Sudden Status Window
Whipping around at the sudden status window, Yul cleared her throat.
“……Feels refreshing, huh?”
“……You think it just feels refreshing?”
Ryu Shin-ah fumbled awkwardly for a tissue.
“At least your Constellation sends you steak as a gift. Lucky you, General.”
“Honestly, it feels more like 'eat and get lost.' But hey, your Star……”
“What's the point of saying it.”
Ryu Shin-ah pointed into the air.
“They're cackling up there, saying you deserve it.”
“You two get along great.”
“I should've contracted with a Constellation that babies its Incarnation like yours does you, General……!”
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ snorts, saying don't even dream of it.
Mocking that only our Yul gets this kind of treatment.
……Better not say it out loud.
Yul subtly averted her gaze.
Ryu Shin-ah grumbled that his face was about to get all misty, staring wistfully at the steak.
Yul handed him a knife and fork.
“You got nothing going on for a while, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let's go see Mom tomorrow.”
Ryu Shin-ah blinked, popping a piece of steak into his mouth.
Tomorrow?
* * *
Early morning sunlight slipped through the curtains like a hazy dawn.
The living room brightened fully thanks to the long trail of light across the floor.
Filled with golden rays and the lingering bluish tint of predawn, two figures occupied the space.
Yul was curled up on the sofa, wrapped tight in a blanket burrito.
And right beneath her, sprawled starfish-style on the floor: Ryu Shin-ah, his slender wrist draped over his eyes.
Chirp chirp.
A rare birdsong drifted in from outside.
The lengthening sunlight reached their eyelids.
“……Mm.”
Ryu Shin-ah's eye twitched first.
His lids fluttered, revealing golden irises.
His once light-brown hair and eyes had changed color long ago after contracting with his Constellation.
He stared at the ceiling for a moment before slowly sitting up.
Swish.
The blanket slipped from his shoulder, dust settling on his tousled hair and sparkling in the light.
“Ah……”
Morning already, he muttered.
Blinking, he turned to Yul.
Her face half-buried in the blanket, she was still deep in dreamland.
“I only have one bed.”
“I know. I was gonna crash in the living room anyway?”
“Not giving it up either. Move, I wanna watch TV.”
“Knew it, but that's harsh, General……”
Despite the words, they'd ended up dozing off together in front of the TV last night, all buddy-buddy.
“Hey, General……”
“……”
“General, wake up.”
He reached out and nudged her shoulder, but no dice.
Sigh. Typical.
With a groan, he hauled himself up.
Silently, he folded the blanket, carried it neatly to the bedroom, washed his face.
Then rummaged through his inventory for two stamina-restoring sandwiches.
As he bustled about, the house grew brighter, full morning now.
“……Mmng.”
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ urgently asks if our Yul slept well.
Worriedly checks if there's any crick in her shoulder or back.
Yul cracked her eyes open groggily, and the status window popped up right away.
She nodded vaguely, then turned her head.
“Awake, General?”
“……”
“Go wash up and change. Everything's ready.”
Ryu Shin-ah had prepared everything, even her share.
Yul stared at him blankly through slightly puffy eyes.
“……You woke up early.”
It really hit her then—she was reuniting with her friend.
Ryu Shin-ah chuckled, as if he'd expected that.
“You think I'd forget something like this?”
* * *
After washing up, munching sandwiches, and boarding the train they'd reserved yesterday, they arrived at their destination around lunchtime.
Of course, guiding half-asleep Yul to the bathroom, stuffing the sandwich in her mouth, booking the tickets—all Ryu Shin-ah's handiwork.
“Uwaa, been a while.”
Ryu Shin-ah pushed up his sunglasses with a grin.
Yul, who'd caught more Z's on the train, smiled faintly too.
Like yesterday, she wore the sunglasses he'd lent her.
“How long's it been since Busan?”
“Over two years? For you, Ryu Shin.”
“Yeah, two years. All that suffering away from home in a foreign land.”
“If you can refuse next time, do it. Business trip.”
Yul tapped his carry-on.
