Choi Chang-nyeong leisurely lifted his teacup. The rich aroma of the brew tickled his nose. The soft scent soothed his body. Above all, he felt wonderful. And why wouldn’t he?
The end of the long-awaited endeavor was finally drawing near. He had waited years for this very day.
The end of the world he had longed for, over and over again.
Ordinary people couldn’t understand. But Choi Chang-nyeong—he was truly chosen. How fortunate he was to have met Kang Si-hoo and formed a contract with his current Constellation? Had he not, he would’ve remained like all the other common folk—clueless about what was coming.
When the world collapses, a new one rises. New rules are established. And Choi Chang-nyeong was the one who had been promised a place in that reborn world.
A position in the world built upon the ashes of the old.
It was nothing short of dazzling.
Kang Si-hoo had promised him: he would place the perfect world in his hands. Unaware that he had been brainwashed, Choi Chang-nyeong genuinely believed he had chosen Kang Si-hoo of his own volition.
But that aside.
He narrowed his eyes. Across from him, Park Gil-seon was staring into her tea, deep in thought.
‘So that beast lost an arm.’
He had initially dismissed the rumors of Park Gil-seon’s injury as nonsense, but they turned out to be true. When he first saw her, he’d thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. And yet, when a person loses an arm, shouldn’t they at least become a bit more subdued? What was this overwhelming presence still radiating from her? As if losing a single arm meant nothing to her whatsoever.
Still, she was just an old woman in the end. Regardless of the title “Guildmaster of Hansung” or “S-rank Hunter,” Choi Chang-nyeong only saw her as a joke.
Whatever these people had figured out about their plans, there was nothing they could do to stop it now.
The world would end.
“The tea…”
Park Gil-seon slowly opened her mouth.
“…has a lovely aroma.”
“Is that so?”
“I usually prefer alcohol over tea, but a brew like this isn’t bad.”
“You seem to enjoy drinking and revelry?”
“What hunter doesn’t?”
“Why do you think that is?”
Park Gil-seon set down her cup.
“Because we live every day with the possibility of dying tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be a shame to give up pleasure in a life like that?”
“Would you call that wisdom?”
“If the wisdom of an old woman counts, then sure. If you spend your days doing nothing but tedious, uptight things and die early, wouldn’t that be a damn waste? At least if you live with joy, you can head to the afterlife looking good.”
Choi Chang-nyeong stared at Park Gil-seon for a moment. Her golden eyes were no different from a beast’s. He knew there was someone else in Hansung with eyes like that.
Baek Tae-beom.
When this old woman died, that one would inherit Hansung. Beasts, by nature, always ran in packs. But there was one person in Hansung who didn’t quite fit in.
Pale skin, sharp features, jet-black eyes that stared like a cat. The one Kang Si-hoo had warned him to be more careful of than Baek Tae-beom.
Choi Ga-hyeon.
Choi Chang-nyeong barely suppressed a sneer.
To say someone like that required caution? There had to be something wrong with Kang Si-hoo’s judgment. Anyone could see it—he was just a rabbit caught among wolves. He’d even heard that, at one point, there was an uproar because this Hunter’s rank couldn’t be assessed. But Choi Chang-nyeong was convinced it was because Choi Ga-hyeon was simply too weak.
And Hansung had taken him in?
What, were they playing house or something? If not that, then what? If these people had come all the way here, they had to know that the true mastermind behind the coming destruction was Gongmyeong. And yet, weren’t they living each day far too carelessly?
Well, it wasn’t any of Choi Chang-nyeong’s business, really.
“Wise words.”
“You don’t sound like you mean that.”
“Well, you know… not all opinions can align. And to someone who came here suspecting us, I don’t suppose there’s much more I can explain.”
“There’s no point in hiding anything after coming all this way, is there?”
“What do you mean?”
Choi Chang-nyeong narrowed his eyes with a cryptic smile. Park Gil-seon clicked her tongue at the sight.
Just how many snakes had this young man raised inside himself?
As she watched his utterly unbothered demeanor, Park Gil-seon finally spoke.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the disturbing rumors.”
“I wouldn’t say I know much. The only one I’ve heard is that Hunter Baek Tae-beom might’ve killed the President of the Hunter Association.”
“Are you just going to keep talking in circles?”
Park Gil-seon stared intently at Choi Chang-nyeong, then gave a faint smile.
“Then I’ll say what I came to say.”
“……”
“I’m here to give you a warning.”
“A warning?”
“More of a piece of advice.”
She placed her only remaining arm on the table and looked at Choi Chang-nyeong with resolute eyes.
Expecting her to bring up something about the apocalypse at best, Choi Chang-nyeong looked completely dumbfounded by her words.
“If you touch my kids, you’re all dead.”
“…Excuse me?”
[The Constellation, ‘One with Two Forms,’ sighs as they look at you.]
Park Gil-seon grinned brightly. It was a mischievous smile, hardly befitting someone her age.
