ã€ŠLa-La Love Hunterã€‹


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    Dear Readers;

    This tale is a work of pure fantasy, conjured from the creative depths of the author''s mind, Khana_X, with the sole purpose of providing an entertaining experience for readers. In this whimsical narrative, every name assigned to individuals, places, objects, and all other aspectsis entirely fictitious. It is crucial to emphasize that any semblance to actual persons, locales, or occurrences is merely coincidental.

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Let it be known that the unfolding events within this story are not tethered to reality but are instead a fantastical creation designed for the sheer enjoyment and immersion of the audience. The author wishes to emphasize that, if by chance, certain elements appear to mirror reality, it is purely a serendipitous occurrence. The author''s intent is to transport readers to a realm of imagination, where the boundaries of the ordinary are transcended by the extraordinary. Your understanding of this narrative disclaimer is greatly appreciated.

 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1

    La-La Point of View

    They say that love is in the air, that it roams around. They say there are angels who guide people to their destined ones, playing a part in keeping lovers together. These angels are called MIRACLES, known as cupids, also known as Angels of Love.

    However, prior knowledge suggests that there is no such thing as an Angel of Love or Cupid. It''s just a fairy tale created to make people believe that angels exist and guide us to good, under the premise that love is also good. This, however, is not true. And to say that it is actually not true because I will prove it. As they say, we are not angels or Cupids.

    We are love hunters.

    It''s our job, not a miracle.

    Then a girl arrives in front of me, wearing a ponytail and a white suit.

    "You must be the new one?" I greet the girl.

    "Yes, I am!" she answers energetically. I smile at her.

    "Well, nice to meet you. I''m La-La, a Love Hunter from Cupid Class 32-B, your senior," I say, introducing myself as I extend my hand. She reaches for it.

    "Nice to meet you, senior. I''m Yuna, Cupid Class 33-C," she says. As our hands shake, I immediately gesture toward a chair. "Have a seat,"

    Hereward, she nodded and immediately took her seat. I also took my seat and faced her.

    "So, before I start explaining, do you know what you are? I''m sure they let you know the basics. And do you know why you are here?" I asked her. She nodded.

    "Before being introduced to you, the Head already gave me some information regarding my situation. It stated that I have sinned and need to be punished. This work is just for me to have another judgment before they free me for another life," she said, her tone indicating she was not happy at all. Pushing a cup of coffee towards her, I asked, "Is there anything wrong?" She smiled faintly.

    "No, it''s just that I thought being a Cupid would be like being an angel," she said.

    "Well, we are sinners; there''s nothing we can do about that. We sinned and need to be punished, even though we might not know the things we did. You just need to complete this job and pursue another life," I said, then grabbed my book. "Just a little reminder: smile and accept this job. Be positive, shall we?" I added, placing the book on the table.

    "Rules and Information?" she read the title of the book. "I could just give you the book and let you understand this by yourself, but it is better to explain some things to you since some of the information is not written in the book, I think some asshole made this book you know" I said as a joke. As I look at her, she giggled about my joke. I guess it lightened her mood. I opened the book on page one.

    "Rules of reaper, rules of life- rule ¨C uhmmm, why are there other ¨C uhmm you know." She wondered.

    "Oh this- this is a mythical creature like us. We are called M, we are also part of MT, and we are the Type Love. MT stands for Mythical Creature . The soul is us- So, every soul is assign to every work depending on the sins they had- how heavy the sin they had. For us, a Hunter if Kove, we have the lighter sins compared to Hunter of Life or Reaper , Hunter of Curiosity, Hunter of Knowledge, Faries and so on" I explained to her.

    "Just a question, why do Hunters of Love like us have lighter sins? Didn''t they assign us randomly?" she asked. I immediately signal no to her.

    "It''s considered a job for us to hunt love, just as it is for others in their respective roles. But since love is the easiest among them, they assign the souls with fewer sins to hunt love. The more sins you have, the harder the job you''re assigned," I said to her. "This also means that the harder the job, the longer you will have to do it before you can move on to another life."

    "So that means other hunters or other mythical creatures are also working for another judgment?" she asked, her curiosity evident in her eyes.

    I smiled. "Yes, exactly. Each mythical creature or hunter has their own set of responsibilities based on the gravity of their past sins. Reapers, for instance, deal with life and death, which is a much heavier burden. Hunters of Curiosity delve into the unknown, uncovering truths and mysteries, while Hunters of Knowledge are tasked with gathering and preserving wisdom across time. Fairies, on the other hand, often work with nature and small miracles. Each role is a form of penance and service, a way to balance out our past misdeeds and earn redemption."

    "I never thought of something like that" she said. "Well, shall I continue to discuss our work?" I asked her. She smiled and nodded. I turn the page.

    "Our job is the easiest yet most trivial" I said to her. "What does it mean?" she asked.

    "Can you take out the things that the Department of Love gave you before you were assigned to me?" I asked her. She immediately started rummaging through her suitcase and laid out the items on the table. Among them were a gun, a ring, a book, and a black card¡ªfour things in total.

    I pointed to the ring and looked at her. She once again seemed puzzled. "That ring is the most important thing. Don''t lose it," I said to her.

    "Is that so? Is this the most important item here?" she asked, holding it up.

    "Yes," I answered, taking the ring and showing her the carved number inside which is 33-C. Her eyes widened as she saw it. Then I placed the ring back on the table.

    "That ring holds a special power. First, it allows us to see the string of destiny. As soon as you wear that ring, you can see the strings and become invisible to ordinary people," I explained to her.

    She looked at the ring with renewed interest, clearly grasping its significance.

    "String of destiny, like the red string, the connector?" she asked. I nodded.

    "But why do we need to go invisible?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

    "Well, first of all, our job is unusual and not easily understood by ordinary people. It''s not just about being invisible; it''s about being able to do our job without normal people intervening or knowing who we are. We live among them¡ªwe get hungry, we get tired, and we sleep just like anyone else. But unlike normal people who have regular jobs, we have a different and special one. So, it''s important for us to go invisible while doing our work," I explained to her.

    She seemed fascinated by this revelation. "So, we blend in, but we also have this hidden role that no one knows about?"

    "But to remind you, don''t casually put on the ring. You need to do it without people noticing. It''s quite hard now due to CCTV existing, so we usually take it off and on in the restroom or at home," I advised her.

    "The ring is also connected to the gun. Try holding the gun," I said to her. She immediately took the gun and held it, and she noticed something peculiar.

    "No magazine?" she wondered aloud. "Is there a problem with mine, or should I ask for another one?" she asked nervously.

    I giggled at her concern. "No, it''s normal. Don''t worry," I reassured her

    "Then how can we shoot people with this?" she asked, still puzzled.

    "Well, it''s not like we''re shooting people. It only works when you wear the ring. In old times, we used arrows, but it was a hassle to carry them around, so they changed it to a gun. However, you might still see some Cupids with arrows. The ''bullets'' will load automatically when you''re ready to target a lover or a person," I explained to her, clarifying the function of the weapon.

    "Ah, by the way, I forgot to ask, how is our job done here?" she asked, bringing up an important point that I had overlooked.

    "Oh, right, I should have explained that," I admitted. "Our job is relatively simple, as I mentioned earlier. If you see a couple out on a date and they are soulmates, but their string isn''t yet strongly connected, it''s our job to make it stronger by shooting them when they make eye contact with each other. Sometimes, soulmates pass by each other without realizing it, so we often create a scene to prompt them to look at each other."

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    "It''s not simple," she mumbled to herself, sounding slightly overwhelmed.

    "Like I said, it''s also not trivial," I responded. "Creating a scene to connect them is just one aspect of our job. It becomes more complicated when we consider the intricacies of the strings themselves."

    "There are more complications with the strings?" she asked, sounding shocked. I hoped she wasn''t overreacting.

    "Yes," I confirmed, then opened the book to a page that explained something about the string of destiny.

    "Red String is also known as the String of Destiny and consists of three patterns," I explained to her. "First, there''s the gray one, or the dead string, where one person has no soulmate destined for them, or their soulmate has passed away."

    "Isn''t that quite sad?" she asked, her reaction reflecting empathy. I sighed inwardly.

    "Yuna, just to inform you, our job is not swayed by emotion since it''s already determined by destiny. Which means there is nothing we can do about it; we are not allowed to intervene," I said to her, emphasizing the importance of detachment. "Remember, Yuna, do not be swayed by emotion. I hope you understand this applies to everyone."

    She nodded in understanding, and I offered her a reassuring smile. "Shall I continue?" I asked and she nodded.

    "We also have the one-way string, a normal red string connected to lovers, but it''s only connected to one. Every average destined one has this. It''s our job to connect, since it has a faint red. It''s our job to make it shine red so it can''t be broken by death or something," I explained to her.

    "Okay, I get it," she said, processing the information. "But it seems there is more," she added, noting the complexity of our task.

    "Well, there is. The last one is quite rare¡ªthe two-way string. A person with this string is destined by two people," I said. She looked confused.

    "Two people? Is that really true? Is that okay?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice. I immediately answered her.

    "No, it''s not okay," I replied, reassuring her.

    "Of course, it''s not okay. In this type of situation, we have a special mission, and it will be outlined in that small notebook of yours. It''s hard to come by, but if you ever get this mission, you just need to choose one person for that individual to be destined with, and choosing wisely is a must," I explained to her.

    "We will choose? Is it that difficult and cruel at the same time since he or she is also destined to another person? If I shoot him or her to that person, the other will have no soulmate, and why does it have to be our decision?" she said, voicing her concerns.

    I smiled sympathetically. "Well, it''s a hard truth. That''s why thorough observation is necessary, and that''s why it''s so challenging," I said to her.

    "It''s cruel¡ªwhy does a string like that exist?" she asked, grappling with the moral implications of our work.

    "It''s stated that neither one of the soulmates she or he is connected to is her or him in his or her past life or something. It''s that they were both lovers in their past life and were reborn together, creating that string," I explained to her. She was processing things, and then something made her eyes go wide.

    "W-wait, so senior, that means a soulmate is not a permanent one? They are not likely to be destined? I thought a soulmate goes into every lifetime," she said, her voice filled with surprise and confusion.

    "Sometimes it is, sometimes it''s not. Life is just complicated, Yuna. For us, we need to focus on connecting soulmates and have a pre-judgment. We have nothing to worry about, and if we don''t do everything right, it will all fall into place," I said to her, trying to reassure her. Then she looked at me in the eyes.

    "Is there a problem?" I asked her, noticing the shift in her emotions. She sighed deeply before responding.

    "Our job is not easy," she said with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

    Well, it is not easy; that''s why it''s also called a punishment. Should I tell her? I hesitated, unsure if now was the right time.

    Then she took the black card, and her emotions changed again.

    "That''s it. We can use it for our daily expenses as we also act to live as one of the humans," I said to her, trying to lighten the mood.

    "Can we spend things whenever we like?" she asked, sounding excited.

    "Well, yes, we can, however," I started to explain. "However?" she asked, eagerly awaiting my response.

    "It can be blocked if you spend it on non-important things, and it also deducts from the job that we''ve done if we don''t spend it wisely," I said to her, trying to convey the importance of responsible spending. Her expression immediately turned somber once again.

    "Wait, senior, I don''t think," she said, interrupting me as she looked at her suitcase and pulled out a brown envelope.

    "Oh, you had it, that''s your personal info or shall we say fake info to use" I said to her, recognizing the envelope.

    "Our job seems exciting but also somehow not," she said to me, her tone reflecting a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

    "Well, you just need to grasp it, as I said. Now, get all your things back in your suitcase," I asked her. She nodded and began to store all her items back in an orderly manner. Once she was finished and seated properly, I handed her the book.

    "This book will be your guide. Some of the MT are mischievous and might harm others if they read about each other''s weaknesses in here," I cautioned her. Her eyes widened in shock.

    "K-k-killed, that means we can die again?" she asked as if I scared it out of her soul.

    "Well, we can. Our bodies are also subject to the vulnerabilities of mortal life, which is why we need to be careful. Some MT have been known to harm others to gain more power, but there is a special corps dedicated to stopping such occurrences. You know, greed can''t simply be eradicated from one''s soul and personal perspective," I explained to her, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.

    "It''s getting scarier," she said, her tone betraying her growing concern. It seemed like she needed "You shouldn''t scare your junior like that," a familiar voice chided. Startled, we turned to see who had spoken. A man stood to our left, dressed in a black suit with pale skin. His eyes had pupils deeper than a black hole, and his lips were plump, but there was an eerie aura about him. He was tall, indeed, and his presence was commanding.

    "A grim reaper," Yuna whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

    "Don''t be scared of me. I''m not a wild one," the man said, attempting to lighten the mood with humor.

    "Of course, she will be scared of you. You just popped out of nowhere," I said to him in a voice that I had disturbed.

    Then I looked at Yuna and gave her a smile.

    "Don''t be scared of him. He''s my friend, Axel," I reassured Yuna, hoping to calm her nerves. "And Axel, this is my junior, Yuna," I introduced, gesturing towards her. Axel smiled warmly, though Yuna''s reaction was unexpected¡ªher eyes widened as if she had seen a black angel or something. Well, Axel is indeed handsome, but not that handsome; he can be quite an annoying jerk.

    "I''m Axel, Grim Reaper Class 34-B," Axel introduced himself to Yuna, extending his hand in a friendly gesture. Yuna stood up hesitantly and reached for his hand,

    "I''m Yuna, Cupid Class 33-C" Yuna introduced herself, her voice slightly shaky as she shook Axel''s hand. I couldn''t help but notice that Yuna seemed quite taken with Axel''s appearance; she couldn''t seem to take her eyes off him. Cough

    "Yuna, just a warning don''t fall for this bastard, or even believe in a word he said" I said to Yuna, killing the vibes. She looked at me in disbelief, and as she seated back to her seat.

    "Bastard, you really are indeed harsh on me," Axel debated what I said.

    "Don''t you have any job?" I asked him trying to redirect the conversation.

    "I''m on my break, you know. Can I take a break?" Axel said casually, then took the seat next to me. I looked at him in disbelief.

    "Just don''t mind me; I''m here to listen," he added with a nonchalant shrug. This guy doesn''t have to do anything in his life, nothing seems to annoy him since the day we met.

    But I sighed.

    "Shall we continue, Yuna?" I asked her, but she is still looking at me as if she is questioning something.

    "Oh! Wait -If you''re wondering why I said he is bas¡ª" I''m about to say, but she immediately reacted and signed no with a hand gestured. "I-i-I''m just wandering; he is no¡ªI mean, how do you know each other, senior? Some of the other love hunters stated that it''s hard to befriend other creatures like¡ª" she asked in a tone that lacked confidence.

    "Oh, how can I know this guy, the reaper?" I asked her, pointing at Axel with my thumb. She nodded, clearly eager to hear the explanation.

    "I don''t know; we just met one day, then we decided to exchange information for the sake of the job," I answered honestly, keeping the explanation simple.

    "No, deary~" Axel interrupted me. I looked at him. Oh, don''t he dare.

    He smiled.

    "She fell in love with me at first sight~," he said, and I immediately stamped on his feet as he reacted in pain. I looked at Yuna, whose eyes widened.

    "No, don''t believe him. We are friends. It''s just that as soon as I met him, for some reason, he felt familiar, and I befriended him. So, we decided to exchange information," I explained to Yuna, clarifying our relationship. "You know, sometimes reapers can sense death, so it''s helpful for us to find people who have a sense of death and connect them, so that death doesn''t follow them. It also helps to inform them if the person is someone''s soulmate."

    "Ah, but if so, isn''t that risking their job if we prevent death?" Yuna asked.

    "Ah, no. They have missions compared to us and the names of people they will take, so it doesn''t affect him" I said to her.

    "Can I also have information with Mr. Axel?" Yuna asked innocently.

    "No," I answered immediately, noticing Yuna''s sudden sadness. "No, no, it''s not that I''m being selfish, huh? It''s just that this guy is hard to handle. He may be handsome, but he''s a hassle through my bones¡ªya know?" I said to Yuna, trying to convince her that my intentions were not ill-willed.

    "You''re backstabbing me in front; no, you''re ruining my good reputation," Axel muttered in a low tone, clearly offended by my remarks.

    "Shut up; you''re ruining things, reputation my ass," I murmured back to him, shooting him an angry glance, then turned to Yuna and flashed her a reassuring smile.

    "Do you have any questions? It seems that I already explained things that will get to you in this job," I said to her.

    But she opened the book and back to the string of destiny and pointed out a sentences that is cursive "And it''s the end of the page," Axel said to me. I sighed.

    "The special string," I read the sentences out loud. "Senior, what is the meaning of the special string? It seems that they didn''t continue writing this out," she said.

    "Part of fantasy. The reason it''s written there is because it only exists in far centuries back. It''s a string colored gold, considered a tale where out of a trillion chances, it exists. Whoever holds such a string, it shines as gold. A person with a string like that does not need us. As soon as he or she meets his or her soulmate, their destiny is already strong, as it shines gold. However, compared to other normal people, if a person holds a special string and connects to us MT, it has a chance for us to become a normal person and it cleans our sins. Moreover, our memory from past lives will return, giving us the chance to remember. It''s something special; it can''t be broken by death or anything," I explained to her. Then she was shocked.

    "So it''s possible for us to be a human without facing judgment?" she asked me.

    "Yes, but¡ª" I was about to explain.

    "It''s considered a tale. It''s better for us to finish the job than to find the person holding that string, it''s far from impossible" Axel added as he interrupted me.

    "The chances of being destined with that gold string are small, and having that person hold it is even smaller. It''s better for us not to hope," I said to her.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    La-la Point of View

    As we waited for Yuna outside the phone store for MT , Axel confronted me, saying, "You lied to her." I was confused and asked, "Lied? What do you mean by that?"

    "Life of Nature, that-" Axel shortly replied. I sighed, realizing he meant the fragility of our existence.

    "Oh, that," I acknowledged.

    "We don''t have life. If attacked by wild MT, we''ll be banished for good, and our existence will be erased. We don''t have any heart, we are just partly a soul" he explained.

    "You know- look how frightened she was when I mentioned we could die again? She just a child Axel" I shared with Axel.

    "But it''s better for her to know the whole truth, it¡¯s still better to learn the truth than to experience it" Axel insisted. I looked at him, questioning, "Why?"

    "What do you mean, why?" he retorted.

    "You''re too concerned for nothing. Wild incidents are once in a century or something. Scaring her might hinder her from moving on," I argued.

    "But it is better to be strong. Cowards in our job are not for the good. Yes, we do have emotions, but we don''t have a heart. But we feel pain, so it''s better to face the truth," he said in a gloomy tone.

    "You know," I said, stopping my sentences.

    "What?" he irritably asked.

    "Just leave if you''re going to ruin the mood, I might kick you in the ass" I told him, annoyed.

    "Jeez, your temper. Sorry, sorry, but remember I warn you" he apologized, and I rolled my eyes at him just as Yuna emerged from the store, looking excited.

    "Did they give the department number and official number?" I asked her. "Yes," she confirmed.

    "I never thought that we needed this type of technology. I just thought we would go to the office to report," she added. I chuckled, "Of course not. It''s just an overall hassle to work at. Since technology is already far better, it''s best for us to go with the flow," I explained to her."Did they explain how it works?" I asked her, and she nodded.

    "Shall we proceed to your first task?" I asked her. "Already?!" she exclaimed, surprised.

    "Yeah, already. I''m going to teach you. The faster, the better," I said to her.

    "Just put on your ring and ready your gun. We will wait at the bus stop near here. It''s better if the gun and the ring are the only things you carry, understood?" I asked her.

    "Yes, senior!" she answered with enthusiasm.

    A few moments later,

    I advised her, "Don''t look too much at the strings spread everywhere."

    "But it''s hard; it''s everywhere," she exclaimed.

    "You will get used to it," I said to her, then went near her side and held her shoulder. She flinched a little, but I smiled.

    "Inhale, exhale," I said to her. Then she did what I said.

    "Now, look everywhere. If you see a couple with connecting strings and near to each other," I instructed her. I already saw one at our 9 o''clock angle.

    "Oh, I see one," she said.

    "That''s good," I praised her. She seemed about to run in that direction, but I held onto her. "Senior, what are you doing?" she asked me.

    "There is no need to follow them," I reassured her.

    "But we are going to lose them," she protested. I smiled.

    "I don''t think so," I said to her and pointed my hand to the couple, making the girl trip.

    "Senior," Yuna reacted. "Now! Position your gun and point it as soon as they make eye contact!" I instructed Yuna. "Y-y-yes?" she asked in confusion. "Now!" I reiterated, and she immediately pointed the gun.

    "Look carefully," I whispered to her. As the man caught the girl, the girl made eye contact with the boy first, so I instructed, "Shoot," and Yuna fired at the girl with her eyes closed. She gasped as the bullet hit the girl.

    "We are not finished yet," I whispered. Now, as the boy helped the girl, he made eye contact to the gitl, and Yuna shot immediately. I looked at her in disbelief.

    She is a fast learner. Now, we will wait for the couple to look at each other. Then the boy looked at the girl. "Thank you," the girl said to the boy and made eye contact; then, the string connected and it shine brightly and turn into a bright red. I heard Yuna gasp.

    "I did it," she whispered to herself. I removed my hands that were holding onto her and stepped back.

    "Senior!!! I did it!!!" she happily said to me and hugged me. "You did a great job," I said to her, and she let go of the hug and jumped happily.

    Then her ring shone, so she stopped jumping and confusedly looked at me.

    "W-w-what is happening?" she asked.

    "Don''t worry," I said to her. "Look at your wrist," I instructed her. As she did, she looked so shocked.

    "W-w-what is this?" she asked me, as the number appeared on her arm. A number 2.

    "That''s the number of jobs you''ve done since you tied a soulmate knot. It''s a total of 2," I explained. She looked at it again, smiled, and then ran towards me. I was confused for a moment, but she was trying to see my wrist. Does she want to know my number? So, I laid my wrist out for her to see. She stopped for a second, and her emotions suddenly turned upside down.

    "Is that 4 digits?" she asked me. "Yes," I confirmed.

    "Three thousand nine hundred and ninety nine," she read it aloud. "Yes," I replied. "H-h-h-how?" she asked me.

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    "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we have a designated number to reach before we can have another judgment, and we do not grow old or change age. Our current appearance will remain as we finish our job, so it¡¯s still apply to not befriend human to avoid suspicious to our identity " I explained to her. "T-t-then that means... Senior, how long have you been in this job?" she asked me.

    "Just a hundred years. You know, compared to others  I''ve been a workaholic person," I said to her. She took a step back due to shock.

    "O-one h¡ªhundred y-y-y-ears?" she asked, clearly shocked. Well, a lot of a love hunter despises me with this fact since I take the job to seriously.

    "Yes, it''s actually a short year; some of our seniors live for almost 500 years," I told her, and she was baffled.

    Did I just shock her too much?

    "If s-s-so, how many do you need to achieve, senior?" she asked me.

    "Four thousand is all I need for judgment again," I answered. She thought for a moment. "W-wait," she said.

    "You mean you only needed 1 remaining?!" she asked, shouting. I just nodded. Then she looked at me as if she regretted something.

    "So why did you let me have the couple earlier if you''ve just done the job and could ascend already?" she said.

    "Don''t worry, it''s my job as your senior to do so," I said to her in a comforting tone. Then she reacted as if I were the best.

    "It looks like you''ve already finished the job," Axel said as he arrived. We looked at him, and he was holding a milk tea in his hand.

    He gave each of us a cup. Then we sat at the bus stop, people passing by and cars.

    "Is he also a hundred years?" Yuna asked me, pointing at Axel.

    "Oh, him? He is younger than me," I answered Yuna.

    "I just arrived 3 years late, doesn''t mean you''re older," Axel said. "Is that so? Well, you look young, that also defined that you die younger" I said to him, and he stopped sipping.

    "Is not my fault that they gave me this face, you know," he disagreed. I sighed, unbelievable, just the confidence he has.

    "Uhm-mmm, excuse me," Yuna said, referring to Axel. "Is there any problem?" Axel asked Yuna.

    ''Senior only has 1 person left in her number, then that means she is going to leave soon, s-s-so how about you?" Yuna asked Axel. Axel smiled.

    "Oh, don''t worry. I''m not a workaholic like her. It''s far too long for me to ascend," Axel answered.

    "Just a question, if senior leave. Are you not going to be sad?" Yuna asked Axel. Then that just gave a silent moment to us, as Axel and I looked at each other, he smiled.

    "What do you mean by sad?" Axel asked Yuna in a low tone.

    "I-is that, Senior, and you seem to be long friends. Ascending means also like dead since a person will be given another life and will be gone," Yuna said. "Yeah," Axel said, taking a sip of his milk tea and looking into the distance as if trying to find an answer.

    "You know¡ª" As I was about to say,

    "Yeah, I might be sad, but I need to be happy since she will have another life. Lala won''t wait for me; I just need to follow her soon as she ascends," Axel said, followed by a moment of silence again.

    "That''s cringe," I said, once again ruining the mood. Axel looked at me in disbelief. I just grinned and took a sip from the milk tea.

    Then Yuna giggled. Axel and I were both puzzled. "It must be fun to have a friend like Sir Axel. I wish to have a friend, better yet a reaper like him," Yuna said. Axel and I once again looked at each other.

    "I won''t suggest that to you, Yuna. Hunters of Life or reapers are arrogant and self-centered. They are hard to befriend with; it''s better to befriend the same MT like love hunters like us," I advised Yuna, then she looked at Axel.

    "But he seems nice, though," Yuna added. I looked at Axel, who was sipping milk tea, keeping his silence.

    "Him? He is arrogant type; it''s just¡ªhow should I explain it?" I said, thinking about how to clarify my situation.

    "I''m different," Axel declared, exuding confidence.

    "Yeah, he is different," I said in a low tone, trying to agree. Different your ass.

    "That''s sad. It seems that the friendship between you two is unique. I just think it is fun to experience this way and also have someone to help me," Yuna said. Then her phone rang, so she opened it to see that the Head office is calling her.

    "I think it''s time for me to go," she said to us as if she is bidding goodbye. I smiled.

    "Yeah, go on," I said to her. "Thank you so much, senior, for everything today. I will never forget this," she said, expressing her gratitude.

    "You''re welcome," I replied to her. Then she also looked at Axel.

    "Thank you," she also thanked Axel. Axel just nodded at her, and then she picked up the call. "Hello," she responded to it and stood up to leave.

    As she walked away from us, she stopped and faced us again, waving us goodbye. We reciprocated with a wave.

    I sighed. "She is too far from realizing how scary our world could be," Axel said, throwing his drink into the trash can as he also removed his hat. I looked around, and it seemed there were no humans in our surroundings, so I also removed my ring to become visible.

    Axel is right about how scary our world could be. <u>Mythical Creatures, also known as MT</u>, are under a company called MT Entertainment, which operates under the disguise of Mythical Creature Company. There are various MTs (Mythical Creatures), a total of 13, and we are called Hunters. The Hunter of Love ranks the lowest, also known as Cupid. Next in the low rank is the Hunter of Energy, the nine-tailed fox; Hunter of Wishes, a genie, ranks next; Hunter of Life, the Reaper; Hunter of Knowledge, the Griffin; Hunter of Sin, the Minotaur; Hunter of Dreams, the Sandman; Hunter of Pain, the Amusement Vampire; Hunter of Talent, a Goblin; Hunter of Curiosity, Misery, also known as the Banshee, Special Forces; and lastly, the Guiding Spirit. We depict every creature we had each job for, and it''s a <u>fulfillment to be done</u>. Each Hunter has a different job, and each Hunter has different sins. But we don''t know what sins we commit or what things we covet to be punished like this. Living far too long and behind. They removed our memories, living with new identities, and just to pursue a job that is given to us as a task. It''s hard to hide our identity since if ever, humans tend to abuse us. The job of being a Hunter is scary as we fill our moments fulfilling others and also trying to invade, getting close to other people. We live in loneliness, and it''s rare to get close to other MT creatures since it''s just full of disadvantages and things. Mythical creatures are believed to be blessed from heaven, but actually not ¨C since we are sinners. If we do not finish the assignment from the top in the right time, we will be punished and be gone for good, and it''s scary. Our power is also good, just as we wanted to; we will also be punished if we use it for our own good. We can''t be selfish. Those who covet selfishness, greed will be the ones who will lose and go into being wild. Wild ones covet others'' powers as they suck up and dry up other creatures until they are gone into dust, and it''s terrifying to see.

    "Stop saying negative words; your emotion is infectious, you know," I said to Axel.

    "Infectious? You treat me like a contagious disease," he said.

    "Well, you''re death," I said, leaving a sad remark on him. "The hell, Lala," he reacted.

    "I am just kidding¡ªdon''t you have any work to do, do you?" I said, trying to change the topic, then a bus arrived in front of us. Of course, the people inside the bus were full of amusement in their eyes. Who are they looking with amusement? Of course, Axel, this bastard blessed by the look of undying. This is just making chills run all over my body.

    "If I leave this job, why don''t you try to join the entertainment for MT?" I suggested to Axel.

    "Why would I? Chasing death is just exhausting enough. Being under MT as their artist is just making me chills all over," he said, as if he is so against my idea.

    "You just don''t have any talent, admit it," I said to him, trying to annoy him.

    "I don''t need talent; my looks are just enough," he said. Ugh, I can''t with this man.

    "Just being blessed by your looks here, you seem to be thankful in that, maybe in your past life ¨C you know," I said to him.

    "You know what, huh?" he asked me. "It''s just, you know," I said.

    "Hideous? How can you say that to me?" he said in a dramatic tone. I didn¡¯t say it you did.

    "It''s just maybe, you know  the soul''s appearance is usually different from physical appearance," I said to him.

    "You keep saying that you hated my face but  when we first met. You looked like them," Axel said, waving to people in the bus with a smile, making them enjoy their faces as the bus left. Ugh, I hate this!

    "Me? On your face?" I asked, questioning him.

    "Yeah¡ªdon''t you remember the moment you saw me, you froze?" he said. The heck?¡ªWait¡ªI do remember that¡ªyeah, I froze. But...

    "I already explained to you the reason why I did that, right?" I said to him.

    It''s not actually because I am fascinated by his looks. Axel looks like a man of dreams for everyone: the keen eyes he has, the deep pupils, sharp nose, perfect proportions of faces, pale skin, and lips that are juicy as fux** making him look like a deity. It''s not the looks that he makes me freeze but something else.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3

    La-La Point of View

    Flashback

    "Gah, I''m gonna be late here!" I exclaimed as I ran as fast as I could, following a couple for almost an hour. What the hell is wrong with them? They kept evading each other?! Just kindly make an eye contact I beg you.

    Then I stopped running as I saw a familiar figure in front of me. She turned around, and as our eyes met, she smiled at me. I''m going to lose them!

    "Lala!" she greeted me with a whole smile on her face. There is a crowd right now; should I run away from her? Then she walked towards me. I guess there is no escape for me. This isn''t really the right time. Ya know-

    "Hi, senior," I greeted back to her, looking around to see if people were watching me. I removed my ring.

    Now she is in front of me, smiling, wearing her extravagant suit. Geez. This woman again.

    "You seem to be on work," she said to me. You know it  then why did you interrupt it, huh?

    "Yes, but eventually, I''m going to lose them, thanks to you" I said to her, forcibly smiling.

    "That''s a pity," she said innocently. This snake, ugh.

    "Well, isn''t it normal for our job?" I asked her, replying to her sarcasm.

    "You''re new; you will grasp it," she said as if knifing me with an insult.

    "Yeah, I''m new, senior," I replied to her.

    "You know that you didn''t need to work so hard for this job, right? I heard from our acquaintances that you kept running there and here. It''s quite a blow to your image, working so hard to match people up. You still have a lot of time, you know," she said to me.

    "Yet it''s still better than living for almost two hundred years, right, senior?" I asked her. Her eyebrows flinched, taking it as an insult.

    "You still haven''t changed, Lala," she said.

    "Same to you, senior. You''re still as beautiful as ever," I said to her. Now in her reaction she seems to be done talking to me now.

    "Yeah," she said and looked around.

    "I might better leave you here now. I have a lot of jobs, you know," she said. "Yeah, senior. Then goodbye," I said to her, and she walked away.

    Ugh, I hated her. Now I lost another point. Geez, that old woman.

    Really? Interrupted me in the middle of my job? I don''t have any idea why they make that woman my senior. Always insulting me every time she has free time. Talking to  me as if I am some kind of a child.

    "Forget it, Lala. Let''s go back to working," I said to myself and looked around. I need to get out of this crowd first. But this crowd is also an opportunity for me, right? Where should I go?

    I looked around, finding an area to spot everyone. Then, at my 4 o''clock, there is a building where there is a caf¨¦ on the third floor. "That''s a good spot," I said to myself.

    As I was about to walk through the building, the crowd is making it hard for me to pass by, as if I''m going to fall any moment. Geez, this is the fault of that old woman. But let''s get out of here first; I''m sure this crowd is also a jackpot for me.

    Suddenly, as I pushed myself through the crowd, I felt that every time someone bumped into me, the more I took steps back. This is not a good sign for me. Then suddenly, I felt someone bump into my back. I turned around to look at him, and to my shock, "Better be careful," he said with his deep tone. With his looks, is he a reaper?

    But for some reason, what is this I am feeling? I want to slap him, but at the same time, I''m mesmerized by him. I step back as the crowd passes by us, and I keep wondering about this uneasy feeling. I want to cry, but at the same time, there''s a mix of hatred and agony in me. What the hell, who is this reaper? And what with this emotion I am feeling.

    "I know I''m handsome, miss. No need to look at my face that much," he said. Then I was taken aback. What did he just say?

    "I beg your pardon? What did you just say?" I asked him, but the noise became so loud. Then suddenly, he grasped my wrist, pulling me out of the crowd. But he is going in a different direction, so I tried to go against his force, but he is just strong as he pulled me out of the crowd. I feel uneasy around him. What is this? Just what in the world is this.

    As he continued to guide me through the bustling crowd, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed me¡ªconfusion, attraction, and a hint of danger. His strong grip on my wrist conveyed a mysterious authority, and I couldn''t help but be entangled in the enigma of this unexpected encounter.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    As we got out of the crowd, I couldn''t help but question his actions. "What did you just do?" I asked him, questioning his actions. "I don''t know either," he said, looking serious.

    "Reaper, right?" I asked him. "How did you know?" he asked, seeming shocked for some reason. "I''m also an MT, a love hunter" I said to him, and he seemed relieved to hear that. "Do you have any particular business with me by pulling me out of the crowd?" I asked him.

    "No, it seems that you have the business for me," he said. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" I asked him.

    "You looked at my face for almost ten minutes," he said. "Ten minutes, really? Is that long?" I said to him. "I didn''t even know."

    "You''re the first ever to be so mesmerized by my looks that much, ten minutes can you believe that?," he said confidently. What is wrong with this one? Is he a malfunctioning reaper?

    "I don''t know where you got your confidence, but I apologize for looking at your face. But if I am looking for you that long, shouldn''t you have said something instead of also looking back at me?" I said and asked him. Then silence stopped us for a second.

    "Well, it seems rude," he answered. "Ah," I said to him. Well, I have no time to spend with him.

    "If so, I really apologize to you, but I need to leave. I have work to be done," I said to him as I attempted to leave. He held my wrist. What now?

    "Do you have business with me?" I asked him

    "Why are you avoiding me so easily? Is it because I am a reaper? Aren''t you being racist? You didn''t even let me finish talking. You didn''t even let me know if I accept your apology," he said. I sighed. Am I really talking to this idiot right now?

    "Racist is for discriminating people based on their race. You are a grim reaper, and that is your job, not your race. You¡ªugh¡ª as I said, I have work. I''m a love hunter, and time is precious to us," I said to him and removed my wrist from his hand.

    "I already apologized for looking at your face. Isn''t that enough?" I added. "Yes," he answered without hesitation.

    "Are you serious?" I asked him in disbelief. "Well, you''re not sincere," he said, appearing really serious.

    "Sincere? You''ve got to be kidding me, right?" I asked him.

    "No, looking at my face for that long is against the law," he said. "What law do you mean by that?" I asked him.

    "The law of art, of God," he answered. This man. He can''t be serious about the words coming out of his mouth, right?

    "You know, Mr. Reaper," I said. "Axel," he corrected, stating his name.

    "Then, Mr. Axel, I know you''re handsome, yeah, I praised you for that you should thanks the higher up for that. However I''ve already apologized for looking at your godly made face, but can you just mind your own business here? I have a job to be done," I said to him.

    "Where?" he asked. You''ve got to be kidding me with this man.

    "Here in this crowd," I said to him.

    "You mean the crowd where a lot of people are going to die?" he asked me in a cold tone. My eyes widened. Did I hear it right?

    "What do you mean by that?" I asked him slowly.

    "They are all dying," he said. I looked at the crowd; all of them. You''ve got to be kidding me.

    "You''re joking, right?" I asked him.

    "Why would a reaper joke about death? They are all emitting a death aura; in any hour or moment, they are going to die," he said.

    "Are you sure about that?" I asked him.

    "Yes," he answered.

    "Then why don''t you intervene and save them?" I asked him.

    "Well, I can''t, I¡¯m just a reaper" he said.

    End of Flashback

    Our meeting was chaotic. I witnessed a scene where a lot of people died in front of me due to a bomb, but on my side was Axel. I thought I was going to be so frightened, but Axel held my hand, and for some reason, I felt relieved. However, as soon as he let go of his hand when the bomb exploded, I dropped down on my knees, having a hard time breathing. I didn''t even get to work for years, but Axel, for some reason, kept showing up and making me move on to that scene I saw, and from that starting point, we became friends. For some reason, I regretted it. This narcissistic reaper. That memory sometimes is a nightmare for me, but for some reason, Axel is just chill with it. He saved me in a moment of despair which I am thankful with.

    "You''re mesmerizing me again," he said. "Tsk- Get lost, would ya?" I answered to him.

    " "You''re harsh," he said. The phone rang  I immediately answered my phone.

    "Yes?" I responded.

    "Ms. Lala, I want to inform you that a mission is dropped on your black notebook," the other line said.

    "Mission?" I asked again as if I misheard it.

    "Yes, please kindly do it and check it," the other line said and ended the call. Are they kidding me?!! Are they serious?

    "Mission when you only have one job left to do?" Axel said. "Yeah, they didn''t give me a slack until the end, wouldn¡¯t they?" I complained.

    "Well, that''s how they are," Axel said. "They make things difficult for me, ugh!" I said and stood up.

    "Good luck with that last mission of yours," Axel said to me, as if saying farewell. "Yeah, good luck to me," I said to him and walked out. As I walked, I waved my hand to him.

    As I arrived in my room, I looked at the notebook and opened it. Three names were listed with information for each name: Kian Bernardor, Lliaan Veduna, Carl Baldazano. Ages 28, 29, 29. Current Location: Elysium General Hospital.

    Two strings in the freaking hospital at that?!. I threw the notebook.

    "Why didn''t you just tell me to get lost, huh?!!" I shouted, then picked up the notebook. This was going to be a hassle. I grabbed my phone and called Axel.

    The phone rang, and after 5 seconds, Axel answered. "What?" he immediately said. "Do you have any names Kian, Llian, and Carl on your list?" I asked him.

    "Wait, let me look at it," he said. I could hear on the other end that he was checking things, then I heard him put down his phone. "There is no name in here that you mentioned," he said. "Oh, is that so? Then thanks," I replied.

    As I was about to end the call, he asked, "Is it located at the hospital?"

    "Yes," I answered tiredly. Then he laughed. I looked at my wall blankly at this man.

    "They are really making things hard for you, aren''t they?" he said, insulting me.

    "Would you mind stop laughing at me?" I said to him, and on the other line, he seemed to stop.

    "This is going to be hard for me. I just wish that they didn''t enter that room," I said to him.

    "Oh, they won''t. They are not on any list for reaper," he said. They are not dying maybe they are there to the hospital for check up- That¡¯s A GOOD THING.

    "Yeah, that''s a good thing," I answered.

    "Do you need company there?" he asked me.

    "No thanks," I answered. "Thanks again. This will be the last time," I said to him.

    "Obviously," he said in a sad tone, and then I ended the call. It''s going to be awkward if we keep it long. Let''s start the work.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4

    La-La Point of View

    Now, being in front of the said hospital, carrying my briefcase, as this will be my last mission for judgment. I take a deep breath, inhaling the gravity of the task ahead. This is nerve wracking.

    Stepping into the hospital, there are fewer strings here, which is quite good. Now, I need to find the room where my mission people are. Why didn''t they just give me the room number of the patient and the person hospitalized? It would have been easier to match them up they are making things hard for me. *

    " Why are they making things hard?" I question myself.

    I make my way to the nurses'' station, where I can locate the list of patients. People wouldn''t notice me, so I immediately go to the list and look at the names. Neither among the three ¨C Kian Bernardo, Llian Veduna, or Carl Baldazano ¨C is here. However, soon after looking at the list, I find the names Kian Bernardo and Lilian Veduna listed, with room numbers 301 and 302. They are next to each other. The only problem is that Carl is not here.

    Let''s go to their rooms.

    I arrive at room number 301, where Kian is admitted. It is written that the doctor under him is a cardiologist, a specialist in heart-related issues. "This is not good," I say to myself. I then proceed to room number 302, where Llian is located, and under her is an oncologist.

    "What the heck is wrong with this?" I question myself. Something isn''t right here. One is dealing with a heart problem, and the other is battling cancer. That means either of the two is going to die. Something is wrong with this mission.

    I enter room 302, only to find no patient inside, and the room is clean. Something is wrong, so I run to the next room, where I again find no patient.

    Suddenly, a nurse enters a room. "Why is the door open?" one of the nurses questions. "I heard that the guy here is having an operation, right?" the nurse asks her colleague, who is carrying a pillow and blanket.

    "Yeah, eventually, the patient in the other room is also in the operating room," the male nurse answers. "Huh? Isn''t the other one dealing with cancer?" the other nurse asks.

    "Well, I know one of them is soon dying," the male nurse says, and the nurse girl slaps him in his shoulder. "How could you say that? Are you dumb?" the nurse girl scolds the male nurse.

    Are they in the ER? Who is going to die? You''ve got to be kidding me. This last mission is in this stage?

    Third person point of view

    Then La-la immediately got out of the room. The nurses were baffled, sensing that something had passed by, and had a fear-stricken look on their faces.

    As La-La ran towards the Emergency Room, she bumped into a doctor with quite blond hair and definitely good looks, having blue eyes and a dignified structure like a prince. He was shocked, and, of course, La-La fell to the ground because of the impact.

    "What the heck," Lala said to herself. Suddenly, the doctor offered a helping hand to Lala. Lala questioned herself for a moment and looked at her hand to see if she was wearing the ring, and indeed, she was. So she looked at the doctor who had offered a helping hand to her.

    "Are you an MT?" she asked him, and the man now looked baffled

    "MT?" he asked. Lala stood up by herself without even reaching for the offered hand, which made the doctor look at his hand in disbelief. Lala observed the doctor for a moment, and silence lingered between them

    "You know what, nevermind. I need to go. I''m sorry," Lala said and apologized. "Wai-" the doctor began to say, but Lala just ran away.

    La-La Point of View

    I arrived at the ER, but my self-consciousness was fear-inducing. The room had an uneasy and uncomfortable atmosphere that suffocated me. Every step forward felt like a struggle, making it harder to breathe. I found myself on my knees, overwhelmed by a sense of dread.

    Pain coursed through me, and darkness seemed to envelop me, a suffocating hand pressing against my throat. Attempting to stand became an ordeal. The burning sensation and chaotic thoughts inside me intensified, as if entering that room would result in losing something precious.

    This was not the right time for such feelings, but fear gripped me. The ground beneath me felt like it was crumbling, and I struggled to catch my breath. Attempting to regain control proved futile. I was losing myself in the overwhelming anxiety.

    "Ugh," I groaned as both of my palms pressed against the ground. This was not good.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    "La-LA!" then a familiar voice shouted at me. I tried to regain my focus to see Axel in front of me, holding both my shoulders. "This is what I expected," he said with nervousness in his tone.

    I struggled to catch my breath.

    "Try to calm down," Axel said to me. Following his advice, I attempted to regain my composure. Axel helped me stand up and guided me to a chair on the right side.

    "Thank you," I expressed my gratitude to Axel and glanced at the door of the ER, which had a red light above it, triggering my fear once again.

    "This is what I said. I should have come with you earlier," Axel remarked, trying to comfort me by placing his hand on my back. Surprisingly, his touch did help ease my anxiety.

    "Well, you''re here," I said, smiling sweetly. However, Axel''s reaction seemed disconnected from my emotions.

    "You didn''t come here to follow me, did you?" I asked him. "Well, at first, I was thinking about it, but a mission arrived for me," he replied in a lower and hesitant tone. I gently removed his hand from my back.

    Is he among the people under my mission?

    "Axel, don''t tell me I am right in what I''m thinking?" I questioned him. He had an inappropriate sadness in his face.

    "Am I right?!" I asked again. He nodded. What the?

    "The name you asked me earlier, one of them arrived on my list as soon as you ended the call," he said. Then, from the suit he was wearing, he produced an envelope with a black color and a stamp of bloody red. He handed me the envelope.

    "Look at the name of the person in that envelope," he said. Is one of the names Kian? I anxiously opened the envelope, and upon seeing the name, I read it out loud.

    "Lilian Veduna, 29 years old. Cause of death: cancer," I uttered. What is this?! No, it can''t be. She is the center of the two strings. Why is she going to die?!!" I asked Axel, my shock evident.

    He didn''t answer me, so I stood up, ready to enter the ER and even prepared to pick up my gun to finish the mission. But Axel held my wrist, stopping me.

    "What are you doing?!! Let go of me?!!" I said to him angrily. "It''s too late," he said.

    "What do you mean by it''s too late?? She is not dead yet. We can still do what we always do, match up people who are about to die so they can have their, you know, lives expanded," I said to Axel anxiously.

    Third Person Point of View.

    "No, we cannot," Axel said firmly to Lala. Holding her wrist.

    "Axel!" Lala exclaimed, trying to remove her hand from his grasp.

    "Don''t bother, LALA!!" Axel stated firmly. "The people we match up are the people whose names are not listed on us," Axel said calmly, but Lala was not listening to him. "But if we match them up, I can be a miracle," Lala said.

    "No, it can''t. She is already listed. More on that in an envelope. That means she is destined to die!" Axel said. Then Lala just dropped to her knees. "This is my fault," she mumbled to herself.

    Lala looked shocked and disbelieving. "We are not too late," she said.

    "No, we are late, we are already so late" Axel said. Then Axel tried to make Lala sit again, gently lowering her to the ground when the door to the ER opened. A person covered with a blanket emerged from the ER, and it was the girl Lilian. Lala looked at it blankly. Of course, in that moment, Lilian''s spiritual soul stood next to her body. Axel walked toward Lilian''s soul. But instead of Lilian running away from Axel, she greeted him.

    "It must be you," Lilian said to Axel, who smiled at her.

    "Yes, it is me, your reaper," Axel said.

    "Am I the only one?" Lilian asked Axel.

    "Yes, unfortunately," Axel answered, but Lilian smiled. "Thanks," she said.

    "Are you okay with being here, death?" he asked.

    "Well, it has already been determined for a long time, but my death has a purpose. I saved someone," she said. "My heart goes to my special someone, you know," she added.

    Lala, who was also listening, was shocked since it meant that the death of Lilian Veduna offered another chance for Kian Bernardo. As she died, her heart was donated to Kian, which is why Lilian is smiling even though she is dead. Lala stood up and bowed to Lilian. Lilian, who was baffled by the situation, looked at Axel, questioning who Lala was.

    Lala looked at Lilian. "I''m sorry I am too late," Lala apologized to Lilian, who was just confused at the moment.

    "She is a cupid, the one who is assigned to you " Axel said to Lilian, then Lilian was in disbelief.

    "Is she?" she asked Axel, "Yeah, I was supposed to match you up, but I am too late. If ¨C if I just wasn''t too late, you must be alive right now, breathing," Lala said, apologizing with disappointment in her tone. But Lilian smiled at her.

    "Nothing is your fault. It''s my destiny already, it¡¯s already been determined" Lilian said to her. "But," as Lilian was about to say, "If I am going to live, then that means my beloved will die, isn''t it?" she asked Lala. Lala just went silent because of that, but Lilian chuckled.

    "Nothing is your fault here. If you tried to match me up, it''s just going to hurt a lot more, you know, since in exchange for the love I''m going to lose someone, and I''m just going to continue to feel pain due to my sickness, isn''t it?" she said in a low tone, still smiling. Tears flowed from her eyes. Then suddenly, a man arrived at the scene, running toward the dead body of Lilian.

    "Carl," Lilian identified the man, who shouted, "No! It can''t be," crying so much and holding onto the body.

    "How can this be?!!!" the man shouted as his voice also echoed in the room, catching everyone''s attention. The doctors, nurses, patient and others.

    "No!!" he said as he continued to cry. Lilian''s soul just stood silent, looking at Carl, who was crying over her dead body.

    "How can this happen?? Her cancer isn''t that terminal!!! How can she be dead, and that bastard is breathing because of this!!" Carl shouted at the nurses. "No, this isn''t their fault," Lilian answered Carl''s agony, but of course, Carl couldn''t hear her.

    ''We apologize, but we did the best we can do," the doctor who arrived at the scene said. Then Carl immediately grabbed the doctor by his collar. The nurses held Carl back. "Is this your best??!!" Carl blamed the doctor, making a scene. Then Lilian looked at Axel.

    "Can you help?" she asked Axel. Axel nodded and flicked his finger, shocking everyone. Carl froze in place because of that. Lilian, who went to the side of Carl, gave him one last hug as the nurses carried Carl away and her body was pushed out of the scene.

    Then Lilian, who was just looking at the scene blankly, it went silent for a second.

    "I''m just going to finish my job," Axel said to Lala. Lala just nodded and went back to her seat, still not grasping the situation. Axel walked towards the soul.

    "Are you ready, Ms. Lilian?" Axel asked Lilian, who was staring blankly.

    "Do you regret?" Axel asked Lilian, and Lillian looked at him. "Who does not regret?" she answered the question with a question.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5

    La-La Point of View

    Now, I''m outside the hospital, under the moon and stars. I can hear some car noises from a distance, and the streetlights are shining. Axel, the reaper my friend, is still inside doing his job and said he''d get some drinks. This job is tougher than I thought working with this job for century sure feels like hell. I didn''t expect it to be this hard. It seems like Carl won''t have a soulmate also Kian. Their life might be lonely. Is having a soulmate really that important? A soulmate is someone you''re happy with, and you stay together until you die. If a couple gets divorced, it means they weren''t meant for each other and they weren''t match up by a love hunter.

    Lillian loves Kian, and she also admires her coworker Carl. Lillian accepted her fate, deciding that if she dies, her heart will go to Kian. Her heart is okay after fighting cancer. Kian and Lillian are a good match for each other. I''m wondering why they gave me this job knowing it''s so tough. It feels like I can''t breathe.

    This whole job is suffocating. I just needed one to complete this job and they gave me this. They cruel.

    My phone rang, and I quickly answered it.

    "Hello," I greeted the caller, and they informed me that they received a message from the Life Hunter division, the department handling the mission I had just failed. I recognized the department name on the caller ID.

    "Yes, I''m aware don¡¯t mention it," I replied. There was a brief silence.

    "If so, kindly write a report and email it to us," the voice on the other end instructed abruptly.

    "Yes, I will," I responded calmly before the call ended. They always seemed to be rude, what''s wrong with them?. They don¡¯t know how to sympathize?

    Taking a deep sigh, I muttered to myself, "This is tiring." I stretched my arms, and suddenly, I felt a cold touch on my cheeks. I turned to see Axel smiling, holding a coke in one hand, and the other hand had touched my face. I quickly took the coke away from my face.

    "Thanks," I said, appreciating Axel''s gesture as he sat beside me.

    "Is it done?" I asked him.

    "Yes," he responded. We both opened our cans of coke simultaneously and took a sip at the same time.

    Third point of View

    , Axel spoke to La-La after taking a sip of coke, saying, "I already reported it to our department."

    "And I already got a call from my department asking for my report," La-La replied in a low tone.

    "How could they give you a job knowing this?" Axel complained.

    "I think so too, they are always up to something you know" La-La agreed, lost in her thoughts. Axel observed her, pondering what to say next, considering the emotions La-La might be experiencing.

    Deciding to break the silence, Axel gently tapped La-La to get her attention. La-La was startled and looked at Axel.

    "Move on. You''ll also leave soon. Just find a soulmate as quickly as possible so you won''t get any more missions," Axel suggested, trying to comfort La-La. She looked at him in disbelief.

    "I know," she responded in an annoyed tone, and Axel smiled.

    La-La leaned back on the bench. "You should follow me; soon this job will wear you out," she advised.

    "I already know that I¡¯m already wear out in this job, but if I follow you too soon, we might end up being soulmates," Axel said, making a light-hearted remark. La-La''s face turned to one of disgust.

    "Dude, are you even hearing yourself?" she said. Axel innocently asked, "What? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

    La-La was baffled. "Yes, everything is wrong! How could you say we''ll be soulmates? Look, my hair in my body is standing because of cringe," she expressed, disgusted. Axel couldn''t believe her reaction.

    "You''re overreacting. You should be thankful to have this handsome man as your soulmate. How can you be disgusted?" Axel teased. La-La smirked.

    "As if you were going to be born with that face. That''s just your soul appearance, not physical," La-La retorted.

    "Well, if the higher-ups love me, they''ll give me this appearance even if I''m reincarnated," Axel joked. The mood lightened, and a passing doctor shockingly greeted them.

    La-La point of View

    As I seated here, a doctor walked past us, and I recognized him from earlier. He is the one.

    "Am I wearing my hat right?" Axel asked, taking my hand and inspecting my ring. "And you''re wearing your ring," he added, glancing at the doctor. I nodded, claiming my hand. "Yeah, he''s a blessed one, it seems," I informed Axel. He was the same person who had bumped into me earlier.

    "That''s rare," Axel remarked. Curious, I teased him, "Guess what." He asked, "What?"

    "He doesn''t have a soulmate," I revealed. Axel looked at me in disbelief, "How can a blessed one, loved by the higher-ups, not have a soulmate? That¡¯s rare" he questioned.

    A blessed one possesses the ability to see ghosts and mythical creatures, even in invisible forms. They are loved by the higher-ups due to good deeds in their past lives. While considered cursed at times, they can foresee a little of the future or witness the past of a person. For Mythical Creature (MT), they are called blessed ones, as they are genuinely loved by the higher-ups for their ability to see the past, mythical creatures, and future. This ability allows them to accumulate fortune and luck, helping others and gaining points for a person being blessed to be reincarnated with fortune and luck. How lucky of him. He also choose to be doctor means he will continue being blessed.

    "How would I know?" I replied to Axel, taking a sip of my coke and glancing at the doctor, who was sitting on another bench, looking at his phone. "He''s also good-looking. It''s really obvious that the higher-ups like him," I added, hearing Axel chuckle.

    "Him, handsome?" Axel asked me.

    "Yes," I answered. Axel continued, "He''s really loved by the higher-ups, emitting a full-of-life aura. But how can someone like that be called handsome? I don''t think so."

    "Wait, emitting a full-of-life aura, what do you mean?" I asked Axel, curious, and watched as he took a drink. "He has a golden aura, which means he saved so many lives and is likely to live a long life. It''s also quite rare for us life hunters," Axel explained.

    "I thought you could only see a dark aura, meaning death, right?" I questioned.

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    "We can also see life aura. Each person has a different color, and the lighter the aura, the longer they can live. If it''s dark, it means they are dying soon, we are life hunter not just grim reaper" he clarified. Surprised by this new information, I playfully tapped his shoulder.

    "How can you say that just now?" I exclaimed. He reacted to my slap, saying, "That hurt. You didn''t ask me, you know." You reacted Bruh that¡¯s dumb-

    "You''re really unbelievable," I said to him.

    "He is also unbelievable; being blessed means a chance he is rich. Well, he might be rich since he is a doctor, and also it seems he is a good person, and he is given good looks. Is he human, right? Having blond hair among these people is rare," I said.

    "Maybe he is a foreigner. Wait, why are you questioning his existence, and why do you care so much?" Axel asked me.

    "It''s not that I care; it''s just I''m curious. It''s also my first time seeing a good-looking man without a soulmate. Maybe a lot of girls surrounding him are heartbroken," I said.

    "You¡ª" Axel was about to say and then stopped. "What?" I asked him.

    "Never mind," he said. Then suddenly, my stomach growled. Axel laughed at me.

    Ghad, really? Right now, and this guy¡ªugh.

    "Let''s grab something to eat?" Axel asked me as he stopped laughing.

    "Yeah, should we?" I said and drank all the coke, smashing the can with my bare hands. Then I shot it into a trashcan and stretched.

    "Are you really a girl?" Axel asked me as he looked at me disgusted by what I did. He always commented on the things I do.

    "Maybe I was not in my past life," I answered him. "Yeah, let''s just grab some food, you know," he replied with my sarcasm.

    "Okay, but let me just use the bathroom," I said to him and stood up.

    A few moments later

    I returned from the bathroom, having also removed my ring there. When I got back to the bench where Axel and I had been sitting, he was nowhere to be found, and my briefcase, along with the doctor guy they are gone.

    "You''ve got to be kidding me?!" I exclaimed.

    I immediately grabbed my phone from my suit pocket and dialed Axel. He answered as my phone rang.

    "Where the hell are you?" I urgently asked.

