Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Scorching Balcony
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[You and Han Jin-woo have escaped the 'Nightmare of Jealousy.']
[Remaining ingredients: 3]
[Time remaining until ascending to the Gourmet's Table: 16 hours 38 minutes]
The world around us turned pitch black, and Han Jin-woo and I slipped out of the nightmare. We emerged into the same restaurant-like space where I'd been before.
"It felt so good to get that off my chest."
"Ah."
Hearing my words, Han Jin-woo looked embarrassed about what he'd done earlier and averted his eyes.
"Well, as you probably saw, we're cousins..."
"But why does that jerk Han Hwi-yeon hate you so much?"
"Inferiority complex, I guess."
As he handed me the fork again, Han Jin-woo added,
"When we were kids, my aunt once joked that I was prettier than Hwi-yeon hyung. It was just teasing to her, but not to him."
"So, did Han Hwi-yeon become an idol for a similar reason?"
"Yeah. He never even thought about it. But when I started training as a trainee, he went to an audition and got in."
Han Jin-woo pouted, grumbling. What a guy with nothing better to do. Back in school, so many girls were into Han Hwi-yeon—they'd be crushed if they heard this.
"Once his group blew up, he finally thought he'd beaten me."
"So how did things happen with Mi-rae-ssi...?"
"Huh?! Oh, that..."
I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked carefully. Han Jin-woo's cheeks flushed bright red in an instant, and he covered them with both hands.
"R-right after I awakened, Hwi-yeon hyung showed up at the association building."
"Han Hwi-yeon?"
He nodded.
"He just barged in out of nowhere, so I was flustered and worried about people watching... I didn't know what to do."
"Then Mi-rae-ssi showed up."
"Yes..."
Han Jin-woo stared into space, his face completely lovestruck as he recalled the moment.
"It was the day of my awakening test, so Mi-rae-ssi came to pick me up—and she ran smack into Hwi-yeon hyung."
"And then?"
"...She told him not to mess around and whacked him on the head with her slipper."
"Ooh."
Classic Mi-rae-ssi, hating everyone equally no matter who they were.
The start of this heartbreaking one-sided crush was ridiculous, but Han Jin-woo's feelings for her were genuine.
'She woke me from the nightmare just by hearing her name.'
I tore my gaze from Han Jin-woo and turned toward the door in the corner of the lounge. That left Cha Do-yun Hunter, Choi Min Hunter, and Se-bin.
It was impossible to say whose trauma would be easier or harder, so I hesitated.
"Why don't you go to Kang Se-bin Hunter, and I'll handle Cha Do-yun Hunter? You're probably not as close to her as Shin Ji-ui Hunter is."
Han Jin-woo suggested. It was a solid plan. We'd be short one fork, delaying the nightmare hunts a bit, but if we primed them first by explaining what these nightmares were, it'd make things much easier.
"Sounds good. Then I'll leave Cha Do-yun Hunter to Han Jin-woo Hun—"
'Wait.'
I swallowed my words and glanced at the door labeled with Cha Do-yun Hunter's name.
His trauma was undoubtedly 100% tied to his parents. Only I knew he'd been abused and awakened through a broker.
If Han Jin-woo entered his nightmare, another person would learn about that dark past.
Han Jin-woo wouldn't care, but Cha Do-yun Hunter would be seriously uncomfortable about it.
I took a deep breath and spoke up.
"...I'll take Cha Do-yun Hunter."
"Huh?! H-have you gotten close to Cha Do-yun Hunter?"
"Eh, a little?"
It was true—we'd warmed up. Our start had been worse than strangers, but after I saved him from his parents and from nearly getting trapped in the Paju A-rank dungeon, he trusted me completely. I answered the stunned Han Jin-woo.
"Wait here, Han Jin-woo Hunter. I'll bring Cha Do-yun Hunter back quick."
"Got it! Be careful!"
"If anyone else comes out, explain everything!"
After seeing him thumbs-up, I headed to the door with Cha Do-yun's name.
Cha Do-yun
It was an ordinary family home's front door.
I slid the Gourmet's fork into the keyhole and turned it sideways. With a click, the door swung outward.
'Pardon the intrusion, Cha Do-yun Hunter.'
Maaam, maam, maaaam.
The sunlight was blindingly hot, making my head spin. Cicadas screamed at full volume, and the occasional hot gust rustled the leaves, mimicking crashing waves.
'So bright.'
Shielding my eyes with my sleeve, I finally opened them to see the backs of kids practicing archery.
Ping—
Before I could make out who they were, a rubber band snapped, and something sharp thudded into a target.
—That's a 7. Do-yun, you're off your game today.
—The junior division winner is Kim Jung-woo, second year at Gildong Middle School.
