Picked Up by Grandpa
I'd been picked up by Grandpa. I had no idea how things had spiraled like this, but before I knew it, I'd been dragged to the Korean Awakener Association Headquarters near Namsan. The Association staff had said they'd call a limo since they trusted Grandpa Kang Yong-su's word, but he got impatient and just scooped me up in one arm and sprinted all the way here.
It was hard to wrap my head around how a person could outrun a car, but I figured this must be what an S-rank was like.
"So, little friend, feeling less tense now?"
"...Y-yeah."
And that's how I ended up on the sofa in the president's office on the top floor of headquarters. It was this fancy-looking black leather couch, so plush I was scared I'd sink right into it.
Anyway, Grandpa must've sensed something extraordinary in my power—some insane mana—and that's why he'd brought me here. I could've spoken up midway, but I just stayed quiet, not sure what to even say. He seemed to think I was too flustered and scared to talk. And honestly... that might've been a little true.
I mean, come on—running around leaping through the sky while holding a kid? No thanks.
"Are you saying this girl is that impressive, Hunter Kang Yong-su?"
"You can't believe your own eyes?"
"No, it's not that, but..."
The middle-aged man next to Grandpa Kang Yong-su was none other than Lee Jong-woo, the president of the Korean Awakener Association. A capable guy who'd climbed to the top in his forties. He was definitely younger than Grandpa—hair still all black, clean-shaven, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that screamed "association president."
"Even so, you can't just kidnap a child like this. Her parents must be worried sick."
"...You're right. Sorry about that, little friend. Grandpa got too carried away, huh?"
"Ah, no, it's okay..."
It was true. But I couldn't exactly snap at him when he looked so genuinely sorry...
"Let's start by contacting her parents. What's your name, sweetie?"
"Huh? Uh... Han Gy... Ah, no, Shiro."
"Shiro? You don't like that?"
"No, Shiro."
"Pardon?"
"Just Shiro."
"Hmm..."
Uncle Jong-woo scratched the back of his head and gave Grandpa a troubled look. No surprise—he clearly hadn't caught what I meant. I mean, "Shiro" as a Korean name? Kinda unusual if you're not Japanese. But I couldn't just blurt out "Han Gyeol" either.
Thinking about it now, Han Gyeol vanishing from Korea wouldn't be a big deal. People go missing in gate accidents or special zones all the time.
The real issue is this girl named Shiro popping up out of nowhere... No family, no resident registration...
I pondered it deeply, then had a genius idea.
"My name's Shiro. Shi-ro. Shi and Ro. Two letters."
"Ah, got it~ You're Shiro, huh? Alright, Shiro. Do you know your parents' contact?"
"Nope."
"Huh...?"
"I don't remember anything but my name..."
Pretend amnesia, activate. If I acted like I remembered nothing, what could they do?
I fidgeted with my fingers and peeked at them both, worried my acting was too obvious. These were top hunters—their instincts had to be sharp...
"Mind handing over your phone, then?"
"Eek."
Didn't see that coming. What now? If they checked it, they'd see it's registered to Han Gyeol!
My hands shook as I pulled the phone from my padding pocket... Crap, really what to do? Should I just confess? "I awakened and turned into a girl!" What if they don't believe me? Would I get hauled off? Or worse, what if they think I stole some guy's powers and killed him? Awakeners could pull off crimes like that easy enough. That's why hunter cops patrolled neighborhoods nonstop.
"Huh? It's broken..."
"Oh dear."
In the end, after all that worrying, I pulled it out—and it was totally smashed. Must've happened when I panicked and used my powers. Ice shards had bloomed inside, shattering it completely. With the screen in pieces, no way to forensics it.
"How about the Association takes temporary custody for now? Do you remember your home?"
"Nope..."
Sorry, landlady. You were so nice, but I'm peeling off the wallpaper and vanishing. If I make bank later, I'll pay you back tenfold. Promise.
