Vacation's End: Hide-and-Seek with the Transparent Baby
Vacation over, back to the daily grind. I returned to Saetbyeol Apartment. Banharin and I hadn't exchanged a single word the whole time.
"…Please take care getting home. I'll see you tomorrow, looking healthy."
"You watch your eyes too, Banharin."
Saetbyeol Apartment was strangely packed with moving vans. With Banharin's unusually listless send-off, Eunha headed inside. She rode the elevator to the ninth floor, picked up the suitcase by the front door, and entered her home.
Something… felt draining.
Probably because of that conversation with Banharin. How much had she figured out, with her freakishly sharp observation skills?
Eunha touched the sunken needle mark near her carotid artery.
I'm really worried. She probably hadn't noticed them specifically, but she'd definitely realized Eunha was getting attacked by something.
4. Cognition is the link to existence.
— Have you heard the saying "Knowledge is power"?
….
— Those who cognize our existence are called the [Enlightened].
It was like teetering on a sheer cliff's edge. One more step, and you'd plummet into the dark abyss below.
Banharin probably wouldn't even blink at the edge of a cliff…
I just hoped nothing bad happened to her. One person suffering was enough.
Chae-aeng—!
After getting home, organizing her shoes, and confirming the Black Book was in the suitcase, a sharp metallic clang echoed from the hallway toward the living room.
『Karruk~.』
The sound of a sharp blade hitting the floor. A child's laughter flitting by.
Eunha clutched the Black Book she'd pulled from the suitcase, frowning as she turned toward the noise.
A kitchen knife that should have been in the kitchen lay inexplicably on the floor.
"……."
It was the same knife the Red Woman had used alongside the rusty saw when she butchered Eunha last time.
Why was it here?
Staring at the kitchen knife, Eunha smacked the Black Book's cover repeatedly to show her annoyance.
(『Tell them well. We won't visit too often from now on.』)
You said you wouldn't visit often. You lied to me?
Thump. Thump.
Her heart pounded. Eunha placed a hand on her soft chest and took a deep breath.
Was it the body change? Her resistance to fear had definitely dropped. She'd jumped when Banharin hugged her from behind earlier.
At this rate, she'd startle at anyone suddenly talking to her.
"Haa… Yeah, actually it's good. At least it raises my blood pressure."
She'd said one person suffering was enough, but she didn't want to hurt this soon.
Eunha massaged her stiff neck, loosening her sluggish body.
Well… She was feeling down from that talk with Banharin anyway. For now, she'd focus on the problem at hand.
A blade on the floor, a child's laughter… A rule came to mind.
Eunha opened the Black Book on the floor and checked the guide.
7. Keep blades in their designated places.
— Kitchen knife block, bedroom drawer, etc…
Store blades at a height an "about 80cm tall child" can't reach.
— Children cause accidents when you look away for a moment.
7-1. Sometimes, an untouched blade will fall to the floor.
— Cover the fallen blade with something soft like a cushion.
— Then say, "Found you. Hide-and-seek is over."
— Remove the soft object shortly after, and the blade will be gone.
This was it. Blade on the floor. Child's laughter.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the Red Woman who'd drilled manners into Eunha wasn't involved.
But an 80cm-tall child? That was basically a baby.
Were even infants coming to her house now?
'So, cover that knife with something soft? Completely hide the blade?'
Still, this rule was pretty easy. Unlike the Red Woman, no time limit.
The living room sofa would have cushions, and the bedroom had pillows. No need for unwanted performances.
After reading the book once, Eunha sighed in relief and looked up.
Chae-aeng—.
By the time she noticed, the kitchen knife on the floor was approaching her. About a step away.
『Kyarruk~.』
The childish, carefree laughter grew even closer.
"……Wahmm."
Eunha brushed down her goosebump-covered arms and backed toward the front door.
It was moving.
I figured.
Without taking her eyes off the approaching knife, she slowly retreated, grabbed the door handle, and turned it.
Click-click… It wouldn't open.
Yeah. Figured.
She pressed her forehead, frustration sprouting like weeds.
(Children cause accidents when you look away for a moment.)
A sentence she'd dismissed as unimportant. Now she got it.
