“…You look younger than I expected?”

She appeared to be a young woman who couldn’t be more than thirty by her looks. Her bright blonde hair fell to her waist, and her eyes were a vivid green. Doesn’t seem at all like the sister Park Ha-yul mentioned. Of course, that image was my own imagination after hearing him talk…

“If she really is born S-Rank, she could be in her forties, though.”

There’s someone next to me who’s born S-Rank and not far from forty—having to pretend to be older. With a change of style, Seong Hyunjae could pass for someone in his twenties.

Still, it was surprising. I expected someone more experienced, more mature. Judging by appearance alone is unwise, but the born S-Ranks I know—besides Seong Hyunjae, there’s Yuhyun and Liet. Even if Yuhyun is my brother and hard to be objective, I had a gut sense that Liet and Seong Hyunjae were different from others at first glance.

Maybe it’s because this is just a hallucination. Or perhaps she’s a different type of born S-Rank.

[It’s an honor to meet you, even if only an illusion.]

She said cheerfully.

[I observed you from afar and recognized you immediately. Among S-Rank Hunters, you are truly special.]

From the way she speaks, she does seem born S-Rank, yet somehow not. She claimed it was just a fact, but then emphasized “special.” I looked back and forth between Seong Hyunjae and the woman. Hmm.

“So you’re saying Seong Hyunjae and that person are the same.”

“That’s a disappointing thing to say. And I’ve never seen that woman before.”

You’ve never met… Wait. She said she saw Seong Hyunjae and sensed his uniqueness. But could she discern that precisely from afar, without him noticing?

“How did you detect that Yuhyun and Liet are born S-Rank—different from ordinary S-Rank Hunters? When and how?”

“Until I met them in person, I couldn’t be sure. I sensed Han Yuhyun at the first and last gathering ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of domestic S-Rank Hunters, and Liet when she was hired as a mercenary by a guild in Spain and attacked us.”

“You sensed them immediately?”

“Liet was brimming with combat intent, so I noticed her before she entered my field of vision. Han Yuhyun was in a relatively peaceful setting, so I only felt it when he was within two or three meters. Everyone was behaving at first.”

If you hide your presence, it’s hard to detect a born S-Rank from afar.

“So if Seong Hyunjae had been in combat, would you have confirmed it unilaterally?”

Instead of answering, his golden eyes narrowed slightly. What a foolish question.

“Yes, yes. You wouldn’t leave an S-Rank Hunter as a mere spectator. Unless they specialize in stealth, that is.”

“Moreover, neither I, nor Han Yuhyun and Liet, are the spectator type.”

Seong Hyunjae said icily. He didn’t seem angry at me, but clearly didn’t like this woman. Probably the notion that she’s similar to him grated on him.

“It is indeed strange for a born S-Rank to just sneak a peek and leave.”

I regarded the self-proclaimed born S-Rank, smiling brightly and waiting for the expected reaction. People differ, but still, it was suspicious. But if she isn’t actually born S-Rank…

“Might someone have informed you about born S-Ranks?”

Hyunah and the other S-Ranks weren’t certain about born S-Ranks. They just felt stronger, more threatening. Director Song treated Seong Hyunjae specially, but that probably relates to Director Song’s own birth…

“A transcendent, perhaps.”

It’d be troublesome enough if a cult allied with Park Ha-yul stuck with Chatterbox too.

“‘Special,’ my foot. ‘Special,’ indeed. You’re too fanciful. Of course I’m special.”

He stroked beneath my chin as if to prove it. Since it’s a hallucination, she can’t see it. If she could, she’d have bolted in embarrassment.

[I thought you wouldn’t accept it so readily.]

The hallucination laughed. Clearly not born S-Rank. Yuhyun or Liet trying to gain Seong Hyunjae’s approval? Impossible—they wouldn’t bat an eyelash no matter what others think. Except Yuhyun, maybe.

[That’s why I prepared a gift.]

