Leaves Woven into Destiny, Fortunes in Circles
So many circles!
"Rica sis, everyone's staring! Because... you're, like, totally naked right now!"
"Ah, you're talking about clothing?"
In response to the girl's words, the nude, ethereal woman places her hand on the ground.
— Ku-gu-gu-gu!
Then, massive leaves burst from the earth, wrapping around the woman's bare body.
"Whoaaa! Rica sis, what is this? It feels so fresh!"
Soon, the leaves transform into a dress-like garment, as if intricately woven from the start.
"Lady Chorok will learn this someday too. I'll teach you later."
"Waaah!"
"Hoo..."
Yusung Group Chairman Lee Suhwan lets out a sigh of awe at the mystical sight.
Even though he's grown accustomed to gates and hunters through his business, his instincts tell him something feels off about this.
"Excuse me. Could you summarize the situation again?"
He calls over a nearby Yusung hunter to reconfirm the recent reports.
If the stories are true, he owes yet another debt to the woman who performed this miracle and the girl who saved his granddaughter before.
"Yes. All the evacuating civilians were unconscious for dozens of minutes. Precisely, multiple nerve damages... Even after emergency treatment, they needed urgent surgery upon transport."
Lee Suhwan recalls a faint sensation of his head burning just before his memory cuts off while listening.
He thinks perhaps, including his granddaughter, everyone evacuating might have become goners.
"Miss Chorok. Come closer, if you would? And you too, miss."
"Yep! Rica sis too!"
The miracle was surely wrought by that mystical woman, but she yields even that credit to the girl.
What kind of relationship do they have? Lee Suhwan's interest in Yeon Chorok deepens.
The expo incident. And the first gate conquest success after months, plus MVP nomination.
It started as repayment for saving his granddaughter, but lately, he's been supporting her as a promising next-gen hunter.
He figures this feat deserves proper reward too.
"Grandpa, you okay? Seo-ah too?"
"Seems no problems at all. Thanks to you and that lady. You saved my granddaughter, me, and so many lives this time. Truly grateful."
"Yay! That's a relief! Rica sis, you did amazing!"
"No, Lady Chorok. If it was your wish, it was only natural."
Even in this situation, her pure concern for others wins Lee Suhwan's favor completely.
What will she become in the future? He grows ever more eager to watch over her.
"Thanks again, Miss Chorok. This grace must be repaid. Name anything you want this time too. Whatever it is."
"Eung...? Something I want... yeah, there is, but..."
The girl's lips pout hesitantly, as if it's hard to say, deep in thought.
"Um... the gate inside was a total mess! Weird foreign uncle and bug-heads, and that creepy Egyptian-Egyptian building all crumbled down. Clean it up and make a pretty garden... I wanna restore it! Rica sis said it was her territory!"
Lee Suhwan is a bit flustered by the childlike torrent of words.
"Hmm... if that's true..."
But he quickly grasps the situation. Time to investigate the gate interior.
"Something to check now. You there, relay to Raid Leader 1 and the Management Bureau. We're doing a joint re-exploration."
"Yes, sir!"
Lee Suhwan immediately instructs a nearby Yusung hunter.
"Miss Chorok. I promise. We'll make it just as you want. Might take time, but no worries—just wait a bit."
A few days later. Hunter Management Bureau Jeju Branch conference room.
I've been sightseeing around Jeju for a while, then Seo-ah's grandpa calls saying he'll fulfill his promise.
And the Bureau has something to discuss too, so we're talking about it together.
"You're here. Sit comfortably and let's proceed."
"Yep."
In the conference room: Seo-ah's grandpa and suited folks nearby. Plus Seonhwa sis, Bureau people, Rica sis, and me.
Once seated, the big table feels packed.
"First, for suppressing the gate break and civilian rescue, the Bureau will issue reward money. This will also count toward guild founding contributions."
Seonhwa sis opens first. She pushed hard this time. Slept a day and a half after it ended.
"Waaah."
Lots of people, so quiet awe. But guild progress—another step closer, so happy.
