Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Change (1)
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Whirr.
Cha Su-ho stepped into the now all-too-familiar teleport with a perfectly neutral expression.
He'd wrapped up his talk with Miriam and headed straight back to his room to pack his things. Now, inside the teleport heading to Center 1 of the 1st Branch, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Killian."
Killian flinched, then let out a giggle.
[ "What? You knew?!" ]
He'd been so careful to suppress his presence, just in case Su-ho decided not to take him along—like last time, making sure Su-ho wouldn't notice.
But Su-ho had known all along.
[ "You're amazing! You knew and didn't say anything?" ]
"I wanted to see how far you'd follow."
[ "Hmph. Anyway, I finished talking with Miriam. She said it's fine for me to go to Center 1 of the 1st Branch." ]
Miriam didn't seem like the type to let him go so easily.
Whatever. It didn't matter.
Su-ho, who had been staring at Killian, nodded shortly after.
"Good."
[ "Right?! Oh, what's the vibe like at Center 1 of the 1st Branch? It's my first time there." ]
"Hm, pretty similar. Just no one dousing themselves in heavy perfume."
[ "That's the most important part—phew! I'm so excited. A new branch!" ]
Su-ho quietly watched Killian. Moments like this made him seem just like a kid. Even though he was only two years younger than Su-ho, Killian looked even younger than his age.
Maybe it was because he'd had so little interaction with others for so long, or perhaps because he'd only just left his teenage years behind—who could say.
[ "Now we can hang out every day, right?" ]
Su-ho replied with a face full of disgust.
"No."
[ "Fine, I'll follow you around discreetly on my own." ]
He was pretty sure he'd said no, but somehow it felt like he'd been roped in anyway.
Whirr. The teleport's hum came to a stop.
- You have arrived at Center 1 of the 1st Branch.
Through the slowly opening doors, a familiar sight came into view. He'd only been at Center 2 of the 2nd Branch for two or three days, but to Su-ho, it felt longer than the time he'd spent at Center 5 of the 5th Branch.
As Su-ho stepped out of the teleport, Killian quickly followed.
[ "Ooh, nice!" ]
Killian kept scanning his surroundings. Compared to Center 2 of the 2nd Branch, which was a mishmash of Miriam's tastes, the clean and sleek Center 1 of the 1st Branch seemed more to his liking.
"Hunter Cha Su-ho."
Min Gi-uk, who had been waiting for him, spoke up.
"You're back already?"
Su-ho hadn't given Gi-uk any details before leaving. He'd only said he was coming back, so Gi-uk looked curious.
"Yeah. Oh, um... I have a question."
"Of course, go ahead."
"If a Hunter from another branch wants to come to Center 1 of the 1st Branch, how does that work?"
"For a visit?"
"No. If they want to become affiliated with Center 1 of the 1st Branch."
Gi-uk's face lit up with surprise at that.
"You mean a Hunter from another branch wants to transfer their affiliation to us?"
"Yes."
Gi-uk's startled gaze shifted to Killian, standing beside Su-ho.
"That Hunter you're referring to... is it this person?"
"Yes, exactly."
Killian beamed and spoke toward Gi-uk.
[ "Hi." ]
"H-Hello. I'm Min Gi-uk, Cha Su-ho Hunter's secretary."
[ "Oh! Su-ho's secretary? Great, take good care of me from now on. We'll be seeing a lot of each other." ]
Gi-uk glanced briefly at Su-ho, then nodded as if he understood.
"You should probably meet with the Center Director. There's no precedent, but it'll likely need approval from both the Center Director and the Branch Representative."
Gi-uk fiddled with the tablet in his hand.
"I've notified the Center Director's secretary. If now works for you, I can escort you to his office."
"Then let's head straight there."
"Understood."
Gi-uk took the lead. Su-ho followed, turning to Killian as he did.
"We're going to meet Center 1 Director now."
[ "Huh? Center Director? What's that?" ]
The 1st Branch was the only one divided into separate centers rather than a unified one, so the term was unfamiliar to Killian—not "branch," but "center."
"The 1st Branch is split into three centers. Center 1 is Korea, Center 2 is China, Center 3 is Japan."
[ "Oh! I think I remember. I saw it in Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter's autobiography." ]
Jin Seong-hyeok's autobiography?
"Autobiography?"
[ "Yeah, bestseller. It's like notes he jotted down like a diary." ]
Jin Seong-hyeok jotting down notes like a diary?
[ "Even in the middle of fighting monsters on-site, all he could think about was humanity. Isn't that amazing?" ]
No sooner had Killian finished than Jin Seong-hyeok muttered a low curse.
'Fucking lunatics.'
Jin Seong-hyeok would never have written something like that. It was just something the Association had published on their own to make money off civilians and his worshippers.
'When I clean out the Association, I know who to deal with first.'
'The one who made the autobiography, hyung?'
'Yeah. I'll toss him to the monsters.'
Using a dead man's name to profit.
'They're total trash, the Association.'
'Tell me something I don't know.'
Jin Seong-hyeok snorted derisively.
"That wasn't written by Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter."
[ "What are you talking about?" ]
"The Association made it to rake in cash. Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter didn't leave behind a single memo."
[ "How would you know?" ]
"I know. I was with him when he died."
