episode_0375

“Keep an eye out for any foolish behavior.”

Just moments ago,

Office of Team 4, [Rare Hunter Protection-Elimination Division].

A man called “Goat” nodded at the team leader’s words.

Foolish behavior.

That likely referred to the fact that Team 1’s “Rare Hunter”—Galaxy—had gone to a church she never usually visited.

A beauty who covered her chest, larger than her head, with just a loose box tee, always trailing a black suitcase behind her.

Unconsciously, “Goat”‘s face flushed red as he recalled the woman’s appearance from when he had checked up on her previously.

“Watch Yang So-ah closely. The situation is bizarre.”

But contrary to “Goat”‘s expectations,

The team leader was wary of Yang So-ah, their own teammate.

Soon after, the leader took out a black remote from his pocket and handed it to “Goat.”

“……What do you mean, keep an eye on Yang So-ah?”

“Do you really think Yang So-ah could’ve killed Team 1’s monster without a scratch? Does that seem possible to you?”

“Suddenly, what kind of…? Isn’t that why you sent her alone in the first place?”

“With a sneak attack using her [Fiber Manipulation] skill, maybe… But in the few seconds before death, even Yang So-ah could’ve been torn apart by that woman.”

That’s what an A-rank Hunter is.

A weapon even another A-rank Hunter would struggle to stop if they threw themselves into battle without regard for mana exhaustion.

Tap. Tap.

If you want to kill, you have to cut their breath in one go.

The team leader, who had lost several fingers in a previous fight with “Rat,” knocked on the desk.

……The truth that Yang So-ah and “Ban Ha-rin” had not fought at all but instead shared a warm dinner at a family restaurant,

Exchanging casual conversations on the street like, “I’ll die for you just this once,”

Was something no one here had expected.

“……Ah. How the hell did she kill her?”

The team leader grabbed his head, furrowing his brow.

“Goat” swallowed his breath nervously in the heavy atmosphere.

He quietly stepped back and slipped the remote into his suit’s inner pocket.

A remote with two switches.

Though “Goat” was only a B-rank Hunter, with this, he could control A-rank Hunter Yang So-ah as he pleased.

“She wasn’t lying, right? The team leader pressed the button so much she nearly died. If she was lying, well, we’d have been fooled.”

“The body that was supposed to be in [Silver Sky Park] disappeared.”

“Goat” gulped at the team leader’s next words.

The body disappeared…?

“What… You don’t mean it came back to life? That monster?”

“No. Her neck was snapped in one go, so she’s definitely dead… There’s someone helping them. Probably someone from Go Yeong-in’s side.”

And judging by the timing,

The helper was most likely hiding in the church that “Rare Hunter” Galaxy had visited.

That’s why reinforcements were being sent to the church.

To ensure Yang So-ah didn’t meet unnecessary people and develop second thoughts.

Damn it. My head hurts… What the hell is Go Yeong-in’s reason for hiding Ban Ha-rin’s body?!

Unaware that the broken-necked woman had simply gotten up and walked away on her own, the team leader began agonizing over the unsolvable mystery.

…….

…….

Squeak—

“This is it? Where the hell is Yang So-ah? She’s not picking up… Did she run away?”

“She can’t run away. The team leader has the switch. Hey, someone’s there.”

“Tsk… Guild people? That outfit…”

And so,

The two Hunters who entered the church chasing Yang So-ah,

“……Uh, welcome…! Are you here to pray?”

Encountered a bizarre presence lurking in the dimly lit chapel.

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

“Haa…! Haa…!”

Finishing his brief recollection, the man—B-rank Hunter “Goat”—forced his ragged breathing to steady.

Breathing was painful.

His bloodied suit, disheveled hair.

The blood-soaked suit clung to his body like heavy mud.

Crash!

After fleeing from the “Mirror Room” on the church’s second floor, he tumbled down the stairs,

And upon spotting Yang So-ah passing through the first-floor hallway, he grabbed his bloodied hammer and rushed toward her.

“Yang So-ah…!!”

“……Goat…?”

A woman with voluminous pink hair cascading down to her thighs, covering her whole body.

The very reason they had to step foot in this cursed church.

