Just as he was about to speak to confirm his suspicion, hunters entered the departure lounge.

“Hunter Ryu Seo-ha, have you been well?”

“To think we’d meet again like this. Congratulations on passing the exam!”

The Awakened Management Bureau staff who entered as guides greeted him familiarly. The attention of the hunters selected as national representatives also focused on him.

“Oh! Finally getting to see your face! Nice to meet you!”

“He’s much more handsome in person? We could sue that photographer.”

“Come on, he looked pretty in the photos too.”

“Stop fawning, will you? Hunter Ryu Seo-ha, pleased to meet you. I’m Koo Myung-ho, the leader of this delegation.”

The departure lounge quickly became noisy. While hunters participating in individual events quietly found their seats and dispersed, those participating in team events flocked over and chatted energetically.

The reason for the favorable gazes towards Ryu Seo-ha wasn’t just because of the recent spotlight. Since most were combat hunters, they were naturally friendly towards healing hunters.

Unless they were inexperienced newcomers or freshly awakened with superhuman abilities drunk on their own superiority, no fool would disregard the necessity of a healer.

“Hello, I’m Ryu Seo-ha from From Hell Guild.”

“Nice to meet you. It must have been troublesome being suddenly drafted…”

“Wow! Your face really shines, it shines! What lotion do you use? Do you go to a dermatologist?”

“Hey, why would a healer go to a dermatologist? That’s just natural.”

“Oh, the Fromhell Guild Master came too? Whoa, I saw the news! He’s seriously handsome in person, wow!”

“…Let me speak, you guys.”

Some members of this delegation seemed to have slightly overactive personalities. Even as he was shaking hands lightly with delegation leader Koo Myung-ho, their audio didn’t stop for a moment. It said a lot that they were being so friendly even to Choi Gang-hu. It was also very like him to just nod slightly amidst all this.

In this chaotic situation, he was wondering if he should join the medical staff rather than the hunters when…

“Seo-ha.”

Someone called his name familiarly. Turning his head towards the unfamiliar voice, he saw the warm face of a man as big as a mountain. A faint ripple appeared in Ryu Seo-ha’s calm expression.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

It was Jung Woo-bin, Korea’s only S-class spatial hunter. He approached with an expression mixed with half a spoon of awkwardness, two spoons of gladness, and one spoon of joy, looking down at Ryu Seo-ha with nostalgic eyes.

“You’ve become even prettier.”

Seo-ha stepped back widely, avoiding the hand that suddenly reached out as if to pat his head. Jung Woo-bin’s hand, which had paused in mid-air, lowered awkwardly. The boisterous atmosphere subsided instantly.

“Well, of course you’d hate me.”

Jung Woo-bin’s eyes sank further at his own bitter mumble. He was a neighborhood older brother whose parents had frequent exchanges with Seo-ha’s since childhood. They were once close enough to be considered family.

“But I’m glad to see you again.”

Until that day 10 years ago when he closed off the quarantine zone knowing that Seo-ha hadn’t yet escaped from Chinatown.

Of course, Jung Woo-bin must have been in an unavoidable situation too. It was a time of global chaos, and there must have been strong requests from the government at the time. He had no intention of criticizing that choice.

“Hunter Jung Woo-bin, I’ve heard much about your reputation. I look forward to working with you during this IHL period.”

But he had no intention of returning to their former close relationship either. Why bother?

“Seo-ha…”

“As this is an official schedule, I’d appreciate it if you could maintain an appropriate distance. Is that alright?”

Jung Woo-bin’s expression crumbled sadly as Seo-ha indirectly expressed that he had no desire to be close like before. Ignoring this, Seo-ha turned his head towards Kwon Se-jeong who was just entering.

He wasn’t selected as a national representative. Despite being C-class, he was recognized for the versatility of his psychokinetic abilities and was accompanying as a practical affairs handler. Noticing the gaze, Kwon Se-jeong immediately approached.

“Hunter Choi Gang-hu, Hunter Ryu Seo-ha. We meet again like this.”

His polite bow had a soldier-like precision to it. When Seo-ha bowed back, Kwon Se-jeong responded with an uncharacteristic smile and continued with gentle eyes.

“Thank you for last time. Thanks to you, I made it out safely.”

“But Hunter Kwon Se-jeong, you also tried to save people in danger.”

“But due to my lack of ability, it almost became a meaningless act. I heard from Hunter Choi Gang-hu. That he received a request from Hunter Ryu Seo-ha to help me. Thank you again.”

“Even without my request, Mr. Choi… I mean, the Guild Master would have stepped in.”

As words of gratitude were exchanged a couple of times, the briefly stiffened atmosphere in the departure lounge slowly relaxed. After exchanging brief words of encouragement, Kwon Se-jeong glanced around the lounge and continued.

“I’ve been put in charge of managing the schedule for this delegation. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me anytime.”

“Yes, I will.”

