Chapter 127: Endless Night (3)

“It’s made entirely of Starstones, so it’s much sturdier than before,” Han Jun-Man conveyed. “Hm, is that so?” Song Ha-Eun strapped on the prosthetic leg that he'd given her and jumped in place. “Oooh.” Her previous prosthetic had been comfortable, but this was in a league of its own. As expected from something that cost a fortune, it felt smooth while offering an exceptional sense of stability. “I had Si-Hoo personally make it for you,” he added. “That kid who's good with Astral Relics?” “Yes.” “I heard about him from Oh-Jin before. He’s got serious skills.” “Well... he can be a bit moody, but his skills do make up for it." Han Jun-Man shrugged. Watching him grin like a proud dad, Song Ha-Eun smirked. “You must be pretty close with the kid, huh?” “Well, we’ve had our fair share of dealings.” “Hehe. Anyway, tell that kid I said thanks.” She swung her leg around as if testing it and smiled brightly. Although it wasn't as perfect as a real leg, she would have no trouble strolling around with Kwon Oh-Jin now. “Hehehe.” Just thinking about meeting him soon brought a silly grin to her face. Where should we go for lunch? Where should we hang out after? I should take him somewhere with a nice atmosphere, too. Pfft. I can already see him panicking. Despite how cheeky he always acted, he was rather juvenile deep down. If she brought him somewhere atmospheric and made even the slightest move, he'd become a flustered mess. Han Jun-Man cocked his head, watching her grin to herself. “Did something good happen today?” “Hehe. Yeah, something like that.” He scratched his head. “Hmm.” “Well then, I’m off! Thanks for the prosthetic, gorilla man!” “G-Gorilla?!” “Kyahaha! I’m just kidding.” She waved playfully and turned away with a shrug. She stepped out of the association. “Let's see... I made the reservation at the restaurant yesterday.” There were about two hours left. Should I buy him a gift? At least for today, she wanted to do everything she could for him. “A gift, huh...? What would be good?” She stroked her chin, lost in thought. Her financial situation had improved recently, but she wasn’t on Isabella’s level where she could casually give someone an entire apartment complex. I’ll get him something he actually needs. She decided to give him something practical and long-lasting. Something that would make him happy. “Maybe I should get him some training clothes?” He was quite dedicated to his training lately, so a high-quality set of workout clothes seemed perfect. “Alright.” She headed toward the nearest department store, humming to herself. Walking into the outlet of a brand known for its expensive training gear, she browsed for a few minutes before spotting a design that suited Kwon Oh-Jin perfectly. “Excuse me... is this one good?” she asked an employee in an awkward, formal tone. “Ah, yes! This product is specifically designed for Awakeners, boasting exceptional durability and comfort...” As if someone had pressed a button somewhere on them, the employee recited a stream of information about the training wear. Song Ha-Eun listened for a while but eventually cut them off when it became clear they had no intention of stopping. “I'll take this one in a large size.” “Thank you! Just to let you know, this product is... on the expensive side. Will that be alright?” “It doesn’t matter.” This is a gift for Oh-Jin, after all. No matter how pricey it was, she wouldn’t feel like it was a waste. “That’ll be 7,820 thousand won~!” the employee chimed. Damn, that’s expensive. She swallowed the words before they could escape her mouth and handed over her credit card. Alright then. With the gift secured, she headed toward the restaurant with a spring in her step. Since there was still plenty of time before they'd meet, she planned to kill time at a nearby cafe. “Hm, hm, hm~” She smiled at the thought of enjoying a date with him for the first time in a while. The stage is perfectly set! For this very day, she had scoured the internet for hundreds of ways to confess to a younger guy successfully. She had even gone as far as downloading a 200 won romance simulation app and completing it. This time, I’ll take our relationship one step beyond what it is now.Maybe then... I won't have to be as scared of him leaving me behind. Suddenly, her excited steps came to an abrupt halt. “But...” Fidgeting with the handles of the shopping bag in her hands, she hesitantly muttered, “W-What if he rejects me...?” She felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over her heated head. She'd gotten so caught up in her fantasies that she hadn't considered the