Discharge (1): Princess Maker
The nurse brought a toolbox over. Yumi pulled out a pair of pliers and strained with all her might.
"It won't cut. Got anything else?"
"Yumi, I got him. This the guy, right?" Cheol-ho oppa dragged in Hyun-woo, limp and crumpled like a paper doll in one massive hand.
"Yeah!"
I shoved the guy we'd caught into the corner of the hospital room.
"Good job, oppa! Try cutting this."
Yumi pointed at the choker around my neck.
"Necklace?"
"Yeah, it's too tough. Won't break."
"Got it."
Cheol-ho oppa drew a dagger from his belt.
"Oppa, you sure with that? What if you hurt Sia?"
"You doubt my control?"
He knelt and pressed the blade to my neck. I reached out to stop him, but my body wouldn't respond.
"Hold still. No idea what this thing is, but..."
"Be careful."
"Yeah."
Sweat beaded on his forehead—I could tell he was focusing every nerve. With a sickening crack—!
The choker snapped in two amid the screech of tearing metal.
"Ugh... eek..."
Metal shards and a shattered purple magic stone clattered to the floor. Like a radio with dozens of channels blasting at once, a hallucination of nails on a chalkboard filled my ears.
"Ughhh..."
The dissonance faded, replaced by a rush of liberation. Then my whole body convulsed. Cheol-ho oppa panicked.
"Yumi! I cut it like you said—why's she freaking out now?"
"No idea! Me neither! Anyway—"
"And what'd this bastard do?"
"Said he wanted me to eat her out. Hundred percent knew about her condition ahead of time."
"What?"
Cheol-ho oppa's pupils shook. The nurse nodded.
"Administering sedative."
That's when Dr. Lee Hyun-seong burst in.
"What happened?! Step away from the patient!"
"Doctor!"
He glanced between the choker fragments on the floor and my seizing body, then clicked his tongue.
"Tch, the patient's condition... Everyone, back off."
He tapped my shoulder two or three times.
"Hunter Sia Seong? Ms. Sia Seong. Can you hear me?"
Even though he was right there, his voice echoed like I was deep underwater. He flipped my eyelids and shone a penlight. The glare made me wince.
"She's conscious. Looks like acute seizure from extreme mental stress."
He prepped a syringe.
"Administering sedative."
Instinctively, I swatted his hand away.
"...Don't touch me."
My voice cracked and trembled, but my refusal was clear.
Dr. Lee Hyun-seong's eyebrow twitched for a split second, but he composed himself.
"Hunter Sia Seong, calm down. You're in a state of extreme agitation—your judgment's impaired. This is medical treatment."
"I don't need it. I'm fine..."
I forced my trembling body—as shaky as aspen leaves—up, gripping the bedpost. Even with my spinning vision, I locked eyes with him.
"Wait. She said no."
"Hunter Jeong Yu-mi."
Dr. Lee Hyun-seong cut her off coldly.
"The patient's life hangs in the balance. Don't interfere with my medical judgment. This is clear obstruction of care and will only worsen her condition."
"Got it."
"Hunter Wang? Help me out here. Just hold her still."
"Huh? Sure!"
Cheol-ho oppa grabbed me.
"No... I said no!"
Dr. Lee Hyun-seong injected something into the vein on my wrist. Cold fluid spread through my bloodstream. My vision blurred, my body went light as cotton.
A serene sea... utterly still, without even a ripple.
Little me held someone's hand, staring at a warship near the horizon.
Dad...?
I looked up. He turned.
Dr. Lee Hyun-seong...?
The moment I saw his face, a tsunami crashed over us. I sank into lightless ocean depths.
Dark. Pitch black...
"Gasp!"
"...Sia awake?"
Yumi shot up from the cot, sensing my movement.
"You okay? Dizzy? Any weird feelings?"
Her eyes were red and bloodshot, her face pale like she hadn't slept in days.
"Hospital. Remember? Two hours ago."
"Kinda? cough cough."
"Throat dry? I'll mix some honey water."
"Thanks."
The warm liquid soothed my throat. Unconsciously, I touched my nape. Smooth, no scars.
"How's the invincible Sword Saint end up like this in just days? Never thought you'd be hospitalized, sis!"
"Guess invincible... Sword Saint... not so much."
"Don't say that, sis."
Thankfully, a day later, I was officially discharged. Physically, I'd healed ages ago thanks to Regeneration's Blessing, but I'd continue outpatient mental treatment.
At the same time, Hyun-woo Lee's disciplinary results came in: suspended for guild regulation violation, injuring a fellow hunter, and causing mental harm. Initially, expulsion was on the table, but my reluctance to punish led to the lighter sentence.
I claimed no memory, and Yumi's testimony about him asking for pussy was dismissed as drug-induced rambling. He denied it anyway, arguing it wasn't grounds for expulsion.
The suspension was Yumi pushing hard. The guild would investigate further.
Cheol-ho oppa had handed the suspicious accessory to the Hunter Association for analysis.
Stepping out of the hospital lobby, I squinted at the pouring sunlight.
"Nice weather."
