Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Han Yoo-jung (6)
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"Shut your mouth and stay quiet before I rip your lips off. Don't chirp in my ear like some damn bird."
Lee Ji-hye's polite smile froze on her lips. Han Yoo-jung's demeanor had shifted in an instant, her anger plain as day.
Ha!
Lee Ji-hye snorted derisively, crossing her arms with a cold, steely gaze.
"Hey, Han Yoo-jung. Isn't that a bit harsh? I'm just giving you advice for your own good. You're embarrassing me here."
Advice? What a joke.
There wasn't a shred of concern in Lee Ji-hye's words. It was all petty malice, aimed at tearing someone down.
Han Yoo-jung swallowed the bile rising in her throat. She couldn't lose her cool. This was familiar territory. After a year of grinding through it all, she couldn't let some kid's cheap shots shake her.
Han Yoo-jung brushed back her sweat-dampened hair and spoke.
"I've known you've been jealous of me since high school."
"What?"
"You always lost top of the class to me. I was class president too. You used to follow me around back then, just like now, grating on my nerves. You think I didn't notice?"
Lee Ji-hye flushed red, the words hitting too close to home. They were spot on.
With her doll-like delicate features, Lee Ji-hye had always gotten along well with everyone. But for someone who craved attention like her, Han Yoo-jung's effortless shine bred nothing but resentment.
So when she ran into Han Yoo-jung at the exam hall,
Lee Ji-hye had been genuinely thrilled. Things had changed a lot since a year ago. Han Yoo-jung's parents had died, leaving her in mental shock—she'd vanished without a trace. Meanwhile, Lee Ji-hye was about to debut as a hunter.
She hadn't just closed the gap from a year ago; she'd surpassed it.
Talking it out felt like venting all that pent-up inferiority in one satisfying rush.
Until just now.
"You were never even on my radar. Not back then, not now. So quit feeling sorry for yourself and... shut your mouth and stay quiet."
Composure, composure.
She had to tamp down the boiling killing intent.
Han Yoo-jung took a small deep breath, steadying herself. The bloodlust churning around her faded away.
"......"
Pinned under Han Yoo-jung's aura, Lee Ji-hye thought to herself.
It was all a mistake. No way she'd be scared of a rookie who'd only awakened a month ago. Her pride rejected the idea outright.
Ignoring the unease gnawing at her, Lee Ji-hye opened her mouth.
"Acting all high and mighty on your own. You still think you're hot shit like back in the day?"
"......"
"Look at you—not even in high school yet. You got duped by some ghost guild, show up bare-handed thinking you're a hunter."
Lee Ji-hye smirked mockingly, but her eyebrow twitched. Han Yoo-jung was focused on the proctor.
[Due to the large number of applicants, the first exam will be conducted in groups. We'll start with the front group, and those waiting for their turn should remain in the lobby...]
Go on yapping. I'm ignoring you. The attitude radiated from her back.
Her pride stung, Lee Ji-hye chewed her lip.
What had set Han Yoo-jung off? Right, that was it.
"Your manager..."
Han Yoo-jung's shoulder twitched.
"What's with that getup? Bringing bread and milk like some errand boy. Even a ghost guild sticks you with some lowlife manager. And he's not much older than you—calling him 'uncle'? You two hooking up or something?"
Guilt and reason twisted into rage and murder in her heart.
Han Yoo-jung barely turned her creaking head. Murderous red light exploded from her eyes. Meeting that gaze, Lee Ji-hye gasped.
"Hey."
Han Yoo-jung pinched Lee Ji-hye's cheek with her index finger.
"I told you to shut your mouth, didn't I?"
Her voice dripped with menace, forged in a year of slaughter and blood-soaked underworld shadows.
No amount of training in a safe gym could match those brutal real-world fights. They'd awakened around the same time, but the gap between them was vast.
It went beyond talent or skill.
Lee Ji-hye was crushed by the killing intent.
Her eyes trembled faintly. The pain in her cheek grew, bit by bit, ever so slightly stronger.
"Th-this is the exam hall. If you cause a scene..."
Her feeble retort was pathetic. Han Yoo-jung squeezed harder.
"Aak!"
The metallic tang of blood hit her tongue. The inside of her cheek had burst under the pressure. Tears welled up and spun in her eyes.
She couldn't understand it. Why was the mild-mannered Han Yoo-jung suddenly going off the rails over mere insults? How could someone awakened for just a month wield such strength?
But one thing was crystal clear now: Han Yoo-jung wasn't bluffing about ripping her lips. The steely glint in her eyes screamed intent.
Squeeze.
Just as it felt like her cheek would tear, Kim Hyun-woo appeared behind Han Yoo-jung.
"Yoo-jung-ah?"
The Heavenly Killing Star's bloodlust melted away like mist.
Snapping back to reality, Han Yoo-jung released her hand and stepped back.
"Uncle?"
"The briefing's over. What are you two doing?"
Kim Hyun-woo asked, puzzled. Han Yoo-jung flashed an awkward smile as she made an excuse.
"Uh, just messing around!"
Lee Ji-hye rubbed her swollen red cheek and gaped.
Messing around? That was...?
"Oh, really?"
Kim Hyun-woo glanced back and forth between them, surprised. He'd thought they hated each other, not that they'd poke cheeks and play around.
"Yeah. What brings you here, Uncle? The exam's about to start."
Kim Hyun-woo chuckled helplessly.
"Hey! You should've listened properly to the proctor!"
"While messing around..."
"They're splitting it up because of the crowd. I was worried since I just sent you off with bread and milk, but good thing."
