Chapter 57
Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Downfall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After leaving the series of fights behind, I followed the hunters to the Management Bureau.
Unlike Choi Si-hyeok, I didn't have a single scratch worth mentioning.
I even had to cooperate with the investigation on behalf of Choi Si-hyeok, who had been transported to a specialist hunter hospital.
The Hunter Management Bureau of Korea, standing right in the heart of Seoul.
The place suited the term skyscraper perfectly; it was so tall you couldn't even see the sky.
'Come to think of it, is this my first time coming to the Management Bureau?'
I took a moment to admire the bureau's exterior, then followed a familiar face's guidance straight to the interrogation room.
"We meet again, Woojin."
As I entered the interrogation room, Lee Dong-hyun was waiting for me.
"Yeah, looks like it."
I glanced around the room and replied flatly.
"Truth be told, I didn't want to reunite with you like this. Things get complicated."
"Well, I didn't have a choice. I couldn't just stand there and take it when they attacked first."
"I've heard the rough outline of the incident. But this time, your response was a bit excessive."
"Was it?"
I tilted my head at Lee Dong-hyun's subtly reprimanding tone.
"What am I supposed to do if someone who wants to hide their identity starts such a flashy commotion?"
"Doesn't matter. There weren't many witnesses anyway, and the public still doesn't know much about my abilities."
"That's true, but please be more careful from now on. If you want to maintain your double life and keep your everyday routine separate."
I nodded along to his formal lecture.
"Alright, let's begin the investigation."
With that, Lee Dong-hyun pulled out a high-end laptop and started preparing the report.
"Age twenty. Name, Kang Woojin. Currently a first-year at Stella Academy. Correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"What was the reason for the fight breaking out in the middle of the city?"
"It was self-defense. Not only did they sexually harass my friend, but they struck first."
"Your friend's name is Cynthia, correct?"
"Yes, that's right too."
Lee Dong-hyun, typing away diligently, suddenly hit the backspace key.
"It might be better to write her down as your lover here. It gives a stronger justification."
Even though it was just a formal report, Cynthia was suddenly upgraded to my lover in the records.
From sex slave(?) to lover in one leap—she'd probably be thrilled if she knew.
I'd have to congratulate her later.
"To get back on track, is it true that Si-hyeok harassed your lover?"
"Yes."
"Any evidence?"
"I recorded it on video. It's on my phone, which Sia has right now. I'll send you the file later."
Lee Dong-hyun nodded and continued.
"Were you originally with them? Or did you just happen to witness Si-hyeok's crime?"
"I went to pick up Sia because she was late getting home. She said she was studying with friends."
"And you 'happened' to witness Si-hyeok's indecent act, then calmly secured evidence first?"
"Exactly."
"Once Si-hyeok realized he was being recorded, he resorted to violence?"
"That's right. Impressive insight. Weren't you a former cop?"
Lee Dong-hyun smiled faintly at my words and moved on.
"Extent of damages. This is the important part. Any injuries on your end, Woojin?"
"Not really."
When I responded indifferently, Lee Dong-hyun stopped typing and gave me a look.
"Let me ask again. Any pain anywhere?"
"Actually, my whole body aches."
"Severe injuries requiring twelve weeks to heal. Fortunately, Cynthia's abilities saved your life. Genoa, who happened to be nearby, subdued Si-hyeok and quelled the disturbance. That should work for the public report."
"Were you a former novelist instead of a cop?"
I chuckled at Lee Dong-hyun, who had crafted a pretty plausible scenario.
"By the way, why Genoa of all names?"
"Don't like it?"
"It sounds kinda feminine."
"Generation Nova, shortened to Genoa. The bureau hopes you'll represent the new generation of hunters."
"That's a lot of pressure."
"Should we have just gone with something straightforward like Supernova?"
I quickly shook my head at Lee Dong-hyun's mischievous expression.
Genova.
Yeah, it was a solid name upon reflection.
"Does Genova, or rather Woojin, know how badly Si-hyeok was hurt?"
Suddenly, Lee Dong-hyun closed his laptop and asked me directly.
"Who knows? Whatever the damage, they can just heal it, right? He's an impressive Awakener with great recovery, and hunter hospitals have plenty of healer-types."
"It might actually be impossible for him to recover."
A shadow crossed Lee Dong-hyun's face, and a possibility flashed in my mind.
"Oh, you mean because his mana went berserk?"
"Exactly."
Lee Dong-hyun let out a light sigh and explained.
"To use a wuxia analogy again, there's something like meridians where internal energy flows—called qi and blood. Awakeners have something similar: mana circuits."
"Ah, yeah..."
"Si-hyeok's mana circuits are wrecked."
"Can't they be fixed?"
"Of course it depends on the severity. Mana circuits aren't completely irreparable, but the cost is astronomical. Whether in money or manpower."
In short, our poor Si-hyeok's recovery was harder than reaching for the stars.
Especially since Hwamyeong Guild was already on shaky ground.
He'd be lucky not to get disowned by his father.
"Honestly, as someone from the bureau, this isn't a welcome outcome. Losing an A-rank Awakener like Si-hyeok is a huge loss for Korea."
After finishing the report, Lee Dong-hyun hinted indirectly, and I cut straight to the chase.
"No beating around the bush—tell me plainly. What punishment am I getting?"
I had broken hunter laws too, after all.
Even if it was justified self-defense, I couldn't completely escape responsibility for ruining one person's life.
I didn't have solid backing like Harin, who got off scot-free for using powers on a civilian before.
But.
