Chapter 72

"Big sister, wait a moment. This time, I have something really amazing to show you."

After the meal.

Minju was introducing her masterpieces without a break. It was her 89th amazing work.

"Wow, impressive."

"Right? As I always say, you and I understand each other well. I have more. Just a moment."

...And she started searching every corner again to find her 90th amazing work.

Beyond Minju, who was bustling around the manufacturing room like a squirrel, Eunha turned her gaze to the clock on the wall.

'Time has already passed like this.'

Jehwi's blood must be drying up by now. Maybe it's time to head back. While thinking this,

"Hmm, where did I put that?"

Minju, who was rummaging through the manufacturing room, looked very excited, making it hard for Eunha to say she was leaving.

"Ah, Yura."

Just then, a guild member named Suhyun, who was passing by, suddenly handed a can to Eunha.

"Thirsty? This is called Masuta. Try it. It's quite good."

"Ah, it's fine."

"You've been working hard dealing with our master. You should at least have this."

Suhyun winked and whispered in a voice only Eunha could hear.

"I stole it without Kyung-ho knowing. Ah, Kyung-ho. He's in charge of supplies but is as petty as he looks."

"...Thank you."

Eunha stared at the can she was given and then placed it on the table beside her.

The table was already piled high with drinks and snacks. They were all given by passing Legion Family members.

With a slightly troubled look, she was observing them when Joonhwan approached with a friendly smile.

"Haha. If there's any left, you can take it all with you."

"I guess I should."

Eunha answered calmly and lifted her head.

"But where did Minju go?"

She was definitely busy showing off her next collection just a moment ago.

"Ah. She received an urgent call and went upstairs for a bit. She'll be back soon."

Joonhwan said this and naturally sat beside Eunha.

Thus, the two of them sat side by side amidst the clutter of parts, figures, and various devices in the manufacturing room, tearing open a bag of crackers.

The taste of the crackers was just as Eunha remembered. The texture was so dry it felt like it would choke you. Yet, as you chewed, a savory and slightly sweet flavor would rise.

Rustle─

The sound of a bag came from beside her.

Joonhwan, who had followed Eunha's lead and torn open a bag of crackers, was not eating the contents but carefully sorting out the star candies.

"Crackers these days come with star candies in separate packaging. Maybe we should change the supplier."

Muttering, Joonhwan started putting the star candies into a small glass bottle he had prepared. What is he doing? Staring at him intently,

"Ah."

Joonhwan, feeling her gaze, smiled sheepishly.

"Our master likes these star candies more than the crackers."

"Ah... Yes."

"Almost all of them are found."

Joonhwan carefully examined the bag again and found the last star candy.

Eunha observed Joonhwan from the side with a slightly curious look.

"Do you always collect them separately?"

"Yes, it's not a big deal."

Joonhwan rubbed his nose, embarrassed, and awkwardly changed the subject.

"By the way, it's been a long time since someone other than us seven visited the headquarters."

"Is that so?"

Eunha pretended not to know and went along with his change of topic.

"Probably over three... no, four years. I first met the master around that time. He was only 11 years old then."

...11 years old. Eunha lifted her gaze to the ceiling. 11 years old, that would be fourth grade in elementary school? A long time ago.

When she turned her gaze back to Joonhwan, he was looking at the star candies in the glass bottle with a somewhat somber expression.

"At first, I felt sorry for him. A child who should have been carrying a character backpack and going to school, but instead had to bear an unbearable burden after being rated S-class."

"..."

"I asked if his family opposed it. When I first decided to become a hunter, even as an adult, my mother refused to eat or drink and strongly opposed it."

It still is. Joonhwan added with a low laugh.

"But the master just answered briefly."

Joonhwan lifted his head.

"There's no such thing."

"..."

His lips were curved into a smile, but his eyes were somber. Eunha looked at his profile without saying a word.

"So I decided to be there for him. To be his new family. It's not a grand thing. Just eating together every day and sharing both sad and happy moments, that's what a family is, right?"

Suddenly, his eyes rounded.

"That's why we call each other family."

I don't know what to say.

Eunha, instead of answering Joonhwan, stared at the pile of snacks on the table.

'From today, this big sister is part of our family.'

"..."

Eunha slowly brought the drink she was holding to her mouth.

Beside her, Joonhwan carefully put the glass bottle filled with star candies into his pocket.

***

Minju, who had gone upstairs after receiving an urgent call, returned about 30 minutes later.

"Ah, I'm so annoyed."

Minju, who returned to the underground manufacturing room, looked very down.

"What happened, Master?"

Joonhwan approached, gauging Minju's mood.

"I don't know. Pohang."

"Pohang?"

Joonhwan tilted his head. The other guild members who had been suddenly called by Minju also looked puzzled.

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

Minju, pouting, nodded reluctantly.

She hadn't even finished showing Eunha all the toys yet. They hadn't even started the promised figure assembly.

If it weren't for Roze's request to give Minju the new military products, she would have refused already.

"...I'll be back soon."

Minju took out a German miniature Roze had sent her recently and sighed deeply.

"Leave one here, and the rest of you come with me."

"Huh?"

Joonhwan's eyes widened in surprise. Five people? What could be so important in Pohang?

But Minju, without explaining the situation in detail, turned to Eunha.

"Big sister, I'll be back soon. Can you come play again in a few days? Saturday! Saturday would be good!"

Eunha looked at Minju, who was clinging to her and sparkling with excitement. Then the other guild members gathered around Eunha.

"Ah, sure! I'll prepare coffee muffins. I can also show you how to eat Gunfrost then."

"Oh, that sounds good?"

"I'm looking forward to Saturday!"

Eunha, standing there awkwardly, blinked her eyes.

"...Sure, Saturday."

Eunha nodded slightly and slowly approached Minju. She fumbled with the hem of her dress and took out a thin wish bracelet.

"And this."

She had been waiting for the right moment to give this gift.

"It's a gift. A wish bracelet."

Let me see your wrist. Eunha tied it around Minju's left wrist herself.

"It's not expensive, but they say if you have this, your wish will come true."

Minju, hearing Eunha's words, stared at the orange wish bracelet with a curious look.

Her round, nut-like eyes seemed to be filled with various emotions. Thinking about it, Minju had never received anything like this from her parents.

After a while, a broad smile spread across Minju's face.

"This is the same as yours, right?"

Hehe, Minju, smiling happily, gently touched the orange wish bracelet with her right hand.

"Thank you, big sister. I won't lose it."

After repeating several times that she would definitely see Eunha again on Saturday, Minju finally left the headquarters.

***

Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

Minju, who arrived at a reservoir near Bihak Mountain, opened her eyes wide at the scene before her.

"Wow, what is this?"

Goo─

A large whirlpool was forming on the water's surface. It wasn't just one. Dozens of whirlpools were swirling across the entire reservoir, emitting a sinister aura.

"Damn, I have acrophobia."

Kyung-ho, who followed behind, grumbled. Joonhwan, the deputy guild leader who arrived last, also stopped and stared at the swirling reservoir.

"It seems Doctor Plant's words were true."

Having exterminated countless gates, they could feel it in their skin.

'A harbinger.'

A gate will appear here soon.

The five hunters, including Minju, took out their equipment.

"It looks like we're in for a big fight."

Joonhwan, who had Minju's custom-made weapon 'PeroRong Knife' on his waist, spoke heavily.

"Should we request reinforcements? The Inyeon Guild's headquarters is in Daegu, right? If we contact them now, they'll arrive quickly."

"Why bother? We already have an army of 50,000 here."

Tap, tap, tap...

Minju, with her short fingers, busily tapped the screen of her mobile phone.