Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: A-grade Helper (1)
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With An Ji-young's arrival, the field test came to an abrupt end. Min Gi-uk was waiting to greet Cha Su-ho as he returned to the Center with the examiners.
"You've worked hard."
Min Gi-uk handed him a tumbler filled with a recovery drink. As Cha Su-ho took it, he asked,
"Does that mean all the A-grade Helper tests are done now?"
"Yes. You'll probably get the results on your unique ability, Clean efficiency, and limits tomorrow."
Tomorrow already? That was fast. Once the A-grade Helper test results came out, he'd likely be assigned a dedicated Hunter soon. Hoping against hope that it wouldn't be someone like Kim Hak-jun or Tao this time, Cha Su-ho asked,
"When do dedicated Hunters get assigned?"
"I'm not sure. You might get one, or you might not. Unlike regular Helpers, A-grade Helpers are assigned by the Association and the government."
Min Gi-uk paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"If an SS-grade or higher Hunter requests it, they can get a dedicated Helper. Out of all the A-grade Helpers currently at the Center, only one has a dedicated position."
There was a chance he might not get a dedicated Hunter at all. Even as an A-grade Helper, there were only four in Center 1, including Cha Su-ho. And there were exactly two SS-grade or higher Hunters.
'Wait... Two SS-grades, and one already has a dedicated Helper...'
The remaining SS-grade was An Ji-young. Cha Su-ho's eyes sparkled for a moment.
'An Ji-young as a dedicated Helper? Too bad. She doesn't need one.'
'...Who said anything? I just thought it, that's all. Just a thought!'
Cha Su-ho's steps halted in front of the A-grade Helper lounge as Jin Seong-hyeok's low chuckle echoed in his mind. Min Gi-uk turned to face him at the door and gave a light bow.
"Then, please rest easy until the results come out."
"Thank you. Oh, um..."
Cha Su-ho smiled awkwardly.
"Could you bring some food?"
"Of course. Just tell me what you'd like, and I'll have it prepared and sent over."
"Thank you!"
Cha Su-ho watched Min Gi-uk's retreating figure as he headed back the way he'd come, then turned toward the lounge door.
'First, a shower, then change into comfy clothes, eat while watching TV, play some games...'
A smile spread across his face at the mere thought as he disabled the lounge's security system.
The moment he pushed open the massive steel door, the blaring beat of rap music hit him.
-Burn! Burn it all down! Burn!
The A-grade Helper lounge, usually so quiet it was almost tomb-like, was a total mess. A mirror ball spun in the common living room—who knew when it had been installed—and the table was littered with snack crumbs and crumpled bags from someone's munching.
As Cha Su-ho slowly scanned the room, his eyes caught a flash of red hair.
With triple security locks, the only ones who could enter the A-grade Helper lounge were A-grade Helpers. So the guy lounging on the sofa had to be one of them.
It would be polite to introduce himself since he'd arrived late. Worried that the other A-grade Helpers might shun him like before, Cha Su-ho hesitated just as he was about to step forward.
"Huh?!"
His eyes met the bright, sparkling gaze of the red-haired man. A boyish grin spread across the young man's face.
"You're that rumored Helper? The new one?!"
The man pointed dramatically at Cha Su-ho. Cha Su-ho wasn't sure what the rumors were about, but he was indeed the new guy, so he nodded.
"Yes. I'm Cha Su-ho, the newest A-grade Helper."
"Whoa, for real?! Nice to meet you! I'm Won Tae-il. Just call me Tae-il. How old are you? You look young."
"I'm 22..."
"22?! Same age as me! Friends, so I'll drop the formalities. That cool?!"
In an instant, Tae-il switched to casual speech and sidled up to throw an arm around Cha Su-ho's shoulders.
"Eirin noona's too scared of Eun-woo hyung to even talk to him, and Kwon-oh hyung's so quiet it's boring! Thank god you're here. Su-ho, right? I heard—went from F-grade to A-grade. Oh, you like games?"
Tae-il rattled on without pause. The tension melted away, but Cha Su-ho's eardrums were practically bleeding.
'...Shut him up.'
Jin Seong-hyeok finally snapped, unable to take it.
'Or knock him out.'
'...Guess he was lonely.'
'One more time and your brain'll explode.'
"Back from a field trip? I just got back from a meeting at Branch 1 too..."
Cha Su-ho let out a small chuckle at the overlapping voices of Jin Seong-hyeok and Tae-il.
Just a few months ago, he'd never imagined this—having colleagues, friends. Suddenly, fear gripped him. What if Tae-il was only being nice because he didn't know about the F-grade past?
"Tae-il, right?"
"Yeah! Got questions? Ask me anything."
"I used to be F-grade... Doesn't that bother you?"
Everyone had mocked him as trash. Tae-il would surely look down on him once he knew. After all, Tae-il had started as A-grade, not even B or C.
