SMFC | Chapter 30

After hearing that he had been only wasting time despite being set up perfectly, Lee Soo burst into laughter before he could even feel absurd, laughing softly in front of Jiwoo. His sharp demeanor quickly dissolved into a mild and gentle smile, which Jiwoo watched silently, feeling like she understood why Haeon had been so desperate, though she had never once spoken with him.

The thought of losing that laugh would make anyone desperate. It was such a kind and loving laugh. If Lee Soo’s laughter were no longer there, it would feel like losing one’s favorite season, whether it be winter, spring, summer, or fall. It would feel like losing something cherished without anyone knowing.

“…I’m glad you seem to be doing well now.”

With a soft voice full of concern, Lee Soo widened his eyes in surprise and then blinked appreciatively, whispering his thanks. Although it was the same beautiful laugh, Jiwoo, who was quick to pick up on cues, could easily tell.

That laugh was meant for just one person.

“You mean Healer Yoo Haeon?”

The healer who had given all his attention to Hunter Ryu Leesoo. At Jiwoo’s slow words, Lee Soo nodded vigorously. His face was dripping with affection as he answered, and just looking at his face, you could feel the palpable affection, making Jiwoo avert her gaze only to notice his hair that reached down to his waist.

As Lee Soo nodded, his long hair tied back in a single bundle swayed gently, looking almost like a tail, which made Jiwoo’s eyes follow it around until she caught his gaze and lifted her head again.

“…Sorry. It’s just not common to see hunters with such long hair…”

“It’s okay. It is quite long, isn’t it? If you have time, would you like to have a chat in the garden? I’d feel bad just receiving thanks and sending you on your way… There’s a garden on the rooftop of Hawa Guild. It’s really beautiful.”

Lee Soo tilted his head slightly and spoke in a whispering tone, causing Jiwoo to twitch her eyebrows. His lukewarm reaction almost made him step back, thinking today was not the day, but then he smiled brightly at her affirmative response. Jiwoo, watching Lee Soo smile broadly, added her thought.

“You seem very outgoing.”

Lee Soo, who was about to send a message to Haeon that he’d step out for a bit, turned at Jiwoo’s unexpected remark. Wondering if she was speaking to someone else, he glanced around but saw no one else but them.

If we had to classify it, Lee Soo firmly believed he was introverted, which puzzled him.

“Me?”

“Yes. You approach even strangers so easily.”

Unable to say it was due to affection built up from reading the novel dozens of times, Lee Soo just chewed his lip. Anyone who didn’t know would think that, he thought to himself, nodding slightly and then crinkling his nose.

“That’s just how I am with people I like.”

Too affectionate for a mere joke, Jiwoo pondered on Haeon for a moment after watching Lee Soo and muttered to herself, That’s tough. Though it was a mumble, it was loud enough for Lee Soo, standing beside her, to hear. What’s tough? Did you hear? Because you’re an Awakened. Oh, just talking about someone I know. I hope they don’t suffer for long.

Lee Soo responded with a polite disinterest, his gaze complex as he looked at Jiwoo. Unaware of how Jiwoo perceived him, he gave up on that topic of conversation and let his eyes wander. Jiwoo was quiet, making him feel like he needed to find a suitable topic to avoid mutual discomfort.

After some time, Lee Soo found the right subject. He realized he had never asked about Jiwoo personally. Since everything about her was in the original work, he hadn’t felt the need to ask.

Relieved to hear that, like in the original, she had awakened as a physical hunter and signed with Hawa Guild, Lee Soo smiled slightly. He was not overly worried, but a part of him feared that his involvement might cause her harm.

Having asked numerous things for a long time, Lee Soo finally asked about something he had been curious about since Jiwoo had appeared at the door.

“But, um, I remember your hair being long. You cut it short.”

As Lee Soo gestured, estimating the original length of her hair, Jiwoo glanced at her short hair and shrugged.

“I thought long hair might hinder my actions, so I just cut it.”

“That makes sense. You probably didn’t have time to go get it cut. Did you cut it yourself? Hunter Yoo Sian is good at cutting hair…”

Lee Soo continued chatting before excusing himself and touched Jiwoo’s hair. The cut was clean, almost as if someone else had trimmed it for her.

