Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Drinking Party (1)
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“What’s this kid saying? Hey, come on quick. I’ll buy you something tasty too.”
Seong Ha-yeon skillfully broke the silence brought on by Ichigaya Ichie’s question. Yu-jeong sunbae, who had been keeping her mouth shut tight, gave an awkward smile and led me along. Ichie waved at me as she was dragged away by Seong Ha-yeon. I waved back at Ichie, and Yu-jeong sunbae said,
“Ichie-chan’s pretty, right?”
“Not sure.”
I gave a vague reply. But it was obvious Ichie was a beauty. Her neatly trimmed bob haircut and ruby-red eyes had a charm that drew the gazes of everyone passing by. Yu-jeong sunbae trudged toward the car with a sullen look. She opened the passenger door for me, got into the driver’s seat, fiddled with the steering wheel, and mumbled to herself. It seemed like she had something to say but couldn’t get it out.
She set the destination to the academy and mumbled for a while before finally speaking.
“Wanna grab something to eat after treatment? My treat.”
There was no reason to refuse. I nodded and said sure. As soon as I nodded, Yu-jeong sunbae flashed a pleased little smile and started the car. As we pulled onto the road, she asked. In the shaking car, my splint tapped anxiously against the passenger door.
“How much can you drink?”
“About two bottles of soju.”
“Two bottles? Stronger than I thought?”
She said with a slightly surprised look. Since awakening, I hadn’t gotten blackout drunk even once. Rumor had it awakeners could hold their liquor better, but judging by her reaction, that didn’t seem true.
“How about you, Yu-jeong sunbae?”
“One bottle? Can’t do more than that. Hangovers hit me hard.”
Yu-jeong sunbae shook her head. I nodded and replied,
“Hangovers suck. I’d wake up with my head pounding like it was splitting open.”
“Right? Kids can’t even handle that and go on about not being adults yet. Hate it.”
Yu-jeong sunbae chimed in agreement. The academy came into view in the distance. The massive building loomed over the passing vehicles like a giant, its windows flashing brightly from the ongoing mana stone research. In the cafeteria, hunters sipped coffee while people who looked like reporters scanned the area for interviews.
Yu-jeong sunbae and I passed the cafeteria and headed up to the infirmary. Walking perfectly fine without support despite my broken arm felt a bit weird. Back then, I would’ve been carted in crying, but did becoming a hunter build pain tolerance? Yu-jeong sunbae asked,
“Need me to support you? Or carry you on my back?”
“I’m good. It’s not that bad.”
The thought of being piggybacked by Yu-jeong sunbae was too embarrassing. I shook my head firmly, put on a more dignified expression, and climbed to the infirmary. The doctor was a healer awakener with specialized medical training.
He wore round glasses and his wrinkled face twitched. He didn’t even flinch at the sight of my splint and just said,
“Lie down there. And you?”
“Ah, yes. Black Dragon Clan D-Rank Hunter ‘Kim Yu-jeong,’ Kim Yu-jeong.”
“Nickname?”
“Kim Yu-jeong.”
“No, the nickname that goes before your name.”
“My name’s Kim Yu-jeong, and so’s my nickname.”
“‘Kim Yu-jeong’ Kim Yu-jeong?”
“Yes.”
The doctor rolled his eyes, sighed deeply, and nodded. Then he turned to me and said,
“...Fine. What’s the patient’s name?”
“Academy apprentice hunter... uh... Jeong Su-hyeon.”
The doctor, charting on the computer, frowned and said,
“Nickname. Insurance checks these records. Huh? If there’s a namesake, it’ll log there too?”
“...Ada Bomber.”
“...Holy shit.”
The doctor muttered that and busily typed on the keyboard. He jerked his head at Yu-jeong sunbae and said,
“You, wait outside. Waiting room right there? Grab some coffee; I’ll send him over.”
“Yes. Thanks.”
Yu-jeong sunbae whispered a quiet “fighting” to me before heading out. As soon as the door closed, the doctor said,
“How’d you manage to get hurt like this? Apprentice hunter—what, no Jungle Cats? Even a goblin body-slam wouldn’t snap it like that.”
“Uh... ran into a Strong Boar...”
“Strong Boar? That D-rank? The ugly two-legged wild pig?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Why’d that spawn in an E-rank gate? Gate management slipping these days?”
