Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Exam (1)
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The Center Director burst into laughter at the voice laced with tension.
"No need to be nervous. Come and sit down."
Cha Su-ho slowly raised his head and hurried over to the sofa opposite the one where the Center Director sat. Watching him quietly, the Center Director continued speaking.
"First time meeting, right? Nice to meet you. I'm An Sang-jun, Director of Center 1 in the Asia Branch."
In the photo, the Center Director had looked stern and rigid. But the real An Sang-jun in person gave off a much warmer impression, quite different from the picture.
"It's an honor to meet you, Center Director."
"How's your body holding up?"
"Ah, yes! I'm fine now."
"That's a relief. If even you, Cha Su-ho the Helper, had run into problems after two Hunters ended up like that, the government and the Association wouldn't have stayed quiet."
Losing two S-grade Hunters was a massive blow to national power, not to mention the World Hunter & Helper Association.
"Everyone's already losing their minds wondering how a Hunter could suddenly lose their abilities and memories like that."
And it wasn't like they'd died fighting monsters—this was some unknown cause stripping them of memories and powers. It was unprecedented. No Hunter had ever lost both abilities and memories at once.
"There was a Hunter who could absorb other Hunters' powers, but as you know, that one died."
"...You mean Jin Seong-hyeok?"
The Center Director nodded, his gaze sharpening as he stared at Cha Su-ho—unlike at the start.
"That's why it's an emergency. Everyone's on edge, wondering if a monster has that kind of power."
If a monster existed that could strip Hunters of their abilities and memories, it would be catastrophic. Without Jin Seong-hyeok, they had no chance against it.
"Cha Su-ho, Helper."
The Center Director's lowered voice rang in his ears.
"Report in detail what happened that day."
Cha Su-ho racked his brain, unsure where to start. He'd simulated it once in the hospital room, but now that it was time to explain, the words stuck in his throat.
'I can start with the truth, right? The report ritual is factual.'
His sealed lips parted at Jin Seong-hyeok's words.
"That day, after arriving at the Evil Zone, Kim Hak-jun the Hunter and Tao the Hunter left me alone and vanished."
The Center Director gave him a puzzled look.
"Vanished?"
"Yes. You can ask the Helpers assigned to Kim Hak-jun and Tao—they brought me into the Evil Zone under the pretext of a report ritual, then ditched me in front of the monsters and disappeared."
"I see."
He didn't seem surprised. Nodding as if he already knew everything, the Center Director confirmed what Cha Su-ho suspected: he'd already been briefed on Kim Hak-jun and Tao's misdeeds.
That actually made things easier.
"I ran to shake off the monsters, and Kim Hak-jun the Hunter assaulted me while I was doing that. My memory cuts off during the beating. When I woke up, I was in the hospital."
"So you're saying you didn't see anything, Cha Su-ho Helper? What happened to Kim Hak-jun and Tao Hunters?"
"Yes."
"You didn't wake up at any point?"
A disbelieving gaze turned toward him. Cha Su-ho pressed on with an innocent expression.
"I was unconscious. If monsters attacked, maybe they thought I was dead since I was out cold and only targeted Kim Hak-jun and Tao Hunters?"
The Center Director stared at him intently, then leaned back against the sofa.
"Is that so? Then why are there traces of electrical energy used on Kim Hak-jun Hunter's body?"
"...Pardon?"
"Monsters usually decapitate or tear bodies apart. But Kim Hak-jun and Tao Hunters had broken bones and burns—like electrical damage. The examiners said it was from electrical energy."
The Center Director slowly lifted his head again.
"Cha Su-ho Helper, are you sure you don't remember anything?"
His heart plummeted. Cha Su-ho averted his eyes from the Center Director's probing stare, which felt like he knew everything.
"...Yes."
"I see."
The Center Director nodded and asked no more.
"You said your body's fine now."
"Yes, it is."
"Then you can take the test. It's nothing major. All A-grade Helpers do it, and since you jumped straight to A-grade, you just need to catch up."
Cha Su-ho flinched at the word "test," but relaxed at the explanation.
"Understood."
"My secretary will explain the details once you're out."
The seated Center Director rose. Cha Su-ho stood as well.
"Yes, thank you."
"Looking forward to working with you, Cha Su-ho Helper."
"Likewise."
As Cha Su-ho bowed and turned to leave, the Center Director called him back.
"I almost forgot to mention—they did a hypnosis exam to recover Kim Hak-jun and Tao Hunters' memories. And,"
The Center Director smiled oddly.
"Tao Hunter said something strange."
"...What did he say......"
"That he saw the late Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter."
Seeing Cha Su-ho's face stiffen, the Center Director delivered his final words.
"Ridiculous, right? You're free to go."
Cha Su-ho left the Center Director's office with a heavy, uneasy feeling. The man's cryptic words, as if he knew everything, churned in his mind.
