Junior Park I-rae
The man's name was Seong Ye-han. A year ahead of Park I-rae at the academy. He was always relentlessly training his stamina, which made him utterly incomprehensible to her. What was the point of enduring and striving so hard? From what she'd heard straight from him, his physical abilities hadn't changed much since his first day of enrollment. He hadn't started out as hopelessly behind as Park I-rae had, but after a year at the academy, he'd clearly fallen far behind everyone else.
Park I-rae had once asked him why he bothered with this mindless daily physical training when there was no real improvement anyway. His answer? It was just his stubbornness. He said that unless he did something, he wouldn't get even a little better—and at the very least, he didn't want to hear that his efforts weren't enough.
Then he turned the question back on her. "Why don't you do anything?"
"It's pointless for me anyway. I have no talent for physical stuff, and my body's weak as hell..."
To her self-deprecating reply, Seong Ye-han said, "Nah. You can't tell if you have talent or not until you actually try. You haven't even started. If you want to write pretty handwriting, you gotta pick up the pen first, right? The second you see the pen, you wrinkle your nose and give up without even trying—that's you."
"Hunter Academy's two years are mandatory anyway... Why not give it an honest shot for at least a year?"
Park I-rae stared at her senior in silence. What was this, some hot-blooded manga protagonist? But deep down, she knew he wasn't entirely wrong.
"Training alone is tough and boring, right? Wanna waste some pointless time together, us bottom-feeders?"
Without a word from her, he suddenly stuck out his hand. She knew it was a stupid idea, but for some reason, she couldn't refuse. Slap—their hands clasped. His was big and rough, nothing like hers. It felt weird... His palm was sweaty and slick, not exactly pleasant. But that heat traveled up her arm and lingered deep in her chest.
And so her training with her senior began.
"Hah... huff... Senior... my legs feel like jelly..."
Trembling thighs on the verge of collapse, a heart pounding like it might burst, lungs burning like they'd swollen shut—every time the pain hit, her senior was right there beside her. The intense workouts meant to boost an Awakener's physical prowess always made her want to scream, Screw this, I just wanna take it easy.... But then he'd hand her a can of that sweet-tart ion drink, and she could push through. The cool refreshment seeping into her exhausted body... A hot shower back at the dorm, then crashing into bed—she slept like a rock.
Sweat, training, more sweat, more training. Park I-rae was shocked at her own diligence and passion. It was an intensely packed routine.
Just three months later, her physical stats had shot up like summer grass in a green meadow. Maybe it was compensation for a lifetime of frailty since childhood. Or the power of the mind... Either way, it proved she'd just never known how to use her body. Her scores rocketed straight toward the top ranks.
By summer's end, she'd even surpassed her senior, who'd always led the way. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she mumbled an apology, but he celebrated her with the exact same bright smile from that early summer day. He reminded her they still had the huge wall—and potential—of awakening a special ability ahead. Keep pushing, he'd said. Even though he had it the hardest...
That must have been when it started. Her heart fluttering just thinking of her senior. A thrill totally different from post-workout adrenaline. Sweet, somehow. She looked forward to where this bond might lead.
Time passed. The academy curriculum that had once been grueling and annoying felt light now. In her first midterm of the second semester, she proudly scored in the top ranks and went to find her senior, beaming. And that's when she saw it. Him with some woman.
"Huh...?"
They looked far too intimate for just friends. Park I-rae had never even imagined he might have a girlfriend. The shock hit hard. Was she seeing things? To be sure, she asked him about it at their usual training ground meetup. It was true—he had a girlfriend. They'd been dating about six months, but she'd been away on external hunting practice, so she hadn't been at school for months. She'd just returned yesterday...
That night, Park I-rae learned what it meant to black out from drinking for the first time. The pain was worse than any hangover—raw and excruciating. A sticky lingering attachment she knew she shouldn't feel, yet she kept showing up by his side with a casual face. Bit by bit, she pulled away, convincing herself the feeling would scatter like wind someday. She threw herself into training. Her skills soared, but her heart stayed hollow. At least the pain was gone now. Maybe she'd even see him without a pang...
