A word signifying the act of nations or groups fighting each other with armed force.
“War…”
I murmured to myself for a moment, my mind racing. Soon, I was scratching the back of my head with a smile.
“Something’s not quite right. Who exactly is Kiril trying to fight?”
“Hm?”
“War, by definition, is a fight between groups.”
“That’s right.”
“If her target were the Hunter Association, Kiril wouldn't have used the word ‘war.’ She could probably crush the Association all by herself.”
The phrase ‘the Association’ sounded a bit funny, but it was highly likely that Kiril could actually do it. That conviction stemmed from her battle with Kang Hyeon. Kang Hyeon, the former rank 1 Hunter in the Republic of Korea.
His strength was nowhere near Kiril’s. The abilities Kiril had displayed when she saved my life were beyond the limits of a human. Of course, it was an undeniable fact that Kang Hyeon was a figure beyond measure in the country. He was a Multi Ability user like me and a veteran with vast combat experience.
Though our last confrontation ended rather anticlimactically, a single misstep would have meant my death. But after fighting Kang Hyeon, I knew. Kang Hyeon was weak.
That is, if Kiril was the one he was being compared to.
“True. Besides, if she were to fight the Hunter Association, almost no one would stand by her side.”
“Yes. So, it’s highly probable that the opponent in the ‘war’ Kiril mentioned isn’t the Hunter Association.”
“In that case, wouldn't it mean a war against Monsters?”
I shook my head at Dr. Jin’s words.
“That could be, but… we’re already doing that, aren’t we? I don’t think she would strike a pose… I mean, emphasize the need to ‘prepare for war’ over a fight that’s been going on for over ten years.”
“Hmm…”
Dr. Jin hummed lowly, lost in thought. He didn't express his agreement, but his current silence was a sign of it.
Kiril.
Who are you aligning with, and who are you fighting against?
“Ah, I don't know anymore!”
Leaving the pondering Dr. Jin behind, I shot up from my seat.
“Leaving already?”
“Yes. It’s almost time for my appointment. Worrying about it now won’t solve anything.”
“Haha. That’s true.”
As I was leaving the house, Dr. Jin reminded me once more. Things like how Maria, though a little older than me, had a gentle heart, and that she was very different from her public image. Truthfully, I already knew that.
I had spoken with her more than a few times. The more we talked, the more I felt she was a different person from Gu Geon-yi, and she sometimes showed a quirky side. Especially when I asked about the healing marks on her body; she had become noticeably flustered and fled.
Did she go and learn martial arts somewhere, like me? Now that I think about it, I should ask her that first when I see her.
Gaebang District Gate restoration area.
Thump. Wheeeeing.
The once-desolate area was now bustling as if nothing had ever happened. The ground was being dug up to remove residual toxins, and collapsed buildings were being rebuilt. It would still take a long time for this area to return to normal, but one day, new sprouts would grow on the rotted soil.
I found a coffee shop not far from the restoration area. There were no contaminants there, but people tend to fear the unseen more. Despite being a rather large coffee shop, it was sparsely populated.
In other words, it was a suitable place for two S-rankers to meet.
Scrape.
She scratched her cheek with her sharp nail. Soon, a red drop of blood trickled down her cheek. And I watched it all while drinking my Americano.
What a grotesque sight. But there was a reason for it.
Ssshk.
The wound, which had been bleeding profusely, healed in an instant. When she gently wiped the blood with a tissue, her original, clear white cheek was revealed. New skin is supposed to be reddish when it grows, but not even that was visible on Maria’s face.
“Any wound I get heals like this on its own. Even without consciously using my Healing Ability.”
“You’re similar to me.”
“That’s why I was able to harm my body freely.”
To be clear, I didn't ask her about it as soon as we met. I have basic manners, you know…! Instead, she herself brought up the ‘traces of healing’ first.
“Even though I know I can’t save everyone… an endless sense of guilt washes over me after a battle ends.”
“…”
“I couldn’t just sit still, so I lightly cut my body. Once at first. Then again. And then…”
“And that’s how you ended up in such a wretched state.”
A wretched state. A phrase that hardly suited her, armed from head to toe in beauty. But I could see it.
Maria had traces of healing all over her body. Healing is something that doesn’t happen unless there’s a wound. In other words, it meant her body was covered in scars.
Even now.
At this very moment.
“This is truly something for the newspapers. That Saint Maria has been continuously committing such horrific self-harm.”
Maria quietly lowered her gaze and stirred her straw.
“It’s a secret, right? In the Glory Guild, most people don’t know, except for maybe Gu Geon-yi.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
This was the kind of story that would be a front-page exclusive if I just told a reporter. People are just as interested in a hero’s hidden shame as they are in their valorous deeds. Why would she voluntarily reveal something that would bring her no benefit?
After a brief pause, Maria moved her red lips.
“…Sincerity.”
“Pardon?”
“A teacher at the orphanage where I grew up once told me. An apology must have sincerity.”
She emphasized sincerity, but I was quite surprised by the words that came before it. She seemed to lack nothing in the world, yet she came from an orphanage.
“So, I’m showing my sincerity in my own way. Before I apologize.”
Eh…
I had thought this before, but Maria’s way of thinking was a little peculiar. A sincere apology. Of course, that’s a good thing.
But is this how one usually shows sincerity?
“It might sound like an excuse, but after Hunter Yoo Ji-won died, I was in the ‘healing chamber,’ so I couldn’t check how the announcement was made. I’m sorry I couldn’t reveal the truth right away.”
Maria lowered her head.
