Promotion Exam Preparation (2)
A few days passed. Nothing changed. …Yeah. Even though several days had gone by, nothing was different. The same routine as a café employee. Café owner Eunbangul was cute, regular customer Banharin was expressionless. And Eunha was pretty. Why?
"Don't tell 'those things' too often. I won't be visiting as frequently from now on."
The words of the Black Person had rung true; since that day, the frequency of "those things" showing up had noticeably dropped. Maybe once every two days or so? Yesterday, the Transparent Baby had paid a visit, along with a kitchen knife dropped in the living room. Its gleeful, eerie giggling had tugged at her heartstrings pitifully, but she'd grabbed the teddy bear cushion from the sofa and ended the game of hide-and-seek right then and there. Fat chance. Even though the "playtime" wrapped up in an instant, the Transparent Baby had giggled happily anyway. It just seemed thrilled to have someone to interact with.
Aside from the occasional murder threats, her days were surprisingly ordinary. The one issue...
Her limbs were still soft and squishy.
"Eunha-ssi. Let me disguise myself as you and take the promotion exam."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"I'm confident in my acting."
"Look in a mirror and say that."
Today, too, Banharin watched over Eunha's training in the park, spouting absurdities with her usual icy expression. No matter how many times she corrected her form or demonstrated, Eunha's progress stalled, which must have been frustrating—but Banharin helped without fail, day after day. Eunbangul dropped by now and then to hang out. Peaceful days.
"But Eunha-ssi. Are you still donating blood these days?"
"No. I stopped after you scolded me that time."
"Good decision. Better not to donate at all than to faint from anemia."
Today's session ended without much gain, and as they did cooldown stretches, they chatted. Banharin stuck close to her back, adjusting her posture while caressing Eunha's soft limbs and belly. For some reason, Eunha felt a warmth spreading in her lower abdomen from those sticky touches as she loosened up.
In the end, she'd put blood donation on hold for now. With Banharin watching, she couldn't mindlessly jump into hard-mode donations at the Evergreen Emergency Center. Of course, it wasn't "never"—just "later." She wanted those 10 stickers, no matter what. So, at least while Banharin oversaw her training, she'd focus solely on the promotion exam and start using the donation bus from June.
"...Please stay away from blood donation centers altogether from now on. Donating whole blood every three days—is that even human?"
"But it worked fine."
"Nothing good for your body. Whatever it is, please moderate."
"Got it. No more blood donation centers."
"Wise choice."
Yeah. No more blood donation centers. From now on, just the bus. She'd stockpile and cash it all in at once.
With that, Eunha parted ways with Banharin and left the park.
"No luck again... What should we do?"
Even special training from a C-rank(?) hunter yielded nothing. Was she doomed to live as an F-rank hunter forever? Was there no other way?
Eunha returned to Saetbyeol Apartment under the blood-red evening sky.
Today, too, moving vans were loading up in the apartment parking lot. What was going on these past few days? Mass exodus?
"Excuse me."
"Yes, miss? What is it?"
"Lots of people moving out lately. Something happen?"
She spotted the Guard Elder in the entrance security booth and asked. A grandfather she'd never seen before. When did the guard change? He reminded her of a warm bonfire thawing a winter-chilled body.
The elder gazed at her while shaping ochre clay into a human figure on his desk. Quite intricate work. Nice craftsmanship.
"Heh heh. Seasons are changing, I suppose. Homes vacated by migratory birds become new nests for others."
"Uh? Yeah, sure? I guess?"
"Time erodes us all. But only through erosion do some gems shine... Like you, miss."
"Haha... Right. Well, take care."
"Watch your step. Don't forget—if you lose your guidebook, come to the security booth."
Nice old man. Senile, maybe. Eunha exchanged greetings and entered the building.
...He'd mentioned a "guidebook" midway, but scary—better pretend she didn't hear. Yeah, she could take him in a fight. Eunha mustered her courage.
"Oh my, it's been ages, little one."
Stroking her pounding heart, Eunha rode the elevator, dragging her carry-on with the Black Book. The moment she stepped out on the 9th floor...
The Bug Princess standing in the middle of the apartment hallway greeted her like an old friend.
What the hell. Was it "freak day" or something?
Saga-gak—. Sagagak...