…Hugging a mirror tenderly, Yang So-ah swayed happily.

Ugh…

While someone here died and came back to life, she stood there grinning like that.

Irritated, “Goat” approached her.

“Yang So-ah. Why are you alone here? Where’s the Rare Hunter?”

“…….”

“Not answering?”

As “Goat” stepped closer, bloody hammer in hand, Yang So-ah reflexively hunched over, hugging the mirror tightly.

Was it due to trauma?

Fluffy…

Yeah. This was Yang So-ah.

Buried in guilt over killing her only family in childhood,

A helpless woman who couldn’t do anything on her own.

A frightened little lamb.

He thought maybe she’d finally learned obedience after supposedly hunting Team 1’s monster solo and returning unscathed.

But in the end, it turned out like this…

Preparations had been rushed to eliminate Team 1 of [Rare Hunter Protection-Elimination Division] amid the chaos caused by the guild being distracted by the potion workshop incident.

Maybe she was left alone too much.

“…….”

He glared at her.

Though Yang So-ah instinctively flinched… no trace of fear lingered in her eyes now.

As if she had found some sort of hope.

Hugging the mirror tightly, she looked straight up at “Goat.”

He didn’t like it.

“Goat” raised the bloodied hammer.

“Yang…… Ah… This person’s ‘Goat’…”

“……?”

But then, suddenly,

Yang So-ah began muttering to herself.

“Mhm… Smelly and stingy… That’s why ‘Goat’…”

Wherever the trauma crushing Yang So-ah’s shoulders had gone,

She swayed lightly while staring at the “mirror” in her hands.

The mirror reflected her face.

She was introducing “Goat” to herself—her reflection—in the mirror.

“Yang So-ah… You…”

It was a bizarre sight.

Hammer still raised, “Goat” unconsciously took a step back.

His heel hit the staircase behind him, nearly sending him tumbling backward.

Squeak…!

The wooden stairs creaked ominously under his retreating steps.

“Mhm… I’m not close with…… Friend of the ‘team leader’…”

Yang So-ah spoke while staring at the “mirror.”

As if she had already forgotten about “Goat,” who had threatened her just moments ago.

Like a woman possessed,

Her gaze was fixated solely on the “mirror.”

Only then did “Goat” finally survey his surroundings.

The dim church hallway. An eerie space where the cold air made fingertips numb.

Mirror… Could Yang So-ah already be…

Mirror. A damn mirror.

He climbed the stairs backward,

Creating distance from Yang So-ah, who was talking to the “mirror.”

“Baah… Baah…”

Like a lost lamb returning to its mother’s embrace, Yang So-ah rubbed her jet-black horns against the mirror.

She was clearly not in her right mind.

What the hell… is happening…?!

The mirrors in this church were unnatural.

They made people unnatural.

Drip… Drip…

Staring down at his blood-soaked suit, “Goat” dredged up a horrifying memory.

…….

Squeeeak—

“Goat” entering the church.

He wasn’t alone.

There were two reinforcements with him.

“……Eh, welcome…! Are you here to pray?”

Right after entering the church,

In the darkened chapel, they spotted a woman picking up ‘[Pearl-White Beads](https://www.google.com/search?q=pearl+white+beads&tbm=isch)’ into a basket.

Bloodied bandages coiled tightly around her body, fluttering like clothes of wings,

An unsettling figure with an awkward presence.

The crimson evening light streaming through the glass door stretched “Goat”‘s shadow long across the floor.

The strange woman wandering the chapel stepped onto his shadow.

In the lightless church, she was the only one there.

She looked suspicious no matter how you saw it.

“Goat” and his comrade attacked “it.”

Raising his iron hammer high,

He rushed toward the ungainly woman before him,

And then…

Then……

……….

What happened again?

“Ah… I just finished cleaning…”

He didn’t know.

This church was unnatural.

Squeak…

The thing whose head he thought he’d shattered with the hammer was grinning peacefully.

A hand protruding from the watermelon-like split head grabbed “Goat”‘s hammer and lifted it.

The scarlet sunset streaming through the glass door.

Something redder than that—blood.

