FTE 003

“How was it for you?”

Seunggyu asked while mixing rice with soup. He hastily put the food into his mouth even as he mixed it. Originally, he used to be the last one eating in the cafeteria, but now his tight schedule meant this change. I placed my clean plate without any leftover rice down and put down the spoon and chopsticks, then leaned forward.

<Pass>

Below the pass, the number of the hunter assigned to me was written in small letters: 170009. The numbering system instead of names was supposedly for confidentiality purposes, but considering who I had been assigned, it didn’t seem very effective. This person would stand out no matter where they went due to their striking appearance.

“Oh, impressive?” Seunggyu naturally thought he would get the assignment, so he uttered words of admiration before burying his nose back into his meal. Hyeongmin looked at me enviously. As temporary staff, the hunter’s choice could be considered the final interview. I passed, while Hyeongmin did not.

“So, how was it? He’s young, right?”

“He is.” 

There wasn’t much else to say. I knew nothing about him beyond his appearance.

“He is handsome.”

“Isn’t he a man?”

“Yeah. A pretty man.”

It was an apt description. Despite his slow blink as if sleepy, he still looked beautiful. The scar on his revealed face seemed like part of his concept, fitting perfectly with his overall look. His skin was so fair it bordered on pale, yet his eyebrows were stylishly shaped and his long eyelashes added to his mysterious charm.

I had never been outmatched in looks before, but this newcomer’s striking beauty, though different from mine, crushed my self-esteem.

“Good luck dealing with him.”

“What do you mean ‘good luck’? We’ll be separated soon anyway. It’s just a one-year contract position. You’re doing well, right? Regardless of who your opponent is, you always complete the full year.”

“That’s true.”

It seemed like Seunggyu wanted to say something more but he belched and suddenly stood up. His tray was already clean.

“Hey, I have to go now. See you later.”

I waved goodbye to Seunggyu since it often happened that people would rudely get up without finishing their conversation. Hyeongmin looked upset.

“W-What about me? I didn’t receive any necklace!”

This guy thought this place was like one of those hip-hop survival competitions before Dungeon Break became popular. The unemployed Hyeongmin appeared unstable. However, this world was harsh and heartless. There was a clear rule that Seunggyu only provided taxi fare for the unemployed.

“Charge 4,500 won.”

Even with the world in its current state, prices continued to rise gradually. Taxi fares were no exception.

***

I now knew by heart the confidentiality clause and stamped my submission of the employment contract. Since it was done remotely, I only needed to electronically sign on the provided tablet.

The first day is always my favorite because all that needs to be done is signing contracts. In the accommodation provided, I lay down and deeply breathed in the scent of clean bedding. As I took deep breaths, I remembered my hunter partner.

‘Please take care.’

He had embarrassingly stared at my outstretched hand for quite some time before belatedly exclaiming:

‘I can’t touch you right now. My guiding value is dangerously close to the limit.’

‘Won-u-ya! Here’s your medicine.’

Immediately after hearing this, one of the researchers hurried over and handed him a pill. Honestly, with its cute, childlike appearance, it looked like LSD.

Hunter Chae Won-u promptly dissolved it on his tongue without any water and opened his mouth wide in front of me.

‘…..?’

‘I’ve eaten it.‘

‘Oh, really?’

I scratched my head, nodded, and then clapped for him.

‘Well done.’

Chae Won-u nodded before heading somewhere else. It looked like a dental chair where he comfortably lay down and immediately took off his shirt. His actions caught me off guard, making me feel like Park Hyeongmin during his first visit as I stood there dumbfounded.

‘Let’s begin.’ 

Chae Won-u spoke with a drowsy voice. As he started, various instruments were attached to his body. Soon after, fluctuating graphs appeared on every screen. With Chae Won-u lying still, the researchers began whispering amongst themselves.

Even someone without any knowledge of medicine could tell that something was off with those graphs, yet Chae Won-u yawned nonchalantly while observing them. He then looked down at me through half-closed eyes. Despite being semi-reclined and physically lower than me, he still managed to gaze down condescendingly. His droopy eyelids made him appear even sleepier than before.

‘Go tell Hunter Chae that you’ll do it.’

‘What for?’

‘You’re his Guide provider, aren’t you?’

‘Well, yes.’

‘So, tell him you’ll provide.’ 

This unexpected declaration caused a minor stir in the otherwise immaculate room. The researcher who had administered the drug to Chae Won-u emotionally exclaimed, ‘Won-u-ya!’

