Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Defective Machine
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"This machine's defective!"
Yoo Na-yeon's red sports car slid smoothly into the Hunter Association parking lot.
What kind of car runs this smoothly...?
Well, not that I'm jealous or anything.
I can walk faster and more comfortably now anyway.
'I should look up how much it costs later...'
The parking lot was already swarming with reporters and hunters.
"Whoa, there are so many people. Is it some special day today?"
I muttered as I peered out the window.
Yoo Na-yeon put on her sunglasses and gave me a pitiful look.
"It's because of you, you idiot. All those reporters are camping out hoping to catch sight of you."
"Me? Why?"
"They're staking out in case you show up to register."
What a hassle.
I pulled my hat down lower.
Should I just go home?
But the warning about fines for not registering echoed in my ears.
Better to spend ten minutes registering than pay a fine.
"Hey, stick right behind me. I'll shield you."
"With your height?"
"I'm pretty tall, okay!?"
Yoo Na-yeon stepped in front of me.
Oh, she's got some presence.
As expected from an S-Rank Hunter.
As soon as she opened the car door and stepped out, reporters swarmed like hyenas.
"Hunter Yoo Na-yeon! Do you know the identity of the Blue Vest?!"
"There are eyewitness accounts of you together at a chicken restaurant yesterday!"
"Is he your boyfriend?!"
Flashes exploded wildly.
Yoo Na-yeon flashed a practiced smile as she handled the reporters.
"Ah~ No comment on my private life. It's dangerous, so don't follow. I might accidentally bump into you?"
A small flame flickered at her fingertips, and the reporters flinched back.
Of course, no hunter would actually hurt someone, but the intense heat forced ordinary people to retreat.
To me, it just felt like a hot pack, but the non-awakened were sweating buckets in a panic.
Seizing the gap, we slipped into the association lobby.
The lobby was even worse.
I spotted several people wearing blue vests.
Is this a cosplay club?
One guy was even standing there holding a delivery box.
"Hey! I'm a speed ability user too! Check out my speed!"
A man was jogging in place, yelling.
The association staff looked exhausted as they held him back.
"Sir, even non-awakened run better than you. Go home."
"I told you, I was super fast earlier!"
What a circus.
She didn't hire actors for me, did she?
"Ahem."
Hiding behind Yoo Na-yeon, whose cheeks were flushing for some reason, I headed to the reception counter.
Fortunately, the dedicated counter she guided me to was quiet.
Even simple paperwork gets a dedicated staff member if an S-Rank Hunter asks.
I've got a good friend.
"Welcome, Hunter Yoo Na-yeon. What brings you here today?"
Yoo Na-yeon nodded toward me.
"My friend awakened and wants to register. The lobby's full of weirdos, so we came here."
"Ah, yes! Could we see some ID first?"
I handed over my ID, hat pulled low.
The staff took it and entered my name into the monitor.
And three seconds later...
[Class 1 Management Target Approaching]
[Report to superiors immediately.]
A red warning popped up on the pad.
The staff's pupils shook like there was an earthquake, and she quickly hid the pad.
She slowly raised her head, peering under my hat at my eyes.
Then, in a trembling voice...
"Um... Na-yeon... Is this person...!"
In that instant, Yoo Na-yeon's hand clamped over the staff's mouth.
She coldly scanned the surroundings and murmured lowly.
"If anyone asks later, just say I told you to keep it quiet. My friend wants to register discreetly."
Wow, look at her being so aggressive.
Maybe that's why she doesn't have other friends besides me?
Not that I'm complaining; it's convenient for me.
"Book the most secluded measurement room. And I already called the Association Chairman, so you don't need to report it."
The staff nodded frantically, eyes bulging as if about to faint from Yoo Na-yeon's hand over her mouth.
I tapped Yoo Na-yeon's back.
"Hey, ease up. Why'd you call the Chairman?"
"Gotta talk to the big boss now so it doesn't become a hassle later. Just sit tight; sis has got this."
