“Let’s get out of here right now.”

I forced myself to sit up. I tried not to think too deeply, but it was not easy.

“They say reporters are gathering in front of the breeding facility. Hunter Noah drove out all outsiders with the Haeyeon hunters, but there’s a high chance someone’s blocking the car. They sometimes exploit the fact that hunters are reluctant to lay hands on non-awakened.”

Han Yuhyun said. Moon Hyunah nodded in agreement.

“If they’re ordinary people, we can subdue them without injury. But some reporters are malicious. Above all, it’s best we don’t do anything that would worsen our image… especially you, sir.”

If we messed up, rumors could spread that Han Yujin assaulted a reporter to hide the fact he got the invitation by foul means. Even if it stopped at me, they might claim Han Yuhyun or Park Yerim caused trouble to protect me—and that would be disastrous.

“My friends are defending you, sir.”

Yerim said, glancing at me. I felt sorry for worrying her.

“There are many like that. Since Han Yuhyun and I announced we had invitations, the atmosphere’s changed.”

“Yeah. I think it’ll be okay.”

At least this was better than before I returned. Now many people had my back.

“It might be better for you to use a stealth skill and sneak away with Hunter Noah…”

Yuhyun started to speak, then stopped and hugged me.

“Shall we go home?”

My younger brother whispered softly.

“What are you talking about? We can’t go in without me.”

“I…I still don’t really get it. Maybe you would, but to me, they’re strangers. They don’t know me, I don’t know them. They only shout at the visible Haeyeon Guild Leader, so they can’t affect me.”

“…Yuhyun.”

“But I know people hurt when they hear nasty things about someone they barely know. So I can’t comfort you with words, but…”

Yuhyun carefully chose words to soothe me.

“…Let’s kill them all.”

Huh?

“…No, that’s too much. You can’t kill someone just for leaving nasty comments.”

“If it’s the same harm—whether words or weapons—killing the attacker is allowed, so words are no different.”

There was a strange logic to it.

“Well, you don’t die just from insults. Even if they wield weapons, we shouldn’t kill unless absolutely necessary. Director Song is here, too.”

Although Yuhyun’s suggestion was extreme, it lifted my mood. My younger brother was on my side. That alone was comforting.

“In that case, we should cut off their fingers.”

Seong Hyunjae said. What nonsense was he spouting now?

“Instead of the tongue,” he added.

“Please don’t torment Director Song.”

Song Taewon, who had been listening in silence, sighed and spoke.

“I ask that you follow proper legal procedures when filing a complaint.”

“That would be normal.”

“Additionally…”

Song Taewon hesitated, then continued.

“As you know, Han Yujin’s stats are F-rank. Though registered as a mid-rank hunter, actual courts base rulings on stats.”

I realized then: being F-rank meant it wouldn’t be a major issue for me to act without using items, even against non-awakened. That Director Song would even hint at this… perhaps my expression was very bad. Moon Hyunah caught the meaning and let out a soft laugh.

“Usually it’s just fines or suspended prosecution. If you really can’t take it, just fight back and pay damages.”

“If you’re going to do that, better file a countersuit. Perform a standoff under CCTV, then have a medical report sent to Seong Hyunjae’s hospital.”

With the hospital owner here, we could pull off a perfect fraud.

“Should we grab two or three people and try it? If I’m hospitalized, public opinion will flip fast. We can claim we tried to show leniency in person, only to be assaulted.”

Of course, if we got caught, it’d only make things worse—but that was just talk. Well, if I really got hurt without using Grace, there’d be nothing to hide… it would be the truth. Some would still badmouth us, but…

“As Han Yuhyun said, the value of Director Ki Seung-soo of the breeding facility is incomparable. So why exactly did Han Yujin…”

Seong Hyunjae trailed off and looked between me and Yuhyun.

“It’s because of Han Yuhyun.”

This was before my return. I glared reflexively at Seong Hyunjae.

“It’s not Yuhyun’s fault.”

“Sir.”

“Don’t say things that aren’t needed.”

