[Half an hour before Han Wooju arrived…]
IT WAS a short but vivid conception dream.
Gyubin only met the dark-blue little dragon with purple eyes for a few minutes, and yet her heart already swelled with love for her baby.
Yes, her baby.
Is this how mothers— the decent ones, of course— feel when they lay their eyes on their child for the first time?
Haaah.
Gyubin couldn't believe that the life form in her womb was a dragon.
Well, I've been told that it was an S-Grade Beast. But will I be okay giving birth to a literal dragon?
["It's fine even if I don't get born as long as Eomma is happy and living well…"]
Gyubin felt another pang in her chest when she remembered what the baby dragon told her.
She suddenly felt bad.
The baby dragon already considered her as its mother.
She gently rubbed her still flat stomach.
It seems everyone wants me to give birth to you, little dragon ball.
Maybe it wouldn't be bad to do the world a favor before she died?
I mean, if the dragon ball implanted itself in my womb and became a fetus, then there's a high possibility it would be born a human, right?
Maybe it chose a human mother because it needed to be born a human.
Come to think of it, if the baby would be born a hero right away, it wouldn't need protection from an F-Class Hunter like her. After all, the skills that the System granted to her were skills that would protect her and the baby dragon… oh, wait.
She suddenly remembered what President Lim Hojin had told her before leaving.
["Please trust the System— especially the skills the System granted to you."]
Hmm?
Wait.
The skills granted to her by the System?
"System-nim," Gyubin called politely. "Please show me the list of my skills again. Thank you."
Her Status Window popped up.
And then it showed her what she asked for.
[Hunter Baek Gyubin's List of Skills
Main Ability: Housewife
Skill 1:
Skill 2:
Skill 3:
Skill 4:
Click here for the description of each skill:
Oh, my.
How could I forget that my main ability was titled 'Housewife?'
"I need a husband?"
The Status Window popped again.
[Correct! Hunter Baek Gyubin's skills will only get activated once you're married!]
"How old-fashioned," Gyubin complained. "I can be a single mom. Why do I need to be a housewife when I don't have a husband? The System-nim already forced me to be a mother. And now you're forcing me to be a wife, huh?"
[…]
"Answer me."
Aigoo.
She didn't mean to talk like how she used to back when she was still a delinquent— no, she didn't want to remember her dark past.
Anyway, the Status Window shook as if it trembled in fear.
[T-The System says it's Hunter Baek Gyubin's fault for not reading the last section of your Awakening Process! Hunter Baek Gyubin didn't even bother to check the list of your basic skills!]
"Tell System-nim that you should have put the important part in the beginning," Gyubin complained. "If the System knows me, then the System should have known that I don't read manuals! When I buy a piece of furniture, I just build it without reading the instructions. I'm not proud of this, but I only read webcomics because they have pretty drawings!"
[The System says we're sorry!]
"Okay, I forgive you," Gyubin said, leaning against the pillow behind her. She was short-tempered, but she was also easy to pacify. Plus, getting angry was tiring. "Where will I find a husband?"
[The System strongly recommends Hunter Han Wooju!]
Aigoo.
"Everyone in Korea knows Hunter Han Wooju was born a chaebol. His family even owns the company that made the game I always play," Gyubin said, waving her hand dismissively. "Plus, he's a billionaire himself now. He owns the biggest luxury shopping mall in the country that caters to both ultra-wealthy Civilians and Hunters. What makes you think he'll marry a flop idol like me? I'm not putting myself down— I'm just being realistic."
[For once, Hunter Han Wooju was the owner of the S-Grade Beast before it became your baby. He's also responsible for the birth of the hero, Hunter Baek Gyubin.]
Oh.
That makes sense.
Responsibility, huh?
"I guess that's reasonable," Gyubin said, closing her eyes when sleepiness pulled her. "Let's ask him later."
And Baek Gyubin really did end up asking Hunter Han Wooju to marry her.
***
[Present time…]
"WHY do you suddenly want to marry me, Miss Baek?"
"It's not sudden," Gyubin said, letting go of Hunter Han Wooju's arm that she forgot to release when she started bombarding him with questions related to his private life. Then she started to get up. "I'm sorry for grabbing you and touching you without permission. Hunter Han Wooju-ssi."
"Ah, it's alright," Han Wooju said casually. "Do you need help raising the bed?"
"Yes, please."
He just nodded, and then he pushed the button that adjusted the bed to her desired position.
So, now, Gyubin was sitting comfortably while leaning against the headboard.
