episode_0360
by fnovelpiaI had a dream.
A happy dream.
“Ah, Ms. Ban Harin~!”
A dream of spreading a picnic blanket in the middle of a lush flower field, spending a peaceful time with Eunha.
Blooming in the flower field were verdant roses.
With Eunha smiling drowsily as usual, Ban Harin embraced her, feeling as though she held the entire world in her arms.
“No, Ms. Ban Harin… Can’t you wait a little longer?”
A warm, tender dream—
where only the two of them remained in this world.
“Haha… Then, will you do one thing for me?”
But as they say,
the sweeter the dream, the more cruel reality feels upon waking.
Fortunately, that didn’t apply to Ban Harin.
“……What… would you like me to do?”
Clack.
A beautiful flower field.
At Ban Harin’s question, Eunha smiled and placed a Derringer pistol in her hand.
“Ms. Ban Harin… You’re a good shot, right?”
She realized it unintentionally.
That day, when she had rashly stolen Eunha’s carrier and awakened—
Eunha had told her to negotiate with the [Black Figure], then asked her to shoot her in the head.
“This time. Don’t hesitate. It only hurt more because you hesitated, Ms. Ban Harin.”
Eunha, sitting across from her in the flower field, smiled.
Eunha, with a hole in her head and one arm severed clean by a sharp sickle.
Smiling, as always.
Clack.
With trembling hands, Ban Harin raised the pistol and aimed it at Eunha’s head.
Because it was Eunha’s request.
“Don’t shake. You’ve already shot me in the head before.”
“…….”
“You cut my arm off at Goryongsan too, didn’t you?”
She wanted the person she loved to be happy.
But was granting her any wish, respecting her choices without question—
really the right thing to do?
“This time… Make sure. Kill me.”
“Eunha.”
“I don’t want to suffer anymore. It hurts too much. I don’t think I can take it.”
“…….”
“Will you grant my wish… this time too?”
People say,
the sweeter the dream, the more cruel reality feels upon waking.
Fortunately, that hardly applied to Ban Harin.
Bang—!!
Because even the sweetest dream
was cruel.
…….
…….
“Haa…! Haa…!”
She woke from the nightmare.
Ban Harin opened her eyes in the dark bedroom, immediately sitting up to steady her ragged breaths.
“……Huu…”
Her heart calmed after just three breaths.
Skilled at masking her emotions, she wiped her disheveled face out of habit.
Swish.
As her palm brushed over her face,
her usual ice-cold expressionlessness returned.
“……It was a nightmare, but since Eunha was in it, it was… pleasant.”
Still expressionless, Ban Harin exaggeratedly mimicked joy as she got out of bed and ‘observed’ her surroundings.
The clock read 1:00 PM.
Unusually for her, she had overslept, yet outside the window was as dark as dawn.
『…….』
Blink—
A massive [Red Moon], reptilian pupils slit vertically, blinked lazily in the night sky where the sun should have been.
Ban Harin took in the sight of ‘Dark Euncheongu’ under the gaze of the [Red Moon].
“……The nocturnal ‘rats’ would love this.”
Since October 1st, at the [Goryongsan Fissure],
Ban Harin had played the flute of worms in Eunha’s stead—
and still remained trapped in the world of aberrations,
unable to return to reality.
…….
She didn’t know why.
No aberration had come for her, and she hadn’t broken any rules.
Yet she couldn’t go back.
‘Perhaps it’s because I blew the flute…’
She didn’t know how to return.
It felt like solving a puzzle with no answer.
At least, somewhat surprisingly, it was livable.
Memorizing things was her specialty,
and she could effortlessly follow the guidelines Eunha had provided.
Even after days, she didn’t feel hungry.
Was this because it wasn’t reality?
The ‘reverse-cross hairpin’ in her bangs…
As long as she had this—obtained after shooting Eunha in the head—everything was fine.
“…….”
Her bangs.
Come to think of it, the bullet hole she made in Eunha’s head was in roughly the same spot.
What a peculiar taste.
Ban Harin absentmindedly touched the ‘reverse-cross hairpin’.
『Giggle~!』
Kagakang!
At the same time, reacting to the sound of a child’s transparent laughter from the living room,
she forcefully swung her phone upward to deflect the sickle flying toward her abdomen.
Struck hard on its side, the sickle spun wildly before embedding itself in the ceiling.
Blink.
But the moment Ban Harin blinked,
the sickle vanished from sight the instant it left her vision.
