“So… uh, Violet-noona, just why would you do that?” I asked her, and she gave up looking around at the celebrating, g patients and their families, merely shrugging, deg the situation didn’t matter.

  “Why not? Look, I took charge because I ’t trust my little brother, he’s too timid.” Kang Da protested beside her, but she paid him no mind. “And what with Ohrough Four…” she paused, saddened, perhaps remembering how many of them had perished. “…no, it’s fine. Owo, Three and Four will live on through their repts. It’s happened before…”

  “Isn’t that a bit callous?” Hinata asked, frowning, though I could see the calcution in her eyes, as she was clearly weighing up what we could gain from the situation.

  “Yeah, but this isn’t a game, girl.” Violet-noona agreed. “My life was on the line, just like theirs was. And while they aren’t the same when they e back, they do retain a few memories. So it’s a bit like a shoddy reination. Shit, when we die, there isn’t any ing back for us, is there?”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Aliyah spoke up from where she was guarding the patients. Since we were all versing in English she could easily follow along. Trey looked at her, exasperated, but she ignored him. “There’s that dead girl over there…” she owards the main makeshift hospital. “…and another one ba Japan, right?”

  “I think we’re getting off the point. Yes, it’s irely dissimir to Shaeu’s Kin Bonding.” I calmed the situation. “Though I agree, while all our lives are stantly on the line, ah is a tragedy, and I’m sure you could be a bit kihough…” I narrowed my eyes. “…I think it’s just a g meism. I see you’re more upset than you seem.”

  “This is a first, Bora-noona…” Kang Da muttered, surprised. “He’s interpreting your undylike behaviour very charitably.”

  “Of course. He’s a fighter and a leader, just like y sister!” Violet-noona said proudly, which bemused me a little. “Anyway, you asked, but it’s simple. I’ve seen Shiro-unni fight, and you’re even more impressive, aren’t you? Then there’s your sister, and the others… I want to be the best in Korea, for Violet Scorpions to be the stro. After all…” she looked at her brother, sn dryly. “… as my little bro would tell you, I’m not the ideal Korean girl. I drink too much, I like a fight, I have tattoos… and before now, society looked down on me like I was worthless, an eyesore. Fuck them, who gets to tell me how I get to live, or what’s right? I never hurt anybody, I was just trying to live my best life.”

  It was then she was surprised as Aliyah smacked her on the shoulder warmly. “Yeah, no shit. Society don’t give a crap about ahat’s different. All it does is keep the status quo, keeping the men in power in power to do what the fuck they like. I appreciate a girl who gives them the middle finger.”

  Violet-noona looked at her doubtfully. “Men in power? Sure, Korea is a very male-dominated try, but you think women are aer? Most of the spite and shit I get is from other women, bitter and hateful I don’t fit the mould. You a man-hater, into girls or something? Not that I care to judge. Do what makes you happy.”

  Treyvon loosed a bitter ugh, before seeming tret his ck of professionalism, the new role he had muard duty than being a private military tractor. “She’s got you there, Aliyah. Uh…” he took a deep breath. “Sorry about her. We… we didn’t have an easy start in life. We’ve seen the dark side, and it ged us. So we got tired of being prey, and took charge of our owiny. But living down is, down in the mud… it leaves a mark. And Aliyah, she…”

  “I fug well speak for myself!” she snapped. Realising a few of the patients were looking at her with wide, scared eyes, able to speak a little English, she took a deep breath, and apologised in stilted Japanese.

  “Yeah, calm down, don’t cry. I’m not angry I… uh…” she looked at me, and I nodded.

  “Don’t mind Aliyah. She’s always loud and argumentative, but she’s good at heart, ao protect you. Besides, she’d never hurt a child.”

