Chapter 287: #Daily Life (2) - Top Star Sung Mi-Na’s Nervous Date?

The petite, cute girl resembled a budding flower, her youthful face seemingly untouched by time. However, the provocative, black, see-through nightgown revealed her snow-white skin.

Sung Mi-Na stared blankly at the sunlight filtering through the curtains. However, it wasn’t the sunlight that she was focused on.

Just a week earlier, she and her younger sister had been caught in a deadly situation inside the Dungeon of Sin. When they were about to be killed by a mysterious, unbeatable monster, an unknown man swept in like a prince on a white horse and saved the day.

Who was he?

Thinking that he could be a Hunter she hadn’t known before, she mobilized all her connections, yet failed to find even a single information about him.

No, he isn’t a regular Hermit.

The snake-like monster they faced then was at least SSS-rank, but he defeated it with ease. Even the world’s strongest Hunter, SSS-rank Royce, whom she’d fought at the Hunter Wars, was akin to a firefly and the sun when compared to that man. Was he even human to begin with? Perhaps, he was an otherworldly being that had transcended the limitations of humanity.

Gosh, what am I thinking?

This was a huge leap in logic. Clearly, the shock from that day’s incident had led to that man living rent-free in her mind. Could it be the rocking leg effect, where perceived danger or anxiety enhanced attraction toward another person? Sung Mi-Na flushed slightly as she absentmindedly thought of Yu Il-Shin.

“Unni!”

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a shout that rang in her ear. She turned to see her younger sister, Sung Mi-Ri, with a sullen look on her face.

“You scared me! Why are you shouting anyway?”

“I’ve been calling you. What’s been on your mind these days...? Oh! Are you thinking about Mr. Yu? I guess he is kind of handsome! Don’t worry, you’ll be able to see him soon!”

How could she say that with such confidence? Her younger sister’s eyes looked unusual, almost like a fanatic. That man had also trained Sung Mi-Ri into an S-rank Hunter through her dreams. Of course, Sung Mi-Na herself had a similar dream, but...

Sung Mi-Na recalled the dream she had back then.

~

Someone was gently stroking Sung Mi-Na’s head as she slept, curled up like a baby in a cradle made of flowers. Even in her dazed state, Sung Mi-Na felt a strange familiarity. Just as a baby instinctively recognizes its mother, that person felt like someone who would protect and care for her.

“...Noona. Don’t lie to yourself anymore. The one you love and want to protect the most in this world is your younger sister, isn’t it?”

The small but steady voice softly rang in her ears.

“I know why you were so cold to her. You’re thinking of sacrificing yourself in her place someday. You’re trying to make sure she doesn’t feel your absence then.”

It was as if he’d read her mind. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“But, you don’t have to do that anymore. Whether it’s Despair or anyone else, I’ll protect you from harm. I’ll make sure of it, no matter what sacrifices I have to make. So please, stop lying to yourself...

His words brought her comfort and hope, like a refreshing rain on a barren desert. However, could he truly put a stop to everything?

“Huh? Arachne. Is it the time already?”

His farewell came, dashing her wish for this moment to last forever.

“It’s a shame that I have to go now. I’ll clear the Tower of Gods and return someday, so until then, please take care and be happy, Mi-Na noona.”

W-wait...

She struggled to open her heavy eyelids. The dream would fade away once she woke, so she wanted to at least have a glimpse of him. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, she found herself staring at a small, cute, insect-like humanoid creature. Their eyes met, but he was gradually fading away.

No, please wait. Don’t disappear like that.

“Y-your... n-name...”

He smiled and whispered to her.

“...Shin.”

She didn’t quite catch what he said in front, but she still caught the word Shin before he fully disappeared.

And that was the end of her dream.

~

Their voices were definitely similar...

The mysterious man and the small, cute Shin she met in her dreams... Could they be the same person?

Sung Mi-Ri seemed to firmly believe that they were the same. However, Sung Mi-Na wasn’t as naive as to believe something as unbelievable as that at face value.

“Unni~ I'm off to school!” Sung Mi-Ri shouted from the porch.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Sung Mi-Na hurried over to her younger sister with the lunchbox she’d prepared.

“Hey! Your lunchbox!”

“Save yourself the trouble! Who still brings lunchboxes to school these days? I’ll just eat at the school cafeteria! I’m running late already, bye!”

Ruuuumble!

Sung Mi-Ri turned into Thunder Emperor and blitzed her way to school, leaving Sung Mi-Na all hurt.

“That brat!”

