Step—

Although knowing they can’t be seen, they climb the stairs with careful steps.

Footsteps echoing in this wide and empty space with each step.

Hearing the footsteps that resound for themselves but don’t actually echo in reality, Yeon-ah and Esi headed towards the third floor past the second floor.

“This is the top floor.”

“Since she wasn’t on the first or second floor, it’s inevitable she’s up here.”

“Yes, probably.”

Although they couldn’t rule out the possibility of not having found a hidden room or basement, seeing Esi’s confidence, it seemed such things didn’t exist in the first place.

Yeon-ah also knew how excellent Esi’s observational skills were, so after exchanging glances with Esi one last time, she climbed the stairs leading to the third floor.

Step– Step–

It feels like the footsteps, which were already loud, have become even louder.

At the same time, possibilities of what-ifs briefly cross her mind. Although she knows it’s unlikely, there was no way to stop the anxieties that passed through unbidden.

However, that anxious feeling only lasted for a moment.

Step–.

“…She’s here.”

“Yes, I can see her clearly.”

Finally arriving on the third floor after climbing the last step.

Seeing Neon collapsed on the floor there, Yeon-ah cleared away the thoughts that had been complicating her mind until just now and let out a sigh of relief.

Although her arms and legs looked severely injured, twisted and limp, it wouldn’t be difficult to heal her completely as long as they could safely take her away.

The medical technology of the General Management Team, which had grown through collaboration with the Defense Team, could revive even people in critical condition within days.

However, while sighing in relief at finding Neon, Yeon-ah couldn’t help but burst into a bitter laugh at seeing a woman busily packing her belongings next to Neon.

“Ha… This is an unexpected person.”

“Who would have thought an S-class hunter would be an accomplice. It’s surprising in many ways.”

The one busily moving and packing things into a large duffel bag was none other than Han Yun-ah.

While they had expected the owner of the hideout to be extraordinary, being an accomplice to such deeds, they hadn’t expected it to be her, the 4th ranked S-class hunter of Korea and a long-time sponsor of the General Management Team.

Feeling as if she had been completely blindsided, with a numbing sense of betrayal, Yeon-ah let out a bitter laugh and answered Esi’s mutter that had just been heard.

“Not just an accomplice… Seeing her involved in this incident, it seems she wasn’t just related to this incident but was a spy from the beginning.”

“…Come to think of it, considering the peculiarity of the oni villages in Japan, we can only see it that way.”

“Yes, from the start, the fact that Hunter Han Yun-ah… she helped none other than Ryoka, the leader of the second village’s oni, means she must have been one of that village’s people.”

After all, someone who helps the affairs of an oni leader couldn’t be unrelated to the oni village.

And looking at it that way, it was possible to explain things that had been suspicious but had been overlooked without being properly addressed until now.

“I had been wondering why she was trying to enter our General Management Team as an exclusive hunter even while sponsoring with money greater than the benefits…”

“It would be suspicious to spend that much money to become an exclusive hunter rather than an investor.”

“Yes… Although she acted saying she liked and respected the General Management Team, this was indeed the real reason.”

It was a reason that made sense and could be called natural on this truthful side, but it was truly chilling that she had been acting like that and sponsoring money for the past few years.

To be honest, while there had been suspicions and a sense of oddness, there had also been a slight trust.

Thinking that if they hadn’t seen Yun-ah here today, they might have watched such acting for a few more years and ended up believing her, Yeon-ah quietly gritted her teeth.

“First… I’ll recapture Neon. I’ll take care of Hunter Han Yun-ah, so Esi-nim, please escape from here immediately with Neon.”

“Understood. Just in case, are you thinking of summary execution here?”

“…No, I plan to capture her alive for now.”

“I see. Then I would certainly be in the way. I’ll escape first as you asked.”

Esi nods immediately after asking about Yun-ah’s life or death decision at Yeon-ah’s request.

And if Esi had accepted the request, there was nothing for Yeon-ah and Esi to hesitate about now.

“Here’s the dokkaebi hat. Please wait until I give the signal.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not that stupid.”

She hands over one of the three remaining dokkaebi hats out of the five received from Shin-yeon to Esi, and moves quickly.

Putting on the dokkaebi hat would make everything about the wearer invisible and undetectable in reality, which would be a great help in escaping, but Neon was currently within Yun-ah’s range of perception.

