episode_0174

One commotion is over.

I fell behind again this time.

“Thank you for your cooperation… Is it okay if you don’t go home right away?”

“Please go to the cafe! If I don’t go to work, boss Eunbangul will kill me…!”

[Rare Hunter Protection – Kill Section] Team 1 leader, Ban Harin.

She was going down a winding mountain road while listening to Kang Na-ri, who was sitting in the passenger seat, making a fuss.

If you check the time, it’s 10 am.

From the moment Eunha and I went to Kang Na-ri’s semi-basement house and realized that she had been kidnapped… about 2 hours and 30 minutes had passed.

Of course, this is not the time it took to find Kang Na-ri.

This is the time until the general investigation, including body recovery, is completed, and Kang Nari, who has finished testifying, is told, ‘You can now go back.’

If it’s long, it’s long, if it’s short, it’s short,

Ambiguous time.

Because nothing was done.

Ban Harin, who was driving a car down a mountain road, recalled the horrors he faced when he led the association’s execution team to an abandoned building in the mountains.

A building full of holes, like a fruit eaten by bugs.

The villains were scattered as if they were running away from ‘something’, and the terrible wounds engraved on their bodies.

Even though it was deep in the mountains, there were strangely no bugs to be seen, and traces of blood scattered here and there as if at play were spotted all over the building, as if recreating the horrors of that time.

And… in the place where an unknown ‘disaster’ swept over,

Kang Na-ri, who looked strangely normal, spotted Ban Ha-rin approaching and awkwardly waved his hand.

That’s the end.

The victim is fine, and the culprit is killed.

Association employees swallowed their nausea and collected the pieces of flesh that had been eaten by ‘something’.

I had no choice but to ask Nari Kang, the victim and only survivor of the incident, how this happened.

(Well… suddenly a bunch of pitch-black bugs came, and I stayed still and they survived. And I killed one of them.)

(I killed the villain in self-defense, so it will be okay… and the pitch-black bug… surely, it’s not the new monster that came out of the [Cheorwon Crack Ground]? Right? Please say so.)

(I don’t know because I’ve never been to [Cheorwon Gyeoljang], but it’s probably true.)

(Huh… Hey, Team Leader Park~. The ‘Black Disaster’ that disappeared from [Cheorwon Crack Site], is that the one that attacked here? Look at the traces of bugs on the body. There are definitely traces of bug monsters. )

(Really? You’re upset. I’ll inform the association president, so he controls the surrounding roads.)

Anyway, something like that,

Ban Harin, who confirmed that no lies were ‘observed’ in Kang Nari’s words, took Kang Nari, who had finished her statement, back to Eunbangul’s cafe.

“… … .”

Ban Harin, out of habit, swept away the ‘white mask’ that covered his face.

In the heavy atmosphere, I am concerned about Kang Na-ri’s glance at Ban Ha-rin.

“I…”

“Are there any lies in your statement just now?”

“Yes?… Yes, of course. Are you really starting to suspect me of being a debtor?”

I ‘observed’ Kang Na-ri, who was pouting her lips out of suspicion.

It’s not a lie.

The ‘black bugs’ really attacked the building, and I was lucky to survive alone.

Why? why?

Why was it a bug monster, and why was Kang Nari the only one who survived the disaster?

Sagagak…

The sound of insect footsteps sounds like an auditory hallucination.

The sound of insects permeating through the air conditioner.

Banharin couldn’t understand.

A black disaster that occurred in [Cheorwon Rift Field].

Because she witnessed that fear right in front of her eyes.

(Mr. Ban Harin… is always kind.)

Because in the midst of the bugs, the image of Eunha playing the flute mournfully flashed before her eyes…

I couldn’t understand.

“… … .”

I left the mountain path.

Traffic light in front of you. Red.

She stopped the car and picked up her cell phone.

What the smartphone screen shows is the location information of the Soft Fist Galaxy.

It comes from a transmitter attached to her clothes… A defective product that keeps losing signals and appearing in strange places.

… … And obviously, before I came here,

While searching for Kang Na-ri’s location with the help of the association.

The signal from the galaxy that brought me to ‘Saetbyul Apartment’…

Although it was only for a moment, it blinked and disappeared here in the mountains.

“… … .”

It’s thanks to that signal.

She sensed something was wrong with an odd signal and started searching around this place.

We were able to discover and protect Kang Nari earlier than expected.

Is it someone’s skill? Or is it the power of the artifact?

The ability to move through space… whatever it is, it is something that must be kept hidden for the safety of the galaxy.

“… … Nari Kang.”

“ㅇ, why are you calling me? Why don’t you take off your mask first and talk about it? I’m scared to death because someone without an expression even wears a mask.”

