Chapter 156 – 156. For a Long Time

Thud.

Seol Mi-jung, who had been watching Kang Dae-woong go out the door, turned around. The house, which had been warm and lively until just now, had become cold and lonely like a lie.

She unknowingly leaves behind her sigh and sits down on the sofa. The warmth that remains faintly. She put her hand there, like someone who wants to melt their hands on a still fire.

I wish this warmth would last forever.

‘…Greed?’

I already knew the answer.
It is greed. Too much too.

So Seol Mi-jeong quietly closed her eyes.
Because greed was greed only when it showed it. Instead, she looks back on what happened today.

Kang Dae-woong, who had gone out the door, comes back and sits next to him, as if the video is being rolled back. His bewildered face turns to comfort.

It’s so cute to see her hungry and languid.

He got up from his seat and headed to the table.
Mi-jeong, who would follow him, also headed to her table. The sight of enjoying a meal with a clattering sound.

And.

“…”

Intense eyes staring at her own breasts.
Following her footsteps with that gaze, touching her own skin every time, her breathing becomes rough.

Then, a woman appears in her mind.
Now, as long as I can’t even remember her face properly, her body, which was trying to get hot thanks to her, coolly sinks.

Seol Mi-jeong looked at her ceiling with eyes that did not contain any emotion.

“…Again.”

The words he spat out spread in the air and disappeared.
And yet, the vague image of a woman still lingers in her mind.

Seol Mi-jeong narrowed her brows and took out the white wine she usually drank and drank it.

The slight fever that had been taken away from her returns, and the image of the woman that filled her head gradually disappears. She drank the wine from her glass once more and followed Kang Dae-woong’s footsteps to the bedroom.

Seruk.

A bed that remains as it is when he wakes up. As I slipped into it, I thought of Kang Dae-woong, who was sleeping in his arms with a most peaceful face.

‘How long.’

I have never seen such a face.

‘When I was a student, he often slept with me.’

As she kissed her lips, she fumbled with her memory.

The first time was to soothe him who couldn’t sleep because of longing. I was so happy that I had a good night’s sleep. Even now, just thinking about that time brings a smile to my face.

However, she couldn’t really smile.

‘…’

It was around the time he took off his youth that his pure intentions began to change.

Grow taller His shoulders broaden. As his face became manly.

He uncovered the emotions buried deep in his heart.

The feelings he had never revealed to the world and thought he would never reveal in the future. It was taken out by Kang Dae-woong, not by anyone else.

…Lie.

Seol Mi-jung, who had closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly opened her eyes. It seems that the spirit of drinking has fallen while immersed in her old memories. As she got up from her bed and went to get her wine, she suddenly looked at her dresser.

“…”

She stared at her closet for a long time before she straightened herself up. The closet door opens. With her on her knees, she pulls out the entire chest of drawers and puts her hand in it.

After fumbling around, I found a small, old notebook.
Seol Mi-jung, sitting down, brushed off the dust from her and opened her notebook.

Photo torn in half.
The photo was torn apart and put back together.

Turn over one more page.
In the photo taken by the three of them, the middle part is scratched.

Turning to the next page, I saw a picture of a woman with half of her face torn off, holding a man and a baby.

On the next page was attached a photo of herself and her young Seol Da-jin together.

Again, the face of a slightly disfigured woman.

Seol Mi-jeong turned over the last page of her notebook. There were two photos that were in better condition than the others.

Portrait of a smiling woman and man.

Seol Mi-jeong looked at the only undamaged picture of the woman and looked at her ceiling again. The woman’s face, blurry in her mind, becomes clearer.

“…Look at this.”

A word that rings hollow.
Closing her eyes and covering her notebook, she made her feeble steps towards the kitchen. She didn’t find an old photo that had fallen under the bed.

* * *

A few days later, I visited the Hunter Association with her aunt.
It was to get permission to establish a guild. As she got out of the car and waited for the elevator, her aunt asked.

“You look nervous.”

“I can’t say no.”

“There is no need for that.”

“I know. Who is next to me?”

Showing a smile of trust, the elevator arrived just in time. I let out a short breath through her mouth, and when I got on, she pushed the button for the 11th floor where her department was located.

“So, when are you planning to move?”

“I decided to do it this week. All the other contractors agreed to do the same. Didn’t you hear from Dajin noona?”

“I didn’t hear.”

“…I’ll have to talk to you later.”