“…….”
Parararak.
Her left eye, crowded with countless eyeballs like the compound eyes of an insect.
Swoosh—!
Observing something, Ban Harin ducked.
Simultaneously, a sickle swung from behind her grazed her hair and flew past.
『Giggle~!』
Blink.
Kagakang!
A single blink.
The sickle vanished whenever she looked away.
Ban Harin deflected another sickle plunging from above with her phone and stretched her stiff limbs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Store sharp objects in designated locations.
– Kitchen knife racks, bedroom drawers, etc… Store blades at heights unreachable by children around 80 cm tall.
– Naturally, children cause accidents the moment you look away.
7-1. Occasionally, blades may appear on the floor without being taken out.
– Cover fallen blades with soft objects like cushions.
– Then say, “Found you. The game’s over.”
– When you remove the cushion later, the blade will have disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transparent Baby.
A pitiful child who lived lonely like an invisible person before vanishing.
Ban Harin, who swore to stay cooped up at home, spent time playing with the infant aberration that had come to her house.
“How is Eunha?”
『Mom’s doing fine!』
“That’s a relief.”
Kagakang!
Trapped in the aberration’s world for days.
Surprisingly, it was bearable.
Ban Harin deliberately dropped a sickle on the floor,
asking the infant aberration sneaking into her home about Eunha’s wellbeing.
The knife fights were just a bonus.
『Giggle~! Do you like our mom too, unnie?』
“It’s only natural for a father to play with their child. It doubles as training, so it’s good.”
Whoosh—!
At Ban Harin’s heavily burdened words, the sound of transparent footsteps scurried hastily away—but it didn’t matter.
The weak infant couldn’t leave anyway unless she uttered the words to end the ‘game’.
A soft, pathetic infant aberration, just like its mother.
Kagak!
Barely dodging the sickle flying like a bullet, she wiped the blood dripping from her cheek.
Had her left eye been normal, she wouldn’t even have dared.
“Call me Dad, and I’ll let you go.”
『Ew.』
“You’re trapped here with me.”
Kagakang!
The aberrant world.
Surprisingly livable.
Still, Eunha would worry if this continued.
It didn’t matter if she never returned to reality.
She had accepted that since recognizing aberrations.
Only—what if Eunha blamed herself?
Would she regret handing her the flute, blaming herself for not being more careful?
That worried her.
‘Since nothing changes by staying idle… I must find a way back to reality. Not seeing Eunha or Eunsori for days has left me frustrated.’
Even dialing yielded no calls.
She wanted to hear Eunha’s voice.
……Fine. Let’s go outside.
Eunha had mentioned a wise old man staying at [Euncheon Park].
Perhaps he held the answers.
『……Dad.』
“Good… Found you. The game’s over.”
Finally, after squeezing the word ‘Dad’ out of the exhausted [Transparent Baby],
Ban Harin grabbed a pillow from the bed, struck the sickle flying at her throat with the edge of her hand,
then covered the blade lodged in the wall with the soft pillow, ending the ‘game’.
『Bleh. Take it back. Mom’s ours.』
“Please let Eunha know I’m doing well.”
『……Fine. She’d be happy to hear it.』
Whoooosh—
Keeping its distance like a wary cat, the [Transparent Baby] vanished beyond the front door with a gust of wind and a transparent presence.
“…….”
When Ban Harin lifted the pillow,
the sickle was gone.
Having played its fill, it had left.
Blood trickling down her cheek.
The bedroom turned upside down.
Crunch…
The sound of the clay figurine Eunha gifted her, placed in her room, breaking apart.
She had claimed the aberrant world was livable,
but perhaps she was reaching her limit.
Skree— Pressing her buzzing left eye, filled with the sound of insect footsteps, she cleaned up the figurine.
“……What am I becoming?”
Alone in the dark bedroom,
she wondered.
Why couldn’t she return to reality?
Was she in the process of turning into an aberration?
She hoped not.
She didn’t want to burden Eunha any further.
‘It’ll be… fine. Unlike aberrations, I bear no grudges, don’t I?’
It would be fine.
Nothing would change.
Wiping her expressionless face, Ban Harin calmed her pounding heart.
( Ban Harin. You’re a good shot, right? )
( Ban Harin… Can you do one thing for me? )
( Up to heeere. Cut it off and throw it east with all your might. )
Grudges? Impossible.
It was just—
Eunha, who smiled while asking her to sever her own arm at [Goryongsan Fissure].
