Confessions at the Penthouse
My sister's companions were remarkably chatty.
Whether they were trying to overcome their recent brush with death through endless chatter, or if they were just like that naturally, I couldn't say.
Their nonstop talking on the way back out of the labyrinth was starting to feel a bit tiresome.
Still, it wasn't anything that really grated on my nerves.
For one, they were my sister's teammates, but more than that, their banter created a light, comfortable atmosphere that was genuinely fun to listen to.
Just watching them made a smile creep onto my face.
Even the quiet sister from my memories occasionally chimed in, laughing along with their stories, giving me a glimpse into their daily lives.
Suli, in particular, seemed absolutely thrilled by their lively energy.
She might not understand the words, but the vibe alone had her bouncing with excitement.
Their conversation topics were all over the place, sparing no one—Suli and Tosun-i, Snow and me, everyone got dragged into it multiple times.
Most of it was prying about our relationship, and since Snow couldn't understand human speech, I was always the one answering.
I told them the plain truth, no lies.
That set my sister off, grilling me about when the hell I'd gotten married.
She used to be quiet and demure back in the day, even if she occasionally pushed back a little…
What happened to her while I was gone? How did she turn into such a spitfire?
It had to be the hunter life rubbing off on her.
Yeah, definitely time to get her to quit hunting…
Got it, I get it already—so stop clinging to my arm like that.
My arm's about to fall off.
Have you put on weight since I last saw you?
I got absolutely pummeled for that one.
Yep, total spitfire now.
But more than that—was she really an S-rank hunter? It actually hurt quite a bit.
With that kind of aura leaking out now and then, no other monsters dared approach us as we headed out of the labyrinth.
Along the way, I got the latest outside news from my sister's teammates, starting with Yang Yu-i, after we exchanged proper introductions.
Park Min-seong had given me a rundown before, but as a mere porter, his info was limited. These were high-rank hunters who knew all the insider details, so their intel was far more useful.
Apparently, things had been quiet since Charlotte Michelle's death—no major incidents until today, that is.
And the culprit? An S-rank monster [Fenrir] that had appeared in the Forest Zone.
I'd taken it down, sure, but the very fact that something like Fenrir had shown up there was a huge anomaly.
Even an A-rank would warrant a full investigation, let alone an S-rank. They were saying a major probe was inevitable.
Luckily, I'd handled Fenrir, or a ton of hunters would have died.
They even bowed slightly in thanks for the earlier rescue, but I felt nothing.
If they weren't my sister's team, I wouldn't have cared if they'd all perished.
And that held true even now, after we'd chatted enough to call ourselves acquainted.
To me, they were still just strangers.
That said, now that I'd confirmed they got along well with my sister, I had no intention of letting them die carelessly.
At least they'd make good meat shields to protect her if things got dicey.
I should toughen them up a bit. At their current level, they're just walking targets.
And above all, my sister needs reliable meat shields for emergencies.
Maybe discuss it with Snow later?
* * *
We made it out of the labyrinth without issue.
No problems even after leaving the Forest Zone and entering the Upper Zone—we exited smoothly.
There was a minor commotion at the checkpoint outside, but with my famous S-rank sister and her team vouching for us, we got through easy.
"…Next time, please bring tamed monsters in cages."
I let the staffer's request slide off without much thought.
Put my precious daughter Suli in a cage? Neither Snow nor I would ever allow it.
Tosun-i, maybe I'd consider it, but Suli? Absolutely not.
Thanks to my S-rank sister, the staff didn't push further.
The power of connections, huh? The perks of influence.
"We'll head to the Association to report. You two enjoy some time with the raid leader."
Yang Yu-i spoke for the group, herding her teammates away.
My sister, still glued to my arm, waved them off cheerfully.
"…Isn't that report supposed to be your job as raid leader?"
"…It's fine. Not a big deal."
She turned her gaze away with a quiet reply.
She'd swapped her broken mask for a new one from her item bag, so I couldn't see her face, but I knew exactly what expression hid underneath.
She used to be so diligent about her duties… What changed in three years?
I didn't press her on avoiding my eyes.
I could guess why she was acting this way, and besides, I wanted to catch up on lost time too.
After that, we headed to her place.
She'd been living independently since turning twenty-two years ago.