Like emerging from a long tunnel.
"Sis, you got three days off. What to do? Hot springs and soak?"
Yumi linked arms with me, smiling brighter than the sun.
I leaned into her warmth, pondering before shaking my head.
"Soak? Makes you sound like an old lady."
"Then?"
"Wanna change things up, buy some clothes."
After weeks in hospital gowns...
I craved the smell of people over alcohol.
"Shopping? You and me?"
"Yeah. Hospital food sucked—grab something tasty nearby. So... department store?"
"Deal! To the department store! I'll buy whatever you want today!"
"No need, got plenty of cash."
I pinched her cheeks.
"Aigoo, worried sick over you?"
"Ughhh."
"So cute."
Yumi'd been a rock. Reward time? Mwah—light peck on her lips.
"Sis...?!"
Blushing furiously, she burrowed into my arms.
"Call a taxi?"
Yumi jingled her keys.
"I drive great, sis!"
"That's why... taxi."
Helping with her driving lessons had me tenser than a gate dive. No way she'd touch the wheel.
"Or I drive."
"Insurance? I'm in better shape."
"Really? Won't end with me hospitalized?"
"Best driver ever."
Riding to downtown in Yumi's car was a physics lesson in inertia. My hand never left the passenger grip.
"No need to speed anyway, sis."
"Just comfy like this... Right turn! Right turn!"
"Yeah, yeah! Don't rush me."
Landscapes whipped by outside: laughing crowds, ordinary shop signs. All felt precious—the world I'd risked life for, warm and noisy.
The department store buzzed even on a weekday afternoon. The clamor eased me.
We started at the first-floor cosmetics.
But my appearance halted everything.
"Hey, isn't that...?"
"Hunter Sia Seong?"
"Sword Princess! First time IRL! Epic!"
Gazes stabbed at me. Should've thought ahead...
Phones out, whispers, crowds closing in.
"Sis, okay? Shoulda disguised if I knew."
"Sorry, another store?"
"Yeah!"
"Grab masks and hats."
Minimal disguise bought, we hit another store.
"Alright, sis. I'm your stylist today. Head to toe makeover! Ready?"
"So pumped...?"
"Duh! Let's go!"
Cosmetics again: floral perfumes, sparkling products.
"Sis, this lipstick shade! Perfect match. C'mere, test it."
Yumi sat me, asked the clerk.
"An honor, ma'am."
"Honor...?"
Clerk carefully applied coral pink to my lips.
"Wow, your pale skin makes it pop."
Awkward in the mirror, but Yumi clapped wildly.
"Insane! Pure goddess! No more pale lips, sis—wear this!"
Caved to her hype, bought one, headed to women's clothes on two.
"Whoa, sis! This is so you!"
She held outfits to me, kid-excited.
"Too uncomfortable..."
"Nonsense! Guys'd drop dead!"
"Overkill..."
Stuff I'd never wear.
"How could I? Too... girly."
"You are a girl? And it's cute and delicate! Try it, pleeease?"
"Hmm..."
"Nope, try on! Trying's free!"
"Not about money."
Shoved into the fitting room.
Curtain open—Yumi gasped, hand over mouth.
"Crazy, sis... too pretty. Buy it now! My discharge gift!"
"Told you, got cash."
Mirror showed casual date look. Fine, but the other? A dress impossible outside.
"Sis... I'm dead."
"Even so, no way!"
Weird for battle-obsessed me. Big chest complex—avoided emphasizing tops. But first outing in ages... the strangeness wasn't bad. A tickle of excitement even.
We giggled through hours, Yumi piling outfits, me "reluctantly" trying.
"Sis, these skinny jeans? Your legs'd kill!"
"Inconvenient in gates."
"Not for gates! Everyday!"
"White tee alone feels exposing."
"Ponytail, sis."
"Hair?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh... boobs."
Yumi drooled, snapping pics all day.
"You... pervy intent?"
Ignoring, more outfits.
"This? Show off that collarbone—world needs to see!"
"Princess maker?"
"Your casual fashion's mine now."
Changed in the room. Navel exposed...
Curtain—Yumi whistled.
"Whoa, sis. Total stranger. Club in that? Line of guys."
"Club? Navel out isn't slutty?"
"God, sis! So prude. Where's slutty?"
Finally stopped, bags overflowing. Lingerie too: lacy silk I'd never touch.
Yumi grabbed sexy black lace bralette set, winked.
"Couple undies?"
"Yumi... letting this slide once."
"Aww~ why not~ sis~"
Break time: cafe lounge, shaved ice with cotton candy.
"Time flew. Fun, right sis?"
"Yeah. Blast."
"More often. Not just training. Enjoy life—you're early twenties, party age."
Spooned ice into my mouth.
"Hunters got no playtime."
"Date guys? Regret later?"
"And you? Seeing anyone?"
"Uh..."
"BRB, bathroom."
"Together?"
"Watch bags."
"Kay!"
Bathroom: closed lid, sat. No urge, but habit—slid hand under skirt, into panties, probed inside.
Wait... what? What'm I checking...?