Jealousy.
So jealous.
I envy you.
I want to die from envy.
But even if I want to die, I just can’t.
This wretched body abandoned by death crawls on the ground, shamelessly clinging to life, spilling filthy blood.
Menelapie.
Menelapie…
My hero…
Can’t you come to me?
Even though you’re no longer my hero, I still want you back.
But… Ah, right. I know.
I know too. No, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.
As the Witch of the Dark Star, I deserve to be despised.
Once, I sang songs of hope, a saint who performed miracles, but now I am the one who sings of evil, following the cold darkness intoxicated by blood and flesh.
Yes, it’s only natural that it has come to this.
I know.
I’m not unaware.
But… if only once, just one last time…
What if I had a choice to go back?
[I have severed the evil within you… you are neither a dead nor a saint anymore.]
Ah, thank you, my hero.
Thank you, Menelapie.
[Though I couldn’t live as a human,]
To someone as wretched as me…
To someone as filthy as me…
You are truly my light.
[As a human, I might still be able to die.]
◼◼◼◼
It all started with something trivial.
The genre hunter gallery buzzes with millions of users sharing a variety of information and trivial chatter, but among them, many write diary-like accounts of meeting hunters as if they were celebrities.
From sightings of promising low-tier hunters to experiences of competing for discounted products with A-grade hunters at the supermarket, stories abound, including one where someone went to pick up their niece from elementary school only to find out that her friend’s older sister was an S-grade hunter.
And today, a post appeared in the genre hunter gallery.
[The gallery master is invincible, and the Seongnyeok pouch is god!](984)
ㄴRecommended: 2998
『Today, while walking, I met the gallery master. After school, while waiting for the bus home, I was fiddling with my smartwatch, messing around with Jang-Bung, when suddenly I felt a presence beside me.
At first, I understandably ignored it, but something started to sway softly at the edge of my vision, so I turned to look. Damn it, it was the gallery master!
Tilting her head slightly, she looked at me as if asking, “What are you doing?” and wow, damn… I thought my heart would stop;
But fuck, not just the Seongnyeok pouch, but simply damn she looked hot!
She really is crazy pretty.
That’s all I can say.
Seriously, she’s stunning.
I’d never seen her in casual clothes outside of the gallery master broadcasts. The Seongnyeok pouch was also spinning, and her hair was dyed black instead of silver.
But I’ve lived for about 20 years as an extreme Jang-Bung fan, preferring blondes or silvers, so who would’ve thought that black hair would look this good?
Damn, this is something that needs to be seen in photos.
[Here’s a roughly obscured picture with the gallery master doing a V pose]
She said not to show her face, so I only captured a glimpse below her eyes.
When I asked her to let me take a picture, she actually said yes.
Damn, I was blown away.
Her looks are off the charts compared to anyone I know.
Honestly, even elves, known for their beauty, can’t compare to the gallery master.
I’ve seen her photos a few times while lurking around the gallery, but in real life, the gallery master was so beautiful I was starting to wonder if she was the same person I recognized.』
[???? The gallery master has black hair?]
[What the hell? Didn’t she have silver hair during a collab stream?]
ㄴ[Gallery Master Hunter]
ㄴ[But?]
ㄴ[Seriously; the gallery master has powers of awakening or miracles or something, right? She probably used some ability to change her appearance.]
ㄴ[Ah, I guess that makes sense.]
ㄴ[But why would the gallery master want to change her appearance?]
ㄴ[She probably switched up her look because too many people recognized her. Then, when a Jang-Bung discovered her, she felt playful and approached.]
ㄴ[Oh, that sounds plausible;]
ㄴ[But then, thanks to that Seongnyeok pouch, it seems there’s no need for her changing her appearance, right? Haha.]
ㄴ[That’s true, lol.]
[Black hair is pretty, though.]
[Wow, damn;]
[Look at what she’s wearing; one could squeeze like making a mammary milk come out of that.]
ㄴ[You freak, haha!]
ㄴ[If you don’t want to be in a collab, keep your distance, haha.]
ㄴ[? The gallery master does collabs?]
ㄴ[Last time, she brought Yeonseo in and forced viewers to participate in her collab, right? Haha.]
ㄴ[Haha, I missed that one, LOL. Time to check the rerun.]
ㄴ[Imagine walking and suddenly, out of nowhere, Yeonseo is right there in front of you.]
[But doesn’t it seem like the gallery master’s Seongnyeok pouch is getting bigger?]
ㄴ[For real, haha.]
ㄴ[If you look at the first stream and now, it really seems bigger, right?]
ㄴ[Huh? Really?]
ㄴ[Does it grow even more????]
[Wow, but her fashion choices are insane.]
ㄴ[She’s wearing hot pants and a really, really tiny tank top.]
ㄴ[Look at that tank top; it’s about to rip!]
ㄴ[Wait, if she’s wearing that kind of tank top, does that mean no bra?]
ㄴ[Seems like she’s not wearing one.]
ㄴ[Damn; even without a bra, the shape is on point.]
ㄴ[With her being a near S-grade, she must’ve awakened her Cooper ligaments, right?]
ㄴ[For real, haha.]
[On the topic, there are quite a few among the awakened and returnees who don’t wear bras](1254)
ㄴRecommended: 609
『While it isn’t an official consensus, it’s something you should keep in mind;
Though it is on the Hunter Association’s website, many awakened ones and returnees have mana in their bodies, making their physical strength and muscle development unmatchable to regular folk.
So because of this mana, their skin and body have higher toughness and elasticity, so even when they wear a bra, it doesn’t cause discomfort, resulting in less frequent use.
Of course, some wear them for YouTube’s sake, often opting for nipple patches or just a simple cotton shirt underneath.
After all, the body tends to maintain a tight shape without needing support, so if it isn’t necessary, they won’t wear one.
*
Additionally, while drinking with a friend working at the Hunter Association, we discussed how hunters often engage in intense battles.
Most Jang-Bungs rarely even get close to dungeons, but even F-grade hunters must battle monsters in dungeons where the environments contrast starkly with Earth.
during combat situations, mana manifests from the body, either consciously or unconsciously. Special ability hunters obviously have mana covering their entire body, while martial hunters also coat their skin and muscles with it.
But when awakened ones battle, the mana they exude can easily tear through underwear.
Just the mana release alone could probably shred underwear in seconds.
Of course, the clothing made from monster byproducts or specialized gear is durable and tough, but they won’t apply that degree of toughness to bras or panties.
For one thing, it’s a waste considering the cost-benefit of dungeon materials. Unless someone’s wealthy enough to order customized pieces from a meister class, you likely won’t find sturdy underwear.
Thus, it’s common to see high-tier hunter clothing like high legs, latex body-hugging wear, and one-piece grand mage costumes, developed because many awakened ones simply don’t wear underwear. Well, Yeonseo also walks around in latex hunter gear at her age, right?
Of course, if you don’t agree, well, you’re right!】
[Information Update]
[Damn, you really wrote all that carefully, huh? Haha.]
[But why does it actually sound plausible?]
[There’s some convincing power to it…]
ㄴ[It’s not convincing; you just want to believe it…]
ㄴ[Jang-Bung… don’t do this during the day…]
ㄴ[Damn, is it already time to sleep?]
[Hmm, that’s informative…]
[Hey, hey, I also saw the gallery master]
ㄴ[Oh? Really?]
ㄴ[Is she going commando?]
ㄴ[How would I even know that?]
ㄴ[But I feel like the black hair thing is true.]
[Breaking News: The gallery master seems to have dyed her hair black]
ㄴ[Attached photo]
ㄴ[Wow, she’s stunning jn.]
ㄴ[Where is this?]
ㄴ[Han River Waterfront]
ㄴ[For real, she’s drop-dead gorgeous.]
ㄴ[Look at her behind, damn.]
[Huh? No, I saw the gallery master in my neighborhood too, and she still has silver hair?!]
ㄴ[Does it matter what anyone says…?]
ㄴ[I just saw the gallery master passing by.
ㄴ[When I walked past, it was indeed black hair, haha.]
ㄴ[Wait, what? One says it’s silver and the other says it’s black, lol.]
[Yo, the gallery master was sleeping at Han River Waterfront?]
ㄴ[Go touch her chest!]
ㄴ[Are you out of your mind?]
ㄴ[You might actually die!]
◼◼◼◼◼◼
“I’ve turned into someone with black hair!!”
I’m saying I never dyed it!
At first, I didn’t believe it.
Just someone slightly resembling me.
Or maybe a malignant Jang-Bung trying to stir up some trouble thought of crafting a story.
Considering how many delusional Jang-Bungs and malicious net runners exist, it seemed plausible.
However, when numerous people started reporting sightings of the black-haired Shia on the gallery, I quickly decided to drop any leisurely thoughts, chasing after the trail instead.
First, Shia and Menelapie went to check on the seal that had shattered early in the morning.
The seal was to contain Lirisia Alpenheim, the Witch of the Dark Star, who had emerged from the Erosion Dungeon that previously engulfed the bustling area of Hongdae.
“It’s really been broken.”
“Hah. You’ve indeed thrown away an opportunity presented to you.”
That day, Shia and Menelapie undeniably triumphed against Lirisia.
However, Lirisia was not dead.
To be precise, Menelapie had refrained from killing her.
No matter how corrupted she was, seeing a face that resembled Shia’s made Menelapie’s heart waver slightly.
She held no intention of uncovering her past; regardless of her tragic circumstances, Lirisia’s evil actions could not be justified.
Thus, Menelapie struck down the Witch of the Dark Star.
They cleaved the dark evil and curse gnawing inside Lirisia, effectively leaving her no longer a dead one, nor a witch, and allowing her to continue to live.
If she wished, she could even die as a human.
However, simply forgiving her was not going to be easy.
Being corrupted to the level of the Witch of the Dark Star surely meant Lirisia had committed heinous acts, and she had even intended to eat civilians trapped in the Erosion Dungeon.
Thus, Lirisia, who was neither a saint, witch, nor dead one, was sealed by Shia.
Though she might have caused countless evils in the previous world, no one had died by Lirisia’s hand in this one yet.
Though if the Hunter Association or government learned of Lirisia’s existence, they’d likely resort to extermination, Shia and Menelapie simply wanted to give that poor Witch of the Dark Star another chance.
What they referred to as sealing was more akin to deferred punishment or a suspended sentence.
Even Shia, who previously spoke of killing her, hadn’t yet figured out what to do with Lirisia.
Honestly, if there was a way to save her, she wanted to.
If a solution without killing existed, she wished to avoid killing her.
Above all, it’s true that she had pushed thoughts of Lirisia aside, indulging in the joy of reuniting with Menelapie.
But damn it, in that span, the cursed seal had shattered into pieces.
Seeing the broken seal, Shia let out a heavy sigh.
“…She really broke free, didn’t she?”
How on earth did that happen?!
The seal created by the miracle of the undead saint was sturdier and more challenging to break than typical gimmicks or ancient ruins’ barriers.
Honestly, had it been in the previous world, merely a seal miracle would suffice for keeping holy relics or top-secret items safe, yet how could it be so easily broken?
“No matter what happens, it seems to be another version of you. Even if a witch is severed and the evil is cut off and turned human, that power itself wouldn’t completely vanish. If they know how to break a seal, they must have a perfect grasp on its internal structure, weaknesses, and gaps!”
“Hah, this is bad. I hope she hasn’t started eating someone yet…”
If they had opted for sealing out of a desire to save Lirisia, and if such an action meant sacrificing an innocent person, Shia wouldn’t be able to forgive either herself or Lirisia.
“It’s all right. Not yet…”
Not yet?
“Shia, when did the seal break?”
“A signal hit my heart… which was about 6 hours ago before I went to sleep.”
“After breaking the seal, she went as far as deceiving the caster.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know what that black Shia was doing lying in the grass, but at least for a good amount of time, she must have sat there. However, this trace was engraved yesterday.”
“…What?”
This meant that Lirisia not only broke the seal trapping her but also managed to manipulate the barrier to deceive the caster, Shia.
How was such a thing even possible?!
No, more importantly, what had she done after breaking free?
“Don’t dwell on it. For now, let’s find the thunderous fool.”
“Hah… Understood.”
Right, dwelling only hinders action and wastes time.
Now was the moment for decisive action.
[Miracle – Tracking]
It’s a miracle that tracks the presence of anyone who has made direct contact with Shia’s Seongnyeok at least once.
However, the problem was that the other party was also very well versed in miracles and Seongnyeok, just like Lirisia.
Shhhh…
Instead of tracking location, a scene unfolded where Lirisia placed her finger softly on her lips, as if teasing Shia, causing Shia’s brow to furrow in frustration.
“….Damn. This girl deliberately messed with the tracking miracle.”
Yeah, damn it…
That “Shhhh” or whatever was clearly done on purpose from the beginning, wasn’t it?
Using the same Seongnyeok and miracle as Shia, Lirisia understood the best ways to counteract such miracles.
Even though it was awakened by Shia’s Seongnyeok, Lirisia had probably found it pretty effortless to eliminate the Seongnyeok altogether.
“There’s no other choice then. I’ll just have to search for her directly.”
“Hah, this feels pretty tense…”
No matter how much she was turned into a human after severing her evil, Lirisia’s very existence was akin to a bomb.
If she suddenly started rampaging and claiming to eat humans, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe. Even though Lirisia had one chance granted to her, should she make another wrong choice, there would be no escape from Shia and Menelapie having to kill her.
When last seen, she had no consciousness and her body wasn’t normal either, which gave them peace of mind… but how did she get through that seal?
Hah, I hope she doesn’t cause any major troubles.
I just wish no one dies.
The sorrow from an innocent’s death due to my poor choice would be a tragedy beyond compare.
Thus, Shia and Menelapie began their day-long search for the Witch of the Dark Star.
Frequent alleyways.
Delicious soup (or stew) restaurants.
Han River Waterfront.
Dongdaemun Market.
Nearby dungeons.
The outskirts of the city.
The hillside regions known as hillside villages.
The abandoned areas where folks do not tread.
However, while occasional faint traces were found, they couldn’t confirm Lirisia’s existence.
At least in the genre hunter gallery, sporadic news of a sighting of the “black-haired gallery master” appeared, but by the time Menelapie and Shia headed out, Lirisia had vanished without a trace.
What on earth is she doing?
Where is she?
What did she want?
Menelapie had already drawn her sword, her expression solemn and reflective.
Even though some mercy had been granted, and a chance was provided, should Lirisia cast that away, it seemed there was no room for mercy from her end anymore.
“Hah… This is the last place.”
“An orphanage…?”
Thus, from early morning to evening, Shia and Menelapie stood before a secluded orphanage hidden within the outskirts of the city.
The orphanage was located in a region rife with numerous small and large erosion dungeons, sometimes encountering goblins or low-tier monsters like corn beetles, resembling a maze of abandoned homes.
Thanks to the construction of the orphanage and senior care facilities to deter certain unwanted visitors, the area was scarcely populated. An electric fence was erected around both the orphanage and nursing home to prevent monsters’ entrance, rendering them looking somewhat like prisons or correctional facilities.
It felt ominous.
Truly ominous…
……Ominous…
“Don’t tell me, surely not…?”
The instant she saw the quiet orphanage devoid of any presence, Shia’s mind swarmed with unease.
In some cruel films she’s seen, there were lines about how the best taste of human flesh was that of innocent children.
And the Witch of the Dark Star… unlike Shia, found delight in human flesh’s flavor and the dark essence within.
While it might have been unfeasible on Earth, she probably savored countless human lives in her previous world.
Now she had headed toward… the orphanage?
“Menelapie. Stay alert near here…”
If Shia entered the orphanage only to find Lirisia had escaped, it would mean losing her, so it made sense for Menelapie to remain on guard outside.
“Understood. Go handle it.”
Please, please…
Let it not be so.
Please don’t do that…
◼◼◼
While Shia walked toward the lonely orphanage,
Menelapie slowly drew her sword.
Her golden eye had already caught Lirisia’s traces the instant they reached here.
In a seemingly deserted alley, presenting an air of being forgotten, Menelapie discovered someone’s footprints.
Matching Shia’s height.
Matching her stride.
The heel impressions were depressions within the dust, showcasing a similar weight.
There was no longer that sinister witchly presence, nor her chilling aura… rather unwavering certainty.
“Oh my?”
Venturing into the deep maze-like alley, Menelapie’s golden eye honed in on the black-haired Shia before her.
Resembling Shia in form and visage.
Yet cloaked in a shadowy, dark silhouette.
With grotesque tentacles, resembling hunger-driven jaws, gaping wide, seeking flesh.
“….You’ve already arrived, haven’t you?”
In a form similar yet different, Lirisia turned her gaze toward Menelapie.
“Were you leaving the orphanage?”
Menelapie didn’t know precisely what Lirisia had done here.
Therefore, with her last opportunity in hand, Menelapie levied one last question at Lirisia.
“Yeah, if that’s the case?”
“Then… that’s enough.”
No further words were needed.
Because…
Menelapie left no gap unobserved, catching the scent of blood from Lirisia.
With a short puff of breath, a golden aura began to envelop Menelapie’s blade while Lirisia’s dark eyes widened in an arc.
“Hahaha, so… you intend to kill me?”
“You squandered the opportunity given to you.”
Lirisia’s hands darkened, taking on a sharpness akin to beastly claws. The tentacles surrounding her parted, aiming their gaping maws at Menelapie.
Even stripped of most of her powers, even lacking many miracles…
She was still the Witch of the Dark Star.
“Hahaha, how amusing…”
“That’s quite unfortunate.”
