The Senior Slayer's First Rest
The next day.
I climbed aboard the bus that had come all the way to our unit.
I only brought what I needed—my phone and wallet. Thanks to the seniors’ warning that it would be over quickly, I packed just those two essentials.
Every seat was already full, as if our side had been the last to arrive.
I slid into the empty seat in front, and the person already sitting there shifted slightly to the side.
“Thank you.”
“Ah, n-no problem.”
He was a man.
It was only natural that men and women would mix once we’d gathered all the scattered Awakener units.
Still, he looked like a weakling despite his size and muscles.
I sat down and pulled out my phone. We’d only just left the unit gate, yet three seniors had already sent messages at once.
Jeong Seung-ah, Kim Heejin, Yeon Byeori. Those three who’d been glued to me lately.
[Harang-ah]
[Did you get on the bus safely?]
[?]
[Don’t get hurt anywhere]
[(((Crying bear emoji)))]
That was Jeong Seung-ah.
[Yo]
[Doctor over there]
[It’s a quack]
[You don’t advertise it and it’s over anyway?]
[Tell me immediately if you have any pain]
That was Kim Heejin.
[(((Rabbit poking its whistle nonstop)))]
[(((Rabbit poking its whistle nonstop)))]
...
[Once you get there, keep going]
[To some weird person]
[Don’t give them your number]
That was Yeon Byeori.
Because she sent them in her own colorful style, my chat screen—already filled with my sister’s and ads—felt strangely bright.
Grateful for the excessive love, I answered them one by one.
“Ah, damn.”
The curtain of hair was lightly annoying, so I tucked it behind my ear.
Jeong Seung-ah had startled and told me not to cut it, but I really should have trimmed it.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“Are you with the unit here?”
“Here?”
“Yes, that woman Awakener unit I mentioned.”
You saw me get on the bus just now, right?
I answered that I was.
“Ah… I’m from the unit on the opposite side. Just past the convenience store.”
“Really? The one at the three-way intersection?”
“Yes! You know it. Of course the people from that unit use it too. We run into each other sometimes.”
“Really? We might have crossed paths there too.”
“Actually, I did see one once.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I just watched from afar.”
You thought it was the same person you saw back then, but now you recognize them?
“So, this is fate too, isn’t it? Could I have your number?”
So many people asked for numbers.
It wasn’t impossible to understand. Honestly, I still jumped when I looked in the mirror.
I didn’t think they wanted numbers out of some deeper interest. There was nothing else.
But this time the situation was different.
The gaze right next to me felt sticky and unpleasant. I really, truly hated it.
The beast inside me was snarling, teeth bared. It was disgusting.
I’d already received Yeon Byeori’s message about the situation earlier, so I had plenty of excuses. Mentioning seniors felt a little weak, though.
“I’m afraid that won’t work.”
“Ah… Do you have someone else?”
Was that the purpose? This filthy, grotesque, ugly human!
I genuinely disliked it. Goosebumps rose on my exposed arm.
Even if my body had become female, that didn’t mean I’d feel anything for a man. Absolutely not. Not even in death.
I deliberately let my spines show more to make my dislike clear. Otherwise, I might lose something precious.
If I didn’t give a proper reason here, they’d keep bugging me. Isn’t it obvious from the start that they’d ask?
“Yes. I do.”
“Of course… The world won’t leave someone like you alone, haha…”
After roughly replying to her shrinking voice, I sent it.
“Listen! Friends are still okay, right? Let’s Stagram follow each other…”
“I don’t use Stagram.”
“Eh, really? You’re like a wall.”
“I really don’t.”
That was the truth.
I was so hooked on Reels or Shorts that I didn’t even touch it.
The man looked flustered as he held up his phone in response to my firm rejection. The bus rumbled as it headed toward the Awakener hospital.
...
“Three days.”
“Three days?”
“Don’t use your legs at all and rest for three days.”
“Three days?”
“What did you do to end up like this?”
“Deployments and training…”
“Don’t do that.”
“Deployments?”
“Both deployments and training. No! Stop walking too! Just don’t move!”
“Then what do I do?”
“Don’t ‘then what do I do’! Look at your own leg right now!”
I hadn’t expected her to get so angry. Kim Heejin said she was casual, didn’t she?
In front of the doctor speaking with passion lay my Awakener ability and X-ray results.
When I mentioned the sharp pain in my calf from yesterday, her expression changed and she ran various tests.
The result that came back was this. I blinked in surprise after hearing the words.
“There’s a fracture! In a situation like this, pushing yourself? Everything’s going to come out. Someone who’s supposed to be fast can’t run anymore.”
“That’s really unfortunate. But to live in unit life…”
“Come here. Rest for three days.”
“Eh? That’s troublesome…”
The doctor nodded when she saw me.
“It seems so. You’re from… the other female Awakener unit? That place would be easier. I’ll write the diagnosis. Tell your circumstances and rest as much as possible. Walking normally is fine, but no training or deployments.”
“Will it be okay after three days of rest?”
“Awakener is just Awakener, right? It should stabilize perfectly. Three days.”
When the doctor said that, I felt relieved. This was the perfect chance to rest for a while.
Resting while the other seniors worked their bones out! Just thinking about it already made me feel good!
While waiting for the bus with the diagnosis slip in hand, I imagined the days after my return.
