Chapter 4. Waning Moon Night (5)
Even the members of JR's guild, not to mention S-rank hunters Joseph Leonard and Rick Gadel, couldn't hide their shock at the sight.
It was a foolish display that didn't match their reputation, but it was understandable. They had no choice but to react that way.
The last remaining long-lived species, Seo Yeon-hee. In truth, she was strong even during the day. The combat data and magical prowess accumulated over countless ages. And if there was water around or sufficient humidity in the air, her power as a water-attribute mage multiplied even further.
For instance, in a situation like this, with even a light drizzle falling, she could rightfully be called one of the absolute top powerhouses. And yet... such descriptors fell woefully short of capturing her true stature.
When she unleashed the inherent essence of her long-lived species nature, that's when Seo Yeon-hee truly approached the realm of the world's strongest. Just like she was doing now.
Her red eyes expanded endlessly. It wasn't just an illusion from getting closer to the ground. The actual range of her energy was widening.
Finally, just before it touched the JR hunters' group.
"---!"
"--- ---!"
Joseph Leonard and Rick Gadel shouted something loudly, exchanging signals.
Boom!
Joseph leaped into the air, kicking off empty space, and swung his mana-laden hand to scatter the red eyes. The other, Rick, approached the leisurely floating Seo Yeon-hee. They were trying to break through by each taking a flank.
It was an excellent judgment even in the heat of the moment, but... their abilities weren't quite up to executing it.
"---!"
Joseph let out a fierce kiai and swung his hand. Yet the energy from the red eyes showed no change—in fact, he ended up trapped and bound within it.
Rick fared no better.
Thud.
With a light flick of her hand, Seo Yeon-hee brushed him off. JR guild members rushed to support him as he bounced away helplessly.
Whoooosh—
At last, the red energy fully enveloped the entire JR group. They struggled to escape, but it was as if an invisible wall blocked them—they couldn't advance beyond a certain distance.
Now, their survival hinged solely on whatever decision Seo Yeon-hee made.
She could probably kill them without much trouble. Their resistance would be fierce, and it might take a little time, but in their current state, there was no way out for them.
"Hoo..."
After a deep breath, I reviewed my future plans.
Yeom Ui-jun, who had practically retired from hunter work. Even killing him alone had caused no small shock to the world. And if I killed those two—the head of JR and figures still wielding massive influence—just days later...
It would trigger waves far bigger than the Yeom Ui-jun incident. World politics, centered on the US, would shift dramatically, and it would create significant obstacles for Phantom's operations.
So chasing them off like this was the best option, but... whether I could expect such a rational solution from Seo Yeon-hee right now was questionable.
And then, she turned to look at me.
The wide brim of her hat hid the upper half of her face. All I could see were her lips, glowing faintly redder than usual, curving into a beautiful arc.
Soon, a low voice echoed through the air.
[...Go home.]
Shooooaaa...
The red energy that had blanketed the heavens and earth gathered around the JR hunters, forming a spherical shape. Then the space beside it tore open, and the red orb flowed into the rift, vanishing completely—taking the trapped hunters with it.
A reverse summoning achieved through extreme spatial dominance. After producing this near-miraculous scene, Seo Yeon-hee slowly descended to the ground, and I ordered my subordinates.
"Everyone, halt. Don't approach the boss until I say it's okay."
The power Seo Yeon-hee wielded as a long-lived species was on an unfathomable level. As far as I knew, she was guaranteed a spot in the top ten among all living beings.
However, fully controlling that power was another matter entirely.
If it had been a full moon today, the situation would have been much better. On nights when the moon's energy peaked, she could wield her power without much strain, receiving substantial backup that offset her consumption.
But today was a moonless night. No backup was possible, so she couldn't replenish her expended power immediately. As a result... she became a bit more volatile than usual, with less patience.
Just in case, I kept my black wings half-unfurled over my shoulders as I approached her.
