Chapter 52

Busan Jagalchi Market. 11:53 PM

As midnight approached, the sound of slippers shuffling through the quiet stillness could be heard.

The feet in the three-striped slippers suddenly came to a stop.

"Hey, are you okay?"

The man's gaze, backlit by the moon, slowly moved downward.

At his feet lay the sturdy members of the Immortal Guild, scattered like fallen leaves.

It had been four days since the Unknown Gate appeared in Busan Jagalchi Market. Upon receiving a call from Dr. Plant, the Immortal Guild immediately dispatched thirty members.

However, the twenty or so members who had first ventured in had not returned for three days. Among them was the guild's third-in-command, 'Ironman Do Seong-yun.'

That's why he came.

The second-in-command of the Immortal Guild, Heo Jae-min.

Jae-min scanned the fallen Immortal Guild members with his eyes. Seong-yun was nowhere to be seen.

'Do Seong-yun, still not back?'

He always acted so superior. I warned him he wouldn't be able to handle it without me. When he comes back, I'll give him a good scolding. When he comes back... if he comes back.

With a low sigh, Jae-min slumped down and checked the condition of the guild members.

Fortunately, they didn't seem to be unconscious or injured. They just looked extremely shocked.

'Is this the effect of the Unknown Gate?'

Unable to understand the situation, Jae-min squatted down and met the gaze of his dazed subordinates.

"What happened?"

One of the guild members, sitting on the ground, moved his stiff lips.

"Brother, sir. A woman went into the gate."

"What?"

At the hunter's words, Jae-min slowly raised his head to look at the gate entrance.

"A woman? Who?"

"Um, the Princess of Black Flame..."

"Princess of Black Flame, what?"

"The Princess of Black Flame. The F-rank hunter who has a contract with the Wolf Guild."

Jae-min raised an eyebrow curiously.

"So, who is she?"

"You know. The one in the black dress with an umbrella... She even appeared on TV once."

"I don't know about that. There are plenty of newbies these days."

After a short reply, he slowly stood up.

"But it's strange. How did that F-rank woman get into the gate?"

Jae-min scanned his sprawled-out subordinates. Then he grabbed the cheek of the largest hunter, pulling it like clay.

"Huh? You couldn't stop one F-rank hunter?"

"Ugh... Jae-sung-ham-mi..."

Snap.

Jae-min released the hunter's cheek. The force was so strong that the hunter flew back like a rubber band.

Seeing their utterly weak appearance, Jae-min clicked his tongue.

"I can understand how hard it must have been for Do Seong-yun to lead you. You're so weak. You don't deserve to bear the name of the Immortal Guild."

"..."

None of those watching dared to speak. They couldn't.

The Princess of Black Flame had hit each of their necks with her umbrella, then jumped into the gate at a speed they couldn't even think of chasing. When they came to, they were already sprawled on the ground.

Several Immortal Guild hunters couldn't stop a single F-rank concept hunter. There was no excuse for that.

"Pitiful. When we get back to Seoul, 2,000 push-ups and 3,000 sit-ups each. Got it?"

"Sorry!"

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

They shouted in response. Meanwhile, a shadow silently approached Jae-min.

"Should I call the master?"

Jae-min glanced over his right shoulder.

"No. We can't interfere. It's been a while since their date. She'll arrive here as planned by tomorrow morning."

"Then, should we chase her?"

Whoosh.

The sea breeze ruffled Jae-min's hair. He stared at the gate entrance, as if in thought.

The black vortex seemed to exert a magnetic force, pulling in nearby leaves and pebbles. The mysterious and bizarre sight resembled a miniature black hole from a documentary.

"Leave her. There are only two outcomes."

Turning his gaze from the dark crack, Jae-min added softly.

"Either she dies inside, or she comes out and dies."

Black sparks crackled around the large, dark vortex.

***

"──Ha."

Soft.

A familiar scent wafted through the air.

The smell of doenjang stew. The moment she recognized it, Eun-ha's eyes snapped open.

"Eun-ha."

"......!"

She froze.

"It's already 9 AM. You need to eat breakfast, right?"

"Um..."

...What?

A metallic sound escaped her parted lips.

Her hair, loosely tied with a pink intestine band, and her eyes, which looked just like Eun-ha's, proving they were mother and daughter. Even the old apron, which she insisted on using for over ten years despite being told to get a new one.

"Is it too late to sleep in on a Sunday? What were you doing up so late last night?"

Ignoring her scolding mother, Eun-ha slowly turned her head to look around.

No doubt about it. This was the house where she and her mother had lived over thirty years ago.

No matter how much time had passed, she couldn't forget the scenery of the house where she had lived for over a decade.

Before feeling moved by the familiar face and scenery in front of her, Eun-ha felt a sense of confusion.

'What is this?'

She was sure she was in Busan Jagalchi Market. She had a fight with the Immortal Guild members, knocked them out, and jumped into the gate. But...

"Ouch. Our daughter is still half-asleep. Go wash your face quickly. I've prepared breakfast."

Her mother pushed Eun-ha into the bathroom.

Standing in the small bathroom, Eun-ha slowly scanned the interior.

Two toothbrushes in a cup. A cactus arrangement on the top shelf. A sticker she had once stuck to the bathtub.

Even...

'The 12th Kyuhong High School Alumni Reunion'