As the traffic light turned green Cha still a little panicked hurley ran towards Esdeath's limited edition blue Lamborghini.
She came close to the car's window, her face nervous and a little worried and asked Esdeath if this was her car.
With a warm and polite tone, Esdeath flashed a confident smile and replied, "Yes, this is my car. I apologize for parking it in front of the store. I happened to be passing by and saw you, so I thought, why not head over together?"
Esdeath had parked the car here to pick her up, leaving Cha momentarily taken aback.
"Can Hunter Esdeath read my mind?" Cha wondered, stunned. She hadn't even brought up the parking situation, yet Esdeath seemed to anticipate her thoughts, going out of her way to explain why she had parked in the middle of the road, right in front of a store. Cha felt a sharp pang of guilt, realizing she had been on the verge of uttering some harsh words about her.
Lost in her thoughts, Cha didn't notice the smirk spreading across Esdeath's face as she observed her expressions.
"It's okay I don't mind," Cha replied as she entered the car.
Afterwards within seconds Lamborghini woosh instantly accelerating Cha on the other hand, a little nervous watching the outside view in the car.
"This is my first time riding a car like this," She said with a nervous smile.
Esdeath on the other hand also said "Feeling is mutual, It's also my first time riding a car like this"
Esdeath knows just a few weeks ago she was living in a world without much technology, Esdeath thought and spoke again "So in a way we are the same, so you can sit more comfortable and not be nervous"
Hearing Esdeath Cha took a deep breath.. Then Cha Hae-In, now a little more comfortable, turned toward Esdeath and asked her. "How much a car like this costs?"
She asked as she always wanted to own a car like this, but we'll, let's say it just an unachievable dream before she became a hunter. And after becoming The S-Class hunter and joining the Korea number one guild she hardly had any time left in her hands and she tried to buy few time but it was always out of stock.
To such a question, Esdeath responded casually, "Not much, just around 3.9 billion won. Typically, it costs about 900 million, but this one is highly customized, built with top-quality Hunter materials, and imported from outside South Korea. That's why this baby is so expensive—it's truly one of a kind." Esdeath spoke proudly, having personally designed the custom features of the car.
Hearing the words "3.9 billion," Cha Hae-In was shocked and stammered, "3.9 billion?" Esdeath was really saying it's not much? Cha couldn't fathom it. How many swords could she buy with 3.9 billion? Before the appearance of dungeons, her family could save every penny for 30 years and still not amass that kind of money. Yet, here was Esdeath, casually driving a car worth more than her former self wildest dreams, with such nonchalance and ease.'
Cha Hae-In pondered and as Esdeath glanced at her she knew what the girl was thinking so she spoke again.
"Well, compared to the money in Jin's bank account, this is nothing. He has so much that it's just a string of numbers to us. Whether it's 900 million or 9 billion, they're just numbers. So, really, it's not much. It's okay," Esdeath explained nonchalantly.
Cha Hae-In, on the other hand, while taking in the view, couldn't help but reflect on Esdeath's words. Jin was no longer the pathetic loser the world once thought he was. He was now a wealthy man with over 200 billion won to his name. It made her feel as though they lived in completely different worlds, with Jin moving further and further away from her. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, making her shy and flustered as she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear.
She thought that the way they are on a ride together, all dressed up indefinitely. It felt like a date and she was kind of feeling a little shy.
Just then, Esdeath spoke softly, "Honestly, there's something I need to confess to you, Cha. You don't mind if I call you Cha, right?"
Hearing the word "confess," the second strongest female hunter, Cha Hae-In, felt her mind reel. Her face turned a deep shade of red, and she felt as if her brain had short-circuited. It was as if smoke was about to erupt from her head like a volcano. Everything seemed to be spiraling in the wrong direction. Her vision blurred, and she began to sweat profusely. With a trembling voice, she stammered, "No, not a confession, I'm not ready for that. I have someone else in my heart. I need to be mentally prepared for something like that." She muttered
Seeing Cha's reaction, Esdeath couldn't help but smile teasingly. She had clearly heard Cha's barely audible voice and understood her confusion. With a playful grin, she said, "It's nothing weird to confess, but it's not what you're thinking. So don't misunderstand."