The girl in a black frilly dress, eyes hidden by a parasol, approached with the sound of countless bug legs clicking.
"...What are you doing here? This is the 9th floor."
"Come to check if the little one is faring well. You've grown even more beautiful."
"Haha, yeah, got some blood drawn... Nice dress."
Eunha backed away as the Bug Princess closed in, complimenting her to survive. How to live through the Bug Princess: Praise her. She repaid praise with praise, other things with their like—that seductive monster. Of course she remembered. The impact was unforgettable.
"Is that so... You find my dress pretty... How beautiful it must be."
"I wanna try it on sometime."
"Shall you?"
Saga-gak... Cornered. Eunha's back hit the wall, the Bug Princess inches away, smiling seductively behind her parasol. A fragrant grassy scent tickled her nose. Cricket chirps echoed in her mind. Sweet lips, flawless skin... Like a bug addicted to pheromones, Eunha's gaze locked on the allure.
Her head fogged like she'd been drinking.
"Shall you strip here, bare yourself, and don my dress? It would suit a little one like you."
"Weather's too cold. Next time."
The thing pinning her to the wall smiled slyly. A small hand caressed her waist, slipping inside her tracksuit like a foraging insect. The skilled touch on bare skin nearly drew a sound from her.
2. The Girl in the Black Dress Has Moved In.
- She likes pranks and compliments.
- Even small things are fine. Praise our playful girl.
- She repays praise with praise, other things with their like.
The girl who likes pranks and compliments. Apparently, groping counted as a prank too. Was this right? She tried shaking off the hand, but her limbs wouldn't move, pinned like a bug on display.
Saga-gak... Countless bug legs rustling from under the Bug Princess's skirt. What was inside there?
Ignoring the touch, she distracted herself. Spray insecticide under the skirt—would she love that?
"...Ngh."
"Hehe. Such an amusing little one."
Only after a small moan escaped did the Bug Princess stop, retreating amid clicking legs. Eunha straightened her rumpled clothes, rubbing her flushed ears, glaring sullenly.
"What's wrong? Was my prank no fun?"
"You were the only one having fun."
"Plenty in the world enjoy being on the receiving end."
"Not me."
"...Little one... No, I'll say no more."
What was so funny? The Bug Princess twirled her black parasol, smiling delightedly. Hard to stay mad at that joy. Fine, whatever. Good is good. Survived unscathed—no complaints. Better than breaking rules and disaster.
"Hmm... Yes, you've pleased me, so a reward."
Then, licking her lips seductively, the Bug Princess offered the unexpected.
"If you have worries, sit on a park bench at sunset."
"The park?"
"Yes. A clever little one will be there."
Smack. She grabbed Eunha's hand, kissed the back lightly, said "see you" and climbed to the 10th floor.
Saga-gak... The bug sounds faded.
Ended with just a boob grope and bolt. "Park bench at sunset..."
Leaning against the wall, Eunha glanced sideways. The red sun dipped slowly below the horizon.
Go if worried? Worries aplenty. Becoming a woman. The Black Book and those things. And... next month's promotion exam.
...Shall I go?
Hesitation was brief. Curiosity won. Eunha dragged her carry-on back to the elevator.
Yeah. Dinner time exactly. Might as well. Nothing there? Just an evening stroll. Something? Key to her worries.
With Self-Regeneration, worst case, die? She headed to Euncheon-gu Park, where she'd trained with Banharin.
"...How long since that one started coming here?"
"Already a week."
Meanwhile, at that moment. The blood donation center Eunha frequented because it was close to home.
"Tch... Didn't she come every three days?"
"S-Sorry. I don't know why either... Other places seem clueless too. She just stopped donating."
"So? Huh? It ends if we don't know? Find out!"
Bam!!
Hunter Association staff in slate-gray suits huddled, discussing gravely.
"We need at least half a year's worth at current volume. Get it? Lure her with gifts or whatever."
"Understood. Checking now."
"Move quietly. Other departments don't know this mission."
"...Ah, don't drag her by force and drain her. If anything smells off, that monster from Rare Hunter Protection-Extermination Squad will come for us."
"Y-Yes!"
"Tch... Why no inter-department cooperation. Greedy bastards..."
Unbeknownst to Eunha, schemes around her advanced steadily.