episode_0031

The park at night is dangerous.

Not only does the surrounding darkness impede visibility, but the winding trails and the vegetation growing here and there naturally narrow the viewing angle.

I wonder if there’s something in that bush, behind that corner, behind me.

Such eerie imaginations often make cats startle at the sound of pine needles shaking.

… … okay. Say it again.

The park at night is dangerous.

Even more so in today’s era where monsters and villains are wandering around.

Nevertheless, for a woman to go out alone at such a late hour, it probably means that she is either confident in her own abilities or is simply insensitive to safety.

“Wow… It’s been a while since I went for a walk at night. Should I lay down a mat and sleep out in the park?”

“…….”

A time when the red sunset casts long shadows.

A mysterious woman hiding her face with a mask and a cap was hiding in a corner of an alley, secretly watching someone.

A woman walking down the street in the soft light of the evening sunset.

He wears the sweats he used to exercise and walks while dragging a black suitcase.

Although it is only a view from the back, it is clear that she is quite a beautiful woman, whether from her body or her aura.

The woman is walking down the street, swaying her body like a fox with a tail, without even dreaming that someone is following her.

Then a crosswalk appeared.

The woman looked around with a very nervous gesture, and only after observing for a long time that there were no cars around did she confidently cross the crosswalk.

Are you afraid of cars?

Someone who was watching the woman took out a cell phone from her pocket.

Tooruru… beep.

ㅡWhat’s going on?

A voice as cold as ice.

The voice of my boss, which sends chills down my spine every time I hear it, automatically makes my whole body tense.

A woman wearing a cap tightly posted a report step by step.

“Yes. This is a mouse. Can you hear the team leader? The ‘target’ has left the apartment.”

ㅡ … … Please explain in detail.

“I don’t know. I went into the apartment and came out again less than 10 minutes later. It’s in the direction of Euncheon-gu Park. I think I left something behind when I was working out with the team leader earlier.”

A woman who called herself ‘Mouse’ followed ‘Target’ across the crosswalk.

The park will be there soon.

With every quiet step she takes, her thin, rat-like tail wags back and forth.

Hiding in the shadows, I observed the target’s condition, and saw that the target was sitting down at the entrance to the park, touching the belly of a cat lying on the street.

cute.

ㅡ There were no lost items in the park… As for the ‘mice’, please continue to guard the target and block dangerous elements. I will go right away too.

“Okay, team leader. Come quickly.”

ㅡ You shouldn’t lose track of the ‘target’ like last time.

I can always hear the team leader’s expressionless sarcasm over the phone.

I’m still blaming myself for accidentally missing ‘Target’ in front of a convenience store near my apartment a few days ago.

For reference, this was when Eunha used the blood donation bus at [Neulpureum Emergency Center].

“I know~. And I feel really unfair, too. The target disappeared in the blink of an eye?”

ㅡ … … I hope you will be a little more aware.

“Yes~ Yes~.”

As usual, I hung up the phone while listening to the team leader nagging me.

This monster team leader is usually so cold, but whenever the topic of ‘target’ comes up, he becomes very active.

Could it be that he has different feelings towards the ‘target’?

… … Oh no way. That iron-faced skin?

Even the ‘mice’ who worked together in the [Rare Hunter Protection-Kill] Department for three years never saw Team Leader Ban Harin smile or joke.

Even when the team members were laughing and talking, not a single corner of their mouth moved.

These days, when I teach my ‘target’ how to exercise after a cafe, I’m sure he’ll just stand at a distance and give advice like a machine.

It’s obvious even if you don’t look at it.

The mouse brushed off his doubts, saying it was no big deal.

‘Okay then… I’ll go to work soon…’

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ…

And, when the ‘mouse’, who had finished thinking about other things, stretched out to monitor the target in earnest.

A strange sound struck her eardrums.

“What? A bell?”

‘Mouse’ turned his head in the direction where he heard the bell.

The large mouse ears that were pressed against the black cap popped out.

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ…

okay. This resembles a bell.