Eunha, who handed her a pistol and begged her to shoot her in the head.
( Haha… Just watch. I’ll pass somehow. )
Months ago, during the E-rank promotion test,
Eunha’s voice, hiding in the Association restroom… carving out her own guts with a kitchen knife,
refused to leave her mind.
“…….”
She wanted the person she loved to be happy.
But blindly granting her every wish, respecting her choices without question—
was that truly right?
Swish—
Ban Harin ‘observed’ her reflection in the mirror.
Her expressionless face resembled either a frigid ice sculpture or a mask molded after a human.
( This time… Make sure. Kill me. )
( I don’t want to suffer anymore. It hurts too much. I can’t take it. )
Words heard in the dream.
Staring at the mirror, she pondered.
( Will you grant my wish… this time too? )
It really was just a dream.
A fresh realization.
If this were reality… Eunha would never
let slip any word of pain to her.
She’d just smile, play it off like a joke,
pretend nothing was wrong.
As always.
Like usual.
…Without Ban Harin’s [Observation] skill
ever discerning what truly lingered within her.
…….
…….
『……Maybe Eunha just doesn’t trust you. You liar.』
CRASH!!!
Fury surged, and she shattered the mirror.
Her expressionless face fractured amidst the broken shards.
The woman reflected in the fragments.
Team Leader of [Rare Hunter Protection—Termination Division] Team 1.
A regular office worker and café patron.
Self-proclaimed C-rank Hunter.
A low-ranking employee of the Hunter Association.
The labels she used to introduce herself to Eunha.
“……Grudges… I have none.”
Liar.
Ban Harin curled up on the bed.
Like a tiny insect.
…….
…….
……Ban Harin. You have a call.
That was when—
The ringtone reached her ears.
Ban Harin. You have a call.
Ban Harin. You have a call.
Eunha’s voice, recorded long ago with her permission.
The flustered expression she wore when first asking still vivid in her mind.
“……Heh.”
A laugh slipped out.
It was just… nice.
Being able to hear her voice like this.
“It seems I can receive calls but not make any myself.”
Yet she swiftly returned to her usual blankness as she answered.
The caller ID displayed:
[Rare Hunter Protection—Termination Division] Team 4.
“Speaking.”
ㅡ Ban Harin, Team Leader of [Rare Hunter Protection—Termination Division] Team 1.
An unfamiliar voice echoed.
The tone of someone who spoke their piece without regard for others, then left.
Skree— Skkrt.
Parararak.
The clamoring of insect legs crawling across the dark ceiling grew louder.
ㅡ The Association Head will soon be replaced. Siding with Go Yeong-in without any connections was a mistake.
“…….”
ㅡ Straight to the point. The ‘Rare Hunter’ under your jurisdiction… will now be handled by our Team 4.
“…….”
ㅡ This is under the orders of the next Head. Make sure you understand.
Beep—
The call ended.
Just like that.
They truly said their piece and hung up.
“……Another team will take over… Eunha?”
Ban Harin quietly set down the phone and rose from the bed.
Apparently, something was unfolding in reality.
What was happening at the Hunter Association?
The talk of a leadership change.
Team 4 abruptly calling to declare they’d manage Eunha now.
……Come to think of it, long ago,
Team 4 had once requested cooperation too… but she couldn’t remember clearly.
Regardless,
one thing was certain.
‘Are they insane?’
Was the Association out of its mind?
Did they have so much manpower to spare they could toss it all into a blender?
In Team 1, only she and ‘Rat’ had survived.
Even those two would’ve vanished without a trace had Eunha not saved them in time.
“Tch… I need to return to reality as soon as possible. If bodies pile up, Eunha will be hurt.”
Ban Harin set her goal.
Return to reality.
Confirm the Association’s situation.
Resolve it before Eunha steps in.
( It’s fine! I’m not dead, so it’s all good! )
A soft-fisted fool who trusted nothing but her recovery and rushed headfirst into danger.
If Eunha got involved, the scene would undoubtedly be drenched in the stench of blood.
“Please stay put.”
Skree— Skkrt.
The sound of insect footsteps.
Donning a black suit from the wardrobe,
Ban Harin stepped out briskly and headed toward [Euncheon Park].
Screech—
A suspicious taxi stopped before her house beneath ominous clouds.
…….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…….
“Eunha unnie! You worked hard again today!”
“Mhm.”
5:00 PM.
