Fate's Compass and a Sister's Desperate Plea
Japan was shocked, America was singing my praises, and I rolled my eyes anxiously.
Two foreign hunters in sharp suits were blocking my path, and tension was surging through me for no good reason.
I could feel my tail, frozen stiff, curling completely between my legs.
“H-how did you… find me?”
At my urgent question, the pair from America exchanged awkward glances.
If that's enough to make you hesitate… what about me, who's been caught by you guys?
I almost blurted it out in a surge of anger, barely holding back.
The blonde woman glanced around cautiously before speaking carefully.
“That's… sorry, but we can't tell you right now.”
What? They won't tell me? What is this, some fairy tale about a daughter getting a dragon tattoo on her back?
Calculations were starting to run through my head. This feels seriously dangerous…
I slipped my remaining free hand into my pocket, resting it on the item Kim Hyunah had given me.
If things go south, I just press this and hold out until Kim Hyunah and the guild leader arrive…
“Ah, don't misunderstand!”
The blonde woman hurriedly raised both hands and introduced herself.
“My name is Olivia. I swear, we have no intention of harming you. So please, just hear us out for a moment.”
Her voice dripped with desperation, but I scoffed dismissively.
“Kidnappers always say stuff like that, you know? 'I won't hurt you, just come quietly.' I've seen it on the news a million times.”
At my sharp retort, Olivia gaped like she'd lost her words. The burly man beside her cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away.
…What, they're this sloppy?
I blinked at their clumsiness and eased the pressure from the finger on the item.
She let out a deep sigh, released my hand, crouched down to my eye level, and looked at me earnestly.
“Please… we're truly desperate.”
Her expression was so pleading it looked like tears would spill any second.
…She's really about to cry.
Seeing a full-grown adult woman on the verge of tears in front of me made me uneasy, and I scratched my head.
I sensed no malice at all. If anything, she seemed genuinely clinging to me.
…Maybe I should at least hear them out.
After a moment's thought, I sighed and asked,
“Haa… So, what do you want?”
At my permission, Olivia sighed in relief and checked our surroundings once more.
“Help us.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head in disbelief.
“Help how? And shouldn't you explain what you need help with first?”
She gave a wry smile at my question.
“It's a bit dangerous to talk here. Could we move somewhere else…?”
Moving spots… Well, standing in the middle of an alley didn't look great either.
I eyed them cautiously for a second before nodding.
“Fine. There's a cafe nearby that I know well. Let's go there.”
Ting-a-ling.
As we entered the cafe, Han Seorin, lounging idly at the counter, widened her eyes.
Still zero customers, huh… At this rate, she'll chase away anyone who walks in.
Han Seorin instantly picked up on the extraordinary auras of the large foreigners following me.
I shot her a meaningful glance.
She got the hint and quietly led us to a secluded spot by the window.
A moment later, Han Seorin approached with a tray holding our three ordered coffees.
Clink. Clink.
As she carefully set the coffees on the table, she winked at me secretly, away from the others, and whispered,
Arang… if it's dangerous, just say the word. This big sis will handle it all.
A reassuring signal that she'd step in if needed.
Then she returned to the counter with a perfectly straight face.
Reliable as ever.
She was worth every bit of the recipes I taught her.
With a solid ally nearby, my tail, stiff from tension, relaxed and began swishing against the floor.
Olivia took a sip of her warm coffee and let out a long sigh.
“Phew… First off, I'm truly sorry for suddenly blocking your way and approaching you like this.”
“Apology accepted. Now—”
I crossed my arms, trying to look as cool as possible, and fixed her with a stare.
“Tell me how you found me first.”
This was the key point. Both Baekya Guild and Cheonroe Guild were keeping my info under wraps—how did they track me down?
Olivia set down her cup with a bitter smile.
“Yes, to cut to the chase, we weren't actually looking for you… It was a coincidence.”
“A coincidence?”
“Yes. My item led us to you by chance.”
“…What item?”
What kind of item points straight to me?
She pulled a small artifact from her pocket and placed it carefully on the table.
It was clearly no ordinary object, with faint golden vapors rising from it.
“This is the Compass of Fate.”
Olivia introduced her item cautiously.
“It guides you to clues that can help with your most desperate wish. We prayed for a solution, followed where it pointed blindly… and it led us to you.”
Her words startled me, sending chills down my spine.
Crazy… an item that cheats like that exists?
The fur all over my body stood on end.
No matter how hidden I was under a major guild's protection, if something like this existed, anyone could grab a compass and find me anytime.
…Well, my skills are even more broken anyway.
As I sat there gaping in shock, Olivia bit her lip, looking hesitant to continue.
“We don't know exactly what skills you have, but…”
Whoosh.
She stood, then bowed deeply before me.
“Please… help Iris.”
Her voice trembled faintly. I fumbled awkwardly, shifting in my seat.
“Uh, no, who's Iris? Who is she?”
The name rang a bell. I stroked my chin, digging through my memory.
Iris. Iris… Ah!
“Wait, that person? The American S-rank hunter who was all over the news last time!”
The famous hunter who'd been critically wounded by a monster while tackling the upper Tower floors.
It had been big news, so I remembered watching it.
As my eyes widened in realization, Olivia nodded heavily and explained her condition.
“Yes, that's her. Her body's… recovered a lot with top-tier potions and healers. The physical wounds have mostly healed.”
Olivia clenched her fists on the table.
“But… she's completely shut down mentally.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe because all her comrades died… No matter how much we try to reach out and talk to her, she just stares blankly into space with unfocused eyes. She can't even eat.”
Her body healed, but her mind shattered…
I blinked in stunned silence at the grim reality from her lips.
“Um… so what's your relationship to her? Why are you going to these lengths personally?”
At my cautious question, Olivia answered in a voice thick with emotion.
“She's my big sister.”
Family, huh. That's why she trusted the item and came all the way to Korea.
I glanced awkwardly toward the counter.
Han Seorin, pretending to wipe cups, was eavesdropping intently—her eyes wide, teeth gritted.
…Is she mad?
I turned away, pretending not to notice her odd expression.
I looked back and pondered for a moment.
‘Shut down mentally’…
No healing magic, no matter how advanced, could fix a broken mind.
Ever since the Tower appeared, mental health clinics had been booming.
But I didn't have many ideas either.
Just kneading or feeding her bread—those two options.
Honestly, getting involved sounded like a huge hassle. Even if they kept security tight, more people knowing my secret meant it could leak eventually.
Still… I wasn't cold-hearted enough to ignore tears from someone watching their family fall apart right in front of them.
…Sigh, I'll consult the guild leader later.
I couldn't stay this soft forever, but one day wouldn't hurt.
And hey, I'll ask for a ton of money. America's the land of opportunity, and she's S-rank—plenty of cash.
I steeled my resolve and nodded.
“Alright. I'll help.”
Olivia's eyes widened like they might pop out.
“R-really?!”
“Yeah. No guarantees, but I'll give it a try.”
I struck a confident pose toward the joyful woman and laid out one condition.
“But bring her here to Korea. Then I'll do it.”
“Yes! Got it!”
I watched her practically vibrating with excitement to dash off, then sneaked a side-eye at Han Seorin.
She was pouting at me, clearly displeased.
What's your deal?