Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Declining Sun
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Espresso con panna—surprisingly decent menu item. Would you like a sip, Miyuki?"
"My dream is to see our Cheong-ah stuff her face until she's nice and plump, so it's fine."
"In that case, I'll eat the honey bread Miyuki ordered too."
"You're dead?"
Right in front of me, an otherworldly conversation was unfolding.
A quiet café in District 4 of Academy City.
I sat watching Han Cheong-ah and Lee Gyeo-ul squabble over a single slice of honey bread.
"Hey, you're seriously dead?"
"Try me."
Lee Gyeo-ul and Han Cheong-ah began a fork duel to claim the honey bread.
When Lee Gyeo-ul's defense proved surprisingly solid, Han Cheong-ah opted to go full dog mode.
She plunged her face straight into the plate and started devouring the honey bread.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! You mutt! That's mine! Mine!"
Lee Gyeo-ul grabbed Han Cheong-ah's shoulders, trying to pry her off, but Han Cheong-ah refused to relent.
After scarfing it all down, Han Cheong-ah lifted her head, face smeared with cream and honey, wearing a deeply satisfied expression.
"Delicious..."
"I swear, really, ugh..."
Lee Gyeo-ul sighed and began wiping Han Cheong-ah's face with a wet wipe.
"Miyuki. There's emotion in your touch."
She scrubbed until Han Cheong-ah's face gleamed.
I simply cradled my warm cup, steam rising gently, as I watched the comedy unfold.
The battle between Lee Gyeo-ul, Aria, and me had left Cuvette Psi High School in ruins.
The annex was relatively intact, but the main building and fields had collapsed so badly—no way classes could continue, like after an earthquake.
Thus, until the school announced its policy, students were forced into an impromptu break. That's how we ended up meeting on a weekday at this leisurely 10 a.m. hour.
"Do-hyun's been awfully quiet. Must be tense sitting across from a beauty like me."
How could I stay calm with the world's strongest from the story—someone I'd fought for my life against—right there?
Lee Gyeo-ul smiled at me.
I couldn't predict what this woman was thinking at all.
Based on her actions in the story, I'd expected an assassination or ambush, not an invitation to a café.
"Nothing much to say. You lot are the ones who wanted to meet, anyway."
"Other guys would scrape together movie talk from yesterday or whatever to keep the conversation going, wriggling their whole bodies. Step it up."
"Yeah, yeah. What's with the aloof bad boy vibe from another era? Fine, no choice. I'll grace you with some chat! What does our friend Do-hyun like?"
Why are you doing this to me...?
A scene from a noir film flashed in my mind.
One of those trapped in a rundown place, prisoner bound head to toe, facing someone gripping a knife.
I was the prisoner, Lee Gyeo-ul the knife-wielder—sure, it was a café and she held a fork instead, but the vibe was spot on.
"Going home right now."
I stated exactly what I wanted, but she predictably refused.
"Such an introvert, looks-wise!"
And so, Lee Gyeo-ul and I traded banal chit-chat, sheaths hiding our hidden daggers.
Around the time we got to Han Cheong-ah's tale of bravely fighting the punch-thug during the Esper incident...
"Excuse me, gotta hit the bathroom."
Han Cheong-ah, mid-brag about her exploits, suddenly vanished to the restroom.
Silence descended in an instant. Lee Gyeo-ul and I locked eyes.
I broke the frozen atmosphere.
Time for the real talk.
"So, what's the real reason you wanted to meet, Hunter Lee Gyeo-ul?"
"I figured you knew already, monster friend."
"I half-expected an ambush. Sneaking up and snapping the enemy's neck out of nowhere—that's your specialty, isn't it?"
From her perspective, I was the enemy. The one who'd saved Aria, who targeted Han Cheong-ah.
A suspicious monster from the 21st Century Secret Society, approaching Han Cheong-ah one day.
No room for talk, I'd judged.
"Just one thing nagging me before writing you off as a simple foe."
"And that is?"
"Why lure Cheong-ah to the Archive that day?"
Maybe things were going better than expected.
Lee Gyeo-ul politely lifted her cold glass with both hands, downed the drink, then continued.
"If you're side with that yellow mutt, stealing the Archive was the goal... but dragging a civilian into school for no reason? Doesn't add up."
Her abyss-like eyes observed me.
Scanning my seated form, the abyss then drifted to the ceiling.
"If Cheong-ah herself was the target, that yellow mutt was dead serious about killing her. Plenty of chances for you too if harm was the aim—no need to bother luring her to the Archive."
Why did Baek Do-hyun lure Cheong-ah to the Archive?
