Peace arrived through the door into the spacious lounge and looked around. No familiar faces were in sight. Even as he twitched his nostrils, only strange odors filled the air. A couple of party staff mbers with pet-care experience cautiously approached Peace. Though a monster, he was now a participant and guest of the party. Thus, the staff treated him with courtesy.
“You finished first in your match.”
Grrr.
“Is there anything you need...?”
Peace tilted his head in puzzlent. The staff, slightly embarrassed, tried again politely.
“We can prepare sothing to drink and eat for you.”
“...He doesn’t understand, it seems.”
“Ah... right. al! Food, please.”
The staff said clearly in Korean, “food.” At that, Peace whipped his head around, making it obvious he disliked the suggestion, and the staff bowed.
“Hunter Han Yuhyun, your teammate, will be coming this way.”
Grrr.
“And Hunter Han Yujin, your companion, as well.”
Peace gently wagged his tail. Quickly, the staff brought a large cushion.
“Please rest here until Hunter Han Yujin arrives.”
Kiiung.
The Fla Horn Lion obediently climbed onto the cushion and lay down, showing no intention of leaving. The staff relaxed; it would be troubleso if Peace slipped away to find his party while all Korean hunters were absent.
Shortly after, a hunter defeated by Peace grumbled into the lounge. The staff tensed a bit and swiftly explained the lounge’s anities. After a while, Han Yuhyun appeared. His gaze and Peace’s t briefly, then both looked away and scanned for Han Yujin. Peace lowered his head between his forelegs, and Han Yuhyun asked a staff mber,
“Has Hunter Han Yujin not co yet?”
“No. Hunter Han Yuhyun finished the match second.”
Han Yuhyun nodded silently and sat in a nearby chair. Soon after, Riet arrived.
“Chief of Police, let’s have a real match next ti~”
Han Yuhyun neither responded nor even glanced at her. Though cleanly ignored, Riet cheerfully declared she was a bit peckish, and headed to the table laden with food. Indifference to those two was natural—they were beings who didn’t need to live in groups, and thus had no obligation to respond politely to matters they found uninteresting. They simply accepted that no response ant no interest. Living among humans, they showed so social courtesy, but no more.
Ti passed again as hunters trickled in.
G, kiaang!
Fairy Dragon appeared. Before he could speak, Hangeol wailed urgently, mimicking Peace’s cry. He glanced around for Han Yujin, then once at Han Yuhyun, and then curled up beside Peace.
“Still as filthy as before. Where’s the bathroom here?”
Moon Hyunah, covered in dirt and bearing battle scars that hadn’t healed, frowned slightly and asked a staff mber. From the look of things, she had lost her match. She glanced around and left imdiately to wash up. Evelyn appeared next, only her shoe soles slightly soiled, and sipped wine with a faint smile—it was courtesy from Moon Hyunah.
“Sister! Did you win? You won, right?!”
Kang Soyeong bounced over to Riet.
“No, I lost~”
“Oh? Really? Then our guild leader wasn’t here. Oh, Haeyeon’s guild leader?”
“Right!”
“That sounded fun!”
“I wanted to see it,” Soyeong lanted.
“I fought Mr. Noah! But I don’t see him.”
“The victor exits directly through the door. If they leave imdiately, they’ll appear sooner than the loser; otherwise, it could be later.”
A staff mber explained. Riet handed Soyeong a sugar-coated cherry, asking with interest,
“Did Noah really fight?”
“He hesitated at first. Honestly, I couldn’t match him alone! So it took longer to start. He kept suggesting I concede and dodged until I finally began—and it was over imdiately!”
“He’s soft on those he cares about~”
At Riet’s words, Soyeong shrieked in delight.
“Really? As expected! There’s a saying in Korea: ‘No tree survives ten strikes.’ Oh, Mr. Noah!”
Noah, having just entered the lounge, flinched and looked at Soyeong with a slightly awkward expression.
“Thank you!”
“...Eh? I—I was the winner, though.”
“Noah, want a cherry?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“I love you!”
