Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Know Your Place
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Quiet blanketed the VIP hospital room.
Only the white mist billowing from the humidifier drifted through the still air.
The sharp scent of disinfectant hung in the air, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Lee Jia sat in the chair beside the bed.
Her face was pale, as if she hadn't slept a wink all night.
Even without makeup, her bare skin bore heavy dark circles, yet it only made her look more heartbreakingly fragile.
'Never again.'
Her eyes were red and swollen from hours of crying, and she gripped Siwoo's hand tightly with both of hers.
As if letting go would make him vanish into thin air.
Her fingertips trembled faintly.
'I'll never let you get hurt again.'
Lee Jia's eyes darkened with resolve.
The terror of that moment when the world had turned black and white was still vivid in her mind.
Her thoughts were filled with one burning determination: to protect Siwoo.
That was when it happened.
Bang-!!
The hospital room door exploded inward with a deafening crash.
The lock was ripped clean off, and the reinforced glass shattered into ragged pieces.
Shards scattered across the floor, tinkling sharply.
In the doorway amid the rising dust stood Kim Ye-eun.
Murderous intent poured from her entire body like shimmering heat haze.
She looked like a vengeful ghost returned from hell.
"……!"
Lee Jia shot to her feet reflexively and glared, only to see Choi Min-seok hovering nervously beyond the wreckage.
"No, Ye-eun! Calm down and let's talk—!"
Brushing off Choi Min-seok's pleas, Ye-eun strode into the room.
Her eyes were rolled back in fury.
Her black pupils were bloodshot red, and her gaze burned with intensity.
The sheer malice radiating from her made even the vases in the room rattle.
"……."
Ye-eun's eyes locked onto Siwoo, bandaged and lying in bed. Her face twisted into a demonic snarl.
It was a mix of heartache, rage, and self-loathing.
And then her gaze snapped to Lee Jia standing beside him.
Step. Step.
Without hesitation, Ye-eun closed the distance and seized Lee Jia by the collar.
"What the hell did you do."
Her voice was a low, guttural growl.
Her ragged breaths seeped through clenched teeth.
"You were supposed to stick by the CEO's side while I was gone and protect him. Look at him!"
Ye-eun's grip tightened.
Lee Jia's body lurched upward, dangling in the air.
But Lee Jia met her stare without flinching, refusing to back down.
"Let go."
Lee Jia's eyes flashed white, and the room's temperature plummeted.
Moisture in the air froze, forming wisps of white frost.
Frost began creeping over the collar Ye-eun gripped.
She might have cowered under the pressure before, but not anymore.
"The CEO's awake. Get out."
Lee Jia's voice was ice-cold and resolute.
"Ha, you little—"
Ye-eun's eyebrow twitched.
She looked utterly offended that this woman dared talk back.
Between the two, dark crimson mana clashed with white chill, making the room's furnishings tremble.
"Enough, both of you."
Choi Min-seok rushed in late, trying to wedge himself between them.
But reining in two feral beasts who'd lost all reason was beyond him.
"Who couldn't even protect the CEO? And you have the nerve to glare at me?"
Ye-eun snarled.
"Don't talk like you know everything. Where the hell were you? You're the one who wasn't here when it mattered."
Lee Jia fired back without yielding.
"What?"
The tension was electric.
The room felt like it could explode any second.
Then a raspy voice came from the bed.
"...Stop it."
Those words froze the air in the room.
Ye-eun's grip loosened, and Lee Jia's icy mana dissipated.
Calm returned as if a spell had been broken.
Both women whipped their heads toward the bed.
"CEO!"
"CEO!"
Their cries overlapped like a duet, eyes brimming with worry.
Siwoo pinched the bridge of his nose and struggled to sit up.
His wounds still throbbed; he clutched his shoulder and leaned against the headboard.
"Are you alright, sir?"
Choi Min-seok darted over and propped a pillow behind Siwoo's back.
Siwoo nodded his thanks and eyed the two women huffing indignantly.
"...Yeah, I'm fine."
"Who was it."
Ye-eun forced down her anger to ask.
Her fists were white-knuckled.
Nails dug into her palms, drawing blood, but she seemed oblivious to the pain.
"Who did this to you, CEO."
She looked ready to hunt them down and tear them limb from limb.
Black haze shimmered behind her like demonic wings.
Siwoo chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Calm down, Ye-eun. At this rate, the room repairs will cost more than the hospital bill. Just the door alone..."
"You think this is about money?"
Ye-eun snapped, her voice cracking with emotion.
Siwoo sighed.
Still fuming, Ye-eun shoved Lee Jia aside and grabbed Siwoo's hand.
