Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Herb Gatherer Han Seo-ah
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As soon as I stepped into the lobby of the Hunter Association building, the cool air from the AC brushed over my sweat-soaked back.
Feels nice.
But there was no time to savor the comfort.
"Kyaaah! Hunter-nim!"
A high-pitched scream.
No, cheers.
Something shot out from behind the desk like a bullet.
I reflexively stepped back, but her mobility was a cut above.
Poof.
"Urgh...!"
My vision went dark.
What hit my nose was the familiar scent of fabric softener, mixed with a sweet feminine aroma.
My face was buried in someone's chest. I couldn't breathe.
Soft breast flesh blocked my nose.
"Oh my god, what happened to you? Covered in dirt and drenched in sweat..."
It was Jin Su-bin.
The beauty who had guided me the first time.
Senior Administrative Officer of the Complaints Management Team.
At the same time, the dangerous type who couldn't get enough of anything "cute."
The weird woman who had arbitrarily declared herself my personal counselor.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Hey? Let me see your face!"
She cupped my cheeks with both hands and turned my head this way and that, screaming all the while.
I flailed to escape her grip, but the administrative officer's strength was surprisingly firm.
No, probably just me being weak.
"I... can't... breathe..."
"Ah! Sorry. I got too startled."
She jumped back in surprise.
But her hands still gripped my shoulders.
Her eyes were 80% worry, 20% delight at kneading a cute little creature.
"What on earth happened? You look like a mess."
"......I'm here to report something."
"Report?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"I saw a dead person in a gate today."
"A dead... person."
"Yes. Throat slit. Jamsil Han River Park gate. A goblin in the safe zone."
"I see."
"There was blood at the cut. Fresh corpse."
The playful glint vanished, replaced by the sharp scrutiny she used for reviewing documents.
"Follow me. Let's go to the consultation room."
The "Precise Consultation Room" tucked in a corner of the first floor of the association.
The narrow, soundproofed space was thick with heavy air.
I sipped through a straw, slurping noisily.
Sweet strawberry milk coated my tongue.
A bribe Jin Su-bin had bought from the vending machine out of her own pocket.
"So... you saw a goblin at the forest zone boundary of Jamsil Gate Sector 1?"
"Yes."
"Not just any goblin—it was carrying human body parts."
"The head. A woman's head."
"Do you have footage?"
Some hunters wear action cams.
For editing into broadcast content.
But I'm a broke nobody with no such luxury.
"No."
"Then..."
The conversation continued.
I tried to answer matter-of-factly.
But my stomach churned ever since uttering the word "head."
Jin Su-bin typed silently.
Tap, tap-tap.
Fast fingers.
She turned the monitor toward me.
"Party lists from the past week who entered Jamsil Gate but have no exit records. Three teams total."
ID photos filled the screen.
From fresh-faced college kids to rough-looking middle-aged men.
All smiling awkwardly or stone-faced at the camera.
'People put on faces like this for their hunter license photos, huh.'
Records of the living.
Possibly dead.
I gripped the mouse tighter.
Scrolled down.
One by one.
Then.
My finger stopped.
Name: Kim Min-ji (24 years old)
Rank: F
The woman in the photo smiled brightly.
Plump laugh lines around kind, ordinary eyes.
But the afterimage burned in my mind was different.
Terror-stricken eyes rolled back, mouth agape in a frozen gray face.
The gruesome sight dangling from the goblin's waist overlapped with the photo's smile.
My gut twisted.
"......That's her."
I pointed at the monitor, and Jin Su-bin's face hardened.
"You're sure?"
"Yes. The mole under her eye... and the dyed hair color match perfectly."
"Haa... I see."
Jin Su-bin let out a deep sigh.
She adjusted her glasses and jotted notes rapidly.
"Rookie party, as expected. Went in as the 'Weekend Hiking Club.' Only one D-rank veteran."
"......"
"Got it. Report accepted."
She turned the monitor back.
Pulled a thick stack of documents from a drawer.
"From here on, we'll follow procedure. Don't take it personally, Hunter Han Seo-ah. Just formalities."
"Okay."
"Exact time of sighting?"
"Around 2:40 p.m."
"Why were you in that sector? Pretty deep for a gathering route."
"Heard there was a mana herb cluster there... went to check."
Not a lie.
The status window had pointed me there.
"Any engagement with the goblin?"
"It threw a rock, so I just dodged. No way I could fight."
"Good call. Fleeing was the best choice."
The questions persisted relentlessly.
"What state was Hunter Kim Min-ji in?"
"Her teammates?"
"Just one goblin?"
Goblin's appearance, armament, escape route, even the color of my clothes.
She probed meticulously, verifying my statement—or ruling me out as suspect.
An hour passed.
The strawberry milk carton was a crumpled husk.
"That's it."
Jin Su-bin set down her pen and rolled her shoulders.
The pent-up tension finally eased.
"You did great. Might need to contact you for corpse recovery confirmation. Investigation team should head out soon."
"......Okay."
"And the report bounty is 500,000 won per regulations. It'll deposit once investigation closes and your statement's verified."
"500,000 won..."
Chump change for the info.
An hour of interrogation, plus risk of more hassle.
'No wonder people don't report.'
Structure favors ignoring it like stepping in shit.
Get dragged around, suspected, relive trauma—for 500k?
'Still... I did what I could.'
No regrets.
At least her family would know where and how their daughter went.
Whether that's comfort, who knows.
"Got it. I'll head out then."
I stood.
Chair scraped back.
Ass sore; just wanted home.
Then Jin Su-bin called urgently.