worst-case scenario. “Sorry. I just don’t see you that way, Ha-Eun.” N-No! Just imagining Kwon Oh-Jin's cold and distant voice jabbed at her heart like a needle. She wasn't sure she could handle hearing those words from him. Come to think of it... I read somewhere that actual siblings don’t develop romantic feelings for each other because they grow up together from a young age... She considered the possibility that they'd been together for too long. That logic didn’t apply to her, of course, but Kwon Oh-Jin could possibly feel differently. She clutched her hair and stomped. “Aaaaaah!” Her high spirits had been replaced with the worst possible thoughts as their meeting time drew closer. Her wavering eyes suddenly shone with a dangerous light. “That bastard... If he dares reject me, I swear I’ll rip that thing right off.” From the moment he had gifted her the Demonic Dragon Eye—no, even long before that, her mind had been filled with nothing but him. Being with him seemed to be the only thing that mattered anymore. And he’s going to reject me after turning me this way? Fucking unacceptable. Whether she had to throw a tantrum or force herself on him, she would make this happen no matter what. Taking a deep breath to calm her pounding heart, she started walking toward the restaurant again when she suddenly noticed something was off. “Huh?” She furrowed her brow and glanced around. Why is it so empty? A strange, chilling sensation crept down her spine. It wasn't considered peak hour at 11 A.M., but it was strange for not a single person to be around. She clenched her fists and grimly scanned her surroundings before noticing something falling from above. “A black... feather?” Suddenly, several feathers morphed into humanoid figures and dashed toward her. Whoosh! “Ugh!” She quickly stepped back, thrusting her right arm forward. With a snap of her fingers, an intense wave of flames surged forward. The figures flinched and stepped back from the blaze. “Urgh!” “Who the hell are you guys?” she asked. However, they didn't respond. “Oh? You’re not gonna answer, huh?” She smirked as she took off her eyepatch, revealing a menacing reptilian eye that locked onto them. “Let’s see if you can keep that mouth shut after I burn it off.” With a heavy stomp, she crossed her arms with two fire dragons coiling up before shooting toward the figures. One of them nervously clicked their tongue. “She’s a mage-type!" another shouted. "Don’t panic! Close in and subdue her!” Ten or so figures encircled her and advanced rapidly, firing black feathers at her. Are these the Night Hunters Oh-Jin mentioned before? She glared at them. As far as she knew, there was only one faction that wielded black feathers as weapons—the Owl faction. Why is the Black Star Society targeting me? However, one thing was clear. They weren’t here with good intentions. She clicked her tongue. “These bastards sure know how damn pretty I am, seeing how they’re racing toward me.” With a swift step and a spin, she delivered a pinpoint strike right between the legs of an advancing Owl. Smack! “Kughhh!” The owl’s eyes bulged out as he collapsed to the ground and rolled in agony. “Who said mage-types are weak in close combat?” She covered her fists in flames and lowered her stance. When she swung a fist, explosive fire shot forward with a sonic boom. Fwoosh! “Aaaargh!” “Damn it!" another yelled. "This bitch...!” “Damn you too, motherfucker.” She punched the Owl in the nose and swung her right arm in a wide arc. Whoosh! Intense flames fanned out, engulfing the Owls. The incandescent light caused them to flinch and stagger back. She continued closing in on them aggressively. “What the hell are these pussy-ass bitches doing?” Frankly, she shouldn't have been able to overpower the elite Night Hunters so easily no matter how much stronger she'd gotten thanks to the elixir. Are these guys... holding back? The Owls only utilised weak, suppressive moves instead of any lethal attacks. Their goal isn’t to kill me. They're trying to subdue me instead. She let out a dry chuckle. “Try and see if you can, assholes.” Unleashing another wave of attacks, she forced the Night Hunters further back. Just as they floundered under her attacks, an ominous laugh echoed from somewhere. “Hahaha.” She instinctively dropped low and rolled across the ground. “Ugh!” A whirlwind of black feathers sliced through every inch of the space where she had been. “W-What the hell?” she muttered in shock. Her eyes hadn't even been able to follow the ultrarapid attack. She quickly glanced to her right and left, but the assailant with the ominous laugh was nowhere to be