Shining Ray, the Light That Stops a Crying Child's Tears
"Exam? You mean the college entrance exam?"
"Nah, not that—the certified hunter exam."
Yoon Ra-yoon had skipped her evening self-study session as usual today. Just like yesterday, we were chatting over dinner when she suddenly brought up exams. I figured she meant she needed to start studying for the college entrance exam, but her answer threw me for a loop.
"But didn't you say your parents are totally against you becoming a hunter?"
"Unni, what are you talking about? It's not just any hunter—it's a certified hunter. Even my parents would okay that much."
A certified hunter is still a hunter, but they belong directly to the Hunter Management Bureau, not a guild. If guilds are like corporations, the bureau is basically a government agency. They're treated almost like civil servants. Judging by Ra-yoon's vibe, she was like a high school girl who'd ditched the college exam to prep straight for the civil service test. A bit unconventional, sure, but having such a clear goal at her age was impressive.
Watching her, I couldn't help but smile.
"Still, our Ra-yoon's so cool. Already got your sights set and everything."
"Hehe, oh! That reminds me—I wanted to ask you something, unni."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I forgot to ask yesterday, but why's Ina unni living out here all alone?"
"Ah... well..."
And here it comes. I'd been low-key dreading this question, and now it had arrived. Talk about a curveball worthy of a major leaguer. Even if it wasn't Ra-yoon, anyone who didn't know my situation would wonder about a young woman like me living solo in a place like this. Why hole up in the countryside when you could be in the city? She was probably just innocently curious, but my circumstances were a bit more complicated.
Would she even believe me if I told the truth? We'd only known each other for two days, but Ra-yoon wasn't the type to go blabbing my secrets. Still... I didn't not trust her, but I needed a plausible story on short notice.
"Well... truth is, I used to be a hunter. Retired and moved here."
"Whoa, really? Why'd you quit?"
Maybe because hunting was her dream, she couldn't wrap her head around it.
"There was a bad accident in a gate... kinda like trauma? That's why I came out to the sticks on purpose."
"Oh..."
It was a total fib, of course, but I'd heard there were real cases like that. After papers linked gate outbreaks to population density, some folks moved to low-density rural areas—helped solve depopulation issues, from what I read. Most were victims who'd snapped mentally from dungeon or gate mishaps. I was basically cosplaying one of those victims... but what could I do? Sorry to the real ones, but it was the perfect excuse right now.
It must've landed, because Ra-yoon looked like she thought she'd been rude, her eyes starting to well up.
"Unni... sorry... I had no idea... hng."
"No, no! Totally normal to be curious! Here, the pork intestines are done—dig in quick."
My conscience stung, so I piled some perfectly cooked intestines onto her plate. The kid was too empathetic for her own good. If she'd grown up in the city, she'd be a super extrovert. Outsiders might peg her as a delinquent high schooler hanging with the bad crowd, but that'd be a huge mistake. It was more like the pure-hearted charm of country life had soaked into her. Chatting with her showed just how good of a kid she was. She even dyed her hair to help out a friend training to be a stylist, and she'd never missed a perfect attendance award. Her only flaw? Hating schoolwork.
It didn't feel great deceiving such a pure soul. She was stuffing her face with meat, but still looked down in the dumps. Finally, I stood up to change the mood.
"Ra-yoon, wanna see something cool from unni?"
Ra-yoon tilted her head, chopsticks in mouth, giving me a puzzled look as I headed out to the veranda connected to the yard.
"Ra-yoon! Watch close from there!"
Back in my academy days, there was this magic the elementary kids loved. Perfect for cheering up a sulky kid! I positioned myself so the living room had a clear view, faced away from it, extended my arm at a 45-degree angle to the ground, and focused the mana inside me. No ambient mana around here, so I pulled a bit extra. Then, silently chanted in my mind.
"Shining Ray"
⟨ Shining Ray ⟩
Shwaaaaaaaa―!!
Starting from my fingertips, particles of light shot out in a straight line through the air. In an instant, a pillar of light formed, turning the dark surroundings as bright as day. Sleeping birds flapped awake and started circling overhead. I'd overdone the output a tad, but the impact was even better for it. As the pillar slowly collapsed, it shattered into tiny particles, sparkling down like special effects.
Nice! Perfect!
