* * *

Seo Hye-su really liked her current job, the one she had finally settled into after changing jobs three times. For starters, the pay was excellent. The numbers in her bank account looked dazzling, the benefits were top-notch, and the bonuses were generous. By the end of each month, the notification sound of her paycheck hitting her phone felt like music.

Even the work itself was fairly easy. Of course, they were only using an A-rank hunter like her as a secretary, so it made sense that the job was simple. The only downside was that her boss was a little unusual. 

Sometimes he would give orders that made no sense or do things that caused trouble for the company. Still, he was clearly someone who could afford to have an A-rank hunter as his secretary. After all, Seo Hye-su’s boss was Min Ga-on, the guildmaster of Hwabing and an S-rank hunter.

“…Excuse me!”

She heard a clear, gentle male voice. She was just entering Min Ga-on’s mansion, carrying a stack of overdue reports, when a familiar face near the spacious garden entrance called out to her.

Tall and lean, he had a striking presence, like a Siamese cat. His glossy black hair, like raven wings, shimmered with a hint of blue in the sunlight. His pale skin made his bright red lips stand out. He had a presence that drew attention, and few would dare approach him. But Seo Hye-su knew him well.

“…Yes, hello, Mr. Ryu Yeon-ho.” 

She returned his greeting while quickly scanning the area. Judging by Min Ga-on’s recent behavior, Ryu Yeon-ho seemed to be more or less confined. 

Orders had been given to keep everyone away from him. Min Ga-on was surely somewhere nearby…

Ryu Yeon-ho appeared fully aware of the situation. With a desperate, anxious look, he silently pleaded for help.

“Could you just hold my hand for a moment?”

Seo Hye-su was caught off guard by the sudden request and didn’t know how to respond.

“Pardon?”

A man this pretty, and he suddenly asked her to hold his hand? In an instant, a flood of all kinds of thoughts ran through her mind.

“Just once!”

His sharp, catlike eyes held an unexpected sadness, and his pale hands reached out as if begging for help. Memories of all the trouble Ryu Yeon-ho had caused in the past flashed through Seo Hye-su’s mind. Could this be another one of his reckless stunts? She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt. Beautiful flowers often have thorns, after all.

‘This time, it really seems like he has amnesia…’

He was the kind of guy who had once thrown a fit over Min Ga-on, insisting he’d lost his memory. But now, he was completely different. His once scattered mind was steady, and his manners had noticeably improved. Even more surprising, his severe stutter had disappeared all at once. 

His voice, which had once sounded like a broken record, now had a completely new tone and rhythm. It was like listening to a completely different person. Above all, the wild, unstable energy that used to radiate from Ryu Yeon-ho had vanished entirely. 

And truly, this guy’s face was a weapon. It was impossible to refuse him. Well-fed and well-dressed, he shone like a classic painting in a brand-new frame.

“…Please, noona!”

That one word hit like a secret weapon. The moment “noona” slipped from his red lips, Seo Hye-su’s defenses completely crumbled. Before she knew it, she was holding the hand Ryu Yeon-ho had offered. 

For a man, his hand was surprisingly delicate, with thin fingers that matched his handsome face. His long fingers looked as if they could dance across piano keys. Even through the brief touch, the warmth of his skin sent a subtle, tingling sensation through her.

“Ah… nothing happens…”

He had expected at least some kind of result. From his small face, which could be covered by one hand, his lips muttered something she couldn’t make out. Whatever he had been hoping for, the disappointment on his face was obvious, and Seo Hye-su couldn’t help but be taken aback. Then, a cold voice came from behind.

“…Looks like the two of you were having an interesting conversation?”

Min Ga-on’s voice was cold, like a winter wind blowing straight into her ears. Ryu Yeon-ho jumped back like a deer struck by an arrow. The hand they had been holding slipped away, as if it had never mattered. 

