Driving through the quiet city streets, they began introducing themselves.

  Woman: "So… what's your name?"

  Bella: "My name is Bella. I'm a medical student."

  The woman smiled faintly.

  Woman: "Oh? So I have a future doctor in my car."

  Bella's eyes lit up at that.

  Bella: "And what about you?"

  The woman glanced at the road, her smile turning softer.

  Woman: "Me? Just an old lady alone in this world."

  Bella blinked, then laughed lightly.

  Bella: "You? An old lady? You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, miss."

  The woman raised a brow slightly.

  Woman: "Is that so?"

  Bella smiled, a little shy but sincere.

  Bella: "I get it… you're being sarcastic. You must hear compliments like that all the time."

  The woman slowed the car and stopped in front of a small shop by the roadside.

  Woman: "Wait here for a few minutes. I just need to grab something from this shop."

  Bella looked up at the dark storefront. The lights were off.

  Bella: "But… this shop is closed."

  The woman smiled calmly.

  Woman: "I know the owner. I'll go in through the back door."

  Bella nodded.

  Bella: "Okay. I'll wait for you, miss."

  The woman stepped out of the car. Without another word, she turned and walked into the narrow alley beside the shop, disappearing into the shadows.

  The woman stepped onto the narrow road behind the shop building. The streetlights flickered faintly, casting long shadows across the empty pavement.

  She stopped.

  Woman: "Hunter… I know you're here. You can stop hiding and show your sneaky ass now."

  A faint movement stirred in the darkness.

  The Hunter stepped forward from the shadows.

  The woman's expression didn't change.

  Woman: "I have to admit… you did a good job trapping the girl in that limbo world."

  The Hunter's eyes narrowed in shock.

  Hunter: "How do you know about my kind… and the Limbo?"

  Woman: "I've seen hunters like you before, your kind like other high class demons can trap people in this limbo miror world."

  The Hunter's expression darkened.

  Hunter: "Impossible. We are Hunters. Once we are deployed to kill, there is no escaping us. We chase our targets until they die."

  He took a step forward, voice growing colder.

  Woman yawns totally not paying attention she checks on her nails and watch for time.

  Hunter: "We kill by any means — physically or mentally. So there's no way you've seen one of my kind and surviv—"

  He stopped.

  Mid-sentence.

  His eyes widened.

  The woman was no longer standing where she had been.

  Instead—

  A sofa now sat in the middle of the empty road.

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  And she was lying on it casually, one leg crossed over the other, drinking from a can of soda.

  She glanced at him lazily.

  "Were you saying something?

  The Hunter roared and lunged forward, swinging his axe straight at the woman lounging on the sofa.

  The blade sliced through the air—

  —but she wasn't there.

  The axe crashed into empty space.

  Hunter: "Where did you go?!"

  He spun around.

  Nothing.

  He looked to his left.

  Empty.

  Then slowly… he turned his head to the right.

  She was standing there.

  Right in front of him.

  A gun pressed gently against his forehead.

  The hand holding it shimmered faintly, as if energy was gathering around the weapon — not loud, not dramatic… just controlled.

  Her head was slightly lowered.

  Eyes closed.

  A soft smile curved across her lips.

  The Hunter's voice trembled.

  Hunter: "Wai—"

  The shot echoed through the empty road.

  For a split second, everything went silent.

  Then—

  The Hunter's body shattered into fragments of dark energy, exploding outward before dissolving into nothing.

  The woman returned to the car as if nothing had happened.

  She opened the door and sat down calmly.

  Bella looked at her, slightly uneasy.

  Bella: "I thought I heard something loud back there…"

  The woman fastened her seatbelt.

  Woman: "No? There was no noise. You must be tired."

  Bella hesitated for a second… then nodded.

  As the engine started again, she glanced at the woman.

  Bella: "Miss… you never told me your name."

  The woman gave a small apologetic smile.

  Woman: "Oh. Sorry about that. My name is Yuna Minamoto."

  Bella froze.

  Bella: "Minamoto?"

  Something clicked in her mind.

  Her eyes widened.

  Bella: "Wait… you're a Minamoto?!"

  Yuna: "Yes. I'm a Minamoto."

  Bella stared at her in disbelief.

  Bella: "From what I've read… the Minamoto family is one of the most influential families in the world. Your clan played a key role in the Great War."

  Yuna let out a soft laugh.

  Yuna: "Haha… so you've read about that too?"

