“……. ”
Was it because of the orange juice that seemed to overflow?
Even though it was unlikely, she suddenly felt like her own face reflected in the glass looked surprisingly happy.
It was a strange feeling, but,
“……Cheers.”
She didn’t seem to hate it at all.
At the same time. Somewhere in Seoul.
“The pendant you brought last time has been very helpful for my research. Thank you.”
The owner of the rose, Geum Roze, took out a carefully stored box from under the desk.
Tap.
When she opened the box, the ‘Tears of the Sea,’ the harvest from the Unknown Gate in Busan, emitted a blue radiance.
“Thanks to this pendant, I’ve been able to save more people. You’ve done a great job.”
After saying that, Roze hesitated for a moment and then glanced at Yuhwan.
“By any chance, was there anything else?”
Something else. What Roze meant by ‘something else’ was not ‘other harvests.’ Yuhwan nodded heavily.
“Nothing.”
“…I see.”
Roze’s crimson gaze turned to a tabletop frame. Two happy-looking people in a wooden frame slightly larger than a palm. In the photo, Roze was embracing a girl who looked just like her.
Her only daughter, missing eight years ago. Roze’s treasure, more precious than life.
If she were alive, she would be about Minju’s age now. The police had not only failed to find her daughter’s whereabouts but also failed to find any belongings or possessions.
That’s how it had to be.
Her daughter was swept away by the Unknown Gate.
After that, Roze, as if possessed, became obsessed with researching the Unknown Gate. She believed that she could find her daughter someday, and that belief still hadn’t changed.
Roze gently caressed the surface of the frame, as if handling a newborn baby. Her gaze became deeply immersed.
Yuhwan silently stared at her side, not saying anything until she spoke again.
Eventually, Roze, who had taken her hand off the frame, slowly licked her lips.
“…More importantly, something unusual seems to be happening near Pohang after Busan. Look at this.”
When Roze gestured, a holographic monitor appeared on the table.
Red flag icons were displayed all over the map of Korea. All of them were locations of Unknown Gates that had appeared in the last 20 years. Including the most recent one in Busan Jagalchi Market, the total was five.
“If we follow the data I’ve collected so far, an Unknown Gate will open in Pohang soon. As early as tomorrow. At the latest, within three days.”
“Are you sure?”
“Almost. I’ve also reported it to the Association.”
“What does the Association say?”
“The same. They say they understand, but I can tell they’re not completely trusting my data yet.”
Roze looked frustrated, glancing down. Beside her, Yuhwan spoke calmly.
“I believe it.”
Roze looked up. Yuhwan looked at Roze with unwavering eyes, as always.
“…Okay, thank you.”
A smile finally returned to Roze’s stiffened lips.
“Sitting still and relying on support won’t give us enough time. We need to act first. To minimize damage, it would be preferable to dispatch an S-rank Hunter as we did last time.”
“In that case, I can…”
“No, you can’t.”
Roze decisively cut off Yuhwan’s words.
“With the recent Jagalchi Market Unknown Gate incident, your immortality has already suffered significant losses.”
“……. ”
Yuhwan was angry but had no choice but to remain silent. Because what Roze said was true.
Most of the immortals deployed to the Unknown Gate were nearly annihilated, and only three, including Sungyun, returned. Even those three were still in the process of recovering their strength. At least for the next two weeks, proper combat would be impossible.
“Originally, there’s nothing to expect from wolves. As you know, our Rose Guild is not suitable for battles. So, what’s left is─.”
The gazes of the two met.
“…You’re leaving it to that kid?”
“That kid is also an S-rank.”
“Hmm.”
Yuhwan slightly rubbed his chin, seeming a bit uneasy. It wasn’t that he underestimated or ignored Trickster. It’s just that, clinging to the belief that a boy who was still a teenager, merely because he was an S-rank, was out of line with his principles.
Were there no decent guys in South Korea? As Yuhwan reviewed the mental roster, a person suddenly came to his mind.
There was a person that flashed into his mind like a lightning bolt.
“Roze, I have an idea, but before that… Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you yet. I should tell you that first.”
Up to that point, Yuhwan fell silent for a moment. He looked a bit hesitant, but soon lifted his gaze to Roze.
“…In fact, I wasn’t the one who obtained the Tears of the Sea. It wasn’t Doseongyoon, Hejaemin, or any other immortal either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Princess of Dark Flame.”
Junhwa opened his mouth heavily.
“A contracted hunter with a wolf, an F-rank concept hunter.”
“…What?”
Roze’s face stiffened.
[Busan Jagalchi Market, Who is the Real ‘Punisher’?] [Busan Jagalchi Market, Immortal ‘Jecheon Dae Sung’ rejects press conference. Rising suspicions.] [‘I saw the hunter in the black dress’ – Witnesses testify. Who is she?]Countless internet articles that she deliberately ignored flashed through her mind.
“Are you joking?”
Roze asked.
However, Yuhwan didn’t express denial or affirmation with his expressionless face. He simply stared at the pendant that shimmered brightly inside the box.
“……. ”
Roze closed her mouth.
She had been his teammate for a long time. Roze sensed that Yuhwan was telling the truth.
After a short silence, Roze subtly changed her posture and sat up.
“…So? Yuhwan, you’re not suggesting leaving this matter to that hunter, right?”
“There’s worth in looking forward to it. Plenty.”
“……. ”
Speechless, Roze stared at Yuhwan. A serious expression. He didn’t look like he was joking. That’s why Roze couldn’t help but be more surprised.
“Snap out of it, Yuhwan. This could become a national-level disaster. It’s foolish to suggest uncertain measures for such a serious matter.”
“There’s nothing more certain than my own eyes.”
“I understand. But… There isn’t much time until the next Unknown Gate appearance. It’s meaningless unless it’s an S-rank.”
Rose let out a small sigh.
“First, we need to contact the Guild. We currently need a Hunter with a high ‘success rate.’ Exploring other alternatives comes next.”
Rose’s crimson eyes moved delicately towards the hologram monitor floating in the air.
Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A distinctly ominous red exclamation mark was blinking above it.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