The countryside had no other lights—just my house—so it felt like splashing white paint on a black canvas. Way more dramatic than expected. I was thrilled.
"Ra-yoon, whaddya think? Pretty, right?!"
I turned around to see Ra-yoon with eyes wide as saucers. She'd dropped her chopsticks without noticing, just staring blankly in awe.
That good, huh? Hehe.
# 'Pretty, kind unni who cooks well'—that was Yoon Ra-yoon's first impression of Yuina.
On her usual walk home skipping evening study, something had hit her, and she'd collapsed. She didn't remember exactly, but who in this backwater would target her? She chalked it up to exhaustion. Yuina was the one who'd saved her—spotted her passed out, carried her all the way home. A kind stranger who'd even stuffed her with pricey beef.
'But... did people even live here?'
Yoon Ra-yoon had been born and raised in this village—over 19 years. No way she'd miss a fancy pension like this.
Three years ago, heading home from school, she'd seen a feast at the village hall. Not New Year's—curious, she asked her parents. Turns out, old man Chun-deok next door had sold his entire field and was treating everyone. Ra-yoon was shocked. He'd bragged about that prime land to everyone, turning down all buyers. He'd even sworn not to sell above five times market price. Yet suddenly, he'd sold.
She shrugged it off at first, but one day saw trucks loaded with materials heading there. Curiosity piqued, she asked her parents—it was becoming a resort for some hunter guild. Later, she learned Chun-deok had held out till a 10x offer.
And so the pension was built. Finished, but empty—no sign of life. Until suddenly, Yuina moved in.
'Eh, whatever! Stuff happens!' Yoon Ra-yoon was a very simple high school girl. Just thrilled to have a new friend in this boring sticks.
The next day, she showed up at Yuina's without hesitation, as invited. Got treated to dinner again.
'Feels bad mooching... Next month's allowance, I'll buy her jjajangmyeon at least!'
Only 50,000 won a month, but enough for jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk set. Most would vanish, but after all this free meat, she had to return the favor.
'Ugh, but Ga-eul's birthday gift next month too...'
She thought of her studious bestie, glued to books unlike her. Last winter, the idiot had studied late without proper winter gear and caught a cold. Stubborn, but grateful for sticking with a dummy like her for over six years.
'Sorry, Ina unni—pushing it to the month after.'
Truly sorry, but no choice. During exam talk, curiosity about Yuina's deal bubbled up. Definitely an awakener, but yesterday she'd said no interest in hunters. Couldn't hold back.
"Hehe, oh! That reminds me—I wanted to ask you something, unni."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Forgot yesterday, but why's Ina unni living out here alone?"
"Ah... well..."
Yuina looked troubled.
"Well... truth is, I used to be a hunter. Retired and moved here."
"Whoa, really? Why'd you quit?"
"Bad accident in a gate... like trauma? That's why I came to the countryside on purpose."
"Oh..."
Ra-yoon had heard of it. 'Otherworld PTSD'—rare mental illness from gate/dungeon accidents messing up daily life. Severe cases led to social avoidance. Tragic stuff. This village even had another retired hunter with it, so she knew well.
Realizing how rude, she felt awful.
"Unni... sorry... I didn't know... hng."
"No, no! Normal to wonder! Here, pork intestines are ready—eat up."
She nearly cried from guilt, but Yuina comforted her instead.
You idiot! Repaying kindness with rudeness!!
Ra-yoon berated herself. She heard 'dumb' and 'short-sighted' often, but no way she lacked tact too... Hated her clueless, foolish self.
But the meat was so good. Just the right fat—chewy bliss...
Suddenly, Yuina jumped up.
"Ra-yoon, wanna see something cool from unni?"
Ra-yoon startled, but Yuina headed to the yard, waving.
"Ra-yoon! Watch close from there!"
Yuina thrust her hand into the air. Ra-yoon figured it was to cheer her up.
Shwaaaaaaaa―!!
A massive roar, and her vision blazed. Too fast to react—she just gawked. The night sky lit like noon; birds scattered. Ra-yoon didn't know magic, but sensed its power. B-rank? Maybe A? No normal hunter pulls that off.
The caster stood unfazed, chest proudly out.
"Ra-yoon, whaddya think? Pretty, right?!"
... Ina unni's amazing!!!!!
Yoon Ra-yoon was a very simple girl.