Ch.29The Princess’s Playmate?

# Hunter Family

They were literally a term that meant a household with talent as excellent Hunters.

The basic condition for being recognized as a Hunter family was to consistently produce talent at the A-rank Hunter level with every generation for at least 300 years without breaking the lineage.

Although the era of social class systems had long passed on Earth, the reason why “bloodlines” like Hunter families were still valued was very simple.

They were “special humans,” much like the royal families during the class system era.

Even their illegitimate children were born with talents comparable to geniuses by ordinary standards.

The number of heroes born this way who left their names in history could fill an entire truck.

And among these Hunter families, there were groups with a history of over “2000 years.”

Called the “World’s 10 Great Families,” they were the very footprints of human Hunter history and were considered treasures of humanity.

Thanks to this, people from the 10 Great Families all had influence comparable to the prime minister or president of their respective countries.

Moreover, their level was already proven to be above that of ordinary Hunter families.

“S-s-such a p-p-person… h-has c-c-come to our Korean branch?!”

“Yes. No contract period. Apparently, she’ll stay in Korea serving until death.”

“But why suddenly?! What reason would such a person have to live in Korea?”

“Who knows? According to them, they came to reinforce our power because of that monster that keeps appearing in Jamsil recently.”

“For just… that reason?”

World’s 10 Great Families.

Among them, the second princess of the Kitsune Family, a Beast Hunter family with a history spanning 2200 years.

Lee Jin-ah had just returned from guiding Kurumi, who had arrived in Korea late yesterday morning, to the mansion where she would be living.

Rolling, who had been summoned to the top floor of the Korean branch, was just sweating nervously at the news.

“Besides, when I asked, Kurumi said she came here of her own will.”

“You mean she volunteered? Someone from those 10 Great Families known for never leaving their home countries?”

“Yes. It’s the first time in nearly 300 years that someone from the Kitsune Family has left Japan.”

Indeed, people from the World’s 10 Great Families typically spent their entire lives holed up in their home countries unless absolutely necessary.

The reason was obvious—the moment they went abroad, there would be mountains of people rushing to target their superior bloodline.

…And that was the problem now.

“Rolling, as you know, Korea doesn’t have any of the World’s 10 Great Families, or even ordinary Hunter families.”

“That’s right…”

“So this is essentially Japan ‘transferring’ superior bloodline to Korea. There might be various reasons why they rolled this blessing to us, but the most important thing now is that Princess Kurumi will be stationed in Korea for life.”

“…! Jin-ah, you’re worried that Korea might face international criticism for being a country that couldn’t protect someone from the World’s 10 Great Families.”

“Exactly.”

Korea was a powerful nation, ranking 18th in the world’s Hunter power.

Moreover, with Princess Kurumi now stationed in Korea, their ranking would rise even higher.

Additionally, as a benefit of having bloodline from the 10 Great Families, various support would come in monthly from Hunter Association branches and headquarters established in countries worldwide as a gesture to take good care of the princess.

However, there was one demerit.

And it was important.

It was Princess Kurumi’s own “safety.”

“The World’s 10 Great Families are beings who receive respect and love from everyone around the world, regardless of country.”

“Sigh… Yes, I know that very well.”

“Even China, Russia, and even North Korea can’t treat them carelessly. But if something were to happen to someone from the 10 Great Families in a country that secured their safety…”

Korea’s status would undoubtedly plummet from that day forward.

At the very least, they would always be in a disadvantageous position when conducting diplomacy with other countries that housed the 10 Great Families or with Japan, which had transferred Princess Kurumi.

“Could Japan have transferred Princess Kurumi to us with this in mind?”

Rolling asked Jin-ah with an uneasy expression.

However, her answer was definitely NO.

“No way. I’ve investigated, and it seems Japan has been having significant friction with Russia… especially China recently.”

“Ah, I’ve seen something about that in the news too.”

“Currently, North Korea is pointing missiles not just at us but even at the US and Japan. Moreover, there are rumors that the two superpowers, Russia and China, have formed an alliance surrounding the Japanese Strait. In other words, this is…”

“More of a ‘gift’ than a trap.”

“Exactly, that’s it.”

Japan was already under scrutiny from Russia, China, and the recently extremely sensitive North Korea.

Why would they set a trap for Korea here and turn all neighboring countries against themselves?

Even those hardheaded reds up north wouldn’t come up with such an idea.

So Princess Kurumi’s transfer was genuinely an act of goodwill.

“We plan to always station at least three A-rank Hunters from Korea around Princess Kurumi’s mansion.”

While it was unlikely that someone from a Hunter-advanced country would kidnap a key national figure, occasionally such “fools with their guts hanging out” would appear at times like these.

“Three A-rank Hunters… What else?”

“We’ll also deploy a large number of B-rank Hunters, and we plan to use your daughter Sophia as well. Is that okay?”

“Of course. She should be on par with Korea’s A-rank Hunters!”

“Good. Then, the escort issue is settled…”

They had secured the princess’s safety.

The next issue was the “internal” matter, away from external concerns.

“As you know, if there are no major issues, Princess Kurumi will live in Korea for the rest of her life.”

“That’s right.”

“So, here’s the thing… We’re talking about a Beast Hunter who hates humans living in a foreign country with different culture and language. I’m worried about the princess’s mental and physical well-being.”

