Chapter 7

　　The next morning.

　　The moment I checked to see if Hamin was still asleep, he jolted awake in a panic, causing clovers to explode all over the place. Startled by the unfamiliar room, he scuttled away from me and hid in a corner. I quietly got up and headed for the kitchen.

　　While I scooped rice and fried some eggs, Hamin came running over, breathing hard, and latched onto my leg. I waited until the eggs were done, then crouched down to meet his eyes.

　　"You’re up."

　　"Y-yeah…"

　　"Then go wash your face. Let’s eat."

　　"Okay."

　　He trudged toward the bathroom, but halfway there, his hands went to his knee. He stared at it for a moment, then glanced straight at me before going in to wash. When he came back out, soaked to the skin again, just like yesterday, he spotted the spoon with a bunny on it, and his cheeks flushed.

　　That damn bbani spoon. I’d picked it up along with the rice this morning.

　　If I’d known he would like it that much, I should have woken him with Heavenly Conduct and taken him to the supermarket with me. Sighing, I asked him a question as he changed out of his wet clothes.

　　"How do you want your rice? Mixed? Or on the side?"

　　"Mixed."

　　So breakfast was egg rice with soy sauce and rinsed kimchi, just as he’d chosen.

　　Hamin blew on the steaming rice before taking a bite, then broke into a goofy grin when he saw the kimchi I’d laid on top.

　　"You kept your promise from yesterday, huh?"

　　Please. Last night, he’d looked ready to kill me with his eyes just because I hadn’t mixed his rice.

　　I had no idea how he could be so much like his uncle. I watched Hamin smile so wide his dimples sank deep, then shook my head. Just thinking about Baek Eunseong made my insides roil like boiling lava.

　　No wonder Dohyun was resentful. Ever since he’d awakened as an S-class at seventeen, people had done nothing but compare those two. Forcing Eunseong out of my head, I turned to Hamin. The kid had demolished an entire pot of rice and was still looking for bread, like a true hunter.

　　"I have to go to work. What do you want to do?"

　　"Can I go too?"

　　"If you can stay home alone, then stay."

　　"I wanna go with you."

　　He’d changed into the clothes we’d dried overnight and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, reached his arms out to me. I picked up his soft, squishy body. He wrapped his arms tight around my neck and whispered.

　　"Uncle, you know what?"

　　"What?"

　　"You’re the first grown-up who actually kept a promise to me."

　　At that whisper, my mind reflexively jumped to Baek Eunseong.

　　So there was a reason Seong Dohyun hated him. The guy couldn’t even keep a promise to a little kid. Clicking my tongue, I headed out with Hamin toward the site of last night’s dungeon break.

　　"Hey, Seong Dohyun, you’re he… Huh? You really brought him?"

　　"You told me to keep him until Eunseong paid up."

　　Hamin clung to me and buried his face in my chest, shy around strangers. I shielded him from view and looked for the president.

　　"How many are missing?"

　　"Twenty-four. We’ve got support from the Center, so go with them."

　　He pointed to a man with dark brown hair standing nearby.

　　"Who’s that?"

　　"What?"

　　The president gave me a puzzled look, then muttered, "Oh, right. Amnesia."

　　"That’s Jeon Jiyun. The next Center Director."

　　Jeon Jiyun… He was one of the characters from the original novel. Do Yudam’s guardian, the guy who died saving him in a later episode.

　　While I was digging through my memory, Jeon Jiyun walked over and gave a short bow.

　　"Shall we go?"

　　I looked at the hand he held out, then shifted my hold on Hamin.

　　This guy’s ability was definitely—

　　"Aaaah!"

　　—wind.

　　A scream so loud it made my vision go black for a second rang out, startling both me and Jeon Jiyun. We whipped our heads toward Hamin. With no warning at all, we’d been lifted into the air, and now he was kicking frantically, screaming his head off.

　　"Baek Hamin?"

　　"Have you realized now? Let’s put him down first."

　　At my words, the wind died down, and I felt my feet touch the ground again. My palms were damp with cold sweat as I patted his back.

　　"S-sorry?"

　　"As long as you understand."

　　"Um, how did you two end up together?"

　　"I stopped him from getting kidnapped, but no one believed me."

　　At that, I saw Jeon Jiyun bite his lip, trying not to laugh.

　　"They yelled at me for bringing back a mimic."

　　He finally let out a quiet chuckle, then gave me a once-over with a look that said, Yeah, I can see that happening with you. Ignoring his annoying face, I soothed the trembling Hamin and summoned Ariadne’s Thread.

　　"As far as I know, the White Domain Guild Master and Hunter Baek Eunseong are both away. Did you run into Hunter Yang Jihwan, by any chance?"

　　"Yes. More importantly, the missing persons list?"

　　"Ah, here it is."

　　He handed me the list, then held his hand out again.

