“Hey! Han Yujin!”
As we entered the Lyon branch of the French Hunter Association, a familiar face popped out. Do Hamin shot Yuhyun a resentful glare before slinking over to .
“Your brother left stranded in Arica!”
“Huh? What are you talking about? How old are you, that you can’t even find your way ho from the U.S.?”
“Hey! I went all the way to Arica to help you, and you just disappeared on ! I went there on a favor!”
“What favor? How much have I paid you so far?”
At the ntion of money, Hamin clamped his mouth shut. He’d more than once demanded extra upkeep fees, claiming the hamster deserved proper treatnt.
“...Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Your brother’s been terrifying in your absence. My lifespan must’ve been cut by at least half a year!”
“Don’t brag about a re six months.”
“What? Han Yujin, your temper’s the sa now as it was back then...”
Hamin paused mid-sentence, cocking his head. Though he’d forgotten any pre-Regression mories because of his low grade, remnants still lingered.
“But you didn’t have to co all the way to Arica, did you?”
“Yeah, about that...”
Lowering his voice, Hamin whispered to .
“I got a new skill while looking after Geumdong.”
“A new skill?”
“Yeah. Since Geumdong’s a D-rank boss monster, I felt underpowered. I leveled up and took him for walks into a few dungeons with the Haeyeon hunters. Not long ago, I acquired the ‘Rodent’s Ally’ skill.”
...What is that? A skill you get from loving hamsters?
“It ties into my trait—an information skill.”
“Information?”
“You can glean information from rodents. The range is wide— not just from monsters, but even ordinary rats.”
Hamin puffed up, grinning. Wait—rodents?
“That must be useful.”
“Right?”
“Although I suppose not as much as cockroaches.”
“...Hey. Rats are already disgusting.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“Hamsters aren’t rats! Anyway, since it’s rodents, it’s not precise info. But great for tracking people—rats sniff things out and roam the city. I heard France has loads of them. There are cooking rats, too. That one’s kind of cute.”
“It’d be perfect if it were cockroaches.”
“...I wouldn’t take that, even if you gave it to .”
Cockroaches really go anywhere... just thinking about it gives the creeps. I congratulated him on the new skill and turned back to Yuhyun.
“Yuhyun, if you hired soone, you should at least have told them you were firing them.”
“Sorry, hyung. I had to move in secret—couldn’t contact you. I thought it’d be fine. Arica’s safer than Africa... probably.”
“Well, you’re an adult—getting lost in a city where your phone’s blasting signals? One call to Dodam or Haeyeon, and you’d be fine. So that’s the excuse, huh?”
“I’ll let it slide since you paid .”
Hamin pouted. He’s llowed a lot since Regression—used to be far more prickly back then.
“How’s everyone else? I couldn’t reach them while sneaking around.”
“Yeah, they’re fine.”
His answer sounded weak.
“Anything going on?”
“No, nothing—except the blacksmith caught a bad cold. Really bad.”
“What? How? The forge isn’t exactly cold. Did he overdo it? He kept nagging to take care of myself...”
“I only heard you checked in, then he vanished again, so I don’t know details...”
“He looked pretty rough?”
“He did look exhausted.”
“Yuhyun, did you hear anything?”
“I visited the forge.”
Yuhyun told what happened right after I went missing. He’d gone to et the Neophyte in a dungeon, then ended up at Myeong-woo’s forge, where he t the Neophyte and Hwangrim.
“He was too weak to move then, but later he contacted and said there was no need to tell you.”
“Even so, why’d he wait so long to say anything...”
A Neophyte and Hwangrim—what on earth happened there? Probably trying to help , like in that Chinese dungeon. If I’d known sooner, I’d have asked the Elder. Thankfully he seems recovered enough to move... but if he’s in the forge, there’s no way to reach him, so I hope he’s okay.
“Anyway, are you heading ho now? Geumdong must be waiting.”
“About that...”