  She kept her eyes on the road, but there was something unreadable in her smile.

  Bella glanced out the window and pointed ahead.

  "My house is on the next street. You can drop me here."

  Yuna smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'll drop you right at your door. It's not a big problem."

  "That's so nice of you," Bella said, her voice warm with gratitude.

  A few moments later, the car slowed and came to a smooth stop in front of the Vale Family House. The engine hummed softly before going silent. Yuna stepped out of the car gracefully.

  Bella followed, clutching her bag. "Thank you very much for today."

  Yuna leaned lightly against the car door, studying her. "Have you ever considered getting mentorship from an experienced doctor?"

  Bella's eyes lit up. "Yes… I've tried. But I haven't been able to find anyone willing to take me."

  "I know many people in the medical industry," Yuna said calmly. "I have connections with some of the top doctors. I could introduce you to a few of them."

  Bella blinked in disbelief. "Oh my God… you can really do that?"

  A small, confident smile curved on Yuna's lips. "There's very little I can't do. Here—" She reached into her coat and handed Bella a sleek business card. "Take this. And give me your contact."

  Bella quickly typed her number into Yuna's phone, her hands trembling slightly from excitement. "I'm so grateful, Miss Minamoto. I don't know how to thank you."

  Yuna's gaze lingered on her for a moment—calm, unreadable.

  "Just focus on becoming a great doctor," she said softly.

  Bella thanked Yuna once again.

  Yuna gave her a gentle smile, then stepped into her car. The engine started, and within seconds, the vehicle disappeared down the quiet street.

  Bella turned toward the house, ready to head inside — but she suddenly noticed a familiar car parked nearby.

  Before she could react, the driver's door opened.

  Diluc stepped out, his expression filled with worry.

  "Why wasn't your phone connecting?" he asked immediately. "I've been searching for you everywhere."

  Bella frowned slightly and pulled her phone from her bag. "I don't know… maybe there's something wrong with it."

  Diluc looked at her carefully. "Did you take a taxi?"

  "No," Bella shook her head. "There was this kind lady — Miss Yuna. She gave me a lift. She just left a few minutes ago."

  Diluc glanced down the street, disappointed. "Ah… I missed the chance to thank her."

  Bella smiled lightly. "It's okay. So… where's the food?"

  Diluc rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

  "Well… about that…"

  Bella crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Well… about that?"

  Diluc coughed awkwardly and avoided eye contact.

  "So… funny story."

  Bella narrowed her eyes. "Diluc."

  "I did go to buy the food," he defended quickly. "But then your phone wasn't connecting, and I panicked. I thought something happened, so I drove around searching for you."

  Bella blinked. "You mean…"

  "Yes," he sighed dramatically. "I forgot the food."

  For a second, there was silence.

  Then—

  "You forgot the food?!" Bella stared at him in disbelief.

  "I was worried about you!" Diluc protested. "Isn't my concern more important than food?"

  "Not when I'm hungry!"

  Diluc placed a hand over his heart. "So this is how you treat someone who risked emotional trauma searching the entire city for you."

  Bella tried to stay serious… but a laugh escaped her.

  "You're unbelievable."

  "And yet," he smirked, "you're still stuck with me."

  Bella shook her head, smiling. "Fine. Let's go. We're ordering something. And you're paying."

  Diluc sighed in defeat. "There goes my wallet."

  They walked toward the house together, the tension from earlier melting into familiar warmth.

  The scene shifts.

  Far from the quiet Vale residence…

  A vast stretch of land unfolds under the night sky.

  In the center of it stands a mansion — enormous, imposing, almost unreal. Marble pillars rise toward the heavens. Countless windows glow faintly. The architecture is a blend of modern luxury and ancient authority.

  Armed guards patrol the perimeter in disciplined formation. Surveillance lights sweep across the grounds. Every movement is monitored.

  Headlights appear in the distance.

  A sleek black car approaches the main gate.

  Immediately, two guards raise their hands, signaling it to stop. The iron gates remain closed.

  One guard steps forward cautiously, adjusting his rifle strap as he approaches the driver-side window.

  He knocks lightly.

  The window slides down slowly.

  "I'm sorry," the guard begins politely, "did you lose your way? This is private property. I'm afraid we hav—"

  He stops mid-sentence.

  His eyes widen.

  The color drains from his face.

  He straightens instantly, almost snapping into a salute.

  "…G-Grand Lady."

  END OF THE CHAPTER