Chapter 5: The Growing Illusion (2)

The damage dealer in our party was severely injured by a monster inside a gate.

Even after fully recovering, they suddenly retired, likely due to trauma.

So, we needed to recruit a new heavy-hitting hunter.

The leader, Cain, insisted we only recruit women, but I ignored him.

He’s barely a leader, so I took it upon myself to recruit through the Association.

– Minhoo Seol? No photo. Why?

Unlike other hunters, this mysterious hunter had a blank profile picture.

Out of curiosity, I decided to recruit him.

That’s how we temporarily brought in the masked man.

He introduced himself as Minhoo Seol. Quite an unusual name.

I wondered why there was no photo at the Association—turns out, it was because of that grotesque mask.

We talked a bit, and he said it was a mask he accidentally became bound to as a kid due to a curse.

Well, we dragonkin don’t judge people by appearances, so it didn’t matter.

Sure, good looks are nice, but we don’t stoop to despising someone for being ugly—that’s our belief.

The only issue was that the other two party members were extremely repulsed by him.

‘They’re no better themselves, tch.’

Minhoo and I ended up spending nearly three months together.

Or rather, it was mostly just me and Minhoo.

We entered gates as a group of four, but after that, we split into pairs for hunting.

What’s the point of forming a party then? It wasn’t bad, though.

Minhoo could be rough around the edges, but over time, I realized he was kind and thoughtful.

He was good at cooking, and when camping in gate safe zones, he prepared sleeping arrangements like a veteran hunter. Like he was used to it.

He’s not even an adult yet.

– You’re more reliable than you look~

– You’re sh*t at camping prep, so I’m doing it for you. Shouldn’t you say thanks first?

– Heh, thanks.

– Shut up.

– …

As we worked together, I started to like him and unintentionally showed dragonkin-style affection.

Like hitting his back with my tail, lightly burning him with my breath, or poking him with my long nails.

After about two months, that liking grew into something new.

They say dragonkin feel a connection when they meet their fated mate—maybe this was it…

That’s when I started upping the affection.

When Minhoo walked ahead, I’d sneak my tail into his back pocket.

– Ugh!? What the f*ck are you doing, you b*tch!

When he let his guard down, I’d stab his nipple with my nail.

– F*ck! You crazy b*tch!

When he was sleeping, I’d mix a bit of flame into my spit and drip it on him.

– Gah! What!? You f*cking insane lizard b*tch!

Still, Minhoo’s reactions were pretty good.

He must be thrilled to receive my affection. Heh.

Maybe he has feelings for me too, I thought.

I planned to confess once I was sure of my feelings after spending a bit more time together…

– Minhoo Seol has been expelled.

The party leader suddenly spouted nonsense.

– You worked hard, Anflea, dealing with that disgusting guy.

I couldn’t comprehend the garbage coming out of his filthy mouth.

– Ahem. So, how about we celebrate with a drink in my room tonight, just the two of us?

– What~? Leader! You forgot you promised to hang with me tonight?

– Shh, Aisil. I’ll pamper you later.

– Tch!

I didn’t hear the conversation between the leader, Cain, and the party member, Aisil.

All I could think about was Minhoo.

– So, Anflea? I’ve got some top-shelf liquor ready…

– I’m leaving the party.

– Huh? Did I hear that wrong?

– I’m terminating the contract, you sh*t-looking bastard.

Despite a year left on the formal contract, I paid a hefty penalty and left the party.

After that, I kept searching for Minhoo.

I asked the Association for information, but they refused to share personal details.

After years of bribing for scraps of info, I learned one thing.

He’s enrolling in the Academy next year and already took the entrance exam.

The Academy…

Minhoo must be around 19 now. It’s about time for humans to enroll.

He’s not content with C-rank and aims higher.

With his skills, he could easily reach S-rank or beyond with effort.

I’m 240 years old now.

It’s a bit late, but I decided to join the Academy.

I don’t care about hunter ranks.

I just want to meet him.

*

While waiting for the Academy entrance, bored out of my mind.

Among the buzzing crowd, I heard a familiar voice.

“Didn’t hear me? Want me to carve out your eardrums with my dagger? Get lost.”

“Scamming naive kids isn’t harsh? What a crazy b*tch.”

“Shut your trap, it reeks of tofu.”

That sweet voice, even from a distance.

That sharp, satisfying profanity ringing in my ears.

With a flicker of hope, I moved toward the voice.

Pushing through the crowd, my eyes locked onto a man.

He wasn’t wearing the mask, but I knew instantly.

The voice and curses I’d just heard.

His moderately muscular build. Black hair.

Always neatly trimmed nails. A small mole below his left elbow.

‘He’s a bit taller now.’

It was definitely Minhoo Seol.

But why.

“Minhoo? It’s Minhoo, right?”

“Why are you ignoring me? Don’t you remember me?”

“Hey! Why do you keep ignoring me!?”

He ignored me.

“Who are you?”

“You don’t remember me? I’m Anflea! Why are you pretending?”

“Who’s that?”

“We were in a party together! Minhoo Seol, stop pretending!”

“I’m not Minhoo Seol.”

“Yes, you are!”

“I said I’m not.”

“Then what’s your name?”

“…Jace.”

Why is he pretending not to know me, even lying about his name?

Maybe he has unavoidable reasons, so I asked for his number to talk later.

But he kept saying he didn’t have a phone or giving weird answers.

Just as I was getting upset.

Whack!

Minhoo smacked my head and vanished in an instant.

“Hey!!! You’re dead if I see you again!!!!”

I shouted, breathing heavily.

Huff, huff.

Rubbing my stinging head, I clenched my other fist.

I’m not angry.

I’m just excited.

‘Do humans express affection like this too?’

‘I haven’t heard that… I’ve lived a long time. Hmm.’

‘No, no! Humans differ by dimension! His unique name means he’s a new kind of human, so it’s possible. No, it’s certain.’

‘Then Minhoo must like me too, right? But still, expressing affection and running off? That’s cheeky.’

I reached a conclusion.

Minhoo and I are definitely in love.

Next time we meet, I’ll beat him so he can’t resist, lock him up, and use him as a living dildo for a month.

“And then we’ll get married. We’ll have cute sons and daughters. Heehee.”

*

For some reason, my back felt cold.

It’s swelteringly hot, so that’s weird.

‘Not like I’m possessed by a ghost.’

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, I sat on a park bench, eagerly eating a Flower Pig Bar.

Buzz!

My phone vibrated in my right pocket.

A single buzz means a message.

“The Association?”

There’s no reason for them to contact me, I thought, as I pulled out my phone.

==

We’re contacting you regarding Hunter Minhoo Seol’s top entrance to the Academy.

Please visit the Director’s Office on the 7th floor of the Academy Main Building by 13:00 on September 25. Thank you.

==

The message wasn’t from the Association but the Academy.

I knew I’d pass, but top entrance?

There must be a serious lack of talent.

The exam wasn’t that hard, and it really hit home how bleak the future of hunters is.

The Hunter Academy is like a university.

Its entrance exam, meant to train hunters, is purely practical. No written tests.

The practical exam is held five times from January to June, and you can take it on any date.

It’s August now, so student selection must be done.

“But meeting the Director? Is that normal for top entrants?”

The date is, coincidentally, the day after my contract with Ice Flame ends.

It feels a bit off, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

Today was full of sh*tty events, but things should be smooth from now on. Right.