episode_0386

On the way to the detention center where Chief Joje and Division Head Ko Young-in await.

The story from just moments before.

…….

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※Evergreen Emergency Center Emergency Ward Guidelines※

– This guide has been prepared for the safety and health of you and the patients.

– If there are any missing or damaged parts in this guide, please visit the hospital’s administrative office on the 1st floor for a replacement.

1. Please adhere to ward rounds.

– Enter all patient rooms and avoid disrupting the rare rounds.

– The hospital is not responsible for any additional injuries or risks.

2. Internal Medicine: Fasting Recommended.

– They say not to eat food tainted by death. The same goes for food from the underworld.

– Food consumption is not recommended. This includes food offered by patients.

3. Psychiatry: Delusional Patients.

– There is a girl with bizarre thought patterns. The confused child will ask you if her thoughts are valid.

– Answer cautiously. Your response will be accepted as the truth by the girl.

4. Isolation Room: No Entry.

– Do not respond to cries for help.

– Do not approach the broken isolation room.

– Try not to fall. Be wary of collapsing ceilings.

5. Thoracic Surgery: Who’s Coughing…

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

『…Unni. I have a question.』

The reception desk on the 1st floor of the [Evergreen Emergency Center].

Eunha, who had just received the distribution report for the [Eungang Potion] from an excessively polite employee, turned her head absentmindedly at the voice of a girl behind her.

“Huh? Who—”

It was a girl in a patient gown.

This waiting room was lined with chairs. Among the ‘people’ sitting rigidly with their hands covering their eyes and mouths slightly parted, the brightly smiling girl skipped toward Eunha.

The dissonance between her and the surroundings was so eerie that, despite the hospital’s sterile brightness, it sent chills down Eunha’s spine.

Sweee…

Despite the crowd, not a single breath could be heard. Only the girl’s cheerful voice hopped across the silence.

Eunha had already achieved her purpose here and needed to head to the detention center soon—but what was this?

Brushing her arm lightly, Eunha faced the ‘girl’.

『Big-chest Unni!』

“What is it?”

『Those people sitting over there—why are they all dead?』

At the girl’s question, Eunha startled and began scanning her surroundings.

“…….” “…….” “…….”

She observed the ‘people’ seated in the waiting area.

They covered their own eyes, as if refusing to see what must not be seen.

But they were alive.

Though she heard no breaths, she spotted slight movements in their hands covering their eyes.

‘They are alive, right?’

Ordinary strangers.

They likely visited [Evergreen Emergency Center], received treatment, and would return home uneventfully.

So why call them dead?

Her heart nearly dropped.

“……They seem perfectly alive?”

After a cautious glance around, Eunha answered hesitantly.

The girl before her beamed and nodded.

『I see~ So they are alive.』

Haa…

Then, in that moment—

The previously silent people began exhaling faint breaths.

“Huh…?”

Eunha turned at the sudden sound.

Like needles piercing blocked airways, cold breaths flowed from the ‘people’ as the girl nodded.

“…….”

『They were so still, like Rudy, I thought they were dead!』

“…I see. Who’s Rudy?”

『My little brother!』

A space now filled with breaths. A brightly grinning girl.

Meeting the innocent-looking smile, Eunha recalled the ‘guidelines’ she’d checked before coming here.

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

3. Psychiatry: Delusional Patients.

– There is a girl with bizarre thought patterns. The confused child will ask you if her thoughts are valid.

– Answer cautiously. Your response will be accepted as the truth by the girl.

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

Eunha tugged at the corner of her lips, then plastered on a faint smile.

The delusional girl in patient gowns.

She had to answer carefully.

‘That was close… What kind of rule is this? What if I’d said they were dead?’

Her heart thudded heavily.

‘Is it because their eyes are covered that they reveal themselves? No idea. Let’s just leave.’

Patting the ‘delusional girl’s’ head, Eunha headed for the exit.

Tododot!

The delighted girl happily smoothed her ruffled hair and followed Eunha.

‘Hunters really are popular, huh.’

Her heart raced wildly as the cute girl trailed after her.

『Unni! Unni! I have a question!』

“I see. But Unni’s busy—can we talk later?”

Clack!

She reached for the exit door.

The transparent glass slid open smoothly.

Nice. Time to flee.

