Many fans might assume that Lee Joohee is the main heroine in the Solo Leveling anime. But in truth, Cha Hae-In is the real romantic lead and shares a deep bond with Sung Jin-Woo.
Who is Cha Hae-In?
Name: Cha Hae-In
Age: Early 20s
Rank: S-Rank Hunter (9th S-Rank in South Korea)
Guild: Hunters Guild (Vice-Guild Master)
Appearance: Short blonde hair (anime adaptation), sharp and elegant features
Personality: Strong-willed, responsible, serious, yet humble. She cares deeply for her subordinates — often skipping breaks to check on them. Though serious in battle, she’s surprisingly shy and endearing in everyday life.
Her swordsmanship is so graceful that she’s nicknamed “The Dancing Blade” — a title she personally dislikes. Even Jin-Woo once wondered, “How many people in this world can radiate such an overwhelming aura?” Her aura was said to rival, even surpass, that of her Guild Master, Choi Jong-In.
She also possesses a unique skill: an extremely sensitive sense of smell that helps her detect mana and track enemies — even locating the ant queen in the Jeju Island raid. Additionally, she has the “Provocation Vibration” skill that slows down enemy movements.
🌟 First Encounter with Jin-Woo
Cha Hae-In first meets Sung Jin-Woo during a raid by the Hunters Guild. At that time, Jin-Woo had only just received an unreadable result on his re-evaluation — a sign of his transition to S-Rank.
He joins the mining team for the raid and happens upon the boss room during his lunch break. There, he runs into Hae-In. Suspicious at first, she warns him to be careful. However, she’s taken aback — Jin-Woo doesn’t smell like other hunters. In fact, he smells… nice.
This unexpected scent intrigues her so much that she stops him and leans in for a closer sniff, asking, “Are you really a Hunter?” Jin-Woo is stunned (and so are we — it’s both funny and adorable).
From that moment, Hae-In becomes curious. She even investigates him privately, only to discover that her Guild Master Choi Jong-In is also watching Jin-Woo.
🛡️ Seeing Jin-Woo’s True Power
Hae-In begins to take action. She uses her day off to observe a B-Rank dungeon run — one that Jin-Woo joined merely as a porter. However, what she witnesses is far beyond her expectations.
Jin-Woo effortlessly summons an army of undead, including high-level knights and monsters, and controls them with precision. She’s shocked at his hidden strength and his necromancer-like abilities.
Though she’s strong, even Hae-In can’t hide her nervous excitement. At one point, she carries a pickaxe into the dungeon (as an excuse), and when questioned by a junior hunter, she blushes and worries about seeming odd.
🎡 The Amusement Park Date
Before heading into a dangerous mission, Jin-Woo decides to meet the person he most wants to see — Hae-In.
He calls her during sword training and invites her out. Since the Jeju Island raid, Hae-In had already developed strong feelings for Jin-Woo, and she gladly accepts.
At the amusement park, crowds gather and cause a commotion, so Jin-Woo summons several shadow soldiers to form a perimeter around them. For the first time in two years, Hae-In can walk in public without fear — and without having to hide her scent from others. She feels safe with him.
Since ordinary rides can’t satisfy two S-Rank Hunters, Jin-Woo takes her on a sky-high tour riding Kaisel, his wyvern shadow. They fly into the sunset, then land on an island to stargaze.
It’s romantic, peaceful — and yes, they spend the night together.
Jin-Woo, when did you plan this perfect date?! 😄
💍 Do Cha Hae-In and Jin-Woo Get Married?
In the main storyline, they do not get married.
But — good news — in the side stories (web novel extras), they do get married and even have a son named Sung Su-Ho.
After the final battle, Jin-Woo uses the “Cup of Reincarnation” to reset time and protect the world alone. While everyone else forgets him, he returns to a timeline where he starts over from middle school.
After 27 years in the other dimension (and 2 years in reality), he comes back — weary, lost, and unsure of his place in the world. But when he sees Cha Hae-In, he rediscovers his reason to live. She had always been his emotional anchor.
Eventually, they marry, and their story continues in the epilogue.
☠️ Did Cha Hae-In Die?
No — Cha Hae-In does NOT die.
She was gravely injured by the Ant King after defeating the Ant Queen on Jeju Island. The wounds were severe, and she was on the verge of death.
Jin-Woo, remembering the healing powers of Min Byung-Gu, summoned him as a shadow soldier. Without waiting for orders, Min Byung-Gu immediately began healing her — saving her life.
This moment deepened her feelings for Jin-Woo and led her to eventually join his newly-formed Guild: Ahjin.
💞 Final Thoughts
Cha Hae-In might not have been the obvious heroine at first glance, but her story with Jin-Woo is one of trust, quiet affection, and mutual respect. She’s strong, loyal, and just a little shy — and we love her for it.
They’re adorable.
We’re rooting for them.
Always. 💕