“Have you ever met Eunha today?”

It’s shaky…

Ban Harin’s eyes turn golden.

“… … no. I’ve never met you.”

lie.

Ban Harin, who ‘observed’ Kang Na-ri’s voice and facial muscles, silently adjusted the steering wheel.

… … .

… … .

‘Why… do I keep being one step behind?’

Member of the Hunter Association.

[Rare Hunter Protection – Kill Section] Team 1 leader…

… … no,

Ban Harin, a regular customer of [Rabbit Latte], a cafe run by Eunbangul.

She took a slow, deep breath, hiding her face distorted in self-destruction with a white mask.

Throbbing…!

My left eye hurts.

In the past, when I checked the CCTV footage of Hunter Kim Song-ah, who died at the association’s incinerator, I noticed that her eyes were damaged but recovered.

Talk to me like always.

Leave Eunha alone.

You should clean up and do it right.

(『It’s a shame. My eyes stopped opening.』)

Ban Harin stepped on the accelerator pedal, hiding his complex emotions behind a pure white mask.

The color of the traffic light, green.

moving forward

Without even knowing the destination.

‘Eunha… what should I do?’

​

​

What comes to mind are two hedgehogs.

When you get close, these creatures get pricked by each other’s thorns and get hurt.

… … If so, it would be better to

I want to lie down on the other person’s thorns and feel the pain only for myself.

I want to get closer to her at least that way.

With a face as cold as a mask, she curled up like an indecisive hedgehog.

The color of the traffic light, green.

A sad color that has to be pushed along with the flow.

“… … For the time being, Nari Kang’s personal safety will be protected by the Hunter Association. I believe that members of the [Blue Dragon Family] will not feel burdened by the sudden appearance of a bodyguard.”

Ban Harin pretended not to know anything, erased Kang Nari’s lie from his mind and concentrated on driving.

Beep beep.

Biting her lip, she called.

[Rare Hunter Protection-Kill Division] Team 1.

In place of her, who was away for a while, I went to the team member who was watching the galaxy.

Beep ……

ㅡ … … .

“Me. ‘Owl’ hopes to see the current situation. Is there anything special?”

ㅡNo problem.

“If anything unusual occurs, please report it to ‘Mouse’ immediately.”

ㅡNo problem.

Beep…

I hung up.

There is nothing wrong with the galaxy.

Ban Harin put aside his worries and slowed down the car.

“Yes… Huh? Mr. Banharin. Looks like there was an accident there.”

“It’s been there since morning. From what I heard, it looks like it was an explosion.”

“Be scared… It resembles the sports car that my brother likes to drive.”

In the opposite lane, a bright red sports car was caught in the explosion and torn to pieces.

Ban Harin ignored Kang Nari’s fuss and passed by the accident scene surrounded by police cars.

An ordinary car drives by without any special features.

Just move forward… towards the cafe where the galaxy is.

… … .

… … .

like that,

Following in the footsteps of those who are one step behind,

The morning’s commotion came to a complete conclusion.

… … .

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

“Eunbangul Boss! Sorry for being late!”

“Sorry! I’ll take care of it this time, so let’s behave well in the future too?”

“Yes! I will become a Kang Nari who behaves well!”

1:00 pm.

[Rabbit Latte] is free today too.

Eunha had a drastic change of heart on the [Blood Donation Bus] and was thrown into the bedroom of her own home.

After changing out of her blood-covered uniform, she hurriedly returned to the cafe and burst into laughter as she watched Kang Nari bend down 90 degrees towards the rabbit girl.

Ban Ha-rin picked up Kang Na-ri, who was left alone in the abandoned building, and returned safely.

Nari Kang, who returned to the cafe, must have been worried about Eunha, who had suddenly disappeared, and when she saw Eunha hugging Baeulgi, who had been protecting the cafe all morning, she smiled and waved.

Fortunately, this kidnapping does not seem to have caused any unnecessary trauma.

Because Eunha was painfully aware of the impact a single trauma had on the human psyche, she was able to sincerely welcome Kang Nari as she approached with a bright smile.

Now Kang Nari has become someone who must be at the cafe.

Eunha raised the corners of her mouth, feeling as if she had finally returned to her original cafe.

“I’ve been there, Eunha.”

“You worked hard. Nothing special happened, right?”

“The situation was already over, so I just cleaned up after myself… Eunha, are you in any pain?”

Leaving behind Kang Na-ri, who was bowing down to Bang Bang like a debt collector, Ban Harin, who had placed his laptop on his reserved seat, approached Eunha and asked.

Her gaze took a close look at the newly changed uniform, and she frowned subtly when she noticed a faint mark near Eunha’s carotid artery.

