At a construction site in Seoul, old friends Kim Sangshik and Park Beom-shik greeted each other with joy. Kim Sangshik acknowledged that this raid would provide a good opportunity for his old friend, who had given up being a Hunter a few years earlier.
However, with a second baby on the way, there was no better way for Park to make quick and substantial money.
It was then that they noted how a young boy, barely a man, was greeted by other friendly hunters. The boy had bandaids on his cheeks, his wrist was bandaged and he did look as if someone had chewed him and then spit him out.
Besides his clear, still-healing injuries, he made an impression in his fine and expensive hunter gear, even as he seemed to feel uncomfortable in it.
Or maybe it was because of the little female angel, not taller than a Barbie doll, who pulled at his hood with all her might.
"Master!" the Angel squeaked. "Please return home. Mistress made clear she wants you with her."
"Eva, please return to her. It's just a D-Rank Dungeon." the boy assured.
"Mistress, clearly told you don't need to go on Raids anymore! She will be so angry with you when she wakes up!" Eva replied.
"Hey, Sung!" Kim greeted the boy while Park looked on with curiosity. "It's great to have you with us. I thought the Missus wouldn't make you come anymore."
Before Sung Jinwoo could respond, Eva shrieked, "Mistress begged Master to stop! Your foolish ego will get you killed, Master!"
This made Jinwoo just sign, while Kim laughed.
"Heh, seems like you have a little guard dog, kid."
Embarrassed Jinwoo agreed with Kim and walked, still followed by the flying Eva, into the construction side, where he was welcomed by the other Hunters.
"Why are you guys so friendly to the boy?" Park asked. "Is he a big deal? A magician if he has an angel companion."
Kim could only snort.
"No, the boy is the exact opposite. He even was once hospitalized during an E-Rank dungeon. People call him the weakest Hunter of Humanity."
Park could only shake his head in disbelief.
"Seriously? Even with the fancy outfit and gear? And what about the little angel?" Park asked.
"Didn't you recognise Eva?" Kim wonders. "Mmh, but if I think about it, not a lot of people know her pocket-sized form."
"Okay, you made me curious, who is the little angel?"
"Oh, just the legendary Evangeline."
The older man couldn't help but laugh at Park's disbelieving face.
"Evangeline?" Park repeated flabbergasted. "One of the summonses of Humanity's Strongest?!"
"Yup, that's her."
"You're pulling my leg, Kim!"
"No, no, it's really Evangeline. You surely did hear the rumours that Humanity's Strongest is married to an E-Rank?"
The disbelief just got bigger on Park's face.
"You're telling me Humanity Strongest is married to this boy, who you all call the weakest Hunter of Humanity?!"
"Crazy, huh?" Kim said as Park nodded. "Sung and she met actually two years ago, before her Second Awaking. Humanity Strongest was indeed an E-Rank before she became the living legend she is now. She was quite shy back then, but the kid and she just clicked and married after a year."
Park whistle impressed.
"That's hard to believe that Humanity Strongest was once so timid, but it's clear they married out of love and she will surely not leave him if he loved her before her changes."
"True." Kim agreed. "S-Ranks are celebrities also and a lot just want her money and power for themselves. The kid is a good husband and she protects him from the media."
"But he is other than her still an E-Rank." Park reminded. "A few months ago she told the press how she was expecting her first child and would take Maternity Leave from the Hunter Business. If the boy gets hurt even during E-Rank dungeons, no wonder she wants him home. My wife nearly didn't let me go today and it's just a D-Rank Dungeon."
"Yeah, but your wife can be calm, if Sung was called this means the Dungeon is harmless," Kim said. "But we should probably stop talking about all that, not that he hears us."
Too late, I heard anything. Jinwoo thought embarrassed. But not like they didn't say anything untrue...
"Jinwoo! You got hurt again!" Joohee, the B-Rank Healer and a good friend of his called him out.
"Miss Joohee!" Eva shouted. "Tell Master he should go home!"
"I just wanted to do that." Joohee agreed, looking Jinwoo up and down. "Even with the best gear and dagger, you still get hurt. Stop being so reckless. You're becoming a father soon!"
"Right!" Eva hollered.
Jinwoo let out a loud sign.
"You don't get it. I want to provide for my family and yes I know Lia makes enough money, even if she is on Maternity Leave now. She pays for my mother's hospital bills, for Jinah's school and anything else in our life. Is it so bad I want to do my part?"
"Yes, if you get killed?!" Joohee and Eva yelled together.
Under the mighty shout of the two females Jinwoo started to sweat, but he stayed firm on his decision.
"I will tell Mistress!" Eva hissed with a hint of malice. "She will come and pull you out herself if she has to!"
"No, please, Eva, don't do it. Lia needs her rest!" Jinwoo pleaded.
Hearing this, Joohee grew concerned. "Oh no. Does Lia still feel sick?" she asked. "What does her doctor say?"
"Ah, our little one is draining Lia's mana," Jinwoo explained, his expression troubled. "It's a rare condition. The fetus absorbs mana from its mother, which leads to strong mana reserves, but it leaves the mother weak. Normally, she needs to stay in bed throughout the pregnancy, but Lia created a seal to regulate the drain. She's managing it better than other women, but she still needs to rest."
"So you shouldn't stress Mistress with your ego trip!" Eva added.
"Eva, please. You know I wouldn't do this Raid if I wasn't sure I could handle it. So please turn a blind eye, just today." Jinwoo begged.
Eva deadpanned before she huffed.
"Alright Master, but this is the last Raid!"
"Yes! Thanks, Eva."
Grumbling under her breath about stupid men and their stupid power trip Eva flows away towards home.
"I will keep an eye on you, even if I think you should go home," Joohee promised and rubbed annoyed her forehead. "I miss the time when Lia was still with us. When she boosted you with her magic, you didn't get hurt so much."
Jinwoo laughed a bit embarrassed, but he missed these old times too. Of course, he was proud of how his wife was not only an S-Rank but in the world ranking number one and was called Humanity's Strongest.
Still, Jinwoo thought bittersweet. I wish I could reach Lia. I wish we could fight together like we used to.
Famous last words.
(*)
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