LV. 99 The Princess of Dark Flare - Chapter 34

He was a boy with a small stature.

He had orange hair that seemed like it was covered in the colour of a sunset. The single dot under his round, acorn-like eye was also pretty cute.

Fortunately, there were no signs of trauma on the boy, who at most looked like a middle school student.

Eunha glanced over the boy from head to toe and softly asked him.

“Where are your parents?”

“…My parents?”

Nod.

“Th-they’re not here.”

Freeze. Eunha stiffened. This was an unexpected development.

Did that mean that he was an orphan? Don’t tell me… He wasn’t relieving himself here, right? Either way, she shouldn’t probe for more details.

“…Is that so?”

Eunha straightened her knees with a slightly stiff face.

The boy was looking at her with large, rabbit-like eyes. He didn’t look frightened, but he probably hadn’t accepted this situation as reality yet. She didn’t know the inside story, but she somehow felt sorry for him.

“How did you get here?”

In a softer voice, Eunha asked the boy another question.

But that was what the boy, Trickster, wanted to ask.

This gate was the gate Corps had won the bid for. So, the boss monster belonged to Corps as well.

There was no way a hunter wouldn’t know of the gate auction system. Moreover, if she was a hunter with this level of skill, she wouldn’t be a rookie.

Trickster reached that conclusion and raised his head. Wait. Was she a gate stealer? Was there a strong hunter who would steal from Corps?

‘If so.’

His round eyes sharpened in an instant.

Trickster touched the bazooka on his shoulder and licked his lips slightly. First, he needed to confirm it.

“Noona, are you a hunter?”

tl/n: noona is a term used by younger men to address women older than them

Rumble—

At the same time as Minjoo’s question, their surroundings began to slightly quake. Small sand-like debris fell onto their heads.

Just as a shadow covered the boy’s head, Eunha quickly reached out her hand.

“Yes, I’m a hunter.”

The concrete wall that was falling towards the boy was caught by Eunha’s hand, making a loud noise.

“So don’t worry and follow me.”

Eunha beckoned to the boy, supporting the wall with one hand.

Trickster looked at her with bewildered eyes.

‘Did you just save me?’

She was afraid that he was going to get hit by a falling concrete wall? Him, the fifth S-Class hunter of Korea? If his colleagues in Corps heard about this, they would have grabbed their stomachs and started laughing.

“Come on. If you stay there, you’ll end up as a dried filefish fillet.”

tl/n: aka jwipo, it’s a pressed fish jerky sold as street food (you can search it up for a visual)

But the woman in front of him seemed unaware of that fact.

He may have saved people before, but he’s never been saved himself. No, it was actually difficult to say that they had saved him… Trickster approached Eunha with a strange face.

“Okay.”

Then, she suddenly started to stroke his hair.

What? What’s happening? Trickster looked up at Eunha with questioning round eyes.

[The monsters have been cleared!]

[The exit is activated.]

A blue message window popped up in front of both of them. Then, a purple marble, the ‘gate core’, rose from the corpse of the fallen boss monster.

“Let’s hurry. The gate will close soon.”

Eunha took the core and reached out to the boy who still looked puzzled. Her hand had a thin and elegant form, but it was covered with black ashes.

Trickster stared at the dirty hand that had been stretched out to him and raised his head, looking at her once more.

He couldn’t find any hostility or suspicion in her black pupils.

‘…You don’t know me?’

There was no way. Among hunters these days, there probably wasn’t anyone who didn’t know Trickster, the Master of Corps. He could have that sort of confidence because he was Korea’s fifth S-Class—

“You’re not moving?”

Eunha slowly tilted her head. Her dark tied-up hair fell down her shoulder.

“Do you want a piggyback ride?”

“…”

Trickster, no, Song Minjoo was convinced this time.

‘This woman really doesn’t know me.’

Are you from an alternate timeline? Feeling an unknown sense of defeat, Minjoo opened his mouth suspiciously.

“Noona, I’ll let you know. I’m Corps’s—”

“Wait a moment.”

Eunha cut off Minjoo’s words and walked closer. Then, she stared intently at Minjoo’s neck.

“That.”

Eunha slowly raised her index finger and pointed to something. The golden dog tag flashed in her black pupils.

“I think that’s mine.”

“…”

“…”

There was a brief silence.

Minjoo, who had become rabbit-eyed, opened his mouth slightly.

“…Yes?”

“Did you pick it up?”

