Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Change (2)
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A day when the summer sun beat down fiercely.
Having grown somewhat accustomed to the mandatory training at the Hunter Management Bureau, Cynthia secretly checked her phone from a cool corner of the training room.
[Woojin-ah, had lunch yet?]
She sent a message to Kang Woojin.
[Yeah. You?]
A reply came almost immediately.
[Lunch break for me is in an hour.]
For some reason, Cynthia felt a strange thrill.
Even though she'd adapted a bit, the training was still grueling, and being apart from Kang Woojin took a toll on her mentally.
[What's the lunch menu at the Bureau today?]
But every time they texted, she felt a subtle excitement and affection.
[Radish leaf jjigae, white rice set, kkakdugi, pork stir-fry, sausage with wrap veggies, and...]
Stealthily avoiding the eyes of the Bureau staff gave her a secret buzz.
For Cynthia, who'd lived a straight-laced twenty years, this was a truly novel experience.
'Woojin, I miss you already...'
It hadn't even been three full days since she last saw his face, but it felt like weeks.
Was it because they'd seen each other every day before?
His absence felt especially huge, and it made her more honest with her feelings.
[Whatcha doing? Busy?]
When he didn't reply right away, Cynthia sent another message.
'Oh no, what if I come off as clingy?'
She looked every bit the girl in love.
'No, I'm his guardian too!'
Just then, her smartphone screen flickered.
[Was working. You? Heard the Bureau's super strict—can you really play with your phone during training?]
[Officially no, but they overlook it if you ace the practicals and written tests. Heard that from a new friend here at the Bureau.]
[Sounds like you crushed the tests. Class prez as expected.]
[Aw, embarrassing. But I did work hard!]
[So who's this friend? Guy?]
[Girl.]
[Girl? Cute?]
[Dunno. Not telling.]
Silly banter like that flew back and forth, and time slipped away fast.
[Fine, tell me the color of your underwear at least.]
[You're insane? No way!]
In an instant, Cynthia's face flushed beet red as she tapped her phone furiously.
[Mismatched top and bottom? I'm cool with it.]
[It's not that! Stop with the weird talk!]
[Send pics later. Waiting.]
[No! Wait forever, dummy.]
She pocketed her phone and let out a light sigh.
'Kang Woojin, you perv...'
The problem was, she didn't mind the perv.
Scolding him inwardly, her lips still curved up slightly.
In fact, she enjoyed bantering like that with him—it was fun.
'Weirdly fun.'
Something she never could've imagined with the old Woojin.
'What am I gonna do?'
She felt unfamiliar and flustered even considering sending that photo for real.
'I'm liking him more and more...'
But surprisingly, no resistance.
She recalled their kiss, toyed with her lips, and grinned goofily.
And a little while later.
"Boyfriend?"
Asked one of the girls eating lunch with Cynthia.
It was Kim So-yeon, the friend she'd mentioned earlier.
Kim So-yeon, with her ponytail, had a blunt vibe but round features that made her look cute.
"Huh? No, not a boyfriend..."
Cynthia looked flustered for a second.
"Not your boyfriend, but you've been grinning non-stop?"
"Huh? Was I smiling?"
"From the training room on. Looked like you were over the moon."
"Ugh, that obvious?"
"Yeah, super obvious."
Cynthia cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands.
"Anyway, not my boyfriend..."
"Really?"
"Not yet..."
Kim So-yeon snickered at Cynthia's reply.
"Sorry to interrupt your flirty phase, but heads up—the afternoon training needs full focus, got it?"
She gave a mock warning.
Like Cynthia, Kim So-yeon was from the general academics track.
Another case of awakening mid-semester and sacrificing her break for this.
The difference? She came from a small academy near Seoul, not Stella Academy.
"It's fake holograms, but still mock battles with monsters—stay sharp. Evaluation scores count big time, I heard."
Kim So-yeon had insider info because both her parents were former hunters.
"Thanks for the heads-up, So-yeon-ah."
Cynthia nodded.
"Oh, Sia, you going to that party the Bureau's hosting next weekend?"
"Party? After the graduation ceremony?"
"Guild reps'll be there. Scouting fresh grads, getting a jump on promising ones."
"Wait, pre-contact's illegal, right?"
"Big shots above Hunter Law will show. Someone with your skills? You'll be popular."
"Nah, not going. Sounds uncomfortable."
"Even Korea's Four Great Guilds?"
