Chapter 10

"Why hasn't there been any news yet?"

Gwanghyeon anxiously stared at his wristwatch. Shiwoo, who had confidently said he would return within an hour, had not come back yet.

'Should I just go home?'

It was already well past quitting time. His daughter was surely calling for her father by now.

After much internal conflict, Gwanghyeon ultimately couldn't bring himself to leave.

'Then I won't have anything to report to the President.'

The Hunter Association President had his eye on Shiwoo.

Shiwoo Shin was an S-class Hunter. Moreover, he was of the rare natural element type.

What was even more noteworthy was that he could handle not only ice but also water. His abilities could be infinitely useful not only in combat but also in extinguishing fires and rescuing evacuees.

'The President has every reason to be greedy.'

But would he really accept the offer? He wouldn't even bat an eyelid at most persuasive words.

He was reluctant to show himself to the public. Whether it was by his own will or the wolf's, it was unknown.

Despite being persuaded and delayed, he finally went through the tutorial process today, but he still acted as if he had no interest in Hunter activities.

What kind of strategy could lure Shiwoo to the Association? After about 30 minutes of fruitless deliberation,

Ding, the glass chime rang.

"Ah, Hunter Shin!"

Bang!

The chair he was sitting on fell over with a loud noise.

The sullen look on his face was gone, and Gwanghyeon, with a full smile, quickly opened the door.

However,

Gwanghyeon's face suddenly stiffened when he saw Shiwoo.

"Huh? Did something happen?"

"No, well..."

Shiwoo trailed off.

The hoodie he was wearing had holes in it as if it had been singed by sparks.

His scorched shoes, disheveled hair, and soot-stained cheeks were a far cry from his appearance when he left the cafe.

Gwanghyeon couldn't hide his bewilderment at Shiwoo's appearance.

'An S-class Hunter struggling at a B-class Gate?'

That's absurd. It would be more realistic to say he encountered a fire on his way back.

"Here."

Shiwoo suddenly held out a purple mineral, the Gate Core. Ah, despite the twists and turns, it seems the tutorial was completed.

Why he ended up like this is a mystery, but the fact that he returned after clearing a B-class Gate alone is proof that he is indeed an S-class Hunter.

"Amazing. Please, have a seat. I'll get straight to the point since you must be busy."

"Do you know how to do first aid?"

"Yes, first aid—"

Gwanghyeon stopped abruptly.

"Huh? First aid? Did you get hurt...?"

"Not me."

Shiwoo lifted his thumb to point behind him.

"This person."

Only then did Gwanghyeon realize that Shiwoo was carrying someone. A young woman with a petite build was hidden behind his large back.

"This is... huh."

Gwanghyeon gasped.

She was wrapped in black cloth like a larva and had a very pale complexion. Her wrists, poking out from the black sleeves, were unusually pale and bony.

"Please check her condition. We can't go to the hospital due to the circumstances."

Shiwoo looked a bit anxious as he spoke.

For someone who worked in the Hunter and Gate-related field, the Association required basic first aid and medical knowledge to handle emergencies at any time. Knowing this, Shiwoo was asking for help.

From Gwanghyeon's perspective, there was no harm in helping him. It wasn't like he was asking for surgery; just a quick look, that's all.

Just as Gwanghyeon was about to approach her, Shiwoo suddenly spoke.

"Ah, be careful. If she wakes up now, I might not be able to control her."

"…What?"

Gwanghyeon slowly blinked. Did he hear that right? An S-class Hunter like Shiwoo couldn't control her...?

Gwanghyeon slowly examined her.

It had been a long time since he saw someone with such dark hair. Due to the influence of Gates, contracted divine beasts, and superpowers, modern people, regardless of East or West, began to have colorful hair and eye colors.

Judging from Shiwoo's attitude and unusual attire, she seemed to be an Awakened. Such pure black hair was rare.

What was strange didn't stop there.

'That dress. And what she's holding tightly in her hand... it's an umbrella.'

The dress, adorned with an excessive amount of lace, was as black as her hair.

Was it a cosplay? It had a strangely detailed look. A slightly worn ribbon, a bloodstain on the sleeve.

"Hmm. Apart from a high fever, there don't seem to be any serious injuries. I cautiously speculate that she might be extremely exhausted."

"Is there anything seriously wrong?"

"Yes. I think she'll regain consciousness once the fever breaks. Of course, I can't give a definitive answer without being a doctor, but that's my opinion."

"Thank you."

For a moment, Shiwoo's face seemed to relax with relief.

But it was short-lived. He suddenly stood up and carefully picked her up.

"Wait, Hunter Shin."

Gwanghyeon quickly blocked Shiwoo's path.

"I still have something to say."

"If it's about joining the Association, I decline. As you know, I'm already part of a guild."