I still needed to find the location of Seong Hyunjae’s wedding. Hamin couldn’t help—the area was too vast. I had to get at least a rough region; they really hadn’t sent an invitation.
I glanced at the association staffer, hovering politely nearby. He smiled affably.
“Shall we move, if you’re ready?”
“Yes, let’s.”
We followed him inside. The Lyon branch wasn’t huge, but faint mana pulsed everywhere—apparently built with plenty of dungeon materials.
‘My mana sigils are really coming back.’
I felt them stronger than yesterday.
“If it becos known I’m in France, will that cause trouble?”
“In Europe, unlike Africa, no one can run rampant. Don’t worry. Besides, if word gets out that Director Han is in Europe, airport and flight terror attacks would never cease.”
Countries here have far more airports per area than elsewhere. It’d be near impossible to hunt down all the perpetrators. The European Hunter Union has as many S-rank hunters as the U.S. Even individualistic S-rank hunters wouldn’t stand by if soone caused chaos in their territory.
“Those terrorists were a problem even here. If we can work with Korea to take them down, we’d welco it. This way, please.”
The staffer opened a door. Inside, a few journalists and what looked like other association mbers waited.
“Fritz Weil from the German Hunter Association.”
A middle-aged man spoke, then:
“Marisa Moore from the British Hunter Association.”
A middle-aged woman greeted .
“Hello. I’m Han Yujin, Director of Dodam Breeding Center.”
Introducing myself to representatives from other countries felt awkward. Yuhyun, as Haeyeon Guild Leader, stood behind in support, making even more self-conscious. I’m really not cut out for this. When I first regressed, I never wanted the spotlight.
“This is Haeyeon Guild Leader Han Yuhyun, my brother, as you know.”
Next to him stood the café owner—though that role was really Hamin’s now. Yuhyun gave a polite nod.
The journalists snapped photos and took so video, then conducted a brief interview.
“I believe my final spatial shift malfunctioned. I never dread I’d end up in Africa, though.”
I dodged by saying I’d been injured and recovering at a kind stranger’s ho, which delayed contact. It was a remote area—no one recognized , and I couldn’t get phone service.
“I will issue a formal statent about any questions once I return to Dodam Breeding Center. Also, I heard so joyous news while I was missing.”
Could any of them know what?
“I understand that dear Guild Leader Seong is to be married, but I haven’t received an invitation—perhaps because you couldn’t locate . I’d be honored to attend, so please let know.”
I added that I’d be truly grateful for any updates, indicating I’d show my respects.
After the reporters left, we decided to wait at the association until Yerim’s party arrived in France. Barring any interference, they’d likely arrive by tomorrow.
“Does anyone here know news of Guild Leader Seong’s wedding?”
I asked the staff, but they too only knew he was getting married, not where.
“My daughter is to be married soon, too.”
Marisa, sorting papers from her bag, said.
“Oh? Congratulations.”
“Wedding planning hasn’t been easy. I ended up helping.”
“It’s no small task—so many details. I don’t know how it is in England, though.”
Marisa’s eyes crinkled in a gentle smile. Her lips moved as if speaking Korean—she was quite fluent.
“Your Director Han plans to attend, I hope? The groom will be thrilled.”
“Thank you for saying that. Please convey my congratulations.”
I wondered if the groom was my fan. Though my pre-Regression mories were gone and Chatterbox’s presence faded, party mories remained. My popularity must still be—hemhem—considerable.
The staffer guided us to a nearby hotel. Hamin dashed off for sightseeing. No word yet from Yerim’s group, and phone contact was impossible. Instead, I ssaged Dodam and Haeyeon with our situation.
[Aside from Ppiyak and Bellare disappearing occasionally, everything’s fine. Sorok’s grown well, and Songi’s also bigger.]
Senior Keun said the breeding center was fine and told them to return safely. He’d warned not to take Ppiyak or Bellare—but they wouldn’t listen.
“Sorry to keep stepping out. Thanks for covering for .”
[No problem. Few days «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» left—Happy New Year. It’ll be hard to return imdiately, I suppose?]