    "Just wait a moment; I got another mission here inside the hospital," he replied in a hurry. Before I could mention Kian, he interrupted, "No, it''s not Kian." I felt relieved that he knew it wasn''t that guy I am thinking. It¡¯s scary he know s what I think but sometimes it good.

    "Good luck. I''m just gonna wait here, but how can you carry my suitcase with you?" I asked him.

    "Suitcase?" he questioned, sounding like he didn''t know something. I couldn''t believe this.

    "My bag, my suitcase¡ªit''s not here on the bench," I explained.

    "You didn''t have a suitcase earlier. Are you hallucinating?" he asked, and I heard a lot of noise on the other line. "Axel," I called his name. It went silent for a second.

    "J-j-j-just wait there," he stammered on the phone, and the call abruptly ended.

    "Wait¡ª" I tried to say but stopped, looking around.

    "What does he mean? I don''t have my suitcase. I really did¡ªoh."

    *Flashback

    As I rush towards the room, I suddenly bump into a man - I feel myself drop to the ground. My suitcase also falls beside me, but to my surprise, I see a man bump into me, looking at me intensely. He has blond hair and blue eyes, a man with a good structure.

    "What the heck?" I react to myself.

    He offers a helping hand, and I look at the ring to check if I''m wearing it; indeed, I am. How can this man see me and feel me? I then glance at the doctor''s eyes.

    "Are you an MT?" I ask him, but he looks confused. What is wrong with this man? I look at his hand; he does not have a soulmate. He must be an MT.

    "MT?" he asks. Never mind, I have no time for this! I decide to stand on my feet. I forgot to reach for his helping hand, so a silent awkwardness lingers between us. I don''t know what to say, so I look at the baffled man or doctor and say, "You know what, never mind. I need to go ¨C I''m sorry," I apologize and rush away. I hear that he has something to say, but I''m in a rush.

    I am running and it seems to lengthen a little. Did I forget something?

    End of Flashback

    Shoot! I forgot to pick it up. I only have my gun and my phone with me. How can I be so absent-minded?

    I know there is a lost and found section here, right?

    As I arrive at the lost and found station inside this hospital, two nurses are working there. I rush towards them.

    "Hi, good evening," I greet.

    "Good evening, ma''am. Is there any problem?" one of them greets me back. I smile subtly.

    "Has anyone reported finding a black suitcase?" I ask her.

    "Wait a moment, ma''am. Let me see if anyone reported it to us," she says. I nod in response, and she goes to a computer, typing something.

    "Ma''am, may I ask what time you lost the item?" she inquires. What time did I lose it?

    "Uhmm, today between 6 pm to 7 pm ¨C I guess," I answer. She nods and picks up a telephone, seemingly dialing someone.

    I can see the nurse talking to a person on the other line, so it seems someone did find it. This hospital is so big; it seems it really has this kind of thing ¨C the lost and found station.

    Then, I see the nurse drop the call and look at me with a smile on her face.

    "Your suitcase is found, ma''am. Would you mind waiting for a minute since the person who found your suitcase will arrive any minute?" she says. Oh, the don¡¯t hold my suitcase.

    "Oh, really?" I ask. She nods.

    "Then I will wait any minute," I say to her. "Thanks," I add, then take a seat in front of the station.

    A few moments later

    For what seemed like 30 minutes, everyone in the station was smiling so much. Suddenly, I feel a presence beside me, and when I look, it''s the doctor with blond hair holding my suitcase. I immediately stand up.

    "Good evening," I greet him. He smiles, saying, "Good evening, miss," in his subtle yet sweet voice. He looks stern, but there''s a kindness in his tone. I''m amazed for a moment but quickly focus on my suitcase.

    "Oh," he reacts and immediately hands the suitcase over to me.

    "Thank you so much for finding this," I express my gratitude as I receive my suitcase.

    So, he was the one who found it. Why didn¡¯t he tell me earlier.

    "It''s no problem. I just picked it up earlier during the accident we had," he explains.

    "Oh, I forgot ¨C I didn''t properly apologize," I admit to him, but he quickly denies it.

    "No, I am the one who didn''t seem to apologize earlier. You were the one who seemed in a rush," he says.

    What a nice guy he is, even though he looked quite scary with his cold gaze.

    "It''s just that I had an emergency earlier. I didn''t think that someone would see and feel me," I explain, then immediately shut my mouth, realizing what I said. Why am I so dumb, revealing my identity to this man who seems to have no idea about MT?

    He chuckles, breaking the awkward silence. Let''s change the topic.

    "You saw us earlier, why didn''t you inform me about my suitcase? You already seemed to recognize me even after our little accident. You remembered me as you approached me now," I ask him. Another awkward silence falls between us. Did it seem rude?

    "I wouldn''t dare to disturb someone for such a trivial matter. You were talking to a man earlier and having fun; it''s bad to disturb people in such a way," he explains. Oh, he means I was with Axel earlier; that''s why he didn''t bother. Well a good reason.

    "Yeah, right," I say. If this conversation continues, it will only get more awkward.

    "Tha-" I was about to say when my phone rang. I look at the doctor; he smiles and points to my phone, signaling that I should answer it. I nod and immediately pick up the phone.

    "What?" I ask as I answer the phone since the person who called is Axel.

    "Where are you? You really don''t know how to stay still, do you?" Axel asks on the other line. Oh, this guy is unbelievable.

    "Same to you. I am here in the lost and found station, you dumbass, since I lost my suitcase," I answer him. Then he ended up the call.

    I am in disbelief.

    "What an as-" as I am about to say, I suddenly remember something and look at the doctor in front of me.

    "May I know your name?" I ask him. "Oh, I''m Zayne," he says and reaches out his hand. I immediately reach for his hand and say, "Nice to meet you, Doctor Zayne," and we let go of each other''s hands.

    "Once again, I would like to thank you for finding my suitcase," I express my gratitude again.

    "It''s no problem to me. By the way, are you coming back here?" he asks. All of a sudden?

    "No -" I say, hesitating, "probably not. This is also the last time you will see me, sir Zayne," I tell him.

    "Really? I haven''t apologized properly for what I did earlier ¨C you dropped down to the floor hard," he mentions. Dropped down? Did he just said dropped down?? I chuckle.

    "Is there anything funny?" he asks. I smile. "No, it''s nothing. Even if I am shot with a gun, I will be fine. There is nothing for you to worry about. Since you returned my suitcase, there is no problem, and also, I am the one who was in a rush earlier and accidentally bump to you," I say to him. Then I look around and notice many people staring at us. Is he famous?

    "I really want to apologize for earlier," he insists. Once again, I look at him. "It is really nothing," I assure him

    Then suddenly, "Lala!" a familiar voice calls me. I see Axel waving and walking toward us. Ugh, this guy.

    "Where were you?" I ask him as he comes near me.

    "I just had some business," he says. Suddenly, he looks at Doctor Zayne, and they exchange glances for a while. I look around to see people murmuring and appearing happy to witness something. Then I look at Axel and Doctor Zayne ¨C they are both dazzling, blinding with beauty.

    Wow, higher-ups are really unfair in distributing looks. I got the normal beauty, but these two¡ªwoah. What if I became a man? Would I also have that look on my face?

    It''s like Doctor Zayne is the sun, and Axel is the moon ¨C just wow. I feel ashamed standing between these two handsome men. Should I just vanished?

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6

    La-La Point of View

    Axel pointed his finger to Doctor Zayne. "Oh, you were the blesse-" Axel was about to say. I was so shocked that I immediately covered his mouth and put down his pointing finger.

    Why is he about to start babbling?!

    "What the hell are you about to say to him?" I whispered to Axel, "MMM-MM," he tried to talk, but couldn''t since I covered his mouth.

    "Is there any problem?" Zayne asked. I immediately let go of Axel. "No, there isn''t. It''s just that this man has a foul mouth, you see,-ha-ha" I said nervously.

    "Foul mouth? Who are you referring to?" Axel asked. "You," I answered immediately to him looking sternly.

    "What?" he asked me in disbelief. But I hold him to his chest "Just shut up, wouldn''t ya?" I requested to Axel and looked at Zayne, smiling. He seems to be looking at us seriously.

    "Is there something wrong?" I asked Zayne. "Uh- nothing," he said. I was confused for a moment.

    "I apologize on how we acted but since he is here, I better ¨C no, I mean, we better say farewell to you, Mr. Zayne," I said to Dr. Zayne. Saying farewell.

    Then his phone rang, and he immediately answered it, so I immediately grabbed Axel''s wrist. "What now?" he asked.

    "Let''s go!" I said to him and pulled him out.

    A few moments later

    I arrived at my apartment, put my ring on the small table beside my bed, and threw my suitcase at the side of my bed. I jumped into my bed out of tiredness. This day is full of happenings, and I''m definitely tired.

    I take a deep breath ¨C "Just a little moment, Lala," I comforted myself. Now, I feel the tiredness consuming me as my eyelids close, and everything just goes dark.

    The next day

    "Where is it?!" I angrily shouted as I tried to find my ring for the job today. I woke up early in the morning to do my work, and after cleaning myself and eating, I tried to get my ring from the side table where I put it, but it was missing. Now, my apartment looked upside down, and all my things were messy. "Where did it go?" I complained as I searched for my ring everywhere. I never removed it from where I put it yesterday, so how could it be lost?

    Then suddenly, my phone rang. I immediately picked it up without knowing who was calling, as it was probably Axel calling early in the morning.

    "What?" I said as I answered the phone, then suddenly, to my shock, "Good morning, Ms. Lala Love Hunter from Class 32B," the voice on the other end said firmly. Then, I looked at the phone and realized it was our department. Shoot.

    "Good m-morning," I greeted back. "As per the requested report we asked of you yesterday, we didn''t seem to receive it," he said. Oh, I forgot about that!

    "I apologize. I will send it to the email immediately," I apologized. "Then so, I hope to receive it in an hour or so," he said. How can they be this strict? But I have no choice they are the one who will decide if they will subtract my numbers.

    "Yes, I will send it later," I agreed. As he was about to end the call, I shouted, "Wait!!" Then it went silent for a moment. Did he end the call? I looked at my phone, and the call wasn''t ended.

    "Is there any problem?" he asked. "Y-y-eah," I hesitantly answered.

    "If it is about the time for your report, I''m sorry it can''t be extended; we need it as soon as possible," he said. "No, not that," I denied.

    "Then what is the problem about?" he asked coldly.

    "It seems that," I hesitantly said. "It seems?" he asked.

    "I lost the ring!" I said it fast. Then I heard the keyboard clicking on the other line.

    "According to the rules written for the Love Hunter, losing the ring will need at least 6 months to be replaced with a new one. Are you sure that you lost your ring?" he asked. "It''s not that I lost it; it just went missing for some reason. As soon as I woke up this morning, I put-"

    "Then you lost it," he interrupted. Uh, this rude person. I swore to choke him, geez! If he is just in front of me.

    ''Just file the report and send it along with the other report; then upon checking your file, your ring will be replaced in six months," he said. Six months? Is it that long?

    "Six months, so that means in that six months, I wouldn''t be able to work?" I asked. "Yes, obviously," he answered. No, that is too long-

    "Can it be shortened?" I asked him. "No," he answered immediately. "But-" as I was about to say.

    "Just kindly send the report, and the ring will be delivered to you in six months," he said, then ended the call.

    "Gha!!!" I reacted. They are really rude as ¨C ugh!! Geez!!!

    A few moments later

    Right now, I am in the eatery, sighing deeply as I sit down to eat some food. Axel is reacting strongly as I tell him the story, and he is currently on the phone."It''s obviously your fault; how can you lose such an important thing?" Axel scolds me over the phone.

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    "My fault? I just remembered that I put it there - in that exact position. Then, as I woke up, it was gone," I explained to him.

    "Things don''t just go missing without any reason," he insists.

    "Yeah I know- Now I need to wait 6 months," I complain. "That''s for sure too long," he agrees. Then suddenly, something comes to my mind.

    "In that six months, you can finish your job, which means you''re going to ascend first. Jeez, this is really so unfair" I said. I heard him chuckle, "Yeah, celebrate while you''re ascending; here I am, dying."

    "You can''t die; you''re already dead, you know. And for your information, I can wait for you before I can ascend," he said. "You''re lying; I know that you can''t," I answer him. "Just go and ascend by yourself," I say to him in a low tone, then the waiter arrives in front of me.

    "Here is your food, fried chicken, potato smash, and lemon juice," she said. Suddenly, Axel opens his phone camera. "Are you eating by yourself?!" he shouts. This mother-

    The waiter is shocked and seems baffled to see Axel''s face. I immediately pick up my phone. "Bruh, what are you shouting at? What¡¯s your problem?" I ask him on the other line. "Problem, you don''t know the problem?" he asks, as if picking a fight. I look at the waiter who is confused and tell her, "Thank you." She nods and walks away. But still looking at me for some reason.

    "I am eating; I don''t see a problem," I tell him. "Yes, you''re eating without me!! That is the problem," he insists.

    "It''s just food, gush," I say to him. "No, no, it''s just  not about the food-" as he starts to say a lot. "Yeah, bye," I say to him and end the call. Dropping my phone to the side.

    Gosh, that guy - his reactions are always so over the top.

    The food looked delicious, so I picked up my utensils.

    "Senior?" A familiar voice called out to me. I turned around to see Yuna, smiling happily. "Oh, Yuna, your here" I greeted her.

    A Few moments later

    Yuna sat in front of me and also ordered her food. Despite my initial hesitation to eat alone, I decided to wait for her food, even if mine became cold.

    "You can eat your food, senior," she said.

    "No, your food will arrive in any minute. I will feel bad to eat alone," I insisted. She smiled happily.

    "By the way, senior, isn''t today your last day?" she asked, curious. "What do you mean by that?" I inquired.

    "You only have one soulmate left to pair up, isn''t it, senior?" she asked. Oh, I remembered she saw my number. I smiled subtly, and she seemed to notice it.

    "Is there any problem with that, senior? Shouldn''t you be happy?" she asked.

    "Yes, I am happy about being in rejudgement; however, there is a little problem for me," I admitted. She tilted her head in curiosity.

    "What do you mean by that?" she asked.

    "Well, I lost my ring," I answered. "You lost your ring?!!" she exclaimed loudly reacting over the top.

    I looked around to see people looking at us. "Shh," I signaled her, and she immediately covered her mouth.

    "I''m so sorry, senior," she apologized. I smiled at her. "There is no problem here; no need to apologize, just calm down" I reassured her, and she giggled.

    "But, senior," she said, adopting a more serious tone, "what will happen to you?" She seemed worried, still naive in this job.

    "Well, it is a normal occurrence for us to lose a ring it¡¯s not I lost it once. I will wait six months for it to be replaced with a new one," I explained to her. She looked quite saddened by that.

    "Six months, isn''t it too long for you, senior? You just needed one to ascend, and yet you need to wait six months for that," she said.

    "Well, there is nothing I can do, I lost it and it¡¯s hard to make" I said to her.

    "You mean you will wait six months for that?" she asked.

    "Yes, I will," I answered, and then her food arrived.

    "A curry with rice and apple juice, here please enjoy your meal" the waiter said. "Thanks," Yuna thanked the waiter as she left our table. "Shall we eat?" I asked her, picking up my utensils. She nodded and grabbed her utensils. Just as we were about to dig in, a person arrived next to our table ¨C a man with familiar colored hair. People around us turned their attention to him.

    You gotta be kidding me. Just what is wrong with today.

    "Senior, isn''t he handsome?" Yuna asked me. The man seated and turned around to us, and as expected, "Good afternoon, Doctor Zayne," I greeted him. His pupils enlarged as he saw me, and he gave me a subtle smile.

    "I didn''t expect you to be here, and eventually, we meet again," he said. "Yeah," I responded. I also told him yesterday would be the last time he would see me; I didn''t expect that he would see me this soon.

    Unfortunately -

    "Senior, do you know him?" Yuna asked me.

    "It''s not that I know him well -" I hesitantly answered Yuna.

    "I had to do something in the hospital, and I bumped into him, that''s all, right?" I said to Yuna and looked at Zayne, who nodded. Then, a waiter arrived between our seats and looked at us. We were baffled why.

    "Is there any problem?" Zayne asked the waiter. I picked up my utensil once again.

    "Our restaurant is unfortunately lacking seats this afternoon; however, we noticed that this table is for four people, and you hmm..." she tried to say something but hesitated, making it awkward with Zayne, who was on our right side. I dropped my utensil again; where would I start eating, jeez?

    "Dr. Zayne, it seems that the waiter is saying that it is possible to sit with us since we are sitting at a four-people table, and you too. Since there are a lot of people today in their restaurant," I explained to Zayne. "Y-y- yes, if there isn''t any problem with that, is it possible?" she nervously asked Zayne, who gazed at her coldly.

    "There is no problem with me, Dr. Zayne, if you''re willing to join us here you are welcome we are not stranger after all. It seems that they indeed need a table," I said. Zayne looked at me. "Is it fine?" he asked.

    "Yes, it is," I answered.

    A few moments later,

    Now we are waiting for Zayne''s food to arrive before we eat.

    "I insist that you should eat; your food will be cold if you wait for the food that I ordered," he said, insisting that we eat our food.

    "Are you sure about that?" I asked him. He nodded, and then I grabbed my utensil and looked at Yuna, who also grabbed hers. I can¡¯t really wait I lost my hostility.

    Now I can eat and take a bite. It''s not that delicious anymore, but at least I can eat.. Thanksss-

    As we ate, I could feel awkwardness between us. I looked at Zayne, who was beside me, and inquired, "May I ask what brought you here? The hospital is far from here. How come you eat here?"

    "I live nearby; I am on my way to the hospital, but I felt a little hungry, so I dropped by," he explained.

    "Well, it''s normal to get hungry," I remarked as a joke.

    "By the way, something is going on in my mind," he said. All of a sudden? This dude.

    "What is it?" I asked him.

    "I introduced myself, but you didn''t say yours," he pointed out. Oh, did I? Shoot, yes, I did. I didn''t tell him my name.

    "Well, there is no need for you to know my name, and I am sure that we wouldn''t meet again after that," I said, making excuses, but half of it was true.

    "Hmm, well, I met you today , and indeed we will in the future. It seems that you also live nearby," he said.

    "Yeah," I replied, then dropped my utensil. "So, I''m Lala," I said, introducing myself. "And this is my junior, Yuna," I added, introducing Yuna. Yuna stopped eating and bowed to Zayne.

    "Junior, may I inquire, are you a student?" he asked. I immediately denied it, "No, no, no, we are not, we look to old to be a student" I said.

    "Senior is my senior at work, sir," Yuna clarified to Zayne. Yuna seemed to be nervous for some reason. Well, just the presence of this man is overwhelming. Just overwhelming.

    "Work? If it''s not rude, may I inquire what work you two do?" he asked us calmly. "Oh, we are hunters," Yuna answered immediately. My eyes widened because of what she said, and she also looked shocked and nervously at me.

    How could she say that?

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7

    La-La Point of View

    "Uh-ahem, she means we are job hunters, yeah job hunters" I slipped in an excuse. Yuna nodded, subtly agreeing with the fabricated story. We both smiled at him, silently urging him to believe us.

    "Job hunters? I''ve never heard of that. What kind of job is that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. I glanced at Yuna, who crouched nervously.

    "Well, um, we... you know, find people without jobs and offer them opportunities, taking a percentage of the earnings something like that," I explained, creating a plausible excuse. Silence hung in the air for a moment.

    "That''s kind of interesting," he said, seeming to buy our story. A sigh of relief passed between Yuna and me. I signaled Yuna to relax, and she resumed eating.

    His phone rang, and he looked at us. "You can answer that; we''ll wait for your food. Don''t worry," I assured him. "Thanks," he said, standing up to take the call.

    I frowned at Yuna. "I''m sorry," she immediately apologized.

    "The deed is done. Just don''t let him discover our true identity. You know the consequences if he does," I warned her, and she nodded. "And try not to be too nervous around him please calm down"

    "I''m sorry about that, senior. He just seems like a character from a book," Yuna explained. I sighed.

    "Well, indeed I would agree with that. He is also a blessed one so don¡¯t be obvious," I told her. "Blessed? You mean a human who can see us even in invisible form and is loved by the higher one?" she exclaimed in shock. Hmmm, it seems she already read the book.

    "Yes, he is. That''s why you need to be careful around him. He''s a Gray Type string too," I added, watching her react in surprise.

    "Is that even possible? Isn''t it something so unlucky?" she asked.

    "Whether it''s unlucky or not, possible or impossible, just don''t get too involved with him. It might be dangerous," I warned. Yuna still seemed dazed, -grabbing her drink, while I sensed a presence returning.

    "I''m sorry about that," Zayne returned, sitting beside me once again. I gave him a smile. "No problem. However, your food hasn''t arrived yet," I pointed out, but he just smiled. "I can wait," he said.

    A few moments later.

    "No, no! Really, we insist. We can pay for our food," I tried to stop Zayne from standing up to pay for our meal.

    "Yeah, I also agree with senior. We can pay for our own food," Yuna added, joining in to persuade Zayne not to cover the cost.

    "No, it''s really okay. This is the first time I had fun eating. It''s my way to thank you guys," Zayne insisted, but I gently held his wrist, offering a smile. "Please, no. We insist. It''s just a normal way for us to talk and get to know each other, so there''s no need for such a burden for you to pay for our food," I insisted, aware that getting too involved with him could be risky.

    "Burden? It''s not a burden for me," he countered, trying to go against what I said. He looked into my eyes, held the wrist of the hand that was holding his, and smiled. "Just let me do this one," he said in a soothing voice. I was baffled for a moment, what the? but I took the initiative to look at him and smiled.

    "Why, though?" I asked. "This is also my way to apologize to you properly, so let me," he said in a convincing tone. I felt conflicted. After a silent second, I let go of him, and he did the same.

    "I surrender," I said in a low tone, he smiled and he stood up, heading to the cashier.

    "Senior," Yuna called out to me. "This is okay, Yuna. Just don''t get involved too much. This will be the last time, understood?" I said to her while forcing a smile. However, deep inside, I was still conflicted and uneasy. Well I am so done.

    "The payment is done. Shall we go outside?" Zayne asked as he finished paying. Yuna, about to stand, I signaled her to remain seated by waving my hand and turned to Zayne, who was standing.

    "Thank you, Mr. Zayne. However, we have a job meeting to attend," I said, inventing an excuse to distance ourselves from further involvement with him.

    "Right, Yuna?" I glanced at her, and she immediately nodded, understanding my strategy. "Is that so? Then I might go first," Zayne said.

    "Yeah, thank you so much for today," I expressed my gratitude, and he smiled. "This is nothing. We''ll see each other in the future, so nice to meet you ," he added. What do you mean meet each other in the future?

    "Take care, Mr. Zayne," Yuna bid him farewell. He nodded and left.

    Phew¡ª we will not see him in the future though.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "This is incredible!" Yuna exclaimed with excitement in her tone. I looked at her with a questioning expression. Incredible? Where?

    "What do you mean by that?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

    "On my first day, I met Sir Axel because of you," she explained. I furrowed my eyebrows, seeking clarification.

    "I mean, Mr. Axel is handsome and a nice reaper, which is rare. I met him on my first day, which is also super good. I also met an amazing senior like you. I heard that seniors in our job are strict and arrogant, but you are cool and nice. And¡ªand also, I met that Dr. Zayne, who is also handsome and¡ªexcitingly¡ªa blessed one, which is quite rare. I think I am getting really lucky," she gushed with a happy tone. I couldn''t help but chuckle.

    "You''re so honest, Yuna," I remarked, and she just smiled brightly, like a Chihuahua in front of a treat. But should I warn her?

    "Yuna, -you know that this world is cruel, right?" I asked her in a serious tone. She also became serious. "Yes," she answered.

    "Well, you can be happy about meeting me, Axel, and that guy. There is a lot of future ahead of you, so it''s better to be careful, also don¡¯t trust just anyone because of looks" I advised.

    "I know that, senior. It''s just that this is incredible, so..." she trailed off. She was still so naive in this job.

    A few moments later...

    "Bye, senior!!" Yuna bid farewell to me in a park as she went off to do her job. I waved at her, watching her walk away happily. My energy was drained today, so I decided to sit on a bench.

    "I am so unlucky today," I muttered to myself. Suddenly, my phone rang, and I saw that the Love Hunter division was calling me. What now?

    I answered, "Hello?"

    "We already received your report regarding the failed mission," he said on the other line. Don''t tell me it has a problem.

    "Does it have any problem?" I inquired. "No," he answered immediately. Then why did they call me?

    "If it''s not a problem, may I ask why you called me?" I asked.

    "It''s regarding the failed mission. The Life Hunter assigned to that mission, as stated in your report, is nowhere to be called upon by the Life Hunter division. We are inquiring if you probably know where Mr. Axel is right now, as we are currently asking for his side on this report of yours," he explained.

    "He is nowhere to be found?" I asked. "Yes, he is," he answered. How would I know where he is?

    "I just got a call from him earlier. Maybe did you try calling him?" I suggested. "We wouldn''t try to reach you if we didn''t," he said. Right~, how could I be so dumb right now.

    "Well, if you can''t contact him, I can''t either since I also calling him via phone," I said. "B¡ª" he was about to say, "And if you''re wondering if he is with me, no, he is not, unfortunately," I added.

    "We can''t confirm your report, as the report is only one person confirming. We need the other side to confirm," he said. "Well, the Life Hunter department should have also confirmed it already. Why do they need Axel for that?" I questioned.

    Just then, from where I was looking, I saw Axel walking and eating ice cream2 from afar. We locked eyes, and he immediately waved and happily smiled at me. "This bastard," slipped out of my mouth.

    "Excuse me, Ms. Lala, are you referring to me?" the other line asked. Oh, shoot, I forgot.

    "No, no-no¡ªI just saw the rat that you are looking for," I quickly denied. "Rat? We are not looking for a rat, but we are looking for Mr. Axel," he clarified. "Yeah, he is a rat," I muttered.

    "Hey, you, come here quickly!" I shouted at Axel as he stopped walking and pointed at himself. "Yes, you!" I shouted again.

    "Just call me if the problem is settled," the other line said and ended the call. Gosh, he was always so rude. I ought to smack him at least one.

    I stood up as Axel walked toward me. "What is it? Is there any problem? Did you just miss me too much?" he asked confidently as he arrived in front of me.

    "No, you bastard. The Department of Life is looking for you and also our department is looking for you. Is your phone on silent?" I asked him. But he just looked confused and handed me his ice cream. Really? This is disgusting.

    He immediately checked his phone inside his suit. "This is not on si¡ª" he was about to say, but as he opened his phone, his eyes widened. Ugh, this guy.

    "Wait a moment," he said, immediately dialing something on his phone. "Hello," he said into his phone. I walked over to him and handed him his ice cream, which was dripping all over. He took the ice cream, but I decided to go to another bench and sit where I couldn''t hear him.

    What will I do in the six months I have? Should I join Axel or Yuna, or should I just find a normal job for myself? This is not me resting; I hate resting. I can''t imagine myself doing nothing.

    It''s been an hour, and Axel is still on his phone, so I decided to stand up and leave the scene. I opened my phone to see no notifications. So, this is my life without a job, huh? I inhaled and exhaled.

    "How about going to the sea?" I asked myself. The sea is fun, yeah. I should have some fun since if I get the ring, I will be gone. Should I enjoy something?

    I opened my phone and went to Google, searching for a beautiful¡ªoh wait, I forgot. I can''t use the money in our company for trivial matters. How could I forget that??? I decided to hide my phone in my suit. I guess I need a job for¡ª if I use out company money with no reason they will educt my job numbers. Ugh- it¡¯s  annoying.

    Then, a strong wind blew by, removing my ponytail. At the same time, it made me stagger backward, and a paper hit me in the face. "What the!!!" I shouted and grabbed the paper that slapped me. I started reading.

    "We are hiring a woman aged 20 and above to be a librarian," I read it out loud. What a coincidence. I looked around to see if there was anyone beside me, but I was the only one. What the heck? Is this true?

    I looked like I am 20, so this fits, and I am also a woman. I search through my phone. Since the vacation costs $3838, the minimum divided into 3 months is $1279 per month, so it should be around $40 or so.

    There is a number below in this flyer. I decided to take out my phone and call it.

    "Hello," it immediately answered. The voice, although familiar, didn''t matter.

    "Hi, I heard that you are looking for a librarian. Is the position still available?" I asked. It went silent for a second, a familiar scene.

    "Yes, the position is still available. May I know your whole name?" it asked, and by the way, it was a man.

    "Lanaya Nicole M. Labadrones, I''m 25 years old," I said. It went silent once again. "Hello?" I asked.

    "Ah, yes, I''m sorry. I am just writing down your name. Kindly send your resume to the email that I will send to you," he said, with a cold tone.

    "Is there any interview with this?" I asked. "Yes, there will be. I will just send the schedule, but the interview will be via call," he explained. Well, that''s weird, but I might take the risk.

    "Oh, so, okay, I understand," I said. "Okay, I already sent the email. I hope to hear from you soon," he said, then ended the call immediately. What a weird guy. His tone is familiar, though.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8

    La-La Point of View

    I was baffled for a moment to see Zayne inside this gym where a fraud program was going on. I immediately grabbed his wrist, and his eyes widened as he saw me.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked him.

    "I should ask the same to you," he replied. Well, there were a lot of people; this was a big chance for hunters to collide. But what the hell was he doing here? And why is he here out of all people I know?

    A little flashback

    "Yes, I have experience in regards to having assisted someone, and yes, I am interested in books," I replied to the guy on the other line who was interviewing me. "Mmh_mmh," he responded.

    I was sitting in a park, holding a coffee in my hand. He had called me earlier out of nowhere, saying he would interview me which is also shock me.

    "Everything is good about you," he said in a sweet tone. I was confused for a moment. "Yes?" I replied, baffled. He was rude before, wasn¡¯t he?

    "Everything is good about you, more on to the background that you have. However, I am wondering," he said. What was with the pause?

    "Wondering? What it is?" I asked.

    "H****," he said, but the other line just became static for some reason. I looked at my phone to see the signal getting weaker.

    "Hello, hello, can you hear me?" I said on the other line, waiting for him to respond. "Yes Ms. Lanaya I can hear you" he replied.

    "I am sorry about that the signal just got weaker I can''t hear anything you said earlier, can you repeat that for me please?" I asked to him.

    "No it was nothing" he said. What?

    "Oh-okay? " I responded then I can hear a click of computer on the other line.

    Is the interview finished?- should I ¨C

    "Everything is good-" he said. How would I response with that?.

    "I already send the schedule to you" he said. "Already?" I said out of question and confused.

    "Yes already- I hope we get along with work" he said.

    Wait- what. Isn¡¯t this going so fast?

    "Oh, yes! Thank you for the opportunity, sir!" I exclaimed with gratitude. I could hear him chuckle in response. "Okay, see you," he said, his tone making everything feel more familiar. Then, he ended the call, leaving me bewildered. What in the world just happened?

    Curiosity getting the better of me, I swiftly navigated to my inbox to find a document titled ''Scheduled.'' Intrigued, I immediately clicked on it, revealing a detailed table with specified dates. To my surprise, it outlined that I would be working only on weekdays, starting from tomorrow.

    Is this really happening? The simplicity of it all left me questioning whether it could be so easy.

    I took a deep sigh and stretched my arms, enjoying the tranquility of the park. Little did I know, my peaceful moment was about to be shattered.

    Suddenly, a strong force overwhelmed me. Someone covered my mouth with a cloth, preventing any scream from escaping. Panic surged through me as I struggled to break free, but the assailant''s grip was relentless. My eyes widened in terror as I desperately attempted to catch a glimpse of my attacker.

    Just as I was about to see the face of the person who had ambushed me, a piece of fabric covered my eyes, plunging me into darkness. My surroundings became a blur as my heart raced, realizing I was being forcibly taken away.

    I found myself being dragged, my limbs helpless against the unseen force. The once serene sounds of the park were replaced by the muffled noises of the struggle. Fear gnawed at me as I tried to make sense of the situation, my mind racing with questions and uncertainties.

    The world outside my darkened vision became a series of indistinct sounds and sensations. I could sense movement, the jostling of my body, and the unfamiliar surface beneath me. Each passing moment only intensified the fear and confusion.

    As I strained against my captor''s hold, the reality of the situation sank in¡ªI was being kidnapped. The struggle continued as I tried to gather my wits, hoping for an opportunity to break free from this nightmarish scenario.

    Then, what felt like minutes dragging on like hours brought me to a place where, for some mysterious reason, the tight rope around my hands was loosened, and the cloth covering my eyes was removed. As my vision cleared, I was met with the sight of a man with brown hair, sporting a smile that resembled a mischievous dog.

    "Damn it, Lloyd!" I swore as recognition dawned on me.

    "Hi, Lala," he said with a giggle in his tone, making my frustration intensify.

    I promptly stood up, grabbing his collar with determination. "Chill!" he nervously pleaded as I tightened my grip. Suddenly, familiar footsteps echoed in the basement.

    Don''t tell me.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "Lala, you always had a bad temper, didn''t you? Why haven''t you changed at all?" her voice resonated through the basement. "Senior, long time no see," I greeted her being annoyed, releasing Lloyd''s collar.

    "Hi~," she said with a smile on her face. "You''re still her dog, huh?" I murmured to Lloyd, but he just smiled at me from ear to ear.

    "Senior Yhana, here she is~," Lloyd said with delight in his voice. Ugh, this dog.

    "What now?" I asked as she now appeared in front of me, still wearing a smirk.

    "I need you," she said.

    "To do what, exactly? Making this all effort?" I asked her.

    "If I call you, would you voluntarily come here by yourself?" she inquired. "No," I immediately answered.

    "Just please get to the point- What is it this time?" I asked her.

    "Just a little help from the mission before you leave, you know," she said. Really? ugh

    "I can''t," I immediately declined. "How can you be so selfish, Lala?" Lloyd immediately reacted.

    "Shut up ,Stop being a dog, Lloyd," I said to him. He frowned. "You can''t be that harsh to your batch mate," she said to me.

    "We lack people on this mission, so we need you, just do this one, Lala, don''t be so selfish," she added. I sighed.

    "I can''t," I said, and her eyebrows drew closer together. She is angry now.

    "Why can''t you just cooperate?" she asked me.

    "The way you make me come here? You want me to cooperate?" I questioned.

    "One hundred years have passed, Lala, you still haven''t changed," she pointed out.

    "Yeah, I agree with Senior, being so rude and selfish. I can''t believe you will leave first with this work," Lloyd added with his loud tone echoing in the room.

    "That is called hard work, you dumbass why don¡¯t you try it too huh?, and I am not being rude here¡ªyou two are the ones being rude here," I said. "H¡ª" Lloyd was about to say, and I covered his mouth.

    "And Senior, how could you not know from the connection yourself¡ªI lost my ring, therefore I can''t help you, you should have known that" I said and let go of my hands from Lloyd''s mouth. They both looked stressed for a moment upon hearing that.

    "You are that careless?" my senior asked, sounding as if it were an insult.

    "Careless? Compared to you, Senior, please you lost your ring three times, didn''t you? Oh wait that¡¯s  long time ago , I don¡¯t know if you can¡¯t count yours now senior" I retorted to her insult, and she rethought something. "This is not good," she mumbled to herself.

    Why am I even here, arguing with them?

    "It seems that I will not have any contribution here," I said as I was about to leave when Lloyd grabbed onto my shoulder.

    "What now?!" I angrily asked.

    "Senior, isn''t it that we just need bait? Lala works out just fine even without a ring, right?" Lloyd said to Senior Yhana with enthusiasm. "Wow, this dog."

    "Bait?! Me?" I asked with a loud tone, and then Senior looked at me with a smile on her face. "Right, you don''t need a ring when you are bait. You still have your powers and ability to run, right?" she asked me. "What are you two planning?" I asked, then-

    End of flashback

    "I am here due to work," I explained.

    "Due to work?" he seemed confused. I looked around to see if my seniors were watching, and they didn''t seem to be.

    "Let''s get out of here," I said to him, pulling him to leave. Suddenly, a man decided to barricade us, causing me to fall to the ground with a big impact. For some reason, I could feel the pain, and the noise it created drew attention.

    Zayne immediately ran toward me, and I could see the nervousness on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, it so obvious in his face that he is worried.

    Before I could answer, he turned to the guy who caused my fall, demanding, "What are you doing?" The scenario escalated, and I could feel an unusual pain in my butt. I wasn''t wearing the ring, so I shouldn''t have felt any pain from this. Nonetheless, I held onto Zayne''s shoulder.

    "I''m fine," I said to him and decided to stand up, Zayne also help me. "Can we just leave?" I asked the guy.

    "No, once you enter, you need to finish the program," he said in a firm tone.

    "We entered voluntarily, so we can just leave whenever we want, I think it¡¯s our decision" Zayne said in his cold tone. Suddenly, more people backed up the guy who made me fall; they were all wearing black shirts and looked formidable.

    I looked around for my senior and Lloyd, who had planned to enter this area, and for some reason, they were nowhere to be found- oh those guys they are really pain in the ass. Zayne then grabbed my wrist. "Just hold on for a moment," he said to me.

    He should be worrying about himself. I can survived here but I don¡¯t know about him.

    "What''s with this ruckus?" a man suddenly appeared with a scar on his face, looking about 30 and giving off a scammer vibe. Like more a gangster vibe.

    "Boss," every guy with a black suit greeted him with a bow. So, he is the boss.

    "What is going on?" I heard people murmur. This thing just keeps getting worse.

    "We voluntarily entered; why can''t we voluntarily get out?" I asked the guy with a scar, and he smiled weirdly. What the?

    "I apologize for the actions of my employees," he said, his tone lower and more pleasing. "How about you take a seat and finish the program? This is for your success in life," he added, attempting to change the topic and steer us back into the crowd.

    Considering Zayne''s presence, a doctor himself who might not want to get involved in this commotion, should we just go back to the crowd? And just leave quietly.

    As I hesitated, the boss continued, "Come on, don''t be stubborn. Our program has benefited many. You won''t regret it." " Shall we-" as I about to say, then suddenly the grip of Zayne became stronger. "You''re changing the topic," he said, widening my eyes because of that.

    "I beg your pardon?" the boss asked.

    "You want me to repeat?" Zayne asked the boss, making the situation worse.

    "I''m sorry, sir, but you can''t get out until the program finishes," he said, getting closer to Zayne. "How about you take a seat first?" he suggested, pointing to chairs, but Zayne didn''t look convinced.

    "For a scammer? Why would I believe you?" Zayne said firmly, insulting the boss and causing people to realize the predicament they were in. To make things worse, the tension escalated.

    So, I approached Zayne. "How about we just take a seat?" I whispered to him, suggesting a discreet way to handle the situation. He looked at me for a second. Suddenly, he kicked the boss in his sensitive area. My eyes widened in shock, and I stared at Zayne in disbelief as he grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

    What hell just happened?!!!!!

    The guys in black shirts were slow to react, allowing Zayne and me to escape, and the onlookers followed suit.

    It quickly became chaos as people scrambled to get away from the unfolding scene.

    I took a moment to catch my breath as we ran miles away from the chaotic scene. I just wanted to get him out of there since he''s a nice guy, but what in the world just happened earlier?

    "A-a-a-are you okay?" he asked, his breath also slowing down. "Yeah, I''m fine," I answered. Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate. It was a call from my senior. Now she''s calling? I looked at Zayne, who was catching his breath, and distanced myself from him to answer the cal.

    "What happened here?!" she immediately asked as I answered the call. "What do you mean, what?" I retorted.

    "All the people are gone, and the mission is already ruined," she scolded me.

    "I am not the one at fault here. Where were you earlier? Putting me as bait is not enough, but also leaving me there alone," I stressed out in this moment.

    "Didn''t we say that we would come back after gathering more information? And then, as we came back, you are nowhere to be found?" she asked.

    "Someone I know is I met there, then a ruckus happened. It''s not my fault," I explained.

    "This took a long time for us to plan, and you just ruined it," she said angrily. "I beg your pardon?! What is the mission anyway? Dragging me all the way here and leaving me? And why is it my fault?!" I asked.

    "It''s a gold string," she said. "Huh, wait- gold s-s-string?" I asked. Is it even possible?

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9

    Third Person Point of View

    Yhana stormed away in anger, leaving Lloyd behind, and in that moment, something extraordinary happen. The gym lights suddenly went out, Lloyd went into a shock. He instinctively took a step backward, his anxious emotions is within him. Then, in the middle of the gym, a mysterious blue light suddenly appeared with a sound of boom with it.

    "W-w-w-who are you?!" Lloyd shouted into the darkness. No response came, but within that ethereal glow, the shadowy outline of a tall man, standing at least 6 feet or more, appeared behind the blue light.

    Lloyd took take step backward,

    He took out his phone and dialed a number, but it seemed like no one answered. Undeterred, he fearlessly took another step backward. To shed some light, he tried to turn on the flashlight on his phone, but it unexpectedly flew out of his hand. Shocked, he dropped to the floor, taking a step back along with it. The shadow and the blue light is taking a step forward.

    Struggling to stand up, fear gripped to continue stepping backward. No one was there to help him.

    "Somebody ¨C anyone!" he shouted. "Who are you?!" he yelled at the shadow, which took a step forward every second. A faint laugh echoed, intensifying Lloyd''s fear.

    "What the hell are you!"

    "Anybody here, please! There''s some crazy thing happening!"

    "No, don''t come closer!"

    "Just don''t!" he continued to shout, but no one responded. His plead echoed in the empty gym until he reached the wall. The shadow stopped as soon as the light hit it.

    Suddenly, the shadow forcefully banged Lloyd''s head into the wall. Lloyd, filled with fear, couldn''t utter a word. The blue light soared, revealing the complete silhouette of the man. Lloyd''s eyes widened, but before he could react, he began turning gray, his existence dissipating into thin air. The man devoured him, consuming every particle, leaving no trace behind.

    And a laughed echoed to the gym as another blue light appear.

    La-La Point of View

    I laughed as I hear the most nonsense thing that I heard. "Golden string? Senior are you somewhat high?" I asked out of her as a joked continuing laughing.

    "I am not joking" she straight said to me in a serious stone. I stop laughing. SO, what the hell?

    "SO, your telling me the mission that you said is a gold string so basically you are aiming for that string?" I asked "Are you deaf?" she asked to me.

    "No, I am not. But to be serious, what is your purpose for the golden string? That string connects itself, so it¡¯s useless to intervene" I said, suddenly realizing something. "Wait¡ªsenior, don''t tell me you''re trying to connect yourself with him. That''s why Lloyd said that it''s not needed, a string. So, this is all for that purpose?" I asked her, but it just went silent.

    So, everything I said is true.

    "Senior, how could you? Does the department know about this?" I asked her.

    "No, they do not! That''s why you''ve ruined everything," she replied in an angry tone.

    "Why are you blaming me, though? What do you want me to do? Stop the ruckus myself?" I questioned her.

    "You know what, never mind. But let me tell you, La-La, don''t you dare interrupt me with my plan and tell this to the department, understood?" she said, then abruptly ended the call.

    What the¡ªGold string, huh?

    "La-La" A voice called my name, and I spun around to find Zayne standing there, a bottle of water in hand. His unexpected presence surprised me, and I couldn''t help but wonder where he got the water from since I couldn''t spot a store around.

    "Where did you get that?" I asked, pointing at the bottle of water. "Oh, it''s just back in that alley. I bought it," he replied, gesturing in a direction while offering the bottle to me, and I gladly accepted it.

    "Weren''t you exhausted just a moment ago?" I questioned, feeling a bit confused. Zayne nonchalantly opened his bottle and took a sip, leaving me in an awkward silence.

    "Are you okay?" he suddenly inquired, his concern catching me off guard. I couldn''t help but wonder about this guy''s intentions. He is somewhat weird.

    "What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

    "We ran miles earlier, and you hurt yourself. I''m just wondering if you''re okay," he explained, a hint of genuine worry in his voice. Well, he is a doctor, so perhaps that concern is normal.

    "I''m okay; you don''t have to worry," I reassured him immediately.

    "May I ask how you even ended up there? Do you know that it''s a fraud scheme?" I added, seeking more information.

    "I know," he answered, leaving me perplexed. If he knows, then what''s the story behind all of this?

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "You already know then what are you even doing there?" I asked to him . "For my patient" he answer.

    "For your patient?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "Yes, one of my patients was scammed by that fraud. I am trying to find evidence, but since I failed, I guess I will try next time," he explained. "Aren''t you a doctor? That a detective job-" I questioned.

    "Yes, I am," he answered. "Then why are you doing that for your patient?" I inquired.

    "Since I am a doctor," he replied. I just looked at him in the eyes. Why can''t you even make proper conversation, huh? This guy...

    "You know that they won''t let you get out unless they get money out of you, right?" I pointed out. He nodded. "And you know that you look rich, right?" I added.

    "Do I?" he asked. I facepalmed. What is wrong with this man? It''s as if every good-looking guy lacks something. He is dense.

    "But we got out that¡¯s all it matters, and I''m also wondering," he said, pausing. I wondered.

    "Why am I there?" I asked him, as if that is what he is wondering. He nodded.

    "For my friend. My friend asked me to come due to circumstances, I lied about that it¡¯s due to work it¡¯s my friend that requested me to come" I lied to him. More lies between lies.

    "Is your friend the one in the hospital with you before?" he asked. Oh is it Axe;¡­ hmmm -Why does he care, though?

    "You mean Axel? That guy wouldn''t even bother going there, though, he might look dumb but he is smart enough not to fall for a scam" I replied. "I guess it isn''t him," he said, seeming relieved.

    "Aren''t you supposed to be at work this time? Not doing a detective job-  I know all doctors are busy, but it seems like you''re a doctor with a lot of time, though," I remarked. "I am on my day off," he answered.

    "Is that so?" I asked, and he nodded then he starred into something. Curious about what caught his attention, I glanced at my palm. To my surprise, there was a bruise that I hadn''t noticed before.

    "What the hell?" I exclaimed, startled by the discovery. Zayne suddenly took hold of my hand, inspecting the bruise. "It seems it''s not that bad, a little scratch " he reassured me. What does he mean by "not that bad"? I got a bruise from a human¡ªor at least, that''s what I thought.

    The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. Could it be that the guy I bumped into earlier was an MT? A mythical creature? MTs couldn''t be harmed by natural or human causes, but we could hurt each other. That was the only disadvantage of being an MT; we couldn''t die from a human''s gunshot, but when an MT held the gun and shot another MT, it could cause damage.

    I couldn''t shake off the confusion. I didn''t sense anything otherworldly about the guy I bumped into; he seemed perfectly human. The bruise on my hand, however, due to this bruise it seems that I am mistaken.

    A few moments later

    "Thank you for everything," I expressed my gratitude to Zayne as I bid him goodbye. He smiled warmly in return before leaving. Thankfully, no one witnessed that smile of his because, if they did, they might have a heart attack- that higher up really loves him. And thus why did I keep running into him?

    "Isn''t he the doctor from before?" a voice whispered in my ear. I took a step backward to find Axel standing there, grinning. Here we go again.

    "What are you doing here?" I questioned as we found ourselves in the middle of the park.

    "Is this your land? I can go whenever I want here- But just curious what you''re even doing with that guy?" he deflected, changing the subject. I squinted at him.

    "Is it your business?" I retorted. Suddenly, Axel''s gaze focused on something, and he immediately grabbed my hand. His eyebrows furrowed in concern, and he gazed at me as if he were angry.

    "Jeez!" I reacted to the sudden contact. "What is this?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

    I pulled my hand away. "I bumped into an MT and bruised my hand, don¡¯t over react " I explained. I covered my arm with a bandaid discreetly behind my back.

    "Is that doctor an MT? Is he the one who did that?" he asked in a dumbfounded tone. "Are you dumb?" I shot back.

    "Why am I wrong?" he inquired. "Yes, like you said he is a blessed one you idiot-" I replied.

    "If so, then tell me what happened," he insisted. I sighed, realizing I had no choice. If I didn''t tell him everything, he would keep pestering me.

    A few moments later.

    "Isn''t that senior of yours the rumor hunter in your department who likes good-looking faces?" Axel asked. "Yes, she is," I replied tiredly, flopping onto my bed. Axel settled into a side chair in my room.

    "Have you meet her?" I questioned, and he took a while to answer. "No," he finally said.

    "What''s with the pause? It seems fishy," I remarked.

    "Your room," he said, once again changing the topic. "W-what?! What''s wrong with my room?" I asked, sitting up suddenly.

    "It''s so dirty, are you really a girl?" he commented, looking disgusted. In response, I grabbed my pillow and threw it at him. "Chill!" Axel exclaimed, laughing as he caught the pillow I threw.

    "By the way, the gold string you mentioned," he began to say, but I interrupted him sternly, "Don''t tell it to anyone."

    "I know," he replied.

    "But if it exists, why don''t the higher-ups in your department know about it?" he asked.

    "I wonder too. It''s impossible that the senior knows about it and the department doesn''t," I mused.

    "Isn''t your senior lying?" Axel questioned.

    "Senior might be the most dramatic, uneducated woman whatsoever, but she never lies, and that is something I hate about her" I assured him.

    "Then what''s happening with that gold string? It¡¯s a big issue as far as I know" he pressed.

    "It''s neither something she greed for, and she''s been lied to, or something is going on," I explained in a serious tone.

    "You should report it," Axel suggested.

    "I wouldn''t bother. And even if the gold string is far from impossible to exist, it means that it''s just some misunderstanding. I don''t want to create a ruckus, for a mere misunderstanding " I responded.

    "That gold string, aren''t you interested in that?" Axel asked. "Maybe you are," I replied, throwing the question back at him.

    "Why would I be? Just the pain of being a human comes with consequences," he explained. "At least you know," I commented.

    "If we become a human in this form without being reincarnated, all our memories from the past life will come back, and it will continue to affect us. All the people connected in your past life will also remember about you. It''s just painful" I shared. It¡¯s true all the people involved in your past life will also gain there memories whether who they are.

    "But don''t you wonder who you are?" he inquired.

    "Why would I? I''ve already forgotten it, and it''s in the past, and I don''t want to remember it because for sure it isn''t good since here I am being an MT myself" I replied, then looked at him in the eyes. "What''s with you, Axel? Why are you being emotional today?" I asked him, but he just smiled. "What do you mean?" he asked, pretending to be clueless.

    "You''re really fishy today, Axel, you better not hiding something from me" I remarked.

    "You are more fishy with that doctor of yours," he said, pointing out the topic. Ugh, this guy. Always taking the chance.

    "You keep changing the topic," I pointed out. But he just smiled at me, clearly avoiding the issue.

    A few moments later

    "I will come back here tomorrow," Axel declared as he left my apartment. He suggested that we should clean my apartment since he also had a day off tomorrow and nothing else to do. I agreed, and we continued exchanging banter as we usually did.

    Now, I lay myself on the bed, feeling the exhaustion taking its toll on me.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10

    Under the brightest stars in the moonlight, a girl is crying in front of a man, separated by only a cell and a glass. They sit on opposite sides, filled with emotions like gazing, worry, and even hatred, creating a heavy atmosphere in the room.

    "How could you?" the girl whispered to the man in front of her, a mix of anger and sadness evident in her voice. It appeared that the man had no words to say; he fell silent, bowing his head, unable to respond. The woman continued crying.

    "How...how?!" her voice raised, and the man, with his head still bowed, looked up at the girl with eyes full of remorse and guilt.

    "I know, apologizing isn''t enough, for what I did" he hesitantly said to the woman. Her eyes, full of tears, widened in shock as she deliberately clenched her fists.

    "You¡ªout of all people, how could you kill Andre?!" she asked, anger resonating in her voice. "Lanaya¡ª" the man uttered her name, and the woman became even angrier.

    "Don''t utter my name from your mouth! You dare to deceive me?- You dared to make a fool out of me¡ªhow could you? Out of all people I trust, you¡ªyou are the one who killed my husband?!!" she asked, her voice filled with anguish, continuing to cry with tears flowing abundantly.

    Silence filled the room.

    "Resent me," the man said.

    Lanaya looked at him in disbelief. "What would you do if you lost something important to you?" Lanaya asked the man suddenly.

    "W-w-what do you mean by that?" the man asked in a slow tone.

    "You also don''t know?" she said in a low tone, smiled. "You''ve made me lose something important twice!!!," she added, she toned as if she is losing her mind.

    Then, Lanaya stood up, making the chair drop with a noise that echoed everywhere. The man was shocked and baffled, prompting him to stand as Lanaya decided to turn her back against him.

    "I will never resent you, and at the same time, never forgive you, Axel," she said, tears continuing to flow.

    La-La Point of View

    I''m gasping for breath, my chest aching from that dream, overwhelmed by a mix of anger and sadness. It''s an agony that leaves me feeling like I''m losing my mind. Who is that? I recognize the man behind the cell¡ªit''s Axel, the Axel I know. The vividness is striking, even though he looks different with changed hair and eyes. Yet, it''s unmistakably him. The woman in the reflection on the glass is me. I''m seeing myself. How¡ªhow is this possible?

    This must be some kind of¡ªno¡ªhow can I dream like this in the first place?

    But then, a realization hits me like a wave¡ªit''s not a dream. It''s a memory.

    A memory.

    Suddenly, my phone rings. Axel''s name flashes on the screen¡ªof all times. Strangely, I can''t bring myself to answer him, an instinct I usually follow. For some reason, I don''t want to hear him, see him, or even talk to him. It''s clear; I am angry with him.

    Third Person Point of View

    La-La was filled with a myriad of emotions as she hesitantly answered the phone, allowing the conflicting feelings to surge through her body. Slowly, she placed the phone against her ear.

    "Hello?!" Axel''s voice erupted from the other end, but La-La simply bowed her head, her hands clenched tightly.

    "Are you there?" Axel inquired, but Lala remained silent, lost in her own emotional turmoil.

    "Geez, I know you''re there. Did you just wake up? You know, just hear me out. I''m on my way there to help you clean up; you better get ready," Axel spoke with enthusiasm, his voice filled with excitement.

    "No, don''t come," La-La uttered in a strained tone.

    "Huh?" Axel was confused. "What do you mean, don''t come? Are you okay? Is something going on?" he continued to express concern.

    "I said, don''t come!," La-La repeated, abruptly ending the call. Tears streamed down her face as confusion and a flood of emotions overwhelmed her. As she touched her tear-streaked face, shock registered in her expression. Unconsciously, she continued to cry, unsure of why she was crying so much

    .On the other line

    Axel got confused and looked at his phone in disbelief.

    "What''s wrong with her? I even brought her favorite food," he said, holding a plastic bag.

    A few moments later

    La-La Point of View

    My phone rang, and despite feeling a bit weighed down, I decided to answer it.

    "Ms. Lanaya, good morning," the voice from the phone greeted.

    "Good morning?" I wondered, and when I checked the number, I saw that it was labeled as my employer.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "I''m on my way though. Is there any problem with this sudden call?" I asked, a note of concern in my voice.

    "There''s a sudden change to your schedule. One of my workers unexpectedly requested an early leave. Even though your shift is in an hour, can you arrive earlier?" he asked in a hurry.

    "Absolutely, I can manage that," I responded. I sensed a sigh of relief on the other end.

    "Thank you very much, Ms. Lanaya. It''s a pleasure working with you," he expressed graciously before ending the call.

    Feeling like I needed to leave now huh-, but as I opened the door, and there, I saw Axel''s face. Instantly, a pain in my chest surfaced. What is happening? But then, Axel smiled at me ¨C

    "Good morning," he greeted with a delighted look on his face. However, the pain persisted, and I instinctively held his right shoulder, pushing him away.

    "What''s wrong with you?" he asked.

    "Leave me alone," I said, feeling even more pain in my chest because of the dream. Despite my attempt to walk away, he held my wrist, making me stop.

    "Let me go," I said with a stern tone. I noticed the shock on his face, but I chose to walk away as he released me. What''s with this pain? What the hell is wrong with me?

    Third Person Point of View

    La-La left Axel with a baffled expression, leaving him shocked as he couldn''t figure out what he did wrong. He glanced inside Lala''s apartment, realizing there seemed to be no issue. Running his fingers through his silky black hair, he let it sway like grass in the wind. With a concerned look and distant eyes, he watched Lala, who was now looking away.

    "Does she know?" he whispered.

    La-La point of View

    I regret my earlier reaction, but as an MT, I can''t have dreams, as we lack a heart or attachments. While we can feel emotions, it''s merely a fa?ade to blend in with humans. However, that dream, if it''s true, if it''s a memory from my past life, I fear. I fear that Axel''s sins may be linked to that dream, as the emotions it stirs in me suggest a deep connection. He''s a killer, and the one he killed might be my husband from my past life. That dream can''t be an illusion; it feels like a recollection.

    His sins are intertwined with me, and if that''s the case, my sins are connected to him too. This dream triggers a hatred I never knew I had, and it pains me deeply. Just being friends with Axel, if he indeed killed someone precious to me in my past life, how can destiny play such a cruel game, making us meet each other? In this way

    A few moments later

    "I apologize that I didn''t inform you," Zayne said. I was shocked to see him standing there, waiting for me as he revealed himself to be the owner of the place.

    "Are you really the owner of this place?" I questioned, and he nodded.

    So that''s why our conversation felt so familiar.

    "I have a question, though. Did you hire me because you knew it was me?" I asked him, and he nodded once again.

    "I don''t think that''s fair," I said, but he just smiled.

    "It is fair. It''s better to hire someone I know than someone I don''t trust," he explained.

    "But wait, didn''t we meet after the interview? Why didn''t you tell me about this?" I inquired.

