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Chapter 9
This was the kind of person you absolutely did not want to get involved with.
She radiated a presence completely unlike the ordinary pedestrians walking down the street.
Sensing that unsettling aura, I hurriedly tried to leave.
But the woman caught me by the arm.
Tap.
“Wait a moment.”
“Eep.”
This body of mine had almost no tolerance for physical contact.
Other than Seoha, simply having someone touch my bare skin was enough to make my mind go completely blank.
As I stood there flustered, the woman lowered her face until our eyes met.
Her gaze seemed to look deeper…
And deeper…
As though peering into my very core.
D-Does she want to fight?
Since I’d gone out with Seoha, I naturally hadn’t brought any mana stones with me.
Watching my anxious eyes dart around, the woman gently raised a hand to my cheek.
Then, smiling softly with her eyes, she brushed something away with a finger.
“You’ve got ice cream on your face.”
“…Ah. Um… thanks.”
She chuckled quietly.
Then, leaving behind a single remark, she turned away.
“How adorable.”
“…”
I had no idea what had just happened…
But at least the immediate crisis seemed to be over.
Looking at the ice cream that was already beginning to melt, I pulled my cap down lower and continued walking.
Lately…
My luck has been exceptionally terrible.
* * *
At an upscale café in downtown Seoul.
Inside one of its private rooms sat a young woman so nervous she could barely breathe.
It was Song Hayeon.
Places like this actually exist…
To someone who practically lived on chain coffee shops, this place felt completely foreign.
It almost made her feel like she’d suddenly become someone important.
But she couldn’t allow herself to get carried away.
Because the person she was about to meet wasn’t merely someone who felt important.
She truly was important.
Step… Step…
Click.
Hearing the relaxed footsteps approach and the door open, Song Hayeon stiffened like a statue before turning her head.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The woman standing before her…
…was none other than Europe’s famous S-Rank Hunter, Helena.
Her dazzling elegance left Song Hayeon completely overwhelmed.
Are all S-Rank hunters like this?
Even her presence was different.
That quiet yet crushing pressure.
Behind her calm exterior undoubtedly lay power as violent as a raging storm.
“H-Hello!”
“You don’t have to be so nervous.”
Helena smiled like a girl her own age and took her seat.
Seeing that, Song Hayeon relaxed a little.
Come to think of it… she looks younger than I expected.
Not childish.
Just…
Her breathtaking beauty somehow carried traces of youthful innocence.
If she had to compare it to anything…
She looked exactly like the noble princesses from old fairy tales.
“Is there something on my face?”
“A-Ah, no! Sorry. I just couldn’t help looking…”
“Hehe. Even if you’re only flattering me, I’m happy to hear it.”
After another warm smile, Helena finally brought up the real reason she’d invited Song Hayeon.
“Anyway, there are quite a few things I’d like to ask you.”
“O-Of course! Ask me anything!”
“Then I won’t hold back.”
Her very first question completely shattered Song Hayeon’s expectations.
“That red skeleton of yours…”
“Yes?”
“How exactly did you create it?”
“Uh… you mean the Skeleton Masher?”
“So that’s what you call it.”
Though she kept her expression composed…
That single exchange completely overturned everything Song Hayeon had believed until now.
S-So she really isn’t Master…?
Honestly…
Something had always felt a little off.
The image of HellLord12 she’d built in her mind never really matched Helena.
But she’d also believed Helena was the only necromancer in the world capable of possessing such profound knowledge.
“The truth is…”
Helena continued,
“I’m not exactly an orthodox necromancer myself—my abilities belong to a slightly different branch—but the undead I saw you using were incredibly fascinating.”
“I-Is that so…?”
So it wasn’t Helena.
Then who exactly was HellLord12?
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the time to ponder that mystery.
How much can I actually tell her?
Now that she knew Helena wasn’t her master, she couldn’t simply reveal everything.
Even if theirs was merely an online teacher-student relationship…
She still felt it would betray him.
But…
The woman before her wasn’t someone to underestimate.
