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Chapter 35
She didn’t need to look to know who it was.
How did he get in? I didn’t even sense him.
Morae turned her head in a rush.
“Hunter Gyeon Suho?”
“Have you been well?”
Suho smiled with his eyes. His voice was unusually gentle today.
He must be in a good mood.
She stared at that smile for a moment before coming to her senses and checking on the cubs.
Not a single one had woken up—almost miraculously. It was thanks to Suho perfectly concealing his presence.
Morae let out a quiet breath of relief, then cautiously looked at him.
But why is he here? It hasn’t even been long since the taming—did his penalty value already become unstable?
“What brings you here?”
“I stopped by before heading to the airport.”
“……”
It hadn’t even been a week since he returned from France, and already another alliance raid. That meant an SS-rank dungeon had appeared somewhere.
When Morae’s expression darkened, Suho tilted his head.
“Why do you look like that?”
“I’m just… a little worried.”
“You think I’ll fail the raid?”
“No. I mean you, Hunter Gyeon Suho.”
“Me?”
“You seem too busy. Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you don’t get exhausted. Everyone needs rest.”
“……”
Suho gazed down at her.
It wasn’t like there was no one who worried about him.
From his uncle Choi Manduk to Shin Ji-yul—even his teammates would sometimes express concern.
Because I can’t collapse.
But none of them ever told him to rest. Not even his parents had ever worried about him getting worn out.
As long as his penalty value wasn’t dangerous, he had always joined raids.
Suho himself had always believed that was only natural.
After all, he didn’t get tired like a normal person even if he stayed up for days. He had traveled the world for raids without complaint.
And yet—
Something felt strange.
As if someone was telling him that he wasn’t a machine… but a human being.
“Are you doing it on purpose?”
“Huh? What?”
“That….”
Suho was about to answer when he suddenly lifted his head. He sensed someone approaching.
Morae, who had been looking up at him innocently, widened her eyes a moment later when she heard footsteps.
What would happen if we’re seen together?
It would cause an uproar. Her wish to live quietly would end on the spot.
Morae jumped to her feet and looked around frantically. What do I do? Should I tell him to leave right now?
Then she spotted the supply room door.
Without warning, she grabbed Suho’s arm.
“Come this way!”
She dragged him inside and quietly closed the door just as someone entered the playroom.
“Oh? Did Morae go to the bathroom?”
It was Gil Seyeon’s voice.
Careful footsteps followed. “Oh my, cute little ones, sleeping so well,” she muttered to herself, the sound seeping through the door.
Morae pressed her ear to it, spying on what was happening outside, then let out a sigh.
“Phew…”
That was close.
Suho silently watched her relax.
She didn’t even realize he was standing right behind her.
“I’ll leave soon, so….”
Morae turned absentmindedly—and froze.
Suho’s face was far too close.
“C-could you step back a little?”
“There’s nowhere to go.”
Right behind him were stacks of boxed pet pads, blocking all space. The only place to stand was exactly where they were.
A cool scent came from him. His breath brushed against the crown of her head.
Her heart, which had been perfectly fine, suddenly began to pound.
“I-it’s really cramped, right?”
“……”
“It must be uncomfortable, but please bear with it for a bit. I’m sorry.”
It tickles.
Suho narrowed his eyes slightly. Morae’s hushed voice made his ears itch.
“Whew… it’s a little hot.”
Morae fanned herself and glanced at Suho.
His face was expressionless. At least he doesn’t seem too uncomfortable.
Still, they were too close. If their skin touched, he might look at her with disgust.
She pressed herself against the door to make space.
At that moment, a hand—unusually warm—grabbed her arm.
Startled, Morae looked up.
“W-what is it?”
He only stared down at her in silence.
When she lifted herself on her toes to see his face better, he quickly leaned back.
Did he just avoid me?
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“……”
“Hunter Gyeon Suho?”
Slowly, he opened his mouth. His low voice spilled out.
“Taming…”
Here? Now?
Can the penalty value become unstable even if he’s just standing still?
I’ve never heard of that…
Morae, whose penalty value barely ever changed, had no idea.
“I’ll… hold your hand.”
Despite her doubts, her hand moved on its own.
He’s asking me to. And it’s better to tame whenever possible anyway.
Their lightly clasped hands became a conduit as waves of energy flowed through.
“Huh?”
The pain being transferred was nothing compared to last time. There was no full synchronization.
It was like this when I tamed Song-i too…
Can you tame someone without merging if they have no hostility?
Thank goodness.
Honestly, it had hurt so much last time that she’d been scared—but this was easily bearable.
Morae relaxed and focused on the waves. A smile crept onto her face.
Suho’s eyes darkened as he looked at her.
The body he’d thought was already in peak condition after the previous taming was becoming even lighter.
How is this possible?
He felt like laughing.
Biting down on the inside of his lip to hold back the sensation, he finally closed his eyes.
The distance between them slowly shrank. Their fingers intertwined tightly, and their breaths filled the narrow space—
“Okay! I’ll bring it out right now!”
Gil Seyeon’s voice rang out, and the supply room doorknob turned.
Before they could stop it, the door cracked open—then stopped with a jolt, blocked by Morae’s back.
“Huh? Why won’t it open?”
The taming was forcibly cut off.
Morae froze, unable to even breathe.
How did she get this close without us hearing her?
If she hadn’t been leaning against the door, they would have been caught red-handed. Just imagining it made her spine go cold.
“Must be stuck on a box… huh? Is someone in there?”
Gil Seyeon peered through the crack.
“Morae? Is that you?”
“…Yes, it’s me, Seyeon.”
“You startled me. What are you doing in there?”
“……”
Morae’s lips moved soundlessly.
Luckily, Suho hadn’t been discovered—but her mind went blank, and no excuse came to her.
“Morae, the door won’t open. Can you move a bit?”
“Th-that is….”
“Why does your voice sound like that? Are you sick?”
Morae looked at Suho with trembling eyes.
Please… do something.
She looked like a rabbit cornered by a predator, on the verge of tears. Suho let out a small chuckle.
Seeing his relaxed attitude, Morae bit her lip as if betrayed.
Am I the only one panicking? The only one terrified of being caught?
Suho’s smile deepened when her eyes truly began to glisten.
If I tease her any more, she really will cry.
He leaned down and brought his lips to her ear.
“I’ll call.”
His low, breath-tinged voice filled her ear. Goosebumps ran over her skin, and she shrank her shoulders.
The next instant, Gyeon Suho vanished like smoke—moving through shadows.
Only then did Morae remember he was a shadow mage.
“Ah…”
She collapsed where she stood. Her legs had completely given out.
“Morae? What’s wrong? Morae!”
