Her gratitude came at a rather unexpected moment.
"Huh? Suddenly? I don’t think I did anything worth mentioning..."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly as I sat on the hospital bed, looking at Choi Jiwoo.
While I appreciated her words, I was utterly confused about why she was thanking me.
She soon clarified.
"On the contrary, you’ve done so much that I feel compelled to thank you for it all at once. From saving the Samcheon Guild Hunters from the masked Hunters, to helping Hana overcome her trauma, and now thwarting Babylon’s schemes... No one asked you to do these things, but you took it upon yourself to solve them. Kang Hyunsoo Hunter... you’re truly a kind person."
Choi Jiwoo summarized all my recent actions to express her gratitude.
From her perspective, it made sense to be thankful—I had essentially done what the Hunter Bureau should have handled.
But from my standpoint, I had simply dealt with crises that came my way, nothing more.
I replied with a sheepish smile, "It just sort of happened that way. It’s not because I’m particularly kind or anything."
"And now you’re being humble, too. You went above and beyond, yet here I am, having failed to catch Ji Wonhoon and Andy Kim. I feel so ashamed. If we’d captured them, you wouldn’t still have to worry about Babylon posing a threat to you."
"Well, I think you handled the situation as best as you could... but yeah, Babylon probably has me on their radar now."
Her face fell instantly, her expression turning gloomy.
It became clear that her gratitude wasn’t just about being thankful; there was guilt mixed in as well.
While I had managed to make an impact, I had also directly antagonized Babylon, making the situation potentially more dangerous than before.
Choi Jiwoo seemed deeply concerned about that.
"In that case, is there anything you need?" she asked.
"Something I need?"
"Yes. If there’s anything you need, I’ll do whatever I can to help. Just say the word."
She seemed ready to hand over anything—figuratively or literally.
The reason for her eagerness was straightforward.
"As you know, the summoning orb can only be used once every 100 days. I won’t be able to protect you the same way I did before, so we need to figure out another way to keep you safe."
Choi Jiwoo pulled out a summoning orb identical to the one she had given me before and handed it over.
[Consumable Item]
[Summoning Orb]
[Effect: When broken by a sufficiently strong impact, the summoning orb will summon the individual bound to it.]
[Contracted Individual: Lv 470, Choi Jiwoo]
[Currently Unusable]
[The contracted individual has already been summoned through the orb’s emergency portal.]
[The emergency portal cannot be summoned again until 100 days have passed.]
The explanation added that the summoning orb couldn’t be used again for 100 days.
This limitation applied to both the user and the contracted individual. Whether I used a different orb bound to Choi Jiwoo or someone else activated this one, it would still require a 100-day cooldown.
In other words, the summoning orb was off the table for now, and we needed an alternative in the meantime.
"You’re right, we’ll need to figure something else out."
I handed the orb back to Choi Jiwoo and rubbed my chin, deep in thought.
"Something I need..."
While I couldn’t gauge how powerful Babylon’s members were as a whole, Ji Wonhoon and Andy were likely among their higher ranks.
To stand a chance against Babylon in the future, I needed to become strong enough to handle at least those two.
But what could help me get there?
An item? Money? Dungeon access?
Something that could directly boost my strength seemed like the better option.
As I pondered, a message popped up in the corner of my vision, and everything became clear.
I didn’t need to think any further.
Looking up at Choi Jiwoo from where I sat, I said, "Would you join me for a meal?"
"...Huh? A meal?"
Choi Jiwoo’s eyes widened in surprise.
From her perspective, this was a completely absurd request.
But I insisted.
"Yes, right now."
It was the one thing I needed the most at this moment.
More than any item or money.
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***
"Welcome to Inbaek Steakhouse!"
A cheerful voice greeted them at the entrance of the family restaurant, setting a lively atmosphere.
As the sound of the waitress’s enthusiastic welcome echoed through the space, Kang Hyunsoo, dressed in a tattered shirt and slacks, entered the establishment with Choi Jiwoo, clad in her Hunter Bureau uniform.
"Hello! Is a table for two available?"
"A table for two? Absolutely, please follow me."
The waitress led them to a table in the middle of the restaurant, the only spot still available.
After taking their seats, the waitress asked, "How can I assist you with your order?"
Hyunsoo turned to Jiwoo. "Hunter Choi Jiwoo, is there anything you’d like to order?"
"Ah... Can I have a moment to decide?"
Choi Jiwoo hesitated, flipping through the menu. It was clear she wasn’t accustomed to dining out in places like this and was unsure what to pick.
"I’ll just have whatever you’re having, Hyunsoo Hunter," she said finally, surrendering the decision to him. The prices were steep, and the variety of dishes left her bewildered.
Fortunately, Hyunsoo was prepared.
"I’d like the Black Label Steak Set, please," he said smoothly.
"And how would you like the steak cooked?"
"Medium, please."
"And for the pasta in the set?"
"Cream pasta would be great."
"And the drinks? We have grapefruit, green grape, and lemon ade."