If someone who originally existed disappeared while wearing a dokkaebi hat, Yun-ah would surely notice, so Esi, who had received the dokkaebi hat, waited next to Neon to escape immediately while waiting for the opportunity Yeon-ah would create.

Then, Yeon-ah stood blocking in front of Neon and Esi and looked at Yun-ah, who was still packing her belongings.

Rustle rustle—

“I need to pack quickly and prepare transportation… Damn it, where did this go?”

“……”

“I’m sure I put it somewhere around here…”

“……”

“Was it here? It’s not here… Ah, did I put it over there?”

And the moment Yun-ah, who had been packing like that, turned her body away from Yeon-ah, Esi, and Neon for an instant.

“…Now!”

Yeon-ah shouted like that while drawing up mana with all her might.

Rumble—!!!

As Yeon-ah swings her hand, a 3m thick rock wall rises from the floor and ceiling, cutting off the room.

-What’s this all of a sudden?!

Perhaps because of the wall that suddenly appeared without any sign, Yun-ah’s voice can be heard shouting in confusion from beyond the rock wall.

-What kind of person could infiltrate without triggering the surveillance devices…?! Damn it!

And although Yun-ah, who had come to her senses a beat late, started to break the rock wall with her spear, those few seconds she had wasted.

That time was enough for Esi to put the hat on Neon and escape.

Bubble bubble—

“Then I’ll go ahead.”

“Yes, please do.”

After putting the hat on Neon, Esi gently lifts her body with water and quickly descends the stairs.

Yeon-ah briefly watched Esi’s back as she disappeared in an instant, then soon turned her gaze to the rock wall in front of her where the roaring sound was starting to intensify.

Clang-! Clang-! Boom—!!!

The sound of cleanly cutting through the rock wall continues three or four times, and finally, a single thrust completely penetrates the rock wall.

Perhaps because the space was too narrow to swing the spear with full force, she was able to hold Yun-ah back for even longer than expected.

“That brat…! Damn it, did they take her away?!”

And the sight of Yun-ah cursing after coming over the rock wall and seeing that Neon had disappeared.

With the sudden attack and now losing the hostage she had, all sorts of thoughts must be rushing through her mind.

But any thought of sympathizing with Yun-ah and giving her leeway.

Had long since disappeared from Yeon-ah’s heart.

“Damn it, I don’t know where they are… but I guess getting out of here is the priority.”

Perhaps because she doesn’t know the location of her attacker, Yun-ah quickly assesses the situation and prepares to escape.

Yun-ah starts to hurry out while carrying the duffel bag she hadn’t finished packing, and watching her, Yeon-ah clenched her fist tightly.

“Hup…!”

Rumble—!!

As soon as Yeon-ah clenches her fist, rocks rise from the floor and grab Yun-ah’s arms and legs.

“Kuhk?! What is it this time? Where are you?!”

Once again faced with an attack she couldn’t perceive, Yun-ah heightened her guard and seemed to try to break the rocks binding her limbs, but unfortunately, Yeon-ah’s attack wasn’t that sloppy.

“Where do you think you’re going, trying to escape so recklessly.”

Rumble—–!!!!!

Before Yun-ah could break the rocks that had sealed her movements, new rocks additionally entangle Yun-ah.

The rocks that began to put pressure on Yun-ah while mixing with the existing rocks that had bound her soon completely blocked Yun-ah’s movements.

“Kuugh! Uaaaaaah!!!”

Yun-ah lets out an angry scream as all parts except her face, chest, and stomach are embedded in rocks.

Although mere rocks might be nothing to Yun-ah, breaking rocks weighing several tons while unable to move at all was impossible even for Yun-ah, an S-class hunter.

And after binding Yun-ah with rocks like that, Yun-ah’s appearance became miserable, as if a human had been embedded in a cube.

Only then did Yeon-ah approach Yun-ah while slowly taking off the dokkaebi hat she was wearing.

Rustle—

As she takes off the dokkaebi hat, the hat disappears like melting snow, and Yeon-ah’s hidden appearance also begins to be revealed.

“…It’s been a while, Hunter Han Yun-ah. Or should I call you Spy Han Yun-ah?”

“Y-Yeon-ah?! Why are you here…?!”

When Yeon-ah reveals herself by taking off the hat, Yun-ah is startled to see Yeon-ah’s face suddenly appearing.