Tae-il blinked at him.
"Bother me how?"
"I mean, I was F-grade and suddenly A-grade... Kinda suspicious, right?"
"Suspicious? Nah, you're awesome! From F to A? I heard it's the first time ever. You're badass."
Tae-il showed no hesitation. Cha Su-ho's F-grade history didn't faze him at all. If anything, he praised him.
"Ask me anything. We're friends."
Friends. The word made his heart flutter unexpectedly. Cha Su-ho gave an embarrassed smile to the beaming Tae-il.
"Yeah. Looking forward to hanging out."
At that moment, Trevor and the examiners were gathered in the examiners' office. Trevor's expression darkened as he read the report in his hand.
"We've reported to the Center Director that Team Leader Kang Hong-seok lured the monster and endangered his colleagues."
Trevor nodded slightly as he skimmed the documents.
Jealousy was one thing, but luring a monster? It was all captured on video—the team leader drawing the boss-grade monster, even provoking it to enrage it further.
Under interrogation, Kang had admitted it stemmed from inferiority toward Cha Su-ho. As a result, he was stripped of his team leader position and temporarily confined to Center 1's protective cell until disciplinary action was decided.
"Then, leave Team Leader Kang's discipline to the Center Director."
Trevor's gaze lingered on the name 'Cha Su-ho' in the documents.
They'd all watched the field Clean on video. Yet the mystery remained. His Clean seemed no different from any other Helper's—so where did that power come from?
It boasted top efficiency with every Hunter and wrapped up in just ten minutes. Astonishing.
"Um... Chief Examiner."
Trevor slowly looked up from his thoughts at the voice calling him.
"Yes."
"About Cha Su-ho the Helper. We checked his limits, and..."
"And?"
"Unmeasurable."
"Unmeasurable?"
"...Yes. And that's not all. We checked his compatibility with every Hunter he's Cleansed so far. All 99%."
Insane results. He'd suspected as much after seeing 99% with Kim Hak-jun and Tao, but 99% with every Hunter? And unmeasurable limits to boot...
Trevor's eyes narrowed meaningfully behind his glasses.
Then—BAM! The conference room door flew open.
"What the hell, Trevor? Took me forever to find you. Here you are."
The examiners' gazes dropped to the floor at An Ji-young's entrance. Last time, after learning they'd restrained her during the rampage incident, she'd trashed the entire examination room.
Unlike the bowed examiners, Trevor alone met her eyes squarely.
"We're in a meeting."
Ignoring him, An Ji-young pulled out a chair and sat.
"Meeting's not important. I am."
Realizing words were pointless with her, Trevor asked resignedly,
"How's your condition?"
"My condition? Worst. You saw—my power's weakened."
"I know."
The exam footage had captured her perfectly, including her tirade against Trevor.
"You know? And you're just chill about it?"
The examiners swallowed dryly at her icy tone, fearing fallout.
"We're investigating the cause. Could be rampage aftermath. It's not gone entirely—just reduced—so full recovery might bring it back."
"Full recovery?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Trevor sighed shortly at her blunt question. With her here, the meeting was hopeless. He turned to the examiners.
"Let's end the meeting here. An Ji-young Hunter, please stay. I'll explain."
The examiners bolted from their seats at his words. Once alone with Trevor, An Ji-young spoke up.
"That Cha Su-ho Helper."
"Yes."
"Fun kid. Kinda cute."
She swung her crossed leg as she said it.
"But he knows Jin Seong-hyeok?"
"Yes. He was with Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter when he died."
"What? The Helper there when Jin Seong-hyeok died was Cha Su-ho?!"
"Yes."
"No wonder... He mentioned Jin Seong-hyeok."
Trevor's eyes narrowed at her mumble.
"He talked about Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter?"
"Yeah."
Her gaze drifted to the ceiling as if recalling.
"He even knew I can control monsters. Said Jin Seong-hyeok told him."
Not just knew her, but her ability too? Trevor rested his elbows on the table, interlocking his fingers with a grave expression.
This was odd. Cha Su-ho and Jin Seong-hyeok had no connection. As an F-grade, Cha Su-ho had never been to the field, and Jin Seong-hyeok was a globe-trotter, rarely seen even in Korea.
"An Ji-young Hunter."
"Yeah?"
"Does Jin Seong-hyeok strike you as the type to spill secrets on a first meeting?"
She snorted, face screaming what kind of question is that?
"You asking 'cause you don't know him?"
"No. I'm asking precisely because I do."
Jin Seong-hyeok was aloof, almost nihilistic. Him telling a first-time acquaintance about An Ji-young and her powers? Impossible.
"Doesn't add up."
Trevor's gaze turned cold toward the floor.
He needed to investigate. What exactly connected Cha Su-ho and Jin Seong-hyeok?