“Most of the equipment you borrowed—except for a few pieces—feel free to take with you and swap among yourselves. More rewards will come, so rather than greed for flashy gear, find what suits you.”

We decided to leave the Chatterbox gear with the sub-team, except for what the main team needed. We didn’t know what might happen next, and anyway, we planned to hand over half the loot as rewards. The sub-team’s rest area never dies, so rotating gear there for adaptation made sense.

“Are you really sure you’re okay?”

Noah asked anxiously as she wrapped a bandage around my arm. Thanks to her healing skill, the pain was gone—but seeing the empty space below my elbow made me feel strange. My leg hadn’t been severed, after all.

“Yes. I’d rather avoid using more skills or potions. We’ll hold the transcendent accountable. And please keep this secret from Yuhyun and Yerim for now.”

“Secret,” at least for the moment. Noah would leave first and wouldn’t stand still if she found out. She nodded, and other pairs of eyes followed her attentively. Support-type hunters looked most eager, but the others watched keenly too.

“Honestly, I thought Hunter Noah would be more low-key. Surrounded by so many powerful S-rank fighters.”

“She felt more like Riet’s little sister.”

Curious, I slipped Teacher’s Skill onto Peace. Even the sharp ears of an S-rank monster could barely catch the hunters’ murmurs. Our Noah is amazing.

“But there’s rarely a chance for such large-scale team fights outside.”

“No one knows. But if a major fight erupts outside, Hunter Noah’s side almost always wins.”

“Teacher’s Skill is no joke either.”

My name came up too. I felt a bit shy—but Teacher’s Skill is useful. Except for the name. I’ve put it to good use.

“With Chief Han, Hunter Noah, and the main-team hunters, even the proudest Sesung Guild leader wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“This time there was a safe zone, but without it, Chief Han couldn’t join the fight. One stray fragment would kill him.”

I could have blocked that, but I also had Grace. They wouldn’t tell me not to use it again, would they?

“At parties she fights so well.”

“Hey, I died by Chief Han’s hand too.”

Valeria bumped a hunter with her elbow, bragging. It was practically a suicide dive.

“Even support-types change when you’re S-rank, huh!”

A hesitant support hunter, excited, spoke to Noah. She smiled kindly and turned to him.

“I haven’t always had these skills.”

Her expression was gentle, but her voice formal. Even her face looked that way.

“I didn’t acquire them entirely on my own either.”

“Oh, come on—Hunter Noah did all the work. She chose these skills and trained for them.”

Even if Riet forced her to become S-rank, Noah was the one who followed through. And it’s been that way ever since. Given the same environment, not everyone achieves the same. Noah gave me a faint, genuine smile.

“Yes. This path is surely the one I chose.”

She always would. Having endured Riet, who could wield her at will?

“Peace, Daddy’s fine.”

– Kii-woong.

Peace pressed his cheek gently against my leg, whining. I wanted to take him with me but couldn’t. Our Peace is so good.

“Don’t worry, Chief Han. I will care for Peace myself.”

“Oh, thank you.”

He sounded trustworthy—yet I still doubted him. Peace, please pretend to listen to Shishio-ssi instead of biting.

After sending Noah off, I sent the sub-team hunters to the rest area. Left alone, my gaze drifted yet again to my arm.

‘It was fine this time, but...’

I looked at my intact palm, at the faint scar where Byul had been. Gyeol was independent, Seol still rode on my back, but Byul’s placement worried me. What if my hand were severed again? The Sesung Guild shard hovered above my elbow too.

“Byul, I mean little one—not star.”

He still doesn’t know his name. I called softly, and the round fur-beast appeared on my palm with a pop.

– Kkui-ik.

Byul stretched a yawn and ruffled the hair on his head with his paw—then froze.

– Kkyup!

Startled, he pointed his tail upright and stared at my left arm. Oh dear.

“It’s okay, it’ll return to how it was.”

– Beep, pyoik.

“By the way, if my hand did disappear like that... would it affect you?”

– Piit?

“Want to check with your brother?”

Byul nodded, disappeared, and reappeared below. He leapt down and transformed into a child to answer.