  Aliyah puzzled through my Japanese, pig out what she could, and she looked down, embarrassed. Violet-noona didn’t uand what I had said, but she had grasped the situation. “Oh, okay.” She brushed off Aliyah’s hand, but in a kindly manner. “Yeah, must be rough. Korea has its problems too. But you ’t bme everything on one group, or even if they were from one group, that doesn’t mean everyone is bad, right? Boss Akio-oppa here isn’t a bad man, is he? I mean, look at the relief in everyone here, not that I get what’s going on… healing, I guess, since he helped me and the others?”

  “Fuck, I know it. But it’s hard hanging around this guy. Unless you’re like Trey.” She smiled bitterly. “He might be the only ohat doesn’t care our bastard employer is stealing all the women around him.”

  “You do you.” Violet-noona shrugged. “But I’m not into women, so…”

  “You’re not my type. For romance, anyway. You’re just my type of woman to hang with though. We should have a beer after this… or what do you drink in Korea?”

  “Whatever I get my hands on.” Violet-noona ughed. “But weren’t we talking about some important shit?”

  “Sorry.” Aliyah agreed, gng at me, before turning back to Violet-noona. “Just… be careful, all right? before you know it, you might be… nah, I don’t even want to say it.”

  “Is it always so iing here?” Yu-mi was asking my sister, who ughed.

  “Pretty much. If we’re not living through a romantiedy love dodecahedron, it’s shog battles and scary monsters, though I’ve only just joined in on that, as I didn’t have my Golden Sisters until retly, so…” My sis suddenly covered her mouth, making an oops face. Yu-mi didn’t say anything, but I could see she had uood something. Way to go sis. You were the oelling me I’d got better at not disclosing things I shouldn’t… oh well. If she joins Hinata’s anisation, there shouldn’t be too many problems…

  “So yeah, when I gaihese abilities, whe…” Violet-noona pronouhe word strangely. “…I looked it up. She’s aian Goddess, apparently. Anyway, when she sent her messenger, promising me power to save the world, to ge it to my liking… I was thrilled. People would finally look at me like I wasn’t a freak, some idiot woman who didn’t get what it meant to be a good Korean woman. Always look small and pretty, perfect hair, skin, modest dress. Show respey elders, find a husband, dedicate my life to him, take up nice b hobbies, pop out some kids… fuck that.” She growled. “I wanted a life of excitement, where I could be me, where I could be happy with myself, where people respected me for me, and didn’t try and shove me in the boxes they made.”

  “Oh Bora-noona…” Kang Da sighed. “You’ve always been a rebel…”

  “Then…” she tio ignore him, addressing us. “…Akio-oppa didn’t seem to be bothered by me, by any of us. Areats everyoh respect, right?”

  Shiro nodded. “Sure, be they Fae, Japanese, ese… whether they’ve attempted to kill him, or fought against him… Aki’s not phased. It’s one of the things I love about him….”

  “So yeah. This taught me a hard lesson.” Violet-noona tinued. “I may have ged, but I’m still not strong enough to force the world to accept me. And I hate that. But… that doesn’t mean I’ve lost. So now…” She looked at me, smiling, and I was struck by her appearance, with her piergs, dyed hair and vivid tattoos, and was reminded of all the prejudice, all the hardships she would fa Japan looking the same way. I mean, I doly care for tattoos myself, but… mom said in the West they are perfectly on, and usually nobody bats an eye over them, seeing them as personal artistic freedom, But then, the East doesn’t ence expression, merely ation. Yeah, not everything here is good…

  “…I don’t have to lead to win, right? I pass off the duty to someone else. And I chose you. I might be hasty, but…”

  “That’s just you, Bora-noona.” Kang Da sighed. “When you make up your mind, you just do it. Not dylike at all!” He looked at us apologetically. “But my big sister has taken a liking to you all. Please look after her, after us…”

  It was then that Minister Kang burst in, having temporarily abandoned her duties with the arriving families of the victims of useon Academy. She was brandishing her phone, and on seeing Violet-noona, her eyes narrowed. “Just what is the meaning of this? You ’t do this, Kang-ssi!”

