What Is Conveyed Without Words

"I'll contact you as soon as I pay off my debt! And when I do, I'll buy you some cup ramen!"

"Haha... I'll hold you to that."

With Kang Nari's heartfelt send-off—vowing to succeed and repay the favor—Eunha stepped out of her basement apartment with a light body and heart. There wasn't much to talk about anyway, and her complexion had improved a lot, so it was about time she started walking around on her own.

Even someone crushed by debt like her is living her life to the fullest. I should do the same.

Before leaving, they'd exchanged numbers under the guise of survival check-ins. It was a cheap prepaid phone, too. And so, their first meeting with the youngest daughter of the "Cheongryong Clan," the debt-ridden Kang Nari, ended on smiling faces.

……

"Oh. What a coincidence, Eunha-ssi. Out for a walk?"

"Eek?!"

She'd barely taken ten steps out of the basement when Banharin appeared soundlessly from behind, wrapping her arms around Eunha in a back hug. Her arms encircled Eunha's slim waist. Startled, Eunha let out a cute squeak and shuddered.

She hadn't even noticed her approaching. Was she a ghost or something?

Hoo... hoo... Banharin's hot breath came in heavy pants against the nape of her neck, turning Eunha's earlobe red. It tickled.

"Whoa, you scared me... What was that, Banharin-ssi? You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"My apologies. You were walking so defenselessly... Were you trying to tempt me?"

"Not even a little? Wait, where are you taking—"

Banharin, still hugging her from behind, suddenly scooped Eunha up into a princess carry. Eunha, not yet fully recovered, had no strength to resist. She meekly wrapped her arms around Banharin's neck.

Wow, this is comfy. So warm and soft. Is this why Eunbangul keeps crawling into her arms?

"Your anemia is severe. I have a car parked nearby. Let me take you home."

"I can walk on my own."

"Aren't you pushing yourself? Did you break your promise and donate blood consecutively again?"

"......How the hell do you even know that?"

"I can tell just by looking."

Eunha relaxed in Banharin's arms as she listened to the nagging. Despite carrying her, Banharin made no sound with her footsteps—it was so comfortable that Eunha nearly dozed off. In moments like this, she was glad to be a woman. If not, it'd look downright embarrassing to onlookers.

"But Eunha-ssi. What was someone staggering from anemia doing in a place like this?"

"Ah...... I was resting at a friend's place."

"......A friend's?"

"What? Yeah, a friend. She is a friend."

"Do you go to a friend's house dressed like that?"

Banharin glanced down at Eunha's shabby clothes in her arms and tsked. Earlier, at Kang Nari's basement, she'd exchanged her blood-soaked outfit for some of Nari's old clothes due to the blood donation. "It's from my benefactor, so I'll wash it clean and return it," she'd said. It had saved her a ton of trouble—wandering outside in bloodstained clothes would've gotten her thrown into a cop car or ambulance immediately.

But these were really worn-out. Maybe use them as rags when she got home. The lint was already making her whole body itch.

"And what about you, Banharin-ssi? Weren't you going to work?"

"I fell asleep during a meeting and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got kicked out. No other place to go, so I was heading to the cafe when I ran into you."

"Lucky you didn't get fired."

"That's the perk of being a lowly office worker. No one under me, so as long as I do my job well, I'm more iron rice bowl than you'd think."

Banharin said it without batting an eye. Eunha envied that brazen confidence but didn't want to emulate it. Then, as she idly gazed at the sky while nestled in Banharin's arms, she noticed the eyepatch covering Banharin's left eye.

"Banharin-ssi. What's with the eyepatch?"

A gray patch stained ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with dark red. Banharin kept walking as if it were nothing.

"Fell asleep at work and poked my eye with the eraser end of a mechanical pencil. Not serious, but I have to wear the patch for a while."

"Ouch... You're in no position to worry about others. You okay? Put me down quick. Don't carry heavy stuff when you're hurt."