“I should also pack some things in advance within the week. I’ll be busy when the official permission is gone.”

“Ah, I bought things like daily necessities, so you don’t have to bring them.”

“I get it.”

With her answer, the elevator that reached its destination stops. When the door opened, a woman in a suit greeted me with a bright smile.

Following her guidance, we entered the meeting room where the judges were waiting, and the judging began with a brief greeting.

Well, the screening wasn’t that difficult or anything like that. Because it was simply a procedure to check whether she was a person who could cause harm to society and whether she met the conditions.

After the review, which took about 30 minutes, we were finally able to come out after hearing an explanation about the guild and the responsibilities of the guild leader.

“Whoa.”

Exhaling, I let out the tension that remained inside and looked out the window.

“You’ve become a real guild leader now.”

“It’s not until it’s officially registered, isn’t it?”

“Your aunt seems to be relieved, too. I see you are joking around.”

The corners of her aunt’s mouth lifted slightly.
When I saw her, I smiled at her and hugged her with her grateful heart and her affection.

“You worked hard, aunt. And thank you. For helping me.”

My aunt also hugged me tightly around my back.
As I dropped her body after her brief hug, she suddenly stared straight at me with both hands covering her cheeks.

“…Good job. Kang Dae-woong.”

I momentarily wondered if I had made a mistake, so I burst out laughing.

“My aunt suffered more than me. In that sense, I’d like to treat you to a meal. Do you have a good time?”

“Okay.”

“Then let’s go. The guild management team leader.”

“…”

“Um, why?”

“…Call her Auntie, except in public places.”

“All right. Aunt. Let’s go.”

After exiting the Gri Hunter Association, we headed to the restaurant we had reserved. After escorting her out of the chair and sitting in her seat, her aunt insinuatedly asked:

“By the way, the guild name was unusual. What do you mean?”

“Oh, is that it? I’ve been thinking about it for a few days with my lover… And he said we should come up with a fundamental name that would allow us to get together.”

“Radical?”

“It is my ability.”

“…I get it. But why did you only discuss it with your lover without discussing it with me? No, did you seek opinions from Dajin or other contractors before that?”

“Uh… Don’t you like it?”

“…Not like that.”

I couldn’t say that I had discussed it with my lovers, including Seol Da-jin, but I was making an awkward expression, so the course meal I ordered arrived just in time.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere was slightly refreshed, and I said sorry to my aunt.

“From now on, I will definitely seek out my aunt’s opinion. Sorry.”

“No. I was sensitive I wasn’t mature enough.”

“No, this is my fault. From now on, I will ask my aunt first.”

“…Thanks.”

“What. Shall we eat then?”

The aunt, nodding her head, picks up her utensils.
After that, she talked about miscellaneous things and finished her meal, and her aunt took her to the side of the road near her room.

“Then Auntie, I’ll see you on the day you go to work.”

“Kang Dae-woong.”

“Yes?”

“…I just called it once. See you then.”

I smiled wryly at the bland answer, said hello once more, and closed the door. Then, after a while, a silver sedan departs.

As I watched, I turned around and headed for my room.

“Are you here?”

“Here you are, brother.”

Lovers who greet me with bright smiles after I finish organizing my luggage. While Jeong Ha-ryun accepted my clothes, Seol Da-jin asked.

“Hey, how did the screening go?”

“Is there anything wrong? Just ask the basics and you’re done.”

“So you’re saying pass?”

“Uh, they say there’s nothing wrong with the paperwork. Well, my aunt prepared it, so it’s only natural. It will probably be officially registered next week.”

“Now then, are you a real guild leader?”

“Why? Are you embarrassed?”

“It’s embarrassing, kid. Proud.”

I smiled and tapped Seol Da-jin on the butt, and Jung Ha-ryun pushed her face toward me and said,

“I’m the guild leader.”

“…What is that.”

I see why my aunt told me not to call her by her title. As she shook her head and showed her dislike, Jung Ha-ryun asked with a pouty expression.

“Why… Don’t you like it?”

“Uh.”

“Hey.”

“Just call me what you call me. Or call me honey.”

“Heheh… Honey…”

Her expression soon loosened, and she hugged me wide and rubbed her face. I asked, gently stroking her hair.

“Oh, and. Didn’t you forget to take your mother-in-law to the guild house the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes. Hehe. It is expected.”

She nods her head as she still buries her face. I smiled deeply and answered with sincerity.

“Me too.”