Of course, if Lee Myung-won had seen it, he probably would’ve grabbed the back of his neck and keeled over.
“However this plays out, whatever your little schemes are, if even one of my kids gets hurt—you’re all dead.”
“Th-This—what kind of disrespectful language is this…”
“If you’re pissed, then go ahead and come at me now. You think I can’t take on a runt like you just because I’m missing an arm?”
“You’re trying to make an enemy of Gongmyeong!”
“Don’t act all innocent. Let’s be honest here. Why else would I be humoring some brat with tea instead of booze, eh?”
Park Gil-seon brazenly tilted her chin and smiled. Choi Chang-nyeong’s shoulders began to tremble as he clenched his fists.
But he couldn’t strike now. It would ruin the plan, and just like she said, missing an arm didn’t make her someone he could beat.
Still, as someone relatively revered within Gongmyeong, Choi Chang-nyeong couldn’t contain his fury.
“A brat…?”
[The Constellation, ‘One Who Will Burn the World,’ whispers for you to kill the one in front of you.]
“That word bothering you? Should I call you a suckling baby instead?”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Regret?”
“When the day comes, even if you beg for your life, there’ll be no mercy.”
Park Gil-seon beamed at those words.
“There it is. That’s what I wanted to see. No more of that greasy little smile.”
“Why, you—!”
“Fiery, aren’t you, kid.”
She rose from her seat and reached out, patting Choi Chang-nyeong’s shoulder a couple of times. Her phone buzzed from within her coat—it was a message from Lee Myung-won.
Given Hansung’s visit, Gongmyeong being on edge was expected. They’d suspected Gongmyeong might act early, but even so, she hadn’t thought it’d be this soon.
‘Looks like I’ll have to push myself this time.’
Her injuries from the last monster battle still hadn’t healed. But Park Gil-seon had accepted that. The glory of youth was far behind her, and no matter how much S-rank talent she possessed, her aging body wasn’t coming back.
‘By the time this is all over… maybe I’ll get to meet my cute grandkid.’
She smiled, thinking of Baek Tae-beom and Choi Ga-hyeon.
‘Too much of a waste to hand them over to a mad dog like that.’
“Well then, I’ve said my piece, so I’ll be off.”
“…Ha. I suppose you must, with everything that’s happening.”
She spoke as if she knew exactly what was going on. Maybe she had come here with no intention of hiding anything. Her calm, confident demeanor grated on Choi Chang-nyeong, and he snapped irritably.
“You sure do have a lot of wrinkles for someone so young.”
“…Get out. Right now.”
“Oh dear, how rude of me. What a terrible guest I’ve been.”
Park Gil-seon walked to the door and pulled out her phone.
[The Constellation, ‘One with Two Forms,’ presses their brow while looking at you.]
“I know, I know. I was just messing with him a bit. No need to worry.”
[The Constellation, ‘One with Two Forms,’ gives you a warning.]
“Shoo, shoo, so chatty. What’s there to be scared of? I may be down an arm, but I’ve got more than enough comrades to watch my back.”
After checking Lee Myung-won’s message, Park Gil-seon strolled down the corridor. With her one remaining arm, she reached behind her and slowly unsheathed the axe strapped to her back.
The axe blade gleamed. Hunters from Gongmyeong who passed by in the hallway visibly flinched. Some wondered whether they should try to stop her, but it was painfully obvious she was the Guildmaster of Hansung, so none dared to act just yet.
As Park Gil-seon marched on, gripping her fearsome weapon, familiar figures joined her side.
“What about Goblin and the Wanderers?”
In response to her question, Lee Myung-won answered.
“They’ve departed.”
“Late. You’re late.”
From a distance, Baek Tae-beom and Choi Ga-hyeon came into view. The moment Park Gil-seon spotted Choi Ga-hyeon’s face, her brow twitched. His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying. In contrast, Baek Tae-beom stood still, but his uneasiness was painfully obvious—he didn’t know what to do with himself.
‘Still too early for grandkids?’
Maybe it was just the foolishness of old age. But it was clear they liked each other, so how could she not worry when they kept acting like that?
On her way over, Park Gil-seon gave Baek Tae-beom a sharp smack on the back.
“……!”
“Fix that face.”
“You crazy old hag, you should just drop dead peacefully—”
“Who’s dropping dead? I’m planning to live until your 80th birthday, punk.”
Then she placed her hand on Choi Ga-hyeon’s shoulder. He flinched and turned around, startled, looking just like a kitten.
“Scared?”
“…No.”
“It’s okay to be honest if you’re scared. You’re with people you can say that to.”
“I’m not scared. It’s just that—”
“Just that?”
“I’m afraid of losing something.”
Park Gil-seon went silent at Choi Ga-hyeon’s words. Then, slowly, she smiled.
“Then I’ll make you a promise—on my name. You won’t lose a single thing.”
