Hong Ye-seong, who had remained in the world born from the apocalypse, somehow managed to return to the original world. When asked how, he couldn't remember a thing.
"Maybe… the Hong Ye-seong from the first world helped him."
That was the only guess anyone could make.
After the System vanished, Kkokko, who had been powered by mana stones, could no longer move. The once-lively mechanical chicken was now nothing but a round, smooth porcelain figurine. All the equipment Ye-seong had crafted suffered the same fate.
He eventually set up a workshop under Bukhansan and lived alone. Though he could have enjoyed life freely in the world below, he chose the quiet of the mountains instead. When asked why, he simply replied,
"It's just… more comfortable."
From time to time, he sent handmade cups and bowls to Eui-jae, always in pairs. The craftsmanship was still flawless: beautiful, sturdy, and full of quiet skill. With Ga-eul's help, he'd even begun selling a few online, and every time he posted them, they sold out within a minute.
Then, VRRROOOM!
A thunderous motorcycle engine roared outside. Eui-jae looked toward the door with a weary, enlightened expression.
Honeybee stormed in, tugging off her helmet and thrusting a shopping bag at him.
"Here! Pine needles!"
"Oh, thank you."
Eui-jae accepted the bag carefully. It felt strangely… light. A bad feeling creeping up his spine, he peeked inside.
"…Hm?"
There were only a few lonely pine needles stuck in the bottom fold of the bag. Nothing else.
He blinked, glancing between the empty bag and Honeybee.
"…Uh?"
"What? You said you needed pine needles."
She tossed her light brown hair back over her shoulder, looking slightly smug. Once bright gold, her hair was now dyed a softer shade, because even an A-rank Awakener couldn't find a strong enough dye these days.
She still worked as a model, balancing it with fencing training, preparing for the day she'd lose her powers and return to being a regular athlete.
"These are all there are."
Eui-jae said, holding up the few strands.
"What? No way! The bag was full when I left!"
"Maybe they all blew away on your bike."
Bae Won-woo snorted, still skewering meat with an amused grin.
Honeybee started to snap back but paused. Her gaze flicked from the motorcycle to the nearly empty bag. She turned her head aside, lips pursed.
"…Fine. My bad."
Eui-jae chuckled softly and set the bag by the door.
"It's alright. Pine needles aren't essential anyway. Come on in, we're making rice cakes."
Just then, an old, rattling compact car pulled up behind the bike. Out stepped Jung Bin and Gyu-gyu, stretching stiffly.
Gyu-gyu waved lazily.
"Ah~ J! Long time no see~"
"Long time no see. How's your mother doing?"
"Much better, thanks. The mutation's aftereffects are almost gone."
After the end of the world, those whose bodies had been warped by its influence slowly began returning to normal. The process was slow, like the fading of awakened powers, but with Nam Woo-jin's serum, recovery came much faster.
Eui-jae's own mutation was fading too. Someday, his ashen hair would turn black again. Or maybe it wouldn't. Either way, it didn't matter.
Then, something poked Gyu-gyu's back. He turned and found himself face to face with a boy no taller than his waist, his green eyes gleaming.
It was Nam Woo-jin's assistant, the Marionette Boy.
When Gyu-gyu stepped aside, the boy approached, presenting a yellow cloth bundle with perfect posture.
"Hello, J-nim. My master could not attend in person as he is busy producing the mutation cure. He sends this as a Chuseok gift."
"Wow, doctors really do make lots of money."
"Looks expensive."
The hunters around them began chanting playfully.
"Open it~"
clap clap
"Open it~"
clap clap
Even Sa-young, still draped over Eui-jae's back like a stubborn cat, tilted his chin, signaling him to go on.
Damn it.
Under everyone's expectant gaze, Eui-jae carefully untied the bundle. Inside was,
"…Huh?"
"A 50-volume children's book set for Miss Ha-eun, and a hearing aid for your grandmother. Her latest health checkup showed a slight decline in hearing, so it's been calibrated to her levels and is ready to use."
'…Nam Woo-jin, you incredible man.'
'What a guy. So thoughtful. The best of all the "Super Hamsters."'
Eui-jae gaped at the gifts, then abruptly stood and hugged the boy tight.
The Marionette Boy, expressionless, glanced at Sa-young clinging to Eui-jae's back, his eyes glowing with suspicion.
"…How should I interpret this reaction?"
"It means thank you. Tell Woo-jin I said thanks, exactly like this. Oh, and when the rice cakes and pancakes are done, I'll bring some to the Seowon Guild. Thanks again."
"Understood."
The boy bowed and left.
As Eui-jae headed to the kitchen, Sa-young still on his back, Won-woo glanced at the retreating Marionette.
"Hey, isn't he powered by mana stones too?"