Minjoo hesitated to answer.

“That dog tag is precious to me. I would like it back.”

Minjoo looked up at Eunha. It didn’t look like she was lying, but it was hard for him to fully believe her, as it was only their first time meeting.

If this person was the owner of the dog tag, then it would be right to return it.

‘On the contrary, if you’re not the owner, then I don’t have to give it back, right?’

Minjoo raised the corners of his mouth while clasping the military tag with his fist. He had an idea.

“Then, tell me the number.”

Minjoo said playfully, holding the military tag tightly so she couldn’t see it. Military service numbers weren’t as simple as blood types. If she wasn’t the owner of this golden dog tag, she’d never be able to—

“98-S10102794.”

Eh?

“Blood type O. The issuance date is January 3, 1998.”

Eunha spoke up to that point and held out her hand.

“Return it.”

“…”

What. Really? No, how?

Minjoo blinked his eyes with a perplexed face.

Tak!

Eunha snatched the golden dog tag from Minjoo’s neck as he stood blankly. The movement was so fast that it took his breath away.

“Come on, let’s go.”

Eunha put the dog tag around her neck and reached out to Minjoo.

The two moved towards the gate exit, holding hands. In the meantime, Minjoo racked his head.

‘This person… What the hell is she?’

After the boss was killed, the fire inside the gate gradually disappeared. As for the remaining flames, they were quickly extinguished with only a light gesture from Eunha. It was like they were matches put in front of a fan.

This degree of skill was at least B-Class. Maybe B+, or even A-Class. She had a unique nature-based ability, but above all…

‘The owner of a golden dog tag.’

He tried to put all of those words into his head, but there was no clear answer.

‘Is this person also a militaku?’

Peek.

Minjoo secretly glanced at Eunha, who was walking while holding his hand.

“What?”

Eunha asked without looking to her side.

“Tell me if your legs hurt.”

“…I’m fine.”

She also didn’t know his identity. Even now, he could have said, ‘I am Trickster of Corps!’, but—

‘…’

Minjoo stared at their clasped hands and bit his lip firmly. Her ash-covered hands were dirty, but they were firmer and warmer than he had expected.

It was his first time holding hands with someone. It wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.

Meanwhile, Eunha raised the corners of her lips slightly as she walked while looking ahead.

She could feel the small hand holding her own tighten. Even if he pretended to be an adult, he still seemed to be a child in the end.

‘He must have been very scared.’

Eunha had seen many children like this. She had once used to see herself in them.

Eunha also put a little strength into her hand, as if to reciprocate the action of the one she held. Then, the boy raised his round eyes and looked at her.

Their eyes met. His hand was still in her grip.

“…”

“…”

She thought it would be good to bring up something. However, Eunha was far less talkative than she thought she was.

What should she talk about with the child… She didn’t know if she would make the child cry by saying something too carelessly. It was a new experience for her.

After thinking for a while, Eunha slowly opened her mouth.

“…Do you like soldiers?”

It was the best choice of topic for Eunha. It was an inferred result from the fact that the child was holding a toy bazooka model, wore a military uniform-patterned hoodie, and looked at the golden dog tag preciously.

Then, a twinkling galaxy shone in Minjoo’s eyes.

“Yes!”

An unexpectedly great response came back.

“They’re awesome. I especially like the military uniforms. No other school uniform or uniform has such a sophisticated design.”

Minjoo talked excitedly.

“Aren’t the weapons so cool? In particular, I like the basic K-2 the most. It’s such a simple and stylish weapon that always inspires me.”

His hand shook in her grip. Fortunately, the topic selected seemed appropriate. Eunha nodded her head with a slightly proud heart.

“The K-2’s not bad. The accuracy is also good. But it’s too heavy.”

Eunha spoke up to that point and thought for a moment before adding briefly.

“In terms of simplicity, I don’t think it can match the K-1.”

tl/n: they’re both rifles

Minjoo widened his eyes as if surprised by Eunha’s answer.

‘Oh my gosh.’

A trembling voice could be heard between the hands that covered his mouth.

“Do you like the K-1?”

“…? Mn.”

She thought that his eyes suddenly changed. Eunha nodded her head even though she thought it was odd.

Minjoo suppressed the feeling of wanting to jump in place.

In the modern times of 2030, there were no soldiers who used a K-1 or K-2.

No, in the first place, after gates, monsters, and awakenings occured, the value of human firearms dropped significantly compared to before.

