The Beginning of a Nightmare
Hapjeong, third-floor café.
The soft gurgle of brewing coffee filled the air, carrying a gentle aroma through the room.
Clink.
Yoon Seah lifted her cup with elegant poise, took a sip, and gazed out the window.
There weren’t many customers, but the atmosphere wasn’t bad. Lately she had been exhausted by all the “hero” nonsense; this modest noise and quiet emptiness suited her just fine.
“Um… Hunter Yoon Seah?”
The reporter seated across from her spoke carefully. Yoon Seah turned her head and looked at the woman who was clearly watching her every reaction.
“Heh. Sorry. The view was just so pretty for a moment.”
“No, not at all! I’m the one who’s grateful you made time for this.”
Yoon Jiwon bowed her head with genuine sincerity. Of course she did—an exclusive interview with Yoon Seah, the hottest hero of the moment. For a rookie like her, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She still couldn’t understand why Yoon Seah had specifically requested her.
Yoon Seah set her cup down and smiled sweetly.
“Heh. Don’t be so nervous. I’ve personally enjoyed reading your columns.”
“R-really? Thank you so much! Sob… I’ve been getting nothing but hate every day…”
Yoon Jiwon was overwhelmed with emotion at the thought that the Yoon Seah had read her work.
It was all a lie, of course. Yoon Seah had never so much as glanced at her articles and felt not the slightest interest. The only reason she had chosen this particular reporter was Lee Seoyun.
So this is the woman who mentioned Senior in front of Guild Leader Kang Hanna a few days ago.
Yoon Seah pretended to sip her coffee while studying her. The reporter clearly had some interest in him. Perhaps she could dig up a clue to Senior’s whereabouts from this woman.
Well, no need to rush. The guild leader seems to have already forgotten about him anyway.
Besides, if she ran into him now, he might learn about the Death Knight. That, above all else, had to be avoided. Senior needed to remain in hell until the very moment he died.
The problem is, even if I find him, locking him up would be impossible. And someone as strong as Senior would never submit willingly.
She would have to create a situation where Senior had no choice but to put the collar on himself. That was the most exciting part, after all.
Come to think of it… Senior has a little sister, doesn’t he?
Something like him begging her to at least save his sister…
Ah, what should she do? She suddenly wanted to see it right this second. Imagining Senior on his knees pleading made the corners of her mouth twitch upward.
“Um, then the next question is… huh?”
Yoon Jiwon, about to continue the interview, looked out the window. Something felt off. The street outside seemed noisy. Had there been an accident?
Yoon Seah turned her head as well—just as the sound hit.
Zzzt— crackle-crackle-crackle—
—Kyaaaaah!
—W-what is that!?
Screams erupted from the intersection near Hapjeong Station. Yoon Seah blinked.
“…A gate?”
The café had fallen silent. Outside the window, a single gate floated above the intersection.
At the parade plaza of the amusement park, the moment I sensed the hunters I immediately shielded Jian.
“O-Oppa…”
“It’s okay. Oppa’s right here.”
I smiled to reassure her, then scanned our surroundings. Hunters were hidden among the tourists—at least Japanese B-rank or higher. Twelve of them. After pinpointing every position, I looked back at the girl standing in front of me.
She pulled something from her pocket and opened her palm.
“Here.”
I caught the AI translator earpiece she tossed and checked it. No bombs or traps. The moment I fitted it into my ear, she spoke.
“Aaah. How’s that? Can you hear me okay?”
“……”
“Well, looks like you can.”
She shrugged. I ignored her and kept my eyes on the surrounding hunters. Handling them while protecting Jian wouldn’t be a problem, but the tourists bothered me—children with their parents, students with friends, elderly couples. More than anything, I didn’t want Jian to see what was about to happen.
So that was their plan.
When I glared at her with open contempt, she frantically shook her head.
“I-it’s not what you’re thinking! We just happened to find you here the second we spotted you. We have zero intention of using civilians as shields!”
She waved urgently at the hunters around us. They revealed themselves and formed up behind her.
“See? We have no plans to touch you or your sister, so relax.”
“……”
“Haa. Just answer me already. My name’s Fujiwara Sakura. We only came to talk.”
Fujiwara Sakura. I had heard the name before—Japan’s sixth S-rank hunter and the youngest ever to reach the rank, which had made her quite the topic.
She planted both hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.
“Looks like you finally know who I am. So? What’s your impression after hearing my name?”
“Yeah. Pretty name for someone with that personality.”
“…? What? Is the translator broken?”
She yanked the earpiece out, checked it, realized nothing was wrong, then flushed bright red and glared at me.
“You bastard—wanna die!?”
“I don’t care about your name or your business. We’re just watching the parade and leaving, so stay out of our way.”
