Reforming the Troublemaker
I placed an order at the sandwich shop and headed to the nearby convenience store. Cherry cola was a niche flavor in Korea, but they were running a buy-one-get-one-free deal. I cleared out their entire stock from the fridge, grabbed the prepared cookies too, and headed back. Took about ten minutes, maybe.
Jin Seong-ah poked her head out from under the blanket just like before I left.
"This the right stuff? The shit you wanted me to get you."
"......Yeah."
"Here."
I handed her a can of cola and a bag of cookies, then stashed the rest in the fridge.
This girl's fridge is a fucking mess too.
The care team would refill it immediately if she asked, but it was empty like Shin Ji-hye's. I neatly stacked the colas in an easy-to-reach spot and returned to the chair by the bed.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"......Oh."
She'd been staring blankly at the cookies in her hand, but now she finally brought one to her mouth and started munching.
"......"
"......"
Crunch. Munch munch.
I silently watched Jin Seong-ah eat her cookies. She actually looked kinda cute like this. I get why people keep hamsters as pets now.
"Gimme another one?"
"......Yeah."
"Here."
I'd wiped out the store's entire stock of cookies and cola, so there was plenty. One cookie took her ten minutes. Add the cola, and it dragged on even longer. Jin Seong-ah spent nearly two hours just silently munching away.
Sweet gig.
For me, it was paid time off work—no reason to complain. I was bored at first, but watching her nibble was so cute, time flew by.
"Ah...."
Twelve cookies. She finally emptied the bag and looked up at me with regretful eyes.
"They said the store's out of stock. Can't get more."
"......"
"Or want me to grab a different flavor instead of white chocolate?"
"......Senior."
"Yeah?"
"......Don't ask... anything?"
"Ask what?"
"......About what happened... today."
I scratched my head.
"I already know the gist. And you talked plenty at the station."
"......I didn't say a word."
"Oh, right—guess I did all the talking. Figured there wasn't much else to ask."
"......"
"Or you got something you wanna say?"
Jin Seong-ah nodded. It was so subtle I almost missed it.
"......Aren't you curious... why I went in?"
"I got a rough idea on that too."
"......Like what?"
"Something stressful happened, right? How do we hunters relieve stress? Beat shit up or smash it. Or kill it."
"......"
"Training grounds are closed at dawn, so the only place left is a gate. That's why you went in, yeah?"
"......Yeah."
"See? No need to ask. But if there's another reason, spill it. If you went in to grind mana stones honestly, I'll put it in the report."
Pfft. My joke landed—air hissed between her lips like a leak. She laughed, then burrowed deeper into the blanket, embarrassed.
...Better say it now.
The source of her stress. I might even be one of the culprits.
"Was it 'cause I beat your ass yesterday?"
"......"
"Sorry. I blacked out for a sec. You okay where I hit you?"
"......Senior, I'm S-rank."
"Right. Yeah."
I'd wrapped my fist in mana, and it only left a bruise. Even at full power, I couldn't really threaten her.
Can't exactly say I saw your desires.
My ability, Lilith's Authority, was absolute when it came to desires. Brutal violence. And her submitting to it. Low chance it was a misread.
But... Jin Seong-ah was young. Light on hunter experience too. Hard for her to recognize her own desires, let alone accept them. Over twenty years of common sense told her they weren't normal.
That could build unconscious stress.
"Hm."
So, how to fix it? Telling her to just accept it would backfire. She'd think I was the psycho. Lucky if she didn't.
...Plus, her desires were tricky. Not like Shin Ji-hye, who'd lost her grip entirely—she feared unknown violence. It had to be controlled. Violence she chose to take, beyond her limits. That's what her inner self craved.
Sparring might steer things that way...
But not the time to suggest it. Best to just stay close for now.
"......Senior."
Then she reached out from under the blanket and grabbed my hand.
"......You leaving?"
"Where to?"
"......Can't you stay... with me?"
Her state was off. I activated my ability to peer into her desires.
...A normal home. Sofa, low dining table, small TV on the wall. I sat on the sofa watching TV, Jin Seong-ah lay with her head in my lap. That was it.
She stayed still until I dismissed the vision. No violence, no submission—just peaceful time.
She wants to depend on me?
Maybe 'cause I was the one who saved her from the gate. Separation anxiety, probably.
Makes sense...
Scavengers might not know she was S-rank, but they knew she was high-tier. Takes balls or stupidity. She seemed experienced too. But first time soloing a gate, first time as prey. Terrifying to be hunted helplessly—and I pulled her out. Natural she'd cling.
"......Senior?"
Maybe 'cause I'd gone quiet thinking, her grip tightened.
"Y-you're leaving...? Sorry... I'll be good... I'll listen...."
