Hunter Kuroaki
I went to the police station for the investigation into the doppelganger incident.
During that time, the manager covered for me at the store.
The police questioning ended quicker than I expected.
It was just a witness statement, so there wasn't much for me to do anyway.
I simply answered briefly: how I'd encountered the doppelganger by chance, and how I'd distinguished between the two.
Thank you. Thanks to you, we'll be able to proceed with methods for future doppelganger investigations.
Simulation results indicate this investigative method is presumed to be highly efficient.
It is advisable to conduct doppelganger investigations using this approach.
A commendation and reward money will be issued accordingly.
Dukpal, the victim, gripped my hand tightly and thanked me over and over.
"Thanks to you, I'm alive. I should've realized sooner that guy was the doppelganger... Once this investigation's done, I'll definitely repay you!"
He said it was an item he'd bought with money saved for tackling the next dungeon.
It was pretty expensive, so if the doppelganger had taken it, he wouldn't have been able to conquer the next dungeon—or even clear his current one—and he choked up just thinking about it.
He was so relieved that I'd distinguished the doppelganger and saved his life.
On the way back to the convenience store after leaving the station.
News was playing on the electronic billboard in Taepyeong City Square.
An owl beastkin in a neat suit.
Already on the news?
Word spreads fast.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
I only pulled it off with help from the gallery.
And I combined it with a hint from who I suspect was the manager. For it to get adopted as an official manual...
And a reward on top of that.
"If the reward comes through, I should treat myself to some beef for real."
My alarms went off like crazy.
It was a flood of personal messages from gallery users.
It felt like I'd accomplished something big, and my mood was great.
After wrapping up the investigation, I returned to the convenience store.
"Well done! Jinjo believed in thee. Jinjo said her loyal retainer would handle it splendidly!"
The manager laughed heartily.
She'd been a huge help in solving this case, but now she was playing innocent.
Anyone could tell that message was from the manager.
I didn't press her on it.
Until she said it herself, we'd keep it our little secret.
In the manager's hand, welcoming me back, was a block of tofu.
It looked steaming hot, freshly steamed.
"What's with the tofu?"
"Eh? Isn't this the usual? In movies, they give tofu to people coming back from the police station."
She must've watched a bit of those prison-release movies.
"There's no custom of giving tofu for a witness statement."
"Oh, really?"
The manager eyed the steaming tofu wistfully, smacking her lips.
"What a shame. Jinjo bought it thinking you'd like it."
"No one hates gifts. I'll enjoy it."
I took the tofu from her.
It still felt warmly comforting.
"......"
Even after handing it over, her gaze didn't leave me.
If anything, it intensified?
No way.
"You want me to eat it now?"
"They always do in games?"
Her eyes sparkled with expectation.
Anyone could see she wanted to try this.
She wasn't a kid.
The manager herself had this kind of romantic notion.
But I couldn't ignore her gesture.
She'd rushed over to cover the store while I was at the station, and even bought this tofu.
She'd advised me to check the gallery, and even...
That anonymous user who gave me advice felt like the manager.
I took a bite of the steaming hot tofu.
It was savory and delicious.
"How is it? Does it make you want to start a new life or something?"
"It's tasty."
"...That's it?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"It's different from the game......"
Her shoulders slumped in disappointment.
What was she expecting?
"In Stella Echoes, there's a scene where Mir, fresh out of detention, eats tofu and awakens..."
Oh.
I remembered.
There was a similar scene in the mobile RPG Stella Echoes.
Mir, the hot-tempered character who caused trouble, got thrown in detention after smashing buildings to save allies in an episode.
Right before saving the protagonist in crisis upon release, she eats freshly steamed tofu to recharge her energy?
She must've been hooked on that scene.
It was a highlight moment.
Was that the 1st anniversary event story?
"Real life doesn't have that dramatic flair for game events."
"I suppose not."
As she mumbled disappointedly.
Ding-a-ling!
"Part-timer! Minchul! You okay?? I heard you got tangled with a doppelganger!"
A familiar elf face burst through the door.
Panting hard, she glanced between me and the manager.
"Ugh! V-v-vampire......"
"Ah, it's been ages. Jinjo's been lonely without thy face lately."
"Wh-what are you doing here......"
"Jinjo came to mind the store while her retainer was at the station for questioning. And thou, Queen of the Forest? What brings thee to Jinjo's humble shop? Hast thou come for a long-overdue duel with Jinjo?"
"I came because I heard Minchul was in trouble......"
"Ah, that's already over."
Priella's eyes turned to me at the manager's words.
"Ahem, y-yes, so it seems. This queen rushed here the moment she saw the news, thinking you might need her aid......"
Priella patted her chest in relief.
"Good thing you're safe."
"But is it okay for you to just drop everything like this? It's not even lunch yet."
"Of course. Who do you think this queen is? This queen was the Elf Queen who led the elven forests......"
"Food scrap elf."
The manager cut in bluntly as Priella proudly introduced herself.
"......Vampire."
"Is Jinjo wrong? Dost thou not occasionally visit our store for the discards?"
"Th-that's... It's the noble duty of an elf to salvage discarded food and uphold nature's cycle! Not because I'm broke or hungry!"
