The café had grown quiet as the afternoon crowd gradually thinned out. Most of the customers had left, leaving only a handful of people behind.
Han Jinhyuk and Siwoo sat at one of the tables, while Elena and the other two employees remained nearby.
"Pleeeeease!"
Siwoo clasped Elena's hand in both of his and gave it an eager tug.
"Let's all hang out together! Pretty please?"
Elena looked down at the boy, who was gazing up at her with eyes practically sparkling with anticipation.
She'd already lost the battle before it even began.
With a helpless sigh, she relented.
"Alright. You win."
Siwoo's face immediately lit up.
Elena smiled and gave his head a gentle pat before turning to the man sitting across from them.
"Would that be alright with you, Mr. Han?"
Jinhyuk gave a small nod, then spoke without hesitation.
"Please call me Jinhyuk."
Seo Elena blinked.
It was such a simple request, yet she hadn't expected him to say it so directly.
"O-Okay. Jinhyuk-ssi, then..."
She awkwardly rubbed her fingertips together, unsure why she suddenly felt so self-conscious. After a brief pause, she returned his gesture with a small smile.
"Then you can call me Elena, too."
"Alright."
And just like that, the conversation came to an end.
For some reason, exchanging their names had felt far more awkward than it should have.
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
I... was on a first-name basis with Han Jinhyuk. Me? With the strongest hunter in the world?
I kept my expression perfectly composed, but inside, I was anything but calm.
Calm down, Seo Elena. Just breathe. He's just another customer!
...A customer who happened to be the strongest hunter in the world.
No big deal. Yeah, absolutely no big deal.
Except it was a very big deal.
Han Jinhyuk. The Monarch of Dungeons.
His face was practically everywhere. On television, on billboards towering over city streets, on magazine covers, in advertisements, and across news broadcasts around the world.
Even people who knew absolutely nothing about hunters would recognize him.
Hell, if someone claimed they didn't know who he was, people might actually suspect them of being a spy from the North.
That's how famous he was.
And now, that very same man was sitting right in front of me, drinking coffee in my café as if he were an ordinary customer.
An ordinary customer who could probably destroy an entire city by himself...
"Jinhyuk-ssi, do you like coffee?" I asked, doing my best to sound casual. "This is your third cup."
"I like Americano."
"Then, would you like something sweet to go with it?"
"Alright. Then, I'll let you decide what's best."
Huh? He wants me to choose? For someone with his reputation, I hadn't expected that. But then again, who wouldn't like desserts?
"Alright. I'll bring you something I think you'll like."
Still, it's a bit strange. Is Hunter Han Jinhyuk usually this friendly with people?
I'd seen plenty of videos of him online, and he always seemed so unapproachable. Sometimes, he even came across as downright rude.
Could it be... I'm an exception?
I fanned my burning cheeks at the idea and quickly looked away. What am I even thinking?
I'm being too delusional.
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
"Shouldn't we separate them?" Diana remarked.
"They weren't even dating when they parted ways, yet they're already acting like a couple despite having lost both of their memories."
"I suppose this is what humans would call 'fatedlove.'"
"Don't tell me... Have you been watching those dramas, too?"
Diana burst into laughter and draped an arm around Prometheus's shoulders.
"Hey, want to watch some together? I'll recommend you a few good ones!"
Atticus let out a weary sigh and returned to his work.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
Though, considering how much trouble it had taken to get things this way, he wasn't sure how long it would last.
Elena's final gift to them had been the ability to take human form, just as Diana had always wished.
None of them had ever openly admitted it, but she knew how much they'd longed to experience life as humans. For decades, they'd watched humanity from afar, observing their joys, sorrows, and ordinary daily lives. They'd witnessed so much of the human world, yet had never been able to truly become a part of it.
And now, thanks to Elena, they finally could.
The price, however, had been her own life.
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
In the depths of space, where darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, an unknown figure stood before three constellations.
There was no gravity, no warmth, and no sound. Only the suffocating silence of the cosmos, where the cold was enough to freeze any ordinary living being to death.
The hunters had already returned to their respective worlds, leaving the vast expanse of space utterly deserted.
Or so it should have been.
A figure clad in a hood had appeared before the constellations without warning. Their face remained hidden beneath the fabric, making it impossible to discern even the slightest detail of their appearance.
Then, a voice echoed inside their minds.
Who could possibly possess the power to communicate directly with the minds of three constellations?
"Do not speak of her memories. Do not attempt to make her remember anything. She must live her life however she pleases."
The words were abrupt, leaving no room for questions or objections.
The three constellations exchanged bewildered glances.
What was this being talking about? And who were they to issue such a command?
"What are you talking about?!" one of them demanded. "Who are you?!"
There was no answer.
The hooded figure simply stood still, seemingly indifferent to their questions. Then, they slowly raised one hand and opened their palm.
In the next instant, a figure appeared before them.
Seo Elena.
Her body floated weightlessly through the darkness, her expression peaceful, as though she were merely sleeping.
Her hair shimmered with a bright, natural radiance, its strands interwoven with streaks of brown. There was something almost divine about her appearance, like a goddess of nature who cherished every living thing beneath the heavens.
For a moment, the three constellations could only stare.
"If you wish to protect her, then you must become human for the rest of your lives."
The hooded figure's voice echoed directly inside their minds.
"Your lifespans will be limited. You will lose your powers as constellations, and she will have no memories of you or anyone else. She will begin her life anew, knowing nothing of her past. Do you agree?"
What an absurd question.
The answer had been clear from the very beginning.
"Yes."
There was no hesitation, no need for discussion. The three constellations answered as though the choice had already been made long before the question was even asked.
