Chapter 124
Chapter 124
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Part 40. Proof of Life (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They were the reporters waiting at the Portal Management Bureau.
Yeoreum had always had plenty of enemies. And with this underground dungeon raid as her assignment, there were even more people badmouthing her.
But now she'd shown off cadet-level power beyond her rank. No matter how she responded, it smelled like front-page news.
Dozens of reporters swarmed like zombies. The guardian agents waiting at the bureau blocked them off.
"Don't get too close to the cadets!"
"They just finished a battle. Please understand!"
"Hey! You there, reporter! What's your outlet? Can't you keep your distance?!"
The top interview target was, of course, Yoo Yeoreum.
Yeoreum was soaked in blood and sweat, her complexion oddly poor for some reason, but what did they care? Some reporters shoved through the crowd, excitedly firing questions.
But the reporters were persistent.
Eye contact made their bodies stiffen in fear.
But inwardly, they cheered. Yeoreum had finally opened her mouth—traffic was guaranteed.
The reporters got more aggressive.
"Hey, what are you doing? Push these people back!"
At Yeoreum's irritation, guardian agents rushed in to shove the reporters away. But there were too many reporters and not enough agents.
Others slipped through and kept asking.
Yeoreum stopped dead at the next question.
Then she turned her head.
Once the filtered article went out, Yeoreum's fan cafe 'Crazy for Summer' exploded in excitement.
With Yeoreum snapping randomly, an offended reporter pushed further.
This interview was rougher and more foul-mouthed than any before—enough to make the PR department nervous.
Those who'd always disliked Yeoreum were furious. People who'd usually just curse once or twice went all out this time.
Yeoreum didn't care at all, but her fans, and even acquaintances like Soji and Kim Ji-in, were pissed. As haters banded together, PR started watching the media closely.
Public opinion flipped that very night.
+++
That day.
Public and state media outlets worldwide got calls from Petrović and WOO (Hunter Federation).
Rarely, apology posts went up. Those mad at Yeoreum vanished overnight.
"……."
Yeoreum unwillingly headed to PR for media training.
She followed without complaint.
Time flew with such incidents. The first quarter of the intra-academy ranking competition ended.
The cadets' hidden scores and ranks.
Were revealed today.
Her parents just watched silently.
The selected eldest sister looked down arrogantly.
She reached out and gripped her chin.
Then spoke.
'――?'
Yeoreum could never forget.
The firm grip on her small, frail chin. The words from the first-hatched. The corpses of dead kin behind her.
She couldn't forget, so closing her eyes brought those feelings vividly back.
Yeoreum hated the eldest who killed her little sister. Hated the Red clan's selection rite. Hated her weak self most.
If she'd hatched sooner. Gone playing with the others. She'd have returned to have her neck snapped by the eldest. Like her little sister.
So Yeoreum breathing now was thanks to her weakness.
In other words, even her life was granted by weakness. Every breath was torment. Sometimes sickening self-loathing. Weak Red Dragons should die. She was the weakest. Her existence was contradiction.
And this contradiction existed because.
Not from effort.
Not from special birth.
Simply,
...she was lucky.
If sinners must die, she thought she should too. She was weak. Weakness is sin.
Yet she lived today for one unvoiced word.
If she could say it, she'd die without regret.
But clinging to life on romantic thoughts alone wasn't easy.
Even healthy days could plunge into despair. Then she'd comfort herself to push away death wishes.
Today's efforts. Got this strong. Worth living tomorrow.
To live, she needed that conviction. Her drive for the competition stemmed from it.
Conveniently, the strongest man she'd seen was beside her.
Red Dragons worshipped strength. He was worship-worthy. Now her master, most trusted.
So she asked Yoo Ji-tae.
― Me... I've gotten a bit stronger, right?
If today's efforts were wasted, no right to tomorrow.
― Me... I'm doing well now, right?
Worked hard, so tomorrow's okay, right?
Yeoreum kept asking Ji-tae.
― From your view, how much have I grown? Satisfied?
Please say it's okay to live.
This much, worth tomorrow's breath.
She hoped he'd say it.
It was a plea to live.
But he never lied, even for comfort. Honest. She liked that. Rejection just fueled self-hate.
Then one late afternoon. Alley corner.
Habitually smoking.
Ji-tae told her.
― You're doing great. Way better than expected.
She panicked.
― What?
― Serious. No dragon works harder than you.
Yeoreum bowed, giggling uncontrollably.
― Good.
That affirmation let her breathe freely, joyfully.
But "hardworking" wasn't praise. Sisters died not for laziness.
She had to excel. Needed "excelled" praise.
More.
Even in team assignments, impulse led to overreach. Obsession for more points, sudden anxiety.
So now.
B+ underground rift cleared. First quarter ended. Ranks revealed.
Yeoreum took her report card to Ji-tae's room. As always. The world's strongest man looked at her with hazy eyes.
"Why."
Approaching, she hesitated. Wiggling her toes.
"Hey."
"Speak."
"This."
Handed over the card. He checked it.
"...Just, I got first."
He replied casually. Some expression. But superficial reactions didn't matter.
She'd proven his mastery with her body. His training right.
So this time, she wanted him to prove her life's worth.
Forcing stubborn lips open, she asked again.
"Did I do well?"
Asking, she crushed rising fear to throat. Gazed at the man who never lied.
Next instant.
No hesitation.
No deliberation.
He reflexively answered.
"Yeah. Really well."
Yeoreum bit her lip hard.
Just now, Ji-tae proved her life. Realizing it, electric thrill surged from fingers, toes, shaking her body.
Bowing, hot breaths escaped. She walked slowly.
Then wrapped arms around Ji-tae in his chair. He leaned back slyly, but she clung stubbornly, hugging tight.
Soon his large hand patted her back lightly. Something swelled. Speaking loud might burst it.
So whispering by his ear, voice low.
"...Thanks."