episode_0385

Alcohol makes a person.

In the most literal sense.

Glug glug~♡

After chugging an entire canned beer gifted by someone, the drunken baby Hornet giggled tipsily before rolling back home to Eunha’s place—whether it was the beer’s power making it want to become human or whether it wanted to make a person with Eunha was anyone’s guess.

Holding the drunken baby Hornet in her arms as she laid it down on the bed, it immediately burrowed into Eunha’s embrace and curled up to sleep.

“……Sleep well, Fly.”

Two days had passed since Eunha had swapped places with the “Mirror Aberration.”

Even within that short time, it seemed she had missed Eunha terribly.

Flap—

As Eunha patted the sleeping “Fly’s” chest, she felt something.

A single sheet of drawing paper tucked inside its clothes.

Carefully pulling it out and unfolding it, she saw an illustration of a “family” happily living together in the flower field of [Goryongsan’s Rift Zone].

Eunha and the [Bug Princess].

The baby Hornet nestled in their arms.

And, sprouting mischievously from the countless “canned beers” buried in the flower field, more baby Hornets growing abundantly.

Little siblings, daughters, nieces, grandsons—there were a lot of them.

A proper family tree, fit for bugs.

Seems this was how it interpreted the saying “alcohol makes a person.”

‘Did it think the beer cans were flower pots? …Wait, let me take a little sip.’

Slurp—

She sucked down the tender mochi cake.

Tiny hands patted her cheeks.

Eunha carefully tucked the “family portrait,” drawn with warmth, back into the baby Hornet’s embrace.

If later “Fly” asks how it was born, she’d just say it popped out when she opened a beer can.

If she admitted she only raised it because she couldn’t return the opened can, it might sulk.

Worth a try.

If it backfires, she’ll just visit the [Black Person].

‘Family, huh… Guess I’ll have to work hard so ours turns out like this picture.’

She smiled slyly to herself.

Who knows—maybe someday, it could happen.

Someday, after a long, long time.

“Family, huh… It’s been on my mind a lot lately.”

Eunha thought positively.

What even was family? If they were precious to you, then they were family.

And right now, didn’t she have a precious baby Hornet sleeping soundly in her arms?

“…….”

Someone once said—

Family is more precious than your own life.

So it’s okay.

The apartment aberrations, the cafe regulars—

They must all be Eunha’s precious family too.

Bonds more valuable than life itself.

A life that revives again and again only has that much worth, after all.

Bonds born from pain.

( 『You’re a worthless human.』 )

( 『Nobody loves a murderer like you, killing your own parents and running away. That’s why I made you useful.』 )

( —Chief Jojeosil said that. Said she’d meet with Eunha. )

( —Otherwise, she’d leak the [Galaxy Potion] recipe. )

Which is why Eunha didn’t care.

About any of it.

Smiling as usual, she gently patted “Fly’s” round belly.

Even with her [Auto-Recovery] skill, her cheek muscles ached from smiling all day.

“……In front of Fly, I should make sure [Bug Princess] doesn’t die on them. We’re family.”

Resentment doesn’t fade.

Cradling the sleeping Hornet protectively, she held it close.

Creak—

The balcony window slid open as someone entered the apartment.

A home full of family.

Clip-clop—

A night spent with family—

Where idle thoughts grow louder than ever.

…….

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

A passing thought:

The promotion exam results from October 1st…

When will they come out?

“Kim Sarang, did yours arrive?”

“This one?”

October 8th.

The day after introducing the cotton-candy-like Yang Soa to the cafe.

Exactly one week had passed since the chaotic promotion exam.

The results still hadn’t been announced.

Maybe because the Association was in disarray lately, keeping everyone busy.

Leaving Eunha stuck impatiently tapping her feet.

Pass or fail?

Absentmindedly, she fiddled with the crumpled edges of her D-rank Hunter license like a charm.

“Hmm…”

Kim Sarang barged into the cafe after finishing her morning academy classes.

At Eunha’s question, she flapped the sleeves of her black uniform.

‘Asked if this one arrived? Arrived where?’

Ding-dong~

A customer entered.

They ordered Eunha’s strangely popular “Milk Coffee” and headed to a table.

‘Milk… Huh.’

A beast-like girl with keen instincts but questionable logic.

Kim Sarang nodded proudly, puffing out her chest with confidence.

“This one’s still far off. These things aren’t released easily.”

“Right? The situation being what it is…”

They chatted peacefully.

For some reason, this [Rabbit Latte] cafe had no guidebook.

Effectively the only safe haven, not just for Eunha but for those bearing [“Reverse Crosses”], who often lingered here whenever possible.

Hum-hum~

In the kitchen, Kang Nari—her gem-blue hair neatly tied—worked deftly on a coffee order.

Eunha pocketed her D-rank license.

“What about you, Eunha? Yours come out?”

“Same as you. Feels like it might drop soon, but no updates yet.”

“Oh… Makes sense.”

“……Are we even talking about the same thing?”

Hug—

Without warning, Kim Sarang buried her face in Eunha’s chest.

Startled, Eunha stayed still until Kim Sarang breathed in deeply a few times before stepping back with a relieved sigh.