A large bell ringing throughout the city, like a bell tower telling the time in the past.

However, there is no bell tower in Euncheon-gu.

There is no place that intentionally rings a bell.

The mouse lowered its posture and looked around.

There are no strange parts.

Buildings covered in the sunset and turning red like maple trees. Cars passing by in a hurry.

Because of the time, there are not many people walking around.

‘… … ‘Did I hear it wrong?’

The ‘mouse’, who had been listening for a while, chuckled and shook his head.

okay. There’s no way you can hear a bell ringing out of nowhere.

Thinking that she must have been hallucinating because she was tired, she turned in the direction where the target was.

It’s been about five seconds since I took my eyes off her because of the bell.

I’m probably still playing with my cat.

“……Where did it go?”

However, when I realized that the ‘target’ I had been with until just now had disappeared without a trace,

The mouse ran to the entrance of the park with a stiff face.

does not exist. The target.

Eunha is an F-class hunter.

Just like when he suddenly disappeared a few days ago, he disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The mouse broke into a cold sweat and took out his smartphone.

Then I ran the location tracking app… but the receiver attached to the target was not recognized.

“Uh… I’m bored.”

She called team leader Ban Harin with trembling hands.

If it breaks, it breaks, and now the priority is to report that the ‘target’ has disappeared.

Naturally, even more outrage than last time erupted on the other end of the phone.

The mouse, in tears, sat down at the entrance to the park.

It’s sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hello Meow~.”

Eunha, an F-class hunter, was happily caressing the belly of a fat cat at the entrance to the park.

She entered the park, leaving behind the fat cat who was asleep and snoring.

The park where the sun set was beautiful.

Red sunlight fell on the green leaves of grass, creating the illusion that the whole world was colored with autumn leaves.

I don’t know who the landscaper was, but he made the park look really pretty.

After admiring the beautiful scenery of the park for a while, Eunha looked up at the sky that was getting darker and walked quickly.

(『If you are worried, sit on a park bench at sunset.』)

(A park?)

(『Yes. There will be a bright little boy.』)

[Bug Princess] says if you have any worries, go to the park.

Just as there is a saying that you should remove the horns of an ox at the earliest opportunity, I came here to check if what they said was true.

In the evening, I go to the park alone.

I’m already having ominous thoughts.

Could it be that [Bug Princess] lured me here to soak me?

But it’s okay. Because there is a [Black Book].

Eunha took out a bag of salt from her carrier, held it in her hand, and headed to the center of the park.

There was a circular, open space in the center, and in the center of it was a statue of a blue dragon, the symbol of the [Blue Dragon Guild].

The symbols of large guilds are placed in public facilities in the city… This alone shows how strong the influence the [4 major guilds] have.

After confirming that there was no one around, Eunha sat down on a nearby bench with her back to the blue dragon statue.

Perhaps because it was dark, there was no one in the park.

What will come out of this place?

scary. My heart beats faster and my breathing becomes rough.

But it’s okay.

The fact that I still feel fear is proof that my mind is still intact.

I’m not broken yet.

Eunha took out the [Black Book] from the carrier.

“Ugh~ If nothing happens, I’ll have to spray insecticide later~”

Still, I couldn’t help but feel like my body was shaking because of fear, so I opened the book while humming a curse towards [Bug Princess] to forget my fear.

There are already several guides recorded in the [Black Book].

A guidebook that records the first creation of the Red Woman and the Invisible Baby.

A guidebook containing the basic rules of apartment living and the Bug Princess.

A guidebook containing the precautions at the Neulpureum Emergency Center…

And, at this moment,

[The Black Book] was writing a new guide.

Eunha read the newly written guide with half fear and half curiosity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

※%□□□□ ^□□WS□□ □□ Guide※

– p□□□ □□□2□ o□□s□□qkj□□

– □*&□□□ □w□□ k□l □□

□□□n □nk□□ &(□□ □□kq□i□

– @□□□klo□ □□ □ qk□□l□

~~ Omitted ~~

4. If you are worried, sit on a park bench and meditate.

– Thinking alone will not solve anything.

