New Member(Last)

....

Leonard, Lucy, Lia, Nay, and Haru were currently staring at each other, a silent standoff where no one knew who should speak first. The room was thick with tension, yet none of them dared to break it.

As a result of the earlier commotion, they all now had to sit cross-legged on the floor. If not for their strikingly attractive and diverse appearances, they would have looked like a group of vagrants often seen on the streets.

However, this was not an issue for them—sitting cross-legged was their usual way of sitting, a position they were completely comfortable in.

Seizing the opportunity to shatter the silence, Leonard took the lead and spoke without hesitation. His voice, calm yet firm, carried his intention to continue the conversation that had been left unfinished.

"Haru."

Leonard's call was casual, yet it immediately drew Haru's attention.

"Oh?"

"Sorry that your first meeting with us turned out so chaotic. You must be uncomfortable,"

Leonard said with an apologetic smile.

"They're always like this—after all, they're 'special' kids—but they don't bite. You can relax."

Leonard's words hung in the air for a moment.

'Wait a second...' they all thought in unison.

Their expressions immediately turned deadpan as realization dawned upon them.

They understood exactly what Leonard meant by "special kids."

Feeling the sharp gazes from multiple directions, Leonard only chuckled inwardly, finding amusement in their reactions.

(*Special kids = disabled children. Some people use this term depending on the situation.)

"I'm ok."

'What kind of answer was that? That didn't sound sincere at all!' Haru scolded himself internally, feeling awkward and unsure of his own words.

"That's good to hear." Leonard nodded approvingly. Then, with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes, he asked,

"So, Haru, do you want to become one of us?"

He raised a thick eyebrow, waiting for a response. Of course, deep down, he was already hoping for a yes. If he could have it his way, there would only be one answer—yes or yes—but he knew better than to be pushy.

Still, if Haru refused, it would be a huge loss.

If anyone could peek inside Leonard's mind at that moment, they would see him metaphorically biting his teeth in anxious anticipation—dramatizing the situation far more than necessary.

Leonard had already secured three rare Mun types, and now the fourth was sitting right in front of him! Who in their right mind would pass up such an opportunity?

Unbeknownst to him, Lucy, Lia, and Nay were also hoping for the same outcome. They wanted Haru to say yes, but they would respect his decision either way. Haru's frail-looking body aside, there was nothing stopping them from accepting him.

At some point, the group had instinctively inched closer to Haru. Their eager, unblinking eyes bore into him as if they were about to consume him alive.

"Aren't you all a little too close?"

"Oh… sorry."

"Ahh, my bad."

"Oh yeah, oops, my bad."

Haru hesitated. He was still uncertain. He wasn't sure which choice was the right one. To be honest, these people weren't bad—they were actually kind, completely different from others he had encountered.

But if he agreed to join, he feared he would only become a burden in the future.

He didn't know for sure, but deep down, something told him this was the best decision.

"Uh... May I?"

The moment those words left Haru's lips, Leonard's grin stretched from ear to ear. His whole face lit up like a child receiving the toy he had been begging for.

Without wasting a second, he approached Haru with an almost unnervingly smooth movement (don't ask how). His expression now resembled that of a grandfather meeting his first grandchild.

'It's happening,' Lucy thought, shaking her head in amusement.

"Of course!"

With professional efficiency, Leonard pulled out a golden contract—its shine subtle, not too glaring—and an ordinary black pen from the inside of his jacket. He handed them to Haru, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

It was the same contract given to every other member.

Like any legitimate organization, they required formal contracts to prevent unwanted complications, such as the leaking of classified information or betrayal.

However, this particular contract was far from ordinary—it was reinforced with Mun, making it more binding than any regular legal document.

"Please sign here. This isn't an ordinary contract—it cannot be altered or tampered with until its term ends. By signing this, you will officially become a hunter and receive your license. Take your time to read it carefully."

Leonard explained in a relaxed tone, his excitement barely concealed.

"Okay."

Haru didn't rush. He took the contract and began reading it carefully, ensuring he understood every clause. Line by line, he examined the terms. By the time he reached the end, he was relieved. The conditions weren't overly restrictive, and overall, he was satisfied with what he read.

Still slightly nervous, he raised his hand and signed his name.

From this moment on, he was no longer just an outsider. He was a hunter. Something he had only ever read about on the internet or heard from others.

"Done."

"Yay!"

Nay cheered, looking far more excited than Haru himself. Her eyes sparkled, full of joy and enthusiasm at the thought of having a new companion. Lia, though equally pleased, remained composed, her expression more refined and nonchalant.

"Congratulations and welcome."

"Thank you."

"You're officially one of us now. Congratulations!"

Lucy, now standing, extended her hand toward Haru without a second thought.

"Huh?"

Haru hesitated. He wasn't used to shaking hands with others, so it took him a moment to process before awkwardly reciprocating the gesture. He quickly stood up, a bit flustered.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's nothing,"

Lucy said dismissively, waving her other hand in the air as if to brush off the awkwardness.

'So stiff!'

Lucy thought to herself, finding the moment a little amusing.

Haru's hand was so rigid that, for a brief second, Lucy genuinely wondered if he was wearing a prosthetic.

Lucy didn't linger and had no intention of prolonging the handshake. She swiftly withdrew her hand. Besides, who knew if this kid would faint again? He already looked like he had died and come back to life seven times.

Leonard glanced at his watch—12:07 PM. It was already late, considering they usually had lunch at 12:30. He let out a small sigh, rolling up his sleeves as he made his way toward the kitchen.

