SSS-Ranked Demon Hunter: The Prodigy
Chapter 58: Twilight

Chapter 58: Twilight

A few days later, Reina was discharged from the hospital. Her wounds had mostly healed, but Dr. Shin Kyung-soo strongly advised her to rest for a couple more weeks.

She couldn’t obey—not when duty called, even in the absence of fresh demon activity.

Every morning for the past several years, Reina had gone for a run. After stretching her arms and legs, she tied her red hair into a bun and took off, jogging from her house to the metro station.

A warm summer breeze blew against her, rustling the leaves in the park.

"I can’t afford to rest," she thought. "Even a week’s break would dull my edge."

Reina had been hard-working since childhood. Her parents taught her hand-to-hand combat to ensure she could protect herself.

Many envied her discipline. She still remembered how Chanwook shirked responsibilities during missions while she handled all the dirty work.

"I hate standing still..."

Pausing to catch her breath, she spotted a squirrel perched on a branch. It stared at her curiously, then climbed down the tree.

Peeking into the hollow, Reina noticed a nest of baby squirrels. The mother returned and dropped off a few acorns.

Hours later, Reina was at home, letting the water from the shower wash away her stress. Her bare, lean body finally felt at ease after so much tension.

Her long red hair reflected her calm yet resolute nature.

"No matter how hard I try... I still can’t reach them."

She thought of me—and Jisun. The two strongest demon slayers alive.

"Compared to them... I’m still weak."

She finished her shower, dressed quickly in a t-shirt and skirt, and headed to the hospital. She was there to visit Sora.

Entering the room, she saw a dark-haired woman lying on the bed. Her eyes were filled with kindness—unusual for a demon hunter.

"Miss Hwan," Reina greeted, holding a basket of fruit.

"Ah, my dear Reina. It’s so good to see you looking well."

Setting the basket on the nightstand, Reina asked, "How are you feeling? Has your father visited?"

"Yes. He wished me a swift recovery."

Sora radiated warmth. There wasn’t a trace of coldness in her soul.

"You’ve lost some weight," Reina noted.

Sora gasped, "...Is it that obvious?"

She looked more worn than before. After waking up in the hospital, she had cried for days—crushed by her helplessness.

Every time she tried to fight back against demons, they flattened her. The defeat cut deep.

"I’ve been under a lot of stress," she admitted with a faint smile.

"But Miss Sora, we’re all stressed. Recent events taught me we can’t afford to give up."

"Sweet Reina... If only I had your resolve. I understand... and I don’t plan to quit either."

Yet her voice trembled with bitter disappointment.

"Thanks to you, Miss Sora, I became who I am. I’ll never stop saying it—you inspired me. I studied your courage since I was a child. Seeing you on TV back then was unforgettable."

"That was ten years ago... Back then, my eyes still burned with hope. Remembering all the failed operations now... it’s disheartening."

"But do you still have that fire in your eyes?"

The question stunned Sora. She looked down at her frail hands.

"I’m not who you think I am. Lately, I’ve been drowning in failure... I used to see this world as something wild and full of wonder. But now? It’s just a terrible age we live in."

She raised her hand to block the sunlight pouring through the window.

"I wonder... if I had lived in a peaceful world, who would I have become?"

The room fell silent. Reina’s lips trembled.

"Tell me, Reina... why do you still believe in me? Can’t you see how weak I’ve become?"

"Your legacy as a hunter is irreplaceable! Every hand that helps forge the path to victory deserves remembrance. Without that... what’s the point of fighting—"

"There is no point. Every fallen soldier will be forgotten in a hundred years. People only know my name now. My deeds... they’ll turn to dust. That’s life. And sometimes, it really gets to me."

"That’s not true... I believe we fight for a reason. After every victory comes relief. After every story—another."

"Maybe... maybe you’re right."

Sora lowered her hand, melancholy overtaking her again. She had fought for so long.

She recalled how, over the past months, she began taking antidepressants—just to forget that moment...

The moment when a close comrade died... because of her hesitation.

She had failed to kill a demon disguised as a child. The demon had been slaughtering soldiers.

Why had the child’s face stopped her blade? Why didn’t she finish the job?

