She knew well that she was an Frank Hunter. That it would be hard to defeat that monster with her abilities.

‘But if it’s not about defeating, but running away…’

Jehwi clasped the hand of his sister, who was clinging to him, and bowed his head as if to touch his forehead to the ground.

“I will be the bait. But can you somehow take good care of my sister?”

Even if the chance was only 1%, it didn’t matter. He thought that was the only way to save his sister.

“……”

Eunha said nothing. Jehwi bowed his head even deeper and opened his mouth again in desperation.

“I know it’s an impudent request. But, really, truly… I beg you earnestly.”

“Brother, what are you saying!”

Jerim, who had been hiding behind him, suddenly popped out. Jehwi pushed her back, saying, “You stay still.”

Eunha, who had been watching quietly, slowly bent over and picked something up from the ground. It was an empty seashell.

“Manager.”

“Yeyes?”

Surely she’s not planning to hit me with that? Jehwi swallowed nervously.

Fortunately, Eunha did not swing the seashell but only licked her lips impassively.

“If something goes wrong, all three of us will die here.”

“……”

Jehwi closed his mouth. She was absolutely right.

She had granted his secret request, his vacation request, and even entered the unknown gate with her Frank status. Putting aside her important schedule to save Jehwi and his sister, and perhaps they all would perish here.

“Going into the desert barehanded isn’t courage. It’s recklessness.”

Jehwi could only say this to Eunha’s words.

“I’m really sorry…”

He knew very well. That he couldn’t save his sister even if he died and came back to life.

Knowing that, he had thrown himself into this place like a moth to a flame.

‘Because it’s family.’

Jehwi clenched his fist.

But to Eunha, Jehwi and Jerim were not family.

It was he who had involved her in this faroff Busan unknown gate, which she should have been recording right now.

“You really acted recklessly.”

“……Yes. I apologize.”

Jehwi answered with a voice crawling in, his lips trembling.

Eunha, who had been staring at the slouched Jehwi for a short time, soon licked her lips again.

“But I would have done the same if I were you.”

……Huh?

Jehwi abruptly raised his bowed head, and their eyes met. Eunha had a unique dry and indifferent look in her eyes, but Jehwi somehow felt like she had just comforted him.

“Here.”

Eunha handed over the seashell she was holding to Jehwi and Jerim, one for each.

“Use this to plug your ears for a while. It won’t last long, but it will have an effect for a short time.”

Eunha clearly remembered the message that had popped up earlier.

To deduce, it was the ‘sound’ that decreased the skill’s power. It could be considered a kind of ‘dilution’ principle.
And perhaps that would be the key and essence of the Unknown Gate, the boss strategy, Eunha was certain.

“Don’t worry about that guy and both of you just focus on not falling into a charmed state.”

“But… what if that guy suddenly attacks?”

“There’s a high chance that won’t happen.”

Eunha glanced in the direction where the guy was.

“First, he didn’t attack the bait caught in an illusion. Even though it would have been much easier.”

“That, that’s true.”

Jehwi nodded her head.

But that alone wasn’t enough to be certain that he wouldn’t attack them. Maybe he was waiting for it to ripen to taste. Maybe he was simply full.

At Jehwi’s shaky response, Eunha opened her mouth again.

“And secondly, he’s repeatedly using a skill he’s already failed at once.”

In a lifeordeath battle, one doesn’t repeat a method that has failed once, twice, or three times.

It is prudent to adopt a different method after confirming that it doesn’t work on the opponent, or that it has already been detected.

However, perhaps the reason for insisting on the same tactic is…

“He might not have any other skills.”

Eunha glanced at the siren.

She hadn’t told Jehwi, but there was one more piece of evidence: the round water balloon enveloping him.

Why would he hide tightly in such a suffocating sphere?

Perhaps because his main body is weak compared to his ability. Just like ranged hunters are weak in close combat.

‘There is a chance of winning.’

After taking her eyes off the siren, Eunha turned her head towards the Park siblings again.

“Move as close to the waterfall as possible so that the sound of the waterfall can be heard clearly. And don’t take the conch shell away from your ears until I give the signal.”

“Bu, but what about you, Hunter?”

Jehwi asked anxiously.

There were no more useful conch shells to be seen around. The few visible conch shells were either halfworn or broken.

Jehwi looked down at her conch shell and then offered it as if she had made up her mind.

“I’m fine, so Hunter, please use mine.”

“……”

Why was that?

‘No. I’m fine, so you use it.’

A past memory of Lee Jun popped into her head. Eunha stared at the conch shell that Jehwi had offered and then faintly smiled.

“Thank you.”

Swoosh─

Her black hair, reaching down to her waist, enticingly fluttered beneath the waterfall.

“But I don’t need it.”