"You're not heavy at all, Eunha-ssi."

She replied nonchalantly, but her left eye throbbed, furrowing her brow ever so slightly. For someone famous for her emotionless face, this was... bad, maybe? A faint metallic scent wafted by, only to be overtaken by an unfamiliar perfume assaulting Eunha's nose.

"......Did you put on perfume too?"

"Haven't been to the office in ages, so I dressed up a bit. What do you think?"

"It's way too strong. Never wear it again."

"Understood."

"And when your eye's injured, avoid actions that raise intraocular pressure, right? Don't rub it if it itches, wear a patch or sunglasses outside, and... what else was it."

"You're sounding awfully motherly."

"Who was it always nagging me?"

Eunha unleashed a barrage of nagging in revenge for all the scoldings she'd endured. She kicked her legs demanding to be put down, but Banharin's hold didn't budge. Some can't even carry Eunbangul, but Banharin-ssi has some serious strength. A complicated smile crossed Eunha's face at the stark difference in power.

She felt a twinge of jealousy. Annoying, even. Were they really the same species?

Banharin-ssi must be a hunter... right? Lifting me this easily screams combat-type hunter.

Envy welled up. She wanted to get stronger too, but it wasn't easy. In a petty mood, Eunha gently tugged Banharin's cheek.

"It hurts."

"If it hurts, put me down. I'm seriously worried."

"It's not hurting at all, so we'll keep going."

"......Ugh, fine. Just you wait. I'll work out and carry you around someday."

One perk of being a woman: skinship felt natural now. Sure, she hugged and babied cute little Eunbangul often, but that was because the girl initiated it. Eunha approaching first, or anything more intimate, had always carried some resistance. You know, that caution with truly close people.

But now? Cute little Eunbangul? She'd hug her to her heart's content, plant kisses on those cheeks. Lay her on the cafe table for belly raspberries, even. She was already in a princess carry—what was there to hesitate about?

......Nah, maybe still a bit embarrassing. Later.

Screeech—!!

Vroooom—!!

Right then, mid their silly bickering, a black sports car roared past Eunha with a savage engine growl. Was it the sight of two beauties flirting? Or hoping they'd check out his ride? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He floored it right beside them, showing off before speeding away.

Startled by the sudden noise, Banharin turned her back to the road protectively and clicked her tongue in irritation.

"Tch. Time to file an official complaint with Euncheon-gu. Letting speeders like that slide could lead to casualties..."

"......"

"Eunha-ssi?"

Banharin, glaring murderously at the receding sports car with Observation, felt Eunha's arms around her neck trembling and looked down.

"Hah... hah..."

"Eunha-ssi. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah...? Ah, haha... Of course."

Eunha wasn't okay. Ragged breaths, ice-cold hands and feet. Rapid, faint heartbeat. Compounded by her existing anemia, her face paled noticeably.

Banharin activated her skill with a crackle, scanning Eunha's body. Agonizing pain shot through her left eye, but she gritted her teeth and examined her. Crimson blood seeped from under the eyepatch, trickling down her cheek.

Squeeze... Eunha's eyes held terror and fear of death. Even Banharin's skill couldn't fathom the mental anguish there—like someone tormented by trauma.

Eunha clung to Banharin's neck, gasping.

(Kyaak—!)

(Hit-and-run! That bastard didn't even brake!!)

A flash exploded. Hunter Association fountain. Green crosswalk. So noisy. Her head throbbed from the surround-sound echoes of voices in her mind.

(It's wrong, instant death. Recovery potions won't work.)

(Do something! If this person dies, we're done for!)

(Shit... Thought it'd be safe near the Association! Just blinked and this happens...)

She remembered. Hit-and-run. Bright red sports car. Eerie engine roar. What she'd dismissed as a dream or déjà vu had scarred her deeper than imagined.

Her head pounded like it might split, so Eunha desperately clung tighter.

