## Appendix.
An Interview in a Magazine from a Trash Bin
In front of a collapsed building, a trash bin that miraculously survived was blackened on one side from fire and covered in dust, making the other side appear grayish as well.
A desolate city abandoned by all people. When the dry wind blew slightly shaking the trash bin, there was a rustling sound of paper from inside.
A wrinkled and half-burned magazine.
* * *
Monthly Hunter | October Issue
27p.
<Special Feature! Get to Know This Hunter: Hunter Joo Lee Hwan Edition>
On an autumn evening as the sun was setting. In a café on a street lined with colored trees, we met Hunter Joo Lee Hwan, who possesses a splendid yet serene charm like a gently fallen maple leaf.
An exceptional rookie who achieved 5 First Clears within a year of debut activities. An ability so versatile and powerful it’s hard to believe he’s a B-class Hunter. Befitting a star who proudly holds a place in the domestic popularity rankings, his background is embroidered with brilliant achievements.
However, the person we met was a friendly young man with striking good looks and an unpretentious demeanor, quite separate from his dazzling image. As he orders an iced vanilla latte full of ice, claiming he doesn’t usually feel cold, one can almost smell the sweet yet bitter aroma of coffee.
Q: Nice to meet you.
A: Nice to meet you too. (Laughs)
Q: Before we begin our conversation, congratulations on your 5 First Clears of new gates.
A: It wasn’t even solo clears, so I’m grateful everyone views it so positively. I finally feel like I’m standing on my own without being a burden to others, which makes it especially meaningful.
Q: Have you faced any major difficulties in the past year?
A: Actually, my lower back often gets stiff from being tense during every battle. My current home is so narrow that placing a massage chair would block the path completely, so I’ve been visiting my friend’s house regularly and relying on him. But other than that, I don’t think I’ve felt anything particularly difficult.
Q: There were some Level 1 gates among those you entered, weren’t there? I was shocked to hear you were seriously injured two months ago.
A: I was attacked by an intelligent monster in an unexpected area. Fortunately, I recovered quickly, but it became an opportunity to be more careful when exploring gates. I’m just grateful to everyone who was concerned.
Q: What would you say are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of being a Hunter?
A: Personally, I find it an exceptionally rewarding profession. The downside, however, is that it always comes with risks. Especially when entering gates as a selected Hunter, the moment you let your guard down, it leads to injury. I feel like I’ve done all the running away I’ll ever do in my life during the past year.
Q: There’s a saying that Hunter Joo Lee Hwan isn’t exactly tough (laughs). The opinion is that you look particularly cute when you’re with Hunter Kang Taesung. But seeing you in person, I’m surprised by how tall and handsome you are.
A: (With an aggrieved expression) I hear that often. While I haven’t quite crossed the 180cm barrier, I’m not exactly short either. You can just go by my profile.
Q: Come to think of it, doesn’t Hunter Joo Lee Hwan’s work area overlap significantly with Hunter Kang Taesung’s? So I’d like to ask one more thing. You seem very close with Hunter Kang Taesung, who’s known for being cold. What’s your secret?
A: He just doesn’t engage in idle chat during work, but he’s actually a warm and friendly person. Despite being the same age, I always learn from him. Thanks to his kindness, we became close easily, and I’m always receiving help from him, so I’m just grateful and sorry.
Q: (Surprised) This is the first time I’ve heard Kang Taesung described as kind. Since you two make such a good pair, many people want to see you together in various places. But unless it’s promotional activities, you’re nowhere to be found.
A: I enjoy hanging out at home with people I get along with. It’s not so much avoiding exposure, I just don’t go out much. Walking outside is nice, but I feel there are endless things to do inside the house. Also, Hunter Kang Taesung…
(From the next question, there’s a long section missing along with burn marks.)
Q: By the way, you’ve been eating that cake really well since earlier. Isn’t it too sweet?
A: I naturally think a lot, so my mind is constantly working, and my ability also consumes a lot of energy. I’ve gotten used to eating whenever I can because I’m so tired, so the amount has increased.
Q: I’ve heard that changes after awakening vary greatly from Hunter to Hunter. But doesn’t too much sugar make you sleepy instead?
A: It’s just a personal feeling, but I always feel like my sugar is depleted. Am I being too shameless? (Laughs) Even if I don’t enter gates, I often train, so I get tired if I don’t eat substantial meals.
Q: Keeping up this momentum, what’s your favorite dish?
A: I generally like all kinds of food. Especially meat among them.
Q: Could you be more specific? It seems you like sweet foods too, from what I’ve seen today.
A: Steak. I like it when the surface is made crunchy with butter. For desserts, I like almost everything. Especially mousse or cream-based ones. Before, Kang Tae… (Stops abruptly after speaking excitedly) I tried crème brûlée for the first time recently, and I was in a good mood all day.
(About 3/4 of the next page has been completely burned, and questions are not properly preserved.)
Q: Thanks to you, we were able to have a sufficient conversation. Finally, do you have any wishes for the future?
