Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Dangerous Invitation (5)
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"Hold on."
Su-ho pressed his fingers to his forehead and continued.
"You're going to follow me around?"
[ "Yeah!" ]
Killian was gazing at him with eyes sparkling like a puppy's, and the sight made Su-ho's head throb even harder.
"Sorry, but I like traveling solo."
[ "You go solo! I'll just tag along!" ]
"That's exactly what I'm saying—no tagging along."
[ "Fine, I'll mask my presence. Totally stealthy. No one will notice!" ]
Mask his presence. The more frustrated Su-ho got, the harder Jin Seong-hyeok chuckled to himself.
'Ah, this guy's completely nuts. Lucky I never ran into someone like him while I was alive.'
'Hyung.'
'What?'
'Can you wipe this guy's memory?'
'Eh. Don't feel like it.'
'...Pardon?'
'Don't wanna. This is fun.'
'Ah, hyung!'
It was a kind of amusement Jin Seong-hyeok had never experienced in life. No way was he giving that up.
'You're seriously letting him stick around?'
'He's your fan, isn't he?'
'He was originally your fan.'
'The present is what counts. Watching this is entertaining, so yeah.'
Ha.
Jin Seong-hyeok was no help at all. Su-ho would have to handle this himself. He took a small, steadying breath. Staying calm was key in situations like this.
"Noticeable or not, I don't want you following me."
Killian muttered, looking disappointed.
[ "You really don't like it......" ]
Su-ho hesitated. Killian’s pitiful expression tugged at him a little.
"Look, I'm not just heading to the Dead Zone—I'll be going to the Last Zone too from now on. Those places are dangerous. You could die trailing after me. And when I'm fighting monsters, having someone else around would just distract me. That's why Hunter Jin Seong-hyeok always went alone."
Su-ho figured that explanation would get through to him.
Of course, he was the only one who thought so.
[ "No worries there! I can stay hidden from monsters too." ]
Wait—what the hell did this guy just say?
Before Su-ho could even respond, Killian flashed a grin and pressed on.
[ "So, I can follow you then, right?" ]
Su-ho realized you never gave crazies an inch. He opened his mouth.
"Absolutely not."
Su-ho yanked the door open.
"We're done talking. Out. I need to rest."
[ "How do SSS-grade Hunters even rest? Gotta be different from regular Hunters, huh?" ]
What kind of delusions did this guy have about SSS-grades?
'Tell him they float around in the sky.'
Su-ho shot back coldly at Jin Seong-hyeok's laughing suggestion.
'If you're not gonna help, shut it.'
"Anyway, out."
That was when Su-ho was shoving Killian toward the door by the back.
[ "Hunter Killian?" ]
A man in a black suit approaching the door narrowed his eyes at Killian.
[ "What are you doing here?" ]
Killian spat out his words with an irritated scowl at the man's stiff tone.
[ "Why? Came to see an SSS-grade Hunter's face. Can't I?" ]
[ "You skip all your training and wander around like this, the Representative's gonna be furious." ]
Killian snorted.
[ "Tell her to be." ]
[ "For the Representative to get mad, she'd have to summon Hunter Killian..." ]
The security officer adjusted his sunglasses with one finger.
[ "Which means you'd have a private audience with the Representative." ]
Killian's face drained of color, like he'd seen a ghost.
[ "...Private audience? You mean one-on-one with that auntie?" ]
[ "Exactly. And not just that—you'd be sitting nice and close, side by side, chatting away." ]
[ "What? Side by side?!" ]
Killian clutched his head with both hands.
[ "Smelling that godawful perfume while stuck next to that auntie? Just kill me!" ]
[ "That's why you need to train properly. Head to the training grounds. The other Hunters and Helpers are already there." ]
Killian let out a deep sigh, like he had no choice. Then he turned to Su-ho.
[ "I'll swing by after training! We can talk more then!" ]
"No, you don't need to—"
[ "Catch you later!" ]
Su-ho squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them, watching Killian spout his piece, yank his hood up, and vanish.
Damn it.
"He really better not show up again."
The black-suited man, who'd overheard Su-ho's unwitting mutter, spoke up.
[ "If you wish, we can restrict access near Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
Su-ho finally registered the man's presence and asked,
"Uh... who are you?"
[ "Apologies for the late introduction. I'm the secretary for Representative Miriam, head of Branch 2. Just call me Powell." ]
Now that he thought about it, this was the guy who'd scrubbed most enthusiastically when Su-ho had puked all over Miriam's head last time.
"Ah! That time... I'm really sorry."
Recalling how the man had even stripped off his jacket to wipe it up, Su-ho bowed his head deeply. Powell continued smoothly,
[ "The Representative is waiting for you, Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
Su-ho glanced at his watch.
"Time's flown by already."