"Honestly, it still doesn't feel real. Me being an awakener... feels like someone else's story."
Kim So-yeon looked intrigued at Cynthia's awkward smile.
'Some avoid danger by going support role or living normal under Bureau oversight.'
All hunters in this world were awakeners.
But not all awakeners became hunters.
"Still, your abilities are too good to waste... nah, too nosy."
"Ahaha..."
"Fair, weekends for boyfriend time?"
"Told you, not boyfriend."
Cynthia pouted playfully, but her lips stayed smiling.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Finishing up work, I glanced at my phone and grinned.
Bzzz!
Cynthia had sent a photo.
[Perv! Only for your eyes!]
Tsundere message included.
'Half-joking shot in the dark.'
As her character slipped a bit, I savored the photo, unable to hide my glee.
She was corrupting faster than expected.
Good, very good.
'Bra only's a bit disappointing.'
Cynthia had lifted her top just enough to show a light sky-blue sports bra.
Just barely the underboob range.
'Next time, panties.'
Then step-by-step: nudes, masturbation vid. Perfect.
By then, Cynthia'd have no link to 'pure'.
"Eat up—no, wanna see you quick, Sia~."
Grinning like an idiot as I ogled her pic repeatedly, an uncle approached.
"Break's over. Time to move."
The day laborer everyone called Uncle Seok.
Along with a few other uncles, hauling heavy boxes was my new routine.
Urology bills had pinched my budget a tad, but it wasn't for cash—helpful for awakening.
'Hope I can enter a gate ASAP.'
Hauling so-called mana crystals—eco dream fuel—I bantered idly with the labor office crew.
"Woojin-ah, carry mine too? One box left for quota, but back's killing me today."
"My back hurts too, Uncle Seok."
"Hurts my ass. You're young. Back in my day, slept it off."
"Young means I gotta be careful. Unlike you, I've got plenty of back-breaking ahead."
We'd worked together mere days, but close enough for jokes.
"What, punk?! No respect for elders? No parents?!"
"Got three moms. One's passed."
"Wh-what...?"
"Dad takes after me—handsome. Two remarriages, all on looks."
"Bull...?"
True story.
I shrugged nonchalantly; most uncles took it as a joke.
"Quit harassing the kid and finish hauling, Seok!"
The labor office manager, handling the Bureau subcontract, pushed us on.
By gate site wrap-up, it'd be 3 or 4 PM.
"Good work today, Woojin-ah."
Jeong Man-sik handed me my daily pay envelope.
"Tomorrow too?"
"If there's mana crystal hauling."
"Plenty other jobs—why obsess over crystals? Not easy."
"Feels rewarding. Moving the world's key energy source myself."
"You're one of a kind."
"Speaking of—tomorrow, can I go inside the gate? Heard inside mining pays way more."
I asked casually.
"Reward this, money that. Anyway, civvies can't enter. Dangerous."
Jeong Man-sik clicked his tongue lightly.
"Dangerous how? Monsters cleared, right?"
"Mana density inside's insane. Breathing's risky. Civvies mining crystals? Suicide."
"Oh?"
I played dumb, probing.
"Rumors 'bout awakening in towers or gates? Total BS. Nine outta ten die from mana overload."
Awakener Jeong explained kindly.
"Body needs time to adapt to mana."
"Still, one in ten awakens and survives? Why?"
"Scholars say varying innate vessels for mana—not proven."
Some new info even for me.
Game knowledge was fragmented, not this detailed.
"Me? Luck and talent diff."
"Luck aside, talent?"
"Vessels whatever—simply, A or S-rank material? Gate-smash fine."
"Makes sense."
I nodded.
Simple, but I agreed.
"Anyway, that desperate for cash?"
"Kinda..."
"Know a junior—guild master of a small 5-man hunter guild. Mostly crystal gathering and mining."
"For real?"
"Low-rank gates safer; might take you on. You're strong and diligent."
"Thanks, Manager!"
I bowed, smirking inwardly.
Plan on track.
"Waiting for the connect!"
Frequenting this office on purpose, I stepped off refreshed.
'Shoulders sore—legs today.'
Post-site, I headed to the gym.
Morning labor meant afternoon workouts.
"Hoo."
Legs wrecked, sky was dusky.
Heading home against fading sunset,
"Huh? Woo-chin?"
A girl's voice made me turn.
'That girl's...'
The delinquent type—Yoo Harin.