He would have to make something simple this time.

"Ahem, as usual, clean up. I'll cook. Enjoy your time, Haru!"

Feeling that his job here was done, Leonard immediately disappeared into the kitchen, already thinking of a quick meal plan.

"Sigh, last time my waist felt like it was going to snap,"

Lucy grumbled as she stretched her arms above her head, her joints popping slightly.

"Sip! Don't worry, Lucy. I'll put it back in place for you if it does,"

Nay said casually as if it was not a problem for her.

"Thanks, but no," Lucy deadpanned, shaking her head.

"Okay, okay, guys, same as always. Haru, you just sit there. Whoever made the mess will clean it up,"

Lia said nonchalantly, tying her long hair into a neat ponytail as she prepared to work.

"Let's go, gang!"

Nay cheered enthusiastically, already eager to use her abilities.

'Is that even possible!? This room is huge, and so many things are broken. It must be hard.'

Haru shook his head, feeling guilty for just sitting there. There was no reason to lie—this place was enormous, though not as big as a ship's deck or anything. Judging by the scattered debris and the untouched, still-intact equipment, this looked like an advanced and expensive facility.

The room itself was circular, with multiple doors and windows leading to other spaces. The sleek, metallic walls hinted that this was no ordinary place.

'I feel like I'm being called poor from multiple perspectives…'

"Insane…"

Haru whispered without realizing it, but the thought only made him feel more guilty for sitting idle.

'At least with four people, it'll be faster,' he reasoned to stand up.

Without wasting any time, Lia gathered all the broken items and sent them flying toward Lucy with a controlled gust of wind.

Haru was left frozen in shock, mouth slightly agape, before he could even process what had just happened.

Whooooosh…

"I'm getting sleepy,"

Lucy complained, rubbing one of her eyes as she watched the pile of broken objects approach her.

With minimal effort, she incinerated everything with a controlled burst of fire, its intense heat reducing the debris to nothing in seconds. She sat lazily on a nearby couch, arms crossed as she watched the flames flicker with disinterest.

Despite barely moving, she still complained, as if burning things to ash was somehow exhausting.

"What the hell…" Haru muttered under his breath, feeling his heart rate pick up.

Whoosh… sizzle… whoosh…

"Higher!"

Nay eagerly used her water Mun to wash away all the dust and dirt from the floors and walls, making it look as though waves were crashing through the room. Unlike the others, she was always excited about cleaning—because it meant she could surf along the water currents she created.

"Oi, be careful!"

Lucy grumbled as a small splash of water almost hit her.

"Relax, I got this!"

Nay laughed, twirling in midair as she skillfully directed the water where it needed to go.

After a few moments, Lia quickly followed up by drying the floors and walls with a warm, controlled gust of air, ensuring no moisture was left behind.

"Done,"

Lia announced with a satisfied nod, stretching her arms above her head.

'Wtf? Not even two minutes?!'

Haru couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. His eyes had been wide open the entire time. Could anyone blame him for reacting like this?

He gulped nervously. Watching them work made him feel small. To others, this might just seem like a simple cleaning session, but as someone new to this, Haru couldn't help but imagine how terrifying they would be at full power.

They didn't even look like they were straining themselves. Based on his experience, using Mun would normally drain energy unless controlled properly—something he himself struggled with.

How strong were they?

Could he ever become like them?

"Why are your eyes so wide? You look like a chunky doll,"

Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Before Haru could respond, Nay suddenly tackled him into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around him as if he were a precious treasure.

For Nay, this was just a normal way to show excitement.

For Haru… he nearly had a heart attack.

"Ano, Haru, let's play!"

"Ah… okay?"

Haru answered uncertainly, his voice slightly hoarse. The sudden invitation caught him off guard. It had been a long time since someone had invited him to play.

To be honest, it wasn't that he disliked the idea.

He just wasn't sure of himself. Even though he wanted to try, he had never experienced playing with friends before. What if Nay ended up disappointed, realizing he was a boring person?

Nay's smile widened even more.

"We should play bla bla bla…"

Haru listened seriously to her rambling, nodding along as if he understood every word. Whether he truly did or not was a mystery between him and the universe.

"This is also good bla bla bla…"

Meanwhile, Lia had already changed into fresh clothes and was now simply waiting for lunchtime. Oyen, the orange cat, was comfortably curled up on her lap, purring softly as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through its fur.

"No, Nay. Haru just woke up from fainting. He might die if he plays with someone special like you."

"Sigh…"

Nay immediately let go of Haru, realizing that she might actually be overwhelming him. She was a little disappointed, but she wasn't the type to force someone into something they weren't comfortable with.

However, remembering what Lucy had just called her, Nay narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips forming a small pout.

"You're the special one,you frog."

(Nay's dictionary > Frog = Otaku, always hiding from the outside world)

Nay replied sarcastically, crossing her arms in clear dissatisfaction.

"Who the hell are you calling a frog?!"

"Bleh!"

Nay stuck out her tongue, making Lucy's eye twitch in annoyance.

Lucy had half a mind to wrap this brat up and throw her straight into a crocodile's mouth. If stress were a person, Lucy would gladly name it after this piece of shi—Nay. ✨

"You—"

Before Lucy could even finish her sentence, Nay cut her off without the slightest guilt, her mischievous grin widening.

Watching them, Haru could only smile awkwardly, silently hoping this would end soon.

"Okay, guys, lunch is ready!" Leonard's voice called out from the kitchen.