“Good morning, everyone,” a young-looking reporter says his greetings while sitting down for a news segment called “Seoul Today”. “Today's interview, we've got very special guests. Please introduce yourselves.”
I and anyone who stops walking to watch this segment on the digital billboard hanging way above us see the reporter’s left hand gesturing towards the appearance of a slim, pretty, tall woman in her early-30s spotting long black hair and green eyes; sitting next to her is the appearance of a brawny, tall man in his late 20s wearing a bright green dress and a dark blue suit respectively.
“Hello, everyone. I'm Seo Jae-in,” the woman greets while she gives a gentle handwave to the screen.
“And I'm Na Hyun-shik,” the man greets with the same handwave too.
“For those of you, especially those who are teenagers now, who have yet to know,” the reporter explains to his audience watching the screen. “These two are part of the hundred S-rank Slayers that exist in this world. This fact means humans like them who randomly receive magical powers of this rank are able to close the Labyrinth within several minutes. In fact, the whole world was distraught when these portals to another dimension suddenly showed up twelve years ago. Would you like to let the viewers know about your experience during that time, Slayer Seo?”
“Well, Reporter Kim,” Seo Jae-in replies as she crosses her slender long legs with a confident look on her face. “It was frightening seeing magical stuff that only exists in fantasy stories or rumored folklores coming to life literally. Nevertheless, we humans must adapt to such sudden events even if they're from unknown worlds. I guess my teenage self back then was a bit scared when the Labyrinths appeared in our lives, but after receiving my magical powers at that time, I learned to willingly embrace my fate in being a hero to my world, whatmore to mankind.”
“Slayer Seo, it seems to be that you've an American citizenship due to the fact that you were born there. What brings you to South Korea at this moment?”
“All I can say is that I have a precious family to spend time with here.”
“Rumor has it that we've yet to see what your family looks like…”
“Reporter Kim, my job involves lots of dangerous jealousy and rivalry that may lead to harming my family. That's why I keep my private life as secretly as possible. Otherwise, I would've used my magic skills to blow anyone who harms us from the face of the earth.”
“Ah~ Ha…Ha…You've got a point, Slayer Seo. Being a Slayer is actually a lucrative job to be having in this day and age. I can understand the need to protect your loved ones; even from non-Slayers who will exploit you all. Well then, that's a wrap for this news segment. Any advice you would like to give to any new Slayers, Slayer Seo?”
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“Yes, new Slayers, huh? Hmm~ All I can say is a Slayer's power is the best privilege that won't let you feel fear when you have to use it to save your loved ones from Beasts living within the Labyrinths. I hope this advice will give you such courage to defeat them.”
“And that ends our segment with these two charismatic Slayers,” the reporter says as he manages to regain his composure after that indirect threat from Slayer Seo. “Tune in next week for another special guest who happens to have the nickname…”
I don't pay attention to the last words of that reporter as my mind is still filled with what that woman has said on screen.
“Best privilege, huh…”, I mutter as I still look at the digital billboard whereas others walk away once the news segment has ended. “I wonder if she'll say the same words after meeting a Slayer like me.”
“Joo-yeon! There you are! What a coincidence meeting you in the middle of this sidewalk!”, a young man's cheery voice is heard behind me. I turn around to see Park Jung-han, who is in an all-gray tracksuit, waving at me. He happens to be my long-time same-aged acquaintance ever since I started working as a Slayer once I got my powers about two years ago. Every time I see him having a heavily-built body, I feel a bit intimidated though that's due to our height difference being forty centimeters apart; then again, I'm way shorter than Ga-young, my uncle's teenage daughter, who just grew to be 160cm tall this year. Speaking about that, her rouge one-piece dress I'm wearing now feels a bit too big and long on me. If only I was at least ten centimeters taller, I would feel much more comfortable, but I just have to endure it for now.
“Jung-han, I wasn't expecting you to join in this raid,” I reply as cheerfully as I can. The last thing I want to do today is not to make him worried about my insecurities. Jung-han really protected me a lot during the many previous raids we were in. “How's your shield? The last time I remembered it almost got cracked when you fought off those ogres.”
“Well I happen to get a new one,” he replies with enthusiasm which leads him pointing his right thumb towards the item on his huge back. “Ta-da! Do I look more heroic with this adamantite shield? I'm glad it was selling at the Slayer Alliance’s auction last week.”
“Well…,” I pause my words as I look at him from head to toe. He kind of reminds me of a huge-sized teddy bear, in regards to his optimistic mood he's showing me right now, I saw once in a random window-shop last Christmas. “No matter what material your shield is made of, you're one of the best C-rank tankers I'm glad to have ever met.”
“You know normally women would compliment a brawny man like me with just one word. But! Since you say I'm the best tanker you're glad to have met, I’ll take it as a ‘yes’.”
Somehow his face suddenly turns a bit red. I wonder if he's not feeling well today. Some Slayers can still catch the flu or so I've heard that only happens to those who are lower than C-rank.
“Jung-han, try not to push yourself for today's raid,” I advise him despite knowing him well on how stubborn he is. “You're looking red right now. So you do have a fever, huh?”
“Wha--what!? No, no!” Jung-han replies hastily with both of his huge hands waving a “huge NO sign” to my face. “Anyway, we should get moving. Our raid is supposed to start in a few minutes. You do know the way to this Labyrinth's gate, right?”
“Yes, Jung-han. I won't get lost easily in this city, you know,” I reply nonchalantly. “Let's go, Mr Teddy.”
“What? I'm not a bear, Joo-yeon!”
I giggle at Jung-han's blushing response to my spontaneous nickname for him. As we walk towards our destination, I can't help but wonder whether or not it's worth it for me to continue being a Slayer. After all, I'm an F-rank and that rank is incompatible with a healer class which I was infused with my Slayer's powers.