Eunha closed the café earlier than usual.
While changing in the break room, she stared blankly at the mirror on the locker.
Ban Harin hadn’t shown up again today.
Was she really okay?
‘Kim Hayang’s mother warned me to be wary of the Association… Maybe she’s busy with Association work? Ban Harin is an Association employee too.’
Even though she wasn’t in good health.
Inspecting her reflection in the mirror, Eunha forced a smile.
She took out her phone and dialed Ban Harin.
Dialing… Beep.
The call connected instantly.
ㅡ Yes, Eunha.
“Ban Harin. I was worried. Do you have a moment?”
ㅡ No issue here.
The same emotionless voice as always echoed from the other end.
Stripping off her uniform and hanging it up, Eunha grabbed a loose box tee and adjusted her grip on the phone.
“I haven’t seen you in days. How’s your health?”
ㅡ Much better. There’s no need for concern. Just wait a few more days.
“What about the Association?”
ㅡ No issues.
If nothing was wrong, that was good…
But was it true?
Since she lacked the ability to ‘observe’ lies like someone else, it was frustrating.
Click—!
“Eunha Doulyeo! Great work tod—”
Part-timer Kim Sarang burst into the break room, greeting loudly.
“Ah.”
“Thanks. My apologies.”
Click.
Noticing Eunha, mid-call and half-changed,
she bowed awkwardly and retreated.
Odd.
Anyway.
Pulling on her box tee, Eunha.
Her sunset-tinted hair spilling over the fabric,
she told ‘Ban Harin on the other end’ to take care and hung up.
Beep—
A silent break room.
An inexplicable frustration made her open the window.
Finished changing, Eunha pocketed her phone and gazed at the mirror.
She was worried about Ban Harin.
After the promotion test, she seemed unwell, and now the Association was in chaos.
She wanted to handle Ban Harin’s work in her place.
Hadn’t Ban Harin always helped at the café too?
‘Come to think of it… What exactly does Ban Harin do? She’s definitely involved with me, but…’
A regular who always introduced herself as a ‘normal office worker.’
Strangely, she knew little about Ban Harin.
Staring at the mirror, Eunha sank into thought.
What if she helped with Ban Harin’s work, just as she had helped her?
Would Ban Harin like her for it?
If I were you.
If that position were mine.
“…….”
Then—Eunha saw it.
A pristine black suit.
Neatly trimmed black hair.
An eyepatch covering the ‘right’ eye.
An ‘upright cross hairpin’ securing her bangs…
“Ban Harin?”
Eunha called out to Ban Harin, who had suddenly appeared before her.
When did she get here?
Was her health okay?
“…….”
The ‘Ban Harin’ before her remained silent.
Only smiling drowsily at her, like always.
Had Ban Harin ever smiled like that before?
She seemed like a different person.
“…….”
Several seconds passed.
“……Huh?”
How long had she stared at ‘Ban Harin’ in front of her?
“……Hmm?”
Eunha realized something.
She was
looking at the mirror.
“Eh? Huh?”
She touched her own face.
Then, the ‘Ban Harin’ before her—no, the woman in the mirror—mirrored her panicked smile and touched her own cheeks.
Crack…
The sound of glass splitting.
If I could take your place—
What surfaced in her mind was the pill the [Black Figure] had placed in her mouth this time.
“What… is this?”
Ban Harin in the mirror smiled.
Eunha was bewildered.
……Swish.
Just in case, she looked down.
“……Oh.”
She could see her feet.
Nice.
This might not be so bad.
…….
…….
……Beep.
ㅡ It’s me.
“Team Leader… I found Ban Harin…”
A moment later.
Near the café.
A woman with voluminous rosy-pink hair.
Her obsidian-black horns grating against a nearby building,
she had spotted ‘Ban Harin’ exiting the café and called her Team Leader.
ㅡ No wonder she disappeared for days… She came to see the ‘Rare Hunter’. How’s her condition?
“…Hmm…”
The ‘Rosy Sheep’ ruffled her fluffy hair and peeked at ‘Ban Harin’.
Swish~ Swish~.
The ‘Ban Harin’ who left the café…
With a radiant smile, she skipped lightly toward [Euncheon Park],
as though going for a stroll.
Was she that happy with her own lightness?
Her face bloomed with joy.
“……She looks delighted…”
But probably not in her right mind.
Fear kept ‘Rosy Sheep’ from approaching.
Blinking her sleepy eyes, she shook her head.
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