Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: A-grade Helper (4)
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"All of us?!"
Won Tae-il asked in surprise, and the Center Director replied calmly.
"Yes. We're severely short on manpower, so there's no choice. In the past, Jin Seong-hyeok could've handled it alone... but without him now, the entire Center 1 has to pull together."
Jin Seong-hyeok's absence was huge. Not just Center 1—all seven branches were desperately feeling the void he left behind.
Unlike before, when he'd cleared everything from Evil Zones to Dead Zones and even Last Zones—home to boss-grade mutated monsters—they were now struggling just to sweep a single Evil Zone.
'Jin Seong-hyeok... just how...'
Cha Su-ho was about to ask how incredible he'd been when Jin cut him off with a click of his tongue.
'Pathetic. Even with the whole Center 1 mobilized, they couldn't clear an Evil Zone.'
'...You cleared an Evil Zone all by yourself...'
'One day was all it took.'
Clearing an Evil Zone single-handedly in just one day. Su-ho wasn't shocked anymore. It was just something Jin Seong-hyeok could do.
"Tomorrow at 2 p.m., everyone from Center 1 will rendezvous in Sector R-1 of the Evil Zone. Just head to the Teleport Zone on time."
It was tomorrow afternoon. The day they'd purge the boss-grade mutated monsters in the Evil Zone alongside the A-grade Helpers and SS-grade Hunters.
Everyone looked tense, but not Su-ho. His chest pounded with excitement. He could head to the Evil Zone right now if he wanted.
'Why does he love the field so much?'
Jin Seong-hyeok was puzzled too. Why was Su-ho so dead set on going to the field?
Helpers lacked the power to protect themselves from monsters. They had to stake their lives solely on the Hunters.
Glory went to the Hunters fighting monsters head-on, while Helpers were seen as mere support.
'There's no special gain in it for you.'
Gain. Su-ho gave a wry smile at the word.
'It's not about gain, Clean.'
Su-ho didn't know why he was so blindly drawn to the field either.
Maybe it stemmed from being F-grade, scorned and never allowed on-site. But that wasn't the whole story.
Imagining himself among the Hunters battling monsters on the field made his heart surge.
'Jin Seong-hyeok.'
'What.'
'Does your heart ever pound fiercely, overflowing with thrill?'
Was it from his daily grind of mechanically slaughtering monsters like a hamster on a wheel? Jin couldn't recall the last time he'd felt excitement or that thrilling rush. It felt ancient history.
'Who knows.'
Su-ho pressed on at the skeptical reply.
'The only time my heart overflows like that is on the field.'
It made no sense. His heart overflowing on the field?
'It feels like that's why I exist—to go to the field.'
There were no words for the joy of going from an unwanted, unnecessary existence to being needed somewhere.
All he could say was that he'd found his sense of worth.
That's why he was obsessed with the field. To feel that worth, Su-ho had to go.
'Not for honor or gain. For my own worth. That's why I go to the field.'
Jin Seong-hyeok fell silent at Su-ho's words. It felt like a hard smack to the head.
Sense of worth. Jin had never needed to strive for that. The opposite of Su-ho. His innate overwhelming power shone without effort.
Just wielding it effortlessly brought honor, wealth, and power trailing behind.
Before long, things that sparked his interest dwindled one by one. He stopped feeling like or dislike for anything.
Not even the thrill, refreshment, or relief from killing monsters on the field.
He felt like a true emotionless machine.
Unlike him, Su-ho had lived a life of striving without reward. Despair in a reality unchanged no matter how much he wanted or tried.
'Thinking about it...'
Every time he watched Su-ho grow with his power, Jin felt something odd.
And the first time trying to revert An Ji-young's rampage alongside Su-ho, his heart raced after so long.
Jin let out a small chuckle.
'Guess there are times it pounds.'
Su-ho's eyes widened for a moment.
"When...?! Ah."
Not an idiot. He'd blurted it out loud in shock, drawing everyone's gaze.
"When? What do you mean?"
The Center Director asked, puzzled.