Killian froze, fixing his gaze on Su-ho.
[ "You were really there? I thought it was a lie. Maybe he committed suicide or something, and the Association covered it up..." ]
"No. So toss that autobiography right now."
[ "Those insane Association bastards. How far did they go? And I didn't even know...!" ]
Killian grumbled, clenching his fists in frustration. After ranting about the Association for a while, he finally stopped when he caught up to Gi-uk and Su-ho, who had paused ahead.
"Oh, Helper—no, Hunter Cha Su-ho! Long time no see!"
Seo Yo-seop, secretary to the Center 1 Director, greeted Su-ho warmly.
"The Center Director is inside. You can go right in."
"Thank you."
Su-ho gave Yo-seop a light nod and turned to Gi-uk.
"I'll go talk with the Center Director then."
"Sure, see you later."
Su-ho gave Killian a look, signaling him to come along. Killian stood beside him and asked,
[ "Should I hide my presence?" ]
"No. You wanted to come here, right? Then make a good impression."
[ "I need to make a good impression?" ]
He'd forgotten. Killian had zero social skills.
No time for explanations. One line would do.
"If you want to stay here, just be quiet and follow."
Su-ho knocked on the door and opened it.
"Hunter Cha Su-ho, long time no see."
The Center 1 Director, who now naturally called him Hunter instead of Helper, received a light bow from Su-ho.
"Have a seat."
Killian trailed behind Su-ho as he headed to the indicated spot. Watching them, the Center Director burst into laughter.
"I take it this is the Hunter who wants to join our branch?"
"Yes, that's right."
Su-ho nodded toward the Center Director, gesturing for Killian to introduce himself. Killian grinned widely, as if he got it.
[ "Hi. I'm Killian. From Center 2 of the 2nd Branch. I want to come to the 1st Branch—is that okay? Well, of course you'd say yes now that I'm here." ]
Su-ho's face filled with horror as he stared at Killian.
[ "My abilities are great. I can hypnotize and control people too. If you don't like it, I can erase your memories and make you do whatever I want." ]
Jin Seong-hyeok laughed so hard he could barely breathe at the brazen Killian.
'The more I see, the funnier this guy gets.'
'...It's gone beyond funny.'
'That's what makes it fun—guys like him.'
The Center Director seemed amused by Killian's antics too, a smile on his face.
"So, Hunter Killian wants to affiliate with Center 1 of the 1st Branch?"
[ "Yeah. That's right. I want to be here." ]
"Understood for now. This needs to be reported to the 1st Branch Representative as well, so there'll be a wait. We've never had a Hunter transfer from another branch, so it'll take some time."
Killian's face soured at the mention of waiting.
"You can stay comfortably at Center 1 in the meantime. We'll do our best to accommodate Hunter Killian."
[ "I hate waiting, but if I can stay at Center 1 meanwhile, that's fine." ]
"Glad to hear it."
The Center Director's gaze shifted to Su-ho.
"Bringing over a Hunter from another branch, no less. The 2nd Branch Representative—and our 1st Branch Representative too—will be surprised."
Suddenly recalling something, the Center Director continued.
"Oh, and the 1st Branch Representative will be stationed here at Center 1 from now on."
"The Branch Representative?"
The 1st Branch Representative, who had been holed up at Association HQ even when Jin Seong-hyeok was at Center 1, was going to station at the center?
"Yes. Seems like it's because of you, Hunter Cha Su-ho. He said he'd look after you personally, right by your side."
Look after him personally, right by his side.
It felt odd—suspicious, even.
'That guy's favors are worth suspecting.'
'Exactly.'
Su-ho spoke to the Center Director.
"Got it. That's all from me, so I'll head out."
"We'll discuss Hunter Killian's matter with the Representative and get back to you."
Su-ho bowed to the Center Director and left, at which Killian shot to his feet.
[ "Bye, see you later." ]
Killian sidled right up to Su-ho, grinning, and asked,
[ "So, where are we going now?" ]
"You to your room, me to mine."
[ "My room? Is it close to yours?" ]
"Don't know."
Killian turned abruptly to Yo-seop, who was standing by the door.
[ "Where's my room?" ]
"Uh, the room for you, Hunter..."
[ "Don't care, just give me the one next to Su-ho's." ]
"Pardon...?"
[ "Next to Su-ho's. And I need a gaming console. I'll write down the list, so bring it right away. And a mini fridge. Fill the mini fridge with Zero Cola." ]
Yo-seop, stunned by the barrage, fumbled for his phone.
"So, gaming console and mini fridge... with cola in the fridge..."
[ "Zero Cola." ]
"Yes, sir!"
[ "And next to Su-ho's." ]
"Next to Hunter Cha Su-ho's room... Wait! Isn't Hunter Cha Su-ho still using the Helper quarters?"
Killian turned to Su-ho.
[ "Helper quarters? Why haven't you moved?" ]
"Too much hassle. And the current room's plenty. There's a private space, and shared areas too, so it's not lonely."
[ "Huh? Shared?" ]
Su-ho realized his slip and looked up. His manic purple eyes flickered.
[ "So, if there's shared space, we use it together?" ]
Killian grinned wickedly and spat his final words at Yo-seop.
[ "I want to share the same space as Su-ho." ]