The Mage Hunter and I
I gave them a brief explanation of my relationship with the Mage Hunter. No way could I say something like, "I'm a Mage Hunter who got turned into a little girl by Lee Han's magic~," so I had to embellish quite a bit. To sum up what I told them: I, Yu Eunha, was the daughter of the Mage Hunter, and I'd inherited his techniques. That was why I'd been targeted and attacked by all sorts of mages—and even kidnapped by the unofficial magic tower Orbis.
Monica listened intently to my story while swapping out the battery in her prosthetic right arm.
"So that magic reflection technique... it was the Mage Hunter's skill?"
"Thanks to it, I've been bullied by mages left and right, and even kidnapped by that unofficial tower. So it be."
I might actually have a talent for novel-writing, who knows.
I gave a wry smile and glanced at the two women's faces.
"And that Mage Hunter was part of that Orbis group Monica just mentioned, right~?"
"Indeed so. Father said it was a loose network of Mage Hunters sharing info."
"That's a pretty famous assassin-for-hire outfit, though~?"
"...True."
Monica rubbed her forehead.
"If it's because of Father's identity that I can't stay with you, Monica, I'll endure it..."
As I trailed off, Monica shook her head.
"Nah? I don't really mind. The Mage Hunter..."
She frowned for a moment before continuing.
"He wasn't a good person, but at least he never messed with the innocent."
Yuri wagged a finger.
"The Mage Hunter even has a fan club~"
"...For real?"
A Mage Hunter fan club? News to me.
Yuri shrugged.
"Your dad~ had a surprising number of fans~ Even some inside the towers~"
She grinned, flashing her sharp teeth.
"Work in a tower long enough, and you see how much of a pain mages can be~"
"Mages can be kinda like that, yeah."
"So it's no wonder researchers end up rooting for the Mage Hunter~"
At our words, Monica looked troubled.
"There are always a few like that in any group. Human organizations have their share."
"Sure sure~ Monica's a good mage, after all~"
"Right you are. A good mage, she be."
Yuri giggled and patted my head gently.
"But hey~ Isn't there a bounty on the Mage Hunter's head? Like over 10 billion won?"
"......"
A chill settled in the air.
"Yuri... We're friends, aren't we...?"
"Hehe~ Friends, huh~"
Her playful expression reminded me of Lee Han. Time to use that.
"Besides, Father's dead, so no bounty anyway."
"Huh?"
"Dead?"
"I saw him die at the hands of Mage Lee Han. Verily."
"Wha—?!"
"For real? So he succeeded in that last chase? Wait, more than that..."
Yuri suddenly looked like she'd stepped on a landmine and scooted away from me.
"K-Kiddo~? I was just teasing, s-sorry~ I wasn't really gonna report ya~"
I put on a bitter expression.
"It's fine."
Seeing my face, Yuri fidgeted and waved her hands wildly.
"I mean~ Uh~ Everyone dies someday~"
"Yuri, maybe just shut up."
"Eek~"
As I leaned back on the sofa, Monica rested her forearm on my head.
"But kiddo, why am I only hearing this now?"
"Huh?"
"You said you were a tower experiment subject? No other memories?"
"Ah, w-well."
"Should we go see Lee Haryeong for a mind scan?"
Just thinking of those pink twintails made my skin crawl.
"It came back to me in the Abyss! Right before death, like a life-flashing montage!"
"Ah...?"
Everyone's eyes welled up again at my words.
"I told you two as soon as I remembered. You're my only friends now..."
"Kiddo..."
"Aww~ Can't even tell this anywhere else~"
"Our little one's lived a heavier life than we thought."
"Yeah~ Guess turning into an old soul had its reasons~"
Yuri plopped down next to me and started grilling me about the Mage Hunter.
"But~ They say your dad had this huge scar on his face, true~?"
"Yuri."
"Ow~ Just curious~"
She leaned in with a sly tone.
"Heard he was super handsome too~?"
I pointed at my face.
"Doesn't my face tell you? Father was handsome."
"Fair~ You turned out pretty cute yourself, kiddo."
Yuri tilted her head at me.
"So the Mage Hunter was a delicate flower boy type?"
It pricked my conscience a bit, but I pressed on boldly. He was "dead" now anyway, so a little white lie was fine.
"Indeed so."
"Hmm. Unexpected. Thought he'd be a rough tough guy."
As Yuri and I chattered about the Mage Hunter, Monica cautioned me.
"The Mage Hunter has a lot of enemies, kiddo."
"I know."
"So don't mention your father anywhere."
"Obviously. I'll take it to the grave."
Monica patted my head with a stern face.
"But later, when you have enough power and people to back you up... maybe then you can reveal it."
"...I planned to never say a word."
Monica smiled faintly.
