Chapter 85 – Family Comes First

“I am not blaming your response at the time, Ms. Hee-na. It was the correct decision.”

Kang Jin-hyun nodded, saying he fully understood Hee-na’s stance.

However, he quickly returned to a strict expression.

“But regarding this dungeon walk, you made an extremely dangerous choice. For a C-class non-combat type to think of roaming around inside a dungeon… this is behavior beyond common sense.”

“Still, I had appropriate items, and if I used my map skill, I could avoid the dungeon boss too…”

“That is complacent thinking. To think that you, Ms. Hee-na, who rejected my proposal and chose to live a normal life for your own safety and stability, would commit such a bold deed.”

It was true. As he said, this was unlike Hee-na. Who could have expected that the timid, extreme safety-prioritizing Lee Hee-na would make such a radical choice?

However…

“…But if I don’t clear this quest, I will lose both Osaek-i and Badugi. They aren’t humans, but they are members of our household, and our family.”

No matter how important safety was, family took priority above all else.

Hee-na had lost her parents at the age of fifteen and grown up comforting each other alone with her brother. To such a Hee-na, family was a concept bound by something even greater than affection and trust.

“I will never abandon anyone I consider family.”

At the resolute answer, Kang Jin-hyun seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“…I see. To you, Ms. Hee-na, family is an existence that takes the highest priority.”

Stroking his chin, he muttered slowly as if chewing over the words.

“An existence that will never be abandoned… like that.”

With those words, Kang Jin-hyun remained silent for a while. He looked to be pondering something deeply.

While Hee-na rolled her eyes, and around the time Badugi, who had been sitting on his roots, began to twist his body in boredom.

“I can no longer trust your safety, or rather, your sense of safety, Ms. Hee-na.”

Kang Jin-hyun spoke as if throwing it out. Hee-na apologized reflexively.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future…”

“Words alone are not enough.”

He was very firm.

“Then what else should I do… Should I write a pledge? Or make an oath on a magic stone?”

It was about the time she was wondering how to clear up this situation. Kang Jin-hyun crossed his arms again.

“I must personally see and verify your safety.”

“How?”

She was already doing that plenty. They saw each other daily for five weekdays a week, and occasionally ran into each other on weekends to chat.

‘What more can he do than that?’

While she was wondering, a bombshell announcement dropped.

“I must move into your house, Ms. Hee-na.”

“…Excuse me?”

Hee-na doubted her ears. She even cleaned out her ears and asked again.

“What do you mean by that?”

Kang Jin-hyun did not bat an eyelash even at Hee-na’s exaggerated reaction.

“Exactly what I said. I will also enter and live in your ‘Home Sweet Home,’ Ms. Hee-na.”

“In my house, you, Mr. Jin-hyun?”

“Yes. I must be right by your side to monitor… no, verify that you do not behave foolishly. I can also help you when danger strikes.”

‘To accelerate suddenly like this?’

Wanting to suddenly move in and live together was a truly random proposal. Extremely flustered, Hee-na hesitated and took steps back.

“Ah, well. Our house is extremely small. It’s barely twenty pyeong, so it’s tight just for me and Oppa to live together, and since many things live there, it’s hectic. You dislike that kind of thing, don’t you, Mr. Jin-hyun?”

“During dungeon conquests, I am someone who sleeps even on the bare floor.”

Kang Jin-hyun stepped forward as much as Hee-na had backed away. Because of the height difference, a significant sense of intimidation was felt.

“If you do not accept my proposal, I will report that plant-type monster named Badugi to the authorities.”

But at Kang Jin-hyun’s threat-like threat, Hee-na could not help but flare up and shout.

“You are too much! Threatening me using Badugi!”

“Whether civilian or awakened, breeding or cultivating monsters is prohibited under international law.”

“…”

That was true. While monsters were evaluated as humanity’s primary enemy that could not be tamed, on the other hand, they were also existences that could be used as a kind of war weapon.

Therefore, monster research was conducted under very strict regulations.

Of course, although secret rumors circulated that major powers were covertly conducting monster-related research like nuclear testing, this was strictly prohibited publicly.

If the fact that they were raising Badugi, who was obviously a plant-type monster, was discovered, it was clear that the Hee-na siblings would face a very difficult situation.

“The only reason I did not eliminate that monster was because of your plea, Ms. Hee-na. There is no other reason.”

At the almost aggressive point, Hee-na dropped her eyebrows, and the quick-witted Badugi slinked backward to hide behind a large tree. In the midst of that, it was admirable that he did not run away completely because he was worried about Hee-na.

‘To think Jin-hyun would behave so cheaply.’

Hee-na even felt a sort of betrayal.

Of course, Hee-na, who was raising Badugi, was not in a position to hold her head high either.

But she had not expected that Kang Jin-hyun, whom she had thought was just a simple and reliable person, would press her so shrewdly.

“If you let me into your house, Ms. Hee-na, I will turn a blind eye and cover all of this up. I also promise to actively help even if problems arise in the future.”

He used a carrot-and-stick strategy. He repeatedly pressed Hee-na and then gently coaxed her.

In this situation, there was almost only one answer Hee-na could give.

“Fine! Have it your way, Mr. Jin-hyun!”

Hee-na, getting angry on her own, yelled out.

“We don’t even have a room for you to stay in at our house! Is the great S-class Hunter Kang Jin-hyun saying he will sleep in a corner of someone else’s living room?”

Hee-na’s house was in the form of a small two-room. One room was used by Hee-na, and the remaining room was used by Hee-won.

There was no room for Kang Jin-hyun to use. At best, could they spare the living room, which was a narrow communal space?

“You do not have to worry about that.”

Kang Jin-hyun waved his hand to reassure the extremely angry Hee-na.

But Kang Jin-hyun’s calm voice only excited Hee-na further. Hee-na barked like an angry Chihuahua.

“How can I not worry? You’re not planning to have a rolling stone displace a settled stone, are you? We absolutely cannot give up my brother’s room!”

Letting someone who wasn’t even family into this small house out of the blue was unacceptable!

“Calm down. I have a way.”

“What way are you talking about? It’s not like you’re going to upgrade our house, Mr. Jin-hyun!”

“I can do that for you.”

“What can you do for…”

Hee-na was about to yell, but opened her eyes wide.

Something appeared on Kang Jin-hyun’s palm. It was a shiny coin, looking as if he had taken it out of his inventory window.

“You said you upgraded the house with a piece of space, right?”

“Y-Yes, but…”

“Here is a piece of space.”

He handed the coin to Hee-na’s hand in a relaxed manner. The fingers that briefly brushed as she received the coin were firm and warm.

Hee-na inspected the coin in her hand in detail. Then, a description window appeared.