Before he knew it, the crucifix on the chapel wall had flipped upside down,

And the “woman” before him was no longer human.

“Did you come to pray? Did you come to repent?”

The thing with the shattered head asked.

Lifting its sagging arms like children playing shadow puppets,

Using the sunset pouring through the entrance,

It formed a puppy silhouette with its blood-soaked hands.

“Did you come to pray?”

The shadow-puppet dog spoke.

Then, the shadow transformed,

Taking the shape of a person,

A beast becoming human,

Rising to its feet.

“Let us pray.”

An abomination.

Something that defied the natural order, neither skill nor anything else.

A blood-drenched shadow, dyed like the sunset, stood up.

“Damn it… Run!”

Forget Yang So-ah—he had to escape.

“Goat” and his comrade pulled out smoke grenades from their pockets and hurled them to the ground.

Squelch!

Black blood gushed out instead of smoke when the grenades hit the floor.

Unknown.

Was this a nightmare?

“Goat” turned to flee this horrifying church.

The entrance they came through was visible.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

At the church entrance.

Backlit by the sunset,

Figures draped in cobalt-blue robes,

Silently watched “Goat” and his comrade.

The sunset pouring into the church resembled blood.

“GAAAHH!!”

“Here… take a flyer…”

BANG!

Not the entrance.

“Goat” and his comrade fled deeper into the church, avoiding “them.”

“Don’t run.”

A child’s hand shot out from the darkness and grabbed “Goat”‘s ankle,

Sending him face-first into the floor again and again,

His battered body now drenched in blood,

Desperately kicking off shoes and socks each time they got caught,

“Don’t run. Don’t run. Don’t run. Don’t run.”

“H-Here…! Take a flyer…”

BANG!

Opening the wooden door beside the altar, leading to a dark hallway.

The two blood-covered men ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Passing a sign reading [Mirror Room], they stepped inside.

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

4. Central Mirror

– Face your pain.

– The mirror reflects your heart.

– Wipe away the stains on the mirror.

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

“Haa…! Haa…! What the hell is this? A hallucination?”

Slumping to the floor, “Goat” panted heavily as he scanned the room.

[Mirror Room]. True to its name, mirrors of varying sizes were placed all around.

Drip…

His nose, crushed from repeated falls while fleeing.

Wiping away the streaming blood, “Goat” checked the mirrors.

Only minutes had passed since entering the church.

His reflection showed a blood-soaked, disheveled figure, shoes and socks torn away.

It’s a trap… They’re trying to kill us…

Staring at himself in the mirror, “Goat” tightened his grip on the bloodied hammer.

To hide the trembling in his fingers.

What he encountered in the chapel was malice—toward all living things.

A grudge that made his mind haze just from confronting it.

No. Yang So-ah and Galaxy must already be dead. I have to escape this nightmare and report to the team leader…

He could escape.

He had to survive.

He had to.

Wiping away the blood, “Goat” sank into thought.

…….

Schlick…

Schlick, schlick…

Then,

A strange sound came from behind.

Startled, “Goat” whirled around, hammer raised.

“……What are you doing?”

Schlick. Schlick.

His comrade, who had entered the church with him.

The guy was scraping away at one of the [Mirror Room]’s mirrors.

“Gotta clean it.”

“Huh?”

“The mirror’s dirty.”

Suddenly?

“Goat” stared at him.

Schlick… Schlick…

The mirror his comrade was cleaning was massive.

Filling one wall of the [Mirror Room]… A mirror deserving of the name “Central.”

The enormous mirror sparkled like a gem even under the dim light.

Had it been carved from diamond?

“It’s pitiful… It’s this beautiful, yet stained.”

“……Where do you see a stain?”

Schlick. Schlick.

His comrade pressed against the beautiful mirror, wiping away the “stain.”

Schlick, schlick.

He cleaned the mirror. To remove the “stain.”

Like devotees purging their hearts of sin.

Like scrubbing away one’s own guilt.

He wiped the mirror.

Schlick, schlick…

Possessed by a ghost, perhaps.

Keeping his distance from the surrounding mirrors, “Goat” approached his comrade.

