Sickly Beauty 05
Mikael stood stock-still, gazing out the window. He'd rushed over the moment he heard she was awake, only to find her gone, leaving an empty space behind.
"...It's been a whole month."
Mikael muttered bitterly. All those days he'd spent agonizing over what to say when they met again felt like a complete waste. He'd even grabbed the coat she liked, gotten permission from Eden, and brought news that might help—only for Yeonwoo to up and vanish.
With melancholy in his eyes, Mikael approached the open window.
"Perhaps... our connection, our bond, is like parallel lines that never meet..."
He trailed off mid-sentence, as if he were some tragic protagonist lamenting alone. Then he froze. Through the open window, he spotted Yeonwoo scaling the wall and dropping into the inner courtyard.
"...Ahem, ahem."
Mikael's face flushed subtly. He'd mistaken her absence for a permanent departure and wallowed aloud in his misery—now replaying that embarrassing scene in his mind.
"Ah, anyway. Glad to see you're healthy!"
No one had witnessed it, but it was mortifying all the same. Still... it really was a relief. A faint smile curved Mikael's lips.
But then—
"...She's... with her."
The smile vanished as if by magic the instant he saw Yeonseo glued to Yeonwoo's side. Unthinkingly, he hid the coat clutched in his hand behind his back. No one was watching, but his arm moved on instinct.
Sudden insecurity washed over him. They'd spent nearly twenty days together in the Ant Nest, but a full month apart afterward—longer than their time side by side. Plenty of time for his mind to redraw Yeonwoo's image on its own terms.
"Truth be told... assuming I truly know you would be presumptuous."
A bitter feeling settled in. He didn't really know what kind of person she was.
"Should I... head back?"
As the confidence-drained Mikael pondered, Yeonwoo entered the hospital and approached a group of children.
"...Ahh."
Mikael's eyes widened as he watched her. Naturally, his hands clasped together in prayer, and a warm smile softened his face.
Yeonwoo returned to the hospital's inner courtyard by hopping the wall with Yeonseo.
"Who'd have thought they wouldn't even take food money. Was it really just a new menu tasting?"
"You buy that? Didn't you see the shop on the way out?"
By the time they'd left the pasta place, customers who'd spotted Yeonwoo had packed the interior.
"Guess we got there before the lunch rush."
"And you're this oblivious."
Yeonseo shrugged. Of course, turning from man to woman made some cluelessness inevitable, but she worried how Yeonwoo would manage going forward. Their lives had always been separate; she couldn't stick by her side forever.
"...Or maybe not."
Yeonseo murmured softly. There were ways around it.
"Huh? What's with those kids?"
Yeonwoo narrowed her eyes and strode toward one corner of the courtyard.
"Sis? Where you off to now?"
"Just a sec."
A bunch of kids clustered near a large tree, making quite a racket with distressed faces. One was even sobbing outright.
"Hey there. What's wrong?"
Yeonwoo crouched down to greet them. Kids wouldn't spill to a stranger without reservation, no matter how young.
"...Our balloon popped."
But Yeonwoo wasn't just any stranger. The kid pointed at the tree right away, drawn in by the pretty big sis making eye contact. Children instinctively loved beauty. Plus, Yeonwoo's air of fragility felt relatable to the hospitalized kids.
"Ah, got caught up there, huh."
The remnants of the burst balloon tangled in the branches. Yeonwoo eyed them seriously, then grinned and tapped her earring twice.
A rod with a round tip materialized in her hand—one of the legitimate weapon forms: a bubble stick.
"Check this out."
She waved it, and—
Pop. Pop.
'Soap bubbles' rose up. They bubbled forth at her will, and a big swing produced foam the size of the kids' faces.
"Whoa! Bubbles!"
"Wow, so pretty!"
"Yeah? Want more?"
"No, you're pretty, sis. But the bubbles are too."
"Haha, alright then. Wanna do it together?"
Nothing beat the innocence of kids. Yeonwoo got into it, making more bubbles. She couldn't hand over the weapon, so she guided their little hands on the stick, waving it around.
"Heehee."
"Me too, me too!"
The children burst into giggles, soon chasing Yeonwoo around, laughing and chattering happily. The courtyard filled with their joyful noise in no time.
"...Heh."
Yeonseo sat on a nearby bench, watching Yeonwoo play. The familiar sight brought a smile to her lips.
"Yeah... Oppa was always like that."
Even back in the orphanage days. Yeonwoo had always extended a hand first. Even in the burning orphanage. Even from the director—he'd always saved her. Sure, his methods were destructive, but knowing it was for her sake, Yeonseo had accepted him.
"Ah."
She murmured. The sense of fulfillment felt almost disappointingly light. Her left hand. Fourth finger. A red ring sat there.
"...".
Yeonseo stared at the ring—or rather, the empty space above it. Slowly, she reached out and gripped the bench's edge lightly.
Sizzle.
A chunk the size of her fingers vanished from the bench, melted away by the intense heat pouring from her hand—not just burned, but vaporized.
"Oops."
Yeonseo flinched and pulled back. But the panic was brief. She smiled calmly again, turning her gaze to Yeonwoo as if nothing happened.
"Sorry. Keep you waiting?"
After sending the kids off, Yeonwoo returned to the bench.
"Nah. For something like that, I'd wait forever."
Yeonseo beamed, a genuine smile. She just overlapped her hands to hide the ring.
"What's that?"
