“【Stop talking about that.】”

Jun cut off Andrea’s words decisively. He, who had evened out his disheveled bangs as if he was tired of it, spoke firmly.

“【Last party.】”

There was no longer even a formal smile on Jun’s lips.

“【Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you used my name to invite her?】”

“【That…】”

Andrea hesitated for a moment but soon opened her mouth again.
“After coming to Korea, you’ve never gone to see her on your own. Frankly, I still don’t understand. After all, the reason you came to Korea in the first place was because of the Princess of Dark Flames.”

“Am I wrong?” Andrea stared directly at Jun. As their gazes collided, silence settled in. Jun didn’t offer any response.

“……Why on earth?” Andrea gently pursed her lips.

“Why are you pushing her away so desperately?”

“…….Yohan, tell me. I know too. In reality, you still─.”

Hesitation.

Andrea closed her mouth.

The gaze of Jun sitting across from her suddenly changed. Andrea, who had observed him for a considerable period, had never seen his face so sharp.

“……Andrea.”

Jun, who called her in a low voice, smoothly took off the gloves he had been wearing.

Just a small gesture. However, Andrea couldn’t move at all. It was as if her entire body was bound by invisible chains.

A crimson aura emerged following Jun’s silhouette. Along with it, a distinct fragrance approached, making her mind hazy.

“I consider you a colleague. And to me now, a colleague means only Fortune Tellers, including you, who are GIA members.”

“Ah……”

When she opened her eyes, Andrea was already in a position where Jun held her chin. During that time, Andrea couldn’t resist at all, just like usual.

“Whether it’s a real disaster or anything else, we’ll be enough on our own. No one else is needed. Right?”

As if whispering directly in her ear, the voice was close. Andrea slowly nodded, as if being enchanted by something.

Jun, seeming satisfied, gave a faint smile, then gently released her chin. Only then did Andrea’s vacant pupils regain focus.

Like the feeling of waking up from a hangover. Andrea realized.

This was Enchantment.

A powerful S-level skill that Jun possessed, capable of turning any living being, whether a monster or a human, into his slave.

The fact that he was manipulating the Chairman according to his whims was also thanks to this skill. Thanks to it, Jun could achieve his desires without exerting much effort. For example, causing the Association to abandon the pursuit of the Princess of Dark Flames.

‘It was dangerous.’

If Jun had intended, three seconds later she might have been licking his shoes. Thinking about it gave her the creeps. Yet, once again, she felt fortunate to be his colleague.

Jun put on the gloves he had taken off and stood up from his seat. With his suit jacket fluttering lightly, he walked steadily toward the door.

While holding the doorknob, without turning his head, he added one last remark.

“There won’t be a next time, remember that, Andrea.”

“Can you please really stop?”
Kang Haeng-wook’s Dog Grooming Academy, Director’s office. The director raised his head with a regretful look.

The person sitting across from him was Yura. She was a recent addition to the academy. However, it was unexpected for her to visit suddenly and announce that she was quitting, even though she had only been attending the academy for a short time.

“There are still six months left, and according to the regulations, a refund is difficult…”

“It’s okay.”

Yura replied casually. However, the director couldn’t just accept that.

“Someone as talented as Ms. Yura is rare… It’s truly regrettable.”

The director mumbled, clouding his expression while assessing Yura’s complexion. Perhaps, he hoped that she might change her mind even at this moment. However, Yura faintly smiled and said,

“Thank you for everything.”

Thud.

After leaving the director’s office, Yura didn’t move immediately. She stood there, gazing at the surroundings. The academy corridor, now quite familiar. Several doors leading to the training rooms. Occasional sounds of barking and the snipping of scissors cutting fur.

Above that, a man’s voice overlapped.

“I’m not a Hunter, let alone an Awakener, but I will live like my father. To me, my father was the best Hunter.”

Yura remembered a man proudly smiling at her. In the empty funeral hall, where there was no one else but them, he smiled like that.

In the portrait in the memorial photo, her father was also smiling.

Before leaving the funeral home, the son of the director looked at Yura and bowed his head slightly, saying,

“Thank you for coming.”

─Hunter-nim.

“….”

Yura slowly swept her left wrist.

The new Wish Bracelet she received from Jee-hwi. Next to it, there was an old Wish Bracelet with a similar color, entwined.

Standing still for a while in the same spot, Yura gradually moved towards the direction of the elevator. However.

“Ms. Yura! Ms. Yura, wait!”

Someone urgently called Yura with a frantic voice. It was Yoon-ho, who, unlike his usual neat appearance, looked quite disheveled.

“I heard you’re quitting the academy. Is it true?”

Today is the last day.”

Yura answered monotonously. Yoon-ho, who had been standing there trying to catch his breath, collapsed with a flutter.

“I really… it was…”

With bent knees, Yoon-ho sat down and covered his face with both hands. Yura stared at him with a blank gaze.

“Thank you for telling me everything. I hope you pass the certification exam.”

Well then. Yura easily turned her back. Quitting the academy was a decision she had already made, so there was no need to feel regret or hesitation now.

“Ms. Yura!”

As Yura took a few steps and not long after, a desperate cry from Yoon-ho could be heard from behind.

When she turned her head, she met Yoon-ho’s intensely recalled face.
He took a deep breath and then opened his mouth.

“I, Yura, I like you.”

“…What?”

“I fell in love with you at first sight on the day we first met at the academy. It might be sudden, but… if I don’t say it now, I feel like I’ll regret it.”

What is he talking about? As Yura blinked, a yellow message window appeared in front of her with a tingling sound.

[The divine beast ‘Wandering Cat of Darkness’ doubts what this guy is blabbering about and raises both ears suspiciously.] [Sis, I knew it wouldn’t be the case, but he’s not asking for acceptance, is he? He worries about things that haven’t happened yet and sharpens his claws meticulously.]

“Yura, please be my girlfriend.”

Beyond the message window, Yoon-ho was waiting for Yura’s answer with an earnest expression.

Only then did Yura realize a moment late. This person is confessing right now.

“…”

Yura closed her mouth.

Certainly, he was a good person. Diligent, kind, likable to everyone. There was nothing flawed about his appearance or personality.

It wasn’t surprising that he was becoming popular among the academy people. Yura thought so too.

If she were an ordinary university student, she might have seen him as a potential romantic interest, like most other academy students.

But.

“I’m sorry.”

Yura murmured softly.

“I plan to focus solely on my main job for a while, putting everything else aside.”

I’m sorry. Yura apologized again, looking at him. Yoon-ho smiled bitterly as if he had expected that.

“…You have a main job. It must be a very busy one.”

“Yes.”

Yura replied briefly and turned around. Her black hair, reaching down to her waist, swelled roundly before settling down again.

The academy corridor window. The iron grating, bent like a toothpick by a strong force, remained unchanged. Fixing her gaze on it, Yura opened her mouth calmly.

“When the gate in front of the academy opened last time, you asked me what I would do there.”

Yura glanced at Yoon-ho with a flicker of her eyes.

“I’m in the business of finding people.”

Her lips drew a subtle arc.

“I’m a Hunter.”