"Hah..."

Cha Soo-hyun could feel it deep down—Lee Jin-hyuk was losing interest in her.

Just last week, when he recruited her, he acted as if he would give her the world. But this week, he was a completely different person.

The cold, distant look in his eyes told her that he saw her as nearly useless now.

The recent developments at Blue Guild were undoubtedly a major factor in this shift.

[Blue Guild, S-Rank Hunter Cha I-seul Recruited]

"Why... why is this happening..."

She stared at Baek Ji-hoon, who held the microphone at the press conference. He was doing so well, too well.

‘Ah...’

She looked at him with a sorrowful expression, reaching out to touch the screen as if it could bridge the growing chasm between them.

‘Why did I do that... I was so foolish...’

Her face was full of regret as she gazed at Baek Ji-hoon with longing, then lowered her head in despair. No matter how much she regretted the past, there was no way to undo it.

‘Maybe... maybe I should try going to him...’

An inexplicable urge surged through her, and she stood up abruptly.

"Hyung..."

Park Hyung-seok entered the office, looking rather alarmed.

"Yeah? What’s up?"

When he looked like this, it was never a good sign.

"Cha Soo-hyun Hunter is here... She’s practically begging to see you..."

"Cha Soo-hyun?"

I had anticipated she might do something like this, but her desperation was more intense than I expected.

"I’ll go down."

"Okay, hyung."

We met at a nearby café.

Cha Soo-hyun had completely changed her demeanor. She was dressed in a muted, calm outfit, her head bowed, hands clasped in her lap, fists clenched tightly.

She seemed deeply remorseful.

‘Hmph. And what do you expect me to do about it?’

I almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation. The roles had completely reversed in just ten days.

Ten days ago, Cha Soo-hyun had been overjoyed and triumphant, while I was at rock bottom.

But now, everything was different. I was soaring to new heights, while Cha Soo-hyun...

She was an S-rank Hunter in name only, an E-rank in reality.

"What do you want?"

I leaned back in my chair, looking at her with an air of disdain.

"O... oppa... Thank you... for meeting me..."

Her voice trembled, and she couldn’t even lift her head.

Though her face was hidden by her hair, I could tell she was on the verge of tears. Her fists, resting on her knees, were shaking.

She had never spoken to me so politely before. Today was different—she was the one lowering herself before I even said a word.

"What do you have to say?"

"I... I’m sorry... I was wrong..."

She still didn’t lift her head, her voice filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"So?"

"I’m sorry... I just wanted to apologize... I feel like I made a huge mistake..."

"And?"

"I just wanted you to know that I’m truly sorry..."

She couldn’t bring herself to look up at me.

"Pointless. I’m leaving."

I responded coldly and stood up. Moments like these called for a firm, unyielding approach.

"Thank you... for meeting me..."

She never raised her head. She seemed satisfied just to have spoken to me, content with being in the same space as me. I left her there, head bowed, crying softly.

"Sob, sob..."

After Baek Ji-hoon left, Cha Soo-hyun’s tears fell freely.

"Why did I do that... You stupid girl. Why did I let go of someone like him..."

The saying "the grass is always greener on the other side" rang true for her. Cha Soo-hyun had thought that marrying Lee Jin-hyuk would give her everything she ever wanted. But now, she painfully realized that Baek Ji-hoon had been the better choice all along.

It was becoming increasingly clear to her that Lee Jin-hyuk didn’t care about her as a person.

‘I’m sorry, oppa... I made a huge mistake. What should I do now?’

Her mind was consumed with regret.

She was in a predicament with no way out. Her abilities had diminished to E-rank, making her useless in dungeons.

Even trying to return to her succubus activities was a futile effort. And now, Lee Jin-hyuk had started pressuring her since yesterday.

He seemed furious over the success of Blue Guild.

‘What should I do now? How am I supposed to live?’

Tears streamed down her face, but they offered no answers.

‘What’s this? Cha Soo-hyun actually apologized? She must be really desperate.’

I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. I had expected something like this, but her reaction was even more intense than I had imagined.

The old Cha Soo-hyun would have likely approached with a high and mighty attitude, expecting to charm her way back into my favor.

But this time, it was completely different. She apologized, humbling herself, even using honorifics.

