episode_0400

Ding─────.

She had a dream.

A terrible nightmare.

“Huff…! Huff…!”

At dawn, as the sun began to rise.

Eunha woke up to the sound of resonating bells.

Ding─────.

The bell toll, beginning from [Euncheon Park], echoed to the ends of the world, carrying the weight of time.

Ding─────.

If the intervals between chimes felt shorter than usual, maybe it was just her imagination.

Ding─────.

Perhaps the wise old man was congratulating Eunha from afar for becoming a C-rank hunter.

Or maybe it was the sound of him asserting his presence because Eunha hadn’t visited the park lately.

Ding─────.

Had she become sentimental enough to assign meaning to something as simple as a bell toll?

Thinking it wasn’t so bad, she curled her lips into a faint smile.

Ding─────.

Ah. So noisy.

Rustle…

Unable to bear the ringing in her head, she tossed and turned.

Today, too, her back ached as if someone had tightly hugged her, and her body still felt heavy.

‘Hmm… Did someone crawl under my blanket?’

Eunha, lying on her side, slightly lifted the blanket covering her up to her shoulders.

Swish─.

Inside the fluffy blanket.

A dark space.

Her eyes met those of the [Amnesiac Saintess], who had peeked her head out.

“……Good morning.”

『Bad dream?』

“Yeah.”

These eerie beings could appear anywhere, anytime.

She was startled.

Calming her already racing heart early in the morning, Eunha engaged in a peaceful conversation with the ‘thing’ clutching her waist from under the blanket.

『What nightmare?』

“A dream where the moms next door kept feeding their kids, and the kids kept eating until they got chubby-chubby.”

『A holiday?』

“Do kids normally get chubby during holidays?”

The [Amnesiac Saintess] had features strangely hard to remember.

Below the waist, her body didn’t exist, as if cleanly severed by a massive guillotine.

She’s pretty no matter how many times I see her…

Even that thought slipped out of Eunha’s mind like a sandcastle washed away by white waves.

Only freshness remained.

“……Where did your legs go again? Last time, you took my lower half.”

『Broke them. Threw them away.』

“You recycled them properly, right? If it’s my lower half, people might think it was me who threw it.”

『……Unlikely? Weird?』

Is it weird?

Eunha fell into thought.

Normally, if severed lower halves were carelessly dumped in the trash, wouldn’t the apartment security track down who they belonged to and return them?

There are ways, like fingerprints…

Or maybe not… Who knows.

Living in an apartment full of eerie beings made common sense feel twisted.

Choosing to take things lightly, Eunha peeled the [Amnesiac Saintess] off her waist and got up.

Hug…

Early morning.

The same routine as always.

“…….”

The ‘iron door’ embedded in the bedroom wall, connected to the home of the [Beast],

was slightly ajar.

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

10. The passage door to the next unit requires management.

– It serves a purpose similar to an emergency ladder.

– In case of emergency, evacuate to the neighboring upper or lower unit—whichever you prefer.

– You may also visit when feeling lonely.

10-1. This passage door can only be opened from your unit.

– However, make it a habit to check the door every evening before sunset.

– If you find the door slightly open or damaged, leave your home calmly and head to the apartment lobby’s security office.

– Returning with security will ensure the door is restored.

#. Should you neglect door management due to unavoidable circumstances,

– For the rest of that day, the door will only open from the opposite side.

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

Last night.

After finishing dinner with Ban Harin and the [Beast],

the [Beast] washed the dishes and immediately returned to the next unit.

(『When my baby struggles, I’ll go to my baby’s side.』)

Leaving behind cryptic words, the ‘mother’ next door departed.

Seemingly, Unit 904 was no longer such a taxing space for Eunha.

Perhaps because someone kept barging in.

Or maybe because she now knew someone would come when things got hard.

Hard to say.

『Bad dreams. Don’t have them.』

“You too.”

『……You passed your exam, right? Congrats.』

After a brief exchange, the [Amnesiac Saintess] vanished.

Her mind felt refreshed.

Eunha hugged her disproportionately large chest and got out of bed.

Thud…

Stepping into the living room, she locked eyes with Ban Harin, dressed in a black suit, ready to leave.

The ‘crossed hairpin’ on her bangs glinted in the morning sunlight.

“……At least wear clothes when coming out. Not that I mind my eyes being blessed so early.”

“Leaving already?”

“The sun’s up. Your couch was comfortable.”