Voices boomed from the speakers. The boy in front of me quietly lowered his bow and bowed his head. Long lashes, elegant features—no doubt, this was young Cha Do-yun Hunter. His face now peeked through, black-haired unlike his current self.
Cha Do-yun Hunter's nightmare seemed to start at an archery range. All around were bows and arrows. The big screen showed the results, and the kid next to young Cha Do-yun jumped for joy. People on the benches hugged and cheered him.
Cha Do-yun Hunter just stood there. He didn't envy the winner or cry. He simply stared blankly at the target.
"Let's go, Do-yun."
"...Okay."
A sturdy-built woman rose from the benches and draped an arm over Cha Do-yun Hunter's shoulders. Her face was smudged with black grime, unrecognizable, but his tense expression and voice told me everything.
It was Cha Do-yun Hunter's mother—the one who'd tried to kill her own son.
Gripping his shoulder tight, she dragged him behind the range, vanishing into the shadows.
Kiiing—
The Gourmet's fork slipped from my hand, buzzing wildly in the air before flying after them. It raced down a dim corridor until it reached a glass door just like my balcony at home.
The fork tapped the door like a knock, then dropped straight down.
"Cha Do-yun, get up."
'Cha Do-yun's mother's voice...'
The frosted glass obscured details, but two silhouettes were clear. I picked up the fork, slid the door open, and hot air hit my skin again.
Thwack!
"...Huh?"
"Cha Do-yun. Is archery a summer sport or winter?"
I clapped a hand over my mouth at the violence unfolding. Under the blazing sun, Cha Do-yun Hunter sprawled on the balcony tiles, a woman with a bow looming over him. He slowly pushed himself up, knelt, and parted his busted lips to answer.
"Summer."
"You know that, and you're blaming the heat? Think you're the only one sweating? Everyone else was hot too."
"..."
"And losing to a second-year? You've got more strength, more experience. Gonna keep embarrassing me?!"
Cha Do-yun Hunter's mother hurled the bow at his head.
"Stop it!"
Thud!
I instinctively reached out to shield his head, but the bow passed through my arm and struck him. It clattered to the floor with a dull sound, but he just squeezed his eyes shut, silent.
Only the cicadas screamed in his place.
His mother huffed ragged breaths and yanked open the balcony door, storming inside.
"Come in when I tell you. Got it?"
"Yes."
Slam!
The glass door shut. The midsummer sun scorched everything below. Without Aiter's robe, I'd have collapsed from the heat.
Looking down at Cha Do-yun Hunter, his face and neck were drenched in sweat. From what I'd overheard, the heat had thrown off his condition—and she knew that, yet left him out here.
True to the parents who'd tried to murder their child, she was utterly beyond reason.
"Honey... what if the kid collapses?"
"I'll bring him in before then. Don't interfere with my training. I went through worse."
"Still..."
Through the glass, the couple bickered. A figure like Cha Do-yun Hunter's father approached but backed off without action.
Another blatant form of abuse.
Wuuung—
The Gourmet's fork broke free from the balcony and dropped below.
'This is heartbreaking.'
Leaving the gasping, collapsing Cha Do-yun Hunter behind, I vaulted over the railing.
Thud.
"Ugh?!"
My legs buckled, and I collapsed, body pitching backward. I'd fallen flat on my butt, but my tailbone felt oddly fine.
Lifting my head, the scenery outside the window shifted. To my left, a middle-aged woman drove one-handed. Shotgun seat again. Wondering if I knew her, I stared—but no, total stranger.
She flicked her eyes to the rearview mirror and spoke.
"What's your name again?"
"Cha Do-yun."
"Wow, pretty name to match the face. Who named you~?"
"...Dunno."
I whipped around at her words. Compared to the sweat-drenched middle schooler on the balcony, this Cha Do-yun Hunter looked more grown-up, gazing out the window.
"Your parents shelled out big money, so make it worth it. Okay?"
"..."
He grimaced, lips pressed tight. The short exchange revealed the situation.
'On the way to the dungeon with an awakening broker.'
5:49
The time glowed in the nav's corner—around when I'd gone in with Han Cheol-min. The woman hummed, turning the wheel as we sped down the main road.
"With your archery background, you've got stamina and weapon sense... You might awaken right away."
"...Me."
"Hm?"
"Can I not go?"
Cha Do-yun Hunter turned toward the driver's seat. His hands trembled, blood seeping from his bitten lip. A side of him I'd never seen.
The car hit a red light. The woman turned, shaking her head slowly at his pleading face.
"What can we do? We've already taken your parents' money."
"You crazy...!"
Curse words rose, but I was powerless here. This was Cha Do-yun Hunter's past, leading to his present.
'Gotta get him out fast.'
The young Cha Do-yun froze with his mouth agape, burying his face in his knees. As his frail shoulders shook faintly, the car barreled toward hell.