The Hero is Hunting me!

Chapter 137: Maria’s Food’s Secret

After hearing those words, Jinhoo unconsciously let his phone slip from his hand.

The phone hit the floor and shattered.

’I should’ve known... there was something wrong with this place...’

He immediately turned around and sprinted back inside the restaurant, heading straight for their table.

Jinhoo saw Mira and the others just about to take their first bite.

"Don’t eat that!"

he shouted.

Hearing his voice, everyone immediately froze.

"Hmm? What’s wrong, Hyung?"

Donghyun asked in confusion.

So-ah looked at him.

"Oppa, what happened? We haven’t even taken a bite yet."

"Put it down."

"Don’t eat anything here."

Although they were confused, everyone followed Jinhoo’s words.

They slowly put their spoons down.

Every customer in the restaurant turned to look at Jinhoo.

Jinhoo glanced around.

A waitress from the restaurant approached them with a gentle smile.

"Excuse me, sir. Is there a problem?"

Jinhoo turned toward her.

His eyes were filled with hostility.

"Yes."

"There is."

"What kind of meat is this?"

he asked in a restrained yet furious voice, pointing at the meat on their table.

The waitress looked at the dish.

"Ah... It’s premium-quality meat, prepared with great care."

"No."

"I mean what animal is it?"

"Beef?"

"Goat?"

"Or... human?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Mira and the others widened their eyes in shock.

"...Sir, I believe there’s been a misunder—"

Before she could finish speaking, Jinhoo grabbed her by the collar.

"Answer me."

"What kind of meat is this?"

The waitress remained calm.

However, the gentle smile on her face slowly disappeared.

She stared directly into Jinhoo’s eyes.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

She looked at him calmly...

Yet there was something deadly hidden behind that calmness.

"Sir."

"I suggest you remove your hand from my uniform."

she said coldly.

But Jinhoo didn’t loosen his grip.

Instead, he tightened it even more.

’So... you want to intimidate me? Fine... I’ll show you who’s truly in control here.’

His anger could no longer be contained.

Jinhoo released his aura.

His intimidation aura erupted.

The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.

The floor beneath them trembled violently.

Jinhoo glared at the waitress with furious eyes.

So-ah and the others quickly stood up.

Even they were being affected by Jinhoo’s overwhelming aura.

"U-Ugh... Oppa! Stop!!"

So-ah shouted as she struggled against the pressure.

The waitress also began having trouble breathing.

She had never expected the man standing before her to be this powerful.

’D-Damn it...! Who is this guy!? How can he be this strong...?’

Just then—

A woman’s voice echoed from the distance.

"Stop."

Jinhoo turned toward the source of the voice.

A young woman, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, walked toward them.

She had a slender figure, and her long green hair gave her an elegant appearance.

Her eyes were filled with irritation.

Seeing the opportunity, Elvera quietly stepped beside Jinhoo and whispered,

"Jinhoo."

"Stop."

"Your aura is drawing too much attention."

"You’re not wearing your mask."

Hearing that, Jinhoo immediately withdrew his aura.

As the woman approached, Jinhoo spoke first.

"Who are you?"

"I am the owner of this establishment."

"Maria Vendi."

"Before we continue..."

"Would you kindly release my employee’s collar?"

Maria said calmly.

"Not until you answer my question."

"What is the main ingredient of this meat?"

Maria let out a sigh.

"...You’re quite troublesome."

She glanced around the restaurant.

Every customer was staring at them.

She smiled before raising her voice.

"Everyone, there’s nothing to worry about!"

"It’s just a small misunderstanding."

"Please continue enjoying your meals."

Hearing that, every customer immediately ignored the commotion and resumed eating.

They devoured their meals voraciously.

Almost like starving beasts who had never eaten before.

Seeing that, Jinhoo realized one thing.

The customers...

They were being brainwashed by this woman named Maria.

Maria looked back at him with a serious expression.

"What do you want?"

she asked irritably.

"I only want an answer."

"What exactly is this meat?"

"Beef?"

"Goat?"

"Or human?"

Maria suddenly laughed.

So-ah and the others looked even more confused.

"You’re so naïve."

"What would you do..."

"...if I told you it was human meat?"

She said with lowly tone that only Jinhoo can hear those.

Jinhoo clenched his fists, desperately suppressing his rage.

He couldn’t afford to make a scene.

’Calm down... Don’t do anything stupid.’

A familiar voice echoed inside his mind.

It was his other self.

Or rather—

Indigo.

’You!? Where have you been? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard your voice.’

’We can talk about that later.’

’Right now, focus on the woman in front of you.’

’Don’t underestimate her.’

’She may be hiding her power, but she can’t fool me.’

’She’s incredibly strong.’

’Probably even stronger than you are right now.’

’What!? Kugh... But she—’

’I know you’re angry.’

’But calm yourself.’

’If you act recklessly here... the people you consider your family could die at any moment.’

Jinhoo glanced at So-ah and the others.

They all looked frightened.

’Can I defeat her if everyone helps me?’

’Not even close.’

’Your current chance of winning against her is only eight percent.’

’Even with their help, it won’t make much of a difference.’

’So calm yourself.’

’Even if we switch places? Would anything change?’

’It would only increase the odds by two percent.’

’And that changes absolutely nothing.’

’...Alright.’

’Then there’s no other choice.’

Jinhoo looked back at Maria.

"If you’re joking..."

"Then it’s a pretty funny joke."

"But I’m not in the mood."

"So... excuse me."

He released the waitress’s collar.

Then he turned toward the others.

"Let’s go."

Hearing that, everyone slowly stood up.

Jinhoo took his wallet out of his pocket.

He looked at the waitress.

"How much do I owe?"

"For the food... and the damages."

"Ugh..."

"The total comes to five hundred thousand won..."

Hearing that amount, Jinhoo froze for a moment.

Not because it was expensive.

But because his wallet only contained seventy thousand won.

He let out a quiet sigh before pulling out his credit card.

"I’ll pay with this."

Although the waitress still looked irritated, she brought out a small card payment terminal.

Jinhoo swiped his card.

[Payment Successful]

Without another word, Jinhoo immediately left the restaurant together with everyone else.

The waitress looked annoyed.

She turned toward Maria.

"Miss Maria."

"Are we really going to let them leave just like that?"

"They already know our restaurant’s secret."

"They might spread rumors about this place."

Maria simply smiled as she watched Jinhoo walk away.

"Let them go."

"They won’t dare."

---

A short while later...

Inside the car on the way home.

Elvera, sitting in the passenger seat, turned toward Jinhoo, who was driving.

"Jinhoo..."

"What exactly happened?"

Min-seo and So-ah immediately joined in.

"Yeah, Oppa!"

"We’re curious too."

"You looked really angry back there."

"Why did you suddenly get so mad?"

"We hadn’t even started eating."

"...We’ll eat at home instead."

"I’ll cook."

The moment they heard that, everyone became excited.

Everyone...

Except Elvera.

She was still wondering what had happened.

What had made Jinhoo cancel their little outing...

And become so furious at the waitress.

’...I’ll ask him after we get home.’