– Thinking is the process of finding a solution.

4-1. Twilight is the hour of the wise.

– When the time comes, a wise person will approach you.

– If you observe sufficient manners and conduct, you will be able to borrow his wisdom.

– However, the conversation with him must end before the sun sets.

– After dusk, the chimes of dawn will take everything away.

5. □□□ s□□ k□o□□□&□%

~~omitted~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eunha frowned as she checked the new guidebook.

This is because, except for item number 4, all letters were broken.

Did the file get corrupted while typing the guide?

Sometimes, errors occur during translation.

… … Surely, if you send a broken file like this, ‘those’ won’t come looking for you, saying you wrote the rules in the [Black Book]?

If that’s really the case, I can’t sleep because it’s so unfair.

“Tsk. What should I do… In this case, I was sure… I was taking it to the apartment security office?”

『It was intentionally hidden. Don’t worry…』

“Wow!!”

Suddenly a voice came from next to me.

Eunha was startled and waved her arms without realizing it.

puck! With a sound, her elbow hit the shoulder of ‘something’.

The inside of my elbow makes a popping noise as if I hit the wrong spot.

I didn’t even know who was next to me. Is it a person?

Eunha touched her numb elbow and turned her head.

Next to the bench where she was sitting… an old man was sitting politely.

An intimidating feeling as if you were looking up at an old tree from below.

The old man’s face was full of wrinkles that looked like tree rings, but his turquoise eyes were shining with strength as they withstood the weight of time.

A long time ago… long before Eunha sat on this bench, he seemed to be sitting here endlessly.

Am I human? I suddenly throw my elbow into the shoulder of an old man I’ve never seen before.

They say your bones get weaker as you get older, but I wonder if you broke them.

『Hehe… It was hidden on purpose. Don’t worry about it.』

The old man smiled kindly and repeated the line that Eunha had interrupted earlier.

It was hidden on purpose… So, are you saying that the reason the text in the guidebook was broken was the elderly person in front of you?

A being that can interfere with the guidebook of the [Black Book].

It’s not unusual.

… … ah. The old man subtly massaged the shoulder where Eunha had hit him.

I guess it hurt.

『There is a saying that knowledge is power. But power that you don’t know how to use will only hurt yourself.』

“…….”

『You came to see this old man, which means there is no need for any other rules. No one will show up at this park today.』

In other words, since no monsters other than the old man in front of me will come today, there is no need to read all the new guides.

He is a very considerate grandfather.

The old man looked intently into Eunha’s eyes with his turquoise eyes and raised the corner of his mouth.

A kind smile that dissolves even the slightest hint of hostility like a thread. The age spots on the back of his hands give an idea of the depth of time he has passed.

If I were to describe the existence in front of me in one word, it would be the Tree of Wisdom.

There was a fountain of wisdom passed down from ancient times.

“okay. If you weren’t worried, you wouldn’t have looked for this old man… Then where are you going to listen to the old man’s story?』

A soft but straight voice.

Eunha, who was looking for an answer to her problem anyway, nodded.

The old man pursed his dry lips a few times and continued speaking while looking at the sunset over the horizon.

『Worry is hesitation. There are a lot of obstacles to moving forward, our feet feel like they’re going to hurt, and we want to move in a different direction… so we’re worried.』

“…….”

『And, I want a clear answer to end my hesitation.』

He didn’t question Eunha.

What are you worried about, what concerns do you have?

Just your experience and wisdom.

Just like a paper boat floating down a river, it just floats to the galaxy.

Eunha also didn’t answer.

What are your concerns? Why did you come here?

I just pick up the grains of wisdom he scatters little by little.

The red sunset and twilight fall on Eunha’s shoulders.

『I realized it one day. Hesitation is hidden among fears.』

『Someone said. It is said that firmness is born from numerous reductions.』

Something I realized myself.

Something that someone else told me.

