The Spirit of the White Rose
[That bitch is somehow still alive?! I definitely chewed her up and swallowed her back then!]
The left head's furious outburst perfectly mirrored my own feelings.
A nauseatingly thick rose scent welled up, accompanied by surging waves of crimson roses.
The scene from the desert months ago replayed itself exactly.
I thrust my fist toward the woman, whose identity I couldn't pin down—Amy or Charlotte?
Bright red rose petals blocked my punch's path.
I yanked my hand back just in time to dodge the rose waves grinding toward it like a blender.
Drip, drip—bright red blood trickled down my arm.
'The power's much weaker than before.'
Unlike the past, when it had pulverized my scales and hide, this attack's force was significantly diminished.
My durability had indeed improved since then, but even accounting for that, it fell far short of its former might.
Above all, the woman's level remained between S-rank and SA-rank.
Ridiculously feeble compared to the Charlotte of old.
I clenched and unclenched my fully regenerated hand, eyeing her briefly.
Behind the undulating red waves, the woman smiled quietly.
'At this rate, it'll take some time.'
If she were on par with the old Charlotte, it might be different, but at her current level, I could handle her without reverting to my true form.
It would consume a fair bit of time, but transforming here wasn't ideal anyway—the location was all wrong.
No need to stir up unnecessary chaos, so dealing with her in human guise, even if a bit tedious, was the right call.
'Time to test the new abilities of my Magic Eye.'
A perfect chance to try out powers I hadn't fully utilized against Wang Feng.
Her true nature would reveal itself in the fight, no doubt.
"Hm. Let's call it quits."
Just as I stoked my battle intent, the woman suddenly spoke up.
The surging rose waves vanished in an instant.
"...What the hell is this?"
"No matter how I think about it, I can't see a way to beat you. Didn't want to waste time on something pointless."
The woman—Amy, or rather, far closer to Charlotte—spoke with feigned leisure as she quietly sheathed the White Rose.
I silently ignored the left head's screeching rage and stared at the woman before me.
Through the seventh head's Discernment Magic Eye, I confirmed her emotions toward me leaned toward goodwill.
After scrutinizing her for a moment, I let even the faintest hostility fade.
The tension eased from her face.
"Heh. Thanks. Honestly, in my current state, I figured I could only hold out for a bit."
"So, who the hell are you? Charlotte or Amy?"
She gave a small laugh at my piercing gaze.
"Didn't you check for yourself earlier? I'm Amy. Your devoted master."
I frowned slightly at her exaggerated bow.
"If you're planning to keep spouting nonsense, I recommend we pick up where we left off."
"Like I said, I don't want to fight you. I just wanted to repay a little of the debt from the past."
—After all, you took Charlotte's life.
I furrowed my brow at her matter-of-fact addition.
"So you are Charlotte after all?"
"Precisely, I'm Amy and Charlotte."
"...What does that mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Right now, I'm Amy Brangers and the former SS-rank hunter Charlotte Michelle."
"Did she use some skill before dying?"
She slowly shook her head at my question.
"It was Amy who used the skill."
"...What?"
"You know about Amy's skill 'Psychometry'? The one that reads memories from objects by touching them."
"Yeah. High utility, but not much help in actual combat..."
A possibility flashed through my mind mid-sentence.
She smiled at my low exclamation and gaze.
"Did her skill evolve or something?"
"Yes. It evolved beyond just reading object memories—it lets her assimilate experiences and knowledge tied to them as her own."
"Is that how she grew so fast in such a short time?"
I glanced at the White Rose at her waist.
Following my eyes, she gave a wry smile.
"Amy was always particularly devoted to Charlotte. Not talented enough for discipleship, but if anyone was most influenced by her, it was Amy."
She continued flatly.
"Amy worked tirelessly to fill Charlotte's void. Then her skill evolved, granting her Charlotte's lifetime experiences and knowledge. Eventually, even Charlotte's skills."
"Judging by your state, there were side effects?"
She nodded slowly at my question.
"The White Rose was Charlotte's beloved sword, never far from her side. The lingering will within it was too much for Amy to handle. Pushing to grow stronger, she kept using the skill until the residual thoughts fully consumed her. That's how I came to be—an in-between neither fully Amy nor Charlotte."
"......"
She smiled at my silent stare.
"Well, I'm much closer to Charlotte than Amy. Sorry to the girl, but it's a relief. Being more like her makes surviving this brutal world easier."
"Selfish."
"That's human nature."
A strange feeling stirred at her radiant smile.
She was close to the Charlotte I remembered, yet fundamentally different.
Perhaps because she wasn't the real Charlotte—just a being born from the sword's lingering will?
