Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Evil Zone Sweep (6)
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The Hunters checked around the campsite once more. Since the area had been solidly guarded by the Centepi, no other monsters were in sight.
By the time the relieved Hunters returned to the campsite, the Helpers were already preparing the meal.
There was nothing to eat but combat rations, snacks, and water anyway. No matter how many flavors they offered, combat rations were still just combat rations.
They were merely food to stave off hunger—nothing more, nothing less.
On top of that, the standard-issue biscuits that came with every kit from the branches or Centers tasted like chewing on a sponge.
Tae-il, who had gathered up all the biscuits everyone else had discarded, approached Su-ho, who was sitting there with his combat rations.
"If you're not gonna eat 'em, hand over those biscuits. I'll whip you up something amazing for dessert."
What the hell is he planning?
Before Su-ho could even ask, Tae-il snatched the biscuits and turned away. He soon returned, holding a disposable plate.
Tae-il proudly thrust the plate toward Su-ho. Urging him to try it, he pushed it closer again, so Su-ho hesitantly picked up one biscuit.
"You made this?"
"Damn right I did. What do you think?"
Fried in oil and tossed in sugar—of course it was delicious.
"When did you pack the oil and sugar?"
"Tae-il's famous for cooking in the field."
Ji-young, who had appeared at Su-ho's side without him noticing, laughed as she continued.
"Gimme some too."
Tae-il quickly offered her the plate. Ji-young picked one up and turned her gaze to Su-ho.
"Hmm, didn't peg you for the type, but you've got some guts."
She had watched it all—him yelling at Sintaro for giving up the Clean because the Putas was filthy, and throwing himself in the way to block the spraying Centepi venom.
"Never met a Helper like you."
Ji-young flashed a bright smile.
"That's high praise."
"Th-thank you."
Across from Su-ho, who blushed in embarrassment, sat the other Hunters and Helpers.
"Eun-woo, people are watching."
"So what?"
Including Eun-woo and Airin plastered together like they were one person, and Kwon-oh silently eating his rations—even Kwon-oh. With everyone from Center 1 gathered, people from Centers 2 and 3 began taking seats one by one.
"Ji-young!"
Kai Qing came running toward Ji-young, while Liu Xian and Xiao Li ignored him as if it were routine and sat down. Mei, who hadn't been seen for a while, was already in the corner, reading a book while eating her rations.
Takahiro, Mino, and Ashang had also taken seats and were eating. The ever-friendly Tae-il was handing out biscuits to the three of them.
It was almost surreal how peaceful the scene was, considering they had been spilling blood in battle just moments ago.
Su-ho's expression grew bittersweet as he watched.
This was exactly what he had always wanted. Back when he was F-grade, he had pored over the Helper manual every evening, imagining himself Cleaning Hunters as they fought monsters in hellish sites.
Anticipating the day he could finally go out into the field, just like in his dreams.
And now, he had become the very Helper he had longed for. An A-grade Helper, Cleaning SS-grade Hunters he never could have dreamed of.
So why did his chest feel so tight, like something was lodged there?
All he had done since arriving at the site was a few Cleans. He had been powerless to do anything but watch the Hunters dance between life and death, his heart in his throat.
Jin Seong-hyeok's words—that a Helper's true duty wasn't healing but Cleaning—only troubled him more.
The man wasn't wrong. Helpers didn't protect or heal people. They were literally Helpers—beings who prevented Hunters from being consumed by their power and going berserk.
He knew that all too well, yet recalling it only made his chest tighten further. In the end, Su-ho set down the biscuit he had been nibbling on, and Tae-il approached with a puzzled look.
"Hey, Cha Su-ho. Biscuits not good?"
"No, they were great."
"Then why are you picking at it with a funeral face?"
Su-ho, who had been staring blankly at the ground with an emotionless expression for a while, finally spoke.
"Tae-il."
Tae-il had been rated A-grade from the start—maybe he understood this frustration.
"Do you... like being a Helper?"
"Like being a Helper? Did you find a hot Helper chick or something?"
Su-ho shook his head at Tae-il, who had completely misunderstood.
"No, I mean you. Are you satisfied with Helper life?"
Tae-il tilted his head as if thinking it over, then opened his mouth.
"Don't really think about it."
He shrugged both shoulders.
"It's fate. Born a Helper, so you live as one. That's just how it is."
Your final grade came later via testing, but whether Helper or Hunter, it was decided from birth.
"Same for Hunters, right?"
Using powers ordinary people couldn't, fulfilling their roles in their places.
"But why ask out of the blue?"
"Just... wondering."
Hunters killed monsters, Helpers Cleaned Hunters.
A question flashed through Su-ho's mind. If Hunters killed monsters and Helpers only Cleaned, then what was he?
Su-ho, who had absorbed Jin Seong-hyeok's power, was no longer just a Cleaner. He could wield Hunter abilities too. He had even killed monsters himself.
