Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: When Eating, Just Eat
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"Eheheung."
The part-timer at the counter felt a little uplifted.
It was because that frog knight from before had come back.
Though today it wasn't the frog raincoat but suspenders instead, the fatally cute vibe was unchanged.
Just look at that adorable figure peering into the kiosk for wheelchair users.
'It was really cute back then.'
The way they stuck out their head after putting the number ticket up...
"Hrr..."
Never had kiosk ordering felt so regrettable.
Usually, it was a grateful machine that saved her the hassle.
'The heart is such a fickle thing.'
But...
The shadowy woman standing guard behind that little one.
'What's up with her? No deliveries came in, and we have separate ones anyway...'
She was as tall as most guys, which startled her.
Including the helmet, probably just shy of 180cm.
Maybe she came in for a meal after delivering.
'Whoa, check out that figure. If it were me, I'd ditch delivery and model or something. But why's she just standing there...?'
Even with open kiosks elsewhere, the woman stuck right behind the kid.
Then, when the kid turned and pointed at something, she crouched down.
...They were together, apparently.
"Your ordered burgers are ready."
"Thank you."
Regrettably, this time the delivery-rider-looking woman took the food instead of the frog knight.
...What a shame.
It was a weekday afternoon, but the hamburger joint was fairly crowded.
Even out on the outskirts, it was near a university district, so young folks were inevitable.
On the second floor of that place.
A space prepared solely for dining.
Su-hyeon, having finished ordering with Brüel, sat at the same table where she'd worn the frog raincoat last time.
But...
Glance.
Whispers.
The crowd's eyes all fixed on one spot.
The target was the woman standing ramrod straight.
"Mm..."
Seemed like drawing stares was unavoidable.
The first floor could be shrugged off somehow, but the second floor? Yeah, that was pushing it.
Rustle.
Feeling too conspicuous, Su-hyeon carefully rewrapped her burger and set it back on the tray.
Her face reflected on the glossy surface of Brüel's helmet across from her.
The convex curve made her look even more uncomfortable.
"...Should we just head back?"
"Will that be alright?"
"Yeah, let's go home and eat together."
"Yes."
Eating together beat eating alone, hands down.
She wasn't some mukbang NewTuber, putting on a show in front of Brüel.
Though to elves, NewTubers might be something similar...
Clunk, beep-
"Excuse me."
With Brüel's help opening the heavy front door, they entered her room.
"Come to think of it, maybe I should change the door lock. It always crosses my mind when I get home, but I'm too lazy and leave it."
Sliding the hanger on the handle every single day was a chore.
"I'll fix it by tomorrow."
"Really? I'd appreciate that, but the hole's already drilled, right? Not sure if a new one's height will fit me."
"I'll replace the front door as well."
"...Now I feel kinda bad."
Chatting idly, they entered the living room.
Drag-
She pulled over the multi-use stand-slash-desk, the living box, and set down the burger bag.
"Sit over there."
"Thank you."
They sat facing each other and unpacked the burgers again.
Su-hyeon paused pulling out her combo meal to grab her phone and set it beside her.
She couldn't resist NewTube while eating.
"Oh yeah, Ga-eun's video probably went up today."
She picked up her burger but set it down when it seemed about to slip.
A few screen taps later, Ga-eun's voice rang out.
"Eugheeeek, ptoo ptoo! Eurgh..."
In the video, Ga-eun grimaced and spat before a simple intro played.
"Is that Ga-eun?"
"Yeah, she said she got her hunter license and was heading into a gate."
Su-hyeon turned the phone sideways so Brüel could see too.
"Hello, everyone! Finally... ta-da!"
Ga-eun proudly showed off her hunter license.
"See? Grade B. I'm a hunter now too."
"It's provisional, and she still needs safety training, though."
"Ah, haha..."
A laid-back middle-aged man's voice came from behind Ga-eun.
"Oh, collab stream, huh."
This hefty, potbellied uncle had been a B-rank hunter once and now did fishing NewTube, apparently.
"So today, with help from FishHunter here, we're checking out a gate popular with beginners. The main monsters here are Forest Goblins and..."
Brüel, watching intently, commented.
"She said she had qualms about hunters, but looks like she overcame them."
"Oh, that? It wasn't much. I just helped a bit."
"As expected of Su-hyeon."
After a long safety rundown, they entered the gate.
Ga-eun drew a dagger that looked like it'd come from a home shopping channel and followed FishHunter.
"...You brought that?"
"Uh, just for practice... Is it no good?"
At FishHunter's reaction, Ga-eun sheepishly hid the dagger.
"Hmm... For a gate this level, it's fine. Let's go. B-rank means you're safe unless you're sleeping naked."
"Reminds me of the tortoise and the hare."
Gulp-
Su-hyeon swallowed her bite.
