Chapter 25: The Warmth of a First Meeting

The most effective way to suppress the effects of an engraving was to counter it with an opposing force.

Just as pouring water onto fire weakens the flames, engravings also react similarly.

When opposing energies collide, the overflowing force naturally diminishes.

“Huu…”

A chilling frost, blooming like ice flowers, spread from the nape of his neck, slowly encroaching upon his body.

Allure and frost.

More precisely, the yang energy within his allure and the yin energy contained in the frost clashed, devouring each other’s presence.

“Mm, this is getting difficult.”

Baek Eun-seol, who had been observing the process, let out a small murmur.

Si-woo’s Frostflower engraving was a byproduct of the yin energy overflowing from Baek Eun-seol.

Positioned as the complete opposite of the Symbol of Allure, which represented yang energy, this engraving was capable of suppressing Si-woo’s allure.

“It looks like your engraving is about to level up.”

However, the problem was that Si-woo’s Symbol of Allure was a growth-type engraving.

Unlike his ever-evolving allure, the Frostflower engraving was an artificial engraving, created as a mere byproduct.

Even if it was pushed to its limits, its maximum potential was only at B-rank.

Worse yet, if Baek Eun-seol didn’t continue replenishing it with yin energy, it would eventually be consumed by Si-woo’s engraving instead.

“Even if I keep recharging it, I won’t be able to suppress it for long.”

In terms of pure power, it was simply outclassed.

Even if Baek Eun-seol infused it with yin energy daily, the Frostflower engraving would inevitably hit a ceiling and fail to hold back the spreading allure.

If that happened, the power of allure would run rampant.

Even if Si-woo tried to suppress it with magic, it wouldn’t be as effective as it was now.

Any freshman unaware of mental barriers—or ordinary people with little to no resistance to mana—would fall under Si-woo’s influence the moment they locked eyes with him.

“Then the solution is…”

“You’ll need a new engraving. Not an artificial one made from my excess yin energy, but a proper engraving of your own.”

“…Ha, that won’t be easy, will it?”

“Of course not.”

Si-woo let out a deep sigh as he stared down at his engraving.

Seeing this, Baek Eun-seol patted his shoulder reassuringly, but in doing so, she was reminded of a bitter memory.

A time before she met Si-woo.

A time when she was still trapped in that hell.

Eight years ago.

January 1st. On the day she turned twenty, Baek Eun-seol awakened her engraving like everyone else.

“Ugh…!”

The moment that was universally considered a blessing had arrived.

But for Baek Eun-seol, her awakening was anything but a blessing.

It was a horrifying curse that would change her life forever.

“…This is quite an unusual case.”

Baek Eun-seol had awakened not one, but two engravings.

To be precise, one engraving had given birth to another.

Baek Eun-seol’s body was far too weak to handle the overwhelming power of an SS-rank engraving by normal standards.

As a result, the engraving, unable to be fully contained within her, created a new engraving specialized in physical adaptation, using its own overflowing energy as a foundation.

And that engraving was an astonishing S-rank.

<Engraving Name: Snow White’s Flower>

Allows the user to manifest the frost of the Crimson Lotus Hell.

Grants complete immunity to freezing effects.

Unlocks the sub-engraving ‘Nine Yin Divine Veins.’

The frost of the Crimson Lotus Hell has settled within the user’s body.

Greatly enhances the effectiveness of ice-based abilities.

Forces the user to live in eternal cold.

One engraving that specialized in ice-attribute magic and another that modified her body to match it.

Born with this perfectly complementary set, Baek Eun-seol instantly became a rising star in the Hunter world.

She skipped two years at the Academy and graduated as the top student.

She obtained her A-rank Hunter qualification within just three years and participated in two S-rank gate subjugations.

That alone would have been impressive, but what set Baek Eun-seol apart was her unwavering focus.

Unlike other Hunters who dabbled in modeling or entertainment, she silently and relentlessly cleared gates, refusing to seek fame elsewhere.

This dedication earned her the title of the youngest S-rank Hunter in South Korea.

Those who knew nothing praised her as a hero—a true Hunter.

But among her fellow Hunters, her actions were described differently.

“She’s insane.”

“Either that or she was born crazy.”

Gate subjugation was a life-or-death endeavor.

No matter how strong or fearless a Hunter was, clearing even a single gate required days of rest afterward.

One mistake.