Cha snapped back to her senses, her face still flushed. "Misunderstood? What is... what are you talking about?" she stammered, waving her hand in an attempt to regain her composure.
"It was just that something went into my eyes, so I was acting that way," Cha tried to explain, but both of them knew deep inside she was so embarrassed that she wanted to jump out of the car window or sink into the seat.
After the small talk, the situation became a little more normal, and a little less awkward.
"Remember I told you I was busy fighting off a swarm of Ant Monsters and got stuck with them?" Esdeath said while driving, her eyes focused on her expressions not minding the road ahead.
"Right. That's why you couldn't make it to us in time," Cha Hae-In responded, her tone a mix of understanding and curiosity.
"That is correct. That's what I told you." Esdeath took a deep breath and spoke again "Actually that's not true, at least not the whole truth" and she admitted that she had lied.
Hearing this, Cha was taken aback, confusion etched on her face. Esdeath continued, her voice tinged with guilt, "In reality, I could have killed all the ants with a thought. But due to my 'nature' and this being my first high-level battle, I started to enjoy killing them one by one. The copious amount of adrenaline that pumped through me made me forget everything and everyone; only the blood of the beasts was in my sight. Even though I did all that to gain some insight, I won't present excuses. Lives were lost due to my carelessness." Her expression was one of deep remorse, as if the guilt was eating her from the inside.
Looking at Esdeath's beautiful face etched with deep remorse, Cha Hae-In felt a pang of empathy from the depths of her heart. She gently placed her hand on Esdeath's shoulder, holding it reassuringly. "Don't blame yourself. For me and the other hunters, you arrived right on time. I'm sure if you hadn't been there, none of us would have survived. Even if Hunter Jin Woo had arrived, he would have only found our corpses. You were a savior to many of us. The guardian angel if you will, Even we, the top-ranked hunters, as strong as we are, can't save everyone. Life is cruel, and sometimes you have to let go of a few to save many." Cha Hae-In spoke in an assuring tone, her bright, beautiful smile offering comfort.
"Thank you"
Cha said thanks for telling her the truth and she was really happy. As this alone showed Esdeath trusted her to reveal her secret just then, Esdeath spoke again.
"Mmm, you know what's surprising? When I confessed the truth to Jin, he told me something remarkably similar," Esdeath said, a hint of wonder in her voice. "He spoke with the same wisdom and compassion you just did. It's almost uncanny how aligned you two are, despite never having met. It's like you both understand the weight of our responsibilities and the harsh reality of our world. You both seem so compatible, as if cut from the same cloth."
Cha Hae-In got even more excited. Esdeath has since told her about his secret.
Was she telling the truth? Then speak the identical words and phrases. 'Is it really true?' 'But why would she lie'
…
As Cha was looking outside. Warm smile on her face, relieved and very happy, began to think and thank Esdeath silently in her mind. She felt truly grateful to Esdeath for sharing everything about Jin-Woo or as she calls him, out of concern, for her safety, so that she could meet him herself without creating any issue.
Later, Cha Hae-In, feeling a bit shy, slowly turned her head towards Esdeath absorbing her from up to down, and took a thoughtful glance.
She felt she herself wasn't any inferior to her beside her beautiful long Icy blue hair and those two mountains especially the mountains. As Cha looked down on chest she felt pride whenever she looked at her in the mirror as she always told herself 'My boobs, they're not bad, by the way. I'm not complaining about them'
She herself wasn't medium, She used to think they were pretty big but now she's not so sure.
After glancing where Cha's gaze was fixed at, Esdeath gently teased, "May I ask where your attention lies?" Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Hearing this, Cha snapped back to reality. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. After a few moments, she managed to regain control and spoke.
"You shared a secret with me, so let me share one of mine. But you have to promise you won't laugh."
"Oh really? Go on," Esdeath replied, her curiosity genuinely piqued.
"First, you have to promise you won't laugh. It's a story from when I was a dumb teenager," Cha said, her voice tinged with both hesitation and anticipation.
