episode_0021

#12

“Oh my heavens!”

An urgent midwinter voice is heard from behind.

It was a law that even entering and leaving a specially managed wealthy village like this was not possible without permission.

Because there are guards and security guards patrolling the entire town at all times.

The fact that I can freely walk down the streets of Uptown like this is because Ms. Han Gyul-woo is by my side. She herself guarantees my status.

How can I say this another way?

What I meant was that if I caused an accident here, it could be a burden to Mr. Han Gyul-woo.

Moreover, as a high-ranking hunter, any action that would upset her was something that could not be done for the sake of a peaceful future.

Of course, considering her previous behavior towards me, the likelihood of her harming me was extremely low, but it was no different from being a stupid act.

But why do people do such reckless and foolish things?

Was it because he liked the child named Yeon Soo-ho so much? Or was it because he was angry at the tyranny of the upper class who kidnapped the poor child without a word?

They broke a window and entered the house where Yeon Soo-ho was presumed to be.

You would expect people to jump out at the commotion, but inside it was as quiet as a mouse.

I quickened my steps, following the vague, strange energy I felt.

Inside there were stairs leading down to the basement.

The bright lights were meticulously placed so it didn’t feel dark or gloomy. It felt more like walking through a lab in the basement of a research institute.

Coming down to the lower floor, there was a large circular wall made of solid glass. Inside were various experimental tools and equipment. Inside the iron-barred prison cell, Yeon Su-ho was lying helplessly on the floor, locked up.

At that sight, I felt a burning sensation in my eyes without realizing it.

Snap!

The sharp, angry voice of Midwinter, who had belatedly grabbed my arm, rebuked me.

The magical power waves that flowed softly from the emotions of the high-level hunter seemed to weigh down my entire body.

“Hey. Jin Ha-neul. I said yes, yes. What are you doing now? This is crossing the line… Huh?”

“Sister. Do rich people usually lock people up and experiment on them?”

“What is this…??”

Her confused expression was clearly evident on her face.

Although Yeon Soo-ho’s condition didn’t seem bad, the fact that he was locked up in this suspicious laboratory was the only thing that made a difference.

“Sigh… .”

She washed her face several times, wiping it dry.

Immediately afterwards, a blue energy poured out from his clenched fist, creating the illusion of wearing a giant glove.

The moment when that huge blast hits the glass wall and breaks it.

From the direction of the basement stairs we had come down, we heard distinct footsteps, followed by a thick, low voice.

He was the owner of this house and the laboratory.

“An illegal intruder. Was Alpha Town really this bad?”

“You…?”

“Ah. Midwinter Hunter. Long time no see.”

It seemed like she and the owner of this house were already acquainted. How could she have greeted him so calmly in this situation?

Mr. Han Gyul-wool glared menacingly at the owner of this house, still holding back the blue magic power wrapped around his fist.

“Mr. Park Dae-jin. You need to explain this clearly. You know that crimes involving special abilities are punishable by at least prison time, right?”

The man’s name is Park Dae-jin.

He was wearing a pitch-black wedding dress that did not match his sturdy physique and rough, beast-like face.

There was a large, long scar carved into his face, his hair was dark brown and his eyes were almost gray.

He glanced at Yeonsuho beyond the glass wall, then shrugged and cooed at Han Gyul-woo.

“I know. Don’t worry. It’s not the kind of crime that a midwinter hunter thinks it is.”

“You say it’s not a crime? Locking up a young child like that?”

“A child? Phew. You’ve heard all the funny things.”

“Are you thinking of saying no?”

“No, that’s not true. That kid is a freak.”

“What did you say?”

What? Yeonsuho is a monster?

For a moment, the thought of “what the hell is this?” crossed my mind, and I began to wonder if Suho might be some kind of witch.

Despite the fact that his sister is an Awakened One, he has a unique constitution that does not allow him to feel any magical power. Despite this, he has a gorgeous appearance that is reminiscent of an Awakened One.

But… If Yeon Soo-ho is a witch, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t recognize her.

In the first place, if a man becomes a witch, should he be called a witch?

“Are you lying?”

Still, Han Gyul-woo did not let his guard down and continued to question Park Dae-jin.

Then he smiled faintly, folded his arms, and added to her.

“How much do you know about monsters?”

“You are the enemy of humanity.”

“Yes. But do you know this fact? Some of them infiltrate the human race and hide their identity.”

“What did you say?”

… … !!?

Why does that person know that? I was so embarrassed that I tried my best not to change my expression and act calm.

Mr. Park Dae-jin pointed to Yeon Su-ho beyond the glass wall as if he was performing a ridiculous comedy.

