Chapter 550: Friend

“Geum Nari-ssi, right? Back when I went on an expedition for the Foundation, you often worked with Do Sihee-ssi….”

“……”

Geum Nari responded with silence to Han Min-ah’s seemingly confident question.

Although it wasn’t a direct answer, Han Min-ah felt that reaction was practically a confirmation.

Eunbyul, half-admitting that her identity had been discovered, slowly nodded after a moment of thought.

After all, they would be seeing each other in the same space for a while. Although their personal acquaintance was shallow, they were both connected by deep ties to the homeowner, Sung Taekyung.

It was a judgment that a clumsy denial would likely only damage their relationship.

“Yes, Han Min-ah-nim.”

“S-So, it was you…? I almost thought I hadn’t recognized you. I was unsure based on your voice and eye color, but your hair color has changed…”

“…I apologize for causing a misunderstanding. I should have greeted you first.”

“Oh, no! Eunbyul, I mean, Geum Nari-ssi, you’re from the Foundation in the first place! You must meet way more people than I do, so there’s no need for you to recognize me first!”

“……”

Han Min-ah, seemingly unaware of Geum Nari’s current predicament, apologized instead, showing signs of embarrassment.

Geum Nari watched her with calm eyes and quietly requested Han Min-ah to correct the name she had inadvertently used.

“I’m sorry, Han Min-ah-nim. The name Geum Nari right now…”

“Ah, s-sorry. Come to think of it, you’re Eunbyul here, aren’t you?”

“…That’s correct. Due to circumstances, I cannot currently use the name Geum Nari…”

“I kind of figured that might be the case when I saw you changed your hair color and your personality completely. I don’t know the reason, but it seemed like you were hiding your identity and pretending to be a servant….”

“…I apologize.”

“Oh, no! Geum Nari-ssi, I mean, Eunbyul-ssi, there’s no need for you to apologize!”

An awkward and tense standoff ensued between the two.

Given that they both knew each other’s secrets and had been discovered, the atmosphere inevitably became stuffy.

In that situation, Han Min-ah cautiously spoke up again.

“Does Sung Taekyung know about that?”

“Master, what are you referring to?”

“That Eunbyul-ssi is originally Geum Nari from the Geumhyang Group and a Hunter belonging to the Foundation, does Sung Taekyung know?”

“…Yes. Master knows that I was Geum Nari, a Hunter belonging to the Foundation. In fact, it’s precisely because he knows that he allowed me to stay in this house.”

“Well then, that’s a relief.”

“…A relief?”

“If Sung Taekyung knows… I figured I wouldn’t have much to say about it.”

“Huh?”

“…I just asked, in case. If you, Eunbyul-ssi, were hiding your identity with malicious intent towards Sung Taekyung and living with him, I wouldn’t have just stood by.”

“……”

“But since Sung Taekyung knows and allowed it, I don’t think I need to get involved. It doesn’t seem like you, Eunbyul-ssi, are trying to threaten him either.”

Contrary to expectations of interrogation or scolding, Han Min-ah accepted the situation calmly and readily.

Seeing her like that, Eunbyul turned the tables and asked Han Min-ah a question.

“Aren’t you curious? About why I use the name Eunbyul instead of Geum Nari, dye my hair black every morning, suppress my former personality, and live like a servant in Master’s house?”

“I am curious about everything, but Eunbyul-ssi, you started staying at Sung Taekyung’s place even before we moved in, right? It feels a bit inappropriate for me to interfere in an arrangement the two of you agreed upon.”

“……”

“And if you’re hiding your identity, I imagine there must be a reason. If it’s a reason Sung Taekyung could accept, I probably could too, so I don’t feel the need to pry into something the two of you are keeping secret.”

The current Master, and Han Min-ah.

Eunbyul inadvertently thought that the two seemed somewhat alike.

Especially in their straightforward and friendly personalities, similar to Master’s.

She had noticed her secret, but instead of revealing it carelessly to others, she came to her directly.

While she wasn’t angry about the hidden identity, she worried if it might pose a threat to her friend, Sung Taekyung.

And her attitude of not trying to force out another person’s secret just to satisfy her own curiosity.

The woman before her shared many similarities with her current Master in various aspects.

…So much so that she could intuitively understand why they might have become friends.

“I will tell you why I am hiding my identity next time.”

“…Are you sure? Of course, I’m curious why Eunbyul-ssi is hiding your identity, but I don’t intend to force you to tell me…”

“No. This is something I want to tell you, Han Min-ah-nim, of my own volition.”

“Huh?”

“…It’s sudden, and I haven’t quite sorted out my feelings yet, but when the opportunity arises next time, I will tell you together with Master, Han Min-ah-nim.”

