Heo Kyi-on sighed at the thought, but the camera in his phone did nothing but show the background and his face at the center — younger and exactly how it looked years ago. He swiped his phone from above to check the date and there it is.
He grabbed the attention of Geon Il-won who had just finished with his presentation — another guild member continuing it with more information while he was deep in thought. Geon Il-won gave him all of his attention almost immediately.
"Ah, yes…?"
"What is today's date?"
Heo Kyi-on whispered just enough for Geon Il-won to hear, the secretary tensed up at the sudden question. He assumed that the guild leader would give him a task or talk to him about the new project but instead he was met with a question about the current date.
'Is this the guild leader's way of checking my memory or is he trying to test me? Either way, I should answer before he loses his patience'
Assuming Heo Kyi-on is simply asking about the date without any grand motive behind it, Geon Il-won confidently answered.
"August 14. "
"And the year?"
"2031"
"Ah I see…"
"Is that all, guild leader?"
"Yes, thank you."
Geon Il-won nodded as he praised himself internally for answering the guild leader's question and receiving a 'thank you'.
[August 14, 2031]
Heo Kyi-on can't deny it anymore. He had indeed regressed back 6 years into the past, all because of the system message he received just as he was about to draw his last breath. Countless questions popped up in his mind but the most important question of all is… Why exactly did the system want to send him back to the past? Why him?
There's plenty of people in the world who could've been chosen and make a difference than he could ever do.
Then a click…a realization dawned on him as a nervous smile appeared on his face.
'I can save Yi-jun…But for now, I need to do something'
***
Geon Il-won aggressively sipped the straw of his special mango graham frappe drink with strawberry bits on top, his stomach completely satisfied but his face is saying the exact opposite. His mind is pre-occupied with a whirlwind of thoughts and questions that made him unable to properly enjoy his favorite drink.
"Anyone would think the guild leader's secretary is planning a rebellion with that kind of stare"
The barista of his favorite café shop interrupted his not so very sweet time. The man sat on the opposite side of Geon Il-won's seat, the small nameplate on the uniform reads as 'Nam Yun-wo', an E-rank hunter.
E-rank hunters are not that different from normal citizens except for their strengths and ability. It's normal for most E-rankers to work normal jobs instead of pursuing being a hunter, though a hunter nevertheless, as they're the first to help the citizens whenever a dungeon break, sudden gates opening or calamities happening that the non-hunter authorities can't handle as quickly as possible.
"Aren't you working? Why are you slacking off... and what's wrong with my stare?"
Geon Il-won asked, his expression turning back to normal as the barista disrupted his thoughts. Nam Yun-wo and Geon Il-won had been friends for a few years — Geon Il-won having been a regular in this café and coming almost everyday, and Nam Yun-wo accompanying him every single time out of curiousity.
"Calm down with the questions, Mr. Secretary. You know my breaks are around this time, so I'm definitely not slacking off"
"Oh right…I forgot, my bad."
"Hm…Forget that, what's wrong? Normally you would be gushing over how good the coffee and frappes are in here but now you have this scary look in your face. Definitely hunter-like."
"That's a stereotype, you know? And nothing's wrong"
"Bullsh-"
"Fine. Something is wrong."
"You caved in quite fast. I was about to force you to spill it"
"How can I not? Once you start cursing, you never stop."
Geon Il-won shifted slightly at the memory of Nam Yun-wo cursing once and every sentence were then followed with a series of [Redacted] words.
"So? What's up? Do I really have to force you just to spill whatever is bothering you?"
"No...no need to. I'll just say it"
Geon Il-won took the last sip of his drink and sighed, unsure if he really should say it or not but realizing both will get him in trouble either way. Geon Il-won decided to finally speak.
"It's about the guild leader."
"Your boss? Is he burying you with workloads again?"
"No, not like that. It's just...for some reason the guild leader has been acting odd ever since the meeting a few days ago"
Geon Il-won looks at Nam Yun-wo for any sort of reaction but all he got was a straight face from him and quietly telling him to continue. Geon Il-won recollected his thoughts and memories of the events as he explained.
"You would understand it if you saw how the guild leader's been acting. He's been treating the staffs with coffee and snacks almost everyday and even bought us to dinner for no reason. Right, I should also mention he's been praising the staff lately aswell"
"Isn't that just being generous? What's wrong with it? He probably felt bad for giving all of you tons of work."
"The guild leader has never done that. I mean he does care about us but..he has never shown it, he doesn't join us for company dinner and he doesn't let himself get close to anybody... it's just it feels like he's suddenly a different person"
"Hm, come to think of it. He doesn't show up in interviews either after finishing dungeon raids or defeating dangerous rifts."
"The country relies on him greatly but he doesn't do the same for anybody."
Nam Yun-wo just looked at the other man infront of him with a grin and hit his back hard — which was definitely on purpose — and teased him.
"You act as if you're weirded out by the guild leader's recent whims but you're actually just really worried about him, aren't you?"
Geon Il-won rubbed his back as he soothes it, he glared the Nam Yun-wo before he realized what the other man said to him, and his face immediately flushed.
"W-what? Worried? I'm not! That man never knows how to take a break and ofcourse as his secretary, i'm also-"
"Just admit it. No judgement in being a die-hard fan of him"
Geon Il-won were immediately interrupted by the barista and tried to deny it again but Nam Yun-wo just kept on teasing him about it, eventually it turned into a banter, some customers in the cafe started staring at them with amusement at seeing the odd pair of a known hunter and the barista working in the cafe.
"Isn't that Geon Il-won? I saw him at the interviews on the news."
"Yeah, I think it's him, didn't expect to see him here."
"Ofcourse he's here, he's a regular here. The Haneul guild is also around here, though i'd say it's probably because the drinks here are superb! I've taken a pic with him last time aswell"
"I didn't know that, do you think i can take a picture aswell? Though, i wonder why they're fighting?"
"It won't overescalate, right?"
More murmurs from the customers at the cafe were heard, mostly from the people who's seeing a hunter they constantly see on the news as Haneul guild / Heo Kyi-on's — who always refuses to do any interviews unless absolutely necessary — secretary slash spokesperson during time of the public's need for the first time.
Geon Il-won eventually noticed the attention all focused on the two of them just as he's about to spew words he probably shouldn't as a public figure towards Nam Yun-wo, he instantly stopped himself and acted composed — clearing his throat and straightened his clothes.
"I believe this is a wrap, i should go."
Nam Yun-wo's mouth opened for a moment before it closed again as if he was about to say something but took it back, his eyes wandered a bit before he lay his eyes back to Geon Il-won and gave him a smile,
"Sure, if you need anything, you know who to call. Don't overthink too much, alright?"
"...I will, the drink was great aswell"
Geon Il-won gave the barista a nod one last time as he hurries to leave the establishment, groaning at himself
"I got distracted, i should've known better.. for now i need to focus on what's actually important"
His phone vibrated in his pocket right after he uttered his thoughts. He picked up the phone and his eyes landed on the message notification
Guild Leader
— Once you're back, head to my office.
'Speaking of the devil...'
Geon Il-won
⤷ I'm heading right back, sir.
A panda on a vibrant green bamboo chute giving a thumbs up sticker, appeared on his screen sent by Heo Kyi-on. Confusion instantly hit him before he shakes his head and convinced himself this behavior will be common from now on.
'He always uses a normal thumbs up emoji, since when did he use emoticons? Did he got influenced by a kid'
Geon Il-won let out a deep sigh and headed back to the guild.