“He says he’ll take me with him.”

“Really? Can we move you now? Your back’s safer than your hand.”

“Just a bit longer, then when Daddy’s hand returns, he’ll send me back.”

He couldn’t stay forever. Thankfully, there was some arrangement—but I should’ve given him a name and left him with Gyeol. Gyeol seemed busy exploring, but it’s safer there... right? Thinking of small Seong Hyunjae gave me a headache. What on earth was going on with that brat?

I sent Byul away and moved. The empty space held no Myeong-woo, no Seong Hyunjae, no transcendent. Queen of the Seas, hurry and restore my arm! Myeong-woo, this isn’t my fault.

‘I’ll tell them they cheated, that I waited quietly in a safe spot. Though my mana was drained, I looked fine! As soon as Myeong-woo appears, I’ll shout I was truly safe the whole time—’

Thud, footsteps on the floor. I turned abruptly.

“I—”

It was Seong Hyunjae. Of course it was.

“Hey, your face!”

From near my right ear down across my cheek to my nape was a long scar. His clothes were torn. His glove ripped away, revealing dark-stained skin on his hand. He had looked so confident—what a sight!

“What the hell happened to you! You’re a wreck!”

Seong Hyunjae’s gaze fixed on me.

“Chief Han Yujin, you’re a wreck too.”

“That’s my body. Yours is someone else’s! If you take another’s limbs, at least manage them properly—”

“So you consider it your body, Yujin?”

...A chill crawled down my spine. I leapt aside behind him.

“The Filial Piety Brats cheated! I was sitting quietly inside!”

“Yes. You couldn’t abandon your pride.”

Myeong-woo said in a calm voice. Strangely, that made my heart pound harder. Fear Resistance, do your job. He usually doesn’t affect me, though. Perhaps because it wasn’t merely frightening—like Yuhyun’s anger.

“I couldn’t preserve my body in that situation.”

I could’ve surrendered. But how?

Myeong-woo sighed, then beckoned me.

“Look. On the outside it may seem, but inside?”

“I’m fine, I swear.”

I thanked the King of Devouring and stepped before Myeong-woo. He touched the mark on my nape and nodded slightly.

“I see. I thought you’d overdo it again.”

“My body has to hold up if I’m to survive.”

“Keep doing that, please. If you break, Yujin, it’s over.”

“I’ll remember.”

He let it pass. I want to cherish my body too, but those brats... Then I whirled and glared at Seong Hyunjae.

“My arm got severed and it’s still a draw? You must hate skill potions—my recovery took a dive! Now bow your head.”

“You’re polite. Seems you’ve forgotten you’re opponents—”

“How else can I endure movement? I just dislike looking at you.”

Seong Hyunjae stepped forward and bowed. As if it were his own arm.

“Even the mighty Sesung, the guild leader of all Sesung, struggled against SS-rank monsters. Perhaps Chohwaun’s help was worthless.”

“When multiple S-rank hunters gather, the greatest threat is from an opposing S-rank hunter.”

I understood even without listening closely. Chohwaun’s crew fought on our side, so they aligned somewhat—but as monster rank rose and the battle intensified, coordination failed. Even Seong Hyunjae couldn’t possibly keep S-ranks from fighting each other.

“So alone?”

“Mostly at the end. I used support items. It was fun in its way.”

He even used bait items to lure the horde alone. Facing that final mass of dragonkin solo—impressive. Among them some must have been SS-rank dragons, enough to scratch his face. Perhaps a Cursed Dragonkin was among them.

“Any other reasons?”

“Do you think so?”

I didn’t know his heart.

“I might demand your arm as payment for cheating, but just in case—Myeong-woo, could you tie a ribbon on his arm?”

To lessen the shock of his appearance. Myeong-woo’s eyes narrowed as he produced a colorful ribbon from somewhere.

“A ribbon won’t undo what’s lost.”

“But a decorated stump may look a bit better.”

“...Should I add flowers too?”

“Shall we?”

A large ribbon blossomed over the bandage. Should I add frills as well?

“Especially since your little sibling would be just as upset, if not more.”

