Ch.43Least Said, Soonest Mended

“C-Come out! Inari!”

Amidst the sudden monster commotion.

Though momentarily flustered, Princess Kurumi quickly composed herself and immediately assumed a fighting stance befitting a daughter of one of the World’s 10 Great Families.

Following her command, a massive jet-black fox emerged from the shadows.

In an instant, it split into dozens of smaller foxes that rushed toward the screaming people.

And then.

“Whoa?!”

“The foxes…”

“They’re fighting against the monsters…?”

They began protecting the civilians who hadn’t even properly evacuated yet.

“Looks like that person in the kimono is controlling them…”

“So she must be a Hunter?”

“…! Everyone, quickly evacuate to the basement! I believe large facilities like this always have monster shelters built underground! So hurry and run there!!”

“Ah, yes!”

“E-Everyone run away!”

The princess had successfully contained what could have become a major disaster in its early stages.

This was the moment when people’s perception of Kurumi, who had been sitting on a bench sobbing in exotic attire, began to change.

But for Kurumi, this had the opposite effect.

‘The gazes… I can feel people’s gazes… Uwup?!’

“Uweeeeeeek-!”

“Mom… that big sister suddenly threw up…!”

“L-Let’s just run away for now!”

The disgusting gazes focused on her from all directions.

Unable to withstand them, Princess Kurumi vomited and lost her concentration.

“D-Danger…!”

While trying to protect civilians who hadn’t evacuated, she failed to notice a 3-meter monster with only teeth on its face approaching from behind.

“GRAAAAARGH.”

“…Ah.”

And so the ugly princess died miserably, being chewed up in a manner befitting her level.

…as if that would happen.

CRUNCH!

Breaking through the Lotte World ceiling and simultaneously tearing off the heads of monsters that turned to look, someone had already reached behind Princess Kurumi and ripped apart the toothy monster.

Sensing his presence, Princess Kurumi’s face showed complete bewilderment.

“You are…!”

“Dobraye utra! Good morning, Princess.”

“An assassin from Russia…?!”

Lorensky greeted Princess Kurumi with a cheerful smile, knowing she couldn’t see it.

And on one of his shoulders was…

“Ugh, uuuugh…”

“Hmm? Pink Lady. You’re a Hunter, yet you can’t handle even this much?”

“Shut up… ugh… suddenly jumping between buildings like that… urgh… of course I’d feel nauseous… urgh uwup…!”

Somehow, he had brought along Yoo Sihyeon, who already looked half-dead.

“How… did you not… fall for my charm…?”

“Huh? Do you really need to say something so hurtful?”

“Urgh…! This crazy… uwup!”

Clack.

Yoo Sihyeon’s pride was hurt by a man immune to her charm.

But before she could say anything more, she finally vomited and fainted with X’s for eyes.

“I’m sorry, Pink Lady. Your buttocks are a bit too small for my taste.”

Slap.

After lightly slapping her bottom instead of answering, Lorensky laid her down on a bench.

Meanwhile, Princess Kurumi was warily watching him from behind.

“Let’s form an alliance, Princess.”

“An… alliance?”

“Yes. I came from outside the amusement park to the inside. That means I’m fully aware of the situation outside.”

Gates had opened around the amusement park as if for a siege.

“Exactly six gates have opened around the amusement park. And monsters are all coming inside.”

“…! What on earth…”

“H-Help me!”

“M-Monsters! Monsters!”

At that moment, the crowd that had headed outside the amusement park to go underground came rushing back, making Princess Kurumi’s face grow even paler.

“P-Please save us! Outside, monsters! Monsters…!”

“Monsters have appeared not only at the entrance but also on the stairs leading to the basement shelter!”

“Please help us!”

“…!”

The interior of Lotte World, which had seemed about to empty, began filling up again as if it were a weekend opening.

And the fact that all those unsettling presences were looking at her made Princess Kurumi about to be overwhelmed with extreme anxiety.

CLAP!

But at that moment.

A massive applause echoed throughout the amusement park, as if commanding attention.

“Everyone, listen up-!!”

“…!”

Though he was a rotten Hunter who hunted humans too, Lorensky was still a Hunter.

And as Russia’s National Authority-Level Hunter, he immediately gave appropriate instructions to all the panicking crowds.

