Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Awakening (2)
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Consciousness surfaced, piercing through the pitch-black darkness.
Throb!
And with it came excruciating pain.
"Ugh……."
The agony, unlike anything I'd ever felt before, forced my eyes open.
"Ah, my head……."
If I had to compare it, it felt like the hangover from chugging booze all night the day before.
But several times worse.
'Where am I……?'
I pressed my forehead hard and scanned my surroundings, my brows furrowed tightly.
"……A hospital room?"
The place where I opened my eyes was unmistakably a hospital.
Come to think of it, I had fought monsters inside that double gate.
I pieced together my fragmented memories and recalled what had happened.
'I really thought I was done for.'
Remembering the moment I took down the monsters with just a pickaxe, even savoring the thrill, I unconsciously clenched my fists.
"Hoo."
I deliberately released the tension and sat up.
Zing!
Dizziness hit me again.
In common terms, my whole body was screaming.
My head wound was one thing, but every muscle felt torn.
The price of pushing my body beyond normal human limits.
Or maybe it was the aftereffects of awakening.
'Orgasm, my ass.'
I gritted my teeth, recalling some hunter's interview about the ecstatic feeling during awakening.
Fortunately, the pain was gradually fading.
Maybe I could use Sensory Manipulation to numb it completely.
The thought crossed my mind, but I couldn't use my abilities recklessly.
Hunter laws were hunter laws, and honestly, it still didn't feel real.
"Did I really awaken?"
Things had been so urgent that my memory of the awakening moment itself was hazy.
The only clear thing was that it was far from ecstatic.
Squeeze.
I fiddled with my fist and tried to sense the mana within me.
So this is what activated mana feels like.
The amount wasn't that impressive.
Not that what was left was low, but the total capacity of my vessel wasn't huge.
Which made sense, perfectly so.
I was just a rookie who'd barely cracked out of the egg.
To increase my mana, I'd have to do like other hunters: steadily raid towers and gates.
Gain experience against monsters, expand my mana vessel in places thick with dense mana, and push the limits of my abilities.
That was how hunters grew in this world.
Equipping myself properly is important as my skills improve.
Now an Awakened myself, I reflected on hunters' circumstances while stretching my stiff body.
Anyway, I should practice controlling my abilities.
I wasn't aiming to become a pro hunter right away, but getting stronger wouldn't hurt.
For myself.
And for revenge.
As I shook off the last of the pain and was about to get out of bed—
Slide! Click!
In the dead of night, someone I least expected burst into the room.
"Kang Woojin!"
The word "burst" had never fit better.
Whoosh!
Cynthia rushed over, long hair flying, eyes brimming with tears, and hugged me tightly.
"Sia? How'd you know I was here?"
Flustered, I asked awkwardly.
"That's my line! What the hell happened?! No contact for half a day! Do you know how worried I was?!"
She squeezed my waist even tighter, venting her frustration.
"Half a day already?"
I scratched my head, not even thinking to push her away.
No wonder I was starving.
Having slept like a newborn for about twelve hours, I realized more time had passed than expected and quickly came up with an excuse.
"Yeah, guess I've been short on sleep lately with all sorts of stuff going on."
I couldn't tell her everything, no matter what.
At least not now.
I wanted to keep my awakening a secret.
Not just from Cynthia, but from the Hunter Management Bureau too.
Mandatory education and all that, plus their oversight sounded like a hassle.
The Lunar Guild folks probably figured it out, though.
If they were smart, they'd keep their mouths shut.
They'd illegally raided a double gate, so they couldn't exactly cozy up to the Bureau either.
"So, Sia, how'd you really find out?"
I stroked her head and repeated the question.
"I heard from... your mom, Woojin."
Her "mom" was, of course, my stepmom.
"She's your legal guardian, right? Hospital must've contacted her first after seeing your records. I just signed as guardian a bit ago……."
I chuckled at her explanation.
"I'm an adult now. What guardian?"
"Still, we're academy students. It's not about minors; it's more like a custodian……."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. No more about my mom. You signed as my guardian?"
"Yeah."
"What'd the nurse or doc say?"
"……Overwork, like you said."
Cynthia sighed softly and continued.
"There's a small cut on the back of your head, but nothing serious. They said the shock to your already fatigued body caused temporary unconsciousness……."
I nodded at her relayed diagnosis.
This was a regular hospital, not for Awakened.
No way a normal doctor could diagnose the aftermath of gate fights.
Even if mana permeated modern tech everywhere.
Maybe the Lunar Guild coordinated with them beforehand.
I glanced out the room and said to Sia,
"Anyway, mind letting go now?"
"……No."
"Huh?"
I wanted to adjust my uncomfortable position, but she wouldn't budge.
I was the hurt one, yet here she was, acting spoiled.
"You have no idea how scared I was at first."
Her heart still racing, she burrowed deeper into my arms, craving warmth.
"What really happened? Fatigue aside, how'd you hurt your head……?"
Watching her eyes well up again, I found her irresistibly cute.
Making me want to pounce…….
No wonder her stock, which had plummeted to fleshlight levels before, was rising.
Maybe bump her back up to sex slave status.
I patted her back, trying to ease her worries.
"Just a minor injury from a day job. Like the doc said, no big deal. Don't worry."
I gently pushed her shoulders back and met her eyes.
"No crying, okay? I'll be careful from now on."
"……."
"There, stop."
"Stop……."
I wiped her tears with my thumbs, and she flinched slightly.
And then.
She bit her dry lips, closed her eyes resolutely, tilted her head, and leaned in.
Our faces naturally drew close.
Smack.
Our lips softly met.
"……."
"……."
It was a first.
Sia kissing me first.
Mmm.
Her soft tongue slipped in, entwining with mine.
A kiss that was lewd yet heartfelt.
"You always did it for me, so this time... I'll do it……."
She pulled back briefly, face shy.
Smack.
She kissed again, hands roaming my chest.
Just like I'd done to her.
Her increasingly bold touch slid down my stomach and into my pants.
"Does this... feel good……?"
I'd never taught her caressing, but apparently, Sia had a natural talent.
Unfortunately, no time to leisurely enjoy it.
Footsteps outside the room.
"……!"
Cynthia startled at the sound.
"Bad timing. Continue later."
I whispered in her ear, pulled her hand out myself, and fixed my clothes.
Knock knock. Two familiar faces entered: An Ji-ho and Lee Soo-jung, the couple.
They tried to play it cool, but Ji-ho sensed the steamy atmosphere and grinned awkwardly.
"Did we interrupt something?"
Glancing between me and Cynthia.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moonlit dawn.
As the three others finished greetings, I spoke up.
"Sorry, mind stepping out for a bit? Sia?"
Cynthia hesitated but nodded reluctantly.
She had an early schedule anyway.
"Yeah, I'll call at lunch."
With little time left, she gave a quick goodbye and left the room.
"Heading to the Bureau for education? I'll drive you. Tough to get a cab this early."
With Soo-jung, who'd offered her car.
"Thanks."
As the women vanished, Ji-ho teased,
"Woojin, you've got a pretty girlfriend."
Praising her kind heart, especially for nursing(?) me so late.
"Soo-jung noona—er, sister-in-law—is plenty beautiful too."
"Right? She's too good for me."
The banter didn't last.
Ji-ho's face turned serious; he knelt and bowed deeply to me.
"Thank you, Woojin."
"Huh?"
"Without you, none of us would've made it."
"No big deal."
"And sorry. We should've protected you, but you got dragged into danger instead. No excuse."
I smiled faintly at Ji-ho, who wouldn't lift his head.
As he said, I'd saved the five from Lunar Guild, incurring a huge debt.
Unintentional, sure, but no reason not to leverage this favor.
"Get up, Ji-ho hyung."
I mentally tallied as I added,
"Don't act like a criminal. How about granting a few requests while you're at it?"