The Honored One

Yu Seha looked at the urn with a complicated, subtle expression.
He quietly declined Ju Yae-young’s offer to handle it if it was awkward to deal with.

‘Haa…’

He sighed and carefully picked up the urn to examine it.
He wondered if any trace of the [Peace mind] ability might remain,
but of course there was no sign of it.

Yu Seha carefully placed the urn into the pocket dimension.
Ju Yae-young, watching him, took a sip of tea and asked.

“…But why him of all people…? Even if there’s a motive, I don’t think you had any particular connection.”
“…”

Yu Seha closed his eyes for a moment.
He remembered the man’s end—clinging, biting his own ankle with teeth that were about to shatter.

To repeat, this wasn’t sympathy.
No matter the motive, harboring such feelings for a villain was wrong.

It was just… as a supervisor,
and as a man who had things he would protect with his life,
he felt a hard-to-explain emotion.

“I just… it weighed on me a little.”
“…I’m glad if that was enough. Since it was Yu Seha’s request, no one will complain, but it’s still a rather sensitive matter.”

Yu Seha nodded in understanding.
Just a day earlier,
they had held a memorial service for the fallen hunters.
It was only natural.

About a day before,
an outdoor scene bathed in warm sun and a gentle breeze.

Many people, including Yu Seha, wore black mourning clothes and held a memorial.
A total of fifty hunters had died in the attack.
Including unfortunate innocent civilians caught up in it, the total was sixty-seven.

Considering the scale of the battle,
it was true the casualties were overwhelmingly low,
but no one spoke about that.

Because you mustn’t treat each of their lives lightly.

Yu Seha silently placed his hand on an unmarked gravestone.
At that moment, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
When he turned, two women stood there.

A beauty notable for her hat, eyepatch, and cute cat ears,
and a bronze-skinned beauty wearing a neat uniform instead of her usual Roman-style armor.

They were Neung-hak and Prof Strict.
Yu Seha greeted them, then his expression darkened as he saw each missing an arm.

Neung-hak, quickest to read the mood, gave a cheeky shrug.

“Oh, don’t make that gloomy face, pretty boy.”

Prof Strict chimed in.

“That’s right, I was told with enough time they can fully regenerate.”
“Yeah, it’s a relief we survived something that monstrous.”

Yu Seha gave a bitter smile at their words.
It was true.
Whatever happened, the important thing was that they hadn’t died and had survived.
However, he heard that despite possible regeneration, both were thinking of retiring because of this incident.

Yu Seha didn’t press them for reasons.
He already knew—
whenever the word Sword Ghost was mentioned, an indelible fear shimmered in both of them despite their bravado.
For Awakened individuals, imagery has a huge effect in battle.
They probably wouldn’t be able to perform at their previous level.

All Yu Seha could do was hope they’d cope well and periodically offer help.
And…

“Thank you so much for helping this time.”
“Oh, don’t mention it~”
“We were the ones happy to be able to help the hero.”

He offered them his sincere thanks.

Knock knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the door.

Yu Seha snapped out of his thoughts.
He cautiously opened the door and saw Team Leader Cho Seol-hwa peeking in.

“Master… it’s time to hold the meeting elsewhere.”
“Ah, already…”

Ju Yae-young said apologetically.

“…I’m sorry, Yu Seha, there’s a lot to do—can we postpone the rest of the reports?”
“Yes, of course. I’m the one who should be grateful.”
“For what…?”
“You took care of the various scandals and difficult matters that would come to me and the kids… didn’t you?”

Yu Seha bowed his head.
All he could do was express his gratitude.

Ju Yae-young smiled softly.
Then, as if pleased to see something admirable,
she placed a hand on his head.

“Oh, Master?”
“Ah, sorry. I just felt like wanting to take you in as my son…”
“Huh, what?”

Ju Yae-young chuckled.
She turned gracefully,
and added one slightly ominous remark.

“Next time, be sure to bring Na-young too.”
“…What? Ah! I was going to report something to Ju Na-young too—”
“-No, I meant a completely different topic. As a mother, not as Master, I want to meet Yu Seha. For the record, I’m in favor—if you cause mischief it’s fine. Actually, the sooner we can see her, the better.”
“…Yes?”
“Also, it’s fine if it’s not just one person. The vibe is that Na-young too would like it with everyone.”
“…What!?”

Yu Seha felt something…
like something was making him feel a certain way.

Was it like someone fastening a collar around his neck?
Whether that was the case or not, Ju Yae-young only smiled softly.

After the meeting ended,
Yu Seha got into the luxurious sports car waiting nearby.

When he took the passenger seat,
an elegant and alluring voice rang in his ear.

