The Primordial Village
The explanation of this world was simple. A realm presumed to be from another dimension. A place where gods existed, and humans who had seen those gods multiple times had overthrown their kings, leaving only nobles behind. There were dukes down to slaves, and even among the slaves, ranks were divided—workers, meat shields, food supplies, and so on. Naturally, that "food" was what the slaves themselves ate. Baek Hye-seo was appalled by how slaves were treated not as people but as beasts, but she had no choice but to enter the city.
Separating from Haneul here would turn her from an international missing child into a full-blown dimensional lostling. Hadn't the imoogi just warned her that passing through the tunnel could mean death...? So Hye-seo had no option but to stick right by Haneul's side, diligently memorizing everything she was told.
An hour later. Did becoming an S-rank hunter require brains too? Hye-seo had memorized in a single hour everything Haneul had learned over the course of a year. Perhaps it was because she'd become the apostle of the King of Wisdom, enhancing her intellect. History spoke of Solomon, the King of Wisdom, as an extraordinarily wise ruler, after all.
In any case, Hye-seo had committed to memory as best she could the rules, language, and precautions Haneul explained. She clenched her fists tight.
"Phew... I'm ready."
"Good. Let's go then, Hye-seo!"
"Yeah... let's go, Ha...neul!"
The two blended into the crowd lining up to enter the city. Thanks to frequent monster attacks, the city boasted tall walls, and entry procedures were strict. Among them, the guards placed the highest priority on killing heretics from neighboring cities.
Haneul had no idea of this world's full geography, but since gods existed here, there were no kings. However, some neighboring lands denied those gods and established new religions. To the people of this world, who worshipped a single god, that made them no different from heretics. So they killed them on sight.
It might sound difficult, but it was surprisingly simple. Heretics rarely hid their nature. Occasionally, some slipped in disguised, and the guards wouldn't catch them at first. But then one or two slaves would go mad and rebel, prompting a heretic hunt. Slaves in this world were like pets. When one went rabid, they treated it like rabies and tracked down the source. Naturally, the source was always a heretic.
So heretics entering the city were basically walking to their deaths. They figured sacrificing one life to convert two more was a net gain—a truly calculating bunch.
Hye-seo, listening to the explanation, quietly asked,
"If there's a god, couldn't you just ask the god to find them? Like a Constellation or something?"
"The god doesn't do the work, so people do."
"...Why?"
"Imagine one day an ant starts talking to you. 'Hewwo! Good mowning!' How would you react?"
Hye-seo blinked for a long moment, then her lips slowly twitched. She was clearly picturing it.
"Creepy and weird... but kinda cute and novel, so maybe I'd say hi back...?"
She pondered a bit more before continuing.
"I'd probably share some tasty crumbs too. If it asked for help, I might even oblige...?"
"But what if that went on for 100 years, 200 years? And on top of that, out of tens of thousands of ants, it nags you every day to find the one slightly off ant?"
"Eek... Once or twice, sure, but that long? It'd get a little annoying... And how am I supposed to spot the weird ant? They all look identical."
"Exactly."
A defeated sigh escaped Hye-seo's lips.
"...To gods, humans are ants."
If this city was 4,000 years old as Haneul remembered, the world's history stretched back even further. And to explain why progress was so stagnant? The Western nobles' god was an Eastern azure dragon. That said it all.
Anyway, with 4,000 years of the dragon as the ants' god, it was no wonder things got tedious. Answering prayers now and then was fine for a day or two, but 4,000 years? Anyone would crave some soul-crushing despair stew.
"So yeah, the god doesn't bother anymore."
"What about politics? Governance? That's all on the nobles?"
"Yep. Here, nobles are the gods."
Hye-seo tilted her head at Haneul's answer. Hadn't she said heretics corrupt people into rebellion? But that's exactly what they planned to do. Wait. So what made them different from heretics?
An earthquake rippled through Hye-seo's pupils.
"Wait... Haneul, what we're doing is—"
"Hey, it's a revolution."
Once more gripped by fear, Hye-seo desperately steadied herself. Okay, we're already here... Let's try our best. Wait, can we even afford to? No... we have to. If we fail, it'll be bad...
Truth be told, failure wouldn't be catastrophic. Worst case, they could just return to Earth with Haneul. But she didn't know that.
"I'm ready again, Ha...neul!"
Yeah, worst case, they could go back. With that mindset, Hye-seo steeled herself. If she'd known her own sentimental nature, she never could have.
"Uh, don't we need to change clothes...?"
"Oh, right."
Haneul, oddly enough, was dressed decently. A crop top that shyly revealed her navel with big movements, paired with dolphin pants. Namgoong Hwi had begged her to wear something proper, so she'd obliged. Hye-seo was dressed well too—white linen shirt, black slacks, cardigan. Both outfits were bound to draw eyes. The people lining up with them kept stealing glances, proof enough.
"Here, just drape this over."
Haneul handed over a brown cloak she'd been holding. It fit Haneul perfectly but was a tad short on Hye-seo, exposing her pant hems.
