'Do you know Maestro?'
Black eyes stared at the laptop screen. Eunha put her hands on the keyboard, as if possessed.
'Sunbae, do you want to meet him?'
Click, clack.
Even if she only entered 'Maes' in the search box, related search terms lined up in a long line below because of the autocomplete function.
Maestro's visit to Korea
Maestro's personality
Maestro photo
Maestro traitor
Maestro wealth
Both of the hands on the keyboard stopped.
After a few more clicks, Eunha slowly lowered her hand.
'…Let's stop.'
Yeah, she said she wouldn't care.
Even if she met him again, she couldn't expect any positive results. And above all…
'I can't assume that Baek Yijun is also hoping for a reunion with me.'
If he, who was once her colleague, was still alive and had reached a position where he was recognized by the people, that was enough. It would be cruel of her to reopen his old wounds while knowing of his fragile personality.
What did she really want to check by doing that?
Did she simply want to be reassured that her choices that day weren't wrong? No, maybe she was just shaken for a moment by a reunion with the past she vaguely recalled.
Eunha erased the 'Maes' by pressing the delete key and laid flat on the bed.
Either way was selfish.
She stared at the ceiling that seemed particularly high today, then slowly closed her eyelids.
She no longer had a past.
When she had seen her mother's severed arm a long time ago, Eunha's past was also cut off with it. It was foolish to feel the emptiness of that fact only now.
'But what if.'
As if drawn to something, Eunha opened her tightly closed eyes.
In the lightless room, black eyes that blended in with the darkness wandered aimlessly across the ceiling.
If she could meet him, what would she say then?
You're glad I'm alive, right?
Do you remember me?
William… Is he dead?
'…I don't know.'
Eunha closed her eyes again.
The night was getting deeper and deeper.
It was like the pitch-black night had only come for her.
* * *
In the drawing room on the top floor of the Hunter Association.
All the windows were blinded. It wasn't to block out the sunlight, as it was approaching midnight.
Clack.
The sound of a glass teacup hitting a saucer echoed lightly in the quiet air inside.
"First of all, I'd like to say thank you."
Yijun, who put down the teacup, raised his head and said. On the other side of him was the current head of the Korean Hunter Association, Go Daeyoon.
"Thanks to you, I was able to enter the country quietly."
Although broadcasting stations and newspapers alike were buzzing about Maestro's visit to Korea, it was the association's contribution that allowed him to get into the car comfortably at the airport.
"It was the natural thing to do."
Daeyoon smiled warmly and raised his head to look at the man opposite to him.
Baek Yijun. Although he had now moved to the United States, he was a first-generation Korean hunter who had managed to survive the turbulent times. At the same time, he was also the first S-Class hunter from Korea.
Even if he didn't currently hold Korean citizenship, that fact would not change.
"I didn't expect to meet a living legend in person like this. It's an honour for me, too."
"You praise me too much."
"Too much, you say. Ah. I've prepared what you mentioned. You asked for Grandma Kim Yoonrye's rice soup, correct?"
Daeyoon rang a bell on the table, and the door opened soon after. A woman who appeared to be an association employee placed a large bag on the table.
"Here it is."
And then, she glanced at Yijun.
'This person is Maestro…'
Blonde hair shone brilliantly under the incandescent light. Because of his mixed race, his elegant features caught her eye at a glance.
When their eyes suddenly met, his grey eyes gently curved. The woman's breathing stopped, and behind her, Association President Daeyoon's cough could be heard.
"Hmm. You can leave now."
"Ah, please excuse me."
The employee came to her senses and quickly closed the door and left.
"It's late, but if you don't mind, have a spoonful. I told them to heat it up, so it won't be cold."
"Thank you."
Daeyoon opened the bag and arranged the disposable containers on the desk.
"But it's surprising. I didn't expect you to want to eat something like rice soup. It seems that you miss the taste of Korea."
Daeyoon smiled and held out a spoon to Yijun.
It was past midnight. It was too late to eat, but Yijun took the spoon wordlessly.
"So it tastes like this."
Yijun ate the rice soup and murmured lowly.
"Hm? What did you say?"
"Nothing. It tastes really good."
"It's said that this place is famous for its food. It's also my first time hearing of it. Do you usually enjoy rice soup?"
"No. Not really."
"Ah… Is that so?"
The grey eyes looking down at the rice soup in the container seemed to have sunken.
He didn't know why he wanted to eat it if he didn't like it. Still, watching him silently eat from the spoon until he could see the bottom of the container, he wondered if he really liked it.
With the empty rice soup container in front of him, Daeyoon opened his mouth heavily.
"…So, I'm really worried about a lot of things these days. It's not easy to balance power, isn't it?"
Yijun put down his spoon and nodded his head knowingly.
"It can be said that it's a task for the World Hunter Association. Day by day, the abilities of hunters are soaring. It makes them dependable, but at the same time, it's terrifying."
"Yes, it is."
Daeyoon wiped his hands with a wet wipe and took a long breath.
"In the case of the American Hunter Association, I know that a lot of high-level hunters are hired as association agents, but in our case, it is not easy."
Daeyoon lifted his cup of green tea. He took a sip of the warm tea to calm his burning stomach and spoke again.
