Chapter 37

"He's not coming."

Yunha turned her head slightly towards the store entrance. Siwoo, who had gone to take a call, had not returned. The military group that had been guarding the store entrance had disappeared. They were probably watching from somewhere nearby.

"Let's go out first."

Standing there at the entrance would hinder business, so it was better to go outside. Yunha took Minju and left the store.

"Senior."

They met Siwoo, who was just about to enter the store. His face was strangely stiff.

"I'm sorry, but I have something to do, so I need to go first."

Whatever call it was, it seemed important. Yunha nodded.

"Then what about this?"

Yunha suddenly handed the gate core to Siwoo. While Siwoo was hesitating, saying, "This is...," Minju, who was holding Yunha's hand, poked his head out.

"It's yours because you caught it, right?"

Siwoo's blue eyes turned to the boy. The boy smiled with his almond-shaped eyes.

"Can I take it?"

"..."

Is that... so?

Yunha stared at the gate core for a moment and then put it in her pocket. Siwoo, who had been looking at Minju with an unreadable expression, now turned his gaze to Yunha.

"Senior, do you have any connection to the United States?"

"The United States?"

Yunha, who had put the gate core in her pocket, tilted her head slightly.

"No, not really."

There was a time when she had planned to attend a university in the United States, but she never went, not even for a trip.

"I see."

Siwoo's face darkened again. He could have asked again, if it really was nothing, but he didn't.

While he was lost in thought, the bell rang. It was Siwoo's phone. He clicked his tongue and answered it.

"I'm on my way."

He hung up somewhat nervously. The one-second call seemed to have annoyed him so much that he turned around with a stiff face.

"Then I'll go first. I'll contact you again tomorrow. And..."

His blue eyes turned to the boy, Minju, one last time.

'He doesn't seem like he'll do anything.'

Siwoo, who had been staring intently, opened his mouth stiffly.

"If anything happens, please send me a message, or call me."

His icy eyes were still fixed on Minju. Yunha, finding it strange, nodded.

"Sure."

"Definitely."

Siwoo, emphasizing it again, hurriedly turned and disappeared down the alley, leaving only Minju and Yunha.

Yunha turned her back to the direction Siwoo had disappeared and looked at the boy.

Right. I have to do something about this kid...

"Kid, do you have any relatives or other family members?"

"No."

Minju answered immediately. This was not a lie.

"Then what about a home?"

"...No home, either."

This was a half-lie. While it was true that he didn't have a home, he lived at the Legion Guild headquarters, which could be considered his home. However, Minju didn't bother to mention this.

'This is awkward.'

Yunha sighed softly while looking at the boy. It was around 10 PM. The time when pedestrians were starting to head home and store signs were turning off. A common scene in the modern world with the appearance of gates.

'I should take him home first and bring him to the police station early tomorrow morning.'

At this moment, the suspicious military group was still watching them closely. If she left the boy with the police and returned, she didn't know what they might do.

"Let's go to my place first."

"Your place?"

Minju's eyes widened.

"Yeah. If it's uncomfortable..."

"No, I like it! I want to go, I want to go!"

Minju cut off Yunha's words and started jumping around.

Goodness, a home.

This person was likely of the same kind as herself. Moreover, she had a golden rank badge!

Her home might be filled with all sorts of valuable items, comparable to the golden rank badge. The thought alone made his heart race with excitement.

"Then let's go."

Suddenly, the height of his view shot up. When he came to his senses, Minju realized he was being held by her.

'Huh?'

Swish, swish, swish.

She pushed off the ground with her heels and sprang up like a spring, landing on the roof of a nearby two-story building.

Her movements were so light and agile, like a stray cat climbing a stone wall, that it was impossible to feel any sense of dissonance.

"We should lose them first."

"..."

"You might feel a bit dizzy. Are you okay?"

"Um... I'm okay."

Minju, who had answered without thinking, slowly blinked his eyes. At that moment, Yunha took off as if she had been waiting for his answer.

Whoosh—

This time, much higher.

It felt like the moon in the night sky was right in front of him.

Her jet-black hair, silken and flowing, contrasted with the moonlight.

With the sound of the wind, the view changed dramatically every time he opened his eyes.

'This person.'

She was not just an ordinary hunter, but this was beyond imagination.

Except for Song Minju, who was S-rank, all members of the Legion were top-ranking hunters in South Korea.

Top-ranking hunters had to be exceptionally skilled at hiding their presence, as it was the simplest and most important means of survival in high-difficulty gates.

All members of the Legion were capable of handling A-rank or higher gates. The fact that she could sense their presence suggested that she was also capable of handling A-rank or higher gates, or even higher.

Moreover, this speed.

'What is her true identity?'

Watching her fly across the rooftops like a princess, Minju couldn't help but swallow dryly.

'It's strange that I didn't know about a hunter of this caliber.'

There were currently six S-rank hunters in South Korea, and they knew each other's faces and real names.

'Except for that guy.'

The last to join the S-rank, he pursued a silly mystique, whether he was White Wolf or Black Wolf.

The relationships among hunters didn't change much even at the A-rank level.

The ratio of S-rank hunters among South Korean hunters was only 0.01%, and A-rank hunters were around 0.2%.

Considering that D, E, and F-rank hunters made up 90% of the total, A-rank or higher hunters were an extremely small minority.

Therefore, anyone who had been in this field for a few years, especially A-rank or higher hunters, would inevitably meet hunters in similar positions at least once.

Even without gates, they would meet at auction sites or system markets.

So it was strange. Where did this girl come from?

Minju, still in Yunha's arms, glanced back.

'Tsk, tsk.'

Minju clicked his tongue and turned his head. The group had completely lost her trail, which was evident from the complete disappearance of their presence. This made the Legion's future seem very bleak.

'They need more training. And—'

Minju, held like a princess, glanced at Yunha.

'I need to keep an eye on this girl.'

However...

Despite his resolve, Minju soon found out who she was.

"..."

Yunha's home.

As soon as they took off their shoes and entered, Minju's round eyes caught sight of something black.

'A dress?'

Hanging on the white built-in closet hook, it was clearly a dress. Minju, who had been staring at the lace and ribbons, lowered his gaze.

'This is...'

He squatted down and picked up something. It was a black umbrella lying on the floor.

The moment he held it, a memory flashed like lightning.

An incident that happened at the guild headquarters not long ago.

"Master, have you seen this?"

Joonhwan, who had been laughing at the TV, suddenly spoke. At the time, Minju was about to complete a new weapon, the 'Flame Bang Bang Bazooka,' so he had given a vague response.

"What is it?"

"Look at this woman. The Black Flame Princess or something. She's completely ridiculous, right?"