"Coffee this evening?" A stranger says. The question caught me slightly off guard.
What was so strange about coffee?
"Yes," I replied, tilting my head a little. "Is there something wrong with drinking coffee?"
"No," he said with a faint smile. "I just found it interesting. Judging by your dress, it must be quite expensive."
...My dress?
I glanced down at the silk gown, lightly brushing the fabric with my fingers.
"Well, yes. It is expensive. But why—?"
"Ah, don't misunderstand," he cut in smoothly. "I own the company that made your dress. Hunter Jiyeon mentioned it was a gift for someone, so I became curious who that might be."
Jiyeon...?
So she had prepared this in advance, already assuming I would agree?
...Unbelievable. A quiet sigh slipped out.
I've been completely played.
"Thank you," I said instead, lifting my gaze back to him. "It's a beautiful dress." Even if it was a little too ostentatious.
"It suits you," he replied without hesitation. Then he extended his hand.
"How about a dance?"
I hesitated for a brief moment, my eyes lingering on his outstretched hand.
He was an A-rank hunter.
If I refused him... what would happen?
I hadn't expected something like this tonight. Then again, I shouldn't have been surprised.
Even among high-rankers, there were bound to be bastards.
"I should head back to my companion," I said, forcing a polite smile. "I've been looking for Jiyeon."
"Jiyeon-ssi?" he echoed lightly. "Then let's go together. Why, don't you want to dance with me?"
Before I could respond, he reached up and removed his mask.
A few others had already done the same, so it didn't seem out of place. But for someone like me, unknown, low-ranked, being seen too clearly here would only cause problems later.
Then, his hand closed around my wrist.
I stiffened as he pulled me closer, his voice lowering near my ear.
"What's your name?" he murmured. "That dress was made just for you."
His fingers brushed along the bare skin of my back slowly, sending a creepy chill down my spine.
I wanted to pull away and to say something, but my body wouldn't move. Maybe because he's a high rank, but I was afraid of opposing someone of his status.
Just as his hand began to drift lower. . . The noise in the hall shifted. The chatter softened, conversations breaking off one by one until the room fell into a quiet murmur.
Everyone's attention turned toward the entrance. Specifically, two individuals.
The first man had striking red hair, paired with a pure white mask that looked more suited for a carnival than a place like this. It was completely out of place, and yet, no one questioned it.
But he wasn't the one everyone was watching.
It was the man beside him.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his broad frame made it sit flawlessly. Even without seeing his full face, there was something about him that drew attention effortlessly, like he didn't need to try.
I didn't even realize I had been staring either.
...Why does he feel so familiar?
The black mask he wore revealed only his eyes, concealing everything else. Still...
If I could just take that mask off... I had a feeling I'd recognize him immediately.
"Eyes on me."
I flinched.
At some point, the man had stepped way too close, his hand brushing my clavicle.
"Let go! I don't want to dance with—"
Before I could even finish my sentence, the man in front of me was suddenly face down on the floor, his cheek pressed against the polished surface as if he had been glued there.
Thud—!
I blinked in shocked. Isn't fighting prohibited here? Then who would dare do that?
I slowly lifted my gaze.
That height. That build. Those sharp eyes that even the mask can't hide.
"...Hyuk-ah?"
No response came from him, not even a glance in my direction, as if he hadn't heard me at all.
"It is you," I said anyway, the realization settling in as I took a step closer, a small smile forming despite the situation. "Jinhyuk, you should beat that bastard up a little more. He deserves it."
At my words, the pressure he applied didn't lessen, if anything, it grew heavier, like he had silently agreed with me.
The man beneath him let out a strained, choked sound, his voice barely escaping as his face remained firmly pressed against the floor, completely unable to move.
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
"Ghk—!"
The man struggled beneath him, his body trembling as he tried, and failed to push himself up.
Han Jinhyuk didn't move.
He stood there with his foot pressing the man down, his posture relaxed, almost indifferent, as if what he was doing required no effort at all. His gaze lowered slightly like he was looking at something beneath him.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried across the hall with an unsettling tone...
A hush began to fall over the surrounding area. Even if he had spoken quietly, the ears of S-rank hunters are impressive.
"I—I didn't—"
"Then listen carefully," Jinhyuk continued, "The next time your hand moves without permission..."
He applied a bit more pressure, not enough to cause a scene, but enough to draw another strained sound from the man.
"...you won't be leaving with it."
The people around them, though visibly stunned by what had just happened, were far more shaken by something else entirely.
"Saber..."
"That's really him..."
"The strongest L-ranker... he's actually here..."
Whispers spread quickly, growing louder with each passing second as more eyes locked onto Han Jinhyuk.
The fact that he was speaking so openly, without bothering to hide his presence, was what truly shocked them.
And just as his weight shifted more, as if he was about to crush his wrist, a figure appeared.
No one saw him move. One moment, the space behind Jinhyuk was empty, and the next, a man stood there with his hand resting lightly on Jinhyuk's shoulder.
"Enough," Gilbert Kingsley said.
Though he spoke in a different language, the translation device relayed his words smoothly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
At the same time, Lee Jaewok stepped forward, his stance making it clear he was ready to intervene if necessary.