"Is that so? It must be an important and embarrassing story if you're acting so bashful. Well then, I promise," Esdeath said, now genuinely intrigued and eager to hear Cha's secret.
Well the story began when I was in high school I was the youngest in class and all these girls were starting to get them [breasts] and I wasn't getting anything — I was really scared," Cha explained
"I was getting teased a lot because everyone was older and I was the skinny tomboy."
My mom and I stopped at a church during a road trip. It was a very rare thing, we were making it from our home in…
"When we went inside, I prayed for the miracle I wanted to happen. I put my hands in holy water and said: 'Please God, give me some breasts.'
'That night when we are back in the home I remember very vividly kneeling by my bed as a fifteen-year-old, saying my prayers and asking God to give me boobs that were so big that if I laid on my back I wouldn't be able to see my feet'
From that night onwards every time I went to sleep I pray the same with the same words
And he gave me them! Within a few months, I developed a growing spurt, as teenagers do, and I was very pleased with the way I grew outwards."
Cha's words hung in the air, and an awkward air blanketed the car. Cha's face flushed a deep red as she realized that in the heat of the moment she had just told someone her most embarrassing secret as 'The god giving boobs' out of sheer nervousness and guilt. She looked up from her curtsy to see Esdeath with a face-splitting smile while Cha looked at her stunned. She was simply frozen in place, unable to comprehend what she just said.
"Pffff! Hahaha!"
Esdeath was the first to break the silence, her laughter echoing around the car like a contagious disease, "Mmm... Mmm..." Esdeath tried her best to hold back, but at that point, she couldn't contain it any longer and burst into laughter.
She was even snorted so forcefully that she choked on her own spit, causing her eyes to water as she started to laugh even louder.
"Hahaha!"
Cha's complexion turned a shade shared by ripe tomatoes. Her carefully composed face crumbled as her brows furrowed in annoyance at her partner's laughter. Her pout intensified, and she crossed her arms in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment. If this were an anime, steam would be pouring out of her ears. Her heart raced with a mix of frustration and embarrassment, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
"Shut it!" Cha ordered them but it only made Esdeath laugh harder. Cha Hae-In's eyes were narrowed at Esdeath who was laughing softly, her hand clutching her stomach. "Why are you laughing so hard?! It's not even that funny!"
"Stop laughing!" she demanded, her voice a mix of indignation and embarrassment, as she shot Esdeath a reproachful look. But Esdeath's laughter was infectious, and despite her best efforts.
"O-Of course miss big booby, tits not funny at all!" Esdeath's voice was filled with poorly hidden mirth as she made an over-dramatic answer, "P-Please let the young Ladies know this, if you are considering breast enlargement surgery, you may want to take a trip to your local Catholic church first and see if you can save yourself $10,000. At least it would be worth a shot."
She managed the sentence between fits of chuckling, maintaining an exaggerated expression of respect, her right hand placed dramatically over her heart while operating the car with one hand. Her bright Icy blue eyes twinkled with mischief as she laughed..
The car erupted with laughter once more, much to Cha's embarrassment.
Cha rolled her eyes dramatically, but a small smile tugged on the corners of Cha's lips. It was unclear whether she was fighting the urge to laugh it off or knock Esdeath flat on her back—
"Enough! Stop it already," Cha commanded half-heartedly, trying to suppress a smile that threatened to break out.
Cha gave her one last withering look before crossing her arms again and huffing dramatically. But then a small smile began to curve her lips upward – it was clear she was fighting back her own laughter too.
Cha's initial irritation melting away in the warmth of the shared moment.
…
After hearing Esdeath's answer about healing her, Cha wondered whether Jin-Woo might have some. Feelings for her and if that was why he was worried about her. Or maybe Jin was doing it simply because they were too high rank hunters. Whatever the reason, Cha secretly hoped that one day Jin would develop feelings for her while she was lost in these thoughts. She continued to drive. Car unintentionally overhearing everything Cha Hae-In was thinking because she didn't realise she was voicing her thoughts .