  “Oh?” She crossed her arms under her chest, grinning savagely. “I think you’ll find I …”

  “I think that you should take this elsewhere…” Shinohara-san said quietly, still flexing her restored arm, barely able to believe it. “This is private business.”

  Hinata agreed, eyeing the South Korean Minister with a predatleam in her eyes. “Yes, you’re quite right. While it does no harm for those Akio has helped to know he is favoured even by South Korean heroes, it seems matters are turning more… teical.” She addressed Minister Kang. “Do calm down, someone in a position of power should remain tranquil. We have a side room we use.” As the relevant parties left, Aliyah murmured some parting words to Violet-noona, and she nodded, ughing. Guess Aliyah has taken a liking to her…

  Once we were all seated in a small side room, Minister Kang took a deep breath, before addressing Violet-noona fiercely. “I have just been informed that you’ve attempted to ge leadership of your Hunter Guild to Mr Oshiro…”

  “I didn’t attempt, I did.” Violet-noona sneered.

  “But you ’t do that! Hunters are a specifically Korean…” she began to rebut, before Violet-noona interrupted her.

  “It doesn’t actually say that. I checked. Besides, if you don’t like it, I always emigrate with my little brother. I heard Japan is accepting immigrants with our skills.”

  “That’s right.” Hinata agreed. “I am more than happy to put in a good word for you, and Haru- is the undersecretary to the relevant Ministry. I am sure she provide the correct paperwork at very short notice. But…” she looked at the Minister wryly. “…is this really such a problem? From what I uand, the Hunter initiative is driven by the failures here at useon. South Korea is woefully underrepresented in terms of Chosen of signifit influence. you afford to aliewo more? And the uilds here are grateful to us, being too harsh with the Violet Scorpions and curtailing their rights might make the uilds sider whether it could happen to them as well. Orust is lost it’s hard tain.”

  “Yeah. Our trust was restored by the gover allowing us autonomy, as long as we pitched in when emergencies cropped up. For fair pay and with useful support.” Violet-noona pressed. “Let’s face it, the gover support here was shit. If it wasn’t for boss Akio-oppa and his girls, we’d be fucked, and you’d be down a lot more Hunters.”

  “But the gover iated with Japan t in Mr Oshiro, so that surely ts as support…” Minister Kang protested, on the back foot.

  Violet-noona g Yu-mi, who was trying to look inspicuous. She’d obviously picked up on what was going on behind the ses, but she merely shook her head. “Yeah, okay I’ll give you that one. Good job. So you get a passing grade, I suppose. But… see, you admit that without fn aid, we were screwed, right?”

  Minister Kang didn’t want to say anything, but under our expet gazes, she tried to sugar-coat it. “Certainly, it prevented unnecessary casualties, but you certainly argue that South Korea has shown it has powerful beings, equal to any…”

  “Had.” Shiro snorted. “Besides, saying your try has the best vilins isly an endorsement. I have to admit, they were a pain, but nothing we ’t handle, right?” She looked around to nods from my sis and the others. “And sure, you might shake out another few, or find some spiritual beings who protect you, but… pared to the threats we face, it won’t be enough.”

  “Yeah, just what I was thinking, Shiro-unni!” Violet-noona said with sparkling eyes. “The whole point of Hunter Guilds wasn’t just to make money, but to band together and live our best lives, and not end up used up and dead like others. Sure, money as well…” she grinned.

  “I quite agree. Profiting from any talent is simple free-market capitalism. Though we also embrace altruism too. We want to do good… but not be sacrificed just because we have gifts others don’t.” Hinata decred. “So, Minister, I would have thought you’d rejoice at having a e with Akio and the others.”

  “It’s not that simple.” Minister Kang was frustrated. “Setting aside the damage this would cause to the Hunter system…”

  “Damage? It might well ence Chosen to emigrate to South Korea, much as we are hoping to attract talent to Japan…” Hinata disagreed, and the Minister held in a sour look.

  “Yes, but… relying on outsiders, especially Japanese…” she began again, and I felt the o step in.

