We Are All Growing Children
A summons from my homeroom teacher, Park Seonggu.
Upon hearing the call, I made my way up to the staff office.
Perhaps because it was lunchtime, the hallway around the office was deserted and quiet.
From outside the window, the boisterous chatter of children drifted in.
It was a familiar scene, yet somehow it carried a nostalgic scent that tugged at my heart.
When you get older, seeing sights like this makes you feel strangely sentimental for no reason.
I guess I really have aged.
Even though my outward appearance was that of a young girl, my inner self remained that of an adult.
Creak—
When I slid the door open, the lights inside the staff office were turned off, as if the other teachers had all gone out to eat.
Unlike the bright classrooms of the students, the office felt strangely dim and solemn.
Looking around the room, I spotted a man with a ponytail sipping a cup of coffee.
"You're here."
It was the homeroom teacher of Class 1, Park Seonggu.
"Ha Yuna, come over here and take a seat."
"Okay."
I sat down in the guest chair opposite him, my body sinking deep into the cushion.
My feet barely hovered above the floor, unable to touch the ground.
I silently cursed my short legs.
Looking up, I met Park Seonggu's gaze.
Perhaps because he was a B-rank Hunter who had crossed the line between life and death countless times, there was a heavy, dark shadow cast over his eyes.
"The thing you used in the test today. You called it a puppet, correct?"
"Ah, yes. That's right."
As expected, this was about the test.
Feeling like I had stood out a bit too much, I shrank back slightly. He slowly stroked his bearded chin.
"Let's get this out of the way first. I was an acquaintance of your father, Hunter Ha Sungjin."
Huh?
My eyes widened at his next words.
It was completely unexpected.
"You knew my dad?"
"Yes. We weren't on the same team, but our teams collaborated frequently. We knew each other for about ten years."
Ten years.
That was a remarkably long time.
"...Does my mom know?"
"Your mother likely doesn't. Your father and I only spoke about work."
I see.
Park Seonggu certainly didn't seem like the type to socialize with others outside of professional matters.
"...Are you still looking for him?"
Hearing his question, I slowly raised my head.
Amidst the sunlight streaming through the window, my eyes shone clearer and more determined than ever before.
"Yes."
My missing father.
I hadn't given up on him yet.
Becoming a Hunter, choosing to live as one—it all started with his disappearance.
If you let your foundation shake, everything else crumbles. That was why I had absolutely no intention of abandoning this goal.
"I'm sure you know what it means to go missing inside a Dimensional Break."
"It's fine. Until a body is found, nothing is certain."
Park Seonggu fell silent for a moment.
"Did you call me here today to tell me not to waste my time?"
"No. Originally, I didn't even plan on telling you that I knew your father."
Then why did he call me in?
"I intended to keep quiet, but seeing you today changed my mind."
"Because of my puppet?"
"Yes."
Feeling a swell of pride that my puppet had garnered praise, I perked up. While I was feeling smug, Park Seonggu spoke with a look of firm resolve on his face.
"Your father was a Hunter working for the National Intelligence Service."
What?
My eyes stretched wide.
This was something neither my mother nor I had ever known.
The NIS.
An intelligence agency directly under the president, operating in absolute secrecy.
"My... my dad was?"
"Yes. I retired early, but I was assigned to the same mission as him."
So that was what he meant by collaborating on work. It made sense that my mother had no idea who Park Seonggu was.
And then, it clicked why he was sharing this with me now.
"Then... did my dad go missing while carrying out a mission?"
My father's disappearance. The state was involved in it.
"...Before the Dimensional Break, he received a top-secret mission. It was classified even to me."
The spider puppet I had crafted was abnormally strong. No matter what materials I used, it shouldn't have performed that well. The only reason my Chimera was this powerful now was because its core foundation was that spider puppet.
The mysterious material my father had left behind—it was undoubtedly connected to that NIS mission.
"If you intend to find your father, you will eventually cross paths with the NIS."
I didn't know what the mission was, but for a former NIS agent like Park Seonggu to warn me, it had to be incredibly dangerous.
Getting involved meant stepping into the unknown, fraught with peril.
However...
"I don't care."
He was my family—the first real family I ever had in this life. I had no intention of giving up on him. If his own family gave up, no one else would look for him.
"Even if that's the case, I'll uncover the truth and find my dad."
My eyes burned with absolute sincerity. Meeting my gaze, Park Seonggu remained silent for a long moment before sliding open a desk drawer.
Inside lay a mobile phone.
"It's a secure phone, completely protected against external wiretapping. I kept it safe after your father went missing."
My father's phone.
Holding it in my hands gave me a strange, surreal feeling.
"If anything happens regarding the state, press 99. I will help you."
I carefully took the secure phone. I never expected to receive something like this.
"Is it really okay for you to just give this to me?"
"Consider it professional courtesy to a former colleague. But more than that..."
Park Seonggu looked at me quietly.
"I saw your potential with my own eyes today."
The Chimera puppet I had displayed. Seeing it had convinced him to place his trust in my path.
"Still, avoid danger where you can. It's never wise to keep it close."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
Clutching the secure phone, I looked up at him.
"Um, Teacher."
There was just one thing I wanted to ask the man who had worked alongside my father.
"Was my dad... a righteous person?"
My father, who worked for the NIS. I had heard that agents went to extreme lengths to hide their identities, even from their families. Was the father I knew his true self?
Hearing my question, Park Seonggu paused.
"Your father was more righteous than anyone I knew. He was strong enough to disobey unjust orders from above."
