The Black Saint is My StalkerCh133 - Keep moving forward

Edited by dreamandwonder

Everyone laughed at Mark’s expense. Mark, being the good sport that he was, took it like a champ. Z klhU

The strange tenseness in the atmosphere eased. Food was ordered and beer littered the table. Han Li might have guzzled down a few pints as a joke, only to laugh it off because he couldn’t stop hiccuping after the entire affair. Suddenly he was eighteen all over again. His friends talked about school. About graduation, about their finals, and their plans. Kevin was in the midst of switching programs. Simone contemplated taking another course after she was done with her fine arts degree and Mark was on the prowl for internships.

Han Li maintained his smile while he listened to their gibberish; talk of a world that once felt in reach but now was utterly alien to him.

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Simone noticed his silence and turned over to him. “What about you? What are your plans, Mr. Li Han? I heard you’re living comfortably with your boyfriend right now, huh?”

Han Li almost choked. He put down the pint of beer and pulled a complicated expression. “Grams and I aren’t like that. And even if we live together we rarely see each other.” rWKNAQ

“That so?” Mark piped in. “Aren’t you both hunters?”

“Well, yeah but he’s an S-ranker. I’m just your run-of-the-mill B-rank.”

The rest of his friends stared at him as though he had just eaten something strange. Han Li blinked, suddenly feeling awkward. “Um…” It did not occur to him that his friends might have been confused about the inner workings of the hunting world.

It was Nathan who spoke up. The smile on his face was sunny, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Oh! That’s still pretty awesome! I’ve never met anyone above a C-rank before.”

Han Li felt his ego being stroked. Happiness and discomfort pooled in his belly, concocting a strange mixture of emotions. “Ahaha, it’s no big deal. There’s still an ocean between B and A, and let’s not talk about the coveted S-rank.” He sighed deeply. One had to be capable of a miracle and then some to warrant an S-rank. But an A rank license… was still within the realm of possibility for Han Li.

And once he got his hands on that A-rank license, it would mean he could take on some of those top-tier missions. The same ones that Graham partook in.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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Holding back his grimace, Han Li grinned. “Actually, let me tell you a funny story. This was just my last mission. So we were supposed to track down this psychotic sorcerer but that’s not what’s important…”

Throwing his hands around in large motions, Han Li rambled, painting stories of grandeur and hilarity. The things he spoke of were colored so different from the drab reality that he faced day-to-day. But these guys didn’t need to know. They did not need to know about the gore, the horror, and the loss. Instead, they got stories of heroics, of absurdity, and glamorous action.

His friends leaned in intently and Han Li thought he was being treated like a king. Food and drinks were served in his name and everyone had a rapt interest in each and every one of his words. CscOFe

But this fleeting moment of spotlight was one short-lived and for the better. Because soon the attention was redirected to food, and Simone was rambling about some new exhibition finally coming to New Lidway. Han Li tried his best to follow the ups and downs of the conversation happening around him but at some point, he found that he could no longer keep track.

So he ate in silence. Not that he minded too much. The garlic chicken wings tasted miles better than the shitty dried rations he had to gobble down on missions. They weren’t half as good as Graham’s cooking though…

“…”

Han Li hadn’t even noticed when Kevin rose from his seat, leaving in a hurry to answer a phone call. It was only when Nathan scooted over that Han Li perked up. yOsTKg

A sweet smell wafted toward him, like burnt caramel and something else. Nathan tilted his head, his rosy lips pulled into a honeyed smile. “Hello,” he said, and the word seemed to ring inside Han Li’s ear.

Nathan was truly doll-like. His skin was as smooth as porcelain, almost ivory in hue. His bright, blue eyes twinkled like twin gems, glittering so beautifully. Enchanting. And though he wasn’t Han Li’s type, not usually, Han Li would be blind to not admit to the young man’s beauty. “So tell me, is it true that you’re half?” Nathan whispered with an excited tone.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Han Li paused. He straightened and kept his expression even respite the rapping in his chest. There was no reason to be alarmed, after all, it wasn’t a big secret.