"No choice, then. We'll have to keep her here at headquarters... Or wait, Hunter Kang Yong-su, would you mind taking her in temporarily?"
"Huh? That okay?"
"There's a special clause in the Hunter Act for protecting amnesiac awakeners found during operations. Especially for minors like Shiro here, a qualified high-rank hunter can take custody."
"There was a law like that?"
"Amnesiac awakeners are the most dangerous. And for minors, it's risky to control them, so high-rank hunters handle it—that's the intent."
"Hmm... Complicated stuff—you'd know better. But shouldn't Shiro's opinion matter more than mine?"
Ehh. Honestly, I was fine either way.
Uncle and Grandpa stared at me like they were waiting for my decision. I froze, mulling it over, and Uncle's face lit up like oh crap as he tried again.
"Um... so, Shiro, would you rather stay at the Association's shelter? Or go live with that grandpa over there?"
I totally got it...!! No need to explain again...!
In the end, I decided to go to Grandpa Yong-su's house.
The Association building seemed fine, but something about it gave me the creeps. Staying with Grandpa felt like being at home, but headquarters? Like being hospitalized, stuck away from everything. Just this uneasy vibe.
I figured we'd head straight there, but nope. Uncle pulled Grandpa aside to fill out a ton of paperwork. I nearly died of boredom waiting—come back, my phone!
Pssshhh!
At least I had Absolmi to keep me going. Yawning from boredom, I'd get a little dance show right in front of me. Short legs and all.
"All the paperwork's done. Heading home now?"
"Hmm... It's late, and the kid looks sleepy."
I'm not sleepy... Or am I? Kinda feeling woozy now.
"Then, we'll schedule her awakening ability evaluation for tomorrow."
"Good, you handle things quick as always."
"Car's waiting outside. No running with a kid—take it this time."
"Aigoo, fine..."
Grandpa Yong-su looked all sulky from the nagging. But Uncle was a hundred, a thousand percent right, so no sympathy here.
"Thank youuu!"
After enduring that eternity, I finally held Grandpa Yong-su's hand and escaped the building. Outside was pitch-black night. I'd glimpsed the time earlier—way past 10 PM.
A sleek black sedan that screamed "expensive" waited by the entrance. Grandpa's bear build fit somehow.
Grrrowl~
Slumping into the seat, exhausted, my stomach growled. Right—dinner got derailed by the incident on the way to eat. No food since.
"Hungry?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Aigoo."
But... more than hunger, sleep was crashing over me...
Kang Yong-su had one child: Kang Se-eun, ranked #12 among Korean Strikers. One of the top A-rank hunters, her beauty had landed her on lists of guys' favorite female hunters in their twenties. A viral video once got her on a dating show—didn't lead to romance, but at least no personality scandals.
Right now, she was pacing, worried sick about her dad.
"He'll be fine, right? Why isn't Dad picking up...!"
Her dad had gone out for dinner, then a 3rd-grade gate alarm blared. Sure, he was S-rank, but hunter life was unpredictable. And he never answered calls— she'd been ringing nonstop, straight to voicemail. The Association only confirmed the situation was resolved, no details, leaving her even more frustrated.
"If you're not gonna answer, why'd you even want a phone! You only use it for Gamja Market?!"
Legs jiggling anxiously—
Beep, beep... Beep?
... Click.
Beep, beep, beep, beep!
The front door password chimed. Hesitant midway, then restarting from scratch—classic Dad, Kang Yong-su.
Kang Se-eun bolted to the entrance. Fury had boiled over, but seeing him home brought tears pricking her eyes.
"Dad!! At least answer—hngh...?"
But as she geared up to yell and scold, she froze at the tiny girl clutching her dad's hand. The prettiest kid she'd ever seen. Still young, but destined to grow into idol-level beauty, no doubt.
"Dad! What if you get caught kidnapping a kid!"
All her worry for Dad vanished, replaced by terror at whatever mess he'd gotten into.