Chapter 30 - Who is this man?

"I am Jung Eun Ha."

She said, handing out the coffee cup she had just bought to the strange man she just met. Now that this menacing man had agreed to listen to her, she felt she had to fight to keep him interested, and get him to speak. Besides, of course, getting her wand back.

The stranger accepted the drink, and waited for her to take a sip from her own cup before starting to walk the sidewalk_ apparently expecting her to follow up.

The stylist shook her head, deciding to go through this game according to the experienced player's rules, and tried to keep pace with him, but it wasn't easier:

"I just introduced myself, so I think the polite thing is the other part to do the same." She tried not to sound demanding, but this man had an annoying way of being silent.

"Shin." He stopped and turned amidst people who were walking in the opposite direction, on the sidewalk, disturbing the flow. People got angry, and turned away from the couple_ although the man didn't seem to care the less about that.

"Shin…" Eun Ha hinted in her tone that it would be interesting to know the full name. But, as she should have suspected, the man was immune to hints_ as he just stopped to smell the coffee with curiosity, uncovering the cup, before taking a sip. She almost lost her temper, but managed to smile and try to get a proper reply from him,

"Just Shin?"

"That's enough for you."

Eun Ha ran a hand through her hair, exasperated, trying to not commit any mistake that could ruin everything:

"Mr. Shin… Like I said, I don't have any living parents anymore. So they couldn't teach me." 'Am I making a terrible mistake, talking about myself like that? Is he reliable? Because, looking closely, and the way he acts… Am I getting involved with a criminal from the supernatural realm?'

She realized she was staring at the strange Mr. Shin, and not saying anything as her thoughts raced through her head like a stampede, so she beamed a smile: "Oh, I lost in thoughts… I have to organize my thoughts. I have many things to ask... Mr. Shin."

"Uhum. Let's get away from humans. Then we talk. "It wasn't as if he had said it quietly, in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, however, which alarmed Eun Ha. He simply kept walking toward the park, with Eun Ha chasing after him. He walked fast and it was hard for her to keep up.

When they finally arrived at a empty spot near the River, where they could talk without being heard, the man who said his name was Shin started,

"I don't have much time to waste," Miss Jung 'Eun Ha'. So be straightforward and ask your questions." He crossed his arms, keeping a distance between them. Eun Ha couldn't help thinking that he was neither as tall as Dr. Flamingo, nor so elegant, but he had very broad shoulders and a rather athletic type. But his gaze was rather intense and intimidating.

"Okay. Then I must start. The most important question of all is: what are we?"

"Fairies", he answered promptly and bluntly.

Eun Ha was startled and literally gaping. It was not her first suspicion. Because of the magic wand she had found, she imagined her family was wizarding. She had probably been influenced by Hollywood teen movies for quite some time. 'But ... Wait! That even makes sense. My God, I'm stupid! Yes! Fairy! Fairy! Of course it is! But…'

"Wait! Are you a fairy too?!"

"What?" The man snorted. "Don't I look like a fairy to you?"

"Well, no! I mean, that's not it ... Just wanted to know if ... Wait. You have not answered me yet. It's just that, in my head, the fairies were… ?!" She crashed without an answer. She had no idea about fairies other than a cliche. "I mean ... Is it serious that there are fairies even in Korea?"

"Hmm, you definitely have a lot to learn," Mr. Shin muttered, tiredly stuffing his hands into his pockets ." Apparently there are, since you are from here. Next question."

"Aish how nasty. He won't even elaborate ?!" she muttered to herself, resentful of the scarcity of information. He stared at her and raised an eyebrow as a sign of who was listening to her complaints. His gaze was deadly.

"Erm, well… Right. Next question." She clapped her hands compulsively to ward off nervousness, and try to improve her thinking. 'Damn, he didn't have to be pushing me like that, this is worse than Suneung!'*

"Okay, question number two: am I going to have my wand back?" She asked hopefully, but not knowing what to expect in as reply from this man. She tried to give a smile that showed all her niceness, but it probably just looked like a day old mandu*, she thought.

He gave her a crooked smile. "So you keep toying with humans out of your childish pet peeves? Does it sounds like something I should do?"

"Op, I mean, Mr. Shin! "She corrected herself, under his disapproving look remind her that he didn't allow her to act as if they're close. "Number three ... are you a cop?"

He showed a funny expression now, folding his arms again. "No. There is no such thing among us."

" Ahhhhh! "She agreed, but didn't fully understand. Then: "Hey wait, so you can't confiscate my wand! Give it me back to me right now!" She felt unfairly fooled, and raised her annoyed voice, extending her hand. "Give me back while I'm being nice."

"Don't be loud, Jung." Shin simply ignored what Eun Ha considered a threat. "You have a huge head between your ears, but apparently only wear it as a token."

"Um? Uh ?!" Though annoyed, she still knew her words were bluff at best, for what would she claim calling the police against this man? That he had taken her magic wand? And what did he mean by that?

"I shouldn't do that." He pulled her wand out of his pocket and carefully unrolled it from his handkerchief, reaching for her without touching the tool with his hands. Eun Ha grabbed the object as soon as she could, figuring she should leave the questions for later. "You got it. And if I find out that you're stalking and disturbing humans for fun, I'll come after you."

Although he didn't really change his tone to say that, the last sentence sounded so truly threatening that Eun Ha looked away from his face, shivering. She quickly put her wand into her coat pocket:

"What… why… why are you talking like that?"

"Because I'm a hunter. I hunt monsters and threats."