Just like the god mentioned in her dreams, she wanted to have a good relationship with her younger sister, but she had probably loosened the reins too much these days...

That naughty brat, just wait until you get home!

Now that she was left all alone, Sung Mi-Na slowly calmed down.

What should I do now?

Originally, as an active S-rank Hunter, she’d be busy, but she had too much free time now. After all, since a week ago, every dungeon and gate across the globe had disappeared without a trace. Coincidentally, it happened right after the sisters were rescued from the Dungeon of Sin.

Although the end of the world-threatening disasters was nothing short of amazing, the Hunter Association’s top brass were uneasy about the sudden turn of events, especially with no clear cause. They were worried that this was the calm before an even bigger storm.

However, Sung Mi-Na didn't care, since that wasn't important to her right now.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

What should I do to spend my time now?

For the last decade, she’d been working tirelessly, raiding dungeons and gates. As someone who’d been active on the frontlines, the sudden break felt unfamiliar and disconcerting, like a piece of clothing that didn’t fit.

Maybe I should take up the commercial shoot I had rejected before...

Just like in Yu Il-Shin’s past life, Sung Mi-Na was a rising star in advertising, known for her S-rank Hunter status and striking looks—partly due to the degenerative aging curse Despair had placed on her.

Suddenly, her phone played Beethoven’s Fate Symphony.

“

Hmm?

”

The screen showed an unknown number. Usually, she’d have rejected it, but this time, she picked it up because she was bored.

“Who is it?” she asked curtly.

A familiar voice came through.

—Hello. This is Yu Il-Shin! Do you remember me? We met a few days back at the dungeon!

She grew wide-eyed. Wait, wasn’t that the name of the teacher from the dream her younger sister had been raving about?

—Mi-Na noona, do you have time to spare? I have a few questions to ask you.

“Huh? Oh. S-sure!”

His unexpected question made her heart pound excitedly like a teen’s.

***

Vroooom!

A red Porschi drove through the roads of Seoul City, drawing the attention of passersby on the streets.

“Wow! What an awesome car! Hey, isn’t that S-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na?! She looks much prettier in person!”

“Who’s the guy sitting next to her? Is that her boyfriend?”

“No way. That guy’s in cheap sweatpants, so probably her manager.”

“Why isn’t her manager driving the car then?”

The man in the green tracksuit became the center of attention. Unbeknownst to them, Sung Mi-Na was equally curious about him.

She wore a vibrant floral dress that had become a sensation after actress Han Ye-Seul was seen wearing it in Milan. Meanwhile, her makeup was done at a salon in Gangnam. However, the man in the green tracksuit didn’t even glance at her and was busy eating. Sung Mi-Na felt her self-esteem plummet, wondering if she’d gone overboard with her outfit...

Yu Il-Shin had been frantically stuffing himself with the lunchbox Sung Mi-Na had prepared, his mouth covered in sushi rice. He smiled in approval and gave a thumbs-up.

“Wow, this is delicious! Did you make all of this? Mi-Na noona’s cooking is the best!”

Still, she didn’t mind seeing him enjoy the lunch she had made.

“

Hmph!

This is nothing. But, do you... know me? How dare you address me... like that?” she said in an odd mix of casual and honorific without realizing it.

Yu Il-Shin looked like a typical neighborhood jobless man, but she found it difficult to speak casually due to her personality.

“I guess, since it’s our first time meeting properly in this life. Shall I call you Ms. Sung Mi-Na instead?”

He fixed his gaze on her. Somehow, his clear, transparent eyes overlapped with the image of the god she had seen in her dreams a while back.

Sung Mi-Na turned away to hide her flushed cheeks.

“Oh, no. I don’t dislike it. Just call me whatever you’re comfortable... with.”

“

Hehe.

I’ll call you Mi-Na noona then.”

The bright smile on his face made her blush even more.

Thump thump thump!

Calm down. Don’t overreact, heart!

Sung Mi-Na couldn’t understand why she was acting like this. Why was she so flustered around someone who appeared like a bum? Could this man also be a psychic like her, capable of manipulating people’s minds?

Sung Mi-Na cleared her throat. “

Um

, what did you want to ask...me?”

In fact, Yu Il-Shin hadn’t yet revealed his reason for wanting to meet today.

“Oh, let’s put that aside for now and take care of something else first.”

Creaaaak—

Moments later, their Porschi came to a stop in front of a traditional Korean house, which exuded a serene charm that didn’t quite fit Gangnam’s bustling heart. It was none other than the Immortal Guild, one of the top Hunter guilds in South Korea, led by Necromancer Ko Sa-Deuk.