Lv.99 Princess of Dark Flames (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
An old military transport vehicle was speeding down an unpaved road with not a single streetlight in sight.
Gyeongju. Lee Jun, having spotted the road sign outside the window, opened his mouth with a voice soaked in unease.
“Eun Ha, have you ever been to Gyeongju before?”
“No.”
Cha Eun Ha replied curtly, holding emergency rations in her hand—food devoid of both taste and nutrition.
Lee Jun gave an awkward chuckle and scratched his cheek. With the hand still bearing yesterday’s unhealed wound, Cha Eun Ha diligently shuttled food into her mouth, seemingly having no intention of even glancing his way.
Cha Eun Ha and Lee Jun had been training camp comrades.
Yet Lee Jun still knew little about Cha Eun Ha—and understood even less.
For instance, how she could chew and swallow food with such calmness despite possibly dying that very day, or how she couldn’t even remember the name of a comrade she’d fought alongside for months.
Cha Eun Ha.
She was clearly different from ordinary people. Though her personality was one he’d never normally get close to, Lee Jun secretly admired her.
Ever since training camp, she had stood out as remarkably strong. Unlike himself, who possessed the rather useless unique ability of pheromones, she wielded powerful flames—a capability perfectly optimized for combat.
Had she not been there, he surely would have died during their last deployment into the Pyeongtaek Gate.
‘Even if I’d somehow survived, I’d probably be crippled.’
Just thinking about the three-headed wolf they’d faced back then still sent chills down his spine.
Now, before the aftereffects had even fully healed, they were already en route to Gyeongju, where the next gate awaited.
Lee Jun stole a sidelong glance at Cha Eun Ha seated beside him.
After watching her silently swallow food for a long while, he decided to try speaking to her once more. Who knew when he’d get another chance to talk with her?
“I’ve always wondered… Eun Ha, have you made a contract with a Divine Beast?”
“No.”
“Really? Why not? You’re so strong—I just assumed you’d already made one.”
Cha Eun Ha briefly met Lee Jun’s eyes before quickly looking away. She wasn’t sharp-tongued, but neither was she particularly sociable.
But he couldn’t give up now—not when this was a rare chance to grow closer to Cha Eun Ha, the top elite among their batch.
Lee Jun resolved to persistently keep the conversation going.
“Among the Twelve Divine Beasts, a dragon would suit you best. You’re the strongest, after all.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
“…….”
And once again, the conversation broke off.
This was hopeless. They still had two hours until reaching Gyeongju, yet sadly, the wall between them seemed thicker than he’d imagined.
Just as Lee Jun was about to give up entirely,
“……You said you came from America, right?”
Cha Eun Ha suddenly spoke, packing the leftover food into a black bag.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. My dad’s American.”
“Oh?”
Cha Eun Ha began staring intently at Lee Jun.
“Now that I think about it, you’re blond.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Only noticing it now? Lee Jun felt a little disappointed, but quickly swallowed the feeling.
“Do you know Queenly College in America?”
“No, I’ve never heard of it. Where’s that university?”
“San Francisco.”
Cha Eun Ha answered quietly, then added almost to herself,
“It’s the college I was planning to attend. My dream was to become a dog groomer.”
“But why—”
Why didn’t you go? Lee Jun nearly asked, but snapped his mouth shut with a look of sudden realization.
She was a year younger than him—meaning the Gates had opened when she was only nineteen.
“Seeing you just now made me remember.”
“Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Just….”
Lee Jun answered a bit timidly, his eyes flickering toward Cha Eun Ha.
By now, Cha Eun Ha had already averted her gaze from him and was resting her chin in her hand, gazing indifferently at the passing scenery outside.
Wind slipping through the slightly open window tousled Cha Eun Ha’s long hair. Her jet-black locks, as thick as a velvet carpet, were so long they tickled Lee Jun’s nose as he sat beside her.
When Lee Jun subtly leaned his upper body backward, Cha Eun Ha turned to look at him.
“…….”
Without a word, she gathered her hair and tied it high up with a rubber band from her wrist. To his surprise, instead of the expected scent of blood, her hair carried the same issued soap smell as his own.
