Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Han Yoo-jung (4)
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Han Yoo-jung declared that she was going to become a hunter.
I bundled up cakes and tried to talk her out of it, but she was as stubborn as ever.
Han Ye-rim, on the other hand, was over the moon.
She pressed down firmly on her lips, which kept curling up, and said,
"There's a hunter license exam in a month, so the timing's perfect. Hyun-woo, take Yoo-jung to get her awakener registration."
Han Yoo-jung had already been assessed as having the Heavenly Killing Star ability, but there was no record of it in the association's database.
The Association President had wiped all the records clean to use her as an assassin. It made things easier for her fresh start, but knowing his motives left a bad taste in my mouth. That bastard Association President.
I headed to the awakener registration center with Han Yoo-jung. Worried the receptionist might recognize her face, I drove all the way down to the countryside.
Standing in front of the door, I took a small deep breath. This was making me nervous. The necklace in my hand glinted in the sunlight. It was an artifact I'd borrowed from Lee Ji-ah.
"Yoo-jung-ah, let's put this on before we go in."
Han Yoo-jung obediently tilted her head back. Click—wait, no. The clasp kept slipping like a needle missing the thread. It just wouldn't latch properly. Han Yoo-jung whined in a bored voice.
"Mister, how much longer?"
"Why won't this thing work? Expensive doesn't always mean better. Hang on just a sec."
The necklace was an artifact Lee Ji-ah wore regularly. Insight abilities weren't all that rare. The ones checking awakeners at registration centers were insight users themselves, and scouts always carried them as standard gear.
That's why seasoned hunters usually had some kind of perception-blocking artifact. To hide the details of their abilities.
Lee Ji-ah's blocked insight-type abilities and fed false information instead.
Click!
After five minutes of struggling, the clasp finally latched. Lee Ji-ah could put it on and take it off blindfolded without a hitch. Guess that was a real skill.
I led Han Yoo-jung into the building. The receptionist asked cheerfully,
"Welcome to the center! How can I help you today?"
"We're here for awakener registration."
"Are you the one registering, sir?"
"No, her."
I pushed Han Yoo-jung forward. The receptionist flashed a polite sales smile.
"May I have your name?"
"Han Yoo-jung."
"Could you tell me your birthdate?"
The receptionist ran an identity check.
"Alright! Han Yoo-jung-ssi, please follow me this way?"
The receptionist took Han Yoo-jung upstairs.
While waiting, I crossed my arms and paced the lobby anxiously. I rested my chin in my hand, lost in thought.
Surely the resident hunters wouldn't suddenly burst in with swords drawn?
Like in movies, where coincidences pile up and the necklace comes off during the awakening check, revealing the Heavenly Killing Star...
Why am I being so negative? I'd seen on the news how Heavenly Killing Star holders were treated, and it had me on edge. I needed to chill. But the worry kept gnawing at me. What should I do?
Thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs.
"Yoo-jung-ah, how'd the check go?"
"Fine."
"Necklace didn't slip off? Looked a bit loose."
Instead of answering, Han Yoo-jung gathered her hair up. The necklace was securely fastened. The approaching guide spoke with a hint of amusement.
"Well, unless it's something negative like Heavenly Killing Star, no need to worry at all. It doesn't harm anyone."
At the mention of Heavenly Killing Star, Han Yoo-jung and I both flinched. The results turned out anticlimactic, putting my fears to rest.
"Han Yoo-jung-ssi, your ability is physical enhancement. As simple as it is, it's one of the most practical for everyday use. Congratulations on your awakening."
A new record for Han Yoo-jung was updated in the database.
Not as Heavenly Killing Star, but as a physical enhancement ability user.
I let out a sigh of relief as we left the center.
The sun was blazing. Our eyes met Han Yoo-jung's.
"...Wanna get some ice cream?"
Han Yoo-jung's eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously. We grabbed one each from the convenience store and headed out.
Trees lined the street.
A lone bench sat under a massive tree. Han Yoo-jung plopped down in the shade and popped her ice cream in her mouth. I sat beside her.
It was still transitional weather—the sun was hot, but the breeze was cool. As I idly watched people pass by, I stole a glance at Han Yoo-jung. She was too focused on her ice cream to notice.
I cleared my throat and carefully spoke up.
"Yoo-jung-ah."
"Yeah?"
Han Yoo-jung's life had been rough.
An ordinary 16-year-old girl turned S-rank awakener in just one year. Even with Heavenly Killing Star, her growth was insanely steep. I couldn't even imagine how brutal that year of assassinations must have been.
That's why I wanted to dissuade her from becoming a hunter if possible. She could just do occasional bodyguard gigs for pocket money.
The idea of a kid wielding a sword and getting bloodied in fights didn't sit right with me.
That's why my eyes kept drifting to her. I wondered if her decision to become a hunter—one who loved gaming—was somehow my fault.
"Once you become a hunter, your world's gonna change a lot."
Han Yoo-jung would quickly make a name for herself as a promising talent. She'd shoot up fast and become a famous hunter, just like Lee Ji-ah, who was once Korea's top prospect and now the best hunter around.
But Lee Ji-ah... she hadn't been able to endure it and broke down. I worried Han Yoo-jung might end up the same way.
Han Yoo-jung replied defiantly.
"I don't care about hate comments or public opinion."
"You won't know until you experience it."
"...I hear trash talk all the time in games."
"That's not the same thing."
I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief, and Han Yoo-jung pouted as she bit into her ice cream.
"It is. Totally the same."
Crunch, crunch. Once she finished, Han Yoo-jung stuck the empty stick in her mouth and sucked on it wistfully.
"Want another if it's not enough?"
She whipped her head away but bit her lip, looking longing. She clearly wanted it—her face gave it away. But she said something else.
