Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Kim Hyun Manual (1)
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The site of the human sacrifice wasn't as far away as expected.
About a ten-minute walk from Kim Hyun's apartment.
It was a distance any hunter could cross in seconds, so Kim Hyun's group quickly arrived at the scene.
The location was the third floor of an old commercial building. Traces of a former billiards hall lingered on the glass windows.
"Human sacrifice right in the middle of Bundang, of all places...?"
Lee Min-hyuk muttered in disbelief as he glanced up at the third floor.
"Gotta be some real gutsy bastards."
Kim Hyun grumbled, shoving her hands into her pockets with a sour expression.
"This is gonna be more boring than I thought."
"F-Fun? You mean fun?"
Chae Seol-ah cautiously asked, stealing a glance at Kim Hyun's face.
Kim Hyun nodded.
"Yeah. Kinda regret telling you all now."
"But we're already here...!"
As Chae Seol-ah clenched her fist determinedly, Lee Min-hyuk slowly scanned the surrounding mana.
'Three or four people on the third floor. One of them's an awakener.'
This was nothing they needed backup for. With that judgment, Lee Min-hyuk took a deep breath and strode into the building.
They reached the third floor.
Bang!
Lee Min-hyuk kicked the door open cleanly and burst inside.
The room was an empty concrete space, stripped of all furniture. In the center stood a figure in a black hood, with three women collapsed at their feet.
Lee Min-hyuk frowned as he checked the women. One was already dead, her throat slit.
"Wh-What the hell are you guys?!"
The Black Magician shouted in surprise, gripping a dagger.
Kim Hyun tilted her head at the Magician's outfit.
"Where do these clowns get their matching uniforms?"
Why were they always in drab black robes with hoods pulled low? Did someone coordinate their wardrobe?
As Kim Hyun pondered this, the Black Magician stared at the group in panic. Their face twisted viciously.
"Sh-Shit. Superhuman Management Bureau?"
Lee Min-hyuk clenched his fist.
"That's right. Bureau."
Chae Seol-ah slowly drew up her mana as she spoke.
"D-Don't resist pointlessly! Surrender!"
"...Fuck off!"
The next instant, the Black Magician swept their hand, and skeletons erupted from the floor. Six armed skeletons summoned in a flash, swiftly encircling the group.
"I don't know how you sniffed me out, but do I look like an idiot? Surrender and get the death penalty? Yeah, right."
At the same time, the Black Magician grabbed one of the fallen women and yanked her up, pressing the dagger to her throat. They glared wildly.
"You wanna watch this bitch di—"
"Boring."
The next moment, the Black Magician's head severed cleanly and thudded to the floor.
Kim Hyun had casually flicked her hand, slicing their neck.
Lee Min-hyuk relaxed his stance and straightened up as the corpse slumped. He sighed deeply, looking at Kim Hyun.
"...Miss Kim Hyun. What are we supposed to do if you just kill them outright?"
Kim Hyun rubbed her nape with a bored look.
"But it was boring. Surrender this, hostage that... Just like this. Slice."
She mimed slitting her throat and shrugged.
"See? Done."
Chae Seol-ah asked in bewilderment at the brazen reply.
"B-But didn't you promise not to kill anyone?"
"When?"
"...Pardon?"
"I don't remember promising anything."
Chae Seol-ah went blank at the response.
Lee Min-hyuk standing beside her groaned softly.
"Well, technically you didn't promise... But you did say you'd hold back."
"We caught the bad guy. That's what matters."
Kim Hyun shrugged confidently.
Chae Seol-ah's face fell at the sight.
'This can't go on...'
Kim Hyun acting like a tyrant wasn't new, but they couldn't let it continue forever.
Team 3 of the Superhuman Management Bureau existed to help returnees like her adapt and reintegrate into society.
'Isn't there some way...?'
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk had been trying various approaches to help her adjust. They just hadn't worked much.