Kim Hyun-woo shook the bag in his hand demonstratively.
"Convenience stores have great desserts these days. Let's grab a quick snack and something sweet for after."
"What desserts?"
"Strawberry shortcake."
"For real?"
Han Yoo-jung bounced over to Kim Hyun-woo's side.
Lee Ji-hye blinked in disbelief.
The disconnect from moments ago made it hard to tell if this was reality or a dream.
But the throbbing pain in her cheek told her otherwise.
Reality.
"You...!"
As Lee Ji-hye started to snap, Kim Hyun-woo pulled a coffee from the bag and offered it.
She stared—what's this?—and he said,
"No need to hold back. Have a coffee before the exam. I bought a bunch, got extras."
"Who'd drink this cheap crap..."
Fuming, she went to slap his hand away, but her eyes met Han Yoo-jung's over his shoulder.
"......"
Han Yoo-jung's voice echoed in her head.
Lee Ji-hye swallowed hard. Forcing her lips into a smile, she took the coffee.
"Th-thanks. I was craving one."
"Glad to hear it. No idea which group you're in, but good luck on the exam."
"...Y-yes!"
Han Yoo-jung and Kim Hyun-woo turned and walked away.
Staring at their backs, Lee Ji-hye's legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor with a thud.
Sitting on a bench outside the building, legs crossed. A few tense examinees dotted the area too. They were at a life-changing crossroads. I got it, deep in my bones.
Ring ring~ Ring ring!
Han Yoo-jung, plopped beside me, was glued to her phone game. Her shoulders jerked with every button tap. Dodge obstacles, collect coins.
Drum roll!
The character hit an obstacle and died amid blaring music.
Score: 50,000.
Lousy record.
"Argh, seriously, why'd it die there."
Han Yoo-jung grumbled softly. She shoved the last of her sandwich in her mouth, dusted her hands, and said,
"Gimme."
"Huh?"
"Games like this have preset routes you gotta memorize to dodge patterns. Watch closely."
Tap tap tap!
I weaved through obstacles effortlessly. Han Yoo-jung gasped in awe. My ego swelled as I shattered records.
"Uncle? My turn now."
"......"
"Stop..."
"......"
"Uncle!!"
Lost in the game, I felt slender fingers snatch the phone. Han Yoo-jung checked the score, face like the world was ending.
[Score: 1,080,530]
"......"
Her slumped shoulders looked pitiful. She whined in a gloomy voice.
"I can't even get close to that..."
Damn, seeing the high score climb got me hyped. I overdid it.
I rummaged through the bag for snacks, unwrapping a hard candy and handing it to her.
"S-sorry. Got carried away."
"......"
She glared, then snatched and popped it in. Crunch crunch. Back to the game.
Watching her, I couldn't help but laugh.
Tense examinees around us calming nerves their way. Han Yoo-jung? Didn't give a damn, lost in her game.
Better than freezing up from nerves, at least.
She wasn't the type to choke anyway.
Honestly, couldn't picture it—that cocky face stiff with tension.
"Oh yeah, Yoo-jung-ah. You check your group?"
"Huh?"
"Your group. Group."
"Nope."
"You, seriously..."
She snuck a peek at me, pocketed her phone. Her forced smile looked awkward.
"What if you missed that too?"
"Sorry."
"I checked for you, so we'll head in when it's time."
Han Yoo-jung asked,
"Which group?"
"Last one. So..."
I paused, checked my watch.
Plenty of time left.
I said,
"Group 6."
Lee Ji-hye snapped irritably.
"No, oppa! Something's off with her, I swear!"
"What is?"
"Can't you see my cheek?"
She jabbed at her puffy cheek. Her manager scratched his nape and replied.
"You two fight?"
"It wasn't a fight—she just wailed on me!"
Lee Ji-hye yelled. Her story: Han Yoo-jung pinched her cheek, it swelled like this. Her eyes were like a killer who'd offed a hundred people. The manager rubbed his face with both hands. The more he heard, the more he sighed.
"Han Yoo-jung, right? Awakened just a month ago?"
"Yeah."
"Makes no sense. A month in, and pinching your cheek does that?"
Lee Ji-hye was a talented prospect. Time gaps didn't close easy. The manager narrowed his eyes.
"Tell the truth. Who'd you fight? Does she need a hospital? Gotta know for settlements..."
"I said no!"
Frustrated, Lee Ji-hye chugged her coffee.
It didn't add up. She knew it didn't. Getting owned by a one-month newbie? Impossible.
But it happened.
"Urk."
She pressed an ice pack to her cheek, groaning.
The chill made her wince involuntarily. It stung, burned.
"That bitch has something going on. Something."
Her pride shattered from underestimating and bragging—now paying for it. She muttered like self-hypnosis.
Poison rose in her eyes.
"Okay, if we take your word, you got wrecked by Han Yoo-jung..."
Under his sharp glare, she backpedaled fast.
"Ahem, anyway, focus on the exam first. Pass that, then deal with her."
"But she did this to my cheek...!"
"Hey, fail this, and the guild cuts you loose. You've got talent, confidence—focus."
The manager said sternly.
Passing the qualifier was a given for prospects like her.
Failing meant failing to prove your worth from the start.
The guild would rethink contracts, pull support.
Calmed a bit by the advice, Lee Ji-hye asked softly,
"So, which group are we?"
"Proctor explained it all. You didn't catch that?"
"That's your job, manager!"
She snapped irritably.
"Argh, that temper..."
He muttered, checked his phone time.
Still plenty left.
He said,
"Group 6."