Helena rarely appeared in public.
Almost nothing was known about what kind of person she truly was.
She looked graceful and elegant…
But who knew?
For all she knew, Helena might snap without warning like Hitler and become completely insane.
Song Hayeon tended to think positively.
But she wasn’t naïve.
If someone was S-Rank…
Burying a single person probably wouldn’t even register as work.
Rather than risk offending her…
It seemed wiser to answer honestly—at least to a point.
“Actually…”
She hesitated.
“Strictly speaking… I wasn’t the one who originally created those undead.”
“…What do you mean?”
“My necromancy was mostly taught to me by my master.”
“So there are limits to what I can explain.”
“…Your master?”
Even for Helena, that answer came completely out of nowhere.
As far as the world knew…
There wasn’t a necromancer in Korea superior to Helena herself.
Naturally, the next question followed.
“Then…”
“What kind of person is this master of yours?”
“…”
Song Hayeon thought for only a moment.
Then she answered decisively.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
A firm refusal.
There would be no further discussion on that subject.
“…I see.”
For an instant…
Something changed in Helena’s eyes.
But it vanished just as quickly.
“In that case, I won’t ask anymore.”
“Let’s talk about something else.”
Unlike the tense Song Hayeon…
Helena simply smiled and continued the conversation.
About an hour later…
Their meeting came to an end.
She might actually be a really nice person.
As she left the café, Song Hayeon couldn’t help smiling.
She’d met the legendary S-Rank hunter she’d only ever heard about.
Received valuable advice.
And even been given a precious gift.
It was an experience she’d never forget.
Only after Song Hayeon had completely disappeared…
Did Helena reveal a meaningful smile.
Tap.
Ring… Ring…
After several rings, someone answered.
Without hesitation, Helena spoke.
“Yes.”
“I want you to investigate everything surrounding her.”
“I don’t care what methods you use.”
“Every little detail.”
“Leave nothing out.”
If there was something Helena became curious about…
She simply couldn’t rest until she’d uncovered the truth.
* * *
“Oppa, we’re here.”
“…Yeah.”
I lifted my face from Seoha’s shoulder and blinked.
The day had finally arrived.
When I’d first left the house, I’d regretted agreeing to come.
But the hotel room we’d finally reached…
…was unbelievably luxurious.
“…Is this a normal room?”
“Hm? Of course not.”
“I don’t really know either, but it’s a nicer one.”
Well…
Seoha was an A-Rank hunter.
From the government’s perspective, she was a national treasure deserving of the best treatment.
This place looks ridiculously expensive.
Is it really okay for me to spend all day lying around here just playing on my computer?
That thought disappeared almost immediately.
The room was even more comfortable than I’d imagined.
I quickly unpacked my laptop and gaming gear.
This…
This might actually be heaven.
“I’ll have dinner brought up to the room while I’m attending the event tonight.”
“Okay.”
“If you need anything, just use the room phone.”
“Making a phone call is… okay, right?”
“I can manage that much.”
She worried far too much.
I answered with mild dissatisfaction.
After spending several hours lazily relaxing…
Seoha finally emerged from the bedroom dressed in elegant formal attire.
Looking at her now…
She honestly looked like a celebrity.
“…You look great.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll be back.”
Soon…
Silence filled the suite.
Since I’m in a different environment… ranked matches probably aren’t the best idea.
Instead, I logged into the RPG I usually played and sent a message to my online friend.
Tap tap tap.
[We’re doing a raid. Get on.]
Ding.
JP: Ah, sorry. Work’s running late today.
Seriously.
Whenever it actually mattered…
He was completely useless.
The limits of an online friend.
…
As I absentmindedly killed time alone…
The room’s intercom suddenly chimed.
The dinner I’d ordered had probably arrived.
“I-I’m coming.”
Crash.
Hurriedly wrapping my blanket over my head like a hood, I stumbled to the door and opened it.
But there was no one carrying dinner.
Standing outside was someone who definitely didn’t look like hotel staff.
…Excuse me?
Who are you?