“Given Han Yujin’s status, this isn’t worth your attention.”

He muttered under his breath so quietly, Moon Hyunah clicked her tongue.

“Does he think everyone’s like you?”

“If we only consider the current Han Yujin, he’d likely become arrogant, like many S-rank hunters. Those who climbed up steadily rather than sudden awakening—business magnates or politicians—also forget the past and act like kings.”

“Well…”

Moon Hyunah shrugged slightly.

“You underestimate yourself too much. It’s the fault of those insulting you.”

“Of course.”

Seong Hyunjae looked back at me.

“If Han Yujin desires, I’ll deal with them cleanly at any time.”

“…That’s enough.”

“And I promise not to touch the noble young master, so there’s no need to stay on guard.”

Even after he said that, my teeth were clenched. Would the same outcome happen again? A similar ending? Despite my resistance to fear, I was still afraid. Things had changed a lot, but danger still lurked, and I could lose everything again.

I took a long breath. I had to stop recalling pre-return events.

“As Yuhyun said, I’ll slip away separately. If Noah steps back from the building, he’ll be suspicious. I’ll go to Haeyeon alone. Tell them to prepare a car.”

“…Okay. Be careful, hyung.”

“Don’t worry. The dungeon’s close. Haeyeon will assign hunters to accompany you.”

I didn’t have a driver’s license anyway.

“In case of emergencies, you can’t all enter the dungeon?”

“I must return.”

Song Taewon said. He couldn’t be absent long in this situation—there was already a commotion.

“Director Song and I will handle interviews together.”

Moon Hyunah raised a hand lightly.

“I wasn’t on the broadcast with you, so I’m the least involved. Should I say I helped you get the invitation?”

“Is that okay? You refused my help before.”

“This is personal, and it’s true. Thanks to you I got the bonus easily. And if I say it, I should credit Haeyeon—and Sesung too—for benefiting from you. Something like: ‘Director Han Yujin was the first in Korea to secure invitations and provided us with information.’ That should suffice.”

It wasn’t a lie, so it seemed fine.

“Then please do. Yuhyun, Yerim: instead of riding in the car, you should use stealth skills to enter the dungeon. That way they can’t stop you.”

“Got it, sir. I wish I had a stealth skill too—then I could join midway.”

“And Seong Hyunjae?”

“Maybe he’ll do an interview with the Breaker Guild leader.”

“What? He’s not coming into the dungeon?”

I asked, and Seong Hyunjae tilted his head slightly.

“I think I’ll get scolded.”

“What… Wait, what did you do?”

If I scolded someone, only the elder came to mind. It was suspicious in many ways.

“You said it was a method the elder taught you!”

“That’s right. But I’ll sit this one out for today.”

“Hold him.”

Moon Hyunah approached behind Seong Hyunjae, and Song Taewon blocked the door. Yerim went to the pantry to turn on the water, and Yuhyun pulled out a wire.

“What are you trying to avoid? It’s not like we’re taking an adult to the dentist for the first time in ten years.”

“Aren’t they a child?”

“That’s why you bourgeoisie…”

“Han Yujin will belong to that side soon enough.”

“Shut up, okay? Do it.”

Seeing the cookie in my hand, Seong Hyunjae clamped his mouth shut. With this many of us, there was no way he could escape—but this was my breeding facility. I could shrink it, bind him mummy-style with S-rank wire, then hold him myself—he wouldn’t be able to break free because of Grace. Even if he used a skill, Grace’s damage annulment would block it. He couldn’t cancel cookie effects either.

“Don’t be stubborn.”

Seong Hyunjae shook his head in silence. Should I use lullaby? Would it work? Then Yuhyun said to me:

“Hyung, if I eat a cookie, can I go too?”

“Oh, right! Sir! Me too!”

Jerking into view with a water globule in each hand, Yerim shouted.

“Let us go! You know I don’t want to leave you alone, especially now.”

“It’d be better to show you two leaving the breeding facility… fine, let’s do it. We’ll pretend you’re getting in a tinted car.”