    "I think there is no reason to," he answered. I was puzzled by his response. He is weird¡­.

    "You didn''t have a reason to?" I was about to ask when he reached for something on the table and handed it to me. As I opened my palm to see, it was the key to the library.

    "We already went through the procedures and interviews for this job. I hope I can trust you with this," he said with a smile.

    "Wait, I..." I began to say as he was about to step out. "What is it?" he asked.

    "Do you trust me with this?" I questioned. "I know you hired me because you know me, so I don''t think this is right."

    "We did an interview, right?" he asked me. "Yes, we did," I answered.

    "Then there will be no problem trusting you with this. Also, I hired you for the job, not just because I know you," he explained. Just what the...

    "I''m going to be late. I''ll see you later, Ms. Lanaya," he said as he bid farewell to me. I just waved back. Huh- wait what just happened?!!!

    A few moments later

    A guy arrived with others on his back, but I immediately felt a familiar aura from him.

    "We are going to borrow a room for ten hours," he said, handing me a black card. As our eyes met, the recognition was evident.

    "What do you think you''re going to do here?" I asked, taking his card and holding it between the two fingers of my right hand, raising it slightly. He smiled.

    "Are you one of us?" he asked in an excited tone.

    "Well, I''m not a greedy nine-tailed fox, though," I replied. His smile disappeared, and the others on his back looked at me seriously. Dismissing the black card onto the table, I continued.

    "Just what do you think you''re doing here, huh? You little fox, this is a library," I said to them.

    Although they appeared human and dressed as such, we, Mythical Creatures or MTs, could detect each other. Even though we were required to blend in with people, we could identify fellow MTs due to the highlighted faces, as all MTs are good-looking and possess a unique aura. As someone who has lived for a hundred years, I could discern these differences.

    "Get out," I added, but the one in the middle pushed the black card toward me. I looked at him with a stern expression.

    "I can''t even detect what kind of MT you are, but even so, can you kindly mind your own business?" he said in a tone as others smirked.

    What kind of plot is this, huh?

    "This is my business," I said firmly.

    "T-t-then I don''t care if this is your business. Kindly just wipe out this card and let us do our job," he said, whispering.

    "Yes, little miss, let us do our job," the other one added. I sighed, grabbed the card, and slapped it onto the one in the middle. I could see his eyebrows frown.

    "What the hell?!" he shouted, getting the attention of everyone in the library. I stood up, making them step backward. I walked out from behind my table and decided to pull the ears of two of them.

    "These kids..." I muttered. "Just what are you doing?" both of them said in harmony, but I pulled them outside, creating a ruckus. Once outside, I released their ears, and the other one followed them, making it three of them outside.

    "You," the other one said, raising her hand at me, but I looked at her sternly, and she hesitated, stopping what she was about to do.

    "I know you three are new. Did your seniors guide you in your work?" I asked, and they looked at each other.

    "We don''t have seniors," one of them answered.

    "Is that even important? The fact that she harassed us is something to discuss," the other one said.

    "You shut up," I commanded the one who spoke loudly. She immediately fell silent.

    "My name is La-La. I am a Love Hunter from class 32-B, living here for a hundred years, basically I¡¯m older show some respect" I introduced myself. They murmured to each other.

    "You''re just a Love Hunter. You''re lowly folks to us," one of them dared to mock me. I smirked.

    "Lowly, in terms of rank. But if we''re going to talk about sins, your nine-tailed sins are much more," I said to them. "And you three, do you even know that this library is for Griffin jobs and not for foxes like you? If you try to gather energy here, you will drain people, and that''s not fair. All the customers here are students, and draining them is not the right job." "But who cares?" the other one said. Who cares?! Huh?!

    Gah, these kids are boiling my blood.

    "Are you idiots? Do you want to write a freaking 10-page report? You know your job will be lost if continue to fail," I said to them, taking a step forward.

    "And as we fail continuously," I added in a scary tone, "we will be banished," I said to them slowly, making them fear the consequences. "Get out of here. There''s a karaoke place across the street. You can gain some energy there," I said to them and walked away.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11

    La-La Pont of View

    I glanced at my clock; it was already 8:00 pm, so my job here was done. I waited for Zayne to arrive. The bell to the door rang, and I stood up to see Zayne with a smile. He is wearing a black long coat and turtle neck t-shirt.

    Gah, what is with this face? He is truly blessed! Can I kindly swap bodies with you???

    "Good evening," I greeted him, noticing that he was holding a plastic bag. It seemed he hadn''t eaten his dinner yet. I considered leaving right then. I quickly gathered my things and my key. However, as I raised my head, Zayne was right in front of me, causing me to step backward in surprise. I can¡¯t really feel his presence sometimes-

    "Is there any problem?" I asked him in worried.

    "No, not really. Have you eaten your dinner yet?" he inquired. Huh?

    "I haven''t, but I will when I get home," I replied. He placed the plastic bag on the table.

    "How about joining me?" he suggested.

    "Are you sure?" I asked.

    "Yeah, I am sure. It''s for two people. -However, are you allergic to chicken?" he questioned.

    "No, not actually," I answered. He smiled.

    "Then I guess it''s good then," he said.

    "But are you sure, is this okay? You are still my employer. Is this appropriate?" I asked him. He looked at me with a worried expression. What''s up with him?

    "We may be an employer and employee, but this is just a simple library it is not some kind of big company, and don''t we know each other? I think it''s good to eat together, and also, it is my responsibility to make sure that you are well and in good spirits, since being in good spirit will affect your job" he explained.

    Is this really okay? It just feels inconvenient. He is a doctor, so I understand his worries. But isn¡¯t this to much.

    I picked up my bag and bowed to him. "I apologize, boss, but I think it''s just better for me to go home," I said and placed the key on the table. I could see disbelief on his face.

    "I insist," he said a pierce tone.

    "But¡ª"

    A few moments later

    Well he gad- win

    "Thank you," I said to him as he handed me the food. Right now, we are sitting at a table, a light above us, surrounded by books.

    "Why being so formal is it when you know that I am your boss?" he asked me. He became talkative when he became my boss, though. No he is talkative when we are alone.

    "It''s just out of respect for me to you," I said to him, and then he reached for a soda, filled up a cup, and gave it to me.

    "No need to be so formal with me. We know each other, don''t we?" he asked me. Yeah you said that so may times.

    "Yeah, I know that, but don''t you have any other workers here? I think it will be unfair for me to get so friendly with you," I said to him.

    "No, there isn''t another worker," he said. I stopped what I was doing and looked at him.

    "Huh? What do you mean there is no other worker? My schedule is so free," I asked him

    "Yeah, there is no other worker. I manage this on my own," he said. What the? Is he serious? . And he already said earlier that the other worker- wait

    "Excuse me, but aren''t you a doctor?" I asked him, and then he nodded. ¡°Yes, as far as I know I am¡± he said sarcastically.

    "Isn''t the doctor supposed to be busy?" I asked him.

    "Yes, we''re supposed to be busy," he answered, and then...

    "If so, then how do you have some time to manage this? Don''t you have, you know, other things to do?" I asked him, and then he took a sip of soda and looked at me.

    "There aren''t other things for me to do, more than here and the hospital," he said. I was baffled. What does he mean by that? Don''t tell me this guy-

    I hesitated to take a fork and look at Zayne. Something came to my mind. If this guy has nothing to do in his life, that means he is either lonely. He might be blessed, but for me, he is a guy with no strings, yet even with no strings, he is allowed to have someone by his side, even temporarily. It''s impossible for this guy not to have any girlfriend or whatsoever. He obviously blessed with good looks, personality and wealth. Just what does he mean that there is no other things for him to do.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    "If it is rude to ask, but don''t you have any family or friend, girlfriend, something? Spending time too much on doing things just make you exhausted," I said to him, then he stopped eating. I was saddened. I guess I shouldn''t have asked him.

    "I-I''m so¡ª" as I was about to apologize.

    "Actually. My family is actually far from me, and for friends, they are busy enough, and for a girlfriend, I don''t have time for that," he said, but he avoided eye contact. "No time, what do you mean?¡± you literally had time to manage this library ¡°  Why don''t you try hiring more workers? Or what if I just become full-time so you can have time for yourself?" I suggested, but he immediately denied.

    "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Lanaya, but I''m content with what I have," he said in his sweet tone.

    I guess I shouldn''t intervene more, it¡¯s his business.

    A few moment later

    Zayne drove me home, and right now, he is in front of me.

    "Thank you so much for today," I thanked him, but he smiled.

    "There''s no need to thank me; it''s my duty," he said.

    "But you know I can get home on my own. Still, thank you for assisting me home," I said to him.

    "It''s already deep at night; of course, it''s dangerous for you. This is nothing; no need for you to think it deeply," he reassured. He is such a nice guy, but I still wondered what''s up with him having no friends or something.

    "See you tomorrow, Ms. Lanaya," he said. "Oh, thank you so much today, and see you tomorrow," I replied, and he closed the car door, walked to the other side, waved, so I waved back. He entered the car, and it began to start and move. I continued to wave as the car moved. Suddenly, I felt someone at my back, so I immediately grabbed my senses and held it with my hand. As I reached into an arm, I immediately twisted it.

    "Ouch!" it shouted. It was a familiar voice, so I looked at the face and saw Axel. I immediately let go of him and took a step backward. The pain arose again; my emotions of hatred and sorrow began to form.

    "To that extent-, you would do that to me? Can you kindly tell me what is the thing I did wrong?" he asked.

    "Didn''t I say for you not to appear here?" I asked him, but he just gave me a look.

    "What do you mean by that?" he asked in a serious tone. His face began to get serious, but the pain in my heart is also overflowing, as if I want to cry or something.

    "Do you not understand me? It means that I DON''T WANT TO SEE YOU," I said to him, but he took a step forward.

    "I know what it means, but I don''t understand what your reason is for forbidding so?" he asked me. I just held onto my chest, feeling fear for some reason.

    "You ¨C you never really try to do things I want," I said to him in a serious tone.

    "La-la, you know I will always cooperate with you, but if you are pushing me aside without any particular reason, of course, I will question it," he said as he brushed his hair up and looked at me with concern, but I just furrowed my eyebrows.

    "Do I really need a reason to?" I asked him.

    "What do you mean? You need a reason; everything needs a reason," he said. The conversation isn''t really going well, and then I felt a cold thing on my face. Axel''s eyes widened in disbelief. I was also baffled and touched my face to see it wet. Tears were flowing down my face. Axel suddenly walked near me and grabbed something from his suit ¨C a towel ¨C and immediately wiped my tears. But I quickly grabbed the towel he was holding and pushed him slightly.

    After I told Axel to stay away, the air got tense. He looked surprised but didn''t say anything. I handed him the towel he used to wipe my tears and walked away from the situation.

    As I walked back to my room, tears kept rolling down my face. I felt a mix of emotions, like a jumbled-up mess inside me. My anger, confusion, and sadness made every step heavier, like I was carrying a load of feelings.

    When I reached my room, I closed the door, shutting out everything. The tears that I held back now flowed freely. I sat on my bed, surrounded by the soft light from dimmed lamps. The room, filled with memories in pictures, seemed to amplify the ache in my chest. Each part of the room whispered pieces of our shared history, now marked by unspoken pain.

    The next morning

    I felt a heaviness in my body, and I looked at my mirror to see my puffy eyes.

    "What the?" I reacted. I cried so much last night because of that dream¡ªthe dream I didn''t like because it gave me these emotions towards Axel. I feared meeting Axel and that things would end up this way.

    As I reached for my phone, a sudden bang on my door caught my attention¡ªa continuous knock as if something urgent was about to happen. I opened it, and to my surprise, I saw Yuna and another person behind her. She looked worried, and something seemed to be wrong.

    "What?! Is there something wrong?!" I asked her in a worried tone, but she immediately entered my room, pulling the other girl with her. I stepped backward, and then she closed the door of my room.

    "What''s wrong with your urgent reaction?" I asked, but she looked around and then stared at me fiercely.

    "We''re doomed!" she said in a panicked tone. I looked at the other girl, who also appeared to be a Love Hunter. Both of them seemed worried.

    Yuna continued to shed tears, making me more worried. I immediately held onto her shoulder.

    "What is going on, Yuna? Tell me," I urged, but she seemed to be in fear. I turned to the other girl.

    "Something bad happened," the girl said nervously. Yeah, I know it''s obvious, but just tell me what is going on!

    "Yuna!" I called loudly, which made her stop crying. But the other girl just became even more frightened.

    "Tell me what is going on instead of crying," I said in a serious tone.

    "B-but, Senior, we are doomed," she said, her voice filled with fear. I could tell it was really bad.

    "I know, you mentioned it the first time. Just tell me what''s going on instead of crying," I insisted.

    A few moment later.

    I grabbed two glasses of juice and gave them to the two girls sitting in front of my dining table. Yuna finally calmed down.

    "What''s your name?" I asked the other girl in a soft tone.

    "Ellie from class 33-C," she said.

    "Oh, you and Yuna are batchmates?" I asked, and she nodded. I smiled.

    "Nice to meet you. My name is La-La from class 32-B, and I am the senior assigned to Yuna," I said to her. I reached my hand towards her, and she immediately reached back.

    "You''re also a cupid, right? But-" she started but hesitated, piquing my curiosity.

    "What is it?" I asked her.

    "You don''t feel like a Mythical Creature," she said, leaving me puzzled. What did she mean?

    "What do you mean?" I asked her.

    "Yeah, what are you talking about?" Yuna joined the conversation. Ellie seemed flustered and just bowed her head. I looked at Yuna in distress; she averted my eyes.

    "Don''t fear, just tell us what you mean," I said to Ellie. She raised her head and looked at me.

    "It''s nothing," she said, adding a subtle smile. I just smiled back.

    "If so, why don''t you just drink some of my tea?" I suggested to her and looked at Yuna.

    "Now, tell me what''s really going on," I said to her in a serious tone.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12

    Third Person Point of View

    "The chaos arises in the company, it¡¯s all mess up right now senior" Yuna said in a low tone. La-La, who was staring at her seriously, tightened her grip. Yuna on the other hand is trembling.

    "All the hunters are turning their backs on each other, and we are afraid, Senior," Yuna said with a trembling tone in her voice. La-La listened intently, deep in thought.

    "What do you mean by that?" La-La asked Yuna.

    "You know, Senior, the golden string that you told me is supposed to be a tale?" Yuna asked La-La. La-La''s eyes widened at the mention of the golden string; she knew something about it but remained calm. "Yes, what about it?" she asked Yuna.

    "It''s reportedly come back and believed to exist. All the creatures who know about it have decided to hunt the person who holds such a string," Yuna explained.

    "Then why would the higher-ups let that happen?" La-La asked Yuna.

    "That''s also our question. Why aren''t they making any moves, Senior, and putting human lives in danger? Other hunters have captured cupids and threatened them to help find such a person so they can achieve being human again without going through the ordeal. They¡¯re going crazy " Yuna said.

    "Are you running here because other hunters know that you are also Love Hunters? Are they capturing you?" La-La asked in a worried tone. The two nodded. La-La clasped her hand.

    "This is serious and getting out of hand," she mumbled to herself. "Senior, what are we supposed to do? They are hunting us. Are we even going to survive?" Yuna asked. La-La looked worried and unsure if they would be okay in this chaos.

    "Senior, you know a grim reaper, aren''t they supposed to be stronger than us? How about asking for his help?" Yuna suggested. La-La looked at her in a denying tone.

    "You mean Axel?" she asked Yuna. "Yes, Sir Axel, Senior," Yuna said.

    But La-La just looked at her with sad eyes. "Yuna, I''m sorry, but I can''t," La-La said to Yuna. Yuna was confused.

    "What do you mean you can''t, Senior? Mr Axel is your friend, isn''t he?" Yuna asked, but La-La''s eyebrows furrowed.

    "Yes, we are," La-La answered. "Then!" Yuna asked her senior. "I know that he is not going to find the golden string holder. I know he does not hold greed, and also he will be able to protect us, right? Senior?" Yuna said in her excitement, but everything just went silent when La-La seated.

    "Senior?" Yuna asked in a worried tone. "I can''t ask for his help," La-La said in a low tone and bowed down her head.

    "Why, Senior? He is the only one who can protect us and protect you," Yuna said. Ellie, on the other hand, is worried about the atmosphere.

    "Yuna, don''t push it. I can''t contact Axel," La-La said in her firm tone.

    "But, Senior!" Yuna said, suggesting it.

    "Yuna!" La-La said in her loud voice. Yuna is just bewildered, as is Ellie at the same time. But La-La realized immediately what she had done wrong.

    "I''m sorry," she said and calmed her head. "It''s complicated right now, Yuna. There is some problem between us. Just don''t, and I can''t," La-La said in her exhausting tone.

    "But-" Yuna was supposed to insist, but Ellie stopped Yuna but tapping her, sensing the atmosphere.

    "Let''s just find another solution for you two not to be in danger," La-La said. The two looked at each other.

    "Yes, Senior, we understand. I am sorry," Yuna said.

    ''No, I am sorry," La-La said. Then it just went silent. La-La sighed.

    La-La paced around, contemplating the situation. "If this continues, then a wild one will arise," she whispered to herself, visibly stressed. Even she clasped her hair stressing out.

    Yuna added, "Senior, that is another problem." La-La looked at her in disbelief, seeking confirmation. "Just what did you say?" she asked, ensuring she heard correctly.

    "That is another problem," Yuna replied, her tone filled with worry and fear. "You mean the wild one?" La-La inquired to confirm.

    "Yes, senior, a wild one. Due to the chaos, they are appearing continuously. It''s the reason why there are so many mythical creatures missing. The number of missing Love Hunters at headquarters keeps rising, and the problem is they don''t know if it''s the work of other mythical creatures or the wild one, they don¡¯t know what is going on since missing creature continue to arise" Yuna explained. La-La couldn''t believe it. "How is this happening?" she asked.

    "We also don''t know, senior. We''re just running away, keeping our identities secret. Our jobs are on hold because of this disaster," Yuna said. "This must be some kind of misunderstanding. Maybe there isn''t really a wild one, and the missing Love Hunters are just being taken by other mythical creatures," La-La suggested, but Yuna immediately disagreed.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "We fear not, senior, because they''ve confirmed it already. The special forces handling the matter have confirmed the existence of the wild one. We had to run away because a group of minotaurs approached us. We almost got kidnapped when they detected we were Love Hunters. Senior, I fear them. This is what I fear, and not knowing if they are wild ones makes us run all the way here because I knew you would help us, and you''re a Love Hunter yourself," Yuna explained.

    "It''s a big penalty to hurt other mythical creatures, and it seems everyone is risking themselves for punishment just to become human again. They are driven by greed," La-La said, clenching her fist. "Senior, what are we going to do?" Yuna asked in worry. La-La tapped her hand, thinking of a plan, obviously concerned.

    "This chaos won''t last long. I know someone will find the golden string holder, and this chaos will eventually stop," La-La reassured, looking into the distance and then back at the two. "Have you two ever desired the golden string?" she asked. Both Yuna and Ellie immediately disagreed.

    "We already fear, senior. We don''t even dare to try to find the person who holds such a string," Yuna said.

    "I am also the same," Ellie added.

    "Then just stay here for a few days. This area is full of security, and I think you two will be safe here," La-La said.

    "Are you sure about that, senior?" Yuna asked.

    "I also will ask, am I safe here?" Ellie inquired.

    "Yes, I am sure, and yes, Ellie, you too," La-La assured them. The two looked at each other and smiled in relief, but there was still a fear in La-La''s atmosphere.

    "Senior, is there any problem?" Yuna asked La-La, noticing her reaction. La-La forced a smile. "It''s nothing," she said, then took a deep sigh and decided to stand up.

    "I only have a one free room. Is it okay for you two to share?" she asked. The two nodded. "Then that''s good," La-La said, and she went to a cabinet to get biscuits, but her face betrayed her deep in thought.

    As she handed biscuits to the two, La-La said, "Eat these for a while. Later, I will order food delivery for you two. You must be exhausted from running ."

    "Thank you," the two said in harmony.

    "By the way, senior, I have a question about the gold string," Yuna said, catching La-La''s attention.

    "I thought you weren''t interested in that?" La-La questioned Yuna, but Yuna immediately denied it. "No, I wasn''t really interested. I just wondered why they are risking so much for such a person so they can just become human again," Yuna asked.

    "It''s not just about becoming human again. They want to escape their fate of being a human," La-La said. Yuna dropped her biscuit, confused. "I don''t get it, senior," she said, and Ellie added, "So do I."

    "Well, for other mythical creatures, facing judgment takes at least over a thousand years. So, they must want to become human because they do not have to work that long and suffer for that years they want to take a shortcut. And also gold string hold a power that make a MT to remain human but at the same time and MT itself since he or she will have the same power contain to their body," La-La explained. But the two were still confused.

    "Let me explain in an easier way. The golden string can make a mythical creature human again. To those who have suffered for a long time doing their jobs, the golden string is the only solution for them to shortcut their life," La-La clarified.

    "But you, senior, you have only taken your job for just a hundred years," Yuna said. "Is it really true?" Ellie asked.

    "Well, a hundred years is also long, and I''ve suffered in that time. It''s just that, compared to other creatures, our punishment is relatively mild. I worked hard to get a this far and not to suffer for a long time, but if you will compare me to other mythical creature there is no like me who worked so hard. The other hunter also despises me because of that" La-La explained in a subtle tone.

    "But they don''t know one thing about that gold string," La-la said, and the two focused on her. "Being a human again by the use of gold string makes no escape; with that, all the memories of your past life will go back, and all the pain in your past life will return. At the same time, forcing love can be dangerous and lead to the end of someone, it¡¯s risky" La-la explained.

    "Then if so, maybe other mythical creatures might know this," Yuna said. "No, I think they are not, since they are going everywhere just to find that gold string," Ellie disagreed with Yuna.

    "Ellie is right, Yuna. They don''t know. For me, it''s better to start over again than to go back to the pain I had just to become human," La-la said. Just then, her phone rang; it was Zayne calling.

    She immediately picked up her phone to the shock. "I''m on my way there to pick you up, Ms. Lanaya," Zayne said on the other line. La-la was so shocked by what she heard. "P-p-p-pardon?" she asked.

    "It''s your schedule today, since I''m going to pass by there from the hospital, so I think it''s better to pick you up," Zayne said.

    "But I haven''t dressed yet," La-la said, and on the other line, Zayne chuckled. "I can wait," he said in a sweet tone. La-la was shy at what he just said.

    "Zayne, I think it''s okay not to pass by here. Just go to the library first; I''m just going to be there, so don''t wait for me," La-la suggested. "No, it''s okay. I''m already here," Zayne said. La-la was in disbelief, ran to her window, and looked outside. She saw Zayne stepping out of his car wearing a black coat. People were looking at Zayne since he arrived. The phone call ended.

    "Senior, isn''t that the doctor from before?" Yuna asked La-la, who was so shocked by Yuna''s sudden appearance at her side.

    "Oh, it is really him, the guy from before," Yuna said in an excited tone and looked at her senior.

    La-la sat on a sofa, exhausted. "Yeah, it''s him. It''s a long story," she said in an exhausting tone, then typed something on her phone.

    "Senior, something must be going on between you two," Yuna said energetically. But La-la just denied it. "There is nothing. He''s just my boss part-time. I am working to get some money since I don''t have the ring, which means I can''t spend money from the card secretly. So, I found a job to use it for my vacation since I am leaving this world soon," she explained and dropped her phone with a sigh.

    "Oh, is that so?" Yuna said in a sad tone.

    "Did you expect that there is a thing between us just because he is picking me up?" La-la asked Yuna, and Yuna nodded.

    "Yuna, didn''t I already tell you that there is no such thing as love for us? We feel emotions, but we don''t have a heart, we are just a soul " La-la explained.

    "But isn''t love an emotion?" Yuna asked. "No, without a heart, there is no such thing as love for us. I already regret being able to be intertwined with him, but I need money, so I have no choice, they gave us a black star but with limit *sugh" La-la said. She stood up, picked up her phone, and gave it to Yuna.

    Yuna, confused, hesitantly took La-la''s phone. "Hold this. You can order food here. It will be easy for you since I have a lot of brochures, and the drivers already know which floor this is, so there won''t be any problem for you going out of this room," La-la instructed. Yuna held onto the phone. "Thank you, senior," Yuna said.

    "It''s nothing. I better get ready," La-La said and went into one of the rooms.

 CHapter 13

    Chapter 13

    La-La Point of View

    Right now, we find ourselves outside the library as Zayne received a call from Elysium General Hospital, urgently requesting backup.

    "No, it''s okay," I assured him, dismissing his apologies. He had promised to help me unpack the packages that arrived today, which was also the reason he picked me up. It seemed there was a lot of work to be done in the library.

    "I''ll come back later," he said, rushing to his car. I wave a good bye.

    Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. As I turned around, someone covered my mouth and eyes, instantly making everything familiar.

    D¨¦j¨¤ vu?!!!

    Third Person Point of View

    La-La found herself in a tough situation as three guys held onto her, making it impossible for her to call for help. Unnoticed, they grabbed her and took her away. Inside the car, she was tied up and treated roughly, making it hard for her to break free. More people inside the car were grinning menacingly at her.

    Concerned, one of the men asked, "What are we going to do now?"

    Another replied, "We can use her." The car sped up, and soon they reached a dark village. Upon entering a valley, they opened the car door, with one of the men carrying La-La on his shoulder. Despite her struggles to break free, she couldn''t. The man entered an abandoned-looking house in a secluded area where no one would know.

    "Help!!'' she shouted Inside, La-La continued to try and free herself, but her efforts were in vain. She desperately attempted to call out or do something, but her captors remained unmoved, leaving her feeling helpless in the secluded and mysterious surroundings.

    On the other hand, Zayne, who arrived at the library, did not see La-La. "She might have gone home," Zayne said, grabbing his phone and deciding to call La-La.

    The phone rang and it was answered immediately.

    "Ms. Lanaya, I apologize for not coming early, and¡ª" he began, hearing a different voice on the line.

    "Hello?" Yuna, who answered the phone, said on the other end. Zayne, confused, looked at the number he dialed.

    "I am not mistaken," he said to himself. "Who is this?" Zayne asked the other line. "I am Yuna," Yuna answered, and Zayne tried to remember.

    "Oh, you are the girl from before, the junior of Ms. Lanaya" Zayne said. "Yes," Yuna replied with joy.

    "Is Miss Lanaya home?" Zayne inquired.

    "You mean senior?" Yuna asked on the other line. "Yes, Lanaya," Zayne answered.

    "She is not home yet. I thought she is working for Mr. Dr.," Yuna said in response. "She is not home yet? How come" Zayne asked.

    "Yes, she is not," Yuna confirmed. Zayne inquired, "She is supposed to be home at 7; it''s already 10 pm." Zayne asked why Ms. Lanaya''s phone was with Yuna.

    "She left it earlier before going to work, but what do you mean she is supposed to be here by 10? She said that she would go home immediately, but..." Yuna explained, and worry could be heard in her voice.

    "Where do you think Ms. Lanaya would probably go?" Zayne asked the other line as he immediately grabbed his white jacket and keys to go to his car. Yuna remained silent, thinking of a place where Ms. Lanaya might have gone.

    "The park nearby," she said. Immediately, Zayne entered his car, and as fast as he could, he started it.

    "I''m going to find Ms. Lanaya. If she ever gets home, kindly call me," Zayne said to Yuna. "Yes, I understand," Yuna replied, and Zayne ended the call.

    And on the other hand,

    "I''ve never heard of any of that," Axel said to his coworkers.

    "It''s been quite a ruckus lately, you know, so it''s hard to finish jobs nowadays, they all go crazy" the man replied to Axel.

    "By the way, I heard that you had a love hunter friend," the man said to Axel, causing Axel to react. "So, what now?" he asked the man seriously.

    "You know, maybe..." the man was about to say, but Axel''s mood turned upside down as if he were emitting a dark aura. "Nope, never mind," the man said nervously.

    "Don''t you dare mess with her," Axel warned his colleague. "Yeah, I know, chill, wouldn''t ya? It¡¯s not like I have a courage to do that" the man said, taking a sip of coffee. Axel also calmed down as he sipped his own coffee.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    "It''s hard to befriend other mythical creatures; maybe your looks work, it must been nice to have a friend other than a grim reaper" the man said to Axel.

    "Then, Luke, you should ask the higher-ups to repair your face," Axel joked. "You''re joking, right?" Luke asked, but Axel just looked at him and continued to sip his coffee.

    "You''re harsh," Luke added. Suddenly, Axel''s phone on the table rang. He looked at it but immediately looked shocked to see La-La''s name calling him. He put down his coffee, making it spill. "Wow," Luke reacted as Axel answered the call at the speed of light.

    "Hello?" Axel said, but his happy face immediately turned upside down.

    "What do you mean La-La is not home yet?" he asked.

    "Yes, Mr. Axel senior is not home, and I am unable to contact her since she left her phone with me," Yuna said on the other line.

    "Isn''t she supposed to be at work?" Axel asked Yuna.

    "Yes, she is, but she said she would be at home by 7, and it''s already midnight. We can''t get out of the house due to our situation, and I am also trying to contact the doctor who is her boss; he is unreachable. I sense that something wrong is going on," Yuna said with fear in her tone on the other line.

    Axel, grasping the phone as if his veins in his hand were showing, ended the call immediately without replying to Yuna and grabbed all of his things as fast as he could.

    "Where are you going?" Luke asked as he stood up, attempting to stop Axel, but Axel just left the convenience store as fast as he could, leaving Luke baffled.

    "Geez, that man," Luke said and took his seat.

    Axel arrived at the library where La-La worked and used his power to forcefully open the glass door, making it shudder all the way.

    "La-La!" he shouted, calling her name, but there was no response. Axel took a deep breath and quickly exited the library, spotting a man and a familiar figure outside. Zayne, with messy hair like Axel''s, looked surprised to see an intruder, taking a step backward as Axel advanced, his anger evident.

    "Where the hell is she?" Axel demanded, grabbing Zayne''s collar. In the darkness, both men stared at each other with fury, unable to identify each other clearly.

    "Who are you?" Zayne asked directly, and suddenly, moonlight shone on both of them. Axel remained angry, but Zayne quickly recognized him.

    "You... Did you find her?" Zayne asked Axel. Axel, dumbfounded, let go of Zayne.

    "I just asked where she is, didn''t I?" Axel replied. Zayne turned serious. "Just where is she?" he mumbled.

    "This is your fault," Axel accused Zayne, who stayed silent. Suddenly, Zayne''s phone rang; it was an unfamiliar number. He answered it. Then his eys widened.

    "Ms. Lanaya, are you okay?" Zayne reacted to the call as La-La spoke. Axel tried to grab the phone, but Zayne resisted.

    "Yeah, yeah, there''s no need to apologize. Just where are you?" Zayne asked La-La with a bothered and worried tone. Axel insisted, "What the hell, man, let me talk to her!" but Zayne kept pushing him away.

    "Yeah, I am coming there. Just wait for me," Zayne said, ending the call. Axel was left dumbfounded as Zayne tried to enter his car. Axel immediately stopped him, and Zayne looked at him.

    "What are you doing?" Zayne asked Axel. "I should ask that to you ¨C what are you doing?" Axel replied.

    "I am going to Ms. Lanaya, as you can see," Zayne said, using his strength to move Axel''s hand away from the car door. However, Axel remained resolute.

    "Not that ¨C what are you doing? This is your fault, so I should be the one going to her, not you," Axel argued.

    "Now, not that it matters? Are you dumb? You said it''s my fault, then I will take responsibility," Zayne declared in a serious tone. "Dumb, huh? Just what are you to La-La?" Axel asked, making the atmosphere go silent.

    A Few Moments Later

    Arriving in a village so old, a deep silence enveloped Axel and Zayne. Axel swiftly got out of the car, loudly slamming the door shut as he shouted, "La-La!" Zayne, somewhat calmer, followed Axel. Before they could reach the valley, a group of people suddenly surrounded them.

    "What the hell?" Axel mumbled to himself.

    "This is what you get for shouting," Zayne said to Axel.

    "You, the one with the black suit, you''re MT, aren''t you?" one of the men asked Axel.

    "So are you¡ªall of you. You''re all sandmen, aren''t you? Going to this extent just for that gold string, or whatever," Axel responded, insulting the MT.

    Suddenly, everyone pulled out knives, making Axel and Zayne step back. Zayne raised his hands, saying, "We''re not here to fight." Axel, worried, asked, "What are you doing?"

    "We''re not here to fight or bother you. We''re looking for our lost friend," Zayne explained. Axel whispered, "They''re the ones who made La-La get lost. Obviously they kidnapped her"

    "Are you sure?" Zayne asked as the people with knives closed in. "They''re MTs like us; they won''t negotiate," Axel said, summoning a scythe from red dust, surprising Zayne.

    "What the?" Zayne reacted. Axel gave him a knife from his pocket.

    ¡°I know this is s nothing to help but hold this" Axel said to Zayne then Zayne immediately take the knife.

    Axel defended them with his scythe, creating a barrier that kept the group back. He signaled Zayne to run, and they took off. A flying knife followed, and Axel stopped it with his scythe before they ran again.

    "What¡ª" Zayne began, and Axel cut him off, "Run now!" They sprinted through the village, but a sandman appeared in front of them.

    Axel attacked, and the sandman fought back with swirling sand. Axel used his scythe to create a barrier, protecting them. Zayne, surprised, held the knife Axel gave him. They continued running through the village, trying to escape the danger.

    "J-j-j-just what is that?!" Zayne stammered to Axel as they ran.

    "Run now, cut the questions,!" Axel said. Suddenly, a flying knife followed them. Axel stopped running, and Zayne did too. Facing the flying knife, Axel used his scythe to reveal a barrier that stopped the knife from moving.

    "Just what," Zayne started to ask, but Axel began running again, so Zayne followed. Then, suddenly, a sandman appeared right in front of them.

    Zayne, shocked, took a step back, but Axel immediately attacked it. The sandman countered Axel''s attack, but Axel held his spear with both hands. Another edge appeared from the scythe, burning, and the sandman stepped forward to attack with sand.

    Axel swiftly maneuvered his scythe like a fan, dispersing the sandman''s assault. Suddenly, a group of sandmen appeared and surrounded them again.

    "This is not good," Axel said.

    "I know," Zayne replied. "Why did I even bring you with me? I knew this was going to happen," Axel muttered. "What do you mean you knew? Just what are you?" Zayne asked.

    Axel raised his hand, causing the scythe to float above him. Zayne, grasping the situation, readied himself to defend.

    Axel turned his left hand, directing the scythe to hover and circle around. The sandmen looked at each other, fearful of the power of the grim reaper.

    "If this is for the gold string, we will fight," a brave sandman declared, and they all attacked at once.

    As the sandmen attacked, Zayne, unable to fight, was captured by the sand. Axel reacted swiftly, attacking one of the sandmen controlling Zayne and freeing him. Suddenly, another presence appeared in the situation.

    "Just what hell is going on?!" La-La shouted, making everyone stop in their tracks.

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14

    Third Person Point of View

    "What on earth are you doing? Let go of me!" La-La shouted desperately at the people surrounding her, her attempts to free herself met with only smiles from the onlookers.

    "I had no idea Love Hunter could be so ferocious and loud," remarked one of the men, insulting La-La. She looked at him in disbelief, pausing in her struggles.

    "Tell me, are you guys... Sandmen?" La-La questioned them. "Well, little one, you catch on quick," one of the Sandmen responded, sighing.

    "Are all of you after the golden string?" La-La inquired, the Sandmen exchanging glances. "Don''t," one of them attempted to stop his companion from approaching La-La, but he persisted.

    "Yes, we are," he answered La-La with a menacing tone. She glanced at everyone and sighed once again.

    "Keep dreaming, little hunter, because soon you''ll assist us, and if not..." the Sandman threatened, leaving the rest unsaid. "If not what?" La-La challenged, but the man signaled a slicing motion across his neck, followed by laughter from the group. La-La could only shake her head in disbelief.

    "You''re all crazy," she stated in a serious tone. "Yeah, yeah, we are," another one replied, standing up and moving away from La-La to take a seat.

    "You all know that you will gain nothing from me! This is some kind of joke to all of you" La-La exclaimed in a furious tone. "We all know that ¨C we will gain a lot," a woman answered confidently.

    "You''re a Love Hunter, so finding a golden string for you is as easy as pie," one of them remarked. "Easy¡ª?" La-La was about to respond.

    "Just wear your little gourmet ring, and we will be done here. You''ll be free. How about a deal like that?" the sarcastic tone lingered in the woman''s voice. "You''re on the bat making a deal with me?" La-La questioned.

    "Yes, we are. You are our little hostage. Just a little cooperation from you, little cupid," the woman said as she stepped forward, attempting to hold La-La''s shoulders. La-La immediately reacted, pulling away.

    "You are all dumb," La-La retorted, and suddenly, the woman clenching her hand caused La-La pain. "Just what are you doing?!" she said angrily.

    "Stop that!" another intervened, and the woman ceased her actions, raising both hands. "Insulting us will get you nothing. Just cooperate and make a little pact," another member suggested.

    "You should have done your research first. I won''t sign that dumb contract," La-La declared. The Sandmen looked at each other, uncertain.

    "You will gain nothing from me. I lost my ring, and it won''t arrive for six months. You''re all fools," La-La explained, leaving the others in disbelief.

    "Do you think we''ll believe that?" one of them asked skeptically.

    "I don''t care if you believe it or not, but I can''t help you, that¡¯s all" La-La replied. "I don''t think she''s lying," another whispered, but it was dismissed.

    "Of course, this little one is lying. She wants the gold string by itself," another one said, and the group seemed to agree. La-La rolled her eyes.

    "Why would I need that complicated gold string, huh? I am not that dumb" La-La questioned. "And for your information, a gold string can only be owned if the holder falls in love with you at first sight. You''re all teaming up without knowing that, kidnapping Love Hunters, putting your position in danger. In addition to that, you should have known the probability of that gold string is yet a myth, it¡¯s written in a book you all dimwit " La-La explained, and the others looked at each other.

    "You''re lying!" the woman shouted at La-La. "Why would I lie?!" La-La shouted back, leaving the woman taken aback. La-La sighed.

    "Ask even the information of our headquarters; they will say the same, even try kidnapping other love hunters they will say the same" La-La said.

    "Do you think we will believe you, huh?" the woman challenged. "Do you have any problem with me? Believe me or not, the Gold String is only acquirable by one ¨C one only since it''s a string that will give you a heart, not to make you human ¨C well, to be exact, yeah, but it''s maybe a blessing, but it''s a curse at the same time since all your memories of past life will come back, meaning all of the pain will come back, we are sinners-" La-La said in a serious tone.

    "Well, at least one of us can become a person who cares about past lives. It may not be that hurt," the other one said.

    "Why don''t some of you use some brains, you know? What do you think we are, mythical creatures, doing this job?" La-La asked.

    "It''s simple because we are sinners," the others answered. "Yeah," everyone chimed in, nodding in agreement. La-La, tied up and losing all her energy, sighed even more deeply.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    "Do you think ''sinner'' is just a simple term? Being an MT means we all had sins ¨C murder, rape, lust, greed, anger, madness, and so on. So forth, our sins are not simple. Some might have killed someone or killed themselves, lost someone they loved. Do you think that''s as simple as you fear it?" La-La said. The others made eye contact with each other, visibly scared.

    "You are scaring us," the woman admitted. "But it''s a fact," La-La asserted.

    Then, noise began to erupt in the room. "Okay! Okay!" the one who was sitting cut through the noise, and it gradually became silent. He raised his left hand. "Let''s say what you are saying is true, but we have already done wrong things. We will not escape from the punishment," he said.

    "Just let me go, and I will pass through it by, I  will not report it " La-La pleaded.

    "Just simple as that?" the other asked.

    "Yeah, just as simple as that. I wouldn''t report this, so all of you wouldn''t have any problem. Just let me go," La-La said. They thought, and some hesitated. Then, one of the Sandmen near La-La, holding a knife, startled her. Her eyes widened because of that, and suddenly, he raised the knife.

    La-La sighed because of that, looking at the man with her brows nearing together, but he just gave her a smile. Now freed, La-La stood up and stretched her body.

    "My boss will kill me since the library is closed, I didn¡¯t even finished my job" La-La mumbled to herself. "Oh, we had a replacement for that," the other one said.

    "What did you say?" La-La asked the man.

    "We had one of us replace your work," he answered. La-La was in disbelief. "You had someone do my job?" she asked again, and the man nodded.

    "We are not that bad," the girl added. La-La looked at the girl, still processing the unexpected turn of events.

    "What''s your name?" she asked the woman. The woman, who appeared to be the same age, had short black hair and answered, "Lilia." She added, "Class C-22."

    "Your newbie," La-La said, causing Lilia to feel insulted.

    "Not to insult you, but you kept talking to me disrespectfully. I am at least a decade older than you," La-La stated, then looked at the man sitting.

    "Class?" she asked the man. "Aaron. Class 67-B," he answered.

    "I am still older, but not yet. Why didn''t you teach her to have some¡ªugh, never mind. Are you the oldest here, Aaron?" she asked. "Yeah," he answered without hesitation, and La-La facepalmed.

    "So, La-La is my name, and I am from Class 32-B. It seems I am older than everyone," she said. Everyone suddenly stood up, leaving her shocked, prompting her to take a step backward.

    "We apologize!!" everyone said in a loud tone.

    La-la Point of View

    A few moments Later

    I decided to call Yuna''s phone, but it went unanswered for a while, leading me to ponder on who else to call. In a moment of curiosity, I dialed my own phone, only to have it ring twice before being declined.

    "What is that?" I reacted aloud. "Is everything okay?" Lilia asked me. I looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, everything is fine," I said to her. "If there''s any problem, just call my name, I mean call me" she suggested.

    "Yeah, thank you. Just go help them repair the car, I will follow too" I told her. She nodded and immediately left me alone in the room.

    There are a total of 11 people here ¨C 11 MT Sandmen, to be precise. Earlier, as an experienced woman, I spent hours explaining everything to them without realizing how much time had passed. They wanted to help me get home, but ironically, the van they had used to kidnap me earlier had broken down. They offered for me to stay here until tomorrow, as they were confident they could fix the car. I agreed, and right now, I am calling Yuna to assure her and let her know what happened. It will be past midnight soon.

    Now, who to call? Should I call Axel? ¨C no, I don''t think so. I also forgot his number since it¡¯s been a year pass since he gave me his number ugh. I facepalm. Now, what am I gonna do? I sighed.

    Then, I remembered Zayne. But what if he is asleep? I know he is a nice guy, but asking him is too much. Never mind, let''s just try it; it''s making me anxious leaving the two at my house. So, let''s just call him.

    I dialed the phone, and it immediately answered. Woah ¨C that was fast

    "Hello," I said. "Ms. Lanaya, are you okay?" Zayne asked, his voice carrying an obvious tone of anxiety.

    "It seems you''re awake. I apologize for calling this late, but I need some help," I said in a low tone. There was a brief pause before Zayne responded, "Yeah, yeah, there''s no need to apologize. Just where are you?" he asked.

    "What the hell, man, let me talk to her," I heard Axel''s voice on the other line, and I wasn''t mistaken. I could hear a lot of commotion on the other end of the line.

    What is happening? Why are they two together?

    "Right now, I am in Nasta village near the border of Hanara City," I explained. "You know, I just have¡ª" I was about to continue when Axel interrupted, "Yeah, I am coming there. Just wait for me," he said. Wait, coming? Why?

    "Huh, huh, you''re coming? Why? Wait¡ª" I tried to say, but the call abruptly ended. I looked at the phone, puzzled. What is that? Then suddenly Aaron rushed through the doors.

    "What is it now?!!

    "What is happening?" I asked to him as I was about to gave the phone to him  suddenly hold my hand I was shocked but he is shaking abruptly making me looked serious at the moment since I know there I something happening.

    "You better hide; we received a report that some of the MT in other divisions are coming here," Axel urgently stated.

    "What do you mean by that?" I asked him. "Ho-how do I explain this?" he mumbled to himself, loosening his hold on me.

    "Calm down," I said to him. "All the Love Hunters are in hiding now, protecting other MT. Due to that, it''s rare to catch one like you, and it seems they received a report that some Sandmen caught a Hunter. We bet that they are after you and targeted us since we''re weak," Aaron explained. My eyes widened.

    "What do you mean by that? That is a total mess," I said, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

    "Yeah, it is. I know it''s hard to believe, but please hide," Aaron urged, and I nodded. The situation seemed pretty serious.

    Just what the hell is happening now?

    Aaron, who was in a hurry to leave, I stopped him. He looked at me with a questioning look, but I smiled. "Don''t worry so much about me. Protect each other," I said to him, then reached out the phone to him. He received it and nodded at me.

    Then he left. I looked around the room, realizing there was nowhere to hide. What about outside? I thought that might be a good option.

    A little back to reality.

    "Just what is going on?!" I shouted as I felt a familiar presence of power. I got out of where I was hiding and was shocked to see Axel fighting the Sandmen and Zayne being captured.

    "La-La!" Zayne and Axel said happily as they saw me. I took a deep breath. They are happy even in this situation ?!! you gotta be kidding me??

    Just what is with this mess?

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15

    Third Person Point of View

    Axel, having cautiously set down his weapon, sprinted towards La-la. However, as he approached her, she instinctively stepped backward and forcefully pushed him away. Meanwhile, the Sandman released his grip on Zayne, who, wearing a concerned expression, walked towards La-la.

    "Are you okay, Ms. Lanaya?" Zayne inquired, with La-la appearing both bewildered and confused.

    "Yes, I''m fine¡ªjust what is going on?" La-la questioned, only for Aaron to step forward, causing Zayne to take a step back. "We apologize; we thought they were intruders," Aaron explained to La-la.

    "What do you mean ''thought''? We''re just here looking for her, and then you decide to group us together," Axel interjected. La-la intervened, urging Axel to cease his confrontation. "Don''t pick a fight anymore, Axel," she said, but Axel continued to glare at Aaron as if lasers were emanating from his eyes. Aaron now in sweat because of that.

    "I said stop," La-la asserted in a serious tone, then turned her attention to Zayne. "May I ask what you''re doing here?" she questioned Zayne before glancing at Axel. "And more importantly, why are you two together?" she added.

    "Well, I was worried about you. When I called your phone, a junior of yours answered and mentioned that you hadn''t gone home. I was genuinely concerned," Zayne explained in a fluttering tone. Aaron and the other Sandmen immediately looked guilty upon hearing this revelation.

    "Same here. Yuna called me, expressing concern that something bad might have happened to you. I''m here because I share those concerns," Axel added. La-La, visibly upset by their actions, questioned Axel about the consequences of his use of power.

    "Concerned or not, do you realize how much punishment you could receive because of that?" La-La asked Axel. Defending himself, Axel retorted, "Well, they started it." La-La facepalmed, clearly frustrated. "Regardless of who started it, you should have approached the situation peacefully," she scolded Axel.

    "Actually, we did," Zayne chimed in. La-La, now confused, looked at Aaron with a questioning "We really thought they were intruders," he explained. La-la sighed, saying, "*Sigh, you know what, let''s talk inside with everyone."

    "How many are injured?" La-la asked Aaron. "Five," Aaron answered.

    "I can help them heal," Zayne offered. La-la inquired, "Are you sure about that?"

    "Yes," he affirmed. Axel, eager to contribute, interjected, "I can also help." However, La-la looked at him sternly.

    "What?" Axel asked La-la. "Nothing. We''re going to have a talk," La-la replied, signaling that there would be a discussion about the situation.

    La-La Point of View

    "I am just really worried, you know? The gold string, you being a love hunter yourself, and you called that bastard¡ªno, I mean that quack¡ªinstead of me. So, I-" Axel began to explain.

    "Just shut up, wouldn''t you?" I interrupted him, prompting him to immediately fall silent.

    "I appreciate your concern, but using your power to that extent..." I started to say, but Axel tried to explain further. I stopped walking.

    "That is not the problem. Regardless of who started what, you revealed to a human what we are," I told him. In addition to that, using his power in ways that are not connected to the work he has done can lead to punishment.

    "You mean that quack?" Axel asked.

    "Yes, to him," I replied, crossing my arms. "What are we gonna do now? He''s my boss, and if we''re going to erase his memory, that includes me looking for another job," I expressed my concern to him.

    "You can just worked  at the company" he said in nonchalant tone. Ugh this guy.

    "That is not the problem here I haven''t even received my pay that I worked for the past few days that¡¯s a work hard" I said to him. Then he smiled- Ugh how can he smiled in this situation.

    Then, he was about to hold my shoulder when I instinctively tapped his hand away, causing his smile to fade. I still felt uncomfortable around him for some reason. He then forced a fake smile in front of me, saying, "Don''t worry, you won''t lose your job."

    "No, I will, and I need to, since erasing his memory will involve removing me from his memory and everyone else around who is included," I explained to him. However, he looked away, and I sensed that something was amiss.

    "Axel," I called his name. "I can''t," he said, leaving me puzzled.

    "I can''t? What are you talking about?" I asked him.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    "I can''t remove his memory," he confessed. My eyes widened.

    "What do you mean you can''t?" I questioned him in a confused tone.

    "Well, I can''t," he answered awkwardly, avoiding eye contact and looking into the distance.

    "Why can''t you?" I asked in a stern tone, seeking clarity.

    "He is a blessed one," he cut me short, leaving me momentarily puzzled. What did he mean by that?

    "So?" I questioned him, prompting him to look at me as if I were an idiot.

    "What do you mean, ''so''? He''s a blessed one; my power won''t affect him," he explained. I struggled to understand the connection.

    "What do you mean it won''t affect him?" I pressed for a clearer explanation.

    "Remember when I said he had a life aura? I meant he''s emitting a full life aura," he clarified. I thought for a moment, recalling his previous statement. Yeah well he said something about that-

    "Yeah, I remember that. What''s with that?" I inquired. He scratched the back of his head once again, introducing a hint of hesitation into his response.

    "Well, someone with that aura can''t be handled by us, Life Hunters," he explained. My eyes widened, simultaneously making me to take a step back and clutch my head.

    "And if we can''t erase his memory? What are we going to do?" I asked him in a panicked tone.

    " I don''t know, that''s why I''m asking you what we are going to do. " he replied.

    "What do you mean you don''t know?" I questioned him, the panic evident in my tone. We don''t have any other solution; we just need to erase his memory. All in mess we are screwed

    "Didn¡¯t you know?" he asked me. What does he mean? Of course, I don''t know!!

    "I-I-I also don''t know," I stammered in response, and he sighed.

    "It''s the same for me," he replied, holding his right side.

    "Ugh, then what? What are we going to do?!!" I asked him in a loud tone.

    "I said I don''t know," he answered. I just sank to my knees. Axel was about to reach for me, but he hesitated. I looked down to the ground.

    "If you can''t remove his memory, that means-" I said, sighing. "We have a big problem; we are screwed," we both said at the same time. If the higher-ups find out about this, we will be removed from our jobs or, worse, suspended. It will take another 10 years for me to go back to my job and finish my assignment. Just when we thought we had everything under control - Ugh, I hate this.

    "We are going to be punished so much with this, screw this," I said. As I stood up, my eyes widened when I noticed Zayne standing at the back of Axel. He was holding a box with a label indicating it was a first aid kit. I forced a smile, and Axel, catching on to my expression, turned to see Zayne.

    "What do you mean you will be punished?" Zayne asked in a straight tone. Axel glanced at me.

    "''What now?''" he asked through telepathy. I just shrugged, signaling that I didn''t know.

    "Uhm, it''s a little complicated," I said. "You better handle this by yourself," Axel suggested, moving towards Zayne and deciding to take the box from Zayne''s hands. As Axel reached for the box, Zayne hesitated, unsure whether to hand it over or not. The tension in the air was palpable as the three of us navigated the awkward situation.

    "Just what are you doing?" Zayne asked Axel. "You two are going to have a talk about what you saw," Axel responded to Zayne. This guy ¨C are you going to leave me with this kind of responsibility???

    "Hey! Just where do you think you''re going?" I asked him, but he increased his pace. Why? Huh? This b- I''m going to kill him!!!!!.

    "What does he mean?" Zayne asked me.

    "Well, why don''t we talk in a more private room instead of here under the moonlight?" I suggested to him, but he gazed at the moon.

    "The moon is beautiful, isn''t it?" he asked me. I looked at the moon. Just what is he talking about?

    "Yeah, I know," I answered, looking back at him. "Let''s have a talk," I said to him. He smiled - oh gosh, he is really shining.

    A Few Momens Later

    We arrived at his car, and he leaned against the car door, while I stood anxiously in front of him. However, he smiled for some reason. I didn''t know if I should be happy with that smile or not.

    "Is this about the MT?" he suddenly asked. I was so shocked that I looked at him with concern.

    "How did you know?" I asked him, and he chuckled. "Well, I just know," he answered. What do you mean you just know?!!!

    "What does MT even stand for? I remember you asking me that before," he said. What does he mean - oh, does he mean the first thing I said to him?

    "It actually stands for Mythical Creature," I answered him hesitantly.

    "Mythical creature - like ghosts, are they included in that?" he asked. "Ah no - it''s actually some kind of job and position or something," I answered him, and he pondered for some reason.

    "Is it like hunting?" he asked. Wait -

    "How do you know?" I asked him. He smiled and chuckled, "I just know," he said, and for some reason, he seemed to be emanating a glow through his back. What the -

    "Wait - no - I mean, are you just okay with that? Are you not shocked whatsoever?" I asked him, concerned. Then he stood up properly.

    "Well, things were complicated for me, especially when your friend started to, you know, have that scythe and he flew, but I was easily able to grasp that, that¡¯s abnormal but not so beyond" he said. Huh? What so beyond some people even faint just seeing Axel with his weapon.

    "Easily grasped?" I asked. "Well, I''ve been seeing things since I was young; this is nothing new for me," he said in a comforting tone. So, are we good? Are we safe?

    "Are you sure?" I asked him.

    "Yeah, I am sure," he said.

    "Can you keep this a secret?" I asked him, and a silence enveloped us for a moment. He looked at the mirror of the car.

    "Is that friend of yours somehow a reaper?" he asked me. I didn''t answer him. What''s up with him?

    But then he turned around to me and smiled. "Oh, I am just kidding," he said.

    "Haha, okay," I said to him, faking a laugh.

    "Of course, I will keep this a secret, but..." he said, pausing.

    "But?" I asked him.

    "Just what are you?" he asked me all of a sudden. Then, for a moment, it seemed like seconds turned into minutes as our eyes met, and a cold wind passed between us. I couldn''t answer him. "It''s..." I was about to say, but I hesitated, and then he chuckled.

    "No need to force yourself to tell me," he said. Huh? What''s with this man''s personality?

    "We all have secrets to keep," he said. Then, he opened his car door, grabbed a jacket, and closed the door again. He walked toward me, opening the jacket and putting it on me. "It''s cold," he said with a smile on his face. I felt nothing but awkwardness. Now, I didn''t know what to say.

    But this man just stood in front of me, so I mumbled, "Thanks," in an awkward tone.

    "Let''s go back to those people no I mean those MT and help them," he said, but as he was about to walk away, I interrupted, "Wait, what about...?"

    "Don''t worry, our secret will be kept," he said and looked towards me, putting his right hand to his left chest. "It will just be kept in here," he said.

 Chapter 16

    hapter 16

    La-La Point of View

    "I arrived home this morning, driven by Zayne, and Yuna and Ellie are drop-dead worried about me. But when I tried to tell them the story, it left them with a roller coaster of reactions. Now, I''m on the phone call with Zayne.

    "What do you mean by that?" I asked him as he delivered some complicated news.

    "Unfortunately, due to the incident that happened yesterday, all the glass windows and doors in the library are broken. It will take weeks for them to be repaired, and during that time, I don''t think the library can open. So, you can''t go to work for at least a week," he explained. I dropped the bag I was holding.

    "So, I need to wait a week to come back to work? Is that right?" I clarified.

    "Yes, you do. I''m sorry," he said.

    "There''s no need for you to apologize," I reassured him. "But during this week that I''m not working, will it be covered by the company?" I inquired.

    "No, it won''t be covered," he replied, and my eyes widened. "But I''m not working, why wouldn''t it be covered?" I pressed.

    "Well, it''s my fault that the glass is broken," he admitted reluctantly.

    Zayne sighed on the other end of the line. "I wish there was more I could do, but it''s out of my hands now. Just take care of yourself during this time off, alright?"

    "Yeah, I understand. Thanks for letting me know, Zayne," I replied, trying to mask my disappointment.

    "Of course. I''ll keep you updated on any changes. Take care," he said softly before ending the call.

    With a heavy heart, I hung up the phone and leaned back against the wall, processing the implications of the situation. A week off work wasn''t exactly what I had in mind, but I had to make the best of it. I hate resting-

    Then suddenly a notification popped out through my phone so I settled into my sofa and clicked it. It was from our department.

    ""There''s an update with our division," I announced, my voice tinged with curiosity. Yuna paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air, while Ellie leaned forward, her interest piqued.

    "What is it, senior?" Yuna inquired eagerly.

    I glanced at my phone to see the source of the notification¡ªit was a blog post.

    ""Attention all Love Hunter Division members and other division, It has come to our attention that there is a pressing matter regarding the disappearance of our Love Hunters, pertaining to the ''Gold String issue.'' Although the existence of the Gold String has been acknowledged, its authenticity remains unconfirmed. In light of this, it is imperative that all divisions prioritize the safety of Hunters. Any involvement in the abduction of Love Hunters is a direct violation of our rules and regulations. The Special Forces have been instructed to take swift action to eliminate any individuals found guilty of such actions. We urge all parties involved to cooperate fully and promptly return any missing Love Hunters. Failure to do so will result in severe consequences. Please spread this message to all concerned parties immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Love Hunter Division Command" I read the blog they posted.