Then she heard the rumors about her senior. Nothing good. He'd dumped his pretty, sweet girlfriend for cheating. An E-rank trash who'd taken her virginity and tossed her aside. Sure, they'd drifted apart lately, but as far as Park I-rae knew, the only woman close to him besides his girlfriend was herself. And sadly, she hadn't slept with him or anything. What the hell?
As confusion swirled, a message pinged from him. Let's grab drinks—it's been ages. Instinct told her this was her chance. Her heart, which she'd thought healed, pounded again.
Ding-a-ling—soft yellow lighting and old-school bar vibes. She met her senior there. He looked worn down. Even when she'd surpassed him, those dark eyes had held hope. Now they were deeper, murkier.
"I-rae..."
"Senior."
Their words were few. The clear liquid in green bottles did most of the talking.
"I-rae... guess I'm really trash, huh."
Awakeners' sturdy bodies metabolize alcohol fast—the higher your stats, the better. Top hunters could chug like water and stay sober. Park I-rae's stats had long surpassed Seong Ye-han's, so naturally, he got drunk first.
"I liked her... but... not enough to devote my whole future to."
She silently refilled his glass as he gave that bitter smile.
Sometimes just having someone there gives strength. That simple warmth can be huge comfort. But what Park I-rae felt wasn't pity. It wasn't normal, even to her... but it was joy, pure and simple. The red flower that had wilted before blooming even started to blossom again—brighter than ever.
Maybe... right now...
She felt her body heat up, warm and insistent. Her healthy female flesh screaming to claim the male before her. Conscience? Shame? What did it matter? He was single now, plain and simple. Public opinion? It had never mattered to her. Glug glug glug—she poured him more.
Drunk and rambling, Seong Ye-han spilled everything. She prodded for details on some. His inferiority complex toward his girlfriend off on practice while he couldn't even manage basics. How he'd envied Park I-rae surging past from the bottom. Knowing it was pathetic, he'd clung to the hope of awakening a special ability. Then it came—the awakening, hope tangled with conflict and despair.
Heroine Hunter
The moment she heard it, Park I-rae had to shelve her plans. She couldn't trample the path he'd chosen to protect amid all his suffering—not for her own desires and happiness. So that day, she vowed: Become a woman he'd never regret using his special ability on.
Her body burned like a blast furnace, but she clamped it down. The senior who'd even dumped the girlfriend he loved... that stubborn guy wouldn't easily take another. Time and opportunity would come. All she needed was her effort and faith in her talent. And she believed—in herself, at least. No choice, really.
So Park I-rae pushed like hell. She avoided seeing him face-to-face. One look, and the dam might burst, hurting him by chasing her lust regardless of his will. When she missed his face, she'd stare at the sneaky photo from that bar night. Late-night messages soothed her heart. In just a year after graduation, she claimed the enviable spot of A-rank hunter.
But... but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It got stolen again.
What kind of damn bitch took her senior...? This couldn't happen. No way!!!!
The vivid red flower blooming in her heart started darkening, tainted black. Sticky, thick with venom, it dyed her soul pitch-black.
"Screw it now... I don't care."
Giving up on him again? Absurd. Let the world call her a slut. Even if there was no room left by his side. No more holding back. No more yielding. She'd long steeled herself for the bloodbath.
No matter what, she'd have her senior.
Ding-a-ling—clear bell chime. The cafe's glass door slid open smoothly. In walked a man. Mask hiding his face, but Park I-rae knew him at a glance.
"Senior~ Over here~"
Honey-sweet voice. But any other woman would sense the lethal poison laced within—dangerous as hell.
"Been a while, I-rae."
Innocent smile, approaching his prey. S-rank or whatever, right now he was just the hunt she'd craved so long.
"Yeah... been too long, senior..."
Facing him, Park I-rae smiled. A very, very happy, joyful smile...