"Thank you, Hunter Han Wooju-ssi."
"You can just call me by my name, Miss Baek."
"Then you can do the same. And please speak comfortably. I'm younger than you."
As far as I know, Wooju-ssi is twenty-nine years old.
"Alright, Gyubin," Han Wooju said, calling her by her name casually right away. Then he sat on the chair next to the bed— his face still calm and, well, indifferent. "So, what made you want to marry me?"
"President Lim was here earlier."
"I know."
Hmm.
So straight-to-the-point.
It makes me wonder what kind of girls caught Wooju-ssi's eye when he seemed dense.
Anyways…
"President Lim tried to convince me to keep the baby," Gyubin said. The president didn't tell her to keep their meeting a secret, after all. "He offered me 100 billion won."
"What?"
"President Lim also said he'll help my group members in their careers."
"Did President Lim ask you to marry me?"
"No," Gyubin said while shaking her head. "He did give me some useful advice that made me realize I need a husband, though."
Han Wooju tilted his head to one side. "You "need" a husband?"
"I actually had a conception dream," she explained awkwardly. "I saw a little dragon and I fell in love with it. That beautiful encounter convinced me to keep the baby."
"Are you sure you're not just being pressured by President Lim? Maybe Dr. Im threatened you, too."
"Dr. Im did threaten me, but I'm not scared of her."
"Then why did you decide to keep the baby?" Han Wooju asked, confused. "Gyubin, your pregnancy will change your life. It will also affect your body and mental health since you didn't want this pregnancy."
"I know, and I've already considered all of those concerns," Gyubin said, nodding. "But, Wooju-ssi, they're right. I'll die whether I keep the baby or not. So, I'd rather die a year later than die while the baby is being extracted from my body."
The Hunter fell silent as if he realized that she made a valid point.
"I'm not exactly thrilled to give up my career and become a mother against my will, but I don't want to die earlier than expected," Gyubin said in a small voice. She wasn't happy talking about her "expiration date" again and again, after all. "So, I'd like to keep the baby. But I don't want to do this alone— no, I'm scared to do this on my own."
"I understand," Han Wooju said while nodding. "I also wanted to take responsibility for you, Gyubin. So, I'm considering your suggestion positively."
Gyubin let out a sigh of relief. "Actually, there are two more reasons why I needed a husband."
"Yes, you were talking about that earlier. May I know those reasons?"
She raised one finger. "First, my main ability is titled 'Housewife.'"
"That's… unique."
"It's ridiculous, I know," she said firmly. "All my skills as a 'Housewife' are related to keeping the household running and protecting the baby. The System-nim said I need to be married before all those skills get activated, though."
"The System is being annoying, huh?"
"Right?" Gyubin agreed with Han Wooju while nodding firmly. "But, to be honest, even without that ridiculous requirement to activate my skills, I'd still want a husband if I'm keeping the baby. And it's because of my grandma."
"Did you tell your grandmother that you're pregnant?"
"No, but Grandma had a conception dream for me. She also saw the baby dragon in her dream, so she called and asked me when I was getting married. And Grandma also said she can't wait to see me in a wedding dress," Gyubin explained nervously, and then she paused for a moment. "Wooju-ssi, you do know that my grandmother also has Bloom Disease, don't you?"
Han Wooju's face darkened, and then he nodded. "Yes. I found out from Hunter Park Dong-min that you and your grandmother are the remaining survivors of that tragedy."
"My grandma's disease is already in its last stage," she said, looking down at her hands because talking about her grandmother's condition was heartbreaking for her. "People with Bloom Disease, during their last two or three months, suffer from a condition similar to dementia. Grandma barely remembers me these days. But, after she had the conception dream, Grandma finally called me by my name again. She was so excited at the idea of seeing me getting married. So, I didn't have the heart to tell her the truth."
It was embarrassing to show her vulnerable side to a stranger.
Han Wooju-ssi is a hero and not a friend to me, so it's awkward for me to share this sad moment with him.
But she didn't want the Hunter to think that she was taking advantage of him.
Hence, the long explanation.
"Gyubin, let's get married."
Hmm?
Gyubin immediately raised her head. "A-Are you sure, Wooju-ssi?"
"Yes, but I have a condition."
"What is it?"
"Don't accept what President Lim Hojin offered you— whatever he offered, I'll double it."
"I'm fine with getting 200 billion won instead of 100," Gyubin said, half-serious and half-joking. "But why do you want me to turn down President Lim's offer?"
Han Wooju's face instantly darkened. "I just hate him."
But why…?
***
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