"Boss, it's me. Are you okay?"
That's when Seo Yeon-hee, who had been hanging her head, took a large step forward.
"Wah!"
> Automatic activation trait Instant Foresight has activated. (Rank A+)
A childish yell, like startling a kid. Then she grumbled at me reproachfully for not reacting.
"Why didn't you get scared?"
"I'm not a kid; you think that'd work on me?"
"Hmm... I guess not?"
Her words and actions were playful, but I noticed. It wasn't playful at all.
She had barely vented a surging impulse with that single shout.
Instant Foresight had just warned me of... death.
Thump.
Suddenly, my chest rippled. It wasn't my heartbeat. Something unknown nestled beside it.
The ever-active trait Black Heart, gained from the final boss correction in Kill the Evil. For the first time since acquiring it, it showed a change.
Thump, thump.
A pulsing beat, as if delighted and frolicking. It sounded like mocking laughter. As if asking if that was all it took to feel threatened.
Seo Yeon-hee snapped her fingers.
Whoosh...!
The ruined castle was engulfed in flames. No smoke billowed; it simply burned. Erasing every trace we'd left behind.
"I'll clear a path, so everyone head back. Good work."
As Seo Yeon-hee said this from beside me, the dispersing subordinates bid their farewells.
"Then we'll be off, Boss."
"Brother, sis—today was fun!"
"Hey, let's spar again next time."
Words from the old man, the boy, and the giant. The two women headed toward the split space in the sky.
"......"
"......Take care."
Fox Mask vanished without a word, while Rabbit Mask gave me a brief greeting.
And then, just Seo Yeon-hee and me remained. Only then did I ask her.
"Where'd Rabbit go? You could at least tell me that much."
"Who knows? America, probably?"
"......"
Why kill someone who's perfectly fine? Seo Yeon-hee gave a cryptic answer and waved her hand downward. A spatial rift opened wide enough for two, and she stepped through first.
"I'm washing up first, so come after a bit."
"Pardon?"
Ignoring my question, Seo Yeon-hee crossed over. I couldn't stay here either, so I followed. About a minute later, I opened my eyes to find us back in our original hotel room.
And water was already running in the bathroom.
She should've come right away, but it took time for some reason. Looks like she deliberately slowed the spatial transfer just for me.
...Guess I have to wait.
I sat in a chair by the side and finally turned on my phone.
March 14th, just past midnight.
Something I checked next made my eyes widen.
what time are you coming?
Didn't drink much, haha.
Want me to grab burgers for breakfast?
Lee Sea messaging me first? And on White Day, no less? Is the sun rising in the west tomorrow?
I wanted to call, but didn't want to wake her if she was sleeping, so I held back. Instead, I sent the softest reply I could.
The "1" didn't disappear even after waiting, so she was probably asleep.
I pushed the phone to the edge of the table and pondered inwardly.
It was better than a massacre causing chaos, but this incident would ramp up vigilance against Phantom big time. Plans I'd been working on might need to be put on hold.
Probably best to discuss with Seo Yeon-hee. And one thing came to mind.
The subjective question from the Kill the Evil sub-quest reward. I could use that to get direction, then talk it over.
I summoned the hologram and asked: "What do I need to do urgently?"
But oddly, no immediate answer. After a few seconds' delay, it spat out something irrelevant.
Question: What does Lee Dojin need to do right now?
Answer: Return home before 1 AM on March 14th
1) Requirements: Snacks worth 5,000 to 10,000 won (excess yields minimal extra utility; chocolate types grant bonus points)
2) Notes: Do not reveal your whereabouts
"......What the hell?"
I knew subjective questions answered whimsically, but this was too much. Did I even ask for this? Spouting nonsense like...
...No, I needed to consider a different perspective. The hologram never lied, even if I didn't understand. Everything it'd said so far had been spot on.
So that meant returning home before 1 AM was truly the most urgent thing right now...