‘I’m going to sleep now.’

Regardless of my presence or absence, Chae Won-u secured his wrist with a belt and closed his eyes. That was all there was to it.

And just like that, I got hired.

“He was seriously such a weird guy,” I muttered to myself as my reminiscing ended.

“What did you say?” A voice suddenly emerged from beside me. While not easily startled, when caught off guard, my heart tends to race instead of showing any outward signs. I sat up and looked toward where the voice had come from.

Standing there was none other than the subject of my recent musings.

“You think I’m strange?”

“…What brings you here?”

“This is my room.”

“Oh… this is room 608, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“But this should be my room. There must have been some mistake—”

“Nope, it’s definitely mine, but we’ll be sharing it.”

Wait, does the Hunter Association have budget issues now? With dungeons spawning instead of natural disasters, rare items and materials were pouring into Korea like rain. It shouldn’t be facing financial difficulties…

At this, Chae Won-u pointed alternately between his chest and me. “Share it with me.”

“B-But…why?”

“I said I wanted to share.”

“Uh… why?”

“We’re partners, aren’t we? That’s what partners do.”

For a moment, I wondered if I had skimmed through the contract too quickly. Chae Won-u’s casual demeanor made me doubt whether I had accidentally signed up for a physical relationship… instead of being a guiding partner. However, I was seven years older than Chae Won-u, and I couldn’t let things go unchecked here. Too many times in my early days, I’d ended up in awkward situations due to naivety, almost ruining my life. With a smile, I responded:

“Usually, hunters and guides have separate rooms. They only work together during missions and often eat separately.”

“I heard seonbae sleeps with his guide.”

“Oh, I guess their compatibility rating is quite low…”

It was possible that due to needing to calm down hunters’ overpowered abilities through physical contact, he might have ended up sharing a bed on days when his own compatibility rating was too low. But even if that’s why…why would you want to sleep with me now?

“You asked to share a room because you wanted to sleep with me?”

“Nope.”

“Then why?”

“It just seemed fun.”

“Me? I’m not particularly funny. Chae Won-u, handsome men like you usually lack a sense of humor.”

“Really? I find myself amusing.”

“Wow…”

We weren’t getting anywhere with this conversation. I’ve met all kinds of hunters before, but he was one of a kind. Chae Won-u seemed indifferent to whether I liked him or not, so it baffled me why he wanted us to be roommates—and without even asking for my consent!

Typically, the Hunter Association would check both parties’ willingness before assigning roommates, making this situation unprecedented. I didn’t know where to start voicing my complaints, nor did I have any confidence that they’d listen.

As if reading my mind, Chae Won-u glanced at his wristwatch. “Even if you ask, I won’t change my mind. I specifically requested to be your roommate.”

“Excuse me.”

“I have to go for some remaining tests.”

“Excuse me?”

“And this blanket, I used it before. For various things…”

Despite having no money, I, Yang Baekgyeom, wasn’t devoid of self-respect, and I had never been at a loss for words throughout my life until now. The moment I started inhaling sharply—hu, ha, hu, ha—I realized that bastard Chae Won-u was watching me.

“It’s just a joke.”

And then, leaving me utterly bewildered and speechless, he walked out as casually as he’d entered.

The click of the front door snapping shut jolted me back to reality. I shot out of bed and immediately stripped the sheets. Where was the washing machine again?

***

The next morning, Park Hyeongmin and my expressions were exactly opposite from yesterday.

“He isn’t as bad as I thought. He was sensitive because he had just returned from the field at that time! After seeing the compatibility rating, he immediately agreed to work together. However, didn’t you find it painful when adjusting the guiding balance for the first time? I was fine right from the start! I wasn’t dizzy or sick! Ah, I heard something else. Did hyung perhaps throw up before…?”

“Hyeongmin-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Can you be quiet? Just a bit.”

I pressed on my throbbing temples while pleading. However, Park Hyeongmin didn’t notice.

“Why? Are you sick? Did you go guiding yesterday? I decided to do it this morning after seeing the compatibility rating report but hyung wasn’t there. When did hyung visit? Didn’t you get hit much?”

There was no answer. I just picked up my tray and got up from my seat.

“Huh? You finished eating?”

“Nope. I’m leaving to escape the murderer.”

“M-M-Murderer?”

“Yes, the question mark murderer.”

“What is that?”

“That’s you, Hyeongmin-ah.”

Leaving behind Park Hyeongmin with his bewildered face, I moved to a corner.