Missing: The Suddenly Evaporated Boss
"You're saying the boss's mana can't be detected anywhere?"
"What on earth... How could she just vanish into thin air like this!"
It was a bolt from the blue.
Dozens of agents, including active Hunters, had been deployed to the scene.
Yet, not a single trace of the missing boss, Ari, could be found.
Prior to her outing, the Bureau had drawn up countless contingency plans for any erratic behavior. But all of them had become useless in an instant.
It was bad enough that she had vanished right before their eyes, but how were they supposed to deal with an entity they couldn't even track?
The middle-aged man who had been shouting orders at the top of his lungs slumped powerlessly into his chair.
He muttered in a hollow voice.
"Does she have some kind of teleportation ability...?"
No matter how he looked at it, that seemed like the only logical explanation.
Even their expensive equipment designed to detect stealth magic was completely useless.
Or perhaps, fitting for a magic-type boss, her stealth magic was simply on an entirely different level.
Either way, the exact answer didn't matter.
Once again, a Gate boss had gone missing.
Worse, this entity possessed enough power to easily wipe a city off the map.
They needed to re-evaluate their policy on handling this monster, who could neither be controlled nor tracked.
Though that's assuming she even returns quietly...
He let out a long, heavy sigh.
But they couldn't just give up.
Stiffening his neck, he began barking out orders once more.
Like the seasoned veteran he was, having worked his way up from the field, he ordered them to mobilize every available resource for the search.
Perhaps his desperate wishes were answered.
"We found her! Boss Ari has reappeared!"
It was a welcome report.
Almost simultaneously, a bodycam feed expanded on the main monitor.
Hunter Han Jihyun, who had been deployed as backup for the search, was captured on screen chatting amicably with Boss Ari.
The location was right near where she had first disappeared.
Sighs of relief swept through the control room.
The man in charge finally wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
For now, we've managed to bell the cat!
Of course, it was a bell the cat could rip off whenever she pleased...
But still, it was a start.
Only a single day had passed since the Break occurred and Boss Ari set foot on Earth.
Feeling as though he had aged ten years in that span, the man shook his head.
"Did you say it's a good thing?"
Han Jihyun asked.
She had been anxious, worrying that Ari might scold her for following her without permission.
"Yes. I desperately need your help, Jihyun."
Ari replied, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
She averted her gaze slightly, squirming a little as she spoke.
"I gathered up my courage to come out... but it was all for nothing because I don't know a single thing about this place."
"Ah! Leave it to me! What do you need to know?"
Han Jihyun placed a hand over her chest as if to say, *just trust me.*
Naturally, Ari's eyes drifted to the volume of Jihyun's chest. Instantly feeling a surge of trust, Ari spoke.
"Please go shopping with me."
"Shopping...! Actually, that's one of my specialties."
"It certainly looks that way."
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
Jihyun wore a slightly bewildered expression at the unexpected agreement.
Regardless, Ari nodded to herself.
If Han Jihyun had enough social skills to offer her a canned coffee right at their first meeting...
Surely she would be well-versed in things like bra sizes?
That was seriously dizzying...
There were far more types of underwear than she had expected, and the sizing system was so confusing that it didn't seem like something she could figure out on her own.
Just casually approaching an employee to ask was out of the question.
As she was agonizing over what to do, she had spotted Han Jihyun passing by outside the shop.
She decided to swallow her pride and ask for help.
"Once we're done shopping, I think I'll go straight back and rest."
"I'll contact the driver! Shall we go, then?"
With her reliable ally Han Jihyun leading the way, they entered the store.
The store clerk joined them, ready to assist.
"Shall we start by measuring your size in the back?"
"Mmh..."
"Oh my. What is this cloth?"
"A chest wrap."
"..."
"..."
"Ahem. Well, we'll measure your underbust and overbust. I'll place the tape measure here—"
"...My size is that big?"
"You'll need to try it on to be sure! When the measurements are borderline, there's a concept called sister sizes."
"Ah... But Jihyun, why do you look like you didn't know either?"
"Ah, well. I've just lived my life taking it for granted, so..."
"While this customer is fitting, would you like to get measured again too?"
. . .
They returned to the room prepared for Ari at the research facility.
Striking while the iron was hot, they had bought not only underwear but also outerwear, shoes, and various accessories.
After picking up items recommended by Han Jihyun and the clerk, Ari's hands were full of heavy shopping bags.
Now it was time to organize and put them away in the closet of her temporary quarters.
As Ari was running her fingers over the unfamiliar texture of the new clothes, Han Jihyun, who was helping her, spoke up.
"Would you like me to wash the chest wrap you were wearing—well, wrapping around your chest—and return it to you?"
"Should we? I don't really need it anymore... but I thought I might keep it as a keepsake."
"Got it! Leave it to me. I'll return it along with your clothes."
The chest wrap was placed back into an empty paper bag.
Han Jihyun let out a quiet sigh, making sure Ari didn't notice.
Whew. I need to hand this over to the lab first...
