Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The End of Incompetence (4)
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Three months had passed since Won Tae-il's death. Trevor, who had said he would discuss Su-ho's rampage later, had said nothing, and the Center 1 Director was the same.
The SS-grade Hunters An Ji-young and Eun-woo, along with the A-grade Helpers A-rin and Kwon O—everyone except Su-ho—were hard to spot these days, as they pushed beyond the Evil Zone into the Dead Zone.
Left alone in the meantime, Su-ho threw himself into exercise like a madman, just as he had promised Jin Seong-hyeok. Different trainers stayed by his side every hour. Not content with just building stamina, he threw himself into boxing, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu—whatever training came his way.
At first, he desperately wanted to quit. But every time that urge hit, he gritted his teeth, thinking of Jin Seong-hyeok's harsh words and Won Tae-il, and pushed through.
Before long, it started feeling manageable. Now, it had become second nature. Every day began and ended with workouts.
He had no thoughts beyond building his stamina and physique. He didn't touch the fried chicken or pork stir-fry he used to love. Instead, he stuffed himself with tough chicken breast and the Hunter-exclusive protein drinks provided by the Center, piling on muscle.
They seemed laced with some kind of drug, being Center-made, but he didn't care. As long as they built his strength and stamina.
Effort never betrays, they say. In just three months, Su-ho's transformed body was astonishing. He even seemed taller, his shoulders at least twice as broad as before. His once-soft thighs and belly had hardened like rock.
"Hoo."
Su-ho finished 300 push-ups and rose effortlessly, showing no sign of fatigue. Kwon O, whom he hadn't seen in about a month and who had joined him for the workout, marveled.
"Su-ho, you're not some kind of natural, are you?"
"Pardon?"
"We're different from Civilians, sure... but damn, your body seems built for this. I've never seen anyone grow like this in such a short time."
At first, Su-ho could barely hit 100 push-ups through sheer misery. Now, 300 was just his warm-up.
"I've still got a long way to go to catch up to you, Kwon O-hyung."
As Su-ho prepared for sit-ups, Kwon O clicked his tongue in amazement.
'Catching up to me? That's a ways off.'
Jin Seong-hyeok's words came to mind, and Su-ho replied as if he'd expected it.
'I wondered why you hadn't said anything.'
'Fifty per minute. Aim for 500 in the next ten minutes.'
500 push-ups in ten minutes. Even without breaks, it was absurd. He would've called it impossible before, but not now.
'How many can you do, Mr. Jin?'
'Push-ups?'
'Yes.'
'One per second—600 in ten minutes, I think.'
'No breaks... really?'
'Yeah.'
It didn't even surprise him anymore. All he thought was that he had to reach that level too.
'Then I'll do one per second as well.'
Su-ho immediately started his sit-ups. After light running and jumping rope to warm up, then jiu-jitsu, his morning routine would be done.
Su-ho gritted his teeth. He might never match Jin Seong-hyeok, but he had to get close. For Won Tae-il's death and his own resolve not to be in vain.
After burning himself out through the morning workout, Su-ho returned to the Helper room to find the ideal meal Jin Seong-hyeok had described laid out on the table.
'Hmm, salmon today.'
Salmon, chicken breast, broccoli, and a Hunter-exclusive protein drink. As Su-ho casually popped some chicken breast into his mouth, Jin Seong-hyeok spoke up.
'Afternoon workout's boxing and judo, right?'
'Yes, that's right.'
'You can ease up now.'
"...What!?"
Jin Seong-hyeok telling him to stop? Su-ho was so shocked he dropped the chicken breast from his mouth.
'Pathetic.'
"N-No! What did you just say? Stop exercising?!"
'Yeah. Cycle through boxing, judo, and jiu-jitsu as warm-ups from now on. Time to prep for the real thing.'
'The real thing...?'
Jin Seong-hyeok let out a chuckle.
'So you can use your power in the field.'
The field? His heart raced at the word.
'So, we're going to the field?'
'Yeah. Your base stamina's solid enough—maintain it from here. Now build control over your power.'
All Su-ho could do right now was make an electric orb in his palm. He hadn't even practiced properly, sneaking it in his room. Reading his thoughts, Jin Seong-hyeok continued.
'Practice here and you'd blow up the Helper room. Best way to learn is fighting for real.'
Jin Seong-hyeok's tone buzzed with excitement.
'Hunt down some monsters.'
To find monsters, he'd need to go to the field—and that meant teleportation. Which was the problem. Teleports only worked for approved zones.
'Then we need to ask the Center Director...'
'No.'
No? So, sneak a teleport?
Jin Seong-hyeok called out to the baffled Su-ho.
'Cha Su-ho.'