What was Baek Do-hyun's true goal?
Lee Gyeo-ul unleashed killing intent like back then, twisting into a warped smile.
"How much does friend Do-hyun really know?"
"..."
"Do you know the truth—known only to me, the Korean Hunter Association Chairman, and Director Hong Seung-hoon? That's why you're still breathing."
I knew the truth.
Why a special-class hunter treated as a national tactical weapon lounged in Academy City as Han Cheong-ah's protector.
That Han Cheong-ah wasn't just some ordinary quirky girl—I knew it all.
Because this scene before me was the world Seo-ah first showed me, the one she'd drawn.
"I knew you'd save her if Han Cheong-ah was in danger."
"Why?"
Her question carried layers of meaning.
From the hidden implications, I answered the truth she'd wonder most about.
"During the 5th Wave, Korea was hell, like other nations. Millions of Dimensional Beasts poured from Rifts like rain, costing countless hunters' lives."
But what poured from the Rifts wasn't just Dimensional Beasts.
"When the wave ended, something anomalous appeared. An unidentified entity in a girl's form emerged from a Rift. Its name: Han Cheong-ah. The Queen—able to command all Dimensional Beasts on Earth."
The 21st Century Secret Society's top priority.
Uncover the Queen hiding in Academy City and claim her.
The Red Ark for monsters referred to Han Cheong-ah.
"I know Han Cheong-ah is the Queen. But the Society doesn't have info on her. I'm not with the Society. I'm moving to stop their human culling scenario."
As my words ended, Lee Gyeo-ul withdrew her killing intent. She stayed silent until Han Cheong-ah returned from the bathroom.
Han Cheong-ah glanced refreshingly at the messy table, then hummed a tune.
"Why the downer vibes? Something wrong? Say something—the mood's ice-cold. Is this trending lately~♪"
"Cheong-ah, shut it."
"Should I give you some space?"
"Yeah."
Han Cheong-ah moonwalked smoothly back to the restroom.
Lee Gyeo-ul sighed. The calm atmosphere returned, and talk resumed.
"How the hell did the info leak?"
"Don't worry about security. I'm just an exception."
"..."
Lee Gyeo-ul's demeanor shifted. Her sharp gaze pierced my vitals.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. Hit by sudden killing intent, I stood, ready to fight.
"Don't freak. Just don't like you much, that's all."
Thanks a bunch.
An immortal regenerator radiating that much hostility? Reflex to guard.
I never wanted to feel that full-body knife-riddled agony again.
I barely sat, steadying my shaking legs.
"You should thank Cheong-ah. Without her words, I'd have removed you right here."
I couldn't earn Lee Gyeo-ul's trust.
Makes sense. A monster knowing state secrets? Suspicious and dangerous, even to me.
But she'd dropped the overt hostility—satisfactory enough.
"Apologize properly to Cheong-ah later. She may seem airheaded, but she's no fool. Knows you didn't call her there just for the punch-thug."
"Got it."
I nodded slowly.
"Good."
Lee Gyeo-ul withdrew the intent again, finally beaming openly.
She plopped beside me, patting my back like a split personality, all casual.
"Sis was too rough! Sorry, sorry. Occupational hazard! But outside, no 'sis' or 'Gyeo-ul.' Here, I'm Fujiwara Miyuki. We'll meet often, so nice knowing you, Do-hyun friend!"
My back stung. I forced a smile to match her friendly one.
Lee Gyeo-ul shoved her contact into my phone; we exchanged numbers.
Not now, but we'd talk more later, she said.
I nodded faintly. As exiled-to-bathroom Han Cheong-ah returned, Lee Gyeo-ul left.
"Got urgent business—heading out first. Chat well with Cheong-ah, Do-hyun friend!"
Now alone with Han Cheong-ah.
In the quiet café, facing her across the table, I observed.
She was still bright and energetic. Her usual blank expression held, but she looked happy.
"Being bathroom-exiled felt pretty awful. Even briefly, I got a taste of Crown Prince Sado's vibe."
I recalled Lee Gyeo-ul's words.
'Han Cheong-ah isn't an idiot.'
Calling her to school put her in danger.
Sure, calculated with Lee Gyeo-ul as backup—but she wasn't a tool to use.
In the end, I'd deceived and exploited Han Cheong-ah. Fact unchanged.
That's why the apology demand.
I opened my mouth to apologize.
That instant...
"Do-hyun. How about a date with me from now on?"
Han Cheong-ah spoke first.
I stared, dumbfounded. She smiled faintly and continued.
"Finally, I can pay you for the portrait."