Retire 561

561 (Extra Story 28) The Hunt Begins

Han Taekyung sometimes thought about it.

When Hong Seokyoung first asked if he had any plans to return to Korea, offering him a new job, he’d never imagined he’d end up with this kind of work.

It wasn’t… that it wasn’t fun. In fact, it was almost too much fun, and sometimes he wondered if it was really all right to enjoy it this much.

As for Alex Hope, since this was something he’d wanted himself, Hong Seokyoung hadn’t worried much about him. Or rather, he had worried, but his concerns were of a different sort.

“Go and… listen well.”

“Listen to whom?”

“Just…”

Hong Seokyoung’s gaze fell on Han Taekyung.

Han Taekyung grinned.

Hong Seokyoung looked away.

“…Listen carefully. All right?”

“Why can’t you just say it’s me?”

“Ummm.”

Hong Seokyoung let out a pained groan, arms crossed.

“All right… Taekyung, you listen well too.”

“To whom?”

“To these people, those people.”

Han Taekyung smirked.

Hong Seokyoung pressed his temples as if he had a headache. He made a show of giving a pointed look, but that wasn’t something he usually did—he must have picked it up from Woo Huijae.

Of course, whether it was subtle hints or direct orders, Han Taekyung was never one to listen.

Hong Seokyoung knew that too. In fact, he probably knew it better than anyone. He waved a hand at Alex, signaling he could go. Not that Alex had anywhere else to go if he was told to leave, but with Kang Taewoo away from the school, he’d be able to move around more freely than before. Alex, surprisingly, liked Kim Chaemin’s greenhouse.

“You’re staying in Korea until the new year? Is that all right?”

“Henry Lehmann’s gone underground.”

“What about his other lackeys?”

“No big fish. That group was always a loose network. Even if you catch one, it’s just a wriggling tail—there’s never anyone substantial.”

Hong Seokyoung frowned, this time with genuine frustration. When things didn’t go as planned, it irritated everyone.

“I’ve got some unfinished business to settle myself.”

“You? Unfinished business?”

“I didn’t meet my annual quota, what with trekking through remote mountains for no good reason. In these days of high inflation, even Chasy’s royalties are getting expensive…”

“Yeah, yeah. Hang in there. Next time I go to a dungeon, I’ll take you with me.”

“I’d rather not.”

“And why not?”

“You always pick the most troublesome places, Master. No thanks, no thanks.”

Hong Seokyoung laughed in disbelief.

Once he returned to America to track Lehmann, it would truly be hard to come back to Korea for a while. There were still details to iron out, but considering the operation being discussed…

He’d have to tell his family that this time, he really might be out of touch for a while. Every time he said that and left, he’d ended up back in Korea—this would be the third time. Han Eunyeong would look at her brother with weary eyes, asking if he was doing this again. She’d come looking for him when she needed advice, but once her business was done, she’d coldly toss him aside. Who did she take after, anyway?

But it seemed Hong Seokyoung was troubled by it too. He wiped away his playful expression and looked at Han Taekyung with a careful gaze.

He’d known this man for a long time, but lately, he’d developed a strangely timid side. It was odd to see someone who never cared about others’ opinions acting this way. When he was young, sure, there was a sense of being protected because he was a child, but even now?

Han Taekyung thought it over and quickly realized the reason.

This is why people need family. Even if it’s not family, once you have something you don’t want to let go of, your actions change. Han Taekyung had experienced it himself.

“Alex wanted to do this, but… are you really all right with it?”

“Are you going to ask me that every time you see me?”

“Well, you know. I brought you to Korea for the school, after all.”

“After seeing how you run the school, I realized it’s not something I could do.”

Han Taekyung said it flatly. Hong Seokyoung let out a groan.

“This is more fun. And it’s not like it’s something I’ve never done before.”

“Just because you’ve done it doesn’t mean it’s what you want to do.”

“Well, adults end up doing things they don’t want to do. Haven’t I grown into a fine adult, after all?”

“I think you were more mature as a child…”

“I hear that a lot.”

Hong Seokyoung’s worries weren’t so easily dispelled. But Han Taekyung had nothing more to say. Everything he’d told Hong Seokyoung was true.

Even Alex, who used to seem almost inhuman, had lost that air completely. His arrogant tone remained, but he had a surprisingly diligent side. He’d never been stupid, after all. As Woo Huijae once pointed out, his personality wasn’t actually that abrasive. After working tough missions in the field with the Association’s special forces, Alex had developed a sense of discipline. At the very least, he now knew what was acceptable and what wasn’t, without needing to be told.

The doctor at the lab still got teary-eyed with pride every time she saw Alex.

Han Taekyung had gone through that phase too—when just pretending to walk around was enough to earn applause.

…But that’s a story for another time.

Anyway, Han Taekyung liked his life now. Entering dungeons wasn’t bad, but it was less fun. Now, even if he made less money, the work was satisfying. Others could handle the complicated thinking—Han Taekyung just had to catch bad guys or stir up trouble.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. Listening to you, it sounds like the future Han Taekyung spent a lot of time in America anyway, right?”