"You're out?"
Cha Su-ho nodded to Seo Yo-seop, who asked. He pressed a trembling hand to his throat, feeling his pulse throb. Pretending to be calm, he asked,
"I heard I need to take a test."
"Ah, yes. To put it simply, it's a three-night, four-day evaluation of an A-grade Helper's aptitude and limits."
"Three nights and four days?"
"Yes. Even among the same grade, Hunters and Helpers have slightly different innate abilities. No way around it if we want a proper check."
Like how Hunters divided into mental types using telekinesis or mind control and physical types using combat or swordsmanship, Helpers split into two as well. They all had the Clean ability in common, but there were healing-type Helpers with stronger Cleansing and recovery powers, and support-type Helpers with abilities aiding Hunters in battle.
As an F-grade, his powers were too weak for classification, so now at A-grade, he was curious what it'd show—but Cha Su-ho didn't seem to care.
"Understood."
Everyone took the test; he'd just do it. Right now, the Center Director's suspicious attitude mattered more.
"I've passed the details to your secretary. He'll explain everything."
"Yes, thank you."
"See you on test day, then."
Cha Su-ho gave a light bow to the politely greeting Seo Yo-seop and left the office.
'Should've burned them without leaving traces.'
Jin Seong-hyeok clicked his tongue.
'Didn't expect hypnosis exams, though.'
'Jin Seong-hyeok... we haven't been found out, right? The Center Director seemed suspicious, and Tao Hunter said he saw you.'
'No way. I'm in your consciousness. No physical form.'
Jin Seong-hyeok was dead. Unless Cha Su-ho spilled it, no one would know his power and consciousness had taken root in Cha Su-ho's subconscious—and even if they did, it'd be hard to believe.
'Don't worry. Just do your thing.'
'...Still!'
"Cha Su-ho Helper."
Min Gi-uk, waiting with papers in hand, continued.
"I heard you're taking the Helper test."
"Ah, yes. The Center Director told me to."
"Usually it's two nights and three days, but yours is one extra."
"What does the test mainly involve?"
"First day checks Clean limits. Next days are on-site Clean tests. Ends with a personal body check."
Min Gi-uk's hand paused while flipping papers. Done confirming, he looked up.
"Test is the day after tomorrow. Is that okay? We can postpone."
"It's fine. No issue."
"Got it. Locked in for the day after tomorrow. Rest in your room today to manage your condition. Message me your dinner menu; I'll prepare it."
"Thank you."
"I'll escort you to your room."
Cha Su-ho said he could go alone, but Min Gi-uk insisted on walking him to the A-grade Helper lounge door before leaving.
Passing the empty A-grade Helper lounge, Cha Su-ho returned to his room and flopped onto the bed.
"Jin Seong-hyeok."
He called out softly.
'What.'
"Should I just tell them?"
'Tell what.'
"...That you're in my consciousness."
Silence filled his mind for a moment. The long-quiet Jin Seong-hyeok spoke firmly.
'No.'
Absolute strength, isolation, pressure, doubt—he'd chosen suicide to end it all. He hadn't wanted to settle in Cha Su-ho's subconscious.
But Jin Seong-hyeok figured his mind would fade eventually, and until then, staying in Cha Su-ho's felt fine.
No one idolizing him, no burdensome duty or pressure.
But announcing his existence would drag that misery back.
'The moment you do, you'll be a hamster on a wheel for life.'
His sunken voice was menacing.
'Or a lab rat. Actually, lab rat fits better. They'd rip me out of your head somehow.'
Every word bristled with barbs.
'They'd dig up my corpse too.'
Cha Su-ho clamped his mouth shut at Jin Seong-hyeok's words, then spoke.
"Sorry. I wasn't thinking straight."
Jin Seong-hyeok hadn't chosen this. It was unwanted. He'd wanted peace, and Cha Su-ho had disrupted it unintentionally.
"I was thinking of confessing before we got caught. Sorry for making you uncomfortable."
After a long silence following Cha Su-ho's polite apology, Jin Seong-hyeok replied.
'Can't blame you for being anxious. The Center Director's words were off.'
He continued casually.
'Don't worry. Clear your head and focus on what you want to do.'
"...Understood."
Jin Seong-hyeok gave a short tongue-click at Cha Su-ho's dejected tone.
'Forgot about the A-grade Helper test? Too busy worrying about me.'
Cha Su-ho let out a short gasp, as if it'd slipped his mind.
"That......! It won't be hard, right?"
'Not a Helper, so no clue.'
"Not the time for this. I need to study!"
Cha Su-ho bolted up from the bed and headed to the desk, opening the Helper manual from training.
Jin Seong-hyeok almost said something—that it wasn't that test. But he held back.
Considering it punishment for scratching at his nerves.