"Ga-eun's using a dagger, huh."
"She barely knows how to hold it properly. Just carrying it around."
"I thought Ga-eun fought with boxing. Weird."
"Boxing's just a sport. Humanoid monsters are rare, and no mind games needed, so it's not ideal for hunters."
"Hrm."
True, learning boxing wouldn't help much against bears or tigers.
Halfway through her burger, the video hit its highlight.
Meaning... the scene where Ga-eun sliced through a monster.
"Oogh, ptoo! Plurt...! Ugh, what is that smell...!"
"...Watch later?"
"Sounds good."
Honestly, not mealtime viewing.
No matter the mosaic cuteness, Ga-eun's face and reactions filled in the blanks.
"Hunters have it rough."
"I think non-combat factors are the real hardship."
"Mm."
Fight on.
Su-hyeon mentally cheered Ga-eun while dipping fries in ketchup.
Munch.
A high-end restaurant in downtown Seoul.
Early weekday hour, yet the whole place was empty.
Just two old men by the window, the only patrons.
"Care for a drink, Chairman Jang?"
The old man perusing the wine list looked like he wouldn't bleed if pricked.
Assemblyman Lee Jung-woo.
"No thanks. Not one for booze."
Jang Tae-won replied while slicing fish.
Casual disrespect.
A four-term assemblyman unilaterally deferring wasn't a common sight.
But Jang Tae-won looked like an immortal in a suit, so it didn't seem off.
Age gap alone made him father-figure material.
"So, what brings you to summon me like this?"
Jang Tae-won's eyes sharpened.
Lee Jung-woo kept eating nonchalantly under the fierce gaze.
"Just paying respects to those who sacrificed for nation and people. Need a reason?"
"Hah, funny."
Clink-
Jang Tae-won snorted, setting down his utensils.
Considering his physique, he'd done it deliberately.
"You never move without purpose."
With the mood killed, Lee Jung-woo finally looked up.
"What do you want to say?"
Jang Tae-won glared openly, but Lee didn't blink.
That near-mad gaze seemed devoid of emotion.
'This snake.'
"You seem busy. I get it, we're both in that boat."
"Mocking me? You maybe, but us?"
"Heh heh, come now... Actually, I heard something you'd find intriguing."
"What?"
"That kid from Camellia you've been curious about lately."
Jang Tae-won's eyes narrowed.
"...How'd you know that?"
He hadn't even told colleagues.
"Coincidence. Was investigating something else..."
Lee Jung-woo dodged smoothly, pulling a tablet from his pocket and placing it on the table.
Jang Tae-won pulled it close, eyes widening.
There was the info he'd craved: Su-hyeon's age, name, address, education. Clean record.
A recent paper from a Korea University professor on refining demonic energy, with Su-hyeon's name in the corner.
Matched Jeong-hyeon's report so far.
But the key was what followed.
Photos Mystic's Lee Jae-hyuk had dug up, censored from news.
Department store disaster from a novel gate outbreak.
Exhibition hall terrorist attack by lunatics.
And Han River park inexplicably blooming with cherry blossoms—no Su-hyeon pic.
"...What? How?"
Su-hyeon's power was supposed to be E-rank plant growth promotion.
Growth promotion wasn't simple.
Hormones or drugs might force it, but energy doesn't spawn from nothing.
Fine for creation or generation types using mana to make stuff.
But permanently altering living things?
Even Mystic's Seranrin could only guide growth, not force it.
Controlling mana-bearing lifeforms was tough.
If truly E-rank plant growth, output too low for anything.
Two conclusions: mislabeled power/grade, or faked photos.
If first, mana reaction at least S-rank power-wise.
...One nagging point.
Records said manipulation type, not mutation.
Then how the appearance?
Early-awakened mutation kids sometimes change gradually with age, normalizing naturally—not serious.
No extreme height shrinks yet, but possible for mutation/shapeshifters.
But manipulation awakeners changing form? Unheard of.
Clean past didn't add up either.
No one knew old her, absent from school over two years, then popped up this year?
'Maybe not human...'
Lee Jung-woo's voice snapped Jang Tae-won from reverie.
"Surprising, isn't it? That kid. No, not a kid... Makes sense why Camellia protects her."
Jang Tae-won grimaced.
Shocking info, but unsettling.
How'd he know? Why tell him?
"...Why tell me this? What do you want?"
"Want?"
Jang pressed, but Lee just lowered his eyes, spearing meat to his mouth.
"I just thought it might help you, Chairman."
"You impudent..."
Jang Tae-won ground his teeth.
Couldn't read this black-hearted bastard's game.
"If it doesn't sit right, toss it and ignore. No loss, right?"
"You...!"
Lee glanced at the fuming Jang, then savored his bite with half-closed eyes.