Master of the Forest
Somehow, she felt certain that this world was the very first one she'd stayed in after arriving here. The cave, the Imoogi, the atmosphere of the forest, even the taste of the crocodile meat—it all felt just like back then.
Her memories of living as a slave in that first city were still vivid. Fleeing afterward and wandering the forest, encountering the Imoogi in a cave deep within... it all remained crystal clear. And remarkably, this Imoogi was two years younger than when she'd first met it—right at the moment she'd fallen into this world.
Gates had opened five years ago, without a doubt. So why did the Imoogi's age match up so perfectly? Could it be that the Blue Dragon, the god of this place, had orchestrated it? For revenge against her?
No way. The Blue Dragon she knew wasn't clever enough for that. Even after dying once, it would still look down on humans—and naturally, that included her. So this absurd coincidence had to involve someone else's machinations...
Did that mean her return five years later was also part of some plan? Pressing the 500-Million-Year Button? Falling into that isolated world and devouring Constellations?
She thought it ridiculous. But the divinities she'd encountered always spouted similar nonsense. A grand flow of will. Machinations. Guidance. Fate. The will of the heavens... Even as she devoured them, they muttered those words—utterly unforgettable.
That's why she planned to leave this forest and check for herself. If that city still existed unchanged, and the people who'd died back then were alive and well...
What then? Haneul's head tilted slightly. The rationality she'd barely clung to blurred and drifted away.
I'll figure it out when I get there. Nothing had happened yet. She prodded the brooding Imoogi.
"Tell me quick."
The response was disappointingly the same. The Imoogi, which had started to uncoil, curled up again and lowered its body fully.
"Yeah? When?"
Haneul lowered her voice dramatically, putting on a solemn expression.
"The reason... I cannot tell you..."
"Gotcha. Okay, so how much longer do I gotta wait for that method?"
"I dunno what that means. Tell me exactly how many days."
The Imoogi flicked its tongue, eyeing her with complicated gaze.
"Sweet!"
Haneul jumped right up. The Imoogi thrust its head forward urgently.
"Yup."
"Nah, not busy at all."
"I'm thirsty."
Its coiled tail poked out, shoving two massive jars toward her—each easily five times her size. Haneul plopped back down.
"Got a cup?"
The tail nimbly picked up a suitable stone and shaped it this way and that. In under a minute, a cup carved from rock was complete.
"Yup, thanksies!"
It was more like a soup bowl to her, but it held water just fine. She dipped it into the large jar and gulped it down. Lukewarm but refreshingly clean—like the purest water from nearby.
Did animals bring her these things? If so, probably a gorilla with hands lugging the jars. Or maybe riding on a lizard's back. Lizard rides were insanely comfy.
"Ahh."
Finishing a bowl amid random thoughts, Haneul grinned contentedly and flopped back down. The Imoogi was still plenty tall even coiled low.
"So, whatcha wanna talk about now?"
A truly tricky question. But Haneul didn't sweat the details. If anything, she was curious. How would tales of Earth—the outside—sound to the Imoogi?
"Ever tried tteokbokki?"
"Heh heh..."
Perfect—it was getting through. Great. Time to explain every meme she'd seen on community sites in exhaustive detail. Rubbing her hands together, Haneul opened her mouth.
"Oh, boss! Hey!"
"...Do you even know how long it's been since you went into that gate?"
"How long?"
"Two days."
"Whoa."
Exiting the cave, crossing the forest, and emerging from the gate—she'd spent a full two days. She'd entered at early dawn, and now it was dark night; a bit later and it'd have been three. That just meant it'd been fun.
Haneul beamed, scanning the crowd gathered around the gate. Tons of people—different outfits, weapons, faces. Some looked pretty strong amid the mix. Those hunters were dozing off, maintaining gear, or chatting with grim expressions.
No Baek Hye-seo in sight, sadly, but Baek Seungcheol stood firm at the center.
"Why's everyone out here welcoming me?"
"...Baek Hye-seo Hunter said there's likely an A-rank or higher monster in that forest. And that you went to meet it alone."
"Whoa, a subjugation squad?"
"Those gathered here... yeah, they're hunters assembled for subjugation, as you say. But we haven't found the monster Baek Hye-seo Hunter mentioned."
Haneul glanced at the hunters again. With this many, plus Hye-seo's demons, the Imoogi would've been toast. These were elite hunters, yet the mood was orderly, no chaos.