Eunha smiled languidly while massaging her sore neck.

“It’s always the same for me. It’s okay.”

“Do you have any pain?”

“I’m fine.”

“… … If so, you’re lucky.”

Ban Harin is right around the corner.

She immediately buried her nose into the top of Eunha’s head, who was sitting on a chair.

The smell of coffee settled like wings. The smell of shampoo that has just been showered.

The fishy smell of iron that couldn’t be hidden inside.

“Wow, what’s happening all of a sudden.”

“Excuse me. I was excited to see you after a long time.”

“I said it’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Ban Harin took a step away from Eunha, who was showing her disapproval.

She sweeps her expressionless face down with one hand and purses her lips.

“Eunha. If Eunha were a hedgehog… how would you approach your favorite hedgehog?”

“Suddenly? Banharin, are you a hedgehog?”

“In a nutshell, yes.”

What wind blew that turned the hedgehog into a hedgehog?

Eunha quietly looked up at Ban Ha-rin’s face as he started to get sick again.

An expressionless face as if wearing a mask.

But it looks gloomy today.

A hedgehog… Are you talking about a dilemma?

Eunha was worried for a moment, but then she staggered out of her chair and took a step closer to Ban Harin.

And, we wait for Ban Harin with open arms.

“Hedgehogs don’t have thorns in their stomachs, right? Come on.”

“… … Ha.”

Eunha motions for you to come in.

A quiet laugh escaped Ban Harin’s lips as he stared blankly at her confidence.

Maybe I was thinking about it too complicatedly.

How great it would be if we could think positively like that.

Purung…

Just like that, the indecisive hedgehog hugged the wounded hedgehog tightly.

Eunha’s big breasts are crushed like a hot cake by Ban Harin’s chest.

It was a warm hug that was a little frustrating.

… … .

… … .

“Then, potions will start selling in August as scheduled… What should I do?”

6 pm.

After returning to her apartment after a peaceful cafe today, Eunha was lost in thought while pushing her wheelchair.

The sound of the wheels of the wheelchair moving through the quiet apartment parking lot turns red like the sunset.

It’s soon August.

If she had been in the past, she would have prepared for the ‘Hunter Promotion Test’ to be held on August 1st, but unfortunately, this does not apply to the current Eunha, who has a D-class hunter certificate.

This is because there is no level C promotion test on August 1st, as the level C or higher exam occurs once every quarter.

‘This is my first time taking a break from the promotion exam… It feels strange.’

I passed through the parking lot and entered the building.

While waiting for the elevator that went up to the 10th floor to come down to the 1st floor, I absentmindedly rummaged through my pockets.

What came out of my pants pocket was a blood donation card with a cute sticker attached.

I picked it up earlier on my way home from an abandoned building in the mountains.

In the meantime, I had already received the free gift, and I had stopped donating blood out of frustration, wondering if I would have to go through that pain 10 more times to receive another free gift… After all, I feel at ease when I donate blood.

In addition, the strange sensation I felt while playing the flute in [Bug Princess] completely disappeared, and I was able to engage in cafe work with a more refreshed mind than in the morning.

What kind of free gift will I give this time?

Eunha remembered the pain she felt when her carotid artery was pierced, but her chest puffed out with anticipation that she couldn’t hide.

Dingㅡ.

‘Two’ elevators arrived soon after.

Eunha, who had already confirmed which one was fake, got on the right elevator and headed to the 9th floor.

‘I’m going to donate blood 10 times this time, so that’s it… Let’s go to [Gyeoljang] in August. If you want to become a C-rank hunter, you must also meet the [Rift Field] exploration results.’

Kang Na-ri will also be busy selling potions, and since the kidnapping incident has passed, strange people will not approach her for the time being.

So, on the next holiday, I will go to the [Crack Ground] to collect magic stones.

The condition of my lower body is still not good, and I feel uneasy when I think about what happened at the [Cheorwon crack shop] last time, but… I can walk around moderately, and I always have the [Black Book] with me, so I think it will work out somehow. .

Last time, I was attacked while exploring alone with Ban Harin.

This time, how about exploring in a place with a lot of people?

‘Let’s think positively. Is it really possible for this to happen twice in a row?’

Tiing ㅡ.

The elevator arrived at the 9th floor.

Eunha walked down the apartment hallway in a wheelchair.

『… … friend.”

“Hello. Did you fall while running? So I keep dropping the doll in the hallway.”

『I fell. no.”

In the middle of the hallway where the bright yellow sunset is shining,

I say hello to the [doll girl], who is lying down in the cold hallway with a green lizard doll, flapping her insignificant legs like a penguin in hamster pajamas.

It was a day toward the end of July.

… … .

… … .

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