Priella's face flushed tomato-red with her lame excuse.
"Such a long excuse. Well, Jinjo shall praise thy sincerity in rushing here out of worry for her retainer."
"I didn't come for your praise!"
Her eyes flicked toward me.
Ignoring her, the manager stretched and yawned hugely.
"Yaaawn. Jinjo's figure appreciation, plus daytime fill-in shifts, have drained her stamina. Jinjo's off to bed now—handle the rest thyself, retainer. Jinjo'll return for evening shift. Kannpf, don't bother her working retainer; just eat thy discards quietly and go."
"K-Kannpf?! This queen is a great elf's......!"
Priella bristled and shouted, but the manager had already waved dismissively and slipped into the staff door.
Just the two of us at the counter.
Priella huffed, sneaking a glance at me, then cleared her throat and crossed her arms.
"Hmph! Anyway, glad you're safe. A doppelganger—such a lowly, vicious scum......"
Ding-a-ling!
As Priella tried to act cool and comfort me, the door flew open with a noisy bell.
"Welcome."
"Don't order me around."
It was an elf.
Her face beet-red from heavy drinking, reeking of cheap elven wine.
A slightly lighter blonde than Priella, blue eyes.
"Hey, part-timer! Get me a cold honey water!"
An older male elf in flashy hiking gear.
Sunglasses on, he glared at me with furrowed brows.
"Sir, honey water's in the warmer over there. You'll have to get it yourself."
"Tch! You cheeky brat! Who do you think you're talking back to? Back in my day, humans were polite! One word from me, and they'd freeze up... Hurry up and fetch it!"
Hm.
No wonder elves get treated like kannpf.
They all spout the exact same lines.
Clink!
The male elf dumped 100-won and 50-won coins on the counter, slurring loudly.
"1600 won! For the honey water—ring it up!"
I was pondering how to send him off.
"How dare you......"
A cold voice came from beside me.
"How dare an elf of which house disgrace the forest's honor so before another race!"
It was Priella.
Emerald eyes glimmered with blue light.
"Wh-what?! Which house's wench are y— Hiiik!"
The male elf, pointing accusingly, took off his sunglasses and saw her face.
His turned ghostly pale in an instant.
"Qu-Qu-Qu-Queen Her Majesty?!"
"Don't you know elves earn other races' disdain because of scum like you?"
His legs buckled, and he prostrated himself.
"Th-that's......"
"Get out. Quietly, no fuss. If this queen hears of your ugly deeds again, words won't suffice."
"I'll remember!"
The elf rolled out before the auto-door even opened, fleeing like a shot.
I couldn't help staring at Priella.
"Hmph, elves tarnishing elven honor. There are too many like him these days. They can't accept the changing times......"
"Same as always."
"What?"
"Like when you first came to our store."
"Th-this queen never!"
"Didn't you throw a fit demanding barters last time?"
"Th-that was a fair trade! How precious was that branch? Even as black market stolen goods, it's worth 4 million won!"
She yelled desperately, face crimson.
"By the way, what'd you do with the World Tree Branch this queen gave you?"
"The branch? It's at my place."
I couldn't leave it at the store or toss it, so I'd taken it to my dorm.
Of course, I still didn't know what to do with it—just stashing it for now.
It definitely felt extraordinary.
Just putting it in my room made my body feel refreshed.
"If you haven't boiled it yet, I recommend buying a flowerpot and trying to grow it this time."
"Grow it?"
"It's a real World Tree Branch. If it takes root, good things will come."
"Got it."
Not your average branch.
It'd probably help somehow.
"Oh, before you go, pick a lunchbox."
"Why a lunchbox?"
"You helped me out today too. Can't just send you off empty-handed. Payday's not here yet, right?"
"...R-really?"
"Yeah. Take whichever you want."
"Th-then......"
She grabbed a pork cutlet lunchbox.
"Thanks, I'll dig in."
Her cheeks seemed flushed.
Or was it my imagination?
"Yes, that's our interview with Sonya—Kuroaki—the unprecedented record-breaker who cleared the 72nd floor in record time! Sonya, congratulations once more!"
The camera's red light blinked off, and the blinding studio lights dimmed.
Sonya.
One of the hunters climbing Hunter Tower, and one of the Seven Heroes—the top hunters around.
The record-maker holding a whopping 20 Hunter Tower records.
Alias: Kuroaki.
Black light ripples wherever she passes—hence the moniker.
One of the strongest hunters, never defeated by monsters.
The center of attention for countless people, Taepyeong City's celebrity.
Having set a new record today, she'd just finished her interview special with the anchor and stood up.
"Great work!"
"Whoa, Sonya, that interview was killer. Ratings are gonna explode."
"Thank you."
As exaggerated praise and applause followed her, Sonya's smile vanished.
Click.
The waiting room door shut, and the tension in her back released all at once.
"Haa......"
She tossed the sponsored suit jacket onto the sofa haphazardly and plopped down at the vanity.
"So tiring. Exhausted."
Everyone's stares were too much.
She wanted to escape her seat.
Disappear from the world.
Flee to a world where no one knew her.
"This isn't why I became a hunter."
Shedding her signature black suit, Sonya donned her black mask and melted into the shadows.
Darkness.
The space where she always found peace.