The Hunter Association building was so large that it could easily rival the Blue House. I was busy taking it all in, mouth slightly open, when a sharply dressed woman approached me.

"It's your first time seeing it like this, isn’t it, Eunha?" 

"I’ve heard quite a bit about it from my… brother," I replied, awkwardly emphasizing "brother."

That word didn’t sit right with me, but I couldn’t help it. Jeong Nayoon, true to her role as one of Yoo Jinseok's heroines, was stunning. With her delicate features and black hair, she had a natural grace. I wouldn’t mind having her begging at my feet one day, so it wouldn’t hurt to start putting things in motion. If I were Chairman Choi Cheolsik, I'd keep her under my desk.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, but why did you ask me to come?"

Honestly, it would’ve been easier if she’d come to me, but I didn’t mind making the trip if it meant improving her impression of me.

"I'm sure you can guess the reason, Eunha. I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important."

"Yes, I can imagine." 

"The chairman of the association wants to see you personally. Ah, there he is."

In the distance, a middle-aged man was walking over, picking at his teeth with a toothpick. Back when I worked in an office, my department head looked just like this guy. He’d always have a lingering scent of kimchi stew and would pick at his teeth with a toothpick too.

"Ahem, Eunha. It’s been a while since you were little."

Ah, shiny bald head. I wondered if his ability was related to solar energy. Watching him wipe sweat off his head almost made me laugh.

"Did we meet before?"

"When you were very young. I heard you fought with Kim Jaesoo recently. Any injuries?"

"No, I’m fine. Although… Siwoo, the swordmaster, is a bit…”

Becoming more of a girl every day, I wanted to say. It seemed he was gradually losing his masculine muscle tone, almost becoming slender. Watching this change unfold was… quite enjoyable.

"Rest assured, Siwoo will be compensated fully. But we brought you here because the Association would like you to work with us as a hunter."

As if. Becoming a villain sounded far more appealing than a second coming of Kim Jaesoo. Not that I'd join the Association even if I wanted to.

"I’m not interested at the moment," I replied.

"Then, what is your plan?"

"After receiving offers from various guilds, I’ll likely join one of them."

This response should keep them off my back. After all, the top guild masters in the country were all Yoo Jinseok’s companions, and some were even his heroines. They were rivals, so the guilds didn’t get along well. The male guild leaders, meanwhile, tended to steer clear of the heroines, who, being tied up with Jinseok’s love life, were too annoying for them to bother with.

"A bit blunt, don’t you think?"

What of it? I straightened my back, crossing my arms with pride.

"I’m strong, beautiful, and worth the investment. I imagine other guilds are already considering contacting me."

It was a statement only a self-centered princess could make. Half an act, half my genuine feeling. I had a charm that even women couldn’t resist.

"What terms would be acceptable for you?"

"Well, as a student, my hunter activities would be limited anyway, right?"

Officially, I couldn’t work as a hunter until after graduating from the academy. Until then, independent activity was off-limits; any hunting would need a guardian.

"Exactly. We just want to borrow your name."

"So, in other words, you’re willing to pay a rental fee to use my name."

It seemed my name had recently gained value. After defeating S-rank mutant Kim Jaesoo, I was probably quite popular within the association’s circles. If I played this right, I could milk it for all it was worth.

"That’s right. We wouldn’t want to force your hand and will allow you to join another guild after graduation, if that’s your choice."

They were in a rush, so this was a chance to negotiate. With the power dynamics in my favor, I’d make sure to benefit.

"There is one condition."

"Name it."

"I don’t need much money. Just give me access past the barrier."

Beyond the barrier meant areas like Incheon and a few other isolated zones, including the scorched wastelands of Pyongyang in the north. These were places where monsters and villains roamed.

"Beyond the barrier… not places like Gyeonggi, Busan, Jeolla, or Jeju, but the barrier itself? Incheon, specifically?"

"Yes."

"Crossing the barrier means entering an absolute no-man’s land. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

My words made Choi Cheolsik and Jeong Nayoon grimace as if I’d said something absurd. They probably thought I was just some overconfident kid relying too much on my skills.