“Ah, okay…”

Han Min-ah, who shared a similar personality with Master and was in a similar situation herself.

Seeing her, Eunbyul quietly thought to herself.

Instead of remaining merely Master’s friend, or a housemate living together, she felt a desire to become friends with Han Min-ah in her own way.

“…So that woman left early this morning, then.”

“Yep, she did.”

A few hours after Do Yehee left. These were the words Sihee said next to me, after I woke up from catching a few more Zs.

“It’s good news that the first face I saw this morning wasn’t hers. …Though, honestly, she already caused enough trouble for me up until now.”

“She also promised not to interfere in the relationship between you and me, Sihee. So, at least, something like what happened today probably won’t occur again.”

“If she has any conscience, she should. How long is she going to keep bothering Sungchul-ssi and me?”

Sihee’s tone remained quite sharp whenever Yehee was mentioned.

Still, perhaps due to spending the night together, or maybe because she helped during the recent Eunbyul rescue operation, her tone wasn’t as fiercely angry as before.

Or perhaps they had talked things over amongst themselves somewhere I wasn’t aware of.

“It is good news that we won’t be bothered by her anymore. The only person allowed to interfere between Sungchul-ssi and me is Nari, at best.”

“Still, you think Nari is allowed to interfere.”

“…Well, Nari is a friend I’ve known for a long time and can trust, and honestly, our sexual desires are somewhat similar. Of course, I’m not a pervert like her, getting excited after stripping my clothes off anywhere.”

“……”

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? No matter what, Nari’s sexual desires are way weirder than mine, right! I only become a bitch in bed, but that kid’s excitement starts from places outside the normal range…”

To be honest, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Whether it was masochistic desires triggered by being hit by men, or exhibitionistic desires triggered by stripping outdoors.

For some reason, I felt like I had this exact conversation about Eunbyul and Sihee’s desires before.

Did they become friends because they were similar, or did they become similar because they were friends?

As I thought that, picturing the face of the maid who wasn’t present, the words I needed to tell Sihee suddenly came to mind.

“Oh right, Sihee. I have good news.”

“What is it, Sungchul-ssi?”

“I’m getting promoted soon. To A-Class Hunter.”

“What?”

“I’m participating as a Healer Hunter in the ‘Abandoned Village Integrated Management Day’ this Friday. They’re letting me substitute that for my promotion exam.”

“Substituting for the promotion exam… Ah. Right, thinking about it, I remember there was such a system. I heard about it from a party member too.”

“Really?”

“By the way, does that mean Sungchul-ssi will also be heading to the Abandoned Village dungeon that day? Maybe we could even see each other inside the dungeon this Friday.”

“You say we might see each other inside the dungeon, does that mean you, Sihee, are also….”

“Yes. I was planning to participate in the purification work this Friday as well. Since it’s a large-scale operation, it’s good for accumulating achievements, and it’s much safer compared to regular expeditions.”

Well, it makes sense that Sihee would participate, given it’s an event where the top 3 Guilds mobilize a large number of B-Class and A-Class Hunters.

Wait, if Sihee is participating, does that mean Yehee, who is A+ Class, is participating too?

Perhaps this event might lead to a meeting between the company’s Sky Blue Shield and the Dokyung Group sisters from the Foundation.

…If that happens, how am I supposed to explain it to both parties then?

Perhaps unable to hide the sudden worry that crossed my mind, Sihee, noticing my expression, suddenly asked.

“Why the troubled expression all of a sudden, Sungchul-ssi?”

“…No, just a little.”

“Well, saying we might see each other was just a joke. If Sungchul-ssi had applied for close combat, which is your specialty, our paths might not cross. Even if we did meet, it would probably only be briefly at the beginning or end of the subjugation event.”

“…That’s probably true.”

“…Is it perhaps because you’re worried about potentially meeting me inside the dungeon that you’re making that face?”

“Oh, come on. It’s nothing like that, so don’t worry.”

“Then I’m relieved. I almost felt a little sad thinking that might be the case.”

Yeah, what’s the point in worrying about it now?

If we happen to meet inside the dungeon, we meet. If not, we don’t.

Besides, everyone already knew I was involved with other women besides them, so trying to hide it now would be more awkward.

“If you really want to see me, come over for treatment where the healers are gathered. If you’re lucky, I might be treating patients in the area where you’re operating.”

“Well, if I do get hurt, I’ll actively seek treatment, but I won’t abandon my duties to go looking only for Sungchul-ssi.”

“That’s true too.”

If there comes a time when we need to introduce each other, we’ll just introduce each other.

With that thought, I quietly waited for the date of the alternative promotion exam, which had suddenly drawn near.