The thought of our parents brought a quiet pang, and I fell silent.
I felt bad leaving her alone in that house.
I patted her head wordlessly.
And there it was—her home, a penthouse on the top floor of a high-rise.
She's done really well for herself.
A little envious—no, proud.
Inside, Suli went wild with excitement.
She'd been hyped since leaving the labyrinth, but now it was on another level.
She immediately dragged Tosun-i along, dashing everywhere, and I worried she'd break something.
Sister said it was fine.
Nothing irreplaceable; she could buy more anytime.
Even a quick glance showed plenty of expensive stuff…
But the owner approved, so no need to fret.
I had more than enough money anyway.
The proceeds from those items I'd consigned earlier must be in by now—replacements wouldn't be an issue.
As I watched Suli and Tosun-i play with relief, Suli came barreling back from across the room.
Tosun-i rolled—er, chased—frantically behind.
"Cungcung—!"
[Mom! Luel! Let Luel down too!]
She'd come rushing back to fetch Luel, it seemed.
Even in her excitement, she hadn't forgotten her little sister—very big-sisterly.
Snow smiled warmly, stroking Suli's head.
[Luel's still weak, so take good care of her.]
[Yeah! Got it!]
Suli perked up her ears and nodded determinedly. Snow gently placed Luel on her head.
"Shh—."
Fresh out of the labyrinth and free from its will, Luel looked much more at ease.
I watched fondly as Suli set off on another adventure with Luel in tow.
"…A snake too?"
"Yeah… newest family member. Her name's 'Luel'."
"…Taming skills usually only handle one at a time."
I chuckled at her quiet mutter.
Sister brought drinks as we sat.
Fresh orange juice—her favorite since forever.
I drank without hesitation.
Man, I'd missed this taste.
Snow stared at her glass in wide-eyed shock, which was hilarious.
I laughed lightly and explained orange juice to her.
Snow hurriedly called the kids over.
Classic mom—gotta share the good stuff.
I watched them react just like Snow had, all wide-eyed wonder.
Suli let out endless "cungcung!" cries of delight, and Tosun-i's ears perked up like old times, post-evolution slump forgotten.
They loved it.
Heartwarming.
Luel, sadly, didn't seem to taste much—snake tongues are for sensing, not savoring.
Nostalgia hit; I stroked her gently.
Once you evolve, you can chow down. I'll feed you plenty then, so hang in there.
"Shh—."
Luel cried softly in understanding.
So proud—I stroked her again.
Luel had her own unique charm, different from Suli or Tosun-i.
Leaving the labyrinth bumpkins to their first outside drink, I turned to sister for a talk.
I'd already decided what to share and what not on the way here.
No secrets from her.
She'd searched tirelessly for three years; she deserved the truth.
I told her everything, no holds barred.
If she rejected me for it, fine.
No regrets—I was proud of my life now.
When the long tale ended, she stared in shock, eyes flicking between Snow and me.
The human-disguised monster bit hit hardest, it seemed.
I hadn't detailed Snow's story, but my sharp sister had pieced it together quick.
She didn't buy it at first—called it lies, bad joke.
To prove it, we showed our true forms—Snow, since my size was too big here.
She freaked at the shrunken Snow—a genuine SS-rank [Gumiho].
Credit to her for not drawing her weapon in a rage.
Snow shifted back to human form after proving the point.
She lounged on the sofa, sipping her—what, fifth?—glass of OJ.
Loving it, clearly.
Grab a few cases on the way home? Item bag means no limit.
It took sister a while to recover.
Brain glitch from the shock, probably.
Suli burrowed into her lap, getting pets—adorable and funny.
Thanks to Suli, sister snapped out of it, and we talked more.
I'd worried about spilling everything, even to family, but it was needless.
This sister who'd become a hunter, braving the labyrinths for her missing—presumed dead—brother over three years?
She deserved it all.
It was my thanks for never giving up on me.
Way more relieved than I'd expected.
(We used telepathy throughout, so Snow heard everything.)
I'd been curious—and scared—about Snow's reaction, more than sister's even.
But my cool lady brushed it off like no big deal, totally unfazed.
Whew, dodged a bullet there.
No changes ahead for Snow and me.
Honestly, her take mattered more than sister's.