Protecting Elena had become their purpose. Somewhere along the way, she had become someone they simply couldn't bear to lose. She was almost like a child to them, someone they wanted to cherish, watch over, and protect for as long as they could.
Besides, becoming human had been a dream of theirs for a very long time.
They'd spent decades observing humanity from afar, watching their life unfold, exploring their entertainment, and witnessing the countless little things that made human life so fascinating.
They'd always wondered what it would be like to experience those things for themselves.
And now, they were being given that very opportunity.
What could this be, if not a miracle?
The irony wasn't lost on them. After all, weren't they supposed to be the gods?
Constellations were born from all kinds of things: emotions, history, legends, and the imaginations of those who believed in them. They were beings shaped by the stories and feelings of humanity, yet now, they were being granted the chance to live as humans themselves.
Perhaps even gods could receive blessings from something greater than themselves.
"However, I'd still like to ask once more. Who are you?" Atticus questioned.
The figure remained silent for a moment. They knew instinctively that provoking this divine being wasn't the right thing to do, but it wasn't as if the constellations were any less powerful themselves.
"You may think of me as an ancestor of this child."
Their attention shifted to Elena's peacefully floating body.
"Take good care of her." The figure lowered their hand. "This will be the first and last time we meet."
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
I met up with Siwoo again today.
Rumors had been spreading that I had a secret child, thanks to how often I'd been seen with the boy. And with the café growing busier by the day, it was only a matter of time before people started recognizing me as a regular.
My biggest concern, however, was Elena.
I'd been coming here every day without fail, but the more time passed, the harder it became to go unnoticed. At this rate, someone was bound to get curious about why I kept showing up.
Should I start wearing a ring that distorts my look? Maybe that would help put an end to the rumors.
"Jinhyuk-ssi? The usual today?" Elena asked.
She seemed swamped with work. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead as she moved about behind the counter.
The air conditioner was working just fine, but with so many people crammed inside her humble café, the heat seemed to gather in the center of the room, where most of the customers were seated.
"Yes."
Elena smiled before turning away to attend to the other customers. For some reason, watching her walk away filled me with a strange sense of dread.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but I decided to ignore it and settled into my seat.
"...Hyung!"
I snapped out of my thoughts and looked down at the boy beside me. He was pouting, clearly unhappy with how little attention I'd been paying him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. How's school these days?"
His expression brightened immediately, and he launched into a story about his school life and the new friends he'd made. I listened as he rambled on, occasionally nodding along.
Halfway through his explanation, Elena returned with a tray of my usual coffee and sweets, setting them down in front of us.
I didn't particularly come here for the food and drinks, but I supposed I'd grown accustomed to whatever she served me. At this point, ordering anything else would probably feel strange.
"Oh, by the way, Jinhyuk-ssi, are you...?" Elena hesitated, scratching the back of her head as her gaze wandered everywhere but my face. "Free tomorrow?"
I looked at her with a calm expression.
Did she have any idea who she was asking? The world's strongest hunter?
Of course I wasn't free. I'd been putting off my work for the past few days, leaving my vice guild master to deal with the mess I'd created.
I had a mountain of documents waiting for my approval and countless meeting requests from other hunters. Some of them had been waiting for nearly a year.
I was anything but free.
"Yes. I'm free. Why do you ask?"
Fuck.
"Is that so?" Elena's face brightened. "Then, would you like to go out with me tomorrow evening? There's this place I've been wanting to visit, and I thought it'd be nice to have someone accompany me."
I stared at her.
Tomorrow evening?
Had I lost my mind?
"It's fine if you're busy, though!" she added quickly. "Oh, but before that, what kind of food do you like? Is there anything you'd particularly want to eat?"
"Anything is fine."
It was the truth. I wasn't particularly picky about food, and after years of eating whatever was available during dungeon raids, I wasn't about to complain about a restaurant.
"Anything?" she repeated.
"Yes."
"Then, is there anything you don't eat? Or anything you're allergic to?"
"No."
"Oh, that's good!"
She seemed genuinely relieved.
"Then I'll pick the restaurant! How about we meet around six? There's another place I'd like to visit nearby, too, so maybe we can go there afterward if we have time."
"Six o'clock?"
"Yes! Would that be okay with you?"
I nodded.
"That works."
"Great! Then I'll send you the details later. Thank you, Jinhyuk-ssi!"
She bowed her head slightly before hurrying back to the counter, looking considerably happier than she had a moment ago.
I watched her go.
Then I slowly lowered my gaze to the untouched coffee in front of me.
What the hell had I just agreed to?
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
I pulled it out, only to find a message from my vice guild master.
Kim Taewon: Guild Master, I would appreciate it if you could come to work soon. You've been neglecting important approvals for nearly two weeks.
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived before I could reply.
Kim Taewon: Please, at least sign the urgent documents. The other guilds are waiting for your responses, and several matters cannot proceed without your approval.
A third message followed.
Kim Taewon: May I ask what you've been occupied with all this time, Guild Master?
I could practically picture Kim Taewon standing in his office, dark circles under his eyes, surrounded by stacks of paperwork.
The man was a saint.
A terribly unfortunate saint who'd made the mistake of becoming my vice guild master.
I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket.
I'd deal with it tomorrow.
"Hyung."
Siwoo leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with a curiosity that immediately put me on guard.
"What?"
"Are you going on a date with Noona?"
I nearly choked on my coffee.
"It's not a date."
"Then why are you going out together?"
"Because she asked me to accompany her somewhere."
"Isn't that what a date is?"
"No. Just finish your cake."
He giggled, clearly pleased with himself.
I should've known better than to expect any help from a child.
Still, as I leaned back in my chair, my gaze drifted toward the counter again.
Elena was busy taking another customer's order, a small smile lingering on her lips.
Seeing her, I feel strange.