But this person—

‘The conversation is flowing?!’

Minjoo’s heart was pounding.

“Because I prioritise mobility. Since the K-2 is a gas piston type, it is easier to maintain and is more durable than the K-1, but it’s too heavy.”

Eunha said calmly, recalling her experiences at the training camp.

Although human firearms generally didn’t work against monsters, she had learned to handle weapons, including firearms, just in case.

‘Due to the nature of a hunter’s life-and-death fighting style, there were many people who preferred the K-1, which was more mobile than the K-2.’

Although she had been formally trained, she had never actually used a gun in a gate.

Minjoo had succeeded in toning down his excitement a little and opened his mouth with a calmer expression. His voice was still trembling faintly.

“Heaviness is definitely a disadvantage, but… I think it’s a huge advantage to be able to shoot even when the buttstock is folded.”

“Right. There are definitely things to be improved, but considering that it was a weapon produced with Korean technology of the time, it can’t be denied that it is a masterpiece.”

“So you agree?!”

In the end, Minjoo couldn’t stand it and jumped up.

This person! Regarding when he referred to the K-1 and K-2, which are shit guns! His shoulders were shaking with joy, as if he had finally met a true colleague.

The two of them started talking about guns and soldiers. Their hands, which were holding each other awkwardly at first, were swaying as if they were dancing.

When they finally came to their senses, they had arrived at the gate exit.

‘Ah…’

Minjoo stopped walking.

It was a shame for the conversation to end like this.

It seems that he had clenched the hand that he was holding without knowing. Eunha turned her head towards Minjoo.

“What?”

“No, it’s just…”

What should he do? Use a trick to hide the exit? However, there was a risk of being trapped in the gate permanently if he did anything wrong. Still, it was so sad to part like this…

It was a moment when he was deep in his thoughts.

“Oh, I found him!”

A man’s voice could be heard from somewhere. Eunha turned her head.

Six adults who wore identical clothes and cloaks were looking in their direction.

“Mas…!”

Swish.

Minjoo hid behind Eunha. Eunha and the others widened their eyes at his actions.

Looking at the boy hiding behind her, Eunha opened her mouth softly.

“Anyone you know?”

Shake shake. Minjoo shook his head vigorously. As if a little frightened, he shrunk his shoulders and squeezed Eunha’s sleeve tightly. He looked like a delicate herbivore.

“Who are you?”

At the boy’s denial, Eunha looked at them and asked.

A dark green cloak and a crooked military beret. The clothes they wore were… They were very similar to the design of the military uniform that Eunha remembered.

Among them, the tallest man at the forefront of the group, Bae Joonhwan, the second-in-command of Corps, approached.

“We’re Corps’s… Hm?”

Something gleamed in his vision. A purple marble held by the woman in front of him. That was definitely the gate core. The moment he noticed it, Joonhwan’s eyes suddenly turned hostile.

“…Are you a stealer?”

“A stealer?”

Eunha tilted her head.

“What’s that?”

“She…”

Joonhwan blinked his eyes, as if dumbfounded. Was she really ignorant, or was she terribly shameless?

‘What the hell is Master thinking?’

At this point, she was no different from being completely clueless.

That woman was holding the gate core as if she wanted it to be seen, but their master, Trickster, didn’t stop her. No, he even hid behind the woman.

‘Why?’

He’d always acted out of line with expectations, and he had done so this time as well.

Joonhwan gave the colleagues standing behind him a strange look. His colleagues all shook their heads. None of them completely understood their master, who was famous for being unpredictable.

Joonhwan turned his eyes to Eunha again, fixed his gaze on the gate core she was holding, and firmly opened his mouth.

“Corps has won the bid for this territory. Therefore, the monsters, resources, and gate core here are all ours. This is a very valid argument according to the Hunter Act.”

At his words, the colleagues standing behind him nodded their heads. Obviously, Joonhwan wasn’t saying anything wrong. Joonhwan opened his mouth once more at a closer distance, with their noses almost touching each other.

“If you are not planning to declare war on Corps, put that gate core down right now—”

The moment he said it.

Flinch.

Joonhwan stiffened up like a stone statue.

“…”

The boy hiding behind Eunha, their master, was glaring sharply in his direction.

‘M-master?’

Joonhwan looked at Minjoo with bewildered eyes. Minjoo fiddled with the bazooka on his shoulder and smiled.

Shut. Your. Mouth.