Chapter 6
Awakened Hunter Han Seoyun
“I’m Hunter Han Seoyun. Everyone, stay calm and back away!”
“It’s Han Seoyun!”
“Ah, thank goodness....!”
There are a lot of people who know her.
She must be famous.
The civilians followed her instructions, and I, too, began to step back in an orderly fashion, matching the crowd’s movement under control.
A moment later, the crack in the Gate split fully open, and monsters surged out. Han Seoyun drew her sword without hesitation and charged.
Slash-!
Each time she swung, a razor-edged wind burst from her blade.
Probably some kind of wind-based ability.
With every sweep of her sword, she tore cleanly through the monsters’ tough hides.
“A-14 sector Gate discovered. I’ll continue reporting.”
Before long, other Awakened joined in, and the Gate gradually vanished.
“It’s over.”
Someone muttered, and the relieved civilians started applauding.
Clap clap clap clap.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Thank you!”
Han Seoyun waved back, smiling.
“I’m glad everyone’s safe.”
I watched her greet the civilians and shook my head quietly before turning away.
On the village bus bound for my family home.
As I looked out at the familiar scenery passing by the window, three stops slipped past before I realized it, and I hurried off in a rush.
“Oh my, our son’s here?”
My parents welcomed me the moment I opened the front door. And with them came that comforting, familiar smell that always put my mind at ease.
“Is your police exam study going well?”
“Oh, yes. It’s going well.”
My life as a civil service exam candidate was already over, but for now I still wanted to hide the fact that I’d Awakened. I wanted to tell them once I’d done a little better for myself.
“You’re staying the night, right?”
“Of course.”
I set down my bag and headed for the kitchen. While I was moving the dishes to the table—
Ding-dong.
The intercom by the shared front door rang. A strange woman’s silhouette appeared on the monitor.
“Who is it?”
The moment I asked, Mom came running out of the kitchen.
“You’re here!”
Without hesitation, she pressed the open button.
“Who is it?”
“Since you were coming home, your mother specially invited someone.”
“What?”
A moment later, the door lock clicked open and someone stepped inside.
“Excuse me.”
A clear, bright voice. Tall stature. Long light-brown hair tied high in a ponytail.
Healthy skin with a hint of sun-kissed warmth. Large, refreshing eyes. She wore a neat shirt and jeans, simple and modest. Each time she smiled lightly, natural dimples appeared in her cheeks.
Huh? That’s the Awakened from earlier.
I blinked in surprise.
“Say hello. This is Han Seoyun, the Awakened who protects our neighborhood. She volunteers with your mother all the time, and she’s such a kind, polite young lady.”
We sat facing each other at the dining table as Mom introduced her with obvious pride.
“And Seoyun, this is my son, Choi Woojin. He’s studying to become a police officer, so he’s a very dependable boy.”
So this was an obvious blind date setup.
“Hello. I’m Choi Woojin.”
“Hello. I’m Han Seoyun. I’ve heard so much about you from your mother.”
“You’re preparing for the police exam, Woojin? That’s amazing. I can tell you really care about protecting people.”
“Thank you for saying that. More than that, Han Seoyun, I saw you earlier cleaning up those monsters in an instant. You were incredible.”
“Oh! You were at the scene? How embarrassing. I’m still only C-class, so I’ve got a lot of shortcomings.”
“What? C-class? I thought you were A-class.”
“No, no, you’re giving me too much credit.”
She laughed shyly, dimples deepening, and the meal went on in a warm, friendly atmosphere from start to finish.
Dinner ended, and Han Seoyun checked the time before rising from her seat.
“I should be going now. Thank you so much for the meal today.”
“You’re leaving already? Woojin, it’s late, so walk Seoyun home.”
Mom practically shoved me in the back. Her intention was plain as day. Han Seoyun let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
I’m aware enough to notice that much.
I clicked my tongue lightly in my head and pulled on my coat.
Along the dim apartment-complex walkway, the two of us walked side by side.
“Your mother is so lively. Thanks to her, I had a delicious dinner.”
“I’m sorry if it was too much. She can be a little overbearing.”
“Not at all. I liked it.”
Light conversation. The soft night air. But—
....What is this?
It was a feeling I hadn’t sensed at all inside the house earlier.
Somewhere, a disgusting smell seemed to be drifting into my nose.
It was faint, but oddly irritating. Had I gotten more sensitive since awakening as the Warden?
Without realizing it, my expression had hardened.
“Woojin, are you okay?”
“Hm?”
“You look upset. Did I make you nervous?” She laughed softly, dimples showing again. “Ah, don’t feel pressured. You really don’t have to.”
She tossed out the joke with those dimples still carved into her cheeks.
“Ah, haha. I guess I did. I’ve always been a little frozen around beauties.”
I forced up the corners of my mouth and gave her a suitably awkward laugh.
“Thank you for today. Then get home safely.”
“Yes, you too, Woojin.”
An inexplicable, strange feeling.
Unable to shake that thick sense of wrongness circling through my head, I turned back.
