Ruby's Fiery Sneeze
The orange glow of the sunset bathed the apartment complex where the demon and the sisters lived. Dahong strolled slowly with her hands in her pockets. Perched atop her head, Ruby was curled up in a tight ball, fast asleep. Despite how precarious it looked, Ruby slept soundly without a hint of discomfort, snoring softly.
As they passed the complex entrance and crossed the parking lot, a familiar building came into view. And a familiar back as well.
"Seha."
"……?"
Seha, who had been trudging along utterly exhausted, turned around.
"Dahong? Ruby too? Where'd you go?"
"Out for a bit of fun."
"Fun where?"
"A gate."
"……."
Seha had a million things he wanted to say, but he was far too drained to argue now. He just opened his mouth wordlessly and let out a small sigh.
Dahong fell into step beside him and said, "How was your date?"
"I told you, it wasn't a date."
Seha grumbled as he started walking again, his legs wobbling beneath him.
"What'd you do?"
"Just training…. They said my solo practice scores are too far behind everyone else's."
"Hm."
Dahong made a knowing hum. She had a rough idea of Seoyeun's intentions. Probably trying to help Seha grow stronger.
Not a bad idea.
That's what Dahong thought. The two rode the elevator up to the fourth floor. As Seha punched in the passcode, he asked, "Did you eat?"
"Yeah."
"What'd you have?"
"Ramen."
"And the money?"
"Sold some mana stones."
"……You're adapting way too fast."
Seha sighed. Unlike himself, who fumbled at everything, Dahong seemed to handle it all effortlessly.
"I want to get stronger too."
"Why?"
"Just… I hate relying on others. I want to stand tall on my own."
"That personality doesn't suit a summoner."
"It doesn't?"
"Nah."
Dahong explained, "Most summoners hang back and let their summoned beasts do the fighting. They give orders or provide cover."
"True…. But you don't listen to me, Dahong."
"Hahaha."
"Don't laugh."
The two entered the apartment. Seha immediately flopped face-first onto the sofa.
"Ugh…! I need to eat, but I'm so beat…."
"Let's order in."
"Again? You just had ramen."
"I can eat more."
"Good grief…."
Seha shook his head in disbelief and pulled up the delivery app. Dahong casually straddled his back and said, "Fried chicken."
"Ack, got it! Get off!"
"Boneless."
"I said okay!"
Ruby's ears twitched at Seha's yelp. She let out a big yawn, adjusted her position slightly, and went right back to sleep.
A little later.
Ding-dong—.
The delivery arrived. The savory aroma of fried chicken filled the apartment.
Sniff sniff.
Ruby, who had been curled up atop the cat tower, wrinkled her nose. She hopped lightly down and dashed to the table.
Pat pat pat pat.
"No. Yours is formula."
Seha scooped her up mid-leap.
"Nyaaack!"
Ruby flailed her front paws, stretching toward the chicken. Her tiny wings fluttered wildly.
"No Ruby?"
Dahong asked. Seha set her down at a distance and said firmly, "Fried chicken's too salty for a kitten. And too greasy."
"But she's fine. She's a mana beast."
"Huh?"
"Nyaa?"
Come to think of it, Ruby wasn't a cat—she was a mana beast. A fragment of the S-rank Behemoth, no less. A little chicken wouldn't hurt her.
Ruby and Seha blinked. Both wore expressions like they'd just realized they'd overlooked something obvious.
"……Still, just to be safe, I'll peel off the skin."
"Nyao."
Ruby obediently settled into a corner of the table. Seha stripped the batter off a piece and plated it for her. She dove in ravenously.
"Nom nom nyam."
"She won't touch her kibble, though…."
Seha muttered in exasperation. That's when it happened.
"Hetchoo."
Ruby sneezed violently mid-bite.
"Hetchoo, hetchoo!"
"Whoa, Ruby? Caught a cold?"
"Hetchoo!"
Ruby wrinkled her nose and rubbed her face with a paw. Seha reached out and touched it—nice and moist, normal.
"Hetchoo!"
"Doesn't seem wrong…. Maybe the chicken doesn't agree with her?"
"Her ignition glands are settling in. Probably itchy nose."
Seha froze.
"……Ignition glands?"
"Yeah."
"What kind?"
"For breathing fire."
Seha stared down at Ruby. She was still rubbing her nose with her paw. She looked like any black kitten.
"Ruby?"
"She did it today. Fire."
Seha was dumbfounded. He was once again struck by the fact that this chicken-munching creature in front of him wasn't ordinary.
"Behemoth…."
"Nyam nyam nyam."
A strange thrill washed over Seha.
"Th-then… I finally have a proper summoned beast? One that can fight?"
Dahong swallowed her chicken and replied, "I can fight too."
"You don't listen to me. Doesn't count."
"Ruby won't either."
"Better than you."
"You think?"
"……."
Seha felt a twinge of unease at Dahong's loaded words. But he ignored it and looked at Ruby.
"Ruby! You're my hope. Take good care of me from now on!"
"Nyaa."
Ruby glanced at him once, snorted dismissively, and went back to devouring her chicken.
Hiss.
Steam leaked from the rice cooker. Han Jisoo leaned against the sink with her eyes closed. Her whole body ached. Legs trembling, arms heavy, shoulders like boulders on them.
Muscle pain for sure tomorrow.
She'd cleared the gate about two hours ago. After a quick meal, she'd rushed home to make dinner for her academy-student little sister.
Her smart sister—unlike E-rank Jisoo—would surely become a high-rank hunter. Until then, Jisoo had to support her.
With a grunt, she pushed off the counter and opened the fridge. Leftovers: kimchi, eggs, green onions, ham.
Fried rice it is.
