Solo Panicking

FINALLY!

｡⋆｡˚ ʚɞ ˚｡⋆｡

'I'm in trouble,' Jinwoo thought to himself, suppressing a sigh as he turned back to face the increasingly curious and confused crowd. And now, the Hunter Association inspectors had joined them, with Woo Jin-Chul standing directly in front of him.

"The Hunter Association is in charge of supervising Hunter Sung Jinwoo," Woo Jin-Chul declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This entire affair is classified as a top-secret matter that cannot be revealed to the public. I trust everyone here understands the implications."

The crowd fell silent, though some members of the task force exchanged uncertain glances. Woo Jin-Chul turned slightly and gestured toward the dungeon's exit, addressing Jinwoo directly.

"We'll guide you out of here, sir," one of the HA workers added. "This is the best way to avoid further complications. You've demonstrated power far surpassing even S-Rank Hunters in front of South Korea's top guild. We'll ensure you leave discreetly."

Before Jinwoo could respond, a shaky voice broke through the quiet.

"H-HOLD ON!" Ki-Hoon called out, his voice raw but resolute. Supported by one of his guildmates, he hobbled to the front, his expression a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion. He stopped in front of Jinwoo and looked up at him with wide eyes.

"If you truly possess that level of strength," Ki-Hoon said, his voice trembling but steady, "then what happened today makes sense. I don't need to know why you and Ms. L/N volunteered as porters."

The members of the task force bowed their heads in unison, a gesture of sincere gratitude. "We owe our lives to you both," Ki-Hoon continued, his voice growing softer. "Thank you—for everything."

Jinwoo gave a small nod, his expression unreadable as always. "I'm glad you're safe," he said simply. A subtle glance in your direction showed his relief that you, too, had come out of the ordeal unscathed.

As the HA workers moved to usher him away, you got up to your feet from where you had been kneeling beside the injured, brushing dirt off your pants. Before you could fully rise, a hand appeared in front of you, calloused but steady. Jinwoo's.

You paused for a moment, meeting his gaze, and a small, soft smile tugged at your lips. Grateful, you reached out and clasped his hand. His grip was warm and firm, and he helped you up effortlessly. Yet even when you were fully upright, he didn't release you. The moment was ruined when a subtle but deliberate clearing of the throat broke the spell. Woo Jin-Chul stood nearby, his sunglasses hiding his expression, though his posture screamed 'let's go'.

Jinwoo finally let go, looking away with the faintest trace of a sheepish smile. You suppress a laugh, shaking your head at his rare show of awkwardness. As you both turn to follow the HA team.

You do miss Cha Hae-In, standing just a few steps away, extending her arm slightly as if to stop either of you or perhaps to say something. However, her hand hovered mid-air, her usual composed demeanor faltering as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. Her lips parted, but no words came out, and a moment later, she let her hand fall.

｡⋆｡˚ ʚɞ ˚｡⋆｡

You and Jinwoo enter a cozy coffee shop, its warm ambiance welcoming you with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. Jinwoo hadn't let you go back to your apartment, insisting that staying cooped up all day wasn't healthy.

"You can't keep using illusions to run errands outside. It's not a substitute for fresh air," Jinwoo had said with an exasperated sigh, his firm grip on your wrist ensuring you had no room to escape.

As the bell above the door jingles, a loud, familiar voice catches your attention. "Hyung-Nim! Nuna! Over here!" Jin-Ho's cheerful greeting echoes from the far corner of the shop. He stands in a booth by the window, waving both arms enthusiastically as though afraid you wouldn't notice him.