"Fighting or killing is forbidden here," he added, his tone firm.
For a brief moment, the room fell into silence.
No one moved.
Despite the spectacle, the S-rank hunters present could not hide their curiosity. A clash between two L-rankers was something no one here had ever witnessed, and the tension in the air made it clear just how close they were to seeing it unfold.
But then Han Jinhyuk lifted his foot.
Just like that, as if the situation had never been worth escalating in the first place.
The man on the ground was instantly forgotten.
Without sparing him another glance, Jinhyuk stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Seo Elena in a few quiet strides and reached out to cup her face.
His hands were warm, tilting her head slightly as his eyes moved over her, checking carefully for any sign of injury.
"Did that bastard hurt you?"
"No. He tried to feel me up whenever he can, though... You should've at least broken his wrist." Elena glared at the man, replaying the memory in her head which made her mad even more.
"..."
"....Should I just kill him?"
While the two spoke quietly about matters regarding someone else's life, the people around them couldn't help but steal glances.
Aren't they standing a little too close to each other?
Close enough that, to an outsider, they looked like a couple rather than two individuals caught in the middle of a tense situation.
It didn't take long before most people awkwardly turned away, pretending to mind their own business.
But not everyone could.
Some of the curiosity lingered here and there. After all, the man standing before them was the Saber.
A name known across the entire world despite being so mysterious and powerful.
A man who rarely appears in public places.
He wasn't just famous among hunters, but even celebrities and politicians spoke of him with a certain level of respect. More than once, he had been the reason entire cities remained intact.
Whenever a major gate appeared, one that regular hunters couldn't handle, a man wearing a plain black mask would arrive like a hero.
During dungeon breaks, when chaos spread and lives were lost by the second, he moved through the destruction like something unstoppable, saving whoever he could, humans and even animals alike.
To many, he wasn't just a hunter.
He was something closer to a symbol.
A hero.
But... that was some time ago.
As more time passed, the less he started appearing publicly. The media had made articles of him, edits and even fan accounts, posting pictures of whatever they could grab. Some people speculated who he was, but ultimately never finding out.
No matter how many times he regressed, no matter how many times he tried to change the outcome, the result was always the same. It felt like climbing an endless staircase, one that never reached the top, where everything he fixed would simply collapse again the moment he turned away.
At some point, even he had grown tired of it.
"Mr. Saber, may I ask you a question?"
A Japanese S-rank hunter approached them, his posture respectful, though his gaze remained fixed on Han Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk didn't answer right away.
With one arm still loosely wrapped around Seo Elena's waist, he gave a slight nod, granting permission.
"Speak," he replied.
The bluntness in his tone would have offended most high-rank hunters. Being addressed so coldly and informally, without even a hint of courtesy, was usually enough to provoke hostility, if not an outright confrontation.
But this was Saber.
That alone changed everything.
Whether it was his reputation, his achievements, or simply the overwhelming presence he carried, no one here dared to take offense so easily.
Hiro Kishida inclined his head slightly, maintaining a composed expression.
"My name is Hiro Kishida. It is an honor to finally meet the legendary hunter."
Saber said nothing.
He simply stood there silently, his gaze fixed on Hiro as if waiting for him to get to the point.
"I will not take much of your time," he continued smoothly. "Please accept this as a token of goodwill. I hope we may build a friendly relationship in the future."
He extended his hand.
Resting on his palm was a ring set with a deep red gem, its surface catching the light in a way that hinted at something far more valuable than simple craftsmanship.
At a glance, Han Jinhyuk already understood its worth.
『 Ring of the Heiress Smith (S) 』
『 Forged in the legacy of a master of flame, this ring deepens the wearer's command over fire, and kindles that power even in those who were never meant to wield it. 』
To Han Jinhyuk, the artifact held little value.
Even so, it was still an S-rank item, something that would cost a fortune under normal circumstances. It wasn't something just anyone could obtain, let alone give away so casually.
But to someone trying to get on the good side of a top hunter, this level of expense meant nothing.
Hiro Kishida understood that better than anyone.
What he needed for his country wasn't the artifact, but the reputation that came with standing beside someone like Saber. Japan only had three S-rank hunters, and in times of crisis, that number was far from reassuring. If something were to happen, they simply didn't have enough power to respond properly.
If he could secure even a small connection now, it could mean everything later.
"This will be useful," Jinhyuk said calmly. Then, without hesitation, he turned his head slightly. "Yena, give me your hand."
"...What?"
Both Hiro Kishida and Seo Elena froze, caught completely off guard by his words.
Was he serious?
He had just been handed an S-rank artifact, and now he was about to give it away in front of the very person who presented it to him?
That wasn't just unexpected, it bordered on outright disrespect.
Before she could even process it properly, Elena felt her hand being taken.
"W-wait—"
Something cool slipped onto her finger.
The ring...
Her entire body stiffened, her fingers trembling slightly as if even the smallest movement might damage it.
This... this thing probably costs more than my entire life.
She held her hand carefully, almost stiffly, afraid that even breathing too hard might somehow ruin it.
But why was it on her ring finger...?