『Big-chest Unni! Can I leave the hospital too?』

“No. Outside’s dangerous—stay here.”

『I see!』

Having deftly dismissed the girl’s request, Eunha waved goodbye and stepped out.

Screeeech—

Now she just had to meet Guild Leader Kim Hayang and head to the detention center.

Maybe bring a gift?

『Outside is dangerous~.』

Crash!

But immediately after, a signpost came flying with a gust of wind, lodging itself into Eunha’s skull right as she exited the hospital.

Boom!

The impact sent her tumbling back inside.

Wait, what—

“Ghhhaaak…!”

Screee—

Her head throbbed.

Clutching her skull in agony, she noticed the signpost’s edge jutting from her head, scraping the floor as she writhed. Unable to bear the pain, she banged the back of her head repeatedly against the smooth floor.

Thud! Thud! Crack!

After several knocks, the signpost dislodged itself.

A slight relief—but the pain lingered.

Gritting her teeth, Eunha grabbed the signpost with trembling hands.

Groan…

And with [Physical Reinforcement],

Crunch!

She yanked it out fully.

“Ghh…! Hah…!”

Crack! Grind!

It had been lodged too deep.

Her hands lacked strength.

Leveraging the signpost left and right like a pry bar, she slowly freed it.

Each tug sent fireworks bursting across her vision.

…….

……Clang!

How long had she struggled?

The signpost clattered to the ground.

“Haa… Haa…”

Panting, Eunha examined the ‘signpost’.

A triangular pedestrian crossing sign.

Why did this even fly at me? What kind of wind—

In the now blood-spattered 1st floor, she sighed deeply.

『Wow… Outside is really dangerous.』

Clutching her aching head, Eunha noticed the ‘delusional girl’ poking her ample chest and muttering like she’d just learned something new.

‘Right… My answers become her truth.’

Had her earlier “Outside’s dangerous” remark triggered this?

It was just an excuse to keep the girl from leaving—

Now outside was dangerous.

‘For a two-line rule, that’s way too deadly. No limits mentioned either…’

She’d underestimated it.

No careless words around this ‘delusional abomination’.

Rustle…

A few minutes after removing the signpost, Eunha checked her fully healed head and stood up.

Her forehead felt slightly concave—but alive was good enough.

“Haa… Haa…”

『Unni, you okay? Don’t go out. It’s dangerous.』

“Haa… Actually, outside isn’t dangerous.”

Clutching her pounding head, Eunha faced the girl and retracted her earlier statement.

『But just now—』

“That was a coincidence.”

『I see… Then can I leave?』

“No.”

『…Why?』

“If you leave, I’ll have a hard time. So don’t.”

No made-up reasons.

No need to humor this ‘abomination’.

The delusional child.

She answered ‘honestly’.

『I see… Okay! Sorry, Unni!』

Thankfully, the girl nodded cheerfully—almost like she’d learned something new.

Relieved, Eunha smiled back.

Luckily, this wasn’t a malicious abomination.

People could be kind.

‘People’.

『Then then, Unni! I got another question!』

After that, Eunha endured conversations with the ‘delusional girl’ until her headache faded.

Hospital staff appeared from nowhere, cleaning up the mess.

『Big-chest Unni, have you seen giant teddy bears eating people?』

“…Just dreams. No teddy bears eat people in real life.”

『I see!』

She chose every word carefully.

Thud!

From upstairs, something stretched casually before ascending the stairs.

……What a lively hospital.

The ‘smell of life’ was comforting.

『Unni unni! Do you have milk too?』

“…Probably not?”

『I see~.』

Her head hurt.

‘Am I answering correctly?’

She scratched her throbbing skull.

The girl believed others’ words verbatim—yet had strict rules.

“……Did you know? Others can’t see abominations like I do.”

『Ehh~ Lies! Unni’s a liar!』

“Wa—”

『Earlier answers were lies too, right? I know!』

She believed anything related to her questions.

But unrelated remarks? She detected lies instantly.

And if caught lying, one prior answer became ‘false’ too.

Complicated.

‘Just answer questions directly… Which reply got voided now? What did I even say earlier?’

Mulling it over, Eunha kept engaging the girl.

Truly a bizarre abomination.

‘What kind of grudge birthed these rules?’

『Rudy says he wants to eat Unni’s food!』

“Next time. Unni’s busy.”

