"Is this really all right?"

At Ju-hyeon's words from where he had crammed himself into the back seat of the car, Jio asked,

"Is there a problem?"

"I do have several things I want to say..."

As Ju-hyeon trailed off, Yu Seongun, who was holding the steering wheel, gave an easygoing smile.

"We are traveling without packing a single bag, yes. It's fine. I made a separate request, so clothes to wear there, food, and everything else should all be stocked at the vacation rental."

"I did wonder about that too, but that wasn't exactly the only thing I was worried about."

"Were you surprised because the trip was so sudden? Well, I suppose Mr. Ju-hyeon might worry about security issues, but there's no problem on that front either. We're going to a sea where there are no people."

Inside the car as it moved smoothly along, Jio asked,

"There are no people at the sea?"

"Normally, the sea tends not to have people in it."

"I suppose it's not used as a tourist destination."

"Rather than that, it's usually a food supply source or a danger zone."

The sea of the present era was not exactly a place suited for people to live.

"But the place we're going will have even fewer people. Our destination is an unreconstructed zone."

"What is an unreconstructed zone?"

Ju-hyeon in the back seat answered that part.

"It means exactly what it sounds like: a zone that hasn't been reconstructed. To put it simply, it's a space where the aftereffects of the Great Catastrophe remain heavily enough that it's difficult for people to stay there."

"I see. Gangwon-do, where we stopped just before, seemed to have that sort of feeling as well."

"Ah, to explain further, that's a little different from this."

For the portrait inexperienced with the human world, Ju-hyeon added an explanation.

"Samcheok, Gangwon-do, where we went this time, had at least undergone minimal reconstruction. There was a hotel, even if there was only one, and there were a few restaurants too, weren't there? Of course, in the case of the restaurants, they felt like they only had the bare minimum of food available, like fish-shaped pastries sold as city street food... but even so, it wasn't an unreconstructed zone."

A zone that had been reconstructed even a little and a zone that was completely unreconstructed were entirely different.

"Unreconstructed zones are usually perceived as dangerous. They aren't even environments where people can live. There isn't various infrastructure installed either, so not only is it inconvenient to travel through them, they're really not the sort of places one would go to for a trip, as far as I know..."

Ju-hyeon looked at Yu Seongun, who was driving the car.

"... It seems the world of Hunters is something different?"

"If you have money and ability, what can't you do?"

"So you're saying there's a vacation rental in an unreconstructed zone? And at the sea, no less?"

Coastal zones, where no one knew what kind of bizarre monster might pop out, were designated as off-limits areas unless they had been properly developed.

"How is that possible?"

"With the money of a Grade 1 citizen and the authority of an A-class Hunter..."

"As a Grade 2 citizen, how exactly were you expecting me to react to that?"

"You don't have to react, so what's with you?"

"I was worried you might go somewhere and be told you're obnoxious, Mr. Yu Seongun."

"I do have that much tact, you know? I'm only saying it because it's just us."

For someone from Gita Orphanage, Ju-hyeon had relatively little disillusionment or anger regarding grades.

Because he was someone who did not care about that sort of thing at all, Yu Seongun had spoken comfortably; he, too, knew how to read the room and function in society.

"There are service zones where you can stay under the premise that you take full responsibility for whatever happens. There's quite a bit of risk, and it costs some money, but aside from that, we can enjoy the sea by ourselves in a comfortable environment without a single person around."

At that, Ju-hyeon whispered quietly,

"Rich-people bullshit."

"Now, now."

How could he say such outrageous things about a vacation Yu Seongun had managed to wring out like this?

"It's a place with no other buildings nearby except the vacation rental. That means getting there will be inconvenient, but once we arrive, everything will be prepared, and above all, the fact that it'll only be us is a truly big advantage."

"That is certainly reassuring. I was already concerned because Mr. Jio has become very famous lately, but if we don't need to be that mindful of others..."

"Ah, is that the part you were worried about?"

Yu Seongun asked with his characteristic easygoing smile.

"Because it feels like we're setting off a bomb and running away?"

