Chapter 19
Mondays were often the busier days for office workers.
After enjoying the sweet rest for the weekend, the commute to work felt a bit tedious due to a mix of tension and apprehension—a case of Monday blues.
But for Do-Jun, this Monday was an exception.
Everything about today, from his suit jacket, which slightly restricted his movements, to his slightly wide trousers that rustled with every step, felt pleasantly and unusually harmonious.
“To the Hunter Academy, please,” Do-Jun said to the taxi driver.
“Yes, sir.”
Do-Jun rechecked the location and time on the admission notice: National Hunter Academy, Yejang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Originally a forested area, it was repurposed, and the academy was built there a few years ago.
Do-Jun reached for his phone and chuckled at the text message.
Hyuk-Soo: Have a great time. Treat her to something delicious.
Smiling, he recalled the previous Friday’s afternoon.
***
It was 2:30 PM when everyone was intensely focused on their work.
Do-Jun quietly walked over to Cheol-Soo’s desk. “Um… Chief.”
Recently, Cheol-Soo had been busy drafting a cooperation document for the joint management of a B-rank Great Fissure with the Hunter’s Bureau.
“Yes, what’s up?” Cheol-Soo asked Do-Jun.
“Would it be alright if I took half a day off on Monday morning?”
A half-day leave meant that he would be absent from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Do-Jun would have preferred to take a full day off but felt it was inappropriate to mention due to the recent increase in the unit’s workload.
“Is everything okay?” Cheol-Soo asked in concern.
“Yes, it’s just something personal.”
“Is it something you can’t share with me?”
Do-Jun had kept it a secret from his division colleagues that he now had a daughter, mostly because he knew they wouldn’t understand the impossibly small nine-year age gap between him and his daughter.
He considered explaining how things had come to this, but upon pondering the outcome, he decided that it was better not to disclose it from the start.
So, Do-Jun just nodded without much explanation.
Cheol-Soo scratched his head. “This is tough. Hyuk-Soo is scheduled for a business trip next Monday.”
“A business trip?”
“Well, the Hunter Academy admission ceremony is next Monday. We received a collaboration request from related organizations to attend, so we need to send someone. That’s why Hyuk-Soo is going.”
Do-Jun’s eyes widened. He was completely unaware of this job.
“I’m sending Hyuk-Soo so you can focus solely on Hunter Ye-Ji,” Cheol-Soo said.
“I understand. Please disregard my earlier request.”
“If it’s an urgent matter, submit the request anyway. It’s not like our division will collapse just because the two of you are absent.”
Despite his words, Cheol-Soo was internally anxious, fully aware that it would be difficult to handle urgent situations if core members like Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun were absent at the same time.
“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about what I said, Chief.”
After bowing to Cheol-Soo, Do-Jun returned to his seat. He turned on the On-Nara Messenger and sent a message to Hyuk-Soo.
Lee Do-Jun: Hyuk-Soo.
Hyuk-Soo tilted his head, puzzled at the message from Do-Jun, and wondered why he sent a message when they were right next to each other.
Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Yes?
Lee Do-Jun: Are you attending the Hunter Academy admission ceremony on Monday?
Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Yes, from 8 AM to 12 PM. I’ll be back after lunch.
Lee Do-Jun: Do you mind if I went to that instead?
Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Why all of a sudden?
Lee Do-Jun: Let’s go to the break room. I’ll explain everything there.
***
Pfft!
Hyuk-Soo spat out the coffee he was drinking.
“A-a daughter?”
“Yes, that happens to be the situation. I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret from the others.”
“How… how old are you this year, Do-Jun?”
“I am twenty-six.”
“And your daughter is seventeen?”
It was hard to believe. At what age did he have her? A simple calculation was enough to know that it was obviously impossible.
“Were you married?” Hyuk-Soo probed him.
“No. She is not my biological daughter.”
“Ha… haha.” Hyuk-Soo let out an empty laugh. “Does Ye-Ji know about this?”
“Huh? Why does that matter?”
Ye-Ji clearly had feelings for Do-Jun. Who would be happy to know that the person they liked was raising a daughter?
However, Do-Jun was completely oblivious to romantic matters and seemed not to understand this part.
“Ye-Ji has been to my house, so she knows.”
“A-and she didn’t say anything?” Hyuk-Soo inquired curiously.
“No, nothing much.”
“That’s strange… How was it not awkward…?” Hyuk-Soo muttered to himself as he sipped his coffee, a confused look still evident on his face.
“Anyway, if that’s the case, you should go instead of me. I’ll explain it to Chief and keep this a secret.”
“Thank you, Senior.”
***
After driving for about twenty minutes, the taxi stopped at the main entrance of the Hunter Academy.
Yoon-Hee had woken up at the crack of dawn and arrived at the academy very early. She was probably practicing for the admission ceremony in the auditorium by now.
“Would you like me to drive up further, sir?” the taxi driver asked, knowing that it was a ten-minute uphill walk from the main gate to the academy’s main building.
“No need. Thank you for the ride,” Do-Jun said as he shook his head and handed over his card.
After settling the fare, he got out of the taxi and noticed that he was surrounded by stalls selling snacks and bouquets.
Should I get one?
After taking a quick look around, he chose a bouquet he liked—a nicely wrapped one of about ten purple tulips.
Vroom! Vroom!
Luxury cars kept driving up the hill one after another.
Most students entering the National Hunter Academy came from wealthy families. They were either relatives of Hunters, members of the upper class, or even members of chaebol families.
The slope of the hill was enough to exhaust any ordinary person, but Do-Jun walked up the hill casually as if it was nothing more than a light stroll, all the while receiving curious glances.
“Woah. Who is that guy?”