Except none of his friends knew. None of his normal friends. That was part of the things that they didn’t need to know. 0zHOtX

“Where did you hear that?” Han Li smiled with ease, but the expression did not reach his eyes.

Nathan reeled a little, like a maiden scorned. He bit his bottom lip cutely, batting those long lashes of his. “I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean any o-offense! M-My big brother he…um…he’s involved in the hunting industry too!”

The answer was…well, a little strange.

But seeing red color his cheeks made the kid easy to forgive. Han Li tossed his head back and laughed. “Hey, don’t look so startled. It’s no big secret or anything.” After all, who in the hunting world didn’t know about Han Ruyan’s half-breed son? Han Li picked up his beer and brought it to his lips, hiding his smile. “Just don’t tell the others about it, ‘kay?” cxe7 I

“I most certainly will not!” Nathan’s eyes brightened again. He eagerly nodded and scooted even closer.

To Han Li’s side, Simone looked over and frowned. And though she was normally the type to butt in and chastise thirsty idiots like Han Li, Nathan, and even Kevin too, it was also Han Li’s birthday. If he wanted to go around making bad decisions then power to him, she supposed.

Seeing that Mark was also busy on his phone, the big doofus that he was, Simone excused herself and left the table, leaving the restaurant to find Kevin before the brat fled as though absconding from the scene of the crime. Kevin was damned good at that.

But luckily, she caught him still on the side of the road, bright despite the dark sky with street lights beaming brightly and cars zooming up and down. nNbjDx

“Hey kiddo,” she chirped at him, jogging up as he lowered the phone from his ear, a look of upset clear on his face. “What’s up, not feeling too well? I know it’s supposed to be Han Li’s day and all but he didn’t have to go and randomly steal your man like that, not cool.”

“…Huh?” Kevin frowned at her, taking a moment to digest what it was that she said. He then turned his attention to the window peering inside the restaurant, catching sight of Han Li and Nathan sitting together. “Oh,” he deadpanned and shrugged, turning back to his phone. “I…don’t care. Nathan and I, we… well it’s no big deal.”

“Aight, if you say so.” Simone tilted her head, observing him closely. “Then what’s up with the long face?”

Kevin’s expression turned sour as he pocketed his phone and sighed. “It’s my mom…you know how she is. Won’t stop meddling in things that…aren’t her business.” ZcNy56

Over the years, Simone learned plenty about Kevin White. And while he wasn’t the most compassionate or caring of friends that she had, he was still her friend. So she was very much aware of the complicated relationship that he had with his mother. And she was so very much aware of what drove his weight loss and his subsequent taking up a new career path. Kevin was the type of person that didn’t like to meddle too much with others but he also rarely shared anything about himself.

“Are you going home?” Simone asked, her voice devoid of the usual hyperactive edge she was known for.

“Don’t really have a choice.” He scrunched his nose up in distaste.

Just as he was about to step away, Simone rushed up to catch his sleeve. “Hey, not so fast Kevy boy!” she chided. “Don’t forget to say your goodbyes first, aight? Don’t be such a stranger. I already have to deal with Han Li’s bullshit.” iWvkfe

“…” Kevin made a complicated expression, looking between the table inside the restaurant and Simone. With a long defeated sigh, he begrudgingly conceded, “Alright…”

She beamed at him and slapped his shoulder heartily, “That’s my boy!”

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Simone watched as Kevin slipped back into the restaurant, bidding his farewells with the rest. Her smile turned bittersweet, recalling a time they would hang out and chill like this a lot more frequently. But time wasn’t always kind and the naive dreams she once had all fell apart before her eyes.

Oh well. 4ka5bC

It wasn’t that different for everyone else around her. In the end, the only thing they could do was keep moving forward, keep living as they did.

Kevin came back out and this time said his goodbyes to her. It would be long before they got the chance to meet again, but still, she smiled and said, “See you soon!”

Kevin nodded and left.

Author: U__U what the heck is Nathan up to…? What do you guys think!? Also, Kevin and the others all have hidden backstories and lives that they while the MC and ML go about the storyline. Sometimes it’s not always fully explored, but I litter some hints here and there maybe they’ll become relevant later…! (Or maybe not *cough cough* don’t take my word for it! lX5 kj