"Also, Miss Chorok contributed to resolving the international wanted criminal case. The International Hunter Organization will pay rewards too. This counts as contribution as well."
Eung? What's this? Never met any scary person like that.
"Auction participant, disguised as Smith Industries rep—the major criminal behind this gate break."
I tilt my head, and Seonhwa sis explains.
Aha! That uncle from before? He turned into a bouncy ball at the end—super shocking.
"That covers the Bureau's matters?"
"Yes."
"Miss Chorok, time to keep my promise from days ago."
A suited uncle hands me papers instead of grandpa. Gate share transfer contract? Complicated text everywhere.
"What's this?"
"Didn't you tell me during the incident? We re-explored the gate after."
"It was a mess, right...?"
Grandpa bought it for jaw-dropping money. All crumbled—kinda worried me.
"Not at all. No monsters found, initial toxic mana concentration gone, magic stone mines and tons of natural resources reported. Ruins have research value too."
"For real? Rica sis?"
Sounds like huge discoveries just from the words? Rica sis's territory, so she should know.
"Excluding the plains and garden areas, I'm not familiar... Chaos passed, so some transformations I sensed."
"As she says, hidden routes found beyond the plains. And you're Diabolica? Dungeon core check showed the gate owner's name—unique."
"Yes. Learning much with Bureau aid, but humans call it dungeon core. Different name for us."
"That confirms it. In human society, you're called a boss monster."
"A bit unpleasant. Perhaps chaos's scheme..."
Seo-ah's grandpa's gaze shifts to me during their talk. Complicated stuff, so I just watched quietly...
"Miss Chorok, are you and Miss Diabolica bound by summoning contract?"
"Hmm... not sure about that... Like friends, Deobseok-i or Kkumteuli!"
"We seeds were born to pledge loyalty to Lady Chorok."
"Confirmed. Summoner contracted with gate owner... No wonder Jang Taesan protected her as hidden class. Story leaked a bit, but to the point."
Seo-ah's grandpa picks up a fountain pen, like preparing to sign.
"This contract provides gate operation shares and autonomy for you and Miss Diabolica's activities. Plus major revenue share from harvested resources."
I don't get it all, but see number-like parts on the contract.
"Eung...!?"
What is this. How many circles? My eyes spin.
"Lady Chorok. A moment of your time."
"Huh? Rica sis? Looking at the contract?"
"Yes. I'll review it for you."
Rica sis examines the contract meticulously. She's been at the Jeju branch studying lately. Knows this stuff?
"...Learned human resource values first, but the offered amount seems fair. If Lady Chorok wishes, it's safe to sign."
"R-Really...?"
"To recreate the longed-for garden, I advise it's necessary. My territory needs time to restore anyway—think of it as usage fees, no issue."
Grandpa's good offer, Rica sis approves—seems fine.
This lets me make the garden for other friends like status said? Then I'll sign!
"Okay! Sign here?"
"Yes. And if you need more, say anything."
"Hmm... not asking for it, but... find another spot? Huge flower field near Seoul, drivable distance is fine."
Money incoming big time—maybe buy it myself? Prefer no help for the buy itself.
"Hoo..."
Seo-ah's grandpa looks shocked again. Did I say something wrong?
"Soon, suitable land at fair price."
Yahoo! Garden-making soon possible—feels fresh!
Midnight. Hotel. Can't sleep, so fiddling with smartphone, checking Behind.
Signed stuff daytime, and that's about me now. Kinda bugs me—heart pounding.
Wanna brag so bad. But they'd never believe? And what's with Jihye sis...?
"Lady Chorok. Bedtime. Turn off that smartphone and rest well."
"Eung... just a bit. Bait's nagging me..."
Rica sis on the next bed tells me to stop, so I stall a little.
"Hmm... that enjoyable? Now I'm curious about this Behind medium too."
"Mm... wanna see together? Here."
But hunters need mana in body to access, right?
If Rica sis touches, won't it turn off?
"Mm...? Lady Chorok, some guide window popped up."
I hand over the smartphone, then remember that. Rica sis holds it and shows me the screen.
"Eh...?"
New mana detected. Register new user?