“Stop. We need to escape…”

“Can’t you see? The stain. Gotta clean it…”

“I said stop!”

Squelch—

A different sound this time.

The sound of his comrade’s hand tearing as he wiped the mirror.

“Huh…?”

The gem-like sparkling mirror.

Only now did he realize why.

The mirror sparkled because glass shards protruded from its surface like the blades of a grater.

Schlick. Schlick.

A church where “half-baked” things shed their lingering attachments and dissolved into the Milky Way.

Wiped the mirror.

Wiped the “stain.”

Was it because of the winter-cold air?

His fingertips were frozen stiff, senses numb.

Schlick. Schlick.

The beautiful mirror began glowing ruby-red.

Schlick. Schlick.

Like vegetables grated by blades.

His comrade’s size gradually shrank.

“The stain… The stain won’t come off…!”

Schlick. Schlick.

The stain he greedily wiped only spread redder across the mirror.

“I told you to stop!!”

Crash!

Unable to bear it, “Goat” grabbed his comrade.

The latter flailed his ragged hands, still trying to reach the “Central Mirror.”

“Snap out of it! There’s no stain on the mirror!”

“…….”

“Look closely!”

Deafening shouts seemed to bring back his senses.

Finally, his comrade stared blankly at the mirror.

The mirror was now smeared red.

Glass shards jutted from its surface like grater blades, sparkling under the light.

The beautiful mirror,

Reflecting his own face.

Of course.

“……Ah.”

He realized.

Why the stain wouldn’t come off.

“Crazy… Pull yourself together, let’s just use a potion…”

“I… was the stain…”

“What?”

Getting up.

Shoving “Goat” away,

He approached the mirror.

The beautiful mirror.

The “stain” reflected upon it.

The stain must be wiped away.

“……’Goat.’ How many people have we killed until now?”

“Suddenly, why……”

“You don’t remember? Neither do I.”

And so,

With those ominous words.

Schlick…

His comrade, standing before the mirror like a pious believer,

Began wiping away the “stain” reflected in the mirror.

Schlick. Schlick.

The “stain” scraped against the mirror, then vanished.

He felt lighter.

Schlick. Schlick schlick. Schlick.

His heart grew peaceful.

What a wonderful church.

…….

…….

“Ugh…!”

Recalling the horrors he witnessed on the second floor, “Goat” suppressed his nausea.

Now, after finishing his recollection.

Yang So-ah found after scrambling out of the [Mirror Room].

She, too, was conversing while staring at a “mirror.”

No one here was sane.

They were all losing it.

“Haa…! Haa…! Haa…!”

“Baaah… Wanna see ‘Goat’…?”

Fluffy…

Then. After talking to the mirror for quite a while, Yang So-ah looked at “Goat.”

Then, as if introducing him to “someone” inside the mirror,

She turned the mirror toward him to reflect his image.

Dangerous.

Looking into the mirror meant death.

“Yang So-ah!! Stop!”

Snatch!

Eyes widened, “Goat.”

He reached into his suit pocket, pulling out the remote the team leader had given him.

This was his only lifeline now.

“Baaah…!”

“Put the mirror down! Now!”

Yang So-ah froze like a statue upon spotting the remote.

A remote with two switches.

Just looking at it made his headache return, twisting his face.

Fluffy…

Still hugging the mirror tightly, Yang So-ah used one hand to clutch the metal horn embedded in her head.

The jet-black horn jutting sharply from between her fluffy hair.

The original horn had been cut off at the root, replaced with this metal one.

Grinding her teeth against the throbbing nerve pain, Yang So-ah spoke.

“……Okay…”

“Who the hell are you talking to?! Put the mirror down!”

“No…”

What gave her the confidence?

Yang So-ah glared at “Goat,” her eyes mixed with fear.

But she didn’t cower.

Normally, he’d just press the switch, and she’d be rolling on the floor, sobbing and clinging to him.

Was it because of his pitiful state?

Drip… Drip…

Blood dripping noisily.

His crushed nose from tumbling down the stairs,

The ear half-sliced off while chasing “Rat,”

Throbbed mockingly.

“So… You think I’m easy too?”

He was fed up.

Hated this church, hated Yang So-ah before him now.