"But Hunter Shin, you and the Wolf Guild—"

"I decline."

Shiwoo firmly cut off his words and looked Gwanghyeon straight in the eye. His face, showing no sign of hiding his annoyance, spoke softly.

"Didn't you say that after the tutorial, my future activities would be my own choice?"

"Then, how about this? How about visiting the Association tomorrow... or whenever you have time—"

"Move aside."

Shiwoo quietly cut off Gwanghyeon's words and tilted his head.

"I have something more urgent to attend to right now."

Gwanghyeon had no more energy to stop him. In the end, he could only watch as the S-class Hunter left.

"...It's not easy, really."

Gwanghyeon pressed his face against the window, watching Shiwoo's figure gradually shrink.

Then, he suddenly realized something.

'...Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, that woman looks like the Black Flame Princess from the urban legend.'

A black dress stained with blood.

An umbrella with a black rose pattern.

Shoes with thorns.

Hair so long it dragged on the ground.

Skin stained with blood.

Everything matched.

'Can't be... right?'

Gwanghyeon shook his head. At that moment, Shiwoo's warning flashed through his mind.

'If she wakes up now, I might not be able to control her.'

Gwanghyeon's movements froze. His instincts were telling him something.

There's something about that woman.

＊＊＊

A good smell filled the air.

Eunha slowly opened her eyes. A headache, as if someone was pricking her forehead with a needle, throbbed. This intense headache showed no signs of improving.

"Where am I..."

She touched her throbbing forehead and looked around. Eunha realized the smell was from the fabric softener on the bed sheets.

Her mind was still foggy. As she slowly sat up, a white box came into her blurry vision.

'This is...'

Inside the box, neatly folded, was Eunha's old military uniform. Why is this here...? As she wondered, a slender shadow fell beside her.

"Oh, you're awake? I'll go get the young master."

A young woman who was tidying the room.

'...Room?'

Only then did Eunha's vision clear, taking in her surroundings.

A soft bed,

A wooden table,

White curtains,

And... sunlight.

Her dazed eyes focused, and her black pupils dilated.

Bang!

Eunha fell off the bed.

"Are you, are you okay?"

The woman approached and extended her hand. Eunha, without taking it, looked around with a dazed expression.

'It's not a Gate.'

Did she... escape?

How?

Eunha's memory ended with the battle against the blue-eyed Hunter.

A voice, familiar from somewhere, intruded into her confused mind.

"You're awake, I see."

"Oh, young master."

"Good job. You can go now."

Eunha looked up.

The blue-eyed Hunter. It was him.

"How are you feeling?"

His tone and face seemed genuinely concerned about her condition, even though it was hard to believe.

Snap!

Without a word, Eunha leaped to the edge of the bed. Black flames burst from her shoulders, confirming her hostility.

"..."

But something strange happened. The man, looking troubled, raised his hands in a surrendering gesture instead of taking a fighting stance.

"I apologize if I startled you."

Formal speech. Eunha's eyebrows furrowed. His attitude and tone had changed, and she couldn't easily accept his new demeanor.

"I'll have some congee prepared. Can you eat it?"

A subtle silence fell between them. Eunha, still not extinguishing the flames, glared at him sharply. The hostility in her eyes was not lost on Shiwoo.

Shiwoo, maintaining a respectful distance, spoke in a calm tone.

"Please don't be so guarded. If I had intended to do anything, I would have done it already."

Eunha checked her body. Apart from the lack of strength and the severe headache, there were no obvious injuries or signs of restraint. In fact, there were signs of treatment.

"..."

When you attack like you're trying to kill me. What's your plan?"

"Wouldn't anyone misunderstand in this situation?"

Humanoid monsters often appeared from Gates. While it was rare for them to speak, it wasn't unprecedented. Moreover,

"Human beings don't usually have such a strong smell of blood."

"You still think I'm a monster."

"I told you, if I thought you were a monster, I would have killed you while you were asleep."

Eunha had been sound asleep for almost two days, exhausted. During that time, it would have been easier to snap her neck than to break a child's finger.

But Shiwoo didn't.

Eunha stared at him. She had many questions for him. How did he get into the Gate? How did he get her out? And...

'He called me the Black Flame Princess.'

Why did he know that title, which even she didn't know?

"..."

The black flames burning beside her gradually subsided. She hadn't completely lowered her guard.

Eunha, with a sharp gaze, looked up. Shiwoo was sitting upright a little distance away, in a respectful posture, as if addressing a superior.

"Thank you."

Seeing that Eunha seemed more willing to talk, he smiled in relief. Eunha's eyebrows twitched. What is this guy?

Meanwhile, Shiwoo thought.

Based on the current situation, there's a high probability that she is human. The evidence is as follows.