"Honestly, that is part of it."

Because of the rumors Collector had spread, every internet community was in an uproar.

A saint, an S-class Hunter, the hidden son of one of the top three guilds—hadn't every provocative element under the sun been dragged into it?

"The city seemed very noisy."

"That's exactly why we should leave at a time like this. If you dutifully stay put and let yourself get caught, the reality of South Korea is that they'll think, 'Ah, this kid has the will to work,' and work you even harder. I have no intention of rolling our Jio around like a hoop."

"You said the more competent a Hunter is, the more they get worked."

"I thought about it, and does Jio really have to be like that too? Of course, if he wants to, that's fine, but he just finished a big job. He already had a mystique concept going on, so at a time like this, it's okay to run off."

In this world, if it could be called a custom among Hunters, it was customary to give a vacation after one large project was completed.

Of course, there were many situations where such things did not apply, as with Yu Seongun, but they had everything they could possibly need, so there was no need to care about what others thought and hole up somewhere.

"You really do worry a lot, Mr. Ju-hyeon."

"No, that was a worry too, but."

"What else is there?"

"..."

"Haa..."

With a resigned face, Ju-hyeon asked,

"... I was asking whether it's all right to carry around a portrait as dangerous to the world as Mr. Jio."

"I didn't think you'd ask that openly."

"Then you shouldn't have kept changing the subject when you knew everything."

"Yes, my sin is great."

Yu Seongun asked Jio in the seat beside him,

"What do you personally think of this argument?"

"No one can stop me from going to the sea to play."

"That's what he says."

"That is so."

It might be confusing, but the one with top speaking authority in this gathering was "Jio's Portrait."

"It has truly been a long time since I saw Earth's sea."

"As long as you don't say it like that in front of other people, you're fine."

"My brain is not that empty."

At that, Yu Seongun thought inwardly,

'So he has a brain.'

He had truly and purely only been surprised by the fact that an organ called a brain existed, but no matter how he thought about it, it was still not something to say out loud.

With his characteristic easygoing smile, Yu Seongun pointed ahead.

"That over there is the teleport terminal. It's your first time using a terminal, right?"

"It's connected straight through by road."

"You could say it's exclusively for cars. The area where only people can move is separate."

"How convenient."

For a moment, Seo Jio thought of a drive-through.

He truly liked the fact that everything could be handled without getting out of the car.

Sensing the aura of magic, Honey popped out of Jio's hood.

"Gurgle?"

"We'll be teleporting soon."

"Gurgle."

Honey quietly went back inside.

Unlike his father, who had great interest in teleportation, he seemed not to care much.

His son had no sense of romance.

Yu Seongun checked the terminal sign.

"Now, since the place we're going is Jeju Island..."

"?"

"Pardon?"

"Oh dear, did I not say?"

He smiled brightly.

"We're going to Jeju Island."

"Why are you only saying that now?"

"It slipped my mind because we rushed out in such a hurry."

"You call that an excuse..."

The frail Ju-hyeon could not bring himself to hit an A-class Hunter.

Even if he hit him, he would be the only one who lost out.

And at the vacation rental where they arrived, Aria greeted them.

"It has been a long time, gentlemen."

"?"

"??"

Leaving the confused Yu Seongun and Ju-hyeon behind, Giovanni smiled brightly and embraced Aria.

"It has been a long time, Aria! Have you been well all this while?"

"When I think of our Teacher, even what is not well must become so."

"That will be sad news to the humans killed by mermaids."

"It warms my heart that you are so pleased for me."

Ju-hyeon muttered,

"What kind of conversation is that?"

Separate from the humans losing their minds, Aria and Jio's conversation continued.

"I brought some food with me. May I join you?"

"Clams from Edlen village! It would be nice to make tomato stew for the first time in a while."

"They would be fine grilled as well. There were many monsters around here who did not know their place, so I chased them all away. Teacher, you may enjoy yourself comfortably."

"It seems Aria is the only one who thinks of Teacher."