Look away from that knife, and it'd move while she wasn't watching.
She'd seen it in horror movies. Watched with Eunbangul—super scary. And experiencing it for real was hell.
'…How fast does it move?'
She tested by briefly closing and opening her eyes. A clanging clash, and the blade advanced half a step.
……Like a kid sprinting full speed. Not super fast, but burdensome in the confined space of a home.
"Hey, kiddo, you shouldn't play with stuff like that. Give it to big bro?"
『Kyarruk~. Kyarruk~.』
She spoke to it as kindly as possible. It seemed happy she was talking, laughing delightedly.
Did it see this as simple play? Like red light, green light…
『Kyarruk~. Hehehe~.』
Cheerful laughter. What was so funny?
"…It's okay. I get it. I never played those games either—didn't have friends."
『Kyarruk~. Really?』
"Yeah. Really."
While talking to it, she racked her brain. Alternating which eye she kept open to never lose sight of the knife.
'Picking it up is too risky… Anyway, get to the living room without looking away.'
Goal: find something soft. Eunha glared wide-eyed, slipping past the knife.
Thump. Thump.
Felt like a spy movie protagonist. Heart pounding every time she switched eyes, the knife rattling on the floor.
『Kyarruk~.』
"Stop fussing. Big bro's busy."
Invisible hands patted her thigh. Like an 80cm child was really there.
Not the knife moving on its own, but some transparent something wielding it.
'…Doesn't seem that dangerous?'
Passing the knife, Eunha sighed in relief.
Not very dangerous.
『Karruk~』
As long as she watched, it didn't move. Even closing eyes, it approached slower than expected. Plus that innocent baby laughter…
……Maybe play along a little?
'No, that's a monster. How could I play with it?'
She shook off the fleeting pity.
The cheerful kyarruk stirred inexplicable sympathy and maternal instinct, but it was the same breed as the Red Woman. No need for Eunha's pity.
『Let's play, sis.』
"What, first time hearing 'sis'… Call me bro?"
『Kyarruk~ Funny sis.』
Don't rely on Self-Regeneration and act rashly.
Yeah. This incident showed her trauma ran deeper than thought. Body regenerated, but mind didn't.
Decision made. Eunha crept backward toward the teddy bear cushion on the living room sofa.
『……Play with me, sis.』
Click—.
The moment Eunha stepped into the living room, the breaker tripped. Darkness fell.
『Kyarruk~. Wanna play hide-and-seek with sis~!』
"……Turn on the light. My eyes suck."
In the unnaturally pitch-black darkness, Eunha gritted her teeth at the whispering baby laughter in her ear.
(— Then say, "Found you. Hide-and-seek is over.")
Yeah. This wasn't red light, green light. It was hide-and-seek.
Find something soft in the dark, without seeing the knife.
No wonder it seemed easy.
Damn Black Book. Explain in detail—would it kill you?
"Can't we talk it out, sis?"
『Kyarruk~~.』
"……Damn it."
Puk—!
Sharp pain as the kitchen knife stabbed her lower back. Eunha bolted into the living room, piercing the darkness.
…….
"Hoo… Hoo… Got it."
『Kyarruk~ Hehehe~』
Eunha pinned the blood-soaked knife with the teddy bear cushion, panting heavily. Fresh red blood oozed from knife wounds across her body. They burned like burns.
Holes pierced through her lower back and left hand by the knife, already scarred thanks to Self-Regeneration.
Babies are pure evil for a reason.
Surveying the wrecked living room, she smiled complicatedly.
Thought she'd die again. She'd blocked the charging knife with her left hand, groping in the dark for the cushion.
A moment later, and it'd have been like with the Red Woman.
Well… Good is good. Kids these days play rough. Lesson learned.
"……Found you. Hide-and-seek is over."
『Kyarruk~』
Baby's innocent laughter. Pressing down the wriggling knife under the cushion, Eunha uttered the ending phrase.
Still—.
In that instant, the baby laughter circling her ear cut off. The struggling knife stopped.
『……Thanks, sis. For playing with us.』
"Bro."
『But I wanted to play more with sis.』
"Kids have stamina."
Regretful words. She formed her usual smile receiving the child's thanks.