“You're A+ rank—you don't have to take every gig.”
One of Korea's rare A+ Hunters. A rare class at that.
Not like Yul's close-combat specialist (basically all-purpose dealer), or tanks, or even healers.
Ryu Shin-ah was rare even globally.
Sure, that meant important missions, but he wasn't powerless to say no.
“Gotta see the brief first. If it sucks, no deal.”
Ryu Shin-ah grinned playfully.
Alright, let's go.
He patted her back lightly and started walking.
Yul followed, watching his back.
April sun was perfect.
They arrived near Haeundae Beach.
Stepping out of the taxi, Ryu Shin-ah pointed at a familiar cafe.
A customer was just grabbing a takeout Americano.
“That one, right?”
“Yeah.”
Yul nodded.
Ryu Shin-ah's already bright face lit up more.
They pushed open the cafe door.
Ding-a-ling.
The bell above the glass jingled.
The woman at the counter turned.
Yul's mother, Kang Young-hwa.
Her jet-black hair and eyes like Yul's, pale skin—her face bloomed into a smile.
“You two are here?”
“Yeah.”
“Hello, ma'am!”
They greeted one after another.
Kang Young-hwa stepped out from the counter, arms open.
The three shared light hugs.
“How long's it been. You've matured even more.”
“Really? Yul said she wasn't sure.”
“No, really. But why are you skinnier! Aren't you overworking?”
“Ahaha.”
Ryu Shin-ah laughed off the worried scolding.
Yul cut in from the side.
“Hey, no hug for your daughter?”
“I saw you last month.”
“That's cold……”
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ slams the desk, furious that lowly creature dares interrupt Yul and her mother's reunion.
Star-nim, calm down.
Yul muttered internally, and the window quieted immediately.
“Anyway, daughter.”
“Yeah? What?”
“Didn't sleep?”
Kang Young-hwa frowned.
“You look exhausted. Something bothering you?”
“Huh? No, just…… got up early the last couple days.”
“Why yesterday?”
“The General picked me up from the airport!”
Ryu Shin-ah jumped in smoothly.
He shrugged playfully.
Early flight, you know.
Kang Young-hwa, well aware of Yul's morning weaknesses, nodded understandingly.
“Still, you went to get your friend……”
“What do you take me for, Mom.”
“The one who tanked her GPA, took two years of leaves, doesn't even part-time.”
“……”
Yul shut her mouth quietly.
Sure, the GPA tank was fallout from awakening as a Hunter that first year—and after.
No need for part-time when you didn't need the cash.
But she couldn't exactly explain that to her mom.
Pfft.
Shin-ah shook his head sympathetically beside her.
Standing next to Korea's precious asset, her own situation looked even worse (though it wasn't)—not even empty words could fix that.
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ clutches its neck, outraged that that thing dares insult our Yul in front of her mother.
Yul silently smacked his back.
Smack!
“Ow!”
“Why hit the kid? It's true.”
“Your grin was annoying.”
“Whoa, General, you're……”
Ryu Shin-ah opened his mouth indignantly but shut it at Yul silently pointing at the air beside her.
Obvious what was there—and how threatening the words likely were.
Once the comedic exchange wrapped up, Yul asked after her.
“You doing okay, Mom?”
“Too okay. Hand over the luggage—I'll stash it in storage. You two go have fun.”
“Nah. Weekend crowds—I'll help out for the day.”
“Yeah, ma'am. Been a while; lemme pitch in.”
Kang Young-hwa protested it wasn't necessary, but they changed into uniforms anyway.
As Yul tied her apron, Ryu Shin-ah held out his phone.
“Here, General. Snap a pic of me.”
“……”
“Don't give me that 'are you nuts' look. For my socials.”
His SNS account, like any popular Hunter's, crushed most idols' follower counts.
“I'll hype this place hard today.”
Ryu Shin-ah grinned, rolling up his sleeves.
“Save your energy—tons of customers coming.”
Yul snapped his photo expressionlessly, thinking to herself:
Crowds mean hellish work, you idiot.