"You don't have any, Mister."
"It's Twin Pops."
I tore open the wrapper and pulled it out. Two sticks on one ice cream. I gripped the sticks and focused.
I used to be a pro at this as a kid.
Snap!
Damn.
Ever since awakening, I couldn't control my strength as finely as before.
"..."
I handed her the big 'G'-shaped piece. Han Yoo-jung hesitated, then bowed her head and took it. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"...Yoo-jung-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Like I said earlier, being a hunter can be really tough. Things might not go how you expect, and it could get hard. Prospects crumbling under hate or expectations happens in every industry."
"......."
"If it gets too much... you can always quit midway. Just tell me anytime."
"..."
"I promise I won't be disappointed in you for that. Ever."
No response.
I felt awkward and stared at the ground pointlessly.
It took a while before the girl finally answered me, her voice soft and moist.
"...Okay."
Crunch. Han Yoo-jung bit into her ice cream.
Time flew by, and the day of the hunter license exam arrived.
To avoid being dismissed as some twenty-something manager, I'd dressed to look older. Fake glasses perched on my nose, hair slicked back and fixed with wax.
This should do. Looks late twenties. Someone with bad eyesight might even peg me for thirties based on the vibe.
Knock knock. I rapped on Han Yoo-jung's door. No response. Still asleep?
"Han Yoo-jung, I'm... coming in."
I sighed and flung the door open. Han Yoo-jung was curled up like a shrimp, hugging her pillow tight. I flicked on the light and woke her.
"Yoo-jung-ah. Time to get up."
"Five more minutes..."
"Hey, no time. Get up now. Oversleeping and missing it would be hilarious."
She sat up but her head kept drooping. This kid was out of it. She always had insane morning grogginess.
No time to wait for her to wake naturally—I scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom.
In front of the mirror, Han Yoo-jung swayed like she might collapse. I gripped her shoulders to steady her. Squeezed toothpaste onto the brush and said,
"Yoo-jung-ah, say ahh. Ah."
"Ah."
She parted her lips slightly. I shoved the brush in quick. Half-asleep, she blinked groggily and brushed her teeth.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Meanwhile, I brushed out her tangled hair. As I clumsily fixed it up, I caught Lee Ji-ah watching me through the mirror.
"Hyun-woo-ssi. I'm all ready too..."
"Hey, Kim Hyun-woo! Where's Lee Ji-ah?"
Han Ye-rim, all dolled up, shoved the door open.
Clamour, clamour.
Four people crammed in the tiny bathroom felt crowded. I shoved their backs to herd them out.
"Out, both of you! Han Ye-rim, don't you have to go to the association for guild registration today?"
"Yeah. That's why I'm here."
"Why?"
"To take Lee Ji-ah Hunter with me."
Han Ye-rim pressed her forehead to mine. She grabbed Lee Ji-ah's wrist firmly.
"Done. Let's go."
"Huh? Why me? You can handle guild setup alone, right, Ye-rim-ssi?"
Han Ye-rim scowled.
"Lee Ji-ah Hunter at a license exam? It'll turn into a fan meet-and-greet disaster."
Lee Ji-ah looked at me reluctantly. But Han Ye-rim was right. If Lee Ji-ah showed up among prospects... it'd be chaos. No need to bring her.
In the end, Lee Ji-ah got dragged off by Han Ye-rim. Things quieted down at last. Han Yoo-jung, having washed her face, was patting her face dry with a towel.
"...Never a peaceful day. If only you all took after me half as much."
Han Yoo-jung gave an awkward smile at my grumbling.
Hunters are humanity's frontline shield.
No matter the ability, they don't shove the unprepared into a monster's maw.
Failing to perform under pressure is common enough.
Strong abilities demand knowledge and will as prerequisites.
That's why the nation holds hunter license exams twice a year.
The license is the bare minimum qualification for hunter activities.
Tension had me chugging water. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and marveled.
"It's packed."
All these dark-haired folks were hunter hopefuls. The sharp-suited ones were scouts. Dark hair with suits? Prospects and managers.
Hunter hopefuls already scouted by guilds, bright futures ahead. Unlike the nervous examinees, their faces screamed confidence.
Plastered with self-assurance, like they were screaming, "I'm the protagonist of my own story!"
Damn, jealous.
I chugged more water.
This time, my stomach was churning from nerves.
"Yoo-jung-ah."
"Yeah?"
Han Yoo-jung, fiddling with her phone on the bench, snapped her head up.
"Wait here a sec?"
"Where you going?"
"Gonna grab some snacks from the convenience store."
I picked out some junk food.
As I stuffed the bag, I overheard suited guys with coffee in hand.
"Remember that prospect I locked down last time? Bragged about him all day. Told you he's a sure thing."
"Bae Sung-hyun?"
"Yeah."
"What about him?"
"Fuck, some other guild snatched him."
The guy crunched ice to calm his frustration.
"No honor among thieves? You call them out?"
"How? They're a major guild. Makes me look like the idiot."
"Ah."
"Screw mid-tier guilds. They take all the talent, what're we supposed to do? Just widens the gap between guilds."
The guy's rant against major guilds continued until I left the store.
Hearing mid-tier guild woes hit home. Stories I'd face myself soon enough.
Half a year from now, I'd be griping just like him?
Stomach ache incoming.
Bad timing, hearing this first thing in the morning.
Ugh, no worrying about the future yet. Preemptive stress doesn't fix shit.
Bags bulging in both hands, I searched for Han Yoo-jung. As I scanned around, a girl and a slick-suited guy were talking to her.
The convenience store convo flashed back.
Major guilds stealing pre-scouted prospects...
"Y-Yoo-jung-ah!"