Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Training (3)
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For three days straight, Cha Su-ho trained nonstop, day and night, focusing his mind or summoning the Flame Chain.
‘Jin Seong-hyeok!’
Jin Seong-hyeok responded as if he'd been watching the whole time to Cha Su-ho's excited voice.
‘Much better than the first time.’
Now, colors were definitely mixing into the flames. Red and orange blended in a subtle dance. At this rate, yellow would show up soon too. Cha Su-ho gazed at the Flame Chain with a proud smile.
The deeper the connection grew between his mind, his chest, and the chain as he focused, the stronger it seemed to get. Since it was a mental technique rather than a physical one, the foundation lay in how sharply he could concentrate to control the power. And that made it an enormous drain on his mental strength.
Cha Su-ho roughly wiped the sweat pouring down like rain with his sleeve and stored the chain away.
‘Three days from now, right? Heading into the Dead Zone with Branch 5.’
‘Yeah. Be as careful as you can. We can't afford to let your Hunter powers slip out yet.’
‘Got it. But, Jin Seong-hyeok.’
‘What.’
He was curious about the Hunters and Helpers from Branch 5 who would be joining them in the Dead Zone.
‘What are Branch 5's Hunters and Helpers like?’
Jin Seong-hyeok answered Cha Su-ho's question bluntly.
‘Villains pop up everywhere.’
Every organization had its villains. Cha Su-ho knew that all too well. He just hoped there wouldn't be too many of them. He didn't want to waste energy on unnecessary drama.
‘As long as they don't ruin the mood.’
Recalling what Masa had pulled during the last Evil Zone sweep, Cha Su-ho heard Jin Seong-hyeok say:
‘Masa over there, but here it's gotta be Clark.’
Clark. Just hearing Jin Seong-hyeok mention him soured Cha Su-ho's first impression.
‘I'll watch out for Clark.’
‘No need to go that far. Just hope his inferiority complex doesn't make him act out.’
Jin Seong-hyeok knew all too well how exhausting it was to be eyed with suspicion when you hadn't done a damn thing—Clark had put him through it. He couldn't stand the idea of Cha Su-ho, his own student, wasting brainpower meant for training on some clown like that.
To prevent it, they needed someone to draw a hard line upfront. Someone who could shut Clark down if he started trouble.
‘Go check out the fitness club.’
Cha Su-ho blinked in confusion at Jin Seong-hyeok's words.
‘Fitness club?’
‘Yeah. You haven't worked out lately, right? Gotta get a session in before heading out into the field.’
Fitness club out of nowhere? His bewilderment lasted only a moment before Cha Su-ho nodded. Come to think of it, he'd been burning mental energy nonstop for three days without touching his body. He needed to loosen up before his muscles atrophied.
‘Understood.’
Cha Su-ho grabbed his tablet right away and sent a message. When he asked where the fitness club was, Derek came rushing to his room like he'd been waiting.
[ “Helper Cha Su-ho, how's your body holding up?” ]
“I'm good now.”
[ “You haven't left your room for days, only contacting us for meals. I was worried.” ]
Cha Su-ho followed Derek, who insisted on guiding him personally, and scanned the surroundings. Unlike the chaotic first day, the training field was quiet.
“No one's around.”
[ “Yes. With the Dead Zone raid starting in a few days, everyone's busy with preparations.” ]
Passing the arena from days ago, Derek suddenly halted in front of somewhere.
[ “Here we are. The fitness club.” ]
Cha Su-ho's gaze traveled from the floor up. The ceiling loomed like that of a massive gymnasium, packed with unfamiliar exercise machines that looked utterly novel to his eyes.
[ “I'll introduce you to a trainer...” ]
[ “Whoa! Dude! You're that Helper, right?!” ]
Two men with muscles so unreal you had to wonder what level of training forged them stepped up to Cha Su-ho and Derek.
Cha Su-ho craned his neck up. How tall were they? Easily over 6'6".
[ “Yeah, man! You were awesome!” ]
The two, identical enough to pass for twins, stood with arms crossed in perfect sync.
[ “Sorry if we're late on intros. I'm Roni, a Hunter. This here's Leri, a Helper.” ]
[ “We're brothers, yeah!” ]
[ “Oh man, gotta pop in these earpieces! Can't understand Korean otherwise.” ]
The two men slipped tiny earpieces into their ears. In their massive hands, the devices looked like grains of rice.
They both screamed physical-type Hunters at first glance, yet one was a Helper. Cha Su-ho hesitated briefly but played it cool and greeted them.
“Hello, I'm Cha Su-ho from Branch 1, a Hel—”
[ “Right on, Cha! Yeah! Can we just call you Cha from now on!?” ]
It didn't matter what they called him, so Cha Su-ho nodded, and Leri flashed a huge grin.
[ “Oh yeah, great personality! I like it! Here to work out?!” ]
“Yeah, haven't trained in days, so I figured I'd loosen up.”
