hotmtlnovel Chapter 104
Chapter 104
And so, it was the fifth day since I made the promise to Han Jae-young.
After completing all the detailed tests starting at 6 AM, I had a consultation with the doctor.
“How is it possible for your condition to improve this much in just one day...?”
The doctor was astonished as he looked at the chart.
“No matter how much a Hunter defies general medical knowledge, such rapid improvement is rare,” he said.
“Well, I’m not a doctor,” I replied.
Of course, I pretended not to know.
I couldn’t exactly say, “I recovered because I ate dozens of monster hearts yesterday.”
“So, can I be discharged now?” I asked.
“Yes, you can leave today at lunch. There’s no reason to keep you here anymore. You’ve been through a lot.”
The doctor said this while still looking at the chart suspiciously.
From his perspective, it must be unsettling that a patient recovered overnight without any apparent reason.
Although the doctor probably knew about the existence of the reagent, I couldn't have obtained it through proper channels.
And it would be hard for him to guess that I had made the reagent myself and temporarily improved my condition by using it.
My sudden recovery would likely remain an eternal mystery for this doctor.
“Oh, you can be discharged, but there’s an issue with your visa. You’ll have to stay at the hospital until the embassy staff arrives. They will contact the hospital,” the doctor added.
“Thank you.”
Being discharged meant I was finally free from this dreadful refugee status.
The only remaining task was to go through the repatriation process via the embassy.
After my consultation with the doctor, I immediately proceeded with the discharge procedures and sent a message to Jeong Da-jeong.
Just got discharged. I plan to return on the fastest flight. I’ll contact you once the flight is confirmed.
Wow, that’s great!
The reply was quick. It almost felt like I received a response before I had even sent the message.
Then, a series of celebratory emojis with drums and cymbals followed.
‘I’ve learned something strange from Han Jae-young.’
After seeing the emojis Han Jae-young had sent me on New Year’s, I copied a few and started using them regularly since then.
I was going to call you to hear your voice, but I’m at work, so it’s a bit awkward. Message me when you get to the embassy, haha.
Okay.
While waiting for the embassy car, I quickly replied in the hospital lobby and then turned off my phone.
It was actually a relief that I couldn’t call. While I love my family, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming.
Growl?
Not caring about its size, Robo forcibly shoved its head onto my lap, curious about my phone. It tapped the screen with its nose.
If this were in Korea, a dog of Robo’s size would definitely attract attention, but fortunately, in New York, it seemed to blend in well, and no one paid much mind.
Sometimes a guard would come over, asking if it was a wolfdog, and ask for its name, though.
About 30 minutes later, as I waited in the hospital lobby...@@@@
“I’m here!”
Lee Pyeong-hwa arrived, having packed up at the nearby hotel.
He was carrying a large Boston bag.
It was quite the contrast to me, who had no luggage except for Robo.
“What did you buy all this time?” I asked.
“You’ve been in a patient gown, but I needed clothes and essentials...” He paused, glancing at Robo. “And what’s that dog?”
Ah, right. This was the first time Lee Pyeong-hwa had seen Robo.
Yesterday, we had to hunt monsters in the dungeon, so I kept Robo cloaked the entire time, but since I was about to go through the repatriation process via the embassy, I had to reveal Robo’s existence sooner or later.
I patted Robo’s head and explained.
“I summoned a new creature after leveling up. I was told to get used to summoning it regularly.”
This wasn’t a lie; it’s basic knowledge in summoning magic.
Of course, Robo isn’t just a summoned creature, but a creation and my servant.
“Ah, so this is the summoned creature. It’s really cool! Like a military dog.”
Fortunately, Lee Pyeong-hwa quickly understood.
“Can I pet it?”
“If Robo doesn’t mind... doesn’t seem to mind.”
Robo just sat still as Lee Pyeong-hwa pet its head, not showing any signs of rejection.
It seemed Robo didn’t mind at all.
In comparison, Leo would usually dislike contact with most humans.
The embassy driver, who had been quietly driving, casually spoke up.
It must have sounded like we were getting along so well that he felt the need to comment.
“It’s great to see top-tier Hunters getting along so well. The future of our country is bright!”
Or maybe he was just excited to meet an S-rank Hunter.
Han Jae-young seemed a little displeased by the interruption, but he smoothly replied without showing it.
“I’m glad it seems that way. If we weren’t getting along, there’d be articles about it.”
“Haha, that’s true. Actually, it was a bit of a hassle trying to cover up that Estella, the Association President, visited the hospital.”
“...What?” Han Jae-young frowned.
It looked like he couldn’t believe his ears.
“Who visited the hospital?”
“Didn’t you hear?”
The embassy staff member who was driving looked surprised.
And I was surprised too.
I had assumed Han Jae-young knew about Estella’s visit.
“Estella, the Association President, came to visit Jeong Da-on Hunter. It wasn’t an official meeting, but there were so many reporters following her that it was hard to shake them off...”
“...Then why didn’t I know about this? I’m her current guardian.”
“Oh, I was told that since Han Jae-young Hunter was busy, Yoo Han-ul Hunter would talk to you about it...”
“Ahh... Yoo Han-ul.”
Han Jae-young looked at me with disbelief.
“Why didn’t you tell me something this important? You should’ve told me as soon as we met yesterday.”
“I didn’t know you didn’t know. I thought you’d already know. Why didn’t Yoo Han-ul say anything?”
“...Yeah, I’ll have to talk to him about that. What kind of mindset does he have, not telling me about such an important incident?”
Crunch!
Han Jae-young’s teeth ground together.
He must have been quite upset.
“Was it really that important?”
“Of course. Estella, the woman, coming to visit Jeong Da-on Hunter was obviously to scout her. And Jeong Da-on is contracted with our guild.”
Having said that, it was clear why Han Jae-young would be upset.
From his point of view, he was almost about to lose a guild member right in front of his eyes.
Even if the Hunter Association pays the penalty, how much effort has Han Jae-young put into me?
It would be hard to calculate the opportunity cost if I decided to join Estella’s side.
“...Anyway, Yoo Han-ul came to stop me from signing with Estella.”
Han Jae-young’s expression was so intense that I found myself defending Yoo Han-ul without realizing it.
“Uh, I heard there wasn’t a big issue.”
“I don’t think Yoo Han-ul Hunter did it on purpose.”
Of course, the embassy staff, who had been unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire, and Lee Pyeong-hwa, who had been quietly listening, all took Yoo Han-ul’s side.
But Han Jae-young didn’t seem ready to calm down.
“Of course, he tried to stop it! Signing with the World Hunter Association is nothing but a survival game to get Estella’s personal position.”
“Personal position is a bit of a stretch.”
“Yeah, they’re trying to gain favor with the powerful. Why would someone as talented as Jeong Da-on join that?”
That was a pretty harsh assessment.
If you thought about it, it wasn’t too different from what Yoo Han-ul said, but Han Jae-young was digging into more fundamental aspects with his critique. His expression was more primal.
“I don’t think Yoo Han-ul was hiding anything on purpose. He probably just forgot. He’s been a bit off lately.”
“Stop gossiping or pick a side, Da-on. I’ll deal with it directly. It’s right over there.”
Beyond the window, I could see the embassy building.
And just as Han Jae-young said, ‘speak of the devil,’ Yoo Han-ul was standing outside the building.
But he wasn’t alone.
Crunch!
There was an ominous sound as Han Jae-young hastily unbuckled his seatbelt.
Of course, it made sense.
“Why is she here again?”
Estella.
The World Hunter Association President was standing outside the embassy, alongside Yoo Han-ul.