The fact that a person appeared from nowhere was also a reason for her surprise, but it seemed she was more surprised by the fact that it was none other than Yeon-ah and that Yeon-ah was here.

And to such a surprised Yun-ah’s ridiculous question, Yeon-ah answered indifferently while fixing her hair that had become disheveled from wearing the hat.

“Why am I here, you ask? Han Yun-ah Hunter… no, Han Yun-ah. An oni you serve called our General Management Team’s Ancestor, is it strange that I’m here?”

“…Kuhk, but even you shouldn’t have been able to enter my hideout without triggering the surveillance and security equipment?”

Thinking that excuses were useless now that the situation had come this far, Yun-ah speaks like that without denying that she serves Ryoka.

Although it was a fact she had been certain of since earlier, hearing her admit it with her own mouth made Yeon-ah swallow a small bitter breath, feeling a slight anger rising.

“Know that the reason for that is due to the ability bestowed by our Ancestor. And Han Yun-ah, since we’ve met like this in such a place today, you’ll have an interesting time in the General Management Team that you’ve wanted so much.”

Since Ryoka would meet her end at Shin-yeon’s hands, there was no need to ask about that, but Han Yun-ah, who had been in Korea as a spy for the past few years.

They had to find out for certain what information she had discovered and what secrets she had leaked outside.

And.

Grind—

“Yes, it will be truly interesting.”

The anger towards Yun-ah, who had strutted about proudly right under the chin of Yeon-ah, the team leader of the General Management Team, also needed to be vented.

Therefore, as a consideration and warning to prepare her mind in advance, she conveyed those words.

At these words, Yun-ah’s complexion turned pale and she began to sweat cold sweat, as if she had anticipated what her future would be like.

And with such a ridiculous face, Yun-ah called out Yeon-ah’s name in an urgent voice.

“W-Wait a moment! Surely there must be quite a few factories operating until now with the money I’ve been sponsoring? Wouldn’t it be troublesome for the General Management Team if that disappears? Moreover, how much my personal businesses have…”

“Ah, I’m sorry, but we no longer need your sponsorship to operate those.”

It was true that the factories that had undoubtedly started operating with Yun-ah’s sponsorship were quite important to the General Management Team as well.

And a considerable part of running them was supported by Yun-ah’s money.

That was the reason why they hadn’t been able to easily shake off Yun-ah despite her causing trouble for the founding family members of the General Management Team until now.

However, now that such reasons had no meaning whatsoever, Yeon-ah answered with a refreshed expression for the first time today.

“Our Ancestor transferred something to our General Management Team today. Now that we’ve received those, we no longer need your ‘pocket change’.”

“P-Pocket change, you say?”

Yun-ah showed an incredulous expression at Yeon-ah’s words, as if telling her not to talk nonsense.

But unfortunately, these words of Yeon-ah were all truths filled with sincerity.

It was true that the money Yun-ah had been sponsoring was incomparably large, but that was only until going to Mount Seorak with Shin-yeon today.

‘Compared to those, this is just a few coins from a snot-nosed kid.’

Recalling the mountain of gold and numerous treasures she had seen there, Yeon-ah opened her eyes that had been briefly closed.

Yun-ah’s existence, which had now lost its necessity both as an S-class hunter and as a sponsor of the General Management Team.

Since only the information that needed to be squeezed out of her remained inside, Yeon-ah unfolded her arms that had been crossed in a relaxed attitude.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Ah, no, wait a moment! Please…! Even though I’m like this, I have connections in the first village, so if you just spare my life, I can somehow dig up whatever information you want from there…!!”

“Keep that filthy mouth of yours shut for a bit.”

Frowning at Yun-ah’s noisy whining, Yeon-ah swept her hand over Yun-ah’s mouth once.

Crunch—

“…?!!”

Then, a stone lump forms from inside Yun-ah’s mouth, tearing and blocking her oral cavity to the point of bleeding.

When the large stone lump, adjusted so it couldn’t be swallowed, blocked her mouth, Yun-ah screamed while drooling blood-mixed saliva, but that which couldn’t even become a sound was merely babbling.

And only then, leading the now-quiet Yun-ah in her rock cube, Yeon-ah began to leave the hideout.

“I should hurry back.”

The General Management Team’s tower where Esi would have probably arrived first with Neon.

Anticipating the time that would begin after arriving there, Yeon-ah quickened her steps.

“…!!!”

Only Yun-ah’s silent scream of despair followed behind.