About then, Seo Yeon-hee emerged from the bathroom.
"Ahh, feels refreshing."
Wearing only a white robe, toweling her hair as she walked toward me. She smirked and teased playfully.
"Oh my, Dojin, why the stiff face? Nervous? Why between us? Because of what?"
"......"
"Don't just sit there—go wash up. Leave those bloody clothes in the bathroom. I'll handle them later—"
"Sis."
I called her in a heavy tone and shot up from my seat. She flinched back a step, then forced a stiff smile.
"Wha, 'Sis' all of a sudden? Uh... just wash up first—"
"Seriously, I'm really, truly, super sorry... but could you clean off the bloodstains and all that first?"
"......Why?"
"I need to change and head straight home. Please."
Seo Yeon-hee's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
***
March 14th, 12:30 AM.
Alone in the spacious hotel room, Seo Yeon-hee tilted her wine bottle.
The taste felt richer than usual today. The more she thought about it, the more absurd and baffling it was.
'...What the heck is this?'
Lee Dojin had left earlier. She'd cleaned him with her magic, he'd changed back into his original clothes, and he'd bolted from the room like someone was chasing him.
All she'd gotten was a small box and a brief exchange.
"Here, a gift."
"......Okay."
"You okay?"
"One reverse summon—what's there to worry about?"
He'd mentioned it once before. If her body ever strained too much and danger loomed...
'He said he'd give me his blood.'
Of course, she'd laughed it off and refused. She didn't want to rely on blood for power.
She'd always despised such acts. Her kin who drank blood, those who didn't—all dead now. Whether she drank or not, she'd live forever.
So she had zero intention of touching blood.
But separately from that.
Lee Dojin's feelings touched her deeply, made her love him all the more.
She'd felt it then, felt it now, and would forever.
'But... he gets a rare first message from his little sister and ditches me like that?'
It was utterly unbelievable. No matter how she turned it over, it made no sense. But somehow, she found it admirable, even cool—which probably meant she wasn't all that normal either.
She took a sip of wine and opened the box from Lee Dojin.
The contents were simple. A small chocolate that looked handmade. And a single note.
Thanks for everything, Sis.
Unable to hold back her smile, Seo Yeon-hee took a tiny nibble of the chocolate.
Too precious to eat much at once.
'Tastes okay.'
But she wouldn't trade this one piece for billions. It was the thought that counted.
***
Humans cycle through light and deep sleep, it's said. Starting light, shifting to deep, repeating.
Lee Sea was the same.
Around past midnight, after dozing lightly, she opened her eyes groggily. Unconsciously checking her phone, she saw messages from her brother.
Didn't drink much, haha.
Want me to grab burgers for breakfast?
'Not coming tonight, huh...'
She checked the preview and didn't reply.
He wasn't coming anyway. Said he'd come in the morning.
With sleepiness hitting hard today, better to sleep deep, wake early.
Forcing her eyes shut, she soon drifted off again.
About ten minutes later. Light sleep nearly over, on the verge of deep.
One minute later, and she might not have noticed.
Click, ring.
Door opening.
Plastic bags rustling.
Shoes off, entering the house.
Lee Sea caught those faint sounds and opened her eyes.
Half-disbelieving, suppressing full-body joy, she opened the door.
"Did I wake you?"
Lee Dojin, arms full of convenience store bags, apologized.
Lee Sea asked instead of answering.
"......What's all that?"
Like prepping a snack party, bags piled with snacks and chocolates. He answered sheepishly.
"Oh, for you. It's White Day, so I got some chocolate. You like banana crackers, right? Jelly, ice cream, drinks—"
"Who eats all that?"
Lee Sea replied curtly. Any hint of other feelings, and her voice would crack.
And inwardly, she muttered.
'Doesn't have to buy that much.'
If he brought snacks... fine, no need for tons. Three or four kinds. Five to ten thousand won worth.
That would've been more than enough.