    Well they taken to long to noticed it as in-

    "I guess you two can go back to work" I said to the two they looked happy as they looked to each other.

    And then there was a knock on the door. Yuna, who was about to stand up, I signaled her to stay seated. "I''ll get it. Just continue what you''re doing," I said to her. She immediately returned to her seat as I walked towards the door. But as I opened it, I saw someone unexpected.

    "You never seem to understand what I always tell you, do you?" I said to Axel, who was now in front of me. He gave me a faint smile, but I still felt a tightness in my chest. Sadness and anger lingered within me. What was that dream that made me feel this way towards him? This isn¡¯t right to do this with my friend.

    "Let''s talk it out," he said, I noticed that he is holding out a plastic bag in his hand.

    "There''s nothing for us to talk about. Just go back to your apartment," I said, about to close the door, but he stopped me. Ugh, this guy.

    "Just at least tell me what''s wrong, we can¡¯t continue doing thius La-la" he pleaded. I glanced at the ceiling for a second, scratched my neck, then suddenly felt a presence behind me. I saw Yuna standing there. I smiled at her. "Is there anything wrong?" I asked her.

    "No, senior. I just heard Mr. Axel," she said and looked at Axel. "Good afternoon," she greeted him.

    "Good afternoon. Oh, I also brought this," he said, offering the plastic bag to Yuna.

    Yuna walked towards us and took the plastic bag Axel was offering. I watched as Yuna accepted the plastic bag from Axel, curiosity flickering in her eyes. She glanced at me briefly, silently asking for permission, and I nodded, albeit reluctantly. Axel''s presence stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me, but I knew I couldn''t let it affect my interactions with Yuna.

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    "Thank you," Yuna said politely, taking the bag from him.

    Axel nodded, his gaze shifting between Yuna and me. "No problem. I hope everything''s alright here."

    Yuna nodded in response, a small smile gracing her lips. "Yes, everything''s fine. Thanks to senior care we are good now" she said in a happy tone.

    "That''s good to hear," Axel said with a smile.

    "I should take this to the table," Yuna said, glancing at me for confirmation.

    "Go ahead," I replied, nodding to her as she left us.

    Now it was just Axel and me.

    I sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation settling between us.

    "Let''s go outside," I suggested to him, it¡¯s better to talk it out.

    A Few Moments Later.

    Once again, I found myself seated on a bench, with Axel offering me an iced Americano. I accepted it gratefully, and he settled down beside me.

    "Why have you been avoiding me all of a sudden?" he asked directly, breaking the silence.

    I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Should I tell him about the absurd dream I had where he was involved in a dark scenario with my so-called husband? It sounded ridiculous even in my own head. It would be strange to confess that I was feeling this way because of a dream, it just seemed too absurd. More on that I had a drean,

    "Because... I just do," I blurted out, grasping for a vague explanation.

    "Huh? ''Because you do''?" he repeated, clearly puzzled by my response.

    "Yes," I affirmed, taking a sip of the coffee to avoid further elaboration.

    "Wait a minute... So, let me get this straight¡ª you''ve been angry with me all this time just because you ''feel so''?" he asked incredulously.

    "Yeah, do you have a problem with that?" I retorted, feeling defensive.

    He furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. "You''ve got to be kidding me," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

    I looked at him sternly. "Do I look like I am joking to you?" I asked.

    "Seriously," he said, his expression serious.

    "What do you mean, seriously?" I asked, feeling frustration building up inside me. "Tell me the truth," he demanded.

    How could I tell you the truth, you idiot? Can I just tell you that because of the dream, I have this lingering feeling of sorrow? You should have waited, bruh.

    "Bastard," I muttered under my breath, unable to contain my frustration any longer. His reaction was immediate, as if he''d been personally insulted. "B-bastard?" he repeated, sounding incredulous. "You know, just tell me what I''ve done wrong. ''Bastard'' me? With this handsome face?" he joked, trying to lighten the tension. I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

    "Do you ever get tired of commenting on yourself?" I asked, the annoyance evident in my voice.

    "Is that it? Are you angry with my self-confidence? I''ve been like this for decades," he retorted defensively.

    "No, I''m not angry because of that, and for your information, I''m not angry at you," I clarified to him.

    "You''re not angry?" he asked, sounding puzzled.

    "Yes, I''m not," I replied firmly.

    "Then why are you avoiding me?" he pressed, his tone tinged with confusion.

    "Just because," I replied evasively.

    "Just because? Tell me," he insisted, his persistence growing.

    I couldn''t possibly tell him about the dream!

    "Do you believe that our dreams are connected to our past lives?" I suddenly asked him, changing the subject.

    "Huh? What''s with that question all of a sudden?" he responded, clearly caught off guard. I gave him a sidelong glance, urging him to answer.

    "No," he replied immediately. "Huh? No?" I questioned, taken aback by his swift denial. "No, we can''t dream," he explained.

    What did he mean by that? I just had a dream!

    "And besides, glimpses of past lives are forbidden to us," he continued, sipping his coffee. "That''s the job of the Sandman," he added, a note of finality in his voice. This conversation was turning into a killjoy.

    "What if I had a dream," I said to him, causing him to stop sipping his coffee and stare at me in disbelief. "You''re joking, right?" he asked, incredulous.

    "Do I look like I''m joking?" I replied, feeling the weight of the conversation intensify.

    "Did the Sandman accidentally give you a dream? Wait, are you angry¡ªor rather, are you avoiding me because of that dream? Are you... no, because of a dream, you''re acting this way?" he questioned, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to understand.

    I couldn''t bring myself to answer him.

    "So, am I right? You''re avoiding me just because of a particular dream?" he pressed, his tone earnest.

    "It''s not just a particular dream," I confessed softly.

    I couldn''t bring myself to tell him, and an awkward silence settled between us. "La-la, just tell me," he urged in his soft tone.

    Should I? If I do, it might turn into a big ordeal. "La-la," he called out my name once again, breaking through my internal debate. I took a deep breath.

    "Your sins," I finally confessed.

    "What do you mean about my sins?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and concern.

    I bit my lips nervously. "Wait¡ªperhaps," he said, his voice trailing off. Feeling a surge of uncertainty, I placed the coffee beside me and stood up abruptly. He looked baffled, clearly taken aback by my sudden movement.

    Third Person Point of View

    "This isn''t going anywhere," La-La said, her voice tinged with discouragement as she hesitated to reveal the truth. Axel reached out and gently grasped her wrist, stopping her attempt to leave.

    "Don''t leave me with that cliffhanger. Tell me the truth," Axel implored, his tone pleading. But La-La pulled her hand away, shaking her head. "No," she said firmly, determination etched in her expression. "La-la" Axel called her name.

    Axel stood up in front of her, his worry evident in his eyes. "This is not your choice. By saying no, you''ve already mentioned something, and It¡¯s a big deal " he said, his voice tinged with urgency.

    "It''s nothing, just gave me some time-" La-La insisted, avoiding Axel''s gaze as she turned to walk away, heading towards the crossroads. Then Axel who was about to get the coffee La-La left behind just also to follow La-la however-

    As La-La stepped onto the road, her mind consumed with herself, she failed to notice the speeding car hurtling towards her. Just as disaster seemed inevitable, Axel''s instincts kicked in dropping both the coffee that he is holding. With lightning speed he run , he lunged forward, pulling La-La out of harm''s way in the nick of time he pulled away La-La and the car honked really loud,

    As they both stumbled to safety, adrenaline coursing through their veins, Axel''s who was out of breath was take aback, but also from the intensity of their unresolved conversation. "Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with a mix of relief and frustration.

    Then suddenly as they both in the ground they immediately feel a headache . They both was ad if they are being pulled by the ground The headache seemed to intensify with each passing moment, leaving them both feeling disoriented and unsettled. Axel glanced around, searching for any signs of help or a way to alleviate their pain. But the pain intensifies.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17

    Third Point of View

    In the year 1924, under the rising sun, Lanaya stood lost in her own thoughts, her gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the horizon. She wore a somber black dress, a silent tribute to someone dearly departed. With no tears left to shed, she longed for her beloved to return, but the emptiness within her seemed to be eating her.

    As cars and horses passed by, their hurried movements appeared like flashes of light to Lanaya, lost in her own sorrow. The desire to end her own life weighed heavily on her heart, pulling her towards the road where vehicles and pedestrians hurriedly passed. Yet, despite the turmoil within her, she mustered the courage to take a step forward, a faint smile playing on her lips.

    She smiled-

    But just as she prepared to take another step, a man in a suit and hat appeared out of nowhere, grabbing her arm with an unexpected force. His voice, filled with anger and confusion, cut through the silence like a sharp blade. "What do you think you''re doing?!" he exclaimed, his grip tight on Lanaya''s trembling arm.

    Startled, Anaya looked up at the man, her smile faltering for a moment before returning to her lips. She could see the shock and bewilderment in his eyes, but she remained silent, lost in her own world of pain and despair.

    Suddenly, the sky opened up, and rain began to fall, soaking everything in its path. The man, now concerned for Lanaya''s well-being, gently took her by the wrist and led her towards a nearby shed for shelter. He glanced at her, noting the dazed expression on her face, he is concerned.

    As they reached the safety of the shed, Lanaya''s strength seemed to give way, and she collapsed into the man''s arms, her consciousness slipping away. The man, taken aback by her sudden collapse, held her close, scanning the area for help in the pouring rain.

    Lanaya awoke to an unfamiliar place, surrounded by blinding white. As she slowly sat up, she tentatively raised a hand to inspect her surroundings. "Am I dead?" she whispered to herself, the question hanging in the air like a delicate wisp of smoke.

    "Your awake," the man muttered, jolting Lanaya from her daze. She widened her eyes, startled to find him seated beside her. He appeared to have just roused from sleep.

    The man exuded an effortless confidence, commanding attention with his presence. His jet-black hair, neatly styled with a subtle sheen, framed his chiseled features, emphasizing the sharp angles of his jawline and cheekbones. However, it was his eyes that truly mesmerized those who gazed upon him. A deep, rich brown in hue, they held a warmth and intensity that seemed to beckon others, inviting them to delve into the depths of his soul.

    "Who are you?" Lanaya inquired, her voice tinged with surprise as she clutched the blanket tightly. The man responded with a subtle smile.

    "I''m Max Elon. I saved you earlier, though you may not recall. I spotted you crossing the street, seemingly unaware," he explained. Lanaya''s grip on the blanket tightened as she mulled over his words.

    "Why did you do that?" she murmured, her words barely audible. Max appeared puzzled by her question.

    Taking a deep breath, Max responded, "What do you mean, why I did that? I should ask you why you did that," his tone calming despite the tension in the air. Lanaya couldn''t contain her tears as they streamed down her face. "Why did you do that?" she repeated, her voice choked with emotion, drawing the attention of those around them. Max, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, found himself at a loss.

    After a few moments, Lanaya''s tears subsided. "I apologize for that," she said, surprising Max with her sudden change in demeanor. He couldn''t help but smile unconsciously at her unexpected apology. Lanaya then bowed, leaving Max stunned. "Thank you for saving me," she said, her tone cool.

    "Well, it''s nothing," Max replied as Lanaya offered a faint smile. "I''m going to take care of the bill now," she said, bidding farewell.

    "Wait," Max interjected, halting Lanaya''s steps. "Can I invite you to dinner?" he asked out of the blue, catching Lanaya off guard. She looked at Max, confusion evident on her face.

    "Why?" she questioned, her suspicion clear in her tone. "I wouldn''t expect anything in return for helping someone," she stated firmly. Lanaya furrowed her brow. "Are you suggesting you want me to take you to dinner as a repayment for your help?" she inquired, seeking clarification from Max.

    He smiled gently. "Yes," he confirmed. Lanaya hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Okay," she agreed, her tone softening. Max''s face lit up with satisfaction at her acceptance.

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    "Wait for me here," Lanaya instructed Max before walking away to take care of the bill.

    After a few moments, Lanaya and Max arrived at a nearby restaurant. They found a table and ordered some food. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively and pleasant, with colorful decorations adorning the walls.

    As they waited for their food to arrive, Lanaya and Max engaged in conversation, sharing stories and getting to know each other better. They laughed and enjoyed each other''s company as they savored their meal.

    Eventually, they finished eating, and Lanaya excused herself to go to the counter. She approached the cashier with a smile, ready to settle the bill.

    "Can I have the bill?" Lanaya asked the cashier, but the cashier seemed confused. "Bill? The person with you already paid for everything," she explained. Lanaya felt puzzled, then glanced at Max, who was waiting outside, gazing up at the sky.

    "Are you sure?" Lanaya inquired, seeking confirmation from the cashier.

    "Yes, ma''am, I''m sure," the cashier affirmed. Lanaya returned her wallet to her pocket. "Thanks," she expressed her gratitude to the cashier, who smiled in return. "Come again," the cashier added warmly.

    As Lanaya stepped outside, she found Max waiting for her with a smile. However, instead of returning his smile, she looked at him seriously. "Why did you do that?" she questioned him.

    "Do what?" Max replied innocently.

    "Paying the bill," Lanaya clarified.

    "Well, it''s considered rude for a woman to pay the bill," Max explained casually.

    Lanaya''s confusion deepened. "But I thought you invited me here, implying that I would pay the bill," she said, her tone reflecting her perplexity.

    "I never said you would pay the bill," Max countered.

    Lanaya paused, realizing that Max was right. He had never explicitly mentioned that she would be responsible for the bill. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, suspicion creeping back into her voice.

    "Is there anything wrong with what I''m doing?" Max queried Lanaya, his tone sincere.

    "Yes, there is," Lanaya replied firmly.

    "Then what is it?" Max pressed, waiting for her response. Lanaya fell silent, unable to articulate her thoughts.

    "I invited you to dinner because I never eat alone," Max reassured Lanaya, attempting to put her suspicions at ease. However, Lanaya remained wary of Max''s intentions.

    "Fine. Fine, you caught me," Max confessed, his tone resigned. "I know you were contemplating taking your own life earlier," he revealed to Lanaya.

    "What does it concern you?" Lanaya shot back, her voice tinged with defensiveness.

    "It concerns me because it''s a life," Max replied earnestly. "You also mentioned you have a son, right? Losing your husband doesn''t mean you should follow him. What about your son?" he questioned, his words striking a sensitive chord within Lanaya.

    "Why are you interfering with that?" Lanaya demanded, her tone serious and searching.

    "I''m just concerned about you" Max replied sincerely.

    "Why would you be?" Lanaya questioned, her skepticism evident. Max paused for a moment, then gazed up at the sky.

    "Well, I don''t know... maybe because I was once like you," Max admitted softly, his words carrying a hint of vulnerability.

    As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Lanaya and Max''s friendship deepened into a profound love. They found themselves drawn to each other in ways they couldn''t explain, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment. Their love became a beacon of light in their lives, guiding them through both joyous occasions and challenging times.

    "Lanaya, do you take Max Elon to be your beloved husband?" the officiant asked Lanaya. Lanaya smiled and looked into Max''s eyes. "I do," she answered.

    "And Max, do you take Lanaya to be your beloved wife?" the officiant asked. Max smiled, his eyes glistening as if tears were about to flow. "I do," he answered.

    "Now, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the officiant said. They both smiled and locked eyes. Max gently removed the veil Lanaya was wearing, and in that moment, they shared a tender kiss.

    Max is a devoted husband, yet despite his efforts to step into the role of a father figure for Lanaya''s son, the child simply couldn''t accept him.

    "Liam, greet your father," Lanaya urged her seven-year-old son, but the typically silent boy merely glanced at Max. "He''s not my father," the child stated, solidifying his refusal to acknowledge Max as his dad.

    "Liam¡ª" Lanaya began, ready to reprimand her son, but Max gently signaled to her that it was alright. Lanaya sighed in resignation.

    "It''s okay, just call me uncle," Max reassured Liam. However, Liam abruptly rose from the sofa, darted to his room, and shut the door. "That child¡ª" Lanaya began to express her frustration, but Max reached out and grasped her hands.

    "He''s still just a child. He''ll soon grow and come to understand that his biological father isn''t here. Eventually, he may accept me, but even if he doesn''t, I''ll still consider him as my child," Max said with understanding. Lanaya gazed at Max, touched by his patience and compassion.

    "I apologize; this is my failure in parenting," Lanaya said, turning to Max and offering her sincere apologies.

    "No, it''s not," Max insisted, pulling Lanaya into a warm hug.

    As they embraced, Lanaya noticed that Max was holding a plastic bag. She paused the hug and glanced at it.

    Max lifted the plastic bottle. "This is your favorite drink," he exclaimed with excitement. Lanaya smiled and chuckled softly, taking the plastic bag from Max''s hand.

    "You always understand me," Lanaya remarked.

    "How could I not? You''re my beloved," Max replied affectionately.

    Back To The Future

    "What was that?" Axel exclaimed, startled by the sudden rush of flashbacks. La-La, on the other hand, lost consciousness, causing Axel''s eyes to widen in alarm as he hurried to her side.

    "La-La," he called out her name, but she remained unconscious. He gazed into her eyes, searching for any sign of her soul, and confirmed its presence. Checking her body for injuries or signs of distress, he felt relieved to find none.

    With a sigh, Axel made the decision to carry La-La. As he lifted her, he couldn''t help but smile at her unconscious face.

    "I guess you were once my beloved," he whispered softly to her.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18

    Third Person Point of View

    La-la, who had been unconscious, slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a dimly lit room. Her head throbbed slightly as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Beside her, Axel sat on a wooden chair, his eyes filled with concern as he watched over her.

    "You''re finally awake," Axel said softly, his voice a mix of relief and anxiety.

    La-la blinked a few times, trying to clear the haze from her mind. "What was that dream?" she murmured, her voice weak. She attempted to sit up, but her body felt heavy and uncooperative.

    Axel quickly moved to support her, placing a gentle hand on her back to help her sit upright against the pillows. "Take it easy," he advised. "You need to regain your strength."

    As La-la settled into a more comfortable position, she glanced at Axel, confusion evident in her eyes. "Well, it might be our past life," Axel explained, his tone serious but uncertain.

    "Past life? You''ve got to be kidding me," La-la responded, her eyes widening in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say more, but the door creaked open, and Yuna entered the room, carrying a glass of water.

    "Senior, you''re awake!" Yuna exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she hurried to La-la''s bedside. She handed her the glass of water. "I was so worried about you. I was shocked to see Mr. Axel carrying you unconscious," she added, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

    La-la took a sip of the water, the cool liquid soothing her dry throat. She looked at Yuna and managed a faint smile.

    "There is nothing to worry about, and thank you for your concern, but Yuna, could you excuse us? We have something to talk about," La-la said gently to Yuna.

    Yuna glanced at Axel, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Well, it''s an important issue, but not a big deal," Axel added, trying to ease her mind.

    "Oh, okay," Yuna replied, nodding in understanding.

    "Thank you, Yuna," La-la said with a grateful smile.

    "There''s nothing to worry about. If you need me, just call," Yuna said energetically. She gave La-la a reassuring smile before turning and leaving the room, closing the door softly behind her.

    "Where are we?" La-la asked Axel as she placed the glass of water on the small table beside the bed.

    Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That dream," he began, his voice trailing off as he tried to find the right words.

    "It''s impossible for us to have a glimpse of our past life. It''s forbidden," La-la said, her tone laced with lingering concern.

    "I know, but it was too vivid to call it just a simple dream," Axel insisted, his eyes searching La-la''s for understanding.

    La-la''s expression grew more serious. "Do you even realize what you''re saying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "Is there anything wrong in what I''m saying?" Axel countered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

    La-la took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "If what you''re saying is true, it could mean we''re dealing with something far beyond our understanding. Something dangerous," she explained, her eyes never leaving Axel''s.

    "Yeah, I know having that dream as our past life is dangerous and far beyond our understanding," Axel said. "However, I think the content of that dream is more important than the issue it presents."

    La-la fell silent for a while, processing Axel''s words. The weight of the dream and its implications seemed to hang heavily in the air between them.

    La-la Point of View

    That dream ¡ª it showed Axel and me as lovers before, which is ridiculous. It''s making me even more confused because it contradicts my past dreams where I saw Axel''s sins. I glanced at Axel, feeling bewildered. ¡°Don''t tell me you''re okay with us having been lovers before?'' ¡° asked him incredulously. He shrugged. ''Well, there''s nothing wrong with that,'' he said comfortably. Ugh, this guy...  how can be so relaxed in this situation. It¡¯s a big deal you big as!!!

    "So we had the same dream," he added. I looked at him, taken aback. "Don¡¯t tell me in your dream¡ª" I began, but he interrupted with a smile.

    "Yes, the incident, the wedding, the child¡ªthe hugging," he said. My eyes widened. "How can you say that so casually?" I asked him, disbelief coloring my tone. It was awkward for me to imagine myself in Axel''s arms; we had been friends, but now it was even more complicated knowing he had been my lover before.

    ¡°I can say it comfortably because they are our memories,¡± he said. ¡°We can¡¯t confirm if they''re actually memories for sure¡ªdid you ever imagine yourself being with me, your soulmate?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°Why not?¡± he replied. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®why not¡¯? Of course there¡¯s something wrong with that!¡±

    ¡°I always said there''s a probability that in a past life we were something, since we''re so familiar with each other. But I didn''t expect that we were lovers before, that¡¯s just unimaginable -¡± he said.

    Beyond that, in my other dream, he is the killer of my so-called husband.

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    "I sighed deeply. ''Everything might just be a delusion,'' I muttered, holding my forehead."

    ¡°Okay, let''s conclude that all of it is a delusion,¡± he said. In a serious tone with his arm crossed he rest his back.¡°Okay, let''s say that,¡± I replied.

    ¡°So the Sandman is at fault here, since they are the ones who manipulated the dream,¡± he said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just casually blame creatures like that,¡± I said to him. Despite my reservations, I couldn''t shake the feeling that the Sandman might indeed be involved.

    Suddenly, I felt Axel emitting an intense aura. ¡°Those guys are dare to mess with me,¡± he said angrily. I immediately slapped his shoulder.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± I said sternly. ¡°That hurts!¡± he reacted. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting,¡± I said to him.

    ¡°How could you say that to your husband?¡± he said, his tone incredulous. My body flinched involuntarily at his words, my mind racing with disbelief and frustration. Ugh, this guy¡ªdid he really dare to admit he''s comfortable with that fact, delusion or not?

    "Are you not at all disgusted by what you''re saying?" I asked him, my voice tinged with a mix of disbelief . It''s really messing me up inside, grappling with the implications.

    ¡°Well, you should be thankful actually, since you married a handsome man like me. I''m still as handsome as ever, look how the higher up like me¡± he said confidently. He always had a way of making me dizzy¡ªno matter the situation, his confidence would shine through.

    But above all, his face then and now remains unchanged¡ªalthough if that¡¯s true, he must have had brown eyes before.

    ¡°You know, you''re not that handsome. Those brown eyes you had before suited you better,¡± I said to him, causing his eyes to widen.

    ¡°So, you''re acknowledging that the dream is true?¡± he teased. ¡°We can¡¯t say that,¡± I replied. ¡°We better ask those Sandmen,¡± I added firmly clenching to my bedsheets.

    ¡°Yeah, if it''s true that they dared to mess with us, I will¡ª" he started to say, but I cut him off with an angry look.

    ¡°Will what?¡± I asked sharply.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± he quickly responded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be glad they messed with our heads; if not, we¡¯d be screwed,¡± I said to him.

    ¡°Well, there''s actually nothing wrong with that dream,¡± he replied.

    ¡°It''s a big issue, you know,¡± I insisted.

    ¡°I know. We might have to deal with something big soon because of that,¡± he said thoughtfully.

    A few moment Later

    Aaron arrived at my apartment as soon as I called him.

    ¡°It might be possible it''s our fault. We sincerely apologize,¡± he said to us as we explained our situation to him. Axel and I looked at each other and sighed.

    ¡°Are you saying just having a fight or physical contact with you might cause something to us, that to that extend mess up with our head?¡± Axel asked.

    ¡°Yes, that''s how our power works, apparently. That''s why we keep our distance from other creatures¡± he answered.

    So that means the dream I had before might have been caused by them. All that misunderstanding might be caused by their power. I find it relieving but somehow not.

    ¡°You really are doomed,¡± Axel said, a touch of resignation in his voice, but I quickly gestured for him to calm down. ¡°It¡¯s not like they intended it, right?¡± I asked, trying to grasp the situation. Aaron immediately nodded in agreement.

    ¡°It''s part of our perks,¡± he explained patiently, ¡°that every individual or creature who doesn''t like us ends up having a delusional dream within an hour of meeting us. It¡¯s also our job to gather it¡±

    The revelation left us both stunned, realizing the unintended consequences of their presence.

    ¡°So everyone who has physical contact with you will have the same dream?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Aaron answered.

    ¡°That includes Zayne, I bet,¡± I added. ¡°Why are you worried about that guy?¡± Axel asked.

    ¡°You heard him¡ªeveryone who is physically touched by them can have the same dream. That means the dream we had could be seen by Zayne,¡± I said anxiously.

    ¡°Actually, no. He will not have the same dream as you two,¡± Aaron clarified.

    What do you mean?

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°Well, since your dream is about you two, it means it''s specifically related to you two ¡®only¡¯. It might be different for him,¡± he explained.

    ¡°I still don''t quite understand,¡± I admitted, feeling confused.

    ¡°It doesn''t matter what he dreams; he might not be affected because of his unique situation,¡± Axel said.

    Unique situation? Oh, he''s blessed, I realized.

    ¡°Yeah, maybe. I''ll just ask him to make sure,¡± I added thoughtfully.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to keep involving him? It might lead to consequences later on¡± Axel asked skeptically.

    ¡°What else can I do? He already knows our secret,¡± I replied, feeling somewhat trapped by the situation.

    ¡°Excuse me for interrupting, but why doesn''t Mr. Reaper just remove that guy''s memories? I''m sure everything would be solved then. Isn''t that also a power of a Reaper?¡± Aaron suggested. I silently wished that were possible¡ª

    ¡°I can''t, due to circumstances,¡± Axel said in a low tone.

    ¡°Circumstances? You mean because he''s a blessed one?¡± Aaron asked, catching on. Oh no, he knows too¡ª

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I confirmed reluctantly.

    ¡°That''s a big issue,¡± Aaron remarked.

    ¡°It is,¡± I agreed, feeling the weight of the situation settle in.

    ¡°"But I''m confident I can find a way to erase his memories, although it might take some time. It''s better to remove his memories than to have him involved with us.¡± Axel said. I looked at Axel, my eyes widening in surprise. So it''s possible?

    ¡°Why didn''t you tell me there was a way?¡± I asked him, frustration creeping into my voice.

    ¡°You didn''t ask,¡± Axel replied nonchalantly. You''ve got to be kidding me¡­.

    ¡°You know, Axel, just because I didn¡¯t ask doesn¡¯t mean you shouldn¡¯t tell me,¡± I said to him, frustration evident in my voice.

    ¡°Well, if you had questions, of course I would answer, but since you didn¡¯t ask, why would I bring it up?¡± he replied casually. He was really getting on my nerves.

    ¡°But you better not get too much involved with him. If you keep meeting him, it''s just wasting your energy, and also difficult for me to erased his memories¡± he cautioned.

    ¡°I might not see him at all this week, so we should find a solution soon,¡± I said firmly. It was unfortunate that I needed to distance myself from him, but it was necessary for the greater good.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good things¡¯ Axel said

    ¡°You two seem close,¡± Aaron intervened.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, it''s unusual,¡± I said with a nod.

    ¡°Yes, especially since Mr. Axel is a Reaper and Ms. La-la is a Love Hunter¡ª I mean, Cupid. It''s rare to have this kind of friendship between creatures,¡± Aaron remarked.

    ¡°Well, my charm does the job,¡± Axel added with a smirk. I playfully jabbed him in the side.

    ¡°Ouch, why do you keep hitting me?¡± he protested, rubbing his side, but I just smiled mischievously.

    ¡°As you can see, he''s an overly confident Reaper¡ªbut compared to other Reapers, he seems like a nice guy,¡± I remarked.

    ¡°Is that so? Does that mean Mr. Axel has had other creature friends?¡± Aaron asked curiously. It was a question I hadn''t considered before.

    Axel looked at Aaron seriously. ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± he answered sternly.

    I was taken aback by his response. What was behind his emphatic denial?

    "Ha-ha, you must be kidding, right?" I asked him skeptically. "Even I know other creatures," I added.

    "Oh, you have? But I¡ª I don''t," he replied solemnly.

    "Really?" I pressed, unsure what to make of his statement. Then, he smiled.

    "Of course, I''m kidding. Why would I only know you? Even as a Reaper, I''ve met other creatures," he reassured me.

    I couldn''t help but feel relieved at his playful admission. What was with him and his serious tone earlier?

    "Well, it''s okay to not have connections with other creatures since it''s hard to befriend each other," Aaron said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

    I nodded in agreement. I''ve mentioned to Yuna before how difficult it can be to befriend other creatures.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19

    La-La Point of View

    Now I am with Axel. He mentioned that since we are doing well and we are fine with each other, I might still be able to help in his work because it¡¯s unfair otherwise. I agreed, considering I wasn¡¯t occupied with anything else. I even suggested that I could probably assist Yuna, but she reassured me that she was fine. With Ellie¡¯s help, she was confident everything would be alright.

    So here I am, sitting in front of another hospital while Axel is inside, getting us coffee.

    ¡°You better not run,¡± I warned the soul sitting next to me she is captivated by Axel power. She¡¯s a young woman, appearing to be around 18 years old. She is the soul that Axel needs to guide to the afterlife.

    "Like as if I had a choice," she said with a resigned tone.

    I sighed, feeling the weight of her defiance. "What even are you? You¡¯re different from that other guy-" she asked, curiosity in her voice.

    "I am a Love Hunter," I replied.

    "You mean like Cupid?" she asked, her eyebrows raising in surprise.

    "Yeah, somehow," I answered, feeling a bit weary from the explanation.

    This girl had made us chase her for what felt like two exhausting hours, and now, finally sitting here, I couldn''t help but feel a mixture of relief and frustration. This is tiring-

    Flashback

    "You must be Hannah Hanz," Axel said, addressing the girl sitting on the bench. Despite not having a ring, we could see souls and other supernatural creatures roaming around. So the girl in front of us is a soul.

    "So what if I am?" she responded arrogantly without looking at us, her eyes narrowing at Axel.

    But then, as she looked more closely, a flicker of recognition crossed her face, and she was momentarily shocked of course because of Axel looked. Axel smiled, and for a brief moment, it felt as if time had stopped between them. In that instant, it was as if I didn¡¯t exist at all.

    "Who are you?" the girl finally noticed me, her gaze shifting in my direction.

    I smiled warmly. "I''m La-la," I introduced myself, but she looked me up and down, clearly judging me. Oh, this brat...

    "Okay, and who is this handsome man?~" she asked, turning her attention to Axel.

    Ugh. "Oh, I''m Axel. I''m here for a reason: to take you," Axel said calmly.

    "Oh, you guys are reapers," she concluded.

    "Yes¡ª" Axel began to confirm, but before he could finish, the soul bolted. We are both shocked.

    "Sh¡ª" Axel cursed under his breath as he took off after her. I quickly followed suit.

    You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.

    As we ran, Axel and I were fully visible, making our way through the bustling crowd outside the hospital. The area was teeming with people, adding to the chaos. People are even shouting at us because of the ruckus.

    ¡°Get out of the way!!!¡± I shouted, trying to clear a path through the throng of bystanders.

    I saw Axel reaching for his scythe. ¡°Don¡¯t! You¡¯re not wearing a hat,¡± I warned him. I knew he heard me because he immediately stopped what he was about to do. Now, I was keeping pace with Axel.

    ¡°This is a joke, right?¡± I muttered, frustrated by the soul¡¯s doings. She was deliberately causing chaos, disrupting people and plants alike, making it harder for us to chase her. ¡°She better stop before she does something worse,¡± I said.

    ¡°D-do you think that¡¯s the problem now?¡± Axel asked, glancing at me with a mixture of concern and disbelief.

    ¡°Well, it seems like that is also a problem¡± I said, continuing to run. We kept dodging the obstacles in front of us, struggling to keep up with the soul who was sprinting ahead. She fast-

    ¡°She might be a freaking athlete!¡± I exclaimed, breathless from the chase.

    ¡°Well, she is,¡± Axel answered. I looked at him in disbelief and stopped running, causing him to stop as well.

    ¡°Why did you stop? Are you okay?¡± he asked me, concern evident in his voice.

    ¡°You know, you better wear your hat and just capture her by flying,¡± I suggested.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t carry my hat,¡± he admitted.

    ¡°What? Are you dumb?¡± I asked, frustration clear in my tone.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s only one soul, so I thought it wasn¡¯t worth carrying it,¡± he said with a shrug.

    I sighed. ¡°Then let¡¯s continue running.¡± He is a dumbass was he?

    I took off again, and he followed close behind.

    End of flashback

    I sighed. ¡°This is a joke,¡± I muttered.

    ¡°You were human before, right?¡± the girl asked me as.

    ¡°Well, I might have been,¡± I replied cautiously.

    ¡°Are you not created or something? Like from a light source you know like the written in fairy tail?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued. I thought if she didn¡¯t like me.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Well, we''re not created. This is just a job given to us¡± I explained.

    ¡°A job? You mean being a Cupid is a paid work?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°It¡¯s not paid work, we¡¯re not paid by money¡± I clarified.

    ¡°Then why are you doing this job?¡± she asked, genuinely puzzled.

    The moment fell silent between us.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s some kind of secret,¡± she said, breaking the silence.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. We are receiving punishment because we are sinners, and that punishment is this job¡± I explained solemnly.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she reacted softly.

    ¡°So you better not have any sins, or you will end up doing our job too,¡± I warned her.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t remember doing anything bad. I¡¯m just used by people who are bad,¡± she replied casually.

    I was baffled for a moment. What did she mean by that?

    Third Person Point of View.

    A sharp slap echoed through the air as a mother struck her daughter. "You''ve gotta be kidding me!" she shouted, her voice filled with anger that made Hannah flinch. Her face, obscured by her hair, bore the sting of the slap.

    "I raised and fed you, and this!! This is all you can do?!!" the mother demanded furiously, throwing  the silver medal she had been holding. It clattered to the floor, a noise reminder of disappointment.

    She gripped Hannah''s shoulder tightly, her frustration is obvious. "If you can''t do anything better, then you might as well be gone. You''re failing your grades and failing in something you used to excel at," she said , pointing her finger accusingly at Hannah''s forehead. "You really take after your father¡ªa useless," she spat, pushing her finger into Hannah''s forehead.

    Hannah remained silent, her spirit crushed, as her mother stormed out of the room, leaving behind an oppressive silence and a daughter struggling to make sense of her shattered world.

    ¡°"Hey sis!" Hannah''s brother barged into her room without hesitation, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed her current state. "Oh, I guess you did something wrong again," he taunted Hannah.

    "Well, who cares," he scoffed, tossing some money at his sister before smiling. "I need some things for my project. I''m too tired to go out, so you better be the one to buy them," he ordered, then promptly stormed out of the room.

    Hannah sank to her knees, silently absorbing the weight of her brother''s words, tears streaming down her face.

    She had done nothing wrong in her life. Hannah was a child who always tried to handle things maturely, hoping to preserve the love within her family, but they often took advantage of her kindness.

    At school, Hannah arrived and immediately felt the weight of judgment from her classmates. Born into privilege, she was often seen as a nepotistic child, entering every room with an air of dignity that only seemed to invite contemptuous glances.

    "You''re as late as usual, Ms. Hanz," the coach said as she walked in.

    "I apologize," she murmured, feeling the weight of the looks from her peers.

    "You can''t just keep apologizing, Ms. Hannah. Show consideration for others and be on time," the teacher reprimanded sternly, it began the hostile atmosphere around her.

    "I understand," Hannah replied quietly, trying to maintain her composure despite the increasing judge by the eyes of people in the room.

    Hannah was weary of being constantly honest. Her coach had once liked her, but as her failures piled up, his attitude toward her had changed. Gradually, everyone around her began to see her as more and more useless, their disdain for her growing stronger with each passing day.

    As Hannah rested, she noticed a man¡ªGeorge, one of the star basketball athletes at their school. She couldn''t help but be mesmerized by his presence. Just as a ball was about to hit her, George rushed over and caught it in time.

    "Good thing¡ª" he murmured, his concern evident as he looked at Hannah. "Are you okay?" he asked, noticing her startled expression.

    "Huh¡ªoh, I''m okay," she managed to reply, taken aback by his sudden appearance.

    "That''s good to hear," George said warmly, a gentle smile on his face. Hannah''s eyes widened as time seemed to slow down, the strands of George''s brown hair floating in the air as their eyes met. It felt like a shot from Cupid''s bow.

    On that moment on they¡¯re relationship grow however¡­. Fate might had other plan-

    The glass shattered in the dining room of Hannah''s house as her mother, seated across from her at the table, threw a glass that narrowly missed her. Her brother continued eating, seemingly unfazed, while Hannah froze in fear.

    "Get out of my house now!!!" her mother shouted, her voice filled with rage.

    "Geez," her brother muttered under his breath.

    "You keep on disappointing me, you brat!!! How far will you go??!! I heard from my friend¡ªwait, a boy? Just because you had someone lovey-dovey, you think you''ve been through the worst? You are f***ing useless!!!" her mother shouted at her.

    Hannah didn''t stay silent this time. Instead, she stood up abruptly and slammed her hand on the table. "What now? That''s my only happiness," she retorted angrily.

    "Your happiness should be in your achievements, you brat!" her mother shot back.

    "That''s your damn happiness, mother," Hannah said bitterly. "It''s not mine. You only care about my achievements so you can boast about them."

    "You brat¡ª" her mother began.

    "Yeah, I''m a brat, but I''m not far worse than my brother here. What do you mean ''failing''? I''m second in my class at school. I''ve done my best to make you happy, but all you¡ªALL you do is make me suffer... just because¡ªjust because of father," Hannah''s voice quivered with emotion.

    Her mother''s face hardened. "Don''t you dare mutter a single word¡ª"

    "Just because father left you for some woman, you see me as him," Hannah said, her voice shaking with emotion.

    "Hannah Hans!" her mother shouted, her face contorted with anger.

    "What I''m saying is true! All you do is shout and demand¡ªshout and fucking demand! I''ve done my best in this house. I''ve fulfilled my role as your perfect daughter, but all you do is keep complaining¡ªcomparing everything to him! What has this guy even done? Nothing! He''s an addict pursuing medicine, for God''s sake!" Hannah''s words poured out in frustration.

    "Mother, just because¡ªjust because of my father¡ªno, it''s worse! You kept beating me," she continued, tears streaming down her face.

    "Hannah, you''re out of line!" her mother shouted back.

    "No matter. We''ve already crossed that line," Hannah said defiantly.

    Her mother, enraged, grabbed a utensil and hurled it at Hannah, hitting her head and causing blood to trickle down her face. But instead of showing remorse, her mother screamed, "Get out!"

    "You''re all crazy," Hannah muttered as she pushed away from the dining table, her mother''s rage wreaking havoc around her.

    Hannah left the house to seek solace with George, the person she loved deeply. Standing outside his house, she dialed his number anxiously. George answered promptly.

    "Oh babe, what''s wrong?" George asked with concern.

    "Where are you?" she inquired, her voice trembling.

    "I''m at my friend''s house," he replied casually.

    "Is that so?" Hannah responded coldly. Suddenly, George opened the gate, accompanied by a woman exiting his home.

    "Is everything okay, babe?" the woman asked, but as Hannah watched, George kissed the girl goodbye. Her world shattered in that moment.

    "Babe, are you there?" George''s voice called from the phone, but Hannah abruptly ended the call. The person she had relied on for salvation, who had supported her through everything, had just betrayed her. Tears welled up in her eyes as George entered his house.

    A message popped up on Hannah''s phone: "Is everything fine?" She stared at it, feeling the weight of betrayal and heartbreak wash over her.

    She hurried through a desolate alley, where not a soul stirred. With only the moonlight as her guide, Hannah pressed forward, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind and plunged a knife into her back. Shocked, she sprinted away, not daring to look back at her assailant. The knife is still attached to her.

    "You have a beautiful soul," the man''s voice echoed behind her as he gave chase. Despite the searing pain and blood soaking through her clothes, Hannah ran on, the adrenaline numbing her senses.

    Gunshots rang out, piercing the night air. Hannah staggered as bullets grazed her, but she pushed forward, desperate to reach safety. She stumbled into a crowd of people, gasping for help. "Help," she managed to utter, collapsing to her knees.

    Instead of rushing to aid her, the crowd recoiled in fear, eyes wide with shock. Hannah''s heart sank as darkness closed in around her. She reached out, grasping for help, but everything faded into blackness.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20

    La-la Point  of View

    The silence fell between us, heavy with the tragic stories Hannah had told. I didn''t know what to say to her or how to comfort him. The only thing that came to my mind was, "Are you okay?"

    Her eyes widened as she looked at me, as if I had said something wrong. Of course she wasn''t okay; she was dead because of it.

    Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence. "Ms. Lanaya," it called, making me turn around. I saw Zayne standing there, and he smiled when he saw my face.

    What is he doing here? This is not his work place-.

    "Dr. Zayne," I reacted, trying to compose myself.

    "Good afternoon, Ms. Lanaya. Good to see you here," he said with a warm smile. I immediately stood up, trying to match his formality.

    "Good afternoon," I replied, my voice a bit shaky. Just why are you here/?? I glanced at Hannah, who was staring at Zayne. Her eyes were wide with admiration¡ªthis girl really does have a thing for handsome faces, doesn''t she?

    "Oh, you have someone with you," Zayne said as he noticed Hannah.

    "You- you can see me?" Hannah asked, her voice trembling with a mix of surprise and hope.

    "Yes, I can," Zayne answered calmly.

    Hannah looked at me, her eyes wide with confusion. "Is he a reaper?" she asked.

    "Huh? Uh, no, no he is not," I stammered, trying to reassure her.

    "Then how can he see me?" she pressed, her voice filled with uncertainty.

    I glanced at Zayne, searching for an explanation. He also just looked at me in the eys "Well, he just can," I finally answered.

    "He just can? You mean he is a human?" she asked, her confusion deepening.

    Well, he is, and he''s a doctor," I answered.

    "Yes, she is right, Ms.," Zayne began, before Hannah interjected.

    "Hannah," she said, introducing herself.

    "Ms. Hannah, I am human, and I just have the ability to see souls," Zayne explained to her gently. Hannah seems to be overwhelmed by Zayne presence.

    "By the way, what are you doing here?" I asked him, hoping to change the topic. I hadn''t planned on meeting him anytime soon since Axel said he would find a solution to remove Zayne''s memories.

    "Oh, I am just visiting a patient who was transferred here," he replied. "And it''s nice since I got to meet Ms. Lanaya here," he added with a smile. Nice? What does he mean by that? And bruh don¡¯t smiled it¡¯s dangerous more on to Hannah-

    "Yeah," I said, a bit awkwardly. Suddenly, we heard footsteps approaching us.

    "What''s going on here?" a familiar voice asked. Of course, it was Axel. We turned to see him standing there, holding a two cup of coffee.

    Axel''s expression was a mix of curiosity and concern as he looked at the three of us. "Dr. Zayne, I didn''t expect to see you here," he said, his tone polite but guarded.

    Zayne nodded. "I was just visiting a patient. It''s good to see you, Mr.  Axel."

    Axel''s eyes flicked to me and then to Hannah, who was watching the exchange with interest. "Is everything alright?" he asked, directing his question at me.

    I nodded quickly. "Yes, everything''s fine. We were just talking."

    Axel took a sip of his coffee, his gaze still on Zayne. "Good. I was just making sure." Then he gave me a cup of coffee

    "What about me?" Hannah asked Axel, looking hopeful.

    "You can''t drink this," Axel said gently to Hannah.

    "Coffee in the middle of the hot sun? I guess that''s not appropriate," Zayne commented, trying to lighten the mood.

    Axel looked at him in disbelief.  Bruh- started a fuel

    I quickly intervened to defuse the tension. "Thank you, Axel," I said, taking a sip of the coffee. "It''s good to see you, Dr. Zayne. I''m sure your patient appreciates your visit."

    Zayne nodded, glancing at his watch. "Yes, I should get back. It was nice meeting you, Hannah, see you later Ms. Lanaya" he said, giving her a warm smile before turning to leave.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t like that guy,¡± Axel muttered under his breath. Obviously-

    ¡°For what reason do you hate him? He is a nice guy you know- and I don¡¯t remember he done something bad to you¡± I asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°I just...¡± he trailed off, unable to articulate his feelings.

    I sighed. ¡°Suit yourself, but just a reminder: don¡¯t go picking fights with a human. He¡¯s been a big help to us before, and he¡¯s also become my boss, you know. At least be kind. He is also blessed¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re taking his side?¡± Axel asked, his tone a mix of surprise and hurt.

    ¡°Why would I? You said you would remove his memories. You better get it done fast, -it might get awkward for me to keep meeting him¡± I replied, taking a seat.

    ¡°I will. It¡¯s not easy, just so you know,¡± Axel said, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°However, why do you sound sad that I would remove his memories?¡±

    My eyes widened. Did I really sound sad? ¡°Do I?¡± I asked, more to myself than to him.

    Axel looked at me, his expression softening slightly. ¡°Yeah, you do. Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡±

    I shook my head, trying to gather my thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s just... complicated. He¡¯s been kind to me at least, and it feels wrong to mess with his memories.¡± Also my paycheck my money the day I work will not come to me-

    Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I get it. But it¡¯s for the best. We can¡¯t risk him knowing too much.¡±

    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why I also agree¡± I whispered, looking down at my coffee.

    Axel sighed. ¡°Well, Ms. Hannah, are you ready for the afterlife?¡± he asked her gently.

    ¡°Do you have any regrets?¡± he continued, his tone softer.

    Hannah fell silent for a moment, reflecting deeply. I was about to interject, ¡°Axel, you know well¡ª¡± but Hannah interrupted with a smile.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have any,¡± she answered, looking at me with a radiant smile, as if sunshine was streaming through her. Her eyes were teary, but she said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ms. Lanaya.¡±

    In that moment, time seemed to stop for me. I smiled back at her, feeling a mix of emotions. I didn¡¯t think she was truly fine, but her strength and resolve were clear.

    ¡°Okay, if you say so,¡± I said to her, trying to keep my voice steady.

    ¡°Then, therefore, Ms. Hannah Hanz¡ª19 years old, died February 3, 2024, cause of death: murder¡ªI, your Reaper and Life Hunter assigned to you, will take your soul,¡± Axel said solemnly, extending his hand to Hannah.

    Hannah looked at his hand, hesitating. She then turned to me, her eyes pleading. ¡°I have one request, Ms. La-la,¡± she said, her voice trembling.

    I was taken aback for a moment. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked gently.

    ¡°Be my cupid in my next life. I want someone who would love me,¡± she said, her voice filled with a mix of hope and sadness.

    I couldn¡¯t find the words to answer her. Deep down, I knew that soon enough, I too would perish. But I didn¡¯t want to dampen her hope. ¡°Ms. Hannah, let¡¯s go,¡± Axel said softly, his hand still extended.

    Hannah looked at me one last time, her eyes filled with unspoken words. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± I whispered, trying to offer her some comfort.

    With a small, brave smile, Hannah took Axel¡¯s hand. As she did, a bright light enveloped her, and she slowly disappeared into its warmth.

    I watched, my heart heavy, as Hannah¡¯s form faded away. The room seemed emptier without her presence, and a profound silence settled in.

    Axel turned to me, his expression a mixture of sadness and resolve. ¡°We did our part,¡± he said quietly.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, my voice barely audible. ¡°We did.¡±

    "It''s tiring," I sighed, sinking into the chair, Axel seated beside me.

    "Yeah, I know. We might end up heading to the afterlife together after this," Axel replied with a wry smile.

    "Maybe. You''re almost finished with your job, and I just need to get my ring and match a one couple" I agreed, trying to lighten the mood.

    "We might really end up as soulmates. Maybe that dream of ours will come true," Axel joked, nudging me lightly. I couldn''t help but playfully slap his shoulder.

    "You really can''t let go of that dream, can you?" I asked him, shaking my head with a smile.

    "Well, we are lovers in it," Axel said, causing me to flinch slightly at his directness.

    "That''s just an illusion, like Aaron said," I reminded him gently.

    "Yeah, I know. But what if there''s a chance it''s not? What if we really were lovers before?" Axel asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

    If that were true, it would mean all those sins in your dreams might be real. Everything could go from bad to worse, pondering the implications.

    "Imagine the kiss¡ª" Axel began, but before he could finish, I playfully grabbed his hair and pulled it.

    "La-la!!" he exclaimed, surprised by my action. "You''re taking it too far, you ass," he said, feigning offense.

    "You know I''m just joking- a joke a jest-" he quickly added, trying to defuse the tension.

    "Your joke is going too far," I retorted, releasing his hair with a smirk.

    "That hurts!!" Axel protested, his tone turning slightly annoyed. "Want more?" I teased, but Axel looked at me with mock disgust.

    "Okay, okay," he conceded, holding up his hands in surrender. "I get it, no more hair-pulling."

    We both chuckled, the tension easing between us. Despite our serious conversation moments ago, we could still find humor in our banter.

    Then my phone chimed with a notification from our headquarters. Axel glanced at his own phone simultaneously. I quickly tapped on the notification to read it.

    The message on the screen indicated urgent news from headquarters. "Looks like something important," I muttered, scanning the message quickly.

    It seems like you''re describing a situation involving a mysterious and potentially dangerous creature. Here''s a more coherent version of your message:

    <hr>

    Warning Warning!

    A wild entity has emerged from one of the MT (Mythical Creature) zones, and its classification is currently unknown. Special forces are mobilizing to capture the creature. We urge everyone not to panic, as the situation is under control. However, we have received reports of missing creatures. If you notice any missing MT entity, please report it immediately.

    Please remain cautious and vigilant. According to witnesses, the creature appears humanoid in form. More updates will follow as the situation develops. Regards from the Higher Ups.

    I was shocked. If it was from Higher Up, then the situation was worse than they claimed. They were lying between their words¡ªjust before the gold string incident, and now this wild creature. These things happened rarely, but not simultaneously. They had to be kidding. I had a bad feeling about this.

    "Calm down, would you? They said it''s not a big issue. It might not be as bad as it sounds," Axel said, trying to comfort me.

    "It''s a big issue, and it came directly from Higher Up," I insisted.

    "But they''re saying everything is under control. Why are you worrying so much? And also I¡¯m here with nothing will go wrong" Axel retorted, trying to reassure me.

    "I have my power just for your information," I replied firmly. I had the ability to move things and also the ability to communicate with animals even though I lose my ring I still had it. And also include that hypnotizing people.

    "Oh, I forgot about that," he said dismissively.

    I immediately kicked him in frustration. "Ouch! Why do you keep hitting me? What did I do wrong to you?" Axel exclaimed, rubbing his leg.

    "A lot, a lot," I muttered under my breath.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21

    Choking, La-La was pinned down by a mysterious creature from the Magical Territory, struggling to breathe. A tall figure loomed over her, their grip tightening mercilessly.

    "I''ve been wanting you," the figure laughed menacingly.

    Gasping for air, La-La tried to speak, but her words were choked out. "You... f¡ª" she managed to mutter, before the pain and lack of air overwhelmed her.

    Suddenly, another figure intervened, swiftly knocking the assailant away from La-La. As she struggled, blood trickled from her wounds, her head spinning from the injuries inflicted all over her body.

    ¡°Die!!!!¡± the figure laughing hysterically-

    Third Point of View

    "Lanaya!" Zayne shouted, his voice echoing in the quiet of his room. He had just awoken from a dream that shook him to the core. "What was that? Is that a glimpse into the future? No, that can''t be happening," he muttered nervously, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His mind raced with the images from the dream, leaving him unsettled and anxious.

    Zayne Point of View

    I immediately dialed Ms. Lanaya¡¯s phone. I had a troubling dream and, despite the early hour, I needed to make sure everything was alright. The phone kept ringing with no answer. She might be asleep.

    "What am I even doing? This is ridiculous," I muttered to myself. I looked at my phone; Ms. Lanaya hadn''t answered some of my recent calls, which was unusual. She must be busy with another job.

    Let me try once again, I thought. I dialed the phone, and this time, it answered. My eyes widened.

    "Ms. Lanaya, good morning. I¡¯m sorry for the early call," I said quickly.

    "Good morning. No, it¡¯s nothing to worry about. Is everything okay, Mr. Zayne?" she asked, her voice soothing as always.

    "No, nothing. I just wanted to ask if everything is fine there," I said, trying to sound casual.

    "Oh, yes, everything''s fine. Is there something going on?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

    "No, nothing. Just be careful of those around you," I advised her. Silence fell between us for a moment.

    "Oh, it''s nothing to worry about," she reassured me, but the silence returned.

    "Do you have any plans today?" I asked, breaking the silence.

    "No, why?" she asked.

    "If not, can you accompany me to the library? There is a lot of package that will arrive today." I asked, making up an excuse.

    "Oh, the library. Okay, I will come it¡¯s also part of my job ," she agreed.

    I couldn¡¯t relax after that dream. "Okay, Ms. Lanaya, see you later," I said, ending the call.

    Oh wait, that was rude, I realized too late.

    La-La point of View

    "Where¡ªwhere are you going?" Axel asked me on the call.

    "To the library," I answered.

    "You mean to that guy? I thought we agreed that you wouldn''t meet him anymore," he said, frustration obvious in his voice.

    "Yes, but there''s work to do. What if you can''t find the solution to erase his memories?" I asked Axel, asking his earlier assurance.

    "La-La, we''ve been working together for 90 years, and you don''t trust me? How could you??" he questioned, as if he was hurt on what I am implying.

    "It''s not that I don''t trust you. It''s just, what if¡ª? You know what, just this once, " I said, trying to compromise.

    He sighed heavily. "La-La, this will be hard."

    "I know your capabilities. I know you''ll figure something out," I reassured him. "And why are you so angry this morning?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

    "I am not. You gave me some news that irritated me," he replied annoyed.

    "You know what, to irritate you even more, I''m ending this call," I said teasingly.

    "Wait, what¡ª" he started to say, but I ended the call before he could finish.

    I arrived at the library and saw Zayne checking through some boxes. For a moment, time seemed to stop. I felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if I had seen this scene before. What is this feeling?

    "Ms. Lanaya?" Zayne''s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at him and smiled.

    "Good morning, Zayne," I greeted him, trying to shake off the odd sensation.

    He smiled back warmly. "Good morning. Thanks for coming on such short notice."

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "It''s no problem at all. What are you looking for?" I asked, walking over to join him.

    "I was just sorting through some old documents. There might be something here that could help us," he explained, his eyes scanning the contents of a box.

    "Do you need any help?" I offered, eager to distract myself from the uneasy feeling.

    Just A Few Moments Later

    I got a call from our department, and I answered it immediately, dropping the papers I was holding. "Hello?" I said quickly.

    "Ms. La-La, do you perhaps know Lloyd, a Love Hunter from your batch 33-B?" the caller asked immediately. What has that dog done wrong now? Involving me of all people.

    "Yes, I know him. Has he caused a ruckus? I could inform the senior about it," I offered.

    "No, he''s not causing trouble," the caller replied. "Apparently, Mr. Lloyd is missing, as Ms. Yhana reported. Have you had any contact with him in the last two weeks?"

    "Missing?" I echoed, my mind racing. "No, we''re not that close. We haven''t been in contact."

    "Okay, thanks for the help, Ms. Lanaya," the caller said.

    "Wait, what¡ª" I began, but the line went dead.

    What does he mean, Lloyd is missing? Don''t tell me he''s involved with the wild one. I immediately searched my blocked contacts to locate my senior''s number and then quickly dialed it.

    Something''s wrong... The phone just rang and rang. I dialed it 50 times but received no answer.

    What the hell?

    Frustration and anxiety welled up inside me. I glanced at Zayne, who looked up from his work with a concerned expression.

    "Is everything alright?" Zayne asked. Startled, I immediately hid my phone. "Y-yeah," I replied, trying to sound casual.

    "If that''s so, by the way, I''m going to order some food. Is there anything you want?" he asked, changing the subject.

    "Oh, anything is fine," I said, distracted by my thoughts.

    He chuckled. "There''s no such thing as ''anything'' on the menu."

    I sighed, trying to focus. "Just rice and chicken, I guess."

    He smiled and clicked on his phone. "What do you want for drinks?" he asked.

    "Coke," I said.

    "Oh, I guessed right," he said, looking pleased with himself. Huh?

    "By the way, there''s a flavor for the chicken," he mentioned. Oh I want barbecue-

    "But I guess you might want barbecue."

    Wait, what? How did he guess that?

    "Am I right, Ms. Lanaya?" he asked, looking at me expectantly.

    "Y-yeah," I answered, still in shock. How does he know that?

    I tried to shake off the unease. "How did you know I like barbecue?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

    He shrugged with a grin. "Just a lucky guess, I suppose. Or maybe I''ve been paying attention."

    I smiled weakly, my mind still preoccupied with the earlier call. There was something strange about this whole situation, but I couldn''t put my finger on it.

