Chapter 68

While watching the battle between Weather and Siu, Gihun subtly smiled.

In fact, Siu's words were a lie.

It was true that he could handle both ice and water, but there was one drawback. He could lower the temperature of water, but he couldn't raise it. However,

'There's no need to tell the enemy that.'

He was satisfied.

More so than he had expected.

Of course, this wasn't a fight for his life, but even considering that, the fact that Siu had single-handedly subdued both Commander and Weather, two Hunters, was a remarkable feat.

'Now, the only one left is...'

Gihun, sitting in his wheelchair, subtly turned his gaze to the man standing beside him.

The man, wearing a snapback cap backward and with his shirt buttons undone, had a rather muscular build, as if he had just returned from a summer beach. His skin was dark, and despite it being late at night, he wore dark sunglasses that made it impossible to see his eyes, which was enough to make people around him think he was a weirdo.

However, he was not a suspicious person.

The man's true identity was Gihun's specially invited A-class Hunter from Korea, 'Engineer' Pyo Gi-hyeok, who, although ranked outside the top 100 globally, was considered the most likely to be promoted to S-class among Korean A-class Hunters.

Commander and Weather.

Having faced these two Hunters, the only one left was Gi-hyeok.

For some reason, however, he only stared at Siu through his sunglasses, not moving from his spot.

"Baekya. I'm sorry, but I have to sit this duel out."

Gi-hyeok suddenly spoke.

Siu and Gihun both furrowed their brows.

"What do you mean?"

Siu, frowning, approached Gi-hyeok. Gi-hyeok, looking at Siu askance, spoke with a hint of discomfort.

"You look like you can barely stand."

"Are you showing me some consideration?"

"No, it's a matter of my principles."

"I can fight."

"......Really?"

Gi-hyeok slightly lowered his sunglasses. And at that moment,

Crack!!

Lightning struck Siu.

Given his battered state and nearly depleted stamina, Siu had no chance to avoid it.

"Ugh......!"

Coughing up blood, Siu fell to the ground. Gi-hyeok, lowering his gaze, looked at him indifferently.

"I don't want to fight someone who will be taken out with just one hit."

"......"

Siu, lying on the ground, clenched his fists in frustration. His fingers scratched the gravel, leaving bloody marks.

It seemed that Gi-hyeok was also a Nature-type Hunter, specifically one who could manipulate electricity.

Gi-hyeok slowly rubbed the back of his neck, and with his movement, a blue spark appeared.

"......Don't you think the matchup is too favorable for me?"

Gi-hyeok was an A-class Hunter, and Siu was an S-class Hunter. The gap between the two ranks was significant.

However, considering their current conditions, the compatibility of their unique abilities, and their experience in the field, Gi-hyeok had a clear advantage over Siu.

"Do you really have to do this?"

Gi-hyeok said, sounding reluctant.

Even if it wasn't a real battle, look at Siu's condition. If he were to fight Gi-hyeok again, he would likely suffer serious injuries.

"You've already proven your strength against those two S-class Hunters. Isn't it enough without fighting me, an A-class Hunter?"

Isn't that right, Baekya? Gi-hyeok looked at Gihun.

"No."

At that moment, Siu, who had been silent, staggered to his feet. Gi-hyeok's eyes widened behind his sunglasses.

"Matchups and all that stuff don't matter."

Siu, swaying on the spot, narrowed his eyes fiercely.

I have to fight you.

And I will show you this damn proof.

A thin stream of white breath, like smoke, escaped from his lips.

***

"Haa... Haa..."

Siu, dragging his heavy legs, collapsed onto a nearby bench.

He leaned back and tilted his head to look up at the sky. Through his disheveled hair, his unfocused blue irises were visible. Siu suddenly raised his hands and stared at them.

None of his ten fingers were unscathed. The backlash from overusing his unique ability had left his hands numb, as if he had frostbite.

Siu slowly began to rummage through his pocket. From his right front pocket, he pulled out a crumpled ointment.

He tried to open the cap, but his hands wouldn't cooperate. Cursing under his breath, Siu used his teeth to twist the cap off.

Squish...

He applied the ointment to his knuckles, palms, wrists, and elbows, where he could see the wounds.

"......Ah."