At last, the main point. What proposal had she made to Seong Hyunjae? It wouldn’t be an ordinary gift. The hallucination dissolved into will-o’-the-wisps again, and the surroundings shifted.

“That is…!”

A vast cylindrical tank. In the center of a wide hall decorated in black and purple stood the tank. Something graceful swayed inside the water-filled tank: long white hair glinting occasionally with silver, fins, and drifting tendrils.

“…The Harmless Queen.”

It was her—ornate and lush, swirling like a wedding dress as she danced. Her face was now familiar enough to feel welcome.

“She… looks strange.”

I whispered to Seong Hyunjae. The Harmless Queen wore a faint smile. Two of her eyes were half-closed; the remaining one was shut and hard to see. Her expression was gentle and serene, yet incongruous with her.

I didn’t know the Harmless Queen well. But she seemed more like a songbird content in a gilded cage than her true self.

“I don’t know much about that transcendent.”

Seong Hyunjae also inclined his head toward me and murmured.

“She felt like decoration.”

“If the Harmless Queen created this illusion…”

I glanced around reflexively. Chatterbox. It must be them. Yet all I saw were a cluster of Hunters. Come to think of it, I don’t really know what Chatterbox looks like.

“It seems to be inside a dungeon.”

The Hunters appeared blurrier than the tank. It seems someone in that group’s memory was used to craft this illusion. Clearly a transcendent-influenced dungeon. I craned my neck, searching for useful information—

[Here is your invitation.]

“…!!”

I felt a chill on my shoulder. Startled, I turned and saw the Fear Resistance message flash.

“Ah, damn…”

A skull with desiccated flesh stuck to its bones hovered behind me. In its eye socket bloomed a red flower; ferns draped from its mouth; it wore a long black veil adorned with white roses, like an ancient corpse. Its cockroach-like body was clad in a dark formal suit.

It was grotesque, yet…

‘…Was this shaped by someone’s memory?’

Even as an illusion, it exuded intimidation. It brushed me, and I sensed that the dungeon’s memory-owner was made to experience the illusion firsthand. The black veil fluttered, sliding back like mist. A chill washed over me. I glanced at Seong Hyunjae beside me.

“You could’ve warned me. Were you startled too?”

“I was quite surprised.”

He lied with dry lips.

[You’re afraid.]

Contrary to its eerie appearance, the voice was pleasing. The Hunters who entered with it now formed a circle around us at a respectful distance.

‘The memory-owner must be a spy.’

One planted by Park Ha-yul’s side. So at least until now, they weren’t on the same side.

[It’s merely a dungeon doll.]

It seemed like an avatar rather than the real form. They could shape it as they pleased, though their taste was questionable.

‘Almost certainly Chatterbox.’

Thinking so made me feel even dirtier. If that outfit is a wedding suit rather than mourning clothes… draped in a multi-meter veil. Seeing that, the Harmless Queen’s words about vengeance for self-satisfaction resonated all the more.

Holding both marriage and funeral alone—what madness.

Chatterbox extended a long arm. Its fingers, like dry branches, spread as purple jewels dropped and hung in midair.

[Deliver these to the master.]

Four gems, slightly larger than a thumbnail, rotated slowly in the air, sparkling. A thin, lipless mouth curved into a smile.

Then the surroundings faded to black. The vanished will-o’-the-wisps reappeared, and through them, the blonde woman reemerged. On her palm glittered the purple gems.

[As you can see, these are invitations.]

“Invitations? Is this some kind of party?”

I asked, eyes fixed on the gems. Chatterbox seemed eager to recruit Awakened for their side. Industrious, truly.

[A being from outside our world has invited us. Call it a party.]

One gem floated before me. Reflexively, I reached out, but my hand passed through it. Not real, then.

[If you wish to grow, to obtain something precious, to fulfill your desires…]

It felt like typical cult talk, but this was a transcendent. A new dungeon like this had appeared for us once before. Chatterbox’s interference had spoiled it, but we still gained much from it.

