I Awakened as a Dark History - Chapter 57

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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 57
I decided not to tell my parents anything.
What else could I do?
My daughter could become an office worker, a freelancer, unemployed, or a Hunter — there was no way to know.
I kept my face blank and pulled my luggage behind me.
“Hey, Ha Cho-eun!”
The moment I stepped into the Station, a familiar voice greeted me warmly.
I threw my arms wide and ran forward.
“How long has it been?! It’s been forever since I’ve seen you!”
As I called out with genuine joy, Choi A-rin bounced on her toes in excitement.
“Man, I wish I’d stayed in Seoul. Then we could hang out every day. Actually, why don’t you move back down here? Yeah?”
“Ha ha.”
Under normal circumstances, I would have shot back something like “Job hunting’s rough.”
But now, genuinely unemployed, I had nothing to say.
I could only laugh.
“Taxi to the hotel?”
“Yeah. Let’s grab one outside. We’re too worn out — can’t drag luggage around on public transit anymore.”
Now that I was a Hunter, that level of exhaustion didn’t touch me.
But there was no reason to mention it, so I nodded along.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
There was no point making my friend walk around tired.
I linked arms with Choi A-rin and we strolled cheerfully out of the Station.
We had so much pent-up talk that we chattered busily the whole way.
“Did I tell you? That bald director bought a toupee this time, but he keeps dropping it, so every day’s basically a survival game.”
“That’s a literal laugh trap.”
“And he laughs when his toupee falls off, so we just glare at him. If he doesn’t want to lose it, don’t take it off like it’s a hat.”
“At that point, isn’t the toupee just not staying on? That sounds like a toupee quality problem.”
“I wish the toupee company would sue him after hearing that story.”
As we chattered away, the taxi suddenly stopped in front of the Hotel.
Right in front of the Hotel, visible from the taxi, stretched a wide Beach.
We climbed out with our luggage and our jaws dropped.
“Wow. This is amazing.”
“The Hotel has a private Beach, right? Let’s head down there later.”
Of course we should.
I nodded and poked Choi A-rin in the ribs.
“You brought a swimsuit, right?”
“Obviously. Something cute and pretty.”
Laughter burst out at the sight of her thumbs-up.
I gave a thumbs-up right back.
“I brought something absolutely stunning too. Get ready.”
As we bantered our way into the Hotel, a car approached the Beach.
We watched as a sedan appeared trailing a cloud of sand.
Something about the sight felt ominous, so I spoke up.
“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
Choi A-rin hadn’t anticipated this kind of situation either — her expression soured.
We kept watch as we made our way toward the Hotel entrance.
Then I caught sight of people getting out of the car.
The people from the car were clearing out everyone on the Beach.
And they’d started putting up caution tape.
Choi A-rin stood on her tiptoes, trying to get a better view.
I did the same, scanning the people on the Beach.
That’s when a familiar face caught my eye.
“What is it? An accident?”
“…No, it’s the Hunter Association.”
“The Hunter Association?”
It seemed he’d spotted me as well.
The man walked across the Beach toward me and waved.
“Fancy meeting you again.”
At Yu Ho-yeon’s greeting, Choi A-rin’s eyes went wide.
I ignored the prickling sensation of her stare and returned his greeting.
“So we meet again.”
Since things had come to this, I needed to understand the situation.
I pointed toward the ocean with my finger.
“Did a Dungeon Wave occur? Why are you blocking it off?”
“A dungeon formed underwater. We need to go through the rank verification process.”
“You came to verify it in person?”
Yu Ho-yeon nodded.
Naturally, my expression darkened.
Did this mean the dungeon was significant enough that an S-rank Hunter would come to verify it himself?
Worry seized me, and I asked.
“Could it be dangerous?”
Yu Ho-yeon gazed at the sea, considering for a moment.
“Probably not.”
What kind of half-hearted answer was that?
I let out a hollow laugh.
Catching my expression, Yu Ho-yeon opened his mouth again.
“The dungeon’s Saturation Level is at eighty percent. And I’ll go in today to reduce the Magical Beasts. There shouldn’t be a Dungeon Wave.”
“Then it’s safe, isn’t it?”
“Much about dungeons remains unknown. I can’t say for certain.”
Yu Ho-yeon was cautious to the point of seeming timid.
Listening to him, I began to wonder if we should change our accommodation.
“A-rin, do you think we can keep our current lodging?”
Choi A-rin’s eyes remained fixed on Yu Ho-yeon’s face in an odd way.
They say S-rank Hunters are handsome—had she truly lost her composure at his appearance?
I waved my hand in front of Choi A-rin’s eyes.
“Hey, hey? Choi A-rin? Come back to earth.”
“What? Hmm? Oh!”
