Chapter Text
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‘I’m in trouble,’ Jinwoo thought to himself, suppressing a sigh as he turned back to face the increasingly curious and confused crowd. And now, the Hunter Association inspectors had joined them, with Woo Jin-Chul standing directly in front of him.
“The Hunter Association is in charge of supervising Hunter Sung Jinwoo,” Woo Jin-Chul declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This entire affair is classified as a top-secret matter that cannot be revealed to the public. I trust everyone here understands the implications.”
The crowd fell silent, though some members of the task force exchanged uncertain glances. Woo Jin-Chul turned slightly and gestured toward the dungeon’s exit, addressing Jinwoo directly.
“We’ll guide you out of here, sir,” one of the HA workers added. “This is the best way to avoid further complications. You’ve demonstrated power far surpassing even S-Rank Hunters in front of South Korea’s top guild. We’ll ensure you leave discreetly.”
Before Jinwoo could respond, a shaky voice broke through the quiet.
“H-HOLD ON!” Ki-Hoon called out, his voice raw but resolute. Supported by one of his guildmates, he hobbled to the front, his expression a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion. He stopped in front of Jinwoo and looked up at him with wide eyes.
“If you truly possess that level of strength,” Ki-Hoon said, his voice trembling but steady, “then what happened today makes sense. I don’t need to know why you and Ms. L/N volunteered as porters.”
The members of the task force bowed their heads in unison, a gesture of sincere gratitude. “We owe our lives to you both,” Ki-Hoon continued, his voice growing softer. “Thank you—for everything.”
Jinwoo gave a small nod, his expression unreadable as always. “I’m glad you’re safe,” he said simply. A subtle glance in your direction showed his relief that you, too, had come out of the ordeal unscathed.
As the HA workers moved to usher him away, you got up to your feet from where you had been kneeling beside the injured, brushing dirt off your pants. Before you could fully rise, a hand appeared in front of you, calloused but steady. Jinwoo’s.
You paused for a moment, meeting his gaze, and a small, soft smile tugged at your lips. Grateful, you reached out and clasped his hand. His grip was warm and firm, and he helped you up effortlessly. Yet even when you were fully upright, he didn’t release you. The moment was ruined when a subtle but deliberate clearing of the throat broke the spell. Woo Jin-Chul stood nearby, his sunglasses hiding his expression, though his posture screamed ‘let’s go’.
Jinwoo finally let go, looking away with the faintest trace of a sheepish smile. You suppress a laugh, shaking your head at his rare show of awkwardness. As you both turn to follow the HA team.
You do miss Cha Hae-In, standing just a few steps away, extending her arm slightly as if to stop either of you or perhaps to say something. However, her hand hovered mid-air, her usual composed demeanor faltering as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. Her lips parted, but no words came out, and a moment later, she let her hand fall.
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You and Jinwoo enter a cozy coffee shop, its warm ambiance welcoming you with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. Jinwoo hadn’t let you go back to your apartment, insisting that staying cooped up all day wasn’t healthy.
"You can’t keep using illusions to run errands outside. It's not a substitute for fresh air," Jinwoo had said with an exasperated sigh, his firm grip on your wrist ensuring you had no room to escape.
As the bell above the door jingles, a loud, familiar voice catches your attention. “Hyung-Nim! Nuna! Over here!” Jin-Ho’s cheerful greeting echoes from the far corner of the shop. He stands in a booth by the window, waving both arms enthusiastically as though afraid you wouldn’t notice him.
‘Nuna? That’s new,’ you think to yourself, slightly amused, as you and Jinwoo weave through the tables toward him. When you reach the booth, Jin-Ho’s expression shifts to one of mild horror as he points at Jinwoo. “Hyung-Nim, your clothes?!”
Glancing down, you notice Jinwoo’s long-sleeved black shirt is streaked with dirt and a faint smudge of something darker on the sleeves. Jinwoo barely seems to care as he brushes off the comment. “Oh, this? We just came from a dungeon.”
With that nonchalant reply, Jinwoo slides into the booth opposite Jin-Ho, leaving you to sit beside him. As you settle in, Jin-Ho leans forward, his voice dropping slightly. “To tell you the truth...” He begins explaining the dinner he had with his father, detailing the tense negotiations about the Yoo-Jin Guild.
