Chapter 69 - Chocolate

The doubt of being mislead by the Hunter_ if he was realy a Hunter_ started to make the young fairy to think. Her eyes glanced the Hunter suspiciously once again, as she examined the porch of the Candy Store.

All the things the Hunter told her today made sense, and the more she thought about the details and branches of such horrible tale of greedy and horror, her heart ached a bit.

Eun Ha just remembered those people_the owner of the muffin factory and his wife; and the people who worked for him. The couple lived wretched lives, haunted by horrible wraiths, being blackmailed, and keeping a tragic and dirty secret… She still could not understand if there was any relationship between the murder of Fairy Chil Won and that of the human, that was killed by the deserter soldier. After all, she was no detective. But she could see the whole picture in what it mattered regarding magic. These were events that subsequently impacted the environments and even people indirectly involved, as the workers of the factory. The magic Chil Won was protecting by being the muffins factory's patron, was totally spoiled and wasted... If she was understanding it right, it is.

As her mind drifted through the intricacies of the effect of the crimes on the factory, a sudden idea arose.

But if she explained all the logic behind her tactic, she figured she probably couldn't get the Hunter's collaboration. 'Since he doesn't even know how my method works, how would he know whether I'm lying or not?' she restrained a chuckle.

"Professor Shin, I don't think we have to go as far as using magic here."

"What are you talking about, Jung?" As expected, the Hunter came to his side, and looked at the door. She pointed to the threshold, "Look. The threshold is enchanted, but the door… the door is 'disenchanted'."

"There is no such word."

"How could I possibly know?" she said casually. "See it? I'm not sure, but… If the door is just strongly pushed in, it should give way.

"Not possible, I would have…"

"Well, I don't know if it's possible. I," and she stressed the I , "know what I am seeing, that's all. I ," new stress, "have been doing this since I was sixteen."

The Hunter nodded and braced himself for the push against the door she was betting to come.

'Yes!' Eun Ha thought, grabbing her magic wand for use on time.

As soon as he slammed his shoulder against the surface of the door, Eun Ha cast her 'spell'_though she now knew there were differences_ so that the door would not resist his weight and give way. Her reasoning was: the strongest magic power would win. The Hunter said the magic in the place was getting weaker. Also, she wasn't trying to break another fairy's spell_ she was trying to make her own.

Eun Ha couldn't be absolutely sure of success, but she thought she should take a risk, like everything she did in her life.

A strange crack and rumble followed as the surprised Hunter fell on the door plank and inside the store. He gave a muffled groan and got up awkwardly.

'Maybe I never need to tell him that I was just bluffing…' Eun Ha thought. 'Or maybe I should. After all, I may need to know WHY it worked, to begin with.'

As they entered the small candy store, Shin soon looked for the switches to turn on the lights,

"I'm not going to turn on all the lights, just a set or two. I don't want to get too much attention," he said. "But it would be nice to have some kind of lighting to so we can investigate."

' We?! Wasn't he the one who didn't like amateurs on the scene? ' She was amused by her own internal remark but agreed.

"Yes. Is Professor Shin all right?"

He grunted in response, and Eun Ha once again realized that he limped slightly as he crossed the room to go behind the counter. Eun Ha also came by the counter; in her case, attracted by the smell of chocolate coming from there. It was intoxicating. Now she could tell she understood what the 'magic scent' was. For that place immediately reminded her of the dearest memory of her childhood: Jolly Bakery.

The internal illumination of the desserts display was the first thing that lit on in the darkness, and Eun Ha marveled at the wonderful delicacies in display. And she could say for sure that each of them had some of the 'magic' quintessence_ or magic chi_ Hunter Shin was talking about. In retrospect, she had always seen magic; she just didn't have a name for her.

"Omo omo !!!"

She crouched down in awe, coveting each of the sweets. Forgot her diet completely. She wanted each of them! They were so perfect, as if they're freshly baked or crafted. Her stomach even seemed to groan in anticipation. In a epiphany moment, she realized there was no reason to restrain herself at all.

"Ah!" It was a child's dream: to get all she wanted; no guilt attached.

She walked around the counter quickly, and reached inside greedily, grabbing a chocolate eclair that exploded in her mouth at the first bite_ as expected, causing a small gourmand ecstasy.

"Hmmmm!" she exclaimed with a groan of happiness, which made the Hunter rise from his crouching position next to her, searching for the right switches.

"What…?" he started to ask, but Eun Ha had thoughtlessly taken a small piece of the eclair, oozing fudge, and intended to make him try.

"Hmm nom hmmm!" Was her attempt to say: 'Sharing dreams! Try it!' with her own mouth full.

Her sudden move caught the hunter's mouth half open, and her finger covered in luscious chocolate fudge slipped across and inside his lips. To try to prevent her from doing so, he gripped her wrist, but it was too late: Eun Ha's finger had definitely touched the tip of his tongue and deposited the delicious chocolate filling in his mouth. The piece of eclair fell, forgotten, but no one noticed.

Just both of them staring at each other about 4 inches apart, caught by surprise by the incident, inside a half-lit vanilla scented room: Eun Ha with her chocolate-covered finger, on the lips and tongue of Hunter Shin.