"Ugh, Eunha-ssi. It's okay. No danger here. Close your eyes and breathe deep."

Banharin, stammering in rare panic, tried to calm her. Seeing the unflappable woman flustered was almost funny. Enduring the skull-crushing pain, Eunha reassured her instead.

"Hoo... whoo...... whew...... I'm... okay... I'm fine... Just moved right after donating blood."

"Don't speak. Let's get to the car first."

"No, really, I'm fine..."

Banharin's steps quickened. She'd been silent before, but now her shoes thudded urgently. She'd promised a car ride home but had been circling to prolong time with Eunha. Now she rushed to her sedan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whew...... I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alive.

Sip... haa... sip...... haa......

Moments later, Eunha lay in the back seat of Banharin's sedan, breathing into a black plastic bag—emergency hyperventilation treatment. It worked; her blurred vision cleared gradually.

Feels like a flashbang to the face. Experiencing her first "flashback," Eunha wiped the cold sweat from her brow.

Was the trauma this bad? Self-Regeneration kept her body fine, so she'd overlooked it. Still... good things are good. At least she knew now. Avoid sports cars from here on.

"Hide one more pain and I'll admit you to the hospital. Your choice."

"Sorry~. And I hate hospitals."

Banharin checked the IV bag hanging from the car ceiling and nagged. Speechless, Eunha flashed a bright smile to prove she was fine.

Today's trivia: Lowly office workers carry IV bags and rapid infusers in their sedans. What kind of company was hers? She'd even offered an expensive Emergency Recovery Potion at first. But after hearing the price from Kang Nari, Eunha refused outright. After some back-and-forth, they settled on just the IV.

"......But Banharin-ssi. What's with the syringe?"

"Mixing recovery potion into the IV bag."

"No, I said potion's fine."

"I know. We agreed on IV only. And what I mix into it is my business."

She answered so matter-of-factly—answer justice in action. Eunha couldn't win with words. Refuse more and that syringe might go straight into her vein, so she stayed quiet.

"......"

"......"

The car fell silent. Banharin organized the first-aid kit up front; Eunha lay back receiving potion-laced IV. Staring blankly at the dripping saline, she turned to the front.

Banharin had finished the kit and was wiping blood from her eyepatch.

......The "poked by eraser at work" story was a lie, obviously. Related to that company "accident" she'd mentioned?

"...How'd you really hurt your eye? Someone attack you?"

".........If I tell you... will you explain that carotid wound?"

Eunha flinched, hand flying to her neck. Hiding the pain, maybe? Banharin's gaze, colder than usual, pierced her.

"......"

Observing her reaction, Banharin gave a wry smile. Fragments of cold, lonely emotion scattered like snowflakes onto Eunha's head.

"...I know you've got secrets lately, Eunha-ssi. Worries you can't share with me or Eunbangul-ssi."

".........You're keeping things from me too, Banharin-ssi. So we're even?"

"Exactly. That's why I won't pry."

I have no right to dig into your secrets.

Vroom...... With that, the sedan carrying Eunha pulled away, engine purring softly to avoid startling her.

"......What should I do?"

Banharin's usual icy voice. But today, it sounded... sad.

"......"

Eunha said nothing. She just closed her eyes and turned away, avoiding Banharin's gaze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah. Banharin was a woman with sharp observation. She saw through Eunha's lies instantly, spotted hidden finger wounds like a ghost. The scars she'd clumsily concealed under bundled clothes, her suddenly feminine body and voice overnight... It was weirder if she hadn't noticed.

For a split second, an illusion flashed: the Black Book opening its maw toward a new sacrifice.

"......Banharin-ssi. This IV's taking forever—can I just drink it?"

"It's salty, you sure?"

"I handle salty fine."

Eunha thought amid Banharin's teasing.

Even if it kills me, I won't tell Banharin or Eunbangul a thing.