Chapter 12

Siwoo visited Yehwa's room early in the morning. There were many things they needed to ask each other.

Yehwa first asked how he managed to enter the Unknown Gate. According to Siwoo, it was just a coincidence.

"The gate I entered was a B-class gate. I clearly saw a green crack."

"Is that so?"

In March 2001, the gate Yehwa entered was a C-class gate.

Perhaps the Unknown Gate where Yehwa was trapped was a type that disguised its entrance as a regular gate. That seemed the most likely scenario.

"Then, how did you get out? How did you escape?"

"Through the exit."

As Siwoo answered nonchalantly, Yehwa fell into thought.

During their battle, Yehwa had obtained all five items. It was highly likely that the exit opened at that moment.

Yehwa, who had been stroking her chin, raised her head.

"Why did you call me the Princess of Black Flames?"

"Because you were openly cosplaying as one."

Cosplaying?

It was a fact she had only recently learned. 'The Princess of Black Flames' was a story that circulated among hunters like a legend.

'A legend...'

With a peculiar look in her eyes, Yehwa gazed at the black umbrella beside her. Siwoo, on the other hand, turned his head to look around the room.

Suddenly, a nearby glass table caught his eye. On it were an almost untouched breakfast and an open hunter registry.

"You seem to have checked the registry."

At Siwoo's words, Yehwa, who had been lost in thought, shifted her gaze to the registry.

"...They're all dead. Except one."

Her voice was flat, showing no emotion. Her expression was calm, but Siwoo's face was deeply contemplative.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

A brief silence followed. Siwoo, who had been observing Yehwa's silent profile, cautiously spoke again.

"...If you wish, I can look into it. The one survivor. I can find out their contact information or where they live."

It wasn't just talk. For Siwoo and the Wolf Guild, it would be easier than eating cold porridge. Moreover, meeting her former comrade might reveal more about her identity.

"No."

But Yehwa shook her head.

"Knowing they're alive is enough."

Meeting Joon would be very joyful, but it would also be very confusing.

'30 years have passed, so Baek Joon must be 54...'

In Yehwa's mind, he was still the young, blonde man in his twenties.

The one who ran over with a first-aid kit for a minor scratch, the one who smiled warmly while talking about his pet dog, the one who always spoke of the future even in the blood-soaked gates.

A simple, kind, and gentle person.

Yehwa slowly brushed her hair back, recalling his face. She thought that a reunion after 30 years wouldn't be as beautiful as she imagined.

Baek Joon was a sensitive person.

That incident back then must have left a significant trauma on him. She didn't want to dredge up his wounds by appearing before him. Especially since it had been 30 years.

"Is there anything else you need? I'll do my best to help."

"No. It's already enough."

"Please, just tell me. Do you need anything? Something you want to eat, someone you want to meet, anything."

Even though she said she was fine, his insistence on offering something made her a bit uncomfortable. It had always been that way. Yehwa believed there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"...Why?"

"Excuse me?"

Her pitch-black eyes, so dark that the boundaries of her pupils were indistinct, stared intently at his face.

"Why are you doing all this?"

It was a natural question. Siwoo was treating her with near-royal hospitality, with no conditions, no price, and no deadline.

But his answer was unexpectedly short and neat.

"Because you are a first-generation hunter."

First-generation hunter.

Literally, it referred to the first hunters who experienced the dawn of this tumultuous era.

"...Why?"

Yehwa asked, not understanding.

"Is that such a big deal?"

"Of course."

Siwoo answered immediately.

"Most first-generation hunters either died in the line of duty, went missing, or became vegetative with only their consciousness remaining. The fact that you survived such a harsh and terrifying era is reason enough for you to be revered."

Yehwa felt a strange sensation upon hearing Siwoo's words. To her, she wasn't such a remarkable person.

She had just awakened by chance and was conscripted at the age of twenty. After that, she vented her revenge and anger on monsters. Literally, she went crazy. That was all.

"Modern hunters are really terrible. Even I, who was rated as an S-class hunter, almost lost to you. If you hadn't lost consciousness, I would have been at a loss."

"That's true."

Yehwa nodded without much thought. Siwoo cleared his throat softly.

But she was never arrogant.

If they were to fight again right now, Yehwa was confident she could beat him. If her condition had been better, and if she had known he could control water as well as ice, it would have been a fight she couldn't lose.

"Your combat skills surpass those of current S-class hunters, and you are a survivor of the Unknown Gate. If your existence becomes known to the media, it will likely become a major issue nationwide."

Gates and monsters.

Humanity's scientific power couldn't uncover their essence or origin.

Especially the Unknown Gate, which was shrouded in mystery. Unlike other gates, it had no fixed strategy or rules, and its difficulty and appearance locations were unpredictable.

Your existence as a 30-year survivor of the Unknown Gate will be highly attractive to gate researchers.

"What do you plan to do from now on?"

"I'm not sure."

Although Yehwa had accepted the reality, it still felt less real than a dream. The world she knew, Seoul, no longer existed.

Siwoo, looking at Yehwa, who sat quietly like an empty doll, spoke cautiously.

"If it's okay with you, may I make a suggestion?"

"...A suggestion?"

"Yes. It's something I've been thinking about."

Looking at the somewhat weary Yehwa, Siwoo stood up.

"Perhaps it would be best for you to rest a bit more. Let me know whenever you're ready to hear my suggestion."

He wanted to grab her ankle and beg her to stay, but understanding and empathizing with her situation, who had suddenly found herself in a world 30 years ahead, was more important.

"If you need anything, you can call for someone at any time."

Click.

Alone in the empty room, Yehwa absentmindedly stroked her left wrist. The feel of the old wish bracelet always magically reassured her.

They say that in ten years, the world changes. In thirty years, it changes three times.

Alone in the room, Yehwa closed her eyes. The world had changed, and her surroundings had changed. It felt like she was living a vivid dream.

The neighborhood she knew was gone,

The people she knew were gone,

The Yehwa she knew was gone.

Then, what should she do in this modern world of 2031?

For what, how should she live, and what dreams should she have?

There was a time when she had similar thoughts.

It must have been around her second year of high school. Before submitting the 'Career Aspiration Form' given by her homeroom teacher, Yehwa showed it to her mother.

"Yehwa, you..."

Her mother looked at her in surprise after checking the form.

"Mom, I don't want to go to college. I just want to get a job somewhere and earn money."

"You don't have to. Yehwa, I'm not that hard up that you have to give up college."

"Mom, even so—"

"Listen. I want you to live your own life, Yehwa."