“Whew… Glad you’re really Eunha.”

“……?”

“Two days ago, maybe—the you I met here felt different. Must’ve been my imagination.”

Two days ago.

When the “Mirror Aberration” replaced Eunha.

Acting all “my spot now” while mocking others as weak, only to get exposed by Kim Sarang because it couldn’t even mimic properly.

‘I fooled even Bang Hwarin and Bang Wool like that… Should just keep calling it [Trash Mirror].’

Smirking, Eunha shot a mocking glance at the mirror by the counter, ridiculing the “Trash Mirror” mercilessly.

Her reflection smirked back.

Trash.

…….

“Eunha. You smell different. Pet?”

“That’s harsh… Made a new friend, that’s all.”

“I see.”

“Your nose is sharp. Definitely a beast.”

“That’s harsh.”

Time for damage control.

From the October 1st promotion exam to the Yang Soa incident—

Two immediate messes Eunha had to clean up:

First—Chief Jojeosil threatening to leak the [Galaxy Potion] recipe unless met with.

Second—the aftermath of the “Trash Mirror” borrowing her body for two days.

‘Come to think of it, I still need to hear from Bang Hwarin about the [Rare Hunter Protection-Eradication Squad] stuff too… Too much going on. Guess I bulldozed through without thinking.’

Meant she’d stay busy for a while.

“Eunha.”

“Yes, Kang Nari?”

Having finished brewing coffee, Kang Nari approached Eunha.

Standing Kim Sarang—who was sulking at being called a beast—by the counter, Eunha straightened her apron and turned.

Glance—

Kang Nari blushed and averted her gaze.

“Ahem… Eunha. Got a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I used my [Component Replacement] skill to swap cafestol, the oily part of coffee, with protein. It neutralizes stomach acid, reduces irritation, and without cafestol, no cholesterol spikes—great for heart patients—”

“Sorry, can you simplify?”

“Please ask Silver Bell Boss to let me use my skill on coffee. If a credit-blamed debtor like me suggests it, she’ll stuff me in a drum.”

Months had passed since Kang Nari started working at the cafe.

The once-skulking kitchen dweller was unrecognizable now—maybe thanks to Kim Sarang freeing her from “youngest” status.

But she still struggled with Silver Bell.

To the point of checking the air holes she secretly drilled into the storage drum every morning.

‘…Overthinking like this means she’s doing fine, right?’

Anyway, she’s always loved making things.

Eunha sometimes envied Kang Nari’s passion.

“Sure. I’ll talk to Bang Wool.”

“Thanks! Oh—and about the [Silver Steel Potion] we discussed…”

“Huh?”

“Like you said, this month I skipped the Hunter Association and delivered to [Evergreen Emergency Center]. Their facilities were spotless.”

“……?”

As Kang Nari rambled on,

Eunha rubbed her stiffening cheek with a puzzled look.

What was she talking about?

…….

Two days prior—

When the “Trash Mirror” worked at the cafe in Eunha’s body,

Kang Nari apparently asked “Eunha” about changing the [Silver Steel Potion]’s delivery location.

( Not the Hunter Association—it was originally for Chief Go Yeongin. )

( With the Association in chaos and Chief Go gone… )

Then,

after silently listening,

“Eunha” replied:

( For now, deliver to [Evergreen Emergency Center]. My mom works there. )

( Oh! You have a mom? )

( ……. )

( Ah—sorry! Didn’t mean it like— )

( Whatever. After delivering, update me in “two days.” My memory’s bad. )

( Got it! )

Seems the mirror just did its job.

Eunha shrugged.

She’d have said the same.

The Association without Chief Cat wasn’t trustworthy.

‘[Silver Steel Potion], promotion results… Guess I’ll have to talk to Chief Cat after all.’

A sudden memory—Yang Soa’s past, seen through detective Do Jongha’s skill.

Twenty years ago.

The lives lost that day weren’t just Yang Soa’s grandmother.

( —Tch. Who reported this old hag dead? )

( Someone we know. That woman who came in with Go Yeongin. )

( Ah, her?…… Dispose of her today. )

“Go Yeongin’s comrade,” who helped Yang Soa’s grandmother escape.

Such a thing happened.

‘Chief Cat probably forgot…’

Yet fate still connected them.

A bond that never quite reached.

Either way,

Eunha needed to meet Go Yeongin.

Chief Jojeosil would be nearby too.

Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

This meeting would wrap up the Hunter Association saga.

“…….”

Squeeze—

Having decided her next move, Eunha hugged Kang Nari.

People around her loved physical affection.

As long as it didn’t hurt, Eunha was happy to oblige.

“Thanks for telling me. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Ehehe~. Ugh…”

“……?”

Kang Nari made a weird noise in the hug.

Too gentle? Ticklish? Smiling, Eunha tightened her embrace.

Her ample chest squished against Kang Nari’s like a pancake.

“Ughuh…”

“Kang Nari. You hurt your head?”

“I’m just… really happy right now.”

No idea why.

Everyone around her seemed to have screws loose.

Was she the only sane one?

Eunha kept hugging Kang Nari tightly until the next customer arrived.

