episode_0002

“Ah….”

I, Ha Yerin. After nine long years, I could finally return to the capital. A subtle sense of emotion washes over me.

Every day, on the battlefield where life and death hang in the balance, I never thought I’d return with both arms and legs intact.

Although returning with cat ears and a tail attached to a human was a very minor flaw….

“Well, it’s nothing much. It falls within the realm of normalcy.”

I think it’s better than coming back with a mind-boggling prosthetic arm or leg.

And these ears and tail have their own functions, so it’s not all bad.

“Mom! What’s that?”

“Shh! You shouldn’t point at people! There are people with diverse tastes in this world….”

…It’s not like I have strange tastes or anything.

Well, I do get a lot of unnecessary attention like this, but considering only that, there’s no inconvenience in daily life.

If only they knew how many things I can do with this tail, wouldn’t everyone envy it?

I never lose my sense of balance in most situations, and it can be used like a third hand in everyday life.

Do you know that? It even detects subtle vibrations around me and alerts me to potential threats.

I’ve discovered several other amazing advantages, but time is short, so I won’t bother mentioning them.

“…So, what should I do now?”

All I have in my possession right now is my wallet, an old cellphone, and a single sword.

There’s a card tucked into my wallet that I received at my retirement ceremony, but… I didn’t feel like bothering to check how much was in there.

“Anyway, Lieutenant Im said it was a small reward….”

I don’t want to go to the bank, check, and end up more disappointed than expected by the amount.

“First, I need to find a job, and once my life stabilizes to some extent, then I’ll check.”

I’ve thought of a few jobs that even someone who rolled around in the battlefield like me could handle.

Like a security guard or maybe a mercenary. I’m quite confident in physical work.

But being a security guard isn’t just about being good at fighting… so maybe a mercenary would be better.

Risking their lives as mercenaries, the pay would surely be substantial.

However, one cannot simply jump into mercenary work. Even mercenaries need credibility. How many would risk their lives for someone without credibility?

Thankfully, I could leverage my combat experience to somehow make this work…

“…!”

At that moment, an indescribable fragrance brushed past my nostrils.

What is this? Something fluffy and enticing… almost meltingly sweet!

Someone harboring malice may have targeted me with a psychic attack!

Though I tried to remain rational and resist, it seemed to be a high-level psychic spell, as my body moved on its own towards the source of the fragrance.

“Well, this might work out. I’ll just keep walking and maybe catch a glimpse of the person who cast the spell.”

This isn’t something to drag out; swiftly eliminating the enemy is the right choice.

Closing my eyes and sniffing several times, my heightened sense of smell detected the enemy’s location.

“The scent is coming from the west, about 15 meters away. There are a lot of people gathered there.”

Are they planning to hinder my movements by casting magic in a crowded area, even if it leads to a direct confrontation?

It won’t work. Over nine years on the battlefield, I’ve not only excelled in open combat but also completed numerous missions such as espionage and covert operations.

Assassinating the enemy amidst civilians should be a simple task…

As I pondered how to handle the situation, my body continued to be drawn toward the fragrance.

“…Waffle?”

The place I arrived at was none other than a small, humble waffle shop.

Despite the crowd, business didn’t seem to be thriving, making it a perfect spot to lure and ambush me.

“I won’t avoid an ambush.”

Prepared to draw my sword at any moment, I confidently entered the waffle shop.

When I came to my senses, I found myself holding a waffle in both hands, using my tail to hand a card to the shop owner.

“…Ha! I’m sorry, Lieutenant Im!”

I was given this card to use in an emergency, and here I am using it just to buy a waffle!

But I don’t regret it. If they set up this shop to lure me in, they might even be selling poisoned waffles.

I didn’t buy the waffle because I was captivated by it; I bought it to check if it’s poisoned. For the safety of the citizens.

“Seriously.”

I justify to myself internally as I glance at the waffle. It’s slightly different from the waffle I remember.

The waffle I had in my past life was a waffle bread with heaps of sweet ice cream on top, but this one was thinly spread with whipped cream and syrup, folded in half.

Preparing myself to confirm how delicious it is… no, to confirm if it’s poisoned, I take a big bite of the waffle.

At first, it’s crispy… as the outer layer of the waffle bread crackles, then the moist texture inside the bread, along with the sweetness of the syrup and whipped cream, envelops my tongue.

For a moment, it feels like shivers run through my whole body.

“How can something taste like this!”

Eating the waffle eagerly, the elderly shop owner chuckles and says, “Your ears are twitching. Seems like you really like it.”

“This is amazing.”

“Mm-hmm. I bet. Must be.”

Although he seemed entirely skeptical, I decided to endure it since he provided such a delicious meal.

It seems like he thinks these ears and tail are some kind of cosplay… but it’s more comfortable for me if he thinks that way.

By the way, this waffle doesn’t seem like the waffle I know. In my past life, I tried waffles several times, but they were always too sweet for me to eat.

“What do you call this food that looks like a waffle?”

“It’s a waffle.”

“Ah, I see.”

A waffle. Did my tastes change after being reincarnated? I never had the chance to try something like this in this current life until now.

“Give me one more.”

“Sure thing. It’s nice to see you enjoy it.”

I’m sorry, Lieutenant Im.

After devouring about four waffles, I suddenly notice a poster stuck in a corner of the shop’s wall.

It’s a picture of a rugged-looking man and a statement offering 2.5 million won for his capture.

“What’s that over there?”

“Uh-huh. A bounty? The supers put it up and left.”

The moment I heard that, a certain thought flashed through my mind.

A bounty! It was a means to make money right away, without needing any particular credibility. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try until I found a proper job and settled down?