Eventually, Ban Harin spent the night on Eunha’s living room couch.

Her usually expressionless face seemed slightly more relaxed today.

Asked why she was leaving so early, she replied that she’d consumed too many calories yesterday and needed to exercise.

What a struggle.

“Guess you’re lucky you don’t have to worry about gaining weight… So, you’re just leaving the eerie next door as-is? She seems the most dangerous out of all you’ve met.”

“The [Beast]… is fine.”

Words tinged with concern before leaving.

Eunha brushed it off.

The [Beast] next door.

Still hadn’t taken her pills.

What stories lay buried within that cold blizzard?

Perhaps she was getting closer now.

(『When my baby struggles, I’ll go to my baby’s side.』)

The eerie that had always obscured Eunha’s sight from behind.

Now, it seemed, she wanted to face her directly.

If not Eunha, who else would untangle the sorrows of these beings?

With a smile, Eunha decided to meet her gaze.

“……Sigh… Call if you need me.”

“Thanks, always.”

Flump…

Ban Harin hugged the defenseless Eunha tightly, then freely squished her soft cheeks before leaving Unit 904 with slight reluctance.

“Morning milk is a must.”

“Stop spouting nonsense and go.”

“See you at the café.”

Clank…

The quiet living room.

The table, emptied of its meat platter.

“…….”

Time to shower and get ready for work.

Eunha stepped forward, catching the lingering scent of blood that never quite faded.

Flump.

Then, in that moment.

Something soft pressed against her back,

and a hand reached from behind to cover her eyes.

Hug.

A palm over her eyes.

Warmth.

And, on that palm─

A single bullet hole.

“…….”

Though ‘it’ always covered her eyes,

this time, Eunha’s vision wasn’t shrouded in darkness.

“The [Beast]?”

“Did you sleep well?”

A tender voice.

The hand over her eyes withdrew.

As Eunha turned quietly, she saw a woman holding a ‘lunchbox,’ grinning at her.

An apron as white as thick snow.

Jet-black hair, braided and draped over one shoulder—

a woman who looked just like Eunha.

“…….”

She averted her gaze slightly.

The massive chest puffing up the apron,

even at a distance, blocked her view below every time they brushed against Eunha’s head.

Swish…

Eunha took a step back, tilting her head to the side,

and spotted the lunchbox in the ‘mother’s’ hands.

Packed full of meat.

“That spider… she’s a good person.”

“Huh?”

“She quietly helps you from behind. If you ever marry, someone like her would be nice.”

……Just what did they talk about last night when everyone gathered?

Eunha chose to think positively.

It’s nice if everyone gets along.

Clatter.

She carefully placed the [Beast]’s lunchbox in her carrier and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

…….

…….

Still plenty to ponder today.

The eerie remain frightening.

Yet, her steps felt a little lighter.

『Slept well?』

The usual commute.

7:30 AM.

Just as she left the apartment for the café,

Eunha exchanged greetings with the [Blood Donation Mom] cleaning the windshield of a gray van in the parking lot.

A white doctor’s coat. The nostalgic sting of antiseptic.

She approached Eunha and hugged her tight.

“Morning. Everything alright?”

『……Thanks to you?』

“Huh?… Wow, your van’s fixed. I remember it got wrecked along with the wall during night patrol.”

Mid-conversation, the parked van caught Eunha’s eye.

That gray van from before.

Not a scratch—pristine.

She hadn’t seen it since that night and was worried, but good to see it repaired.

The [Blood Donation Mom] must’ve finished fixing it.

Which eerie should she slam into the wall next?

A delightful dilemma.

Swish…

The eerie in white hugged her.

A scorching warmth, like summer heat.

Glancing down, she saw the coat pockets brimming with warm hand warmers.

So even the eerie feel cold.

Gifted one by ‘it,’ Eunha smiled slightly.

『My daughter. Do everything you want?』

“Thanks. I’ll be careful riding the van.”

『……I liked the rabbit.』

Then, out of nowhere—

The voice of a mother asking if she’d found a partner for the holidays.

“Excuse me?”

『Skilled? Only thinks of you?… If you marry, someone like that.』

“Uh… Well… Okay.”

What even.

Time to escape.

After a quick farewell and a promise to donate blood later, Eunha left the apartment.

She greeted the elderly guard cleaning the entrance, then pulled her carrier lightly.

‘Why the sudden marriage talk?… Are they just skipping over the [Red Woman] and [Bug Princess] since they’ve already set up households?’