‘Cha Soo-hyun, apologizing? The sun must be rising in the west today.’

I returned to the office with a satisfied smile.

"Hyung... how did it go?"

Park Hyung-seok asked with a concerned expression.

"Cha Soo-hyun apologized."

"What? Cha Soo-hyun Hunter apologized?"

"Yeah, she was on the verge of tears. I bet she cried after I left."

I replied with a slight grin.

"Wow... I never expected Cha Soo-hyun to apologize. That’s shocking."

"Right? She must be really scared. Baekho Guild’s situation must be pretty bad."

"Hyung, you’re amazing. At this rate, you might actually end up commanding all the S-rank Hunters."

I couldn’t help but smile at that.

"But then... are you going to forgive her? Cha Soo-hyun? Maybe things could work out again..."

"Are you crazy? Forgive her? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s never going to happen."

I shut that idea down immediately.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

"Um..."

It was Lee Soo-ah.

"What’s up? Need something?"

It was unusual for her to seek me out like this.

"Well... I saw you walking in just now. You looked really pleased. You were grinning as you came back to the office. Did something good happen?"

She stepped into the office, looking somewhat hesitant, as if gauging my mood.

"Oh, just something that made me happy."

"What was it...?"

"Someone I wanted an apology from finally apologized. So I’m in a good mood."

"Ah...?"

She had a puzzled and somewhat conflicted expression.

"Hah... Sigh..."

Lee Soo-ah was pacing around, visibly anxious.

‘He got an apology...? Is this the person he mentioned before, the one he wanted to make regret their actions? Is that it? Hah...’

Her anxiety grew with each passing day as Baek Ji-hoon’s influence and power seemed to expand at an unstoppable rate. She felt like she was becoming increasingly out of her depth, unable to keep up with him.

‘What’s going on? Why is Ji-hoon growing so fast? Who could it be that apologized? It must be because he’s doing so well now. Who could it be?’

She nervously bit her nails, her unease creeping higher and higher.

‘Hah... Ji-hoon is so desirable... But it seems like the competition is getting tougher. I can’t even deal with Yoo Hana, and now someone else has apologized and regrets something? Could it be his ex-girlfriend? No way, right? But if it is, will she start clinging to Ji-hoon too? I’m losing my chance...’

Her face was a portrait of desperation.

"What are you doing here, Lee Soo-ah Hunter?"

Section Chief Cha passed by and casually asked.

"Hah... Chief Cha, what are we going to do about our guild?"

"Why? Our guild is doing great."

"Hah... It’s just that..."

Lee Soo-ah was practically stomping her feet in frustration.

"What is it? Just tell me."

"Hah... There are just so many people gathering around Ji-hoon these days."

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

"No. It. Is. Not."

She spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, her tone bordering on threatening.

"Why? Lee Soo-ah Hunter, do you have a thing for Ji-hoon? You’re not the A-Team leader anymore, so there’s no reason for you to protect him. In fact, he’s the one who’s been successfully recruiting talent from other guilds..."

"Hah... I don’t know..."

She seemed utterly at a loss.

"Hehe, come on, just be honest with me, Lee Soo-ah Hunter. Maybe I’ll help you out a bit if you’re honest."

Section Chief Cha chuckled as he approached her.

"W-what do you mean...?"

"What do you think? Your feelings for Baek Ji-hoon."

"What... what are you talking about?"

"You’ve been making it pretty obvious, yet you keep pretending otherwise."

"W-what are you saying!!!"

"Hah... This isn’t going anywhere. I’ll be going now—I think I’ll side with Cha I-seul Hunter instead."

"No! Don’t go, Chief Cha!"

Lee Soo-ah grabbed his arm, desperate.

"Alright, then. Say it yourself."

Section Chief Cha stared at her expectantly, clearly waiting for a confession. Lee Soo-ah’s face turned a deep shade of red, her emotions a mix of embarrassment and panic.

"Hah... Sigh... F-fine!! Yes! I like Baek Ji-hoon! I want to be by his side!!!"

She practically screamed, her voice shrill with desperation.

Section Chief Cha burst out laughing.

"Wow~~~ Baek Ji-hoon must be something else. He’s even managed to melt our ice queen."

His expression was one of pure amusement.