Above all, the idea of being a bounty hunter… had a nice ring to it.

“How cool.”

“Grandpa, can I take this off?”

“Do as you please, kid.”

“Thank you!”

With his permission, I tore off the wanted poster and tucked it into my pocket.

First, I’d find a temporary place to stay and then go look for the guy.

* * *

The sun had already set, and the moon was high in the sky.

“Seriously! I saw a girl with cat ears and a tail running across the roof!”

“Yeah… I’ve heard that story a few times, but have you ever seen the person on this poster here?”

“I don’t know!”

“I see…”

After thanking the child, Hansua got up from her seat and let out a small sigh.

There was a small floating camera in front of her.

“Haah… What do I do now? It seems like even the locals here don’t know much.”

-Hahaha, what would a kid know

-Wouldn’t it be worse if the kid had seen it? Haha

-For real lol

-Why is she trying to do something she’s never done before?

[User ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!]

Let’s just go play games. There’s a new release from the tree, you know.

“I want to do that too… But how do I refuse when a friend from this neighborhood asks me? Besides, I’m a super, so I should be brave.”

Hansua, a C-rank super and a streamer.

Thanks to her fairly pretty appearance and witty way with words, she’s been gradually gaining popularity as a rising YouTuber.

Only B-rank or higher supers are deployed to war, so she luckily avoided being conscripted. Amidst the anxiety that even C-rank supers might be called upon by the nation as the war intensified, she was overjoyed at the news of its end and once screamed during a broadcast.

“Ugh… Why do I have to do this? I really lack confidence.”

Originally a streamer specializing in full-dive virtual reality games, she had come to catch a wanted criminal due to a request from a friend living in this neighborhood.

Reluctantly, I didn’t want to do it… but those of us not deployed on the front lines were expected to help with domestic security by catching wanted criminals, so when rumors started spreading about nabbing a wanted criminal, I reluctantly agreed to my friend’s request…

“How on earth am I supposed to find him!”

I’ve dealt with rogue monsters in the neighborhood a few times, but actively seeking out a hidden criminal was a first.

Where should I start, and how on earth am I supposed to find information…

But then there’s Streamer Jung Sua, coming to the rescue.

“Even I have caught knight-level monsters before! It might be C-grade, but… should I call it a solid C?”

– Your wording is a bit peculiar…

– Solid C… note…

– Oooh

– Oooh

– You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?

“…Anyway! Once I find him, a C-grade fugitive will be a piece of cake, you know? Everyone knows how well I can fight, right? Just like this…”

As Han Sua boasted, pretending to throw jabs into the air, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence and blankly stared off into the distance.

At the end of an alley, a large man appeared, glaring at her.

“Why are you… Do you have business with me?”

Startled, Han Sua stammered, while simultaneously comparing the hologram of the wanted criminal she had captured earlier with the man in front of her.

A beard covering his jaw, a large scar on his forehead, eyes that seemed half-mad.

‘…No doubt about it.’

The wanted criminal Han Sua had been searching for had appeared before her very eyes.

Without hesitation, Han Sua immediately prepared for battle. The aura emanating from the fugitive was unsettling. Uncontrollable, raging magic.

It was the precursor to a magical outburst.

Ice shards began forming above her upturned palm. If her opponent was in a frenzy, there was no room for broadcasting or anything else. Survival was the priority.

“C, C-rank mage, Han Sua! Initiating combat…”

Thud!

With a slight vibration, the figure of the fugitive seemed to vanish.

‘Speed movement!’

However, to Han Sua, also a C-rank, the faintest trace of the movement path was visible.

“To the left! Quickly, erect a wall…”

Hurriedly forming a contract with water, Han Sua erected an ice wall to the left, creating a shield.

However, Su Baebeom’s speed was a little faster than that, and before the ice wall could fully form, his fist struck Hansua’s side.

“Oof!”

With a short cry, Hansua’s body floated up and collided with the nearby wall.

Collapsing to the ground, Hansua trembled slightly and then slumped over, knocked out by the unexpectedly powerful impact.

The chat box erupted in chaos.

– What the hell?

– Stop the broadcast and help her up

-?

-?

-This is messed up

-Shouldn’t we report this?

-?

-We should report wherever this is

-We need to do something, you idiot

Su Baebeom, half out of it, staggered over to the fallen Hansua to finish her off.

Hansua’s floating camera was live-streaming the whole scene.

– Uh oh

– This is bad

– Please

– Don’t come near

– I’m reporting it now

-?? Just got here, what’s going on

-Get up, damn it

As Su Baebeom raised his arm to strike Hansua, ready to deliver the fatal blow…

Kwoong─!

A black lightning bolt struck Su Baebeom from the sky.

-???

-?

-What’s happening

-??

-What’s going on?

-?

-What?

As the dust settled, the true form of the black lightning slowly became apparent.

Jet-black hair and unrealistically pointed cat ears protruding above it.

Snow-white smooth skin with tiny scars just below the eyes.

Bright, shining pumpkin-colored irises, sharply narrowed vertically like a cat’s.

And, contrary to the expressionless face, a glistening black…

-Tail?

-???

-What’s with the tail?

-What the hell is going on????

-Cat…eyes…?

-Cat lady, please help our sister Sua

-?

-Did that kid see this alone?

-What’s with the tail?

Gazing down at Su Baebeom with a haughty, expressionless face, the cat-eyed figure slowly stooped down, grabbed Su Baebeom’s face, and shook it, speaking in a husky voice.

“You’re not…not dead, right? We were supposed to capture you alive…. Open your eyes a bit…”