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Chapter 10
The person standing there was a huge man.
Rather than simply being gigantic, he had a well-balanced, powerfully built physique—but considering my current height, he looked enormous.
“Uh…”
The man looked just as startled.
He stared at me with an expression that practically said, What on earth is this creature? Apparently, he hadn’t come looking for me.
“Who are you?”
The words slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it.
Then I was the one who froze.
Maybe it was a side effect, but ever since returning, I hadn’t been able to speak casually to anyone except Seoha. Yet now the informal speech came out naturally without the slightest hesitation.
Come to think of it, my usual aversion to other people wasn’t acting up either.
There had only ever been two situations where that happened.
The first was with Seoha.
The second…
…was when I encountered monsters inside dungeons.
Fwoosh!
“Ugh!”
I threw the blanket at the man and quickly put some distance between us before asking in a cold voice,
“What are you?”
“What do you mean, what am I? I’m just—”
“A monster wearing human skin?”
The man’s expression turned oddly amused.
Then he quietly chuckled.
“Hah. You’ve got some impressive instincts.”
The moment he said that, I started looking for an escape route.
Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, he continued,
“I guess once you reach my level, it’s impossible to hide your power. Sorry for startling you.”
“…”
“Yeah. If you sensed this monstrous strength of mine, your reaction is understandable. Honestly, being too strong has its own problems.”
He proudly puffed out his chest.
Watching him, only one thought came to mind.
…What is wrong with this idiot?
“More importantly, where’s Seoha? I heard she was staying here.”
“Uh…”
Now it was my turn to be confused.
So he really isn’t a monster?
“Seoha left to attend the event.”
“What? But it doesn’t start for another two hours.”
Apparently…
…we needed to talk first.
* * *
Among the public, the S-Rank Hunter known as “Diamond Body”, Choi Ha-min, Korea’s first Returnee, had opened Baek Seoha’s hotel room expecting to find her.
Instead…
…he found a snow-white girl.
Silver hair that sparkled under the light.
Ruby-red eyes like precious jewels.
Wrapped in a blanket draped over her head, she looked like a fairy straight out of a storybook.
Then, without warning, she threw the blanket at him and immediately took a defensive stance like a frightened stray cat.
Apparently she was the type of Hunter with highly developed instincts.
A monster…
To be fair, perhaps he was closer to one than an ordinary human now.
With a bitter smile, Choi Ha-min began talking to the girl.
Before long, they understood who the other was.
“So that’s it. I remember hearing about you. You’re Seoha’s family member—the Returnee.”
“…”
Since both of them had experienced similar circumstances, Choi Ha-min and Baek Eun-ha quickly found common ground.
Once they had exchanged introductions, Eun-ha impatiently asked,
“When you came back to Earth… how did you Awaken?”
Choi Ha-min was both a Returnee and, officially, an Awakened Hunter.
However, unable to understand the question, he simply looked at her strangely.
Feeling his gaze, she frowned.
“What?”
“No… I’m just wondering what you mean. Returnees who come back with power automatically Awaken the moment they return to Earth.”
At least, that’s how it had always worked.
“Huh?”
Baek Eun-ha blinked in complete surprise.
She tilted her head as though she’d never heard such a thing before.
It wasn’t Choi Ha-min’s type of look…
…but he had to admit.
She was honestly pretty adorable.
As he explained in more detail, Eun-ha suddenly exploded in frustration.
“Then why didn’t I?!”
“No idea. Unless someone crossed over before gaining any power in the other world… I’ve never heard of anyone losing their abilities during the transfer.”
The truth, however, was different.
Seoha had already told him.
All of Eun-ha’s memories had been artificially altered.
Naturally, the power she remembered possessing had never actually existed.
But he couldn’t tell her that.
So Choi Ha-min simply hid his pity and answered as naturally as possible.
After spending quite some time calming down the sulking Eun-ha, she finally composed herself.
Watching her, he couldn’t help remembering his younger sister as a child.
The memory of their reunion naturally brought a smile to his face.
“Still, you made it home safely, didn’t you? I’m sure that’s enough for Seoha too.”
“Well… that’s true, but…”
They had finished discussing everything they wanted to.
So it was time to change the subject.
“So Seoha went to Building C?”
“Yeah.”
“…The event is being held in the convention hall of Building A.”
“Huh?”
She had left two hours early.
Something definitely didn’t feel right.
Looking at the confused Eun-ha, Choi Ha-min asked,
“Want to go pick her up together?”
* * *
Two days before the international event…
The famous European S-Rank Hunter Helena looked over the information that had been delivered to her, wearing a puzzled expression.
“How curious.”
If an ordinary investigation failed, she had intended to use her influence and authority.
Surprisingly, however, the investigation into Song Ha-yeon had reached a conclusion much more easily than expected.
She had discovered the whereabouts of the teacher who had taught Song Ha-yeon necromancy.
“So their first contact was simply through an internet stream…”
Apparently they had switched to another method of communication later.
But once she found the original connection, everything else became easy.
The owner of that account lived in an upscale apartment complex in Seoul.
And that was where the problem appeared.
Baek Seoha.
Helena knew that name.
Seoha wasn’t merely famous in Korea.
She was recognized all over the world.
Helena herself had taken an interest in her long before this investigation.
