Ryu Shin-ah, the Early Hunter
Ryu Shin-ah was one of the first hunters to awaken, emerging just a week after the gates first appeared. His initial rank was B-, but he was a rare case where his grade shifted due to ability development. And the true power of his gift, once revealed? It was impressive. No, downright extraordinary.
A ability that defied clear categorization by type or trait. If one had to pin it down, it was like the pinnacle of illusion-based powers. Whether it was the Hunter Management Bureau, anywhere else, every device on the street that people breathed past, their gazes, their memories... maybe even the 'system' itself. Nothing could resist being altered or erased at Ryu Shin-ah's whim. He always laughed it off incredulously whenever someone suggested he might tamper with the system...
'If I wanted to, there'd be nothing I couldn't fool.'
For someone like that to step up and bury every scrap of information? It was a fight they could never win from the start.
Ryu Shin-ah approached Jeon Se-han, who looked resigned, and leaned on his desk.
"Director. Just one thing I want to say."
"...?"
"Don't even think about digging."
He flashed a grin.
"Our king won't give you anything. Not her real name, not her true face, not her inner thoughts, not her powers—none of it. Our king's daily life? If she wants, I can personally wipe every record clean myself. Make it so she can live like a total civilian. The people around me? Go ahead and investigate them all."
"..."
"Keep wondering if I've planted someone who looks exactly like our king to mock you and the whole world... or if she's really right by my side. Never stop doubting."
"..."
"Don't keep it to yourself—spread the word. Make sure everyone knows what I just said."
Jeon Se-han deflated completely. In short, it was a declaration of war: no matter what they tried, they'd never uncover the truth, so give up. Even if he walked down the street with someone who screamed "Lee Sun-joo Killer" to anyone paying attention—or the polar opposite—they'd have to assume every conversation, every glance, every detail about that person was fake. That the truth belonged solely to Ryu Shin-ah himself.
"...Why go this far?"
That was the only question Jeon Se-han managed.
And Ryu Shin-ah's smile turned vicious. Without a doubt, it was the most inhuman grin Jeon Se-han had ever seen in his life.
"Because the king is the only one who gets to choose when she steps into the light."
And that answer...
Jeon Se-han took a slow breath, hiding his tension. Yul stared at him without a flicker of attention anywhere else.
"...You've come."
She nodded curtly. It was a response that might've seemed arrogant to a polite greeting, but the Lee Sun-joo Killer had more than earned the right.
Yul nudged a shard of glass with her foot.
"I'm not paying for that window you smashed. No way you can't afford it."
"Of course. It's actually in better shape than I expected."
"Then maybe I should live up to those low expectations."
Yul said it casually. Jeon Se-han flinched.
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ sheds tears of emotion, saying our Yul threatening like that is too cool.
Yul's constellation seemed pretty hyped. Well, it was a threat. That's why she'd come, after all.
She shifted her gaze.
'Hunters downstairs, huh. Those two?'
She'd guessed from the building's lights being out, but it looked like all the civilians and staff had been sent home. Those hunters had to be Gu Se-ji and the illusion-type Kim Jae-won.
"Anyway, I've heard from Record Fucker."
"..."
"You wanted to meet me...? Guess my message that I'd come first didn't get through?"
"No, that's not it. The on-site hunters relayed it that day."
Jeon Se-han denied it quickly, as if worried about blowback on those hunters.
"It was my solo call. I just wanted to see you as soon as possible..."
"And what then? Hurry up and meet me for what?"
His antics struck her as ridiculous, so Yul tilted her head slowly.
"You must be desperate. After screwing up first."
"..."
"I believe you won't make excuses. Record Fucker wouldn't vouch for a guy like that."
She was playing up the tension, but honestly, Yul held no real grudge against the director. Seventy percent of her anger came from the ticketing disruption—and she'd already seen Double Black in the flesh, even talked to them. Just days ago! With luck better than any ticketing win, Yul was in a generous mood now. And the remaining thirty percent? She'd wring that out soon enough.
"You've talked a lot, so before we cut to the chase... mind telling me why you pulled this stunt?"
"...I'll explain."
Jeon Se-han took a short breath, then continued slowly. The top ranker's disappearance, the rumors, national losses, risk levels... Exactly as Yul and Ryu Shin-ah had predicted.
"You might not know, but we made offers to two guilds total. After the first negotiation fell through, we approached the current guild's master... and this time, they accepted."
"Those two downstairs?"
"Yes. Kim Jae-won Hunter... a C-rank illusion-type who awakened recently."
Yul snorted. Got it.
"What I don't get is how you planned to handle the fallout from blowing this up so big. Even now, it's a total shitstorm. What if I just never showed? For real?"
"Even then, we could put up a 'public' face."
"Pull me back out later, and it's all good either way, huh."
If the real Lee Sun-joo Killer appeared, it'd prove she was alive and kicking. If not, they bought time—and Kim Jae-won as a stand-in brought plenty of benefits.
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ is swept by the urge to rip that cunning bastard apart right now.
Yul glanced at her status window and sighed. For her star, and to set an example, she might need a little show. ...With a dash of personal flair. Time to vent that last thirty percent.
"You've got balls."
"...No choice."
"That's an excuse."
"Fair. It is."
"What if I really never showed? And this all blew up?"
"...That."
"Right here."
Yul's voice dropped. A vibration started under their feet—precisely beneath her sneakers.
Rumble rumble rumble...
The entire tall building shook. Pens rolled off the desk; shards from the broken window bounced into the air. Jeon Se-han broke into a cold sweat.
"If I decide to retaliate... how were you gonna handle that?"
It hit the nail on the head. The plan was full of holes, and either way, the bureau and guild would wear the scandal. But they'd had no choice.
If they could drag the "Lee Sun-joo Killer" back into action and flaunt her vitality...
Jeon Se-han gulped air a few times before speaking.
"...Our mistake. We knew the risks from the start."
"..."
"You have every right to do whatever you want."
Destroy this place, kill me if you must—we're prepared. He bowed his head as if to say as much.
What the hell?
Yul panicked and pulled back the menacing aura she'd released. The building's shaking stopped dead.
Who throws their life around like that? 'Why does everyone think I'll kill someone over every little thing?'
Constellation ‘Blind Sovereign of the Sky’ is excited, saying let's do it already.
'Kill what? A perfectly fine person.'
Ignoring her sulky constellation, Yul cleared her throat lightly.
"No need for... that. Who kills over something like this? Especially a civilian."
"Then the headquarters building..."
"Forget that too. What did the poor building ever do to you?"
If the bureau collapsed, who'd handle the gates? Yul waved it off, adding that, and Jeon Se-han blinked in dazed surprise.
For him, meeting Yul face-to-face had only happened once before—when requesting aid for France's S-rank gate. Back then, he'd pegged her as curt and brutal. Apparently not the type to let civilian lives slide.
"...Record Fucker—Ryu Shin-ah Hunter—said it'd be wise to brace for the building going down."
"Pardon?"
"Thank you. Lee Sun-joo Kil—Hunter."
"What the hell did that guy..."
Yul rubbed her face. Ryu Shin-ah, you bastard. He'd apparently painted her as some tyrant.
Eager to wrap this pointless chat and bail, Yul rattled off her prepared lines like a machine gun.
"Anyway. Announce that we talked it out fine. The dungeon sighting was me. As for my stance... just say I told you to make sure this never happens again."
"And future activities...?"
"I'll handle it."
So shut up and wait. Her tone turned icy in an instant. No more mercy needed.
Jeon Se-han shut his mouth again.