A: I just want to live healthily without any trouble. I don’t desire wealth, honor, or power… well, that would be a lie, but I’d be happy with just moderate amounts of everything as long as this peaceful life lasts long. (Laughs) When I eat, drink, and chat with like-minded people, unlike my previous sentiments, I think life isn’t all bad.
That’s why I want to protect someone else’s peace if possible. I hope to be a good help to this world and to someone. I plan to continue working hard in the future.
Written by | SOP (sop@huntermagazine.co.kr)
* * *
“You rascal, I told you not to read that magazine.”
When Lee Hwan jabbed him with his elbow, Taesung raised his eyebrows and smiled, pretending not to know. Lee Hwan glared at him slightly, but soon smiled along with him.
Does this brown fluffball know that Lee Hwan sometimes acts mischievously because he likes that expression?
Although Taesung prefers newspapers and news to magazines, he had bought five copies of the same issue containing Lee Hwan’s interview.
And he always pretended to read it only when Lee Hwan came to visit, sitting on the sofa. Then Lee Hwan would blush and frantically try to take it away and throw it.
And Taesung really loved the occasions when Lee Hwan would accidentally fall on top of him, or when their bodies would overlap as Lee Hwan stretched out his arms. He acted so unconsciously. That’s why Taesung liked it.
Just yesterday, though he didn’t say anything, he had been full of complaints.
Last weekend, running into Lee Hwan on the street was certainly no coincidence. Taesung had deliberately changed his original schedule to stand in Lee Hwan’s path.
He had sent a coffee truck there for some documentary being filmed to improve and promote the Hunter image.
He had sent the truck without any message because Lee Hwan might complain that it was embarrassing, but Lee Hwan and Taesung’s names were clearly displayed on it.
And yesterday, he had finally followed him to the café where the magazine interview was taking place and watched him from a distance.
Taesung clearly saw Lee Hwan’s eyes sharpen when he spotted him.
Lately, Taesung had been doing this all the time. Always trying to catch Lee Hwan’s eye. And to imprint his image in others’ eyes.
He knew well that Lee Hwan’s phone was steadily filling up with other people’s numbers as he kept meeting Hunters from other companies for promotions and whatnot.
Moreover, some of them didn’t know their place and texted Lee Hwan. Taesung became irritated at the situation where he couldn’t say a word despite knowing everything.
‘Idiots who can’t even handle their own abilities properly.’
Still, if there was any consolation, it was that after all these activities, Lee Hwan always returned to his side.
That was why Taesung could wait without showing his discomfort when Lee Hwan was away from his side, wandering around.
They were “friends” unlike others, and Lee Hwan always returned to him like this after work and made cute complaints.
Friends.
Taesung didn’t care about titles. If friends was good, then friends they would be, and if lovers was good, then lovers they would be. Of course, lover was better than friend, and spouse would be even better than lover, but…
There was no need to burden him unnecessarily, and anyway, their relationship was already somehow subtle and sweet for mere friendship.
Taesung occasionally hugged Lee Hwan from behind, playfully pretending to need support, and Lee Hwan sometimes watched TV on Taesung’s sofa with his head resting on Taesung’s leg.
When that small, round head added warmth to his thigh, an unmatched satisfaction vibrated through his Adam’s apple. For now, reacting to these unconscious actions was solely Taesung’s role.
Taesung had never had such a friend in his life. He had no intention of having another after Lee Hwan. But he didn’t intend to force his feelings either. Lee Hwan was slowly seeping into him, and both were comfortable with that emotion.
That was enough. They still had an abundance of time given to them.
Taesung was taking care of Lee Hwan preciously, very preciously.
He had nurtured and polished him, turning tired and rigid gazes into such sparkling, lively ones, and transformed a face that used to check prices first before meals into a confident, bright one.
Lee Hwan was becoming more handsome with each passing day. More lovable. All of that changed through Taesung’s hands. That was even more satisfying.
Patience is long and the fruit is sweet, they say.
Of course, it wasn’t that his insides didn’t stir when he smelled Lee Hwan’s scent or playfully held his hand. Still, Taesung could wait like this for years more.
Until Lee Hwan’s heart completely leaned toward him. Until he realized those feelings himself and walked into his arms of his own accord.
However, if that took too long, perhaps he might take action himself after all his patience. Thinking this, Taesung pushed a meringue cookie into the mouth of the grumbling Lee Hwan.
His lips, which accepted the cookie and bit the fingertips, were soft and springy.
Thanks to this gaze looking at him, Taesung could become a better person today than yesterday, yesterday than the day before.
He had improved his temperament, which had made Jade gasp, and lived neatly. He paid more attention to his speech, voice, and behavior, and looked around from time to time.
‘In the end…’
He would make Lee Hwan like him. As much as he cherished Lee Hwan.
A long-term goal set at that moment of determination. Since Taesung was satisfied with their current relationship, there was no need to be hasty unless the world suddenly ended.
<End.>
Thank you so much for the translation!