Choi A-rin finally snapped to attention and responded.
“Do you think we can keep our lodging?”
Choi A-rin belatedly understood my question and opened her mobile phone.
She appeared to be checking the reservation page.
“Tsk, yeah…… But since it’s not like a Dungeon Wave occurred, I don’t think we’ll get a refund?”
“Then what do we do? Isn’t it risky?”
I furrowed my brow with worry.
At that, Choi A-rin shook her head furiously.
“No, but he said it probably won’t be dangerous. Why can’t we just check in?”
Choi A-rin seemed desperately eager to stay at this hotel.
I didn’t hide my suspicion and gave her a pointed look.
“…… Don’t tell me you’re doing this because of his face?”
“What are you talking about!”
Choi A-rin swatted my shoulder.
“You really remember…… No. That’s not it. Anyway, let’s just check in here. Okay?”
Choi A-rin clearly had no intention of changing accommodations.
Though I longed to move to a hotel in the city, there was nothing I could do if Choi A-rin opposed it.
In the end, a sigh escaped my lips.
“Fine, I got it. Let’s go.”
Even as I agreed with her preference, Choi A-rin showed no joy.
More precisely, she was too captivated by Yu Ho-yeon’s face to feel glad.
I pulled Choi A-rin to my side.
Even so, I didn’t forget to bid Yu Ho-yeon farewell.
“We’ll head to our reserved hotel to check in. See you later.”
Yu Ho-yeon nodded and turned back toward the sea.
I dragged Choi A-rin toward the hotel.
“Hey, snap out of it. What’s wrong?”
Only after Yu Ho-yeon had receded into the distance did Choi A-rin’s mind return.
“No, that’s…… Don’t you feel like we’ve seen that person before?”
Half-remembered.
I gave my answer in a hollow voice and expression.
“Yeah, on the news.”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
Choi A-rin’s words died before they could fully form, as though she’d thought better of speaking. An instant later, her eyes narrowed to slits.
“But why do you two seem like you know each other? It doesn’t look like you just saw him on the news.”
Now it was my turn to find myself at a loss for words. I gazed out at the distant sky and mumbled.
“One thing led to another……”
“Led to another how?”
Choi A-rin pressed the question as though interrogating me, but a detailed explanation was out of the question.
I gathered every vague word I could muster.
“We ran into each other here and there…… and one way or another…… I guess we became acquainted.”
Faced with this triple assault of ambiguity, Choi A-rin gave me a withering look.
Left unchecked, she’d probably start demanding I tell the truth.
I hastily turned the conversation back to her.
“What about you, then? Where did you see him?”
At my question, Choi A-rin’s expression grew troubled again.
“That’s not it—well, I’m not sure if I should even say this. He told me not to talk about it.”
Choi A-rin rubbed her forehead as though plagued by a headache.
Her hesitant manner sparked my curiosity despite myself.
“Why? What is it?”
When I pressed the question, Choi A-rin released a long sigh.
I was the one dying of curiosity, yet somehow she looked disappointed.
“Never mind. It’s fine. Maybe another time.”
Because of that, I found it difficult to press further.
In the end, we trudged into the hotel.
“Welcome.”
Fortunately, the hotel was still in business.
“Hello, we’d like to check in.”
“Of course. May I confirm the name of your reservation?”
“Choi A-rin.”
“Yes, I’ve located it. Here’s your card key. We hope you have a comfortable stay.”
Thunk.
The staff member set the card key down on the counter.
We took the key and moved immediately.
“What floor?”
“Twelve.”
High up.
‘Will it be safe?’
Concerns about safety kept pushing to the forefront of my mind.
Whether she sensed my thoughts or not, Choi A-rin’s attention seemed fixed elsewhere.
There was nothing for it.
I’d have to take Choi A-rin out and show her around somewhere else.
I called to her as I set down my luggage in the hotel room.
“Hey, let’s grab some food first and then head to the Beach Monorail. We didn’t come here just to stay cooped up in the hotel.”
“I suppose not.”
Choi A-rin gazed out the window with an expression full of longing.
All she could see was the empty beach and Hunter Association personnel, yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Should I probe into what exactly was behind that reaction?
‘Don’t tell me she’s developed feelings?’
It was possible. Handsome men were always rare.
‘What if she asks me to introduce them? We’re not even that close.’
More than anything, I didn’t want to introduce someone I’d vowed to keep entangled with to my friend.
I genuinely worried about it.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Choi A-rin turned at just the right moment.
“Right! Since we came to have fun, we should actually have fun! Let’s go!”
There wasn’t a trace of ulterior motive in that smile.
Only then did my heart settle.
A genuine smile finally blossomed across my face.
Whoooosh—
A massive shadow fell across the window.

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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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