    Now I was walking home since Zayne had been called to the hospital. I didn¡¯t agree to let him take me home, but there was an unease lingering in the air. Someone was definitely following me.

    I quickened my pace, glancing over my shoulder occasionally. The streets were eerily quiet, each sound amplified in the stillness of the night. My heart pounded in my chest, every instinct on high alert.

    "Who''s there?" I called out, trying to sound braver than I felt. No response, just the distant echo of my own voice.

    In this situation, running wasn''t the solution, but blending into a crowd seemed like the best option. No one could easily do anything in a crowd. Just as I was about to quicken my pace towards a busier area, a car screeched to a halt in front of me.

    No, not again! I thought, my heart pounding in my chest. Then I looked at the car and recognized it. It was Zayne¡¯s car.

    "Ms. Lanaya, get in!" he called out, rolling down his window. My heart stopped racing for a moment¡ªphew. But wait, something felt off. Still, getting into his car seemed safer than staying out here.

    I immediately ran to the car and jumped inside. "I thought you were going to the hospital. It was an emergency, right?" I asked him, trying to make sense of his sudden appearance.

    "Well, they already settled it. They don''t need me anymore," he said casually, but his eyes held a hint of concern.

    "Why are you here, then?" I asked, still on edge.

    "I had a feeling you might need help, and it dangerous in night" he admitted, glancing at me with a serious expression. "And it looks like I was right."

    He said it with a smile on his face, but I felt an uneasy feeling growing inside me. What the heck is going on?

    "Are you sure everything''s okay?" I asked, trying to mask my anxiety.

    "Yes, everything''s fine," he replied, his smile unwavering. But something about his demeanor felt off. It wasn''t like Zayne to be so mysterious.

    As we drove, the streets outside seemed to blur into a haze of lights and shadows. I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. My thoughts kept racing back to the phone call about Lloyd and the wild one.

    As soon as I got home and Zayne drove off, a figure of a man suddenly appeared in front of me. "What the¡ª" I gasped, taken aback, and stepped backward.

    "You... I finally found you," he said, creeping closer.

    "What? What the hell do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking.

    "You, you have a beautiful soul," he said, his tone sinister. Damn, don''t tell me he''s a wild one...

    Suddenly, he lunged at me, grabbing my throat and cutting off my breath. "Wha¡ªwhat the f***!" I choked out, reacting too late. I tried to pull away from his grip, but his strength was overpowering. If this continues, I will die¡ªI can feel the crushing pain. This guy is an MT himself. I couldn''t even see his face clearly; what the hell was going on?

    Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a chance. A rock! I focused on it, struggling to reach it while his grip tightened. Summoning every ounce of strength, I grabbed the rock and struck him with it. He let go, and I stumbled backward, gasping for air.

    Quickly, I reached for the taser I always carried. As a cupid, I had to be prepared for situations like this. I aimed it at him and fired. The electric shock hit him, causing him to convulse and fall to the ground.

    Panting heavily, I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. This wild one was strong¡ªtoo strong. I needed to get out of here and report this immediately. I didn''t wait to see if he would get up again. I turned and ran toward the safety of my home, my mind racing with fear and adrenaline.

    As soon as I got home, I locked the door behind me and dialed the official number, my hands trembling as I sank to the floor. They answered promptly.

    "A wild one appeared in front of my apartment," I blurted out.

    "Are you sure it''s a wild one?" the voice on the other end asked calmly, which felt absurd given the situation.

    "H-he held me and hurt me!" I gasped, my breathing uneven.

    "Okay, kindly calm down. The special forces are informed of your situation," he assured me. "Kindly state your hunter type and class."

    "Love Hunter, 33-B," I managed to say between breaths.

    "Okay, we''ve recorded that. Please wait a moment. Any signs of soul depletion from the injured body caused by the wild one? It should appear as blue particles depleting from your body," he explained.

    I rushed to the mirror to check, expecting to see blue marks, but to my surprise, there was only a red mark¡ªa wound. What the...

    "Love Hunter, are you there? Is everything fine?" the voice asked again.

    "Y-yeah, there''s no blue mark, but I have a red..." I started to reply, my voice trailing off as I inspected the injury. He''s not a wild one¡ªhe''s an MT. Wild ones have been known to kill individuals and collect souls by touching them they gain that ability if the kill at least 4 MT, but my red mark indicated that the man who attacked me was not the wild one.

    Realizing this, I quickly relayed the information to the official on the phone. "He''s not a wild one, he''s an MT. The mark on me is red, not blue," I explained urgently.

    There was a brief pause on the other end before the official responded, "Understood. Please remain calm and stay in a safe location. Special forces are on route to your location."

    I nodded, even though they couldn''t see me. "Okay, I''ll wait for them. Please hurry," I replied, trying to steady my breathing. What the hell is literally going on. If he is not a wild one it means he attained to be one ¨C one wild one is dangerous and if another one appear it might be a chaos.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22

    Third Point of View

    I heard there was quite a commotion with the Love Hunters," Luke said to Axel, who was sitting across from him. Luke was healing himself, nursing a wound he had received while hunting a soul.

    "Oh, really?" Axel replied, barely looking up from his coffee.

    "Nonchalantly?" Luke repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You know, it might not be a big deal, but I heard a Love Hunter was attacked by an MT last night. Also, another Love Hunter has gone missing. It''s similar to other Hunter cases."

    "Yeah, enough with the jokes," Axel said, taking another sip of his coffee.

    "I''m not joking, though."

    "You keep meddling in other people''s lives. Why don''t you just improve yourself instead of getting hurt like that?" Axel retorted.

    "You know, just because you''re strong doesn''t mean we''re all like you," Luke said, wincing as he tried to heal a minor injury.

    "We''re both Grim Reapers. How come I''m more powerful than you?" Axel shot back.

    "It''s easy for you to say," Luke muttered. Suddenly, Yuna arrived at the MT convenience store, her face clearly showing worry. As she entered, she immediately noticed Axel and greeted him.

    "Good morning, Mr. Axel," Yuna said.

    "What are you doing here?" Axel asked, but Yuna seemed hesitant to answer.

    "W-well, it''s about senior," Yuna said in a low tone. Axel paused for a moment.

    "Is it La-La?" he asked slowly. Yuna nodded immediately.

    "Is she asking you to buy some food or something?" Axel asked, trying to divert from his thoughts.

    "No, actually senior is injured. Last night she was attacked¡ª" Before Yuna could finish, Axel dropped his coffee, grabbed his hat and other belongings, and ran out of the convenience store.

    Luke and Yuna were shocked. Luke just sighed, "Not again."

    Axel, worry etched across his face, rushed to La-la''s apartment. Without bothering to knock, he flung the door open. As he stepped inside, he saw La-la sitting on the sofa, and a man sitting to her right with his back to Axel. Recognizing the man''s figure, Axel''s concern intensified, and he hurried over to La-la.

    La-la, noticing Axel''s arrival, immediately stood up. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

    Axel didn''t respond right away. Instead, he moved quickly to her side and grabbed her wrist, his eyes scanning her for any signs of harm. "W-who did this?" he demanded, his voice shaking with anger.

    "Calm down, would you?" La-la asked, trying to soothe him. She then glanced at the man.

    Axel turned his attention to the man, his expression stern. "Is it you?" he asked harshly.

    Before the man could respond, La-la interjected. "No, it''s not him."

    Axel''s grip on her wrist loosened slightly as he processed her words. "Then who?" he asked, his voice softer but still laced with concern.

    "Would I be here chilling here if I knew who did it? Obviously not," La-la retorted. Axel sighed and let go of her wrist.

    "That''s why I said you should be more careful," Axel said, turning his furious gaze toward Zayne. "This is actually your fault."

    "Hey! Don''t just casually blame people around," La-la snapped.

    "You¡¯re injured. You should be more worried about people around you. If you hadn¡¯t helped this man yesterday, this wouldn''t have happened," Axel argued.

    "Axel, that¡¯s not how things work, you know¡ª" La-la began to say, but Zayne interrupted her.

    "I know it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn''t have left Ms. Lanaya alone in front of her house yesterday. This wouldn''t have happened," Zayne admitted, his voice filled with regret.

    "Tsk¡ªso you were attacked last night in front of your house?" Axel asked La-la, still trying to grasp the situation.

    "Yeah, so you can¡¯t just blame anyone," La-la said firmly. "And it¡¯s not your fault, Zayne. You helped me last night," she reassured him. "I''m sure that MT was already waiting for me since he attacked the moment Zayne left."

    "What?" Axel exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock and concern.

    La-la nodded. "Yes, Axel. The MT was targeting me specifically. Zayne had nothing to do with it."

    A Few Moments Later

    Yuna arrived with medicine in her hand and immediately handed it to Zayne. "Let me do it," Axel said.

    "No, I''m the doctor here," Zayne replied firmly.

    "Yeah, let him be," La-la agreed. Axel sat back on the other side of the sofa while Yuna and Zayne stood nearby. Zayne carefully removed the bandage around La-la''s neck, and they were all shocked to see a hand-shaped bruise.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    "It must have hurt so much," Zayne said sympathetically.

    "It''s much worse than I thought, Senior," Yuna added, her voice filled with concern.

    Axel remained silent, but his face betrayed a storm of emotions surging within him.

    Suddenly, the phones of Axel, Yuna, and La-la chimed simultaneously with notifications. Yuna immediately looked at her phone, her eyes widening in shock.

    "Yuna, what''s wrong?" La-la asked, noticing Yuna''s reaction.

    Axel, looking annoyed, checked his phone as well. "What... what is it?" La-la asked, her curiosity piqued.

    Zayne paused in applying the medicine to La-la''s neck, allowing her to check her phone. La-la''s eyes widened as she read the notification.

    La-La point of view

    The two reacted with obvious concern to the notification that arrived, making me worry as well. Zayne noticed and paused, allowing me to grab my phone to look at it. To my surprise, I saw the message:

    Catastrophe Assembly!!!! All Hunters are required to arrive. It¡¯s at 3 PM this afternoon. Location is sent via the link; kindly click it.

    "Things are getting serious," I said.

    "Yeah," Axel agreed, his expression grim.

    The Catastrophe Assembly is a gathering <u>for all Hunters</u>, which means all¡ªevery one of the 13 Hunter divisions are required to attend. Overall, thousands of Hunters from the country of Elaria are meant to gather. Usually, not all Hunters can arrive since others are from distant places, so they often cut it into three separate assemblies to manage the logistics. However, since we are in the capital, it''s expected that a lot of Hunters will attend.

    But that''s not the only problem. A Catastrophe Assembly signifies that something <u>out of control, beyond the capabilities of the special forces,</u> is taking place, necessitating the help of all Hunters. This means things are getting extremely serious.

    "Is everything okay?" Zayne asked. I looked at the two of them and then back at him. "Yeah," I answered.

    "Okay, if you say so. Let me just finish this," he said. He retrieved a fresh bandage to cover the wound. Zayne worked carefully, cleaning the area around the bruise on my neck. His touch was gentle, but precise, as he applied an antiseptic ointment to prevent infection.

    "There, this should help reduce the swelling and pain," he said softly. He then began wrapping a new gauze bandage around my neck, securing it in place with practiced ease.

    After finishing, Zayne reached into the bag he was carrying. I watched curiously as he pulled out a white scarf. He looked at me and offered it with a kind smile. "You can use this to cover the wound. It might take a long time to heal," he said.

    "Being a doctor sure is helpful. Who would think to casually carry a scarf in the summer?" Axel remarked, his tone tinged with sarcasm. Wow, he is being rude again.

    Zayne ignored the comment and gently draped the scarf around my neck, adjusting it so it comfortably concealed the bandage. "There, that should do it," he said, stepping back to admire his handiwork.

    I touched the scarf, feeling the soft fabric against my skin. "Thank you, Zayne," I said sincerely.

    A Few Moments Later

    Now we are wearing our suits and badges that indicate which type of Hunter we are¡ªa standard requirement for the assembly. For this assembly, <u>we are not allowed to carry any weapons or items specific to our specialties.</u> For example, as Love Hunters, we can¡¯t carry our rings, which is a relief for me.

    Other Hunters have similar restrictions: Reapers can''t wear their <u>hats,</u> Energy Hunters must leave their bracelets behind, Hunters of Knowledge can''t bring their griffin scarves, Wish Hunters must remove their earrings, and Hunters of Sins, like us, must forgot their rings. The Hunters of Dreams must leave their hairpins behind, and so on.

    As I adjusted my suit and badge, I felt a sense of anticipation and unease. The Catastrophe Assembly was not something to be taken lightly, and the fact that we were required to leave our specialized items behind only emphasized the gravity of the situation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Axel said.

    ¡°You ready, Yuna?¡± I asked. She had her hair up in a ponytail, wearing the black suit and a red badge brooch. I smiled at her.

    ¡°Yeah, I am, Senior,¡± she answered with a determined nod.

    We arrived at the designated location, where a large number of Hunters were entering the building. Some looked gloomy, while others seemed ready to start a fight just by looking at each other. Yuna and Axel decided to talk to other Hunters¡ªYuna went to speak with the Love Hunters, and Axel with the Life Hunters. I, who didn¡¯t know anyone well, waited for them.

    "This is gonna be an exhausting day," I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. Suddenly, I bumped into someone.

    As I turned around, I saw a woman about my height with black hair, a mole under her eye, and stunning brown eyes. She was strikingly good-looking.

    "A Hunter, huh? I couldn''t sense you¡ªa Love Hunter, at that," she said, glancing at my badge. What does she mean by that?

    Then I looked at her badge and saw it was blue. "A Hunter of Wishes¡ªa Genie," I said.

    She smiled. "Yes, I am," she replied. Then suddenly, she started looking at me intensely.

    "Is something wrong?" I asked.

    "No¡ªnothing," she said, shaking her head.

    The Hunters of Wishes, also known as Genies, are Hunters who grant wishes. However, they do not grant wishes casually; they only grant wishes with good intentions. They are also known for making miracles happen, so some of them see themselves as higher and above the rest of us. In short, they Hunters of Wishes, also known as Genies, often have the worst personalities, similar to Life Hunters.

    "La-La," someone called my name, and I turned to see Axel. It seemed he was done talking to his colleagues. He looked at the girl behind me. "A Genie, huh," he said.

    "Oh, interesting, a Life Hunter," she said with a keen voice. "And a handsome one at that¡ªnot just handsome, but blessed with a good look."

    "So, you are the two rumored Miracle Friendship," she said. Miracle Friendship? My eyes widened with curiosity. What is she talking about? I looked at her as she smiled widely. She is weird.

    "How come you two became friends?" she asked me. Hmmm, how should I explain it to her? She might get interested because of Axel''s looks, but this guy is a pain in the ass.

    "Don''t answer her," Axel said to me, stepping behind me and placing both hands on my shoulders. "And it''s none of your business," Axel said to the woman in front of us, giving off a rude vibe. As usual, we can''t get along with each other.

    "Chill, would you? Why are you Life Hunters always so hot-headed?" she added.

    "Uhmm, I think it''s getting rude," I added.

    "Oh, you think so?" she asked me. What''s with this woman?

    "Let''s just go, La-La. Don''t mind her," Axel said, pushing me forward.

    Wait¡ªare we just going to leave like that?

    Then we arrived inside the building, and Axel finally stopped pushing me. "What was that?" I asked Axel.

    "You can''t just casually talk to them and answer their questions," he said.

    "Well, I know that," I replied, feeling a bit frustrated. "This is exhausting," I added. "I just wish my ring would arrive so everything could be done, and I could vanish," I said.

    Then Axel looked at me in disbelief. "You can''t just casually wish here, you know," he said.

    I smiled. "Genies only hear human wishes, and they can only grant them if they come from a human," I said.

    Axel raised an eyebrow. "Still, it''s best not to say things like that out loud. You never know who''s listening."

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23

    Third Person Point of View

    In a massive stadium filled with Hunters, the C-tiered building could accommodate a total of 100,000 seats, divided into ten sections. Additionally, there were 20,100 chairs in the center, divided into three sections. All Hunters entered the stadium and seated themselves in their designated areas according to their classes.

    On the left side, the seating began with the <u>Love Hunters</u>, followed by the <u>Hunters of Energy</u>, the <u>Hunters of Wishes</u>, <u>the Hunters of Life, the Hunters of Knowledge,</u> and then the <u>Hunters of Sin.</u> The Hunters of Sin occupied the center, emanating a dangerous aura. Next to them were the <u>Hunters of Dreams,</u> <u>the Hunters of Pain</u> next is Hunter of  Amusement, the <u>Hunters of Talent</u>, and the <u>Hunters of Curiosity,</u> which radiated a bright aura on the right side. Each class of Hunter had a designated badge color.

    The Love Hunters wore red badges, the Hunters of Energy had green badges, the Hunters of Wishes wore blue badges, and the Hunters of Life had obsidian badges. The Hunters of Knowledge had indigo badges, the Hunters of Sin wore grey badges, the Hunters of Dreams had yellow badges, the Hunters of Pain wore pink and Amusement wore maroon badges, the Hunters of Talent had gold badges, and the Hunters of Curiosity and Misery had light blue badges.

    They all seated and arrived on time. Before 3 PM, many Hunters had already gathered, some arguing with neighboring seats, some glaring at each other, and others remaining nonchalant, but there were a lot of them. In the country of Elaria, it is divided into three sections: the main city Henerva, the southeastern Grent City, and the northwestern Denmart.

    La-La Point of View

    We seated ourselves at the top in the last row¡ªYuna and I. There were a few Hunters that I knew here, but they did not greet me; instead, they just looked. I scanned the area, looking for that woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. I remembered she was out of reach since they mentioned that her dog was missing.

    ¡°Senior, are you looking for someone?¡± Yuna asked.

    ¡°Oh yeah, but it seems I can¡¯t find her. Maybe later,¡± I said, forcing a smile. She smiled back, and suddenly, a familiar figure walked toward us¡ªit was Ellie. She greeted us immediately.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± I said, and she sat next to Yuna. ¡°Why are you not with your senior?¡± I asked her. She went silent.

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t ask who is the senior assigned to you again?¡± I asked her, but she was hesitant to answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s Lloyd, Senior La-la,¡± she whispered. My eyes widened at hearing it. ¡°You must have heard what happened to him since he is also your batchmate as far as I knoe. I have had zero contact with him since he was announced missing,¡± she said.

    Then suddenly, a voice broke the tension. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this La-la the workaholic,¡± a familiar voice called out. ¡°Joana,¡± I said, naming her. I looked at her¡ªshe had yellow hair, brown eyes, freckles on her face, and pale skin. She was my batchmate.

    ¡°I thought you were long gone since you kept running all around, you should been in farewell¡± she said, seating herself next to me, followed by a man who seated himself next to her.

    ¡°That was quite a greeting,¡± I said to her, and she gave a sly smile.

    ¡°Well, didn¡¯t you miss me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Missed? Oh, I never thought that,¡± I replied.

    Joana laughed. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed a bit, La-la.¡±

    Then an echo reverberated around the stadium, capturing everyone''s attention. We couldn''t see what was happening in the center, but they opened the screens for us to watch. A guiding spirit approached the mic. "Greetings to all Hunters¡ªit is currently 3:05 PM, and we will proceed with the Catastrophe Assembly," it announced. The entire stadium fell silent.

    Thirteen figures arrived on stage, each the head of their respective Hunter departments. The guiding spirit began the introductions.

    "For Una, the Love Hunter Head," it announced. Everyone in our section clapped their hands. Una, our head, had brown hair in a ponytail, glasses, and always dressed neatly.

    "For the Hunter of Energy, Bianca," the spirit continued. "For the Hunter of Wishes, Trey." "For the Hunter of Life, Quad." "For the Hunter of Pain, Quinta." "For the Hunter of Knowledge, Exta." "For the Hunter of Sin, Sienna." "For the Hunter of Dreams, Octivia." "For the Hunter of Amusement, Nina." "For the Hunter of Talent, Decimus." "For the Hunter of Curiosity and Misery, Undecimus."

    The guiding spirit paused before introducing the last two. "And for the head of Special Forces, Dodeca, and for our head of the Guiding Spirits, Tricus."

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    The introductions concluded, and the crowd murmured softly, acknowledging the presence of these powerful figures. Head works as the president of each department,

    Una, our head, stepped forward to speak. "Thank you all for gathering here today. I will be straightforward and not waste time on the issue that concerns our department. As widely known, the appearance of the Gold String has caused quite a stir. It is said to have the power to turn a Mythical Creature into a human upon contact. However, the existence of such a phenomenon is not true."

    The crowd murmured in disbelief, but Una continued firmly. "The rampage caused by this false belief has created a dilemma for our work and caused a ruckus among all Love Hunters by the creation of other Hunters who want such a power. Although the matter is resolved, the chaos revealed the emergence of a ''Wild One''¡ªa significant threat who only appeared as far a we know back before . As a result of the upheaval, a total of 15 Love Hunters have gone missing who 12 came back save, and as of now, 3 remain unaccounted for."

    Gasps and whispers spread throughout the stadium. Hunters exchanged worried glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. They worried but they also the one who cause such a ruckus.

    "The conclusion is clear: the Wild One is indeed real and poses a severe threat," Una said, her voice resolute. "We must be vigilant and prepared to face this danger head-on."

    The tension in the air was palpable. Yuna, sitting beside me, looked visibly shaken. "This is worse than I thought," she whispered.

    Then, the Head of Special Forces, Dodeca, stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. "As the existence of the Wild One is confirmed, we have also observed other Hunters going on rampages, injuring fellow Hunters at will," he declared sternly. "The Special Forces do not have enough manpower to contain every incident. Therefore, we issue a warning: any Hunter causing a ruckus here will face severe punishment." He had slick hair and eyes like a cat, which added to his intimidating presence. "We will ensure everyone''s safety as far as we can; however, we will not go easy on those who defy the rules," Dodeca asserted firmly.

    "The emergence of the Wild One is already a significant threat to our existence. The Wild One has the power to permanently erase a soul," Dodeca continued gravely. "And we cannot guarantee everyone''s safety to one hundred percent."

    "It''s indeed scary," I murmured back, my thoughts racing. "A soul that''s been erased means our very existence will cease to be. That''s how frightening it is."

    As we absorbed the weight of Dodeca''s words, he continued, "We''ve been trying to resolve this issue by creating a weapon." His statement piqued our curiosity, and we exchanged a puzzled glance.

    Suddenly, a member of the Special Forces approached the stage carrying a black box about the size of a computer. They handed it over to Dodeca, who opened it for all to see. Inside was a single gun.

    "This gun is one-time use," Dodeca announced solemnly, holding it up for everyone to see. "Each Hunter will be provided with one. Its function is to paralyze a person for a day."

    A Few Moments Later

    The heads of the other Hunter departments took turns addressing their respective issues, but the most contentious topics centered around our department. I could feel the accusatory gazes of some Hunters fixed on us like owls scrutinizing prey.

    "They''re ridiculous," Joanna muttered under her breath. It was true; blaming us for the Golden String incident wasn''t fair. Most of the damage in that chaotic situation had been caused by all Hunters, yet now we were being scapegoated for it.

    "They''re the ones who attacked us, and now they''re blaming us," Yuna said indignantly.

    "And because some Hunters are missing from our department, they assume the Wild One originates from us," I added.

    "They''ve had missing Hunters too," Ellie chimed in. "But they''re singling out the weakest. We''re the lowest-ranked among all Hunters."

    Discrimination among Hunters was based on power and influence. As Love Hunters, we were numerous but considered the least powerful. Love may be common, but it didn''t mean we were responsible for every mishap.

    "You''ve explained the rank dynamics to me before, Senior, but it''s frustrating to see it used against us like this," Yuna said, her anger evident.

    "Ignore them," I said to Yuna, Joanna interrupted with a scoff. "You never really care what others thinks huh"

    "I have no reason to care about their opinions as long as we do our job well. That''s all that matters. Don''t we all share the same goal?" I replied calmly.

    "You''re too idealistic," Joanna retorted dismissively.

    The meeting finally ended, and now they''ve given us each a box,  as we were the last to leave the stadium. Joanna said  "Let''s hope to see each other again. If not, then this is our last meeting," she bid farewell, her criticism echoing in my mind for the past three hours. She had the same personality as our Senior, and it was annoying. I sighed deeply; it had been exhausting.

    "Are you okay, Senior?" Yuna asked me, concern evident in her voice.

    "Oh, yeah," I replied, trying to shake off the weariness. "Let''s go," I said to her, and we walked outside the stadium. There, we saw Axel waiting with another man, who I recognized as Luke.

    Compared to Axel, Luke seemed less rude¡ªperhaps it had been the fifty years since I last saw him.

    "Sir Axel," Yuna called out as we approached him. "This is exhausting," Axel muttered as we gathered around him.

    "We all know," I replied with a sigh, feeling the weight of the day. I glanced at Lucas, who greeted us with a nod.

    "Oh, and you are..." Axel began, noticing Ellie standing beside us.

    "Yeah, she''s Ellie. Really, Axel? You already forgot her name?" I teased, earning a glare from him.

    Axel turned his attention to Lucas. "Oh, you might not remember him."

    "No, I remember him¡ªLucas, right?" I interjected. "You might not remember me, but I''m La-La," I said to Lucas, trying to jog his memory.

    "I remember you too. I won''t forget you, Ms. La-La. It''s been a long time," Lucas replied warmly. Wait-

    "What do you mean you won''t forget me? That''s rare for your case," I said, puzzled by his statement.

    "Well, for Axel, you''re  only his Love Hunter friend. How could I forget someone like you? Even if we don''t meet often, I know you all well," Lucas explained.

    I looked at Axel, expecting him to clarify, but he just shrugged, leaving me to wonder about Lucas''s  comment.

    "Oh, well, by the way, this is our Junior Yuna and Ellie," I introduced them. Lucas looked at them and greeted with a nod. Oh well this is awkward.

    Then suddenly a guiding spirit who passed by us stopped walking then looked at me he also wearing a white suit so yeah he is a guiding sprit. He was a handsome man with jet-black hair that framed his chiseled features perfectly. His piercing blue eyes shone with intelligence and a hint of mystery, drawing you in with their intensity. His strong jawline gave him a confident and rugged appearance, complemented by a subtle stubble that added to his allure. Standing tall with a commanding presence, he exuded an air of charisma and charm that captivated those around him.

    He is familiar to me. So that I also have an unease feeling within me.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24

    La-La Point of View

    The man¡¯s piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, seemingly oblivious to Axel''s irritation. ¡°What do you want?¡± Axel demanded, but the man did not look at him, which only served to increase Axel''s annoyance.

    ¡°You must be Miss La-La,¡± the man said, extending his hand toward me. His voice was familiar¡ªwait, wasn¡¯t he the rude guy from the phone?

    ¡°You¡ª¡± I began, recognizing him.

    ¡°Yes, I am the guiding spirit assigned to you, Miss La-La,¡± he said.

    This rude guy. I finally meet you. I¡¯ve wanted to punch you, you know. ¡°Oh yes, nice to finally meet you,¡± I said, forcing a smile.

    ¡°Since you are here, I want to inform you about something. Can we have a moment alone?¡± he asked.

    I glanced at the others. ¡°Can you wait for me a moment?¡± I asked them.

    ¡°Just go. This man seems not to know our existence after all,¡± Axel said, visibly annoyed.

    ¡°Okay then, let¡¯s go,¡± I said.

    ¡°We will wait here, Senior,¡± Yuna said to me, and I smiled at her.

    We walked about twenty steps away from the others. ¡°Is there any problem?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°No, there is no problem. I wanted to inform you that the arrival of your ring, which you requested, will be early¡ªin three months,¡± he said.

    ¡°All of a sudden?¡± I asked, surprised.

    ¡°Yes apparently I was inform to it just a while ago¡± he said. Oh that¡¯s good.

    ¡°You should just have called me about this,¡± I said to him.

    ¡°I would rather not waste time. Since I already met you, it might be better to tell it in person,¡± he said. Ugh, rude as always.

    ¡°Oh, okay. Is there anything else you want to talk about?¡± I asked.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s all. Thank you for your time, Miss La-La,¡± he said, then bowed and left. Just like how he talks to me on the phone.

    I returned to where I was earlier.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Axel asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s about the ring,¡± I said. ¡°He could have just called you.¡± Axel said.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I also said to him, but he said it¡¯s a waste of time since he happened to see me and would rather inform me in person,¡± I said.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he the rude guy on the phone?¡± Yuna asked me.

    ¡°He¡¯s also the one who handles you?¡± I asked, and she nodded.

    ¡°He is, and he¡¯s been working with me for sixty years. This is the first time I saw him in person. He¡¯s rude as usual,¡± I said.

    ¡°Mine too, but not that rude,¡± Ellie said.

    ¡°Well, rude people already exist in MT, so there¡¯s nothing new about it,¡± Axel said.

    ¡°Yeah, like you,¡± I added. Suddenly, we heard Lucas laugh. We looked at him, but he quickly changed his posture.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Axel asked me.

    ¡°Well, no offense, but it¡¯s well-known that Life Hunters are the rudest among the Mythical Creatures,¡± I said.

    "Huh, what''s with that?" he asked me.

    "It''s nothing," I said, brushing off the topic.

    A Few Moments Later

    I arrived home feeling as tired as always. I immediately lay down on my bed. Despite my exhaustion, I felt good because I had received some good news earlier. As I started to relax, my phone rang. I saw that it was Zayne calling, so I answered right away.

    "Sorry to call this late at night, but I wanted to inform you that your work will start tomorrow," he said.

    Oh, I forgot about that!.

    "I''ve already sent the schedule to your email," he continued.

    "Thank you for letting me know," I said, waiting for him to end the call. My mind wandered to Axel. Did he remember about this, and had he found a solution to remove Zayne''s memories?

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    "Are you ready to go to work?" Zayne asked softly. "How are your injuries? Can you manage?"

    "Oh, yeah, I can. It''s just a small injury," I assured him.

    "It''s not small. I won''t force you to go to work due to your circumstances; I just wanted to inform you," he said, sounding genuinely concerned.

    "Thank you for worrying," I responded, feeling a bit uneasy about the situation.

    The phone call with Zayne ended, and I immediately decided to dial Axel''s number.

    "What, did you already miss me?" he answered as soon as he picked up the phone.

    "Did you find the solution to remove Zayne''s memories?" I asked him. There was a brief silence on the other end.

    "Did you forget about it?" I pressed.

    "No, I didn''t forget about it," he said. "Zayne already informed me that the work at the library starts tomorrow. What should I do about it?" I asked him.

    "Don''t attend. Tell him you quit," Axel said firmly.

    "You know he knows our identity, don''t you?" I reminded him.

    "Does it really matter?" he asked.

    "Is that even a question?" I responded. "But isn¡¯t it better for you to stay away from him and not have any more contact?" he countered.

    "That''s not the case for us now," I said, feeling a surge of frustration. Why was I reacting like this?

    "What do you mean that''s not the case? You said your ring will arrive in three months, so just quit and don''t get involved with him," he insisted. He had a point, but for some reason, I couldn''t agree.

    "That''s not the case," I repeated.

    "What do you mean that''s not the case? It is the case," Axel said, sounding exasperated.

    There was a pause as I tried to gather my thoughts. "I... I don''t know, Axel. I just feel like quitting now would complicate things even more. We need to find a solution that doesn''t involve completely cutting ties," I explained, though I wasn¡¯t entirely sure of my own reasoning.

    Axel sighed. "Alright, we''ll figure this out. Just be careful and keep me updated. We can''t afford any mistakes."

    "Thanks, I appreciate it," I said, feeling a bit more reassured.

    "Take care, and don''t hesitate to call me if anything happens," he added before ending the call. But it¡¯s obvious the unease to his tone.

    As I sat there, staring at my phone, I couldn''t shake the feeling that this situation was far more complicated than either of us realized. But for now, I had to focus on getting through tomorrow and figuring out a way to handle Zayne without jeopardizing everything.

    The Next Day

    I arrived at the library and noticed that Zayne wasn''t there yet. I immediately opened the doors and began getting things ready for the day. As people started arriving, I greeted them warmly. Suddenly, a cup of coffee was placed in front of me.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked, looking up to see Axel smiling at me.

    "Don''t smile at me, Axel," I said, feeling a mix of irritation and surprise.

    "Just checking in," he replied, glancing around the library.

    "Leave. Don''t you have work to do?" I said, trying to get him to leave.

    "I do, and I just happened to pass by," he said nonchalantly.

    I grabbed the coffee and took a sip. I noticed some people looking our way, curious about the interaction. Axel''s presence was drawing attention again.

    "Leave already; they''re looking at you," I said to Axel, feeling the stares of the students. He glanced at the students and waved, causing a few of them to giggle.

    Ugh, annoying as always. The people seemed to enjoy the fanservice Axel was providing.

    "Seriously, Axel, you''re causing a scene," I muttered under my breath.

    "Alright, alright, I''m going," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But remember, I''m just a call away if you need anything."

    "Yeah, yeah, just go," I replied, waving him off.

    What¡¯s up with him?.

    I sighed¡­

    In the afternoon, Zayne arrived at the library with food in one hand and another plastic bag in the other. The girls in the library immediately turned their attention to him, so I quickly made my way over.

    "My shift ends at 5," I said to him.

    "Yeah, I just happened to have a lot of breaks, so I¡¯m here for lunch," he said, raising the plastic bag and offering it to me. "Let¡¯s have lunch together."

    What''s up with him, I wondered.

    "It seems like a hassle for you to come here from the hospital," I said.

    "No, this is okay," he replied. "And I''m also concerned about your injury, so I''m here to check on it," he added, raising his left hand to show the plastic bag with medicine.

    "It seems like a bother," I said.

    "No, it¡¯s not," he disagreed firmly.

    I hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Alright, let''s have lunch."

    We found a quiet corner of the library to sit down. Zayne unpacked the food, and I realized how thoughtful he had been, bringing a variety of dishes.

    "Thanks, Zayne," I said, genuinely touched. "This is really nice of you." All the food he bring is the dishes that I like.

    "It''s nothing," he said with a smile. "I just want to make sure you''re okay."

    As we ate, we chatted about various things¡ªwork, the library,

    "Your friend¡ª" Zayne suddenly said, making me stop in my tracks. Who¡¯s friend?

    "The Axel guy, he¡¯s a reaper indeed," he continued. "Every time I saw him in the hospital with his hat, some of the patients died."

    I froze for a second. "I¡¯m not forcing you to answer the question," Zayne said, smiling. "I also wondered what you are¡ªI was thinking you might be the same as him."

    "Me and Axel? No, we are not the same," I quickly responded.

    "Is that so?" he said, his expression turning somber.

    "Zayne," I called his name, and he looked at me. "You know, I want to thank you for always helping us and for keeping our secret," I said. "However, I can¡¯t tell you any further information about us."

    A heavy silence fell between us.

    "Are you going to be punished?" he asked suddenly. How does he know?

    "It seems so," he said. "If that¡¯s the case, I will not ask you any more questions about your existant, since it will put you in danger," he said.

    "I really apologize. You¡¯ve done so much to help us, but this is as far as I can go," I said.

    "No, there is no need for you to apologize," he replied, smiling again. "As long as you are here, nothing else matters."

    What does he mean? I wondered, feeling a mix of confusion and gratitude.

    "Thank you, Zayne," I said softly.

    "What''s with this atmosphere?" Axel interjected, looking just as shocked as I was. I stood up and turned to face Axel, then immediately kicked his feet by accident.

    "What was that?!!" Axel reacted in pain, drawing everyone''s attention to us. "What the hell, La-la?" he asked, clearly upset.

    "You''re in the wrong here, you know. You kicked me!" he exclaimed.

    "You''re overreacting," I said, trying to diffuse the situation.

    "Overreacting?!" Axel retorted incredulously.

    "Both of you, calm down," Zayne interjected calmly.

    "Shut up," Axel snapped at Zayne in a rude tone.

    "That''s rude," I said to Axel, feeling annoyed. ¡°Well our kind is always rude¡±

    "Why are you even here anyway?" I asked him, noticing the box of chicken he was holding for the first time. He straightened up.

    "I was about to give this to you, but it looks like someone else beat me to it," Axel explained.

    "You''re right on time; we''re just about to eat. You can join us," I said, extending an invitation.

    Axel looked at me in disbelief, clearly surprised by my offer.

    ¡°Your dumb¡± he said to me. What the- I immediately slapped his shoulder.

 Chapter 25

    Lucas Point of View

    Hi, my name is <u>Lucas.</u> I am from class 34-B, and I am a Life Hunter, also known as a Reaper. Our job is to guide souls to the afterlife. We are considered one of the rudest among all MT, and our personalities don¡¯t matter as much as how we do our jobs.

    Likely, right now, we are in front of a hospital to take a life¡ªno to take a soul¡ªand I am with Axel. By the way, Axel is my batchmate, and right now we are designated to two souls, so we assign each one to each other.

    "You ready?" I asked him.

    "Shut up," he answered, his face gloomy as ever. I bet something happened.

    Axel is the coldest Grim Reaper among us. Even seniors in our class despise him. Without his looks, he¡¯d be a total bummer.

    Right now, we arrived at a scene¡ªa morgue. Of course, it¡¯s dark, and people are crying, something so dark. But this is our job.

    Walking through these dark halls, with crying people at every step, we are wearing our hats so no one can see us or feel our presence. It¡¯s making me suffocate more because of the aura Axel is emitting.

    We arrive in front of the morgue to see two souls¡ªa woman and a man. As we stand before them, they look at us, and of course, as usual, they are scared.

    "Who are you?" the woman asks, an obvious first question.

    I glance at Axel, who remains silent and cold. I decide to take the lead.

    "We''re here to guide you to the afterlife," I explain gently. "It''s time to move on."

    The woman clutches her chest, looking between Axel and me. "But... what about my family? My children?"

    "I understand your concern," I say softly.

    ¡°Everyone dies,¡± Axel said in a cold tone. The woman''s eyes widened in fear. ¡°Hey, what are you saying?¡± I whispered to him, but he ignored me.

    ¡°Liand and George Hanz, 42 and 38 years old, died in a car accident,¡± Axel continued. ¡°You are now pronounced dead and listed among the people we will take.¡±

    What is he doing? I know he''s not in the mood, but this is not good.

    ¡°We will not come with you,¡± the man said, glaring at Axel.

    I stepped forward, trying to soften the situation. "Look, I understand this is difficult¡ª"

    ¡°I was about to say,¡± but Axel cut me off.

    ¡°You have no choice. It¡¯s either be punished or go with us¡ªthat¡¯s the deal,¡± Axel said, making the two even more scared.

    "Axel, that''s not helping," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. I turned back to the couple, trying to reassure them. "I''m sorry for my colleague''s bluntness. We are here to help you transition peacefully. It''s a difficult process, but it''s necessary."

    The woman clung to her husband, eyes wide with fear. "We don''t want to be punished," she whispered.

    "No one wants that," I said gently. "And you won''t be. We''re here to guide you, to ensure you find peace. It''s not about punishment; it''s about helping you move on."

    The man looked between Axel and me, then back to his wife. "But what about our family? Our kids?"

    "They will be taken care of," I assured him. "Your presence will still be felt, and they''ll find their way. Holding on will only make it harder for them and for you."

    A Few Moments later

    We managed to guide the soul successfully. However, something was off. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± I asked him, but he didn''t respond. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee. He had been pissed off since this afternoon, ever since he returned from meeting his friend.

    Did they argue?

    Suddenly, a doctor walked towards us. He was a good-looking person¡ªwait, could he see us? I adjusted my hat, and Axel did the same. Don''t tell me this guy...

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Axel immediately asked the doctor. This doctor looked like a foreigner¡ªhe had blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He was also emitting a life aura more intense than anyone I had ever seen.

    Did Axel know this guy?

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Axel repeated, his voice tense and demanding. But the doctor didn''t answer.

    Oh, maybe he can''t really see us.

    The doctor pointed at Axel''s hat. ¡°Just talk,¡± Axel said, his voice tense.

    ¡°You''re as rude as usual. Here is your card; you left it behind. Miss Lanaya said that you would be here, so she asked me to take care of it by giving it to you,¡± the doctor replied, handing Axel a black card.

    He seemed to know Miss Lanaya as well.

    ¡°She could have just called me,¡± Axel muttered, taking the black card from the doctor''s hand.

    ¡°I''m not being so rude, but Miss Lanaya is sometimes busy. So, even if you aren¡¯t doing anything, please try not to bother her too much,¡± the doctor said firmly. Axel''s irritation was obvious; his frown deepened, and his body language grew more rigid.

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    The atmosphere thickened as Axel¡¯s irritation caused him to emit a dark aura. This wasn¡¯t good.

    ¡°Are you telling me to stay away from La-La?¡± Axel asked the doctor, his voice dripping with menace.

    The doctor remained calm, meeting Axel''s intense gaze without flinching. "I''m simply suggesting that you be mindful of her time," he replied, his tone measured and composed.

    Axel''s fists clenched at his sides, his frustration palpable. I could see that this exchange was heading in a dangerous direction, and I knew I had to intervene soon if things escalated further.

    ¡°No, I would not go that far,¡± the doctor said calmly, his eyes steady on Axel. Suddenly, Axel''s phone rang, the sharp sound breaking the tension. Annoyed, Axel snatched the phone out of his pocket and answered it.

    ¡°What?¡± he snapped, his voice dripping with irritation. The doctor looked at me and greeted me with a bow, a formal gesture that caught me off guard. I returned the greeting, puzzled. So he can actually see us.

    ¡°Yeah, I received it. You should have called me; I could have picked it up from your house later, you know,¡± Axel said, his tone softening noticeably. It¡¯s La-La; she¡¯s the one on the phone.

    Axel''s mood lifted almost immediately. His demeanor brightened, like a dog whose owner just came home

    . Unbelievable!.

    Then Axel extended the phone towards the doctor, who took it without hesitation. ¡°Oh yes,¡± the doctor said, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not a burden.¡± His tone shifted, becoming warmer and more accommodating.

    What the hell is with these two?1 What kind of spell did Miss La-La cast on them?! The doctor, who had earlier seemed cold and distant despite his smile, now sounded genuinely pleasant. Axel, who had been bristling with annoyance, seemed to relax slightly.

    The doctor handed the phone back to Axel. ¡°I have work to do,¡± he said briskly, then turned and walked away with purpose.

    What was that?!

    ¡°Sure, I will,¡± Axel said into the phone, his tone suddenly lighter. He ended the call with a small, satisfied smile.

    ¡°What was that about?¡± I asked, my curiosity piqued.

    He looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°None of your business,¡± he replied curtly, a sharp edge to his voice. He took a deliberate sip of his coffee, the steam rising between us as he avoided further eye contact.

    I hate my job-

    Someone Point Of View

    Hi, my name is Jhane. I am one of the nurses under Doctor Zayne in the Internal Medicine department. Doctor Zayne is one of the most renowned doctors here at Elysium General Hospital. Working under him has also brought me a certain level of popularity. Some people approach me solely because of my connection to him.

    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Doc,¡± I greeted him warmly as he walked in, his white coat flowing behind him. He smiled at me, but it was a smile devoid of warmth, almost mechanical.

    I admire Doctor Zayne greatly, but his smile¡ªit¡¯s a forced one, masking something beneath the surface.

    ¡°Is there any patient on my schedule?¡± he asked, his tone professional and detached.

    ¡°Yes, there are a few,¡± I replied, handing him the list of patients.

    Despite his cold demeanor, he is exceptionally skilled and kind in his work.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s proceed to the first one,¡± he said, glancing at the list.

    ¡°Yes, Doctor,¡± I answered promptly, following him into the examination room.

    As he diagnosed his patients, I watched him closely, admiring the precision and care with which he worked. It¡¯s fascinating to see him in action.

    Each patient left with a smile, comforted by his deep, soothing voice, even if it lacked warmth. But something had changed in him over the past month.

    ¡°Doc,¡± I began, but he reached for his phone, cutting me off. As he dialed, I saw his expression transform. A genuine smile lit up his face, his eyes sparkling with emotion.

    He always smiled with dull eyes, but now they were alive with warmth. I didn¡¯t dare to interrupt.

    ¡°Miss Lanaya, all the packages will be delivered there,¡± he said in a much softer tone, filled with affection.

    A woman¡ªhe was talking to a woman.

    He smiled again, a warm, genuine smile. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m sorry if it¡¯s quite a burden. Well, I might come there early,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, yes, thank you for your understanding,¡± he added, his voice sweet and gentle.

    Who is this woman? Our eyes met as I stood by the open door, and he smiled at me again, but this time it was the usual cold smile, the mask slipping back into place

    He moved the phone away from his ear, his expression a mix of concentration and annoyance. ¡°Is there any problem?¡± he asked, his tone clipped.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Doctor. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you, but the second patient is already waiting outside,¡± I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

    ¡°Okay, let them in,¡± he said with a nod, his professionalism returning.

    ¡°Understood,¡± I replied, then added, ¡°Ms. Lanaya, I apologize for the interruption,¡± turning back to his call.

    Who is that woman?

    Next Day

    I live nearby, in a house close to Doctor Zayne¡¯s. I also know that he owns a library business near his residence. Having worked for him for almost two years, I¡¯m familiar with it.

    Today, with my work schedule set for the afternoon and tomorrow being Doctor Zayne¡¯s birthday, I decided to visit the library. I wanted to invite him to dinner as a colleague and celebrate his special day. I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll be at the library today.

    As I approached the library, I overheard a confrontation outside. ¡°Like I said, get out!¡± a woman¡¯s voice demanded sharply.

    She stood with quiet elegance, her chestnut hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail that highlighted the delicate contours of her face. Her deep brown eyes were soulful and kind, drawing you in with their warmth. A small mole just beneath her right eye added a unique charm to her already captivating appearance.

    ¡°You always ruin my gig,¡± a man complained, his tone sullen. She simply glared at him with a steely resolve.

    ¡°Do you want me to report you, huh? You little bat?¡± she said, her voice laced with intimidation. The man glared back for a moment but then turned and left. The woman then walked into the library.

    What a scary woman.

    I cleared my throat and adjusted my handbag before stepping into the library. The woman who had been outside was now sitting at the desk where the librarian would typically be.

    ¡°Welcome,¡± she greeted me as soon as she sensed my presence. I nodded in response.

    ¡°How long will you be staying?¡± she asked immediately.

    ¡°Oh, no, I¡¯m not here to read,¡± I explained. Her expression shifted to one of puzzlement.

    ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± she inquired.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Doctor Zayne,¡± I said.

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Zayne,¡± she responded, her tone quite formal. ¡°He left earlier. What business do you have with him?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m his colleague at work,¡± I clarified.

    ¡°Really?¡± she said, her interest piqued. ¡°He should be returning soon¡ªhe just went out to buy some medicine and food for himself. Would you mind waiting for him?¡± she offered. As she spoke, I noticed a white scarf draped around her neck.

    It looked familiar.

    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± I stammered in response.

    ¡°Then just sit anywhere you¡¯d like,¡± she said with a warm smile. She seemed quite nice. I chose a seat in the corner of the library.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said as I settled in. She then took her place at the desk. Her phone rang, and she answered it immediately, her demeanor shifting to professional focus.

    A few minutes passed, and Doctor Zayne arrived. As I stood to greet him, the woman¡ªwho must be Ms. Lanaya¡ªspoke up.

    ¡°Everything good, Ms. Lanaya?¡± Doctor Zayne asked, his tone gentle.

    ¡°Yeah, everything is good,¡± she replied.

    Doctor Zayne placed the medicine and food he was carrying on the table in front of her. ¡°Let me check your wound later,¡± he said with concern.

    ¡°Am I always a bother?¡± Ms. Lanaya asked him, her tone tinged with self-deprecation. Doctor Zayne¡¯s response was a bright smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. By the way, I bought coffee¡ªit¡¯s in the plastic cup. Ice Americano, your favorite, right?¡± Doctor Zayne said, his tone caring and thoughtful.

    What am I witnessing?

    ¡°Oh, you can deduct this from my salary,¡± Ms. Lanaya said, her voice teasing.

    ¡°No, I bought this for you since I already got mine. I just remembered you,¡± Doctor Zayne said, his smile never fading. ¡°Oh, by the way, your colleague is here,¡± Ms. Lanaya said, pointing toward me. Doctor Zayne turned his head in my direction. He offered a smile, but it was the usual cold one.

    ¡°Nurse Jhane, is there an urgent matter?¡± he asked as he walked over to me.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m here to invite you to dinner, Doctor,¡± I said, my nerves evident.

    ¡°Is there a special occasion?¡± he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

    I clutched my handbag tightly.

    ¡°W-well,¡± I hesitated, my heart pounding. ¡°Well?¡± he prompted, waiting for my response.

    ¡°It¡¯s your birthday tomorrow, so I would like to treat you to dinner,¡± I said, finally blurting out the invitation.

    The moment fell into silence.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26

    Third Person Point of View

    A moment of silence fell between Jhane and Zayne.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Zayne said with affirmation in his tone. Jhane smiled at his response, feeling a sense of relief.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we also invite others¡ªit will be my treat,¡± he added. The smile on Jhane¡¯s face faltered slightly.

    ¡°Are you sure about that, Doctor Zayne?¡± Jhane asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

    ¡°The more people, the more joyful,¡± he said with a smile.

    ¡°Okay, if that¡¯s what you want, Doctor. I¡¯ll contact the others,¡± Jhane said, unable to completely mask the disappointment in her voice.

    Then Zayne turned to La-La, his eyes bright with excitement. ¡°Ms. Lanaya- Do you want to come?¡± he asked, his voice eager.

    La-La looked taken aback but then smiled bitterly. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll pass on that. I have work here, right?¡± she replied, trying to keep her tone light.

    ¡°I¡¯m just going to give you a gift, I guess- I will gave it you tomorrow¡± La-La added with a shrug.

    Zayne walked towards her, his expression softening. ¡°La-La, you work too hard. You deserve a break, just join us?¡± he said gently.

    La-La shook her head. ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine. Besides, this is your celebration with your colleagues. I wouldn¡¯t want to intrude.¡±

    La-La Point of View

    I was so shocked that Zayne invited me. It''s his birthday tomorrow as I heard, and while we don¡¯t usually celebrate birthdays, it''s obviously a big deal for him. However, it¡¯s clear this is meant to be a celebration with his colleagues. Besides, it¡¯s evident that Nurse Jhane wanted to invite him on a date, but he¡¯s too dense to realize that. And he seems to have forgotten I have work here.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really like gifts though-¡± he said, his voice softening.

    I paused for a moment, caught off guard. ¡°Is that so? Well, it¡¯s your birthday, and it¡¯s a big deal for you guys. Gifts are the only thing I could think of to give you since you¡¯re my boss here,¡± I said, trying to sound casual.

    ¡°How about granting me a wish instead?¡± he suggested, a playful glint in his eye. I squinted.

    I¡¯m not a genie, though but since he kept our secret might as well-

    ¡°As long as I¡¯m capable, why not?¡± I agreed.

    A Few Moments Later

    Zayne and the nurse left. I didn¡¯t get her name, and she seemed distant to me. I was left here in the library once again, the silence enveloping me like an old friend.

    Then someone entered the library.

    ¡°Senior,¡± a voice greeted me. It was Yuna.

    ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡± I asked her, noticing her slightly weary expression.

    She smiled. ¡°No, I just had nothing to do.¡±

    They¡¯re now making this place their rest spot¡ªjust like the other MT I know

    ¡°You sure about that? You know our work isn¡¯t hourly, right?¡± I said, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°I know that, Senior. I just want to rest. It¡¯s hard to keep running,¡± she said, reaching out her card to me.

    Well, she is still a newbie. I guess it¡¯s reasonable. I was worse to her before.

    ¡°The more we work hard, the sooner we can get out of this line of work,¡± I said to her, swiping her card and handing it back.

    Yuna nodded, her smile returning. ¡°I know, Senior. I¡¯ll get back to it soon. It¡¯s just tiring the couple keep running away from each other creating a scene is taking a lot of energy¡±

    I watched her as she headed towards the back of the library, where she usually did her reading and research. Yuna had a lot of potential, but like all newbies, she needed to find her rhythm.

    Aaron point of View

    Todays is February 16, 2024

    Today has been a tiring day. Catching nightmares and transforming them into good dreams is hard work, and it can be exhausting. I glanced at my wrist, noting the count: 20,000 dreams left to handle. This will take a century at this rate.

    Sigh.

    My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I answered it immediately.

    ¡°Kindly report the missing dream,¡± a voice on the other end demanded.

    They don¡¯t even give me a moment to rest. ¡°Yes, I will report it,¡± I said, and the call ended abruptly.

    Our work involves transforming nightmares into good dreams, so we usually work at night. Each of us is assigned to a specific person. If we manage to turn a nightmare into a good dream before the person wakes up, our job is done. However, if a nightmare remains a nightmare until the person wakes up, that counts as a lost dream.

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    I lost one earlier. The person had a dream of mountains and thousands of bears chasing her. It was hard to manage. Additionally<u>, dreams of past lives are beyond our control</u>. If we encounter such dreams, we report them and classify them as Special Cases.

    I can see people''s dreams once they encounter me, and within those dreams, I can manipulate them. It¡¯s our choice.

    And that''s the work of the Sandman.

    I''m tired; I just need to rest. Why make us MTs if we also feel fatigue?

    As I walked through the bustling eatery, I noticed a familiar figure and stopped in my tracks. ¡°La-La?¡± I called out. She turned around, her eyes meeting mine.

    ¡°Oh, Aaron,¡± she said, a faint smile touching her lips.

    To be honest, I¡¯m a bit scared of her, just like the Grim Reaper she¡¯s friends with. She was wearing a flowy dress that accentuated her elegance, her hair cascading down her shoulders instead of in its usual ponytail. A white scarf was wrapped around her neck, adding a touch of grace to her appearance.

    ¡°Are you also going to eat here?¡± I asked, my curiosity piqued. ¡°Why don¡¯t we join?¡± There was a question I wanted to ask her. In terms of dreams, there are no records of the Reaper Axel''s dreams. I wanted to confirm this since none of us could visualize the dreams he supposedly had. Even an MT can dream, though it''s our responsibility to manipulate them and we can view them once they had a dream with it. However neither one of us manipulate their dream or even view it or see it. So they had a dream without our knowledge and that dream is not created by us.

    La-La shifted on her feet, glancing around nervously. ¡°Well, it might not be a good time. I have someone to accompany,¡± she said, scratching her head.

    ¡°Is it Mr. Reaper? I think it will be a good time¡ª¡± I started, but she immediately waved her hands in denial, her expression growing tense.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the doctor,¡± she said.

    The human one, the blessed one.

    ¡°You¡¯re still in contact with him?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded,.

    ¡°That might be dangerous for you,¡± I said, my tone filled with concern.

    ¡°Well, Axel hasn¡¯t found a solution yet to remove his memories,¡± she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. She adjusted the scarf around her neck, her fingers lingering on the fabric as if seeking comfort.

    ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± I said, crossing my arms.

    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± she agreed, sighing deeply.

    ¡°So, what are you going to do? I¡¯ve kept silent because if this leaks out, it could be dangerous for us too,¡± I said, my eyes scanning the room for any eavesdroppers.

    ¡°I know that. I only have three months before I get my ring, so I guess I¡¯m going to bear with it,¡± she said, determination and worry mixed in her voice. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her posture betraying her inner turmoil.

    "Three months?" I asked, surprised. "Didn''t you tell us last time it was six months?"

    "Yes, it was," she replied, "but for some reason, it was expedited."

    "So, are you going to wait for three months and continue being involved with him?" I asked.

    "Apparently, yes. He knows our secret," she said with a hint of resignation.

    "It''s our fault, isn''t it?" I said. To be honest, their secret was revealed due to that kidnapping incident, and we are mostly to blame.

    "It''s nothing. Soon, I will retrieve my ring, and when I perish, the memories Zayne has of me will be removed, along with all memories involving everyone," she said with a calm acceptance.

    La-La is scary, but she is kind. Kind, but what is she doing as an MT? What kind of sins does she have?

    "Ms. Lanaya," a voice called, and I saw Dr. Zayne approaching. The blessed one.

    In the case of the blessed ones, we cannot touch their dreams¡ªit <u>will damage us</u>. We can''t give them dreams even if we touch or encounter them.

    "Good day," I greeted the doctor. He smiled. He is also blessed with looks, even though he is not an MT.

    "Good afternoon¡ªyou are the one who¡ª" he began, but La-La interrupted.

    "Yes, she is one of the guys," La-La said.

    "Are you also going to have a meal here?" he asked me.

    "Yes," I answered shortly.

    "It seems you two are also going to have lunch here," I added.

    "Well, it''s his birthday. We are actually here to celebrate," La-La said.

    Birthday? Oh, you mean the annual celebration for humans as they age.

    As we stood there, the noise of the eatery seemed to fade into the background. I could feel the tension and unease in La-La''s stance, but she maintained her composure.

    Zayne looked at me with curiosity. "Are you joining us?" he asked, his smile warm and inviting however it feign and mostly like fake as if telling me to say no. He is also scary!!!

    Just what wrong with this group-

    "Thank you, but I think I''ll eat alone today," I said, trying to avoid the awkwardness.

    "Alright," he said, "maybe another time then."

    La-La Point of View

    The wish he asked of me was to join him in celebrating his birthday on the actual date. Since he requested it, I agreed.

    ¡°Are you sure you''re okay with this place? There are plenty of restaurants where we can eat,¡± I asked Zayne. He had invited me to a place near my house, which was, of course, close to his as well. This was also where we had met again.

    ¡°This is a fine place,¡± he said with a reassuring smile. Then a waiter approached us and handed over the menus. She was looking at Zayne with an unmistakable interest.

