Chapter 119
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: My Ring Girl
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Even if I wanted to turn off the TV, the remote was smashed to pieces, so there was no way to do it.
I stared blankly at the screen, where the host was excitedly raising Naito's hand high and shouting.
"No one can question this man's qualifications for the award! For those who might not know, let me explain: the Incheon Reclamation Project..."
As the host droned on about the project's achievements and exaggerated gasps of awe rippled through the audience, I mulled it over.
Why on earth had Baek Dam-bi been passed over?
Was it retaliation from the government? Since she was close to me, were they refusing to give an award to someone on my side?
The suspicion crossed my mind, but on second thought, that didn't make sense. The Golden Arrow Award wasn't prestigious enough to warrant that kind of payback.
Only someone like me would even know that Baek Dam-bi wanted it in the first place. Hell, even I didn't understand why she craved it so badly. There was no reason for the government or the broadcaster to think denying it to her carried any special weight.
So why, then?
Because she was an Ice Awakener? The government had always been reluctant to put Ice Awakeners in the media spotlight. Were they worried that having her accept an award on TV would encourage more Ice Awakeners to step into society?
"Now, let's hear your acceptance speech! How does it feel right now?"
Naito flashed an awkward smile at the host's question.
"I'm a bit dazed."
"Dazed? Why's that?"
"I'm questioning whether I even deserve this award... As those in the know are aware, I'm not the one from the Incheon Reclamation Project who truly qualified to receive it."
"Oh! So there's another standout contributor you'd like to mention? By the way, Kim Geuk the Hunter was too busy and already declined the award!"
I'd figured Naito wouldn't feel any guilt about accepting an award that rightfully should've gone to Baek Dam-bi, given how little it was worth. Apparently, I was wrong.
On the TV screen, Naito opened his mouth.
"Excluding Kim Geuk, it was Baek Dam-bi... Her contributions were especially huge. For those who've seen my YouTube videos, they were mostly edited to focus on my activities, so some might think mine were greater, but that's not true. Dam-bi was always quietly up front, drawing the monsters' attention and taking on the most dangerous tasks... Her efforts stood out the most."
The host grinned ear to ear.
"Is it because you're Japanese? So humble!"
"It's not about being humble—it's the truth."
"Even if it were true, wow! Isn't that amazing? A regular person with no superpowers, achieving feats among Awakeners that even they couldn't surpass!"
"No, I definitely got outshone."
"Even if you did, there's no shame in that. Quite the opposite—you should be proud! Using only the innate human abilities we were born with, not some post-Gate superpower, you shone brighter than Awakeners in the midst of them all. No matter what anyone says—"
Listening to the host's tirade, I finally understood why the Golden Arrow Award had gone to Naito.
"—it's a victory for humanity! A true human triumph! That's why this award isn't just on behalf of Incheon's people—it's for all the ordinary folks who'll draw courage from this feat, realizing they too can achieve greatness in this brutal era..."
The Golden Arrow Award—for a non-Awakener.
They must've valued how he'd shone despite not being an Awakener. They probably inflated his contributions several times over, factoring in his ordinary status, and handed him the prize.
It wasn't anything new. Think about hero comics—there's always that powerless hero.
Someone without superhuman gifts operating among superhumans, standing out even more, often with a bigger role and greater feats than many superpowered characters.
Characters whose lack of powers is their gimmick...
As I've said before, I hate those types.
I already disliked them, but after seeing Naito, I loathe them. Intolerably so!
Those repulsive freaks get showered with love from ordinary writers and readers just for not being superhumans. Despite having no powers, they hog all the praise, attention, and spotlight.
And as they watch these mundane characters' overblown exploits—fueled by the favoritism of equally mundane creators—pathetic non-Awakener trash gets their vicarious thrills.
Not me anymore.
It's just disgusting. Truly.
"I dedicate this glorious award to my fellow Hunters from the Incheon Reclamation Project. First and foremost, to Kim Geuk the Hunter and Baek Dam-bi the Hunter, who rightfully should've accepted it in my place... and to all our other comrades, living and dead..."
As that non-Awakener scum spouted insincere platitudes that turned my stomach, I scrutinized the TV screen more closely.
Glancing at the other recipients besides Naito, it was clear the broadcaster hadn't carefully vetted them based on merits. The top award for the Gyeongsang representative went to some unheard-of Physical Enhancer, not Choi Yong.
Not being a big deal, they'd probably just handed them out willy-nilly to whatever Hunters they could reach...
To those sloppy non-Awakener losers...
A sudden urge hit me to teleport straight into that fucking broadcaster's headquarters and beat the shit out of every employee and host there. But I couldn't.
