Doing Good Deeds Will Bring Blessings¿

And then, on the day that marked exactly five days since my promise with Han Jaeyeong.

After undergoing all kinds of detailed examinations starting at six in the morning, I finally sat down for a consultation with the doctor.

“How can your condition improve this much in just a single day…?” The doctor stared at the chart in disbelief. “Even accounting for the fact that Hunters can’t be judged by conventional medical standards, this kind of rapid recovery is extremely rare.”

“Well, I’m not a doctor, so I couldn’t say.”

Of course, as the patient, I pretended not to know anything. It’s not like I could tell them I recovered because I’d eaten dozens of monster hearts yesterday.

“Then… does that mean I can be discharged now?”

“Yes. You can be discharged right after lunch today. There’s no reason to keep you hospitalized anymore. You’ve been through a lot.”

Even as they said that, the doctor continued to glance at the chart with suspicion. From a doctor’s perspective, a patient recovering overnight with no clear explanation would naturally feel unsettling. Of course, they would be aware that enhancers and potions exist, but there was no legitimate way for me to obtain them, and it would be hard to imagine that I’d managed to manufacture and consume a potion in a single day to temporarily improve my condition. My sudden recovery would probably remain a lifelong mystery to this doctor.

“Ah, while you are being discharged, there’s still the issue of your visa. You’ll need to remain in the hospital until someone from the embassy arrives. The hospital will contact the embassy on your behalf.”

"Thank you."

And being discharged meant that I could finally be freed from this miserable refugee status. All that remained was to go through the repatriation process via the embassy.

After finishing my consultation, I immediately began the discharge procedures and sent a message to Jeong Dajeong.

— Just got discharged. I’m planning to return on the earliest possible flight. I’ll let you know once the flight is confirmed.

Wow, that’s amazing! That’s really great! —

The reply came fast, so fast it almost felt like it arrived before I’d even sent my message. Then came a whole string of celebratory emojis, beating drums and blowing horns in over-the-top excitement.

He picked up some strange habits from Han Jaeyeong.

After seeing the emojis Han Jaeyeong had sent me on New Year’s, Jeong Dajeong had copied a bunch of them and has been making good use of them ever since.

I wanted to call just to hear your voice, but I’m at work and can’t risk it. Message me once you get to the embassy lol —

— Yeah

I sent a brief reply in the hospital lobby while waiting for the embassy car, then turned off my phone. Honestly, it was a relief that he couldn’t call because he was at work. I care about my family, but to be frank, he can be a bit overwhelming sometimes.

“Grr?”

Lobo, completely unconcerned about his own massive size, forcibly shoved his head onto my lap. Curious about my phone, he tapped at the screen with his nose. In Korea, a dog this large would’ve drawn a lot of attention, but fortunately in New York it seemed to be a familiar sight; few people paid much notice. Occasionally a security guard would come over to ask if he was a wolfdog and what his name was, though.

And then, after waiting about thirty minutes in the hospital lobby—

“I-I’m here!”

Lee Pyeonghwa arrived, having packed her belongings from the nearby hotel where she’d been staying. She was carrying a large Boston bag. It was a sharp contrast to me, who had no luggage at all besides Lobo.

“What did you buy that needed so much stuff?”

“You were stuck in hospital clothes, but I needed clothes and daily necessities—wait, what is that dog?”

Come to think of it, this was Lee Pyeonghwa’s first time seeing Lobo. Yesterday, since he’d been roaming the city hunting dungeons, I’d kept him under an invisibility item all day. But since we had to go through the embassy for repatriation anyway, it was time for him to start existing openly.

I stroked Lobo’s head and explained, “My level went up, so I summoned a new familiar. They told me it’s better to keep it summoned regularly so I can get used to it.”

That wasn’t a lie. This was basic summoning magic knowledge. Of course, Lobo wasn’t actually a summon but my creation and retainer.

“Oh, so this is what a summon looks like. He’s awesome. Looks like a military dog.”

Fortunately, Lee Pyeonghwa accepted it without much hesitation.