Jinwoo listens quietly at first, but as Jin-Ho gets to the part about Go Myung-Hwan’s involvement, his expression hardens, and he crosses his arms. “So, during your negotiation with your father, Go Myung-Hwan appeared and revealed everything about the red gate incident?” Jinwoo’s tone carries a sharp edge, his annoyance palpable.
Jin-Ho nods solemnly, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a serious expression. “Yes. He mentioned how Hyung-Nim saved the White Tiger Guild members and—” Jin-Ho hesitates, casting a cautious glance in your direction before continuing, “and hinted there’s something special about Nuna…”
Jinwoo’s annoyance shifts to a glare so icy that Jin-Ho visibly recoils. You reach over, placing a hand on Jinwoo’s arm to calm him down. “Relax,” you murmur, your touch and tone helping to soften his reaction, though his posture remains tense.
Attempting to redirect the conversation, you ask, “Do they know about Ignis?”
Jin-Ho shakes his head quickly, eager to clarify. “No, all he mentioned was your unique butterflies. Nothing about... a little dragon.”
This seems to ease Jinwoo’s temper slightly, though his arms remain crossed defensively. He shifts his focus back to Jin-Ho, his voice low and serious. “So, you need either of us to cooperate for you to become the Master of the Yoo-Jin Guild?”
Jin-Ho straightens his posture, his expression resolute but respectful. “Hyung-Nim, Nuna—I’ll leave everything to your decision. There’s no need for me to weigh you down.”
His proclamation takes you aback, and you blink at him in surprise. Jinwoo, however, leans back slightly, studying Jin-Ho with a critical gaze. “Jin-Ho, I…”
Jin-Ho swallows hard, his nervousness evident as he waits for Jinwoo’s response. You glance between the two men, curious to hear what Jinwoo will say next. His words will undoubtedly set the tone for this partnership or lack thereof and you brace yourself for what’s to come.
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“HUH?! You’re saying that Sung Jinwoo and L/N Y/N came to our raid?!” Choi Jong-In’s voice echoed sharply through the room, loud enough to make a few papers on the desk flutter. He looked even more haggard than usual as he stared at Ki-Hoon, the B-Rank Hunter recounting the details of the recent dungeon raid.
“Yes, Guild Master,” Ki-Hoon winced at the volume but kept his composure. “But they didn’t interfere until we gave them explicit permission. They didn’t ask for payment, nor did they take anything from the dungeon. They simply… left quietly with the HA representatives once it was over.”
Choi Jong-In groaned, his face falling into his hands as he leaned against his desk. Normally, the composed Guild Master of the Hunters Guild would never display such vulnerability in front of his subordinates, but the absurdity of this situation was enough to crack his usual restraint.
The stress was compounded by the looming threat of the Jeju Island raid, which weighed heavily on every S-Rank Hunter in South Korea. His mana churned restlessly within him, almost begging to be unleashed, but he clenched his fists and focused on keeping it contained. The last thing he needed was to accidentally set the office ablaze in frustration.
Choi Jong-In exhaled heavily, dragging his hands down his face. His usually sharp eyes were dulled by a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. “Let me ask you something, Ki-Hoon.” His voice was quieter now but no less intense. “If you were to compare Sung Jinwoo and me… who would come out on top?”
Ki-Hoon froze, his expression conflicted. He looked down, lips pursed as if debating how to phrase his response. Finally, he met Choi Jong-In’s gaze with an unusual intensity. “Can you clear a high-end A-Rank dungeon entirely on your own, Guild Master?” the question wasn’t meant to be mocking at all but in any other circumstance it might be.
The words hit Choi Jong-In like a sledgehammer. His mana flared involuntarily for a brief second before he reined it back in, leaving scorch marks on the edges of his desk. He glanced down at the faint wisps of smoke rising from the wood, his thoughts swirling chaotically.
No, he couldn’t. Not even with his unparalleled control over fire magic. Clearing an A-Rank dungeon solo wasn’t just a feat of strength; it required precision, stamina, and an unfathomable amount of power. Even among S-Ranks, only a select few those ranked as National Hunters could accomplish such a thing.
“What a mess,” he muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair. His mind raced, trying to process the implications. If Sung Jinwoo truly possessed that level of power, then he wasn’t just a rising star. He was a force of nature, one that could change the very balance of the Hunter world.
And L/N Y/N? While her abilities were less well-known, the fact that she accompanied someone like Jinwoo and earned his trust suggested she was no ordinary Hunter either.
