"WILL YOU marry me?"
Navi covered her mouth with her hands as she let out a soft gasp.
"Why are you acting like you're the one getting proposed to?"
Tsk.
Navi ignored Won Yiwon's annoying remark.
She liked looking at his face— but not when a surprise marriage proposal was happening right in front of her.
I love watching marriage proposals!
Navi made the right call when she dragged Won Yiwon to the Han River.
Of course, they both used a skill to minimize their presence. It was already late at night, and it was freaking cold because it was winter. Hence, they knew there wouldn't be many people out there.
But, to be safe, they chose the cycling path that almost seemed like a private spot.
There was a little set of stone steps leading down to the river, and it offered a lovely night view of the city.
After finding a good spot, Won Yiwon pulled out his Dome Glamp Tent.
It was an Item, a gift from the Sola System.
All the Elites have it.
It was an S-Grade Item that was practically a small cabin— complete with a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small kitchen— that they would use to sleep comfortably in dungeons.
Moreover, the Dome Glamp Tent wasn't visible to A-Grade Monsters and below.
Hence, the few people in that area couldn't see Navi and Won Yiwon either.
The two of them were on the balcony of the Dome Glamp Tent, sharing a table for two there while watching the marriage proposal.
Well, I'm the only one watching since Won Yiwon is busy cooking the instant potato soup.
It wasn't much work since Won Yiwon just had to boil water, pour it into their matching ugly mugs (that they made when they attended a pottery-making class once), and stir it for fifteen seconds.
"Yes, I will marry you!"
Aww.
Navi smiled when the man who proposed put the ring on the woman's finger.
The couple's friends cheered as the newly-engaged couple embraced.
Then a violinist came over slowly and started to play a familiar song.
Navi let out a gasp again.
"This song…!"
"It's Uncle Namgi's song, isn't it?" Won Yiwon asked. "'Favorite Winter,' if my memory serves me right."
Jang Namgi was Navi's late father.
My mother changed my last name to 'Ahn' after my father died to protect me from the reporters who kept bothering us at the time.
"The couple definitely met in winter since the song is about a couple who met during the first snow of that year. And that's also probably why the guy proposed, even though it's so freaking cold tonight," Navi said, smiling. She wasn't the smiley type of person, but she couldn't help it whenever she was surrounded by things she liked. This time, it was Won Yiwon, a marriage proposal, and her father's song. "Whenever I see people getting engaged or married, it makes sacrificing myself for the sake of the world feel worth it.'
"It never fails to surprise me whenever I hear that from you," Won Yiwon said, carefully pushing the ceramic mug— now filled with hot potato soup— closer to her side of the table. "You don't like people, but you sacrificed yourself for humanity's sake."
"I like you, though?"
"I'm talking about other people."
"I like people like how I like bread," Navi said while taking a sip of the instant potato soup. It cooled down right away since it was cold. And, to be honest, it didn't matter since S-Class Hunters had a high tolerance for pain. "I won't actively look for bread or buy it, but I'll eat it if you offer me one."
Won Yiwon scoffed while pulling his homemade garlic bread apart.
How cute.
Won Yiwon likes bread, and he likes pairing my favorite instant potato soup with his homemade garlic bread.
"Here."
Navi opened her mouth when Won Yiwon offered a piece of his garlic bread, and then he put it in her mouth with a second thought.
She ate it without a complaint.
"You're really good at making bread, Won Yiwon," Navi said while nodding, and then she took a sip of her potato soup again. "Once we retire, why don't you consider opening your own bakery? You know, you can also put some Mana-boosting ingredients in your bread. Food like that is famous among Hunters these days."
"When I eat bread, I eat it because I want to savor its heavenly taste. If I want to have a Mana boost, then I'll take pills that will give me that effect."
"Damn, you're so serious about your bread."
"And you're so dense," Won Yiwon said, scoffing. "I've been trying to influence you to like bread as much as I do, but you're not giving in."
"That's not true," Navi said defensively. "I like pizza, and it's thanks to your influence."
"Yah. Pizza isn't bread."
"Whatever."
Won Yiwon took a deep breath as if he was trying to calm himself down, and then he quickly changed the subject. "How about you, Ahn Navi? What do you want to do after you retire? Maybe open a restaurant?"
"Why would you think opening a restaurant suits me?"
"You hyper-fixate on different foods every month. Was it donuts last time?"
"Yeah, but I got tired of them already."
"If you open a restaurant that changes its menu monthly, it's going to be a big hit."
"I'll consider that once I achieve my first goal," Navi said, pausing for a moment before she revealed her dream job after retirement. "I want to own a broadcasting station."
Won Yiwon's hand froze in mid-air when he was about to sip his potato soup. "Why a broadcasting station?"
"After the apocalypse, only two major broadcasting stations managed to get revived. But they mostly only show either news or talk shows featuring Hunters. I get it. The world isn't stable enough for the entertainment industry to make a full comeback yet. But that's why I want to slowly revive it."
The entertainment industry at the moment was only surviving thanks to the existence of so many good-looking Hunters.
Brands only sign Hunters these days because of their popularity.
Sadly, celebrities who didn't awaken had lost their shine.
And that's what I want to change.
"As soon as I have a broadcasting company in my hands, I'll create an entertainment division," Navi continued, sharing her dream with Won Yiwon. "Then I'll start an audition program with the aim of creating an idol group. It doesn't matter whether the trainees are Civilians or Hunters. Everyone who loves music and performing is welcome."