Marriage. Family.

Things she believed were worlds away.

Perhaps they always would be.

Rumble…

Off to work.

October 12th, the crisp morning air.

Her carrier held a lunchbox packed with meat for later.

“Turning yellow, yellow~.”

Humming a children’s song, she walked.

A cat lounging on a wall.

A dog on a stroll.

A pink backpack leaning against a lamppost…

……Mongshil.

Eunha halted.

Then turned and shoved her hand into the ‘pink backpack.’

Squish!

Her fingers sank into the bag,

soon finding a soft face to squish relentlessly.

“Meep… Meep…”

With pitiful whimpers,

Yang So-ah’s head popped out, cheeks squished.

A fluffy peach puff.

Adorned with spiraled ram horns and a ‘crossed headband’—a mischievous girl.

“Good morning.”

“Goo… Eunha unnie…”

Blinking sleepily, Yang So-ah stretched her arms like an overturned hedgehog to hug Eunha.

Having returned from her grandmother’s funeral, she looked notably refreshed.

“Don’t hide. Walk with me?”

“……Okay… ne…”

Hiding bashfully behind fluffy hair, Yang So-ah fell into step beside her.

Her curls brushed softly against Eunha’s hip.

“Anything up at the Association?”

“Up…? Maybe…”

“We’ve got time. Explain slowly.”

Staring vacantly at Eunha’s bouncing chest,

Yang So-ah began recounting Association news like someone hypnotized.

Her tiny hands clasped reverently, as if in prayer.

“Go Yeong-in… Chief again…”

According to her, Go Yeong-in had resumed her position as Headquarters Chief after days of restructuring.

The [Rare Hunter Protection-Execution Dept.] Team 4, the ‘new chief’ caught fleeing with confidential data, and other minor issues…

With so much to sort, she was buried in work daily.

“Poor cat chief. She’s not complaining about losing muscle from no workouts, is she?”

“……Sits… without chairs… whole day…”

“Crazy woman. Should’ve guessed when she became chief with no connections.”

Seems the Association is gradually returning to normal—no, shedding tumors and reforming cleaner than before.

Starting this month, [Eungang Potions] would supply ‘Evergreen Emergency Centers,’ but excess stock could be prioritized for Go Yeong-in if arranged.

Rumble…

The crosswalk light changed.

Side by side, they crossed.

Shiver…

Holding Yang So-ah’s hand tightly, Eunha steadied her breathing and walked.

Past the crosswalk, toward the café.

Everyone’s making progress.

“Phew… So, anything else I should know?”

“……The ‘new chief’… who ran…”

If anything required Eunha’s attention, it was that day she visited the detention center.

Just as the fleeing ‘new chief’ was apprehended by Go Yeong-in…

Had he been trying to defect to another faction with the Association’s secrets?

Rumble…

Which side would he have joined?

Eunha turned her head.

Passing by [Euncheon Park],

where a ‘blue dragon statue’ coiled skyward at its center.

‘Blue Dragon… Surely not them again.’

Then again, tracing past incidents’ roots always led to either the [Blue Dragon Clan] or the ‘Potion Lab’…

Hmph. No idea.

Go Yeong-in would handle it.

Thinking positively, Eunha moved on.

“……Eunha unnie…”

“What’s up?”

“Yesterday… I saw…”

“The glacier… melted…”

“Uh, sorry. Lost me.”

“I’ll… work hard…”

Poking Eunha’s lower chest with round horns, Yang So-ah mumbled.

Though the words were unclear, she seemed determined to try something. Encouragement couldn’t hurt.

Eunha cheered her on, promising help if needed.

Half-asleep, Yang So-ah blinked heavily and nodded with vigor.

An ordinary day.

Time flowing by.

Thus,

arriving at the café with Yang So-ah,

Eunha swung the door open, resolved to work hard today…

Ding-dong~♪

“Eunha, my Dao Companion! Since you passed the promotion exam, grant my wish!”

“Eunha! The [Blue Dragon Clan] finalized their heir yesterday!”

As chaos erupted the moment she stepped in,

Eunha simply smiled wearily, as always.

Kim Sa-rang, only daughter of the [Heavenly Sword Family].

Kang Na-ri, debt-ridden youngest of the [Blue Dragon Clan].

This time,

what now?

“……Let me change first. Line up and wait.”

Busy days are happy days.

Rubbing her stiff neck, Eunha headed to the break room.