A single misjudgment—one that might not even be considered a mistake—could lead to death.

That was why safety was the top priority for Hunters when tackling gates.

But for Baek Eun-seol, safety was the least of her concerns.

‘It’s so cold…’

All she wanted was to escape this Crimson Lotus Hell.

The overwhelming power Baek Eun-seol gained came with an unavoidable side effect.

While the Nine Yin Divine Veins engraving granted her resistance to freezing, it provided no protection against the frost produced by Snow White’s Flower.

Her tolerance was no different from that of an ordinary person, making every single day agonizing.

No matter how many layers of clothing she wore.

No matter how deeply she buried herself under blankets.

Even if she threw herself into flames.

The frost consuming her body never allowed her warmth.

If only she could die, it might be easier.

Countless times, Baek Eun-seol had entertained that thought in the midst of her suffering.

If only she had neither of these abilities.

How much had she come to despise this contradictory power?

‘It’s so cold…’

There was only one reason why Baek Eun-seol spent sleepless nights relentlessly clearing gates.

Unless she was exhausted to the point of collapse, she simply couldn’t fall asleep in this unbearable cold.

Even eating was painful—every meal felt like biting into ice, making even the act of chewing torturous.

“That’s impossible for me. Hunter Baek Eun-seol, your engraving is a growth-type, and with both an SS-rank and an S-rank engraving working in synergy, it’s beyond my capability.”

“At the very least, you’d need an SS-rank engraving related to yang energy. Without that, escaping the cold is impossible.”

“Medicine? You can’t suppress an engraving’s power with something like that.”

She had sought every possible solution to her condition.

And she had found nothing.

She had asked renowned professors, high-ranking Hunters, and even researchers from the Hunter Association for help.

But the only answers she ever received were the same.

It’s impossible.

Give up.

How many times had she heard those words?

Dozens? Hundreds?

Yet, even after countless rejections, Baek Eun-seol refused to give up.

“I… don’t want to die.”

Even if dying would be easier, she wanted to live.

Even while thinking death might be the better option, she couldn’t bring herself to embrace it.

If she had ever lost that will, she would have never become a Hunter in the first place.

Snow White’s Flower was a growth-type engraving.

As Baek Eun-seol grew stronger as a Hunter, the frost she emitted became even more powerful—it was an inevitability that required no further explanation.

The stronger she became, the deeper she sank into the abyss.

And along the way, she lost her way more times than she could count.

Baek Eun-seol had tried to give up before.

She had attempted self-harm.

She had even considered throwing herself into a gate modeled after a volcano.

But in the end, she couldn’t surrender.

Become a Hunter. Earn wealth and fame.

And with that wealth and fame, find a way to eliminate the side effects of Snow White’s Flower.

She had come too far to simply choose death now.

Even if she were to die eventually, she had resolved to struggle until the very end.

Even knowing that she was walking straight into hell, she refused to stop.

“Where are you right now?”

<Here? Uh… Fixer Host Bar, I think?>

Hearing the researcher’s slurred speech, Baek Eun-seol pressed her fingers against her throbbing temple.

Did I really make a mistake this time?

Among the researchers she sponsored, this one had been considered a promising talent.

She had provided generous funding without hesitation.

But never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that money would end up in the hands of a host.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone embezzle funds just to hand them over like an offering.”

Sighing, she ended the call and tightly shut her eyes.

No matter how talented someone was, if their mental state was this much of a mess, it was better to find another researcher.

Wait… do host bars even still exist these days?

Curious, she searched for the name of the host bar the researcher had mentioned.

Finding it closer than she expected, Baek Eun-seol threw on a long coat and started walking.

“This must be the place.”

In less than ten minutes, she arrived in a dimly lit alley where the host bar was located.

She pushed open the door and stepped inside.

A strong, indescribable scent filled the air, making her instinctively wrinkle her nose.

Should I just leave?

She had come hoping to hear about the research results, but she already knew a place like this wasn’t for her.

Brushing off her distaste, she moved through the host bar’s hallway.

“Where the hell is that woman.”

“Hmm? A new customer?”

A male voice interrupted her thoughts.

Baek Eun-seol turned her head irritably, scanning the host bar’s interior.

A young man with ash-gray hair approached her, wearing a practiced smile.

It was a face she had never seen before.

…Huh?

And on that day.

For the first time in seven years, Baek Eun-seol felt warmth.