  “Yes, I get it. Japan and South Korea have rather strained diplomatic retions. But that was then. Even if you disregard the threat of apocalypse, a is surely a looming danger. I know your try must be aware of what is going on.”

  “Kyoto…” Minister Kang sighed. “Mr Oshiro, we do uand the danger, but… old fears die hard. Many in gover worry if we let outside powers once more influence Korea, this time we will be swallowed up, occupied, dominated…”

  “Who cares?” Violet-noona scoffed. “The weak and the different are alushed about. I don’t want to be treated like that, not when I put my life on the line, my little brother did too. Choice is the privilege of the strong. Besides…” she looked at me, eyes narrowing. “Britai seem to worry, right? They’re trumpeting your alliance, calling you the Heroes of Britain. We could have the same… in fact, wouldn’t a three-way alliance be better?”

  “Certainly there are potential diplomatic gains, but…” Minister Kang began, agitated. “…it goes against the policy…”

  “Then fix your fug policy.” Violet-noona snarled, clearly exasperated. “Make ges to the w. But when I made the ges tuild, it was legal, so you ’t take that back. Or we’ll quit Korea, and I’ll talk to Choi Ji-ho and Lee Jong-su, plus any uild Leaders I find… st I checked, you ’t restrict that.”

  Maybe I should step in. “Minister, I don’t fully uand what being a Hunter entails, especially not a Guild Leader, but I do know we came here to try and bolster retions. I envisage something simir to our alliah Princess Eleanor of Britain, a mutual defence pact, and potential sharing of knowledge, resources and training. I think it could be a win-win. I mean, we’re the stronger party, so while it’s natural to fear coer, it also means we have more to offer, and you a lot less to lose.” I Violet-noona. “So, just what do you want from me, and what do I have to give iurn? Then I’ll tell you what I want.”

  “Great.” she seemed enthusiastiowing I otentially on-board with it. “Basically, in exge for being called upon in emergencies for fair pay, we get tax breaks, favourable treatment in other ways, and we refuse certain tasks. Though…” she frowned. “…asking you to drop everything and defend Korea in an emergency might flict with your own wishes…”

  “If trouble breaks out everywhere, I have to prioritise my friends and family first. Then my allies. Then my try and the tries allied with us.” I admitted. “But…” That’s the point of the training school and other measures, as well as gathering Chosen. While I still don’t want to send ao danger alo’s wrong of me to say Shiro, Shaeu, Hyath and Daiyu ’t hold their own… and others will be joining them. Even my sis acquitted herself well… Seeming to read my thoughts my sis gave me a thumbs-up, puffing out her chest proudly. “…I have ways of making things possible. We would need free access to South Korea for me and my fellow new Hunters…” I smiled, thinking I would have tister a lot of personnel, and we’d certainly outnumber any uild. “…and also cessions on nd purchases, import and export tariffs…” I o Hinata, who quickly prepared a list, handing it to the shellshocked minister. “…but yes, as an ally, I’d be more than happy to aid the Korean gover with issues that don’t y morality.”

  “I ’t just agree to that.” The Minister flinched. “But… I’ll take it to the President and the others. We … look into it.” She looked as if she was sug on a lemon, her expression sour, but I think she realised that offending the Huhat had respoo the gover’s call was a disaster waiting to happen.

  “In that case… I think you should go. This is business you don’t o know about.” Hinata said pointedly.

  “No, as your liaison, I have to remain party to all discussion here…” she protested.

  “That’s fine.” Hinata said, gng at me, and I nodded. “If you hahe sequences. Chosen and Hunter matters should remaiween Chosen. Knowing too much be a burden. Besides…” her stern expression rexed. “Won’t all the important people receiving their traumatised loved ones need briefing, the situation handling? We also o show our faces, after all, we helped in the rescue.”

  With that Minister Kang was defeated, and clutg the dots, she shuffled out, and Violet-noona ughed with mirth and relief. “Mean old hag. I ’t believe we share the same family name. I swear she’s ion.”

