Breaking Up with the #1 S-Class

S-class Hunter, ranked 4th among them, Lee Na-ri.

Her name is Lee Na-ri, with golden hair and beautiful features, she’s a childhood friend I’ve known since I was young.

When I was young, when my parents were still alive, they had a slight acquaintance with Na-ri’s parents.

Perhaps because of that, Na-ri and I used to play together while our parents met.

During those times playing together, I didn’t know what kind of girl Na-ri was, but from the time we entered elementary school, I gradually began to learn about her.

An overachiever.

As my connection with Na-ri grew longer, I could notice that Na-ri was not an ordinary girl.

Unlike me, the eldest son of an ordinary family, Na-ri was from a wealthy family that owned a nationally recognized company.

And from a young age, because of her golden hair and outstanding appearance, she was incredibly popular among boys.

She was also smart, always ranking first in school, and even had a good personality—in a word, she was the perfect overachiever that people naturally referred to.

And I was attracted to Na-ri like that.

I always liked Na-ri, who treated me well.

My one-sided love lasted quite long, continuing for 10 years until I turned 17.

Normally, I would have waited longer, but unfortunately, it was time for me to drop out of the Hunter Academy.

So I couldn’t wait any longer.

Somehow, even if I got rejected, I felt like I would regret it if I didn’t confess my feelings now, so I decided to confess to Na-ri and put it into action.

“Na-ri. I really like you. Would you go out with me…?”

In the past, when I was 17, I confessed to Na-ri.

Giving her a bouquet, I bowed my head to Na-ri, hoping she would date me.

The feeling of friendship that had continued for 10 years had become love, and I wanted to become lovers, not just childhood friends.

So I gathered courage and confessed, but…

It seems a man’s first love indeed doesn’t come true.

“Ahaha… Si-woo liked me…”

Na-ri’s expression darkened when she heard my words.

She looked at me and smiled awkwardly.

She seemed to be trying her best not to ruin the atmosphere.

“But I’m sorry, what should I do… Si… Si-woo. It’s not that I dislike you… I do like you too…”

I continued to stand still, bowing my head and holding out the bouquet.

But no matter how much time passed, the bouquet in my hand wasn’t accepted.

Na-ri didn’t take the bouquet from me, she just looked glumly at me with my head bowed.

“…”

I couldn’t help but sense it.

The fact that my confession wouldn’t be fulfilled…

“I’m sorry, Si-woo. I guess I’ve never thought of you that way…”

And that sense wasn’t wrong.

Na-ri carefully expressed her intention to reject me.

“I see…”

Hearing Na-ri’s answer, I finally raised my head.

Hiding my devastated feelings, I tried to act as if it was okay.

Of course, it wasn’t okay, but…

“I’m really sorry, Si-woo. I’m sure you’ll find a good girlfriend. Not someone like me…”

Na-ri bowed her head and comforted me.

It seems she thought it was her way of being as considerate as possible.

“No… it’s really okay.”

Even though such consideration hurt even more, I tried to act as if it was nothing.

I hid the bouquet behind my back and smiled, saying it was okay.

“Even though I reject your confession, we’re still friends forever, right?”

Seeing my expression, Na-ri sighed in relief, as if it was fortunate.

And once again, she smiled kindly.

“Yes, Na-ri…”

And so, I was rejected by my first love and left.

‘But when time passes, it becomes a good memory.’

At that time, I was certainly very sad.

The memory of first love is so intense, I remember not wanting to give up.

But in the end, it seems time heals all emotions.

After that, I met Yoo Eun-ha, and fortunately, that wound healed quickly.

Now, it’s been a long time since I let go of my feelings for Na-ri.

Back then, it seemed like we couldn’t remain as good friends, but that has been realized.

As Na-ri said, we became good friends, and that continues to this day.

“May I sit here?”

“Do as you please.”

Na-ri asks me with a smile.

I took a sip from my glass and answered indifferently.

Hearing my answer, Na-ri sat across from me.

“This is really a coincidence, right? It’s been about 6 months since we’ve seen each other like this?”

“I guess so.”

Na-ri filled my beer glass and then filled her own.

Then she took a careful sip and smiled pleasantly.

Still, as childhood friends, our relationship isn’t awkward even though we haven’t seen each other for a long time.

“Did something good happen? You looked really happy earlier.”

