After finishing the dishes, the three gathered once more in the living room, their bellies full and spirits light.
The conversation drifted from lighthearted banter to more curious topics—eventually landing on Joo-Hee's recent reawakening.
"Unnie," Jin-Ah said with a sparkle in her eyes, "you're seriously amazing! I can't believe I personally know an A-Rank Hunter!"
Joo-Hee chuckled softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I'm just lucky, really. I never expected to reawaken, let alone as an A-Rank mage."
Jin-Ah looked at her with starry admiration. "Unnie, if it's not rude… can I see it? Your powers, I mean... I only heard from the news that you awakened nature-type abilities. I want to see it..."
Before Joo-Hee could respond, Jin-Woo gently karate-chopped his sister's head. "Don't bother her, Jin-Ah. She just got out of the hospital. You've got some nerve, asking her to perform magic like it's a party trick."
"Ow!" Jin-Ah pouted, rubbing her head.
But Joo-Hee only smiled, covering her mouth with her finger as she laughed. "It's fine, really. If Jin-Ah wants to see it, why not?"
Jin-Woo frowned slightly. "Are you sure? You don't have to indulge her curiosity, you know."
"I'm sure," Joo-Hee said with a nod. "I am a healer, remember? My body's long recovered."
"Besides… you've already seen my powers, haven't you, Jin? It would be unfair if only you got to witness it." She gave him a playful scoff before rising to her feet.
Walking over to the corner of the room, she stopped in front of a modest houseplant.
Turning slightly, she smiled over her shoulder. "Jin-Ah, watch closely. This is how beautiful the power of nature can be."
Green light slowly began to bloom from her hand, tendrils of pure mana crawling from her fingertips into the plant.
The leaves began to shimmer with an ethereal glow.
In that moment, the very atmosphere of the room changed.
Tiny green lights like floating fireflies began to drift gently through the air, casting a calming glow on everything they touched.
Joo-Hee focused, her thoughts guiding her mana.
She manipulated the plant's cellular structure and innate behavior, willing it to change, to evolve.
Before their eyes, buds began to form and bloom on the once-ordinary houseplant, delicate flowers unfurling with impossible grace.
Even Jin-Woo, who had seen her powers before, stood in silent awe—his mouth slightly open, stunned by the gentle yet profound beauty of her gift.
Jin-Ah's hands slowly came up to her mouth, eyes wide in amazement.
And in a hushed, breathless voice, she whispered one word, "Unnie…"
Joo-Hee continued to channel her mana, her hand glowing softly as the houseplant responded.
From its stem, another flower slowly blossomed—its petals unfurling in a gradient of red and yellow.
As it fully bloomed, a sweet and calming fragrance began to drift through the air, adding another layer of wonder to the moment.
Jin-Woo's eyes were initially fixed on the glowing flower, but soon, his gaze wandered.
It wasn't the plant that held his attention anymore.
It was her.
Joo-Hee stood with her eyes gently closed, a serene smile resting on her pale, delicate face.
Her orange hair shimmered under the light of her own magic, gently swaying with the mana's breeze.
In that instant, Jin-Woo's breath caught in his throat. 'How beautiful...'
It wasn't just admiration—it was awe.
She looked less like a person and more like a divine being.
A goddess of life, bathed in green light and radiating warmth.
His heart began to pound slowly in his chest, and he didn't even notice he had stopped looking at the flower.
But his trance was broken when Jin-Ah suddenly burst out, "Amazing…! How is that even possible?! I didn't even know our plant could bloom like that!"
Joo-Hee laughed softly at her reaction.
The amazement in Jin-Ah's eyes reminded her of her own first time—when the system had first granted her powers.
The wonder, the disbelief, the excitement.
She turned toward Jin-Woo and noticed him flinch slightly when their eyes met.
'What's with him?' she thought, slightly amused.
While she and Jin-Ah knelt down to admire the flower and Joo-Hee explained the cellular changes she willed into the plant, Jin-Woo sat there feeling strangely out of place.
His hand came up to his cheek.
'I feel hot…?' he fanned himself lightly, confused.
'Why does my chest feel tight? My heart's racing. The system isn't detecting any status ailments, so… what's with me?'
...
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Joo-Hee eventually stood up and smiled as she said, "Thanks again for lunch, Jin-Woo, Jin-Ah. If I get the chance, I'll treat you both next time."
