"South Korea... So this is where I will be studying for my high school years..."

A young Chinese girl stared out the window of the descending airliner which reflected the luminescent city night ambiance of Seoul. It was a city of many bright lights, yellow, red, blue, and purple all littered the city night. 

With a calm demeanor and her cold piercing crimson eyes, she couldn’t help but stare out the window. It was the first time she had been in a foreign country but being in a foreign land was not her concern. 

‘If I were here for any other reason then I wouldn’t be so tense and maybe I would be able to enjoy myself.’

She thought as she bit her tongue as the bitter memories flashed before her eyes. Memories of guilt and helplessness arose within her giving way to disgust and hatred for what she had been.

‘I won’t have to leave you behind anymore. This time I will train myself to my limit so that you can count on me this time. Rather than being a pitiful child that you would have to protect for all your life, I will become someone you can depend upon, brother.’

She crunched up her fist in determination as the plane grounded itself. 

Once the plane landed, she followed the crowd of passengers as she pulled her red suitcase along with her. At the bustling airport exterior, she could feel the pressure and loneliness build up within herself as she saw various families and friends reunited all around her. Greeting another with laughter and warmth which she hadn’t experienced for a long time.

“My trip to Hawaii was just perfect! I wish I could have stayed for longer but my boss is a tyrant who doesn’t give us that many vacation days!” A woman in her mid-20s complained to her clique of girls with all of them holding expensive milkshakes.

“Welcome back to Korea! Did you study well my son? Did America treat you well while you were there?” An older woman who looked to be a grandma deeply hugged her fat son. 

“Mom! You're embarrassing me!”

‘The embarrassment you face is merciful compared to what I have lived through…’

Feeling a pang across her body, she left the crowd and rested on the side of the lobby. While resting, a yellow poster caught her eye. 

Yellow Ride Cabs

Need a ride? Then call us! 

She reached for her pockets and held her Nokia flip phone in her hands. It was the newest and hottest smartphone device as of the 2024 market season despite the fact that it was still slow and inconvenient to use with its small 12 button keypad. 

‘I wish technology was more convenient than this.’

She sighed as she thought back to a social commentary film about the Great Catastrophe that shaped the world.

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If the Great Catastrophe had never happened, then our world would be 20 years ahead in terms of technology and living standards rather than stagnating as a result of the otherworldly invasion.

When the cab arrived, she took the front seat next to the cab driver. A young Korean man, several years her senior. As she entered the cab, she couldn’t help but notice the faint smell of kimchi soup and the soft hum of American jazz music playing on the radio.

“And where will you be heading?”

He said as he stared at her through his fake sunglasses.

“Laplace Academy.”

He nodded before raising an eyebrow. That was an unexpected destination.

“Then you must be a Hunter? Specifically a foreign student from abroad? You know, Laplace is a pretty big deal considering that International Class Hunter is teaching there.”

She nodded. Only replying with gestures to not arouse any more interest from the man. She was getting annoyed by him but anything more would be a headache.

“So what made you choose Laplace? If I remember correctly China also has some good Hunter Academies, so why us? And more broadly, there are also other good academies across the world like Las Vegas and Rome.” 

“I’ll only answer you so I won’t have to hear your voice anymore. It’s cheap, the education is good, it’s close to home and I want to train under that International Class Hunter.”

“An International Class Hunter? Aren’t there like only 7 maybe 8 of those guys in existence and all of them are really high status so what makes you think that would be coming your way?”

“Even if it’s her. Someone who is a complete foreigner to this world with her manners and customs, I would be fully willing to learn under her for my revenge.”

“Kids these days are really edgy… You know, there are only half a billion hunters across the world basically a tenth of the world population and most people are at the H-Class, so what makes you so confident of defeating hunters at the H, G, D, C, B, A, S, SS and SSS level who are also eyeing out this opportunity?”

“Even if it will take a long time, I will still hold true to my ways. But with the guidance of his teachings, I won’t be second to anyone other than him.”

“You sound really sure of yourself and whoever that guy is. But is it alright for you to obsess so much on acquiring power? It’s important to make some friends. When I was younger, I thought that I could do everything on my own but now I’m just some cab driver.”

She looked away and out to the window while staring at a pair of two particular girls. One with orange hair and the other with brown hair both sitting at a cafe with milk tea drinks. 

“I don’t need any friends. I can achieve my dreams on my own. I don’t want anyone else to get in my way.”

“Alright. Alright edgelord, just don’t end up regretting anything when you are older.”

The ride from there was quiet and peaceful but her heart continued to stir. Finally arriving at Laplace Academy, the girl reached for her wallet but the man shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. Just remember me when you are strong and famous, alright?”

She stared at him confused before giving him a cold annoyed look.

“If I will ever remember you, it would be as an annoying driver who won’t shut up.”

“That’s more than enough. But what’s your name?”

“I am Yi Xiaodan.”

—

“Brother! You're finally back home!”

“Did you eat dinner while I was away, Yi Xiao?”

The innocent girl smiled.

“I missed you so much that I couldn’t eat without you!”

“Ah, is that so? Would you like me to cook some noodles for you?”

“That’s perfect!”

My brother grabbed a packet of noodles from the top shelf. On the plastic packaging was a picture of him.

“Red Dragon of the South?”

My brother spat out as he cringed. It was just such a cringe name but ultimately that’s what people know him as. 

“Uh… It’s my nickname. Ever since I became a strong hunter, they have been calling me that.”

My brother awkwardly chuckled. 

“It’s a nice name. It sounds cool so why do you sound so disappointed?”

A smile broke across my brother’s face.

“If that’s what you think, then I am the Red Dragon of the South!”

My brother proudly proclaimed.

—

“The Red Dragon of the South!”

‘Isn’t that someone else…’

The man commented to himself with a confused look… He pressed his hand against his eyes before turning around to the young girl who had smiled.

“Hey… You are actually smiling.”

Yi Xiao’s smile quickly broke.

“You didn’t see anything.”

End of chapter.