Just in Case, I'll Stick Close for Protection
Just in case, she planned to stick right by her mother's side for close protection.
'Star-nim and Ryu Shin said it didn't seem like they were lying.'
Kim Jae-won's words that he wouldn't touch Kang Young-hwa. It felt gross, but Kwon Yul had admitted the possibility was high. Still, after her heart had nearly stopped from the incident a few days ago, she'd been glued to her mother's side ever since. Separate from any skills—just to feel a bit more at ease.
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' is begging to see our Yul just once, wrapped in a blanket.]
[He insists he has that big camera lens and shouts enthusiastically.]
'No thanks.'
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' clutches the big camera lens and sobs.]
'...Want some homma?'
A big camera lens, huh. Following the light stick, his gear was getting more professional by the day. Ignoring the status window saying the constellation had face-planted on the desk, Yul ruthlessly smoothed out the blankets and checked her phone.
"...Huh?"
A familiar notification popped up at the top.
V-App Live: We're here~!
"...!"
Double Black's live stream. Yul clicked the notification with superhuman speed.
⊳ [RecordFucker: You up? Sorry to hit you with this first thing in the morning]
⊳ [RecordFucker: That bastard escaped]
"...."
At the same time, the Hunter Channel window popped up over it.
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' raises an eyebrow.]
[Escape? Es-caaaape? He grinds his teeth, asking what the hell they're doing letting a punk like that slip away.]
The constellation ground his teeth. Yul's deliberation was brief, her decision swift.
'If it's already too late, it's in the past.'
Her lips softened as Double Black's faces filled the screen. Cursing the Management Bureau while thinking about the escaped rat was a hundred times less good for her mental health than watching the full Double Black live.
⊳ [17] Blue: These rookies are no joke
⊳ [23] TeamLeaderKillSquadRecruit: What kind of newbies are this strong...? Thought no more S-ranks were coming
⊳ [5] Jellyfish: Any hunters know info on the newbies?
⊳ [6] DawnLight: Scouting them? Get in line
⊳ [5] Jellyfish: Anywhere but Daehwanjang. If you have a conscience, steer clear this time—how much more greed do they need?? lololol
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: They won't be in the scouting race this time
⊳ [2] Joo Young: What makes you so sure?
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Cash flow problems rn
⊳ [5] Jellyfish: ?
⊳ [6] DawnLight: Huh?
⊳ [13] Twilight: ...?
⊳ [10] FuckOffAndDie: Whoa
⊳ [23] TeamLeaderKillSquadRecruit: Cash flow??
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: After all that shit, they at least need to pull some pillar roots ^^
⊳ [5] Jellyfish: Daehwanjang is insane lmao
⊳ [23] TeamLeaderKillSquadRecruit: Daehwanjang + cash flow... most mismatched combo #1
⊳ [7] Joo Young: So guilds interested in scouting: three total?
⊳ [5] Jellyfish: We're thinking about it but need info first; nothing known yet
⊳ [2] Joo Young: Your doing again?
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Why ask the obvious lol
⊳ [29] ScienceNerd: How do you even do it? Top ranks got transferred to Bureau after revamp
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Our king's info is still blank~ Block it before system records ^^
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Was kinda tough tho haha
⊳ [23] TeamLeaderKillSquadRecruit: 'Kinda tough' doesn't cut it...;; You can mess with the system directly, right?
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Enough about my powers, one thing:
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: Those two don't seem interested in guilds, so scouting pitches can wait
⊳ [8] RecordFucker: But other matters...
Ryu Shin-ah stared at the extra window next to him.
It took half an hour for her scatterbrained reply. Classic Yul, but he let out a hollow chuckle.
"Forget the Bureau—that's secondary. We have separate manpower for this."
Ryu Shin-ah wasn't as shocked as Gu Se-ji about Kim Jae-won's escape. Instead, he plotted capture routes.
'Dark web types would be advantageous... but.'
Overseas flight was possible too, but no airport records yet. High chance he was still domestic. After a moment's thought, Ryu Shin-ah opened another channel window.
Nicknamed SunPup. Top 10 domestic before Seo In-ah, the only Bureau-affiliated top ranker. But actually knee-deep in the underworld—a walking contradiction.
'...Contact him or nah?'
He hovered over the translucent keyboard, then closed the window. Nah, contacting him felt off. Daehwanjang was handling the capture, so leave them be for now. Image in the gutter or not, they were domestic #3 guild. They had the skills.
Ryu Shin-ah returned to Channel 1 and got to the point.
Now he had to prepare for Yul's return to Seoul.
"I'll contact you within today."
"Yes. Thank you."
Yul bowed politely and left the cafe. Right outside loomed a building: Dejin Academy Entertainment. Double Black Label's agency headquarters.
And Yul had just finished a part-time interview at the cafe directly across from it.
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' aches that our Yul has to do this.]
[Seeing our Yul suffer tears his heart—he wails frantically.]
'Star-nim. Banana milk, one.'
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' urgently gifts one bottle of 'Banana Milk'.]
Thud. Her pocket suddenly grew heavy. Yul popped the banana milk straw in her mouth and sighed.
Part-time work. How long had it been?
"You're really gonna do part-time? If you're not studying, at least get some social experience."
"...I've got plenty of experience."
"Plenty my ass. Asked Shin-ah, and he recommended this place."
In the end, Kang Young-hwa had pushed her out of the house, thrusting her into the workforce. And the job Ryu Shin-ah tipped her off about? The cafe in front of Double Black's agency. Perfect location. Plenty of cafe experience. Objectively ideal, low-stress workplace... but.
She sure as hell hadn't told the truth. In the end, she'd secretly stuck teleport items on her mom and returned to Seoul today.
Yul wandered the bustling streets. It felt oddly novel walking alone, considering how recently Ryu Shin-ah had returned to Korea.
'Grab lunch and head in?'
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' smiles warmly, saying do whatever our Yul wants.]
[But eat something healthy—searches for the best organic restaurant nearby.]
'Pizza it is.'
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' cries Why...! in despair.]
Ignoring the status window, Yul set off. There was a Miss Pizza nearby, she remembered. Spotting the familiar red sign, she pulled out her wallet.
Ding-a-ling.
Inside, she scanned the menu on the counter.
'What sounds good?'
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' asks if our Yul doesn't like cheese—how about Cheese Bomb?]
"Cheese crust add-on, one small Cheese Corn Pizza."
"20,000 won."
"Here..."
"I'll cover it."
A stranger's voice cut in. Deep, smooth, but quiet. Yul looked up.
"...?"
Her black eyes met his golden ones. Platinum blond near-silver hair, deep gold irises. Dyed? Mixed race? Or hunter? Yul's instincts kicked in. Unique hair and eyes screamed hunter.
[Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' rises from his seat.]
Yul glanced at his proffered card, then up. The stone-faced man stared impassively, and Yul said,
"...I have money."
Anyone offering freebies first? Suspect them.
【...Ha.】
A voice thick with divinity crushed the air. The lips above his propped chin twisted sneeringly.
【That insolent wretch, dares...】
【To approach my child right before my eyes.】
His displeasure evident, he muttered.
【That vessel on the brink of rot and collapse has lost all fear.】
Miss Pizza's rookie employee Kim Yang genuinely wanted to cry. Two customers suddenly vying to pay? Too much for an earnest newbie.
The man handed his card to the employee and murmured quietly,
"I know. Pay for this, and in return, let's chat a bit—hunter to hunter."