But Chae Seol-ah herself hadn't helped at all. Even with the absurd power of the Akashic Manual.
Was her role here just errand girl?
Feeling utterly useless, tears welled in Chae Seol-ah's eyes.
Right then.
[Kim Hyun Method]
Chae Seol-ah's eyes widened.
It was the Akashic Manual's guide for Kim Hyun—familiar, yet one she'd thought would never appear again.
"...!"
Her face lit up instantly.
"The guide is visible again?"
Lee Min-hyuk's eyes went wide at Chae Seol-ah's report.
He quickly checked their surroundings.
Confirming Kim Hyun wasn't nearby, he leaned in and whispered.
"You mean Miss Kim Hyun's guide?"
Chae Seol-ah nodded with a subtle expression.
"Y-Yes..."
Lee Min-hyuk groaned.
"Mmgh."
He pinched his brow, organizing his thoughts.
'A guide...'
It wouldn't be anything Korea's hunters could actually use. The guides for other national power-level hunters were similar—just basic weaknesses at best.
Even that much info was huge in a fight, giving a massive edge.
But the target was 'Kim Hyun'.
'No way she'd let the Bureau record her weaknesses.'
From what he'd seen, if she found out, she'd probably uproot the whole organization.
'Does that mean we just bury this info?'
This precious intel?
As Lee Min-hyuk agonized inwardly, Chae Seol-ah hesitantly spoke up.
"Um, there's a problem with it."
"...Problem?"
What kind of problem?
As Lee Min-hyuk looked puzzled, Chae Seol-ah blushed, fidgeted, then squeezed her eyes shut and confessed.
"Th-The method does show up."
"...But?"
"It's not the usual kind I mentioned before..."
"What do you mean? Explain it so I can understand."
"Well..."
As Chae Seol-ah started to explain, Kim Hyun appeared from afar, looking grumpy about something.
Lee Min-hyuk tensed inwardly at the sight.
"K-Kim Hyun!"
Chae Seol-ah pulled something from her pocket and rushed over, holding it out.
"Here!"
"Huh? Oh, what's this."
Kim Hyun's face brightened.
"I was just craving chocolate. This exact brand too. How'd you know?"
"J-Just a hunch. Hehe."
"Whatever. Thanks?"
Kim Hyun took the chocolate, looking pleased.
As she unwrapped and popped it in her mouth, Chae Seol-ah sheepishly returned to Lee Min-hyuk.
"Agent Chae, don't tell me...?"
Lee Min-hyuk wore a look of realization.
Chae Seol-ah nodded awkwardly.
"Yeah. The guide shows stuff like this—what she wants right now, that kind of thing..."
"..."
Lee Min-hyuk let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"So, it's showing ways to build favor with her? Like some dating sim."
"D-Dating... sim?"
Chae Seol-ah tilted her head, not getting it.
"Never mind. Exists somewhere."
Lee Min-hyuk brushed it off and gathered his thoughts.
'At least we won't piss her off anymore. That's something.'
No, it might be worth more.
'Keep building rapport, and we could guide her positively down the line.'
He turned sharply to Chae Seol-ah.
And grabbed her shoulders.
"Eek?"
"Agent Chae."
"Y-Yes?"
"Take good care of Miss Kim Hyun."
"...Pardon?"
"Like the past few days—you'll be her dedicated handler."
"G-Got it!"
Chae Seol-ah nodded vigorously.
Then asked carefully.
"But how long...?"
"Your job's simple: Become her close aide. Build enough rapport to steer her actions positively."
"Got it. But how long...?"
"Take care, Agent Chae."
"Wh-Why won't you answer?"
"You got this!"
"Why are you ignoring me?!"
Chae Seol-ah pouted, but Lee Min-hyuk refused to answer. He'd said plenty, in his mind.
'How long? Until her behavior's under control.'
'Hang in there till then, Agent Chae.'
He nodded inwardly.
"Look at me! Don't dodge my eyes!"
Considering it an inevitable sacrifice.