Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 56
Same time, Seoul M Hotel penthouse.
"That concludes the matters relayed from the Association President."
"You'll be able to hear the details at tomorrow's meeting."
Gwanghyun handed the organized documents to Yijun, cautiously watching his expression.
Yijun, sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed, wasn't looking his way.
Seeing him extend a hand clad in a black leather glove, it seemed he had been listening after all.
"Th-then I'll see you tomorrow."
Gwanghyun hastily gathered his things and exited the room.
Yijun merely gave a light nod, not rising from his seat.
Click.
Having closed the door, Gwanghyun leaned his forehead against its surface, his hand still on the knob.
"Haaaah..."
And he let out a long breath, like someone who had been holding it for a very long time.
Maestro Baek Yijun.
His exclusive contract with the Korean Hunter Association was a cause for major celebration within the Association.
Despite having joined the Association less than a month ago, he was already achieving tremendous results.
However, separate from him being an incredibly valuable asset to the Association, Gwanghyun found Yijun slightly... no, very uncomfortable.
Perhaps even more so than the Association President.
'Just sitting across from him and talking gives me goosebumps.'
Even setting aside that feeling, rumor had it he could enslave someone just by whispering in their ear.
Perhaps because of that, Gwanghyun felt somewhat reluctant to even make eye contact with Yijun.
Meanwhile, about five minutes after Gwanghyun left, Yijun glanced towards Catherine.
"David?"
David Moore.
He had served as Yijun's attendant for a long time.
Like Catherine, he was American, but he had entered Korea 14 years ago under Yijun's secret orders and had been living there ever since.
In response to Yijun's question, Catherine glanced at her wristwatch and replied precisely.
"He should have just arrived in the lobby."
"I'll bring him up immediately."
"No need."
Yijun rose from his seat and picked up his suit jacket.
Catherine didn't even have time to say anything.
Slinging the jacket over his shoulder, he turned the doorknob.
Descending to the hotel lobby, he saw David holding a large bouquet.
"Ah, Hunter Baek."
"It's been a while."
Yijun stopped before David, who bowed deeply towards him at a 90-degree angle.
Hearing he'd recently started a YouTube channel and was attracting subscribers, his appearance was much neater than when he was in the States, looking just like a model.
"It seems life in Korea suits you better than expected."
"Thanks to you."
David replied respectfully.
Yijun looked at him, a slight smile touching his lips, before promptly turning around.
"Then let's go."
"Huh? You're coming with us?"
"Yes."
At Yijun's reply, Catherine and David exchanged glances.
In the end, they rode with Yijun towards their destination.
The destination was about a thirty-minute drive from the hotel.
After parking, they walked up a quiet hillside path.
The place where they finally stopped was, in fact, someone's grave.
"Here you go."
David carefully handed the bouquet he was holding to Yijun.
Yijun seemed to hesitate for a moment but soon accepted it and slowly placed it before the tombstone.
"..."
And so, the three stood silently before the tombstone for a long while.
Eventually, it was Yijun who spoke first.
"The grave is remarkably clean."
"I simply did my best with the task you entrusted to me."
When Yijun had first suddenly ordered the trip to Korea, David had been greatly surprised.
It was understandable. He had graduated from a prestigious university and was on the verge of promotion within management, yet he was ordered to tend the grave of someone he didn't even know in Korea.
'I'll promise you an annual salary of 200,000 dollars.'
But he had no choice.
"Have you ever met her?"
Yijun, who had been gazing at the tombstone for a long while, suddenly asked.
David instantly knew who 'her' referred to.
"No. Not even once."
"In fact, besides me, no one ever visited this grave."
"Not for the past 14 years."
Not for the past 14 years. At those last words, Yijun lifted his gaze.
"Well... recently, there were signs that someone had visited the grave."
"I see."
Yijun merely answered briefly, adding nothing more before turning his gaze back to the tombstone.
Then, it was David's turn to raise his gaze.
"Shouldn't we investigate who it was?"
"Yes. It's fine."
Yijun nodded.
"You don't need to come here anymore."
"Pardon?"
"I'm saying you can return to the States."
"D-did I perhaps make some mistake...?"
"No. It's not that."
Yijun slowly tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky.
Clouds stained with the sunset hues drifted slowly.
Closing his eyes as if guided by a gentle breeze, the face of one person naturally surfaced in his mind.
"Because the person who will tend this grave has now returned."
And I have returned as well.
Yijun, adding this softly, slowly opened his eyes.
"Is that really true? Has she truly returned?"
David approached Yijun, flustered.