Suddenly, the ointment fell to the ground.

It landed messily under the bench. Siu stared at it.

It was already late, and there was not a single person in sight. In the quiet stillness, only the faint light of the street lamps flickered.

After a while, Siu, who had been frozen in place, sat up without picking up the ointment.

He simply closed his eyes.

From a distance, a faint cricket chirped.

Then came the sound of the street trees swaying in the night breeze, and the flapping of a bird's wings from a branch somewhere. The sounds made his ears feel heavy. Was it because of that?

"Master Siu. Were you here?"

It sounded like a hallucination.

Knowing it was a foolish act, he still glanced up.

Sure enough, there was no one there—

"......Senior?"

Black hair, even blacker eyes. It was Eunha.

Siu slowly blinked. Even after confirming her face, he still looked disbelieving.

How long had she been there? Eunha stood in front of the bench, staring at Siu.

Siu, repeatedly opening and closing his eyelids, eventually frowned.

"What are you doing here?"

He tried to sound as sharp as possible. However, Eunha remained expressionless as she spoke.

"I was looking for you. I couldn't reach you."

Her black eyes swept over Siu's face.

"......Did you fall again?"

Siu ignored her words and turned his gaze away.

"What do you want? I clearly informed you of the contract termination."

"I know."

"Are you regretting it now? Did you need more money?"

"It's not that."

Eunha denied it softly. Her voice was calm and detached. In contrast, Siu's voice was agitated.

"Then why are you here? I don't want to see you again after the contract ended. I hope we don't have to face each other in the future."

That's what he wanted.

It was the only way.

They hadn't known each other for long, but Siu didn't dislike Eunha. That's why he had to do this.

Otherwise, she would end up like a stone—

"Let's just..."

Eunha's lips moved slightly.

"Go get some food."

Siu slowly raised his gaze to look at Eunha.

His mouth hung open, and his face seemed a bit surprised, or perhaps angry.

He just stared at her with that strange expression, not showing any reaction. So, Eunha spoke again.

"Since, as you said, we won't see each other again."

"......"

"I've been in your debt for a while. I can't do much, but I want to treat you to a meal as a final gesture."

"......"

Siu's blue eyes remained fixed on Eunha for a long time. What was he thinking?

His lips, which had been opening and closing, finally remained silent. It wasn't a positive or negative response.

"......"

A little later, Siu, sitting in a plastic chair, looked around with a sullen expression.

Eunha, who had just finished placing her order, glanced at Siu.

"Did you think we were going to a soup restaurant? It's not open this late."

"......"

"Why? Don't you like street food?"

"No."

Siu shook his head slightly.

Soon, the food they had ordered began to arrive. Scrambled eggs, stir-fried clams, and kimchi tofu... Siu's gaze stopped on one of the dishes.

"I hope it tastes good. If it were earlier, I would have treated you to something more expensive."

After hesitating for a moment, Siu slowly reached out with his chopsticks. The clear broth, with thinly sliced green and red peppers floating in it.

'This, the clams in the soup have a lot of green chili peppers. If I had known, I would have ordered something less spicy.'

The noisy surroundings, the red lights hanging from the ceiling, the smoky smell of charcoal, and the deep scent of alcohol. The white, yet extremely spicy broth.

Everything was just as he remembered.

"......"

Siu silently took a spoonful of the broth and closed his mouth. Eunha, opening a beer bottle across from him, glanced at him.

"The broth is......"

Thud. He put down his chopsticks.

Swish—

It started raining outside.

"The broth is a bit spicy."

Eunha, who had been staring at Siu, pulled a few napkins from the corner of the table and placed them in front of him.

"There are a lot of peppers in it."

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence hung between them, contrasting with the noisy surroundings.

Drip, drip.

The sound of rain tapping on the street food tent. Amidst it, Siu suddenly spoke.

"Senior."

The crumpled ointment on the table.

"I'll return it."

"......"

Eunha's black eyes fixed on the ointment. After a moment of silence, she moved her lips.

"Why?"

The question was short.

But the answer took a long time.

"......I think it would be better if you kept it, rather than me."

The night grew deeper.

On the burner between them, a pot of clams was bubbling.

The steam made it hard to see, but Siu stared at it for a long time, a very long time.