Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: 5th Branch (2)
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I wonder what this is.
Sandwiched between two guys each several times his size, Cha Su-ho stared at the 1-liter protein drink placed in front of him.
His appetite was nonexistent, probably from the intense workout. Yet the two flanking him were chugging down 2-liter protein shakes from bottles as big as his face.
[ "Whoa! Cha, why aren't you drinking yours? You gotta refuel after a workout!" ]
Leri tapped the drink in front of Su-ho.
"Not right now... I don't have much of an appetite."
[ "Man! This is part of the cooldown!" ]
He had no idea when drinking became part of a workout, but Su-ho couldn't even fathom forcing it down.
"I'll rest a bit and have it later."
He'd come to train after hearing from Jin Seong-hyeok, only to get roped into a forced personal training session by these two he'd bumped into by chance. His hands and feet were still trembling.
If he just laid his head down now, he'd pass out on the spot. His stamina was completely drained. But Leri and Roni didn't seem like they'd let him off easy.
To escape, he'd have to down the protein drink first. With a reluctant expression, as if he had no choice, Su-ho brought the bottle to his lips.
[ "Oh, I got a question!" ]
Leri whipped his head around toward Su-ho.
[ "Did Jin Seong-hyeok really die?!" ]
Pffft! Su-ho spat out the drink he'd just taken a sip of and stared at Leri in shock.
"W-what did you just say?"
[ "I know it sounds crazy, but I just can't believe Jin Seong-hyeok is dead." ]
Roni nodded vigorously in agreement.
[ "Yeah! I don't think he's dead! He's probably faking it to enjoy some freedom." ]
[ "Right! He might even be hiding out among civilians!" ]
Su-ho alternated glances between the two excitedly chattering men before speaking inwardly so Jin Seong-hyeok could hear.
'He's right here.'
'Pretty good deduction. What do you think? Decent guys, right?'
Decent guys, coming from Jin Seong-hyeok?
'Were you close?'
'Nah. Gym rats are just good people.'
Su-ho was at a loss for words. He'd never heard anyone call gym buffs "good people" before.
'Mr. Jin Seong-hyeok.'
'I've got a question.'
'What is it?'
'How long are you gonna make me call you "Mr."? We're sharing the same body here.'
Su-ho bristled.
'What are you talking about? This is clearly my body.'
'I wouldn't take your puny frame even if you offered.'
There was no good comeback for that. Sure, he'd improved a lot, but he still fell short of Jin Seong-hyeok's standards. Being sandwiched between Leri and Roni's massive builds only made it more obvious.
'Fine... about the way I address you.'
'How about Master?'
Master? Really?
'If that's the case, I'd rather just call you Bro.'
'Sure.'
'Huh?!'
It had been a casual toss-out because "Master" felt too embarrassing.
'But "Bro" doesn't sit right with me.'
Jin Seong-hyeok seemed to mull it over before continuing.
'Hyung.'
"...Pardon?"
'Say it. "Hyung."'
'Do all SS-grade Hunters and above like being called "hyung" or "noona"?'
An Ji-young had made him call her "noona," and now Jin wanted "hyung."
[ "Cha?! What do you think?! You?" ]
Leri's voice snapped Su-ho back to reality.
"Ah. Sorry, I zoned out for a sec. What did you say?"
[ "Oh! So, the conspiracy theory that Jin Seong-hyeok is alive somewhere. Sounds plausible, right?!" ]
"...That's utterly ridiculous."
Jin Seong-hyeok hadn't wanted to live. He'd called a life as nothing but a weapon horrific. When Su-ho first heard that, he'd struggled to understand why the celebrated SSS-grade Hunter would abandon it all. But now he got it.
He understood completely. How terrifying it was to live solely as a tool. How agonizing it must have been for Jin to head into the field every day, enduring headaches while clutching the mental burdens that gnawed at his sanity.
"When Hunter Jin Seong-hyeok died, he was with me."
Leri and Roni's gazes locked onto Su-ho simultaneously.
[ "...You saw Jin Seong-hyeok die?!" ]
[ "Man, for real?!" ]
Su-ho nodded.
[ "Damn, no way." ]
[ "He really got taken out by a monster?" ]
Su-ho addressed the two, who kept muttering in disbelief.
"It wasn't a monster. He did it himself."
[ "You mean... Jin Seong-hyeok killed himself?!" ]
Leri stared at the floor with a devastated expression, and Roni chimed in with a regretful look.
[ "Man, we're feeling it now, bone-deep. How huge Jin Seong-hyeok's presence was." ]
Everything had changed since Jin Seong-hyeok's death. SS-grade Hunters didn't even dare enter the Last Zones, which had once been his opening and closing acts.
Even if they did, they couldn't last 30 minutes without bursting out on the verge of rampage.
Unable to clear so much as the entrance, the monsters inside the Last Zones had reached saturation levels. Weaker ones started spilling into the Dead Zones to survive. The Dead Zones, short on manpower, couldn't be cleared either, so the weakest trickled down into the Evil Zones.
[ "I even heard mutated monsters showed up in the Evil Zones. Probably Dead Zone stragglers." ]
[ "Yeah, nothing like that happened when Jin Seong-hyeok was around. But the moment he dies, everything chains into chaos. It's overwhelming. All of it." ]
The situation was spiraling toward catastrophe. Worries were mounting that monsters might breach the Teleport Zones and spill over here if things got any worse.