Hmm.
If I don’t accept her apology here, I feel like I’ll be the bad guy.
“I knew.”
“…Pardon?”
“That it wasn't you who orchestrated the cover-up.”
Maria lifted her head slightly, blinking her eyes. I looked at her and spoke in a deliberately serious tone.
“But, in the end, affiliation is affiliation. As long as you are in the Glory Guild, you can’t escape responsibility for the actions of that group. This incident, and that incident in Gaebang District.”
That’s why I didn’t stop her when I knew she was coming to apologize. I don’t care if she thinks I’m petty.
It’s an undeniable fact that the Glory Guild wronged me, and as long as she wears the ‘G’ badge, her position is the same as Gu Geon-yi’s. She bought time for Gu Geon-yi to heal his wounds and even got rid of Yoo Ji-won, but they completely left my name out of it?
Because it’s Maria, I’ll let it slide this much, but I have no intention of forgiving Gu Geon-yi even if he prostrates himself until his limbs fall off. My sulky face lasted only for a moment before the corners of my mouth crept up slightly.
“Still, you certainly have a kind heart, Maria.”
“Pardon?”
“Judging by how you call that thing that turned into a monster a ‘Hunter.’”
Half-beast, half-human, no, it was more fitting to say it was just Yoo Ji-won’s face plastered onto a monster’s body. Though he brought it upon himself, how much damage did the Glory Guild suffer because of him? Unless one’s disposition was exceptionally gentle, it would be difficult to still call a man who turned into a monster ‘Hunter-nim.’
“Then… what have you been calling him all this time, Hunter Cheon Hae-seon?”
“Me? Well… monster bastard, horrible monster, a monster in human skin, disgusting…”
“Stop.”
Maria gently placed both hands over her ears. As if to prevent them from being contaminated. Hey Maria, didn’t you come here to apologize?
“How did you obtain your Multi Ability? Your Esper ability is also quite extraordinary…”
She apologized, and I accepted. But Maria showed no intention of leaving just yet.
“It’s simple. You just have to inject Ether into your head.”
Two very fine lines formed on her smooth forehead. She probably thinks I’m teasing her, but that’s really the method, I tell you. As we chatted about a few other things related to her Healing Ability, the latte she had ordered grew cold.
“I should get going now. I’ll go back and think it over.”
“Think what over? I’ve already accepted your apology.”
“Your words that regardless of how I feel, my affiliation is my affiliation.”
Hmm. Right.
A group is one big mask, and the people in it must wear the same expression as that mask. But what about it now? Pursing her lips.
Well, well.
Maria’s lips were pressed firmly together, her eyes radiating determination. She looked as if she had made some momentous decision.
Nah. Surely not.
No matter what, would Maria really do something like that? She must have spent a good amount of time with that guy. Just because she exchanged a few words with me?
Nah, that doesn’t make sense. Through the glass window, I could see my own puzzled expression. Maria opened her lips toward that foolish face.
“I will…”
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“KYAAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The ground rumbled as if a massive earthquake had struck. The cafe’s glass window shattered with a crash, and the cold coffee shot up to the ceiling. An unknown shockwave and the owner’s screams became a jumbled mess, and Maria, who had squeezed her eyes shut, began to fall.
Clasp.
“Excuse me.”
Catching her by the waist as she was about to fall backward, I carried her outside. Then, I hoisted the unconscious owner over my shoulder and followed. They say you should hide under furniture during an earthquake, but this was no earthquake.
It was just something massive erupting from beneath the ground. -GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. A ridiculously large octopus head. But no one in the world would dare take that octopus lightly.
Kraken.
For reasons unknown, a 7-star (★★★★★★★) Monster had revealed itself above ground. Its size, capable of swallowing a sailing ship whole, and its large, spiral eyes incited fear. Each sucker on its body looked large enough to hold a person.
The way it swung its dark-brown body around was like something out of a monster movie.
“Why…?!”
It seems Maria was thinking the same thing as me. Her voice was filled with confusion. There were two reasons for the confusion.
The first was the Gate's timing. It was extremely rare for a Gate that had already opened to appear in the same spot again. There’s a reason they say, ‘Gate detection equipment is the very last step of restoration.’
It’s because a Gate had never reoccurred in a place where one had already appeared. The second was the location of the Gate's appearance. The fact that the Kraken erupted from underground meant the Gate had also formed underground, not in the air.
This also completely overturned all common sense up to this point. The Gate's location. The Gate's form.
All of it was so different from what we knew. Thinking back, even when the Blue Sword Guild was fighting those bulls, the number of beasts had been too high.
“What the hell is wrong with the world these days?”
Words that only old geezers would say escaped my mouth. I turned my head to look at Maria.
“You’re not badly hurt, are you?”
I wasn’t asking Maria. I was checking on the condition of the owner who had fainted at her knees.
Nod.
Maria nodded silently. Then again, even if he were seriously injured, it wouldn’t be a problem with her around.
“You go ahead. I’ll take care of this and follow.”
“It’s too dangerous alone.”
“If it comes to it, I’ll at least buy some time until a Guild arrives.”
Of course, that was a blatant lie. Just thinking about the Core inside that Kraken was enough to make my mouth water.
“Ah, right.”
“?”
There was something I wanted to say to Maria as we parted.
“I hope you’ll cherish your own body just as you do others’.”
“…!!”
“If you really need to vent your anger, do it to your heart instead.”
“…My heart…?”
Leaving behind her eyes full of curiosity, I kicked off the ground and leaped toward the Kraken.