NoveLight ™
Shinohara Household
Shinohara Yuzuki was intently watching the combat footage of Yoo Eun-ha displayed on her computer monitor. The video, showcasing Yoo Eun-ha clearing the Glass Dungeon, had been discreetly acquired by the Lily Guild.
Yuzuki, who had replayed the footage several times, nodded her head in amazement.
"No matter how I look at it, that Baekhwa ability is beyond extraordinary."
“When I met her, her speed was her only standout feature. I didn’t realize she had such an ability,” Mariko Shinohara said, her eyes sparkling as she watched the footage. She couldn’t hide her admiration.
Back when they had fought Cyclopes together during their shared training days, Yoo Eun-ha hadn’t shown anything near this level of power. At that time, Eun-ha had even struggled.
“What do you think, Mariko?”
“She’s absolutely remarkable. Taking down the Glass Constructs in one go... or rather, turning an entire passage into a sea of fire is astonishing.”
Even Rosemary, who had accompanied them, had been left slack-jawed by the sight. It was almost amusing. Rosemary's odd behavior at the rendezvous point now made sense—it seemed she had been thoroughly intimidated by Yoo Eun-ha.
“It’s hard to chalk it up to doping. You can’t draw out that kind of power artificially, and even if you forced it, you’d die on the spot.”
Yet, Yoo Eun-ha seemed completely fine.
“Well, judging by her popularity on the Korean forums, it’s not surprising.”
Even the Japanese community wasn’t immune to her growing fame. Footage of her abilities test and team battles at Hanseong Academy had become well-known among Japanese hunter enthusiasts. Threads about Yoo Eun-ha were a hot topic in online forums.
Thread Title: Korea’s Yoo Eun-ha vs. Japan’s Shinohara Yuzuki: Who Wins?
“Seriously, even in these times, there are so many people with nothing better to do.”
Even before the Great Cataclysm, people would waste their time posting in threads, sharing opinions, and arguing endlessly. That habit hadn’t changed.
“What do you think in reality?” Mariko asked.
“Well, I’m not sure. I can’t confidently predict who’d win. But with control like that after only a few months, it’s better to have her as an ally than an enemy. Spending time with her, I can see why people might fall for her.”
Having her as an enemy would be troublesome. Even though the post-Cataclysm world was in chaos, international warfare was unlikely, especially when the shared threat of monsters loomed.
“I see.”
“And her influence on those around her also seems plausible.”
She’s beautiful. Truly beautiful. Seeing her up close makes one feel like they might fall for her. It’s no wonder Hanseong’s female students post anonymously about wanting to get closer to Yoo Eun-ha, even joking about competing with her.
“Don’t tell me, even you…”
“Me? No way. I’m not someone who falls for someone after just a few days. Sure, I’m fond of her, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m switching teams and going lesbian. But who knows? If she saved me in a Hell-grade Gate, maybe then I’d fall for her.”
Of course, unless one ventured into an Erosion Zone—or quarantined areas—it was highly unlikely a Hell-grade Gate would appear.
“Do you think a Hell-grade Gate might appear?”
“It’s about as impossible as it gets.”
Yuzuki chuckled softly. She was determined to have Yoo Eun-ha as an ally, no matter what. However, when it came to romance, that was another story. Yuzuki had no intention of falling so easily, even if Yoo Eun-ha was impressive in every sense.
***
Yoo Jin-seok’s Visit
Yoo Jin-seok showed up after quite a while. This guy always had a knack for popping in just when I was about to forget about him. With his usual grin, the former protagonist of our story waltzed into my home and pulled a glowing cube from his palm.
It was Yoo Jin-seok’s inventory cube.
"Seriously? What’s this all about?"
Out came a few massive shrimp from his inventory. Was this why he told me to stay home? I should’ve just ignored him.
“I heard you haven’t been eating properly lately.”
What? I’ve been eating just fine—women, good food, you name it. Ever since leaving behind my corporate life, I’ve developed a serious sweet tooth and have been indulging in desserts all over the place. Considering that Choi Si-woo is now Lust personified, maybe he’s even wilder than Choi Si-ah ever was.
“I’ve been eating decently.”
“Well, I brought these for you. Whether you eat them raw or cook them, figure it out.”
