Star-Dream City stands upon the original grounds of Los Angeles. Today, it serves as a major hub for the nation of Star-Light, the successor to what was once known as the United States.
Star-Dream is a sprawling metropolis, a fusion of high technology and cutting-edge fashion, earning it the moniker 'New Los Angeles'—despite the fact that a significant portion of the old city now rests beneath the ocean waves.
The innovation of repurposing artifacts from Bosses and Dungeons into energy sources began seventy years ago. After decades of grueling research and trial-and-error, Star-Dream became one of the first model cities to fully integrate this technology into daily life.
Rosaline scanned the masks in a cosplay shop. Dozens hung from wooden racks: white bears, elegant red-patterned foxes, crows, purple ogres, and countless others. "Hmm... I'll go with this one."
She decided on a fox half-mask. In this city of fashion, cosplay was a cherished piece of 'Old World' culture preserved within Sector A.
The Hunter looked up at the transparent barrier enveloping the entire city. This shield was a marvel of artifact research, designed to repel De-von incursions and protect the inhabitants from the three nearby volcanoes that remained in a state of active eruption. Star-Dream was born from necessity—a fortress designed to ensure humanity wouldn't lose its last foothold.
With its fortified geography and military readiness, the city had become a bastion of stability. It drew migrants from across the globe, consolidating the remaining strength and intellect of the human race. It was, quite literally, the center of humanity's counter-offensive.
'If we get more artifacts capable of this, the city I live in might finally be safe too,' Rosaline thought, her hood pulled up just as it was when she was on duty.
Since it was the weekend, the streets of Sector A were lined with cosplayers. Even in an era defined by bloodshed, entertainment and art remained vital. In fact, the government pushed them harder than ever. Amidst the mountains of corpses sacrificed for survival, the promotion of beauty was the only thing keeping hope alive. It was a way to pass down history without leaving the scars of trauma, allowing the next generation to grow strong enough to build a world where De-vons no longer existed.
Of course, that was the speech the 36th Prime Minister of Star-Light gave during the election. In reality, it was just a highly effective way to keep the populace under control.
Every city in this era was divided into four sectors—A, B, C, and D—to streamline positioning and calculate the impact zones of Dungeon Breaks, which could manifest in the middle of a city without warning.
While waiting for the crosswalk signal, Rosaline glanced at a massive digital screen embedded in a skyscraper. Zenis flashed across the screen, acting as a spokesperson for a new brand of soda. This district was a playground of entertainment and fine dining, but for a Hunter whose life revolved entirely around work, Rosaline rarely visited anything other than grocery stores, thrift shops, and makeup boutiques.
Ping-ping!
[I'm here! At our usual café.]
A faint smile touched Rosaline's lips beneath her fox mask as Liese's cheerful voice came through the phone.
"On my way. Just crossing the street now." Rosaline stepped onto the pavement as the light changed, heading toward a vintage-style café painted in deep green.
Tinkle-tinkle.
The bell chimed as she entered. Inside, the crowd ranged from casual weekend wear to elaborate, full-body cosplay. This was a society where real names were unnecessary; for Rosaline, who had to hide her identity constantly, this city was her playground of freedom. Liese knew this well, which is why they met here often.
"Over here, Hermit! Over here!" Liese waved from a window table. The sunlight caught her long dark brown hair, giving her an inviting warmth. With golden eyes as bright as the sun, she truly lived up to her title: 'The Light.' Today, she wore a pink puff-sleeve top, white trousers, and brown flats.
"Wait long?" Rosaline asked as she sat down. "I had some errands to run."
"Just got here, don't worry. We still have plenty of time before the concert starts," Liese replied, sipping herbal tea. "I was going to look at some makeup, but when you said you'd left the house, I figured I'd wait so we could go together. I really want you to try this new lipstick shade."
"What color is it this time?" Rosaline asked while ordering an iced cocoa from the waiter.
"Matte Old Rose," Liese said with a grin, clapping her hands together. "The brand I use just launched a 'Summer Rose' collection made from actual rose pigments."
"...Sounds nice," Rosaline replied, already thinking: There goes my paycheck...
"Anyway, let's head out after we finish our drinks. By the way... I bought you that beautiful dress last time. You should've worn it today," Liese said with a pout.
"Sorry, I'm more comfortable in hoodies and jeans," she replied. Truthfully, she wasn't used to dressing up, and she was always paranoid an emergency might occur. She didn't want to ruin a gift from Liese in a fight.
"Next time, you have to," Liese insisted. She knew her friend had reasons for the mask, but she hoped Rosaline could at least enjoy some pretty clothes.
"I'll try," Rosaline promised, thinking that perhaps after she officially retired, she could finally face Liese without a mask.
After their drinks, they hit the makeup store. Naturally, Liese went all out on cosmetics and skincare.