"Listen. I understand that you’re confident, but I’ve seen too many young people die because they overestimated their abilities. If something happens to you, Yoo Jinseok will have my head."

"Then would you allow it if I proved myself?"

"You would be fighting villains. Or mutants."

As if that would scare me. I'd have to convince them, and even if I showed my strength, getting permission wasn’t guaranteed.

"I have my own reasons for wanting to explore past the barrier."

"And those are?"

"Exploring the erosion zones. I could retrieve a significant amount of mana stones. I might even find hidden gates."

'Erosion zones' referred to places affected by dark mana. According to Korean law, these were areas that needed to be reclaimed. Most regions outside functioning cities were set up that way. The Association called the erosion zones unknown territory. Mutants lurked in these places, and villains and criminals often escaped there as well. Crossing the barrier without a pass would immediately label you a villain.

"Hmm. Very well. But let’s test your skills first. That’s fair, right? I’m curious about your abilities myself."

"Alright."

"Coincidentally, Baek Cheongang of the Baekho Guild is here. Land a hit on him, and I’ll grant you a pass to cross the barrier, along with some gear."

"Understood."

As long as I could prove my strength, this wouldn’t be a problem.

---

“Oh, you must be Yoo Jinseok’s sister, Eunha!” 

“Whoa, seriously pretty. You’re my sister from now on.”

A somewhat aged man and a young girl, sucking on a lollipop, stared at me with great interest.

"Hello, you’re very pretty too, unnie."

The older guy was Baek Cheongang. His hair was cropped short, and he wore a white uniform. His title was “Iron Man.” As his nickname suggested, he excelled as a tank, skilled in various martial arts used to defeat monsters. Imagine a brawler character from a game, and that’s him. Next to him was a girl with black hair who looked about my age, fiddling with a piece of magical equipment. Her name was Seo Jiyeon. Although in her twenties, she looked young enough to be my friend. Her nickname was “Death’s Photographer.”

She was seriously overpowered. Forming a rectangle with her hands, she could “snap” a picture of anything within that frame. Tear up the photo, and the space it depicted would disappear entirely. Burn it, and that area would be consumed by flames. Needless to say, living things weren’t spared. For powerful mutants, the photo effect didn’t work, but she could still pull them into her mental domain—a world shaped entirely to her will. She was beautiful, too. Her speech style was a bit irritating, but it was part of her power, so I’d tolerate it. Getting on her good side could be useful.

"I only saw you in the video, but you’re just as impressive in person. Jinseok doesn’t deserve you.”

Seo Jiyeon gently touched my cheek and hand. I wanted to return the favor but refrained, respecting her seniority.

"Actually, I need to ask Baek Cheongang a favor," the Association chairman started.

"Hmm?"

The chairman got straight to the point.

"I need you to test Eunha's skills."

"You’re not planning on recruiting her for the Association, are you?"

“Is that baldy crazy? She’d be better off as a villain. Working here barely pays a penny.”

Seo Jiyeon, full of disdain, shot a contemptuous glare at the chairman. Startled, he waved his hands defensively.

"No, it’s not like that. I just want to borrow Eunha’s name for now. Besides, she wants to go beyond the barrier, so if she lands a hit on you, she’ll get a pass."

"Beyond the barrier? Isn’t that a bit much?"

Seo Jiyeon turned wide eyes on me. Even veteran hunters hesitated to cross the barrier, so it was probably shocking that an academy student like me wanted to.

“It’s just my curiosity about uncharted territory.”

"Ooh, I like that. I used to cross it all the time. If you managed to capture Kim Jaesoo, that should be more than enough."

Although I had already shown my abilities, the chairman was understandably cautious. One misstep and Yoo Jinseok could easily bring down the entire Association.

“Still, I’d prefer to be sure.”

“I’m fine with it. Eunha,

 are you?”

“Let’s do it.”

