I Became the Protagonist’s Favorite

That place was too huge to be called a playroom, yet slightly too small to be called a playground.

I stood there with my mouth agape at the ridiculously well-decorated play area.

Han Arin noticed my stunned expression and chuckled softly, asking me with a mischievous grin, “How do you like it? Does it meet your approval?”

No matter what form I currently inhabited, I was still an adult at heart. So when faced with such childish attractions, I naturally tried to maintain my composure by nodding nonchalantly and responding with a cool “It’s fine.”

However, all my carefully laid plans of appearing aloof were dashed the moment my tail started wagging uncontrollably.

As I struggled in vain to subdue the overly active appendage, Chae-a entered the playroom with the Kamangi and immediately lit up with excitement.

“Wow! There’s even an adults’ section!”

Upon closer inspection, the structure did indeed resemble a grand castle.

I nodded enthusiastically in agreement, which prompted Chae-a to exclaim, “Amazing!” before dashing off towards the fortress with unparalleled speed.

Though my inner child yearned to chase after her, I stubbornly clung to the last shreds of adult dignity by feigning indifference while secretly trying to calm my racing heart.

‘Something about this feels like my first trip to an amusement park…’

What exactly could this feeling be? It’s as if all my childhood fantasies have suddenly manifested into reality.

Even though I don’t recall specific details from my youth, the emotions evoked feel vividly familiar, causing me to smile wistfully.

‘It’s strangely reminiscent of those days…’

My heart raced inexplicably as I stared at the structure. Just as I was about to sneak towards the entrance, Seorin spotted me and let out a high-pitched squeal.

“Hae-un! Chae-a! Look at me! One picture please!”

Her loud proclamation left no room for pretending I hadn’t heard. Despite feeling somewhat embarrassed, I reluctantly obliged by flashing a strained ‘V’ sign with my fingers.

To my surprise, Seorin burst out laughing and revealed, “Actually, it’s a video!”

With a pout, I shot her a brief glare before deciding to ignore her completely and crawl deeper into the playroom.

‘This layout resembles a maze.’

The winding slides and crisscrossing pathways reminded me of an oversized hamster tube system, prompting another amused chuckle.

Just as I was marvelously enjoying myself, Chae-a popped out unexpectedly beside me.

“Haeuni!”

Having just emerged from a pile of balls, her hair was now wildly frizzed out like a lion’s mane.

After gently smoothing down her unruly locks, I asked curiously, “Are you having fun?”

“Yup! This is the most incredible and amazing place ever…! Chae-a is so happy!”

She flailed her arms excitedly while giggling uncontrollably.

Finding her adorable antics irresistible, I smiled back before suggesting we continue our adventure further inside.

“Shall we proceed then?”

“Okay!”

Following her enthusiastic nod, we crawled forward together.

* * * * *

Seorin watched silently as Hae-un and Chae-a disappeared into the giant play structure before turning her attention to Han Arin with a more serious expression.

“May I speak with you for a moment?”

“Sure. Come sit down. Would you like some coffee?”

“…Thank you.”

Han Arin skillfully prepared a cup of coffee and dessert, maintaining steady eye contact throughout. Gathering my resolve amidst her piercing gaze, I broached the topic that had been weighing heavily on my mind.

“It’s about Hae-un…”

At the mention of her name, Han Arin’s casual demeanor instantly shifted to one of grave seriousness.

“Do you know what an Elixir is?”

“Yes.”

“And that Hae-un was experimented on?”

“That too… yes.”

Remarkably, just mentioning these two keywords seemed sufficient for Han Arin to fully grasp the gravity of the situation. She closed her eyes calmly, her expression heavy with thought.

“While I can’t disclose much, I can tell you that the Hunter Association is actively seeking the Elixir.”

This was undoubtedly the most hopeful news I’d received thus far. However, just as a smile began to form, Han Arin added bitterly,

“The prospects don’t seem very promising. There are only three Elixirs remaining, and the individuals possessing them are quite difficult to deal with.”

