[Perfect Host Found!]
[Host's emotional status towards you has matched requirements!]
[Make Host New Hatchery Maiden?]
[Yes] | [No]
Minho stared at the message quietly. What would happen if he picked yes? What would happen if he picked no? The part of Minho that still clung onto his humanity, even if a little, told him he was going to complicate someone elses life for what the system wants.
He didn't want any business with someone who had nothing to do with the system. She hadn't come as a subordinate or an enemy or someone arrogant enough to get on his nerves. He had no reason to put her in danger. The system's request was wild.
But what would happen if he actually did accept to make her the new Hatchery Maiden? He would complete one of the requirements for Crimson Purgatory.
'What's going on?' He thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighed and decided to walk back home.
A few minutes later, he stood at his frontage, opening the door. He entered and saw his mother standing by the door waiting for him, with her eyes on her phone.
She raised her head. "Honey, where have you been? You haven't been picking my calls."
Minho closed the door behind him. "I'm so so sorry mom. I lost my phone." He muttered, taking off the face mask.
"Don't you think you should track it? I was calling right now, let me cut it then," she said. Her finger almost touched the cut call button when someone picked up from the other side. "Oh, someone picked up. Maybe you could get it back." She whispered to Minho before putting the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
Minho knew it was most definitely someone from the Hunters Association or one of the S-ranks, if not the Jinchul himself.
"Who is this?… The Hunters Association?… What are you doing with my son's—"
Minho reached out and took the phone from her, putting the phone to his ear. "I'll be there tomorrow, thank you." He said, his voice flat. Then he immediately cut the call and blocked the number before returning her phone.
"What was that about?" His mother frowned at him, not even looking at the extended hand where he held the phone.
"I'm sorry. It's the Hun… I mean, it may be a crook or someone bad or something." He said with a fake smile. She stared at him, clearly not giving in. He held his ears and bent his head. "I'm sorry?"
She couldn't help but smile after trying to resist his feigned innocent look. She snatched her phone from him, then her face beamed. "I watched the news today."
"Oh really. Something happened?" Minho raised an eyebrow, clearly not remembering he was evaluated today.
She squinted, acting mock-offended. "You still have the guts to keep it from me, even after I'm admitting I found out."
Minho smiled, confused. "What are you talking about? Really, did something happen?" He wondered what she could have seen on the news, then his mind snapped to the evaluations. His eyes widened and he palmed his face. "Ooohh, now I remember. Forgive me mom. I totally forgot that happened."
She scoffed, then smiled warmly, opening her arms for a hug. Minho gave into her embrace. She patted his back and whispered, "I'm so proud of you. You really went through a lot."
"I did it for the one thing that mattered to me the most. My mother." He replied.
She laughed a little, her eyes watery. "What would I do without you?" She muttered more to herself than for him to hear, her head resting on his shoulder.
Minho didn't say a word. He always wished for moments like these where he could stand in front of his mother knowing he'd made her proud in whatever way he could. And today was the day. All the memories of the past, the suffering, the pain, the torture, the harassment, all of it came crashing on him and he hadn't realized when his dam broke. But one thought still made his heart sink whenever it crossed him: Right now, she only knew her son, the S-rank hunter, not the Herald of Annihilation.
Should he just tell her now? Was it the right thing to do? What if he was too late? Would he lose her because of this power? No. He needed to at least let her know. He opened his mouth, "Mom…" he trailed.
"Mm?" She replied, before something caught her sense of smell. She released him, her hands on his shoulder as she sniffed his body. "Why do you smell like blood? Also, this wasn't what you wore out in the morning." Her hands went to his neck, checking his body for scars. "You're not hurt badly, are you?"
"I… went to raid a dungeon. Clothes got torn so I had to change them. Don't worry, someone healed the wounds. It was that bad." He replied.
She finally looked up at his face and realized tears on his cheeks. "Why? Why are you crying?" She asked, wiping them off with her hands.
"I just… just had a little flashback. Y'know, the old times that felt neverending." He chuckled bitterly.
"Don't cry, okay?" His mother said, reassuring him. "It's all in the past now, okay? Forget about it. What should I do, if the person who always gave me hope is this way? You'll make me cry."
"No no no. Don't." Minho blurted, cleaning his tears with his sleeves. He forced a smile. "See? I'm not crying anymore. So, don't try that."
She smiled and pinched his cheeks. "Look at you. Aha, you were saying something?"
"Mm?"
"Before I talked about the blood?"
"Oh. Uhh…" Minho trailed, looking down. Then he looked back up. "I wanted to say… I'm starving. Ever since I went out, I haven't eaten. My stomach's rumbling right now." He smiled.
"Oh. Oh okay." She blinked, not expecting that to be what he wanted to say. "Lucky you. I made your favorite today as a congratulations gift." She said, walking to the kitchen.
Minho stared. He couldn't do it. He didn't want anything that would make her worry again. He wanted to cherish every smile she threw his way, every laughter, he just… wasn't ready to let go.
"Where are you?" Her voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Coming." He said, hurrying to meet her.
The day ended in a strange calm and Minho had to clear his mind with a walk outside. The next day came in no time and he was ready to face questions he hoped he had answers to. If he decided to answer that is.
Minho stood in front of the Korean Hunters Association Headquarters. Dozens of people taking shots of him. His oversized white shirt made him look like a tall but lanky guy, so they wondered if he was actually an S-rank.
Murmurs spread. "Is that really him?" "He looks… normal." "Maybe it was a mistake?"
Minho put on his sunglasses and slide his hands into his pockets as he walked up the stairs to the entrance. "Here we go again."