Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Princess's Playmate?
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Hunter clans.
They were families that literally brimmed with exceptional talent as hunters.
The basic requirement to be recognized as a hunter clan was maintaining a lineage unbroken for at least 300 years, consistently producing at least A-rank hunter talent with every generation.
The Earth had long since moved past the era of rigid class systems, yet people still obsessed over "bloodlines" like those of hunter clans for a very simple reason.
They were "special humans," akin to royalty from the days of feudal hierarchies.
Even their illegitimate children were born with talents that rivaled geniuses by ordinary standards.
Countless heroes who had etched their names into history were born this way—enough to fill a truck.
Yet among such hunter clans, there were those with histories spanning over "2,000 years."
The so-called "world's top ten clans" were living embodiments of humanity's hunter history, revered as treasures of mankind.
Thanks to this, members of the top ten clans wielded influence rivaling that of prime ministers or presidents in their respective nations.
And their prowess went far beyond that of ordinary hunter clans—it was a proven fact.
"Th-th-that... that person... is c-c-coming to our Korean branch?!"
"Yeah. No contract period. Apparently, she's staying in Korea to serve until death."
"W-wait, why all of a sudden?! What's the reason for someone like that to settle in Korea?"
"Who knows? They say it's because of that Jamsil Monster that's been popping up in our country lately. She's here to bolster our forces against it."
"Just... for that?"
The world's top ten clans.
Among them, the second princess of the Kitsune clan, Beast Hunters with a staggering 2,200-year history.
Lee Jin-ah had just escorted Kurumi, who had arrived in Korea late the previous night, to the mansion where she would now reside.
Now, summoned by the branch chief, Rolling had climbed to the top floor of the Korean branch, only to break out in cold sweat from the sheer pressure of the news.
"And when I asked, Kurumi herself said she volunteered to come."
"You mean she volunteered? Someone from one of those top ten clans famous for never leaving their homeland?"
"Yeah. It's the first time in nearly 300 years that a member of the Kitsune clan has stepped outside Japan."
Indeed, unless it was something extraordinary, members of the top ten clans spent their entire lives holed up in their home territories.
The reason was obvious: the moment they ventured abroad, hordes of people would swarm them, coveting their superior bloodlines.
...And that was the problem right now.
"Rolling, as you know, Korea doesn't even have ordinary hunter clans, let alone one of the top ten."
"True..."
"So, effectively, this is Japan handing over a superior bloodline to Korea. There might be various reasons why they're sharing this blessing, but the key point is that Princess Kurumi is now stationed in Korea for life."
"...! Jin-ah, you're worried that Korea, a country that couldn't even protect a top ten clan member, will face a backlash from international opinion."
"Exactly."
Korea ranked a formidable 18th in global hunter power.
And with Princess Kurumi now stationed here, that ranking was bound to climb even higher.
Moreover, thanks to the prestige of the top ten clans, hunter associations worldwide—where branches and headquarters were established—would send steady support to ensure the princess was well cared for.
However, there was one glaring drawback.
And it was crucial.
The princess's personal safety.
"The top ten clans are universally respected and adored, no matter the country."
"Sigh... Yeah, I know that all too well."
"Even China, Russia... heck, not even North Korea would dare mess with them. But if anything happens to a top ten clan member while under the protection of a host nation..."
Korea's standing would plummet overnight.
At the very least, in dealings with advanced nations hosting other top ten clans or with Japan, who had handed over the princess, Korea would forever be in the inferior "beggar" position.
"Could Japan be plotting something by dumping Princess Kurumi on us?"
Rolling asked with a sour expression, humming thoughtfully.
But her answer was, naturally, no.
"No way. I looked into it, and Japan’s been clashing hard with Russia lately... especially China."
"Oh, that. I've seen some news about it myself."
"North Korea's already aiming missiles at us, but now even at the US and Japan. And there are rumors that Russia and China, those two superpowers, have allied around the Japanese straits. In other words..."
"It's less a trap and more a 'gift.'"
"Right on the nose."
Japan was already on edge from Russia, China, and the increasingly paranoid North Korea.
Why would they set a trap in Korea and turn every neighboring country into an enemy?
Even those red-headed commies up north wouldn't dream of it.
So, handing over Princess Kurumi was a genuine act of goodwill.
"We'll station at least three A-rank Korean hunters around her mansion at all times."
Crazy enough people to kidnap a key figure from a hunter superpower were rare, but those "guts-spilling idiots" always popped up at times like this.
"Three A-rank hunters... Anything else?"
"We'll deploy a bunch of B-rank hunters too, and use your daughter Sophia. That okay?"
"Of course. She's on par with Korean A-rankers!"
"Good. That settles security..."
The princess's safety was secured.
Next up was the "internal" issue, now that external threats were handled.
"As you know, unless something major happens, Princess Kurumi will live in Korea for the rest of her life."
"Yeah."