[ "That's why they wanna believe Jin Seong-hyeok's still out there somewhere. He'd wipe 'em all out in one go." ]
Every day was an emergency. Monsters were overflowing, but there weren't enough Hunters to handle them.
Hunters pushing to the brink of rampage against tough monsters were multiplying exponentially. One wrong move, and they'd snap—like Eric in the Dead Zone just days ago.
That made Su-ho's existence all the more crucial. A Helper who could revert even fully rampaging Hunters, not just those on the edge.
Naturally, every branch was eyeing him. The 5th Branch was no exception.
[ "Cha." ]
Roni continued seriously toward Su-ho.
[ "Ever thought about joining the 5th Branch? We'll give you whatever you want. Comfy life guaranteed. If you come, the branch will back you up with anything." ]
No sooner had Roni finished than Leri jumped in.
[ "Yeah, right now, our branch's Hunters have better stats than the 1st Branch's. Would be good for you too." ]
The higher and stronger a Hunter's stats, the better their survival odds in the field. Helpers naturally gravitated toward high-rank Hunters with top stats.
[ "Man, come to the 5th Branch. I'll train you every day." ]
"I'm happy where I am now, so no plans to move."
Leri and Roni were stunned when Su-ho responded with something totally unexpected from such a tempting offer.
[ "Oh! Think it over—everyone wants to join us!" ]
[ "We've got cocky guys, but no assholes! Cha, this is a golden opportunity!" ]
Su-ho didn't budge despite their pleas. If he ended up handling both Hunters and Helpers, he'd be living in the field regardless of branch.
Just like Jin Seong-hyeok.
"I'm good."
They smacked their lips in disappointment at his firm refusal.
[ "Man, you're just like Jin Seong-hyeok." ]
He was used to hearing that by now. Maybe he really was syncing up with Jin Seong-hyeok.
"That's high praise."
[ "Hit us up anytime you change your mind. We'll hook you up, yeah!" ]
Su-ho tried to slip away with a thank-you, but they grabbed him again. Only after chugging the 1-liter protein drink in front of them—while they nagged about why he hadn't finished it—could he finally leave the fitness club.
Back in the break room, Su-ho flopped face-first onto the bed.
'You're filthy—get up and shower first.'
Despite Jin Seong-hyeok's scolding, Su-ho had no intention of getting up.
'I feel like puking. Give me a minute.'
He'd assumed it was regular protein shake and taken a swig, only to regret it instantly.
'It's not fishy.'
'Ugh, have you tried it? You should've warned me.'
It was a custom brew by Leri and Roni: boiled chicken breast, yogurt, protein powder, and a special 5th Branch supplement made just for Hunters.
'Good stuff doesn't taste good.'
'If it tastes this bad, I'd rather eat something unhealthy but delicious. Ugh.'
'Quit whining like a little bitch.'
Jin Seong-hyeok tsked just then.
Bzzz—. His wristwatch vibrated. The caller was his secretary, Min Gi-uk.
Pressing the call button, Min Gi-uk's voice came through his earpiece.
- Helper Cha Su-ho, everything alright?
"Yes, doing well. How about you, Secretary?"
- I'm good too. I received the clothes you sent, had them altered, and Hunter An Ji-young probably picked them up, so they should arrive today...
"Hold on—what? Hunter An Ji-young?"
- You didn't know? When word got out that Helper Cha Su-ho was joining the 5th Branch raid, Center Director 1 sent Hunter An Ji-young and Helper Kwon Oh as support. They're arriving this evening.
Ji-young and Kwon Oh were coming.
'Front one or back one? Ah. Obviously the front.'
'Just happy more teammates are coming.'
'Sure you are.'
Ignoring Jin Seong-hyeok's snort, Su-ho asked,
"So just Hunter An Ji-young and Kwon Oh from Center 1?"
- Yes. Hunter Lee Eun-woo and Helper Erin need to keep managing the Evil Zone, so just those two.
"Got it."
- Take care, and call anytime if you need anything.
"Will do."
Su-ho ended the call with thanks, his face lighting up.
Ji-young and Kwon Oh. Kwon Oh would probably cheer the moment he saw the fitness club.
'Has Kwon Oh hyung been here before?'
'Doubt it. No one outside the 5th Branch except me has stayed here.'
'Good to know.'
He could introduce him to Leri and Roni too—they'd hit it off since Kwon Oh loved working out.
That left Ji-young. Su-ho scratched the back of his head and asked,
'Do you know what Hunter An Ji-young likes...?'
'Just happy for the teammates, huh? Why ask what she likes?'
'Gotta know what teammates enjoy. They mentioned a pool here too...'
Jin Seong-hyeok's laughter echoed in his head.
'You're so transparent.'
'Misunderstanding! I was just mentioning the pool...!'
'Sure. Young and full of vigor. But what now? Raid's coming up—you gotta train. Not grin like an idiot swimming with a girl on your rookie level.'
Su-ho paused, then asked,
'...Not even an hour?'
'Just mentioning the pool, my ass. Planning to goof off?'
Too late—he'd slipped up. Su-ho spent the next while as Jin Seong-hyeok's teasing target. Even after Ji-young and Kwon Oh arrived.