…….

…….

Time to meet Go Yeongin.

And Chief Jojeosil while at it.

But first, a detour.

“Welcome—? Miss?”

“Hello.”

5:10 PM.

After her cafe shift, Eunha changed and headed straight to [Evergreen Emergency Center] in Euncheongu.

Once called “Cheongryong General Hospital.”

Back when she used the “land deed” from the [Blood Donation Bus] event, it transformed into this.

Stepping onto her own land filled her chest with pride.

If she hallucinated Bang Hwarin saying “It was already majestic,” it was just her imagination.

‘Been a while since a hospital visit. Saved a kid in the ICU once.’

That girl’s name—what was it? Heejin?

A blurry memory now.

“What brings you here, miss?”

“Heard [Silver Steel Potion] was delivered here… Where’s my mo—I mean, the [Blood Donation Bus] driver?”

“Madam is away?”

“Your staff all speak with uptalk?”

“Do we?”

Reception, first floor.

Eunha answered the oddly polite staff while surveying the center.

‘Inside’s… cleaner than expected.’

A spotless white building—not a speck of dust.

The kind of pristine that’d make even major hospitals flee in shame.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

And crowded.

With normal people.

Most hospitals would be winding down at 5 PM, but here, countless people still clutched numbered tickets, waiting their turn.

A slight unease.

Were they really people?

Eunha’s eyes flicked to their tickets.

‘Surgery No. 41.’

‘Surgery No. 42.’

‘Internal Medicine No. 1320.’

‘Internal Medicine No. 1321.’

The strange labels.

Those with surgery tickets covered their eyes with both hands.

Those with internal medicine tickets stared holes into Eunha.

Categorized by ticket?

Seemed this hospital catered to everything.

‘ICU No. 4.’

‘Morgue No. 99.’

‘Pathfinder Church No. 5.’

[Evergreen Emergency Center].

……Was this place safe?

“Hi! Hi!”

A boy in a patient gown passed by.

His face looked familiar.

“…Hey, kid.”

“Daddy’s friend? Daddy’s friend?”

“Doubt it.”

“Hi! Hi!”

Pointing at his gown, the boy beamed.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

With a sunny smile, he returned to his room.

Just wanted to greet her?

“…….”

“Thank you? Miss?”

The receptionist bowed deeply at 90 degrees.

Eunha checked her own ticket.

‘No. 0.’

Weird hospital.

…….

( Don’t overthink it? )

( Our daughter, it’s a free gift. Nothing bad. )

She stayed positive.

The “land deed” was a blood donation reward.

Harmless.

THUD!!

Right then, someone fell from the upper floor.

CRUNCH!

Headfirst into the ground—the thing wobbled up, stretched, and casually walked back upstairs.

……Shock therapy, huh?

Surprisingly legit.

“What brings you here, miss?”

“Ah, right. About the [Silver Steel Potion]—”

Rustle—

Before she could finish,

the receptionist handed her a pre-prepared stack of documents.

THUD!

Another falling body behind her.

“…….”

“…….”

The seated “people” remained still—

hands covering their eyes,

mouths slightly agape,

silently waiting their turn.

As if seeing nothing.

“Yeesh…”

Bizarre sight.

Eunha skimmed the documents.

Flap—

Simple contents:

How [Silver Steel Potion] deliveries were used.

Who received them, how critical their conditions were,

which hospitals got how much…

Almost like a thank you for supplying them.

Every trivial detail recorded with eerie precision.

‘…Should just keep delivering here.’

Mom’s workplace was reliable.

Better than trusting humans.

Maybe because they lived by grudges…

No taxes either, being aberrations.

‘Nice.’

No reason to hate hospitals.

Eunha decided to get along with [Evergreen Emergency Center].

…….

‘…Unnie. Something’s weird.’

“Huh? Who—”

‘Those people sitting there—why are they all dead?’

The voice came from behind—

just about then.

…….

…….

…….

“Hmm. Eunha. Long time.”

“Hello, Kim Hayang’s mom…”

“……Tired?”

“Just visited the hospital. I’m fine.”

6 PM, dusk.

After leaving the hospital, Eunha met Kim Hayang, guildmaster of [Changcheon Sword House].

Best to handle things quickly.

On her way to confront Chief Jojeosil and Chief Cat.

Hug—

After greetings, Kim Hayang suddenly buried her face in Eunha’s chest.

A few deep breaths later, she stepped back—just like her daughter Kim Sarang—and nodded.

“Good. You’re Eunha today.”

“Sarang said the same.”

“New scent. New pet?”

“Heard that too.”

Kim Hayang idly kneaded Eunha’s chest (lingering Yang Soa scent) while explaining, eyes closed.

“Chief Jojeosil’s in detention. Go Yeongin’s nearby too.”

Central Hunter Association Detention.

Not to meddle in Association chaos—just a quick chat.

Really, just talking.

Ask when promotion results drop, if [Silver Steel Potion] can be delivered elsewhere…

Minor conversations.

Nothing could go wrong in that short time.

‘What’s even in detention? Let’s go home before sunset.’

With Kim Hayang, Eunha headed toward the detention center under the setting sun.