"Hermit, let me try this on you?" Liese volunteered, her eyes sparkling as she held up the Old Rose lipstick.
"Uh..." Rosaline hesitated.
"Please? Pretty please, Hermit?" Liese pouted.
"Fine... okay." Rosaline sighed, defeated by those puppy-dog eyes.
By the end of the trip, Rosaline had spent a small fortune on a new lipstick, a hydrating anti-wrinkle cream, sunscreen, and a tiny bottle of retinol that cost more than her entire outfit.
"That will be 10,000 Pure, ma'am. Cash or credit?" the clerk asked. Rosaline felt a slight dizzy spell at the total.
'I'm 34 now. If I'm going to work in a corporate office, I have to look the part,' the Hunter-turned-aspiring-retiree thought resignedly. She realized the one enemy Hunters couldn't defeat wasn't a De-von—it was the wrinkles on their own faces. Even with the heightened vitality and longevity of a Hunter, time was a relentless foe.
"Alright, it's almost time. Let's find a locker and head to the concert," Liese said.
Maru-chan's concert was held at a public park stage, an open-air venue where anyone could perform during scheduled slots. Maru-chan was an 'Idol Hunter' much like Zenis, having debuted only four months ago. Little was known about her personal life, aside from her singing and dancing talent and her mixed heritage from Genesta (formerly Japan) and Star-Light. Her agency hadn't even listed her specific Hunter abilities or title yet, but that didn't seem to matter to her fans.
Liese handed Rosaline a glow stick to cheer for the idol. They managed to snag front-row seats, waiting for the girl to appear.
At exactly 3:00 PM, Maru-chan took the stage, rising through a lift in the center.
"Is everyone doing well? It's Maru-chan!" A girl with bright blonde twin-tails and crimson eyes appeared. She wore a ruffled sleeveless dress, a large red gem with white wings at her chest, and pink boots with curled toes.
"We're doing great! Maru-chan! AHHH!" Liese waved her glow stick, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Maru-chan's smile was so radiant it seemed to wash away the stress of the crowd. To Rosaline, she looked exactly like a magical girl straight out of an old anime.
"Thank you all for bringing your love to Maru-chan today. So, Maru-chan is going to give that love back to everyone!" With that, she formed a heart with her hands and pushed it forward with a wink. "Pew! Pew! Maru-chan Beam!"
Liese and the fans reacted as if they'd been hit by a spell. "Pew! Pew! Maru-chan!"
Rosaline, caught in the middle of the madness, didn't know where to put herself. She awkwardly followed along, her face flushing red beneath her mask. "P-pew... pew."
"Thank you! Now, let's start with our first song! 'To the Hunters, Love, and the Universe'!" A bright pop beat mixed with violin flared up.
"♪ Though the universe is dark… we still sing songs of hope… ♪"
'She has a great voice,' Rosaline admitted to herself.
Liese and the fans were in a frenzy. "♪ Because you are there… the Hunter who made a promise… ♪"
Rosaline waved her glow stick in rhythm. The atmosphere was infectious. Even for a park concert, the crowd grew larger by the minute. After an hour and a half and six songs, the show drew to a close.
"See you next time, Maru-chan!" Liese waved as the idol left the stage. She turned to Rosaline. "That was fun, wasn't it?"
"Not bad. She's definitely going places," Rosaline replied.
"Yes! I successfully recruited a new fan!" Liese cheered.
Rosaline let out a sheepish laugh. "Shall we head back?"
"Dinner first? I want to thank you for coming with me. My treat!" Liese offered.
"...Did you win the lottery or something?" Rosaline teased.
"I've been taking on extra part-time jobs lately, so I saved up some play money. Just like usual, but I got a bit more this time," Liese explained. "It's been a while since we hung out properly; I want to go all out."
Rosaline knew Liese lived a simple life but was willing to work through the night just to fund their shopping sprees. "In that case, I want fried chicken with honey mustard and ranch sauce."
"I know a great new place from the reviews, but let me hit the restroom first," Liese said.
"I'll go with you." Rosaline followed Liese to the public restroom trailers at the back of the park. On weekends, these were crowded, and the only downside was they were unisex.
While Rosaline was in a stall, she heard a muffled thud from the next room. She ignored it at first, until the noise grew louder, followed by a young boy's voice: "Stay still if you don't want to get hurt."
The Hunter knew something was wrong but hesitated to burst in. At that moment, Liese—who was in the stall on the other side—slid a small makeup mirror under the partition toward Rosaline.
Rosaline got the message. She grabbed the mirror and carefully angled it under the gap into the middle stall to get a clear view.
"!" Rosaline's eyes widened at the reflection.
The mirror showed a blonde girl in twin-tails... grabbing a young man by the collar and slamming him against the toilet!
It was Maru-chan!
And she was threatening him with the voice of a boy!