What is written in the book.

Translated into words.

All of that is contained in the spring of wisdom and flows down like a river.

It continues to the next person, to the next person… and so on.

『Take it down. If you try to figure out anything, you will find the answer in the thin thread that passes by.』

『Someone said it. One day, when I stand in front of the mirror of my heart, it will suddenly occur to me. We will tell our story again.』

With those words, the grandfather ended the story.

I lock the fountain of wisdom and look up at the darkening sky with sparkling turquoise eyes.

“……I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Eunha said, looking blankly at the old man’s profile.

To be honest, I couldn’t understand half of what was being said.

What is that ambiguous way of speaking?

I guess I’m just vaguely explaining it because I don’t even know.

『Hehehe. Wisdom changes its appearance to each person who approaches it. Think of it as the humming of a senile old man… Did it help?』

“Well… time will tell. If things don’t go well, I’ll think it’s Grandpa’s fault.”

“haha! Yes, do whatever you want. What a fun friend.』

The old man laughs.

It was such a human-like laugh that Eunha also laughed along with it.

How great it would be if other ‘things’ could also communicate like this.

Yes, as the old man said, I will think as I want.

Maybe a conversation with an old man will suddenly lead to an ingenious idea.

When I think about it that way, today’s meeting wasn’t as bad as I thought.

The sky was pitch black, crowding out the red sunset. In just a few tens of minutes, it will be completely dark.

It was soon time to go home, so Eunha tried to get up.

“Thank you, Grandpa. I learned a lot. Can I go now?”

『Okay… But before that, would you please hold this old man’s hand?』

Then the old man smiled kindly and held out his hand.

Eunha looked down for a moment at his hands, which were riddled with age spots and wrinkles, and nodded.

Yeah, whatever.

Just holding hands…

Eunha held the old man’s hand without thinking.

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ…

And, at that moment.

A bell was heard from afar.

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ…

“A bell? What happened suddenly…”

『I realized it one day. Wisdom is something that is passed down to future generations and develops.』

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ… Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ…

Long ago, the sound of a bell ringing from a bell tower.

The traces of a long period of time are contained in the majestic sound of the bell and spread far and wide.

『There was a man. His job was to go to the tower and ring the bell when the time came.』

Passyuk…

An ominous sound came from Eunha’s hand.

It’s like the shell of old parchment is crumbling…

Eunha lowered her gaze with a stern expression.

The hand held by the old man… Her hand was wrinkled like that of an old man.

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ. Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

I hear a bell. The sound that announces the end of dusk.

The sound of time passing by.

“This… this crazy old man…!”

『The man wanted to be wise. I wanted to become the wisest person in the world.』

Crunch…

Eunha’s body is changing.

Breasts and buttocks get bigger. Her hair grows longer, her thighs gain weight, and she exudes a deep charm that cannot be explained in words.

Changes over time. growth. Becoming an adult.

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ… Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ…

As the bell rings, Eunha’s body grows.

Eventually, by the time she reached what could be called her physical prime, she had become such a beauty that it was natural to call her peerless.

『He who wanted to be wise thought. How can I become wise?』

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡ…. Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ…

Dusk falls.

A vague darkness comes, and the bright morning star lights up the dark night sky.

“Off… Ugh…”

Time passes by.

Without waiting for us.

Passuke…

Wrinkles appear on Eunha’s body.

Reaction speed slows, eyes become blurry, and ears become deaf as if submerged in water.

Changes over time. Aging. Getting old.

『The wise man realized.』

『If what an old man passes on to a child is wisdom.』

『If that boy becomes an old man, it is wisdom that he can pass on to his new born child…』

『Then, what does the person who lives forever convey… what exactly?』

『If he lived forever and gathered all the wisdom in the world… would he really be a wise person?』

Deeng ㅡㅡㅡㅡ…………

The bell stopped ringing.

Time has stopped.

『Someone said. Wisdom is time.』

『Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me.』

With that said, finally.

Eunha closed her eyes as if falling asleep.

Dusk is over.