Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Leap (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Su-ho retraced the path he had taken with Derek. And there, in what they called the examination room, he spotted a crowd of people gathered together.
Amid the black-clad security agents and the examiners in their pristine white coats, he saw a group of out-of-place individuals.
It was obvious at a glance. Those odd ones out were Hunters and Helpers from Branch 5.
They had said there were no critical injuries, but the conditions of the Hunters and Helpers right in front of Su-ho looked dire.
The eyes of those who appeared to be Hunters were all uniformly red. And Su-ho knew that state meant they were on the verge of rampaging.
The good news was that Helpers were diligently performing Clean behind them. Every one of them looked exhausted, and some were even bleeding from wounds. Yet the Helpers didn't stop their Cleans.
A woman receiving Clean let out a raspy voice.
"What happened to Eric? Is he really hopeless?!"
In response, a burly man spoke up.
"Damn it, just wait! The rep said he's bringing a Helper who can revert rampaging Hunters!"
Hearing that, Jin Seong-hyeok muttered to himself.
'That guy who reverts rampaging Hunters... isn't that you?'
'Yes. Seems like it.'
As if realizing it was his turn, Su-ho headed toward the Hunters and Helpers.
"Where's the rampaging Hunter?"
Su-ho's Korean words drew everyone's stares.
"That Helper... he's Korean?"
A Black man with grotesquely bulging muscles shot to his feet.
"You're that rumored Helper?!"
"No idea what the rumor is, but yeah, I'm a Helper."
Without earpieces, they wouldn't understand Korean anyway. As if talking here would be a waste of time, Su-ho turned to Derek.
"Where is he?"
Finally snapping to his senses, Derek pointed with a finger.
"Probably over there, in the lab. A rampaging Hunter..."
"Got it."
Su-ho was just turning toward where Derek pointed.
"Hold on, wait."
A man who had been receiving Clean amid the Helpers waddled over to Su-ho. Frowning deeply, he tilted his head back and continued.
"Eric, put the restraints on him and send him to the arena. There's a barrier there anyway, so it won't be dangerous."
Startled by the words, Derek replied.
"Yes?! Even if it's Hunter Clark's orders, how can we with a rampaging Hunter...!"
"I want to see it with my own eyes. How he reverts a rampaging Hunter. You need to witness it too, to report to the rep."
Arms crossed, Clark jerked his chin at Derek.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry and bring him. Unless you want to watch Eric die."
Derek, glancing back and forth between Clark and Su-ho, squeezed his eyes shut and said.
"No! But we should at least hear what Helper Cha Su-ho has to say first..."
An arena? He had to perform Clean in front of everyone?
'Tch, still strutting around like he owns the place.'
Jin Seong-hyeok's tone was laced with edge.
'Jin Seong-hyeok.'
'That guy's the one I told you about.'
Su-ho's gaze fixed on Clark again, as if shaken.
'That... inferiority complex guy?'
'Yeah. Him.'
He should have recognized him from that swaggering walk.
'The one who showed hostility toward you, Jin Seong-hyeok.'
Su-ho's eyes turned icy.
'Can't just stand by.'
Su-ho spoke to Derek, who was watching nervously.
"I'll head to the arena, so bring him there. That Hunter Eric."
Watching Su-ho stroll casually toward the arena, Clark narrowed his eyes.
"Why does this feel so damn irritating?"
A foul sensation rose from his chest. Su-ho's calm stride kept overlapping with someone in his mind.
As if trying to shake off the nagging feeling, Clark crossed his arms and said.
"Let's see what this Helper who supposedly reverts even rampaging Hunters can do."
A chilling silence enveloped the arena. Su-ho simply stood there, hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead.
As Eric was dragged in by security agents wearing restraints, Su-ho asked.
'He's got his eyes covered.'
Unlike Ji-young, Eric wore a black blindfold.
'Covering the eyes is standard. It's one of the few ways to somewhat calm rampaging Hunters who'll kill anything in sight.'
Recalling Trevor sending a bare-eyed, rampaging Ji-young into the Helper test, Su-ho clicked his tongue.
'Trevor was testing you.'
'Testing with people's lives? If they're human...!'
'Examiners don't see Hunters or Helpers as human to begin with.'
'Guess that mindset needs fixing too.'
Of course, right now, reverting the Hunter standing before him was priority.
Staring at Eric, Su-ho asked Jin Seong-hyeok.
'You know this Hunter?'
'Know him? That pervert collects monster corpses.'
'Monster... corpses?'
'Every time he kills one in the Dead Zone, he freezes it on the spot and hauls it off. Watched him once—turns out he stuffs and mounts them at home.'
Weirdos everywhere. Monster taxidermy, of all hobbies.
'Haha... Well, to each their own. Anyway, Jin Seong-hyeok.'