What kind of brother dumps shrimp in front of his little sister as a gift? Besides, I’ve never cooked shrimp before. And cooking? That’s not my job. Isn’t this something heroines usually handle? At home, I’ve been surviving on sugar water anyway.
“So, where are you off to now?”
Judging by his outfit, he was heading somewhere again. Maybe another gate expedition?
“Oh, I’m meeting Kim Ji-hye at the barrier today. We’re headed to the Quarantine Zone.”
“What? Are you dating Firebat now? Quarantine Zone date?”
Who would’ve thought he’d hook up with Firebat? With a girlfriend like her, I guess his date spots are as flashy as they get. But the Quarantine Zone? What, are they going out to hunt villains or something?
“It’s not like that. You know BaekhwaTV, right?”
“Oh, the two streamers who cover the Quarantine Zone?”
I’d suspected the government would make a move about them sooner or later. Did Yoo Jin-seok get tasked with something related to this?
“Yeah. The bald guy’s been getting flak because the Blue House and the Hunter Association are constantly compared to Baekhwa. Now they want us to find Baekhwa.”
If the Hunter Association tasked Yoo Jin-seok with finding me, things must be urgent.
“Got it. Take care.”
“Yeah, you too. I’ll come back when it’s done.”
“Be careful.”
Yoo Jin-seok ruffled my hair before leaving, shrimp and all. Watching him go, I sighed. Poor guy, but things on this side were heating up as well. If Baldie sent Yoo Jin-seok straight away, this could spell danger for the Black God Cult—or rather, Baekhwa.
What if Songdo gets exposed to Yoo Jin-seok and Firebat in my absence, and they end up fighting the golems?
“The Cheonsan Group could be at risk too.”
At least I had some forewarning. Hiding Songdo would be the best move. If they’re looking for Baekhwa, they’ll naturally want to find any habitable areas in the Quarantine Zone. That could lead them straight to the mana-free haven of Songdo. Considering Yoo Jin-seok and Firebat’s mobility, they could find it in no time.
I called out to Kate, who was cosplaying as a doll in the corner.
"Kate, connect me to the penthouse."
“Yes.”
I moved to the penthouse and checked the weather around Songdo. The sky was frustratingly clear, the kind of day perfect for a shonen manga shoot.
“Of course, it’s ridiculously sunny.”
It wasn’t just clear; it was blindingly bright. If it were a bit overcast, I could disguise the place as ruins, but this? I’d have to make an effort. Reluctantly, I spread my wings and soared high into the sky.
Would it be enough to shroud Songdo in pitch-black mana? Completely enveloping it in a shell of pure darkness might work. It’d be tough, and there’s a chance the Hunter Association’s mana detectors might pick up on it, but it was worth a shot.
“Let’s see if this works.”
I released mana from my body. The dark energy flowed out like a river, quickly covering all of Songdo. It formed a shell of mana, like an eggshell, protecting the area.
“They won’t notice anything now.”
If Yoo Jin-seok is humanity’s strongest, then I’m the strongest of monsters. If my mana surrounds Songdo, he won’t detect a thing. And if I lay low with Baekhwa for a while, he’ll never find me. Later, I might even livestream Songdo’s civilian district just to mess with him.
“What are you doing now?”
Back at the penthouse, Reyna greeted me, arms crossed, exuding an air of disapproval. Her stance screamed “lecture incoming,” but since this involved Songdo, it was something everyone needed to know.
“Oh, my brother is looking for me.”
“Baekhwa, right?”
“Yeah. You know how crazy my brother is. If he finds us, we’re in trouble. So I cloaked the area with my ultimate mana.”
From the outside, it would look like a massive dome.
“What happens if we’re discovered?”
“They’ll probably try to drag everyone to Seoul.”
That would be the Hunter Association’s way of salvaging their tarnished image. Yoo Jin-seok, ever the righteous fool, likely believes survivors are safer in Seoul than in the Quarantine Zone.
“This is bad.”
“Don’t worry. They won’t find us.”
“But he’s the first Sword Saint, right? Yoo Eun-ha, he’s probably stronger than you.”
Have they forgotten I’m a dragon? Even if he’s humanity’s strongest, could he possibly surpass an apocalyptic dragon? Of course, I had no intention of fighting him. No matter the situation, Yoo Jin-seok is still my brother. I couldn’t bring myself to raise a sword against him.