『I see~ I’ll wait till then!』

No clue.

Her head hurt.

Eunha kept playing along until her headache faded.

『Unni unni!』

『I wonder…』

『Wonder…』

How much time passed?

Once recovered, Eunha changed out of her bloodied clothes using spare ones from her carrier.

『Then Unni, who are your parents?』

The girl’s question froze her.

“…….”

『Rudy’s curious!』

Eunha couldn’t answer.

…….

Parents. Family.

Unfamiliar words.

Yang So-ah’s grandmother had hung unconditional love on a jujube tree for her.

But what about Eunha?

(She wished for me to become a Hunter who reaches out to those in need…)

(‘Live loved by many, since I couldn’t love you enough.’)

At the very least,

She had been loved.

(Why was something like you born…!)

A love sharp as shattered soju bottles.

She absentmindedly scratched her head.

The sound of breaking glass echoed like an auditory hallucination.

“…….”

『Unni?』

A brief pause.

Then, smiling as usual,

Eunha met the girl’s sunny grin and—

“My parents… died—”

『They’re people who stay by your side when it’s hard.』

Whoosh…

Before she could finish,

Someone embraced her from behind, whispering.

『Good child…』

The scent of disinfectant.

Like that day on the ‘blood donation bus’.

A white lab coat enveloped her.

“…Blood Mom.”

『I see!』

Hearing that answer, the girl nodded.

People who stay by your side when it’s hard.

Once, a failing mother couldn’t catch a dandelion seed—

Now those words became the girl’s truth.

『Done asking? Time for your room?』

『Yeah! Big-chest Unni, see you later!』

Conversation over, the girl skipped back to her ward.

The endless chatter was gone, replaced by the lingering scent of blood.

Safe.

No slips, hopefully.

“……Thanks for the help.”

『Would you like to donate blood?』

“Damn, trapped after all.”

Pfft.

Hugged by ‘Blood Mom’, Eunha failed to stifle a laugh.

Warmth filled the space left by her fading mirth.

People who stay by your side when it’s hard…

An accurate description.

“Sure. Take it all.”

Late afternoon.

Having escaped the bizarre hospital, Eunha boarded the [Blood Donation Bus] with her ‘mother’.

『Does it sting? Sting?』

The needle piercing her carotid artery still hurt.

…….

…….

“Hm. Eunha-yang. Long time.”

“Hello, Kim Hayang’s mother…”

“……Tired?”

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

Later, at dusk.

Eunha met Guild Leader Kim Hayang of [Changcheon Sword Family].

En route to meet Chief Joje and Division Head Ko Young-in.

Guided by Kim Hayang, Eunha arrived at ‘Hunter Association Central Detention Center’.

“Chief Joje is held here. Ko Young-in is nearby too.”

“……Fancier than expected.”

In a car driven by [Changcheon Sword Family]’s scout, Jeong Sora, Eunha rode beside Kim Hayang.

Creak—

At the entrance, Eunha marveled at the building.

At first glance, it resembled an apartment—were it not for the barred windows.

‘Let’s just talk and leave quickly. What could go wrong?’

Rumble.

Exiting the car with Kim Hayang, Eunha adjusted the black uniform with her guild’s emblem.

‘Better for discretion… Right?’

Officially, [Changcheon Sword Family] had thwarted the terror attack at [Goryong Mountain Rift] on October 1st and captured Chief Joje after razing [The Facility]. Borrowing their name ensured smooth access.

Yank.

Annoyed by the slightly ill-fitting uniform, she fiddled with the gaping front.

“Should I cover my face too?”

“No need. Eunha-yang stands out regardless.”

“Stands out, huh…”

Poke. Poke.

Kim Sarang (from beside her) pressed down on the exposed skin between the uniform’s folds, seemingly proud of how well Eunha wore their guild attire.

“Indeed, it suits you. Dangerously so.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“We’ll head to the visitation room. Personnel are withdrawn, cameras off. Speak freely—I’ll take responsibility.”

Cameras turned off too?

The influence of major guilds was astounding.

Yawn…

“Rest here… Eunha-ssi, good luck…”

Scout Jeong Sora, apparently dragged in on her day off, sprawled across the driver’s seat as Kim Hayang led the way.