The next morning.
“Eat your meals on time. Study hard.”
“Yes, and make sure you take your vitamins. I’m heading out.”
The Vice Warden had told me to rest up for a few days, but my steps were already heading for Regina Prison.
The thought that wouldn’t leave my mind.
Kang Heesu.
The woman who had crawled along the floor, swallowing my semen.
That dizzying moment kept surfacing in my mind.
I passed through the ruins and entered the prison’s front gate, where a black silhouette slid into view from the darkness.
“Warden. You arrived sooner than expected.”
The Vice Warden greeted me in her usual calm voice.
“I moved out of my exam cram room, so I don’t really have anywhere else to go.... And more than anything, I couldn’t stop thinking about No. 1, so I came as quickly as I could.”
“I see.”
The Vice Warden gave a small nod at my honest answer.
“Your enthusiasm for correction is admirable, Warden.”
Enthusiasm is a bit of a stretch. It’s more like lust.
Still, I didn’t correct her.
“Let’s go see No. 1.”
“Yes. I’ll lead the way.”
Kang Heesu looked no different from yesterday. She was still in a state where only her steady breathing could barely be heard.
“As I mentioned, I was planning to start reducing her rations with simple meals soon. But since you’ve arrived, Warden, it would be better if you fed her yourself.”
The Vice Warden pointed to a small tray set in the corner. A cup of water and a single piece of dry-looking bread.
“Me, personally? Is there something special I’m supposed to do?”
At my question, the Vice Warden stepped back.
“You said you had been thinking about No. 1 constantly.”
“....”
“Then as for how you choose to offer her food, I shall leave that entirely to your judgment.”
So she really was leaving it to my judgment?
“I will only intervene if you become endangered, or if you attempt something absolutely forbidden under prison regulations. Other than that, all authority rests with you, Warden.”
Complete control, granted to me. My space. My prisoner.
As I please....
I swallowed lightly.
Beyond the bars, Kang Heesu’s body lay sprawled on the floor.
The heat in my own body slowly began to simmer.
Click.
With the heavy iron door opening, I stepped into the cell at a measured pace. The Vice Warden followed behind me in silence.
Flinch.
Sensing my presence, Kang Heesu’s closed eyes flew open. The moment she spotted me and the Vice Warden, her pupils began to tremble.
She’s definitely been broken down.
Not a trace remained of the vicious killer she had been on the first day. Only helplessness and fear seemed to rule her now.
I slowly brought the small tray I’d hidden behind my back out in front of me.
One piece of bread.
And one cup of water.
Kang Heesu’s gaze froze in place.
“...Bread.”
A cracked voice.
“...Bread...!”
Her eyes would not leave it.
Food she was seeing for the first time in days.
Gulp.
The sound of her swallowing echoed softly through the cell.
“No. 1.”
“...Yes.”
“It’s mealtime.”
I lowered the tray slowly and looked down at her.
“But tell me something. Do I really have any reason to feed you myself? Why don’t you give me an answer?”
It was a simple question, but the pressure inside it was enough to tighten her throat shut.
Kang Heesu moved her lips a few times, then pressed her forehead to the floor.
“...I committed a crime.”
“...”
“I killed people.”
Her voice was shaking.
“I left the victims and their families with wounds that can never be healed.”
She swallowed once.
“I was wrong.”
I said nothing.
Silence.
Only her rough breathing lingered inside the cell.
Kang Heesu spoke again.
“I won’t make excuses.”
“...”
“I was completely in the wrong.”
I watched her for a while.
Her head was deeply bowed.
Whether this was a forced act or genuine collapse, I still couldn’t tell.
But at the very least, she had the proper attitude.
“Good. Come here.”
Kang Heesu put her hands and knees down and crawled toward me little by little.
Her strength was gone.
With every movement, her breath leaked out rough and ragged.
She stopped in front of me and carefully lifted her head.
“Open your mouth.”
Kang Heesu slowly opened her mouth.
I split the bread into three pieces.
Then I picked up one piece and placed it inside her mouth.
The moment the bread entered.
Kang Heesu’s eyes shook wide.
Her throat convulsed several times as if she wanted to swallow it immediately.
But she didn’t.
Chew.
Chew.
She worked the dry bread for a long time.
As if she wanted to savor even the faintest trace of it for as long as possible.
Watching her, I lifted the cup of water.
“Open your mouth.”
I tilted the cup slightly, and water flowed in just enough to moisten her mouth.
Kang Heesu drank carefully, making sure not to spill a single drop.
Then she began chewing again.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Finally—
Gulp.
Her throat bobbed hard.
After swallowing the bread, Kang Heesu looked up at me again.
Then, without saying a word, she opened her mouth.
She was waiting for the next piece.
It looked like she’d do absolutely anything I ordered now.
“Now then, I hope you’ll behave properly from the very beginning this time.”
The instant my ominous words ended—
Thud.
Kang Heesu’s body collapsed to the floor as though all strength had been drained from it.