Black flames enveloped her like a snake. The harsh flames, threatening to engulf everything in front of her, were undulating violently. In the midst of it all, Eun Ha looked down impassively.
“…….”
“…….”
Eun Ha was staring at the woman, or more precisely, the dress she was wearing. There was no sign of an attack.
Suddenly, the woman noticed the eerie silence around her and turned her head. A gigantic jellyfish was contorted, sprawled out in a corner. Its slender tentacles were all severed, scattered like tangled thread all over the floor.
‘Killed…… it?’
This black woman? The woman turned her gaze to Eun Ha again.
Blood drops fell from the tip of the umbrella Eun Ha held. Eun Ha’s pale face was reflected over the puddle of blood on the floor.
A few seconds may have passed.
“Excuse me…….”
The moment the brave woman opened her mouth.
Splat!
Eun Ha suddenly swung her umbrella. The woman’s eyes, wide as saucers, followed Eun Ha.
Whoosh!
The black flame swimming through the air like a fish seemed to be connected to its owner by an invisible thread.
Kwaeeek!
The screams of monsters came from everywhere. There was no way to know how, in this dark space, she was pinpointing the location of every single monster.
Swish!
Screeeeeek─
Crash!
In a short time, unbelievable sounds followed one after another. It seemed like something was burning. The woman could only hope that this hellish situation would end quickly, her eyes squeezed shut.
When complete silence finally returned to the surroundings.
“Are you all right?”
Only then did the woman slowly open her eyes.
Not the gold eyes that flashed like a wild beast, but calm and dark eyes were looking at her.
Perhaps noticing her still faintly trembling shoulders, Eun Ha reached out to her instead of waiting for an answer to her question.
The woman stared at the outstretched hand and opened her mouth in a fearful voice.
“Who, who are you?”
“……I am.”
Jaw. As always, her throat was blocked. Was it because she was trying to say her name? That wasn’t the only problem.
Eun Ha, with her lips tightly closed, looked down at the umbrella she was holding. The dripping sleeves, the long ribbon around her waist, none of these things suited a hunter.
To Eun Ha, who had sliced and cut through countless monsters in countless gates, they did not fit.
What was she here for now?
‘What will you name it?’
‘The Princess of Black Flame. That’s my pseudonym.’
Why are you here?
‘If you fulfill the contract for a year, you will obtain enough money to achieve everything you desire.’
Eunha lifted her gaze.
“I’m just─.”
The woman before her was looking at her.
Yes. Eunha knew well about the anxiety in those eyes. It was not her first time seeing it. No, she had seen it countless times so far.
It was as if she had finally faced death, which had been so distant.
Like a candle that seemed to go out at any moment, struggling atop a fully melted candlestick.
Eyes captured by fear and terror, they wrapped around Eunha, as if clinging to her.
Eunha knew.
What those eyes were longing for. What they were waiting for.
“Um… yes?”
Stiffly, Eunha was stared at, the woman tilted her head.
Instead of a dazzling dress, she wore a worn military uniform,
With dirty bare hands instead of a parasol,
She wore worn military boots instead of stiletto heels.
“I am.”
Her lips moved, lying. She was not the ‘Princess of Black Flame.’
Neither ‘Eura’ nor ‘Cha Eunha,’
I am simply.
“─A Hunter.”
[This is the time separator]“Mom!”
“Yes, Yeri! My daughter…!”
The woman hugged her daughter and cried out. The moment she confirmed her daughter’s face after joining the forces, relief seemed to wash over her like a wave.
Watching their retreating figures, Eunha quietly turned away.
The sound of nearby hunters murmuring reached Eunha’s ears. Pretending not to notice the surrounding gazes, she moved when she suddenly locked eyes with Möbius standing alone in the center.
“…….”
His surprised face turned into a smirk, aware of the surrounding eyes. The smile was not welcoming; anyone not a fool would understand that.
She thought he would approach her to speak, but Möbius just turned his head away without a word. Eunha didn’t approach him either.
“Yu, Yura! Where have you been? I was so shocked when you suddenly disappeared.”
Meanwhile, King Godsoo, who had found Eunha, rushed over.
[The Divine Beast, ‘The Cat that Roams the Darkness,’ mocks you, saying it looks like you’re best friends.]The cat looked somehow displeased. Unaware, King Godsoo stood panting in front of Eunha.
“The reinforcements have just entered the gate. Thankfully, we will be able to clear it safely….”
King Godsoo’s eyes rolled, landing on Eunha’s parasol. The moment he noticed the bloodstained parasol, he choked.
“Hey, blood!”
King Godsoo began to squawk. Thanks to him, the diverted attention was once again drawn here.
“Are, are you hurt? Just now? What on earth.”
“I’m fine.”
Eunha casually opened her parasol, shook off the blood on the surface, and closed it again.
Soon, a significant number of healers arrived as part of the reinforcements.
Thanks to the average Rank B reinforcements, they were able to clear the gate while protecting the civilians. Fortunately, no significant accidents occurred.
“Oh my, Hunternim!”
As they emerged from the gate exit, Jehwi rushed over. Fittingly for a manager, he held a water bottle in one hand and a firstaid kit in the other.
“Where are you hurt… My goodness! Have you washed your face with blood? What happened?”
It was already a severe atmosphere, but thanks to the blood spatters, there was no need for a horror movie. Even though it was a face she saw almost every day, she was terrified after a long time.
“It’s nothing.”
King Godsoo was like that, and Jehwi was like that, both very flustered. Even without that, she was mentally very drained. Eunha moved, her entire face showing fatigue.
Walking towards the car with a sluggish gait, Cha Eun Ha’s back didn’t seem to indicate she was injured. Je Hwi hurriedly followed her.
“Are you really not hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Even so, we should check just in case. Please get in the car first…….”
Je Hwi took out the emergency treatment kit from the trunk. The wound on Eun Ha was merely a bruise, but he treated her with careful and meticulous hands as if he was stitching a surgical site.
Her hands trembled, and concern filled her eyes, but Eun Ha unknowingly let out a soft laugh.
It reminded her of her mother making a fuss when she accidentally dropped a knife. She said she was fine several times, but her mother insisted on wrapping a bandage around it.
“Seeing you laugh, I’m relieved you’re not seriously hurt…….”
“Yes, I’m really fine.”
Eun Ha answered, buckling her seatbelt. Je Hwi, who was quietly staring at her, picked up his mobile phone, which was in the car, and opened the door.
“Just wait a moment, Hunter.”
Thump.
Je Hwi, having closed the car door, stood frozen in his spot.
‘If something happens to Senior, contact immediately.’
After a brief moment of consideration, Je Hwi began to hesitantly tap the mobile phone screen.
010XXXXXXXX
“Ah, Representative. This is Park Je Hwi. The thing is…….”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
