Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Like Parent, Like Child
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even after the lightning had completely stopped, the sky didn't clear up easily.
The dark clouds lingered just as they were, simply refusing to strike down any longer.
The remnants of shattered concrete in the abandoned factory, the lingering smell of scorch.
And the corpses.
Amid the assassins' bodies, I found Mr. Luca, passed out.
Fortunately, he seemed to have no life-threatening injuries, breathing steadily.
"Ugh... is it over, boss?"
"......"
Kim Yang and Reneah approached.
They skirted around Baek Yeonhwa, who had been sobbing for a while, and came straight to me.
"Who knows."
Could I really call it over?
"It's gotten a bit quieter, hasn't it."
Reneah's words fit perfectly.
A little quieter.
The aftermath of this incident would come crashing down.
Had she calmed down somewhat?
Baek Yeonhwa approached hesitantly.
The draconic traces—horns, wings, tail—had already vanished, returning her to her usual form.
"Um... sir hero."
"Feeling better, Ms. Baek Yeonhwa?"
"Y-yes."
She performed a fist salute, bowing deeply.
"Thank you. Truly."
I couldn't know everything in her heart, but it was clear she'd overcome something.
I wanted to end on this touching moment, but unfortunately, that's something that only happens in comics.
Reality always had cleanup to deal with.
Kwaaaang-!
The abandoned factory shook again as smoke billowed up.
Click-clack. The sound of high heels on glass was chillingly cold.
As the smoke cleared, who appeared in the factory was Yu Ye-na of the Seven Apex Hunters, who had just been facing off against the Azure Dragon.
Though her complexion looked poor from exhaustion, her eyes quickly found Baek Yeonhwa and she swung her hand without hesitation.
"Kuhk!"
Baek Yeonhwa was instantly flattened by an invisible pressure.
Yu Ye-na began listing her deductions with a cold gaze.
"Azure Dragon, Tai Chi Yin-Yang Sect, Yin-Yang Twin Veins Baek Yeonhwa. It seems unlikely you're uninvolved in this incident."
Had the Hunter Management Bureau already investigated even Baek Yeonhwa?
Or perhaps they'd been monitoring potential threats to the 3rd Floor Earth all along.
In any case, Yu Ye-na pressed her down even harder, without a shred of mercy.
"The Tower Management Bureau has delegated arrest authority to the Korean Hunter Association. As of now, I'm arresting you as a suspect in terrorist acts."
"Kuhk!"
A groan escaped Baek Yeonhwa's lips. Seeing it, I hurriedly stepped forward to intervene.
"There's no need to suppress her this aggressively. Ms. Baek Yeonhwa is a victim—"
"She might not be. She could be proven a victim during the investigation, as you say. Even so, I don't think my actions now are excessive."
"......"
"Seoul nearly got destroyed again. This isn't something we can just overlook."
Yu Ye-na deliberately avoided meeting my eyes. It was her way of separating personal feelings from duty.
"Don't interfere, Juseon. Don't make me suppress you too."
"Then ease up a bit. Let the girl breathe."
"......Fine. Sorry."
"Cough! Cough! Haaah!"
Baek Yeonhwa, sprawled on the ground, finally gulped in air. But she looked up at me without a trace of grievance or suffering.
"No need to worry."
"Ms. Baek Yeonhwa..."
"There may be parts where I'm in the wrong, and parts that need investigating. I won't run anymore."
Tear stains remained, but no new tears flowed.
She'd definitely grown.
I looked down at her briefly, then gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Alright. Pull through. Meracle accepts ex-cons too."
In truth, I doubted the bureau would give her a criminal record once they grasped the situation.
Still, I exaggerated a bit to reassure her.
"What are you saying, sir hero."
Baek Yeonhwa tilted her head in response.
"You defeated me, sir hero."
......
............
..................
"Pardon?"
Stunned, I asked again, and Baek Yeonhwa replied with a flushed, shy face.
"Ah, looking forward to working with you."
One week later.
Sizzle.
Sizzle.
The savory aroma of grilled beef stimulated our stomachs.
All of us at the table just stared at the meat.
"B-boss... I can't hold out."
"I can tell."
Kim Yang, mouth agape, staring only at the beef.
I wiped her drool with a wet towel.
"But y'know. Can sheep eat cows? Aren't they like relatives?"
"Sh-sheep and cows are different."
Reneah trying to curb Kim Yang to save some portions.
"B-but, Elf Queen, you gotta love animals too, right? N-nature and all."
"Ahem, we protect the forests. Cows, on the other hand, devour the grass diligently, making them our natural enemies. Understand if I eat a bit aggressively. It's like a tribal destiny."
What nonsense.
This bizarre war of nerves at the dinner table.
"Even if it's beef, do you have to go that far? Act like adults and eat properly."
I clicked my tongue at both and sighed, only for them to glare daggers.
"Ordering two servings of beef for three people and suggesting we share? You're one to talk."
"St-stingy."
These two...
"Fine, then chip in some cash. And look at these sides. Hey, the sides are a full serving. Two meats are plenty."
"Th-then boss eats just sides. I'll have meat."
"Good idea. Here, sea mustard stems. Good for the body."
They pushed sides toward me.
I grabbed one and ate it, watching those fixated on the meat.
"Wh-what?! Why eat first?!"
"When eating meat, one must say 'ready' and then 'start'! Where did you learn manners—!"
