Chapter 40

There are six S-class hunters in Korea.

Jinroje, the leader of the Rose Guild and the acknowledged best healer in Korea, 'Doctor Plant'.

Yuhwan, the grandmaster of physical enhancement and the big brother to all hunters, 'Jecheon Daeseong'.

Song Minju, the youngest S-class hunter and a well-known military enthusiast, 'Trickster'.

Kang Ayeon, the lone wolf who insists on being unaffiliated and sweeps up Burst Gates, 'The Thief'.

Shin Siwoo, the most recently announced S-class hunter, a complete mystery with no available information, 'Baegrang'.

And Shin Gihun, the true master of the wolves and the first S-class hunter in Korea, 'Baegya'.

However, in fact, there were 'seven' S-class hunters in Korea.

'Maestro Baek Ijun.'

Eventually, Ijun appeared after Catherine.

A man with sharp features, wearing a black suit jacket draped over his broad shoulders. His neatly pressed white shirt and casually swept-back blonde hair gave him a tidy appearance.

"This is Maestro, my superior whom I mentioned earlier."

The only East Asian in the world's top five rankings.

The most famous hunter, still mentioned first at the Hunter Academy.

And most importantly.

'...The first S-class hunter in Korea.'

An 'Korean' who received the S-class rating before the master of the wolves, Shin Gihun.

However, ironically, he is not included among the six S-class hunters in Korea.

The reason was simple. He had given up his Korean citizenship and chosen American citizenship.

There were also many voices criticizing him for choosing America over Korea.

However, no one has denied that he is one of the 'world-recognized best hunters' to this day.

'Why is such a man here.'

Siwoo looked up at him silently from his seat. His gaze was far from gentle. However, Ijun did not avoid his gaze. Instead, he even smiled, narrowing his eyes.

"Can I sit down?"

Casual speech. Although he wasn't in a particularly good mood, there was no need to point it out. Siwoo knew his actual age behind his young appearance and that he was a distant senior.

"...Sure."

"Thanks."

Ijun, who had taken a seat, gave a quick nod to Catherine. Catherine bowed her head and turned around.

"...I'll be out for a while."

"Ah, if you need anything, please call me, sir."

Jehui, who had also noticed, followed Catherine out of the room.

"Looks like this is your mansion."

Ijun swept his gaze around the spacious room.

"Was it okay to call me here instead of the wolf headquarters? Or was there a reason for it?"

In the heavily silent room, two different-colored eyes met.

Siwoo seemed to have no intention of answering Ijun's question. He just stared at him with a sharp gaze.

Ijun raised one corner of his mouth in a slightly playful manner.

"Why, are you surprised by how young I look?"

"..."

Siwoo didn't answer again. But his blue eyes remained fixed on Ijun.

The higher the rank of a hunter, the more extraordinary abilities they possess, far beyond those of ordinary people. It wasn't just about the unique abilities granted by the system.

Self-healing, agility, destructive power, and even hearing and vision evolve to an incredible degree. Slower aging is also a characteristic of top-ranked hunters.

But.

'...This is beyond normal.'

The man in front of him, Baek Ijun, was too young.

He had seen his face in photos before but thought they were from his younger days. However, the man he met in person was unmistakably a young man, just like in the photos.

He looked to be in his late twenties at best, maybe early thirties. This was almost like rejuvenation, not just slower aging.

Ijun took off his black leather gloves and placed them on the glass table. He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled.

"I understand, but I'd appreciate it if you stopped staring. It's making me feel too hot."

"…Why are you here?"

Siwoo asked bluntly.

"If there's something to talk about, I already settled it with her. I have nothing more to add."

Indeed. There was a reason Catherine had failed. His firm and resolute attitude didn't seem easily swayed.

"I know. I don't have a habit of repeating myself."

"Then—"

"I've always wanted to meet you."

"…"

Siwoo's expression crumpled. Was he joking?

"…Why."

Ijun let out a small laugh.

"Why? I have something I want to ask you directly."

But the smile was fleeting. The rigid lips moved where the smile had been.

"Why did you make a contract with the Princess of Black Flame?"

Siwoo's eyebrows twitched. It wasn't the chillingly low tone of voice that caused the reaction. It was the familiar name, 'Princess of Black Flame,' that came from his mouth.

"…Do I have to answer?"

"Of course."

Ijun rested his elbow on the armrest and propped his chin up with his hand. Under his light blonde hair, his gray eyes held a cold gleam.

"Depending on your answer, my future actions will differ."

At that moment, Siwoo instinctively knew. The look in his eyes wasn't a threat or a warning.

'Hostility.'

And quite fierce.

But why?

Why did Maestro, who came from America, harbor such hostility towards him, someone he had never met before?

Siwoo looked at him straight and asked.

"What's your relationship with her?"

"Do you have the right to ask that?"

"Then do you?"

Siwoo twisted his lips.

"What right do you have to come here and ask me about her?"

