Wild Sanctuary 01: Crimson Beacon
The traffic light turned red. Across the street, the pedestrian signal flipped to green. Even the vivid green glow at the walkers' feet shone brightly, but no one stepped forward easily.
"Whoa, legend."
A college-aged guy nudged his friend. "...Fucking insane."
The friend followed his gaze and muttered something similar.
"Hey, cross first."
"Yeah, okay."
They hurried across the crosswalk, but their eyes stayed locked in one direction. Most passersby did the same. Smartphones didn't even register.
A red convertible sports car sat at the light, roof fully open, exposing its passengers completely. In the driver's seat: a tall, refreshingly charismatic woman. Arm draped casually over the lowered door frame, sunglasses on, exuding effortless swagger. That alone drew eyes—but what truly froze the crowd was the passenger.
She was the total opposite of the driver, rigid like she'd committed a crime. No leaning back into the seat; spine ramrod straight. Her face looked on the verge of tears, pitifully so. Eyes darting wildly, lips twitching nonstop, hands fidgeting neatly on her lap.
What the hell's their story?
Being trafficked? Forced into something shady?
Pedestrians spun wild fantasies, unable to tear their gazes from Yeonwoo.
"What the fuck."
"...I'm dying of embarrassment."
Yeonwoo finally hung her head. An eternity passed. At last, the car signal turned green.
Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Vroooom—
Only after the car pulled away did Yeonwoo relax, sinking into the seat with relief.
"Why the hell do you stop at every light like that?"
"No... then... this... ha... "
Yeonwoo let out heavy sighs, face like death. Her first time in a sports car was stressful enough—topless, every eye drilled into her. She felt like dying.
"Please, just put this down. Come on?"
"Nah. Why would I block this prime view? Haha!"
Shin Gaon cackled. Yeonwoo couldn't tell through the sunglasses, but Gaon savored every reaction in the rearview at each stop. The flustered panic from the unfamiliar open car and stares? Pure thrill. It invigorated her life.
"Today's gonna be great."
"Ha."
Yeonwoo, meanwhile, was miserable. She'd been thrilled at the ride to Battle on the Eve of the Wild Sanctuary Gate, but the cost was brutal. And this psycho bitch deliberately ditched the Olympic Expressway, cruising through Sinchon and Hongdae toward Bukhansan—packed with people, like she was showing off.
"Scared you'll pull some other stunt."
"Like that Gold tier smackdown girl?"
"Aaaah...!"
Yeonwoo clutched her head. It wasn't the video itself, but the reactions clinging to it.
"You used that weapon you stole from the idiot just fine."
"True that."
Weapons talk snapped her back to calm.
"Fuck. Hope my axe is still there. Took forever to get."
"No one's snagged it? Be real—I barely got you out. Got it?"
Yeonwoo nailed it down firmly. Her most composed, serious look since the sports car.
No axe for this event.
Drawing a two-handed axe here seemed impossible. Options and special effects were fair game, no issue.
"Hey, Yeonwoo."
"..."
Shin Gaon called casually. Bad vibes radiated. Yeonwoo turned to the window instead.
Gaon didn't care.
"Why you always wear that?"
Not as random as expected. Totally her style of question.
White wide slacks emphasizing her height. Sheer ivory shirt half-transparent underneath, bold black top, sunglasses perfect match. Weapons, wallet—everything screamed refined luxury.
"No other clothes? Haha."
"Yeah."
"...Huh?"
Unexpected.
"That church freak gave it to you, right? And that's all?"
"Yep."
"...Hmm."
Gaon rolled her eyes behind the shades. Genuinely thrown this time.
"You live there?"
"Yeah."
"...First time I've been this weirded out. Bluffing?"
"For real."
"Hmmm."
Gaon grimaced. Off came the sunglasses; she gnawed the temple with her teeth. Even she had some pity. With Yeonwoo's looks and skills—especially that face—people assumed rich kid. But single outfit from Eden? Felt kinda sorry. Fingers tapped the wheel; she tilted her head.