For some time, Min Ga-on had been standing by the front door, watching them closely. His handsome face was faintly touched by a cynical expression, nothing like a smile. The air around him seemed to grow colder, as if reacting to his mood.

Her survival instincts screamed a warning. Seo Hye-su felt her body step back on its own, completely against her will.

“No, I just ran into the secretary by chance! I greeted her—just greeting!”

Ryu Yeon-ho’s awkward reply came out a full octave higher than usual. After spouting useless excuses, he hurried inside the house. Only then did Min Ga-on look toward Seo Hye-su. His usual icy expression was like an impenetrable wall, giving nothing away.

“State your business.”

It was basically his way of saying, “Speak quickly and get out of here.” Min Ga-on had always seemed a little inhuman, but she had never seen him this moody.

Seo Hye-su quickly composed herself and spoke up. No matter what, she had to deliver this information in person. She tried to keep her voice from trembling, though she wasn’t sure if she was succeeding.

“The Hunter Association will be sending a representative to negotiate the skill book rules.”

Hearing the unpleasant news, Min Ga-on frowned slightly. His displeasure lingered around him like frost clinging to ice.

“Very well. Leave the rest of the documents behind.”

A blue flash sparked in Min Ga-on’s eyes and vanished. Whatever it was, he was clearly annoyed. In situations like this, staying out of his sight was the smartest move. Seo Hye-su set the pile of documents down and prepared herself to make a quick escape.

“Ah, and…”

A sharp warning felt like it hit her right at the back of her head as she bowed.

“From now on, don’t do anything that would draw Ryu Yeon-ho’s attention.”

Seo Hye-su nodded quickly, instinctively reacting to the chilling, threatening tone. Getting on the bad side of an S-rank hunter was basically digging her own grave—especially when it was Min Ga-on, who was obsessed with the person in question. Determined never to fall for Ryu Yeon-ho’s charms again, she hurried off, for the sake of her precious paycheck.

* * *

It was hopeless. I had hoped there’d be some way to make the skill work. I even grabbed another hunter’s hand for the first time, desperate for any chance, but the system stayed completely silent. My last try failed too. Frustratingly, this damn skill only worked with Min Ga-on. Outside the window, gray clouds had gathered. The sky looked as uncertain as my future.

‘Do I really have to get physically close to Min Ga-on to make the skill work?’

Just thinking about it made every hair on my body stand on end. Even if it were with a stunning beauty, I’d still feel repulsed. There was no way I’d ever do anything like that with him. My stomach twisted into knots.

‘Am I really going to do this? Please, give me some other hint…!’

I couldn’t help but plead with the system.

[…]

The system was still silent. Of course—it wasn’t meant for two-way communication. But I couldn’t let go of the slightest chance, so I pleaded with it anyway.

‘Please, just give me anything! I’ll handle it with my mental strength…!’

I had always had extraordinary mental strength, even compared to other S-rank hunters. People said it was one of a kind. The stronger my mental strength, the better I synced with the system. 

Thanks to that, I could see not just my own system messages, but also messages from other people’s skills and items. Of course, not all the information was revealed.

Even while I was possessing this body, that ability stayed the same, showing me that mental strength comes from one’s own consciousness. It was like a flame that kept burning no matter what vessel it was in. 

So when I lost consciousness, the healers examining Ryu Yeon-ho’s body must have thought his mental strength was trash. To them, he probably looked like a candle with its flame snuffed out.

‘Please, I don’t care what it is, just add one more condition…’

I wondered if I had ever wished for something this desperately. Then I heard Min Ga-on’s footsteps approaching from behind. Startled like a child caught secretly eating candy, I turned around. Min Ga-on smiled slightly and asked.

“I have to go out for a bit. Yeon-ho hyung, want to come along?”

It was a one-sided order, delivered in gentle words. Still, if I went outside, I might run into someone besides this guy, and maybe something would change. Clinging to that tiny shred of hope, I nodded vigorously.