Chapter 34 (2/2)

“Purple Deep. You know what it is?” she asked.

“Of the alien world?”

“Right.”

Plants of the alien world were often taken by hunters operating inside the rift.

Purple Deep was known to have analgesic and sedative effects, but it was forbidden from personal possession, except in special cases.

“I believe it will be kept secret,” she said.

“Yes.”

Shin Yoo-hee stood first and held out her hand. However, Yoo-seong politely shook his head and stood on his own.

He managed to put on his composed demeanor again though he hadn’t fully recovered.

“Please keep this a secret,” he said to her.

“Of course. You didn’t want to be seen like this by others. That’s why you walked this far, wasn’t it?” she said, putting the cigarette back in her pocket.

He didn’t reply.

“Why did you act strong when you needed help? Why do you do the things you do? Why do you take the risks you take?” she asked, wanting to be sure of her hunches.

“Do I have to tell you why?”

“No, you don’t have to.” Shin Yoo-hee said as she raised her hands and turned, pretending not to be interested. “I’m just going to believe that you’re not the type to do things just to get people’s attention or honor.”

“No. You’re wrong.” Yoo-seong said, and she turned around in surprise. “It Is because of attention and honor.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She frowned.

“If you really want that, why don’t you film some commercials? It’ll only take one call. Then, you can easily get money and admiration.”

For the first time, she realized she raised her voice.

“I want to,” Yoo-seong answered. “It’s just not the time yet. I still have to train, enhance my skills, and be certified.”

“The way I see it…” she began, but he cut her off.

“You’re free to think whatever you want of me, but my image, which the world now sees, is an image made by your company, not me. Fame and wealth are what you want for me.”

Shin Yoo-hee was speechless. Yoo-seong was right.

He was a hunter who valued ​​life above all else. She hadn’t said the words, but that had been her hope for him all along. She had just been concealing her admiration for him.

Shin Yoo-hee’s chest was clogged.

“You jumped in with me. You volunteered despite the risk of death,” she whispered.

“Because that’s my job,” he said. “If it remained open any longer, the problems could escalate. Thousands of people would have died, and the industry reputation would have been destroyed.”

He fixed his collar as he continued to speak.

“I could help, and so, I did. However, money and fame are the aftereffects of doing my job. I’ll give my life to save a civilian. But, if I’m rewarded for it, I won’t say no.”

Shin Yoo-hee remained silent as she watched him.

She realized the two things that were important to Yoo-seong:

Work – the path that he was on; and the people who helped him walk that path.

That had to be the reason why he displayed the Parasitic Bee: to honor Sung-wook’s talents.

“Anyway… I appreciate your help. Do you have anything more to say to me?”

She remained silent and kept watching him. She thought about apologizing, but she had another idea.

“Well, you’ve shown what great contributions your master, Sung-wook, has made towards the industry. Walk back in there, looking strong and confident, and you’ll earn more respect. Besides, being chosen among the five is honor enough.”

Yoo-seong raised his brow.

“Well, there’s no reason to refuse,” he said.

It would be hard for him to stand calmly in the hall, but he had to bear it, not only to give and receive business cards but to show them that Sung-wook’s technique had no aftereffects.

He moved to walk again, but Yoo-hee raised a finger at him.

She pulled out the cigarette and handed it over to him again.

When he acted reluctantly, she tilted her head.

“Take it.”

“This is too m-” Yoo-seong began, but Yoo-hee slammed the cigarette into his raised palm.

“I’m not giving it to you forever. Of course, I’ll take it back when I see you later. For now, use it. And don’t get caught, or else!” she said.

“I can’t take it.”

“Think of it like an apple.”

Yoo-seong tilted his head in amusement.

“When I first saw you in the last operation, I treated you as a completely incompetent person, right? I judged from your appearance.”

“Well, it was natural to judge that way.”

“The same is true this time. I almost judged you based on an appearance you created. So, accept this as my apology, and let’s move on with clean slates, shall we?”

Yoo-seong did not decline this time. He had experienced the effects of the drug firsthand, and he couldn’t say no.

“I’m going to go now. I hate buffet food,” she said as she began to walk away.

“So, I’ll see you at QR later?”

“No. I’m quitting.”

Yoo-seong opened his eyes wide.

“I have already made up a good story and sent it in with my resignation letter. I guess I’ll do freelance hunting for the time being,” she said with a smirk.

“I see.”

“Well, then, I hope you do well,” she said as she walked on and disappeared around the corner.

Yoo-seong went into the building and up the stairs.

He went through the corridor and stopped at the doors of the hall.

Before walking in, he pulled out the cigarette and put it in his mouth, taking in the gas.

He felt the drug flow through his body.

Somehow, it felt as if the fragrance was Shin Yoo-hee’s, and not from an alien plant.

It made him feel confident.

He swung the door open and walked in.