Chapter 91: Chapter 91
JUST BEING reminded of Park Ruda’s scent was enough to make Wonhee feel nauseous.
She covered her mouth with her hand when she thought she was going to throw up.
Of course, her friends instantly got worried.
"N-Noona, are you okay? Is the side-effect of Guiding Hwang Frost-nim only showing up now?"
Wonhee inhaled the fragrant smell of her hand cream lingering on her palm.
Fortunately, it helped her forget about the smell of camellia flowers that seemed to be stuck in her memory.
"This might sound crazy, but I suddenly developed a fear of camellia flowers," Wonhee confessed to her friends. "But I’m fine with normal camellia scent. The one that I can’t stand is the camellia scent that Ruda Oppa gives off." Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveIＦire.net
"Ruda-ssi smells like camellia flowers?" Ahyeon asked. "Did he give off the same scent when we were at the restaurant before, Noona?"
That was the last time Ahyeon met Park Ruda.
"Yeah. His camellia scent was so strong that it made me dizzy," Wonhee said. "Did you not smell it back then, Ahyeonnie?"
Ahyeon shook his head. "I like flower scents, so I would have remembered if Ruda-ssi was wearing a scent that smells like flowers."
"T-Then is it possible that only I could smell it?"
"That’s possible," Yool said nodding. "But what do you mean you developed a fear? What are you afraid of, Wony-ah?"
"I don’t know, Yool-ah. But I tremble every time I smell camellia flowers."
"But it has never happened before? We’ve been friends for five years now. You love flower scents."
"This sounds crazier, but it only happens when I meet Ruda Oppa," Wonhee said. "It actually happened again when I met him this morning."
"So, it only happened after you awakened?"
"That’s right, Yool-ah," she said, nodding. "Do you think it’s something I should be worried about?"
"Of course it is," Yool said firmly. "It’s weird that you tremble over the scent of camellia flowers, but it only started when you awakened." He turned to Ahyeon. "Ahyeonnie, do Awakened People unlock a new fear after being awakened?"
Ahyeon immediately shook his head. "I have never heard of such side effects, Hyung. In fact, high-ranking Hunters and high-class Guides have gotten rid of most of their phobias after awakening."
"Then... what happened to me?"
"You don’t remember anything, right?" Yool asked, and then he knitted his eyebrows. "You awakened while you were in APA’s custody, and they mistreated you while you were there. Is it possible that someone tampered with your memory?"
"That can’t be, Hyung," Ahyeon said while shaking his head. "Newly awakened people are at their strongest during the first few weeks of their awakening. Plus, Wony Noona is an S-Class Guide. Noona is practically the 5th member of the Big 4. Who could possibly tamper with an S-Class Guide’s memory?"
"Ahyeonnie, the Big 4 are the only naturally awakened S-Class Hunters RECORDED," Yool said, emphasizing the word ’recorded.’ "Who’s to say that there aren’t other natural S-Class Hunters out there who are hiding their real class by using a skill?"
"B-But it’s both illegal to hide that you’ve awakened and to hide your real class..."
"Ahyeonnie, that won’t stop people from breaking the law."
"How do I know if my memory was tampered with?" Wonhee asked worriedly. "I hate the feeling of not knowing what I’m supposed to remember."
"Let’s ask Song Moonho," Yool said. "His information network, as described in the novel, is legendary."
"Yool-ah, do you trust Song Moonho?"
"Well, he only became bad in the novel because Graham killed his younger brother who harassed Ahn Kisoo," Yool said. "As long as Song Sunho is still alive, he won’t be a threat. Plus, we’re going to make a contract with him to make sure he won’t betray us. And if he still does, we have Hwang Frost to go after him."
"I don’t trust Song Moonho-nim, but I trust Yool Hyung’s judgment," Ahyeon said. "What do you think, Noona?"
"Yes, we should ask for all the help that we can since the three of us don’t have access to the dark side of the Awakened World," Wonhee said, and then she paused for a moment. "I hope Ruda Oppa just happens to wear the same scent that gives me fear– I don’t want him to be the cause of it."
"Wony-ah, Park Ruda isn’t your friend."
"If you can’t hate Park Ruda, then I’ll do it in your place," Yool declared. "I have so much hate to give."
Ahyeon nodded. "M-Me too, Noona. I’ll hate Park Ruda-ssi in your stead...!"
Wonhee smiled at her friends, and then she changed the topic because she didn’t want them to suddenly build a ’Park Ruda Hate Club’ for her sake. "How’s Ahn Kisoo-ssi? Did he regain his abilities in the novel?"
"I don’t know," Yool said, frowning. "The last volume ended with the appearance of the villain. Unfortunately, the only thing I remember is the way the novel described the villain’s scent. But I’ll grab my diary once I get home and re-read the stuff that I wrote five years ago."
"Thank you, Yool-ah."
"This is for my survival as well, so no need to thank me, Wony-ah."
Wonhee just smiled and nodded. "So, what do you want for dinner?"
"CHU WONHEE, thank you so much for Guiding me!"
Wonhee felt a bit flustered when Graham ran towards her with his arms open, as if he was about to give her the biggest bear hug ever.
[W-Will my bones break if he hugs me?]
Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about that.
Ahn Kaia, the Vice Guildmaster of the Summer Guild, grabbed Graham by the back of his neck.