    As expected.

    ¡°This is an unexpected wish from you¡ªyou could celebrate your birthday with your family members, you know,¡± I said, trying to understand his choice. But he just smiled.

    ¡°No, I am fine celebrating it with you,¡± he said. His smile conveyed a sense of contentment, as if this simple celebration was enough for him.

    Squeak

    What¡ªwhat is that sound? I looked at the waitress, who was blushing hard. I sighed.

    ¡°¡°Can we get two iced Americanos and the house special?¡± Zayne ordered. He then turned to me. ¡°Is there anything you want, Ms. Lanaya?¡±

    ¡°I''ll have the same house special. It''s steak, right?¡± I asked the waiter.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered plainly.

    ¡°Can I get it medium rare?¡± I requested.

    ¡°Of course,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Does your steak have peas in it?¡± Zayne asked the waiter.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed.

    ¡°Are you allergic to peas?¡± he asked me, concerned.

    I frowned, confused. ¡°No, I''m not allergic to anything.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡± he confirmed again.

    ¡°Yes, I am sure,¡± I replied, reassuring him.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± the waiter asked.

    ¡°How about dessert?¡± I asked Zayne. He looked at the menu briefly.

    ¡°Chocolate fondant,¡± he decided.

    ¡°I''ll have the ice cream cookies and cream,¡± I added.

    ¡°Okay, is that all?¡± the waiter confirmed once more. I looked at Zayne, who nodded.

    ¡°Yes, that is all,¡± he said. The waiter smiled and took the menus from our hands.

    I stood up. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zayne asked, looking puzzled.

    ¡°It¡¯s your birthday, right? So it might be better to have a cake,¡± I suggested.

    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary,¡± he said, shaking his head.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s your birthday. It wouldn¡¯t feel right to celebrate without a cake. I saw a cake store nearby. I''ll be back in five minutes,¡± I insisted.

    Zayne watched me with a mix of amusement and appreciation. ¡°Alright, if you insist.¡±

    I left the restaurant and walked briskly to the nearby cake store. The aroma of freshly baked goods greeted me as I entered. I scanned the display cases quickly, searching for the perfect cake.

    After a moment, I found it¡ªa small chocolate cake, elegantly decorated with a simple "Happy Birthday" message on top. I paid for the cake and hurried back to the restaurant.

    Zayne looked up as I returned, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to,¡± he said softly.

    ¡°But I wanted to,¡± I replied, placing the cake in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s not a birthday without a cake.¡±

    ¡°Happy birthday,¡± I greeted him, opening the box and placing a candle on the cake. His smile softened, becoming more genuine for a moment.

    ¡°You blow it out, right?¡± I prompted.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied, leaning forward and blowing out the candle.

    ¡°You know, people usually make a wish before blowing out the candle,¡± I said, curious. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡±

    He looked at me, his eyes warm. ¡°I already got my wish,¡± he said softly.

    Is that so?

    ¡°Well, happy birthday! I hope many more birthdays come your way. May the blessings you have continue to flow,¡± I said

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27

    La-La Point of View

    As we ate, Zayne continued eating calmly. The way he held his utensils and chewed his food was elegant, a clear indication of his refined upbringing. Being a blessed one likely meant he came from a wealthy family.

    Just how good is that?

    To be honest, I was suspicious of him, he makes me feel something- an unease or more than that. The day we met at the hospital was unexpected, and since then, he had been overly kind to me without any clear reason.

    But wasn''t he a blessed one? It was natural for him to be nice.

    Still, there was more to it than that. He showed no surprise at our existence, agreeing to keep our secret and even allowing me to work with him.

    He did not ask anything for granted-

    We kept crossing paths, even during the accident. More to that he knows about something about me. As if he knows me as whole.

    I adjusted my scarf, "Is there anything wrong?" Zayne asked, pausing his meal he had a worried tone. I smiled.

    "No, nothing," I said. He put down his utensils, took a glass of water, and drank it.

    "Later, I can check your wound," he offered.

    "No, don''t bother. I¡¯ve troubled you enough, and it¡¯s already healed," I replied.

    "It¡¯s good that it healed quickly. It must be because you¡¯re different from us humans," he said comfortably, continuing to eat.

    How could he say that so comfortably? The fact that he accepted our existence was suspicious.

    Everything had gone south since the day I met him.

    I picked up my utensils and paused. "Well, an injury can''t bother us," I said.

    "Because of your work as an MT?" he asked.

    "Yes," I answered.

    "But it¡¯s still better if I check it¡ªit might leave a scar," he insisted. The clang of utensils hitting the plate echoed between us.

    "It will not. I always appreciate what you do for me, but it''s your birthday today. Just don¡¯t bother with it. Let''s enjoy this moment," I said to him.

    Zayne sighed softly, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, Lanaya. I''ll let it go for now. Let''s enjoy the meal."

    The waiter returned with our drinks and desserts. The iced Americanos glistened with condensation. My ice cream cookies and cream dessert was a sweet finale to the meal.

    As we ate, the restaurant''s ambiance enveloped us in a cozy, intimate bubble. The warm lighting and soft background music made this afternoon at least  feel special. Zayne''s expression softened, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of genuine relaxation in his eyes.

    As if he is happy in this moment.

    "Thank you for this, Lanaya," he said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. "It''s been a while since I celebrated my birthday like this."

    "Well, even a busy doctor like you and the boss of a library has the right to celebrate a special occasion like this, it¡¯s your birthday" I replied with a smile.

    He chuckled. "Right, a busy person like me."

    Lanaya, can I ask you something?" he began.

    "Of course," I replied, intrigued by his sudden seriousness.

    He took a deep breath, seeming to gather his thoughts. "How long have you and Axel been friends?" he asked me.

    Suddenly- are you curious about that?

    "It''s been a long time. I don''t really remember," I lied.

    Better change the topic. I dropped my utensil once again and leaned back. "Zayne, by the way, how old are you?" I asked him. He paused.

    "I''m 29," he said.

    "29?" I asked again to confirm. "Yes, is there something wrong?" he asked. That''s young. This person always shocks me.

    "No, you''re actually young¡ªyou know, you said to me before you don''t have a girlfriend, right?" I asked.

    "Yes, I do remember that," he said.

    Even though he had no strings, he is allowed to be in a relationship. It¡¯s typical for a person to have lovers. With his looks and wealth, I bet he is a fisherman in a pond full of fish. It would be easy for him to have someone, even though it''s not his soulmate. I bet even men he can fish out. He is young, affluent, statuesque, and strikingly handsome.

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    "Why though? I''m just curious, typically¡ªjust being honest, a man like you, you know, a lot of women would adore you, not kidding- " I said to him. He paused and looked at me¡ªI raised my eyebrows. He chuckled as if I had told a joke.

    "You speak like a grandma," he said.

    Huh, what? Who speaks like that?

    Then he put down his utensil and grabbed the cake. "You know, in life," he said, "even though there are a lot of capable choices, it doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s perfect." He then cut through the cake.

    "Perfection is a myth," he continued. "People have this idea that they need to find the perfect partner, the perfect job, the perfect life. But the truth is, perfection doesn''t exist. We all have flaws, and sometimes it''s those imperfections that make things beautiful. I want to have someone who will love me with those flaws, I¡¯m not perfect I don¡¯t want their high standard for me to fill "

    "That''s true. But it still surprises me that you haven''t found anyone," I said.

    "Maybe I just haven''t found the right person yet. Or maybe I''m too focused on my work. Who knows? Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it," he said.

    Then he put the cake on a small plate near me. "You know, Miss Lanaya, I''m having fun that you''re being comfortable with me now, asking me such questions. I never thought that you were curious about me that much," he said. My eyes widened at what he said, and I looked at him. He smiled at me and licked the chocolate off his finger.

    Ugh, this dude.

    "I just want to have a conversation with you. It¡¯s your birthday, after all, right?" I said, reverting back to a formal tone and picking up my utensil.

    A Few Moments Later

    Zayne held my hand as he stopped me from paying the bill. I used my other hand to try to stop him. "I will pay," I said eagerly, my voice firm.

    But he gently put down my hands, his grip firm but not forceful. "No, I will," he insisted, his tone equally resolute.

    I quickly raised my hand, holding up my black card like a shield. "No, let me," I said.

    "Ms. Lanaya, please," he pleaded, trying to take the card from me.

    "It''s your birthday, so let me," I said fiercely, determination burning in my eyes.

    We stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, both of us unwilling to back down. The waiter watched us with mild amusement, clearly entertained by our standoff.

    Suddenly, I saw an opening. With a swift move, I twisted my wrist free from Zayne''s grasp and dashed toward the cashier. Zayne, taken by surprise, hesitated for a split second before following me.

    "Excuse me," I said breathlessly to the cashier, who was already reaching for the bill.

    Zayne was right behind me, trying to catch up. "Lanaya, wait¡ª" he started.

    But I was quicker. I thrust my card toward the cashier, who took it with a slight smile, sensing the urgency of the situation.

    Zayne reached out to stop me again, but I used my body to block him, positioning myself between him and the cashier. "Just this once, Zayne," I said, my voice a mix of determination and plea.

    The cashier swiped my card, the machine beeping as it processed the payment. I felt a rush of triumph as the transaction completed, and the receipt printed out.

    "Thank you," the cashier said, handing me the receipt.

    I turned to Zayne, a victorious smile on my face. "See? I told you I''d pay."

    Zayne shook his head, a defeated but amused smile playing on his lips. "You¡¯re something else, Lanaya."

    I grinned, pocketing the receipt. "Consider it my birthday gift to you."

    He laughed softly. "Alright, you win this round. Thank you, Lanaya."

    We left the restaurant, Zayne carrying the leftover cake, when suddenly a soul of a man ran in front of me, followed by a familiar figure with a sickle in hand. Time seemed to slow as our eyes met.

    "What the actual hell, Axel?"

    He stopped chasing the soul, looking me up and down before focusing on something behind me. ¡°What are you wearing?¡± he questioned, disgust evident in his voice. He hid his sickle, and I immediately slapped his shoulder.

    ¡°What are you doing? ! Why are you not wearing your hat? You¡ªwhy are you comfortably using your power in the crowd?¡± I whispered fiercely, grabbing his arm and walking a two step ahead from Zayne.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that soul to run. Why would I bother to carry a hat for one soul?¡± he said nonchalantly. What is wrong with him? Is he missing his brain? I looked at him in disbelief.

    ¡°You have no right to question me. You¡¯re the one wearing a weird dress and with that strange guy. I bet something is going on, so don¡¯t reprimand me. Tell me why you and that doctor are together?¡± he retorted. I sighed.

    ¡°It¡¯s my birthday¡± Zayne interrupt,

    ¡°Your birthday?¡± Axel repeated, his tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.

    Zayne nodded, holding the cake box a little higher as if to emphasize his point. ¡°Yes, and Lanaya was kind enough to celebrate it with me.¡±

    Axel¡¯s eyes flickered with recognition, but he didn¡¯t comment further on it. Instead, he looked back at me. ¡°Well, happy birthday, I suppose,¡± he said reluctantly to Zayne before turning back to me. ¡°But you still need to explain why you¡¯re dressed like that.¡±

    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Axel, it¡¯s just a dress. We were celebrating, and this is how humans dress for such occasions.¡±

    Axel snorted. ¡°Humans. Right.¡± He glanced around, noticing the stares from passersby who were now curious about our little scene. ¡°Fine. And you,¡± he said, pointing at Zayne. But I immediately pushed his pointing finger away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t start a fight,¡± I said to him. He looked at me in disbelief.

    ¡°I¡¯m not starting a fight,¡± he said using telepathy.

    ¡°You obviously were,¡± I replied the same way.

    ¡°Do you have anything to do?¡± Axel asked me telepathically.

    ¡°Why?¡± I responded.

    ¡°I have five jobs today, help me¡± he said.

    ¡°Five?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡± Zayne asked. ¡°Is your library open today?¡± Axel immediately asked Zayne.

    Zayne got confused. ¡°No,¡± he answered. Then suddenly Axel grabbed my wrist, shocking both me and Zayne.

    ¡°Then if so, I¡¯m borrowing her,¡± Axel said.

    ¡°Borrow? I¡¯m not a thing,¡± I said to Axel, but he just held me and started to walk away., he is pulling me, Zayne immediately grabbed my other wrist.

    What the hell?

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Ms. Lanaya is obviously with me; you can¡¯t just take her away,¡± Zayne said.

    ¡°No ¨C I should ask you what you¡¯re doing. You¡¯re done for the day, so La-La and I need to work, just go home¡± Axel retorted.

    ¡°But you cannot just take her away, at least have her consent she is not a toy for you just to grab around¡± Zayne said, holding my wrist tightly. I immediately pulled my hand free from both of them.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you two?¡± I said, looking at them in disbelief. I clenched my own arms.

    ¡°I will go with you, Axel. No need to force me,¡± I said.

    ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you though,¡± he answered. I looked at him in disgust.

    Literally pulling me is not force?

    ¡°You¡¯re joking right?¡± I asked Axel but he just shrug. I turn to Zayne.

    ¡°Zayne, can you go back alone?¡± I asked him.

    ¡°He is old enough to do that,¡± Axel answered. I looked at him sternly to shut up. This dude- rude as usual.

    ¡°There is no problem with me but¡ª¡± Zayne said, looking at Axel.

    ¡°There is nothing wrong going on, I¡¯m just going to help him,¡± I said.

    ¡°If that''s so,¡± he said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said.

    ¡°Then you can go, if you are safe I guess there is no problem. Thank you for today,¡± he said.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡ªonce again, happy birthday,¡± I said. He smiled a smile that really can make a person faint.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28

    Third Person Point of View

    "Where are we going?" La-La asked Axel as they sat in the train station, waiting for their train.

    "Starfall," Axel replied.

    "That''s far," La-La remarked, sighing deeply.

    "I know. I don''t understand why they gave me this task," he said, shaking his head.

    "They''re absurd as usual," La-La said, exhaling another sigh.

    "You seem exhausted," Axel observed, a rare hint of concern in his voice.

    "It seems so. I don''t know the reason," La-La admitted.

    "That''s rare. You don''t get tired easily," Axel noted.

    "Yeah, it''s unusual," La-La agreed.

    Axel stood up and walked towards the nearest vending machine. La-La, still seated, watched him casually. Axel returned and handed her a box of milk.

    "Milk?" she said, looking at it in surprise.

    "Just drink it," Axel instructed, sitting down next to her.

    "It will just make me sleepy," La-La protested.

    "We have a three-hour journey ahead. Just take a rest during that time," Axel said.

    "You better not leave me alone," La-La warned him, her tone half-serious, half-playful.

    4 hours later

    ¡°That bastard!¡± La-La shouted.

    La-La Point of View

    <u>Just a little minute early</u>

    Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. My head ached, and as I looked around, I realized I was in a caf¨¦ that seemed more like a hotel. My head had been resting on the table, my hands tangled in my hair.

    The sun had already set, and the room was dimly lit. I stood up, annoyance bubbling up inside me. "That bastard!" I muttered angrily, standing up and slamming my hands down on the table, realizing Axel was nowhere to be found.

    "Would you mind keeping it down, miss?" a voice said from behind me.

    "Oh, I''m sorry," I said, turning around to see a familiar face. "You¡ª" I reacted as I recognized him. This guy with black hair and blue eyes¡ªthe rude guiding spirit.

    "Not you, Ms. La-La, it''s Angelo. Good evening," he said with surprising politeness.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked, still in shock.

    "That''s a rude question, but I live here," he replied.

    "Here?" I asked, still trying to process the situation.

    "Yes, here," he confirmed.

    This felt strange and uncomfortable, similar to the feeling I used to have around Axel. I missed him, but why did this guy unsettle me the same way?

    "Isn''t this Starfall?" I asked.

    "Yes, it is," he answered.

    "It''s far from the Department¡ªI mean, headquarters," I said. Guiding Spirits work in offices in our department, and our department is in Wintermill, one hour away from the main city where I live, which means it''s four hours away from here.

    "I can work from home," he answered shortly, clearly uninterested in the conversation.

    "Yeah, it''s a thing now, huh," I said, then sat down. "By the way, what are you doing here? It''s far from where you live, Ms. La-La," he asked, his interest seemingly piqued now.

    Isn''t your uninterested?

    "I was dragged by a reaper," I answered.

    "You mean Mr. Axel?" he asked.

    "Oh, you remember him," I said, turning to face him. He was sitting with his back to me.

    "How could I forget? Mr. Axel is a famous reaper," he said.

    "He is?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

    "It seems you really don''t care about rumors, Ms. La-La," he said with a slight smile.

    "Yeah, it''s not like they benefit our job," I said, then suddenly noticed the numerous cups of tea in front of him. I paused. "Bruh¡ª"

    "Do you have company tonight?" I asked him.

    "No," he answered curtly.

    "Then what''s with all those cups of tea?" I asked, pointing at the collection.

    He turned to me, and time seemed to slow down as I got a good look at his face. He looked incredibly familiar. "They''re mine," he said.

    Huh? All five cups are his?

    "Isn''t that bad for you? I know tea is good, but..." I trailed off.

    "Strong tea isn''t bad. It''s good for health, and it''s not excessive," he replied.

    Oh, okay. Better not talk to him more.

    I started searching for my phone, patting my pockets, but it was nowhere to be found. I only had my card with me.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    That bast¡ª

    "You''ve got to be kidding me!" I exclaimed in frustration.

    "Is there anything wrong?" he asked.

    Why does he care?

    "No, it''s nothing. I just don''t have my phone with me," I answered. Now I can''t call Axel to find out where he is. That guy wanted my help but abandoned me. I''m going to slap him as soon as I see him.

    Suddenly, Angelo stood up and walked over to me, shocking me. I looked up at him.

    What''s wrong with him?

    He reached out and offered his phone. "You can borrow this," he said.

    "No thanks," I answered immediately. We sat in silence for a moment, and he looked at me as if I were being rude or something¡ªwell...

    "It''s just a phone. You don''t have to be so stubborn," he said, his tone calm but firm.

    "Uhm, there will be no help in borrowing your phone. I don''t remember the numbers of people I know," I said to him.

    "Is that so," he replied, then put his phone back in his pocket and took his seat once again.

    I decided to wait a few more minutes, but since Axel seemed nowhere to be found, I thought it might be better to go home.

    "You''re already leaving, Ms. La-la" Angelo asked, his voice as neutral as ever.

    "Yeah, he can make his way home by himself," I said.

    "Then farewell," he said with a slight nod.

    "Yeah," I answered, feeling a bit of awkwardness in the exchange. He seemed to care, but not really¡ªhe''s a strange one. We''ve been working together for a while now, and I''ve never quite figured him out.

    As I walked out of the building, I gazed upon the sky. The stars were nowhere to be found, but the moon was shining brightly.

    "Ms. Lanaya?" a familiar voice called out. I looked to my left and saw Zayne.

    What is this birthday boy doing here? He was also wearing a suit.

    "Good evening," I greeted him. "This is Starfall. It''s far. What are you doing here? And where is Mr. Axel?"

    I should be asking the same thing to you.

    "I don''t know where Axel is. He left me here," I said.

    "How can a guy leave a girl in an unknown place?" Zayne mumbled.

    "It''s not really an unfamiliar place. I''ve been here many times," I said to him. "What are you doing here, by the way?" I asked, trying to divert the conversation away from me.

    "I was called here by someone," he said. Someone, huh.

    "Oh, okay then. You should go. It might be urgent," I said to him, pointing my hand toward the entrance of the building. Then he suddenly removed his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

    "What are you¡ª" I began, but he cut me off.

    "It''s cold out here. You look like you need it more than I do," he said with a gentle smile.

    I blinked, momentarily taken aback by his unexpected kindness. "Thank you," I managed to say.

    He nodded. "Do you need help finding Axel? I can stay with you until you do."

    "No, it''s fine. I can manage, and I¡¯m about to go home" I replied, touched by his offer but not wanting to trouble him further.

    Then suddenly, a figure came running towards us¡ªit was Axel, with a horde of gangsters chasing him.

    "What the hell is going on?!" I shouted.

    "Run!!" he yelled. Before I could process it, he reached us and grabbed my arm. By instinct, I grabbed Zayne''s arm, and now the three of us were running away from the chaos.

    "W-w-what is going on, you fool???" I asked, breathless.

    "I don''t know, they chased me out of nowhere. I was just doing my job!" Axel replied, still running.

    "Just run," he repeated, letting go of me. I let go of Zayne, and we continued sprinting.

    "Isn''t this something that can be solved by talking?" Zayne asked, trying to keep up. Axel glanced over and noticed Zayne for the first time.

    "What are you doing here?" Axel demanded.

    "Personal reasons. You shouldn''t involve Ms. Lanaya in this kind of job," Zayne replied.

    "Huh?! You have a problem with my job???" Axel shot back, insulted.

    They were really arguing while running¡ªunbelievable.

    "This is fun!," a woman''s voice chimed in. I turned to see a vampire running alongside us.

    "Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my pace.

    "Queenie," she answered with a grin. Her speed matched mine effortlessly.

    "What do you want?" I asked, wary.

    "Just enjoying the chase," Queenie said, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

    Axel and Zayne continued bickering, but I focused on Queenie. "Are you with them?" I nodded towards the gangsters.

    "No, I just like a good run," she replied, laughing.

    "Great, a thrill-seeker," I muttered under my breath.

    "Any chance you''d like to help us out instead of just enjoying the chaos?" I asked her, hopeful.

    Queenie looked thoughtful for a moment. "Why not? It could be entertaining."

    Then, she abruptly stopped running. "Hey, boys!" she called out, drawing the attention of the gangsters. As they paused, confused, she used her power to send a wave of sleepiness over them. One by one, they collapsed, falling into a deep slumber.

    The three of us halted, panting heavily from the adrenaline and the run. I glanced at Zayne, who looked both relieved and curious. "Is she an MT too?" he asked, observing Queenie with a mix of awe and wariness.

    Queenie strolled back to us, her expression relaxed and satisfied. "There you go. I took care of them for you," she said with a playful smile. "Now, what¡¯s this about a chaotic night?"

    "Thank you," I said, catching my breath. "We were just caught in the middle of something... unexpected."

    Axel, still catching his breath, added, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault they just eventually started chasing me. Don¡¯t casually blame me around,¡± he said defensively.

    ¡°You dragged us into this,¡± I replied.

    ¡°No, I dragged you, and you dragged him,¡± Axel retorted. ¡°And she¡¯s just running behind.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t believe this guy.

    ¡°Are you okay, Ms. Lanaya?¡± Zayne asked with genuine concern.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good. Sorry for dragging you into this,¡± I said, quickly apologizing.

    Queenie, who had been quiet until now, suddenly asked Axel, ¡°You¡¯re a reaper, right?¡±

    ¡°So what if I am?¡± Axel replied, clearly annoyed.

    ¡°Your handsome, by the way,¡± Queenie said, giving Axel a sly smile. ¡°The reason they were chasing you is probably because of me.¡±

    Suddenly, the moonlight illuminated her, revealing her ginger hair and blue eyes¡ªshe looked almost doll-like.

    ¡°Because of you?¡± I questioned.

    ¡°Yeah, they are my targets,¡± she explained casually.

    ¡°Targets? You mean they¡¯re part of your mission?¡± I asked, trying to make sense of it.

    ¡°By the way, it¡¯s unusual for a reaper to have connections with humans,¡± she added, her gaze shifting between us.

    Is she referring to us?

    ¡°I¡¯m not a human¡ªMT class Love Hunter La-La 32-B,¡± I said, introducing myself.

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± she responded, surprised.

    She then turned her attention to Axel and Zayne. ¡°You two are handsome as well,¡± she said, licking her lips. ¡°How about I give you a kiss?¡±

    ¡°Wait, huh? What?!¡± I exclaimed, taken aback.

    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. I¡¯m not in the mood for this,¡± Axel said, his tone serious.

    ¡°Kiss?¡± Zayne asked, confusion evident on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m a vampire from 30-A class,¡± Queenie stated with a smirk.

    She seemed far older than us. Then, she walked towards Axel and reached for his chin. Axel immediately slapped her hand away.

    ¡°Reapers are always rude,¡± Queenie said. ¡°Just a little kiss, and your sins will go away.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Axel said, clearly frustrated.

    I stepped between them to defuse the situation. ¡°Let¡¯s not create more of a scene,¡± I said, trying to maintain peace.

    Queenie looked at us with a mischievous grin. Vampires¡ªor Sin Hunters as they¡¯re sometimes called¡ªare known in stories for their bloodsucking ways. They¡¯re said to turn into bats and are afraid of the sun.

    However, Sin Hunters are quite different from <u>the myths</u>. They don¡¯t suck blood; instead, they have <u>the ability to induce sleep and erase memories,</u> much like reapers. They also possess the power to transform into animals. Their method of absorbing sins involves more than just a simple kiss; it¡¯s a literal<u>, intense exchange</u>. Though they don¡¯t typically venture out in the sun, it¡¯s not because they burn; it¡¯s simply because they do their work at night.

    By the way Sins Hunter only hunt the 7 deadly sins.

    The seven deadly sins are Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride¡ªeach representing a fundamental moral failing, from excessive desire and indulgence to extreme anger and arrogance.

    ¡°I heard reapers have a lot of sins, so sucking from you would add to my points,¡± Queenie said to Axel with a smirk. But she is basically insulting him.

    ¡°You probably have more sins than I do,¡± Axel retorted.

    ¡°That blondie over there doesn¡¯t have sins at all¡ªhe¡¯s so clean, which is rare,¡± she remarked, glancing suspiciously at Zayne. Wait, she can¡¯t know he¡¯s a human; that would be a mess if MTs discovered our involvement with one.

    ¡°He¡¯s the same type as me,¡± I said, hoping to deflect her curiosity.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she replied, with a hint of disappointment.

    ¡°Excuse me, I must interject. I think Miss Queenie is being quite rude. How about we part ways here?¡± Zayne said, trying to regain control of the situation.

    ¡°Don¡¯t butt in here,¡± Axel snapped at Zayne, clearly agitated. I looked at him in disbelief. Suddenly, Queenie zipped over to Zayne, surprising everyone. She was now face-to-face with him.

    ¡°Do you want a kiss?¡± she asked Zayne directly.

    This vampire is just casually asking people if they want a kiss? Isn¡¯t that a bit creepy?

    ¡°I must decline,¡± Zayne said, stepping back.

    ¡°You two are so boring,¡± Queenie said with a stretch. ¡°It¡¯s been ten years since I¡¯ve seen such handsome guys. It¡¯s just a waste I can¡¯t kiss you,¡± she lamented.

    Oh, so she¡¯s obsessed with handsome faces.

 Chapter 29

    La- La Point of View

    "Why are you even here?" Axel rudely asked Zayne, his tone sharp and accusatory.

    "Stop. We''re eating, and you''re starting a fight," I interjected, my voice tinged with frustration. I sighed, turning my gaze to Zayne. "Are you sure that someone won''t be angry with you being here?" I asked, concerned about the implications of his presence.

    "I''m sure she won''t be angry," he replied confidently. She?

    "By the way, did you finish the five jobs you have?" I asked Axel, trying to divert the conversation and ease the tension. People around us in the restaurant were starting to glance our way, their curiosity is so obvious as if we were part of an exhibit.

    "Yeah," Axel responded curtly.

    "Then why did you even bother tagging along?" I pressed, annoyed.

    "It''s not my fault that you fell asleep," Axel shot back. I stared at him in disbelief.

    He is unbelievable.

    "Rather than apologizing, you''re blaming Ms. Lanaya," Zayne said in, his voice calm but firm. There was a moment of silence between us, thick with unspoken words.

    For sure, it triggered Axel.

    "Why do you keep butting in on our business?" Axel snapped, his eyes narrowing.

    "I''m not butting in. I''m just concerned for Ms. Lanaya," Zayne said, his tone filled with obvious concern.

    "Concerned? Who are you to be concerned about her?" Axel demanded, his anger rising.

    "I''m her boss and a friend," Zayne answered simply.

    Friend? I never labeled it that way.

    "Enough of that. It will just escalate," I said, trying to stop the brewing conflict. They glared at each other for a moment before reluctantly backing down.

    What are they, children?

    "By the way, Ms. Lanaya, are you going to Main City after this? It¡¯s already late at night," Zayne inquired, his concern evident.

    "No, we might stay at a hotel," I replied, trying to sound casual.

    "I have a suggestion," he said, his eyes lighting up.

    "What is it?" I asked, curious.

    "I have a house here in Starfall with at least five rooms. If you two want, I can offer a room," he offered generously.

    La-La Point of View

    "No thanks," Axel immediately declined, cutting in before I could respond. This guy didn¡¯t even let me decide.

    "Ms. Lanaya''s opinion is important in this," Zayne said, turning his attention to me.

    "It might be a bother," I said hesitantly.

    "No, it won''t. I think I just need some company since I''ll be going there alone. It might be better if it''s the three of us," he insisted.

    I looked at Axel, searching for his thoughts.

    "You decide," he communicated through telepathy.

    Considering it''s Zayne''s birthday, I thought it might be nice to accompany him tonight.

    "Are you sure it will not be a hassle for you?" I asked Zayne, still unsure.

    "No, not at all. Instead, I will be glad," he said, smiling warmly. His radiance was infectious.

    Squeak*

    Wait, what was that sound? I looked around to see everyone in the restaurant staring at our table. Jeez, this is uncomfortable.

    "I guess it''s a good offer," I said, finally agreeing.

    A Few Moments Later

    Zayne''s house is really big¡ªhe is actually rich, but we''re not that shocked since he is a blessed one. Now, I am in the room that Zayne offered me. Due to exhaustion, as soon as I lay my body on the bed, I fall asleep almost instantly.

    Today is a tiring day.

    Third Person Point of View

    A man with a white long-sleeve shirt rolled up to his elbows was intently looking at a paper while sipping his fifth cup of strong tea. Lanaya, carrying their baby in the dim light of the night, looked at him with a mix of affection and concern.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "Hey, stop looking at that paper and drinking so much tea. It''s already your fifth cup, and it''s a strong one. It might not be good for you," Lanaya said to her husband, but he just smiled at her.

    "Just wait a minute. I''ll be done soon, and strong tea isn''t bad; it''s good for health and it''s not excessive," he replied.

    Lanaya sighed. "You keep helping people, but it''s going to tire you out," she said, her concern evident. The man put down the paper and walked over to his wife and son.

    He kissed Lanaya on the forehead. "You worry too much," he said softly.

    "How could I not? You''re neglecting your health," Lanaya responded, her worry clear in her voice. The man then asked Lanaya to hand him the child. She gently placed the baby in his arms.

    "Your mommy is a worrywart, isn''t she, Liam?" he said, clearly speaking loud enough for Lanaya to hear.

    "Stop saying nonsense to your son. It''s good that he got your looks, but if he gets your personality, I don''t think that''s better," Lanaya teased.

    "How could you say that to your husband¡ªthe husband you fell in love with?" he replied playfully, moving closer to Lanaya until their faces were inches apart. They both smiled.

    "You''re making it cheesy," Lanaya said, laughing softly.

    Then the man kissed Lanaya on the lips. The baby yawned, waking up.

    "I guess we were too loud," the man said.

    "He really got your blue eyes, " Lanaya noted, looking at their baby.

    "He got my blue eyes, but he has your gorgeous face," the man said, gazing lovingly at Lanaya.

    "It''s literally your face," Lanaya replied, smiling.

    To the Future

    "Lanaya," Zayne said softly, trying to wake her up. Lanaya stirred, tears flowing down her cheeks as she awoke. Zayne''s concern was evident on his face.

    "Are you okay?" Zayne asked, his voice filled with worry.

    Lanaya''s Point of View

    What was that dream? Another dream? Did it happen because I met Aaron? But no, that dream was so vivid, yet I couldn''t see the man''s face. There was also a baby. What does it mean?

    "Lanaya?" Zayne called me again, sitting beside my bed. "Oh, sorry," I said, still trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. Zayne suddenly held my face, gently wiping away the tears.

    "Tears? Did you have a bad dream?" he asked, his concern deepening.

    Bad dream? I don''t think it was a bad dream.

    I pulled away slightly and said, "No, I''m good." I looked around the room, trying to ground myself. "What made you come here?" I asked, wiping my face.

    "Your door was open. I was concerned, but then I saw you reaching out to something and crying, so..." he explained, trailing off.

    "Is that so," I said, nodding. I smiled at him. "Thank you."

    "Are you sure you''re okay, Lanaya?" he asked again, not entirely convinced.

    "Yeah, I''m okay. Sorry for worrying you," I said, trying to reassure him.

    The Next Day

    "I said, wake up!" I exclaimed, shaking Axel hard. He was in a deep sleep, and it had been five minutes since I first tried to wake him up. He slowly opened his eyes, looking at me groggily.

    "Five more minutes," he mumbled.

    Huh? What am I, your mom?

    "Wake up, or we''re going to leave you here," I said sternly. He opened his eyes, placing his arm over his forehead.

    "You''re really gonna leave me?" he asked, trying to act cute.

    What the?

    "Yes, I will since you did the same to me. Now get up," I demanded. He finally got up, brushing his hair.

    "Yes, here I am, ma''am," he said. Then he looked at me, his robe slipping off his shoulder. I reached out to pull it back up, but he held my neck, making me push his hand away immediately.

    "What is with you? Are you half awake?" I asked, frustrated.

    "No, I¡ªwhy aren''t you wearing your scarf?" he asked, puzzled.

    What does he mean? I touched my neck. Is the scar still visible? I thought it had faded.

    He stood up, making me step back as he went to his suitcase and pulled out something. He offered it to me¡ªa scarf.

    "I don''t need it," I said.

    "Just take it," he insisted, grabbing my hand and placing the scarf in it. It was black.

    "If you wear it, wear it. I thought you still needed a scarf since you kept using the one that guy gave you," he said.

    "Well, I still have the scar, so I wore it. But since I don''t have that scarf anymore, I won''t wear one," I explained.

    "Well, it''s still obvious," he said. What does he mean?

    "Wear it," he said again, his tone gentle but firm.

    A Few Moments Later

    "I said no," I repeated to Axel, pushing away the scarf he gave me. He still insisted, trying to drape it around my neck.

    "Just wear it. It''s cold," he said, his persistence irritating me. What¡¯s with him?

    Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me away. It was Zayne.

    "Just what do you think you''re doing, Mr. Axel?" Zayne asked, his voice stern.

    "It''s none of your business," Axel shot back, his eyes narrowing.

    "It is my business when you''re forcing her to do something against her will," Zayne replied, his tone seem firm. He stepped between Axel and me, creating a barrier.

    Axel''s face twisted in annoyance. "I''m not forcing her. I''m just trying to help," he said defensively.

    "Help? By not respecting her wishes?" Zayne countered. He turned to me, his expression softening. "Are you okay, Lanaya?"

    I nodded,

    ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± Axel asked Zayne, his frustration evident.

    ¡°No, I should be asking that to you,¡± Zayne retorted, his voice edged with irritation.

    Now they were in the middle of an argument.

    ¡°Okay, okay, stop now,¡± I intervened, positioning myself between them to calm the situation. I took the scarf from Axel¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s not cold outside. Wearing this will just make me sweat,¡± I said, putting the scarf into my pocket.

    ¡°You¡¯re really going to push this on me, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked Axel, trying to manage my own irritation.

    ¡°I¡¯m just concerned,¡± Axel said, his tone softening but still tinged with defensiveness.

    ¡°I get that, but I don¡¯t need to be wrapped up like a mummy,¡± I said, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°I can handle myself.¡±

    Finally! I got home, feeling utterly drained. Those two, Axel and Zayne, wore me out with their constant bickering. Every time we had a conversation, it felt like they were arguing like children.

    But that dream¡ªwhat was that all about? The words the man said were so familiar. What does it mean? And the kiss...

    I pressed my fingers against my lips, remembering the sensation. It felt so real, like I could still feel the warmth of his lips on mine. The sincerity in his tone was hauntingly familiar, even though I couldn''t quite grasp why.

    Was this Aaron¡¯s fault? He met me yesterday, so maybe that''s why I''m having these dreams. It''s all so exhausting.

    Then someone knocked on my door. I had just gotten home and was hoping to rest. I dragged myself to the door and opened it, but to my surprise, no one was there.

    What¡¯s this¡ªsome kind of prank? I looked around, but the hallway was empty. Just as I was about to close the door, my phone rang. I hurried inside and shut the door behind me before answering.

    ¡°Ms. La-La, your ring will revert to the six-month delivery timeline,¡± the voice on the other end said.

    I thought the timeline was adjusted to three months, so I was excited that I only had two months left. ¡°What happened?¡± I asked, confused.

    ¡°Unfortunately, due to a mishap during delivery, the ring was lost. It¡¯s our company¡¯s fault,¡± he explained.

    Lost? What?

    ¡°By ''lost,'' do you mean it disappeared?¡± I asked, trying to make sense of it.

    ¡°Yes, due to unforeseen circumstances, it will restart from six months once again,¡± he said, his tone lacking any empathy.

    Restart? Are they kidding me?

    ¡°Restart? Is there anything you can do? One month is already a long time, and I haven¡¯t been working for months now,¡± I said, my frustration mounting.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± he replied, his tone sounding rude and dismissive. I really hated the way he spoke.

    Wait¡ªhis tone...

    ¡°Wait, so I have to wait a literal six months for my work to be processed?¡± I asked, my voice rising in disbelief.

    ¡°Yes, and I just wanted to inform you,¡± he said flatly before ending the call.

    He is really f***ing rude!!!!!

    They¡¯re delaying my farewell to this world¡ªfirst that damn mission, then losing my ring, and now losing it again in their hands. They must be joking! I can¡¯t even demand anything since I¡¯ll just get punished.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30

    Someone Point of View

    Today, we stand at a crossroad, joined by other reapers. There are seven of us in total now. This is a joint mission means a lot of soul will be collected today.

    "I heard the Ice Prince will be joining us today," one of the reapers whispered, her voice tinged with excitement. I smiled at her comment.

    "Are you referring to Mr. Axel?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

    "Yeah, who else among us would be called the Ice Prince?" she replied, her eyes wide with anticipation.

    Axel. Ever since I arrived, his name has been whispered among us. He¡¯s famously known as the Ice Prince, though I never understood why.

    "I don''t get what''s so interesting about him," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

    "What do you mean, Mia? He has level 5 looks and his personality is cold as ice, like a prince," Fernin said, her tone almost reverent as she glanced at me.

    "Level 5 looks? Aren''t all hunters good-looking?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

    "Tsk, tsk. Yeah, some hunters are just level 1 or level 2 looks. But Axel, the reaper, is a solid level 5," she explained, rolling her eyes as if it was obvious.

    Level 5? I never thought our faces were graded.

    "They must be exaggerating," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

    "No, they''re not," another reaper interjected, joining our conversation with a smirk.

    "He is actually quite good-looking," she continued, her voice filled with admiration.

    "Those deep black hair and eyes, the tranquil yet intense tone in his gaze, his clear skin, thick eyebrows, and that pale complexion make him look like a character straight out of a book. And that was five years ago. Now, he has a dark aura more intense than any of us, which signifies his power. But more than that, his cold demeanor perfectly fits the description of the Ice Prince."

    "Looks might be impressive, but what''s so good about his personality? Like you mention he is cold and rude" I asked. They all looked at me as if I had uttered something wrong.

    "Hunters already have bad personalities, so Mr. Axel''s isn''t that bad in comparison. We''re talking about his looks and his powers, and the way his personality fits" Fernin explained, her voice defensive.

    They are literally fans of Mr. Axel

    .Since I''m new, I''ve never seen him, but the rumors circulating about him are overwhelming. "Are you sure he''s the Ice Prince? There¡¯s also talk that he has a miraculous friendship," I said.

    "Miracle friendship? You mean he has a friend from another hunter class? I heard it''s the Love Hunter class," the woman said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

    "I heard that hunter has the same personality as Axel. They just work together, help each other, and benefit mutually," Fernin added.

    "So, does that mean it''s possible for us too?" I asked, my voice hopeful. She immediately dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand.

    "It''s possible to be friends and help someone from your own hunter class, but not from another class. Other classes can bring us down. It''s just that Mr. Axel has enough power to handle the disadvantages of being friends with someone from another MT," she answered, her tone firm.

    "More on Love Hunters¡ªthey can disrupt our missions by connecting strings," Fernin added, her expression turning serious.

    "That''s true!" another woman chimed in, her face reflecting frustration. "One time, during my mission, a Love Hunter interfered by making the target connect with a soulmate. Because of that, my mission got suspended. I even had to write a report about it," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

    "Circulating rumors sure is fun," a deep voice interjected. We all turned to see a tall man approaching. One of the reapers quickly recognized him.

    "Senior Lucas, good day," she greeted him warmly.

    Suddenly, I noticed a figure behind him¡ªa man who instantly drew everyone''s attention. It was Axel.

    He stood with an air of calm authority, his presence commanding the space. His black hair was as dark as midnight, contrasting sharply with his clear, pale skin. His eyes, deep and penetrating, seemed to hold a world of secrets within their tranquil depths. Thick, well-defined eyebrows framed his gaze, giving him an intense, almost otherworldly look. He moved with a quiet grace, every step measured and deliberate, exuding an aura of power that was almost palpable. His expression was cold, almost detached, enhancing the mystique that surrounded him and living up to his title as the Ice Prince.

    Third Person Point of View

    As soon as Axel arrived on the scene, the number of reapers increased to nine, with only one reaper yet to arrive. Suddenly, a tall guy with brown hair and black eyes, wearing a black coat and gloves, appeared at the scene. As soon as he arrived, he and Axel locked eyes.

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    "Yo," he greeted Axel, but Axel did not respond. The man continued to walk toward Axel.

    "Rude as usual, huh?" he said, as if making a casual remark.

    "Do I know you?" Axel asked coldly. The man smirked, then began to laugh.

    All the reapers'' attention was now focused on them.

    "It¡¯s just been 90 years, Axel. How could you forget me? I¡¯m your friend," the man said.

    "I don¡¯t remember having a friend like you," Axel replied, his voice icy. The man stopped laughing.

    "Oh, friend, right. You only had one friend¡ªthat lowly hunter," he said, sneering.

    Axel''s eyes narrowed, and his expression grew even colder. "If you''re referring to someone who actually has honor and integrity, then yes. Unlike you, who reeks of betrayal and deceit."

    The man¡¯s smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Always the saint, aren¡¯t you, Axel? But do tell, how''s that working out for you? Still playing the lone wolf because no one can stand your rude behavior and useless belief?"

    Axel stepped closer, his gaze piercing through the man. "Better to be a lone wolf than a snake who poisons everything he touches."

    The man''s eyes darkened, his smirk replaced with a scowl. "You always did have a way with words, Axel. But don''t think for a second that your cold act intimidates me."

    "It¡¯s not an act," Axel replied, his voice as chilling as ever. "And it¡¯s not meant to intimidate you. It''s just the truth. Now, unless you have something of actual importance to say, I suggest you leave. Your presence is as unwelcome as your personality."

    The man suddenly calmed, a peculiar shift in his demeanor. He removed his glove and extended his hand. "How about we just be friends and forget the past?" he offered, his voice unusually calm and disarming.

    Axel glanced at the outstretched hand, his expression unreadable. "Friends?" he repeated, his tone laced with skepticism. "You think a handshake can erase the years of dirty seam?"

    The man¡¯s smile grew wider. "Why not give it a try? After all, times have changed."

    Then suddenly, a woman appeared at the scene, attempting to cross the crosswalk. She looked around and said, "I guess there is a big accident going to happen," then took a sip of her coffee. Axel, hearing her voice, immediately turned. "La-La?" he called out her name.

    La-La turned to him and smiled. "You''re here too?" she asked.

    To everyone''s surprise, Axel''s cold expression softened as he approached La-La. His demeanor shifted so dramatically that it shocked everyone standing on the sidelines.

    "Yeah, there will be a car accident here. It''s better if you take another route," Axel advised her.

    "Yeah, obviously," she replied with a casual shrug. Axel noticed the plastic bag La-La was holding.

    La-La offered it to him, and Axel quickly took it, grabbing a can of drink. He opened it and took a sip.

    "Going to work?" Axel asked.

    "Yeah," she answered, taking another sip of her coffee.

    "You need help here?" La-La asked Axel.

    "No, we already came as a group. Such a hassle," Axel replied, shaking his head.

    La-La glanced at the gathered reapers. "Yeah, you really are in a big group," she said, smiling slightly.

    The other reapers exchanged bewildered glances, astonished at how Axel''s icy demeanor melted in La-La''s presence.

    Someone Point of View

    Mr. Axel, the Ice Prince, seemed to have melted at the appearance of another MT. I guess she is the rumored friend of Mr. Axel, but I never thought she¡¯d be a woman. To be honest, at first, I thought she was a human, but since Mr. Axel addressed her personally, it''s clear that she is indeed his hunter friend.

    "He really became a dog," the man in the long coat commented, drawing everyone''s attention to him.

    "That¡¯s rude, Dorian," Lucas said, his tone disapproving. Dorian, ignoring Lucas, put his gloves on and then reached into his coat, pulling out an envelope. He offered it to Lucas.

    "You can handle one more soul, right?" Dorian said, his voice insistent. Lucas hesitated but did not accept it. Dorian, however, forced the envelope into Lucas''s coat.

    "You¡ª" Lucas started to protest, but Dorian had already turned his back and walked away.

    "It¡¯s unbelievable. Mr. Axel has a friend from another class. Just having a friend from the same class is difficult enough," Fernin remarked, clearly surprised.

    I turned my attention back to Mr. Axel. He and the woman seemed to be distancing themselves from the crowd, walking toward a nearby tree. Suddenly, the hunter came up and slapped Mr. Axel on the shoulder, which shocked me. But to my surprise, Mr. Axel seemed to enjoy the interaction, a rare, genuine smile briefly lighting up his face. The scene was both unexpected and intriguing, revealing a side of the Ice Prince that few had ever seen.

    La-La Point of View

    Axel mentioned that their work would take a little while longer, so I seized the opportunity to invite him to chat for a bit.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your work piling up? You¡¯ll be ascending soon at this rate,¡± I said, trying to sound casual.

    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a lot of work, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be the first to ascend,¡± he replied. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll go together.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t think so. My ring won¡¯t arrive for another six months,¡± I said with a shrug.

    ¡°Six months? What do you mean? You said last time it was only three months,¡± he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

    I sighed deeply. ¡°Well, they lost the ring while delivering it or something.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd,¡± Axel said, his tone reflecting his frustration.

    ¡°Like I can demand anything,¡± I replied with a hint of sarcasm.

    ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Axel said, his curiosity piqued. ¡°If your ring will arrive in six months, are you going to continue working with that man?¡±

    That man?¡±

    ¡°You mean with Zayne?¡± I clarified.

    ¡°Yeah, who else would I be referring to?¡± he said, as if it were obvious.

    ¡°Well, I only planned to work with him because I needed the money,¡± I explained.

    ¡°Needed money? We have black cards,¡± he said, looking puzzled.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention this to you before? You know we can¡¯t use the card for luxurious purposes,¡± I said, a hint of frustration in my voice.

    ¡°Yes, we can,¡± he countered.

    ¡°No, we cannot. They will reduce it from our points,¡± I argued.

    ¡°You can take my points,¡± he offered, sounding almost indifferent.

    I stared at him, bewildered. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. And why are you offering them? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll ascend first, and if I ascend, you and I won¡¯t be soulmates,¡± he said, his tone matter-of-fact. My eyes widened in surprise at his bold statement, and I reflexively slapped his shoulder.

    ¡°Ouch,¡± he reacted, rubbing the spot. ¡°You really¡ªdon¡¯t you feel disgusted?¡±

    ¡°Disgusted? But we had that dream, right?¡± he said, trying to provoke me.

    ¡°You¡ª¡± I started, but then sighed in frustration. ¡°You¡¯re really making my blood boil this early in the morning.¡±

    ¡°Quit that job. I¡¯ll erase that guy¡¯s memories. Getting involved with him too much is not good, especially since the ring will arrive in six months, not three. We¡¯ll be punished if anyone finds out we¡¯re involved with him,¡± he said, his tone serious.

    For some reason, I felt hesitant to agree. ¡°What if we just say I¡¯m blending into the scene, just living my life?¡± I suggested.

    ¡°He already knows too much. Erasing his memories is the only solution; otherwise, it will endanger us,¡± he said, his seriousness evident.

    He was right, though. The more we involved ourselves with Zayne, the more the MTs would know about his identity. We couldn¡¯t hide it any longer.

    ¡°Did you already have any ideas?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Why do you sound like you¡¯re not agreeing with me?¡± he asked, sensing my hesitation.

    ¡°Do I?¡± I replied, genuinely unsure.

    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± he said.

    ¡°Okay, maybe it will also endanger me to be too involved with him,¡± I admitted.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to remove his memories as soon as possible,¡± he said,

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31

    ¡°;On February 17 2024, a car accident occurred in Henerve City, resulting in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries. The collision took place at approximately 10 in the morning on Sanaya Street. According to initial reports, the accident involved multiple vehicles, including several passenger cars and a commercial truck. The force of the impact caused extensive damage to the vehicles, leading to a chaotic and grim scene.-

    Emergency services responded promptly, and their efforts were critical in managing the aftermath of the incident. Despite their best efforts, the accident resulted in the loss of 10 lives. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene or shortly thereafter, and their identities are currently being withheld pending notification of their families. In addition to the fatalities, 30 individuals sustained injuries, ranging from minor to severe. The injured have been transported to various local hospitals for treatment, and their conditions are being closely monitored-.

    Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, with initial indications suggesting that adverse weather conditions, possible mechanical failures, or driver error may have played a role. Traffic in the area was severely disrupted, with road closures and delays expected for several hours as the investigation continues and the wreckage is cleared.;¡±

    Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. Further updates will be provided as more information ¨C¡®¡¯;

    Zayne turned off the TV, put on his coat, and muttered, ¡°I guess this is their fault again.¡±

    His phone rang suddenly, and he answered it immediately. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m on my way,¡± he said into the phone, then walked towards the center table, grabbed his car keys, and headed out of the house.

    Upon arriving at the hospital, his nurse assistant was waiting for him.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Doctor Zayne,¡± she greeted.

    Zayne responded, ¡°Good afternoon.¡± The nurse handed him a list of patients for the day.

    ¡°There seems to be a lot today,¡± he noted, looking over the list.

    The nurse nodded. ¡°Yes, quite a few. But let¡¯s get started,¡± she said. However, she hesitated before continuing.

    ¡°But before that, sir, all the personnel in the hospital are now being called for a meeting,¡± she informed him.

    ¡°All personnel? They want everyone?¡± Zayne asked, his concern evident. ¡°Isn¡¯t that risky?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just a five-minute meeting,¡± the nurse said, trying to reassure him.

    ¡°Are they sure about that? It¡¯s dangerous, especially with patients to care for,¡± Zayne said, his worry clear.

    ¡°It¡¯s already settled, Doctor Zayne, so let¡¯s go. We can just come back later,¡± she said, urging him to follow. ¡°It¡¯s the request of the CEO,¡± she added.

    Zayne sighed but followed her to the first floor, where all the personnel of Elysium General Hospital were gathered.

    ¡°Really, they have time for this?¡± one of the doctors remarked.

    ¡°Shhh, it¡¯s a lottery, and the CEO is the one who called everyone¡± another doctor said, whispering excitedly.

    As Zayne arrived at the scene, all eyes turned to him.

    ¡°Dr. Zayne,¡± one of the doctors called out, approaching him. ¡°Good afternoon, Doctor William,¡± Zayne greeted him back.

    ¡°Still as respectful as usual,¡± Doctor William said with a smile. ¡°I heard it was your birthday yesterday. You took a day off. Did you celebrate with your family?¡±

    Zayne smiled faintly. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, but I did spend it with someone.¡±

    Doctor William¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°Someone? Is it a woman?¡± he asked, his interest clearly growing.

    Zayne didn¡¯t respond, only offering a slight, enigmatic smile.

    ¡°Oh, I guess it is a woman,¡± Doctor William said, speculating aloud.

    Doctor William¡¯s comment hung in the air, but Zayne maintained his professional demeanor. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the details of my personal life aside for now,¡± Zayne said smoothly.

    Just then, the CEO arrived at the scene. ¡°Thank you all for coming,¡± the CEO began, their voice authoritative yet calm. ¡°I understand that this interruption may seem inconvenient, but there are important matters that need addressing.¡±

    ¡°Thank you all for gathering on such short notice,¡± the CEO continued, their tone upbeat and engaging. ¡°Today, we¡¯re celebrating a special occasion. As a token of appreciation for your hard work and dedication, we¡¯re holding a lottery to reward one lucky employee with a one-week vacation on a luxury yacht.¡±

    A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Zayne¡¯s eyes briefly flicked to his colleagues, noting their reactions. While the news was unexpected, the general mood was positive.

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    ¡°To make things even more interesting,¡± the CEO added with a smile, ¡°we¡¯ve arranged a little surprise. The winner will not only enjoy a week at sea but will also receive additional perks during their trip.¡±

    The CEO then produced a small box from behind the podium, containing tickets for the lottery. ¡°All of the names of employees are written here. I will draw one name, and that person will receive the ticket,¡± the CEO announced.

    The crowd clapped in anticipation. Background music began to play, adding a festive atmosphere. The CEO reached into the box, mixing the tickets thoroughly to ensure a fair draw. The music built suspense, and then suddenly stopped.

    The CEO pulled out a ticket, carefully unfolding it. The room fell silent as the CEO read aloud, ¡°And the winner is¡­ Doctor Zayne!¡±

    A ripple of applause and cheers spread through the room as Zayne looked up, momentarily surprised. The CEO smiled and handed him the ticket as he goes down to the stage.

    ¡°Congratulations, Doctor Zayne!¡± the CEO said warmly. ¡°You¡¯ve won a fantastic vacation. Enjoy the luxury yacht and the additional perks we¡¯ve arranged.¡±

    Zayne accepted the ticket with a nod and a smile. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, genuinely appreciative.

    The CEO¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s two tickets,¡± the CEO said. ¡°Do you have anyone in mind to give the other ticket to?¡±

    Zayne paused for a moment, his expression softening into a warm smile. ¡° I do,¡± he said, his tone enthusiastic. ¡°And I bet she¡¯ll be very happy to hear this.¡±

    The room was abuzz with curiosity as Zayne¡¯s colleagues took in his rare and genuine smile. It was clear this was the first time many had seen him display such warmth. The CEO nodded approvingly, clearly pleased with Zayne¡¯s choice.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± the CEO said with a nod. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll appreciate the gesture. Enjoy the vacation, and thank you all for your hard work. Doctor Zayne, you¡¯ve demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication. Since you joined this hospital, you¡¯ve committed yourself wholeheartedly, earned us a stellar reputation, and this reward is well-deserved.¡±

    With that, the CEO wrapped up the meeting, and the staff began to disperse. Zayne¡¯s thoughts were already racing with ideas about who to share the second ticket with. His smile lingered as he made his way back to his office, feeling both grateful and excited for the upcoming vacation.

    La-La Point of View

    It was time for me to head home when the door to the library opened. ¡°Sorry, we are abou¡ª¡± I started to say, but my words caught in my throat as I saw Zayne standing there.

    ¡°Good evening,¡± I greeted him with a smile.

    ¡°Good evening,¡± he replied warmly. He held up a plastic bag, revealing its contents.

    ¡°Would you mind joining me for dinner?¡± he asked, his tone casual but inviting.

    I knew that if I declined, he¡¯d probably persist, so I decided to accept. ¡°Yeah, sure. It¡¯s about time for dinner anyway.¡±

    Zayne set the bag down on a nearby table and began unpacking it. He had brought an impressive spread: barbecue, rice, soup, and various side dishes, along with drinks. It was clear he had put a lot of thought into it.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re hungry,¡± Zayne said with a chuckle as he laid out the food.

    A Few moments Later

    ¡°Wait, what do you mean?¡± I asked, puzzled.

    ¡°I would like to invite you on a one-week vacation,¡± Zayne said.

    Why me though?

    ¡°Me?¡± I asked, genuinely surprised.

    ¡°Yes, you, Ms. Lanaya,¡± he confirmed. I paused, setting down my fork.

    ¡°The library will be left empty if I go, and out of all people, why me, I know there is a plenty of people you know? ¡± I questioned.

    ¡°You''re the only friend I have. I won the tickets by luck,¡± he explained.

    Luck huh-¡®

    ¡°Only friend? You must be joking,¡± I said, but he looked at me seriously.

    ¡°I am not,¡± he replied.

    His offer was tempting, especially considering Axel''s plan to erase Zayne¡¯s memories, which meant I wouldn¡¯t be getting the money I had hoped for and I need to looked for another job as it is. This vacation could be a nice change.

    ¡°Please, Ms. Lanaya, this is a request,¡± he said, looking me in the eyes earnestly. He pulled the tickets from his coat and placed them on the table.

    If it were anyone else, I¡¯d have easily accepted, but¡­

    I find it beyond curious the way he act towards me ¨C I am not that dense-

    ¡°Are you sure I¡¯m the one you intend to invite?¡± I asked, needing to be certain.

    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s no one else. As soon as I received this ticket, you were the one I had in mind,¡± he said. ¡°This will be a nice change of scenery.¡±

    I hesitantly took the ticket and looked at it. Wait-¡­.!, this is a VIP ticket, not just for a yacht. It¡¯s for a cruise ship with a pool, lots of activities, and a buffet every day. Just what kind of luck does he have to win this?!