Killian's visit had eaten up way more time than expected. No real rest, and now heading straight to meet the Branch 2 Representative—Su-ho let out an involuntary sigh.
[ "Allow me to guide you." ]
"Sure."
Su-ho fell in step beside Powell. It was still ridiculously opulent. They passed a corridor lined with paintings and sculptures, and Jin Seong-hyeok muttered,
'Zero practicality here.'
A space meant for Hunters and Helpers, turned into the branch head's personal showroom.
While Su-ho and Jin Seong-hyeok were trash-talking the Branch 2 head, Powell glanced left and said,
[ "Perfect timing—the branch's Hunters and Helpers are in training." ]
Su-ho turned his head. Through the massive window, he saw people standing there in matching gym uniforms.
"Are those... tires?"
It was a shocking sight. Men and women alike had ropes cinched around their waists, each tethered to enormous tires.
[ "Yes. Basic stamina training." ]
Jin Seong-hyeok's earlier words came back to him: Branch 2 trained Hunters and Helpers like special forces, no distinction.
They were all insanely impressive—impossible to tell Hunter from Helper. They'd sprint full-tilt dragging those tires, then abruptly switch to jumping jacks.
Beep-.
A whistle blew, and everyone froze. They began untying the ropes from their waists.
But that wasn't the end of it.
The Hunters and Helpers dropped the guards from their wrists and ankles. A normal guard would've fluttered down lightly—no weight to it.
But these plummeted straight down like dumbbells.
"Those aren't... just guards, are they?"
Powell replied casually to Su-ho's question.
[ "Custom-made by the branch. Helpers wear 5kg each. Mental Hunters get 10kg ones, physical Hunters 20kg." ]
Even Helpers were lugging 20kg total on their limbs. And they'd run dragging tires on top of that?
An awed exclamation escaped Su-ho.
"Whoa, that's insane."
[ "It's the pride of Branch 2. No other branch can match our Hunters' and Helpers' stamina. And it's not just stamina—we run survival and combat drills alongside." ]
Survival and lethal combat training.
[ "Nothing tough. Just prepping for the unexpected in the field." ]
Powell shifted his gaze, apparently done.
[ "I'll set up a separate meeting with the Hunters and Helpers." ]
"Ah, thanks."
Powell resumed walking, and Su-ho followed, addressing Jin Seong-hyeok.
'They train hard.'
'Eh, Branch 2 doesn't have any standout SS-grade Hunters or Helpers.'
'Pardon? What do you mean?'
'Compared to Branch 1. Branch 1 has Lee Eun-woo, the physical Hunter who's unmatched with a blade, and An Ji-young, who's both physical and mental. Branch 2? Nothing special.'
Jin Seong-hyeok explained patiently.
'They've got physical Hunters who use swords, but it's all brute power—no agility. Same for mentals: telekinesis, fire, water—nothing exceptional. Helpers too. Their Cleans don't hit true SS-grade compared to Branch 1's. They know it, so they grind with training.'
'That's why the intensity.'
'Yep.'
Make up for shortcomings with sweat.
'Impressive.'
Powell spoke to the admiring Su-ho.
[ "We're here." ]
He knocked on the door.
[ "Mm, come in." ]
Powell eased the door open at Miriam's voice from within, then told Su-ho,
[ "Have a pleasant time." ]
The first thing in sight was a massive chandelier.
'Room's coated head to toe in cash.'
Jin Seong-hyeok nailed it. The money poured into this place was beyond comprehension.
And then,
[ "Oh my, do come in, Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
What was this—not a pheasant, not a peacock.
Miriam was strutting toward him in a gaudy dress, waving a feather fan.
Worst of all, that overpowering perfume.
Su-ho forced his furrowed brow to relax and spoke.
"Thanks for having me."
[ "Oh, the honor's all mine. A Hunter Cha Su-ho visiting our branch. Enjoy yourself to the fullest. Heck, park yourself here indefinitely—suits me just fine." ]
She cackled for some reason, snapping her fan shut.
[ "Oh, right—I haven't introduced them? These are your helpers while you're with us, Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
Miriam pivoted slightly, gesturing at someone. Jin Seong-hyeok whistled in Su-ho's mind.
[ "Recognize them? Hunter Cha Su-ho?" ]
Two women approached in provocative outfits. Su-ho dredged up the memory by force.
[ "Lovely seeing you again, Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
Alina, smiling seductively,
[ "You didn't forget me, did you? I've missed you, Hunter Cha Su-ho." ]
and Rene, blushing shyly as she spoke.
"Ah......"
Only then did it click for Su-ho. These were the two women who'd greeted him alongside Miriam right when he'd arrived at Branch 2.
"Hello."
Miriam spread her fan at Su-ho's awkward smile.
[ "So, shall we have ourselves a nice time?" ]
She covered her sly, curving lips with the fan and added,
[ "A very fun, delightful... tea time." ]