“Yes. I think so. Happy New Year.”
Why did Seong have to plan his wedding on January 1? It couldn’t be his choice... If it was, I’d have to smack him at least once.
Propped against a big cushion, I lay back on the bed, flipping TV channels. Yuhyun sat on the single sofa, examining the Sovereign’s Blade, his gaze serious.
“Sothing bothering you?”
“...Huh?”
“Pre-Regression you—about you.”
Yuhyun tilted his head at .
“...Yeah, a little.”
“I thought so. Don’t fret too much—that’s natural. Hey, I made a ss in the Chinese dungeon, too—grabbed by the collar and my weapon drawn~”
“I feel like I was too careless back then. I’m sorry, hyung.”
“It’s fine. In the end, it wasn’t all bad.”
He still annoys , but I want him to be well. He must be fine. God, he really bugs .
“Above all...”
Yuhyun returned his gaze to the black blade.
“You’d have liked pre-Regression as much as you like now.”
“Of course—I an, it’s you. You’re Yuhyun.”
I stifled the thump of my heart.
“But still, it irks . If it were soone else, I wouldn’t care so much. Now I trust you always co back to . But if it’s the sa person...”
“...So it’s you. The sa person.”
“Yeah.”
Yuhyun nodded curtly, without looking my way. My fist tightened on the bedsheet. My throat felt parched. Soday I’ll have to tell him. But that is gone, and I must finally let him go—unlike the brother beside now.
So it’ll be okay.
“Shall we go out to see the sights later? There are beautiful buildings. The association staff said this city’s famous for its cuisine. Let’s go eat sothing good together.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
He answered crisply, but still looked more subdued than usual. Oh dear. I’ll have to cheer him up with so sightseeing.
I switched the TV to a hunter channel and held out my palm. Faint scar lines showed.
“Little one, can you co out?”
How to summon it? Diarma summoned at will—but when I focused my magic, I felt a soft warmth from the scar, then:
퓨익!
A small beige monster popped out. The youngster who’d been hopping on the bed saw Yuhyun and bristled its tail.
뀩! 삑!
Protesting its wash, it stamped its hind feet, then, as if appeased, grabbed one ear with a front paw and began grooming. It’s quite simple-minded—always been friendly and uncomplicated.
“Co here. Co to Daddy.”
The youngster hopped toward . It was undeniably cute.
“Don’t co out on your own unless I call you. Understand? Don’t wander off. Don’t eat the blanket—it’s not food.”
I wondered if it understood.
“Am I boring you inside? Can you feel the outside?”
“No!”
In an instant it shifted into child form, answering sharply. Yuhyun glanced at us both. He never paid much attention to monsters—perhaps it reminded him of my childhood self.
“Go back to sleep.”
“Sleep?”
“Dream with hyung.”
He probably ant in the spirit realm—where he taught the black dragon to take human form. They must’ve played together a lot to grow so close.
“Hyung told not to go out. I ca only because you called .”
Saying that, it reverted to juvenile form. I was glad the black dragon took good care of the youngster. Once I na it, it’ll beco independent like Cye—better to do that back in Korea. There’s nowhere for them here now.
I ordered room service, sprinkled mana shard powder on treats, and fed them to the youngster. It ate everything without fuss, though cookies were clearly its favorite. When I warned it not to overeat, it flicked its tail in mild protest but obeyed.
[Seong Guild Leader’s wedding partner revealed as British.]
A breaking-news subtitle scrolled beneath a broadcast introducing the soon-to-open French Awakening Center. Huh? A Brit? The screen switched to a flash of images. Seong Hyunjae is impressive, but would even French TV break the news? Because the partner was British? Who could it be...
“...Huh?”
A radiant blonde woman appeared on the TV. That person was definitely—
‘Ms. Park Ha-yul’s older sister?’
It was the exact woman from the invitation video. What? She was the party partner? A partner-invitation turned out to be his bride? When did that happen? Could it really be a marriage of love?!
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