“Unni, wait and see. What I’m going to show you this time is an incredible masterpiece.”

After the meal.

Minju, not tired at all, was introducing her masterpieces. It was precisely the 89th masterpiece.

“Amazing.”

“Right? After all, unni, you have a way with words. There’s more. Just a moment.”

…And, in search of the 90th masterpiece, she started looking around again.

Beyond Minju, who was moving around the workshop like a squirrel, Eunha turned her gaze to the clock on the wall.

‘Time has passed so quickly.’

Perhaps by now, Jihwi’s blood was drying up. It might be better to go back slowly. While thinking such thoughts,

“Um, where did I put that?”

As Minju rummaged through the workshop, looking quite excited, Eunha, who happened to be passing by, was handed a can by guild member Suhyun.

“Are you thirsty? Try this called Matstar. It’s quite refreshing.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

“While you’re dealing with our master, you should take care of yourself.”

Suhyun winked and whispered in a voice so low that only Eunha could hear.

“I sneaked it without Jihwi knowing. Oh, it’s Seok Kyungho. He’s in charge of logistics and is a bit small in stature.”

“…Thank you.”

Eunha stared at the can she handed over for a moment, then placed it on the nearby table.

There were already numerous drinks and snacks on the table. All of them were gifts from passing guild members.

Looking a bit awkward, Eunha gazed at them, and then Junhwan, with a broad smile, approached.

“Haha. You can take everything with you when you leave.”

“Yeah, I think I should.”

Eunha replied calmly and looked up.

“But where did Minju go?”

Until just a moment ago, she was busy moving around for the next collection.

“Oh. She got an urgent call and went upstairs for a moment. She’ll be back soon.”

Saying so, Junhwan smoothly took a seat next to Eunha.

The two of them, sitting side by side amidst the cluttered workshop filled with parts, figures, and various unknown devices, opened bags of gingerbread.

The taste of the gingerbread was just as Eunha remembered. A stiff texture that might clog the throat. Nevertheless, if you chewed it slowly, a savory and slightly sweet taste would unexpectedly rise.

Crackle—

A rustling sound came from the side.

As Eunha opened the bag of gingerbread, Junhwan, who had already opened the bag, was taking out each star candy one by one.

“Lately, gingerbread comes with star candy packaged separately. We might need to change the supplier.”

Muttering, Junhwan, who had prepared a small glass bottle in advance, began to transfer the star candies separately. What is he doing? Watching him closely,

“Oh.”

Sensing the gaze, Junhwan awkwardly smiled.

“Our master likes these star candies more than gingerbread.”

“Ah… I see.”

“We’ve found almost everything.”
Junhwan carefully examined the gingerbread bag again and found the last star candy.

Observing Junhwan in such a state, Eunha observed him with a slightly curious gaze.

“Do you always separate them like that?”

“Well, it’s not that difficult.”

Junhwan, seeming a bit embarrassed, wiped his nose and turned the conversation unnaturally.

“By the way, it feels like it’s been a long time. Other than our seven members, no one else has visited the headquarters.”

“Is that so?”

Eunha responded to his topic shift as if she didn’t know.

“It’s probably been about three years… no, over four years. It was around the time I first met the Master. At that time, the Master was only 11 years old.”

…11 years old. Eunha raised her gaze to the ceiling. If he was 11 years old, was he in the fourth grade of elementary school? It was a vague time.

When she turned her gaze back to Junhwan, he was strangely staring at the star candies in the glass bottle with a sinking expression.

“At first, it was pitiful. An elementary school student who should be carrying a backpack with characters on it and going to school, but instead, received an S-rank assessment and had to bear a burden too heavy for small shoulders.”

“…”

“I asked if his family opposed it. When I first said I would become a Hunter, even though I was an adult, my mother opposed it, insisting on boycotting even food and drink.”

It’s still the same now. Junhwan added with a low laugh.

“But Master just gave a short answer.”

Junhwan looked up.

“There’s nothing like that. Silence.”

“…”

Though his lips were clearly forming curves, his gaze sank. Without saying anything, Eunha silently looked at his profile.

“So, I thought about becoming his family. A new family for this boy. It might sound grand, but sharing meals every day and sharing both sad and happy moments makes us a family, right?”

Suddenly, his eyes rounded.

“So, we call each other family.”

I don’t know what to say.

Rather than answering Junhwan, Eunha stared silently at the pile of snacks on the table.

‘This unni is also part of our family from today.’

“…”

Eunha slowly brought the drink she was holding to her lips.

Next to her, Junhwan was carefully pocketing the glass bottle filled with star candies.