“...Yes.”
“I’m interested in you!”
“Yes.”
“Not my brother, but in you!”
Riet sang out. Noah blinked.
“Co to think of it, I barely know anyone besides my brother. So I wanted to get to know you. I’m curious.”
“...Do as you wish.”
Noah replied without enthusiasm and turned away. She harbored no real expectations. Though Riet’s attitude had shifted a bit, she’d long since given up on hoping. Her sister’s change wasn’t unwelco, but that was all.
Han Yujin still hadn’t appeared. Park Yerim was also absent, and only Han Yuhyun was here. Just as Noah thought to sit and wait, she noticed a faint worry on Han Yuhyun’s face and approached him.
“Is sothing wrong?”
Han Yuhyun glanced up.
“Brother hasn’t co out yet.”
“That can take ti.”
“Few remain.”
“More than half....”
Noah’s words faltered. Many hunters remained—but Han Yuhyun ant those who knew Han Yujin. It would be fine if she had faced her companions, but if any other hunter—unfortunately, one who harbored ill will toward her—had been her opponent, trouble lood. Both Han Yuhyun and Noah knew well Han Yujin’s stubbornness. She wouldn’t concede easily. If her opponent ended the match swiftly, fine—but already plenty of ti had passed.
In their anxiety, Evelyn’s teammate Vanessa arrived, and Song Taewon erged into the lounge with his coat off. Han Yuhyun’s expression darkened further. Noah approached Song Taewon.
“Have you seen Ms. Yujin?”
“No. A hunter I t earlier—”
Song Taewon quickly scanned the hunters assembled. When Noah ntioned that Moon Hyunah had already arrived, concern flickered across Taewon’s face.
More hunters trickled in and out. When fewer than ten remained, Seong Hyunjae appeared. Surveys of all eyes turned to him, and he looked puzzled, then mumbled,
“Han Yujin hasn’t arrived, it seems.”
“She hasn’t, Hunter Seong.”
Taewon asked, and Seong Hyunjae shook his head briefly.
“I—”
“Oh, she conceded!”
At Park Yerim’s sudden arrival, Han Yuhyun sprang to his feet and asked the nearest staff,
“Give the remaining hunters’ list.”
“Excuse ? I’d have to check, but likely not. Personal data is under contract—”
“Hey now! Han—uncle! You still haven’t co out?”
Han Yuhyun scanned beside him. Han Yujin was absent. Park Yerim stared around in dismay. Hangeol hopped onto Park Yerim’s shoulder and whispered,
Yeol exited early, but Dad wasn’t there...
Park Yerim’s face turned grave. Gritting her teeth, she raised the corners of her eyes fiercely.
“Whatever happened, sothing’s wrong with uncle.”
As the number of hunters dwindled to fewer than a handful, Han Yujin finally appeared. He looked perfectly fine.
“Brother!”
Han Yuhyun hurried over and examined him closely. All eyes fell on Han Yujin, who looked flustered and said,
“I just conceded.”
“Why did it take so long? You don’t look hurt....”
“All wounds were healed, you know? Uncle, you’re really okay?”
“Your clothes are intact.”
Han Yuhyun circled behind to confirm. Chatterbox healed only battle injuries, not clothing. Han Yujin was largely unscathed.
“Remarkably clean.”
“No traces of battle.”
Song Taewon agreed with Seong Hyunjae. Han Yujin lowered his gaze, avoiding the others, and looked at Peace, who leaned his cheek against his leg.
“I said I conceded. I couldn’t compete physically, so I tried to resolve it verbally... Peace, are you all right? No hunter charged you?”
Kiaang!
Han Yujin scooped up Peace, stroking his soft fur, still focused only on him.
“I’m fine. I wasn’t completely unhurt, but no serious injuries. You can ask Chatterbox—I'm fine.”
Han Yuhyun noticed Han Yujin wasn’t looking at him, but remained silent. Park Yerim found it odd that Han Yujin didn’t ask about her or Han Yuhyun’s fights, or about the opponents—but she too stayed silent. And so did the others.
