Shelter Strangers
The shelter's massive glass doors slid open without a sound, welcoming us inside. The glamorous exterior that had looked like a luxury hotel from the outside immediately revealed itself as nothing more than a facade the moment we stepped in. The familiar yet unfamiliar scent brushing past my nose told me exactly what this place really was. The sharp tang of gun oil from well-maintained firearms, the musty smell of leather gear, and a faint trace of disinfectant all mingled in the air. This was a real lodging meant for hunters who lived rough lives.
The scene unfolding before my eyes felt like stepping straight into a fantasy game. Hunters of all shapes and sizes, armed to the teeth, were scattered throughout the wide lobby, each passing the time in their own way. A hulking man leaned against the wall polishing a massive sword. A small team huddled over a map spread across a table, discussing operations with grim faces. A sharp-eyed woman sat alone at the bar, nursing a drink. The subtle aura radiating from their bodies made it clear they weren't ordinary people. In the middle of all that, the three of us—country bumpkins who'd rolled up in an old truck—stood out like complete outsiders.
"Whoa..."
Nureongi and Bbi stood beside me, craning their necks as they let out small gasps. Their eyes held more pure awe and curiosity than fear. I lightly wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders and headed toward the reception desk in one corner of the lobby. First things first—we needed to secure a place to stay in this unfamiliar building.
"Hello. Can I get a room with this voucher?"
When I held out the ticket I'd received from the Ministry of Environment official, the neatly uniformed staff member took it without hesitation and scanned it. After a quick check, he glanced over the three of us, smiled, and handed over a key card.
"Confirmed, Ms. Jang Sajeong. We've prepared a family unit for hunter families. Room 703 on the seventh floor. Enjoy your stay."
When we reached the seventh floor by elevator, the hallway was quiet, a stark contrast to the lively lobby below. The door to 703 unlocked with a cheerful beep. The moment we stepped inside, we couldn't help but gasp again. The interior was purely functional with no flashy decorations, but everything was spotless and orderly. A glass display case for trophies or memorable gear lined one wall, and beside it sat a small workbench stocked with tools. Even the modest kitchenette had been prepared for hunters who might stay long-term. Every detail screamed that this space was made for people like us.
Yet to the three of us, who'd spent our whole lives in cramped rural houses, this simple, practical room felt more luxurious than any five-star hotel.
"Wow! Unni, look at the bed! It's so fluffy!"
As expected, Bbi reacted first. She tossed her bag down at the entrance and bolted straight for the bed, flinging herself onto it. Rolling around and kicking her legs, she looked exactly like an excited little rabbit.
"The bathroom's huge too! The tub's as big as our whole house!"
Nureongi's excited voice followed right after as she explored the bathroom. Watching the two of them so happy made the fatigue from the long drive and the tension of being in a strange place melt away in an instant. A warm smile naturally spread across my face.
Then I noticed something the Hunter Bureau had thoughtfully prepared—something the girls hadn't spotted yet. The lower backs of the chairs and sofas were cut out. At first I thought it was just an odd design choice, but then I realized it was for beastmen with tails. Furniture designed so their tails wouldn't get squished. They'd never think of something like this back in Dohoang-ri.
The village elders were kind to the girls, sure, but they'd never gone this far with the details. They probably hadn't even considered it. I pushed down the swell of emotion in my chest and walked over to the two still bouncing around the room.
"You two must be tired from the long trip, so don't go wandering off. Let's explore together starting tomorrow."
They looked a little disappointed, but nodded. After ruffling their hair, I quietly stepped back out of the room.
My destination was the Nonsan Police Station, not far from the shelter. The other hunters I'd seen in the lobby walked around freely with weapons strapped to their backs like badges of honor, but as a licensed yeopsa, I couldn't do that. My shotgun had to be stored in the police station armory whenever I wasn't using it. It felt like I was handling some priceless treasure, but I had no choice but to follow the annoying procedure.
Carrying the heavy gun case and my permit, I entered the Nonsan Police Station. It was far larger and busier than the tiny outpost back in Dohoang-ri. Among the civilians, I spotted several people who looked like hunters. I walked straight to the service desk and carefully set the gun case down. The young officer behind the counter looked up from his paperwork, glanced between the case and my face, and widened his eyes in surprise.