“I see.”

“Moreover, though the Association fully supports Hae-un, their policy prevents excessive investment in any single individual.”

“…So essentially, it’s unlikely the Association will succeed in obtaining the Elixir.”

“Perhaps. Time will tell.”

Though phrased diplomatically, the underlying negativity was clear. Taking a deep breath to steady my emotions, I reflected inwardly,

“It’s alright. I wasn’t counting on it anyway.”

From the start, I had resolved to acquire the Elixir through my own efforts, despite the inherent challenges of being merely a trainee hunter. Still, my progress thus far had exceeded expectations, giving me hope for the future.

“Don’t worry too much. If the Association fails, we can count on the Dragon race, and if they fail, there’s always me.”

While others might find such words reassuring, my history of handling most matters independently – except for my time with Hae-un – made them ring hollow.

‘Then I must rely on my own strength.’

Determined to either steal or otherwise obtain the Elixir through my growing abilities, I decided to proceed according to my original plan.

* * * * *

“Kyaa!”

Chae-a and I had been wandering through the maze for quite some time. Though the labyrinth itself wasn’t particularly complex, our progress was frequently interrupted by hidden chocolates scattered throughout the passages.

Each discovery led to delightful moments of sharing the treats equally between us.

Watching Chae-a’s round belly protrude amusingly, I contemplated stopping the snacking. However, her sweet smile and affectionate grip on my hand made it impossible to resist.

‘Is this what having a younger sibling feels like?’

As I absentmindedly petted her head, the Kamangi who had been trailing behind us approached and began chattering animatedly.

“Kya! Mmmnggh!”

Their meaning remained elusive to me. Shaking my head in confusion, the Kamangi grabbed my clothes and began pulling insistently.

‘Ah, they want me to follow.’

Understanding their intent, I nodded in agreement and prepared to move forward. However, Chae-a clung tightly to me with an almost pleading look. Sensing her reluctance to be left behind, I scooped her up and carried her along, eliciting joyful laughter from her.

Following the Kamangi for some time, we eventually arrived at a remarkable sight – a golden chest surrounded by numerous toys.

I stared mesmerized at the glittering treasure before regaining my senses and cautiously approaching the chest.

‘I wonder what’s inside?’

Considering the candy-laden passages, I anticipated finding sweets within. Such a discovery would certainly be welcome. With great anticipation, Chae-a and I opened the chest together.

“Wowwww!”

A single ornate bottle cap, adorned with red and gold hues, greeted our eyes. As Chae-a bounced excitedly beside me, she handed me the cap with a radiant smile.

“This is for Hae-un!”

“Huh?”

“Because Chae-a’s the older sister, I’ll give it to you!”

‘Isn’t that backwards?’

Though I wanted to correct her misunderstanding, I realized how awkward that would be and kept silent instead. Her thoughtful gesture touched me deeply, so I decided to overlook the minor error.

Having successfully completed our exploration, we began making our way back. Along the way, Chae-a hesitantly voiced a request.

“Um… Haeuni… Can I look at the bottle cap? Just for a little while!”

Though unclear exactly what “just a little while” entailed, I inferred it meant briefly and handed over the cap accordingly.

“Wow! It sparkles just like the stars!”

Judging from her enthusiastic response, she clearly adored it. Suppressing a chuckle at her reaction, I was about to ask for the cap back when…

‘No, taking it back would negate her kind gesture.’

Deciding on an alternative approach, I proposed, “How about we share ownership? Sound good?”

This suggestion delighted Chae-a immensely, causing her to jump around joyfully before hugging me tightly and rubbing her cheeks against mine. Patiently waiting until she calmed down, I gently stroked her hair.

* * *

Returning triumphantly with our precious treasure (the golden bottle cap), the first person we encountered was Han Arin, whose pleased smile immediately caught my attention.

Before I could question why she looked so amused, she directed her next question at me.

“Hae-un, would you like to join the Hunter Association?”

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