Yeonwoo noticed a band-aid on her cheek now—pink background printed with cartoon puppies, super cute.
"Oh, this? The kids stuck it on so it wouldn't hurt."
"Hehe. Oppa hasn't changed a bit."
Yeonseo hid her arm behind her back and stood, nudging Yeonwoo's side with her elbow.
"Right? Saintess."
"Hyaat!"
But the reaction was unexpected. Yeonwoo clapped a hand over her mouth. Two reasons for the outburst: Yeonseo's increased strength, and Yeonwoo's female body still being sensitive after a month asleep.
"N-no, sis."
"Uh, y-yeah?"
"Not that saintess."
"...".
Yeonwoo's face reddened as her eyes darted around. After a moment's thought—
"Y-you crazy bitch!"
It didn't take long to catch on.
After some twists and turns, Yeonwoo returned to her room—to be greeted by Mikael. He sat on the bed's edge, reading a book.
"That's not a door."
He grumbled as if he'd been waiting.
"Ooh."
Yeonwoo let out a short exclamation. Probably at the sight before her. Maybe because he'd worn priest robes the whole Ant Nest time? Casual Mikael looked fresh. Slim gray slacks hugging his waistline, paired with a half-polo baring a bit of his pale neck. Neat, proportion-enhancing choice. And the cherry on top: a beret on his head.
"Cute outfit."
"W-what nonsense the moment you see my face!"
Thud! Mikael slammed the book shut, shouting.
"Seriously, looks good on you. Bet you're popular."
Yeonseo was there too, of course—having tailed Yeonwoo through the window.
"Perfect chance for intros. Oh, wait—already done?"
"Nah, not formally."
Yeonseo stepped forward without hesitation, thrusting out her hand at Mikael.
"Sis's little sis. Yeonseo."
But Mikael couldn't take it. His discomfort—fear—around women.
"Hey, I told you he's uncomfortable."
"Oh right. My bad. Can't even be near girls, yeah? Uh... but it's all girls here?"
Yeonseo grinned pointedly.
"Mikael."
He introduced himself plainly, no frills. Instead, he turned straight to Yeonwoo.
"Hunter Yeonwoo. Ever thought of joining Eden for an event?"
Straight to business—hunter talk, strictly for hunters. The kind of conversation only they two could have.
"Under Eden?"
"Yes. Even temporarily—I've gotten approval to share info if you join as Eden."
"Good boy. But Eden... kinda..."
Not that she disliked Eden. She'd owed them big in the Ant Nest. But the saintess thing nagged—didn't want to become the real Ant Nest saintess.
"Still, just event info alone will help you big time later."
"That? Battle on the Eve of the Wild Sanctuary Gate, right?"
"...Yes?"
Mikael's eyes went wide. Event intel was precious—where, when, what kind. Top-shelf info traded secretly between companies.
For her to already know... astonishment mixed with futility.
"Battle on the Eve of the what now?"
"Battle. On the Eve. Of the Wild Sanctuary. Gate name—easier this way."
"What kinda gate name is that?"
Yeonwoo had sniffed it out via weapon tracking. Just not the when or format yet.
"No way... you already got a party?"
"Party?"
"Events pair up in twos for the late game."
"Ah, gotcha. 2-man cells are rare. Neat."
"...Yes?"
Mikael blinked blankly, then realization dawned.
"You didn't know?!"
"Nope. Thanks for the info."
"Haa..."
He sighed deeply. Couldn't recruit her for Eden, but spilled the beans anyway.
Yet... it felt oddly refreshing.
"...Two."
Meanwhile, Yeonseo mulled something over, eyes rolling thoughtfully.
"Starts solo, but late game mandates pairs. Exact format TBD, but definitely teams of two."
No point hiding more. Mikael laid it all out. Unbeknownst to him, from the moment he entered, he'd had no intention of holding back.
"And this."
He offered the folded coat.
"Whoa, was looking for this earlier."
"Glad you like it."
Yeonwoo slipped it on right away. Worn through the Ant Nest, it felt comfy and nostalgic.
"Thanks, Mikael."
"No big deal."
"No, really. All of it."
"I-it's not that great. Not even mine—Eden's property..."
Relentless praise made him turn away. But Yeonwoo pressed on—a veteran hunter's survival tactic. Praise cost nothing but could yield gains like magic words.
"You saved my life at the end too."
"...!"
Yeonseo's eyes widened at Mikael, blinking repeatedly like she was seeing him anew.
"I promised to take responsibility."
"Fair enough. Call it even."
"Agreed."
After that, idle chit-chat. Awkwardness between Yeonseo and Mikael persisted, so Yeonwoo bridged naturally. Whatever looks they exchanged, she dismissed it—not indifference, just deeming it normal for acquaintances-of-acquaintances.
Thus, she even scored the Battle on the Eve of the Wild Sanctuary Gate date. Mikael returned to Eden after. Yeonseo left early for college classes.
"Phew. Finally."
Yeonwoo alone in the spacious room. Not lonely— the moment she'd awaited.
She summoned the legendary weapon from her earring.
◈ Options: [Advanced Destructive Power] [Supporter]
◈ Special Option: [Queen's Pheromone]
She checked the legendary-grade special option: Queen's Pheromone.
Queen's Pheromone
[Basic Effect: Accumulates pheromones based on the queen's capabilities.]
[Marking / Stack / ???]
"Huh?"
Yeonwoo's eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar option type.
"Legendaries always like this?"
Her first legendary weapon felt alien from the performance up.