Ga-eul, now frying meat and vegetable patties, answered,
"I heard he's animated by an Italian awakener's ability, something like a puppeteer."
"So if that awakener's powers fade…"
"Mm. He'll probably stop too… someday. But that's still far off."
"…Kinda sad, huh."
"Ye-seong too…"
Ga-eul glanced toward the wall, where Hong Ye-seong sat quietly against it.
"He's looked pretty down since Kkokko stopped moving."
"Partings always come without a sound."
Jung Bin said softly. He had taken off his jacket and rolled his sleeves to the elbows, calmly flipping zucchini pancakes with chopsticks.
"How many of us ever get to prepare for goodbye properly? There's always regret. But we mustn't drown in it."
He moved the golden pancakes onto parchment paper.
"We can pause for a moment, but we still have to move forward. Sadness, regret, failure, they all become the soil for what grows next."
"The PSA man himself. You sure know how to talk pretty."
"Haha, please don't tease me, Gyu-gyu-nim."
The room filled with laughter.
Then Eui-jae came out, carrying a large bowl of rice cakes dough and a basket of sesame filling.
"Alright, everyone, let's make some rice cakes!"
"Wooo!"
He divided the dough and filling among small groups, naturally sitting beside Sa-young. He smiled lazily at him, watching his skilled hands.
"Come on, make one. I'll steam yours separately."
"You'll eat it?"
"Of course. Who else would?"
"…Fine then."
Nodding obediently, Sa-young began.
Following Eui-jae's example, he flattened a small piece of dough, pressed a dent in the middle, added sesame filling, and folded it shut. It came out a little uneven, but charming in its own way.
"Not bad."
Eui-jae said.
"…Hmm."
He didn't seem satisfied, focusing even harder on his next attempt.
Eui-jae watched him closely. Always grumbling, but when told to do something, he gave it his all. Eui-jae wanted to give Sa-young more experiences like this, simple, warm moments he'd never had before. Holidays spent together, food made with his own hands.
Then, tap. Something nudged his ankle.
He blinked, glancing down. Sa-young was brushing his leg with his foot.
"Hey."
"Don't focus too much on the rice cakes."
"Then what should I focus on?"
"Me, obviously."
That beautiful, sharp face curved into a smug smile.
"You should be watching me make rice cakes."
"…Good grief."
He was getting more childish by the day, petulant, selfish… and somehow endearing.
Resting his chin on his hand, Eui-jae nodded. Only then did Sa-young look content, shaping another dumpling with practiced hands. His movements grew smoother, more confident. When he was done, he grinned like a well-fed cat and held it out.
"Here. Take it."
"…What is it?"
"My heart."
And with that, Sa-young stood.
"The smell of oil's making me queasy. Call me when these people clear out."
Without hesitation, he left.
Eui-jae stared down at the rice cakes in his hand.
It was shaped like a heart, perfect, without a single dent.
"…"
He rubbed his reddening ears furiously.
'Damn it… seriously…'
He held onto that rice cake for a long time, careful not to crush it, resting it gently in his palm while the others finished their work.
By the time everyone was done, dusk had fallen. The sky outside the window was a watercolor of fading orange and blue, darkening into night.
It was too late to wait for the rice cakes to finish steaming, so Eui-jae made the call.
"Come pick them up tomorrow. If you can't, I'll deliver them myself."
The others left reluctantly, sighing but smiling. They waved, promised to meet again, and disappeared into the evening.
"…"
He didn't feel lonely. He knew he'd see them again, and besides…
"Hey, come in. Everyone's gone."
"…"
Sa-young, as always, was still there, his quiet, steadfast presence. He yawned, walked over, and rested his head on Eui-jae's shoulder with practiced ease.
"Took them long enough… Don't invite so many next time."
"Why? It was fun, wasn't it?"
"…"
"…No?"
"…Fine. It wasn't that bad."
His voice was curt, but soft.
Laughing, Eui-jae pulled him close. His warmth seeped through, the same warmth that had once been faint, but was now growing, day by day. A sign that even Sa-young's powers were fading.
Someday, they would both lose everything.
"Sa-young."
"…Mm?"
Oddly enough, Eui-jae wasn't afraid of that day. Maybe this was the life he'd wanted all along, an ordinary, noisy, peaceful life surrounded by people he cared about.
"Let's go home."
A life with his one and only success by his side.
Hand in hand, they turned off the restaurant lights. He closed the sliding door, flipped the sign to CLOSED, and locked up.
Sa-young laced their fingers together naturally, and the two walked off into the flickering glow of the streetlights.
The Hunter had only ever wanted a quiet life.
And after a long, wandering journey, at last, that wish came true.
The Hunter Wants to Live Quietly — The End
(To be continued in the side stories...)