"Oh, uh, since we're meeting at 2 in the Evil Zone, I was wondering when to head to the Teleport Zone..."
Su-ho fumbled awkwardly, his mind filled with Jin's laughter.
"Leave 10 minutes early! We'll go together, so no worries!"
Won Tae-il spoke up instead, patting Su-ho's shoulder.
'How many times have I said not to say it out loud? Didn't know your head was that thick.'
'...This is all because of you, Jin Seong-hyeok.'
'Sure. Always excuses.'
Su-ho wanted to shout right then.
The meeting wrapped up quickly. Before leaving, the Center Director reminded them to rest for tomorrow's purge.
As soon as he was gone, Eun-woo whisked Airin away. Tae-il and Kwon O acted like it was nothing unusual.
"Let's head out too!"
Tae-il beckoned Su-ho. Kwon O was already at his side.
Su-ho walked side by side with Kwon O and Tae-il toward the A-grade Helper lounge.
"Like the Director said, rest up today. Field tomorrow—we might be out for days. Kwon O hyung, how long were you gone?"
"Me? A week."
"Guess we'll be out a week too?!"
"Longer."
Kwon O added quietly.
"We gave up midway and came back."
"That many monsters?"
Kwon O's face darkened at Tae-il's question. He lowered his eyes like reliving it and spoke heavily.
"Tons of boss-grade ones. Plenty of main bodies, but even more proliferated monsters... Too many to handle."
"...Makes you really miss Jin Seong-hyeok right now."
Kwon O nodded in agreement. They probably had no idea.
That Jin Seong-hyeok inside Su-ho's mind was hearing it all.
'Don't miss me—figure it out yourselves.'
'Blame it on how amazing you are.'
'I know. I am.'
Arrogant, but true, so Su-ho shut his mouth in agreement.
"Can I call you Su-ho?"
"Sure, whatever's comfortable. Same age as Tae-il, so Su-ho works."
Kwon O nodded.
"Su-ho it is. Sorry I didn't greet you properly earlier."
Scratching his head sheepishly, Kwon O looked nothing like his first impression. Big guy, but friendly and kind—like a giant puppy.
"I'm out on the field a lot, so I'm rarely in the lounge. Airin's always with Eun-woo too, so get comfy with Tae-il."
"Thanks for looking out."
"No big deal. Tae-il was lonely—glad he has a friend now."
Tae-il chimed in.
"You bet! We'll game together, eat together, work out together. Right?"
Su-ho couldn't say no to those sparkling eyes.
"If I'm not busy."
"Awesome! Game when we get back?!"
Kwon O stepped in like a savior.
"Evil Zone purge tomorrow—rest early, recharge stamina. Director said so."
"Ugh, fine."
Su-ho and Kwon O chuckled softly at Tae-il's deflated slump as they headed to the lounge.
As always, the alarm blared from the watch on Su-ho's wrist. He bolted up reflexively and grabbed the Helper suit hanging by the closet.
In the suit, staring into the mirror, Su-ho's face was resolute.
Everyone would be there. Center 1's SS-grade Hunters and A-grade Helpers.
Thrilling for Su-ho. Meeting new Helpers and Hunters, hitting the field—with colleagues now, too.
Things unimaginable just months ago now felt routine, hyping him up even more.
Jin Seong-hyeok, who'd been quiet as Su-ho lingered before the mirror, finally spoke.
'Think An Ji-young will notice you like that?'
'Reading my mind again?'
'Let's not call it reading. It's blatant. What was it—'An Ji-young Hunter's coming, right? Maybe talk more this time'?'
Jin's teasing voice brimmed with mischief.
'...Come on! Can't you pretend not to hear?'
'Your antics are hilarious.'
Jin added that Su-ho thinking of Ji-young was cute.
'Need help, just say.'
'Then, please in advance for today.'
'Now it's casual requests?'
'You're the one who just said ask anytime.'
'Sassing back now?'
'That covers the mind-reading.'
Su-ho grinned and flung open the door.
Time for the field.