“Can I pet him?”

“If Lobo doesn’t mind… yeah, he doesn’t seem to.”

Lobo stayed perfectly still as Lee Pyeonghwa stroked his head, showing no sign of displeasure. He didn’t seem to feel any particular aversion. It was a completely different reaction compared to Leo, who disliked most humans without exception.

This one probably hasn’t had much contact with humans either.

Still, compared to Leo, Lobo was far more gentle, maybe that was why he didn’t shy away from strangers. If so, that was a relief. Once we returned to Korea, he’d have to live together with Jeong Dajeong as well.

While Lee Pyeonghwa was busy doting on Lobo, the car from the embassy arrived. When we stepped outside in response to the call, the rear window slid down smoothly.

Han Jaeyeong, sitting inside the car, smiled and waved. “It’s been a day~”

"Why are you riding in that car?”

“To be precise, I’m heading back to the embassy anyway, so I’m picking you up along the way. But…”

Han Jaeyeong looked down at Lobo, who was sitting obediently by my feet. Their eyes narrowed slightly.

Their gaze shifted to my face, but I simply ignored it.

After all, Han Jaeyeong already knew about Leo’s existence, and they’d also seen Lobo back in the previous dungeon.

“Well now, that’s a rather familiar-looking wolf. I think I saw him in the last dungeon, didn’t I?”

It seemed they had immediately realized that Lobo wasn’t a summon. At this point, though, one more suspicion hardly made a difference.

“Yeah. Since it’ll be cramped if Lobo gets in, why don’t you walk, Han Jaeyeong?”

“What a heartless thing to say. If we squeeze a little, there’s plenty of room.”

“…I’ll just take the passenger seat.”

Lee Pyeonghwa shook her head, loaded the Boston bag into the trunk, and climbed into the passenger seat before anyone could stop her. I was planning to take that seat.

With no other choice, I shoved Lobo into the backseat and sat there with Han Jaeyeong. As soon as we sat down, the expected question came.

“By the way, Daon, you look quite different from yesterday. You look better.”

I rested my arm against the window and let out a sigh. “I told you. I said I’d take care of it within five days.”

“If it were that easy, anyone could do it. Haha, though at this point, I suppose it’s hardly surprising.”

“Yeah. I figured it was about time you stopped acting surprised.”

“Between us, it’s practically a greeting. Especially since we have so much to talk about.”

I stayed silent. It was true, Han Jaeyeong was in a position to gather quite a lot of information. They’d even witnessed the monster known as the lifeless idol twice. They hadn’t heard the magician who created the barrier in this dungeon spill everything in confession, but the sense of unease surrounding Yu Hanul, and the strangeness of my silence, was obvious enough.

They probably can’t figure out exactly who I am… but they’ve likely realized I’m connected to the lifeless idols somehow.

I’d been caught up in Dungeon Breaks again and again, and each time the keyword “lifeless idol” surfaced. Han Jaeyeong wasn’t foolish enough to chalk that up to mere coincidence.

The real question is how much they’ve figured out.

That said, Han Jaeyeong was different from Yu Hanul. Yu Hanul was a hero who accepted quests and eliminated the crises threatening this world, but Han Jaeyeong occupied a far more ambiguous position. At times, they helped the hero; when they felt like it, they aided the weak. But fundamentally, they moved according to their own curiosity; a fairy through and through. And from what I’d observed so far, most of Han Jaeyeong’s curiosity toward me was closer to affection. Perhaps that was because they themselves were not truly human, only a being that resembled one on the surface, living among human society.

Han Jaeyeong grinned. “This isn’t a topic for now, but let’s talk once we’re back in Korea. We’ll need a three-way meeting, won’t we?”

“Why a three-way meeting?”

At my reflexive question, Han Jaeyeong turned to me with clear interest. “Don’t tell me you’re still awkward with Yu Hanul?”

“Awkward? That implies we were close to begin with. We’re not.”

“Wow. Even with how broad-minded Yu Hanul is, that’d sting if he heard it, especially since you are close.”

“I said we’re not.”

