Who Are You?
The engraving—a mysterious power that bestows special abilities on specific targets. Even hunters who can't use magic can gain effects like breathing fire or momentary acceleration. The only limitation is that it can only be applied to non-living objects.
When an engraving is placed on a living being, it vanishes in less than three seconds. The same thing happened with animals and plants, though I don't know why. Naturally, it was the same with people. The only exception seemed to be corpses that were already dead. But she definitely wasn't a corpse.
"I thought this was completely normal, so I didn't realize it was supposed to be impossible."
"..."
I'd tested it on my own body as well. It didn't disappear. The effect was almost nonexistent since I'd engraved it on the spot, but the important part was that it actually stayed.
My mind went blank. The shock was almost on par with that morning I'd woken up in bed with her. This was actually possible. Did it work on others too? And if so, what exactly would happen?
Most people had given up on it by now, but there was a time when enormous effort had been poured into trying to engrave runes on living people. Unlike temporary buffs, engravings were effectively permanent. If you could apply one to a person, it might even raise their rank by an entire level. It was quite literally a dream-like ability.
"Have you... told anyone else about this?"
"Huh? No, you're the only one I've told so far."
"Then don't tell anyone. Ever."
"What?"
If this was something that could be learned through skill and practice, it wouldn't matter. Teaching it in exchange for fair compensation would actually give her a chance to gain money, fame, or power. But if this was an ability only she could perform?
"If this gets out, the repercussions will be enormous. Both good and bad."
Someone would definitely try to monopolize her. The desire for growth among hunters whose ranks had stagnated was immense. There would surely be people willing to resort to threats or outright crime. This was an ability that could shake the entire global hunter community if monopolized. I didn't know the exact efficiency or effects of her engravings yet, but the mere possibility made it dangerous.
"Wait, so I can't become an engraver?"
"...No. Just hide the fact that it works on people. You can engrave as many inanimate pieces of equipment as you want. And later on Saturday, come with me to the Association."
"The Association?"
"Yeah. We need to meet the Association President together."
I didn't want to bother someone who was already swamped because of the North Korea situation, but this was too important to ignore. Rather than keeping it completely hidden and risking everything blowing up later, it was better to tell someone we could trust.
"I'm sorry, but this time you need to listen to me—"
"Okay."
"Huh?"
"I said okay. I just need to keep it secret, right? It's dangerous if this gets out."
"Yeah..."
"Then there's no other choice."
"...Thank you. For going along with it."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you. I'm glad I told you first. I can trust you."
Where on earth did that level of trust come from? Didn't she even consider that I might try to monopolize her for myself? Still, the way she completely believed what I said made me genuinely grateful.
"By the way, Saturday?"
"Why, do you have plans?"
"No. I don't think so... but something feels kind of familiar."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
And so Saturday arrived. Since we'd set the appointment for three o'clock, we decided to head out around one for some breathing room.
"So why exactly did you barge into my house at nine in the morning?"
"Just because. I had a feeling you'd try to order delivery again. I doubt we'll be eating with the Association President, and given the time, he's ridiculously busy these days anyway."
"He's that busy, and it's okay for us to go see him about my situation?"
"If I ask for time, he'll make it. Do you have any idea how much I've done for them?"
Just my existence alone had brought enormous benefits to Korea and the Association. After all, I was currently the only X-rank hunter in the country who was both cooperative with the government and actively working in the field. They'd probably used my name a few times indirectly to their advantage.
"Besides, this is a matter of that magnitude. It's not something we can put off."
"...By the way, what's in your hand?"
"Groceries. I figured I'd stock your fridge."
I'd realized it while cooking that bacon kimchi fried rice before—her fridge was a high-end model, yet there was practically nothing inside. And sure enough, more delivery containers had appeared since then.
"...What are you going to do by filling my fridge?"
"What do you think? I'll cook for you sometimes."
"You're going to cook for me?"
"Yeah. Don't feel too burdened. I'm doing it because I want to. My portions always end up bigger than one person can eat anyway, so if you eat with me, it'll work out perfectly, right?"
"...I thought you said you didn't like it."
I heard her muttering something under her breath, but I ignored it. I was too busy thinking about how to organize everything in the fridge for easy access later. The dried squid snacks could go here, the half-dried mackerel in the freezer for now, and...
"Ah!"
"Whoa?! What's wrong?!"
"I forgot the eggs. And the onions."
"..."
I'd assumed she'd have the basics. I always calculated my purchases so I never ran out of fundamental ingredients like eggs and onions.
"I'll go buy them."
"Huh? Really?"