Their faces twisted in horror.
[ “Whoa! Days without training? That's straight-up criminal!” ]
[ “Oh man, no way! I'll train you personally today!” ]
Leri shooed Derek away with a gesture. Derek bowed to Cha Su-ho.
[ “With Helper Leri and Hunter Roni taking over, I'll head out. Call if you need anything.” ]
Once Derek left, the fitness club held only Leri, Roni, and Cha Su-ho.
‘...Jin Seong-hyeok.’
Cha Su-ho called out quietly, already feeling drained. Jin Seong-hyeok's chuckling echoed back.
‘You don't mean... you sent me here for this...?’
‘Look at those muscles. Prime specimens. Learn from the best down there.’
‘Hah.’
As expected. The sudden fitness club detour had a purpose.
‘You meant for me to meet them?’
‘Kinda. Figured they'd mesh with you best in all of Branch 5.’
Cha Su-ho's eyes drifted back to Leri and Roni at Jin Seong-hyeok's words.
[ “Oh yeah!” ]
[ “Whoa! This looks tough!” ]
Oh, yeah, whoa.
‘Those exclamations... gonna suck the life outta me if I hear 'em nonstop.’
‘Wanna know something?’
‘...What? Starting to dread it.’
‘You'll hear them the most out in the field.’
In the field?
‘No way, when killing monsters...?’
‘They yell that every time they swing an axe. One chimes in every Cleanse too.’
Cha Su-ho's temples throbbed preemptively as he pressed them.
[ “Yeah! Cha, over here! I set it up perfect for ya!” ]
[ “Oh, Leri, this is too intense!” ]
Watching Leri and Roni beam proudly in front of the machine, Cha Su-ho felt a strange familiarity.
The easygoing vibe with strangers reminded him of Won Tae-il, even if the style differed.
Bitterness filled his mouth. Guilt still crushed his chest whenever he thought of Tae-il. Jin Seong-hyeok had pulled him from that pit after the tunnel collapse.
‘Snap out of it. No time for moping—get stronger instead. That's how you'll face him.’
Times like this, he was grateful for Jin Seong-hyeok. Alone, he'd have drowned in the mire.
‘Got it.’
Clenching his fists, Cha Su-ho lifted his head and strode toward Leri and Roni.
[ “Oh yeah! Love that fire in your eyes! That's the spirit—gotta mean it with workouts!” ]
[ “Right on. Great form already! Grab these and pull!” ]
Roni placed controllers in each of Cha Su-ho's hands.
[ “Little sting from the current! Micro-shocks build muscle fibers deep inside.”]
Leri chimed in from the side.
[ “Hits the weight too! Builds muscle! Perfect for newbies!” ]
They'd warned of a sting, but Cha Su-ho felt nothing. Just a light buzz in his palms.
[ “Oh! No pain? Natural talent? Leri, crank it up!” ]
Leri tilted his head and pressed a button. Cha Su-ho's palms began to tingle faintly—half itch, half vibration. Leri and Roni looked baffled at his calm stare.
[ “Cha! Not hurting??” ]
[ “Whoa, is it busted?!!” ]
Leri snatched the controller from Cha Su-ho and flinched instantly.
[ “This level and you're fine?!” ]
[ “Leri! Lemme try!” ]
Roni grabbed it next, yelping "Oh! Oh!" before handing it back.
[ “You really okay?!” ]
Cha Su-ho nodded, wondering what the fuss was about.
“Just tickles a bit.”
Tickles? Their shock deepened.
[ “Oh man! That's our training level, and it's just a tickle?!” ]
[ “Yeah! Born for this. Knew it when you reversed that berserk Hunter!” ]
Their eyes gleamed.
[ “Cha! Need training?!” ]
[ “Yeah, we'll hook you up. Best body builders around!” ]
[ “Gonna be fun watching you grow!” ]
Cha Su-ho muttered inwardly as they buzzed with excitement.
‘...Jin Seong-hyeok. This is gonna be a hassle...’
‘Perfect. Be grateful.’
A short sigh escaped Cha Su-ho's lips, signaling the start. The duo took turns putting him through every machine. Hours blurred by—who knew how many. His once-dry clothes and hair dripped like he'd showered.
Arms and legs trembled. Staggering, he collapsed spread-eagled on the floor, done in. Leri and Roni nodded approvingly.
[ “Yeah, stamina's weak, but heart's strong!”]
[ “Keep at it like this, and you'll shape up nice!” ]
Their trainer-like chatter faded unheard. Cha Su-ho just wanted to sleep.
As his blinking eyelids drooped, his body suddenly lifted off the ground.
“Wha—what?”
Leri, gripping Cha Su-ho's shirt collar in one hand, said:
[ “Worked out hard—time to refuel!” ]
[ “Yeah! Protein time!” ]