"We gotta win this event. Us."
"Suddenly?"
"Whatever. Fighting! Fighting!"
Best Gaon could offer: event success. She vowed to go wild. Unknown chaos ahead, but her crazy ally helped more than expected. Winning amplified the thrill, obviously.
"And after, shopping for clothes?"
"...Huh?"
Yeonwoo's turn to flinch. Clothes, shopping... kneading. Bad memories.
"No need for that. Booze instead."
"That's mandatory. You hitting your sister's festival like that?"
"...What's wrong with it?"
Honestly, didn't care. Lazy, plus always positive reactions—no hang-ups.
"Nothing wrong. But if I were her, embarrassing."
"This? That bad?"
Gaon wasn't easy to dismiss. Dressed sharp herself, persuasive. Yeonwoo startled, shot back.
"College festival, right? Haha, strutting in screaming 'hunter' amid the chatter? Perfect fit."
"Ugh, tricky."
"Don't worry. Head to toe, I'll hook you up. Used to that stuff."
"What stuff?"
Yeonwoo narrowed her eyes. Suspiciously rich girl saying that? Sketchy.
"Me?"
Gaon snorted. Framed Yeonwoo with thumb-index square.
"Photographer."
"Hands on the wheel, you psycho!"
Yeonwoo yelled. Gaon smirked, gripped instantly. Pro photographer habit? Driving smooth despite wild streak.
"Make you festival star."
"Not even my festival!"
"We'll make it yours."
"You think before speaking?"
"Halfway?"
Truly relentless nutjob.
"Don't need that much. Just... not embarrassing for Seo-ah."
"Got it. No running post-event."
"Tch."
Yeonwoo clicked her tongue, sinking back. Life goal one: live happily. Second chance thrust goal two: Babel's hidden gate. Had to get strong. Strong hunters got famous inevitably. This look? Destiny unavoidable.
But now... kinda...
Simple reason: mortified. Ticklish, fluttering feeling. Odd flush. Unfamiliar—lifetime ignored, now alien.
"Starting now, looks like."
Gaon pointed far-off shimmering light. Battle on the Eve of the Wild Sanctuary Gate entrance. Pillar pierced sky—event start signal.
"Yeah. Here we go."
Yeonwoo nodded firmly. Hunter life, feats piled—fame inevitable. Homework to accept someday.
But it hit faster, weirder than imagined.
As Yeonwoo headed to the event, a photo hit the community.
The shot: them at the light. Perfectly timed. Tanned, healthy Shin Gaon tonguing out behind sunglasses. Beside her, flushed Yeonwoo hiding her face, head down, body stiff—not leaning, hands stretched gripping the seat unnaturally.
The photo exploded. Street snap, deleted quick per some comments.
Too shocking—persisted, spreading everywhere. Naturally reached Ant Nest folks and Eden saint fans.
Gate anomalies struck suddenly—unpredictable when, what results. Events differed. Periodic in stabilized gates. Literal events: concepts, processes, winners, prizes. Fierce, but no death penalty. Loss? Just booted out.
Hunter Support Agency enforced order. Special Mobile Team joined.
Two dispatched hunters eyed the gate's light pillar. Lasted 10 minutes to 24 hours. Lured unaware folks. Usually under an hour—late, no entry.
One more thing.
"Wonder what color this time."
The burly hunter—scruffy beard—rubbed his jaw.
Pillar hue hinted event type.
"Usually green. Yellow or whatever."
The woman beside him answered casually. Duty, not thrilled.
"..."
But as the light shifted, she looked up intently. Yellow at first? Deepened to orange, then red.
"Sunbae."
"Yeah?"
"Red's what? First for me."
"Huh?"
Burly guy—Special Mobile Team powerhouse, top national hunter Kang Cheolhan—looked up. Stared silently long.
"...Me too."
Kang Cheolhan rubbed his jaw again, eyes on the crimson pillar.