Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A-grade Helper (2)
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Listening to Tae-il's endless chatter, Su-ho suddenly remembered he still hadn't washed up. He looked down at his helper suit, caked in monster blood and dirt, and stood up as if he couldn't take it anymore.
"I need to go wash up."
At his words, Tae-il, who had been talking nonstop, made an apologetic face.
"Sorry. I talk too much, don't I? It's my first time having a friend my age, so I got a bit excited. Cut me some slack."
Tae-il's dejected expression, with his shoulders slumped, made him look just like a puppy soaked in the rain.
*That kid.*
Su-ho jumped at Jin Seong-hyeok's words. Though Tae-il couldn't hear them, Su-ho shot back at Jin as if to say, *What if he had?*
*Kid...? Isn't that a bit too harsh?*
*What else do you call a kid?*
Jin Seong-hyeok clicked his tongue lightly.
Hunters and Helpers of higher ranks became increasingly cut off from the world. Whether they wanted it or not, they had to live under constant surveillance in luxurious prisons disguised as protection.
A-grade Helpers and S-grade Hunters or above awakened earlier than most, so Tae-il had probably been separated from his family and raised in the Center right after being rated A-grade.
In a world of total isolation, not only had he met a peer, but one of the same rank. It was no wonder Tae-il was so thrilled to see Su-ho. Jin found the sight both pitiful and foolish. *How lonely must he have been?*
Just as Jin was about to say something...
"Wanna grab dinner later?"
A short exclamation escaped Tae-il's lips at Su-ho's words.
"Together?"
"If you're cool with it."
"Of course I am! You're a real stand-up guy! What do you want? I'll have my secretary order it."
"Meat's fine."
"Meat? Got it! Park Secretary? Yes, yes—prep some food, please. Meat."
Su-ho slipped toward his room while watching Tae-il call his secretary.
*Finally, some quiet.*
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Su-ho stripped off his helper suit and headed to the bathroom. He wanted to soak in the tub, but thinking of Tae-il waiting, he opted for a quick shower instead.
Still, it was a relief. He'd worried about subtle bullying and being ignored like before, but Tae-il's warmth had eased his mind.
*Good for you.*
As if reading Su-ho's thoughts, Jin spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yeah. Your first friend, huh? Oh, but you've got tons, right, Mr. Jin?"
As an SSS-grade, everyone must have wanted to be his friend. He had to have plenty.
*No.*
The response was surprisingly blunt.
*Not a single one.*
"Not a single one?! You, Mr. Jin?"
Su-ho blurted out in shock, and Jin replied curtly.
*Why?*
"No... just surprised."
*Surprised, huh.*
Jin let out a dry chuckle.
*People who approach me fall into two categories. Those envious of my power and status, trying to use me—or those too scared or reverent to get close. The latter outnumbered the former, though.*
People fanatically admired and idolized Jin Seong-hyeok, but fear lurked in their hearts.
He could slaughter terrifying monsters with a flick of his wrist—what if he turned that on them? They shrank back preemptively.
Because of that, no one saw Jin as just another person. Well, except one. Ji-young, who had tried to use him as a pack mule.
*Absolute strength is perfect for isolation.*
His dry words carried a bitter edge.
*That kid's probably the same.*
*Kid?* Su-ho let out a soft realization.
*Being an A-grade Helper says it all.*
Now it made sense why Tae-il kept calling him "friend" and chattering away.
"I haven't felt that kind of isolation from absolute strength yet, but other kinds? Yeah, I know them well."
Su-ho could claim his own isolated life. Branded F-grade, he'd endured abuse and humiliation, never even stepping foot on a real site despite begging for it.
"Maybe this is my first real friend."
Su-ho's lips curved up as he stood. He should check on Tae-il, who might be waiting.
The door had barely opened when Tae-il's voice rang out, as if he'd been right there.
"Cha Su-ho! Let's eat!"
The casual use of his name felt like they'd been friends for a decade.
"Hurry! The steak gets gross if it cools."
Unable to resist Tae-il's urging, Su-ho quickened his pace. Standing before Tae-il, he gaped at the lavish spread covering the table.
"...We have to eat... all this?"
"If you're gonna be a man, you gotta handle this much. You said meat, right? I ordered it all—dig in!"
Tae-il proudly shoved a plate at him, and Su-ho took it with a dazed look before eyeing the feast again.