[Oh, Ahn Kaia-ssi is so tall...]
Wonhee was already tall at 173cm, but Ahn Kaia was 184cm.
[Plus, Ahn Kaia-ssi is toned...]
"Were you startled, Miss Chu?" Ahn Kaia asked worriedly. "I apologize on behalf of our Guildmaster."
"I-It’s alright, Miss Ahn," Wonhee said, smiling. Then she turned to Graham and checked his eyes. "I’m glad your eyes have turned back to normal, Graham-ssi."
"It’s all thanks to you, Chu Wonhee," Graham said, and then he pointed at himself. "Just call me ’Oppa.’"
"No," Soobin, who appeared from behind Wonhee, said while "smiling" at Graham. "I’m the only person my baby sister will be calling ’Oppa’ here."
Graham was about to say something, but Ahn Kaia covered his mouth with her hand.
"We’ll make sure to compensate you for this, Miss Chu," Ahn Kaia said in a hurry, and then she turned to Soobin and bowed to him politely. "We’ll go ahead, Vice President."
Wonhee wanted to say that she didn’t need compensation, but Ahn Kaia already dragged Graham away after saying their polite goodbyes.
[Graham-ssi can really be overwhelming...]
No wonder Yool hid in the guest room when Graham woke up.
"Just accept whatever they give you," Soobin said, patting Wonhee’s back. "You deserve it, Hee-ya. I’m sure the Summer Guild will give you something useful."
"Is it really okay to accept it, Oppa? I just did my job as a Guide."
"People get paid for their jobs, don’t they?"
"Oh. Then I’ll accept it with a grateful heart."
Soobin nodded and patted her head, and then he glanced at Ahyeon (standing by the door) before turning to her again. "Where’s Hwang Frost?"
Wonhee was worrying about what to say when, suddenly, she felt a gush of cold wind behind her.
"Did you miss me, Hyung?"
Soobin rolled his eyes at Yejun’s sarcastic remark. "Our Hee-ya has a meeting with her agency tomorrow. Don’t leave my baby sister’s side."
Wonhee sighed while shaking her head. "Oppa, Yejun doesn’t need to stick to me all the time."
"It’s alright, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said, and then he turned to her with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I like sticking to you like glue."
Soobin glared at Yejun.
Wonhee, on the other hand, prayed that she didn’t blush.
[I thought we were gonna act awkward around each other after the kiss, but I guess not.]
It was scary how normal physical intimacy was between a Hunter and a Guide.
"Hyung, I’ll make sure Wonhee will arrive at her agency tomorrow, but can I leave her for a moment while she’s in the meeting?" Yejun asked. "The baby herbivore will be there anyway."
Wonhee sighed while shaking her head.
[Ahyeonnie looks sad that Yejun still calls him ’baby herbivore’ instead of his name. I’ll scold Yejun later.]
"Hwang Yejun, if you’re going to enter a dungeon illegally again–"
"Nah, I’m meeting with Song Moonho, Hyung," Yejun said, cutting off Soobin casually. "But we’re just going to talk." He even raised his hand as if he was taking an oath. "Promise."
"One has a foul mouth and one is a master of sarcasm," Soobin said while shaking his head. "Can you and Song Moonho really start a decent conversation?"
"Probably not, so I’m bringing Gong Yool with me."
Wonhee’s eyes widened in surprise. "Gong Yool– my friend?"
"Yep," Yejun said, tilting his head to one side. "Can I borrow your friend, Wonhee-ya?"
[That’s up to Yool, you know?]
["YOOL-SSI, see you tomorrow. ^^"]
That was the ominous message that Yool received from Song Moonho.
And now, he understood what the old man meant.
Yool really should say goodbye to his NPC life now.
[I can’t escape anymore, so might as well work harder for my survival and my young friends’ sake.]
"Gong Yool, you’re going with me, right?"
That was an order disguised as a question.
Yool, who was sitting across from Hwang Frost, avoided the Hunter’s sharp gaze. "I-I’ll go..."
"Yool-ah, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to," Wonhee, seated beside Hwang Frost, said worriedly. "Don’t let Yejun intimidate you."
"Wonhee-ya, I asked your friend nicely."
"Yool is easily scared, though."
"Nah, that one is a vertebrate."
Yool cleared his throat.
He glanced at Hwang Frost, but he quickly avoided his gaze. So, he just focused on Wonhee.
[They look so picture-perfect together.]
"Wony-ah, shouldn’t we tell Hwang Frost-ssi the thing that we talked about earlier regarding Park Ruda?"
Yool let Wonhee tell Hwang Frost what they talked about.
"But we’re not sure because apparently, no one could have tampered with my memory since I’m a newly awakened Guide," Wonhee said, sighing. "Ruda Oppa can’t do that since I have a higher rank than him, right?"
"Nah, it’s possible," Hwang Frost said casually, and then he turned to Wonhee with a serious look on his face. "Wonhee-ya, I can’t give you an explanation yet. But please avoid Park Ruda in the meantime. If you see him, ask the baby herbivore to put a barrier around you."
Wonhee looked like she wanted to ask questions, but in the end, she just nodded. "Okay, I got it."
Yool wished Wonhee listened to Hwang Frost’s advice that time.
[But the main characters don’t get a break, do they?]
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