Mixing "sis" and "big sis"—maybe multiple invisible things?
『Just a bit more… Wanted to play with sis.』
"……."
『You're the first grown-up to play with us, sis.』
"……Yeah. Good for you."
Pure words etched into her heart, scarring as deep as the knife wounds.
『Bye, sis… Hope we meet again.』
And with that wistful laughter brushing past like a spring breeze, the presence vanished like smoke.
Under the removed cushion… nothing.
…….
Kyarruk kyarruk.
The baby's laughter lingered in her mind. Like forsythia blooming yellow in spring, pure and bright, then gone with the seasons.
Her body felt heavy. Maybe because the laughter was too innocent.
Sitting in the entryway hallway for a while, staring at the cushion, Eunha slowly stood.
"……Come again. Sis'll play."
Like gaining a mischievous little sibling. She'd call it the Transparent Baby from now on.
With a bittersweet smile, Eunha started cleaning the bloodstains scattered in the living room.
Hunter-exclusive detergent, Hunts Clean. Always performed great.
Kyarruk……
Crisis averted, but why did the kids' innocent laughter keep echoing?
A somewhat unsettling end.
…….
Nothing else after that. Cleaned the mess, called Eunbangul for chit-chat. Quick shower, then bed naked—no underwear—seeking sleep.
One bad blood donation, a few stabs at home, and already exhausted.
Excluding the Transparent Baby just now, no more things tormented her today.
That was great.
'Haa… Tough.'
Honestly, too much the last few days. Hard to believe only a week since picking up the Black Book.
But the Black Person in the dream said he'd told them well—no frequent visits…
She could relax a tiny bit.
'Tomorrow vacation finally ends… So long…'
The cafe was best. Relaxing, Eunha drifted to sleep peacefully, and—
Drurruk… The living room balcony door slid open. Something entered.
…….
May 6th. 26 days until next month's Hunter Promotion Exam.
Paid vacation ends. Less than a week since picking up the Black Book.
Is this right?
"Your complexion looks much better overnight."
"Still wearing that eyepatch, Banharin."
"What's with the glove on your left hand?"
"Fashion?"
As usual, Banharin occupied a table, addressing Eunha in her cold voice.
The difference? An eyepatch over her left eye. Her thug-like looks made even that cool.
She eyed the glove hiding the knife scar suspiciously, but when Eunha brushed it off as fashion, she let it slide with a doubtful glare.
……Was she just glossing over yesterday's talk?
If so, Eunha wouldn't bring it up either.
"Ugh… My left eye… It's craving a pretzel. Eunha, could you spare one?"
"Saying you're hurting with a blank face doesn't really land."
"Ah, left eye. Left eye hurts. Ah, left eye."
Banharin clutched her left eye, writhing with her icy face. Embarrassing.
Eunha hurried over with a pretzel, stuffing it in her mouth. Banharin froze like a ghost, thumbs-upped while munching.
Why not just stay dignified like her expression?
Eunha chuckled, tugging her tight uniform.
The cafe felt peaceful on her first shift back. One issue: her usual uniform felt small.
Slacks, shirt, checkered apron with big pockets. Changing body—some parts loose, others tight and stuffy.
Order new ones?
"Whoa! The resident ghost is a girl?"
"See? Told ya I was a girl!"
Customers gawked at Eunha's noticeably more feminine look. Some knew her as the "promotion exam ghost," even more shocked.
'…Why does everyone accept me as a girl so easily?'
Sad.
"Because your previous look was that ambiguous."
"That again? And I didn't say anything."
"But a beautiful woman is far better than an ambiguous man, no?"
Banharin's words hit like mind-reading. Eunha just mumbled.
No retort.
"…Hey, Banharin. Question. You're a hunter, right?"
"Yes, a hunter. What is it?"
Avoiding Banharin's cool gaze, Eunha turned. Then, struck by a good idea, spoke up.
Vacation over, Black Book somewhat familiar… Time to start proper hunter work.
"You picked me up yesterday. Combat hunter, right?"
"……Yes. Low rank, but registered."
"Then, could you help with training? I'll grant a wish later."
F-rank hunter Eunha's first hunter activity: pass next month's promotion exam.