“Well, there is one way…”
“A way?”
“I’ll go out and play tag with Yoo Jin-seok myself. The problem is, I don’t plan on losing.”
If Yoo Jin-seok loses to me in a game of tag, his honor would take a hit. While I didn’t want my brother to look like a fool, I couldn’t afford to lose either.
“I may not look it, but I’m pretty fast. I’ll run away—hard.”
“And what do I tell Maman?”
“You’ll think of something. By the way, where are Han Su-ji and Choi Si-ah?”
They weren’t even in Songdo right now. That much I was certain.
“Maman’s making snake stew again. As for Han Su-ji and Choi Si-ah, they’re out competing to catch monsters.”
“Can’t you tell Maman to stop with the snake stew? I may be a dragon, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with this snake-related menu every day.”
I was getting tired of seeing plump snakes on the table. It felt like feeding chicken to a chicken.
“Well, maybe if you stopped flirting around. It’s not just Maman—you’re annoying me too.”
“Han Su-ji doesn’t care, and neither does Choi Si-ah.”
“Sure, because Han Su-ji is out of her mind, and Choi Si-ah is tied to Choi Si-woo, who’s a guy anyway. But Maman? She devoted her entire life to loving Father, only to fall for you. Can you blame her?”
“I didn’t think it’d go that far. Okay, maybe I did, but still…”
This chaotic mess was my life. At least Reyna seemed like she was ready to help. Now, time to see if this game of tag would really work.
“I didn’t think it’d go that far. Okay, maybe I did, but still…”
At the end of the day, even Rachel had her reasons. Even with her small stature, she could still be alluring, which led me to consider drastic actions, if only to deal with her clinging.
“Think about it. She spent her entire life trapped in that archive, bound to her fate. You not only resolved that but spent 100 years together trying to free her. A century in a dark, confined space with just the two of you—it’s enough to make any sane woman fall for someone.”
“Now that you mention it… yeah, I get it.”
If someone stayed by my side for 100 years, I might fall for them too. Rachel probably felt the same way.
“So, Choi Si-woo had leeway because he was a guy. But how did this conversation turn from tag to romance?”
“Everything is connected. You oversexed snake. So, are you confident you can win? Or do I need to step in as a Dark Elf?”
Reyna’s concern was palpable. Honestly, sneaking around alone and playing cat-and-mouse was a hassle. A little help wouldn’t hurt. But could the Dark Elf version of Reyna hold her own against Yoo Jin-seok? Maybe Firebat, sure, but Jin-seok? Doubtful.
“I don’t really know Jin-seok’s current level, but I doubt he’s someone you can handle.”
“Are you planning to do everything alone forever? I’m telling you, I’ve already started progressing into my complete Elf form. And as a Dark Elf, you know how strong I can be.”
As much as I’d love to rely on her, neither Han Su-ji nor Reyna, no matter how strong, could defeat Yoo Jin-seok. And Choi Si-ah? She’s tied to the Celestial Sword constellation, just like Jin-seok, so putting them against each other wasn’t an option either.
“Your corruption arrows might be able to handle Firebat, but there’s a bit of a compatibility issue here.”
“Can I snipe him from the penthouse?”
“Wait, seriously?”
“Yes.”
That meant she could provide cover fire from within the mana-shrouded area. That could be a game-changer.
“Alright, let’s try it.”
I activated Reyna’s dark transformation. Her body began to shift, focusing around the yin energy at her core. Within moments, she transformed into a Dark Elf, her captivating eyes brimming with arrogance as she inspected herself.
Then she turned her gaze to me, intense and hungry. Why was she staring at me like that?
“And in this form…”
“Yes?”
“I want to ravage you.”
Her tongue slid across her lips, and her predatory grin made it clear that she was serious.
“W-wait a second.”
“Just so you know, if you resist, I won’t help you. And you won’t get anything else from me either.”
Reyna ignored my protests, shoving me onto the sofa. I could’ve stopped her, but if I resisted her full force, she might refuse to help with the situation. So, clenching my teeth, I resigned myself to endure her whims.
One way or another, I’d make Yoo Jin-seok pay for this humiliation.