Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Lee Do-won
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[Hmm. So... you're saying you'll investigate that place you mentioned last time?]
The voice of Star came through the phone.
The dawn when Shiba had fallen asleep.
After the academy ended, I'd come up with my own plan.
Leaning against the bed, I spoke carefully to Star so as not to wake Shiba.
"Yes. I know some people there, and it worries me."
[...If that's what you think, Si-heon, I won't stop you. But Se-young will probably oppose it, saying it's too dangerous.]
I planned to act without giving Lee Se-young any prior notice.
Not only would it be complicated to explain the power I currently possessed, but above all, she was someone who would worry no matter how strong I became.
[......Are you serious?]
"Yes."
[Agh...... You two are exactly alike as a couple.]
Star let out a groan like her head hurt after I told her the truth.
Still, she had no intention of interfering with my choice and soon gave her assent.
[So... how do you plan to hide it? If you act openly, information will leak out inevitably. Se-young's sharp as a fox; she'll figure it out right away.]
"I have some countermeasures in place."
I reached out to the nightstand and picked up the mask that had been sitting there unused for a while.
In the faint light of the dawn lamp, it almost seemed like a gleam shone from its eyes.
"I can create a hunter license... right? I'll disguise myself completely. Hide my academy identity too."
[......Huh? You're going to make a completely forged identity? It's not impossible, but it'll complicate things.]
"Is it that hard?"
At my question, Star chuckled and whispered playfully.
[Nooo~ It's not just a little hard; it seems reeally hard. Hmm, one kiss won't cut it anymore. Hey, Mr. Lee! This is gonna cost you big.]
"...Hahaha. I'll do whatever you ask."
[For real?! I recorded that? You mean it?]
Star squealed with delight.
I could clearly picture her twirling her bright yellow hair around her finger, grinning in her pajamas.
After shrieking 'jackpot~' for a while, Star got back to business.
[...So. Name, age, details—I can do whatever I want?]
"Age doesn't matter, and details... just make them up. These kinds of things happen pretty often anyway."
[Right. To the Association, it's basically just another product.]
She'd just exaggerated how hard it was to create an identity, but she'd already forgotten.
Star said it simply.
[Alright, I'll whip one up. Max rank is C-grade, though.]
"Yes. Oh, right."
[Yeah?]
I didn't know how many times I'd use this identity going forward.
Even C-grade hunters varied. The one I'd get was like a mercenary—unaffiliated with the Association, truly free.
Since licenses were easy to obtain, it was common for criminals hiding their pasts or people reinventing themselves to walk this path.
'...Accepting this identity and acting means...'
Standing with one foot in the light and one in the shadows.
To catch Flower lurking in the darkness, I'd have to step into it myself.
The good news was that I knew well how this world operated.
'Drug trafficking... murder. Smuggling.'
Not just what I'd learned indirectly—I'd seen it with my own eyes and felt it in my bones.
The time had come to turn that past disillusionment into experience.
A filthy future.
A murky, slimy underbelly, sticky and repulsive.
Even now, it clung to society's fringes, perhaps sharpening its blade against me without my knowledge.
'Teacher and Master would try to stop me.'
This was stubbornness.
Could I just sit back and let those vicious mosquito bastards suck my blood?
Right now, I needed a name to shout freely.
And luckily, I had the perfect one.
"Do-won."
Lee Do-won.
The new hunter name I'd received, infused with pale pink peach blossoms in every character— a precious name she'd given me someday.
It pained me that Cheon-do didn't remember it now.
But someday, when she knew, even if she vanished before my eyes, she'd hear it and come find me.
"I'll go with Do-won."
In the quiet dawn.
I donned the simple mask over my face.
I gazed straight into the mirror beside me.
-Zzzt.
The nightstand lamp reflected in my eyes.
Deep black pupils.
A brownish tint in the irises slowly gleamed from within the mask.
*****
"I welcome you all once more, selected for the Forest Keeper Trials."
El Academy, main building, 12th floor.
Having participated in the world-renowned Forest Keeper Trials, we'd moved our class away from the Korean branch to study elsewhere.
"...El Academy's finest talents. Wood. If you complete this training safely, it would be wonderful if one of you takes on the role of Forest Keeper."
The Korean branch only selected top-performing cadets for the Elite Class.
Intensive training allowed them to develop cadets more effectively at their level.