"No, I was checking if it's done. Not yet. Don't eat."
"You've already eaten three pieces while 'checking' if they're done."
"I-I'm just gonna get sick otherwise."
And so the meal began.
No joke, the meat vanished in two minutes.
"So sweet, yet so fleeting."
"Meat..."
"Lick the grill."
Two servings had already blown past my weekly food budget.
To buy an apartment, I had to save meticulously on these little things.
"How about rock-paper-scissors? Loser orders one more serving?"
"S-sounds good. Boss, hand out."
"Let's just have ice cream. Free refills here, like three times—"
"Three more servings, please."
A black-haired woman sat across from me without a sound.
Yu Ye-na, whom I'd seen a week ago, was now at the grill house.
"Wh-what are you?"
Too sudden; I stared in shock, but the other two were already hooked.
"Three servings!"
"Meat!"
The owner quickly brought more, and Yu Ye-na, legs crossed, nodded at me.
"Grill it. Yours tastes the best."
"How many times have you tried it?"
Sizzle.
The beef grilled, filling the air with savory scent.
Yu Ye-na took a sip of water and looked at me calmly.
"Ms. Baek Yeonhwa was proven innocent. But 3rd Floor access is banned for half a year."
"That strict?"
"Intended or not, Seoul nearly fell. No casualties by miracle, but plenty injured."
"And the Azure Dragon?"
"That's the issue. Needs to take responsibility. Thanks to Ms. Baek Yeonhwa, negotiations worked. Got it down to half a year by enabling deals with 5th Floor spirit beasts."
"Bargaining sentence length. So beastly."
"Can't imprison it. Need equivalent."
She said it casually, but didn't seem pleased.
This could've escalated to inter-floor war, yet it ended lightly.
"Officially, it's a natural disaster from bad weather... something like that."
"I know. Saw the news."
5th Floor spirit beast descending, nearly war.
Can't air that on news; bad for public sentiment.
"Still, separate rewards will go out. To you and Ms. Reneah."
"Hm?"
Grandma, popping undercooked meat in her mouth, tilted her head.
Yu Ye-na bowed politely to Reneah.
"Thank you for helping then. Seoul was saved because of you."
"Oh, no big deal."
"Unofficially, a medal and reward money."
"Reward! How much? How much?!"
Yu Ye-na looked flustered at Reneah's excitement.
"Don't mind her. Old and marrying, but broke, y'know."
"......Marriage."
Kim Yang slyly asked the silenced Yu Ye-na.
"B-boss's friend, join M-Meracle too."
"Hey, she's got suitors lined up. What—"
"Really?"
Yu Ye-na smirked slyly at Kim Yang's suggestion, arms crossed, chin up.
"My standards aren't that picky."
"That's the pickiest kind."
Like Baek Yeonhwa, right?
"Same age, money no issue, runs a small business would be nice."
Oddly, Yu Ye-na's gaze pierced straight at me.
"Handsome, smokes... but can tolerate if quits."
"Sure, that shouldn't be hard to—"
"Knows how to save money, has convictions, but brave enough to break them."
"Vague, but Meracle can—"
"Hunter Training Academy class 111 graduate nice."
"......A classmate—"
"Okay if I get more specific?"
Yu Ye-na pressured with a sly smile, chin propped.
Kim Yang and Reneah watched munching meat, amused.
"Seriously?"
I stuffed meat in my mouth, conceding defeat to her expectant gaze.
Her mind always turned to weird places.
"Want more? Order. I'll leave the card."
She slid a black card across the table.
"Where to return it?"
"I'll pick it up."
She stood, gave a short goodbye, and turned to leave.
"Oh right."
Finally, she tossed a thick envelope from her pocket irritably, then left.
"From Ms. Baek Yeonhwa."
"......"
The letter slid onto my thigh.
I felt eyes; turning, Reneah sparkled eagerly.
"That's why you're a marriage agency prez! Am-amazing! T-tell me too! How to snag superstars! I want one like Chae Un-woo!"
"Sigh."
With a heavy sigh, I unfolded Baek Yeonhwa's letter.
-----
- To Sir Hero
By the time this reaches you, I'll likely have sorted everything and returned to daily life.
The investigation is over.
Simpler than expected.
Just follow the procedures.
What you said to me that day was more than duel marriage—
(Omitted)
.
.
.
Half a year later, I can descend to the 3rd Floor again.
Dowry no issue. Clan will prepare.
Just, which region do you prefer residing in—
(Omitted)
.
.
.
Sir Hero, the Azure Dragon claimed love while imprisoning me.
But I won't do that.
I just hope you choose of your own will.
For reference, I've planned about six date courses already—
(Omitted)
.
.
.
And this part,
better to clarify upfront.
From now on, minimize unnecessary contact with other women as much as possible.
Not a trust issue.
Not jealousy.
I simply dislike situations with too many variables.
I believe you understand, sir hero.
Half a year isn't long.
Can shorten if needed.
Or meet on 4th or 6th Floor.
You coming to 5th Floor also good.
Waiting for the day we meet again.
P.S.
Please reply quickly.
If no reply, might have to visit.
Kidding.
But please reply.
-----
"Ah..."
The subtly coercive obsession in the letter made me fold it and pocket it, pretending not to see.
Guess she learned from watching.
"Like parent, like child, after all."
No old saying's wrong.