"Did the System tell you where this Key is?" I asked, focusing on the most practical question first.
Soo-Yeon shook her head, disappointment clear in her expression. "No. Even in the Shadow Monarch's memories, there was no information about its location."
I nodded, processing this. "Not surprising. If it were easy to find, the Rulers would have discovered it ages ago through their vessels."
"So what now?" she asked, her eyes meeting mine.
There was a new respect there—grudging, perhaps, but genuine.
I smiled, confident as always.
"Now we do what neither the Monarchs nor Rulers have managed to do—we find the Key before they do."
"Just like that?" Her eyebrow rose skeptically.
"Do you think we'll just stumble upon an artifact that godlike beings have been searching for across millennia?"
"I never said it would be easy," I chuckled.
"But we have advantages they don't. We're not bound by the same restrictions. We can move freely. And we have..." I gestured to myself with a smirk, "...well, me."
She rolled her eyes, but that hint of a smile was back. "Your ego is truly boundless."
"I have said it before, and I will say it again, it's not ego if you can back it up." I countered, gesturing back toward the direction of the now-collapsed dungeon. "Proof: one defeated architect, who had been manipulating your ass."
She studied me for a long moment, her expression growing serious again.
"You still haven't explained how you know what you know."
"How do you have these powers. Who—or what—you really are."
I tilted my head, enjoying her curiosity. "Oh? Are we sharing life stories already? Usually, that's at least third-date material."
"Be serious," she chided, though without real heat.
"You clearly know things no one should know. You wield power no hunter ever had."
"You're an anomaly."
"Why, Shadow Princess," I placed a hand over my heart, "such compliments will turn my head."
She crossed her arms, unmoved by my theatrics.
"Are you going to give me a straight answer?"
I pretended to consider it, then grinned. "Tell you what—marry me, and I'll share all my secrets as a dowry."
Her eyes widened in disbelief before narrowing in exasperation.
"You're shameless."
"Thank you," I replied with an exaggerated bow.
"I take pride in it."
She shook her head, but I caught that small twitch at the corner of her mouth.
Progress, indeed.
Then her expression shifted, a shadow crossing her face.
She turned away slightly, her voice dropping to an almost-whisper.
"Can I ask you something else?"
The change in her tone caught my attention. "Of course."
"The Shadow Monarch..." she began, hesitancy clear in her voice.
"The System showed me that he plans to take over my body completely. That I'm just a vessel for his rebirth."
She turned back to me, and I was surprised to see genuine fear in her eyes—not for herself, but for what she might leave behind.
"My mother just woke up. My sister needs me. I can't just... disappear."
Her vulnerability struck me.
This wasn't the stoic hunter I'd been teasing; this was a young woman terrified of being erased, of abandoning the family she'd fought so hard to protect.
I stepped closer, dropping my casual demeanor.
"Hey," I said softly, "you don't need to worry about that."
"How can you be sure?" she asked, desperate for reassurance.
"Because the Shadow Monarch isn't what you think," I explained.
"He's not some power-hungry tyrant looking to steal your life."
"He's... more like an old warrior, someone who's tired of fighting. He chose you as a successor, not just a vessel. That's why he didn't react when I killed the Architect—their arrangement wasn't what the Architect thought it was."
Hope flickered in her eyes. "You're sure?"
"Completely," I said firmly.
"The Shadow Monarch wants to pass on his legacy, not erase your existence. You'll gain his power, his knowledge, but you'll remain Sung Soo-Yeon, my Shadow princess~"
She studied my face, searching for any sign of deception or uncertainty. Finding none, she let out a long breath of relief.
"Thank you," she said simply.
'I hope I'm right,' I thought to myself, maintaining my confident exterior.
The truth was, I wasn't sure anymore.
This version of the story had already deviated significantly from the manhwa I knew.
In the original, the Shadow Monarch had indeed planned to take over Jin-Woo's body completely, only changing his mind at the very end.
But this was different. Soo-Yeon wasn't Jin-Woo.
The Universal Key wasn't part of the original plot.
The rules had changed.
Still, one thing remained constant—my power.
If Ashborn tried to take over Soo-Yeon against, I'd simply beat him into submission and bring her back.
I'd already dealt with the Architect; one more entity wasn't going to be an issue.
"We should get back," Soo-Yeon said, breaking the silence.
"It's late, and my mother and sister will be wondering where I am."
I nodded.
"Aunt H's house, right?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "Your mother was very kind to them."
"That's Mom for you—a retired S-rank hunter with the heart of a teddy bear." I smiled fondly, thinking of Raikou's motherly nature.
"Come on, I'll teleport us there. It's faster than walking."
She hesitated for just a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
I offered my hand again, and this time she took it without hesitation.
Muhahaha, mission slowly claiming the shadow princess: Progress +1!
"Hold tight," I warned with a wink.
"And try not to throw up. Teleportation can be disorienting sometimes."
"I think I have been managing well," she replied dryly.
With a thought, I shifted us through space, the mountainside dissolving around us as Aunt H's house materialized in its place.
We appeared on the front lawn, the warm glow of lights from inside spilling onto the grass.
Soo-Yeon wobbled slightly but quickly steadied herself.
"You get used to it," I assured her. "Ready to go inside?"
She looked toward the house, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Yes. More than ready."
"Please do cry once again... you looked cute~"
She had a red hue on her face as she gave me an elbow to my ribs and dashed forward.
As we walked toward the front door, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this altered universe had in store.
The Universal Key, barriers between worlds, external threats... the game had changed dramatically.
But then, that just made it more interesting.
And I do love a challenge.