"Ah, but I do have all of Charlotte's memories, emotions, and experiences up to her death. Especially your final battle—intensely etched deep in my mind."
"...Come to think of it, didn't you mention revenge earlier?"
She nodded lightly.
"Half-joking, but yeah, the thought lingered subconsciously. Charlotte was pretty pissed before dying. More about losing than anything else."
"I see. So, planning revenge? I'll oblige anytime."
"No. As you felt, my physical prowess is barely S-rank. Charlotte's skills push me to SA-rank, but that's still not enough for you."
"Does that mean you'll come at me once you're stronger?"
She grinned playfully at my question.
"You said it back then—you only got your due revenge. Now it's my turn. For my share and Charlotte's."
Despite the harsh words, I sensed no malice or killing intent from her.
Just faint goodwill.
After watching her a moment, I spoke quietly.
"So, what should I call you? Charlotte? Amy?"
"Just Amy. Few know I inherited Charlotte's memories."
"You've told others already?"
"Needed some loyal limbs to move freely. Told a few who followed Charlotte closely. Helped me seize full control of Lavie en Rose easily."
I nodded as she spoke, then replied flatly.
"White Rose suits you."
"...What do you mean?"
"Your title. You said you're neither Amy nor Charlotte. Need a new name, then. Might as well use your original one."
She trembled slightly at my casual words.
"...How did you know?"
"You were practically begging me to notice."
"...Incredible. Truly."
The White Rose laughed hollowly, gently caressing the sword at her waist.
"Fine. Truth is, I'm not just Charlotte's residual will—though it's mixed in. I'm closer to the will of the sword 'White Rose' itself."
—Didn't expect you'd figure it out so easily.
I snorted softly at her murmur.
"Like I said, you were screaming for me to notice."
The White Rose nodded with a wry smile.
"I'm quite grateful to you. Without you, I wouldn't exist. Like a parent, in a way?"
"...Don't need a daughter like you."
She laughed delightedly, "Hehe."
"Not just mind control—even without it, I'd do anything for you. Swords exist to be wielded, after all."
"No need for your power right now. Heading back to the labyrinth soon."
"Hmm. Can you, though?"
"...What?"
She waved off my glare.
"Not saying I'll harm you. Just that you can't return to the labyrinth yet. Dug into it—you're tangled in quite a few messes."
"...Background check?"
"You don't investigate someone openly. Has to be 'background'."
I frowned at her playful grin.
She giggled happily and continued.
"Thanks to that, I'm here now."
"So, what's your point?"
"I'll be in Korea for a while. On leave."
"...And?"
"If you need help, come find me anytime."
"No reason for me to seek you out first."
She smiled meaningfully at my flat addition.
Then, with exaggerated courtesy, she bowed like a proper lady.
"Then, until we meet again, take care. Master."
With that, she vanished amid a thick rose scent.
I stared at the few petals left in the alley's center, then turned away.
Amy—no, the White Rose's sudden appearance was disorienting, but she posed no immediate threat.
Goodwill, not hostility.
Though that meaningful smile at the end suggested she was hiding something, I didn't dwell on it.
Heading back to the labyrinth soon anyway. If issues arise, I'd handle them head-on.
I had the power and ability now.
Barring a sudden SS-rank ambush, no real danger.
Better hurry home to play with Suli.
Wasted too much time on this unexpected encounter.
Hoping Suli wasn't waiting too long, I picked up speed.
"So this is Korea."
A glamorous Latin beauty with golden blonde hair passed through the airport gate.
Wearing dark sunglasses and a wide-brim hat, she glanced around.
Her face was shadowed, but her aura alone screamed stunning beauty.
Yet, strangely, no one paid her any mind.
One might expect a second glance, but bustling travelers ignored her completely.
Taking their reactions in stride, she turned to the man following her through the gate.
"Richard. Next schedule?"
"Yes, Madam President. First, meet Korea's Hunter Association president."
"...Right. Anything after?"
"Meeting requests from Korea's top five guilds."
"Pass. No time, even just mourning Charlotte."
"They're inquiring about the SS-rank area boss found in Seoul Great Labyrinth's Lava Zone."
"...Set it up. As soon as possible."
"Understood."
She turned from the bowing man, glancing aside.
A woman appeared on the massive screen.
She listened impassively, then looked away.
Gazing beyond the airport toward the sky, she murmured inwardly.
'Charlotte. Sorry I'm so late. Forgive me for coming to see you now.'
Leysha Barrett—one of humanity's last two top SS-rank hunters—blinked slowly and stepped forward.
She had set foot on South Korean soil, completely unannounced to the world.