The British Hunter Association building felt like an enormous museum.
The floors were all gleaming marble. Massive portraits hung along the walls.
There were names or something written beneath them, but they were in English, so I couldn't really tell.
｢Right this way, please.｣
Following the Association staff member who was guiding us, I spotted what looked like weapons on display.
Spears, swords, axes, and hammers floated inside enormous glass cases. It seemed this building doubled as a museum of sorts.
Either way, there were tons of fascinating things to look at. The Korean Hunter Association just felt like a local government office.
I was pretty sure they didn't have any space dedicated to displaying equipment Hunters actually used.
—Swoosh.
｢We'd appreciate it if you could stop here for a moment.｣
"Stop? Why?"
"Just stand still, sis. It'll be over quick."
Once we reached the inner part of the building, more Association staff in sunglasses appeared.
Then they waved something around Ji-woo and Kim A-rin.
A metal detector — checking whether we were hiding any guns or knives.
Of course, it was purely a formality, and nothing turned up, so they waved us through quickly.
Still, they said the whole thing would take ten minutes.
'The walk here took longer.'
For something supposedly simple enough to wrap up in ten minutes, the security was intense. It felt like the kind of atmosphere where you'd be expected to give up the location of a secret base.
I couldn't help wondering if failing to get a passport stamp really warranted this level of investigation.
Hmm, sorry about that. I'll make sure to get my passport stamped next time. Kim A-rin had said something like that would be enough to wrap things up quickly.
—Swoosh.
—Click.
—Click.
"I'm Do Yun-hye, the interpreter assigned to assist both of you today. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, hello."
As we moved further inside, an interpreter who had been waiting for us came forward and greeted Ji-woo and Kim A-rin.
It seemed the British Hunter Association had arranged for a Korean interpreter in advance to facilitate smooth communication.
Even so, I was starting to feel a little uneasy.
Just what kind of questioning were they planning, if they'd gone so far as to bring in an interpreter beforehand?
They weren't actually going to ask me to give up a secret base, were they?
"The Association Director is waiting for you. This way, please."
Following the interpreter into the inner room, the Director of the British Hunter Association came forward to greet us.
Beatrice Claire. The woman who'd lent Ji-woo and Kim A-rin a grand mansion for free. The kind-hearted grandmother who'd provided all sorts of other conveniences on top of that.
｢…Hehe, I've been waiting for you. I do hope the estate was to your comfort?｣
"She says—"
"Oh, it was amazing. Thank you so much."
The outfit I was wearing right now had also been sent over by the Director.
When she heard I'd come to England with nothing but the clothes on my back, she'd put together a full set — pajamas, outerwear, the works.
She even said it was a gift. That I could take it all back to Korea with me.
"By the way, we're here for the questioning. Where should we go?"
"Ah, Miss Ji-woo's questioning will be conducted by the Director herself."
"Huh."
The Director explained that she'd arranged for a dedicated interpreter specifically so she could speak with us directly.
She added that the questions wouldn't be anything too difficult, so there was no need to worry.
I caught that part, at least. She'd said something like "don't worry" in English.
"First, she'd like both of you to take a seat. She says she can't keep her guests standing."
Before long, Kim A-rin and I were seated at a round table in the inner room, and an elegant tea service was brought out.
A teapot that looked expensive at a glance, and a four-tiered tray loaded with macarons and other little desserts.
The Director's secretaries — or whoever they were — moved efficiently, pouring tea and setting out the sweets.
I asked for a small slice of cake instead of a macaron, and it was genuinely delicious. The cream was smooth and just the right amount of sweet. The little chocolate piece decorating the top was amazing too.
—Nom nom.
—Nom nom.
｢It seems it suits your taste. I'm glad.｣
"Yesh. Ith vewy good."
"Hey, sis. You can talk after you finish chewing."
My questioning didn't actually begin until after I'd gone back for seconds on the cake. Twice.
A warm, gentle voice drifted across the table from the other side.
The interpreter translated Beatrice Claire's questions into Korean, and when I answered, she turned my words back into English for the Director.
｢You mentioned you came over with Arkiel.｣
"Oh, yeah. That's right."
｢Might I ask why?｣
"I was worried about Kim A-rin. She was all over the news — 'whereabouts unknown,' that kind of thing."
｢…Is that truly all?｣
"Yes."
Just as Kim A-rin and Erdi had coached me, I answered simply: I'd just hitched a ride on Arkiel's back, and I'd been worried about Kim A-rin, who was on a work trip in England.
That was honestly all there was to it.
"Kim A-rin is family to me. How could I not worry about family?"
｢My, what a sweet child….｣
"Oh, um…. …Thank you?"
I personally thought worrying about family was just the natural thing to do, but the Director seemed genuinely moved by it, so I let it go.
She was complimenting me — no real reason to correct her.
Right. Where else were you going to find a big sis— …a sister like me?
Flying to the other side of the world because she was worried about her little sister.
"A-rin, you must've saved a country in a past life."
"…Maybe I did."
"You should be more grateful to me, you know."
"No, I already am. Enormously. …Really."
And that was genuinely the entirety of my questioning.
After that, the conversation shifted back to a leisurely tea, with the Director directing most of her attention toward Kim A-rin rather than me.
She asked whether the injuries Kim A-rin had sustained during the Red Gate incident were healing well.
She also expressed her gratitude once more for Kim A-rin making the journey all the way from Korea to England.
｢Thanks to you, London was kept safe. I am truly grateful, Hunter Kim A-rin.｣
"…Not at all. It was simply what a Hunter ought to do."
'That line's a bit old-fashioned.'
Kim A-rin responded to Beatrice Claire's thanks in a measured, formal tone.
But as it turned out, that was precisely when the Director got to the real point.
Additional apologies and compensation regarding the Thames Red Gate incident.
The reason she'd brought us to a place guarded by such extraordinary security was exactly to have this conversation, the Director explained.
What she was about to say would be rather inconvenient if it leaked outside, apparently.
"So, what happens if we let it slip?"
"…MI6 will come for you, sis."
"Wait, what?"
"Kidding. …But seriously, don't go telling anyone."
"R-right. Got it."
***
｢As you are no doubt aware, the initial measured grade of the Red Gate was A-rank. …However, it ultimately proved to be something quite different from a typical A-rank Gate.｣
"…I won't deny that."
｢The failure to conduct a more precise assessment is clearly our responsibility. It would be equally correct to say that the danger faced by Hunters from other nations was our negligence.｣
Beatrice Claire, Director of the British Hunter Association, held Kim A-rin's gaze steadily as she continued.
She expressed her regret that the Red Gate had proven several times more dangerous than an ordinary A-rank Gate.
Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of M.M.L.I and Arkiel, the situation had been resolved without casualties.
But had things gone even slightly wrong, Kim A-rin and the other Hunters could have been wiped out entirely — and for that, she and the British Hunter Association felt a profound sense of responsibility.
｢Even so, if I may venture to say — our hope is that Britain can continue to maintain a good relationship with Hunters from other nations.｣
"…I understand."
｢And so, I would like to offer Hunter Kim A-rin appropriate compensation for what occurred. Is there anything in particular you would like?｣
Even if it might sound self-serving, she said she had no desire for this incident to create diplomatic friction with other nations.
She wanted to provide compensation that fully reflected Kim A-rin's efforts, Beatrice Claire said.
｢Please, speak freely.｣
"Personally, I would like to request investigative access to the Stonehenge Dungeon Gate."
｢…The Stonehenge Dungeon Gate, you say.｣
"Yes. As you're no doubt aware, the magic stones discovered at Stonehenge are rather unique."
Everything that followed had been discussed with Haetae Guild Master Yoo Do-a on several occasions beforehand.
Since they had already decided what to ask of the British Hunter Association, Kim A-rin laid out her wishes plainly and without reservation.
Above all, the ones who had actually resolved the Thames Red Gate incident were M.M.L.I and Arkiel.
｢I'm afraid I cannot give you a definitive answer right this moment… but I will have one for you before you return to Korea.｣
When you considered who that overwhelmingly powerful entity had come to England for, the British Hunter Association was in no position to go against Kim A-rin's wishes.
Even if it was the Haetae Guild that had first made the request to M.M.L.I —
the fact that M.M.L.I's staggering power had been used on Kim A-rin's behalf didn't change.
｢Is there anything else you might wish of us?｣
Beatrice Claire took a deferential posture toward Kim A-rin across the table.
In truth, Kim A-rin had faced more monsters than any other Hunter during the Red Gate incident.
She had fought harder than anyone, and had been in more danger because of it.
It would have been entirely reasonable for her to be furious and hold the British Hunter Association fully accountable.
Beatrice Claire understood perfectly well that accommodating Kim A-rin's requests was in the British Hunter Association's own best interest.
Hadn't that been precisely why she had gone to Kim A-rin's hospital room in person?
"In that case, may I make one more request?"
｢Of course. Please go ahead.｣
"Rather than for myself — I'd like you to grant a request for… Ji-woo here."
"Huh?"
This, however, was unexpected.
No one had anticipated that instead of asking for something that would benefit Kim A-rin and the Haetae Guild, she would ask the British Hunter Association to extend its goodwill toward Ji-woo.
Even accounting for how close they were as family, Kim A-rin stating her own wishes directly would have been the more advantageous move in the end.
"I'd like to inform you, Director, that Ji-woo here played a significant role in persuading M.M.L.I to deploy to London."
But unlike Beatrice Claire's mildly flustered expression, Kim A-rin had already finished her calculations.
Either way, Ji-woo was a Hunter affiliated with the Haetae Guild, just like Kim A-rin.
In other words, Ji-woo could receive M.M.L.I's protection just as Kim A-rin could.
"M-me?"
"Yes. You 'asked,' remember?"
Kim A-rin brought that fact to the forefront.
So that the British Hunter Association would recognize the need to make a good impression on Ji-woo as well.
And beyond that — so that the British Hunter Association as an organization would become a reliable support network for her sister.
Kim A-rin's goal was ultimately to make Ji-woo's life a little safer.
"Tell them what you want, sis. You've earned it."
"Hmm…."
With Beatrice Claire watching, Kim A-rin wanted to give Ji-woo a platform.
She wanted Ji-woo — who had taken the risk of revealing her summoned being to the world — to walk away with something too.
And so, hearing Kim A-rin's words, Ji-woo quietly turned to Beatrice Claire with a request.
"Um, Director."
｢Yes. Speak freely, dear.｣
"Could you arrange for me to meet the most famous person in England? The one with the most Instagram followers in the whole country?"
｢…Instagram?｣
"If possible, I'd love to take a photo too. …And if it's not too much to ask, I'd really love to follow each other!"
Even so, Ji-woo's request fell into the category of the unexpected.
This was not the kind of request anyone had seen coming.
Something like wanting to eat incredibly delicious food, or wanting a pretty outfit —
that was the sort of childlike request they'd been imagining.
｢Hmm…. I'll look into it for now. It shouldn't take too long.｣
"Oh, thank you so much."
***
｢Excuse me, Your Highness.｣
｢Yes?｣
｢A message just came in. There's a child about Your Highness's age who would like to meet you.｣
｢Oh…. My age?｣
｢Yes.｣
｢Are they cute?｣
｢…Well, in my opinion, yes.｣