“Yu Seha? Was everything handled alright?”
“Yes, they explained everything kindly.”

The woman nodded slightly at his answer.
Her flowing white hair and distinct features stood out.
Through her sunglasses, glimpses of Elves’ otherworldly beauty were visible.
It was Su Ok-bin.

Despite being busy, she had made time and,
like Ju Yae-young, gave Yu Seha reports on miscellaneous matters.
At the same time, she took on the role of driver.
Yu Seha looked at her apologetically.

“I’m sorry, Miss Su Ok-bin. You must be busy, yet you took care of things for me and the kids…”
“Don’t say that… a hero who has devoted themselves to the world should be treated well.”
“I’m hardly that kind of hero—”
“—a hero.”

Her firm declaration was out of character.
Su Ok-bin lifted her sunglasses.
Within her ruby-red irises,
there was admiration, respect, and affection for Yu Seha.

“I’m certain—it’s thanks to you that we won this war.”
“Uh, um…”
“And historically, the fates of great heroes like Yu Seha have always turned ugly because of the fears of the high and mighty.”

But don’t worry.

“I’ll protect you so nothing like that happens… the reason I rose in rank is surely to help you.”
“…”

Her words were utterly reassuring.
Embarrassed, Yu Seha scratched his cheek.
Su Ok-bin looked at him as if she found him adorable.

However, a moment later…
her expression involuntarily darkened.

Su Ok-bin parted her lips.
Suddenly, without warning, she pulled Yu Seha into an embrace.
A sweet scent of wine washed over his nose.

“…Uh, um. H-hello?”
“…Yu Seha.”
“Yes?”
“…This is okay, right?”
“…”

Yu Seha remained silent.
Of course it was Su Ok-bin.
Her instincts were astonishingly sharp.

After a moment, Yu Seha closed his eyes and nodded.
Su Ok-bin watched him with concern,
and she said nothing further.

She knew well he didn’t intend to say more than that.
She simply hoped nothing bad would happen.

Ten minutes later,
Su Ok-bin drove off toward a place at Yu Seha’s request.
It was ‘that place’ for which she had asked Ju Yae-young and obtained the location and entry permission.
They soon arrived at a building that looked strictly guarded at first glance.

Hunters in their distinctive attire barred their way, then after a while allowed them to enter.
They went so deep they had to repeat this process five times.

They were admitted quickly only because the heavyweights Yu Seha and Su Ok-bin were involved—
for ordinary hunters it would have been completely impossible.

Vrrrr.
Yu Seha stepped into a heavy-duty elevator.
He muttered as he watched dozens of surveillance cameras.

“I knew it, but the surveillance is incredible.”

Su Ok-bin, friendly and clingy beside him, replied.

“Because this is the most secure prison in the country.”

The place they arrived at was commonly called the ‘Awakened Detention Facility.’
Commonly known as <Hellheim>.
It was a prison with the staggering record that exactly ten escapees had ever existed in its history.

“And they managed to recapture every one of those ten except one.”
“Who was that one?”
“Tang Seo-ran.”
“…I see.”

As they exchanged words, they found themselves at the deepest basement level.
Commonly called the ‘Downtown.’

It was a deep section specialized for holding the most heinous criminals.
When the elevator doors opened, what greeted them was
a stark white space that looked like something from a psychiatric ward.

A guard who had been notified in advance guided them.
They walked with quiet steps.

Yu Seha looked at the prison cells—only thirty in total—
and glanced at the criminals inside.

Most of them were young women.
He was surprised to see some who outwardly didn’t look like criminals at all.
Indeed, you can’t judge a person by their face alone.

Anyway, they cast various looks of desire toward the suddenly appearing young, handsome Yu Seha.

But that didn’t last more than ten seconds.
They were all A-rank criminals, known for their power.
But after all, they were still only A-rank.

Each time Yu Seha walked by, someone recognized a fragment of his power.
Startled, they stepped back or hid in corners.

“—Shit, f***. It’s a monster!?”
“—…What? That Ju Yae-young woman… did she just spawn a new brat or something?”
“—No, it’s just some monster I’ve never seen before.”

The guard leading them was taken aback by this sight, but
Yu Seha and Su Ok-bin said nothing in response.

He clicked his tongue.

Soon, they arrived at their destination cell.
Inside, under strict surveillance,
a black-haired woman in a restraint suit was bound.

The beauty, unknowingly much like Ju Na-young, had a large burn scar etched near her nape.

Perhaps she sensed their presence.
The woman slightly lifted her head and met Yu Seha’s gaze.
Yu Seha, looking at her, spoke softly.

“Ju Yuri.”
“…”

It’s been a long time.