For one, I had no authority to dictate who got awards. And from their side, they'd just whine that it was no big deal—why make a fuss?...
Plus, it would've hurt my ring girl more than me.
Rumors were already swirling that Baek Dam-bi and I were dating. If I threw a tantrum protesting her snub now, it'd be obvious what would happen.
People would say she made her boyfriend cause a scene over a stupid award—not me, but her would take the real heat. She was already catching flak for riding my coattails to grow strong; I couldn't let her face even more baseless backlash.
And above all, right now, consolation trumped complaints.
I called Baek Dam-bi right away.
The ringing dragged on for ages before she finally picked up.
I forced a casual tone.
"Dam-bi? You free right now?"
Even that short question took a while to get a reply.
That alone told me how she was feeling, but over the line, she managed a reasonably 'cool' voice.
"Yeah, I'm free. What's up?"
"Nothing major—just thought we could grab some tea."
Her response to that took even longer.
"Sure. Let's have tea. Where to?"
"Hang on, I'll come pick you up. Wait out front, and I'll..."
I teleported to our usual spot, and there she was—sunglasses and crop top, business as usual.
We sat across from each other at a coffee shop table. I ordered two coffees and eyed her cautiously.
Her face was expressionless behind the shades. Flat words came from her impassive lips.
"You saw the ceremony and got worried, right?"
"Honestly? Yeah."
"Thanks. But you didn't have to."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It wasn't a big deal to begin with. The prize money's peanuts, zero prestige—even the Hunter Association chairman probably doesn't know it exists."
"True, but..."
I couldn't bring myself to say, 'Weren't you singing the praises of the Golden Arrow Award this and that?'
As I trailed off, she clammed up too.
A long silence stretched out. I felt obligated to say something but couldn't muster it.
Something trickled down from under her sunglasses.
It caught the coffee shop lights and sparkled.
Should I pretend not to notice? I debated, but it soon became impossible.
Once the tears started, they flowed like a dam burst, impossible to ignore. She—and I—froze in panic.
Luckily, I snapped out of it first.
"Hey, boss? Emergency came up—gotta run!"
The coffees weren't even out yet, paid or not—I teleported us away with Baek Dam-bi in tow.
I had to get somewhere away from prying eyes fast, so we ended up at my place.
Once there, out of sight, she broke down crying for real.
She wept quietly at first, then suddenly spoke up.
"Hold me."
"Huh?"
"Hold me. Now."
I hesitated a moment, then did as she asked.
I pulled her into a hug. She clung to me.
Her breath warmed my chest as we stood there, still, for what felt like forever.
How much time passed? She finally loosened her arms. I let go too.
Baek Dam-bi stepped back. She seemed calmer now, though her voice still quivered.
"Thanks for asking to meet. I don't know if I could've handled being alone."
"Glad I could help."
Her tone mixed sorrow and embarrassment.
"Got any booze? I'm too mortified to stay sober. A drink might..."
I obliged without a word. I twisted the cork off a convenience store wine I'd kept for guests, poured us glasses, and we drank—me, her, over and over.
Neither of us could get drunk—her body wasn't even organic anymore, and I had Physical Enhancement—but somehow, we did.
Old habits from our human days kicked in, or maybe it was the mood. Either way, we were wasted, no doubt.
Drunk enough that Baek Dam-bi ditched her cool persona and cursed.
"That fucking slant-eyed bastard Naito. Should've gassed him ages ago!"
Her inner cyber-magnet had me reeling, but I played it off.
Baek Dam-bi had every right to rage and grieve like that.
After awakening, she'd faced treatment worse than a regular person's, endured countless injustices. Now, to have to yield the glory she wanted to some ordinary schlub just because she was an Awakener?
I had no clue why she wanted that award so badly, but I could absolutely empathize with her pain and the sheer unfairness. Channeling my own fury at non-Awakener trash, I yelled.
"I hated that fucker Naito from the moment I saw him! Gossiping about fellow industry folks like some slimy creep!"
We hollered like drunkards, but I can't recall exactly what we said or who we trashed. Just emotional rants, spilling out incoherently.
When I came to, we were lying side by side on the bed—both naked.
"Was that a mistake...?"
She shot back at my murmur.
"What's the big deal? It's not like I can get pregnant. Why the grim face? Worried I'll demand you take responsibility?"
"No, it's that I wanted to confess first before this happened, and now the plan's ruined."
"Oh, you were gonna confess? Guess I win then, huh?"
"Win what? Do whatever you want."
We gazed at each other. I pulled her face close; she didn't resist.
Our faces drew near. Our lips met. Tongues intertwined.
Our first kiss felt cold and hot, shy yet electric.
She must've felt it too.