One of the hunters beside her cut in.
“Ha. I’ve heard enough of this crap. A criminal talking about watching a parade?”
He stepped forward confidently and pointed a finger at me. He had no idea he had already entered my range.
“Lady Fujiwara! There’s no need to go easy on him any longer! Just give the order and we’ll drag him in right now!”
“If you want to die, go die alone. Don’t drag the rest of us into it.”
Crack—
She snapped the finger of the hunter who had been pointing at me. Ignoring his scream, she looked back at me.
“Sorry. This is the best I can teach my subordinates. He’s a newbie, so cut him some slack.”
“Whatever. If you’re not looking for a fight, we’re leaving.”
“That… won’t work.”
She shook her head with a troubled expression. I could simply open a gate and ditch them, but after today I might never set foot in Japan again. At the very least, I wanted Jian to have the memory of this parade.
I tossed a dagger onto the ground.
“I have no intention of causing trouble in Japan. We only came here to rest.”
“I know! But our guild leader wants to meet you. Especially after failing the Special S-rank evaluation this time.”
“Not interested. Not my problem.”
“Haa. Figures, damn it. Then how about after the parade? If you want, we can even get you the best seats.”
“…Huu.”
I glanced back. Jian was looking up at me with an anxious face, clutching my clothes. I pulled her into my arms.
“Sorry, Jian. Looks like we’ll have to watch the parade another time.”
Shing— I drew a dagger from my sleeve. The hunters tensed as well. The moment they looked ready to charge, Fujiwara barked at them.
“You idiots! You want to start a fight here? Get behind me right now!”
At her command the hunters hesitated, then lowered their weapons. Leaving the dissatisfied men behind, she deliberately stepped into my range.
“Lee Seoyun. We’re not trying to do anything to you or send you back to Korea. If you want, we won’t even report your existence to the Japanese government or anyone else. You’re free to visit again whenever you like.”
“……”
“So please. Just this once, close your eyes and meet our guild leader—”
Beeeep— beeeeeep!
A bizarre warning tone blared from her phone. She flinched, pulled it out, and checked the screen.
“Ah, damn it. Why now of all times…”
Then her mouth closed. The face that had been cursing slowly hardened.
“Hey. Lee Seoyun…”
After staring at the phone for a long moment, her gaze slowly lifted to me.
“I think you need to come see this too.”
She held the phone out. For some reason, her eyes were trembling faintly.
Hunter Association Headquarters, Gate Control Room, Korea.
As lunchtime approached, lazy yawns drifted through the situation room.
“Yaaawn. Ten minutes left?”
An employee checked the clock and leaned back in his chair. This time of day always made him sleepy. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. Other staff were just as drowsy—some already napping, others secretly playing games. Everyone was killing time in their own way, waiting for lunch.
Riiing—
The control-room phone suddenly rang.
“Ugh. I was just about to doze off.”
Of all the phones, it had to be his. He grumbled and picked up.
“Yes, Association Headquarters Gate Control Room. How can I help you?”
“H-here! A gate appeared at the Hapjeong intersection!”
“Understood, please calm down. Hapjeong intersection, correct?”
He leisurely pulled up the Hapjeong intersection on his monitor. Just as reported, a gate floated near the crossroads—an ordinary blue gate.
“B-but I think you need to get here fast…”
“Yes, yes. Don’t worry. We’ll handle it as quickly as possible.”
Humans were creatures of adaptation, weren’t they? Click. He hung up and snorted. Making a fuss over a single blue gate. He sent a message to the nearest guild, then stretched leisurely. Almost noon. What should he eat today? He was about to chat with the female employee next to him when her phone rang as well.
“Yes, Association Headquarters Gate Control Room. How can I help… yes? A gate on the street?”
Ah, so it was a duplicate report. He spoke casually.
“Oh, I already took that one. No need to—”
“Yongsan Park?”
His body froze.
“…What?”
Not Hapjeong?
Riiing. Riiing.
Phones began ringing all over the room.
“Yes, this is Association Headquarters… what? A Red Gate in Seongsu-dong? What on earth…”
“S-so you’re saying there’s a gate inside the Yeouido shopping mall right now!?”
“Yes, yes. A gate at the Konkuk University entrance? Dispatching hunters immediately!”
“I-Itaewon gate, you said? I’m sorry, could you give a more precise location…!”
Dozens of phone bells spread like a lie. The employee slowly rose from his seat and looked around. The other staff were also glancing about as if possessed.
“What the hell is this…”
He muttered through trembling lips. Lunch had long been forgotten. The ones who had been dozing and the ones who had been gaming were now scrambling in panic.
Riiing. Riiing. Riiing—
The headquarters that had been peaceful only moments ago was now filled with nothing but the endless ringing of telephones.