‘Harang-ah, how are you?’
‘Whoa, the senior’s missing one person working their bones out while you’re just resting. The unit’s a mess. Totally.’
‘Ah—why is the world like this—senior should move more than junior—’
‘Can I rest if I hit my calf a bit? So sad, so sad~’
‘With two of you not matching and one out of commission, it’s really sad. Right? Harang-ah?’
A single drop of sweat.
Good feelings? Forget it. I might not even know if food was going in my mouth or nose.
I didn’t think they’d tease me like that, but since imagining it came so easily, maybe it was actually possible.
Rumble. The bus I’d taken here arrived. Time to return.
Suddenly I felt the diagnosis slip in my hand grow heavy. What expressions would the seniors make when I told them I’d returned?
‘Ah, she’s just a clumsy idiot.’ or ‘Again? Seo Harang?’ If I heard those, I might not be able to hold my head up.
But it was better to watch the eyes than not be able to run.
With that in mind, I returned to the unit. It was already dark by the time I got back, even though I’d left early in the morning.
“Harang-ah!”
“Jeong Seung-ah Superhuman!”
“Thank you for your hard work! How was it?”
I wanted to ask back. Were you guys okay without me? Isn’t it the same as taking over the living quarter’s role as the youngest?
“I was in so much pain…”
As expected! The youngest had disappeared and they’d taken on all the work!
“I’m back, so it’s fine! I’ll do my work now!”
I said boldly, but I was doubtful. The diagnosis slip clearly said to avoid strenuous activity. Would that be right?
I entered the living quarter with Jeong Seung-ah. The gathered seniors greeted me with “You’re back?” It felt completely natural now; I didn’t dislike it.
“So? What happened?”
“There were a lot of people.”
“Right, there are really lots of people. People from other units too.”
“The doctor when I left was the same person, wasn’t he? That human gave treatment so casually.”
“I don’t know if it was the same person, but he seemed really energetic.”
“Really? A skinny guy with glasses and a bit long hair?”
From my memory, yes. When I nodded, the senior’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You mean that guy said that? I can’t believe it. Ah, is Harang interested in you?”
“…Harang-ah.”
Yeon Byeori called me. She wasn’t holding her phone. She must have almost reached the finish line.
“You kept the promise well?”
“The promise… number?”
“Yeah, you can’t just give it away. You didn’t give your number to that doctor, did you?”
“The doctor didn’t ask for a number.”
“…Doctor? Why call her doctor? Did you two get close?”
Jeong Seung-ah asked.
We hadn’t really gotten close… Everyone calls people that way, don’t they?
“We didn’t talk much. Just call them that, right? Anyway, the doctor didn’t ask for a number, but someone asked for one on the way.”
“You didn’t give it?”
“I didn’t. Thanks to Yeon Byeori Superhuman’s warning.”
With the cute good-girl act, Yeon Byeori sighed in relief.
In this light, flowy situation, I had to say I’d rest for three days. It felt like throwing a stone into a calm lake.
“So I’ve been wondering about something in your hand. Can I ask what it is?”
Han Jihye looked at the paper in my hand and said.
It was as if she was blocking every escape hole. Even if it wasn’t her intention.
“That’s the diagnosis slip I received there.”
“A diagnosis slip? They usually give those?”
“I didn’t receive one.”
“I don’t remember receiving one either…”
“Are you not feeling well?”
When Kim Heejin asked, I nodded. The air instantly turned cold, as if freezing the lungs.
I couldn’t not speak, though. If I hid the truth and the condition worsened, it would be too late.
“I received instructions to rest for three days.”
“Is that written here?”
“Yes. Here…”
I handed it to Han Jihye. The seniors crowded around the paper as it unfolded.
“You’re getting away, Han Jihye,” Kim Heejin furrowed her brows after glaring at the senior.
“Hey, Seo Harang.”
“Superhuman Seo Harang.”
“The fall back then was caused by that, right?”
“At that time it was sharp. There was a check-up, so I went and asked. It’s like this…”
I reflexively raised both arms around Kim Heejin’s approaching body. Guard posture.
I hadn’t been hit, but the momentum felt terrifying…
“Waaah!?”
It flashed up.
“Hey, roll out the mattress and blanket.”
Kim Heejin directed the seniors. The neatly arranged mattress unfolded, and a rose-like neatly rolled blanket was spread over it.
Even though it wasn’t bedtime yet, I lay on the bed they’d set out. My body lay gently on top of it.
“No! No no! It’s not that! I’m not unable to walk or unable to move! I only received instructions to avoid training or deployments!”
“Do you know that the most dangerous thought is the casual one? Don’t even think about doing anything for three days. Understand?”
“But then Jeong Seung-ah Superhuman…”
“Harang-ah.”
Jeong Seung-ah said. Even though she was the kindest senior, she probably wouldn’t forgive the youngest lying down openly.
“I’m fine, so rest comfortably. Just for a little while…”
Jeong Seung-ah stroked my leg as if brushing it. It felt like she was using her ability.
“…I used the ability, but I don’t know if it reaches the bone. So I’m being careful not to use my leg as much as possible. I’m really fine!”
“Still…”
“If you move, I’ll get angry.”
My mouth shut with Jeong Seung-ah’s firmness.
With an unexpectedly positive reaction on one side and an overly much reaction on the other, three days of rest began.
---