    ¡°Did you really win this?¡± I asked, and he nodded.

    ¡°To be honest, if you sold this, you would get a lot of money. Has anyone from the hospital tried to bribe you for it?¡± I asked him.

    He smiled. ¡°Well, there were a few, but I already had in mind to invite you. So I declined them¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s better for you to sell this than to invite me,¡± I said to him, but he immediately shook his head.

    ¡°I think inviting you, Ms. Lanaya, will make things interesting,¡± he said.

    What do you mean by that?

    ¡°Just accept it, Ms. Lanaya. If you can¡¯t attend, then I wouldn¡¯t bother to go either,¡± he said.

    Why would you go to that extent¡­?

    However, his sincerity was clear. ¡°Well, alright then. I¡¯ll join you,¡± I finally agreed. His face lit up with a rare smile, . This is actually gold this type of vacation cost us 1000 points-  which can take me at least 25 years to work at.

    Just what would others think if they heard this, especially Axel? I put the ticket down.

    ¡°But, Zayne,¡± I began, and he looked at me curiously. ¡°You¡¯re lying when you say you don¡¯t have any friends to invite with this. I know you have a lot of friends.¡±

    A moment of silence fell between us.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really lying. I have acquaintances, but friends like you, Ms. Lanaya, I don¡¯t have that many,¡± he said.

    He must be kidding, right?

    ¡°You said before you had friends and they are busy,¡± I reminded him.

    ¡°Yeah, some of them are busy, and I don¡¯t think they would come with me on a vacation as simple as this,¡± he replied.

    Simple? What do you mean by simple?

    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± I said

    ¡°By the way, is everything fine this morning, Ms. Lanaya? I heard from the news that there was an accident on the street near your house,¡± he said.

    ¡°Yes, but I took another route, so I luckily didn¡¯t get involved,¡± I replied. To be honest, Reapers were all over the place. As soon as I saw them, I decided to avoid that road. Axel advised me to detour to avoid suspending  their work, which could lead to a report being filed. I wanted to cross to save those lives, but there were too many hunters involved, which wasn¡¯t part of our agreement with Axel. But still, those lives...

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya,¡± Zayne called, surprising me. My eyes widened. Did I think too much?

    ¡°Oh, sorry, what were you saying?¡± I asked, trying to refocus.

    ¡°Nothing¡ªare you okay?¡± he said.

    I smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, everything¡¯s fine,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the food,¡± I added, picking up my fork.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32

    La-La Point of View

    It¡¯s been a week since Zayne gave me the ticket, and now I am packing my luggage.

    *Ring;

    I immediately answered it.¡¯

    ¡°Senior,¡± said the voice on the other end. It¡¯s Yuna.

    ¡°Yuna, is there any problem?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°No, I just called you because I miss you,¡± she said. How clingy this child is.

    ¡°Is that so? How is your work? Is everything going fine? It should be my responsibility to assist you,¡± I said.

    Usually, new employees in the Love Hunter class are guided for months, but since I lost my ring, I can''t help her at all. But even if I had the ring, I wouldn''t be able to help her much longer since I will be done with my job soon.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard, senior. There are days without any jobs. It¡¯s difficult to find couples with other Love Hunters interfering or even other MTs,¡± she said.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it is. Our job is not easy,¡± I said.

    "It''s not a job¡ªit''s a punishment," Yuna said.

    ¡°I know that, but it¡¯s hard,¡± she continued.

    ¡°You can bear with it,¡± I said to her. ¡°And you can do it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know, senior. By the way, did you hear that another Love Hunter has gone missing?¡± she asked.

    ¡°A what? In our class?¡± I asked, taken aback.

    ¡°Yeah, a Love Hunter. Did you hear any news from other hunter classes or another MT? Do they have the same situation, senior?¡± she asked me.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything from Axel,¡± I said. ¡°What if the wild ones are only targeting Love Hunters since we are the lowest and weakest?¡± Yuna asked, her tone filled with worry.

    It¡¯s actually concerning since there were already three missing Love Hunters, and now another one has been added. Are they only targeting Love Hunters?

    ¡°Better not panic, Yuna. Special forces and others are aware of this. Just don¡¯t talk to other MTs, whether they are in the same class or different,¡± I said to her.

    Things are getting out of hand. And this vacation¡ªI don¡¯t feel right about it. Should I continue?

    "You''re right, senior," Yuna said, her voice trembling slightly. "I just get so worried sometimes. It''s like we''re sitting ducks out here."

    "I understand, Yuna. The situation is tense, but we need to stay calm and vigilant. We have to trust that the special forces are handling it. Just focus on your work and be cautious," I advised.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll try. But you should be careful too, senior. Especially with that vacation coming up,¡± Yuna said, her concern eis obvious. I tell this to Yuna but not to Axel.

    ¡°I will. Thank you, Yuna. Just remember, if you ever feel unsafe or unsure about something, reach out to me or someone you trust,¡± I reassured her.

    ¡°Okay, senior. Thanks for always looking out for me. I should let you go finish packing,¡± she said, her tone lighter.

    ¡°Take care, Yuna. Stay safe,¡± I said before hanging up the phone.

    A Few Momnets Later

    Zayne helped me with my package, placing it carefully in the back of his car. ¡°Is this everything you¡¯re bringing?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I replied.

    ¡°Did you buy some motion sickness patches?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± I asked, puzzled.

    ¡°Do you get motion sickness?¡± he inquired.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t, but do you?¡± I responded.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. But you might need them,¡± he said, looking at me thoughtfully.

    I hadn''t considered that. This would be my first time on a big boat, so I wasn¡¯t sure how I¡¯d handle it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just buy some at the pharmacy we¡¯ll pass by,¡± he said calmly.

    ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± I agreed. Zayne closed the back door and then opened the front passenger door for me.

    ¡°Get in,¡± he said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said as I got into the car. Zayne walked around to the driver¡¯s side, got in, and started the engine.

    ¡°It will be a six-hour drive. Be prepared,¡± he said.

    Six hours. That was quite a journey. I settled into my seat, trying to push aside my worries about the vacation and the missing Love Hunters. For now, I would focus on the road ahead and trust that everything would work out.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    A Few Moments Later

    It was already night by the time we arrived at the yacht, and I felt dizzy from the long drive. Zayne noticed immediately.

    ¡°Are you okay, Lanaya?¡± he asked, concern is in his voice.

    ¡°I think the long drive got to me,¡± I admitted, holding my head.

    Zayne quickly moved to my side, gently guiding me out of the car. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you inside and settled.¡±

    We made our way to the yacht, Zayne supporting me every step of the way. Once on board, he led me to a spacious cabin with a comfortable bed. My roon.

    ¡°Lie down, Lanaya. I¡¯ll get you some water and see if there¡¯s anything to help with your dizziness,¡± he said, his tone reassuring.

    I nodded, grateful for his help. As I lay down, Zayne disappeared for a moment and returned with a glass of water and a cool cloth. He handed me the water and gently placed the cloth on my forehead.

    ¡°Just rest for a bit. The fresh air and some rest will help,¡± he said softly.

    He is really nice, but I have this feeling inside me that makes me uncomfortable.

    ¡°It¡¯s really the best since you are a doctor,¡± I said jokingly. He looked at me and smiled.

    ¡°Even if I wasn¡¯t a doctor, I would do this for you,¡± he said.

    Once again, I felt something inside me, a sense of unease. I forced a bitter smile.

    ¡°Let me have five minutes of this, and then I will help you unpack your things,¡± I said to him.

    ¡°No, I can take care of the rest, even your things,¡± he insisted.

    ¡°No, no,¡± I immediately declined his offer. ¡°This is far enough help. I can¡¯t bother you too much. You should take a rest.¡±

    ¡°No, I can do it. Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said with his sweet voice.

    The mix of emotions was making me bitter. I didn¡¯t want to feel this way.

    "Zayne," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I appreciate everything you¡¯ve done for me, but I need to do some things on my own. It¡¯s just dizziness. Later, I can move well," I said. As an MT, we heal fast.

    "If you insist," he said. "Just close your eyes for five minutes. I¡¯ll have them put your luggage here and my luggage in the next room."

    "Sure," I replied, watching him stand up and leave the room.

    Five minutes later, I opened my eyes as the smell of food filled the room. I saw Zayne setting some dishes on the kitchen table.

    "Where did you get that?" I asked, immediately deciding to sit up. Zayne quickly came over to assist me, gently removing the cloth from my head.

    "The buffet for dinner already started, so I decided to get you some food so you can eat comfortably here rather than going to the crowd," he said.

    I felt a wave of gratitude and a bit of guilt. "Thank you, Zayne. You didn¡¯t have to go through all that trouble."

    "It¡¯s no trouble at all," he said with a smile. "I just want to make sure you¡¯re comfortable."

    He helped me to the table, and I saw a spread of delicious-looking dishes. "You really went all out," I remarked, feeling my appetite return.

    "I wanted to make sure you had a variety to choose from," he said. "Take your time and enjoy."

    As I started to eat, I noticed how thoughtfully he had chosen the food, picking things I liked. He knew exactly what I liked to eat and what drinks I preferred. This guy¡­

    "You really thought this through. Thank you so much. I will return the favor to you," I said to him.

    "No, no, don¡¯t bother. You''re supposed to enjoy your time here," he said.

    I smiled. "You mean we''re supposed to enjoy our time here," I said, correcting him.

    Zayne chuckled. "You''re right. We are supposed to enjoy this time together."

    The Next Day

    "Bruh, what are you doing here?!" I asked Axel as I bumped into him on my way to the swimming pool. I woke up this morning feeling good since Zayne gave me a motion sickness patch, but as soon as I was heading to the pool, I ran into this dude.

    "I''m supposed to ask you that! You''re not supposed to be here," he retorted.

    "Well, I am here¡ªand how can you even afford this?" I shot back.

    "You''re changing the topic. How come you are here?" he pressed.

    "I asked you first, you fool," I said.

    "I''m here on a mission," he replied.

    "Mission? You mean someone is dying here?" I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.

    We fell silent for a moment.

    "Before I answer that, how come you are here? I know you don¡¯t have enough cash to afford this," he said, sounding suspicious.

    Ugh, he seems to be insulting me for some reason.

    "What''s going on here?" a voice asked behind my back. It was Zayne. Axel''s eyebrows narrowed as he looked at me.

    "Don''t tell me you came with that guy?" Axel asked through telepathy.

    "What if I did?" I responded the same way.

    "You''ve got to be kidding me, Lala," he said.

    Zayne, sensing the tension, stepped closer. "Do you have any problem with Ms. Lanaya?" he asked Axel, his tone firm.

    "No, just with you," Axel answered rudely.

    Axel grabbed my left hand and started to pull me, but Zayne held onto my right hand, stopping Axel''s attempt to pull me away.

    Here we go again. Ugh.

    "Let go of her," Zayne said, his voice icy.

    "She''s coming with me," Axel insisted, his grip tightening.

    "I don''t think so," Zayne replied, not loosening his hold.

    Caught in the middle, I felt the tension escalate. "Both of you, stop!" I finally shouted, pulling my hands free from both of them. "What is wrong with you two?"

    "Let¡¯s talk," Axel said, his voice low and intense as he stood inches away from my face. His anger was obvious.

    Before I could react, Zayne stepped in, pulling me gently back. "Just what is Mr. Axel doing threatening Ms. Lanaya?" he asked, his tone firm but controlled. He released my hand, taking a protective stance.

    Axel, visibly flustered, ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "You don¡¯t understand how big of a problem this is, you and...," he started, but his words  he cut it off.

    "Lala, let¡¯s talk for a while," Axel said, his tone softening slightly. It was clear he wanted to discuss something important.

    I glanced at Zayne, who gave me a reassuring nod. "You can go to the pool first," I said to him. "Be careful."

    Zayne¡¯s eyes held a mix of concern and understanding. "Yeah," I replied with a smile, trying to convey that I was okay.

    Zayne gave me one last look before heading towards the pool, leaving Axel and me alone.

    Axel gripped my wrist and pulled me away, guiding us to the side of the yacht. The wind was brisk, and it whipped my hair around as the sunlight bathed us both. Axel¡¯s expression was a mixture of frustration and something else¡ªjealousy, perhaps.

    ¡°How come you¡¯re with him?¡± Axel¡¯s voice was tinged with a sharp edge, more than just concern.

    I looked at him, steadying myself against the breeze. ¡°Since you mentioned removing Zayne¡¯s memories, I decided to come here,¡± I said, hoping to clarify my actions. Axel¡¯s confusion arise to his face.

    ¡°What¡¯s the connection?¡± he asked, his brow furrowed.

    ¡°If you were going to remove Zayne¡¯s memories, I would have had to find another way to fulfill my wish for a vacation,¡± I explained. ¡°Collecting money for a trip like this is hard. Zayne won this vacation in a work lottery and offered it to me. Given that I might not have another chance, I decided to accept his offer. Axel, I don¡¯t know what the future holds for me, whether I¡¯ll be reincarnated or what might happen. This is a stroke of luck, so I took it.¡±

    Axel sighed deeply and leaned back against the yacht¡¯s railing, his frustration is obvious. ¡°Why do you trust him so much?¡± he asked, his voice of disbelief.

    ¡°Huh?¡± I responded, taken aback.

    ¡°Huh?¡± he asked.

    I never mention I trust Zayne though- ¡°I¡¯m talking about the opportunity of this vacation¡± I said to him.

    ¡°huh?¡± he asked

    ¡°Huh?¡± I asked.

    Axel¡¯s question seemed to rub me the wrong way. I kicked his knee sharply. ¡°Are you messing with me? Huh?¡± I asked in a stern tone.

    Axel winced, his face contorting in pain. ¡°Ouch! That hurts,¡± he exclaimed, rubbing his knee.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overreact,¡± I said, trying to remain calm despite the irritation I feel.

    But then Axel got serious ¡° To be honest we are in danger¡± he said.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33

    ¡°What do you mean we¡¯re in danger? Is this because of your mission?¡± I asked Axel, trying to make sense of the situation.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just me with a mission. There are 20 Life Hunters here that¡¯s is with me,¡± Axel revealed, causing me to gasp in shock.

    Seriously? My relaxing vacation is turning into a nightmare

    ¡°. All these accidents lately¡ªit¡¯s like something is deliberately trying to be in my way¡± I said, trying to piece together the strange pattern.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics,¡± Axel admitted, ¡°but with 20 lives at stake, something is bound to happen. It¡¯s not just an ordinary situation. And you and that guy for sure will be included in the mess¡±

    ¡°Is there any way we can prevent this?¡± I asked, my heart racing.

    ¡°You could, you¡¯re a Love Hunter¡± Axel said. ¡°But your mission would be suspended.¡±

    ¡°I know, but now that you¡¯re here, it seems like that''s not my biggest concern, it¡¯s different situation now, it¡¯s in our agreement ¡± Axel said.

    ¡°What¡¯s the cause of death?¡± I inquired, hoping to understand better.

    ¡°Explosions,¡± he replied grimly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± I said, feeling a wave of dread wash over me. ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Axel said, his voice steady despite the seriousness of the situation.

    I held my head in my hands, overwhelmed. ¡°I just wanted some peace. Why am I getting dragged into all this trouble?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t have come here with him,¡± Axel said.

    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s the issue now?¡± I asked, struggling to understand his perspective.

    Twenty people are going to die here due to an explosion¡ªsomething that¡¯s one of my worst fears,

    ¡°Can I interfere?¡± I asked Axel, my mind racing with possible actions.

    ¡°Sure, I already said you can change it¡± he replied.

    ¡°Did you receive it in an black envelope?¡± I questioned, seeking more details.

    ¡°No, just a list,¡± he said.

    So, there''s a chance it¡¯s not set in stone.

    ¡°So, it will happen during this week¡¯s vacation?¡± I confirmed.

    ¡°Yeah, most likely. If we get the black envelope, that''s when it¡¯s inevitable, I will stop you there¡± he explained.

    ¡°I know,¡± I replied,.

    Suddenly, I felt a wave of dizziness hit me. I grabbed onto the steel railing of the yacht for support.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Axel asked, concern is in his voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, though my voice is not matching me. ¡°What are we going to do now?¡±

    ¡°We need to gather as much information as we can,¡± Axel said. ¡°We have to identify who the targets are and figure out how to prevent the explosion.¡±

    I nodded, my mind still spinning. ¡°We need to be discreet. If whoever planned this finds out we¡¯re onto them, it could escalate things.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Axel said.

    A Few Moments Later

    We were now at the buffet. I got my first meal, leaving Zayne and Axel in line. As I looked around for a seat, I noticed two Life Hunters at a table on the left side near the window. There was an empty table beside them, which I decided to take. Upon sitting, I realized the two Life Hunters were looking at me. I greeted them with a nod, and they nodded back. From my vantage point, I could see at least six Life Hunters in the room.

    ¡°Is everything fine, Ms. Lanaya?¡± Zayne asked as he arrived at my table, setting down two plates full of food.

    ¡°Yeah, everything is fine,¡± I replied. The table was circular, and he seated himself to my left, next to the Life Hunters, who adjusted their seats as Zayne sat down. Perhaps it was because of his Life Aura.

    ¡°You got so much on your plate,¡± I remarked, noticing the abundance of food he had gathered.

    Before Zayne could answer, Axel arrived, dropping his plate onto the table. ¡°I never thought a doctor would be a glutton,¡± he said, seating himself across from Zayne.

    ¡°Glutton? Such words... This is for Ms. Lanaya. These are some of the dishes she likes,¡± Zayne responded, clearly agitated.

    They were going to start arguing again. I could bet on it.

    ¡°I never thought La-La brought a butler here,¡± Axel said mockingly.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    I just picked up my fork and started eating. I wasn¡¯t going to stop them; it would only ruin my appetite.

    Now Axel and I were in my room. We had let Zayne leave to avoid any more tension. ¡°You got the list?¡± I asked Axel. He handed me a piece of paper, which I unfolded to see a list of 20 names along with their causes of death. One name stood out to me.

    ¡°Aiden Clark,¡± I read aloud. The cause of death was listed as suicide.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with his name?¡± Axel asked, sitting down next to me on the sofa.

    ¡°He¡¯s the only one with a different cause of death. Didn¡¯t you notice this?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°Like I would care. I only pay attention to Vivian Mitchell, the soul assigned to me,¡± he replied nonchalantly. I looked at him in disbelief.

    He doesn¡¯t care. Wow.

    ¡°Axel, this is important. If Aiden¡¯s death is different, it might mean something,¡± I insisted.

    ¡°Look, La-La, I¡¯m just doing my job. You know how it is. Focus on the task at hand and get it done,¡± he said, leaning back and closing his eyes.

    "Suicide, Isn''t that something? Why would he be the only one with a different cause of death?" I mused aloud.

    "Maybe someone else on the list is his family or something, or maybe he just jumped from the cruise," Axel suggested.

    "No, that''s not it. There''s no other Clarke on the list. Emma Thompson, Kara Henderson, Olivia Carter, Noah Foster, Ava Morgan, Aiden Clarke, Vivian Mitchell, Elijah Reed, Sophia Collins, James Parker, Isabella Rogers, Mason Rogers, Mia Turner, Red Brooks, Amelia Hughes, Ethan Russell, Charlotte Sullivan... no family connection," I pointed out.

    "We should take a look at this guy," I said firmly.

    "Yeah, we can try," Axel agreed. "However, I only know the face of Vivian Mitchell, so unless we can identify all 5,000 people here, it''ll be easy"

    "You''re being sarcastic now, huh?" I asked, placing the paper on the coffee table.

    "This is a hassle," I sighed.

    "Can you let them die?" Axel asked me bluntly.

    "Do I want to?" I shot back.

    It''s impossible for us to locate Aiden Clark among all these people, including the crew. This will be hard.

    "Can you do something about it?" I asked Axel, hoping for a solution.

    "It''s not within our capabilities to know a person''s face just by their name," he said. "Obviously."

    "Unless there''s a Talent hunter here, it will be easy," I muttered with frustration.

    "Unless we can get one of the Life Hunters assigned to Aiden to cooperate, everything will be easier," I pondered. "Axel, can you try talking to other Reapers, see if you can find out who they''re assigned to?"

    Axel thought for a moment, then leaned back on the sofa. "With the Reapers'' attitudes, I can only talk to a few," he admitted.

    "Is Lucas here?" I asked.

    "Why are you looking for that guy?" he questioned, sounding slightly annoyed.

    "Well, he''s a bit friendlier than you. I guess we can get his help," I said.

    "You mean I''m not friendly?" Axel asked in offense.

    "Are you?" I shot back.

    Axel might not be on good terms with other Reapers, but he used to be friendly with me. Sometimes, though, I''ve noticed he''s downright rude to others in a literal way.

    "He''s not here," Axel said. "I can ask others, but I''m not sure how many will cooperate."

    "It''s okay, at least we try," I said with a sigh. "We have to try."s

    The next day, there was a knock on my door. When I opened it, Axel stood there with a Life Hunter¡ªa girl with braided black hair and freckles. She looked frightened. I glanced at Axel, who merely shrugged and walked past me to sit on the sofa.

    "You can come in," I said to the girl. She nodded and entered.

    "You can sit on the sofa," I added. She sat down, still looking uneasy.

    "What did you do? She looks scared," I asked Axel telepathically.

    "I did nothing," he replied.

    "Really?" I pressed.

    "Yes," he insisted.

    "Hi, I''m La-La from Love Hunter 32-BB Class," I said, introducing myself and extending my hand.

    "Mia, Life Hunter 33-C," she replied, shaking my hand. She is new.

    "Did Axel do something to you?" I asked her.

    Her eyes widened in shock, but she quickly shook her head. "No, no. Mr. Axel asked me nicely to come here."

    "See, I told you. You really view me badly, La-La," Axel said to me.

    Then why is she so frightened? I wondered.

    "Before I ask, is everything alright?" I asked Mia.

    "Yeah, it''s just that Mr. Axel said if I didn''t tell the truth, I would be punished," she explained.

    So he did indeed do something, I thought.

    I glared at Axel. "I just¡ª" he began to explain, but someone else entered the room. It was Zayne.

    "Oh- You have some guests," he said, looking curious.

    Mia Point of View

    Mr. Axel suddenly knocked on my door earlier and asked if I was the one who handed over Aiden Clark''s name. I nodded, since I¡¯m the one assigned to his soul. He then asked if I could come with him, which shocked me. I wasn¡¯t sure what to think, but I decided to follow him. He had asked nicely, but on the way, he said something that frightened me. ¡°If you won¡¯t tell the truth, you will be punished.¡± The way he said it felt so pressured and serious.

    Now I¡¯m here in the room of one of Mr. Axel¡¯s friends¡ªanother MT. A human also entered, and his Life Aura is enormous, which really surprised me. I¡¯m still trying to process everything.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong room,¡± Mr. Axel said to the newcomer, his dark aura swelling in a way that sent shivers down my spine. It was a intimidating presence¡ªone I recognized as being used to intimidate others.

    ¡°I¡¯m here for Ms. Lanaya,¡± the man replied calmly.

    Mr. Axel¡¯s aura grew even more intense, a clear sign of his displeasure. His hostility towards this man was evident. It wasn¡¯t just the aura; it was something deeper.

    ¡°Is there a problem, Zayne?¡± Ms. La-La asked the man.

    ¡°No, not a problem. I was just worried because you hadn¡¯t come out of your room,¡± the guy said, his tone  with concern.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just Axel. I¡¯m helping him with his job,¡± Ms. La-La explained.

    ¡°Can I join too? Maybe I can help,¡± the guy offered. This guy he doesn¡¯t know what we are.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t need help from a guy like you,¡± Mr. Axel snapped.

    Ms. La-La gave Mr. Axel a light slap on the shoulder, clearly displeased with his attitude. ¡°Yeah, you can join,¡± she said,.

    The guy nodded and took a seat and he seems excited, ready to assist, while Mr. Axel¡¯s irritation was obvious but he stop for the moment.

    The room felt cramped now, with Zayne and Mr. Axel seated next to Ms. La-La and me who is in front of them. It was uncomfortable, and I could sense the tension between Mr. Axel.

    Ms. La-La leaned forward, her focus entirely on me. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get started. Can you provide a description of Aiden Clark¡¯s face?¡± she asked.

    I took a deep breath and began to describe Aiden Clark as best as I could.  Mr. Axel is literally glaring at mee. He also mention I shouldn¡¯t ask anything more about this.

    He is scary~

    Third Person Point of View

    ¡°Aiden Clark has short, dark hair and green eyes. He¡¯s about average height, maybe a bit taller than average,¡± Mia said. La-La took notes. ¡°Is that all?¡± La-La asked.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all,¡± Mia answered.

    ¡°This is a big help,¡± La-La said. ¡°Thank you, Mia.¡± Mia nodded.

    ¡°By the way, can you locate him?¡± La-La asked Mia. But Mia looked at Zayne, hinting that she couldn¡¯t say anything since there is human in the room.

    ¡°No, she can¡¯t. He¡¯s not in form yet,¡± Axel said. In other words, Aiden Clark wasn¡¯t dead yet and wasn¡¯t in the soul registry to be able to be located.

    La-La nodded thoughtfully, jotting down the information. ¡°Thank you for the description, Mia. It¡¯s a big help.¡±

    Mia gave a small, relieved smile, clearly appreciative of the acknowledgment.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34

    Third Person Point of View

    ¡°Get the freakin¡¯ bastard!¡± La-La shouted at the top of her lungs as she and Axel chased Aiden.

    Flashback

    La-La, Axel, and Zayne¡¯s plan was to find Aiden Clark by the end of the day. Right now, Zayne and La-La were together.

    ¡°You know, you could just leave me to handle this. You should enjoy your vacation,¡± La-La said to Zayne.

    ¡°Do you think this is a bother for me that¡¯s why you said that?, Ms. Lanaya?¡± Zayne asked. Lanaya flinched. ¡°I guess I was right,¡± Zayne said he is smiling.

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya, you are never a bother to me. How can I enjoy a vacation without you?¡± Zayne added.

    ¡°This is a luxurious vacation, so you can enjoy it without me,¡± La-La replied. ¡°But there¡¯s a reason I invited you,¡± Zayne said. Just then, a man bumped into Lanaya, causing her to stagger back. Zayne was momentarily flustered but quickly regained his composure to catch La-La.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Zayne asked. La-La nodded. The man who had bumped into her continued walking without a word.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to apologize,¡± Zayne remarked.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s okay. He seems to be in a hurry,¡± La-La said, but suddenly her eyes widened. She removed Zayne armed in her shoulder and looked back.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Zayne asked, noticing La-La¡¯s shocked expression.

    ¡°That man¡ªhe had brown hair and green eyes,¡± La-La whispered. Zayne immediately walked quickly toward the man and grabbed his wrist. The man was startled, but Zayne smiled calmly.

    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Zayne inquired.

    ¡°Wh-what is it?¡± the man stammered, his face showing clear signs of worry. Zayne felt the man¡¯s pulse, which seemed unusual. Zayne examined it closely.

    ¡°Are you okay, sir?¡± Zayne asked.

    The man grabbed his own wrist. ¡°I-I am. What do you want?¡± he asked, visibly anxious. La-La approached Zayne.

    ¡°Are you, by any chance, Mr. Aiden?¡± La-La asked the man. The man¡¯s eyes widened further, and fear became more evident on his face. He took a step back.

    ¡°Wh-what do you want from me?¡± he asked.

    La-La responded with a smile but noticed something was off about the way Aiden was reacting.

    Suspicious, La-La thought.

    ¡°Aiden Clark, is that your name?¡± La-La tried to confirm, but the man just took a step back and then began to run.

    ¡°What the¡ª¡± La-La reacted and immediately chased after him. Zayne, momentarily stunned, decided to follow.

    La-La pursued Aiden Clark, who dashed towards his room. Just as he tried to close the door, La-La was already there, blocking it.

    ¡°What the hell do you want from me?!¡± Aiden shouted.

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya, I don¡¯t think we can do this,¡± Zayne said, stepping forward.

    ¡°He¡¯s acting suspicious,¡± La-La said, struggling to push the door open while Aiden pushed back from the other side.

    ¡°Who are you? Why, why are you doing this?¡± Aiden asked, his voice trembling with fear.

    ¡°You¡¯re acting suspiciously. You¡¯re Aiden, right? Why are you running away from us!?¡± La-La demanded, her tone sharp and accusatory.

    ¡°I¡¯m not running from anything! I¡¯ve done nothing wrong!¡± Aiden debated, but his defensive tone hinted at his guilt.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t accused you of anything yet. You seem scared of us. Why are you acting like this?¡± La-La pressed further, La-La is  obviously concerned.

    ¡°I-I was just passing by! It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Aiden insisted, still trying to push the door open.

    ¡°Don¡¯t play games with us. Why are you so afraid to talk?¡± La-La challenged, her patience wearing thin.

    ¡°Wh-what do you mean? I¡¯m not afraid to talk! And you¡ª¡± Aiden stammered, his anger rising, ¡°¡ªyou don¡¯t have any right to question me like this!¡±

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with this guy?¡± La-La muttered under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.

    La-La and Aiden continued to push against the door. Zayne, watching the confrontation unfold, stepped in cautiously. ¡°Ms. Lanaya, maybe we should reconsider our approach. Let¡¯s not push too hard,¡± he suggested, unable to intervene directly in the escalating scene.

    But La-La was motivated. ¡°No, we can¡¯t let him go just yet. It¡¯s clear that he¡¯s hiding something, and I¡¯m not letting him off the hook until he admits it,¡± she declared.

    La-La''s frustration reached its peak. With a sudden burst of anger, she kicked the door with all her strength, causing it to swing open forcefully.

    As the door burst open, La-La immediately grabbed Aiden by the collar. ¡°You piece of trash, making this hard¡ªwhat are you hiding?¡± she demanded, her voice a mixture of anger and desperation. Zayne stood there, momentarily stunned by the intensity of the situation, unsure of how to intervene.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°You think you can just barge in here and scare me? You don¡¯t know who you¡¯re messing with!¡± Aiden shouted defiantly. But before he could say more, Zayne¡¯s eyes widened as he noticed something alarming. He entered the room.

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya,¡± Zayne called, his voice urgent. La-La, who was still holding Aiden¡¯s collar, paused and looked at him, confusion written across her face. ¡°What¡ªwhat is it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s a bomb here,¡± Zayne said, his voice tight with fear as he pointed to a suit rigged with explosives. La-La¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    Aiden Clark, 32 years old, was set to be the cause of a devastating explosion that would take the lives of 19 people. His cause of death suicide affect the cause of death of other people which is explosion . La-La who realized this frowned her eyebrows due to anger.

    ¡°You really are a piece of shit,¡± La-La spat, her anger now tinged with horror.

    Suddenly, Aiden made a desperate move. He struggled violently and pushed La-La aside. She was caught off guard, her strength insufficient to resist him. Aiden dashed toward the suit, grabbing it as quickly as he could. Zayne lunged to stop him, but Aiden was faster. He sprinted past La-La, who was still on the floor, and made a break for it.

    La-La and Zayne watched in stunned silence as Aiden fled. ¡°This is hell,¡± La-La muttered, standing up and shaking off the shock. She run once again to follow the man.

    End of Flashback

    Axel also in the scene who arrived due to chaos that Aiden and La-La is making.

    As La-La and Axel chased Aiden Clark through the chaos on the cruise ship, they struggled to keep up with his incredible speed.

    ¡°What the hell is he what with his speed?¡± Axel mumbled in frustration as he ran.

    ¡°How would I know? Just don¡¯t let him rest or get a chance to set off the bomb,¡± La-La ordered sharply.

    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± Axel replied, pulling out his sickle. ¡°Really, Axel? Your power? You¡¯d better erase everyone¡¯s memories here later,¡± La-La said, her tone tense.

    ¡°I know,¡± Axel acknowledged. La-La then stopped and used her telekinetic powers to try and block Aiden¡¯s path by moving objects in his way. Despite her efforts, Aiden easily leaped over the obstacles. Axel, however, managed to stay on his trail.

    The scene around them was chaotic. People were shouting in panic, their faces reflecting fear and shock. Some of the life hunters present were confused, unable to understand what was happening.

    ¡°Axel, don¡¯t hurt him¡ªjust catch him!¡± La-La called out.

    ¡°It¡¯s illegal to harm humans,¡± Axel reminded her.

    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m warning you¡± La-La responded, determined.

    Axel finally managed to corner Aiden in a large, dimly lit room. The space was cluttered with various items, adding to the chaos of the situation. La-La arrived shortly after, joining Axel in the tense standoff.

    Zayne, breathless from his own pursuit, burst into the room just as Axel and La-La confronted Aiden. The three of them closed in on the desperate man, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.

    ¡°Aiden, it¡¯s over,¡± Axel said, his voice steady but firm. ¡°We¡¯re not going to let you get away.¡±

    La-La stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Aiden. ¡°You need to give up. We¡¯re not here to hurt you. Just put down the bomb and we can talk this through.¡±

    Aiden¡¯s eyes darted between them, panic evident in his features. ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡± he shouted. ¡°If you get any closer, I¡¯ll set off the bomb! I swear, I¡¯ll do it!¡±

    Zayne, looking between the others, tried to reason with Aiden. ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight you. We just want to help. Please, don¡¯t do anything rash.¡±

    Aiden¡¯s hands trembled as he held the detonator. The tension in the room was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity. The three looked at each other.

    La-La, sensing the urgency, tried to calm the situation. ¡°Aiden, listen to us. We can resolve this without anyone getting hurt. Just tell us what you want.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t! I won¡¯t let you stop me!¡± Aiden¡¯s voice cracked with desperation. ¡°You don¡¯t know what they¡¯ve done to me!¡±

    Axel and La-La exchanged a worried glance. The situation was escalating, and they needed to find a way to defuse it quickly.

    ¡°We need to buy some time,¡± La-La said quietly to Axel by telepathy. ¡°I¡¯ll keep him talking. You find a way to disarm the bomb.¡±

    Axel nodded, his focus shifting to the bomb as La-La continued to negotiate with Aiden, trying to keep him calm and prevent him from setting off the explosive.

    La-La took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm and reassuring. ¡°Aiden, we need to understand what¡¯s driving you to this. Why are you doing this?¡±

    Aiden¡¯s eyes were wild, and his grip on the detonator tightened. ¡°You don¡¯t know what they¡¯ve done to me!¡± he shouted. ¡°They killed my wife and daughter. I¡¯m doing this because I want justice. The owner of this ship¡ªhe¡¯s responsible for everything!¡±

    La-La¡¯s heart sank as she listened to Aiden¡¯s desperate words. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for your loss,¡± she said gently. ¡°But this isn¡¯t the way to get justice. We can help you, but you need to put down the bomb and talk to us.¡±

    Axel, trying to find a way to disarm the bomb, worked quickly but with growing frustration. ¡°We need to resolve this without anyone getting hurt,¡± he urged. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time.¡± Axel used telepathy.

    Despite their efforts, Aiden¡¯s resolve seemed unshakable. His anger and grief were overwhelming, and he was inching closer to setting off the bomb. The tension in the room reached its peak.

    ¡°Just a little longer, La-La,¡± Axel said in telepathy  as he walks behind Aiden unnoticed . ¡°I¡¯m almost there.¡±

    Suddenly, Aiden¡¯s face twisted in a mix of pain and anger. With a sudden movement, he clicked the detonator. La-La¡¯s eyes widened in horror as she realized what had happened.

    Without thinking, La-La dashed toward Zayne, who was still at the entrance of the room. She grabbed him and threw herself against him, trying to shield him from the impending explosion.

    But then, an unexpected silence filled the room. The bomb did not explode. Aiden slumped to the floor, unconscious, the detonator slipping from his hand. The three of them fell in to the silent for a moment.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± La-La asked Zayne, her voice filled with concern.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine, Ms. Lanaya,¡± Zayne replied, still shaken. ¡°But why did you do that? Why did you risk yourself?¡±

    La-La didn¡¯t answer immediately. She stood up, her gaze fixed on Aiden¡¯s unconscious body. Axel, standing on the other side of the room, gave her a shrug, acknowledging he didn¡¯t know why Aiden fell unconscious.

    Without a word, La-La quickly moved over to Aiden¡¯s limp form and grabbed the bomb, carefully but urgently. She checked the device to ensure it was secure and no longer a threat.

    ¡°We need to get this bomb away from here,¡± La-La said. ¡°It¡¯s not safe to leave it here.¡± Then La-La looked at Axel.

    ¡°Now Axel. Remove everyone¡¯s memories here,¡± La-La instructed Axel firmly.

    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll handle that immediately,¡± Axel replied, his tone serious. Then he added quietly, ¡°You really don¡¯t give me a break. And by the way, why did you rush to that guy instead of me?¡±

    ¡°You know we¡¯re not affected by human harm. We can¡¯t let a human who¡¯s not on your list die, right?¡± La-La responded, her voice low but firm.

    She then turned to Zayne. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this a secret. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Lanaya,¡± Zayne assured her, his expression a mix of concern.

    ¡°Tsk, yeah. I better get going,¡± Axel said, preparing to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everyone¡¯s memories here. La-La, just hold onto the bomb and I¡¯ll dispose of it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and you¡¯re a doctor, right Mr. Zayne ? Take care of Aiden,¡± Axel added as he flashed out of the room.

    Zayne, walked over to La-La. ¡°You should have done something like that, Ms. Lanaya,¡± he said, his voice tinged with concern. He offered  his hand to hold onto the bomb that made of suit but La-La didn¡¯t gave it to him but hold into it.

    ¡°I would have handled the bomb myself we  are harmless with a human made,¡± La-La replied, ¡°but you could have been in danger. I had to protect you.¡±

    ¡°But you still feel the pain, right? Don¡¯t take too many risks,¡± Zayne said, his worry is so obvious.

    ¡°yeah pain but we can¡¯t die¡± she said. The silent fell for both of them.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35

    La-La Point of View

    We¡¯ve resolved the issue with Aiden Clark and successfully erased the list. The Life Hunters have also filed their report, but they mentioned something Axel said¡ªhe warned them about the consequences. Axel, in return, received a black envelope containing the soul of Juacinto Relevinchi Fruente, the owner of this cruise. The message inside revealed that Juacinto would die from a heart attack as soon as the cruise ends.

    I''m not sure if I should feel relieved. Aiden Clark, a person so full of hatred, will meet his end soon, but it''s not out of revenge. The higher-ups took pity on him. After all, he did lose his wife and son.

    I tried to enjoy the situation, but Zayne hasn¡¯t mentioned anything about what happened that day. Erasing Zayne''s memories is impossible, so once again, he¡¯s left with one of our secrets. The more secrets he knows, the more complicated things will become

    He even saw Aiden, but he didn¡¯t ask any questions. Instead, he looked at me with a different expression.

    ¡°Where is Mr. Axel?¡± Zayne asked.

    Wow, he¡¯s actually looking for Axel.

    ¡°He¡¯s taking care of something,¡± I replied, noticing how Zayne¡¯s face was turning bright red, almost like a tomato. ¡°By the way, are you okay?¡± I asked, concerned as he grew increasingly flushed.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± he said, though his face was as red as blood. With his yellow hair, he almost looked like something out of a cartoon.

    ¡°You¡¯re a doctor yourself¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you put on sunscreen? You know how dangerous UV light is,¡± I said, trying to control my laughter.

    ¡°But I did put on sunscreen,¡± he insisted.

    ¡°You did?¡± I asked, needing confirmation.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he nodded, looking a bit embarrassed.

    ¡°Then why are you so red?¡± I asked, unable to hide my concern.

    I suddenly burst out laughing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just can¡¯t handle it¡ªyou¡¯re so red, Zayne!¡± I said, trying to catch my breath.

    He looked down at his skin and shrugged. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± he admitted, but he didn¡¯t seem bothered at all. My laughter died down, replaced by confusion.

    ¡°What was that?¡± I wondered aloud. ¡°Is this normal?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes, it is,¡± he responded casually.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡± I asked, my worry creeping back in.

    ¡°Well, if I just go back to the shade, my color will return to normal,¡± he said. He¡¯s usually quite pale, but turning this red can¡¯t be good. I should get him out of the sun before it gets worse.

    I took his wrist gently. ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the shade,¡± I urged him.

    A Few Moment Later

    ¡°Wow, you really did get your color back,¡± I said, amazed as I watched his skin return to its usual pale shade. Is he even human? What¡¯s with this? I thought, analyzing his arm and looking over his body with curiosity.

    ¡°It¡¯s always like this,¡± he said casually. Well, that¡¯s¡­ unique.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± I asked, still concerned as I checked him over.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he replied, but then I noticed something different. He was looking at me with awe, his gaze fixed on me almost instantly.

    ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡± I asked, puzzled. But he just smiled¡ªa smile I¡¯d never seen on him before.

    ¡°No, nothing,¡± he said, still smiling.

    This was the first time I¡¯d ever seen him smile like that, a fake smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something going on,¡± I insisted.

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya, may I hold your hand for a second?¡± he asked, his request catching me off guard. Why is he asking for something like that?

    But I nodded, offering him my hand. ¡°Sure.¡±

    To my surprise, he took hold of my wrist instead of my hand. I saw a look of relief in his eyes, like he was genuinely happy about something. What¡¯s going on?

    Then he let go of my wrist. ¡°I was right,¡± he said suddenly, his words making me wonder.

    ¡°Right about what?¡± I asked, but before he could answer, I felt a chill run down my spine.

    ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Axel whispered in my ear, causing me to jump. I immediately covered my ear and took a step forward, turning to face him.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± I snapped, but Axel didn¡¯t respond to me. Instead, he stared at Zayne with a fierce expression.

    ¡°I hope my intuition is wrong,¡± he said to Zayne, his tone filled with tension. I glanced at Zayne, but he just smiled calmly, almost as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± I asked Axel, pressing for an explanation.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied quickly, dodging my question.

    Ugh, this guy.

    A Few Moments later.

    ¡°No, you get out,¡± Axel demanded, glaring at Zayne. They were both now standing in my room.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to help Ms. Lanaya with her package,¡± Zayne replied, holding a suitcase in his hand. Axel¡¯s face was full of annoyance.

    ¡°I can help her¡ªjust get out of here,¡± Axel insisted, raising both hands in front of him as if he were physically trying to push Zayne out of the room.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t. I was the one originally accompanying Ms. Lanaya, so if my presence bothers you, it¡¯s better if you leave,¡± Zayne responded, his words polite yet sharp. It was amazing how Zayne could say something that wasn¡¯t outright rude but still carried a sting.

    This guy never loses his cool, I thought, especially compared to Axel, who was visibly annoyed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you were the original or whatever. We don¡¯t need you here¡ªwe¡¯re enough,¡± Axel said, his frustration clear.

    Sigh.

    This is my room, though? And why are they even arguing? They¡¯re bickering like soulmates or something.

    Wait... what if they are soulmates?

    Suddenly, Axel grabbed Zayne by the collar, their confrontation spiraling out of control.

    I felt the chaos overwhelming me. I stood up, my frustration reaching its peak.

    ¡°Stop both of you!¡± I shouted, but they seemed to ignore me, their argument growing fiercer by the second.

    Sigh I¡¯m tired!

    That one-week vacation was solid. Even if I left all the work with Zayne, it was enough rest to make me feel like I could go to heaven. Everything was perfect¡ªwell, except for the accident and the constant bickering between those two. But other than that, it was a perfect vacation. All the stress melted away. The rest, the food, the swimming pool, the location¡ªit was all just what I needed.

    I almost can¡¯t wait to die now, I thought, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

    We dock in the morning and  at my home by 6 PM. The two of them, for some reason, stayed close by until we arrived home. It surprised me how close they seemed to have become. But now they¡¯ve finally left me alone, which is a good thing.

    Yet, as I sit here in the quiet of my home, I feel conflicted. I should be happy, but there¡¯s a strange emptiness, too. Those moments I had with them were surprisingly sweet, like candy. Even their constant bickering had a soothing effect on me. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve spent so many years working, moving between my job and my home, never really experiencing anything outside that routine. Even Axel knows how monotonous my life has been. When Zayne arrived, everything in my life changed, and I started feeling things I hadn¡¯t felt before.

    It feels like something I¡¯ve longed for without even realizing it. But thinking this way isn¡¯t good, especially since I won¡¯t be around much longer. I¡¯ve already asked Axel to erase Zayne¡¯s memories after I¡¯m gone. Zayne¡¯s still suspicious, though, and that worries me. But the only thing I can feel for Zayne now is trust. He always smiles the brightest, yet those smiles make me uneasy because I can¡¯t tell if they¡¯re sincere.

    He has no reason to befriend me. In fact, he knows I¡¯m different¡ªhe knows we¡¯re different. He should fear me, just as other humans do. Unless he plans to use me somehow. But I¡¯ve kept my true identity hidden from him, and even if he tried to use me, it wouldn¡¯t matter¡ªhe has no strings to pull.

    Knock, knock.

    A knock at my door. Who could it be? I peered through the peephole and saw Zayne, but something about him seemed off. I hesitated for a moment, then opened the door.

    ¡°Did you forget something?¡± I asked, noticing a strange expression on his face. He smiled, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­¡± he paused, his words trailing off.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I pressed, feeling a bit uneasy as he glanced around my house.

    ¡°Can you come downstairs for a second?¡± he asked, his tone unusually calm.

    ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± I replied, sensing that something important was going on. He smiled again, but there was something different¡ªsomething unsettling¡ªabout it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there a problem?¡± I asked, my voice tinged with concern. But then, out of nowhere, his blue eyes seemed to light up with a cold intensity, as if he were looking down on me. I took a step back, startled by the sudden change in him. We were now in a dark, isolated area with no one else around. His smile widened, turning into something almost sinister. It was creepy.

    I glanced around, realizing with growing dread that we were completely alone.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s wrong, Zayne?¡± I stammered, fear creeping into my voice as his entire demeanor shifted. Before I could react, he lunged forward, grabbing me by the neck. His speed was inhuman, leaving me no time to defend myself. I was shocked¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the Zayne I knew.

    As he tightened his grip, choking me, I struggled to breathe, my vision blurring. Panic surged through me as I tried to call out his name, but no sound escaped my lips. I was helpless, unable to comprehend what was happening.

    Is this what he wanted all along?!!

    ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting you,¡± Zayne said, laughing hysterically. Wanting me? What does he want?! My eyes widened in terror as fear overwhelmed me, flooding my mind with all the unknown possibilities. I gasped for air, but his grip was too tight¡ªI was really choking now.

    ¡°You¡ª¡± I tried to say, but the words wouldn¡¯t come out. The pain was unbearable, every nerve in my body screaming in agony. Zayne¡¯s eyes bore down on me, filled with a terrifying hunger as if he wanted to devour me. A blue light began to emanate from him, and just as everything went black, the pain overwhelmed me completely.

    Third Person Point of View

    La-La fainted from the choking grip Zayne had on her. Just then, Axel burst onto the scene, his face twisted in fury. He threw a powerful punch at Zayne, sending him rolling across the floor. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± Axel spat out, seething with anger.

    Axel then turned his attention to La-La, who lay unconscious on the ground. His eyes widened in fear as he rushed to her side, checking for any sign of life. But he felt nothing¡ªher soul seemed to have slipped away. Blood trickled from her mouth, painting a horrifying picture.

    ¡°La-La, wake up!¡± Axel called out desperately, knowing that La-La was not someone to be easily taken down.

    Suddenly, Zayne got back on his feet, a crazed look in his eyes. Axel, realizing the danger, carefully laid La-La down. ¡°Die!!¡± Zayne screamed with a maniacal laugh.

    Axel¡¯s eyes narrowed. But before he could react, Zayne was already upon La-La again, his hands wrapped around her neck once more. ¡°Die, La-La!¡± he yelled, choking her mercilessly.

    In an instant, Axel, shocked but determined, summoned his sickle. With a swift motion, he struck Zayne with it, forcing him to release La-La.

    The moonlight bathed them in an eerie glow as they faced each other. Axel¡¯s eyes mirrored the blood-red hue of his sickle, while Zayne¡¯s eyes glowed with an unnatural blue, his aura pulsing with the same sinister light.

    Plot 1 End

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36

    Third Person Point of View

    Who are you?¡± Axel demanded, glaring at the man before him.

    ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s me, Zayne,¡± the man replied, his voice dripping with nonchalance. Axel¡¯s eyes narrowed, suspicion and anger boiling within him.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Axel said, his tone cold. Without warning, he used his strength to lunge at Zayne. He attacked and he seems to be flashing out in second.

    ¡°You know, even if he annoys me,¡± Axel said as he swung his sickle at Zayne, who deftly evaded the attack, ¡°he¡¯s not dumb enough to hit La-La.¡± Axel struck again, his movements precise and aggressive.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Zayne asked, feigning innocence. Axel stopped mid-swing, his eyes locked on Zayne.

    ¡°That guy had a lot of life aura,¡± Axel explained, his gaze hardening. He glared at Zayne, now fully aware of the threat. ¡°You have a sinister aura, the same as the Life Hunters,¡± he said, his voice filled with menace. ¡°So I¡¯m going to ask you again: who are you?¡±

    Zayne¡¯s smile widened, his laughter echoing eerily. ¡°You found me,¡± he said with a flick of his finger. Axel¡¯s eyes widened as he felt a strange pull. He tried to pull away, but his wrist was glowing blue, his soul beginning to fade.

    ¡°You¡ª¡± Axel started, but his voice trailed off as he realized what was happening. Zayne¡¯s appearance began to change before his eyes.

    ¡°You- you¡¯re Dorian,¡± Axel muttered, recognizing the figure before him. Dorian¡¯s smile grew even wider. He smiled widely so much that the aura around him creeps.

    ¡°You really know me,¡± Dorian said, his tone smug.

    ¡°You¡¯re the wild one?!¡± Axel exclaimed, anger and disbelief evident in his voice. He glanced worriedly at La-La, who was still unconscious.

    ¡°Worried that your friend¡¯s soul might perish?¡± Dorian taunted, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. Axel¡¯s gaze locked onto Dorian, filled with fury and despair as if the weight of the world had fallen upon him.

    Axel¡¯s aura became overwhelmingly dark, the air around him thick with an ominous, dense feeling.

    ¡°Chill, your friend is already human¡ªkilling her is the only way I can take her beautiful soul,¡± Dorian taunted.

    Axel¡¯s eyes widened in shock at Dorian¡¯s words. In a burst of anger, he charged at Dorian, but Dorian vanished instantly. Axel was stunned, his disbelief palpable as he saw Dorian reappear beside La-La¡¯s unconscious body.

    ¡°You fucker!¡± Axel yelled, rushing towards them. But before he could reach La-La, Dorian leaned down and kissed her forehead, then disappeared once more.

    Axel looked around frantically but found no sign of Dorian. He ran, searching for him, but Dorian was gone. Axel quickly hid his sickle and returned to La-La¡¯s side, checking her body anxiously. Despite his fear, everything seemed fine. Axel hugged La-La tightly, his heart racing as he checked if she was alive or dead. He was in agony, clutching her limp form with desperation. Though La-La remained unconscious, she was still breathing.

    What¡¯s going on here?¡± Zayne asked, arriving on the scene. He and Axel had just stepped out to grab some drinks and food for La-La. Seeing La-La unconscious and covered in blood, Zayne dropped the plastic bags he was holding and rushed over.

    ¡°What happened to Ms. Lanaya?¡± Zayne demanded, his voice trembling with fear and urgency. He tried to reach for La-La¡¯s body, his hands shaking as he desperately tried to pull her away from Axel.

    ¡°I said, what happened to her?!¡± Zayne shouted angrily, his voice rising with frustration and panic.

    Axel, still clutching La-La tightly, looked up, his face etched with fear. His eyes met Zayne¡¯s, filled with the raw pain of seeing La-La in such a state.

    ¡°She¡¯s been attacked,¡± Axel said, his voice strained and filled with anguish. ¡°Dorian¡ªhe came here, and¡­ and I couldn¡¯t stop him.¡±

    Zayne¡¯s face paled as he heard Axel¡¯s words. His heart pounded in his chest, and tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°No¡­ No, this can¡¯t be happening,¡± he muttered, his voice breaking. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he gently but firmly took La-La¡¯s body from Axel¡¯s arms.

    Carefully, Zayne laid La-La down on the ground, his hands tender and cautious. He checked her wounds, his movements urgent yet delicate. The sight of her blood-soaked clothes and the faint rise and fall of her chest tore at his heart. He could barely contain his fear and grief.

    ¡°Please, hang in there, Ms. Lanaya,¡± Zayne pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. ¡°I need you to be okay. I need you to fight this I can¡¯t lose you after all this time. When I already found you¡±

    Axel watched, his own heart heavy with despair. He stood back, giving Zayne space, though every part of him wanted to help. He could see the pain in Zayne¡¯s eyes, mirroring his own. It was clear that Zayne was as devastated as he was, fighting to hold back his own tears.

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    Zayne worked quickly, applying pressure to La-La¡¯s wounds and checking her vital signs. His hands trembled as he tried to stabilize her, his mind racing with fear and determination. He could not afford to lose her¡ªnot after everything.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zayne looked up at Axel, his face a mask of resolve and exhaustion. ¡°We need to get her help¡ªnow,¡± he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

    La-La Point of View

    My head ached terribly, and as I opened my eyes, I saw a white, unfamiliar ceiling. I looked around and noticed Yuna sitting by my bed, her face showing signs of relief as she slept.

    What happened? Zayne¡ªdidn¡¯t he try to kill me? My mind raced as I clutched the bed, trying to make sense of the situation. I could still feel the pain in my neck.

    ¡°How could he do that?¡± I muttered, gripping my neck. The reality of Zayne¡¯s attack was sinking in. Was everything I suspected true? Did he really intend to kill me?

    ¡°Senior?¡± Yuna¡¯s voice brought me back to the present. She looked visibly relieved to see me awake.

    ¡°Where am I?¡± I asked urgently. Yuna quickly grabbed a glass of water from the side table and set it down beside me.

    ¡°This is Dr. Zayne¡¯s place, a private house,¡± she explained, placing the water on the table. ¡°What do you mean, Zayne¡¯s place?¡± I asked, confusion coloring my voice. Wasn¡¯t Zayne the one who attacked me?

    ¡°Dr. Zayne is the one who healed you, Senior. You were attacked by a wild one, and Mr. Axel said it was part of the Life Hunter¡¯s group, the wild one came from their class¡± Yuna said.

    I was still confused. ¡°Senior, do you still feel unwell?¡± Yuna asked, concern evident in her voice. ¡°Should I call Dr. Zayne?¡± she said and about to stand up but I grabbed her.

    ¡°No¡ªdon¡¯t call him. Just call Axel; that would help,¡± I said, feeling a pang of anxiety. ¡°Okay, Senior,¡± Yuna agreed. ¡°But you should know, you¡¯ve been unconscious for three days. We¡¯ve all been worried.¡±

    ¡°Three days? What do you mean?¡± I asked, my voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s been three days since you lost consciousness, but it¡¯s a relief that the wild one didn¡¯t destroy your soul,¡± Yuna said.

    If Zayne was indeed a wild one, I should have perished, but I didn¡¯t. That thought weighed heavily on me.

    A Few Moments Later

    ¡°What do you mean the wild one disguised himself as Zayne? Wasn¡¯t Zayne the one who attacked me?¡± I asked Axel.

    ¡°Yes, he disguised himself as Zayne, and Zayne is the one who healed you¡± Axel confirmed. I touched my neck, the memory of the attack lingering. The grip felt the same as the one I¡¯d felt during the assault before. It was clear that I was being targeted.

    ¡°Dorian,¡± Axel said, his voice filled with anger.

    ¡°Dorian? Who is that?¡± I asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the name of the wild one. He¡¯s a batchmate of mine, and it seems he¡¯s really targeting you,¡± Axel said, his tone unmistakably furious.

    I¡¯m not sure what Axel¡¯s holding back, but his serious tone and the change of topic make me even more uneasy.

    ¡°What do you mean he¡¯s targeting me?¡± I asked, trying to understand the situation. ¡°Why would a wild one target me?¡±

    Axel hesitated before answering, his eyes troubled. ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°But what?¡± I pressed, sensing he was hiding something.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he said quickly, avoiding my question. The evasiveness in his tone only heightened my concern.

    ¡°Axel, you¡¯re hiding something, aren¡¯t you?¡± I insisted.

    His expression turned more serious. ¡°He seems to know your location, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll come back,¡± he said, shifting the topic away from my question.

    ¡°I know that,¡± I replied, frustration seeping into my voice. Axel then placed a brochure on the table next to my bed. ¡°Cut yourself off from Zayne for now. Dorian might use his identity again to attack you. This is a house in Demart City. Yuna and I have petitioned for a change of your location since the wild one already knows where you are. It¡¯s better to move there and stay safe. The wild one is mostly targeting Love Hunters, as you know.¡±

    I looked at the brochure, feeling a mix of irritation and confusion. ¡°We¡¯re the weakest so it¡¯s targeting us? What kind of nonsense is that?¡± I snapped. ¡°Why is this decision being made for me?¡±

    Axel¡¯s eyes softened with concern. ¡°I know it¡¯s frustrating, but it¡¯s for your safety. Dorian is dangerous, and we need to act quickly to protect you. I¡¯m making these decisions because I need to ensure you¡¯re safe.¡±

    ¡°I understand that you¡¯re trying to help, but I should be involved in these decisions,¡± I said, feeling the weight of being sidelined. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be left out of the process, especially when it concerns my safety.¡±

    Axel¡¯s serious tone weighed heavily in the room. ¡°Do you even know how dangerous the situation is, La-La? You almost died!¡± he said, his voice laden with concern. I was shocked he raised his voice.

