The sun dipped into the horizon as Jinwoo and Tanjiro walked toward the next training grounds. After the intense two-day session under Muichiro, their bodies were healed and their spirits sharpened.
The road led through a beautiful forest path — cherry blossoms, soft wind, birds settling for the night.
Tanjiro sniffed the air happily.
"The smell here is so warm… sweet… comforting."
Jinwoo caught it too.
Honey.
Not just ordinary honey — a scent so pure it felt healing just by breathing it.
He said quietly, "This place… smells like honey."
Before Tanjiro could reply—
BAM!
The mansion doors flew open.
"TANJIROO-KUNNNN!!!YOU'RE FINALLY HERE!!!"
Mitsuri sprinted toward them at full speed, eyes sparkling like stars. She nearly tackled Tanjiro with a hug.
"Mitsuri-san! It's been a while!" Tanjiro smiled warmly.
Then she turned to Jinwoo.
Her face instantly turned red.
"U-Um… Jinwoo… san… you came too! I'm so happyyyy!"..
She didn't just smile — her whole soul smiled.
Tanjiro laughed cheerfully.
But Jinwoo simply nodded once.
"Good to see you again."
Mitsuri froze.
Her brain:
He talked to me first… He noticed me… His voice sounds so gentle… I'm gonna faint—!!
She tried to hide her blush but completely failed.
"That smell…" Jinwoo said suddenly. "It's the honey, right? You farm honey here?"
Mitsuri's eyes widened.
Then her heart exploded.
"H-He smelled my honey?? He noticed?? He cares?!?!"
She nodded so aggressively her hair bounced like springs.
"Yes!! Yes!! I do honey farming!! It's my hobby! I really… really love sweet things!"
Her voice cracked in excitement.
Then, before either boy could react, she grabbed both their hands at once — Tanjiro's right hand and Jinwoo's left — and pulled them inside.
"Come in! Come in!! I'll make my special honey pancakes!! They're super sweet and full of love!!"
Tanjiro smiled awkwardly.
Jinwoo let himself be pulled — though he wasn't used to someone holding his hand so brightly.
Inside the mansion was pastel-coloured, warm and cozy. Pink, soft carpets, heart-shaped pillows, floral curtains. It felt like the opposite of war.
Tanjiro whispered:
"This is… a very cute house."
Jinwoo scanned the room quietly. Everything smelled of honey, sugar, and kindness.
Mitsuri rushed around the kitchen like a tornado of excitement.
"Please wait only five minutes!! I'm fast!!!"
Tanjiro looked impressed.
But Jinwoo simply sat, resting his chin on his hand, watching her move with surprising discipline. Her muscles flexed under her light clothing — she wasn't just cute. She was strong.
In a few minutes—
PLATE AFTER PLATE of thick golden pancakes were served in front of them.
"Go ahead! Try it!"
Tanjiro ate first.
His eyes sparkled. "Delicious!!"
Jinwoo lifted his fork, took one bite—
The honey melted on his tongue.
Perfect softness.
Warm sweetness.
So much effort poured into every piece.
Unexpectedly… Jinwoo stopped moving.
Tanjiro blinked. "Jinwoo-san?"
Jinwoo swallowed slowly and said:
"…It's good."
Just two words.
But Mitsuri nearly exploded from joy.
Her brain:
HE LIKED IT?? HE REALLY LIKED IT?? JINWOO-SAN LIKED SOMETHING I MADE?? AHHHH!!!
She clutched her chest dramatically, face glowing red.
"I-I'm so glad you like it!! I made it specially for you!!! I mean — for both of you — but also for YOU!! I mean— UH—"
Tanjiro laughed warmly.
Jinwoo hid a very small smile behind his hand.
They spent almost an hour eating and talking.
Jinwoo rarely spoke — but whenever he did, Mitsuri listened like he was telling sacred wisdom.
It felt… peaceful.
For a moment, Jinwoo almost forgot he was a hunter is in another world.
---
MEANWHILE — KOREAN HUNTER ASSOCIATION HQ
Inside the massive monitoring room, the new ANM-03 Anti-Mana Drone was ready.
Cha Hae-In, Woo Jin-Chul, and Chief Go Gun-Hee gathered with tension in the air.
The scientist pushed his glasses up confidently.
"Project successful. This drone should penetrate the dimensional barrier and stream video from Jinwoo's location."
They launched it.
Everyone stared at the monitor.
A bright flash —
and the drone crossed the gate.
The camera stabilized…
A dense forest appeared.
Cha Hae-In gasped. "This… definitely isn't our Earth."
Scientist : Bypass sucessful, but it can change a random location cause of barrier...
Woo Jin-Chul narrowed his eyes. "Is Jinwoo there?"
The drone continued flying —
through trees —
down the mountain —
toward a large mansion glowing with pastel lights.
Finally, it reached a window…
And the live video revealed:
Jinwoo.
Sitting at a small round table…
Eating pancakes…
With sparkles around him…
Next to Tanjiro and Mitsuri.
The entire Hunter Association room went silent.
Woo Jin-Chul's eyelid twitched.
"…Is he… on a date?"
Cha Hae-In stared blankly.
"…Why does it look like he's in a romantic scene?"
Woo Jin-Chul whispered:
"Is… is that honey on his lips?"
The drone zoomed in.
Mitsuri gently wiped Jinwoo cheek because a little honey was stuck.
Cha Hae-In and Woo Jin-Chul both gasped in the EXACT same tone
Cha Hae-In/Woo Jin Chul : "WHAT?!?!?!"
Chief Go Gun-Hee almost fell out of his chair.
The drone suddenly got pulled by wind and smashed against a tree.
Connection lost.
The three of them just sat in silence, traumatized.
Cha Hae-In:
"…I expected monsters. But I got… that."
Woo Jin-Chul:
"He went into another world… and ended up flirting."
The scientist whispered to himself:
"Is he… the protagonist of a romance manga?"
---
BACK AT MITSURI'S MANSION
After snack time, Mitsuri stretched her arms cheerfully.
"Alright! Training time!"
Tanjiro stood up instantly.
"I'm ready!"
Jinwoo finished the last bite calmly before rising.
He wasn't full — but something inside him felt satisfied.
To be continued...