"Your sense of justice... inherited from your father, huh?"
I stared up at her blankly, speechless.
"No need to be ashamed. He's your father, after all."
"Monica..."
She just gave a wry smile.
"Anyway!"
Monica waved it off, changing the subject.
"Let's talk something else. More important stuff, right?"
"Right you are. We must resolve the Spectrum matter."
"Yeah, kiddo."
Monica's face turned serious.
"That Alexandr guy gunning for you? Turns out he's on Interpol's blacklist."
"What, really?"
"Yeah. Already killed several mages in Japan and China."
"Seemed like he targeted mages with promising talent."
Yuri scratched her head.
"Whoa~ So our kiddo got marked as talented by Spectrum?"
"Exactly."
Monica stroked my head.
"He was high-level enough to dodge my magic and run."
"Even figured out how to counter my Reverse Flow after one look. Verily."
"Yeah, no pushover."
Monica wiggled her freshly batted-up right hand.
"My advice: hole up in Magic Tower Alliance HQ till Alexandr's caught. Growth'll slow, but safest."
"Hm..."
Hiding from enemies? Not for a hunter like me. And I doubted I could stay put long anyway.
"How long till he's caught? The longer it takes, the darker my future gets."
"True, they've been tracking him two years already. No telling when."
"Plus, just hiding makes you weak nonstop. That's for cowards."
"Fair point..."
Monica scratched her head sheepishly.
"Any other way?"
"Not none..."
She hesitated, then spoke.
"One way to grow fast and safe."
I nodded.
"Your personal Abyss, right?"
"...Yeah. How'd you know?"
"Heard clearing floors boosts ether capacity and teaches new spells."
"Spot on. Abyss rewards are solid."
Monica raised a warning finger, worried.
"But... you saw floor 1's scale. Floor 2 could be worse. Prep thoroughly."
"True, floor 1 was insane."
"Valid concern."
If floor 1 spat out 700+ grade-1 abyssal entities... floor 2? Unimaginable.
Yuri sighed, scratching her head.
"Heard Nova Tech, who works with our tower, has some good artifacts in stock~"
She glanced at Monica.
"But~ each one's tens of billions~"
I shrugged.
"That much? I can handle without your help, Monica."
"Huh? Not millions, kiddo—tens of billions."
"Exactly."
I pulled out the training ground card from Haesin Tower's Hong Baekrim.
"Got a training ground in my name in Bundang."
Yuri gawked at Monica.
"Yeah, Uncle Hong Baekrim from Haesin Tower took a real shine to her..."
"He's a friend."
Yuri eyed the master key curiously, squinting between it and me.
"For real? But it's a gift, hard to sell quick even if you could."
I tilted my head at her words.
"Sell? What're you on about."
"Huh?"
"Use the building as collateral for a loan. Bundang land means low interest, and as a mage, I'll pay it off quick."
The two women gaped, mouths open.
"Kiddo's scary."
"Mage Hunter raised his kid right..."
I snorted, clenching a fist.
"So, can we get decent artifacts from Nova Tech?"
"Hm, they do have some retired mages' artifacts in storage."
"Ooh."
"But..."
"But?"
Yuri said cautiously.
"They don't sell to just anyone. Might have their own test~"
"Ha! Think I can't pass?"
"Nah~ Opposite problem."
Monica sighed.
"If Nova Tech sees your potential, all eyes on you."
"Yeah. And Nova Tech~ never lets talent slip away~"
I shrugged.
"Still, can't hit floor 2 unprepared."
Monica grinned.
"That's why—pull Nova Tech in fully this time, kiddo?"
"Huh?"
"Like Haesin Tower stamped on your mage card back."
"Ah..."
"Reveal your skills, make 'em solid backing."
Nova Tech was the world's top corp by market cap—a powerhouse backer.
"Sounds good."
Monica's eyes sparkled at my nod.
"Plus, I got friends on their board. They'll help."
Yuri and I stared at her, stunned.
"Friends at the #1 market cap Nova Tech...?"
"Worthy of the Aqua Queen."
A few days later, Nova Tech's Korean branch.
"Hm..."
I stood before Nova Tech's prized new tester. Isolated test room with a massive machine. Through the reinforced glass, I saw Yuri, Monica, and the branch president watching.
"So, convert ether and shove it in here?"
The researcher sighed heavily and nodded.
"Yes. And don't talk to adults like that, kiddo."
I nodded.
"For real, full power okay? Don't wanna break expensive gear."
The researcher chuckled dryly.
"Sure sure~ Go ahead and break it if you can, kiddo. This new model's built for 5-level mages."
I gathered ether around me.
"Go when it turns green."
"Got it."
I smiled at the researcher.
"You said it yourself, right? It can handle it."