"......"
"Don't go. Please...."
I'd planned to fuck Shin Ji-hye after work, but couldn't ditch the kid like this.
"Don't worry. Not going anywhere."
"Really... really?"
"Yeah. Gonna stick here till our Seong-ah begs me to fuck off. This place beats my apartment anyway."
I cracked a joke to lighten the mood—her face brightened instantly. Not the joke, just relief I wasn't leaving.
"Just gotta text the guild master real quick."
"...You can do it here."
"......"
"I won't... listen. Please...."
"Texting. Text only. Relax."
...She's worse off than I thought. I nodded, pulled out my phone, and fired off a message.
I pocketed the phone. Shin Ji-hye would get it—kid's like this, no choice. Her desires had stabilized by afternoon anyway; skipping a day was fine.
"Seong-ah. Uh...."
"Yes? Yeah, senior!"
"Can you let go of my hand? Hurts."
She really was S-rank. Unconscious grip, but my hand was about to crumble.
"Ah...! Sorry, sorry...."
"Not hurt. No need to apologize."
"Eek...."
I ruffled her hair. Promising to behave, constant sorries—she felt guilty toward me. I'd warned her not to solo gates.
Flip side: I could free her from that guilt.
"Not your fault. Shit happens."
"...Got it."
I kept it vague on purpose. To help her shake the guilt.
"So, Seong-ah. What now?"
"......Huh?"
"Just sit here? I'm bored."
"Uh...."
She blanked—hadn't thought that far. Her desire: restful daily peace. That's what she needed.
I glanced around her room—perfect thing caught my eye.
"You play cards?"
"Cards...?"
A deck with a bunny-eared character. Neatly on her desk. I reached for it.
"Ever tried? Anything?"
"No. Never... sorry."
"No sorrys for that. Could go through life without cards. Model student, huh."
Most kids tried once in school. Even antisocial me played One Card or Blackjack with my few friends. Class prez who studied through breaks was the exception.
Bonded with classmates over it too.
"I'll teach you. Shuffle first...."
I shuffled loudly and dealt her seven cards.
"Don't show me yours. Yours only. Discard from hand—simple rule."
I pulled two clubs from the deck.
"Same suit or number, discard like this. Down to one card, yell 'One Card.'"
"One Card...."
"Yeah. If I yell first, you draw one extra. You first, I draw. No discards? Draw one. First to empty hand wins. Easy?"
"...Yes."
"Let's go?"
Shuffled clubs back in.
"You first, Seong-ah."
"...Okay."
Thud. Heart 5 and 7.
"...Like this?"
"Yeah. Good job."
"Ah...."
"My turn—no plays, so draw...."
And so Jin Seong-ah and I played cards alone.
# An hour later. My record: 4 wins, 16 losses. 16 in a row, FYI.
"You're good."
"...Really?"
We tried every Trump game: One Card, Hula, everything. Won first few 'cause she'd never played, then lost streak. S-rank reflexes—no mana needed, couldn't keep up.
"Yeah. Not a hunter, you'd be casino rich."
Most casinos ban hunters anyway. Gamblers hit illegal spots.
"Another game? Or something you wanna do?"
"Um...."
"Yeah?"
"...Can we rest a bit?"
She timidly tugged my sleeve—firmer than before.
What? Cards no fun?
"Couldn't sleep... much."
"Ah."
Dawn gate ordeal—exhausted, yeah. Relaxing now, drowsiness hit.
"Wanna nap... okay?"
"Sure. I'll...."
"Stay... beside me?"
She glanced at her bed.
"...Fits two."
"Yeah. No pillow? Care team can...."
"No pillow... fine...."
Squeeze. Grip tightened—clothes might rip.
"Just need you beside... okay?"
"...Yeah. Sure."
Really lay down? She says it's fine....
I used my arm as pillow. She wriggled from under the blanket into my arms.
"Um... senior."
"Yeah?"
"...Your arm...."
"......"
"Use as pillow...?"
She flinched, meeting my eyes—shoulders trembled.
"Sorry... sorry."
"Nah. Will do."
"...Really?"
"Said yes. Fine."
Lying down, I stretched my arm out. She scooted up cautiously, laid her head on it.
"If heavy, pull away... fine."
"Hey, I'm a hunter too. Light as fuck."
"Sorry... wasn't doubting...."
Thought she was stable—worse than expected. I stroked the back of her head on my arm.
"No sorrys."
"...Okay."
"Just lie still. Close eyes. Count sheep. One sheep...."
Two, three.... Barely four, her breathing lightened. Burrowed deep, hugged me like scared I'd vanish, and passed out.
"This ain't bad."
Exhausted from last night too. Didn't fight the fatigue—closed my eyes.