Beast Hunt
People often describe the Great Tiger with one particular phrase: house-sized. Of course, that benchmark hails from an era when "house-sized" didn't mean a modern building. But the beast looming before Seong Ye-han was undeniably massive even by contemporary standards—a true embodiment of the term.
Its enormous silhouette, faintly outlined in the pale moonlight, exuded sheer scale. Even in the darkness, the tiger's rippling, explosive muscles—dense concentrations of raw energy made flesh—chilled the blood just to behold. No wonder it had turned the tables on a hunting team that included an A-rank hunter...
The creature crept forward cautiously, as if sensing some boundary. It moved with uncanny silence for such a colossal frame. Was its predator's instinct warning it of danger? It showed no sign of panic, trapped in their encirclement—it was far too deliberate for that.
Seong Ye-han scanned the tiger through the infrared goggles issued by the military, gradually tensing his body. He needed it close enough to explode forward in one burst, slamming mana reinforcement into his physical stats. Time the mana surge too early, and the tiger would whip its head around and bolt. An S-rank's presence alone could make lesser monsters piss themselves from sheer aura. This tiger wouldn't crumble that badly, but the moment it sensed an S-rank, it'd judge breaking through the rear encirclement easier than charging ahead.
If the S-rank here had been Yeo Seon-hui instead of Seong Ye-han or Ha Yeon-ah, she could've soared above the leaping tiger as the Sword Saint, pursuing and slaying it mid-air. But neither Seong Ye-han nor Ha Yeon-ah possessed the mobility to chase down an A-rank-or-higher beast—let alone a tiger—in mountainous terrain on foot.
So they had to wait, letting it draw into optimal range. Ku-guk—ku-guk— In the deathly silence, as if the whole world had plunged into oblivion, only the crunch of compressed snow echoed.
Seong Ye-han felt a bead of sweat trickle down his jaw amid the tension.
"..."
The silence dragged on. A glance confirmed it: a genuine monster. Seong Ye-han's monster-hunting experience was honestly limited. The world's "true S-rank" label fit him to a T. This single operation had burned through massive resources. Letting the tiger slip away would be a bone-deep loss...
He felt the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders anew. Sensing his mood, Park I-rae beside him took his hand. Protective gear dulled the warmth of skin-on-skin, transmitting only the glove's texture instead—but her intent pierced straight to his heart.
He turned to her. Gone was the playful vixen radiating subtle allure in his arms, like some illusion. Park I-rae's face stared back, her eyes steely and resolute. Seong Ye-han felt warmth spread through his rigid frame as he met those unflinching black pupils, calm as ever.
Come to think of it, she was the senior hunter here when it came to monster slaying. She'd picked up on his tension. Grateful, Seong Ye-han gave her a small smile before turning away.
Ha Yeon-ah remained seated in the same spot, posture unchanged. Eyes closed, her thoughts were unknowable, but her steady, serene breathing suggested no tension at all.
Unlike other S-ranks, Ha Yeon-ah had climbed steadily from C-rank to S-rank, step by step. Her depth of experience as a hunter likely surpassed anyone else's, making her composure feel natural. She'd staked her life against monsters from her weak days onward...
I need to step up too.
Seong Ye-han steadied his pounding heart, gripping his spear tighter. Tension ebbed, replaced by anticipation swelling in his chest.
The spear was a disposable javelin. Since his duel with Yeo Seon-hui, he'd honed his throwing skill relentlessly—it had reached expert level. Ha Yeon-ah's light cannon and his javelin strike. Played right, the hunt could end before it began.
Seong Ye-han closed his eyes calmly. Ha Yeon-ah would open the tiger hunt. In the pitch-black night. Holy Light devouring moon and stars alike. That would be the signal.
In an instant. As if rewinding time itself. Or fast-forwarding it. The night's shadow shrouding the sky was shoved aside.