"You really love idols, huh?"
"Idols and music, I guess. I've watched my father's former group's documentary countless times. And, even though I was very young back then, I still remember the times my father brought me to his studio," Navi said, pausing for a moment. "I loved my father's voice— I still do. I'll never get tired of listening to his unreleased songs."
Yes, she had a copy of his father's unreleased songs.
Actually, before her appa took his own life, he had recorded several albums with at least ten songs each.
Appa never got the courage to release them because of his drug scandal.
"My father let me inherit his unreleased songs and albums. According to the will that he left for me, I have the right to give his songs to artists whom I deem deserving to have them," Navi said, finishing her potato soup with one last sip. "I want to create my own idol group that will give justice to my father's songs. In that way, my father's dreams will continue to live on."
She knew she was being too sentimental.
Cringe, if you may.
But Navi also knew that Won Yiwon wouldn't judge her.
"Then should I buy a broadcasting station for you?"
Pfft.
"I also have the money to buy a broadcasting station," Navi said, smiling. "But the hard part is getting permission from the government to operate its entertainment division. As you know, the government doesn't think there's a need for the full comeback of the entertainment industry yet. That includes the idol industry."
"It's because the government is afraid that the Hunters will get distracted if they allow making films and debuting idols again. After all, most celebrities at the moment are Hunters," Won Yiwon said. "But so what?"
"What do you mean 'so what?' The government is still above the Hunters Association, and we have to keep it that way to maintain peace and order in our country. We don't want to end up like the other countries where their Hunters have taken over the government. Whether we like it or not, we need to respect the government so that the Civilians would follow suit."
"You saved the world from the First Calamity, Ahn Navi. If you want an entertainment division to create your own idol group, the government should give it to you. That's the least thing they could do for you."
Aww.
Navi was touched, but for some reason, she didn't feel satisfied with how supportive Won Yiwon was?
I mean, I'm grateful for the support.
But…
"Why does it feel like you're really pushing me to own a broadcasting company and create my own idol group?" Navi asked "jokingly." "Do you want me to retire already, Won Yiwon?"
"Yes, I want you to retire as a Hunter, Ahn Navi."
"What?"
"I pushed for the creation of the support team for this year's Expedition because of the Hunters Association's plan to build a vocational school," Won Yiwon explained indifferently. "The aim is to have an educational institution that will train Hunters with skills suited for hunting Strays and destroying Lairs—"
"Get to the point, Won Yiwon."
"We want you to be the director of that school, Ahn Navi."
"Why do I have to hold the highest position in that school?" Ahn Navi asked coldly. She already knew the answer, of course. But she still wanted to hear it from Won Yiwon even though she knew it would hurt her. "I'd love to share my knowledge as a part-time instructor or something. But being the director requires me to do the job full-time. Do you not need me as a Hunter anymore?"
"Yes, we don't need your service as a Hunter anymore."
Ah.
It hurts more than I thought it would.
To be fair, Navi had always known that the government and the Hunters Association saw her as nothing but a heavy burden now.
She could no longer raid dungeons.
Hence, she wasn't bringing in money anymore.
And this country had already found a new heroine.
I'm sure the government and the Hunters Association would want to invest all their resources in raising Cha Hyein to replace me. They probably think that it's a waste to continue supporting me when I bring nothing but trouble these days.
Navi knew all of that.
But…
"I was hoping that you, at least, would still want me by your side," Navi said in a low voice. She wasn't angry. But she was hurt and disappointed. No— she actually felt betrayed. "Won Yiwon, am I not your rival anymore? We used to fight for the #1 spot."
"Ahn Navi, you know very well that I've already surpassed you a long time ago."
Oh.
I see.
Navi tried to avoid it as long as she could, but she couldn't deny it any longer.
My spot isn't next to Won Yiwon anymore— it's behind him now.
The realization broke her heart.
No— it completely shattered Navi.
Yet she couldn't even cry.
"Ahn Navi, we're no longer kids. We don't have to compete for the #1 spot anymore," Won Yiwon said carefully. "It doesn't matter to me what your rank is as long as you're safe. No— I need you to be safe, so please retire already."
"Would you rather me safe than happy?"
"I want you to be both safe and happy."
"Then you should have asked me to stay by your side," Navi said in a tired voice. She didn't expect her voice to be that sad and empty, but that was exactly how she felt at the moment. "You should have told me that the safest place for me is the spot next to you."
"Ahn Navi—"
"I don't want to live a safe life if it means being apart from you, Won Yiwon. I want a life where I could fight monsters and raid dungeons with you. I saved the world not for mankind's sake— but for yours and yours alone."
"You may not see it now, but I'm doing this for you," Won Yiwon said, avoiding her gaze as if he couldn't stand seeing the pain and disappointment in Navi's eyes. "Ahn Navi, listen to me just this once."
"I hope you realize soon that this isn't the right way to protect me, Won Yiwon," Navi said bitterly. "And you better realize it before it's too late."
***
DO I have to save the damn world again?
That was the only thing on Navi's mind while staring at the celestial being that was busy grabbing airplanes as if they were just toys.
Yes, it was another Calamity.
The Second Calamity appeared twelve hours before Navi's twentieth birthday…
… and 12 hours before her death.
***
Please ADD