The doctor clicked his tongue. Strong Boars were apparently rare, with zero chance in E-rank gates. I shook my head and said,
“No idea. It popped out of nowhere while I was hunting Jungle Cats and rammed me.”
“You’re in decent shape for getting hit. Most apprentices die on sight against a Strong Boar.”
The doctor poked and prodded my arm as he said that. Each touch felt like pressing a bruise, making me wince involuntarily. He asked,
“Got some durability awakening or what?”
“W-well, blocking with my left arm reduces impact, and transfers it to my right...”
“Perfect recipe for dying.”
The doctor said flatly. I couldn’t help but be puzzled. Why was a damage-reduction ability a death sentence? He explained,
“Guys with powers like that don’t know their limits. Half-assed defenders are all the same. They charge into attacks others’d dodge as lethal, thinking ‘I can tank it,’ and come back headless. Saw tons like that in my active days.”
A blue glow rose from the doctor’s hands. The light enveloped my arm, wriggling like a swarm of bugs, twisting it every which way.
“Argh! Aaagh!”
I writhed in agony like my joints were shattering. The doctor pinned my thrashing with one hand and said,
“Stay still. Or the bone won’t set.”
“Aaaagh! Aaaaagh!”
No anesthesia here? Pain whitened my mind; I started kicking wildly. Ignoring my flailing, he kept channeling. After what felt like forever, he let go and said,
“Done. No heavy lifting with that arm for a bit. Don’t come back.”
The doctor sat back at his computer. Suppressing the lingering ache, I flexed my arm slowly. It moved naturally, flawless as if never broken. Peering at the screen, he said,
“Academy apprentices get state-covered treatment. Just go.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed to the doctor and headed out. He glanced at me, tsked, and sipped from his paper cup. I turned toward the waiting room where Yu-jeong sunbae was. It was basically a cafe.
A server stood ready for orders, and Yu-jeong sunbae sat in a corner chair, fiddling with her smartphone and sipping an iced Americano. She looked up at me, beamed brightly, and said,
“How’d it go? All better now?”
“Yeah.”
“Sit. Have a drink and rest a bit before we go.”
“Ah, sure.”
I fiddled awkwardly with my left arm. It had been dangling broken moments ago, now perfect. Yu-jeong sunbae said,
“You’ll be here a lot from now on. Especially us—our abilities are defense-oriented.”
Yu-jeong sunbae’s power was super-fast recovery. It was surprising she’d need hospitals.
“You’ve got recovery powers but still go to the hospital?”
“It drains stamina. Anything past my limit needs pros. Hasn’t happened to me yet. Higher ranks, higher gates—monsters get insanely dangerous.”
Just comparing E-rank Jungle Cats to D-rank Strong Boars made it clear. Yu-jeong sunbae slurped her Americano and asked,
“No drink? My treat. Special service for your hard work today.”
“I’m fine. Not that thirsty. Water’s good.”
“Okay? Straight to dinner then? Know a great meat place. Let’s go there.”
“Sure!”
Meat on her dime? Mood lifted instantly. Sensing my excitement, she chuckled, stood, and gently touched my left arm.
“Not hurting anymore?”
“Yeah. Feels good.”
On the way back to the car, hunters chatting in the first-floor cafeteria drifted over.
“Heard Diamond Club’s newbie got fucked up bad this time?”
“Powers are standout, though. Cute face too—they’re thinking of making him their poster boy.”
“Yeah, story goes his family’s rough. Grandparents raising him alone, old as dirt. Kid’s juggling part-time jobs and training to bulk up.”
“Even before awakening?”
“Wanted to be a gym trainer, bodybuilder or something.”
“Impressive.”
They gossiped hard about Diamond Club’s new recruit. Yu-jeong sunbae overheard, looked at me, and said,
“You’re pretty cool too, Su-hyeon.”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard with zero prep, I blurted. She smirked at my fluster, shook her head, and said,
“Nothing. Get in. You first.”
“Okay.”
Yu-jeong sunbae feigned cheer, but a shadow crossed her face. She said,
“You said you can drink well, right? Just a little tonight.”
She eyed me and urged the drink.
“Just a little.”
I couldn’t refuse.