“I was informed that there’s no separate checked baggage. Shall we board now?”

“Sure…”

“Hunter Ryu Seo-ha will be escorted on From Hell Guild’s private jet.”

As they were about to move towards the boarding gate following the guidance, a slender man suddenly interjected. It was Park Je-hyun, a physical awakened from From Hell Guild. He blocked Ryu Seo-ha’s path, having entered unnoticed.

“Private jet? What do you mean?”

“I believe the Guild Master sent an official document to the Awakened Management Bureau in advance.”

“I haven’t been informed of this.”

“Then please check again.”

The two, with similar expressions and tones, stood facing each other in a tense confrontation. Wondering what was going on, Seo-ha looked at Choi Gang-hu, who was leisurely watching with his arms folded.

“…Mr. Choi Gang-hu.”

He called out with eyes seeking an explanation, but Choi Gang-hu just smiled languidly.

“I’ll just move with the delegation.”

“Why?”

“I appreciate your consideration, but there’s no need to use a private jet just for me…”

“I’m going too, to Italy.”

Could it be that when he said he’d take him, he meant not just to Incheon Airport, but all the way to Italy where the IHL is being held?

“Aren’t you busy?”

When he asked with a dumbfounded feeling, Choi nodded lightly. Was that a yes to being busy or to being fine? His mind became complicated. Then what happens to the original plot? It’s not yet time for Choi Gang-hu to leave the country.

“…I’ve confirmed.”

Kwon Se-jeong, who seemed to be contacting superiors, stepped back with a voice resembling a low sigh.

“Then I’ll see you again in Italy, Hunter Ryu Seo-ha.”

And so, they moved to the boarding gate opposite to the delegation’s. Although it was permitted by the state, his steps weren’t light as he felt uncomfortable acting independently like this.

But even his sullen mood evaporated the moment he saw the private jet Choi Gang-hu had prepared. No, how can a plane have three floors? He hadn’t seen other private jets, but this didn’t seem like a common structure.

The exterior was surprising, but the interior of the building, no, aircraft was even more shocking. The place they moved to by elevator from the garage on the first floor was a classic bar. Various types of liquor bottles were displayed on the opposite wall.

It was a cozy place with a dark atmosphere, lit softly by Renaissance-style chandeliers and candles instead of fluorescent lights. The exotic brick interior made him feel like he had stepped into a movie.

“Do you know how to drink?”

Choi Gang-hu asked as he seated him in a chair as plush as a luxury sofa.

“…Yes. But aren’t we taking off soon?”

Ryu Seo-ha cautiously asked back, glancing at the guidance message appearing on the large TV installed in one corner of the bar. There were no visible seatbelts around the bar table. Would all those bottles displayed on the wall be okay?

“The items are finished with new dungeon-derived materials, so don’t worry about shaking. We’ll also apply items.”

Only after hearing him treat the plane as an easily purchasable item did he recall a news report he had glimpsed. It was about the recent discovery of a shock-absorbing material that could be synthesized with giant iron wood.

It would still be too expensive for commercialization. Suddenly, he wondered if this private jet was inherited property or bought by selling the endless magic stones accumulated in [Subspace].

“Ah.”

The plane took off while he was lost in thought. Surprisingly, there was no feeling of shaking. If it weren’t for the real-time broadcast from external cameras on the TV screen, he might have thought they were still on the runway.

As he was staring intently at the TV out of curiosity, Choi Gang-hu made a small clinking sound. Turning his head, he saw him mixing several alcohols and beverages in a highball glass.

Vodka, cranberry juice, orange juice, peach liqueur… Topped with thinly sliced orange and a red, cute cherry, a colorful cocktail was completed.

“Would you like to try it?”

Choi Gang-hu asked with an enigmatic smile as he slid the glass towards him.

“Is this high in alcohol content?”

“It’s made with non-alcoholic vodka.”

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked back and received an amused answer. Red, vermilion, yellow… The very refreshing-looking tropical cocktail tempted his eyes. He carefully took a sip.

“It’s sweet. I can taste peach.”

“That’s why it’s a dangerous drink. The original is close to 20% alcohol.”

“Do you like alcohol? You even know how to make cocktails…”

“I prefer just enjoying the atmosphere. I can’t get drunk anyway.”

He remembered a scene that had appeared fleetingly a few times in the original work. The image of Choi Gang-hu holding a wine glass, looking down at the never-darkening city nightscape. It might have been his own way of confirming that he had ‘returned’.

“There’s a place I’d like to show you. Would you like to come along?”

“Uh…”

“Bring that.”

As he hesitated to answer, looking down at the pretty cocktail he had barely tasted, Choi Gang-hu added with a smile. Having no particular reason to refuse, he nodded and quietly stood up.

“I hope you’ll like it.”

“Where are we…”

The moment the elevator stopped on the third floor, Ryu Seo-ha’s eyes widened. A state-of-the-art bathing facility unfolded before his eyes.