"Grapefruit for me," Hyunsoo replied before glancing at Jiwoo. "How about you, Hunter Choi Jiwoo?"
"I’ll have the same," she said quickly.
"Perfect. Your orders will be ready shortly."
Hyunsoo completed the order with practiced ease, leaving Jiwoo slightly astonished.
"Wow, you’re so natural at this. Do you come here often?"
"Not exactly... I used to come here a lot with friends," Hyunsoo answered vaguely, brushing aside the memories that flashed through his mind.
Back in his previous life, after winning the rookie Hunter tournament and gaining recognition, his financial situation had improved. Seo Jieun insisted on dining only at high-end restaurants, including fine dining establishments and omakase spots. The minimum threshold she tolerated was family restaurants like this.
Though Hyunsoo personally preferred instant ramen at home, he’d learned to navigate reservations and ordering to accommodate her preferences. It had become second nature, but now it seemed to make Jiwoo uneasy.
"Is it okay for me to be here dressed like this?" she asked hesitantly.
"You’re fine. Look at me—I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion either," Hyunsoo replied nonchalantly.
In truth, Hyunsoo’s appearance was far from ideal.
The suit that Han Sungbin had tailored for him had been torn during the fight with Babylon, leaving only a white shirt, which was also tattered and frayed.
While a new outfit might have been the obvious solution, Hyunsoo had no time to shop, nor did he feel it necessary.
His real reason for being here with Jiwoo wasn’t about appearances.
[Absolute Beauty Quest 6]
[True beauty begins with being acknowledged by the opposite sex.]
[Have a meal with a member of the opposite sex for at least 30 minutes (0/30)]
Hyunsoo had chosen this restaurant to complete the latest Absolute Beauty Quest, which he had unlocked after clearing a supporting quest at the department store with Han Sungbin’s help.
He had initially hoped to complete the quest before the award ceremony but couldn’t. While dungeon-related tasks were straightforward, anything involving social interaction, especially with the opposite sex, was a nightmare for Hyunsoo.
Fortunately, an opportunity had presented itself.
When Jiwoo offered to help with anything he needed, Hyunsoo had seized the chance to request a meal together.
Given the quest’s 30-minute requirement, a sit-down restaurant with courses seemed the best choice. Fine dining required reservations, so a family restaurant was the most practical option.
While Hyunsoo focused on completing the ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) quest, the attention of the other patrons in the restaurant shifted toward them.
"Wait... isn’t that Choi Jiwoo from the Hunter Bureau?"
"Whoa, are they on a date?"
"The guy with her is pretty good-looking, too."
"Look at his outfit—torn shirt. Is that some kind of vintage style?"
The sight of Choi Jiwoo, the Hunter Bureau’s star, sitting at a table in the middle of the restaurant, sparked murmurs among the other diners.
And it wasn’t just the public who saw it as a date.
"Oh my gosh, is this... a date?"
Although she didn’t show it, Jiwoo’s mind was racing.
As the star of the Hunter Bureau, her life was all work, bouncing between dungeons and headquarters with no time for leisure. This was completely new territory for her.
Meanwhile, Hyunsoo was fixated on the floating quest in his vision.
[Have a meal with a member of the opposite sex for at least 30 minutes (3/30)]
Time was ticking slowly. The counter had only started once they began eating the appetizer bread, and it didn’t include the time spent walking or deciding on the menu. Hyunsoo realized they’d need to pace themselves to stretch the meal out.
To fill the time, he decided some conversation was necessary, but Jiwoo beat him to it.
"How are you feeling? Is your body okay?" she asked.
"As you can see, I’m fine. Just a few scrapes—nothing serious," Hyunsoo replied.
"Oh, that’s a relief. Your clothes are in shreds, so I was worried you might have been seriously injured. How did you manage it, though? According to your profile, you’re ranked as a low-level Hunter, yet you took down Ji Wonhoon and even the Hellfire Specter...."
For a brief moment, Jiwoo’s gaze sharpened, returning to her professional demeanor.
Her analytical side was kicking in, trying to make sense of the impossible feat she’d witnessed.
Hyunsoo smiled awkwardly, sensing the shift in her tone.
"If I told you it was a trade secret... would that work?"
"Not really," she said firmly. "As I mentioned before, falsifying your abilities on a Hunter Bureau profile is against regulations. You’ll have to undergo a reassessment soon. After what happened, especially this time, the higher-ups are keeping a close eye on you. You’ll probably receive a notification as soon as you’re discharged."
Hyunsoo had expected this.
It was hard to avoid scrutiny when a Hunter officially ranked below level 200 had taken down enemies ranked above level 400 and even defeated the Hellfire Specter.
A reassessment was inevitable, and he’d likely have to reveal his newly acquired Beauty Talent and hidden pieces during the process.
But he wasn’t thrilled about the idea.
While fame could serve as a stepping stone for growth, the emergence of Babylon as a threat made exposing himself a dangerous gamble.
As Hyunsoo wrestled with these thoughts, Jiwoo spoke up.
"Still... given the circumstances, I think I can help you, at least a little."
Her tone was careful, but her intent was clear.