"I see."
That was more than enough of an answer.
I offered a bright smile, said my goodbyes, and walked out of the staff office.
Just a little.
Just a tiny bit, but I felt like I had taken a step closer to my dad today.
Dad, just wait a little longer.
Your daughter will find you soon.
Hwa Yeonhwa, the A-rank Hunter heiress of the Hwaseong Group.
Yoo Chaerin, the youngest S-rank Hunter.
The sight of the two girls sitting side-by-side on a bench in the schoolyard park drew the curiosity of every student passing by. Everyone wondered what they could possibly be discussing.
However, no one dared to approach. After what had happened to the boys during the entrance ceremony, they feared they might face Yoo Chaerin's wrath. Thus, they could only watch from a safe distance.
As for what the two were actually talking about...
She's been praising Ha Yuna straight for thirty minutes.
It was an endless loop of Yoo Chaerin gushing over Ha Yuna. The affection was deep enough to make any listener weary, but Hwa Yeonhwa knew very well that this entire conversation was actually a warning.
I treasure Yuna this much. If you step out of line, I will kill you.
The message was laced with raw, undisguised hostility.
"Well, I guess that's enough bragging about Yuna."
Realizing it was about time for Yuna to return, Yoo Chaerin stood up from the bench, signaling the end of their chat. As she stretched her arms overhead, her long, slender limbs caught the eye.
While Hwa Yeonhwa was beautiful in her own right, Yoo Chaerin possessed a beauty that belonged to an entirely different dimension. Her figure was flawless, toned, and perfectly proportioned.
Despite being only fourteen, she boasted a stunning physique that was rare even by Western standards. It was no wonder advertisers from all over the country were constantly clamoring to sign her. Everything she did looked like a pictorial.
She would undoubtedly grow to be even more breathtaking in the future.
In a way, she was the exact polar opposite of Ha Yuna. Yuna's charm lay in her overwhelming cuteness rather than striking beauty.
She was small, quiet, and carried herself like a delicate little animal. Her soft voice and gentle demeanor only added to that impression.
Though Yuna herself seemed oblivious to it, the way she often sat dazed made her look so fragile, as if she might be swept away into some incident at any moment.
That was precisely why people felt an instinctive, primal urge to protect her. She was a complete contrast to Yoo Chaerin, whose very presence exuded strength and resilience.
"You seem sharp enough, so I don't think I need to say more. I don't know about other things, but I absolutely loathe it when Yuna gets into trouble."
But Yoo Chaerin was Ha Yuna's one and only best friend.
Her face was wearing a smile, but a savage energy swirled in her eyes.
"Don't you dare try to use your little calculator in front of Yuna."
The killing intent made her skin tingle. Under that sharp gaze, Hwa Yeonhwa slowly opened her lips.
"...How on earth did you two become so close?"
It was a sudden, random question. But Hwa Yeonhwa was desperate to know the answer.
Hearing her question, Yoo Chaerin raised an eyebrow as if to ask why she was even bringing it up.
"Just because. I wanted to be friends with Yuna."
Hwa Yeonhwa’s eyes slowly began to widen.
There was no calculation, no benefit, no hidden agenda.
Simply put, Yoo Chaerin liked Ha Yuna, and she wanted to be close to her. That was the entirety of their relationship.
And yet, that relationship was more unbreakable than anything else in the world. They cherished each other as the most precious existence in their lives.
Hwa Yeonhwa clenched her fists tightly.
Ha Yuna, who had asked her to be friends.
「But that person is Yeonhwa, aren't they?」
The words Yuna had spoken to her echoed in her mind.
Her own calculating nature—Ha Yuna had embraced that part of her, too. Yet, feeling disgusted with herself, she had tried to distance herself from Yuna. That fact now filled her with immense shame.
After all, she hadn't even tried to put in any effort yet.
"...Do you think I could become like you two?"
"Ha? Not a chance."
The question was cut down in an instant. Yoo Chaerin crossed her arms and let out a scoff.
"How could you ever become like the relationship Yuna and I have? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!"
Hwa Yeonhwa gave a hollow laugh.
Still, she wasn't wrong.
Yes, she was right.
Even if they became friends now, it would be impossible to reach a bond as deep as the one those two shared.
"To begin with, instead of aiming for a relationship like mine and Yuna's, go out and build your own relationships yourself."
At those words, Hwa Yeonhwa raised her head.
Build your own relationships.
Those words had burrowed deep into Hwa Yeonhwa’s heart. Her eyes trembled ever so slightly.
It was simple, but it was the truth.
I see.
"I think I understand a little now."
After hearing her, Hwa Yeonhwa realized.
"Why you and Ha Yuna are such best friends."
How two people who were polar opposites could remain best friends. Although they were different, they shared something essential. They didn't doubt their bond; they treasured it with complete sincerity.
"Whatever. No matter what happens, Yuna and I are best friends for life."
Hwa Yeonhwa didn't think she would ever be able to harbor such infinite, boundless affection for Yuna like that.
But at the very least, one thought became crystal clear.
She wanted to be genuinely, truly friends with both Ha Yuna and Yoo Chaerin.
"Guys, I'm back!"
Right on cue, Ha Yuna returned.
Watching her, Hwa Yeonhwa brushed off her skirt and stood up.
If they had been the ones to approach her first, she had to take a step toward them, too.
"Welcome back."
A genuine human connection—the kind she had never managed to build until now.
As of today, she decided to take her very first step toward it.