"It's my fridge I'm filling anyway. Send me the money you spend. I'll transfer it to your account."
"It's fine... Okay. Just a second, what I need is... eggs and..."
When I listed the basic ingredients I'd forgotten, Ma-ru typed them into his phone, grabbed the shopping basket, and headed out. Now what should I do... Well, I did have one onion left.
"Kimchi stew... No, I've been making too many kimchi dishes lately."
Looking through the groceries he'd bought, my eyes landed on the pasta. I'd picked it up for quick meals when I was tired. It seemed like a good time to make some now.
"I bought whipping cream too. Should I make cream pasta? There's bacon as well."
Honestly, I'd bought the whipping cream to put in my own fridge, but it didn't really matter.
I boiled some water first and cooked the spaghetti. Then I heated a pan with butter and sautéed onions, a bit of minced garlic, and bacon. Once they were done, I added whipping cream and milk, a pinch of salt, and two slices of cheddar cheese. I adjusted the consistency with more milk. Finally, I added the pasta that was about eighty percent cooked and finished it in the sauce. Simple homemade cream pasta.
"Maybe I should add a little decoration too."
I took out about four of the peeled garlic cloves I'd bought and sliced them thinly. Then I fried them in a pan with oil until they turned crispy. They became garlic flakes—great texture and color, perfect for plating.
"He should be back soon..."
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I heard the electronic lock beep. Perfect timing. Since I wasn't wearing my glasses, I didn't want to risk being seen by anyone passing by, so I waited until I heard the door close before stepping out.
"You're back? Let me take the grocer—huh?"
Who are you?
Cheon Nu-ri. 19 years old. B-rank awakened.
If one were to add another line to her resume, it would be that she was an internet broadcaster with 230,000 subscribers.
With her cute appearance, energetic personality, and exceptional eloquence, she had been running an internet broadcast since her first year of middle school. The road hadn't always been smooth, but at this point she could definitely be considered a successful streamer. Of course, even she had her share of worries.
"Haah..."
One of those worries was her older brother, Cheon Ma-ru. They'd grown a bit distant like most siblings do, but they'd still been fairly close—until everything fell apart in an instant. The cause was her brother's ex-girlfriend. That bitch had dumped him in the most pathetic way possible, and ever since, he'd shut himself away in his room. They hadn't had a proper conversation since, and they'd naturally drifted further apart.
"Why do I have to..."
And now she was on her way to that same brother's one-room apartment. Studio apartments near the Academy were in high demand and hard to find. That's why their mother hadn't gotten him a simple studio but had essentially bought him an entire house. The price was astronomical, but it was the only available option.
"This is so damn annoying."
The whole world irritated her. The bitch who had betrayed her brother like that. Her brother, who—despite the shock—had holed up in his room and then suddenly demanded a place near the Academy. Her mother, who had immediately bought him a house that expensive even though their family wasn't struggling financially. And this entire situation where she had to come all the way here because of her mother's thinly veiled order. Of course, she was getting something in return.
"Whether that brother's room is hell or heaven, what does it matter to me?"
He'd never been particularly clean to begin with, and after that incident it seemed like he'd completely forgotten the concept of hygiene. His place was probably a total disaster. Between her broadcasting, training, and tight schedule, the fact that she had to come all this way because of one brother filled her with rage that went beyond mere annoyance.
Oh, and for reference, their family home was in Busan. She'd taken the KTX from dawn. Remembering that fact made her anger begin to shift into outright hatred. Sure, it was to upgrade her broadcasting equipment, but annoying was still annoying.
"Hoo... Baek Wol-nim. Please grant me the patience to endure without killing my brother."
She clutched the keyring of Hunter Baek Wol, the person she respected and worshipped most in the world, and prayed. The strongest and most beautiful person in existence—her idol. The only reason she didn't slack off on her hunter training was to have even one more chance to see Baek Wol-nim. After all, the S-rank hunters were personally acquainted with Hunter Baek Wol.
She didn't even bother knocking or ringing the bell and simply entered the passcode. She couldn't care less about privacy. Her brother should be the one apologizing to her for forcing her to witness a private life she had zero interest in seeing. The moment she opened the door and stepped inside—
'Pasta smell?'
More precisely, the scent of cream sauce. The aroma that came from cream pasta or risotto. Since there was no way her brother was cooking, she assumed he'd ordered delivery and was about to walk in when—
"You're back? Let me take the grocer—huh?"
Someone suddenly popped out from near the kitchen. A person who looked far too much like the idol she'd just been praying to. Wearing an apron and holding a frying pan, standing there in the kitchen.