“Did Hunter Sian cut it for you?”

“If Hunter Sian is saying Hunter Yoo Sian did it, then yes, it was Hunter Yoo Sian who cut it for me. I’m not really good with my hands.”

Lee Soo, who knew from the original work that he was clumsy with his hands, smoothly lifted his lips. It seemed he was doing well, which was a relief. Jiwoo looked at him curiously as his voice, still gentle, seemed a bit more relaxed.

“Huh? Did I make a mistake or something? Please tell me if I did anything wrong.”

At that look, Lee Soo lowered his eyebrows apologetically, and Jiwoo shook her head.

“Have you seen me somewhere before?”

After speaking, Jiwoo frowned a bit as her words sounded strange. Hoping not to be misunderstood, she watched for Lee Soo’s reaction, but he just looked at her with wide eyes.

“I first saw you in the dungeon.”

Lee Soo replied in a voice that felt a bit awkward and stifled, then smiled, his eyes almost hidden by his squint. Jiwoo, examining his bright yellow eyes, turned her head to look ahead.

“Really? Hunter Ryu Leesoo spoke of you with such affection, I thought I had seen you somewhere with the Hunter before.”

Lee Soo, internally rolling his eyes at the sharp remark, cheerfully dismissed the idea. Then, thinking to be cautious, he took Jiwoo to the garden after their conversation. He laughed, saying that the rooftop was a great place to relax as not many hunters went up there. Sitting on a bench, Lee Soo offered Jiwoo a coffee he had bought on the way up.

As Jiwoo reached out to take the coffee, their fingertips brushed, and she stiffened for a moment. Despite having held the warm coffee until just moments ago, her fingers were almost icy.

Jiwoo lifted her eyes from Lee Soo’s slender fingers to his pale face.

“You don’t look so well. Or do you have a unique constitution?”

“Why do you think that?”

“I’ve seen someone with the same body temperature as Hunter Ryu Leesoo. That person was also unwell.”

Jiwoo spoke calmly, opened the coffee lid, blew on it gently, and took a few sips. Her gaze fixed on something in the air, she continued to drink her coffee while Lee Soo smiled faintly and sipped his tea.

“A bit. I’m not feeling great.”

“And that ‘bit’ might kill you?”

“How did you know that?”

“I’m quick to catch on.”

With that, Jiwoo crossed her legs and rested her elbows on her thighs, smiling for the first time during their conversation. The expressions on their faces as they talked about death were neither painful nor heavy.

“Do Healer Haeon know about this?” After a long silence spent just drinking her coffee, Jiwoo suddenly asked, to which Lee Soo, detaching his lips from the paper cup, looked at her and quietly responded, “Yes.”

Her tone was even, born of ignorance about her own actions, and Jiwoo ended up clicking her tongue. It’s really cruel. Jiwoo murmured as if lamenting, and Lee Soo laughed, not understanding. Why is that cruel? His voice mingled with laughter, Jiwoo capped her coffee to keep it from cooling.

“Healer Haeon likes Hunter Ryu Leesoo, you know.”

“I know that. But just because he likes someone doesn’t mean what he says is cruel. It’s just liking, after all.”

Noticing that her notion of liking and Lee Soo’s were different, Jiwoo quickly picked up on it.

“Hey, Hunter Ryu Leesoo. Just list the things you like.”

“All of a sudden? Spirits, books, warm tea, cats, the four friends I’ve been close with since before the guild, winter, Healer Haeon.”

Despite the sudden question, Lee Soo counted off his likes with his fingers, listing them calmly.

Hearing this, Jiwoo burst out laughing as if exhaling a sigh. Like liking one of the seasons. Like loving the steam that rises from hot tea. That’s how Lee Soo loves Haeon. I knew it would be like this. Even as she lamented, Jiwoo felt a bitterness.

People who are kind are the problem. Those who give a lot of love don’t actually have an abundance of it; they distribute just a bit of it evenly to everyone, like doling out food portions. After all, they are only human.

After laughing for a while, Jiwoo shook her head and murmured into her coffee cup.

“Don’t come to me crying later, saying it was your fault, that you were too much, because all I’ll say is that you’re right.”