How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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【Chapter 55】
…Am I the only one?
The moment I grasped his meaning, my heart thundered in my ears. Heat flooded my face, and I fumbled awkwardly, waving my hand in denial.
“S-suddenly saying something like that…”
Words swirled in my mind but refused to escape my lips. Lee Hyun-woo brushed aside my hair as the wind scattered it, and spoke.
“I’m not skilled at speaking affectionately. But I don’t wish to confuse Ha-neul either.”
Unable to overcome the heat rising from my nape, I finally buried my face in shame. I didn’t need a mirror to know my cheeks were burning crimson.
‘…He can’t speak affectionately? Then what is this right now!’
I’d meant to ask what kind of relationship he had with Se-ah, but instead I’d only flustered myself. This wasn’t what I’d intended to discuss at all!
“B-but just now, you clearly…”
Then Lee Hyun-woo spoke with a hint of derision in his voice.
“And when I first awakened, I was merely sixteen years old. There’s no way I could have been in a serious relationship with a marriage promise.”
“…What?”
Sixteen? Before I could fully comprehend his words, Lee Hyun-woo added an explanation.
“Of course, I haven’t met anyone since my awakening. Nor did I wish to.”
“W-wait! So you were sixteen when you awakened?”
“Yes. I remember it precisely.”
One week before his middle school graduation ceremony. That’s when he’d awakened as an S-rank, and he remembered it clearly.
Hearing this, the absurdity drained the strength from my legs, and I stumbled.
‘I got so worked up over a middle school romance…?’
* * *
Once I understood the full story, my entire body went limp. Sitting on a nearby bench and laughing hollowly, Lee Hyun-woo handed me a bottle of water he’d pulled from a vending machine.
“By the way, were you really so concerned about my romantic history?”
“Of course not…! I just wasn’t expecting to hear something like that, so I was caught off guard.”
“May I ask why?”
His face held no trace of jest—only gravity. Facing him beneath the bright glow of the street lamp, my words suddenly caught in my throat.
‘…Why did I care about his romantic history?’
I parted my lips hesitantly, then lowered my gaze.
“Everyone is curious about Lee Hyun-woo’s affairs. It’s not just me…”
“Is that truly the only reason?”
Yesterday’s incident would spread rapidly through the hunters’ circles. Some would hear it with astonishment, others with curiosity.
But if asked whether my emotions matched theirs… I couldn’t nod easily.
“I’m not entirely sure myself. I suppose I’d been thinking that Lee Hyun-woo and I were closer than I realized.”
Perhaps it was the sting of discovering something I hadn’t known. The disappointment and jealousy that he hadn’t told me. These ugly emotions tangled together, weaving this pathetic heart of mine.
But Lee Hyun-woo bore some responsibility too. He was cold to everyone else, yet he bought me items, drove me to the dormitory, and spoke of wanting to protect me…
Without realizing it, I’d come to believe we shared something special. If that weren’t the case, my feelings made no sense.
As I fumbled through my words, the corners of his mouth curved into a gentle arc.
“This much seems sufficient for now. I’m relieved we’re making progress, however gradually.”
“…What? What do you suddenly mean by that?”
“Nothing much. Just the joy of finally connecting, you might say?”
He uttered words I couldn’t comprehend before escorting me back to the Dormitory entrance.
“Don’t mind the strange things she said. I’m not sure what she meant by it, but I’ll make sure there’s no more noise like that.”
Seeing his attitude as if he might march over to Se-ah right then and there, I shook my head.
“I’m really not worried about it anymore. You told me it absolutely wasn’t true, didn’t you? I believe you.”
At my words, Lee Hyun-woo gave a gentle smile.
“Still, strange rumors could spread, so it might be good to talk about it. If you need any help, just let me know anytime.”
He nodded slightly and gently patted the back of my hand in gratitude. After seeing him off and returning to the Dormitory, Ha-nyang, who had been lying sprawled across the Bed, lifted her head slightly.
“You look like you’re in a better mood than before, meow?”
“…Is it really that obvious?”
I hurried to the Bathroom and looked in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed red from the prolonged exposure to the chilly spring breeze. It was definitely just the spring wind.
* * *
Title: Taiyaki Shop) Witnessed a real drama today
A new employee at the Taiyaki Shop asked Lee Hyun-woo if he remembered her lolol and even said they had promised to get married…
-Lee Hyun-woo and her had that kind of relationship?? Lee Hyun-woo has never dated anyone, right…
└Nothing officially confirmed
└But unofficially?
└The Taiyaki Shop Owner
└??????
-The boss seemed embarrassed. As soon as he hired a new employee, something suddenly happened lol.