After saying this, Jin-ah looked at Rolling with a sad face.

“So, I’d like the princess to have a Korean ‘friend’ who could be a sanctuary for her heart.”

“A friend for someone from the 10 Great Families… moreover, Princess Kurumi with Beast Hunter blood?”

Since both her husband and daughter were Beast Hunters, Rolling was pessimistic about whether this was possible.

Then she realized why Jin-ah was specifically telling her this.

“You, don’t tell me…”

“Rolling. That son you adopted ten years ago. His name was… Han Shinwoo, right?”

Whenever Rolling got drunk at company dinners, she always shared stories about her harmonious Beast Hunter family.

Jin-ah had remembered all those seemingly insignificant stories until now.

“You want to introduce Shinwoo as a friend to the princess?”

“Yes. If what you said at those drinking sessions is true, he’s a ‘special constitution’ that doesn’t feel aversion towards Beast Hunters.”

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

“Shinwoo would definitely make a good friend for Princess Kurumi. Maybe their relationship could even develop beyond that.”

“Hmm… If that happens, I don’t think my daughter will let me off the hook…”

It essentially meant sending him as a playmate.

The appearance of a human who doesn’t evoke aversion for the first time in her life.

Just imagining how this would affect the princess, and how Sophia would react to this fact, gave Rolling a headache.

But.

“This is for the alliance between Korea and Japan, working together for ‘justice’ and breaking away from the stuffy past. Rolling.”

“When you put it that way, how can I refuse…”

With the Korea-Japan relationship in shambles due to a troll group, there was essentially only one option.

“I’ll go home and talk to my two children about it…”

“Yes. Please do.”

Rolling had no choice but to smile and agree.

***

“No!!”

However, that evening, during a family dinner celebrating Shinwoo’s discharge from the hospital, Rolling was utterly dismayed.

“F-friend of the princess! And a Beast Hunter?! N-no! Who knows what will happen! Mom, I said no!”

“Sophia. First, calm down…”

“Dad, just shut up!!”

“Hiing…”

His daughter was on the verge of losing it.

Seeing Sophia like this, Lee Seokgyu remained silent, and Rolling was busy wiping away her cold sweat.

And Shinwoo felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, unable to eat properly because Lia was holding him tightly.

“Oppa, are you going somewhere again?”

“I don’t know…”

“Don’t, go.”

“Yeah, don’t go! What era are we living in that you need to be someone’s playmate! Mom, if it’s really necessary, I’ll go as the princess’s playmate instead.”

“No, no, you definitely can’t. Even if it’s you, Sophia, if you do something there, I won’t be able to cover for you.”

“Aaaaargh!! Who is this girl anyway! Using Shinwoo as a playmate!”

“S-Sophia. No matter what, calling a princess ‘girl’ is a bit…”

With their detached house collapsed due to a monster attack.

Lee Seokgyu’s family had no choice but to stay at the Shilla Hotel, which was relatively close to the Hunter Association, until their home was restored.

Sophia was stuffing herself with king crab at the VIP room’s exclusive restaurant on the top floor of the Shilla Hotel.

It was stress-induced binge eating.

The family remained silent as they watched Sophia devour the king crab, shell and all, without a trace.

Meanwhile, Shinwoo was secretly surprised.

‘If it’s Princess Kurumi… she was the person mentioned in the main quest, right? Probably.’

A character who was only mentioned through the mission “Escort the Princess.”

However, while she was mentioned in text on the quest window, he had never actually seen her.

That’s because the princess never left the mansion during the quest and didn’t show her face until she returned to Japan.

‘She was definitely someone who stayed in Korea to strengthen the Korea-Japan alliance, right? Probably.’

A mysterious figure who didn’t even show herself to people because she was a Beast Hunter.

For such a plot point, she quietly disappeared without mention after the quest ended.

Because of her lack of presence, even I, a veteran player, didn’t know her name, but in a way, this might be an opportunity.

“Alright. I’ll go visit as a playmate. Whatever.”

“W-what?! Hey! Han Shinwoo!!”

“Oppa!!”

Anyway, the “Escort the Princess” quest had a significant impact on the Korea-Japan alliance.

If it completely failed here, in the original story, even the US would be disappointed and withdraw US forces from the Korean Peninsula, leading to Korea being absorbed by China.

That would be truly disastrous.

“Both of you, calm down. Besides, it’s still uncertain if I’m really a special constitution that doesn’t feel aversion to all Beast Hunters.”

“B-but…”

“Oppa…”

“I might just be a special constitution that doesn’t feel aversion to Beast Hunters of Seokgyu’s bloodline by chance.”

If I got kicked out, I planned to work as a direct Meister for the Hunters in charge of escorting the princess.

If I could just be around the mansion, I might be able to save her if necessary.

“And above all, she’s a princess! I’m just a commoner who isn’t even a Hunter, so what could happen just because I feel less aversion?”

So I boasted, underestimating my own value.

And that was the biggest mistake of my life.

The next day.

*Squish squish*

At the mansion where Princess Kurumi resided.

In the original story, I had to protect this building without any interaction, but now, entering it for the first time.

“Amazing…”

“……”

*Squish squish*

“What’s your name?”

Contrary to expectations, Princess Kurumi, who was showing great interest in me, was touching both my cheeks as if I were truly a playmate.