That was when the light returned to Su-ho's dead eyes.
"So, have you ever wanted to be a Hunter?"
Tae-il's eyes widened at Su-ho's question.
"Me? A Hunter? Hell no! I don't have the ability."
He had never even considered it—never dreamed it. Hunters needed the power to kill monsters. It wasn't something you could just wish for. Same went for Helpers.
"What if you did?"
"Huh?"
Su-ho slowly raised his eyes and looked at Tae-il.
"If you suddenly got Hunter powers. Say, S-grade or higher."
Tae-il froze, then shook his head.
"No way that'd happen, and even if it did... S-grade means fighting things like that Centepi we saw today. I couldn't. No confidence I'd hold up in a fight."
It was a perfectly normal reaction. How many people wouldn't fear staking their life against monsters?
Hunters probably felt the same.
But Su-ho remembered. The day he first killed a monster with his own hands, and the thrill that coursed through his body.
It was different from the sense of accomplishment and excitement he felt bringing rampaging Hunters back from the brink.
Su-ho stared at his palm. As he watched, a tiny spark popped up from the center.
A small spark. Afraid someone might see, he clenched his fist tight, his gaze drifting into the distance.
Could I kill a monster again? No... probably not.
I'm a Helper, after all.
Just as a sigh nearly escaped his lips, someone stepped in front of him.
The person looking down at Su-ho, who had tilted his head up slightly, was Liu Xian.
"Helpers aren't supposed to directly save anyone—not as Hunter support. You'll end up dead."
Su-ho's eyes wandered at the sudden English, but Ji-young, sitting beside him, translated.
"He says Helpers aren't supposed to rescue people directly. You'll get yourself killed."
"Oh."
Liu Xian's voice came from above Su-ho's drooping head.
"Cha Su-ho, right?"
Su-ho's head snapped up at his name pronounced perfectly.
"Still, that was commendable earlier."
With that, Liu Xian turned to discuss tomorrow's plans with Ji-young. Su-ho stood to give them space, then wandered off toward an empty spot. Tae-il watched him go, then followed.
"Stars are insane here, huh?"
Su-ho looked up at the sky, following Tae-il's gaze as he stood beside him, staring upward.
The stars, hidden by city lights back home, seemed ready to pour down on them. It was ironic—such a beautiful sight in a brutal, monster-filled hell.
Tae-il spoke to Su-ho, who was gazing at the sky.
"I was basically imprisoned from birth 'cause I'm A-grade."
"Imprisoned?"
Su-ho whipped around to stare at him in shock.
"Yeah, all A-grade Helpers are. Don't even know my parents' faces. Raised in a Center right from the start."
A-grade Helpers and SS-grade-plus Hunters were global assets, not national. Under the guise of protection, the Association separated them from their parents at birth and had branches and Centers raise them.
There weren't dedicated parental figures like in an orphanage. They dealt mostly with robed Examiners, occasional psychologists, and developmental specialists.
"Around ten, I think—a counselor came and gave me this one book. Picture book with stars and the moon..."
Tae-il's face was lost in memory.
"At the end, real star photos. First time I saw stars— they were so pretty. Begged the Examiner to let me see them for real. He told me to go to a site. Said there were tons."
Tae-il snorted, still incredulous even now.
"First site trip at fourteen or fifteen, and the Examiner asks if I saw a lot of stars."
Su-ho was floored hearing this. A kid barely fourteen or fifteen, thrown into a monster-infested hell for the first time—no way he'd have the luxury to stargaze.
"Those bastards are insane."
Tae-il nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Everyone thinks that way. The stronger your power, the stronger you must be at everything."
Jin Seong-hyeok had said it once.
Absolute strength was perfect for isolation.
Just because their power was immense—because they were born different—they were forced into certain emotions and thoughts.
Assuming that with great power came strength in all things.
Bitterness crossed Tae-il's face, but it quickly returned to his usual sunny grin.
"But aren't the stars pretty?"
"...Won Tae-il."
"Hey, don't give me that pity look. I'm living better than ever. Got friends now, and life's a blast."
Friends? Su-ho shot him a quizzical glance, and Tae-il furrowed his brow.
"You, dummy. Who else would be my friend?"
He punched Su-ho's shoulder playfully and laughed.
"Ah..."
Friend. The word felt embarrassingly corny, yet it warmed his chest strangely.
It was Su-ho's first time having a friend too.
"Tae-il."
"Yeah?"
He couldn't bring himself to say thanks for being his friend. No way dudes said stuff that sappy.
"Those biscuit snacks... they were good."
Tae-il stared at Su-ho's back as he walked off first. Then, as if reading his mind, he burst out laughing.
"If my cooking's that good, guess I gotta make more. You little punk!"
Su-ho regretted his slip for a moment, seeing Tae-il call him cute like that.