Lee Dong-hyun, who had treated me favorably from the start of writing the report, smiled faintly.
"No punishment. We can't tarnish the record of someone who'll represent Korea in the future."
As expected.
Choi Si-hyeok was the setting sun, and I was the rising one.
No need to say which side the bureau would side with.
It was a bit baffling how they tossed fairness to the dogs, but they ruthlessly pursued national interests.
'Just like the setting—easy to understand.'
Lee Dong-hyun added,
"There won't be any fallout for you. At least not from this incident."
"Got it. Thanks for the consideration."
"And in return—though it's not quite an exchange—could you do us a small favor at the bureau?"
"A favor?"
"Appear on a broadcast. As Genova."
His unexpected request made me blink.
What? A broadcast?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kang Woojin emerged from the interrogation room.
After Lee Dong-hyun said he'd contact him later and wrapping up the long investigation and procedures, nearly half a day had passed.
"Yawn."
He'd caught some naps here and there, but sleep deprivation was catching up as he yawned again while walking.
Saturday evening, with red sunlight pouring down.
Luckily, the night had rolled into the weekend, so he avoided missing academy, but he'd wasted part of his precious weekend.
'Come to think of it, I wonder if Eun-seol was worried.'
For the first time since living with his one and only little sister, he'd stayed out without a word. He thought of her alone at home and prepared an excuse in advance.
Kang Eun-seol still didn't know Kang Woojin's identity.
'Something like, I crashed at a friend's place.'
Kang Woojin wandered the bureau casually with that light thought and descended to the vast first-floor lobby.
"Woojin-ah!"
Cynthia, who had been waiting for him, rushed over and threw herself into his arms.
Snap!
She'd gone through a formal investigation on the bureau's side as well and hugged him tightly.
"You okay?"
Kang Woojin skipped the preamble and gently stroked her hair.
"No, not okay..."
Cynthia suddenly teared up.
"I was scared..."
She sobbed in his embrace.
"Everything... all of it..."
As if all tension released at once, she trembled weakly, clinging to him.
"Especially thinking you might get hurt, Woojin... it terrified me..."
Overflowing with emotion, Cynthia confessed her true feelings, almost like a love declaration.
"I'm sorry... really sorry..."
Kang Woojin chuckled softly.
"Same as that gate incident before—why are you apologizing, Sia?"
"Just... everything. I was such an idiot..."
"Yeah, our Sia does have a bit of an idiot side."
"Sniff."
Sorry for being an idiot.
Cynthia, sorry for the weirdest things, hugged Kang Woojin even tighter, and he quietly waited for her to calm down.
Whispers.
Passersby showed envy or shot dirty looks.
But Cynthia and Kang Woojin, lost in their own world, couldn't care less about prying eyes.
"You were right, Woojin."
A while later, Cynthia spoke up, much calmer now.
It wasn't just her mood settling.
Her entire expression had fundamentally changed.
"My words? Which ones?"
"Back then, you told me not to trust any man in the world and to always be careful..."
It was something Kang Woojin had said when he'd first entered this world, warning her on her way to career counseling.
"I get it now."
Just as he'd said.
"I can never trust other men again."
Her old beliefs shattered, Cynthia continued coldly.
"All other men are trash..."
The events of last night must have been quite the shock.
Cynthia, known at Stella Academy for her friendliness and kindness, had finally fallen into distrust of men.
'If it weren't for Woojin, I'd be...'
But she made one exception, nuzzling deeper into his embrace where there was no more room to go.
Kang Woojin patted her back for a while longer.
And then.
"Shall we head home now? I'll walk you all the way."
He took her hand firmly.
"I don't wanna..."
"Huh?"
She stopped after one step, face flushed, and said,
"Today, I want to be with you, Woojin..."
Kang Woojin grinned playfully.
"Two nights in a row crashing out? Isn't that pushing it?"
"I'm fine with it..."
"Your mom's pretty open-minded."
"No, she'd understand if I'm with you."
"Huh?"
"She knows... about what you and I do..."
Last time, she'd gotten caught with the laundry mishap and spilled everything about her family.
"So what did your mom say?"
"Just use protection..."
"Classic advice."
"Anyway, is staying out two nights bothering you because of Eun-seol?"
Cynthia gripped his hand tighter and asked.
"Nah, she'd probably be thrilled if I didn't come home. Still, family's family, so I'll just text her ahead."
Since it came up, Kang Woojin messaged Kang Eun-seol.
Of course, after getting his phone back from Cynthia, whom he'd entrusted it to.
Kang Woojin then took Cynthia straight to a hotel.
Step.
To be precise, a love hotel.
One oozing a cheap, sticky atmosphere rather than romantic.
"Oh, right."
Suddenly, at the hotel entrance, Kang Woojin said,
"Since we're at it, we should call Harin too. If we leave her out, she'll bitch about it later."
With the three of them together becoming natural lately, he dialed Yoo Harin.
Swipe.
But Cynthia grabbed his wrist and pressed the smartphone screen down firmly.
"Can't it just be us two today...?"
She even firmly hit the end call button before it could connect.
Kang Woojin looked at her silently.
"I want to be alone with you, Woojin..."
He nodded at her pleading eyes.
Whether from last night's events deepening her attachment,
or joy at finally having time just for two after so long.
Clinging to his arm and pressing close, she whispered with a bright smile.
"We can do the 'back' today."
In the stickiest voice imaginable.
"I'll give you all of me, Woojin..."
It set every man's heart ablaze.
"Ravage Sia roughly, Master."