"Just sending a search agent immediately into a burst gate is already an overwhelming thing to do."
What could hunters above A-Class feel so sorry about that they would stay in the association while receiving a salary?
The only thing that the association had that was better compared to guilds was the existence of private insurance. In other words, there was no reason to join the association unless you were a person who prioritised public interests over private ones.
In addition, among modern hunters, a person with a sense of justice was called a freak or a pushover rather than a hero.
It was a very bleak situation.
"It would be a great help if there were hunters like you in the association."
Daeyoon glanced at him. There was anticipation in the subtle glance he gave. Yijun just smiled softly without saying a word.
Considering his position as the head of the Korean Hunter Association, Daeyoon wasn't just speaking carelessly.
'Do you really not plan on hiding your intentions?'
The doors of the Korean Hunter Association were always open. It was similar to that kind of appeal.
"Haha. I'm just kidding."
A joke. Even though he thought otherwise, Yijun just pretended not to understand and kept his smile. Daeyoon slowly changed the topic with a cough.
"I've heard of the activities of the Chaser Guild. You subjugated Florida's S-Class gate this time, right? And in four days as well."
"Even if it was an S-Class gate subjugation, it's not just Chaser's achievement. It wouldn't have been possible without the North American Guild Alliance."
Yijun picked up his teacup with a smile on his lips. The moment the bittersweet tea spread in his mouth, a picture came to the end of his inadvertent gaze.
His grey eyes were fixed on the photo that was left unattended in the corner of the guest table.
"…That."
"Ah. She's a rookie hunter who recently started working."
Daeyoon glanced at the picture.
It was the side view of a woman with dark hair, dark eyes, and a black dress. It was Hunter Lee Yura, the Princess of Dark Flare who had recently been closely monitored.
"I'm investigating something a little suspicious."
He had forgotten to clean it up. Daeyoon nonchalantly said that it wasn't a big deal and turned the picture upside down. However, Yijun's gaze was still fixed on the back of the photo.
"Something suspicious?"
"She was measured as an F-Class, but her skills seem too good for that. As you know, there is no way that a measuring instrument used worldwide would cause errors. In many ways, it's something to be concerned about."
The smile that had stayed in Yijun's eyes disappeared for a moment.
"…Is that so?"
But it was only for a moment. Yijun closed his mouth and lowered his gaze.
"Do you know her?"
"No."
An immediate answer.
There was no hesitation.
"It's just that her outfit is quite unique."
Something lingered in the eyes that quickly fluttered shut before disappearing.
However, Daeyoon didn't notice it and nodded.
That's right. He was a first-generation hunter and had been in America for the past few decades, so how would he know about the Princess of Dark Flare?
Yijun did not bring up the Princess of Dark Flare anymore. Daeyoon did the same.
The topic naturally moved from the Princess of Dark Flare to unknown gates.
"I see. Unknown gates are still…"
Yijun stroked his chin with a serious expression on his face.
All gates had a structure that couldn't be grasped by modern human technology, but unknown gates were particularly so.
Gates themselves were a global phenomenon, but unknown gates appeared frequently only in East Asia, and especially in Korea.
The difficulty was unpredictable. There were times when precious loot that couldn't be found in regular gates was obtained, but as the cause of appearance and the method of destruction were unknown, it couldn't be denied that there were more losses than gains.
"Maybe unknown gates are the biggest challenge for the Korean Hunter Association."
Daeyoon's murky face floated on the tea's surface.
Research on unknown gates had been carried out for the past 20 years with neighbouring countries, mainly in Korea, but it was impossible to suggest a solution for something that couldn't be explained in the first place.
"I seem to only be talking about heavy topics."
"No, it's fine."
"Because Hunter Baek is so reliable, I seem to be lamenting without realising it. Seriously, I can't help but hope for a hunter like you in the association. Haha."
"I will consider it."
"Right, you'll—"
Huh? Daeyoon, who was holding his teacup to his mouth, hardened like a stone statue.
When he raised his head with widened eyes, his eyes met with Yijun, who was picking up the suit jacket he had put on the sofa.
"J-just now… What…"
"I said that I will consider it."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Oh my god. Daeyoon almost dropped the teacup he was holding.
Unlike Daeyoon who had stiffened in surprise, Yijun calmly checked his watch. It was already past one in the morning.
Yijun approached the window and looked outside, lifting his finger between the blinds.
"I have to go back now. I'm tired because I'm still jet lagged."
"Uh… Yes. Go and do that."
"Let's talk about the details again through my attendant. Is that fine with you?"
"O-of course. Anytime."
Daeyoon nodded his head heavily as he blinked in confusion.
"And thank you for the rice soup. I ate well."
Click.
The door closed.
Regardless, Daeyoon remained stiff and was unable to move for a while.
Baek Yijun… Maestro offered to join the association?
And to the Korean Hunter Association, not the American Hunter Association?
Of course, it wasn't confirmed yet, but—
'Why on earth?'
Even the president of the association couldn't help but ask such a question.
But aside from his doubt, he had no intention of missing out on this opportunity.
Daeyoon jumped up from the sofa and strode forward, reaching for the phone on his desk.