Editors: Ana_Banana, Sei

Aak!

With a scream, Min Ha-rin shot up in her bed. There wasnt a single drop of blood on her pale face.

When she looked out the window, she saw that it was still dark outside. This meant that she hadnt slept well today either.

Huff huff

Her body shook. Her heart pounded in her chest as if shed just been running at full speed, and her skin was covered in sweat. Her hair was plastered to her face, but she couldnt even pull it away.

This was because the tips of her trembling fingers were numb and cold as though no blood was being circulated to them. Even her eyes behind her closed eyelids shook uncontrollably.

She had lost something again. She couldnt keep hold of it.

Shed just found another person that she had begun to grow closer to, but then she had been forced to helplessly watch him die right in front of her eyes.

For Min Ha-rin, helplessness was one of the worst feelings imaginable.

Ever since shed become a Hunter, she had never encountered a situation where she had no choice but to let someone she knew or cared about die.

It reminded her of when her parents died.

That was why she always did her best to take care of everyone she knew, no matter who they were.

If she saw that someone was going to die, she would do everything she could to save them, even if it meant giving up her own life in the process.

Lukas.

Her Master saw this as an act of sacred sacrifice. He said that he saw hope in Min Ha-rin, and had great expectations because of that hope.

Shed been proud when she received that compliment. Shed even thought that she was on the right path.

But she wasnt.

In truth, there was a slightly more twisted reason for Min Ha-rins lack of hesitation when it came to throwing away her life.

It was self-satisfaction.

Was it because she wanted to save people? Or because it was the right thing to do?

No. Min Ha-rin didnt act that way for such a good reason.

Instead, it was because she felt it would be better for her to die than anyone else. Shed been aware of the fact that shed been thinking this way all along. But she didnt think she was wrong, even if it was a slightly twisted thought.

But the death of Lee Jong-hak had led her to a realisation.

In truth, Min Ha-rins actions were a result of her own selfishness. It wasnt something that could be gift wrapped in a pretty title like sacrifice.

urp!

She felt like vomiting. Because of the stress of the Championship, shed decided to drink a lot of alcohol, something she wasnt used to.

Uwek!

She vomited on the bed.

Alcohol. Shed vomited because of alcohol.

Min Ha-rin had never felt so disgusted in herself.

She felt like she was going to lose her mind. Gasping for breath, she couldnt help but think about someone.

It was a face that she thought about dozens or even hundreds of times every day.

Master.

As she thought of this face, her mind gradually cooled down, and her body slowly relaxed. It was almost as if she had ingested a sedative.

Knock knock-

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door.

Min Ha-rin turned to look at the door with her dead eyes.

* * *

There was no response.

Was it because he hadnt knocked hard enough?

No, that couldnt be it.

Taking a deep breath, Leo decided to knock on the door once again.

Knock knock-

Nevertheless, there was still no response from within the room.

He hadnt come to the wrong place. He was certain that Min Ha-rin, his Senior Sister, was in this room. It seemed that she had hidden her identity when she came here, but Leos tracking skills had already reached the level of a master.

With just their personal information, it was possible for him to find someone within a few days unless they meticulously tried to hide themselves.

Did she leave the room?

That wasnt it either.

He could definitely feel the faint presence within the room.

Knock knock.

Thinking that it was not enough after knocking again and receiving no response, Leo finally opened his mouth.

Senior Sister.

When he muttered these words in a soft voice, there was finally a response within the room.

He heard a muffled shuffling from inside. Then a few small footsteps. Afterward, the room fell silent again. He couldnt be sure, but he believed that she was standing at the door now.

Did she think that she had misheard his voice?

No. Now that he thought about it, his voice must have changed a lot after five years. After all, hed already reached puberty and his voice now carried a clear bass undertone.

Its me. Leo Freeman.

Junior Brother?

A weak, trembling voice asked back in confirmation.

Although she couldnt see him, Leo nodded, happy to hear the voice of his Senior Sister.

Yeah.

Click-

The door opened, and a foul odor immediately flowed from the room. Leo almost frowned, but before he could, he became speechless instead.

Min Ha-rin.

Unlike himself, her appearance hadnt changed much.

However, her aura was completely different. It was almost as though she was half broken. Her eyes, shrouded in darkness, drifted for a while before finally rising to look at Leos face.

Its really you, Junior Brother.

There was a hint of joy in her weak voice.

Leo should have felt the same. However, after seeing Min Ha-rins appearance, he felt more worried than glad.

Yeah. Its me.

Youre safe. Im glad.

Senior Sister too.

And you got so big. Is everything okay? I found some clues about you. I heard that you were on Desire Island, I intended to go find you later, but-

Im not the issue right now.

Leo interrupted her with a slightly firm tone.

What happened?

Min Ha-rin gave a faint and slightly helpless smile.

would you like to come inside? N-, no. Actually, its a bit messy right now. Give me a minute. Let me get dressed and Ill come out.

Leo nodded, and while she was changing, he went down to the first floor and bought two bottles of water.

Min Ha-rin got dressed and left the room. Leo looked down at her for a moment before raising her hood over her head.

This would be better for now.

Youve become more manly.

Originally, those words would have made him smile, but now, he didnt say anything because he was worried about Min Ha-rins condition.

It was quite chilly outside. This was natural since the sun had long since set. Nevertheless, the lights in the city hadnt gone out, and there was still a crowd of people on the streets.

This was because the afterglow of the Championship hadnt dispersed yet.

Dammit! It took me more than a month to get to Lirua! When I got here I was completely exhausted!

Did you hear? This is the first time in 150 years that someone withdrew from the Championship. Its also the first time that anyone has ever withdrawn from the Championship Finals.

At least we were able to witness such a historic moment. Ha!

I heard that the Fighters on Combat Island valued honor more than their own lives, but that must have just been a bunch of rumors.

Leo turned to look at Min Ha-rin.

But her blank expression made it hard for him to figure out what she was thinking.

In any case, he felt that it wouldnt be good to stay in the downtown area for long. After all, it wasnt a suitable place to have a conversation.

With that thought in mind, he quickened his pace.

Min Ha-rin matched his pace.