NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
48.
The Hunter Association was famous for being the subject of various rumors. Among them, the observation room was strictly operated for security reasons.
– Thank you.
“It’s nothing. I can handle things like persuasion. However, I’d prefer if you didn’t approach me for a while.”
– Of course. I’ll make sure to compensate you sufficiently.
Kang Mi-young ended the call. She stared at the magic mirror.
Her crimson pupils burned.
This is ridiculous. Even if she’s the eldest daughter who lost power, this is too much. Trying to take someone else’s person? Absolutely unforgivable.
Moreover, going into the practical exam site alone?
She’s out of her mind.
Is Gangcheon that important to risk her life? Or is there another reason… No, there can’t be another reason.
“I should avoid contact with Gangcheon for a while. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this… It’s going to get quite complicated.”
Kang Mi-young sighed.
She hates complicated things. What if she’s being tracked?
The magic mirror on the other side is almost perfectly soundproof.
She could relax. Gangcheon wouldn’t be able to find her here. This is a shelter facility created by multiple organizations.
It wouldn’t even be on the blueprints. You’d need to bring someone involved to find it.
‘Especially Kang Seo-jin. I can’t give her up.’
That kid holds grudges.
I’m sure of it.
Just like me or Kang Jin-young. Kang Mi-young sighed. She never thought the family history would come into play.
She was caught off guard.
“By the way, when is this going to end? Are they really experts?”
The magic mirror trembled slightly.
– Are you sure nothing happened?
– Yes.
How many times have they repeated this scene already?
It’s hot and stuffy.
Even though it’s underground, the heat from the magic generator and electronic devices makes it hotter than above ground. Her shirt was soaked in sweat, making her uncomfortable.
She threw her blood-stained suit jacket onto the backrest of the opposite chair.
She sat down on the metal chair opposite.
The jacket was stained with blood and smelled terrible.
Monster blood not only stinks but also contains various toxins.
It needs to be burned quickly.
“Ah, my back… Ah, oh!!”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Baek Min-ho walked into the observation room. His clothes were a mess, and his face was a bloody mess.
“You look terrible.”
“Ah, don’t even start.”
The hypothesis that he got beaten up by Kang Seo-jin was confirmed.
Pathetic. I didn’t train you like that. Kang Mi-young gave him a sharp look.
Feeling guilty, Baek Min-ho moved his suit jacket to the incinerator and came back. Black ashes were stuck all over his clothes.
“Are you here? Your face is a mess. There are first aid supplies over there, so handle it as you see fit.”
“Isn’t this too much?! I came here out of goodwill, got my face beaten, and now I have to pay for the hospital bills too.”
“Too much? An Awakened One getting beaten by a civilian shouldn’t be talking like that.”
Baek Min-ho rolled his eyes at the response.
“How am I supposed to beat a woman? Especially since if an Awakened One messes with a civilian, they’ll be eating prison food for a while. Ah, that friend will have to lay low too. She messed with Gangcheon’s resources.”
“It’ll be known differently to the public.”
“Huh?”
Curious, he dragged a metal chair over.
“What do you mean?”
“A press conference was held. Hong Seo-min said she took responsibility.”
“The Association President?!”
“Yeah. Cheong Jin-ho, that guy, talks like a smooth talker.”
The extermination of monsters in the exam site. Immediately after, using new technology to cultivate and utilize them again. That was Cheong Jin-ho’s promise during the press conference.
He also promised apologies and compensation.
Kang Mi-young was inwardly suspicious. Cheong Jin-ho was playing a risky move, which was unlike him.
There’s a justification, of course. Stability issues, naturally.
Hong Seo-min created this entire situation! Using that as an excuse, she slipped away smoothly.
“What a sly person.”
Kang Mi-young spat out.
“……”
Can’t say anything. It’s the truth. Baek Min-ho coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Public opinion flowed somewhat well. Well, this is that kind of country.
A few headbutts and a good water flow, and people will forget quickly.
That’s how people think.
You block one stimulus with another. It’s an extremely efficient idea.
“By the way, when is this going to end?”
“Why? Do you want money? I can cover the consultation fee. For old times’ sake.”
“I make good money. It’s not about something trivial like that. I want to talk about physical abilities and such. Isn’t it amazing?”
Kang Mi-young sprawled on the chair like overgrown seaweed. As if to say, just listen quietly.
– Did nothing happen?
– Of course.
– Really? No lies?
Lee Seong-han shook his head.
Even if something happened, it was to protect a child. He should be praised. He repeated that like a parrot.
– Why would that kid come at me if I wasn’t good?
– …?
– No muscles, and my face isn’t great either. On social media, couples are all good-looking. Why would they be interested in someone like me?
Kang Jin-young, who was listening, scanned his entire body.
She looked like she thought he was crazy.
“…Does he really have no self-awareness?”
Kang Mi-young chimed in from a distance.
“That’s what I’m saying. He’s a good-looking guy, but his head’s a bit off. I should write that down.”
Guys like that are rare.
Competent and kind-hearted.
Lee Seong-han’s words came through the magic mirror.
– I’m an Awakened One and a soldier of the Republic of Korea… I just did my job.