A surge of mana expanding wildly. Even eyes shut, the intense brilliance registered—and Seong Ye-han kicked off the ground.
His superhuman body, infused with vast mana reinforcement, transcended into realms beyond. Ku-gu-gung— The snow-covered earth exploded beneath him like a detonation. The greater-than-expected shockwave made him worry for Park I-rae and Ha Yeon-ah, but spilt milk.
He could only trust them and do his part. Geu-geu-geuk— He felt the javelin—crafted tough enough, if not quite matching the halberd from Lee Yun—resonate as it gathered power.
The tiger staggered, reeling from the sudden light burst. Seong Ye-han unleashed it with a snap of waist and arm.
Kwaaang— The javelin pierced the sound barrier with a roar.
Shin Ye-hwa sat on the mansion sofa and flicked on the TV. A clean-cut male anchor droned on, reporting the raid's progress. No live footage due to the operation's nature, but it gave a rough sense of how things stood.
Winter's chill still held sway. Thinking of Seong Ye-han suffering the cold, Shin Ye-hwa swallowed her regret. Truth be told, she wanted to join him. With her and Ha Yeon-ah, that'd make three S-ranks—guaranteeing flawless success, variables be damned.
Plus, it'd let her show Ha Yeon-ah—who'd been wagging her tail at her man lately—who was boss, in every sense. As a high-profile raid after so long, it'd draw eyes. Perfect chance to shatter her months of inconvenient seclusion and herald her flashy S-rank return.
But she'd turned down Seong Ye-han's offer to bring her. The reason? That brainwashing sorcerer who'd targeted her. Seong Ye-han figured, with no leads, better to bait him out once she revealed her power. Shin Ye-hwa disagreed.
The instant she resumed S-rank status, the sorcerer would know she'd broken free. Realizing his brainwashing wasn't foolproof—whatever method he'd used—he'd go deeper underground, more cautious. But if she stayed a "pathetic" A-rank, he'd reach out regardless of who guarded her. He'd get cocky, even.
Because he could claim her, then climb through her to her man... Seong Ye-han. Shin Ye-hwa planned to hide her restored S-rank power as long as possible, enduring discomfort and humiliation.
Back in her S-rank days, her circle was narrow—mostly "higher-ups" and their associates. Her brainwasher had to be one of them. Like her, such people's desires dwarfed ordinary ones. A mind-controller? The world must look like his playground. Obvious he'd move to reclaim his "lost gem."
A few months' wait to snag his tail? Worth betting a month of no sex with her man. So she'd sent him off like a wife seeing her husband to work, left to glean his news vicariously through TV in lonely solitude.
Her own choice, yet the regret lingered. As Shin Ye-hwa nursed her loneliness, her eyes fell on Na Yu-ri across the sofa—sprawled, fiddling with a handheld game console. All her initial sharpness and wariness had vanished; she looked utterly at ease. Shin Ye-hwa even swore Na Yu-ri's already ample hips had grown plumper.
Frankly, oblivious as Shin Ye-hwa might be to her own allure, shouldn't that bitch have joined the hunt? Her ability was perfect for it. If Seong Ye-han weren't minding his ties to Park I-rae and Ha Yeon-ah...
Shin Ye-hwa rose and smack—slapped Na Yu-ri's ass.
"Kyaa! M-Master?!"
Ignoring Na Yu-ri's wide-eyed shock, Shin Ye-hwa headed to the bedroom. She grimaced at the sticky sensation lingering on her palm.
Not a fan.
But undeniable premium goods for his enjoyment. Guess she'd tolerate this much... No helping it.
With that, Shin Ye-hwa lay on the bed. One night's sleep, and he'd return. Imagining Seong Ye-han's face, she drifted off, feeling the sheets unusually cold tonight.
"W-What do I do...? Have I been too cocky lately for sure? Eek... If he abandons me... maybe lose some weight?"
Leaving one pitiful soul to fret through the anxious night.