Survive first. Breaking something would make good bait later.

Flick…

A remote with two switches.

One: a rotation knob.

The other: a timer extension button.

Of course, the one the team leader gave him only had the “rotation” button working.

Click.

No hesitation.

“Goat” pressed the “rotation” button while staring at Yang So-ah.

…….

…….

“……Huh?”

Nothing happened.

Fluffy…

Yang So-ah, who had squeezed her eyes shut, now touched her horn.

It was fine.

“Ya…ng?”

“Owie… Hurts…. Owie…! Head feels better…! Agh…!”

Yang So-ah’s voice came from inside the mirror.

What the hell was going on?

“Goat” stared at the perfectly unharmed Yang So-ah.

“…….”

A pink, fluffy figure quietly gazing at the mirror.

There was no reaction to the button press.

An A-rank Hunter with [Fiber Manipulation],

Standing perfectly unharmed before him.

Thump. Thump.

Like facing a beast whose leash had snapped,

A cold shiver crawled up his spine.

“Damn it…!”

“Goat” moved his finger to press the button again.

Fluff—

At that moment,

A cushiony bundle of fur blocked his finger.

“Huh?”

What?

Looking down.

Fluffy. Fluffy.

His suit sleeve had unraveled.

Like stitches coming loose from a knitted sweater.

Fluffy…

Threads stretching from the sleeve,

Encasing “Goat”‘s hand like lace gloves.

Since when?

“…….”

He looked back up at Yang So-ah.

Hugging the mirror tightly, she glared at him furiously.

A face he’d never seen before.

Did this lamb even know how to get angry?

“Sto—!”

Crack!

Yang So-ah reached out.

The threads gripping “Goat”‘s fingers yanked backward.

The finger about to press the button curled unnaturally.

“AAARGH…!!”

Dropping the remote from the unbearable pain, “Goat” clutched his broken finger,

Expression twisting as he prepared to use…[skill]—

Crack!

Before he could,

His own suit moved on its own, snapping his neck 180 degrees.

Thud.

“Goat”‘s limp body collapsed onto the church hallway.

…….

…….

“Ah, my head….. Thinking of it as a free massage helps, right?”

“Okay…?”

“I’m fine… Did you kill ‘Goat’?”

Moments later.

Picking up the fallen remote, Yang So-ah rubbed her cheek against the mirror.

Inside the mirror, “Yang So-ah” checked on the collapsed “Goat.”

“Didn’t kill… Just broke neck…”

“Looks dead, though.”

“……People… don’t die… from broken necks…”

“Oh…… Herniated disc? Passed out from pain?”

“Baaah…”

“It’s fine. No need to act coy. He tried to kill ‘Rat,’ so natural causes checks out. Even [Penance Room] bro would approve.”

Lightly kicking the neck-snapped “Goat,” Yang So-ah paused,

Then hugged the mirror tightly and began walking away, bouncing lightly.

Fluffy… Fluffy…

With impossibly light steps, she passed through the chapel and exited the church.

“……Ban Ha-rin sunbae…”

“I’m Galaxy.”

“Then… Galaxy sunbae…”

The reddening sunset bathed Yang So-ah.

“I… want to pull out my horn… Help me.”

One evening in October.

The day’s end.

Ex-Rare Hunter Yang So-ah, hugging her precious mirror warmly,

Gazed quietly at the sunset reflecting upon her.

“……Baaah…”

Light in the dark church.

Light found in the underground penance room.

Finally.

She had someone precious.

“It’s okay to make mistakes.”

Tap.

Someone behind her pushed Yang So-ah’s back as she left the church.

A wrinkled hand.

Looking back,

The “ungainly woman” waved goodbye cheerfully.

“Take care~.”

“…….”

For some reason, she looked joyful.

When asked why, she replied that the “pearls” in her basket now filled the last empty spot.

What did that mean…

Fluffy, fluffy…

Turning around, Yang So-ah left the church.

The crisp autumn evening breeze brushed her cheeks before vanishing.

“……I know someone good at sawing. Want me to call them?”

“Baaah?”

“You said you wanted your horn cut off?”

Time began to flow again.