Her calm expression was so unlike the Cha Eun Ha who had just moments ago been drenched in blood, slicing through monsters—it was almost unbelievable. Perhaps that was why.
“……Hey.”
Lee Jun found the courage to speak.
“Would you groom my dog sometime? He’s a Bichon Frise named William.”
“…….”
“Oh, he’s really gentle.”
As he made the suggestion, Lee Jun grew slightly embarrassed and his cheeks flushed faintly.
Cha Eun Ha looked at him with slightly widened eyes.
A brief silence passed. Outside the window, raindrops began falling one by one.
Plink… plink—
When the sound of rain tapping against the bus window grew steadily heavier, a tiny laugh was heard.
“……Alright, sure.”
It was such a soft, faint chuckle it nearly vanished beneath the rain, yet Lee Jun felt he’d remember that laugh for the rest of his life.
“Oh, by the way—my name is Baek Lee Jun.”
Lost in memories of the past, Lee Jun glanced sideways. Already three years had passed since he’d first met her.
Those grueling years had shaped them into quite respectable Hunters. Even Lee Jun, who had always held the team back, had now grown capable enough to pull his own weight.
“Do you still remember that promise?”
Lee Jun quietly approached Cha Eun Ha, who was walking a few steps ahead.
“What promise?”
“The one about grooming William.”
“Oh.”
Cha Eun Ha gave a short nod.
“I remember.”
“After this mission, my dad’s bringing William to Korea.”
Cha Eun Ha’s dark eyes turned toward him. As always, Lee Jun couldn’t meet that gaze—so deep it felt like he’d be pulled in—and instead lowered his eyes.
“So, uh… I mean… if today’s mission goes well, would you… um… wanna… come over to my place tomorrow?”
Good grief. Why was his tongue stumbling so badly? He felt an urge to bite it for refusing to obey his will.
“I will.”
Hearing her agree so readily, Lee Jun’s eyes widened in surprise.
“He won’t bite, right?”
“Huh?”
“I mean William.”
“Oh. Mm-hmm. He’s sweet.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”
Cha Eun Ha smiled softly and walked away, her black hair swaying behind her.
Lee Jun stood there dazed for a while. Compared to before, it felt like Cha Eun Ha smiled more often now. If even a little of that was thanks to him, nothing could make him happier.
When he finally came to his senses, Cha Eun Ha was already far ahead, standing before the gate entrance.
“What are you doing? Hurry up.”
She beckoned him.
Lee Jun couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his lips. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked forward to tomorrow this much.
“Did you bring your dog tag?”
“Of course, Squad Leader.”
“Don’t joke—double-check it.”
The golden dog tag symbolized a Hunter’s status, serving both as a professional’s ‘license’ and a soldier’s ‘identification tag.’
After verifying once more that each other’s dog tags hung securely around their necks, the two blended into the group of Hunters and entered the gate.
This gate’s color was white.
That meant it was classified as a Class-C gate—the lowest difficulty tier.
At the time, eleven Hunters—including Cha Eun Ha and Lee Jun—had been deployed into this Class-C gate. With an entire squad assigned, there’d been no real need for concern.
But accidents always happened when least expected.
“W-what… what in the world is that…!”
The moment someone cried out in terror, they were already surrounded.
One black tiger, then two… their numbers kept growing until, before they knew it, they found themselves completely encircled.
The tigers’ bodies, teeth, and even claws were pitch black—only their eyes glowed a vivid, blood-red.
Each beast, roughly twice the size of an adult man, could shatter a human skull like a watermelon with a single swipe of its forepaw.
“Aaagh!”
One tiger relentlessly chased a fleeing Hunter and tore the body apart with razor-sharp claws.
Of the eleven Hunters, only Baek Lee Jun and Cha Eun Ha remained alive.
Lee Jun, his face pale with fear, turned to look beside him and reached out with trembling hands to clutch Cha Eun Ha’s sleeve.
“E-Eun Ha… let’s run.”
“No, don’t move rashly.”
Cha Eun Ha warned softly but clearly.
“Look—they stay calm as long as we don’t run or attack.”
Only then did Lee Jun begin to decipher the black tigers’ behavior. Just as she said, the creatures weren’t attacking the two who stood perfectly still.
But they couldn’t stay here forever.
“If we walk slowly without running, we’ll definitely make it out.”
There was credibility in Cha Eun Ha’s words—something Lee Jun, who’d spent three years alongside her, could attest to.
From training camp until now, she had always been a role model for everyone—both in combat and in strategy.
“But Eun Ha, if monsters remain inside, the exit should be… huh?”
Something was odd.
Normally, the gate’s exit would seal shut the moment they entered. That sealed exit would never reopen until every monster inside was exterminated or the boss monster defeated.
Yet for some reason, the exit far ahead stood wide open.
“Baek Lee Jun, do you understand me? Walk slowly—very slowly. Don’t provoke them at all.”
“O-okay.”
The two carefully synchronized their breathing and began stepping forward, one cautious step at a time.
Then it happened.
Grrr!
One of the previously calm tigers shifted into an attack stance, warning them that one more step would result in being torn apart.
Lee Jun froze solid like a stone, but Cha Eun Ha paid no mind and took another step forward.
“See? It’s fine. Just walk slowly toward me.”
She gestured to the petrified Lee Jun. Gaining courage, he took another step forward.
Grrr!
Again, the tiger assumed an attack stance.
Cha Eun Ha glanced quickly toward the exit. It remained open—as if inviting them to leave at any moment.
At this point, there was no mistaking it.
“It seems it wants one of us to stay and play.”
“……What?”
For a moment, a chillingly heavy silence fell.
Neither the tigers densely packed inside the gate nor the two humans surrounded by them moved an inch.
Lee Jun stole a glance at Cha Eun Ha.
In that brief instant, countless emotions surged within him—perhaps even his life’s memories flashed before his eyes.
Their bond had begun back in training camp. Without her, he—weak in both body and spirit, with a pitifully useless unique ability—would never have made it this far.
“Eun Ha, I—”
“You’ll have to see William another time.”
Cha Eun Ha cut off Lee Jun’s words with her usual calm tone.
“Huh?”
“I’m staying. It’s better for you to live than for me.”
As if her decision were already final, she began smoothing out her disheveled clothes.
“Listen carefully. While I count to ten, you walk alone toward the exit. If anything happens, don’t look back—just run.”
“What are you talking about, Eun Ha?”
Noticing the tremor in Lee Jun’s voice, Cha Eun Ha fixed him with her dark eyes.
“Before I go, if there’s any water or emergency rations left, I’ll give them to you. I don’t know how many days you’ll last, but if possible, try to make even one of those things your companion.”
“Eun Ha…”
“I don’t really have anywhere to return to out there. But you do.”
Cha Eun Ha stared at Lee Jun with unwavering eyes.
She took a step closer to the silent Lee Jun.
“What are you afraid of? Losing a friend?”
She gave a low laugh.
“Or being haunted by guilt for the rest of your life?”
Every word she spoke was painfully true.
With a firm push, Cha Eun Ha shoved Lee Jun’s back—he stood frozen like a statue.
“C-Cha Eun Ha!”
He spun around in a panic.
Grrr! A low, threatening growl echoed.
Cha Eun Ha wasn’t even looking at him. She simply lowered her thick, dark lashes and gently touched her left wrist.
More precisely, the worn-out wish bracelet on her left wrist.
“Eun Ha, I—”
I can’t go. Just as he was about to say it—
“It’ll be hot for just a moment.”
Cha Eun Ha smiled.
Her pale palm faced Lee Jun. Then, from the center of that small hand, a vivid red flame began to bloom.
Poof!
A tiny explosion erupted from her palm. Though the flame was small, it was enough to push Lee Jun’s slender frame backward.
The blast’s force sent Lee Jun hurtling helplessly toward the exit—as if swept away by a current.
Suddenly thrust outside the gate, Lee Jun frantically lifted his head.
The gate’s door was rapidly closing. The air vibrated, and through the narrowing gap, black cracks began spreading across her face, arms, and legs.
“Eun Ha! Cha Eun Ha!”
He reached out desperately, but a surge of black sparks violently repelled him.
“You won’t even get a scar.”
Her tone carried a hint of playful teasing.
That was the last voice Lee Jun ever heard from Cha Eun Ha.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
I’m gonna cry=(((, she will be trapped in there again.