A brief silence settled.
Peace was warm and soft.
“You’re all right.”
His voice didn’t tremble. He seed fine.
“...Brother, let’s go inside and rest.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Was it obvious? He stood untouched.
“Oh, uncle. Would you like sothing to drink?”
“No, thanks, Yerim.”
He wasn’t hungry.
“All matches are complete. Awards based on rankings will follow.”
A staff voice reached them. This ti they would proceed swiftly without a broadcast; only awardees were required.
“Can Peace send a proxy?”
Han Yuhyun asked. It appeared Peace ranked.
“I’ll check.”
“No, Yuhyun. Let’s go together. You’re also in the rankings, right?”
“...Yes.”
“Then we must go. It’s an award, after all.”
They moved. Though described as modest, the venue was not large. Chatterbox was absent. They sat and placed Peace on a chair. Peace had won first place.
“Brother?”
Moon Hyunah asked if he was okay. He said yes. Second-place Yuhyun went up with Peace to receive their award.
“As for the prize—”
“I’d like a special privilege instead. Peace would want the sa as .”
“Pardon?”
“I request we share lodging with Hunter Han Yujin. Family—and above all, Peace is anxious being apart from his father.”
Han Yuhyun said. Though it seed a sha to forgo the prize, the words “please don’t” lingered unspoken. The awards officer, flustered, asked them to wait as they stepped aside to make a call. After a short conversation, they responded,
“This was a light-hearted event. We can adjust the prize, but since the prize isn’t significant and it breaks party rules, sharing with another team is allowed for only one night.”
“Understood.”
Yuhyun and Peace received their gold coins and returned. Yuhyun placed Peace on Han Yujin’s lap.
“...Almost.”
“A minor award ans about A-rank level. More than that, I just want to be with you. Peace would too.”
Han Yujin petted Peace. Third place went to a hunter he didn’t know. Gyeol was fourth, and Hyunah fifth.
“Uncle, I fought the Sesung Guild Leader!”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yes! I lost, though.”
Yerim bead.
“You’re ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) still young, Yerim. It’s fine.”
“Not much ti left, really.”
Yerim whispered to him.
“I planned to concede, so Guild Leader Seong wouldn’t try to kill . But I made a mistake at the end!”
“Oh, Yerim, maybe you fought so well it—”
“Exactly! I think he’ll be done within a year.”
Han Yujin smiled involuntarily. He could laugh.
“Yes, our Yerim is the best.”
“Brother, I won too. I fought Hunter Riet.”
“Really? Impressive. She’s no pushover.”
“And look at this. Peace was streaming, it seems.”
Yuhyun held out his phone. In the video, Peace tilted his head before a hunter.
“Why are you trying to touch soone’s kid without permission....”
Oops. The hunter’s head was chomped.
“Serves him right. Well done, Peace.”
Kyaung!
Daddy! Gyeol won too! ...He conceded because I said he was cute.
Gyeol whispered in his ear.
He said he’d concede if I gave him a kiss on the cheek. I thought about it, but winning felt better.
“That’s fine, Gyeol. Well done. Being cute is a skill.”
He exhaled deeply, tension loosening. He glanced sideways. Noah caught his eye and smiled. He avoided eye contact with Seong Hyunjae—and with Song Taewon as well.
They must have sensed sothing odd. If they asked, he wasn’t ready to answer.
“Brother, shall we go up to the room? Order room service and sleep early.”
“...Okay.”
Though it seed early, nothing more ca to mind. No other schedule awaited, so a day’s rest seed fine.
They had a simple al, then relaxed. Yuhyun stayed by his side. Yerim visited with bath salts and snacks. She insisted on a half-body soak, so he did as told. The bath salts seed her pick; the snacks, Seong Hyunjae’s—definitely not Yerim’s taste.
After washing, he lay down and fell asleep. In his dream, a large hand reached for him; he reflexively tried to block it.
“I don’t intend to scold you.”
Tsk, the Young Chaos clicked its tongue and patted his head.
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