"I'm a yeopsa from Dohoang-ri. Here's the movement permit. I'll be back to pick it up Monday morning."
The moment he heard my calm explanation and the word "Dohoang-ri," the tension on his face eased. Looking relieved, he typed something into the computer, then carefully lifted the gun case with both hands.
"Ah... I see. Please sign the firearm log, and come back when you need to retrieve it."
"By the way, are there any other yeopsa here besides me?"
He hesitated for a moment, then gave a small apologetic bow.
"I'm sorry, but I can't disclose other people's personal information."
His polite but firm refusal reminded me of Lee Soon-gyeong back home. The way he stuck to principles about privacy and rights was exactly the same. Of course, the yeopsa world was small enough that finding out who was where wouldn't be hard if I really wanted to. Everyone was connected by one or two degrees. But... I didn't feel like bothering. Every time I had to face my current appearance—turned into a woman—I just felt tired imagining how my old colleagues would react. Some would be shocked, others would probably hit on me. It was easier not knowing.
I didn't ask anything else. After a quick nod to the officer, I left the station without looking back and headed toward the shelter again.
Once I'd finished my business at the police station and returned, boredom crept in since there was nothing else to do. To kill some time, I wandered over to the bulletin board that covered one entire wall of the lobby. I half-hoped there might be exciting quest notices or guild recruitment posters like in games, but my expectations were quickly dashed. The board was filled with nothing but dry, practical notices: "Grade-Based Response Guidelines," "Government Compensation Payment Procedures," and "Shelter Facility Usage Rules."
Right. This is still just a place where people live.
I clicked my tongue. No matter how much those hunters seemed to operate outside the law, they were still citizens of the Republic of Korea and had to follow its rules. The thought that I'd gotten my hopes up for nothing made me chuckle dryly.
Just as I turned to head back to the room, a cautious voice called out.
"Um... are you solo by any chance?"
I turned to see a young guy standing there who looked like he'd only just awakened. His face was so youthful it was almost boyish, and his gear gleamed a little too brightly, hanging loosely like it didn't quite fit. A dagger and various pouches dangled from his waist—everything about him screamed he had zero real combat experience.
Of course, the hunter world might be different from the yeopsa world, but the core of hunting was the same. And the universal rule that too many flashy accessories meant you were a newbie applied everywhere.
I decided to turn him down as politely as possible while making it clear I wasn't interested in getting involved.
"No. I don't have a guild or a team."
Whether he didn't catch my meaning or chose to ignore it, his face lit up.
"Oh, then would you like to join our team? We happen to have an opening."
Looking past his shoulder, I saw a couple of guys around his age watching us with eager expressions, whispering among themselves. Ah. These were the type who used to prowl the streets at night back when the world was still peaceful, hunting in a very different sense.
"I've got three people with me. I'm looking after two kids."
At that, their faces brightened even more. They were probably celebrating that the numbers matched up perfectly. The shallow calculation that having similar group sizes would make things easier was written all over their faces.
Not wanting to continue this pointless conversation, I dropped the line bluntly.
"Two daughters, to be exact."
The moment those words left my mouth, the confident smiles on their faces froze solid. They stood there like statues, staring at me with blank expressions. Yeah, they probably never imagined that this young body had produced a rabbit and a dog. Of course... they weren't actually my daughters.
I felt a little guilty toward Nureongi and Bbi, who'd suddenly become my daughters, but pulling out the "married woman" or "mom" shield was the easiest way to deal with these annoying situations. Sometimes there were crazy guys who found that even more attractive and kept pushing, but thankfully these rookies weren't that far gone.
Getting used to life as a woman was something time would handle, but constantly dealing with these sleazy types latching on was a whole different problem I couldn't get used to. Normally, Nureongi would've growled and chased them off for me. But this place was different. These guys were hunters who lived by strength and guts. To them, Nureongi's warning would just look like a cute puppy's playful bark, not a real threat.
I let out a small sigh and left the dazed boys behind as I stepped into the elevator. Even as the doors closed, they were still staring blankly at the spot where I'd been standing.