Washing it was just an excuse. It was the Bureau's duty to investigate whether items belonging to Ari, an entity from another world, possessed any unusual properties.
Of course, she fully intended to return it clean and intact as promised. She didn't exactly have a choice.
"If we go shopping a few more times, moving all this luggage later is going to be a real chore."
"You could just hire someone to do it for you then."
"Ah...!"
Ari clapped her hands together and nodded.
A sudden wave of anxiety washed over Han Jihyun. Nothing bad had happened today, but she felt compelled to add:
"Um, you mentioned... that you were going to move out and live independently later, right?"
"Yes, I should."
"Well, when it comes to financial concepts... normally, if you hire people to do labor, you have to compensate them accordingly."
"?"
Isn't that just common sense?
Ari tilted her head, only realizing Jihyun's underlying point a moment later.
Is she reminding me that the money I'm spending right now belongs to the Bureau?
She couldn't tell if they were being thorough or just stingy.
Still, Han Jihyun's advice did remind her of one crucial fact.
If she wanted to make a living in the future, she needed to figure out a way to earn money.
If she had intended to use her power for illegal deeds, she wouldn't have gotten involved with the Bureau in the first place.
Live with pride.
That was one of Ari's core creeds.
Conveniently, there was a perfect profession for her.
I should look more into Hunters.
And while it was on her mind, she asked.
"Jihyun, Jihyun."
"Yes! Go ahead."
"That S-class Hunter from before, Na Beomin. Where do I go to find that guy?"
"..."
The face that had been ready to answer anything instantly froze.
Her eyes darted around as she tried to gauge Ari's mood before finally speaking.
"May I ask why you're curious about him...?"
"I have a past grudge to settle."
"Uh, well."
She must mean when the Ilhyun raid team invaded her dungeon.
Since the core members back then were Kang Chulwoong and Na Beomin. She had even stared intently at their photos before.
At this moment, Han Jihyun's brain was working faster than ever.
Why was the fairy suddenly looking for Na Beomin?
She extracted the key words from their conversation so far.
Independence. Financial concepts. Looking for Hunter Na Beomin. Settling a past grudge.
...Could it be revenge?
Is she going to shake Na Beomin down for money?!
To boldly contemplate extorting an S-class Hunter, one of the strongest in the world!
It was truly a grand and terrifying idea, worthy of someone classified as a Calamity-class Gate boss.
Han Jihyun couldn't help but shudder.
Considering what had happened to Hunter Kang Chulwoong, there was a high probability it wouldn't stop at just extortion.
And since he was an S-class Hunter, he wouldn't just take it lying down either...
Moreover...
If she remembers the faces of the raid team members, that means every other Hunter who participated is in danger too!
Gasp!
Han Jihyun gasped internally.
Just then, she saw Ari putting the clothes she had been folding into the closet.
Seizing the opportunity, she quickly sent a text message to her superiors.
In her haste, the message was riddled with typos.
She could report the details later.
Han Jihyun did her best to maintain her composure as she slipped her phone back into her pocket.
Almost at the same time, Ari sat back down in her chair.
"Seeing how long it's taking you to think, I guess you don't know?"
"...! Ah, yes! Since I'm a Hunter affiliated with the Bureau, I'm not very familiar with guild matters!"
"I'll just search on my phone—"
"Information on high-ranking Hunters is usually classified, so you won't find much!"
Though it was case-by-case, really.
It wasn't entirely a lie.
Sensing the sincerity in her voice and attitude, the fairy nodded without further comment.
Of course, in reality...
He's a public figure anyway, so I'll find a way.
Ari was calmly reviewing her plans.
If it's really that hard to find him, I can just sneak into the guild headquarters while invisible. I'm sure I'll dig up something.
It was at that moment.
Huh?
A word she had forgotten popped into Ari's head.
CCTV?
She probably wouldn't get caught while invisible.
But what about in this room?
Right here?
Given how they're treating me, there's definitely one here, isn't there?
Ari's expression grew dead serious.
Seeing this, the smile on Han Jihyun's face grew even stiffer and brighter.
After a bit more light chatter, Han Jihyun took her leave.
Ari, unable to hide her fatigue, even told her to get some good rest after work.
I can trust her, right?
I can sleep at home tonight!
Giggling to herself, Jihyun walked down the hall.
She decided to wrap up her remaining work and submit her report before heading home.
She headed toward the temporary office space assigned to her within the research facility.
Even so, her mind was completely filled with thoughts of Ari.
But she's usually so well-behaved...
Surely things will be fine for a while?
It's not like she'll suddenly run off to seek revenge.
She took a sip of water, finally letting her guard down.
That was when the anomaly struck.
Beep— Beep— Beep—
An alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire research facility!
She rushed out into the hallway to check the situation.
"Boss Ari has suddenly vanished from the containment room!"
The news of her repeated erratic behavior reached her ears.
"Ugh..."
Han Jihyun's face crumpled into a tearful grimace.