"Are you a child?"

“Why don’t you reflect on what you said yesterday first?”

“What did I say yesterday…?”

“Haha, you two really seem to get along,” the embassy staff member driving the car chimed in good-naturedly. It must have sounded like a very harmonious conversation between Han Jaeyeong and me. “To see such great chemistry between top-tier Hunters from our country, our nation’s future looks bright!”

Or perhaps they were just excited to be in the presence of S-rank Hunters you didn’t get to see every day.

Han Jaeyeong seemed mildly irritated at the interruption, but they didn’t show it and responded smoothly, “I’m glad it looks that way. If people thought we didn’t get along, there’d be articles about it.”

“Haha, true enough. We already had our hands full keeping reporters quiet after Association President Estella visited the hospital.”

“…Excuse me?” Han Jaeyeong frowned, looking as if they couldn’t believe their ears. “Who visited the hospital?”

“Oh, were you not informed?”

This time, it was the embassy staff member who looked surprised, and honestly, so was I. I’d assumed Han Jaeyeong already knew about Estella’s visit.

“Association President Estella came to see Hunter Jeong Daon. It wasn’t an official meeting, but there were so many reporters following her that it took quite an effort to shake them off…”

“…And why didn’t I know about this? I’m Jeong Daon’s current guardian.”

“Ah, according to what I heard, you were busy, so Hunter Yu Hanul said he would explain it personally…”

“Hah… that bastard, Yu Hanul.” Han Jaeyeong shot me a look, utterly dumbfounded. “Daon, why didn’t you tell me something this important? You should’ve said something the moment we met yesterday.”

“I didn’t know you didn’t know. I assumed you did. Why didn’t Yu Hanul tell you?”

“…Good question. I’ll have to ask him. What on earth was he thinking, not telling me about something that big…”

Crunch.

I could hear Han Jaeyeong grinding their teeth. They were clearly furious.

“Was it really that big of a deal?”

“Of course it was. Estella—that woman—coming all the way to see you? Anyone can tell it was a scouting attempt. And you’re currently under contract with our guild.”

Put that way, it was understandable why Han Jaeyeong was angry. From their perspective, they’d almost lost a guild member right under their nose. Even if the Hunter Association covered the penalty fee, how much time and effort had Han Jaeyeong already invested in me? If I’d been swept away that easily, the opportunity cost alone would’ve been incalculable.

“…Yu Hanul came running over to warn me not to sign anything with Estella without thinking.”

Han Jaeyeong looked so angry that I found myself instinctively defending Yu Hanul.

“Uh, from what I heard, nothing actually went wrong.”

“I don’t think Hunter Yu Hanul did it on purpose.”

Even the embassy staff member who’d been caught in the crossfire, and Lee Pyeonghwa, who’d been listening quietly, ended up siding with Yu Hanul.

But Han Jaeyeong showed no signs of calming down.

“Of course he’d try to stop it! A contract with the World Hunter Association sounds nice on the surface, but in reality it’s nothing more than a survival contest to become Estella’s chosen favorite.”

“‘Chosen favorite’ is a bit of a… graphic way to put it.”

“It’s people groveling for a seat at the side of power. Why would someone as talented as you throw yourself into that?”

It was a brutally sharp assessment. When you thought about it, it wasn’t all that different from what Yu Hanul had said. Just more blunt, more fundamental, almost raw in its phrasing.

“Knowing Yu Hanul, maybe he didn’t mean to hide it. Maybe he just forgot? He hasn’t seemed quite right lately.”

“Make up your mind. Are you criticizing him or defending him? Enough. I’ll deal with him myself. He’s right there.”

The embassy building came into view beyond the window. And just as Han Jaeyeong said—speak of the tiger and it appears—Yu Hanul was standing outside the building.

But he wasn’t alone.

Crunch.

An ominous sound came from Han Jaeyeong’s hand as they hurriedly unbuckled their seatbelt, and no wonder.

“Why is that woman here too?”

Estella.

The president of the International Hunter Association stood in front of the embassy, this time alongside Yu Hanul.