found. It can’t be— She quickly looked up. Above! Floating effortlessly in midair was an old man with one foot resting lightly on a black feather. His wrinkly skin resembled an ancient pine tree, covered mainly by a neatly trimmed robe. His eyes gleamed with dark greed. “You have wonderful eyes,” he remarked with a satisfied grin. “Hahaha. It’s rare to find an Awakener with such a perfect Draconic Eye.” “Who the hell are you?” she asked. “Does that really matter?” She bit her lip in response. He was right. His identity was far less relevant than his intentions in this situation. A blaring alarm inside her head warned her that this old man was dangerous. I have to escape. She cautiously observed him, waiting for an opportunity to turn and flee. He burst out into hearty laughter. “Hahaha. Where do you think you're going?” In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of her with a twisted smile stretched across his wrinkled lips. “Huh?!” “Now, now, behave yourself.” He slowly raised his hand and lightly touched her forehead. “Ah...” Her consciousness slowly faded into the void. *** Song Ha-Eun frowned as she slowly opened her eyes, feeling a splitting headache. “Ugh... W-What the hell?” She was in a large, unfamiliar lot surrounded by the Owls who had attacked her earlier. “Eek!” She tried to push herself up in vain. Thick chains, engraved with intricate geometric patterns, bound her tightly. Clank! Clank! The old man from earlier approached, chuckling eerily. “You're awake.” She glared at him. “You’re Cheon Do-yoon, aren’t you? That so-called Owl King or whatever.” “Hahaha, you know me well.” She suppressed the unease in her chest and tried to sound composed. “Did you kidnap me to use as a hostage?” “A hostage? Hahaha, not at all.” “No...?” Then why did the King of Owls personally come for me? “Ahhh. No matter how many times I see them, your eyes are truly beautiful.” “What?” His wrinkled fingers slowly traced along the corner of her left eye, sending a wave of disgust down her spine. “You crazy bastard, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” She thrashed around violently. “Hahaha. No need to struggle so much.” He lightly patted her shoulder. A sickening crack echoed as her left shoulder twisted in a grotesque, unnatural angle. Crunch! She let out a scream of pure agony. “Aaaaagh!” Then, panting heavily, she bit down on her lip. A sharp pain radiated from her left shoulder. Suppressing the suffocating fear spreading within, she bared her teeth at him. “You perverted geezer... who the hell do you think you’re touching?” No one except Oh-Jin is allowed to put their hands on me. Cheon Do-Yoon chuckled softly. "It seems you’ve misunderstood. I admit, you are indeed beautiful enough to make even this old man tremble, but...” His eyes filled with insatiable greed as he continued. “I’m not interested in your body.” She paused before asking, “Then what?” “Your Draconic Eyes. Give them to me, and I’ll let you go unharmed.” She flinched. “W-What...? What the hell are you talking about?” “It is exactly as it sounds. Pull out your eyes, and give them to me.” “Shut the fuck up, you lunatic!” “Hahaha. Foolish child. Your eyes aren’t worth more than your life.” Cheon Do-Yoon clicked his tongue and reached for her left eye. “If you don’t want to, I’ll just have to take them by force.” “Ah...” Her face turned deathly pale as extreme terror spread through her like poison. “We’ll start with the left. Your right eye hasn’t fully awakened yet... but I’ll take both just in case.” His greedy eyes locked onto hers. Her shoulders trembled violently. He’s going to... take my eyes? I'll be... abandoned in that endless night once again...? "N-No.” She recalled the moment the darkness had lifted and she could see Kwon Oh-Jin’s face for the first time in a long time. She remembered the overwhelming joy and the unforgettable thrill. Now, she was about to lose it all again, so cruelly and pathetically? “No...!” “Hahaha. Resisting is useless.” Cheon Do-Yoon's fingers traced her eyelid like he was caressing a precious treasure before finally grazing the surface of her eyeball. “Ah, agh.” Insufferable fear crashed over her like a relentless tide. “N-No... p-please. Please... don’t.” More than the fear of being trapped in darkness again, she was scared to imagine the despair on Kwon Oh-Jin's face once he found out. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Cheon Do-Yoon continued to laugh. “Stay still now.” “Please... Please don’t do this...” Her desperate plea rang hollow under the clear, cloudless sky when suddenly, a lightning bolt struck down from above. Boom!