  “I don’t know, you have quite the temper yourself, Bora-noona…” her bran, before she told him to shut up.

  “So, what’s so secret that you ’t tell the bitch?” she asked. “Hunter matters, huh?”

  “I’m going to ask you holy.” I said, serious, and she gulped, looking me in the eyes. “If this is a whim, or something you’ll regret, there’s still time to back off now. But if you want me in charge, then I’m in charge, and while I’ll help you both grow stronger and protect you, in exge you follow my orders, and work towards my goals. Don’t get me wrong, I ence everyoo fulfil their own dreams…”

  “That’s true…” Shiro murmured.

  “…but saving the world and those we love on it e first.” I finished, and Violet-noona looked offended.

  "Fuck it, boss Akio-oppa, you think I’m not sincere? I’m always ho, I don’t give a fuck if people think I’m rude, but I don’t lie. I want in. I want to be somebody. I eople to look at me and not see some rebel girl who doesn’t fit in. And I want my stupid little brother to have a good role model as well. So don’t insult me. I’m ready for anything.” She g the women. “Though if you want that I’m not easy, at least take me out for some damn beers first.”

  Yu-mi ughed cheerfully. “You don’t have to worry. He’s not as lusty as the rumours say. Which is equally fasating and oddly frustrating.” Turning to me, Yu-mi nodded, impressed. “I’ve seen you quer two of South Korea’s Hunters in record time. You’ve been here less than a day. Now I definitely don’t regret joining Adamant.” She looked at Hinata boldly. “I will resolve their issues over the few days, you have my word. If so, I want a promotion!”

  “In that case, you’ll also o work hard at training.” Hinata giggled. “But if you finally pull this st thorn, we move ahead with what needs doing. So you won’t just have my gratitude, but that of the others. And they are all girls whose debt is worth more than gold.”

  As they discussed that, I sighed. “Sorry. But I don’t want as. If you are certain… then I want you to swear Vassage to me. That way I guide you and there shouldn’t be any trust issues. Plus…”

  Shiro ughed heartily. “You legally get a couple more treasures from the Tower for your new Vassals. Clever. Besides, getting Hyath to set up a Ring Gate, it should definitely be in a Vassal Territory for security. Damn, Asha’s Tree is going to have to work overtime.”

  “You too.” I promised her, thinking of her new buff skill. We’ll have time to run a few preliminary tests in a minute, I hope. “But you’re right. This is the best way.”

  “Vassal, huh? Sounds subservient, but… you won’t mistreat us, right? He won’t, will he?” she asked the girls, and my sis answered for them.

  “No way. My bro’s too kind to a fault, especially to girls. Though you’re an odd one. I’d say you aren’t his type, but my bro has a wide strike zone nowadays. Anyway, just don’t worry a my bro handle everything. Our overseas expansion tinues!”

  “Fihen. Little brother, you too.” Violet-noona said, agreeing.

  You have gained a Vassal Territory. Your Css, queror, has increased from Level 22 to Level 23.

  I also received a sed amber message of a Vassal Territory, but queror didn’t ge. On asking some brief questions as to why, it seemed that while Violet-noona’s Territory was surely at Rank 3, Kang Da’s was at Rank 2. So there should be another Level in it when he reaches Rank three. Excellent.

  “This is weird. I feel I’m restricted a little. Like… if I wao attack you, I don’t think I could without really pushing myself, and then it feels a terrible idea, with sequences.” Violet-noona mused.

  “That’s the Vassal rules. I’ll set a low tax rate, I don’t need your ether at the moment.” I promised, looking over their Territory with my Eye over our new e. Impressively, the highlights were the two Rank 2 Throne of Heroes that Violet-noona possessed to aid her Divine Favour, and was the reason that her brother’s Territory was still trash, as most of their effort had focussed on that.

  “So, just what’s your abilities?” I asked, w out how they could be used.