I gave each of Yuhyun and Yerim a cookie, then pressed another into Seong Hyunjae’s mouth.

“Eat quickly. Kids like them do—yet here we have a grown man.”

He just shook his head.

“You can’t escape here. If you destroy the breeding facility, I’ll blow up Sesung Guild too—now open wide.”

“You’re too much.”

Seong Hyunjae tried to avoid my hand, but Yerim created a water barrier around him and Moon Hyunah held his head steady from behind.

“Let’s go get your checkup from the elder, all right? Good boy.”

Finally, Seong Hyunjae had no choice but to accept the cookie and follow quietly. He should have done so sooner.

“All right, kids. Come here.”

Tiny Yuhyun climbed onto my shoulder, stepping on a willow leaf. Little Yerim, now small as a bead, floated around me in circles. Ah, both of them were truly adorable.

“Yuhyun!”

I reached to hug Yuhyun, but she dodged, and I tumbled forward. Undeterred, I spun around happily, circling her.

“Hyung, hyung! Instead of Lin, hug Yuhyun! Tell her she’s cute!”

“Of course she’s cute. Very cute.”

I couldn’t hug them, so I gently stroked Yuhyun’s head with my fingertip. She wrapped her arms around my hand and pressed her cheek to it.

“Han Yuhyun’s pretending to be cute again.”

Yerim launched a water globule the size of a head—now the size of a marble—toward Yuhyun. As always, Yuhyun ignited flames to vaporize the water mid-air. Normally the room would fog over, but now only steam rose from my coffee cup.

“She is cute. Even Seong Hyunjae is cute now.”

Moon Hyunah tapped Yerim’s finger with her palm, then Yerim said:

“We’ll be back soon! Please take care of them, unni.”

I scooped up Seong Hyunjae and tucked him into my coat pocket. The pocket was big, so he slid inside and then draped his arms over the edge, peeking out. As Hyunah said, even Seong Hyunjae was cute. We contacted Haeyeon, then slipped out using stealth.

At the tall wall, I changed into a couga­r-boot form, scaled the wall, and dropped down. Behind the Haeyeon building in the shared parking lot, a car waited with the back door open as promised. I hurried inside, closed the door, and the hunter in the driver’s seat flinched and looked back.

“Are you Director Han Yujin?”

“Yes. Please depart.”

We asked for a non-tinted car so any onlookers would think only a Haeyeon hunter was inside.

“Is there nothing to eat? You must be starving by now.”

Yerim, sitting on the opposite shoulder from Yuhyun, bounced her legs.

“Speaking of which, it’s almost lunchtime. We had a late breakfast, but still.”

I looked down at Seong Hyunjae crawling out of my pocket.

“Are you hungry? Should we pick something up?”

“I’m fine, but Director Han Yujin should eat.”

“Right, hyung needs lunch.”

“There’s a burger place right up ahead! Just skip the soda and fries. I want fries—and a chicken drumstick and cheese sticks.”

Yerim looked up at me with expectant eyes that glimmered like tiny stars. Unable to resist, I asked the Haeyeon hunter to buy us two burger and chicken sets, with cheese sticks and corn salad too. Yerim hugged her drumstick in delight.

“Look! It’s huge!”

“Don’t get grease on your clothes. Yuhyun, here.”

I cut the burger patty and veggies with a knife and handed pieces to my sister. I also gave fries to Seong Hyunjae.

“The crust’s too thick.”

Bubbles of diet cola rose up the straw and floated toward Yerim. She caught and swallowed them in mid-air.

“They over-salted it.”

“Would you like some cola too, Director Song? Here.”

“Thank you.”

“Han Yuhyun, want some?”

Yuhyun shook her head.

“Hyung, you shouldn’t drink the cola either.”

“They said it’s diet cola, though.”

We ate our simple lunch as the car arrived in front of the dungeon building. Still using stealth, we entered and knocked on the gate.

[Honey!]

As soon as we entered the dungeon, a volleyball bounced straight out at us.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep