“…!”
Overwhelmed by a thrilling sensation I had never experienced before, I involuntarily dropped the magic stone.
Then, the cause of that exhilarating feeling I had just felt instantly became clear to me.
‘…The magic stone was absorbed.’
Only a tiny fraction.
Though it was barely more than a superficial graze (TL Note: A Korean idiom, ‘subak geot-haltgi,’ literally meaning ‘licking the surface of a watermelon,’ implying a shallow understanding or experience.), I had indeed just absorbed a magic stone.
Typically, neither ordinary people nor Hunters can absorb magic stones, much less the mana dormant within them.
Yet, I could.
‘Is it because I’m a vampire, not a human?’
I am a vampire.
A being closer to a monster than a human.
If so, a rule that doesn’t apply to humans might just apply to me.
What mattered here wasn’t simply that I had absorbed a magic stone.
The moment the outer layer of the magic stone was naturally absorbed, I realized something profound.
‘The bond had deepened.’
It was an incredibly subtle change, yet as the magic stone was absorbed, the bond between Arche and me undeniably grew stronger.
‘If I absorb magic stones… does it strengthen the bond?’
To confirm this, I carefully took the magic stone into my hand once more.
With another thrilling sensation, the magic stone slowly began to absorb.
The change was as imperceptible as before, but the bond had clearly deepened further.
“…Hoo.”
I had found a way to reclaim my strength.
That simple realization alone sent my heart pounding wildly.
A powerful desire surged within me.
The urge to absorb every single magic stone before my eyes, right then and there.
With trembling hands, I grasped the magic stone.
And then…
“……”
As Gong Wiseon had requested, I placed the magic stone back on the bar counter.
‘…No matter how desperate I was, stealing wasn’t right.’
Touching someone else’s belongings without permission was not only a crime, but it also left a bad taste in my mouth.
Above all, this magic stone belonged to Gong Wiseon, my boss.
I had finally secured a good job, and getting fired for theft would bring more harm than good.
First, the fact that absorbing magic stones could strengthen the bond.
Merely knowing this was enough of a gain.
As I arranged the remaining magic stones one by one, I racked my brain.
‘The deeper the bond, the higher my chances of returning to Veilia.’
To restore the bond, I needed to continuously acquire magic stones.
There were three primary ways to obtain magic stones.
The first.
Purchase magic stones released on the market with money.
While the most conventional and safest method, it had a clear drawback.
‘Consistently buying magic stones would deplete my funds, and there was also a limit to how many one person could purchase.’
Accumulating capital slowly and steadily buying magic stones would be the safest approach, but unfortunately, I didn’t have that kind of time.
A single year on Earth equated to twenty years in Veilia.
I couldn’t afford to waste any time.
The second method was to seize magic stones circulating in the underground.
While this was the quickest way to procure magic stones among the three, it naturally came with significant risks.
Even if the magic stones belonged to an illegal organization, robbery was still unequivocally against the law.
…Well, let’s set aside the legalities for now.
Considering I was already hunting villains, it would be absurd to hesitate over extorting money from them, claiming it was illegal.
The real problem wasn’t a legal one.
‘Even if I managed to extract their information and steal the magic stones, they would surely retaliate.’
If I consistently stole magic stones circulating in the underworld, retaliation would inevitably follow sooner or later.
Of course, once I fully restored the bond and could wield the full power of my lineage, such adversaries would be no match for me. The issue, however, lay before that.
If I were to face an unbearable level of retaliation and lose my life before fully regaining my strength… there would be no greater predicament.
‘Too dangerous.’
While it might be an option later, it was unsuitable for me now.
That left only one remaining method.
‘Directly conquering a Gate.’
This was a means impossible through conventional methods.
The Hunter Association strictly prohibited ordinary citizens from entering Gates for safety reasons.
While it wasn’t explicitly stated that it was illegal for ordinary people to enter Gates, it was blocked by convention.
Therefore, boldly entering and conquering a Gate was virtually impossible.
Even if I tried to enter, the Hunters from the local Public Order Management Division would prevent me.
However, let’s consider an unconventional approach here.
‘What if I entered a Gate before the Hunter Association personnel arrived?’
Hunter Association personnel pinpoint the location of a newly generated Gate and immediately head towards it.
Thus, unless a Gate coincidentally appeared right before my eyes, arriving at it faster than Hunter Association personnel was nearly impossible.
But.
What if I could pinpoint its location *before* a Gate even generated?
It might sound like a ridiculous claim that others would scoff at and dismiss.
‘I can do that.’
With a vampire’s uniquely keen mana sensitivity, it was possible to predetermine where a Gate would generate.
‘A place where mana naturally condenses.’
Typically, Gates generate or Surge phenomena occur in such places, but the probability of a Surge is significantly lower than that of a Gate appearing.
Therefore, a Gate would likely generate in a place where mana condenses, with a very high probability.
If I could use a vampire’s uniquely keen mana sensitivity to predetermine a Gate’s location and secretly enter it before Hunter Association personnel arrived?
‘It usually takes about 12 hours for an attack squad to be assembled once a Gate opens, and time flows several times slower inside a Gate than on Earth… so I’d have plenty of time to conquer it.’
After defeating the boss, the Gate would close two hours later.
Therefore, even if I slipped out, the Gate would close immediately, preventing any attention from being drawn.
My strength was still weak, so I could only pinpoint the location of Gates generated nearby, but…
–This neighborhood has a rather poor public safety record. That’s why walking alone at night is more dangerous than in other areas. The lack of nearby amenities is also due to this. Gates and Surge phenomena occur here with unusual frequency.
It was truly coincidental that Gates frequently generated near my home.
‘I chose my home well.’
Everything seemed to be falling into place, and it put me in a good mood.
“Are you finished?”
“Ah, yes. I’m almost done.”
While I was lost in my happy imaginings, Gong Wiseon’s voice reached me, and I hastily replied.
First, I needed to focus on work.
****
“Hmm… I think that’s enough for today. Sihyeon, you’re unusually skilled, so there’s not much more for me to teach you.”
“That’s all thanks to your kind guidance, Boss.”
“Haha, I appreciate you saying so. You’re free to go home now. Your shifts start tomorrow, so go home and get some good rest today. Oh, I’ve already transferred your requested week’s worth of pay.”
“Thank you! Please get home safely too, Boss!”
I bowed deeply to Gong Wiseon and exited the White Deer bar.
Perhaps it was from smelling alcohol and wood for so long, but stepping outside, the tip of my nose felt strangely empty.
Checking my account, I saw that exactly one week’s worth of pay had been deposited.
‘Escaped destitution. Good.’
Being freed from a penniless state brought me a sense of relief.
Along with that, perhaps because the tension had eased, an overwhelming drowsiness washed over me.
Part of me wanted to rush home and crawl under my covers immediately, but I still had things to do.
‘…I need to go grocery shopping.’
I needed to buy plenty of ingredients to fill the refrigerator, and also essential daily necessities.
I couldn’t keep asking Choi Seon-hee for food, and I couldn’t wear clothes pulled from a used clothing bin forever.
And a toothbrush, a towel… Ugh, just thinking about it made me tired.
“…Let’s just get it over with.”
Dragging my weary body, I headed to a nearby hypermarket.
After buying various discounted groceries and daily necessities in bulk at the hypermarket, I made my way to the underground shopping arcade.
Clothes were usually cheaper there than at a hypermarket.
Having bought reasonably plain and affordable clothes and shoes, I boarded the bus.
As I got on, several people’s gazes fixed on me.
Indeed, it wasn’t common to see someone board a bus with so many bags.
Among them was the gaze of a young girl, who seemed to be looking at me with concern.
There was no need for such worried looks.
Even without adopting my combat form, I was stronger than an ordinary person.
This much luggage was nothing.
After taking the bus and arriving near my home, I carefully disembarked—.
“…!”
Perhaps because my vision was obscured, I accidentally missed a step.
Just then.
–Thump.
Fortunately, someone grabbed my arm, steadying me.
Thanks to them, I avoided diving onto the asphalt road with all my luggage.
“Thank you.”
I offered a brief word of thanks and looked at the person who had supported me.
A beautiful girl with snow-white skin, matching white hair, and sky-blue eyes.
She was the same girl who had looked at me with concern on the bus earlier.
“Are you okay?”
Somewhat clumsy Korean words came from her lips.
Was she not Korean?
“Yes, thanks to you, I’m fine. I almost had a nasty fall.”
“Ah! Then that’s good!”
“Yes. Thank you for your help. Well, have a good day.”
Having thanked the white-haired girl, I started to walk toward my home.
More precisely, I *tried* to move.
“Um… are you okay?”
The white-haired girl tilted her head, asking again.
“Pardon?”
Hadn’t I just said I was fine?
“Yes. Thanks to you catching me, I’m fine. I’m not hurt anywhere.”
“No. Not that. Um… isn’t it heavy? You look tired.”
The girl pointed at my luggage and asked.
“Shall I carry it for you? I’m super strong!”
“Oh… really?”
Hmm.
No matter how I looked at it, I seemed stronger than this delicate girl.
“Well, I think I might be stronger.”
“Eh? Your face is so pale, and you look so frail! Are you sick? My parents told me to help people who are struggling. I can help you!”
People usually say ‘Mom and Dad,’ not ‘parents,’ don’t they—.
“Ah.”
Before I could say anything, the girl easily snatched the luggage from my arms.
Seriously, why was she so strong?
“Heh, I told you. I’m super strong. I’m even an A-rank Hunter!”
An A-rank Hunter?
I was considerably surprised by the girl’s words.
After all, A-rank Hunters were rare, with only a few in South Korea.
More importantly, as a monster, I had to be warier of them than anyone else.
Just in case, I read the flow of her mana, and it was undeniably high-level.
To encounter an A-rank Hunter here, of all places.
Part of me wanted to flat-out refuse her and distance myself as much as possible, but.
“Come on! Let’s go! How far do we need to go?”
Seeing her eyes sparkle as she took the lead, it didn’t seem like I would easily get my luggage back.
‘…Will I be okay?’
Anyway, judging by the girl’s reaction, she clearly had no idea I was a vampire.
While being with an A-rank Hunter was somewhat unsettling, it didn’t seem like anything major would happen.
If I were to sternly demand my bags back, I might even incur her dislike.
And most importantly, it felt uncomfortable to refuse the goodwill of someone trying to help me.
“Tell me if it gets heavy. I’ll carry it again.”
“No. This is super light, I’m fine. I could carry it all day.”
As expected of an A-rank Hunter, she possessed immense strength.
Having left the bus stop, we walked side by side toward my home.
The sight of a perfectly healthy adult man walking comfortably while a white-haired girl carried large bags could, in many ways, cause a public disturbance. Fortunately, there weren’t many pedestrians in this area.
As we walked along, the white-haired girl asked me a question.
“Do you live around here?”
“Yes. I moved in a few days ago.”
“Wow! Really? Then we might see each other often.”
“See each other often?”
In response to my question, the girl smiled brightly and said.
“I became the Public Order Management Hunter here starting today! You know, the kind of Hunter who takes down bad people and protects Gates.”
…She was the Public Order Management Hunter for this area?
“Really?”
“Why would I lie? Look it up online later. You’ll find Sakura listed as the Public Order Management Hunter here!”
This was not good news.
An A-rank Hunter as a Public Order Management Hunter.
I might be able to handle a B-rank somehow, but an A-rank was still beyond me.
If I made a wrong move and encountered her, I wouldn’t even be able to pick up my bones.
I would have to be especially careful when operating in the future.
“I’ll look it up. By the way, you’re not Korean, are you?”
“No. I came to Korea from Japan to study. So I’m not very good at Korean. And I’m doing Hunter work like a part-time job!”
“Is that so? You speak Korean so well, I thought you were Korean.”
“Really? Ehehe. I am a bit smart, you know.”
Going home with the girl was the right choice.
Thanks to her, I learned that the Public Order Management Hunter for this area was an A-rank.
And I also learned that this Hunter was a bright, slightly naive girl named Sakura.
As we neared my home, I called out to Sakura, who was excitedly chatting away.
“This is far enough. I’ll take it from here.”
“Eh, can you do it? I don’t think you can.”
“I may be weaker than you, Ms. Sakura, but I can still carry it. And, calling someone you’ve just met ‘you’ is not appropriate.”
“Ehh?! ‘You’ is ‘anata’ in Japanese, isn’t it?”
“It is, but, hmm… it’s a bit rude.”
Sakura slowly nodded at my reply.
Then, as if realizing something, her eyes sparkled, and she said.
“Aha… a rude expression. Got it! I’ll go back to my hotel and study again!”
“R-rude? Where did you learn that word?”
Sakura chuckled brightly in response to my flustered question.
“A Korean friend I met online taught it to me!”
Oh my, whoever it was, they needed to reflect on their actions.
I offered a wry smile and took the luggage from Sakura.
“Thank you for today. Well then, I’ll see you around.”
“Um… you know. What should I call you… ah, that’s a rude word. Then… what should I call you?”
Just then, the girl grabbed my sleeve and asked.
“What should you call me?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Hmm… ‘Mister’ felt a bit off.
Wouldn’t ‘Oppa’ be appropriate?
She looked younger than me.
“Ms. Sakura, what year were you born?”
“I… I was born in two thousand six.”
Two thousand six…?
Ah, she meant 2006.
So she just became an adult this year.
“Then call me Oppa.”
“Eh? Isn’t ‘Oppa’ for men older than me?”
“I was born in 2004.”
“Ehhhh?! I clearly thought we were the same age!? You’re lying! Oppa, why haven’t you aged? I’m so jealous!”
Since I couldn’t very well ask her if she wanted to become a vampire too, I tried to gloss over it.
“Ms. Sakura, you look young enough too. Well, I should head inside now.”
“Okay! Bye-bye, frail Oppa! See you later!”
I gave a small bow to Sakura, who was waving her hand vigorously in farewell, and immediately headed home.
Suppressing my exhaustion, I climbed the stairs and entered my house.
“Ugh…”
I dropped the bags onto the floor as if throwing them away and immediately collapsed onto the ground.
Ugh, home truly was the best.
My body felt so weary.
If I just closed my eyes like this, I felt like I would fall asleep right then and there—.
“…Huh?”
Just then, my mana sensitivity whispered to me.
‘You can’t sleep yet.’
Frowning, I closed my eyes and read the flow of mana around me.
And I felt it.
A mass of mana unnaturally condensing in one space.
It was a Gate.
“…Ah, I was about to go to sleep.”
Letting out a deep sigh and scratching my head, I laboriously pushed myself up.
“This means I can’t sleep.”
With that, a smile spread across my lips.