  “I’ve got three.” Violet-noona said proudly. “I’m very poisoant, unless I don’t want to be, so booze still works, or I’d be pissed…” My sis and I shared a rueful smile at that rea. “I also exude venom, through my breath, fingernails or hair… maybe I’ll grow it out.” She touched her dyed hair girlishly. “And stly, I summon scorpions. They aren’t much use… unless I stick them on these strahings I built. I don’t know how I knew what to do, but it seemed the best idea, and it worked.” She sighed. “Going to have to call more… but not today. I’m too exhausted.”

  “As for me, you’ve seen what I do.” Kang Da expined. “My explosive orbs are slow to create but deadly. I’m not much use in lhts, but in quid dirty flicts…”

  “Great. You’ll both be useful.” I agreed. “But… uh, the Guild name…”

  “You ge it. Seems odd when I’m not the boss anymore.” Violet-noona agreed, a touch regretfully.

  “Maybe we’ll keep a scorpion on the Guild emblem…” I promised, feeling a little guilty. “Anyway, Hinata, Yu-mi, do we have a little time? I want to test Shiro’s new buff skill. I think now is a good time for the basics.” I looked again at my her Healing notification.

  Your Skill, Ether Healing, has increased from Rank 9 to Rank 10, asding the third pinnacle and reag the fourth horizon. You ow sehe presence of ???????? within Material and Spiritual bodies and touch it, though your prehension of ????????? is insuffit for safe maniputioher and Adherence are both extremely easy to use in repairing injuries to the subtle bodies, and your own subtle bodies regee at a rapid pace. Your subtle bodies are more malleable, and parameters such as age and appearance be maniputed slightly. Natural aging of the Material body is no longer a , and the wear ahe turies p your spirit is less damaging and more easily weathered. Your ability to accelerate and augment the healing of damage in others with Aether and Adherence is increased signifitly, and your Aether and Adherence leave a lingering regeive effect which persists a short while if you so wish.

  As always, crossing some sort of barrier tress gave rise to the biggest leaps in power. It was also a slightly different description as to when I had reached Rank 10 using Shiro’s buffs, perhaps because I had Ranked up a number of reted skills like Aetheric Chirurgeon and Adherence Manipution, and gained some others.

  “Oh joy.” Shiro sighed. “You might as well take a look, Violet. We didn’t get this strong by just relying on what the Gods gave out. No, we train like crazy nearly every day, doing impossibly stupid things if it’ll give us a boost. I think Aki has a fetish for it…”

  “No way. My bro was always too zy to train before, hence why he sucked at sport. But…” my sis grinned. “…maybe you’re right, and my dedication has influenced him!”

  “If yoing to be rude, sis, maybe you should test Shiro’s buff first?” I teased, and she went pale.

  “The way you say that sounds pretty damn awful. It is going to be Ether Healing all ain?”

  “Probably. Maybe worse. But…” I grinned. “Shiro, I know you’re tired still. How many you throw out?”

  “Hard to say.” She answered, waving a hand uainly. “Two should be easy. Maybe three. Four at the maximum for now?”

  “Okay then. Might as well start by giving it to me.” I said, unwilling to let anyone else test it first.

  Shiro nodded. “I knew you’d say that. So… it’s a non-targeted one, like Blessing of Many Gifts, so… here we go.” She waved her hand, aher, coloured with some adherence, surged into me. I immediately felt energy bubbling within. It leasant, almost hot feeling, like I had drunk warm amazake on a cold winter day. My Eye glowed, and I could see that indeed, several of my Skills that were close to the limit had Ranked up temporarily, giving me hope it could work. The only problem was the warmth was building, and suddenly my body began to shudder, needles of hot pain repg the f warmth.

  “Yeah, this is not niot at all.” I groaned, coughing some crimson blood, which was smoking and bubbling. “Oddly enough though, it hurts a little less than being bathed in Hyath’s spores. Though it is increasing!” As ten minutes passed, I started to sweat blood from my skin, a fairly horrific sight, after twenty, my eyes were also bleeding. What I had noticed was that around fifteen minutes in, one Skill that hadn’t beeed ticked over to the Rank as well.

