"Uh, Hunter Song Hanhwi?"
The Solaris Guild Association chairman, Davian Ellandre, raised an eyebrow, confused and disoriented why an important figure of the country was in front of him.
A young man sat across from him, legs crossed, dressed sharply in a suit. His dark hair brushed just above his piercing green eyes, which were fixed on the chairman with an unwavering gaze.
He let out a sigh.
"Hoo… Yes?"
Davian tilted his head.
Why was this young man answering with a question?
"Ahem…"
Davian cleared his throat.
"May I ask what brings you here?"
It was what everyone in the guild, and the reporters outside, wanted to know.
The man sitting before him was none other than Song Hanhwi, one of the strongest Hunters in the world.
An SSS-Class Hunter.
No one knew much about him except for his power and his good looks.
So, seeing him show up out of nowhere left Davian shocked.
"Uh…"
Davian cleared his throat again, waiting for an answer.
Hanhwi just stared at him for a moment, then sighed again.
"I…"
He started, and Davian leaned in, focusing.
Hanhwi took a deep breath and then dropped the bomb.
"I'm retiring."
"..."
'What?' was Davian's first thought.
He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
One of the strongest Hunters in the world, who was only twenty-five, wanted to retire?
"Haha, Hunter Hanhwi…" Davian tried to laugh it off. "You're joking, right?"
"..."
"..."
Davian's smile faded.
Hanhwi's expression hadn't changed at all.
Wait… was he serious?
"I get that I'm good with jokes, but…"
Hanhwi sighed again.
"I'm serious this time, Mr. Davian."
"B-but…"
Davian tried to speak but didn't know what to say.
Song Hanhwi was the strongest Hunter Davian had ever met.
He was ranked in the top five worldwide and seen as a national treasure.
Why would someone like him, someone everyone admired, suddenly decide to retire?
Davian had a million questions, but then one thing clicked.
Wait.
Why is he telling me this?
"I see, but… Mr. Hanhwi, is there a reason you're revealing this to me?"
It was a fair question.
If Hanhwi wanted to retire, shouldn't he be telling the public, not a guild leader like him?
Hanhwi leaned forward, his hands clasped, looking serious.
"Because… you run the strongest guild in the country."
Huh?
Davian was confused.
How did that answer his question?
"I-I see, but Mr. Hanhwi—"
"People pay attention to what comes from the strongest guild," Hanhwi cut him off, taking a sip from the orange juice the waiter brought him.
"I'm not affiliated with any guild, and I have no desire to make a spectacle of my retirement. I need someone trusted to deliver the message. I figured…you were the perfect person. That way, I can just leave quietly."
Davian blinked, stunned by how casually he was saying all this, like it was no big deal.
"Wait… you want me to announce it? Just like that?"
"Correct," Hanhwi replied, leaning back in his chair.
"You're the chairman of Solaris. The strongest guild in the country. People listen to what you say."
People would listen to you too—
Davian wanted to say, but he kept himself shut.
Davian stared at him, still trying to process everything.
He wasn't sure if he should feel honored or burdened by the request.
It wasn't every day that someone like Hanhwi asked for a favor.
Even though he hated the fact that someone he admired was suddenly saying things like retirement, deep down, he was glad that a Hunter like him trusted him.
After a moment of silence, Davian finally sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright," he said, his voice reluctant but steady.
"I'll make the announcement for you. But, are you sure this is what you want?"
Hanhwi gave a small smile, one that didn't reach his eyes.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
As Davian watched Hanhwi stand up and head for the exit, something tugged at Davian's mind, a question he couldn't hold back.
"But… why now? Why so sudden?"
He finally asked, still grappling with the idea that one of the world's strongest Hunter wanted to step down.
It's been less than five years since Hanhwi rose to the World's Top Hunter Rankings, and thanks to his active contribution, the society was functioning smoothly.
"Is there anything or anyone that's bothering you?"
It was a stupid question.
Who would dare to bother someone like him?
But.
Davian just needed an answer.
Hanhwi stayed quiet for a moment, like he was weighing whether to say it or not.
Then, after a long pause, he spoke.
"I…"
As the door creaked open, Hanhwi glanced back over his shoulder.
"I…want to fall in love."
Before Davian could respond, Hanhwi was gone, leaving him sitting there in stunned silence, wondering how in the world he was supposed to explain this to the rest of the world.