"So... a Beast Hunter who hates humans is now stuck in a foreign country with different culture and language. I'm worried about her mental and emotional well-being."
Lee Jin-ah paused, exchanging a sorrowful glance with Rolling.
"That's why I want her to have at least one Korean 'friend' to make this place feel like home."
"A friend... for someone from a top ten clan, a Beast Hunter bloodline no less?"
Rolling, whose husband and daughter were both Beast Hunters, was skeptical about the feasibility.
Then it hit her why Lee Jin-ah was bringing this up to her specifically.
"You don't mean..."
"Rolling, that son you adopted ten years ago. His name was... Han Shin-woo, right?"
Whenever Rolling got drunk at after-parties, she always spilled stories about her happy Beast Hunter family over snacks.
Lee Jin-ah had remembered every trivial tale.
"Introduce Shin-woo... as the princess's friend?"
"Yeah. If those drunken stories hold up, he's got that 'unique constitution' where Beast Hunters don't disgust him."
"Th-that's true, but..."
"Shin-woo could be a great friend for Princess Kurumi. Maybe even more than that."
"Hmm... But if that happens, my daughter won't let me live it down..."
It was essentially sending him as a playmate.
The first human she'd ever not felt disgust toward.
Rolling's head already ached imagining how the princess would react and what Sophia would do upon hearing.
But.
"This is for the Korea-Japan alliance, shaking off outdated grudges to fight for 'justice' together. Rolling."
"How can I say no when you put it like that..."
To mend Korea-Japan ties ruined by a troll horde, this was pretty much the only option.
"I'll talk to my two kids when I get home..."
"Thanks."
Rolling could only nod with a wry smile.
"No way!!"
But that evening, at the family dinner celebrating Shin-woo's discharge, Rolling ended up looking utterly dejected.
"A p-princess's friend?! And a Beast Hunter at that?! N-no! You have no idea what could happen! Mom, absolutely not!"
"Sophia, calm down first..."
"Dad, shut it!!"
"Eek..."
Her daughter was on the verge of losing it completely.
Lee Seok-gyu just stayed silent, while Rolling busied herself wiping away cold sweat. Shin-woo, meanwhile, couldn't even eat properly, pinned in an awkward spot by Lia clinging tightly to him.
"Oppa, going somewhere again?"
"Dunno..."
"Don't... go."
"Yeah, don't go! What kind of era is this for playmates?! Mom, if you really need someone, send me instead!"
"No, no, you absolutely can't. Even with you, Sophia, if something goes down, I couldn't cover for you."
"Uwaaaaaah!! What kind of bitch is she to use Shin-woo as a playmate?!"
"S-Sophia, even so, calling a princess a 'bitch' is..."
With their standalone house collapsed from a monster attack, the Lee family had no choice but to stay at the Shilla Hotel—close to the Hunter Association—while repairs were underway.
Sophia was in the VIP dining room on the top floor, stuffing herself solely with king crab.
Classic stress eating.
The family watched her devour the crabs shells and all without a trace, maintaining a heavy silence.
Meanwhile, Shin-woo was quietly surprised to himself.
'Princess Kurumi... That must be the one from the main quest, right? Probably.'
The figure first mentioned in the [Escort the Princess] mission.
But she'd only appeared as text in the quest window—Shin-woo had never actually seen her.
Because during the entire quest, she never left the mansion, and she vanished back to Japan without showing her face once after.
'She was the one who stayed in Korea to strengthen the Korea-Japan alliance, yeah? I think.'
A mysterious Beast Hunter who never showed herself to people.
For such a teaser, she quietly disappeared after the quest ended, without further mention.
Her presence was so faint that even a lore nerd like me hadn't known her name. But maybe this was an opportunity.
"Got it. I'll go check it out as her playmate or whatever."
"Wh-what?! Hey! Han Shin-woo!!"
"Oppa!!"
Either way, [Escort the Princess] was a main quest with huge impact on the Korea-Japan alliance.
Screwing it up could lead to the bad end where even the US withdraws its troops in disappointment, letting China absorb Korea.
That would be a total disaster.
"Both of you, chill. And whether I really have no aversion to all Beast Hunters is still up in the air."
"B-but..."
"Oppa..."
"It might just be that I don't feel disgust toward Beast Hunters from Uncle Seok-gyu's bloodline by coincidence."
If I got kicked out, he planned to work as the Meister directly under the hunters assigned to princess protection.
Sticking around the mansion meant he could swoop in if things went south.
"And above all, she's a princess! I'm just a commoner who can't even become a hunter—what's the worst that could happen from a little less disgust?"
With that bold declaration, I downplayed my own value.
And that was the biggest mistake of my life.
The next day.
Squish squish.
The mansion where Princess Kurumi resided.
Stepping inside for the first time—the building I'd only watched passively in the original story.
"So soft..."
"......"
Squish squish.
"What's your name?"
To my surprise, Kurumi was showering me with intense interest, kneading my cheeks like I was her new toy.