  “All right, that’s enough.” I said, and I used Chirurgery to clear out the adherence, and the buff died down. Washing myself off with some water element, I sidered the brief experiment.

  “That was fairly awful.” Yu-mi said quietly to Hinata, who giggled softly.

  “It’s not for fun. But amazing things happen when Akio works together with everyone.”

  As Violet-noona and Kang Da watched on, unnerved, I turo my sister apologetically. “Sorry, sis. You’re the best choice for the est. We’ll have to run proper dedicated experiments when we’re ba Japan, but I want to get a feel for it.”

  “Fine. I knew I’d have days like this when I accepted…” She g Yu-mi, unwilling to make the same mistake again. “Just do it.”

  Shiro nodded, and soon my sis was trembling, even early exposure to the buff painful. It was then I started expanding my Boiling Blood Resonance Link, and suddenly my sis appeared more rexed, as a signifit proportion of the damaging side effects passed through into my body. We kept it up for twenty minutes again, before I cleared the buff from my sis. She hadn’t bled like I did, as I had tained a signifit amount of her esg pain and injury. her some water, she rinsed herself.

  “Yeah, not fun. But we learned some things, right bro?” she wi me.

  “Yeah. My skill does mitigate the damage, and while we’d o test it food twenty-four hours or so, it seems that the longer Shiro’s buff runs, while the injury is worse, the effects are greater.”

  “So what does that mean?” Violet-noona asked.

  “It means that certain Skills we really want to work at higher Ranks potentially be buffed. But the downsides need w out. It’s definitely not safe.”

  “I guess it’s my turn then.” Shiro pined. “I manage one more.” With a groan she buffed herself, and unlike Anesidora’s Blessings, it seemed to work on her. I ected the Resonance Link, and after ten mi seemed to firm it worked the same as it did for me and my sis. As a bonus, my Skill also Ranked up, which seemed very quick.

  Your Skill, Boiling Blood Resonance Link has increased from Rank 1 to Rank 2. Your Boiling Blood and that of those you resoh will be slightly strengthened, and the dista which a Link be maintained increases. You further mitigate the backsh of others who are suffering from the effects of Boiling Blood, and the damage to you will be increased slightly less.

  “So there’s a range limit, is there? Iing.” I hadn’t seen such a limit on Lovers’ Link, so I was curious about the difference. Once Shiro had mopped her brow, I offered her some water as well. “Yeah, we o run some further experiments, but I’m fident we have something special here.”

  “You don’t want us to step up?” Violet-noona asked. “Rather than your sister and yirlfriend?”

  “It’s a matter of practicality. It’s easier with them for several reasons, even if I’ve no wish to hurt them.” I pointed out. I was about to say more when the door opened, revealing Haru. On seeing us all here, she greeted us, then said that Kim Eui’s parents had arrived at the facility, and she wanted us to be there.

  I see. Haru has taken an i in her, and she’s certainly brave, resourceful and driven, if traumatised by the hell she’s lived through. But none of that matters. I owe Haru, so if she wants my help, she have it. “We’re about done here anyway with the tests and the discussion, so lead on.” I turo Yu-mi. “You should probably keep a low profile. Otherwise you might expose your father’s position.”

  “Yes, I’ll stay behind. Besides, I’m waiting for Miss Eri, aren’t I?” she smiled, looking at her rather ch. “But I trust you take care of what needs doing.” She looked at Violet-noona and Kang Da. “Why don’t you stay and talk a bit? I’m very curious about Hunters… or Chosen, I should say.”

  As Violet-noona and Kang Da exged looks, agreeing, I gestured to Haru. “Lead the way. I’ll support you and Kim Eui in whatever you decide is best…” Beside me, Hinata was smiling as if she was about to enter a battle, and I supposed she was. Now that the families of the victims are ing, she’s going to want to see what she wring out of their gratitude…

  ShipTeaser