Jin-Woo scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.
"It's fine… really. I owe you too much already. And, uh… do you want me to walk you out?"
Joo-Hee tilted her head slightly, amused by how awkward he was being.
'He's acting shy… how cute. I'd love to tease him, but I really have to go.'
With a lighthearted smile, she waved her hand. "It's okay, Jin. I'm in a bit of a hurry, so I'll be heading out now. Bye, Jin-Woo. Bye, Jin-Ah. See you both soon!"
Jin-Woo felt a strange pang in his chest as she turned to leave—a soft disappointment he couldn't quite name.
Beside him, Jin-Ah wore a smug expression as she waved goodbye.
Then she turned to her brother with a teasing grin.
"Oppa," she said, poking his arm, "Unnie's really beautiful, don't you think? I bet tons of guys are courting her. Why don't you shoot your shot?"
Jin-Woo glanced at her, then gave a devilish grin. Without a word, he reached out and pinched her cheeks.
"Hey, if you've got this much free time to talk nonsense, maybe you should spend it studying instead."
"Ouch! Okay, okay, I surrender! I'll stop teasing you now!" Jin-Ah yelped, swatting her brother's hand away.
Jin-Woo finally let go of her cheek, and Jin-Ah rubbed it dramatically as she muttered, "Still… I'm not kidding, oppa. You should think about it."
And with that, she bolted toward her room, laughing and half-expecting her brother to chase after her again.
Jin-Woo just sighed and leaned back into the sofa, watching her disappear down the hallway.
"…That brat."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a deeper sigh. But Jin-Ah's words lingered.
Think about it…
"Yeah… maybe she's right," he murmured to himself.
His thoughts drifted back to Joo-Hee—her radiant smile, her grace while using her powers, the way she carried herself with such warmth and strength despite everything she'd been through.
"She's… beautiful. Kind. Strong. Smart. Pretty. Sweet…"
He stopped himself mid-thought, blinking, 'What the hell am I doing?'
Jin-Woo slapped his cheeks lightly. "Snap out of it, Jin-Woo. What's gotten into you?"
But even as he tried to shake it off, the question gnawed at him, 'Do I… really like Joo-Hee?'
It wasn't something he'd thought about in years.
After their father disappeared and the burdens piled up, love, romance—feelings—had all been buried under the grind of survival.
His only focus had been working, supporting Jin-Ah and his mother, keeping their lives together.
But now… something had changed.
Or maybe, something inside him had been reawakened.
There was warmth where there had only been cold.
A flicker of light where things had been numb for so long.
Jin-Woo didn't have the answer yet.
But for the first time in years… he was starting to feel again.
...
Joo-Hee finally arrived at the building of the Hunter Association.
The familiar buzz of energy filled the air—hunters coming and going, some chatting, others waiting, all immersed in the dungeon-driven life they now lived.
As she stepped inside, she barely had time to scan the bustling lobby before a familiar figure approached.
It was Woo Jin-Chul.
"Ms. Lee," he greeted with a polite nod, his tone respectful yet warm. "It's a pleasure to see you again. I hope you've fully recovered by now."
Joo-Hee nodded as she smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Woo. I'm feeling much better now."
"The Chairman is expecting you on the top floor. I'll take you there."
She had already messaged the Association ahead of time, stating her intent to formally discuss her reawakening—and more importantly, her future as a hunter.
As they made their way to the elevator, a ripple of murmurs broke out around them.
"Wait… isn't that the Chief Inspector?"
"Who's that woman he's escorting?"
"She looks… kinda familiar."
"Isn't she the healer from the news? The one who reawakened?"
"She's an A-rank now, right? Man, some people really have all the luck…"
Joo-Hee heard the whispers but kept her gaze forward, unbothered.
She had no time for idle talk. Her focus was on what lay ahead—the gamble she was about to make.
She wasn't just here to report her status.
She was here to try and earn her place.
Her fingers subconsciously clenched, betraying the nervousness she didn't allow on her face.
As the elevator doors opened to the top floor, she took a slow, deep breath.
The chairman's office loomed ahead—grand, spacious, yet familiar.
The door opened, and inside was Chairman Go Gun-Hee, already standing with a welcoming smile.
"Ms. Lee, welcome to my office!" he said with surprising cheer. "I've been notified already, of course. But… are you certain you want to join the Association?"