    I responded with a bitter edge. ¡°I¡¯m already dead, so what¡¯s the difference?¡±

    Axel¡¯s expression grew more stern. ¡°La-La, you will perish if you don¡¯t act quickly. You need to get out of here before Dorian finds you again. We almost lost you once. If we¡¯re too late, we might lose you permanently.¡±

    His words left me reeling. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked, confusion lacing my voice.

    Without answering, Axel stood up abruptly. ¡°Leave today without Zayne knowing. Leave without a trace. La-La, it¡¯s a choice between surviving or perishing,¡± he said coldly. ¡°The decision is yours.¡±

    With that, Axel walked out of the room, leaving me stunned and alone. His anger was palpable, but beneath it was a layer of frustration that was evident.

    I clutched the edge of the bed, feeling the weight of Axel¡¯s words pressing down on me. Was I really this na?ve? The situation seemed to be spiraling out of control, and I was caught in the middle of a dangerous game I barely understood.

    Yuna entered the room, looking concerned. ¡°What¡¯s going on, senior? Why did Mr. Axel leave so suddenly? Did something happen? He seems angry¡±

    I struggled to gather my thoughts. ¡°Axel said that the wild one is targeting the Love Hunters. It¡¯s better for me to relocate since the wild one already knows my location.¡±

    Yuna nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Mr. Axel is right, senior. You should leave this place. It¡¯s not safe.¡±

    I forced a bitter smile, feeling the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s leave now, Yuna,¡± I said, trying to muster the strength to get up from the bed.

    Yuna¡¯s eyes widened in confusion. ¡°Wait, now? Are we leaving immediately?¡±

    ¡°Yes, now,¡± I insisted, standing up with her help. I still felt weak, but Axel¡¯s urgency had made it clear that there was no time to waste. Even it¡¯s still annoy me on how he said it to me.

    As I stood there, I couldn¡¯t help but think about why leaving was so necessary. Axel¡¯s warnings were not without reason, and the fear of the wild one¡ªand my past encounters¡ªmade it clear that I had to act quickly.

    Things are getting dangerous.

    The thought of seeing Zayne again made my stomach churn. The person who had attacked me had used Zayne¡¯s face, and that realization haunted me. I bet each time I will saw Zayne, my fear would resurface, tangled with confusion and distrust. His face, once familiar and safe, had become a symbol of my vulnerability. The idea of confronting him, or even being around him, filled me with dread. I was terrified of what might happen if I had to face him again, knowing that the person who tried to kill me had worn his face.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37

    Zayne Point of View

    I was born into wealth¡ªwhat most people call the top 1%. While others would envy my life, to me, it all felt strangely dull. They called me handsome, a "prince," thanks to my unique features from parents who hailed from different parts of the world.

    ¡°You''re cute,¡±

    ¡°I bet he also inherited his parents'' intelligence,¡± another chimed in, laughter ringing out.

    ¡°Oh, what a cute boy you are! You¡¯d better be my son-in-law!¡±

    Those words suffocated me, replaying in my mind like an unending loop. The expectations, the pressure¡ªit all felt overwhelming.

    ¡°Look at him! Such a charming boy!¡±

    ¡°Such potential! You¡¯ll make us proud one day, won¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Just wait until your father hears about this!¡±

    ¡°Everyone will be talking about you, I¡¯m sure of it!¡±

    The voices blended together, drowning out my own thoughts. But over time, I became known as the "Cold Prince."

    From a young age, I could see things others couldn¡¯t¡ªghostly apparitions, memories from lives that weren¡¯t mine, and glimpses of the future. At first, it terrified me. These spirits approached, pleading for help, while flashes of futures and pasts bombarded me every time someone made contact. It wasn¡¯t a blessing; it was a curse. Overwhelming.

    That¡¯s why I chose to become a doctor. I wanted to save lives, not just those I saw suffering in front of me, but those lost souls as well. For once, I thought I had control. But even with my purpose, these abilities lingered, always reminding me that I could never fully escape them.

    Thanks to my looks, I never had trouble attracting attention, especially from women. They came with their intentions painted across their faces, hoping to win me over. But every time they touched me, I saw through them¡ªtheir futures, their pasts, everything. It became too much. I craved something more. Someone real. I had visions of being with someone who would make all of this make sense.

    Then one day, during an exhausting shift at the hospital, it happened. I bumped into her.

    She wasn¡¯t like anyone else. The moment my eyes landed on her, my world shifted. There was something familiar about her, something that made my heart race¡ªa feeling I had never experienced before. My pulse quickened as if some forgotten part of me had been waiting for this exact moment.

    And when she looked at me, everything inside me screamed that I knew her. A sudden, overwhelming urge surged through me. I wanted to pull her into my arms, to tell her how much I¡¯d missed her¡ªeven though we had never met. My heart pounded against my chest, the intensity almost unbearable, as if the universe itself was trying to remind me of something I couldn¡¯t quite grasp.

    I had never felt this before. But in that instant, I knew¡ªshe was the one.

    Then, we meet again. Seeing her after all this time¡ªit fills me with a happiness I can''t quite explain. But there''s a distance between us, one I hadn¡¯t expected. She keeps her space, like I¡¯m just another stranger in her world.

    Maybe I am, to her.

    Still, I can¡¯t shake the urge to approach her. I want to close that gap, to capture her attention. The longing inside me grows stronger every time I see her.

    She called, asking to claim the item she had left behind. I watched her close her suitcase before I immediately rushed to my office to grab it, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn¡¯t deny the uncomfortable fluttering inside me, but at the same time, I felt grateful. Grateful for the chance to see her again.

    When I met her, she smiled at me¡ªa small gesture, but it was enough to make my pulse quicken. I kept my composure, reminding myself to stay calm, not wanting to overwhelm her. Earlier, I had seen her with a man. There was something unsettling about him, a dark aura clinging to him, the kind I had only seen before with reapers. In the hospital, reapers often roamed the halls, their presence cold and menacing, always cloaked in black. But this man... he had the same dark presence.

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    Was she connected to him? Was she a reaper too?

    Before I could dwell on that thought, my phone rang. I answered it quickly, but when I turned around, she was gone. Vanished, as if she had never been there. I scanned the room, searching for any sign of her, but there was nothing. No shadow, no trace.

    I thought I had lost her again.

    But the next day, something unexpected happened. I saw her again, this time at a restaurant near my house. She looked dazzling, like she didn¡¯t belong to this world. Even though I had already eaten, I made the decision to go in. Just to see her, to speak to her, to be near her once more.

    Our eyes met.

    That single moment made everything else fade away.

    She remembers me.

    The realization makes my pulse quicken, stirring something deep within. I¡¯ve been curious about her from the moment we met, and now that we¡¯re seated at the same table, I can¡¯t help but want more. She tells me she¡¯s a job hunter, but I know she¡¯s lying. I can see it in the way she avoids my gaze. But does it matter? She¡¯s here, in front of me, and for now, that¡¯s all I want¡ªto be in this moment with her.

    As the dinner comes to a close, I reach for my wallet, ready to pay, but she stops me. Her hand rests on mine, and for the second time, I¡¯m overwhelmed by a vision. Images of her flash in my mind¡ªher face, but always different. Different hairstyles, different dresses, as if I¡¯ve known her in countless lives, countless forms.

    Just who is she? Just that thought came to my mind

    I can¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯ve known her far longer than these brief encounters. I want to understand her, to get close to her like that man in the hospital did. There¡¯s a connection there that I can¡¯t ignore. But, once again, before I can grasp it, she pulls away.

    I lose her. Again.

    It¡¯s becoming a pattern, and yet... every time we meet, it feels like destiny. Like fate is drawing us together, even as she keeps herself at arm¡¯s length. There¡¯s something about her that eludes me, something I¡¯m meant to discover.

    But now, as I stand with her letter in my hand, her words replay in my mind:

    "Zayne, thank you for everything. I fear we will not meet again, but thank you so much for everything. You¡¯re a good person. But due to circumstances, I need to go far away. I apologize for any inconvenience I¡¯ve caused. I hope the envelope I left beside this letter will be enough. I also apologize that you need to move on from me. Thank you for the vacation. I had fun, but moments are short, and I needed to leave."

    Her farewell feels like a punch to the gut. I set the letter down, my mind racing.

    Just a while ago, she was in danger, and I was terrified of losing her. Now, after everything, she¡¯s gone again¡ªleaving me with nothing but this letter, her words cutting deep into my thoughts.

    I need to find her. I can¡¯t let this be the end. Not after all of this. Not after what I¡¯ve seen, what I¡¯ve felt. I won¡¯t lose her again.

    Not this time.

    Ring*Ring

    My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. I glance at the screen¡ªit''s my mother. I answer, bringing the phone to my ear.

    ¡°Son, we need you,¡± she says, her voice stern and direct. No greeting. No, ¡®how are you?¡¯ Not even a moment to ask if I¡¯m fine.

    "Need me? For what?" I ask, though I already know what¡¯s coming.

    "The company. It''s time you take your place, Zayne. Your father and I have discussed it. You¡¯re ready to inherit the position. We can¡¯t wait any longer." Her words are sharp, almost demanding.

    I close my eyes, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on me. Inherit the company? They only want me there because they need someone to control, to mold into their version of success. I¡¯ve always known they saw me as a tool, something to further their agenda.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested, Mom,¡± I respond flatly, my grip on the phone tightening. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. I don¡¯t want to be a part of the company.¡±

    There¡¯s silence on the other end for a moment, then her voice cuts through the quiet. ¡°Zayne, this isn¡¯t about what you want. This is about your responsibility to the family. You don¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    I can feel my frustration bubbling to the surface, but just as I¡¯m about to argue back, a memory flashes in my mind. Lanaya¡¯s voice, soft and calming, but with an undeniable weight to her words:

    "All worlds matter only to you, and only you. Don¡¯t let anyone decide your path. Not even them."

    I already missed her. She had said those words to me in a moment of quiet, when the pressures of my family and the world felt like too much, when my birthday I tell her that my family and I are not in good terms . Her voice had been the anchor I needed, reminding me that my choices were mine and mine alone.

    Returning to the present, I sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be your puppet, Mom. I have my own life, my own purpose.¡±

    ¡°Puppet?  You¡¯re making a mistake, Zayne,¡± she says coldly. ¡°The company needs you, whether you like it or not.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I say firmly. ¡°You need me because you think I¡¯ll follow your orders. But I won¡¯t. Not this time.¡±

    Without waiting for her response, I hang up, feeling the familiar surge of frustration mixed with a strange sense of freedom. They¡¯ve always tried to control me, to bend me to their will. But I know better now.

    Lanaya¡¯s words echo in my mind once more: ¡°Only you.¡±

    I¡¯m going to live my life the way I choose.

    I sat on the edge of the bed where she once lay, my hand instinctively reaching out to the spot she had occupied not so long ago. The sheets still held traces of her warmth, a reminder of her presence. I wanted so badly to ask her, Are you okay? Was she having a good time? Who was the person who dared to attack her?

    But now that she¡¯s gone... how could I ask her anything?

    She ran away¡ªjust disappeared. I even tried calling her, desperate to hear her voice, but she didn¡¯t answer. She blocked my number, cutting off the only connection I had left.

    Zero contact. Nothing but silence.

    What would I do now? How could I find her when she clearly doesn¡¯t want to be found?

    What happen to you Lanaya?

    My wife.

 Chapter 38

    A sharp slap echoed through the lavish room, bouncing off the walls like a gunshot. The madam''s palm stung from the impact, but she paid it no mind. Her eyes, filled with fury, were locked onto the man in front of her, who stood stoically in his perfectly tailored suit, not daring to flinch.

    ¡°I asked you for one thing, just one!¡± she hissed. "And you can''t even do that?" Her glare intensified, every word she spat fueling the growing fire in her chest. ¡°You¡¯re my secretary, and yet you can¡¯t even bring my son here!¡± Her voice cracked with the force of her anger, as she collapsed into her seat, gripping the glass of wine from the center table. The red liquid swirled, reflecting the storm brewing in her eyes.

    The man remained silent, head bowed, his lips tightly pressed together as if they were sewn shut.

    ¡°Is it really that hard to bring Zayne to me?¡± she asked, setting the glass down with deliberate care, the calmness in her action contrasting with the tempest in her tone.

    Still, the man didn¡¯t respond.

    "AM I TALKING TO A STONE?! TALK!" she screamed, her voice reverberating around the room like thunder. The secretary flinched, his composure finally cracking as he hesitated before speaking.

    ¡°Your son... gave me a message,¡± he began quietly. ¡°He said... he will not return under any circumstances.¡±

    Her eyes darkened. Before he could even blink, the madam seized the glass and, with a shriek of rage, smashed it over his head. The glass shattered, raining shards around him. Blood trickled down his face, a stark contrast to his pristine suit. But still, he stood firm, his expression unchanged, his eyes focused on the floor.

    ¡°Pathetic,¡± she muttered, her breath coming in sharp gasps. She slapped him again, harder this time, the force of it leaving her panting. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, mixing with the crimson streaks on his head, but he did not raise his hand to wipe it away.

    Then, the door creaked open.

    ¡°I said, DON¡¯T ENTER!¡± the madam shrieked, spinning around, her voice wild and feral. But her fury faltered, replaced by an eerie calm as her gaze fell on the figure standing in the doorway. A slow smile twisted her lips.

    ¡°Zayne?¡±

    Zayne, panting as if he had run the entire way, stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide at the sight before him. The secretary, bloodied and silent. His mother, standing with wild eyes and disheveled hair, her white dress stained with splashes of red wine¡ªand perhaps something more.

    ¡°As I thought,¡± Zayne mumbled under his breath. He knew this would happen, had seen it coming. But witnessing it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

    The madam, as if possessed, rushed towards her son and wrapped her arms around him in a tight, suffocating embrace. She clung to him like a lifeline, her breathing ragged, her lips curling into an unsettling smile.

    "My son," she whispered, her voice unnervingly soft. "You came." She pulled back slightly, her eyes gleaming with something darker, something crazed. Her hands cupped Zayne''s face, her fingers trembling as they traced his features. ¡°My beautiful boy¡­¡±

    Zayne¡¯s face remained expressionless, though his eyes flicked to the secretary, who still stood with his head bowed. Their eyes met briefly¡ªZayne¡¯s filled with regret, the secretary¡¯s filled with silent understanding.

    ¡°You came for me,¡± the madam said again, her voice shifting into a sing-song tone, her breath reeking of alcohol. Her once pristine white dress now looked like something out of a nightmare, stained and disheveled, her hair wild, framing her ghostly pale face like a madwoman¡¯s.

    "Mother," Zayne finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "Have you been drinking again?"

    The madam threw her head back and laughed, a high-pitched, hysterical sound that sent a shiver down Zayne''s spine. "How could you tell?" she giggled, her grip on his face tightening.

    Zayne forced a smile, though the corners of his mouth twitched with discomfort. "It¡¯s always the same with you, Mother."

    The laughter stopped abruptly. Her eyes, wild and unfocused, bore into his. "You think you can mock me?" she whispered, her tone dangerously low. "You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning?"

    Zayne¡¯s smile faltered. "I''m not planning anything, Mother. I came here because¡ª"

    ¡°Because you want to abandon me!¡± she screeched, her nails digging into his skin, leaving small crescents of pain. "Just like your father! Just like everyone else!" Her voice was shrill, trembling with madness.

    Zayne remained calm, though his pulse quickened. "I''m not abandoning you."

    The madam¡¯s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a predatory smile. "Good. Because if you even think about leaving me, I will kill them all. Every. Last. One." Her voice was soft now, chillingly so, as if she were discussing the weather. Her nails dug deeper into his cheeks.

    Zayne''s breath hitched. He stared into his mother¡¯s crazed eyes, seeing no trace of the woman she once was, only the broken shell that remained.

    With a sigh, he forced himself to speak. "I understand, Mother. I¡¯ll stay."

    Her grip loosened slightly, and her expression softened into something resembling affection. "Good boy," she cooed, stroking his face gently, her mood shifting with unsettling quickness. "You''re all I have, Zayne. Don¡¯t forget that."

    Zayne gave a slight nod, his face calm, though his insides twisted in anguish. He had no choice. To defy her meant destruction, and not just for him. Everyone he cared about would be in danger. The madam was no longer just his mother¡ªshe was a ticking time bomb, one that could explode at any moment.

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    He swallowed hard, the taste of regret bitter on his tongue.

    "I won¡¯t forget," he said quietly, though every fiber of his being screamed to run far away from the madness that held him captive.

    For now, he would play her game. Until he found a way out.

    Yuna Point of View

    It¡¯s been a week since Senior La-La had an accident. I¡¯m now in Dermart City, on my way to meet Senior La-La. Things have been... quite complicated between Senior and me recently, and honestly, it¡¯s a bit unfortunate. But despite everything, I still feel grateful. Senior¡¯s been kind, and I¡¯ve met so many new people¡ªsome of them even seem like princes. Isn¡¯t that amazing?

    Today, Senior scheduled a hunting training session for me. Mr. Axel said he¡¯d be helping out, too. But I¡¯m not sure how that¡¯s going to go, considering the tension between them. They¡¯ve been arguing about something lately, and I just know it''s going to make things awkward again.

    As I walked, I spotted Senior La-La from a distance. I was about to wave, but then I felt it¡ªa strange tug. The ring I¡¯m wearing started to... react? I blinked, scratching my eyes, trying to shake off the weird feeling. But when I looked again, there it was¡ªa red string. A bright red string coming from Senior¡¯s chest, connecting to something invisible. What... what is that?

    Before I could even process what I was seeing, Mr. Axel appeared. And to my shock, I noticed he had a string too¡ªa faint one, barely visible, but still connected to Senior La-La.

    Wait... connected to Senior?

    What is this? Am I malfunctioning? This can¡¯t be right¡­

    La-La point of view

    ¡°"So, you really came," I said to Axel, annoyance clear in my tone.

    "What did you expect? For me not to help her?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.

    "Well... yeah," I admitted, unable to hide my frustration.

    "You really look down on me," he said, his voice flat.

    "As if," I shot back, my attention shifting when I saw Yuna standing a little distance away. I waved at her, noticing how shocked she looked for a moment before quickly slipping off the ring she was wearing and tucking it into her suit. She didn¡¯t need to hide it, though. I already knew what it was for.

    She walked toward us, looking hesitant.

    "Is everything fine?" I asked her, trying to gauge her reaction.

    "Y-yeah," she answered, but the hesitation in her voice was obvious.

    "Did you see a ghost?" Axel quipped, his usual sarcasm seeping through. I shot him a look of disbelief.

    "We are ghosts, idiot," I said, unimpressed.

    "Oh yeah," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

    Ugh, this guy.

    "Senior, I have one question," Yuna suddenly asked, her voice soft but curious. Her unexpected question caught me off guard.

    "You said cupid like us can''t have a red string, right?" she asked, looking uneasy.

    I frowned, wondering why she was asking about this. "Yes, like I said before. It¡¯s only a miracle like the gold string, but it can¡¯t happen to us. Everyone who is an MT¡ªlike us¡ªwe used to be human, sure, but now we¡¯re more like souls. Strings like that aren¡¯t supposed to happen for us since we¡¯re not living beings anymore," I explained again, though I felt like we had already covered this.

    "Why, though?" Yuna asked, her confusion growing.

    I sighed. Didn¡¯t I already explain this? "Because love and other feelings¡­ we can''t feel them. It''s also a taboo for us to experience those emotions," I said, my tone firm.

    Axel chimed in, adding, "Yeah, it¡¯s forbidden for us to feel things like that."

    I glanced at him, curious. "What''s with you today?" I asked, noticing he was acting strange. Something about him had been off since that accident a week ago, and it made me uncomfortable. He wasn¡¯t saying much, and I¡¯d caught him with bruises more than once. I¡¯ve also been having these weird dreams lately, but I can never remember them when I wake up.

    "Like I said, I¡¯ll be helping her," Axel responded, but I wasn¡¯t convinced that was his only motive.

    "Oh, you¡¯re doing this because I¡¯m going to be gone soon?" I asked, half-joking. "That¡¯s nice of you."

    "If you¡¯re leaving, I will too," he said, his voice quiet, and the air between us grew tense.

    Silence settled in. I didn¡¯t expect that answer.

    "Why don¡¯t you just ascend first, then?" I suggested.

    "I still have a lot of work to do," Axel replied.

    "You sure?" I asked, doubting him.

    "Yes. As a Life Hunter, I still need to hunt life souls," he said, brushing off my concern.

    I turned to Yuna, sensing there was something more to her question. "Why did you ask about that? Did you witness something? If so, you should report it, since it''s forbidden," I warned her. My instincts were telling me there was more she wasn¡¯t sharing.

    "Is something going to happen to them?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

    I paused, the weight of the rules and consequences running through my mind. It was hard to explain¡ªthere were so many regulations, so many complications. If something like that had been seen, it could lead to disaster.

    "Well¡ª" I began, but Axel cut in.

    "They¡¯ll be punished, and they''ll be erased from existence," Axel said bluntly. My eyes widened, and I immediately slapped his shoulder.

    "Don¡¯t say it like that!" I hissed. Yuna looked horrified at his words.

    "Ouch, that hurts," Axel grumbled, rubbing his shoulder.

    "Axel, you can¡¯t just say things like that," I muttered, shaking my head. Yuna¡¯s face was pale, her eyes wide in disbelief. I could feel her worry and fear radiating from her.

    "I¡¯m just being honest," Axel shrugged, unbothered, but I could see a flicker of something in his eyes. It wasn¡¯t like him to be so blunt, especially with Yuna.

    "You need to be careful with your words," I warned, trying to calm the atmosphere. "Yuna, it¡¯s not as simple as just getting erased. There are processes, and rules to handle this sort of thing. It¡¯s complicated, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s hopeless."

    "Senior, what happens if someone¡ª" Yuna hesitated, looking at me with a mix of fear and confusion. "What if someone like us gets a red string? Does it mean they¡¯re going to be¡­ punished?"

    I sighed, trying to choose my words carefully. "The red string is a sign of love, connection. It''s not supposed to happen for us because... we¡¯re not meant to have those kinds of feelings anymore. It¡¯s taboo. But," I added, noticing the panic in her eyes, "that doesn¡¯t mean the end for whoever it happens to. There are ways to deal with it. Sometimes, it''s just a mistake or a misunderstanding of what it represents."

    Axel stayed quiet for a moment, looking at Yuna thoughtfully. "If you saw something like that, it could be a malfunction. Or... something much more serious."

    "More serious?" Yuna whispered.

    "Yes," Axel said, softer this time. "If a red string appears on someone like us, it means they¡¯ve broken a fundamental rule of existence. It¡¯s not just about love¡ªit¡¯s about being tied to life in a way we¡¯re not supposed to be anymore. And that could bring consequences."

    Yuna looked between us, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "What kind of consequences?"

    I sighed again, running a hand through my hair. "The kind that puts us at risk. Not just the person with the red string, but anyone they¡¯re connected to. It can cause imbalance, disrupt the flow of life and death. That¡¯s why it¡¯s forbidden."

    "Which is why," Axel interrupted, "it has to be reported immediately. Whoever it is, whatever¡¯s causing the string, has to be dealt with. Before it¡¯s too late."

    Yuna¡¯s face went pale again, and she swallowed nervously. "But... but what if it was a mistake? What if the string wasn¡¯t meant to appear?"

    "It doesn¡¯t matter," Axel said bluntly. "Rules are rules."

    I shot him a warning glare. "Yuna, listen," I said gently, "if you really saw something, you need to be careful. But there¡¯s always a way to fix things, okay? We can figure this out. You¡¯re not alone in this."

    Yuna nodded, though her hands were trembling slightly. "I just... I saw it, Senior. I saw the string, and it was connected to..." Her voice trailed off as she hesitated.

    "Connected to who?" I asked, my heart suddenly pounding.

    "Nothing," she said, making me pause. "I think I just made a mistake," she added with a smile on her face.

    To be honest, if Yuna actually saw someone with that string, it means the Gold String incident really happened, and one of the hunters actually got it and became human.

    ¡°You sure?¡± I asked to confirm she looked at me and smiled. ¡°Yes¡±

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39

    "You shouldn¡¯t have come, sir," the secretary, said to Zayne as the young man was carefully tending to his wounds. Zayne focused on his task, his hands glowing faintly as he healed the deep cuts and bruises. "If I hadn¡¯t come, you would¡¯ve been in grave danger," Zayne replied, finishing the healing process.

    Mr. Karon, feeling the pain dissipate, tried to bow deeply in gratitude, but Zayne, flustered, quickly stopped him. "You don¡¯t need to do that," Zayne said, waving his hand dismissively. "My mother hurt you... thanking me feels wrong.

    Mr. Karon met his gaze with a weary smile. "I¡¯m the one who should apologize," he said quietly.

    Zayne raised an eyebrow, confused. "Apologize for what?"

    "You had already escaped your mother¡¯s grip, but because of me, you came back here." Mr. Karon''s voice cracked with guilt. His hands trembled as he continued, "I shouldn¡¯t have called you that night."

    Zayne softened, offering the old man a kind smile. "I would¡¯ve come back eventually," he said, a trace of sadness in his voice. He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote something down, then handed it to Mr. Karon. "This is the medicine you¡¯ll need to heal properly. Make sure to get it."

    Mr. Karon hesitated, his hand lingering over the paper. "You¡¯ve already done so much for me, Mr. Zayne. I shouldn¡¯t have dragged you back into this mess."

    Zayne sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But my mother would¡¯ve forced your hand regardless," he replied, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Things could¡¯ve been much worse if you hadn¡¯t called me."

    Mr. Karon looked down, clutching the paper tightly, the guilt still evident in his eyes. He knew Zayne was right, but the weight of his actions still lingered.

    Zayne watched Mr. Karon struggle with his words. The old secretary, now sitting on the couch with a worn expression, muttered, "I should have done more... this old man."

    Zayne¡¯s eyes softened as he stepped closer. "You shouldn¡¯t be pushing yourself, Mr. Karon," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

    Flashback

    Zayne was seated at his desk, his thoughts lingering on the papers Lanaya had left for him earlier when his phone rang. The number flashing on the screen was familiar, and he answered without hesitation.

    "Mr. Zayne," came the voice of Secretary Karon on the other line, calm but carrying a subtle weight of concern.

    Zayne smiled slightly,  "Secretary Karon, how are you doing?"

    "I''m good, sir. And you? How have you been?" Karon''s tone was measured, but there was an unspoken caution beneath his words.

    "I¡¯m doing well, thank you," Zayne responded, though he could sense something off in the conversation. "What¡¯s the reason for your call?"

    There was a pause, and Zayne could hear the faint sound of Karon clearing his throat. "Your mother, sir... she¡¯s been asking about you. She... wants you to come back, at any cost."

    Zayne''s expression darkened slightly, but his voice remained calm and respectful. "I see. I had a feeling this conversation might come up again."

    Karon¡¯s voice concern, but he maintained his professionalism. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up, sir. Things might... escalate if you don¡¯t comply."

    Zayne was silent for a moment, his hand gripping the paper on his desk. "Secretary Karon, I can handle it. If my mother insists, I can go back and¡ª"

    "No, sir," Karon interrupted, his voice firm but filled with unspoken emotion. "You shouldn¡¯t. You¡¯ve worked hard to distance yourself from all of this. You¡¯ve built a life on your own terms. I¡¯ve seen it."

    Zayne smiled faintly, appreciating Karon¡¯s concern, though he knew the secretary would never explicitly speak against his mother. "I know you''re looking out for me, Karon, and I¡¯m grateful for that. But... she is still my mother and I know what she can do to you. I can¡¯t just ignore her."

    "You¡¯ve done enough, sir," Karon said quietly, his voice softening. "I think that¡¯s all anyone could ask for. You deserve to live your life... not go back to being manipulated."

    The call ended.

    End of Flashback

    ¡°Oh, by the way, how is your daughter?" Zayne asked, gently changing the topic as he noticed the tension in Mr. Karon''s face.

    The old man smiled faintly, though there was a sadness in his eyes. "She always visits me in my dreams, sir. But... after you gave me advice on what to do for her grave, it seemed to lift a weight off her. The day you left, and when I did as you suggested... she seemed happier, finally at peace."

    Zayne nodded thoughtfully, but his gaze shifted to the corner of the room, where the ghostly figure of Mr. Karon''s daughter stood, her transparent form watching her father with tear-filled eyes. She hovered close, clearly distressed by his injuries.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "She will be at peace," Zayne said softly, eyes flicking back to the old man. "But you need to take care of yourself, too."

    Mr. Karon chuckled weakly. "You should take your own advice, sir, especially with the possibility of your return." His expression grew more serious. "I know things will get messy."

    Zayne sighed, the weight of his responsibilities hanging heavily in the air. "My mother and father love me so much that they can''t seem to let me go," he said, his voice filled with conflicted emotion. "I don''t know if it''s a blessing or a curse... this life."

    Mr. Karon looked at him with understanding. "I know it¡¯s hard on you, sir. But... you once told me about that recurring dream of a woman. Maybe, if she ever comes into your life, you¡¯ll find true happiness."

    Zayne smiled faintly, a glimmer of something unspoken crossing his face. "I¡¯ve already found her."

    The old man¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh? That¡¯s good news¡ªwell, perhaps not at the moment," he said, letting out a chuckle, though his voice was tinged with fatigue.

    Zayne¡¯s smile remained, but his eyes softened. "I¡¯m content with my life, Secretary Karon. I feel lucky, really. It¡¯s just... the people around me seem to have the worst luck."

    Mr. Karon shook his head firmly. "You shouldn''t say that, sir. You¡¯re a good person, and good people attract goodness, even if it takes time."

    Zayne¡¯s expression faltered for a brief moment, but he quickly composed himself. "If I¡¯m a good person, then why do¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, catching himself. A silence settled between them.

    "Sir?" Mr. Karon asked softly, sensing something heavy left unsaid.

    Zayne smiled again, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. "It¡¯s nothing. It''s late, Mr. Karon. You should go back to your room. I can¡¯t let one of my patients exhaust themselves because of me."

    Mr. Karon nodded slowly, "Of course, sir. But... take care of yourself, too."

    Zayne watched him leave.

    On the other side . The next day.

    "That''s not how it''s done, you idiot!" La-La snapped at Axel as they were in the middle of teaching Yuna how to hunt more effectively.

    "Idiot? Who, me?" Axel responded, clearly in disbelief.

    "Of course, I''m talking about you!" La-La retorted, rolling her eyes. "We should go higher up to get a better view of people. What do you mean, stay in the crowd? Are you a love hunter or something? No, you''re a grim reaper! As Love Hunters- Being in the crowd just makes our eyes more exhausted, and it¡¯s harder to spot soulmates!"

    Yuna, trying to mediate, chimed in hesitantly, "I think Senior La-La is right, Mr. Axel. The high ground does sound better for us."

    La-La''s Point of View:

    I can''t believe this guy. Why is he even bothering to join us if he''s just going to argue all the time?

    "Why are you even here? Shouldn''t you be working?" I asked Axel, annoyed.

    "I¡¯ve already finished my job," he replied casually, shrugging.

    "Then why are you here, in Denmart City of all places? It¡¯s far from the main city," I pointed out, still frustrated by his sudden presence.

    "What do you mean? I also live here now," he said nonchalantly.

    Wait... what?

    "What?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

    "I¡¯ve been living here, same as Yuna," he explained, glancing at Yuna, who looked slightly guilty.

    "Didn''t I already inform you, Senior?" Yuna asked, her tone apologetic.

    No, you didn¡¯t!

    Axel raised an eyebrow at me and added, "Did you really think I¡¯ve been traveling all the way from the main city just to visit you? Why would I waste that much time?"

    "So you asked to be relocated here, too?" I asked, trying to make sense of it.

    "Yes, of course," Axel confirmed, his voice steady.

    I frowned, still in disbelief. How did I not know about this?

    "Did you lose your brain in that accident?" Axel teased, a smirk forming on his lips, which only made me feel more insulted.

    Ugh! This guy!

    ¡°You know what, let me just grab some coffee,¡± I said, standing up from the table. Axel immediately stood up as well.

    What now?

    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you,¡± he said, his voice casual but insistent.

    This dude and his overprotective nature.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll get it myself,¡± I replied, waving him off.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you,¡± he repeated firmly, not budging an inch. Ugh, my head was already starting to hurt. The whole reason I wanted coffee was to get away from him for at least a minute, just to clear my thoughts.

    I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to mask my frustration. ¡°No. Tell me your order,¡± I said in a firm tone, my eyes glaring at him.

    Axel raised an eyebrow but relented. ¡°I¡¯ll have an Americano.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, okay,¡± I replied, turning to Yuna. ¡°You, Yuna?¡±

    ¡°Just a latte,¡± she answered sweetly.

    ¡°Got it,¡± I said and quickly walked away before Axel could follow me again.

    This is the third day I¡¯ve been teaching Yuna my ways of hunting, trying to help her at least improve. Axel had been tagging along, claiming he wanted to teach her some of the things I apparently do without realizing it while hunting. I rolled my eyes at the thought of him critiquing my methods.

    At the Counter

    I approached the cashier, taking a deep breath, finally enjoying a small moment of quiet.

    ¡°Hi, what can I get for you today?¡± the barista asked, smiling.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll have one Americano, one latte, and a cappuccino for myself,¡± I said, tapping my card on the counter absentmindedly.

    ¡°Got it! Anything else?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯ll be it,¡± I said, waiting as they prepared the drinks.

    As I waited, I couldn¡¯t help but think about Axel. Why was he always hovering around me this past view days I even feel like a CCTV was around me or something? Did he think I couldn¡¯t handle myself or something? Sure, I¡¯ve had a few close calls, but still ... I shook my head, pushing the thought away.

    When the drinks were ready, I grabbed them carefully, balancing all three cups in my hands.

    On My Way Back

    As I turned to head back to the table, I suddenly collided with someone, nearly spilling the coffee all over my shirt.

    ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± I exclaimed, stepping back quickly.

    ¡°No, it''s my fault¡ªMs. Lanaya?¡±

    I blinked, looking up to see Zayne standing in front of me. His familiar face caught me off guard, and for a moment, I just stood there, frozen. I shouldn¡¯t be meeting him like this.

    ¡°Zayne? What are you doing here?¡± I asked, forcing a smile as I held onto the coffee cups.

    ¡°I could ask you the same thing,¡± Zayne replied, his smile warm and inviting. ¡°I was just passing through. Didn¡¯t expect to run into you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what a coincidence,¡± I said, trying to keep my tone light. ¡°You came all the way from the Main City?¡±

    He nodded, but then his expression shifted slightly. ¡°How are you, Ms. Lanaya?¡± he suddenly asked, concern evident in his tone.

    We stood in the middle of the coffee shop, making way for other customers, and I could feel the eyes on us. I glanced around, uncomfortable under their scrutiny.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a seat?¡± Zayne suggested, a glint of hope in his eyes.

    I needed to get away from him. I had done too much to avoid him after running away with just a letter.

    ¡°No, I have company,¡± I said, crafting an excuse. The moment fell silent between us, tension thickening the air.

    ¡°Are you running away from me again?¡± he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and disappointment.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40

    ¡°Are you running away from me again?¡± he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and disappointment.

    I hesitated, caught off guard by his directness. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that,¡± I replied quickly, though my heart raced in my chest. I could feel the tension between us, thick and suffocating, as Zayne studied my expression, searching for a truth I was unsure of myself.

    ¡°Ms. Lanaya, please,¡± he urged softly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep avoiding me.¡±

    I looked away, trying to gather my thoughts. The truth was, this was awkward. Our past shared moments¡ªfilled with camaraderie, laughter, and a connection I couldn¡¯t quite place¡ªnow felt like a tangled web of emotions. With him staring at me, I felt uncomfortably exposed. And I still remember the accident where the wild one used his faced.

    ¡°Can we just... talk for a second?¡± he pressed, his voice earnest and sincere. There was something in his eyes that made it hard to ignore the pull I felt toward him, no matter how much I wanted to resist.

    ¡°Okay, just for a moment,¡± I finally conceded, unable to deny him any longer.

    Well obviously I¡¯m f****

    Zayne¡¯s expression softened, and he gestured toward a nearby table. ¡°Let¡¯s sit then.¡±

    As we settled into our seats, I accidentally dropped the coffee I had been holding. In a moment of instinct, I offered him the cup. ¡°You like this, right? Why are you giving it to me?¡± he asked, surprise flickering across his face as he handed it back to me.

    Here we go again. He seemed to know my preferences better than I did. Yet, the familiarity of our dynamic made me uneasy. Our relationship was strange¡ªhe was my boss, yet we had formed a friendship during that vacation.

    Leaving him with just a letter had felt rude, almost like a betrayal. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he still have some disappointment toward me.

    Axel Point of View

    La-La is running late, as expected.

    And I am dead worried about her.

    Why?

    Because it¡¯s all my fault.

    From the moment I first laid eyes on her, my life twisted into a knot I can never seem to untangle. If I could turn back time, if I could undo that fateful meeting, I would¡ªbecause watching her suffer has been like living through a personal hell. Every tear, every painful moment etched into her face has cut deeper into me than I ever thought possible.

    The day we met is seared into my memory like a brand¡ªunreal, yet so vivid it feels like a dream I can¡¯t wake from.

    Flashback

    Another job, another day of soul-taking.

    This endless, sickening cycle¡ªpeople¡¯s lives reduced to pleas for forgiveness, as if I could give them back the life they lost. It¡¯s laughable, really.

    Even the seniors kept badgering me over this damned face that the higher-ups gave me¡ªlike some twisted joke.

    The higher-ups didn¡¯t even bother telling me what I did wrong, but here I am, being punished for some cosmic sin I¡¯m not even aware of.

    I¡¯m tired. So damn tired. I wish I could just... stop.

    But stopping isn¡¯t an option for someone like me. Harvesting lives is what I do, even if it makes me sick to my core. Listening to their arguments, their desperate blames¡ªit''s enough to drain the will out of anyone. The guilt they throw at me, as if their deaths are my fault, wears me down day by day.

    What¡¯s the point of all this? Is there even one?

    I¡¯ve considered quitting more times than I can count. But quitting isn¡¯t so easy when your entire existence revolves around death and as if I can quit. And here I am, standing among the stench of mortality, watching people laugh and celebrate as if they aren''t already living on borrowed time.

    Thousands of them. They¡¯ll all be dead soon.

    And they¡¯re none the wiser, enjoying the fleeting moments they have left, while I choke on the futility of it all.

    But wait. What¡¯s that?

    A child.

    She¡¯s standing there, untouched by the death aura that clouds everyone else. She doesn¡¯t belong here¡ªshe shouldn¡¯t be here. A flicker of concern stirs in me. Should I help her? Could I even if I wanted to?

    You should¡ª

    That voice again. A woman¡¯s voice, distant yet familiar, echoing in my mind. And just like that, an image flickers before my eyes¡ªa memory, a shadow of someone I once knew, someone who once mattered.

    No. It couldn¡¯t be.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    But before I can make sense of it, I feel a soft bump against my arm. Someone¡¯s collided with me.

    I turn, ready to brush it off, but when I look down... my heart stills.

    Her.

    She¡¯s standing right in front of me, her voice a soft apology, but I don¡¯t hear the words. I can¡¯t. All I can do is stare at her, at those black eyes that once held so much light, at the small mole near her eye, at the way her hair is tied back just the way it used to be.

    Time freezes, and in that stillness, everything inside me unravels.

    I¡¯ve missed her.

    The regret, the pain¡ªit crashes into me all at once, threatening to swallow me whole. I never should have met her, but now, seeing her here again after everything we¡¯ve been through...

    I can¡¯t help but think, I¡¯m sorry. For everything. I wish I could undo it all.

    I want to fall to my knees in front of her, beg her to take this pain away, to make it right, but I know it¡¯s too late.

    It¡¯s always been too late.

    But why am I feeling this though and way? I don¡¯t know her at all.

    As she stared up at me, her eyes lingering longer than most, I couldn¡¯t help but smirk. I¡¯ve seen this reaction before, but it never gets old. The silence between us grew thick, so I broke it.

    "I know I''m handsome, miss. No need to look at my face that much," I said, my voice casual, teasing.

    She blinked, clearly taken aback. Did she not realize? "I beg your pardon? What did you just say?" she asked, her tone laced with confusion.

    But before I could answer, the crowd¡¯s noise grew louder, swallowing her question. Without thinking, I grasped her wrist and pulled her out of the chaotic throng. I didn¡¯t ask for permission; I didn¡¯t need to. She tried to resist, tugging against me, but I held firm. It wasn¡¯t a matter of strength; it was just that I couldn¡¯t let her slip away¡ªnot yet.

    As we moved through the crowd, her resistance waned, though I could feel her unease radiating from her. I could tell she was both drawn to me and unsettled. This strange connection between us¡ªsomething that shouldn''t exist¡ªwas making her nervous, though she¡¯d never admit it.

    When we finally broke free from the masses, her eyes locked onto mine, frustration clear in her expression. "What did you just do?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

    I met her gaze, my own brow furrowing as if I truly didn¡¯t have an answer. "I don¡¯t know either," I replied, and for once, I was being honest. This wasn¡¯t how things normally went.

    "Reaper, right?" she asked, her voice cutting through the moment like a blade. It startled me¡ªhow did she know?

    "How did you know?" I couldn¡¯t hide my surprise, but a strange sense of relief followed her recognition.

    "I''m also an MT, a love hunter," she explained, and I nodded slowly. That made sense. She was in the business of emotions, and I was in the business of endings.

    She pulled back, but I wasn¡¯t ready to let her go just yet. "Do you have any particular business with me by pulling me out of the crowd?" she asked, still eyeing me warily.

    I raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smirk tugging at my lips again. "No, it seems that you have the business for me," I said, watching her confusion flicker in her expression.

    "Huh? What do you mean by that?" she asked.

    "You stared at my face for almost ten minutes," I pointed out. ¡°Ten minutes. That¡¯s a long time for someone like you, isn''t it?¡±

    She blinked in disbelief, clearly not aware of how much time had passed. "Ten minutes? Really? Is that long?"

    "You''re the first one to be so mesmerized by my looks for that long. Can you believe that?" I added, my voice laced with amusement.

    She narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed now. Good. Annoyance was better than the confusion I saw earlier.

    "I don''t know where you got your confidence from," she shot back, "but I apologize for looking at your face. If I really stared for that long, shouldn¡¯t you have said something instead of staring back at me?"

    That caught me off guard. She was sharp, I¡¯d give her that.

    "Well," I started, feeling a bit defensive, "it seemed rude to interrupt."

    She rolled her eyes. "Ah."

    I didn¡¯t want her to leave. Not yet. Something about this whole encounter felt off, like we weren¡¯t done. I reached out and grabbed her wrist again as she tried to walk away.

    "Do you have business with me?" she asked, her voice exasperated.

    "Why are you avoiding me so easily?" I asked, not quite sure why it bothered me. "Is it because I¡¯m a reaper? Aren¡¯t you being a bit discriminatory? You didn¡¯t even give me the chance to accept your apology."

    She sighed heavily, clearly at her wit''s end. "Racist is for discriminating against people based on their race. You¡¯re a grim reaper¡ªthat¡¯s your job, not your race."

    That made me pause for a second. She had a point, but I wasn¡¯t going to let her leave on that note.

    "Look," she continued, "as I said, I have work to do. I''m a love hunter, and time is precious to us." She slipped her wrist free from my grip, but I could tell she was still watching me.

    "I already apologized for staring at your face. Isn''t that enough?"

    "Yes," I answered, not hesitating.

    She stopped and turned, her disbelief clear. "Are you serious?"

    "Well, you weren¡¯t sincere," I said, my tone flat. I wasn¡¯t messing with her¡ªI actually meant it.

    "Sincere? You''ve got to be kidding me," she said, exasperation coloring her voice.

    "No. Looking at my face for that long is against the law," I said, my voice deadly serious.

    She blinked, incredulous. "What law are you even talking about?"

    I didn¡¯t miss a beat. "The law of art. Of God."

    She stared at me like I was insane. Maybe I was. Who knows at this point?

    "Mr. Reaper," she started, but I interrupted her.

    "Axel," I corrected. If we were going to keep talking, she might as well use my name.

    "Fine, Mr. Axel," she said with a sharpness in her voice. "I know you''re handsome¡ªyes, I''ll give you that. But can you just mind your own business? I have a job to do."

    "Where?" I asked.

    She looked at me like I was some kind of child. "Here. In this crowd."

    My voice dropped to a cold whisper. "You mean this crowd, where a lot of people are going to die?"

    I watched her face pale, her eyes widening in shock. "What did you say?"

    "They¡¯re all dying," I said calmly. It was the truth, after all.

    She glanced back at the crowd, scanning their faces. None of them knew what was coming.

    "You¡¯re joking, right?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

    "Why would a reaper joke about death?" I said, my tone devoid of humor.

    "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper now.

    "Yes."

    Her gaze sharpened. "Then why don¡¯t you intervene? Save them?"

    I almost laughed. "I can¡¯t. I¡¯m just a reaper."

    Then the bomb exploded.

    End of Flashback

    The memory played out in my mind like a vivid nightmare, a moment etched into my soul. It had been traumatic for her, a wound that wouldn¡¯t heal. Yet, despite all that pain, the day I met her felt... different. Everything was both chaotic and exhilarating. Her presence had a way of making even the darkest situations feel lighter, as if life with her was a whirlwind of unpredictability, balancing between tragedy and a strange sense of joy.

    But I never thought it would come to this¡ªwatching her die right in front of my eyes. That day, her light had flickered out, and for a moment, the world felt colder. And now, somehow, she¡¯s returned. Human. Vulnerable.

    And I fear it more than anything else.

    What if she can¡¯t go back to what she was before? What if this fragile human form is all that¡¯s left of her? Worst of all... what if I¡¯m the one who has to take her soul? The very thought of it twists my insides into knots. I¡¯ve taken many souls, but hers? That would break me.

    I hope¡ªno, I pray¡ªthat day never comes.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41

    La-La¡¯s Point of View

    "Is this all about me leaving without any notice?" I began hesitantly, my voice barely a whisper. Guilt swelled in my chest, but I forced myself to look at him. "I''m really sorry about that. I know it must have been difficult for you to find another worker... especially given my condition." I paused. "Maybe I could make up for it somehow?" I added weakly, hoping to ease the tension.

    He didn¡¯t respond right away. His gaze, usually so calm and collected, was sharper now, cutting through my defenses.

    ¡°You know how much I worry about you, Ms. Lanaya?¡± he asked, his voice low but filled with concern.

    I was shock.

    His words took me by surprise. He¡¯s worried? I wasn¡¯t sure how to respond.

    ¡°I... I appreciate your concern," I managed, swallowing hard, trying to keep my composure. "But I¡¯m fine, really.¡± My voice wavered, betraying the lie I desperately wanted to believe.

    He wasn¡¯t convinced.

    ¡°Are you sure about that?" His eyes narrowed, watching me closely, as if searching for the truth I wasn¡¯t willing to admit. His tone softened. "Lanaya... you¡¯re not the type to disappear without a reason. Something happened, didn¡¯t it? You left with those injuries of yours"

    I hesitated, the question stirring something inside me. Was he really that concerned about why I left?

    ¡°Does it not bother you?¡± I asked, my voice more vulnerable than I intended. ¡°That I left without an explanation? Aren¡¯t you curious why?¡± The words slipped out before I could stop them.

    Zayne¡¯s expression shifted¡ªless professional, more personal. He set his cup down, the clink of porcelain against wood louder than it should¡¯ve been.

    ¡°Of course, it bothers me,¡± he admitted, his voice quieter now, catching me off guard. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t thought about it every day since you disappeared? I didn¡¯t want to push you, but... I need to know. Did I do something wrong?¡±

    His question hit harder than I expected. My chest tightened as the weight of the truth pressed down on me. I wasn¡¯t ready to confront it, not now. My breath caught in my throat, and the words I had ready to deflect his concern scattered, leaving me tongue-tied.

    Before I could respond, the room grew colder. It wasn¡¯t just the silence¡ªit was the presence that slipped in like a shadow, unnoticed at first but impossible to ignore once it was here.

    Axel.

    Sh**, did I really spend that much time here? The last thing I needed was these two starting another round of arguments.

    Axel stood framed in the doorway, his tall figure bathed in the light from the hallway, his aura darker than the black coat he always wore. He didn¡¯t say anything at first, just watched us with those sharp, unreadable eyes, his gaze bouncing between me and Zayne like he was assessing a threat.

    Yep, he¡¯s definitely annoyed.

    ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± Axel finally asked, his deep voice smooth but with an edge of mockery, as if he knew exactly what was going on. His eyes narrowed slightly as they locked onto me, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

    Zayne straightened up, immediately trying to regain his composure, but the tension between them was as thick as ever. They always did this, danced around each other like they were waiting for the right moment to strike.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zayne answered sharply, without a moment''s hesitation.

    Here we go again.

    Axel¡¯s smirk grew, his gaze flicking briefly to Zayne. "Really? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks like you¡¯re the one interrupting." His voice was casual, but I knew him well enough to catch the warning laced in his words.

    Before I could even roll my eyes at their ongoing silent war, Axel strode forward and grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful, clearly intending to pull me away from this heated scene.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Axel said coolly, tugging me.

    Before I could react, Zayne¡¯s hand shot out, grabbing Axel¡¯s wrist. "You¡¯re hurting her," Zayne said through gritted teeth.

    Axel¡¯s eyes flickered to Zayne¡¯s hand, and without missing a beat, he yanked his arm free, forcing Zayne to release his hold on me as well. The tension between them escalated instantly.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± Axel snapped, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°La-La is no longer your employee, and you two are nothing more than that.¡±

    Zayne went silent for a moment, his jaw tightening as he processed Axel¡¯s words. There was a pause, and I could almost see the battle raging in his mind.

    Well, Axel¡¯s not wrong, but¡­

    ¡°Nothing more than that?¡± Zayne¡¯s voice broke the silence, sharp and defiant. ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken.¡±

    Axel narrowed his eyes. ¡°What are you implying?¡±

    Before Zayne could answer, I stepped in, sensing things were about to spiral. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked Zayne, cutting through the rising tension. His eyes darted toward me, his expression flickering between surprise and frustration. What¡¯s with the silence? He looked like I¡¯d caught him off guard, and for a second, he couldn¡¯t find the words.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    I threw my hands up, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Seriously? You two are going to do this now? In front of the coffee?" I motioned to the cup of coffee I¡¯d bought earlier, still sitting untouched on the table. "Can¡¯t we argue somewhere less caffeine-filled? I just wanted to sit down, maybe enjoy some peace, but no, you both had to make it a soap opera."

    Axel blinked at me, his usual composure slipping for a second. "You¡¯re not seriously¡ª"

    "Oh, I am," I interrupted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I am seriously tired of you two going at it like I¡¯m some sort of trophy to be won. Newsflash, I¡¯m not." I marched over to the table, grabbed the coffee I¡¯d bought, and took a long, exaggerated sip.

    Both of them just stared at me, frozen mid-argument.

    I wiped my mouth dramatically and gestured between them. "You guys keep arguing if you want, but I¡¯m done. I¡¯m taking my coffee and leaving. Let me know when you¡¯ve decided to act like adults."

    Before either of them could say a word, I walked toward the table where apparently yuna is, coffee in hand, leaving them behind in their stunned silence. Honestly, the look on their faces was priceless.

    Maybe I should start charging them for entertainment.

    Third Point of View

    The alley was drenched in rain, each drop splattering against the ground like the heartbeat of the city, heavy with foreboding. Shadows clung to the walls, wrapping around the figures of the special forces, their hoods drawn tight against the downpour.

    ¡°Hands up!!¡± they shouted, their voices echoing off the slick pavement, reverberating with authority.

    Dorian stood at the center of the chaos, his expression a mask of calm. A smirk danced across his lips, the flicker of mischief in his eyes contrasting sharply with the grim atmosphere. He raised his hands, but it was a gesture that spoke more of defiance than surrender.

    ¡°You are charged with everything and taking the souls of all mythical creatures, totaling sixteen counts. You are to be¡­ banished!¡± declared one of the special forces, stepping forward, a glowing red box in hand¡ªthe Gellion Box, a powerful artifact meant to eliminate wild ones, but only once a century.

    As the soldier approached, the rain dripped from the brim of his hood, creating a steady rhythm that punctuated the tense standoff. With each step, the air around them thickened, charged with impending doom.

    Julo, the leader of the squad, focused on the box, intent on activating its power. He could feel the weight of the moment, the lives at stake¡ªboth his comrades and Dorian¡¯s victims. He held his breath, channeling energy into the artifact, the red light flickering ominously.

    But before he could unleash the box''s deadly magic, Dorian moved.

    Like a flash of lightning slicing through the night, he lunged.

    In one fluid motion, he unleashed a wave of darkness that enveloped the nine special forces operatives. They barely had time to react before they were consumed, their screams swallowed by the void. As the light from the Gellion Box flickered out, all that remained were the swirling remnants of blue dust, swirling and shimmering in the dim light, a haunting reminder of their lost souls.

    Julo staggered back, shock plastered across his face as Dorian appeared before him, a dark silhouette against the glowing residue of his fallen comrades.

    The world slowed as adrenaline surged through Julo¡¯s veins. He felt the grip of fear but also a spark of determination. With a swift movement, he drew his gun with his right hand, aiming it squarely at Dorian¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Stay back!¡± Julo commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest, each beat a reminder of the danger they were in. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away with this!¡±

    Dorian chuckled, the sound low and menacing, echoing through the alley. ¡°Oh, but I already have, haven¡¯t I?¡± His voice dripped with mockery, confidence radiating from him like a dark aura.

    Julo¡¯s finger trembled on the trigger, sweat mingling with the relentless rain as he calculated his next move. Each heartbeat felt like thunder, echoing in the silence that had descended between them. He couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate; he had to act before Dorian could unleash more destruction. The air crackled with tension, a storm brewing between them that was more than just the rain.

    ¡°You think you can scare me with your little toy?¡± Dorian taunted, his voice smooth and dripping with contempt as he stepped closer, shadows curling around him like sinister tendrils reaching for prey.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I have to,¡± Julo shot back, his resolve hardening even as doubt clawed at the edges of his mind. He was acutely aware that Dorian was not just any foe; he was a force of nature, a wild one whose powers dwarfed those of mere mortals. Julo had seen the aftermath of his wrath¡ªthe chaos and despair he left in his wake, the blue dust swirling around him now a stark reminder of the lives lost.

    With a sudden, decisive motion, Julo squeezed the trigger, the gun¡¯s report ringing out into the night¡ªa challenge echoing into the void. But before the sound could fade, Dorian moved like a shadow, an impossible blur that invaded the space between them.

    ¡°What is your goal?!¡± Julo demanded, his voice strained with determination, desperation creeping into his tone.

    Dorian smirked, the expression chilling and mocking. ¡°To become a god.¡±

    In the blink of an eye, he reached out, his hand closing around Julo''s neck with an iron grip, the air rushing from Julo¡¯s lungs. It was as if the world had fallen away, and he felt himself being drawn into the thin air around them, slowly vanishing like mist under the sun.

    ¡°No!¡± Julo gasped, panic flooding his senses as he clawed at Dorian¡¯s hand, but it was futile. The darkness closed in around him, swallowing his form.

    Dorian leaned in, his voice a sinister whisper that sent chills racing down Julo¡¯s spine. ¡°And to become a god, I need the heart of the mythical who became human.¡± His eyes glinted with a malevolent hunger, a predatory gleam that promised torment. ¡°The dear La-La... I will find you soon. You will once again fall into my hands.¡±

    His laughter echoed through the alley, low and bone-chilling, resonating with an otherworldly echo that seemed to pierce through the rain and darkness. Each note was filled with malice, a harbinger of the chaos yet to come.

    Julo felt the world slip away he banished, the last remnants of his consciousness consumed by Dorian¡¯s dark promise, the laughter reverberating like a death knell in his ears.

    La-la Point of View

    ¡°Ouch!¡± I yelped, pulling my hand back as a sudden sting shot through my skin. It felt like I¡¯d brushed against something hot, but there was nothing around.

    ¡°Are you okay, Senior?¡± Yuna asked, stepping closer with a worried look.

    ¡°Y-yeah...¡± I replied, trying to shake off the weird feeling. How could I get burned when there was nothing hot here? I glanced around, feeling a bit confused.

    Yuna frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s just... a weird sensation or something,¡± I said, hoping to sound more relaxed. But inside, I felt a little flutter of anxiety.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, where is Mr. Axel? He said he would just grab you,¡± Yuna asked, raising an eyebrow. Grabbed? Am I some kind of item?

    ¡°He¡¯s arguing with someone,¡± I said.

    Yuna looked shocked. ¡°Arguing who?¡±

    ¡°Zayne,¡± I answered casually.

    ¡°Zayne? As in Mr. Zayne?¡± she asked, her eyes wide.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I confirmed.

    ¡°Did you two talk?¡± she asked, sounding like it was a big deal or something.

    ¡°Yeah, he asked me about why I left with just a letter, so we talked.¡±

    ¡°So what happened?¡± she pressed, her concern evident.

    ¡°The conversation didn¡¯t finish because those two are busy arguing right now like lovebirds,¡± I said, rolling my eyes playfully. ¡°Drink your coffee, and we¡¯ll leave later. Let¡¯s just focus on your training for now.¡±

    ¡°O-okay,¡± she replied, finally cracking a smile.

    I gave her a reassuring smile back, hoping to lift the mood.