On the way to the measurement room, Yoo Na-yeon linked arms with me.
Is this part of the disguise?
Pretending to be a normal couple?
The soft sensation against my arm. Her faint shampoo scent.
Regardless of the stares, she pressed close and hummed a tune.
"Having a good friend makes things convenient, huh?"
"Kinda feels that way...?"
"You never just say thank you nicely."
The measurement room door opened soon after.
Inside wasn't just the measurement device—guild scouts were hiding behind newspapers, scrutinizing every entrant.
Like detectives from a '90s drama.
I yawned and stood before the machine.
It was a simple device for testing mana output.
"Let's grab food after. My treat."
"Tch. Put on some proper clothes first."
I placed my palm on the machine.
These warnings are brutal.
As soon as I touched it, the machine siphoned my mana and began measuring.
The sidebar said over 1 million was S-Rank.
[99,999,999]
[ERROR!!]
The numbers climbed rapidly, then the screen flashed red.
What the...?
I didn't do anything?
I just touched it.
[Please remove hand!]
[Absolutely no mana release!]
Scared of compensation, I even tried using Swiftness to pull my hand away.
That was my mistake.
'Ah!'
Boom!!!
A deafening roar filled the air as my vision clouded with thick smoke.
"Sang-hyuk!!"
Yoo Na-yeon yanked me away from the machine.
"You okay!?"
This wasn't the time to worry about my body.
I casually fanned away the acrid smoke.
Revealing the wrecked measurement device.
Or rather, a pile of scrap metal now.
The plastic casing was shredded and scattered, the monitor spewing black smoke like it was screaming.
"......"
A chill ran down my spine.
Did I do this?
No, I just lightly touched it.
Mana? Didn't use it. Never have. For real. Got proof? Bring it.
"Um... Na-yeon. How much is that thing worth?"
"Dunno. Maybe ten billion won?"
Ten billion.
At a thousand won per delivery, that's a million deliveries to pay off.
I'd smugly conquered the gallery after just two thousand today, and now a million...?
I swallowed hard, looking at the frozen staff and Yoo Na-yeon.
In times like this, strike first.
I put on my most aggrieved face and went on the offensive.
"Hey! How are you going to handle this? I got a burn on my palm from your faulty machine!"
"......Pardon?"
"Does it make sense for it to explode just from touching it? Isn't this negligence?"
I shouted confidently and grabbed Yoo Na-yeon's hand.
"Eek...!"
She was signaling me to burn her palm too, but for some reason her face flushed, sweat beading as she avoided my gaze.
What? Did she eat something bad? Even S-Rank Hunters catch colds in winter?
No chance of a successful bluff now.
"Say something! Why did the machine explode out of nowhere?!"
The loudest voice wins.
But the reactions were weird.
People hiding in every corner of the measurement room started emerging around me.
A janitor in coveralls, a suit behind a potted plant, even a ninja dropping from the ceiling vent.
All staring at me with bloodshot eyes.
"C-crazy..."
"Unmeasurable? It errored out?"
"S-Ranks don't break machines just by infusing a bit of mana..."
No one mentioned paying for the machine.
Instead...
It was a different kind of look.
Like starving beasts spotting premium beef—greedy, sticky gazes.
"B-Blue Vest! Please join our guild!"
The janitor lunged first.
He tossed his mop and thrust a business card at me.
"Domestic ranking No. 2, White Tiger Guild scout team leader! Join us and get a 20 billion signing bonus! No, 30 billion! Instant 50-pyeong apartment in Gangnam!"
"Out of the way, you thugs!"
The suit shoved the White Tiger leader aside and charged.
He flung open his briefcase.
Bundles of dollars and blank checks inside.
"From America's Union Guild! We pay in dollars! You know the exchange rate, right!? Base salary one billion dollars plus citizenship..."
"Scram! Sanctuary Guild offers..."
In seconds, the measurement room descended into chaos.