Title: But doesn’t something seem off?
Wasn’t Lee Hyun-woo in middle school before his S-rank awakening? Who promises marriage back then;
-Now that you mention it, that’s true
-Wait, so it’s a lie?
└Or maybe they just met briefly in middle school?
└Middle school encounters are never that serious
-Oh, I really believed it.
-This is middle school romance everyone, case closed
* * *
As the nation’s only S-rank Hunter, Lee Hyun-woo’s past had already spread like public property.
So everything about him—when he awakened, what symptoms he had before awakening, how he spent that time—was circulating across the internet.
For instance, like this.
-I was in middle school with Lee Hyun-woo lolol but dating? He barely came to school
-Back then he was just a kid bouncing between orphanages, and now he’s dating someone that gorgeous? Impossible.
Thanks to Se-ah making a spectacle of herself at the Shop, the rumors had spread far beyond the Management Bureau.
It wasn’t pleasant that the fact he’d spent time at the Orphanage was dredged up again, but seeing the reactions from people claiming to be classmates, it seemed the romantic story Se-ah was talking about didn’t actually exist.
Se-ah, who came to work, looked deathly pale, as if she’d read all these reactions.
‘…Did Se-ah lie? Or did she mistake him for someone else? How could that even happen?’
Countless questions floated through my mind, but I asked nothing and prepared to open the Shop.
Customers occasionally glanced at Se-ah’s face, but no one particularly stepped forward to say anything. Se-ah didn’t actively defend herself either.
Just as this awkwardly tense atmosphere continued, an unwelcome face appeared at the Shop.
“Good morning, Ha-neul. I hope you’ve been well.”
It was Park Jae-min, flashing that slick smile of his. Something told me he’d heard the rumors circulating around town and rushed straight to the Shop.
“Park Jae-min. Did you have a reservation?”
“Aw, come on, you’re being so stiff again. I just came to see your face.”
“I don’t think we’re on those kinds of terms…”
“Aren’t we at least that close?”
I helped you out, after all.
He mouthed the words silently. He had helped when I’d mistaken Gong Ju-won for a stalker, but I’d been quite firm in rejecting him afterward. In a way, he was remarkably oblivious.
“I came to comfort you, thinking you might be upset, but you seem fine.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Hmm, a shame, I suppose? You’re supposed to strike when someone’s most vulnerable—that’s when your odds are best.”
What kind of ridiculous nonsense was that…
As anger surged up and I squeezed my eyes shut, Ari quickly stepped forward beside me.
“Mister! We have orders piling up, so if you don’t have a reservation, please leave.”
“…Mister?”
A crack appeared on his thick-skinned face. He recovered his expression in just one second, but the ease had vanished from his smile.
“You don’t know who I am?”
“Do I need to? We’re busy, so stop bothering our sister and get out.”
“Bothering her? We’re very close. You didn’t know?”
“You don’t seem close at all. It looks like my sister really dislikes you.”
Sparks flew between them. Park Jae-min, carefully managing his expression, brazenly curled his lips upward.
“It seems today isn’t the right day. I’ll come visit again next time. Take care, Ha-neul.”
As Park Jae-min left, Ari glanced at me and made a small V-sign. I walked over to her and ruffled her hair vigorously.
“You clever thing! Well done!”
“Hehe, I don’t lose at verbal sparring either.”
“I know! Remember how intense our first meeting was?”
“Ugh. Please forget about that…”
Watching Park Jae-min leave in confusion, I felt completely satisfied. I broke into a delighted laugh, and that’s when I noticed Se-ah fidgeting anxiously beside me.
“Se-ah? Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no. I… got an urgent call. Would it be alright if I stepped outside to take it?”
“Of course. Feel free to take it.”
Se-ah bowed slightly, removed her apron, and stepped outside. As she disappeared, Ari whispered in a low voice.
“But is that sister really lying? Something feels off about it.”
“Who knows. Let’s start skewering some more fish cakes first? The ones we did earlier are almost gone.”
“Oh! Good idea. I was about to do that anyway.”
Watching Ari focus on skewering fish cakes in the brief lull, I quietly removed my apron.
“Ari, I’m going to take out the trash. Can you watch the Shop for a moment?”
Se-ah’s expression as she left to take the call bothered me. I grabbed a moderately full garbage bag and stepped outside. But finding Se-ah wasn’t easy.
‘Did she go somewhere far? She’s not even nearby.’
Eventually giving up the search, I disposed of the trash first. I went into a nearby bathroom to wash my hands, and through the small window above, I heard a high-pitched voice.
“…So why didn’t you tell me such crucial information? I had no idea!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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