“That child is also on your side. That’s what I mean. Midwinter Hunter. Are you going to turn against me, a human, in order to save the monster?”

“It’s hard to believe. Of course, there are humanoid monsters, but… I don’t feel the strangeness that comes from that boy.”

“That’s because it hasn’t fully bloomed yet. Beneath that boy’s body, the wildness of the night’s nobles is stirring. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be pure blood.”

“Night Noble? … You’re not talking about vampires, are you?”

“That’s exactly right.”

What on earth is this guy talking about?

Yeon Soo-ho is a vampire?

Vampires can’t eat garlic or see sunlight. But isn’t that not the case at all?

I was worried that something might have gone wrong with his head, so I ended up giving him a curt tackle without thinking.

“Suho gets a lot of sunlight and eats a lot of garlic? He doesn’t mind seeing a cross.”

“Oh. Are you familiar with that boy?”

His gaze, which had been ignoring me until now, turned to me for the first time, and it seemed strange.

“… I know that you are my younger sibling.”

“Then I guess I should try the experiment on you too. Isn’t there a saying that if you are bitten by a vampire, you become paper?”

“Don’t touch the sky.”

You’re not a mad scientist, so why are you acting so scary in that priestly attire?

The person who was most furious at the thought of being used as a test subject without any hesitation was Han Gyul-woo.

I tried to persuade her, biting my lip in frustration at her rebuke.

“Think about it. How scary and powerful are the monsters? There are even some who live among us, hiding their true identities. If we can control their power, we humans will gain another power to fight against the monsters.”

“What a strange dream! Are you going to use this child as an experimental device? Are you out of your mind!”

“Why do you hate it so much? Could that kid be a freak?”

“Haneul is not a monster! I checked it myself!”

“Hmm… .”

Watching her desperately defend me, I was honestly a little touched.

… Of course, I am a half-monster, just like that crazy priest said, but the fact that he cared so much about me, even though we had only known each other for a short time, was very touching to me.

Father Park Dae-jin, who was crazy about the atmosphere that was not going his way, clicked his tongue and made a “tsk.”

“Is this how you’re going to act, even though you’re just letting someone else break into your house like this? In the middle of winter.”

“That’s… I’ll pay the fine. Well. But, you kidnapped a child illegally, right? If you look at the severity of the crime, that would be the heavier one, right?”

“Hmm… . I wanted to resolve this situation through dialogue as much as possible since we are both in the same boat… . I guess there is nothing I can do about it.”

“… … ?”

Is that guy really planning to attack us openly?

The anxious anticipation turned out to be incredibly accurate, and soon, a pure white light began to slowly appear in Mr. Park Dae-jin’s gray eyes.

And then, behind his back, pure white wings spread out brilliantly.

If I were to compare it to something, it would be like… .

“Angel?”

“Mr. Park Dae-jin! Do you really have to go this far!?”

“I have no intention of killing you. If you just sleep for a moment, everything will be resolved. The secret of the boy with the blood of the night noble. The secret of the girl who came into contact with that boy!”

Kiiing!!

“Wow!”

I unconsciously raised my arms and covered my face from the blindingly bright light.

Immediately afterwards, a loud explosion was heard along with heavy vibrations.

It was the result of two high-ranking powers clashing.

With his entire body covered in blue magic power, Han Gyul-woo was wielding both his fists and legs as weapons as he fought against Park Dae-jin.

Kwaaang!!

However, the momentum of the battle was shifted to the crazy priest Park Dae-jin. It seemed that Han Gyul-woo had learned some martial arts, but it seemed that at least hand-to-hand combat was not his specialty, and Park Dae-jin was wearing knuckles, so it seemed that boxing was his specialty.

“It’s been a while since I’ve fought a hunter! If you stop your hostility now, I’ll forgive you generously. What do you think!!”

“It’s noisy…!”

Kwaang!!

The feet that Midwinter had swung wildly followed the path of blue light toward where Park Dae-jin had been standing.

He flapped his wings and dodged Midwinter’s kick in an instant, widening the gap.

Her toes cut through the air in vain, then smashed into the transparent glass wall.

“Indeed, a special hunter! His power is praiseworthy!”

“T… ”

Midwinter was a special-grade hunter!?

So, just how strong is that guy who’s pushing through the middle of winter?

I looked at the two people fighting with bewildered eyes.

At that moment, midwinter met my eyes.

There was a firm determination in her dark eyes. Then, her gaze turned to Yeon Soo-ho instead of me.

‘Save that child.’

I clenched my fist and nodded slowly at her face, which seemed to say,

Kwaaang!!

In the midst of two giants clashing with a force that would shock the world,

There was only one thing I, a sloppy witch, had to do.

Save Yeonsuho.

That was all I could think about.