'Yes?'
'Want me to show you something cool?'
Nothing could intrigue him more than Jin Seong-hyeok offering to show something amazing.
'What is it?!'
'First, let's switch.'
At the request to switch bodies, Su-ho obediently closed his eyes. His consciousness sank deep, and his mind followed.
"Hoo."
When he opened his eyes with a small exhale, Jin Seong-hyeok had taken over Su-ho's body.
Jin Seong-hyeok inspected the body, clenching and unclenching fists, lifting legs, testing movements.
It was markedly different from the last time he'd possessed it. Not quite his old body's level, but good enough for half his techniques.
'Cha Su-ho.'
Su-ho tensed at the low voice and responded.
'Yes?'
'Your workouts paid off. Easy enough to control the strength now.'
'Really?!'
'Yeah.'
His grueling efforts validated, Su-ho's chest swelled with emotion.
'You know how hard I trained...! Mr. Jin? What are you doing?'
He locked the door, then headed to the bathroom and locked that too.
'Just watch.'
Jin Seong-hyeok began filling the tub in the corner.
'...Planning a half-body bath?'
Jin Seong-hyeok tsked at the ridiculous question.
'You think I'd waste time on that?'
'No, but why fill the tub all of a sudden...'
'Said I'd show you something cool.'
'Oh...!'
But what cool thing could you do with a full tub?
Lost in thought, Su-ho suddenly piped up.
'Ah! Mr. Jin! You're filling it with water in case the Flame Chains set something on fire, right?!'
Jin Seong-hyeok sighed deeply at Su-ho's guess.
'Just watch quietly.'
He filled the tub to the brim, then shut off the faucet. He tapped the surface with a finger and began tracing slow circles.
The water swirled like a vortex. No—it really was vortexing.
Even after he pulled his hand away, the spot he'd tapped kept spinning. Black aura seeped from between the rippling waves. The clear water gradually darkened—not like ink, but an eerie black hole shade, mysterious and sucking in light.
"Cha Su-ho."
Jin Seong-hyeok, staring into the tub, continued.
"Time to head to the field."
The field? Su-ho nearly asked what he meant.
'Told you I'd show you something cool.'
Jin Seong-hyeok grinned and tapped the swirling water.
'Jump in and see.'
With that, he plunged Su-ho's body into the tub.
It was definitely a tub. He wasn't short, and with his workout-built muscles, falling in hadn't crossed his mind.
But it felt like riding a boat, swaying—then he was sucked somewhere. As terror gripped him and he tried to call Jin Seong-hyeok's name,
'Open your eyes.'
Su-ho's tightly shut eyes flew open at the voice. The sight before him made him jolt in shock.
Trees towering to block the sky, grass as tall as he was—a jungle. Yet it carried an eerie chill. This was the field.
"J-Jin Seong-hyeok."
At Su-ho's panicked voice, Jin Seong-hyeok retreated back into his consciousness.
"Evil Zone."
The Evil Zone?
He'd guessed it was a field, but Evil Zone? And without teleportation—had there even been another way?
"There's a way to get to the field without teleporting?!"
'Not officially.'
Jin Seong-hyeok added calmly.
'Surface level, anyway.'
"Surface level?"
'Teleports get annoying for constant trips. Needed a training ground for power control too.'
No way.
'So I made one. Worked like a charm.'
"...You made a gate?"
'Yeah.'
Making a gate to the field? He'd never heard of such a thing. Even the Helper manual stated teleports were the only way.
'No one knows I can make gates. Hell, no one even knows gates to the field exist.'
In other words, keep it secret. Quick on the uptake, Su-ho replied.
"Got it. But... can you open the gate anytime?"
'Needs water. Something to project onto.'
Su-ho murmured, eyeing the dense trees.
"What if there's no water...?"
'Make some.'
Jin Seong-hyeok said it like it was nothing.
'From now on, night training here every day. Most remote spot in the Evil Zone—no chance of getting spotted.'
"Hold on, Mr. Jin. You mean 'practice' as in fighting monsters here for real?"
'Obviously. No worries—boss-grade Mutated Monsters are cleared out; respawn'll take time.'
Jin Seong-hyeok tsked regretfully.
'Small fry left behind, though. Perfect, actually. Tiny and weak—ideal for you right now.'
Small and weak or not, monsters were monsters. And by Jin Seong-hyeok's standards, they'd be stronger than expected.
Still, fear didn't grip him. Excitement did. The thrill of killing monsters with his own hands again.
Just then, the quiet trees rustled. Watching them shake in chain reaction, Su-ho was certain.
Monsters were near.
'Ready?'
Su-ho nodded with a resolute expression at Jin Seong-hyeok's words.
"Ready."