　　Huh? Had we ever worked together before? No matter how hard I racked my brain, nothing came up. Which meant he must have worked with Seong Dohyun before I possessed this body.

　　I let out a small sigh and spoke.

　　"Excuse me, Hunter Jeon Jiyun."

　　"Yes?"

　　"You probably won’t believe this, but I’ve lost my memory."

　　"…What?"

　　"So I don’t remember how we used to work together."

　　"What?"

　　"Let’s just search separately. If I need help, I’ll call you."

　　And I’d really prefer not to get launched into the sky without warning again.

　　I did want to try flying, but not like that. Frowning, I quickly put some distance between us and activated my skills.

　　[Ariadne’s Thread]

　　Threads sprouted from beneath my feet and shot out in all directions.

　　Walls Have Ears (And So Do I)

　　I pointed toward the sound of people groaning. The Association hunters, who, after days of butting heads, now listened to me better than my own hands and feet, raced off in that direction.

　　Even though I kept dodging him, Jeon Jiyun doggedly tailed me. He glanced at me, holding Hamin tight, and let out a faint, disbelieving laugh.

　　"I did feel something was different… So you really lost your memory."

　　"Yeah. I got hurt pretty bad fighting those wolf-heads last time."

　　"Are you all right now?"

　　"Yes."

　　I nodded, then paused and looked at him in surprise. So there were actually people who asked how Seong Dohyun was doing.

　　"Please be careful."

　　It was oddly touching. He warned me about a pile of rubble up ahead. I patted Hamin’s back, as the kid was clinging to my neck like he was trying to strangle me.

　　"It’s okay now. Want to walk?"

　　"No!"

　　"Um, I’m sorry."

　　Even with Jeon Jiyun’s apology, Hamin didn’t budge. Like a frightened turtle hiding in its shell, he kept his face buried in my neck.

　　That’s what you get for flinging people into the air with no warning.

　　"It’s fine. He’s not scary. He looks like your uncle."

　　At that, Hamin peeked out and stared at Jeon Jiyun.

　　"No way! My uncle is way more handsome!"

　　"Ha…"

　　"But they do look alike."

　　Aside from the fact that Eunseong’s eyes were pink and Jeon Jiyun’s were sky blue, the two of them had the same drooping outer corners to their eyes. The difference was that Eunseong gave off a languid vibe, while Jeon Jiyun just looked sleepy.

　　Ah. So that’s why Seong Dohyun hated him, too.

　　No wonder my insides had been bubbling just looking at him. I patted Hamin’s back as he whined about wanting to go home.

　　"Let’s hurry up and finish."

　　"Yes, sir!"

　　I was about to walk on, Ariadne’s Thread stretching out ahead, when the ground gave way beneath my feet and my whole body lurched. I was about to show off my S-class reflexes when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.

　　I steadied myself on the soft clover underfoot and shook the hand holding me.

　　"You can let go now."

　　The one who’d grabbed me was Jeon Jiyun, and the one who’d laid the soft clover under my feet was Hamin.

　　"Thanks."

　　I patted Hamin’s butt where he was still in my arms, then couldn’t help smiling when I saw his forehead turn red as he beamed. If only your uncle would smile like that once in a while.

　　All he ever did was look at people like they disgusted him.

　　Clicking my tongue, I sent Ariadne’s Thread shooting out in every direction. When the golden thread that had gone off to find the last missing person started to tremble, I pointed it out and glanced back at Jeon Jiyun.

　　"What are you standing there for?"

　　Once I found the missing people and Jeon Jiyun blew away the debris with his wind, the other hunters moved in and pulled them out. Watching the hunters work together like a well-oiled machine, I saw Ariadne’s Thread return after locating the final missing person.

　　"We’re done."

　　I reported to the president, and he immediately transferred my pay. I was checking the amount when Jeon Jiyun, having just finished his own search, flew over.

　　He looked at Hamin nestled in my arms and asked carefully, "How long do you plan on protecting Hamin?"

　　At his question, Hamin tightened his grip around my neck.

　　"Until I hear from Eunseong or the White Domain Guild Master."

　　He looked like he was about to ask if I’d consider handing Hamin over to him. Not a chance in hell.

　　I planned to deliver Hamin personally, collect a fat reward, and wring a proper apology out of Yang Jihwan for calling me a liar.

　　At my answer, Jeon Jiyun hesitated, then spoke.

　　"I don’t know the details, but Hunter Baek Eunseong will be in touch soon."

　　"Of course. Eunseong dotes on his nephew. He’ll call soon enough. If, like you say, that really is Baek Hamin."

　　The Association president snickered beside us, and I almost snapped my fingers. There were too many witnesses. I couldn’t just smack him.

　　Just you wait until you step down from that chair.

　　Grinding my teeth, I turned away with Hamin in my arms.

　　Contrary to my expectation that we’d hear from him right away, it took a full week before Baek Eunseong finally came looking for me.

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