IRTPTA 36🌸

Episode 36 – Translation

It was such a Kim I-han–like remark, perfectly highlighting their relationship.

【Won Boram: Hunter Hwang Taesan shows no reaction. As expected, he’s the quiet type, ahaha… Oh! Hunter Kim I-han’s lips are moving again.】

As if on cue with the anchor’s words, the camera zoomed in further on Kim I-han’s face.
Anyone watching the news right now would surely be staring only at his lips.

【Won Boram: “Was it that humiliating to lose to Captain Park Woo-jun? What can you do, they say the two of you were childhood friends.” … Could this be about that rumored supporter? A childhood friend of Captain Park Woo-jun? This is breaking news!】

“Oh, that anchor’s really good at lip-reading. Don’t you think?”
“Yesh. Ao, uh-busted (got caught right away).”

Sihoo chewed on the apple Han Sejin had popped into his mouth, then stuffed in a grape on top of it.
With both cheeks puffed out, he looked exactly like a hamster stashing seeds in its cheek pouch.

“One at a time. You’ll get sick.”
“Yesh.”
“At least you answer well.”
“Yesh.”

His eyes glued to the fruit platter, Sihoo answered diligently but clearly wasn’t paying full attention.

“Hyung, aren’t you eating?”

Han Sejin slipped a piece of apple into his own mouth and turned toward Kang Soo-ho, who was sitting stiffly on the sofa. Kang shook his head. Sejin didn’t insist—if he wanted to eat, he would. He turned his gaze back to the TV.

【Won Boram: It begins!】
【Association President: Dear citizens, greetings. This is Yoon Byung-geun, President of the Korea Hunter Association.】

The camera cut to show only the president, leaving the anchor out of frame.

【Association President: Today’s briefing has two purposes. First, to clarify the lightning incident at Mount Bukhan. Second, to settle the rumors regarding the so-called “mysterious supporter.”】

Just then—
Beep beep beep beep.

The sound of a door lock opening echoed.
Han Sejin blinked in surprise, and even Sihoo, still munching grapes, turned toward the sound.

“Kang Soo-ho, are you home? I—oh, wow.”

Stepping inside, Saebyeok froze when she spotted Sejin sitting on the living room floor.

“You didn’t go to work?”
“You literally saw me at home this morning. What are you so shocked for?”
“I thought you were just heading out late.”
“My boss’s wife is about to give birth, so I’ve got a few days off.”

Sejin popped another grape into Sihoo’s mouth.
“But what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be… there?” he asked, pointing at the TV.

“I opted out. I’m keeping media exposure to a minimum for now.”
“Really? That’s a shame.”
“Why? Were you hoping to ride on your noona’s fame and get on TV?”
“No way. Absolutely not.”
“Then what’s such a shame?”
“No chance to grab some derpy screenshots of you.”
“You punk.”

Saebyeok nearly smacked him but held back.

【Association President: …and so, it has been decided. She is officially recognized as S-rank.】

Wooooooaaahhh!!!

The moment the president confirmed Saebyeok’s rank, cheers erupted throughout the apartment complex.
People shouted, cursed in excitement, even did cheers of “manse.”

“Do those fools even realize? They’re cheering for an S-rank who’s just…”

Sejin squinted at Saebyeok and clicked his tongue. She promptly flicked his forehead.

“Quit the nonsense and start packing.”
“Packing?”
“We’re moving. The president promised to minimize information leaks, but it’s only a matter of time. Staying here is dangerous.”

No one would dare openly attack an S-rank, but her family was another matter. Persistent reporters, deranged stalker-fans—many things could happen.

“We’re moving to the Hunter District.”

“No way! Isn’t it crazy expensive there?”
“Little brother, your noona is S-rank.”
“Holy crap… That’s so damn annoying, but also ridiculously cool.”
“There’s a kid here. Watch your language.”

Sejin quickly covered Sihoo’s ears.
The boy looked up at him, confused, still munching his last slice of apple.

“It’s nothing. Eat more, here—have a banana too.”

Sejin laughed, steering the boy’s focus back to the fruit.
Saebyeok chuckled. Just yesterday he’d been furious about bringing a kid home, yet here he was doting on him like family.

“If someone saw, they’d think he was your cousin or something.”
“He’s such a little piglet. Do you know how much he eats for that tiny body? If he were a car, people would complain his fuel economy is the worst.”
“Eh? Me?”
“No, ignore him. Eat. Here, orange juice.”

Clearly bothered by how underweight the boy was, Sejin kept feeding him. And yet, he still called him a piglet—so very Sejin.

“Sihoo, do you like that hyung?”

To a stranger, it might look like Sejin was the boy’s older brother, not Soo-ho.
Nodding as he gulped his juice, Sihoo confirmed.

“But if you only cling to Sejin, won’t your real hyung feel sad?”

“Oh.”

Sihoo peeked toward Soo-ho, who sat alone on the sofa.

“Eat more,” Soo-ho said curtly, pretending not to care.
Still, Sihoo fidgeted guiltily.

“Why’d you scold him and make him self-conscious?” Sejin shot at Saebyeok, then turned back to the boy. “Piglet, what else do you want? Just say the word, hyung’ll get it for you.”

Saebyeok couldn’t help but laugh. She knew her brother liked cute things, but this was on another level.

“Once he’s done eating, pack up. Park Woo-jun went ahead to set things up. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
“You meant pack now? Unbelievable. Fine.”

Though exasperated, Sejin nodded.

“And Kang Soo-ho, I’d like a word.”

She gestured toward the dining table. He followed without protest, sitting across from her.

“Are you all right?” he asked first.
“…Sorry?”
“I heard you fought the Association President,” he said, nodding at the TV.

The president had already explained that the measurement device had broken, forcing Saebyeok to prove herself in direct combat against him in front of all the other S-ranks.

【Association President: Discussions with the World Hunter Union will take place next week…】

In Korea, dueling the Sword Emperor was proof enough of ability. Abroad, it wouldn’t be. The president planned to handle that separately.

“I’ve heard the president is the strongest among Korea’s S-ranks. You weren’t injured, were you?”

Despite his blank expression, concern laced Soo-ho’s tone. Saebyeok smiled.

“You’re mistaken. The strongest S-rank in Korea has changed hands. That’s why I was recognized.”

His eyes widened before he slowly nodded.

“If you weren’t hurt, that’s what matters.”

For him, her well-being outweighed her strength.

“Then what did you want to talk about—”

“Ah.”

She pulled a file from her inventory.

“Guild establishment paperwork. For Association submission. Just read through and sign here.”

Then she placed another document down.

“And this one’s our private contract. I left your title and rank blank. You can sign now, or wait until after your Awakening to renegotiate.”

She handed him a pen—

“W-wait, Kang Soo-ho! You’re not even reading it?!”

He’d signed without a glance.

“There are more pages—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“At least check if you like the guild name!”
“The Dawn Spearmaster’s Dawn Guild. Nothing to discuss.”
“Still…”

Stammering in disbelief, she handed the file back, but he simply returned it.

“Didn’t you say you would never betray me?”
“I did. And I won’t.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.”

Saebyeok felt awkward.

Is this really the Kang Soo-ho I know?
Since when does he trust so easily?

Maybe it was his brother’s life on the line.
Then again, she’d been the same. When her brother and comrades were alive, she endured and fought. Once they were gone, her world turned gray.

Still, she remembered—once he opened up in her past life, Kang Soo-ho had been the same. Once he trusted, he trusted fully. If she’d told him the earth was flat, he’d have believed her.

Realizing this, her heart wavered. He was, after all, the same man.