[Content Warning: This chapter contains emotionally intimate scenes. All depicted interactions are consensual and non-explicit.]
[Note: The romantic interaction in this chapter is limited to kissing.]
At first, Taegyun was surprised.
A rare anomaly had bypassed a gate?
That should have been impossible. Gates didn't just let things out on their own. Unless a dungeon outbreak occurred.
And yet… something had slipped through.
A creature carrying a mutating disease. One that had already begun infecting civilians and low-ranked Hunters.
It was dangerous. He knew that much. But even with the tension of the quest description, he did not dwell on it for long.
High-ranked Hunters would notice soon. Guilds, Associations, military teams. Someone would respond. That was the world they lived in now. Monsters appeared. And professionals dealt with them.
Still… he could not help but glance again at the reward.
Strength Enhancement Skill.
That alone was enough to pique his interest.
A skill like that would suit him perfectly.
He needed anything that could increase his physical prowess.
And best of all, there was no failure penalty.
If he tried and failed, there was no direct punishment.
So he thought: maybe… after tomorrow, he could try.
After the book fair.
After spending some time with Miss Anna.
A soft silence settled over him again.
Not the silence of his apartment, nor of the night.
But the silence of the Soul Sea.
He was meditating, sitting in that strange black space beneath his consciousness, where the Void Core hovered like a sun above the dark sea.
But even here, in this place that should have been silent, still, and detached from all things… his thoughts refused to quiet.
He didn't know why.
Why someone like her, Miss Anna, would talk to someone like him.
Shy. Awkward. Unreadable. Mature.
She had always carried herself with such quiet confidence, always slightly reserved around others.
Yet every time she spoke to him in private… she hesitated.
Not cold. Just unsure.
She had also invited him to a restaurant once and even called him over for lunch at her private office just a few days ago.
And today, she had lingered.
Invited him—no, mentioned—an event that had nothing to do with routine or responsibilities. A moment outside of everything that usually defined their roles.
Taegyun exhaled quietly, opening his eyes slowly in the Soul Sea.
The space was dark, yet not suffocating. The Void Core above glowed faintly, its dual nature, light and darkness, shimmering with a quiet pulse.
He glanced at the time in his system overlay.
Saturday wasn't far off now.
Not that he was counting.
He just wanted to be ready.
Not to impress.
No.
But maybe just not embarrass himself.
***
The sun hung lazily in the afternoon sky, casting long shadows across the polished stone walkways of Hazel District.
A quieter part of the city, it was known for its charming balance between modern culture and old-world aesthetics. It was lined with aging book cafés, indie galleries, and the low hum of weekend foot traffic. The kind of place where people strolled slowly and time felt a little less cruel.
But beneath the golden light, a dry, strange chill lingered in the air. It was not the crisp sharpness of winter, nor the damp cold of rain, but something faint—sterile, weightless. A side effect, they said, of the long-past nuclear winter. The residue of humanity's old mistakes. It came and went throughout the year, like a ghost that refused to rest.
Even the night sky bore the mark. Stars could still be seen, but never sharply. Always blurred, dulled, as though veiled behind a transparent curtain no one could remove.
And yet, today felt different.
The air was scented with roasted nuts, fresh ink, old paper, and something floral drifting from a nearby cart. A quiet warmth that didn't quite match the lingering cold.
Taegyun stood outside the entrance of the Hazel District Book & Archives Pavilion. The structure stood tall and elegant, made of domed glass, with sunlight gleaming softly off its solar-lined roof. The building loomed in quiet splendor, its curved glass panels reflecting the soft gold of the afternoon sun. Peaceful. Serene. Almost too perfect.
He wore something plain: black jeans, a dark jacket just enough to block the wind. His hair was still slightly damp from his rushed shower. He wasn't sure what people usually wore to a book fair. And even less sure what to wear when meeting someone like her.
He glanced at his phone.
3:59 PM.
Right on time.
And the moment he looked up, he saw her.
Miss Anna was walking toward him through the soft current of foot traffic. No blazer. No badge. Just a light cream sweater tucked neatly into a flowing beige skirt that kissed just above her knees with every step. A simple leather belt cinched her waist. Her loosely tied hair framed her face delicately, soft strands drifting against her cheeks in the breeze. Her curves were subtle, elegant, and hard not to notice, more so because of how little effort she seemed to put into showing them off.
A pair of sheer, thigh-high stockings—dark coffee brown, almost black—peeked out subtly beneath the hem of her skirt. The contrast against her pale skin added an unexpected edge to her otherwise soft outfit, making her look even more striking.
Taegyun stared for half a second too long.
She smiled when their eyes met, nervously.
"Hi," she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
He blinked.
Was this really… her?
"You clean up well," he said before he could stop himself.
She looked mildly startled, then gave a breathy laugh, her cheeks blooming pink. "I could say the same for you."
A beat of silence passed between them, light but charged.
Then she looked away, nodded toward the entrance, and asked, "Shall we?"
"Yeah," he replied.
They walked together through the main doors. The air inside was pleasantly warm and scented with paper, wood polish, and faint traces of lemon oil.
The pavilion was bigger than it looked from the outside. A wide lobby, high ceilings, and glass chandeliers shaped like old lanterns hung above.
Rows upon rows of displays were arranged in soft curves across the floor, divided into themes and eras. Post-Awakening Literature, First-Generation Hunter Biographies, Preserved Spellcraft Manuscripts, Handwritten Dungeon Logs, Pre-WW3 Engineering, and Civilian Innovations of the Old Era.