Baekho Guild’s guild master was manageable. To take on Seo Jiyeon, I’d need to activate my dragon powers, but Baek Cheongang was weak. Among Yoo Jinseok’s generation, he was the weakest. He held his own well against monsters, but being a pure martial artist who relied on mana techniques left him at a disadvantage against others of his generation. Choi Cheolsik nodded and led us to the underground training arena.

“Try not to hold back. This area has a barrier in place, so excessive force is restricted.”

I’d be limited, too, which was a bit disappointing.

"Choose your weapon. I’ll fight barehanded."

"Bring it."

Back when I was a regular office worker, I had attended a taekwondo class as a kid. I quit with the yellow belt, but I could still pull off a decent stance.

"Interesting. Your stance is solid. I thought you’d use a sword."

"Pretty girls are perfect at everything."

"Alright, but I hope you know that courage alone won’t get you far. Let’s see if you can handle my punch."

Matching Baek Cheongang’s level would be enough for now. They saw me as Yoo Jinseok’s sister, so if I intended to cross the barrier, I’d have to demonstrate overwhelming power. Since the barrier limited me, I’d simply show that none of his attacks could touch me.

Baek Cheongang channeled mana around his body. Clear mana radiated from his fists, forming a tiger's head. This was Baek Cheongang’s own invention, “Baekho Martial Arts.” It was his signature buff skill, and it boasted strength fitting an S-rank guild master. But I didn’t dodge. I didn’t block. If he attacked with brute strength, my dragon defenses would be more than enough. I’d been targeted countless times back when I killed millions. Attempts on my life were constant, even when I appeared as a nun. The resistance was always crushed.

With a loud *crack*, Baek Cheongang's attack was effortlessly blocked. It wasn’t because of my mana or magic—just the natural difference in power between a dragon and a martial artist. Still, he tilted his head, confused.

“An invincible body?”

I couldn’t help but smile as I grabbed his arm, catching him off guard.

“Not exactly invincible.”

“Wait, what are you—”

In a flash, white flames enveloped Baek Cheongang’s body, consuming his mana.

“Wait… my mana, it’s draining?”

“Honestly, you idiot. You’re really falling for a simple mana absorption at your age?”

Mana absorption—a trick weaker hunters use to drain stronger opponents, rendering them powerless. But usually, unless it’s mastered at an extreme level, mana absorption wouldn’t leave someone this helpless. From a distance, Jiyeon could barely hide her shock at Baek Cheongang’s reaction. Back in the day, his strength alone could rival Yoo Jinseok, yet here he was, brought down by basic mana absorption. Well, as I said, this wasn’t absorption—it was incineration.

“It’s a bit different,” I said.

“Obviously. My ability is no mere mana absorption.”

“Then, what is it?”

Baek Cheongang, slumping like he’d been drained by a succubus, was finally out cold. Jiyeon, equally intrigued, spoke up instead.

“I burn it. I burned the mana from Uncle Baek’s body.”

“So that means you could burn through the rampant mana beyond the barrier as well? Is that one of the properties of the White Flame?”

Choi Cheolsik seemed impressed, his shiny bald head catching the light.

“Yes. It’s a flame of purification and destruction.”

“Well, in that case, I think it’s safe.”

“Alright. I’ll issue you a pass. I’ll contact the gates at Incheon and Seoul, so don’t worry. Just make sure Jinseok doesn’t find out.”

Finally, I had permission.

“Understood.”

With even Seo Jiyeon from Yoo Jinseok’s generation backing me, Choi Cheolsik really had no choice. I could almost imagine Jinseok ranting later about who’d allowed his little sister into a danger zone.

“Hey, I’m not that old to be called ‘Uncle.’”

“Check the mirror. Have some shame?”

“You… cheeky brat! Fine, then. So how about joining my guild? A three-billion contract once you graduate…”

I gave him a good look—Baek Cheongang really had aged. He was in his twenties, yet somehow looked closer to forty. Maybe this is what happens when you train the wrong way. Worse, joining his guild would probably mean wearing some ridiculous outfit and training in martial arts.

“Even so, a martial arts guild… isn’t really my style.”

With a title like “Dragon,” I have a reputation to uphold. Joining a place like that? Never.

 

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

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