As he said it, he realized he really was fine. What was wrong with doing something fun? Wasn’t he contributing to world peace?

“Honestly, I don’t think I’d ever have been a model civil servant.”

“Even as a civil servant, you’d be a Hunter.”

“Master, do you really think I’d quietly go into the dungeons you assigned, do my job, and come back like a good little Hunter?”

“…That’s not likely.”

“Apparently, I caused a lot of trouble too.”

“You say that yourself?”

“Why not? You might doubt my sincerity, but you never scold me for things I haven’t done yet.”

Han Taekyung shrugged.

That was probably Woo Huijae’s way of drawing lines. Han Taekyung didn’t know exactly what had happened to the first graduates of the training school. He only knew, from the atmosphere, that it couldn’t have been good.

Woo Huijae only ever grumbled about Oh Hyunwook and Park Seohyun when talking about future graduates. He rarely mentioned Yu Ji-eun.

Woo Huijae had guided those three with their futures in mind, but he also knew they would not become the adults he remembered. That principle applied not only to students but to adults as well.

Since the future had changed completely, it was only natural they wouldn’t become the same people. Han Taekyung nodded.

“Anyway, I’m having fun. I think I’ve found a job that suits me. Maybe I should make this my career?”

“Did you ask this Hunter’s opinion?”

“I do whatever I want.”

Han Taekyung said this with confidence.

“And I’ll never do anything I don’t want to.”

“All right, all right. I get what you’re saying. I won’t bother you about this anymore.”

Hong Seokyoung raised the white flag.

“Well, if I have to complain about something, it’s this feeling of hitting a dead end, with no leads left… Since the business card, there hasn’t been a single clue.”

“I never thought it would be easy.”

“Well, this time we’ve decided to make the first move.”

Worry flickered again across Hong Seokyoung’s face.

“Just… don’t do anything too dangerous.”

“Better us than someone else, don’t you think?”

“You shouldn’t be so confident! You need to be careful.”

“Master, you really are getting old… You never used to say things like that.”

Hong Seokyoung made a strange face, torn between worrying, nagging, and scolding. It was probably a mix of all three.

Still, Han Taekyung just grinned mischievously, as always.

“If anything happens, Alex and I have the advantage. We’re good at running away.”

“I know, but still…”

“Anyway, enough of that. I have a family dinner tonight. Since I said I’d be away on a long trip this time, my father insisted I come.”

Han Taekyung cut off Hong Seokyoung’s endless words and stood up. The family dinner was real.

Hong Seokyoung let out a deep sigh. If that mouth opened again, the nagging would start, so Han Taekyung made a quick escape.

He really was starting to repeat himself as he got older.

Han Taekyung shuddered.

“…….”

Just as he was about to make his getaway—

A loud ringtone blared from Han Taekyung’s pocket.

It was a rather dramatic melody, with simple English lyrics. Han Taekyung stood still and hummed along.

“and… BONNY AND CHASY!!”

The song cut off.

Han Taekyung came to his senses and pulled out his phone. One missed call. He scratched his head.

“Ughhh…”

Seeing the name blinking on the screen, he didn’t want to call back. Not that he disliked the person, just that it was a hassle.

But unfortunately, this time, Han Taekyung was the one who needed a favor. He’d planned to avoid contact for a few years after returning to Korea, but things had turned out otherwise.

If it were just his own whim, Han Taekyung would have refused to the end, but… he knew how important this was. If Henry Lehmann really intended to carry on Noah Michel’s legacy and bring about the end of the world or something like it, what would happen to Chasy? What about all the dreams he’d worked for, for the sake of copyright?

Han Taekyung pressed the call button. The other party picked up before it even rang properly. Han Taekyung held the phone away from his ear. Even so, the loud voice came through clearly.

-HAN!!!!

“Salman. What about what I asked for?”

-Why did you call Harry instead of me…?

“Salman, Salman. Why are you so worked up?”

-You said you were going to Korea, then disappeared! Of course I’m upset!!

But the voice gradually quieted. Han Taekyung finally brought the phone to his ear and slowly headed for the parking lot.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. Did you check on what I asked? Thanks. Send me the info. …It’s nothing else, I just heard some unsettling rumors. I don’t know where in Europe it started, but apparently some magicians have been making experimental deals. Hm? No, I don’t know what they traded. I only heard rumors.”

Han Taekyung continued the call, waving absently at the Hunters and students still at the school.

“And apparently one of those magicians… has a monster form? That’s why I wanted to check. You said you’d keep an eye out for side effects on your end, right?”

Han Taekyung got into his car and started the engine. The world’s cutest pink cat was painted on the hood.

“…And there’s one crazy bastard in particular. I’m looking for him now. I’m not kidding. You know the name, too.”

Han Taekyung fastened his seatbelt and looked up.

“Henry Lehmann. You know him, right? Someone in our guild has a score to settle with him. Not telling you who.”

He could hear the unspoken question—how many people were even in their “guild”? Han Taekyung stuck out his tongue at the invisible caller.

He had no personal grudge against Henry Lehmann. But for the bright future he envisioned with Chasy, that was a name that had to be dealt with.