“Hmm… I just conquered a B-class gate.”

With a slightly flushed face, she asked me.

I showed Na-ri the magic stones I got from conquering the B-class dungeon, as if boasting.

“Wow…! That’s amazing.”

“Haha. I was lucky.”

“But still. Even though it’s B-class, it must have been hard to conquer alone, you’re quite strong, huh?”

“Come on. I’m not as good as you, right? I’ve been seeing you on the news often, I heard you’ve risen to 4th among S-class? Your stock seems really high these days?”

“Hehehe. It just happened somehow.”

In a somewhat warm atmosphere, we exchanged compliments with each other.

“Si-woo. So have you completely given up on the manager job?”

At that moment, Na-ri asked me as if puzzled.

“Why suddenly ask about the manager job?”

“No… just. I heard you broke up… just asking. There’s absolutely no other meaning.”

“Well, I naturally quit the manager job. I’m planning to return as a hunter from now on.”

“Huh? As a hunter?”

“Yeah.”

I answered honestly.

There was nothing to hide anyway.

And while the job of an S-class hunter’s manager is a dream job if you can do it, it’s definitely not something you can easily get.

“Ah. What…”

“Why are you disappointed?”

“I’m not disappointed.”

Hearing my answer, I think I saw a slightly disappointed expression from Na-ri.

Na-ri denied it in response to my question.

“By the way, this is unexpected? I thought you would never work as a hunter again.”

When I stared at Na-ri suspiciously, she hurriedly changed the subject.

“I think he’s currently ranked 7th among S-class? That guy who kicked you out of the party saying you were useless…”

And she brought up an incident from when I was active as an A-class.

“Ah… Park Seo-eun?”

I could immediately tell who Na-ri was talking about.

If she was referring to a party member who expelled me when I was active as an A-class hunter, it could only be him.

I have a memory of retiring as a hunter because of that incident.

And when I retired, I also said I would never do anything like being a hunter again.

“That’s all in the past. It’s too late now.”

But especially now, that’s just a memory of the past.

At that time, I was certainly caught up in emotions and said I would never do it again, but it’s been several years, and the memory and emotions from that time have long been diluted.

In the first place, if I don’t do this job, I have no proper means of earning a living, so there’s no choice.

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Na-ri smiles at me as if relieved.

“Si-woo. I have a lot to talk about. Shall we drink together after a long time? Want to go for a second round? I’ll treat you.”

And Na-ri, who noticed that the side dishes were all gone while trying to eat them, made a suggestion to me.

“Hmm… No. It’s okay.”

I declined Na-ri’s offer.

Normally, I would have welcomed free alcohol, but now, I wasn’t happy at all.

Because now I’m immune to all status ailments, and no matter how much alcohol I drank earlier, I didn’t get tipsy.

Therefore, alcohol now was just bitter water.

So I didn’t want to drink any more alcohol.

“And isn’t it better for you to go home early? No matter how much we’re childhood friends and there’s absolutely nothing going on, your boyfriend will certainly worry, right?”

And there’s one more reason why I’m refusing—Na-ri already has a boyfriend.

After being rejected by Na-ri in the past, I dated Yoo Eun-ha, who was F-class at that time.

Around the same time, I heard that Na-ri also started dating a boyfriend.

Since I dated Yoo Eun-ha for 7 years, Na-ri probably dated for a similar amount of time.

I don’t know what her boyfriend’s personality is like, but if he’s a boyfriend, he would certainly oppose his girlfriend drinking with another man.

After all, when I was dating Yoo Eun-ha, I didn’t let her drink with other men.

“It’s already past 12 o’clock, and you shouldn’t make your boyfriend worry too much, so go home early.”

I looked at the clock on my smartphone.

It’s already past 12 o’clock.

It was time for us to part ways.

“Ah… That’s right. If my boyfriend finds out, it would be terrible…”

Na-ri makes an expression as if just realizing, and smiles glumly.

I stood up from my seat.

Na-ri also stood up with me.

“Yes. You’ve been dating your boyfriend for over 7 years, right? Although I broke up, don’t you break up.”

“Umm… Okay…”

“I’m leaving. Let’s see each other again if there’s an opportunity.”

“Yes. Si-woo. Take care.”

Before parting with Na-ri, I gave my own words of blessing, then headed home.