at my age…”
“Pardon?” Si-woo asked, puzzled.
“It’s nothing. Just talking to myself. Forget it,” Seo-ha replied, ignoring her still-racing heart.
She pulled out an envelope with her name printed on it.
As Si-woo quickly took it, he smacked his lips in anticipation, a smile spreading across his face.
“Do what you want. That was the deal from the start when you began working at the host bar.”
“Trust is what makes you shine, Madam,” Si-woo teased.
“Cut it with the smooth talk.”
“Aw, but you know I mean it.”
When Si-woo checked the contents of the yellow envelope, his smile grew even brighter.
An Academy Admission Recommendation Letter.
“I’ve given out plenty of these before. Any A-rank Hunter can write one, so it’s no big deal. But you, you just had to personally pester me to write it.”
“I specifically wanted it from you, Madam. Ever since I found out you were an A-rank Hunter.”
Seo-ha grumbled at his words, feigning irritation.
“If you’re grateful, don’t forget to repay me. I won’t charge interest upfront, but I’ll make sure to collect it properly later.”
At that, Si-woo grinned mischievously, his gaze steady on Seo-ha.
Seo-ha had referred to the recommendation letter as a gift.
That meant it wasn’t about money…
“Is this her way of giving me an excuse?”
Maybe it was a subtle message to show his face once in a while under the guise of “repaying the interest.”
Or perhaps it was an invitation to occasionally meet up and treat her to a meal.
The thought made Si-woo smile at the Madam’s innocent way of expressing herself.
“I’ll make sure to drop by to repay the interest, Madam.”
“You should start changing how you address me. If you’re quitting as a host, it’s time to leave that behind, too.”
She had a point.
Though the title “Madam” felt natural to Si-woo after using it for so long, to an ordinary person, it wasn’t a common or casual way to refer to someone.
After a moment of thought, Si-woo’s face lit up with realization, and he tried out a new title.
“How about Seo-ha Noona then?”
“?! You brat, I’m not one of your clients!” Seo-ha exclaimed.
“Come on, Noona! You’re the one who taught me: pretty women are called Noona or Unnie, and the unattractive ones are called Ajummas.”
Si-woo’s response was accompanied by his usual charming smile.
However, Seo-ha wasn’t fooled.
Recognizing the teasing intent behind his grin, she quickly swung her mana-charged fist at him.
It was a punch carrying enough power that, against an ordinary person, even as a joke, it wouldn’t have been acceptable.
Her fist shot toward Si-woo at a speed even E-rank Hunters couldn’t dodge.
But Si-woo lightly twisted his body, effortlessly avoiding her strike.
Calmly, he picked up the iced Americano sitting on the table and took a sip.
“Hmm, yeah, Americano just isn’t my thing,” Si-woo muttered, setting the cup back down on the table.
Watching him, Seo-ha shook her head in disbelief.
“You’ve gotten so unnecessarily strong.”
“Well, I’m not about to let myself die to Noona’s punches at my age.”
“It’s not like I was trying to kill you. I held back appropriately.”
“Of course, I know. I know exactly how much Noona loves me.”
Seo-ha narrowed her eyes, but the corner of her lips twitched upward despite herself.
“Ha! Seriously, you’re impossible,” Seo-ha muttered, raising both hands in mock surrender.
She downed her cold iced Americano in one go, as if hoping it would cool the heat rising to her face.
She even crunched the remaining ice cubes in frustration.
Afterward, her gaze briefly swept over Si-woo’s figure before she spoke.
“If you ever get tired of fighting monsters, come find me.”
I’ll make sure you’re fed.
Hearing that, Si-woo nodded with a grin.
“If you ever feel lonely eating by yourself, just call me. No matter who it is, if it’s you asking, Noona, I’ll come running anytime.”
“Alright then. When the time comes, let’s have a meal together.”
With that, both Si-woo and Seo-ha stood up simultaneously.
Their paths were different, but neither said goodbye.
It wasn’t a permanent farewell, and both of them knew it without needing to say it aloud.
Whenever either of them wanted, a single phone call would bring them together.
Because Seo-ha knew the kind of person Si-woo was.
And Si-woo understood the kind of person Seo-ha was.
Without hesitation, the two moved forward toward their respective destinations, confident in their decisions.