“Hmm, likely. Even if the Mermaid Queen restores my arm, I’ll tell him. He’ll probably scold me.”

Even if it can be fixed, he deserves to know. So I’d told Myeong-woo.

“You’ve changed.”

Seong Hyunjae said abruptly. I looked at him.

“The Yujin I knew would have hidden it somehow.”

“Things have happened you don’t know about. I still don’t want my loved ones to worry. But hiding isn’t always best. Even if it’s something they cannot bear, sharing it openly feels better.”

Above all, Yuhyun would never abandon me. Lying to those you love is meant to protect them, but it risks losing them if they resent the deception. Many people turn away at the slightest disappointment. But my brother will not change, no matter what I am.

“People who live must change.”

“You are human too, though.”

“Yes.”

Seong Hyunjae’s smile blossomed for an instant. Shockingly gentle, tender warmth colored his golden eyes. ...I was flustered.

“That is why I remain here.”

His voice was as soft as spring wind. ...Had he partaken of the wrong potion?

“I have nothing left to receive, so I need not linger.”

For a moment, displeasure flickered in his eyes.

“I accepted the contract.”

He looked at my severed arm. A draw meant my hunters survived but I was injured. He must have guessed everything. It was a result most troubling to him. ...Did he intend to be maimed? He couldn’t overturn the match with the contract in place, but still.

“You cannot win, Han Yujin.”

“A draw, yes. And this is a fight I cannot lose.”

“Indeed.”

He opened a system window, as if to depart.

“I do not urge you to break. But bending is sometimes not a bad choice.”

Then Seong Hyunjae vanished. Bending or breaking—both harsh, but for now...

“That man always rants about his own way.”

I grumbled to Myeong-woo. Explain it all to me, explain.

“It’s hard to confront him head-on, indeed.”

“Well... I am thinking as hard as I can.”

I cannot win. ...But not necessarily. If he plays like this again, it will be tough.

“Honey.”

The Mermaid Queen appeared then. She flung open her eyes and shouted.

“Return my arm this instant!”

Look at this! She waved her stump—ribbon and frills fluttering.

“You have some nerve, turning my arm into this wreck and spouting fancy words—fancy my foot! Do you have any shame? I have F-rank stats! You forbid me Grace—and what do you call A-rank monsters? Three of them? Your heart must be cold as fish blood! Hire me a lawyer! I can’t live with this injustice! Stick to the contract, the contract! You promised I’d be safe—”

“If you had died, you would have been restored whole.”

“Now you wish me to die, cursing me?”

I took a deep breath. Even if I grabbed a megaphone and crashed in, she wouldn’t flinch. Yes, I’m the ant you strode upon in your garden! Can you hear me? Damn!

“First—restore my arm, please.”

I stifled my outrage. A draw, so I must endure. We might have won, you know. Still, it’s unfair.

“I did not intervene, honey.”

...My teeth clenched. I stepped toward the Mermaid Queen. Her transcendent presence pressed down on me. Though diminished, the Fear Resistance message flickered.

“If you plan to act this way, at least tell me your intentions.”

“We—”

“You will not harm my people. I know ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) that. So what will you do? If you truly intend to protect the world, I will help. I must save my children.”

The Mermaid Queen looked down at me.

“Honey is weak. Transcendents could plumb your mind at will. Therefore, I cannot reveal more.”

“Then I cannot trust you either.”

She fell silent. I stepped back.

“So what about my arm?”

“I will configure it to recover during the next match.”

“How very kind of you.”

“Honey.”

The Mermaid Queen closed her lips again before speaking. Then she vanished. Myeong-woo tapped my shoulder lightly.

“Go rest for now. Take care of your brother.”

“...Okay.”

If we win next time, will they yield? I didn’t trust them—but I had to see it through.

I fixed my disheveled ribbon and returned to my room.

“Cha—”

Yerim greeted me cheerfully but froze at the sight. Ah, so the stump is that noticeable.

“You lost your arm? Well accessorized!”

Riet said nonchalantly. She must have lost limbs plenty of times. And my sibling, who had once severed someone’s arm—

“...Brother.”

Her cold eyes turned toward where my arm had been. I swallowed hard.