There was even a quiet tech section toward the rear, where decommissioned analog AIs stood like sleeping statues. A few display cases held cracked Old Era first-generation quantum processors, burned-out spell-circuits, and faded dungeon gate compasses that no longer worked.
"It's quiet here," Taegyun said.
Anna nodded. "Most people just want combat manuals or skillbooks. No one comes for stories anymore."
"So you brought me here to show off your book taste?" he teased.
She shot him a look, mock offended. "Maybe. Or maybe I needed someone to carry mine."
"I knew it."
She smiled again, softer this time. A smile that didn't feel forced.
They wandered the aisles, sometimes stopping, sometimes flipping through pages. She thumbed through titles like they were old friends. He skimmed over covers, occasionally pretending to know what he was looking at. More than once, he caught her glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
He didn't comment. But he noticed.
After about an hour, they reached a quieter section near a wide, curved window overlooking the plaza.
Sunlight spilled across a seating area with cushioned benches and low tables stacked with unprocessed donations.
Anna sat down first, crossing one leg over the other elegantly.
She patted the seat beside her.
Taegyun hesitated for half a breath, then sat.
Their shoulders were close. Not touching, but close enough to feel it.
She held a book in her lap but didn't open it.
Instead, her voice came softly. "I don't usually ask people out. Ever."
Taegyun blinked. "I didn't think you were asking me out."
"I wasn't." She smiled faintly, the corners of her lips curling with warmth and something unsure. "But I did want to spend time with you."
"Why?"
She glanced out the window. Her eyes didn't focus on anything specific, only lingered, like she was searching for a way to explain what even she barely understood.
"You're different," she said quietly. "Not because you awakened. That doesn't matter. You were already… different before any of that."
Taegyun frowned slightly. "Different how?"
Her gaze returned to him. Steady. Earnest.
"Because when you talk to me… I don't feel like I have to wear a mask."
He blinked. His throat went dry.
She hesitated again, then spoke in a murmur, "Or maybe it's because you used to look at me like a complete pervert for over a year. I used to hate it... but I couldn't do anything about it. And recently, something about it started making me feel..." She trailed off and shook her head lightly, cheeks flushing.
He froze. His heart jumped.
She turned toward him fully. Her voice was calmer now, deeper, almost vulnerable. "With others, I always have to be composed. Responsible. Controlled. But with you, it feels messy. Real. Human."
He didn't respond. Words wouldn't come.
Their eyes met.
Neither moved.
Their faces were close. Closer than comfort should allow. But she didn't pull away.
And neither did he.
She whispered, "I'm sorry."
Then she leaned in.
And kissed him.
Her lips met his in a soft, warm press. Hesitant for half a breath... and then hungry.
She moved slowly at first, tilting her head slightly as her lips began to part his with increasing need.
Taegyun's mind spiraled.
He least expected this, but he gave in.
He didn't want to fight it.
A soft, wet noise slipped between their mouths. Then another. The sound of lips brushing, parting, connecting again.
Sloppy.
Warm.
Her hands cupped his jaw gently as her tongue slipped forward, tracing the seam of his lips with teasing control.
Taegyun opened for her, invited her in, and their kiss deepened. Her breath was uneven now, her body pressing lightly against his as the intensity grew.
A quiet moan escaped her throat.
Their lips parted just long enough for breath before she pulled him in again. Their tongues touched, tentative at first, then bolder. Slick. Soft. Slow.
Taegyun's heart pounded.
His mind drowned in her.
Shlup
Mnnh
Chup
Their bodies didn't move much, but their mouths did. Kissing, tasting, breathing against each other. A minute passed in blurred heat, filled only by the messy sounds of two people surrendering to desire.
And it ended.
She pulled back, a faint string of saliva still clinging between their lips before it broke.
Taegyun inhaled sharply.
She looked at him with flushed cheeks, breathing lightly. Then leaned back slowly and asked in a small voice, "Do you hate me now, Taegyun?"
He shook his head immediately. "No. Definitely not."
"Then…" Her smile returned, sly and embarrassed all at once. "Did you like it?"
He nodded, still breathless. "Yes."
Her expression softened further. "I knew you'd say that. You don't know how much courage I had to muster just to do that."
Taegyun sat there. His heart still thumped like crazy. "I didn't think you had this wild side..."
"…Let's not ruin a perfectly good book fair by being overly dramatic now," she said, her voice returning to a lighter tone, teasing him gently.
He chuckled, finally exhaling the breath he had been holding. "Right."
What happened, happened. No need to overthink it now.
Besides... a part of him wanted this too.
He hadn't always felt this way. Not at first. But lately... his feelings had shifted.
He found himself wanting more. Craving her attention. And now, after today...
'No matter what… she will be mine,' he thought, his expression unreadable. 'Not just someone distant… but mine.'
A darker, more possessive whisper echoed in his mind. Mine. Only mine.
Then a mischievous thought floated in.
I wonder how far we'll go next time...
He blushed immediately. N-No. I'm still underage.
Still… he shook his head.
They sat together for another twenty minutes, saying very little.
Just reading.
Together.
The closeness between them remained, warm and constant.
When they finally left the pavilion and arrived at the plaza, they stood quietly beside the train station's edge.
Anna turned to him, holding her book bag a little tighter.
"Thank you for today," she said softly.
"You're welcome," Taegyun replied. "But next time, I'm picking the place."
"Oh?" She tilted her head.
"Yeah. And I warn you, there'll be less paper. And more sugar."
She laughed, truly laughed this time. A sound full of light.
"I'll be looking forward to it, Taegyun."
And with that, she turned and walked away.
Taegyun stood there for a long while.
Then smiled like an idiot.