Although David had tended the grave for a long time, he still didn't know who its occupant was, or why Yijun had ordered him to care for it.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he had sometimes considered investigating secretly, but feared upsetting Yijun, so he hadn't dared.
Not for the entire past 14 years.
Surely it wouldn't hurt to ask a little now?
David, glancing repeatedly at Yijun, subtly parted his lips.
"Th-perhaps, what kind of person was she? The occupant of this grave—"
"David."
Catherine, who had been standing by silently, warned him with a pointed cough.
For Catherine knew well how cautious Yijun was regarding matters related to 'her'.
Yet, for some reason, Yijun answered readily today.
"Hmm. Someone with a strong sense of responsibility?"
Following the sunset dipping below the mountains, Yijun let out a small chuckle.
"No, just a strong person."
David grew even more curious.
Who 'she' was.
Who could possibly make Yijun wear such a raw, unguarded smile.
Shwiiik!
With the sound of cutting wind, Eunha charged towards the creature at lightning speed.
[Lv.??? 'Alluring Deceiver of Benevolence' is startled.]
[Lv.??? 'Alluring Deceiver of Benevolence' uses a skill.]
[▶ Song of Temptation]
'Just as I thought.'
Eunha's certainty grew.
The creature indeed had no skills other than the 'Song of Temptation'.
...♬♪
As the distance closed, the song grew louder.
Although she had built some resistance, the slightest lapse in concentration would trap her in the hallucination once more.
Eunha, while running, gripped the parasol in her hand tightly.
And then.
Stab!
Without hesitation, she plunged the sharp tip of the parasol into the back of her left hand.
A sharp pain shot up from the back of her hand, electrifying her entire body.
Drip. The moment red blood trickled down her wrist bone.
Ding!
[The divine beast 'Cat Wandering in Darkness' exclaims, "Sister, are you crazy?! You must be crazy!" surprised, its pupils dilating widely at your reckless action.]
A message window, unusually large like a door panel, flashed, obscuring her vision.
Its size clearly conveyed the cat's shock and horror.
However, she had no time to answer.
Eunha swiped the obstructing message window away and pushed off with a final burst of speed.
Thwip!
Now, the distance to the creature was within a meter.
[Lv.??? 'Alluring Deceiver of Benevolence' begins to tremble in fear.]
[Warning. The sphere surrounding the 'Alluring Deceiver of Benevolence' undulates ominously.]
Whoosh!
It was then.
Multiple streams of water erupted from the watery sphere surrounding the Siren.
They converged on Eunha all at once, like guided missiles.
But there was something the creature hadn't anticipated.
That Eunha had experienced a similar battle just months ago.
'So you're the real boss.'
'Let's talk for a moment—'
'I have nothing to say to a monster.'
With Siwoo, that is.
Eunha extended her right hand towards the water streams hurtling at her with deadly speed.
Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh!
Black fireballs blossomed continuously from her palm.
'Mere water just needs to be evaporated.'
Far hotter than ordinary red flames were precisely black flames—dark flames.
Hiiissssss—
The water streams consumed by the dark flame began to evaporate, emitting steam, like snakes being devoured tail-first.
And this was her chance.
Whoosh!
Eunha, not missing the instant the water streams evaporated, kicked hard off the ground and surged forward.
The moment Eunha, having created a massive fireball resembling a spherical bomb, reached out towards the Siren's sphere—
Eu, nha...
The Siren inside the sphere stammered, its lips parting.
Eu, nhaa, ya. Eeunha...
"...!"
Eunha momentarily froze.
S-school... g-go... need to...
—It was her mother's voice.
The Siren didn't miss the moment Eunha hesitated either.
Meanwhile, a newly summoned stream of water struck Eunha's abdomen mercilessly.
Smack!
"H-Ms. Hunter!"
It sounded like Jehwi's voice from afar.
"Ugh...!"
Barely regaining her senses, Eunha managed to break her fall, but—
[Lv.??? 'Alluring Deceiver of Benevolence' uses a skill.]
[▶ Song of Temptation]
A considerable distance now separated her from the creature again.
The Siren, having regained its composure, continued its song, flashing a grin.
The dense teeth stretching to its ears were unsettling enough to cause goosebumps.
Eunha clutched her abdomen with her right hand.
A stinging pain radiated through her.
If she had been wearing a regular T-shirt instead of the dress, it wouldn't have ended with just pain.
Eunha wiped the blood from her split lip with the back of her hand.
And lifted her head.
"...You monster bastard."
Through her disheveled hair, her eyes glinted with an unusual light.
"How dare you mimic her."
Within her brightly glowing golden eyes, the black pupils narrowed into dangerously long slits.