In that sense, this place outclassed even the Elite Class.
Only the absolute best elites belonged here.
15 people. Everyone here was a trial participant.
Cadets from Japan, China, America, and more sat with shoulders squared, eyes forward.
"We won't focus on academics for a while. To purely hone your skills, we'll revise the curriculum and undergo special training."
Did I need this right now?
There were surely things to learn from that instructor, but I didn't feel any real benefit.
Techniques I could learn just by watching.
When I first entered the academy—back when potential was highest—I could mimic magic or swordsmanship just by seeing it.
Of course, only up to a certain level. But it was still astonishing talent.
'...It might come in handy somewhere.'
Frankly, there was nothing to learn at the academy.
At best, knowledge of magic I didn't know.
For the Forest Keeper Trials, I planned to use only magic without revealing my full power.
"......"
I organized my thoughts and glanced sideways.
Before her face entered my view, massive breasts did.
Even compressed by a sports bra, her beauty shone here too.
Cornus.
The girl who'd been subtly avoiding me until now.
"...Hey."
"......"
Cornus glanced at me briefly, then puffed her cheeks emotionlessly.
"Why are you so mad? Did I do something wrong?"
I spoke as gently as possible.
Cornus pursed her lips roundly. Then she raised a small hand and lightly smacked my shoulder.
-Tap.
Faint pain.
Strong for Cornus.
"...You left without a word."
Resentful eyes, lips that wouldn't un-pout.
"I hate Si-on. You said you'd make me friends."
"But you made a lot of friends. You seemed close last time I saw."
Cornus's wish had come true, albeit in the wrong direction.
That's what I meant, but she puffed her cheeks even more, dissatisfied.
So puffy, her face looked just like Shiba's.
"......We couldn't enjoy the training camp together."
She spoke, then puffed again.
When a beauty like Cornus distorted her face, it subtly drew eyes.
A few foreign cadets glanced at her.
"...You said you'd do 'yasu' too."
That was...
Maybe not the right thing to say here?
Luckily, her whiny words weren't loud enough for the other cadets to hear.
I swallowed dryly and grabbed the nape of Cornus's neck.
"Don't say that here... people will misunderstand."
Where the hell did she learn that?
Definitely that vicious site, TreeInside.
I gently stroked her nape to calm her, and she shuddered.
"D-don't."
The air deflated from her cheeks, reverting to stage-one pout.
Stage one: pursed lips, subtle glaring.
Stage two: outright staring, cheeks fully puffed.
I was curious about stage three, but soothing her came first.
"Ah, wanna go eat the new tteokbokki?"
"Tteokbokki?"
Whispering softly in her ear, her face softened.
The name she'd not heard in ages. Spicy-chewy-sweet tteokbokki.
Cornus pondered seriously, then huffed and looked back at me.
"......Trying to bribe me with food."
No dice.
She'd definitely changed from the old Cornus.
Before, she'd follow even a strange uncle for tteokbokki.
Now, she showed some self-control.
'Maybe too accustomed to intense flavors.'
After all that tasty food, tteokbokki no longer satisfied?
I pictured her roaming with friends for chicken, beer, and more.
After eating like that, tteokbokki might not cut it.
My original sin ran deep.
"Hmm... then what would make you forgive me."
I muttered like to myself.
Arms crossed under her chest, glancing away, Cornus heard and signaled slyly, lips twitching.
I pretended not to notice until she spoke first.
"...Booze."
"Huh?"
Booze?
"I wanna drink cocktails."
"Cocktails? Why suddenly."
"...The kids tell me not to drink."
I'd never seen Cornus drink till the end.
Just a pleasant pint of draft beer before parting.
How whiny was she for them to forbid alcohol altogether?
An easy request, so I nodded.
"Then that's what'll make you forgive me?"
Cornus rolled her eyes indifferently, then nodded with her blank face.
To others, it looked scary—a emotionless girl puffing and deflating her cheeks. But I read her feelings.
Before looking back at the instructor, I asked Cornus.
"Oh, right."
"Yeah?"
"No troubles or anything, right?"
"What're you talking about?"
Casual probe, lukewarm response.
With Cornus suddenly vanishing before, she was one I needed to keep watch on.
"Good if nothing's up."
I hoped incidents wouldn't chain and spread before I could act.
Thinking that inwardly, I let out a shallow breath amid the growing bustle.