"Ugh."
Lifting her arm made her shoulder pop.
That's when.
Beep beep beep—click.
The door lock chimed, and the front door opened.
"Sis, I'm home."
Jisoo wiped her hands on her apron and headed to the entrance. A girl in uniform was taking off her shoes. Neat ponytail. Gentle demeanor. It was Isol.
"Welcome back."
Isol set down her bag and said, "Smells good. Fried rice?"
"Yeah, just wait—almost done."
"Thanks as always~."
Back in the kitchen, Jisoo heated the frying pan.
Sizzle—.
The oil heating up was music to her ears. Isol watched her sister's back for a moment, then pulled out a chair and sat.
"Sis."
"Yeah? What's up, little sis."
"You look tired today."
"Oh, that obvious?"
Jisoo chuckled awkwardly.
"Went to a gate. Pushed too hard, I guess."
"Hurt?"
"Nah, all good."
"……."
Sizzle—.
The ham started cooking, its savory scent spreading. The only sound in the house was the sizzle of ham.
Jisoo sighed in defeat.
"Truth is, I almost died today."
"……."
"Some punks herded the field boss toward us."
"The field boss!?"
Bam!
Isol slammed the table and stood. A field boss? Way over the line. Something you'd only do if you meant to kill.
"Those psychos! Did you report them?"
"Nah, planning to tomorrow. But no proof, so who knows."
"What the hell kind of people…!"
"Haha…."
Jisoo gave a wry smile at Isol's anger.
"But how'd you make it out? Field boss is comparable to a C+ mana beast."
"Well…."
Jisoo plated the finished fried rice and continued, "We were lining up before entering. This weird woman was in line."
"Weird woman?"
"Came to a gate with no gear at all. Just a cat."
"……A cat?"
Isol narrowed her eyes, something clicking.
Jisoo, oblivious, went on. "Hard to approach, but super pretty."
Clink.
A bowl was set before Isol.
"Hot, so be careful."
"Thanks. Dig in."
Isol blew on a spoonful as Jisoo propped her chin, watching.
"Anyway, the punks were harassing her, so I helped."
"That's why they targeted you?"
"Probably…. Felt bad leaving her alone, so we entered together."
"Mm."
"She didn't really fight, though. But we weren't short on firepower anyway, so Haneul stayed as guard, and we pushed on."
Isol took another bite.
"Then."
Jisoo's voice dropped a notch.
"The field boss showed up."
Isol's spoon paused over her plate.
"C-rank. Monster wolf."
"……."
"No escaping. Too fast. Uncle Mansu stepped up to block, Dohyeon tried to stop him…. I drew my sword, but my body wouldn't move."
Jisoo paused. The sensation lingered in her fingertips—the grip that wouldn't tighten, legs frozen solid.
"Anyway, right when we thought we were done for."
"Then?"
"The cat she was holding breathed fire."
"……? The cat?"
"Yeah."
Isol blinked.
"Blue flames. Huge. Nearly torched the whole forest."
"……."
"Hit the wolf dead-on. C-rank boss screaming and fleeing."
Isol listened silently.
"Seriously, without that cat, we'd all be dead. No joke."
Isol chewed slowly, swallowed, and asked, "That woman."
"Yeah?"
"White hair, horns? Really tall?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
Jisoo blinked.
"Her name's Dahong. Cat's Ruby."
"Spot on! You know her?"
Isol set down her spoon with a relieved sigh.
"Yeah, our classmate's summon."
Jisoo's eyes went wide.
"Summon? That Dahong?"
She'd seemed totally normal. Well, not with the white hair and horns….
"What a wild coincidence."
"Anyway, glad you're safe. Really…. Gotta thank her tomorrow."
A pastel-toned room stuffed with dolls and books. On the bed lay a petite girl face-down. Fresh from a bath, her hair was damp, and she wore cozy pajamas. Her face flushed with excitement, she clutched her phone, chattering away.
"Sis, so that person—no, the cat she had! It sneezed, then whoosh! flames everywhere!"
The voice on the other end was sleepy. "Mm, Haneul. That's the third time."
"Oh, really? Hehehe."
Haneul scratched her head with a grin. Her cousin on the line, Yi Noeul, was an S-rank hunter—unlike F-rank Haneul. She'd learned magic to become a hunter and even wore big floppy hats, all idolizing Noeul.
But today, for the first time, that admiration wavered a bit.
"Sis, maybe I should learn summoning too."
"Out of nowhere? Because of that cat summon?"
"Yeah…. Cute and super cool."
"Hm. Not bad. A frontliner to buy time when you're alone would be reassuring."
"True."
"Speaking of that Dahong person."
"Yeah? What?"
"White hair, horns… demon… person, right?"
Haneul's eyes widened. "Huh? How'd you know? Acquaintance?"
"……Something like that."
"Whoa, spooky! So she's S-rank too? Why go to an F-rank gate?"
"Yeah… wonder why she went there."
Noeul muttered softly.
"You gonna team up with her? Gates together or something?"
Her tone carefully neutral.
Haneul, clueless, replied, "Nah…. Ate and left right away. No contact info. Why?"
"Nothing. …Gonna hang up now. Too late."
"Ah, okay. Good work today!"
"You too. Rest well."
Call ended.
Noeul stared blankly at her phone. Confirmed. The Dahong her cousin met was that kid Seha's summon. Appearance, the Ruby summon—everything matched.
But….
Her motives make no sense.
A demon treating archangels like toys, at an F-rank gate? Unfathomable. Didn't she kill indiscriminately? Why spare the punks who annoyed her? Why?
Impossible to pin down.
Noeul pondered, then opened her contacts. Texted Seoyeun.
"Yeah, it's me."