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Flashing cameras greeted you, no, more like blocked your path as you and Jinwoo arrived at the Hunter Association building. The bright lights were relentless, a wall of chaos with shouting voices competing for attention. You and Jinwoo exchanged a glance, annoyance evident in both of your expressions. His usual calm demeanor faltered just enough to show his irritation before his gaze flickered to something ahead.
Ignoring the noise, you focused on Yukio, ensuring the little ice pixie was comfortable in the specially crafted pouch resting snugly at your side. The white fabric was decorated with delicate blue snowflakes, a small haven that shielded her from the overwhelming chaos. Yukio’s soft hum of approval brought a faint smile to your lips. At least one of you was handling this mess well.
Meanwhile, your ears caught snippets of a heated argument nearby. Choi Jong-In and Yoon Baek were locked in what could only be described as a yelling match. You didn’t bother listening to the details knowing them, it was probably about guild territory or the latest political nonsense but the tension between them was palpable.
The cameras suddenly went into a frenzy as the "main attraction" arrived. Lee Min-Sung, a famous Korean actor whose smug grin made your skin crawl, stepped out of a sleek car. You didn’t remember much about him in the story except his reputation for being troubled and kind of slimy, mostly in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok.
The flashing lights intensified, and a low growl made you glance down. Poor baby was clearly overwhelmed. The crimson dragonling pressed his head against Jinwoo’s leg, his wings tucked tightly against his small body, and his tail twitched in irritation.
Jinwoo, annoyed with this delay, sighed. “We won’t be able to get to the Association building at this rate,” he muttered. Without waiting for your response, he shoved his way through the crowd with surprising force, Ignis following close behind.
For a moment, you just stood there, stunned. First, at Jinwoo’s unexpected display of impatience, and second, at the realization that he didn’t even try to bring you along. Did he expect you to just follow after him.
‘Wait, why does that bother me? Am I getting codependent on Jinwoo to take me places?’ You shook the thought away and opted for a different approach. Carefully weaving around the paparazzi, you ensured your face stayed hidden from the flashing cameras.
By the time you caught up, Jinwoo was locked in a heated exchange with a man who appeared to be one of Lee Min-Sung’s bodyguards or maybe manager.
“You can’t just pass through them!” the bodyguard yelled, his face tight with frustration.
Jinwoo, as composed as ever, responded calmly, “We have business with the Association.”
The bodyguard crossed his arms and stepped closer. “You can’t enter right now. Go back to where you came from.” His tone grew more hostile with each word.
When neither of you moved, the man’s temper finally snapped. “YOU CAN’T PASS THROUGH HERE, SO GO AWAY!”
“On whose authority are you trying to send them away?” a firm yet composed voice interjected. The crowd fell silent, heads turning toward the building’s entrance. There stood Go Gun-Hee, Chairman of the Hunter Association, his presence commanding instant respect.
“Those two are our guests,” he stated with a kind but authoritative tone. His gaze shifted to the actor. “Mr. Lee Min-Sung, I’m sure you’re aware of who allowed you to hold a press conference here?”
The actor’s bravado faltered as he clasped his hands together. “O-Of course.”
Without another word, Go Gun-Hee gestured for you and Jinwoo to follow him. As you passed the bodyguard, you resisted the petty urge to flip him off… barely.
“Hunters Sung Jinwoo and L/N Y/N, let’s head inside,” the Chairman said, his voice calm but firm.
The tension began to dissipate as the three of you walked through the Association building. The pristine hallways felt like a stark contrast to the chaos outside. You soon noticed two familiar figures waiting nearby—Choi Jong-In and Yoon Baek. Thankfully, Choi Jong-In had opted for a normal black tux instead of that infamous pink monstrosity you’d seen the last time
“They’ve been here for an hour,” Go Gun-Hee explained. “As you two are the first S-Rank hunters in two years, I imagine they’re anxious. There’s now more than one S-Rank for them to compete over.”
‘Ok do not like how that was phrased.’ you thought with a slight grimace before it fell away
When you reached the training room, you had to shield your eyes. The blinding white walls and reflective surfaces made the space almost unbearable. Not even hospitals were this bright.
Jinwoo stepped into the center of the room with an Association worker, while you stayed near the wall with Ignis at your feet. The little dragon had recovered from the overstimulation outside, his tail swaying contentedly as he watched Jinwoo intently.
It didn’t take long for Jinwoo to demonstrate his abilities. At Go Gun-Hee’s request, he summoned a shadow knight. The sight alone was enough to make both guild masters lean forward with interest. But when Jinwoo brought forth a significant portion of his Shadow Army, the air in the room shifted.
