Solo Leveling: The Last Primal Hunter
Chapter 9: Coffee, Confessions, and a Warning
Jasmine sipped her latte, her fingers lightly tapping the side of the ceramic cup.
Across the table, Mri grinned, stirring his own coffee lazily.
“So, Jasmine,” he said, leaning forward, “since you finally agreed to this date, let’s make it interesting.”
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. “I already regret this.”
“Too late,” he said, his smirk widening. “Let’s play Twenty Questions.”
She sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “Really?”
“Yes,” Mri nodded. “We ask each other one question at a time. Truth only. No dodging.”
Jasmine narrowed her eyes. “Fine. But if your questions get annoying, I’m leaving.”
Mri placed a hand over his heart. “I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”
Jasmine snorted. “Doubtful. But fine. You go first.”
Mri tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Okay. First question—why do you always reject me?”
Jasmine smirked. “Because you’re annoying.”
“Ouch.”
“My turn.” Jasmine leaned back. “Why do you keep chasing after me?”
Mri met her gaze, his expression unusually sincere. “Because I know you’re special. And I don’t mean the whole S-Rank Hunter thing. I mean… you.”
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Jasmine blinked, caught off guard.
She quickly looked away. “That was a stupid answer.”
Mri chuckled. “Was it? Alright, your turn.”
Jasmine exhaled. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”
Mri''s smirk faltered for a brief second. “More than you think.”
Jasmine stared at him, searching for the lie.
She found none.
Their conversation flowed from casual teasing to deeper topics—their childhoods, their dreams, their fears.
For the first time, Jasmine realized Mri wasn’t just some flirt.
He was hiding something.
And the more she talked to him, the more she wanted to figure him out.
By the time they finished their coffee, the sun had begun to set.
---
An Evening Walk
The streets glowed in the golden light of dusk as they walked side by side.
Jasmine hugged herself slightly as the cool evening breeze swept past them.
Mri walked beside her, hands in his pockets, glancing at her every so often.
“Alright, I’ll admit it,” Jasmine muttered. “This wasn’t… terrible.”
Mri grinned. “That’s the highest praise I’ve ever gotten from you.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes but smiled.
For a few moments, they walked in comfortable silence.
Then Mri spoke.
“Do you ever think about leaving all this behind?”
Jasmine frowned. “All what?”
“Hunting. Fighting. The whole S-Rank Hunter life.”
Jasmine sighed. “All the time.”
Mri looked at her, curiosity in his gaze. “Then why don’t you?”
She scoffed. “Because the world doesn’t let me. The moment I awakened, my fate was sealed.”
Mri nodded slowly. “Yeah… I get that.”
Jasmine glanced at him. “You never told me why you hide your power.”
Mri smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Because if the IHA knew what I could do… they’d never let me live in peace.”
Jasmine’s system had already identified him as an S-Rank Beast Summoner.
Yet, he had never registered.
That meant he was hiding something.
Something big.
“You don’t trust the IHA?” she asked.
Mri shook his head. “I trust people. Not organizations.”
Jasmine understood that feeling all too well.
As they continued walking, Mri suddenly stopped.
“Jasmine.”
She turned to him. “What?”
He hesitated. Then, with a serious expression, he said, “Just promise me one thing.”
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Mri’s golden eyes locked onto hers.
“No matter what happens… don’t face it alone.”
Jasmine felt her heartbeat quicken.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
Mri smiled again—his usual playful smirk.
“Nothing,” he said. “Just making sure you remember me when the world starts falling apart.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Dramatic much?”
Mri simply chuckled.
Little did she know, his words were a warning.
---
A System Notification That Changed Everything
As they reached the crossroad where they had to part ways, Jasmine turned toward her home.
“I’ll see you in class,” she said over her shoulder.
Mri waved. “Looking forward to it, my queen.”
Jasmine shook her head and walked away.
Then, just as she neared her house—
Her system appeared before her.
A notification flashed across her vision.
[System Alert!]
[It’s time to collect the items and unlock your true power.]
[The Final Era War is coming soon.]
Jasmine froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Final Era War?
She opened the full system message.
[The Balance of the Primal Realms is shifting.]
[Ancient Forces are awakening.]
[The Hunt begins soon.]
Jasmine clenched her fists.
She had spent a year trying to live a normal life.
But fate had other plans.
And this time…
There would be no running from it.