The Association's more competent than I thought.
Competent associations meant sky-high world difficulty, or so they'd said. Haneul scratched her cheek and nodded.
"So we clockin' out now?"
"We gotta search at least half a day more. The search teams are scouting inside—didn't run into it?"
"Nope."
"...Fine, whatever. You're out, that's what matters. Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Home."
"Your place, boss? I'll grill some pork belly!"
Baek Seungcheol rubbed his face wearily, muttering.
"Your home. Gotta see you go in to feel relieved."
"What, no investigation?"
"Drag a hunter who's been in a gate two days for forced questioning? China might, but not the Korean Association."
"Ooh..."
"C'mon. I'll drive you. Go crash, eat something good. Oh, right—the cash from that exchange you left the other day is ready. Use that."
Seemingly unsatisfied, he added,
"Buy some clothes too. Why always that same outfit? If you're cheap, I'll buy 'em. Anyway, follow me."
"Sure thing!"
Haneul skipped after him. The grumpy old-man boss and the kid hunter he'd anxiously awaited drew every eye. Her absurd cuteness added inexplicable envy and jealousy to the stares.
Baek Seungcheol felt the prickles, but Haneul ignored them. Past the barrier around the gate, his car waited right there.
"Isn't parking in front of a gate illegal?"
"Branch chief privilege. They look the other way."
"Whoa."
Haneul hopped in blind. Then she jolted at the presence inside, eyes flying open. A woman with disheveled blonde hair. Looked like a ghost at first—virgin ghost? Virgin yes, ghost no.
"Hye-seo, hey."
"Ah, h-hi. H-Haneul... g-glad you're n-not hurt..."
"Whatcha doin' here?"
"...W-wanted to h-hang out w-with you t-today."
"Spying in case I sneak out again?"
Baek Seungcheol clucked his tongue from the driver's seat.
"Sharp kids are a pain. Tsk."
"I'm an adult!"
"'Spying' sounds bad. Just—Baek Hye-seo Hunter has business with you, and I want her sticking close. So we came together."
Adapted to Haneul's chatter, he cut to the chase without retort.
"Feel free to refuse. Not forcing you. Though you'd ignore me anyway... Do what you want."
Effective approach for Haneul. She turned to Baek Hye-seo.
"My place? It's night—sleepover? Eaten dinner? Got spare undies? What color?"
"...C-Can I? I h-haven't eaten... H-Huh? U-Undies...? I c-can change... or b-buy new... Urgh..."
"No problem. But my place is tiny—cool?"
"Y-Yeah...! F-Fine."
"Then dinner and crash there."
"Th-Thanks...!"
First sleepover at a friend's—and her very first friend. Baek Hye-seo's smile bloomed radiantly. The dark car seemed to sparkle around her. Actually, it was sparkling.
The King of Wisdom Who Commands 72 Demons sheds tears of emotion and applauds wildly.
Real lights bobbed around her. Baek Seungcheol gave a wry smile at the sight.
Her muted emotions made other hunters fear her. But Baek Seungcheol, who'd helped her before S-rank, knew she was a timid pushover. Her pure joy was both pitiful and endearing.
Haneul, though? Impossible to track that kid's thoughts. Didn't want to, either—felt contaminating.
Baek Seungcheol asked quietly,
"...Why ask about her underwear color?"
"Habit."
"Charming habit."
Sighing deeply, he started the engine. Lightning struck Haneul's mind.
Baek Seungcheol. Baek Hye-seo. Baek-baek? Her eyes widened.
"Wait—Hye-seo your daughter, boss? Gasp, did I just uncover a huge secret?!"
Baek Seungcheol shot her an "what nonsense" look. Hye-seo was shocked too, yelling louder than usual.
"I-I'm an orphan!"
The King of Wisdom Who Commands 72 Demons facepalms.
Instant regret. "I'm an orphan"? What kind of intro was that? She'd blurted it to avoid awkwardness with the branch chief, but it veered wildly.
"N-No... I mean...! Uh...!"
"Oh? Me too—orphan."
Haneul replied casually. Baffling response, impossible to parse. Her gaze shifted to Baek Seungcheol—natural flow, drawing him in.
"...My parents are gone too, yeah."
"Whoa, all three of us orphans!"
Too old to call it "orphan," really... Baek Seungcheol thought, but let it slide. The air was a minefield—best keep quiet.