"Wait! Seo-ah Hunter-nim!"
"Yes? More?"
"No, it's just..."
She scanned me top to bottom.
Mud-caked pants, sweat-matted hair, dust-covered hoodie.
Beggar vibes.
"Going out like that? Subway folks'll stare."
"Came by bike."
"You look wiped. Sweat'll chill you into a cold. Investigation dragged."
She hesitated, eyes sparkling with an idea.
"Hey, if it's okay... wanna use the association basement sauna before you go?"
"Sauna?"
"Yeah! Staff and VIP hunter exclusive. This hour, empty. Top-notch facilities. Wash up in hot water."
I swallowed hard.
Home's cramped shower vs. steaming bath.
No contest.
And "exclusive facility."
Free is free—even if it makes you bald, silver hair hides it anyway.
"......Free?"
"Of course! I'll book under my name."
"That's illegal."
"Association's gift to a good Samaritan reporter."
Jin Su-bin beamed, tugging my hand.
[Women's Bath]
'...'
Men harbor fantasies about those two words, reasons be damned.
Honestly, hadn't thought about TS-ing into this body for a peek.
'Curious! Admit it, you're curious!'
Academic curiosity! Purely!
Not sordid thoughts.
But conscience matters.
Han Seon-woo's morals and Han Seo-ah's goodness preserved my humanity.
But an empty women's bath?
'Can't resist.'
Card key beeped; inside was paradise.
"Whoa..."
Floors and walls marble-clad, gold faucets gleaming.
Faint hinoki scent tickled my nose.
"Whoa... taxes melting away nicely."
Sigh of awe escaped.
Hunters' earnings funneled here, huh.
I shyly stripped.
Mirror reflection still jarring every time.
Ribcage-sharp torso.
Flat curves, no growth signs.
Bruises and scrapes like badges everywhere.
'Doing this to eat well and live... but look at me.'
Gaining weight's tough too.
Han Seo-ah's thrilled by a single kimbap triangle.
Weighed before bath.
[39kg]
'Still under 40.'
Progress, though—from 37kg.
Sighed deeply, headed to tub.
True to her word, empty.
Vast bath rippled with bluish bath salts.
Steam beckoned from surface.
'First women's bath?'
'Yeah.'
'Mine now.'
'Diving in.'
Splash—
Feet first, slow.
Splash.
Couldn't hold back—jumped in.
Warm!
How long since a proper soak?
"Uwaaaaaah..."
Uncle groan echoed live.
Hot water kneaded tense muscles one by one.
"This is sex."
Why tonics?
Kimbap and hot bath suffice.
Languor washed over.
Leaned head on edge, eyes closed.
Droplets fell from steamy ceiling.
'Feels alive.'
Today's beggar woes seemed to rinse away.
Goblin's yellowed teeth, dead woman's eyes, endless grilling.
This moment, forget it all.
How long?
Creeeak—
Hinge broke silence.
Eyes snapped open underwater.
'What? Empty!'
Heart dropped.
'No one coming...!'
Curled up instinctively.
Vast tub, nowhere to hide.
Who entered?
Staff? Another hunter?
Anyone's trouble.
Nude shame aside, identity exposure worse.
'Who's this cutie?' stares.
Idol looks, black-hearted uncle inside.
Burden! Hate nude!
[Heh... real silver hair? Can I touch?]
Obvious curious once-over.
Crab-walked out, to shadowy corner.
Blasted shower over head.
Shoooo—!
Water noise as shield, desperate cover.
'Please... wash and leave. Ignore me.'
Head down, scrubbed shampoo furiously.
Foam stung eyes, unstoppable.
Dare not look up.
Slap, slap.
Bare wet feet approached.
Not to tub.
Toward me.
'Don't come. Stay away!'
Silent scream.
To my side? In this vast bath?
Against Korean ethos.
Like sitting beside empty bus seats—psycho!
Urinal next to empties—weird!
Or... baths different?
'Should've checked.'
Not the curiosity I craved!
Footsteps unrelenting.
Stopped right behind.
And.
Stroke.
Warm fingers dug into scalp.
"Eeeeek!"
Shrill yelp escaped.
Soft hands massaged foamy hair expertly.
Pro touch.
Pressure points squeezed—refreshing yet chilling.
'Wh-who...?'
Terror-frozen breath held.
Familiar voice whispered.
"Shall I wash your hair, Hunter Han Seo-ah?"
Soft press from behind.
Rushing lavender.
Stiffly turned head.
Steamy haze, her face clear.
Glasses-off Jin Su-bin.
"Up close, your hair's really pretty."
Usual intellectual vibe gone.
Wet strands clung to cheeks, flushed pink.
And above all.
Her gaze downward—different.
Like a kid spotting a teddy, or predator eyeing prey.
Pupils gleamed with eerie possessiveness.
"Peekaboo~ Surprised?"
Arms wrapped from behind.
Skin on skin.
My small back sank into her ample chest.
No escape.
"Wh-what!"
"Hard alone, right?"
"No! I can do it!"
"Eh~ Don't be like that. Did bath service in college."
She nipped my earlobe, giggling.
"Hieeek!"
Glasses a seal?
No longer the "kind officer" I knew.
"You said no one!"
"No one but me."
Washing hair, nibbling ears.
Not my imagined bath truth.
But...
"Haaah..."
"Feels good? Right here..."
"Urgh...!"
Fingers too skilled between strands.
Pleasure disguised as care spread from scalp.
"Uuu..."
Thoughts fogged.
Resistance reason long numb.
Surrendered unwittingly.
'Feels good... so warm...'
This Han Seo-ah body must be broken.