Su-ho's voice dropped in an instant.
'What's that Hunter's ability?'
Straight to the point. Pleased, Jin Seong-hyeok answered.
'Main ability is cryokinesis.'
'Cryokinesis? Making ice? Out of thin air?'
'Yeah. Creates ice without any water. And he uses telekinesis on top—makes him tricky. Not that he's any match for me.'
Su-ho grinned.
'Then he's no match for me either, borrowing your power.'
'Self-esteem shooting through the roof, huh?'
'All thanks to you.'
Su-ho took a step forward. The security agents had already removed Eric's blindfold and retreated from the arena.
No consideration at all. Removing the blindfold and bailing in this situation.
A glass-like barrier shimmered above Su-ho's head as he let out an incredulous sigh. It soon descended, enclosing the arena with Eric and Su-ho inside.
Handing Eric off to him like they were safe behind the barrier.
No point getting mad now. He could grill them after reverting the rampaging Hunter. Su-ho fixed his gaze ahead.
Time to move.
'Alright, let's get started.'
Hands out of his pockets, Su-ho shot forward like a coiled spring uncoiling. He appeared before Eric in a blink. The Branch 5 spectators on the second-floor stands couldn't hide their shock.
"That guy's really a Helper?"
"Moves way too lightly for one? And not scared of a rampaging Hunter?"
Whether they gawked from above or not, Su-ho didn't care. His only thought was reverting the rampaging Hunter before him.
Eric's head snapped up. Just as expected. His dark-red eyes lacked focus.
Pzzzt-.
"Urk."
Eric groaned as he reflexively tried to move his hands, only for current to surge from the restraints.
It was common for rampaging Hunters. Without a target, their power eroded until they died quietly. But with one in front of them, they got excited and started killing.
Su-ho knew those restraints binding Eric's hands wouldn't hold much longer once killing intent kicked in.
The restraints worked on rampaging Hunters S-grade and below, but for SS-grade and up, they were just a temporary measure.
Jin Seong-hyeok spoke to Su-ho, who stared at Eric with a serious expression.
'Cha Su-ho, you're overlooking one thing.'
'What?'
'This guy's case is different from An Ji-young's.'
Different case? Jin Seong-hyeok continued quickly.
'An Ji-young uses mental and physical powers. Splitting her strength between them...'
Pzzzt-. Pzt-. Cold air began flowing over the restraints around Eric's wrists.
'Eric's a pure mental-type Hunter, specializing in one. Meaning...'
'His power isn't split.'
'Exactly.'
That was when it happened. Sparks started flying wildly from the restraints—proof Eric was exerting force.
Pzzzt-.
A gap formed in the restraints. Ice particles sprouted from the cracks. Pure ice particles, without impurities. They clung to Eric's hands like a shield.
Sparks scattered into the air. As the gap in the restraints widened, more and more ice particles formed.
And then it happened. A sharp crack echoed from the restraints, which had been discharging massive electricity. They had reached their limit.
'Cha Su-ho.'
Dozens of ice chunks materialized around Eric in an instant.
'Be careful.'
'I know.'
Thinking the ice chunks were headed his way, Su-ho assumed a defensive stance.
Eric's head turned toward Su-ho. An enormous roar followed.
Kaboom-, Boom-!
Su-ho's pupils trembled. He couldn't believe what he'd just seen. The ice particles he thought were attacking him had turned on Eric.
'...Trying to suicide like you, Jin Seong-hyeok?'
'No.'
Jin Seong-hyeok snorted.
'Watch closely.'
Even watching closely, nothing changed. Body-sized ice chunks raining down—no way he'd survive.
But Su-ho had to revise that thought in mere seconds.
Thud, thud. The piled ice chunks rolled off onto the floor. Everyone's faces stiffened as Eric emerged from between them.
Bleeding profusely, yet Eric was smiling. As if he'd been waiting, he raised his wrists.
Clank. The restraints that had bound his hands crashed to the ground.
Not suicide. Just look at the grin on the rampaging Eric's face.
A self-destruct to shatter the restraints completely.
'All set, huh?'
But that was it. Suicide or restraint-breaking—didn't matter to Su-ho.
Su-ho moved. Closing in fast on Eric, he thrust out his hand. Grabbing Eric's neck, he hoisted him up and slammed him into the ground.
Bam-!
'Training's paying off.'
Unlike the leisurely Jin Seong-hyeok, Su-ho shouted urgently.
'That's not important right now! Hurry,'
"Gah!"
Su-ho's words cut off. Immense pain crashed over him. Breathing ragged, he looked toward the source.
An ice spike like a needle was bloodied. His gaze traveled slowly up along the ice... to his abdomen.
His abdomen, perfectly impaled by the ice pillar.