Her palm was cold, but it trembled.
"I... I got S-rank certified."
Ye-eun stared straight into Siwoo's eyes.
Like a child begging for praise, but her gaze glittered with obsession.
She was desperate to prove her worth.
"The association guys were shocked. So..."
She clasped his hand with both of hers and rubbed her cheek against it.
The touch was rough, but her feelings poured through.
"I'm never leaving again. You need me by your side, CEO. Not some useless woman."
"……!"
Pushed aside, Lee Jia bit her lip.
She wanted to argue back.
Scream that she too had awakened as S-rank.
But the words stuck in her throat.
In the end, she was the one who'd let Siwoo get hurt.
The undeniable truth stabbed at her chest.
Gathering her courage, she spoke in a small voice.
"...I can protect you now, too."
"Yeah, right."
Ye-eun scoffed derisively.
Full of mockery.
"This is the result? Know your place."
"……."
Lee Jia's shoulders slumped visibly.
Her eyes reddened again, tears welling up.
Grief and frustration warred within her.
Siwoo watched her and gave a wry smile inwardly.
"A-are... are you okay...?"
Lee Jia's voice was barely a whisper.
She stood with her head bowed, like a criminal awaiting judgment.
Her slender shoulders quivered faintly.
Siwoo gently disentangled Ye-eun's hand and looked at Lee Jia.
"Jia."
He smiled plainly.
"I survived thanks to you."
"Pardon...?"
"Without you, I'd be dead. Thank you for protecting me."
Lee Jia's head snapped up.
Her eyes moistened anew, cheeks flushing red.
Tears brimming, she nodded vigorously. Her heart swelled with validation.
As Siwoo patted her head, Ye-eun's glare sharpened.
"Tch."
Ye-eun clicked her tongue in annoyance from the side.
"Couldn't even protect you."
"……."
Lee Jia fell silent again.
Before the mood soured further, Siwoo changed the subject.
"Jia, what happened to the attackers?"
"Ah... The association took them into custody. I heard they're locked up in the police special unit."
"I see."
Siwoo's eyes cooled.
He turned to Ye-eun.
"Ye-eun."
"...What."
Ye-eun replied curtly, but her ears perked up.
"Pretty pissed, huh?"
"Of course! Who were they?"
"Got a job for you."
"Want me to kill them?"
Ye-eun's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"The guys who attacked me yesterday are in association custody. Head there and find out who sent them."
Before he finished, Ye-eun bolted up.
"Got it. Be right back."
She spun on her heel without a second thought.
As she passed, she shot a glare at Choi Min-seok by the door.
"Old man, guard him good. If so much as a scratch on the CEO again, your shield's the first thing I smash."
"Y-yes, don't worry."
Choi Min-seok nodded, sweating bullets.
She didn't spare Lee Jia a glance.
Ignoring her completely, as if she were utterly untrustworthy.
She stormed out.
Lee Jia bit her lip until it bled, watching Ye-eun's retreating figure.
Siwoo reached out to her.
And patted the back of her hand.
"I'm really fine."
"CEO..."
"So don't blame yourself too much. You did more than enough."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About ten minutes later. Korea Hunter Association headquarters.
A thunderous boom shattered the peaceful lobby.
Kaboom-!
"Kyaaak!"
The reception desk staff screamed and ducked.
The massive revolving door at the entrance lay in ruins, glass shards flying everywhere.
Lobby staff and hunters alike shrieked and hit the deck.
The building shook like there was an earthquake.
Through the thick dust cloud strode a woman. Kim Ye-eun.
Her expression was stone-cold, but her eyes blazed.
"Hey, you! Stop! This is association HQ... guh!"
Guards blew whistles and charged, but her overwhelming aura crushed them, forcing them back.
They couldn't approach, like an invisible wall choked their breath.
Ye-eun's mana pressed down on the entire lobby.
Black haze billowed behind her like a devil's wings.
With each step, cracks spiderwebbed the floor.
"You there."
Ye-eun's gaze pinned a staffer cowering behind the reception desk.
The same association employee who'd fetched her last time.
"H-heek...!"
The man froze like he'd locked eyes with the Grim Reaper.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed.
Ye-eun marched up to him.
She leaned over the desk, hand planted on it.
The marble surface crumbled under her grip.
Her pitch-black eyes bored into his terrified ones.
"Where are the bastards who attacked our CEO."
Her low voice rang clear through the lobby.
"P-pardon...? W-what..."
"Deaf? Where are the assassins they nabbed yesterday. You know? Or not?"
"I-I know...!"
"Lead the way. Before I wreck everything."