The B-Rank Hunter's Wish Ticket
I'm scared. I think I've been mistaken all this time. High-rank hunters aren't human like me at all. I might die just from this gaze alone.
Eomo's piercing stare, fixed solely on my eyes without a single word, gradually made my breath come short. It felt like even my breathing needed her explicit permission to be exhaled. I could vividly sense my fingertips stiffening. Or maybe it wasn't my body that was stiffening, but my mind.
If this keeps up, I really will... Even as my mind refused to focus, the moment I thought I'd reached my absolute limit...
"Pfft! Hup... Heok..."
I could sense it instinctively. I had just been on the verge of death.
"Hey."
"H-heok... H-he... N-neung... Nngh..."
"I don't need to spell it out for you, right?"
"Y-yes... Y-yess... H-ha..."
"Good, as long as you get it. Get out."
I understood perfectly. If I upset Eomo even once more, I wouldn't survive. And this matter was to remain an absolute secret from Madam.
"Oh, wait a sec. You know you're moving tomorrow, right?"
"Pardon? Me, moving?... Huh?"
"What? How do you not know that?"
Eomo narrowed her eyes, as if she couldn't comprehend.
What the...?
"Um... did you hear that from somewhere...?"
"From Madam, obviously. She didn't tell you?"
"No... I swear, this is the first I'm hearing about it from you."
After I said that, Eomo's chilling expression softened a bit.
Phew... now she looks like the Eomo I know. But what exactly was the problem?
I could tell for sure that having private time with Madam—talking about sexual preferences, no less—had touched Eomo's reverse scale. But I had no clue why.
I know Eomo has feelings for Madam. And Madam seems to have those tastes too... but they're clearly not dating.
As I pondered their ambiguous relationship, Eomo called out to me.
"Hmm... I see. Jeong Ga-eun, you're in debt to loan sharks, right? Private lenders?"
"Hic... Y-yess... That's right. There were circumstances—"
"Save it. I don't care about your sob story. If Madam's even helping you move house, those must be some nasty bastards you borrowed from. Yeah, I get the gist."
Eomo thought for a while, then seemed to accept the situation on her own. In a voice barely above a murmur, she apologized to me.
"Uh... sorry about that? I misunderstood, huh? Ha, hold on..."
She seemed to hesitate over whether to say it.
"E-Eomo... I'm fine. I won't give you reason to get mad again."
I definitely would. I'd learned that breaking that promise meant certain death...
"Reason to get mad? You still don't even know why I was pissed."
Then tell me, damn it...
"Um... you're right... To avoid messing up again, could you tell me what I did wrong? I guess I'm just oblivious. Ahaha..."
"Sigh... It wasn't your fault, so drop that. I'll tell you, but don't go blabbing anywhere."
Eomo looked extremely reluctant, but finally opened her mouth.
"First off, let me apologize properly. I jumped to conclusions and unleashed my full killing intent—I'm truly sorry... But from here on, this is a real secret, okay? Since I was the one wrong this time, I figure I owe you an explanation. Whew, hold on... I need a drink first. Glug—damn, never thought I'd spill this to some kid. What I'm about to say is just me venting personally, so let it go in one ear and out the other. I'm frustrated, that's all... And it's embarrassing, so don't react—just listen, got it?"
"Eun-seo unni—er, Madam—has unique tastes. She likes women who've been tamed by men. Gets turned on by that or whatever. Total mess, right? So when I confessed, she shot me down. I couldn't even imagine such a fetish existed. At first, I thought it was an excuse, but she's dead serious... But that doesn't mean I can just spread my legs for some guy, you know? So I barely accepted it and tried to move on, and then she says she'll take me if I work at her place as her 'auntie.' Total psycho, right? But I'm crazy too—I accepted. That's why I'm a B-rank hunter stuck in this mess. She took me into her guild too, so I work there days... But no matter how much time passes, this nutjob never brings up accepting my confession. Now I'm wondering if it was all excuses after all... And that's why I'm stressed to hell, and then she tells me you're moving so change your address? Near her house? Thinking about it now, she's probably worried about your safety from those loan sharks. She acts tough, but she cares about people's safety...
"Anyway, I was already fuming, and then I hear you two spent nearly an hour alone in the next room talking sexual preferences... I just lost it. Bluntly, I'm not a whore, so why's a newbie not even a week in getting that treatment? That's what set me off... So, you get it now? Ha... not that understanding helps. Whew, I know I'm pathetic. But spilling it all feels better... Guess I wanted to tell someone. Since I nearly killed you today, consider this debt. I'll grant you one favor someday. Life debt, so I'll stake my life on it... This is serious, okay? A wish ticket from a B-rank hunter... Pretty good deal, right?"
Having heard Eomo's long, long story in full, my tension melted away all at once, replaced by uncontainable excitement.
A wish ticket! Just when I had so many worries things left... And who knew there was this juicy drama between Madam and Eomo... So Madam's into broken women... Explains why she runs this place.
An A-rank hunter from Korea's top family running a lounge had always baffled me.
I suspected something shady, but even up to the contract, nothing felt off—made me more confused...
Honestly, it was a reasonable suspicion even now.
For someone like Madam, the crime of running a lounge is small potatoes...
Of course, high-rank hunters don't get a free pass on all crimes. Even in any country, minor offenses get leniency, but cross the line and they face punishment. Not even an S-rank could withstand two B-ranks trained for anti-personnel combat by the government, so they don't hold absolute power.
But irregulars are different. Kill someone, and as long as it doesn't topple the nation, the government finds justification. Korea's "that guy" thankfully isn't like that, but China doesn't hide their frequent cases. It helps recruit other nations' irregulars...
Since punishing irregulars is nearly impossible, it's unavoidable.
A woman with an irregular brother committing no worse than running a lounge... So this place is basically Madam's personal harem factory...
Running a lounge to create women to her taste—Eomo calling her a "psycho bitch" to her face would leave Madam speechless.
As satisfaction from resolving that nagging doubt washed over me, Eomo spoke while preparing to leave.
"Sorted your thoughts? It's late—head home. You've got moving tomorrow."
"Yes, Eomo. Sorry for dragging that uncomfortable story out of you today..."
"Nah, why apologize? That's on me. Just think about how to use that wish ticket."
Wish ticket... Hehehe... This is huge. Eomo talks tough, but she's tight with Madam... And she's a B-rank herself!
"Just so you know, don't waste it on debt if it's not overwhelming. It's not for something that trivial."
"Hic, yes! Of course! Thank you so much."
"No need for thanks... Not my place, but you nearly died today, girl. Though I said I'd even risk my life for it, so I won't apologize more and embarrass myself."
Eomo seemed deeply ashamed of unleashing her aura on me.
Honestly, hearing the story, it was understandable...
And with the wish ticket secured, no hard feelings remained.
"Apologize for what? I came out way ahead, Eomo~. I’ve had so many worries lately..."
Knowing what Eomo was really like made her feel a tad more approachable now.
"Smartass or oblivious... Once training's done, tell me your story too. Feels embarrassing spilling solo..."
"Sure, I will. Being that honest with someone like me, even explaining your misunderstanding... You're amazing."
Hearing that, Eomo covered her mouth in surprise.
"Oh my, you've become a total pro. No big training needed now, Ga-eun. Yeah, flattery's best when it slips right in."
"Heehee! All thanks to your great teaching, Eomo!"
"What? So that was flattery?"
"Gasp..."