“Everyone! Get on rides that are far from the ground!”

“R-Rides…?”

“Yes! Hot air balloons, Ferris wheels, gyro drops, anything! First get children and the elderly away from monsters this way, then able-bodied men and women grab anything that can be used as weapons and gather in the center of the amusement park!”

Lorensky spoke gallantly even in this situation.

Perhaps influenced by his leadership?

“Q-Quickly, move!”

“Children and the elderly first, hurry!”

“The number of rides is limited! So don’t force your way on, instead take weapons to fight if you can!”

People who couldn’t evacuate began following his instructions, putting children and the elderly on rides that would take them to heights monsters couldn’t reach.

Watching these civilians, Lorensky turned to the woman who could be an asset besides himself in this amusement park.

“Princess. Can you fight?”

“…Of course.”

He asked cautiously toward Princess Kurumi who had completely sat down, but she struggled to her feet and answered.

“I am… a ‘Hunter’ after all!”

Even if she was an illegitimate child, a disgrace to the Hunter family, saving people was a Hunter’s most basic duty.

That’s why she could stand up.

No, she had no choice but to stand up.

Because if she were to kneel here.

“H-Hunters…”

“Please save us…”

She felt she wouldn’t be able to close her eyes peacefully even in death a year later.

Therefore.

“GRAAAAH!”

“GRRRK! GRRRK!”

Hordes of monsters poured in through the amusement park entrance again.

The one fortunate thing was that Lotte World was a cylindrical amusement park with a closed ceiling, so they only needed to deal with those on the ground.

In other words, if they fought well head-on, they could win.

“Minori, come in. And come forth, Gashadokuro.”

Better one certain blow than insufficient repeated strikes!

With that thought, Princess Kurumi dismissed the splitting foxes and summoned a string with bells attached.

Lorensky was momentarily dumbfounded at the sight of her taking a “stance” despite being a Beast Hunter and not even in a support role.

But only for a moment.

“Princess, danger…!”

“Be quiet…”

Princess Kurumi began walking slowly toward the approaching monsters as if taking a stroll.

Then, just as it seemed she would be torn apart, the monsters around her fell on their own, with only bones popping out of their bodies.

“Hapkido…?”

“To be precise, it’s a traditional Japanese martial art called Aikido.”

Watching the princess effortlessly taking down and killing charging monsters as if flowing like water, Lorensky couldn’t help but acknowledge.

Indeed, this lady was not simply “someone to protect.”

“Well, there still seem to be limits…”

“Let me help you too!”

***

As expected, Princess Kurumi had headed to Lotte World in Songpa District, Seoul.

And as the third week arrived, a monster attack had begun as in the original story, turning the dome I was watching from afar into what looked like a battlefield under siege.

“It’s dangerous to approach any further! Step back immediately!”

“I’m a Hunter Meister! Is there any way I could get in?!”

“Hunter Meister…? No, why would someone who just provides equipment be here?! Go back to the Association building right now!”

As expected, a mere Hunter Meister was naturally treated as an afterthought at the scene.

Various monsters were pouring out in droves from gates that had appeared around the amusement park, and Hunters were too busy stopping them to venture inside.

‘Should I transform and go in after all?’

But there were too many people watching here.

Even the rooftops of skyscrapers without CCTV were quite far away.

Alleys were obviously not an option either, leaving me stuck in this situation.

But if something were to happen to the princess while I just stood here.

“Shinwoo.”

Just as I was about to head toward the least crowded alley, not wanting this to become a traumatic memory.

“Shinwoo!”

As I was turning away from the Hunters controlling the area, someone grabbed my hand.

When I turned around.

“…Cheran?”

Could she also be following Princess Kurumi?

I was surprised to see Cheran breathing heavily, but only for a moment.

“Don’t transform.”

“…What?”

She immediately advised me.

“Right now… almost all of the Korean Hunter Association’s forces are converging here.”

“…!”

“To rescue the princess! And if you reveal yourself here, you’ll definitely clash with them.”

I might accidentally reveal my identity.

In front of everyone.

…That was the sincere advice Cheran was giving me.

“So don’t transform.”

“Cheran…”

“We will definitely rescue the princess!”

“So…”

So.

“Just stay quiet this time. Please…”