Still…
Something didn’t add up.
As far as Helena knew, Baek Seoha was an exceptional spear user.
Was the spear merely a disguise?
No matter how she thought about it, that seemed unlikely.
But the possibility, however small, couldn’t be ignored.
Just then, the information broker she had hired sent another report.
There was one more person living in that apartment.
“…Interesting.”
They couldn’t even determine whether the person was male or female.
The only certainty was that they were Baek Seoha’s family.
In that case… I’ll start with the easier target.
Having made her decision, Helena smiled enchantingly and contacted Baek Seoha.
She told her…
…that she wished to discuss one of her secrets.
That was how today’s meeting had come about.
“You asked to see me?”
Inside the special training facility in Building C.
Originally built for another purpose, it had since been remodeled exclusively for high-ranking Hunters to train and spar.
“Well now… what do you suppose my reason is?”
“Sorry, but I didn’t come here for small talk.”
Baek Seoha’s voice was ice cold.
She had likely already realized Helena had investigated her.
That reaction was only natural.
“Don’t be so impatient. Even I’m not entirely sure yet.”
Helena smiled softly as she observed Seoha’s reactions.
Perhaps… this isn’t the one after all.
If Baek Seoha truly possessed profound knowledge of necromancy…
…there was no way she would remain this calm while facing Helena.
Grrrr…
Kieee…
Grooo…
Not when the entire training hall was overflowing with restless spirits.
“How disappointing.”
Just moments ago…
Helena had found over ten opportunities to kill Baek Seoha.
It seemed the rumors that she was approaching S-Rank were nothing more than exaggerated gossip spread by overeager people.
Just as Helena lost interest and turned to leave—
Seoha smiled mockingly.
“Heh.”
“If you’d like to test me…”
“I don’t mind.”
Her gaze shifted slightly.
There…
One of the wandering spirits twisted violently, desperate to devour a human soul.
She had noticed them from the very beginning.
“Ah…”
Helena’s expression changed.
The emerald eyes that resembled beautiful jewels gradually filled with an eerie crimson glow.
Unable to suppress herself any longer, she spoke.
“Then let’s say…”
“We happened to meet before the event…”
“…and decided to have a little exercise together.”
An overwhelming tide of deathly energy flooded the room.
“So that’s the story we’ll go with.”
* * *
“Ghk! W-Wait! Slow down! Ugh!”
Thud! Thud!
BOOM!
For some reason, while we were heading toward Building C, Choi Ha-min suddenly picked me up and began sprinting.
Not piggyback.
A full-on princess carry.
“At least… ngh… carry me on your back!”
“No time. Seoha’s in danger.”
“What?”
The words came completely out of nowhere.
But Choi Ha-min’s expression was deadly serious.
I had no choice but to grit my teeth and trust him.
BOOM!
CRASH!!
By the time we reached the training facility in Building C…
…it sounded like a battlefield straight out of a war movie.
“Tch.”
Clicking his tongue, Choi Ha-min quickly unlocked the entrance.
We rushed down the long corridor and entered the building.
Whoooosh.
Crack…
The sight inside was devastating.
The sturdy structure had been reduced to utter ruins.
“To think only two people did this…”
Stunned, Choi Ha-min swung his arm powerfully.
WHOOSH!
The cloud of dust dispersed.
Two figures came into view.
One was obviously Seoha.
The other…
…had a strangely familiar face.
It was the woman I had bumped into in the shopping district.
“Huff… huff… Oppa? Why are you here…?”
Seoha asked in surprise.
Unfortunately, after being carried here at high speed, my stomach was still churning too much to answer.
“…Impressive.”
After a brief silence, the woman spoke to Seoha, who was standing with her spear while catching her breath.
“I heard you were close to S-Rank.”
“…”
“But from what I can tell…”
“…you’re far beyond merely close.”
Wearing an enchanting smile, she continued.
“Still…”
“In the end, you were the wrong answer.”
Then…
She looked directly at me.
With an incredibly intense gaze.
Feeling it, Choi Ha-min frowned.
“So it’s you, Helena. What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you mean? We merely spent a little time together.”
“You think that excuse will work?”
He looked genuinely furious.
Nothing like the carefree man who had been joking around with me earlier.
Seeing this, Helena casually raised a hand.
“Don’t be so upset.”
“I was simply curious.”
“In the end, neither of them suffered any serious injuries, did they?”
She wasn’t wrong.
Despite all the destruction around them…
…both fighters had surprisingly few wounds.
It meant both had deliberately held back.
“Honestly… causing trouble before the event even begins is going to be a headache.”
“I’ll be more careful.”
Leaving only those words behind…
Helena departed.
Though just before disappearing…
…she cast one last longing glance in my direction.
Silence filled the room.
Then Seoha strode over and immediately turned on Choi Ha-min.
“Do you have any idea where this is?”
“Uh? No, I mean…”
“Why did you bring my brother here?”
“I—”
“Did you already forget what I told you?”
“He needs to be managed at the same level as a newborn in an incubator.”
“Hey… even I think that’s going a little too far…”
“You’re part of the problem too, Oppa.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to follow random strangers?”
“Why would you come with someone this suspicious?”
“I-I just…”
In the end…
…I was thoroughly scolded by Seoha once again.