Lee Seong-han’s lips wriggled like worms.
Especially when he said ‘soldier,’ it got even more twisted.
Kang Mi-young’s lips curled up slightly.
Surely, it was a positive meaning.
Of course.
The Republic of Korea’s military is one of the top five powerful nations—thanks to other countries getting wrecked and rising in mysterious rankings.
There’s no reason to dislike it. They provide food, money, and everything. Mhm.
“……”
Baek Min-ho glared at Kang Mi-young for a moment. Soon, he reached the conclusion that ‘she’s not making sense’ and sealed his lips like they were glued.
‘Hmm. She probably prefers the Hunter Management Bureau, which is more uniform and allows for discretion, over the military command system. Mhm.’
Kang Mi-young wiped her sweat and shook her head.
I can say with certainty. It’s a much freer atmosphere than the National Intelligence Service.
Absolutely, absolutely not because Kang Jin-young is part of the National Intelligence Service.
If Lee Seong-han were part of the Hunter Management Bureau, he could share anytime.
Because I’m generous.
Only with my permission, though. Who knows what he might do? I can’t just sit back and watch.
She focused back on the conversation in the magic mirror.
– But, male Awakened Ones… isn’t it ‘common sense’ to lose to civilian women? Last time, a 40-year-old man got beaten by a high school girl.
– Am I that old?
– Ah… no, that’s not what I meant, hahaha.
Kang Jin-young awkwardly spoke in the interrogation room.
– Think about it. You can’t beat Seong-han. Moreover, if he takes your gun, who knows what he’ll do!
– That won’t happen. Let’s test it.
– Huh?
Lee Seong-han grabbed Kang Jin-young’s arm and pushed her to the ground.
– Huh?
– See? I won! Haha!
The persuasion somehow ended well.
“……”
Kang Mi-young’s expression didn’t brighten at all.
***
The story ended well. Lee Seong-han wiped his forehead and left the Association.
Outside, the sunset was thick. The streets were thankfully peaceful. Lee Seong-han, carrying a lot of luggage, headed to the nearest bus stop.
“Ugh.”
I almost died! Really.
Lee Seong-han sighed.
He managed to pull out his strength and beat Kang Jin-young. That’s why he got out early.
Even as he walked, his left arm, which had slammed the container, ached. He had also focused mana to strengthen it.
If he hadn’t, there would’ve been more to worry about.
Swoosh.
Swoosh.
Arriving at the bus stop, he spotted a familiar figure.
“……”
“……”
It was Baek Min-ho.
Their gazes crossed silently. His face was wrapped in bandages and gauze. Anyone would think he was a mummy.
He awkwardly ignored him.
“Ahem.”
“Hmm.”
They awkwardly waited for the bus.
As rumors of the bus being delayed started circulating, people at the stop began to disappear one by one.
Soon, only the two of them were left. The awkward atmosphere made it hard to start a conversation.
“Ha. What a tiring day. I got my face beaten, and you were held for hours.”
Baek Min-ho scratched his cheek.
“I don’t mind. I’m on vacation.”
“Ah, I got that too, but is it still a thing? Back then, I just drank and had fun. Not a bad experience. Though, a week later, gates opened one after another, and I almost died. Hehehe.”
Awakened Ones get a week of vacation during promotion exams.
One week.
A whole week. Lee Seong-han swallowed his saliva.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. What can I do with that? Once the promotion exam is over, I should visit home.
“Is your face okay? I heard you got beaten.”
“Ah.”
Baek Min-ho wiped the nosebleed on his sleeve.
“This is from falling. There’s a railing in the operator room that I tripped over. The stairs are connected.”
“Of all places, a murder scene…”
Crazy talk.
“No, no, no. That’s not it. I was talking with a young staff member. Right when the conversation ended, I slipped. Ugh.”
“Did you lose your coat then?”
Baek Min-ho shuddered as if he didn’t want to remember.
“Yeah. It was cold there, you know? I decided not to make the kid suffer. Ugh, by the way, the bus still isn’t here.”
“It’s almost time to go home.”
Lee Seong-han adjusted his backpack.
“Ah, right. What’s in that bag? If you told the Major ‘absolutely not,’ there must be something incredible in there?”
Ding.
The announcement for the bus arriving at the stop echoed. He didn’t want to reveal it.
Lee Seong-han smiled slightly.
“Let’s just say it’s a trump card.”
“Trump card?”
“Yes.”
Screech.
The bus stopped.
It was an orange bus labeled ‘A Line.’ The sunset gave it a strange vividness. Baek Min-ho followed him onto the bus.
It was an unmanned bus, but the passengers were just him, Baek Min-ho, and a few others in the back.
– Military personnel. 50% discount!
Yay!
This is the kind of welfare policy we need. Baek Min-ho, who was following, suddenly stared somewhere and hurriedly got off.
“Huh? Aren’t you getting on?”
“I’ll take the next bus. I just realized this isn’t my route. Hahaha!”
That’s possible. Lee Seong-han parted ways with Baek Min-ho like that.
…
…
…
“Yes, it’s me.”
Baek Min-ho clicked his tongue as he watched the bus disappear into the distance.
“Kang Seo-jin followed me.”