He stood at an impressive height, not to mention his distinct facial features. With his broad shoulders, he looked fit even though he was in a suit. Despite seeming like he was on a casual stroll, he advanced as quickly as if he were running up the hill.
Why are they staring? Do-Jun quickened his pace as he felt puzzled by the attention.
He soon reached the entrance of the main building, where a large banner greeted him warmly.
So many people, he thought in surprise.
Then, he saw a familiar face—a striking woman with a slim figure, standing about 165 centimeters tall, with long, straight hair cascading down to her waist.
That’s… Han Min-Ji. What is she doing here?
Min-Hyuk, who was always with her, wasn’t there.
Do-Jun decided it was best to avoid unnecessary entanglements and turned his head, hastening his steps.
However, life doesn’t always go as planned.
“Supervisor Lee Do-Jun!” A cry came from behind him.
Do-Jun was stopped in his tracks. When he turned around, he saw Min-Ji running toward him.
“You’re here too, Supervisor Lee.”
“Y-yes, I am.”
“Is someone you know entering the academy today?”
Min-Ji acted like nothing remarkable had happened between them a few days back, which bewildered Do-Jun.
Upon sensing his confusion, Min-Ji bowed deeply and apologized, “I apologize for what happened at our last meeting.”
“Pardon…?”
“You were right, Supervisor Lee. I’m sorry for stepping out of line. I hope you know that I had no bad intentions.”
Why would this woman, an S-rank Hunter, no less, bow and apologize to a mere civil servant? It wouldn’t have been strange if she had picked a fight, but here she was, apologizing to him publicly.
“P-please stop bowing to me. People are staring.”
Min-Ji straightened up only after people began murmuring upon recognizing her.
Do-Jun sighed and said, “I think I was also a little too harsh back then. I apologize.”
Upon hearing his apology, a faint smile appeared on Min-Ji’s face. Then she took something out from her pocket and handed it to Do-Jun. It was a business card.
“What is this supposed to mean?” Do-Jun asked in confusion.
“It’s a token of reconciliation.”
“Hunter Min-Ji, if this is about recruiting Ye-Ji for your guild—” But it didn’t take long for Do-Jun to get interrupted by Min-Ji.
“Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with Ye-Ji.”
“It doesn’t?”
“It does not. Just keep it. And if you ever need help, reach out to me anytime. As I just said, it’s a token of reconciliation.”
Do-Jun stood there blankly, then took the business card with a chuckle. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, really. Shall we head inside? The ceremony will start soon,” Min-Ji said with a smile, pointing toward the auditorium.
Do-Jun nodded, and the two walked into the auditorium.
“Ah, I have to go this way,” Min-Ji said as she pointed to the VIP seats.
“I see. See you next time, then.”
“Yes, see you later, Supervisor Lee.”
Min-Ji gave a playful salute. Seeing that, Do-Jun couldn’t help but chuckle as he walked inside to find an empty seat.
Min-Ji’s eyes sparkled as she watched Do-Jun walk away.
There’s no doubt, she thought to herself.
The energy she felt from Do-Jun during their last encounter was something no ordinary person could ever emit. It even made her, an S-rank Hunter, step back out of sheer instinct.
You’re hiding your identity, Supervisor Lee.
But she had no intention of doing anything about it. She was just curious when he would reveal his abilities.
I’m sure you’ll join our world sooner or later.
***
With no seats left on the first floor, Do-Jun had to go to the second floor to find an empty seat. He sat down in the first open seat he could find.
The front row on the first floor was reserved as the VIP section. Behind that were the seats for the entering students, while the last ten rows on the first floor and the entire second floor were reserved for visitors.
There she is. Do-Jun spotted Yoon-Hee immediately with ease without using any special senses.
Is this what it means to be a father?
He then quickly cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment.
He looked at his wristwatch to check that it was 9:30 AM. The admission ceremony finally began.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the fifth National Hunter Academy entrance ceremony. For those of you who are still standing, please take your seats.”
The host began the proceedings smoothly.
“Let me introduce the distinguished guests who have graced this occasion with their presence. This morning, we are honored to have Director Jung Young-Chul of the Hunter’s Bureau with us.”
Polite applause rang out.
A middle-aged man sitting in the VIP section stood up and bowed, then the introductions of other guests followed.
The Mayor of Seoul, Members of the National Assembly, and S-rank Hunters.
Out of all the guests, the S-rank Hunters were extremely popular among the students, evident by the thunderous applause from every single student in the auditorium.
“Hello, respected students.”
And then a clichéd speech followed.
“Thank you.”
After the tedious congratulatory speeches ended, the next in line was the speech by the representative of the new students.
A girl with a beauty that was unmistakable even from a distance walked up onto the stage.
She’s no Yoon-Hee, that’s for sure, Do-Jun thought as he chuckled.
“Isn’t she the sister of the Sword Emperor?”
“Wow, the top S-rank Hunter’s sister.”
“They say she’s already comparable to most A-rank Hunters.”
People around Do-Jun whispered, but he couldn’t care less.
“Hooo.” The student representative stood at the podium and took a deep breath. Then she began her speech calmly, without a script, as if she had memorized it. Her speech soon came to an end and was followed by an oath-taking ceremony.
“On behalf of all entering students, I solemnly declare that we, the proud members of the National Hunter Academy….”
Do-Jun turned his head and looked at Yoon-Hee, who raised her right hand and followed the student representative’s oath with a big smile as if she simply couldn’t contain her joy.
Suddenly, Do-Jun remembered what Yoon-Hee had said to him after the supermarket goblin incident.
“You should treat me well. I’ll become a veeeery famous person someday.”
Do-Jun chuckled and muttered, “Must be nice to be young.”
woo's ThoughtsWoo: “Must be nice to be young,” says the 26yo…?
Momo: lol
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