They were offering such a dungeon again. My ears pricked. Since we benefited, fairness suggested they benefit too. But I wanted to take everything.

“Can anyone go with just an invitation? Is it safe?”

[No harm will come to Mister. All guests’ safety is guaranteed. You may keep unlimited gains from the party. Only the final reward requires a contract with the transcendent.]

Hence they’d scattered invitations to spies too. I suspect well-known Hunters in the U.S. and Europe already received theirs. Under these terms, who would refuse?

[Therefore, Mister, I request your attendance as my partner.]

“…Partner?”

[It’s a party. Each invitation admits the invitee and a partner—two participants.]

There were clearly four gems—eight attendees in total. Yuhyun, Yerim, Noah, and Seong Hyunjae… Could Hyunah go? Director Song would refuse, citing world peace, perhaps. And Liet, Evelyn… Is attendance limited to S-Rank and above?

[Our investigation shows East Asian Hunters have not received invitations.]

An exception region out of filial piety—it seems they cannot meddle.

[We suspect a special reason, but Mister, you likely have an inkling.]

“Not really. I’d like more details.”

I asked lightly, but the hallucination continued.

[I believe you won’t miss the transcendent’s invitation. I await a positive response.]

She smiled, then vanished. The will-o’-the-wisps dimmed one by one, leaving only the gems floating before me, casting light.

“It’s an invitation to swap partners, then?”

I looked at Seong Hyunjae, who still held my wrist.

“If you intend to enjoy it casually and skip the final reward, I won’t stop you. Were you thinking of going?”

“Perhaps.”

Seong Hyunjae wore an ambiguous smile, lost in thought.

“It would be wise to attend. If safety is assured, we can identify Hunters siding with Chatterbox in advance… I don’t know how great the final reward is. But still…”

I suddenly recalled the Wish Stone. My mouth went dry. They can’t offer that level of reward—could they? But if I could hold it again…

‘…Even so, saving the world must come first.’

I exhaled softly. Transcendents can’t just hand out rewards at will. That was the reward for an F-Rank hunting a Curse Viper Lord. Perhaps they added the initial bonus too.

“Regardless, it seems Chatterbox is actively recruiting Awakened. I understand why they kept the invitation secret from me.”

Better to keep the secret than break the contract and lose the invitation. Seong Hyunjae only looked down at me in response.

“Just saying so.”

What now? The hallucination faded, and the familiar hotel room reappeared.

“But still, it’s unexpected. She claimed to be born S-Rank, yet doesn’t seem so. More like… a proxy? She hasn’t truly contacted the transcendent. Could there be a genuine born S-Rank behind her?”

“A proxy is usually presented for one’s own protection.”

“Oh, right.”

If that woman was a proxy, the person behind her likely isn’t S-Rank. Proxies can be used to deceive, but it’s hard to imagine a born S-Rank operating quietly in the background.

Besides, it’s a shame. With her abilities, it’d be far more efficient for her to act directly.

“In Park Ha-yul’s case, her sister is an Awakened with special powers—low stats but high skill rank like me. A proxy would be safer.”

“I think Han Yujin should have used a proxy too.”

“…”

I fell silent at Seong Hyunjae’s remark. It was true—raising monsters didn’t require me to appear publicly. I could have had a top-rank Hunter stand in front while I stayed hidden…but

“I was too greedy.”

How could I bear watching from the shadows, looking only at other backs? My brother’s back would be there, too. I couldn’t do that twice. And thanks to me stepping forward, I had gained much.

“I’m not merely one with a monster-raising skill. Anyway, we must consider that Park Ha-yul’s sister might be someone else.”

“If she truly has low stats…”

“…She might be even more dangerous.”

She controls top-rank Hunters despite low stats. I stared at the letter in my hand. Did that person write it, or was it ghostwritten as well?

Right now, the important matter is Chatterbox’s invitation.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep