Chapter 55: 0.1% of My Power
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: 0.1% of My Power
As I meekly stepped inside, Eunnamu walked over and plopped down on the bed.
A moment of silence followed.
Perhaps it was because I’d just been running, or maybe it was the sudden sight of a woman’s body, but the room felt stiflingly hot.
Ah, the air conditioner just wasn’t on.
“How much did you see?”
As I discreetly reached for the remote to turn on the AC, Eunnamu spoke.
I flinched, my shoulders tensing, and lowered the remote before opening my mouth.
“I didn’t see anything.”
“You wouldn’t have reacted like that if you saw nothing.”
A lazy smile spread across Eunnamu’s face as usual. They propped their elbows on their knees and rested their chin in their hands.
The way they gazed at me was like a wolf contemplating how to cook its prey.
“First, I know what you’re probably thinking. I wear the binder because of a complex I have.”
“…A complex?”
“I have higher female hormone levels than the average man.”
Eunnamu began to skillfully steer the conversation.
“That’s why I’m shorter than most guys, and my voice is a bit high-pitched. The biggest problem is my chest.”
As they spoke, they casually tapped the chest that was presumably pressed down by the binder.
“It’s called gynecomastia. It started growing recently and ended up like this. I had surgery scheduled, but then I awakened as a hunter. Hunter surgeries are more complicated, and they said I needed a hunter license, so things got a little messy.”
The lies flowed from Eunnamu’s lips with such ease, it was as if they had rehearsed them.
If I hadn’t heard the truth from Baeksan, I would have been convinced. Their expression was that serious.
If only I hadn’t noticed that their face was just a shade redder than usual.
“I’m not a woman. So don’t worry.”
That meant the problem I was worried about wouldn’t happen.
It seemed Eunnamu wanted to hide their gender from me for whatever reason, and it wasn’t hard for me to just go along with it.
No, it was definitely in my best interest to go along with it.
I never wanted to hear the phrase “a victim’s tears are all the proof you need” ever again.
“If you don’t believe me, want to touch it? A woman wouldn’t let you, right?”
“I believe you, one hundred percent.”
Just how far were they trying to drag me into the abyss?
When I shut them down preemptively, they let out a small laugh and lowered their hands from their chin.
“But this is a problem if you like men. Does this mean you might come to like me?”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t actually like men. It’s just a means of survival for me.”
“Survival?”
Eunnamu looked curious, but I didn’t elaborate.
It was all in the past now, and explaining it would be far too complicated.
“Anyway, are you done showering already?”
“Ah.”
I checked the time and quickly stood up.
As I grabbed a towel, a thought occurred to me, and I glanced back at Eunnamu.
“Why did you ask me to shower with you?”
With that lazy smile of theirs, it was impossible to tell how much was a joke.
“No, it’s not like that. I’ll at least knock next time I come in. Let me know if you need to change. It must be sensitive if it’s a complex.”
I had to say that for my own heart’s sake.
“Ahaha, thanks. You’re so kind, Ha-chan.”
Besides, I added, if it had been the lower half instead of the upper, that excuse wouldn’t have worked.
“Damn it. No matter what you do, you’re fated to get entangled with them, aren’t you?”
Baeksan’s lament echoed quietly in the room.
*
5
A man was walking down the hallway.
Dressed in the uniform of a Hunter Academy instructor, he was the very picture of a nobleman’s son.
The Snow Mountain Wolf, Ha Seo-ho.
He personally detested being called by his alias, but he was an S-rank hunter known by everyone in South Korea.
Seo-ho, who had come to the Hunter Training Academy as a temporary instructor to repay his debt to Ha-chan, was on his way to his afternoon class.
Thud—
It was at that moment.
His long legs, which had been striding forward, suddenly came to a halt.
“Come out.”
“Ahaha, Snow Mountain Wolf, you look scary when you glare like that.”
The moment he spoke, someone materialized from what had been an empty wall.
Her permed, wavy hair was dyed a shade of purple and tied up in two buns, like a pair of dumplings.
Beneath her hair, her eyes were squeezed shut so tightly that her pupils were invisible above her sharp nose, creating a unique aura.
“Long time no see. You been well?”
“Get lost.”
“Oh my, boo-hoo, you’ve hurt my feelings.”
Despite her cute appearance, she usually spoke in a boyish manner. When she uncharacteristically tried to act cute, Seo-ho’s face twisted in disgust.
“What’s with you? Between us. We were in the same class and even came from rival companies.”
“I left JMC.”
“Ahaha, I heard. For some reason, they’re facing all sorts of restrictions, not just in our country but overseas too, right? I wonder if the Snow Mountain Wolf knows anything about it?”
“I don’t.”
An image of the silver-haired Association Chairperson flashed through Seo-ho’s mind, but he ignored it.
There was no reason to answer her.
This was Jo Si-a, an S-rank hunter like himself, who went by the strange alias “Imugi.”
Unlike Seo-ho, she was a pervert who actually enjoyed being called Imugi.
They had graduated from the Hunter Training Academy at the same time, and annoyingly, had even been high school classmates. Their relationship was, for all intents and purposes, a cursed one.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hey, come on. We’re bound by the tight strings of fate. Of course, I came to see you, Snow Mountain Wolf!”
“Cut the crap. You’d never move for a reason like that. And if you call me Snow Mountain Wolf one more time, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life trapped in ice.”
At Seo-ho’s words, which seemed to see right through her, Jo Si-a feigned a hurt expression.
But she quickly fixed her face and flashed a sly, eye-crinkling smile.
“You’re right. I was curious why Ha Seo-ho would suddenly come to the Hunter Training Academy.”
She stepped forward and stood directly in front of him.
“There’s something at the academy, isn’t there? Something that would catch Ha Seo-ho’s interest.”
Seo-ho tilted his head as he met Jo Si-a’s smiling eyes.
“Like what?”
“Don’t play dumb. You can’t fool my eyes.”
Even though your eyes aren’t even visible.
Ignoring his thought, Jo Si-a straightened up from her bent posture and said, “If you keep playing dumb, I’ll just have to find out on my own~ Don’t you go back on your word later.”
As she turned to leave, Seo-ho’s face crumpled into a deep scowl.
Most of Jo Si-a’s actions were troublesome.
Especially when they involved him, likely due to her sense of rivalry.
That’s why she had undoubtedly followed him all the way to the academy.
‘This will cause trouble for Mr. Ha-chan.’
Realizing this, Seo-ho reached out and grabbed the shoulder of the departing Jo Si-a.
When she felt his cold hand on her shoulder, she turned back with a sly grin.
But seeing Seo-ho’s face so close, she flinched slightly and pulled her head back.
“Listen carefully, Jo Si-a.”
Ignoring her reaction, Seo-ho stared her down, his voice filled with utter seriousness.
“I came to the academy this term because I owe someone a great debt. If you cause any trouble for that person…”
A deep warning glinted in Seo-ho’s cold eyes.
“I will absolutely not let you get away with it.”
“…”
Perhaps because Seo-ho’s warning was so sincere, Jo Si-a chose to remain silent.
He released her shoulder and began to walk away. Jo Si-a rubbed the spot he had pressed, her eyes fixed on his retreating back.
*
6
After the commotion with Eunnamu, the two of us headed straight for the training hall.
The afternoon session was for testing our power output and awakened abilities.
This process would determine our final rank and what kind of ability we had awakened.
Ji-eun and Si-ho must have gone through the same process at the academy for minors to receive their ranks and abilities.
‘Minors have to take the academy course again once they become adults.’
The academy branch I was attending was for adults.
Minors, whose minds and bodies were still developing, required more caution, and the legal matters were too difficult for them to understand.
Therefore, the academy for minors focused mainly on reminding them of the dangers of their abilities.
It was a relief that the country had at least established these laws properly.
“Everyone, please form a proper line!”
“Yes, you can proceed to the next station.”
Instructors were visible here and there, managing the students.
With all the students from this term gathered, the training hall was quite noisy.
In the distance, Seo-ho was doing the same thing.
But he kept glancing around as if something was bothering him.
What’s up with him?
“How do you think you’ll do?”
Perhaps thinking her voice would be drowned out by the crowd, Eunnamu leaned in and whispered into my ear.
I flinched at the sudden closeness, but I did my best to think of them as a man and replied.
“I expect it to be a mess, so I’m not getting my hopes up.”
“Really? I thought you’d do well, Ha-chan.”
“No, probably not.”
To be precise, it had to be a no.
When I glanced at Baeksan, he nodded as if he agreed with my thoughts.
“Your output would make the testing machine explode.”
I couldn’t let that happen, as there was no telling what kind of chaos an exploding machine would cause.
Seo-ho alone was a headache; if something like that happened on top of it, I would draw even more attention.
‘It’s best to get through the academy quietly. I’m not trying to be a hunter in the first place, and I didn’t get my qualifications through the normal route.’
It wasn’t uncommon for rookies with high outputs to get noticed at the academy and end up in interviews or articles.
Just look at Seo-ho nearby; articles about him being a promising S-rank had caused a huge stir.
And in that environment, I was going to make the machine explode?
It would obviously be absolute chaos.
The government would try to use me somehow, heralding the arrival of a new S-rank hunter.
But what was the reality?
I was a glass cannon who could barely handle 0.1% of my output and would collapse from exhaustion after firing just two shots of my main power.
Even if the nation placed its hopes in me, I wasn’t capable of meeting those expectations.
In that case, it was better if no one knew about me.
‘Control it as much as possible.’
That’s why I had been practicing my aura control earlier, all for this day.
Behold, my true 0.1% power!
“Next.”
Just then, a voice called for the next person.
It was finally my turn.
“Name?”
“Kang Ha-chan.”
“Born March 4th, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The instructor checked something on a tablet as if confirming, then pointed to a testing machine where I could place my hand.
“Alright, place your hand here and use your maximum power.”
Hearing that, I carefully placed my hand on the machine.
‘Here I go.’
With all my might, I focused on controlling my aura as much as possible.
I could feel my aura, controlled with even more precision than when I used Brain Thunder, surging through my body.
And in that moment.
[ Rank: F ]
The fruit of my labor was born.
F-rank.
The lowest rank for a hunter!
I was the lowest of the low!
“You’re an F-rank. Don’t be too discouraged. Hunters are always growing.”
“Yes, sir!”
“?”
When I shouted with joy, the instructor gave me a strange look and pointed to the waiting area for those who had finished their tests.
Following the instructor’s direction, I strode over with a thrilled expression.
“You’re probably the only one who’s happy about getting F-rank.”
“You said it would explode if I didn’t control it. Besides, this proves I controlled my aura perfectly. Of course I’m happy.”
Baeksan just gave a bored look as if to say, “If you say so.”
“Hey, F-rank.”
It was at that moment.
Someone called out to me from behind.
“Are you talking to me?”
My name is F. Ha-chan F.
Ignoring Baeksan, who was looking at me like I was insane, having read my thoughts, I turned around with a cheerful expression.
Standing there was a man with a menacing face.
“Yeah, you, punk.”
Who are you?