She eventually found an answer. And today, she had the courage to speak it.

"I’m thinking of stepping down. The duty of a hunter no longer suits me."

"Miss Sora! You’d leave us at such a critical time? Right now, strength is more vital than ever. Without you, we’ll lose stability."

Sora fell quiet, burdened by her decision.

Memories of childhood returned—when she first understood how cruel the world truly was. Her father, Vincent Hwan, was a general in the military air division.

Raised in that strict environment, she was forced to grow up fast.

Her father had always wanted a son to inherit his legacy. But when a daughter was born, he became a cold, silent man.

Over time, as he watched her grow, he softened. But the unfulfilled dream of a son still lingered.

To meet his expectations, Sora had her blood tested. When it was confirmed she carried one-third demon blood, he was overjoyed.

From that moment on, she buried her own desires. She hunted demons, fought in brutal battles, and turned her modeling career into an S-rank hunter’s legacy.

It lasted until 2056, when raids on human-disguised demons began.

Sora couldn’t bring herself to kill a demon that looked like a child. Even if it was killing others.

Reflecting on her path, she realized—she had never lived for herself. Only for others.

That was the day the fire in her eyes faded. And every thought of fighting for humanity began to disgust her.

Lost in that spiral of memory, Sora broke down. She wept in front of Reina, covering her face.

"I’m sorry, Reina... I’m not the woman you once knew. I’ve hated what I’ve been doing all this time. Ten years... gone. I don’t want this life. I don’t want to die for nothing. I only ever wanted to be a beautiful wife, to love my children the way my parents never loved me... But it’s too late. I have demon blood. I can’t give birth. I can’t be a mother... I ruined my own life!"

Reina was stunned by her confession. She never expected those words. But one line echoed in her ears:

"Too late? What do you mean? Weren’t we all born this way...?"

Suddenly, the door burst open. A petite girl with short white hair walked in.

"Oh! I’m sorry for the intrusion..!"

Both women stared at her. Sora quickly wiped away her tears.

The newcomer carried a basket of sweets. She straightened her posture and lifted her chin.

"My name is Harin, soldier of the Green Zone garrison! I’ve come to deliver food to our S-rank hunters as gratitude for their unmatched service!"

"At ease," Reina said. "This isn’t the army. No need to report. And why didn’t you knock?"

"A-ah, sorry!" Harin flinched. "I was worried and forgot. Normally, no one’s allowed to disturb S-ranks... but I brought snacks to help you cool off."

Sora chuckled at the girl’s innocence.

"Thank you. You don’t look like a soldier at first glance. Weren’t you in Nightwatch?"

"Y-yes, ma’am! I served in Lee Kihyun’s unit. Honestly, more than half of us died during Judgment Night..."

"So, you were part of Kihyun’s squad."

Sora smiled. Reina’s face grew thoughtful.

They all knew the rumors—that I was a demon. Yet, except for Reina, no one seemed to have changed their opinion of me. Still, a bitter aftertaste lingered.

"Sir Lee always spoke of how proud he was to serve alongside you. To be honest, I’m just glad I got to fight with him. He’s truly a good man."

"Indeed," Sora said, resting her cheek on her palm with a grin aimed at Reina.

Reina looked unimpressed.

"Don’t just stand there. You brought a basket? You can leave it here."

"Y-yes, ma’am!"

Reina didn’t stay to continue the conversation. She returned home, her talk with Sora ending on a somber, uncertain note. Yet something in her had changed.

She realized that from now on... she would believe in herself.

She would not lose hope.

That’s what lingered after meeting with Sora.

While one generation burned out... another was already knocking at the door.

Meanwhile, news shook the city: two new individuals had been discovered with demon blood on par with S-rank hunters. They arrived at the entrance of the Association together.

One of them looked up at the towering building and smiled.

"What a view. I used to only see it from afar, back in the Orange Zone. You excited too, man?"

"Don’t call me that," the second replied flatly. "Just a building. Nothing special."

"Such a grump. Come on, there’s a whole new world waiting inside. I wonder what it’s like?"

He stepped inside, full of anticipation. The other followed, indifferent.

"Probably full of people and pointless paperwork."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.