"Uh... but my clothes are still too flashy. Won't we get pegged as heretics?"
"It's fine, really. Hye-seo’s too pretty to get in."
"Ah, u-uh... Th-that's embarrassing, so don't say it..."
"Anyway, no worries. In this world, pretty is king."
Haneul waited confidently for their turn. Soon enough, it was theirs—and Hye-seo couldn't help but gape.
"Your vigilance shines so brightly. Thanks to your dedication, people like me enjoy such peaceful days. I am always deeply grateful to you and your comrades."
It wasn't the easy entry that shocked her. It was Haneul speaking so femininely, gracefully, compassionately, softly, and endearingly. She didn't understand the language, but tone conveyed meaning. Even without words, she got the gist.
And those hands peeking from the cloak? Delicate fingers shyly twisting together in dainty fidgeting. Her expression was masterful. She looked like a true saintess heeding divine revelation to visit the city. Her white hair sparkled in the light, almost like a halo. A few people behind them even knelt in prayer at the sight.
Her voice was absurd too. Normally a bubbly airhead girl, now she was the epitome of benevolent saintess. Hye-seo nearly called her "sister."
If even Hye-seo, who knew Haneul, was floored, it was no surprise the knight facing her smile and voice directly lost his composure.
"Hah...! My lady, such undeserved words. If our humble blades aid your peace, that is a knight's greatest honor! Until my last breath, I shall be an unyielding wall, casting no shadow upon your steps!"
"Yes. Thank you. Um... if I may?"
"Charles Melkin, my lady!"
"Hee-hee, yes. I'll count on you, Sir Melkin."
Haneul covered her mouth with her right hand, smiling shyly. Curved eyes, ticklish breaths, fragile gestures, breathtaking beauty... Everyone was conquered.
All eleven guards at the gate stood dazed, opening the way wide as Haneul passed.
As she brushed by Hye-seo, Haneul whispered softly,
"Shall we go, Lady Bianca?"
"Wh-what? Huh? Bianca? Uh... y-yes...!"
Bianca meant "white" in Italian. From Hye-seo's "white" (Baek), perhaps? No time to zone out—she followed Haneul.
Wow, even her walk was art. Gone was the usual carefree swagger; now it exuded elegance and poise.
Wait, was Haneul actually a princess...?
So natural and flawless in etiquette, Hye-seo plunged deeper into confusion.
Then Charles's voice from behind halted them.
"If it's not too rude, might I ask your ladyship's name?"
Haneul, tapping her lips with a slender finger, flashed a sultry smile that could stop hearts. Gazing at him with it, she murmured softly,
"Sir Melkin, do you have a day off?"
"Ah... Y-yes, five days hence."
"Then, if we meet then, I'll tell you."
A steamy silence fell over the bystanders; Charles's face flushed crimson.
"Meeting in this vast city would be hard, but somehow, I feel we'll meet again, Sir Melkin."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. Don't you feel the same, Sir Melkin?"
"Ab... abso... ABSOLUTELY!!"
Erasing her sultry smile, Haneul now looked at him approvingly.
"Good. Then, five days from now, Sir Melkin."
"Y-yes...! Yes! Definitely!!"
"May we then speak each other's names."
No reply came from Charles. Had he fainted? Or was his heart stopped...? Anyway, he stood frozen like a statue until Haneul's scent fully faded.
That scent was the fragrance of pure white anemones.
Passing the gate didn't immediately reveal the city. As mentioned, the walls blocked heretics and monsters, so a long tunnel stretched beyond the gate.
Confirming no one followed, Hye-seo whispered,
"H-Haneul, is it... okay to do that?"
"Pardon? Lady Bianca, whatever do you mean?"
"Eek! S-stop! That's creepy! Go back to normal...! And I'm Hye-seo, not Bianca...!"
Hye-seo rubbed her arms as if chilled, silently screaming. Haneul tilted her head a few times, twitched her nose, then sneezed explosively.
"Achoo!!"
After that, she reverted to the Haneul Hye-seo knew well.
"Whew, so that's method acting? Tried noble mode and got drunk on it. Whoa, Hye-seo, you saved me. Sniff."
Haneul wiped her nose roughly and beamed.
"Alright. Time to get serious."
Hye-seo was too stunned for even bewilderment. She'd thought herself used to Haneul's antics, but this transcended imagination.
Still, no time to gawk. S-rank hunter instincts kicked in as she addressed the immediate issue.
"But Haneul, is impersonating nobles okay? Won't we get thrown in jail for breaking some law?"
"Impersonating nobility is a straight-up beheading offense."
"Eep."
"So we just make sure it's not impersonation."
"How...? Buy a title?"
"Too flashy... Hmm."
Reaching the tunnel's end, Haneul stretched with an excited voice.
"We'll play daughters of a corrupt noble house gone missing."
"...Gone missing?"
"Yeah, one's about to vanish soon."
Hye-seo genuinely wanted to go home.