Choi Jong-In and Yoon Baek immediately tensed, their expressions a mix of shock and unease.
“Oh, relax,” you said casually, waving a hand. “They’re real sweethearts unless you’re an enemy.”
Both guild masters gave you incredulous looks.
“And just a heads-up,” you added with a smirk, “don’t let them near a stove. They can’t cook for shit.” The memory of Baruka and a shadow knight destroying an egg in your kitchen popped up into your head. That was the first and last time you even let one of them near your kitchen, with the exemption of Igris.
Once Jinwoo recalled his shadows, it was your turn. As you stepped into the center of the room, the Association worker asked, “Before we start, could you describe your abilities?”
“Well,” you began, pulling out some neatly wrapped pastries, “I’m more of a support slash healer. But my abilities are… unconventional. I can imbue food with effects like fatigue recovery or stat boosts, and the effects last longer than normal casting.”
The worker quickly jotted down notes and you began to explain your Mystic Butterflies, “In addition to that I also have summons. Nothing like Jinwoo’s but I have three different types.” You summon one gold and silver, “I call the gold one Aurelias, they have a healing ability and are good for spying. Next are the Nyxarias, they specialize in illusions and magic.”
You pause to let the worker finish writing everything down so far. Go Jun-Hee looks thoughtful at the two butterflies, “Can you only summon two at a time or…?” he asks, you shake your head, “As long as I have mana I can summon as many as I would like. But after Jinwoo’s display I figured I wouldn’t overwhelm you guys again. Yes, glowing hair is normal.” This makes both the Chairman and the worker laugh softly, the worker speaks up, “You mentioned three, yes? What is the last one?” You reach up and unclip the silver butterfly clip and press down hard on your finger, letting out a droplet of blood, from it forms the blood butterfly,
“The last one is called Sanguira, they are vicious little things and I need some blood to summon them. I myself don’t know too much other than they attack monsters and can absorb magic.” Go Gun-Hee hummed in acknowledgment and you could see him finding the differences between the three butterflies. The gold looks holy and soft, silver looks elegant and transparent almost, and the red looks sharp and well vicious like you said before.
Once the evaluation was complete, you stepped out with a new S-Rank license in hand. However, you froze at the sight of Ignis sitting obediently against the wall, Yukio perched on one of his horns.
You groaned, rubbing the back of your neck. “What do I have to do to register familiars?”
The room fell silent. Go Gun-Hee and the worker exchanged stunned looks, as if you’d just spoken a foreign language. After a moment, the Chairman cleared his throat, his voice carefully measured. “Familiars? As in… more than one?”
“Yes, two,” you replied nonchalantly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. You gestured toward Ignis and Yukio, who had been patiently waiting by your side. “I assume that’s possible, right?”
The two men stared, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and caution. Before they could say anything, you snapped your fingers, dispelling the illusionary cloaks concealing your companions. Ignis’s crimson scales shimmered under the light, his horns catching a golden gleam as he stood tall and proud. Yukio, with her silver hair and ethereal butterfly-like wings, flitted upward, hermovements leaving faint trails of glowing particles in the air.
The reaction was instantaneous and chaotic.
“What the—?!” The worker stumbled backward, nearly knocking over into the Chairman as Yukio swooped playfully past his head. His hand shot to his earpiece. “Do we have a containment team on standby?!”
Go Gun-Hee raised a hand to stop the worker from panicking further, though his eyes remained wide. “Calm yourself. These are not hostile creatures.” His tone carried authority, though the slightest edge of disbelief leaked through. “I presume they’re under your complete control?”
Ignis puffed his chest and let out a small puff of smoke, clearly unimpressed with the commotion. Yukio, on the other hand, darted around the room with glee, happy to be in a new room to explore.
You stepped forward, shooing Yukio back with a wave of your hand. “Of course, they’re under control. They’re my familiars, after all.” Ignis snorted in agreement, his tail swishing lightly.
The Chairman’s lips pressed into a line, as though he were weighing the situation. “Well, we… don’t currently have a system for registering familiars, let alone multiple ones. This is unprecedented.”
“Oh so… what now?” you asked, crossing your arms.
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements,” Go Gun-Hee said finally, though he still looked like he was processing the sight before him. “In the meantime, I trust you’ll ensure they don’t cause any unnecessary disruptions.”