Perfectly grilled whole pig and steaks, sweet marinated ribs and smoky lamb skewers, crispy fried chicken and smoked duck.
No way two people could finish it. Maybe ten.
*Man or pig, no one's eating all that.*
Jin's perfectly timed quip nearly made Su-ho burst out laughing, but he held it in.
No messing up with his first friend.
"Thanks."
Tae-il paused at Su-ho's words, then grinned like a kid.
"What are friends for! Just say the word! Our Park Secretary's a foodie expert!"
With his red-dyed hair, eyebrow and ear piercings, Tae-il looked plenty delinquent at first glance. But the more they talked, the more Su-ho realized his looks clashed with his personality. Considerate, optimistic, pure. Knowing that eased Su-ho's heart.
Time flew as they chatted, until a lull fell.
"Got a question."
Feeling comfortable now, Su-ho pulled out his curiosities one by one.
First, the other A-grade Helpers.
"Besides us, there are two more A-grade Helpers, right? What's their deal?"
"Oh, yeah. Airin noona and Kwon-oh hyung."
The "noona" and "hyung" suggested they were older than Su-ho.
"Airin noona's super kind, a healing-type Helper, and her Clean skill is top-tier. Problem is, her boyfriend's Eun-woo hyung."
"Eun-woo...?"
"You don't know SS-grade Lee Eun-woo?"
The other SS-grade besides Ji-young.
"Anyway, you won't see Airin noona much. She lives with Eun-woo hyung, and he's crazy jealous—won't let her talk to guys."
Tae-il shook his head vigorously, like he'd learned the hard way.
"The other one's Kwon-oh hyung, surname Yoo—Yoo Kwon-oh. His Clean's about my level, but as a support-type Helper, his physical abilities match Hunters'."
"Match Hunters'?"
"Yeah. Family's been into martial arts for generations, I think? He's done taekwondo, aikido, jiu-jitsu, boxing... you name it since he was a kid."
A quiet gasp escaped Su-ho.
"Heard he even killed monsters mid-Clean once? Awesome, right?! That's why S- and SS-grades on rough sites love him. Oh, you heard? SSS-grade Jin Seong-hyeok Hunter! Kwon-oh hyung was his exclusive Helper once!"
"Mr. Jin's?"
"Yep! Told you he's badass."
Su-ho eyed Tae-il's proud face—like it was his own achievement—and asked inwardly.
*Ring any bells?*
*Nah. I remember the Helper who worked out nonstop during breaks.*
*The workout one? So... that's Yoo Kwon-oh?*
*Doesn't ring a bell. Four different Helpers rotated Cleans—I didn't bother memorizing names.*
Jin had mentioned it before. Even his "exclusives" changed often. Kwon-oh was one of them.
"Anyway, Kwon-oh hyung's impressive, but... quiet. Barely talks. Always working out—even on breaks. Asked why he doesn't rest, and he says working out *is* his rest..."
Still, a relief. From Tae-il's words, all A-grade Helpers seemed decent. Su-ho relaxed.
"Oh yeah! I have a question too!"
Tae-il's eyes sparkled as he leaned in.
"Kim Hak-jun and Tao—those trash Hunters! True they went out with you and lost their minds?"
The rumor had already spread among Helpers.
"That... uh..."
How to explain? Before Su-ho could think, Tae-il spoke first.
"Those bastards deserved it! They initiation-hazed me too—tore my arm open."
Tae-il rolled up his sleeve, showing his forearm.
"See? Surgery and steady treatment, but the scar's huge."
A long horizontal gash above the elbow, stitched and scarred badly. Su-ho's brow furrowed at the sight.
How arrogant must an S-grade Hunter be to do this to a person? Rage boiled up again.
"They should've suffered more."
Tae-il laughed at Su-ho's mutter.
"No memories, no abilities left? For them, that's the worst punishment. People with privileges feel that loss more than anything. That's why the rich and famous cling so hard."
Su-ho had pegged Tae-il as just cheerful and naive, but he had a serious side too. Su-ho nodded in agreement.
"So what happened? Why'd those two lose everything, but you're fine?"
As Su-ho pondered repeating his Center Director story, an alert chimed from his watch.
Tae-il's watch beeped too. They exchanged puzzled looks, then checked their messages.
"What is it?"
"Message from my secretary."
"Mine too."
Clear text glowed on both screens.