Rustle…

After futilely battling the uniform’s gap, Eunha gave up and followed Kim Hayang inside, dragging her carrier.

“Is Ko Young-in present?”

“Pummeling scrap cars barehanded in the yard.”

“Typical.”

Prearranged, perhaps—none inspected Eunha’s carrier.

…….

…….

“Haha, apologies for this reunion, Eunha-yang. Been well?”

“Hello, Cat Division Head.”

“Ko Young-in.”

In the visitation room, she faced Division Head Ko Young-in.

Unlike his emaciated state when tormented by ‘mediocrity’, he now boasted intimidating muscles.

A lumpy soboro-bread-like figure.

Fitting, perhaps, for someone who kept workout gear in his office.

“Eunha-yang grows more… No, never mind.”

“……?”

His gaze kept drifting toward her uniform’s gap until he forcibly looked away.

Despite the transparent glass divider, the atmosphere was oddly relaxed.

“So… If you’re here, you must wonder why I’m detained.”

“No.”

“You’ve heard about the Potion Department explosion—[The Facility] sourced ‘recovery-type Hunter’ corpses for potion ingredients.”

Ko Young-in launched into his tale, clearly starved for conversation.

“As fallout, suspicion spread to [Galaxy Potion] and [Eungang Potion] hiding shady recipes.”

“I see.”

“Silence got me detained as a flight risk. The Association’s in chaos without me.”

While he was gone, Ban Harin and ‘Mouse’ faced attacks.

Too convoluted. Overthinking this will just hurt my head.

She’d stick to her task.

‘Anyway… Ugh, why so complicated? Just do what I came for and leave.’

Futile worries.

Her forehead throbbed where the signpost had struck.

Halting her thoughts, she scratched her head.

“How long until release?”

“When this mess clears. Don’t worry—I’m tight-lipped. You won’t face backlash.”

Unlikely to affect her.

Ko Young-in smiled wryly before adding,

“……I heard [Rare Hunter Protection—Execution Division Squad 4] caused trouble.”

“…….”

“Thought I’d finally straightened the Association out lately… Still lacking, it seems. Shameful.”

Squad 4.

Yang So-ah.

Yang So-ah’s grandmother.

Eunha observed him closely.

The cat pendant around his neck—once given to his ‘friend’.

Long ago, when Eunha aided him against ‘mediocrity’, retrieved from the Association’s basement incinerator.

(Tch… Who reported this old man dead?)

(Someone who knew him. That woman who came in with Ko Young-in.)

(Ah, her?…… Dispose of her today.)

His friend, who supposedly ‘froze to death’ in an ‘accident’ 20 years ago.

Eunha ventured carefully.

“……Cat Division Head.”

“Ko Young-in.”

“Do you… have someone precious to you?”

“Hm? Not really.”

Ko Young-in frowned at the odd question.

“Didn’t I say before? I have no ‘friends’ worth naming. Joined the Hunters alone.”

“…….”

“You’re the only one I’d call ‘friend’, Eunha-yang.”

Shooo…

The pain spilled out.

Like sand swept away by white waves, never to return.

Months ago, tormented by ‘mediocrity’,

Eunha had used [Amnesia Saintess]’s power to forcibly bury his ‘painful memories’.

Otherwise, he’d have died.

Yet—

“……You can resent me.”

Her usual drowsy smile lingered.

…….

…….

“Cat Division Head.”

“…Sigh. Fine. Cat it is.”

“Once you’re reinstated, will promotion results come through?”

“Huh? Still pending? My, my… I’ll process it immediately.”

“Thanks.”

Time passed.

Her worries lingered.

“So if the Potion Department’s fixed, you’re out?”

“……May I ask your plans?”

“Need to meet someone.”

A day of cleaning up loose ends.

Resolving consequences from her promotion exam—

And clumsily atoning for erasing someone’s precious memories.

Only she could do this.

Rustle…

Rising, Eunha exited the visitation room.

…….

…….

“……We meet at last.”

“…….”

“Rare Hunter Eunha. I have an offer.”

Meanwhile,

At the farthest end,

As the [Black Book] in her carrier transcribed new ‘guidelines’—

“I’ll take [Galaxy Potion]’s secrets to my grave.”

“……How much of the ‘original’ did you drink?”

“Please…… stop this ‘recovery’.”

Eunha faced

a boy no older than twelve.