Eunha’s studio apartment. 1:50 AM

“…….”

It was past 2 AM in the early morning. Seated on the bed, Eunha had been staring at one spot without moving for dozens of minutes.

A red envelope left alone on the table opposite.

‘Could he know about the Jagalchi Market incident?’

Je-hwi was anxious, uttering such words like a thief. Initially, Eunha had the same suspicion. But if it was to summon Eunha, why send it now when the incident had already passed?

Returning to the studio apartment, Eunha immediately tore open the envelope to check its contents. However, it was neither a summoning nor a letter.

It was just an ordinary invitation to a secret party at Seoul S Hotel two days later, inviting the Dark Flame Princess.

The organizer and the purpose of the party were not mentioned. Only a request to attend with a mask and details of the location and time were written.

So why did Lee Jun, the Maestro, suddenly send such an invitation?

‘Any questions? Iyura Hunter.’

Meeting after a long time, he pretended not to recognize Eunha. What had changed was not just his attitude. His expression, gaze, and even his tone were no longer the Lee Jun Eunha remembered.

Why did he change like that? Why pretend not to know me? Did he really forget? What happened during that time?

If such questions didn’t arise, it would be a lie. However, Eunha hadn’t asked him anything, knowing that even such questions were meaningless after such a long time.

But with the sudden invitation, Eunha once again had doubts.

How did they know the address and send the invitation? No, more importantly,

‘…What is the purpose of this?’

Even if it were Cha Eunha and Baek Ijun, there would be no connection between the Dark Flame Princess and the Maestro.

Lost in thought for a while, Eunha finally reached out towards the invitation.

“…….”

Staring at it with eyes full of contemplation, Eunha slowly lifted her head to look out the window.

The moon was bright.

Like that day in her memories.

In 1999, it was a winter with a biting wind and a hint of snow.

A somewhat shabby tent near the Gate. Tomorrow, the next deployment order would undoubtedly come.

Most hunters fell asleep after finishing their meals. However, Eunha couldn’t do so.

Sitting crouched under a suitable tree near the tent, she endured the cold for several hours as her fingertips turned red.

“Eunha.”

Someone approached cautiously. Eunha slowly lifted her head, buried in her knees.

Lee Jun, holding a flashlight, looked at Eunha with a worried expression.

“…What are you doing without sleeping? If you don’t replenish your stamina now, it will affect tomorrow’s battle.”

“You’re not sleeping either.”

“I am…”

“Okay, I know. You’re the squad leader.”
And I’m your best friend. As always, Lee Jun naturally sat beside Eunha.

Tick-tock.

Lee Jun, fiddling with a worn-out flashlight, cautiously spoke.

“…Are you okay?”

“…….”

As expected, there was no response from Eunha.

With a clouded face, Lee Jun closed his mouth. Yes, she must not be okay. Even though Eunha, who had been comrades for over a year, witnessed a colleague dying in front of her, emotions or not, it was impossible for Eunha to be unaffected.

Colleagues dying was not something new. It was even stranger when there were no casualties at the Gate.

However, witnessing death ‘in front of her’ was not common. Especially, the sight of a comrade who had laughed and joked until yesterday now lying dead.

“Eunha, it’s not your fault.”

Spitting out commonplace comfort, Lee Jun glanced at Eunha with concern.

“…….”

Eunha did not respond. She just stared blankly ahead with a deeply sunken face.

It wasn’t tears streaming down or crying; she just wore an expressionless face. However, Lee Jun thought that Eunha was undoubtedly sad.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come out of the tent into the cold for hours like someone who lost her mind.

What should he say? Lee Jun pondered for a long time. Because he knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn’t comfort her.

“──Our mother too.”

Suddenly, Eunha opened her mouth with a deeply buried voice.

“Our mother passed away in a Gate accident.”

“…….”

“That morning, Mom grilled mackerel, but I didn’t eat it because it smelled fishy. I only eat white-fleshed fish. Mom, being morning, spread bones on a spoon and put it on top for me to eat a little, but I didn’t touch it in the end and went to school without eating.”

I was heartless. Eunha smiled slightly as if self-mocking. Beside her, Lee Jun silently listened to her story.

“And…… The last time I saw Mom was lying on a pile of pianos. I didn’t see her face. The only intact part was her left arm. It’s still vivid. It’s been a few years, but it feels like yesterday.”

……But there was. Eunha continued in a subdued voice.

“It’s strange. I only remember things like the morning when I had a side dish tantrum with Mom, getting annoyed at Mom for going to bed early the day before……. Is there only that in my memory?”

“…….”