Yu Seongun thought,

'Isn't that just ordinary territorial marking by a monster?'

In any case, there was no human who rejected Aria, who had somehow joined their slapped-together vacation.

To begin with, Ju-hyeon was the sort of human even Jio could feel sympathy for, and Yu Seongun was a Gardener accustomed to dealing with beings other than humans.

"I doubt there will be women's clothes at the vacation rental."

"You don't think I would wear clothes made by humans, do you?"

"I was curious how much you could endure for the sake of keeping up appearances."

"My, how deeply considerate you are."

Ignoring whatever conversation Yu Seongun and Aria were having, Jio called Ju-hyeon.

"You must be tired from traveling such a long way, so why don't we enjoy some light grilled clams?"

"If someone heard you, they'd think only you traveled separately, Mr. Jio. I'm all for it, but aren't you tired?"

"Perhaps the terminal suited my body well, because I am not particularly tired."

They said there were also people who could not use teleportation due to their constitutions.

Fortunately, among Yu Seongun, Ju-hyeon, and Jio, there was no one like that.

With his characteristic grin, Ju-hyeon approached Jio.

"Then shall we prepare it together?"

At that, Aria cut in.

"I'll light the fire, Teacher."

"Would you do that? The fire Aria lights feels warmer."

"Even if you praise me like that, nothing will come of it."

With a light wave of her hand, Aria went outside the vacation rental.

At the sight of her genuinely looking ready to roll up her sleeves and help, Yu Seongun blinked his round eyes.

"Is she really going to light the fire?"

"The charcoal Aria prepares gives off a better fragrance."

"But she's a princess."

"Do princesses live without eating?"

"I thought mermaids might be a little different."

"I think that is a very human-centric statement."

"Yeah, I'll reflect on myself."

Since it was not work that took much time, preparations for the grilled clams were quickly finished.

Aria really did make a small fire pit outdoors and even laid an iron plate over it, and while Yu Seongun prepared miscellaneous items like chairs and tableware, Jio and Ju-hyeon neatly washed the clams.

"Those clams don't need to be purged separately or anything?"

"Aria said she had already done it."

"Aha."

And so, the four of them sat gathered in a circle and truly enjoyed grilled clams.

"..."

Ju-hyeon was a little dumbfounded.

"Why does this feel so natural?"

"Is there any reason something as simple as eating should feel unnatural?"

"Someone way too unusual has joined us, and yet we're calmly grilling and eating clams."

"This is the effect of a delicious meal, Mr. Ju-hyeon."

"Mr. Jio, I think you believe meals can solve everything far too much."

"I will reflect on myself."

Aria, who had been cutting and eating clam meat that looked like a long strip of scallop, opened her mouth.

"Ah, this is something I learned recently."

"Please speak."

"Was the Moon Cult's saintess going mad Teacher's work?"

Yu Seongun choked.

"Cough!! Keh, khh, cough...!!"

Jio scolded Aria.

"Why would you say something that keeps a person from even eating?"

"I did not know that an esteemed A-class Hunter would be this frail."

"Even an A-class Hunter must eat to live, mustn't he?"

"That is why I said I did not know he would be this weak."

Yu Seongun, who had suddenly become a frail and weak Hunter, cleared his throat and said,

"Why is the Moon Cult's saintess suddenly coming up...? Jio, what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything..."

"Right, you're not the one I should ask. Princess, would you explain?"

Aria shrugged.

"She looked like a rather suitable talent for Teacher's Demon King project, so I wondered. She seemed far too useful in that regard, so I thought perhaps Teacher had worked on her in advance."

Jio felt wronged.

"Your Teacher does not drive people insane."

"You do that now and then when you are bored..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hm, nothing."

Aria smiled calmly.

"So when are you planning to become the Demon King?"

"Did you come all the way to Jeju Island to ask that?"

"Did you think it would be difficult for me, the sea itself, to come to an island like this?"

"There is some logic to that. It must have been as comfortable as going to the convenience store in front of your house."

Jio smiled brightly.

"It will take some time."