"…"

"…"

A suffocating silence enveloped them. They stared at each other without blinking.

'This is annoying.'

A small sound escaped Siwoo's teeth. It didn't match his smiling face.

'First Trickster, now Maestro.'

He didn't understand why such annoying things kept happening.

But one thing was certain. No matter how many more annoying things happened, Siwoo had no intention of breaking this contract. Absolutely not.

"If you were curious about my contract with her, you could have gone to her directly, instead of me, who has already refused once."

Siwoo raised his head and looked at him across the table.

"Then, it could also mean this."

Their gazes met, and Siwoo narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You have a reason you can't meet her directly or ask her directly."

Ijun didn't answer. He just bowed his head.

After a moment of silence, his shoulders, hidden under the black suit jacket, seemed to tremble slightly.

"Haha. Interesting."

He suddenly burst out laughing.

"It seems you've given me the answer I wanted."

Siwoo's lips tightened. He didn't remember giving an answer to his question.

"What answer—"

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, Hunter Baek. There's a call from the Korean Hunter Association."

Catherine's voice came from the other side of the closed door.

"Ah, I see."

Ijun nodded and stood up.

"That's why I didn't want to come to Korea."

He muttered to himself and reached for his leather gloves.

Putting them on one by one, Ijun stood up. He was already tall, and standing made him even more imposing.

"…"

But Siwoo stared at him without flinching. After a brief exchange of glances, Ijun smiled.

"I've been a bother."

Ijun waved his gloved hand and grabbed the doorknob.

"I'll see you again soon, Baegrang."

"…!"

Click.

By the time Siwoo's eyes widened, the door was already firmly closed.

A few minutes later, the door opened again.

"Sir."

It was Jehui.

Seeing Siwoo, who looked like his mood had hit rock bottom, Jehui rolled his eyes.

"I brought… coffee…"

"Get rid of it. He's already gone."

"Yes, sir."

Jehui turned around with the tray of tea set and was about to leave the room when a cold voice stopped him.

"Leave the car."

"Car…? Where are you going?"

Siwoo stood up and pulled up his hood. In the faint shadow on his face, his blue eyes moved.

"To my senior's place."

＊＊＊

Ding-dong.

The doorbell woke Eunha from her nap. She had dozed off while watching TV.

'Who is it?'

There were only two people who would come to see her: Shin Siwoo and Park Jehui.

Sure enough, the intercom screen showed Siwoo in a dark blue hoodie.

She pressed the open button, and Siwoo's image disappeared from the screen.

A moment later, Siwoo, who had taken the elevator to the 17th floor, knocked on the door.

"What's up?"

She opened the door and looked at him. He entered the house, glanced at the drowsy Eunha, and then spoke.

"Senior."

"Uh-huh."

"Did you just wake up?"

"Uh-huh, just for a bit."

"Is that so."

Siwoo murmured softly while quickly checking the inside of the house. There were no signs that anyone had visited.

After confirming everything, Siwoo turned to Eunha with his usual expression.

"Why didn't you reply to my messages?"

"Ah."

Eunha rummaged in her pocket and took out her phone.

"It's like this."

"…"

Siwoo slowly blinked. Eunha's phone was charred black, as if it had been burned.

She tapped the blackened screen and said,

"It got like this in the Burst Gate I was swept into recently."

If her phone had been damaged since then, she wouldn't have been able to see Siwoo's messages.

"Can it be fixed?"

"It would be faster to get a new one."

"Right…"

Eunha stroked her phone, a little regretfully.

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"I'll borrow the kitchen."

Siwoo took off his hoodie and headed to the kitchen. Eunha's slightly doubtful gaze followed him.

"…Can you cook?"

"Simple things."

Siwoo briefly answered and put on the apron hanging on the wall. The ingredients should be fine since Jehui would have stocked them.

Siwoo turned his head as he rummaged through the fridge. He saw Eunha sitting at the table.

"…Senior."

After a moment of hesitation, Siwoo moved his lips slightly.

"Do you know Maestro?"

"Maestro?"

Eunha, who had been fiddling with her broken phone, glanced at him.

"No, I've never heard of him."

Siwoo stared at Eunha. She didn't seem to be lying. Although they hadn't known each other for long, he knew she wasn't the type to lie.

"…Is that so?"

Siwoo turned back to the fridge.

Carrots, green onions, potatoes… A simple curry rice would be fine with these ingredients.

He closed the fridge door with a thud, holding a bunch of vegetables, and spoke casually.

"So you don't know Baek Ijun at all?"

"Baek Ijun?"

Eunha's voice came from behind. A potato fell from Siwoo's arms as he turned his head.

It wasn't because of her reaction, which seemed to recognize him.

"How do you know that kid?"

Siwoo froze at Eunha's unfamiliar face.

Eunha, who looked as if she was happy to see him, did she even realize what kind of face she was making?

"No, I—"

In front of her, Siwoo found it hard to continue.