You gave a nod of thanks, though Yukio decided to take that moment to dart toward the worker again, making the poor man yelp and duck behind Go Gun-Hee. You sighed and gave Yukio a pointed glare, letting her know to stop messing around.
With the formalities settled or as settled as they could be under the circumstances you finally turned and made your way toward Jinwoo and the guild masters. Ignis trotted after you with regal composure, while Yukio hovered happily around your head, occasionally nudging your cheek like an affectionate cat.
As you approached, you couldn’t help but notice the guild masters watching the scene with varying degrees of amusement and shock. Jinwoo raised a brow at you, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
“Showing off, I see,” he teased.
“Don’t start,” you muttered, though a smile tugged at your lips despite the chaos. “I had to do it before forgetting, again!”
Jinwoo snorted back a laugh before walking to the exit and as he was opening the door to the outside Yoon Baek tried to stop him and as Choi Jong-In exclaimed, “Huh? That exit is!”
“I wouldn’t leave through there if I were you.” Jinwoo did not like being told what to open the door anyway and was met with the paparazzi from earlier. You groan slapping your hand to your forehead and turn to one of the HA workers,
“Is there a different exit?”
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Alternate take on a scene
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Jinwoo remained calm, though a flicker of frustration passed across his face. “We have business with the Association.”
The man blocking your path, clearly in no mood for reasoning, growled back, “You can’t enter right now. Go back to where you came from.”
You exchanged a glance with Jinwoo, who gave you a slight shrug, clearly leaving it up to you. The man, however, became even more agitated when you didn’t immediately comply. “I SAID YOU CAN’T PASS THROUGH HERE! TURN AROUND AND LEAVE!”
That was it. You could feel your temper rising. “Oh, I’m sorry, and who exactly are you?”
The man hesitated, thrown off by your sudden outburst. Even Jinwoo looked mildly surprised at your tone, his brow quirking up as he observed the exchange. The bodyguard sputtered, “I-I am Lee Min-Sung’s bodyguard—”
“Oh, a bodyguard! Well, that explains everything,” you said with dripping sarcasm, throwing up your hands in mock acknowledgment. “And here I thought you were the president or something.” You stepped forward, voice firm now. “This is a public building, not some VIP lounge. So why don’t you take your self-importance and kindly move out of the way?”
The man’s face turned red, a mix of embarrassment and frustration, but he didn’t seem to have a retort ready. Jinwoo, meanwhile, suppressed what might have been a smirk or maybe it was just your imagination.
Without waiting for further objections, you sidestepped the man, brushing past him into the building. “Come on, Jinwoo,” you called back over your shoulder, not bothering to check if he was following. This time Ignis hot on your heels and his head high copying your pissed expression you also faintly hear Yukio’s faint laughter.
Jinwoo sighed as he watched you storm off, your fiery temper flaring like a beacon. The man’s sputtering protest trailed behind you, but you didn’t so much as glance back. Jinwoo tilted his head slightly, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
“Well,” he muttered under his breath, “she’s got that covered.”
The actor, Lee Min-Sung, blinked in surprise, trying to process what had just happened. “Uh… is she always like that?”
Jinwoo shrugged casually. “Depends on the day.”
The bodyguard, now red-faced and visibly flustered, turned his frustration toward Jinwoo, puffing up his chest. “Hey, you! You’re with her, aren’t you? Who do you think you are, just waltzing in here–”
Jinwoo’s expression didn’t change, but the air around him shifted slightly. A faint, almost imperceptible pressure emanated from him, enough to make the bodyguard pause mid-rant. Jinwoo’s gaze met the man’s, calm yet somehow unnervingly intense.
“I suggest you calm down,” Jinwoo said softly, his tone even but carrying an edge that made the bodyguard swallow nervously. “You’re making a scene.”
Before the man could respond, you poke your head out a glare on your face that Jinwoo found cute. “Jinwoo! Are you coming, or do I have to handle everything myself?”
Jinwoo chuckled under his breath. “Guess that’s my cue.” He stepped past the now-silent bodyguard and actor, giving them a brief nod as he followed you inside.
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I had already written everything when I came up with this new scene. I couldn’t really find a way to add Go Gun-Hee without me getting second hand embarrassment and I do really like how he stepped in to personally escort our favorite (almost) couple. Either scenes can be cannon I couldn’t choose so I added both for everyone to enjoy!
Also this might be my last chapter for this year! At least this storyline wise ;) … we’ll see. Anyone up for a Hallmark chapter!? See you guys later! Remember to comment please!
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