Chapter 128

Chapter 14 – Yoon Ji-eun Origin

1

[Ah, Chief Do Cheol-soo of the Hunter Management Bureau, he’s always been like that. I heard the media tells him not to act like that because it makes other agents suffer.]

“I knew it.”

After somehow ending up arm-wrestling with the Bureau Chief, I was heading to the company while talking to Seo-ho on the phone.

Do Cheol-soo seemed to have no other thoughts besides arm-wrestling with me and arranging a blind date for his daughter, so he ended the conversation there.

He really gave off the vibe of someone who lives life on their own terms, making it hard to keep up with the situation.

[Still, if he offered to introduce his daughter, things should be fine. He only does that for people he likes.]

“But Seo-ho, doesn’t the Hunter Management Bureau Chief not have a daughter?”

Even so, I roughly knew about the family situation of Korea’s top hunter.

I was sure Do Cheol-soo had no family, so it was strange.

[It’s a photo of his daughter who passed away. She probably died in a Dimensional Gate accident before we were even born.]

Hearing that, I fell into a brief silence.

So that was the story.

[You don’t need to worry too much. He doesn’t say much after showing the photo.]

“Now I understand why he’s been with the Korean Hunter Bureau for so long.”

He must be hoping that something like what happened to his daughter doesn’t happen again.

[Are you heading into the company now?]

“Ah, yeah, Si-ho should be coming after school.”

[She’s probably already there. She said school ended early today because of an event.]

“Really? I didn’t get a text. Got it.”

[Yes, take care, hyung.]

After finishing the call with Seo-ho, I opened the company door and went in.

Thinking Si-ho might be at the training center, I headed down to the training area.

*Slap!*

Suddenly, a sound like someone being slapped echoed.

“How dare you, a mere trainee who hasn’t even stepped into the Hunter field!”

Startled, I quickly looked toward the door, where Si-ho and a woman who had swung her hand were standing.

Reacting instinctively, I kicked the door open and ran out, shielding Si-ho.

“And who are you?”

A sharp voice came from behind, but I ignored it and checked Si-ho’s face, cupping her cheek.

The sound earlier was definitely a slap.

“Manager?”

Si-ho’s eyes widened as she looked at me, surprised by my sudden appearance and actions.

There didn’t seem to be any marks on her cheek.

“Ah, I didn’t get hit.”

Si-ho showed me her small hand, smiling proudly.

“I blocked it.”

Si-ho grinned as if showing off.

Come to think of it, Si-ho is an S-class Hunter.

Even if they’re fellow Hunters, her abilities far surpass theirs, so there was no reason for her to take a slap.

“You stepped in because you were worried about me?”

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re not hurt.”

When Si-ho asked with sparkling eyes, I patted her head and stood up.

“Hey, I’m asking you who you are.”

The voice came from behind again.

When I turned around, I saw the woman and her group, all unfamiliar faces.

Come to think of it, after JMC collapsed, Rodrigo had recruited many of their Hunters.

So, she was likely one of the recruited JMC members.

From the earlier conversation, it seemed they were already active Hunters.

“I’m her manager.”

“Manager? A manager dares to block me? Huh, seriously.”

She twitched her eyebrows, looking exasperated.

“Have these two lost their minds?”

She seemed to have a bad habit of using her hands, as she raised her hand again.

According to Hunter law, physically assaulting a civilian could be problematic, but seeing her do this, it seemed like it wasn’t her first time.

But there was one thing she hadn’t considered.

The fact that I, whom she was about to hit, was far from being a civilian.

And that my recent training with Ayu had honed my combat skills to the point where I could react reflexively to attacks.

“Kyaaak!”

In an instant, her arm was twisted, and she screamed in pain.

“What the hell are you doing!”

“Let go now!”

The other women in the group shouted angrily and tried to rush at me.

I wasn’t confident about subduing them gently.

While I was thinking about how to handle them, someone suddenly jumped in front of me.

A fist swung precisely, hitting their stomachs, and they all collapsed, groaning.

“Ugh, gross.”

“Gah.”

“Oh my, Ha-chan, what’s going on?”

The one who subdued them was none other than Yoo Woo-jung.

As she looked down at the Hunters she had taken down, I turned my attention to the woman whose wrist I had twisted.

She was grimacing in pain.

“What’s going on? Who are you guys?”

When I let her go, she staggered back, clutching her wrist.

I glared at her sharply, and she flinched, her shoulders trembling.

She must have realized the difference in skill after being subdued and seeing her comrades taken down in one go.

“What are you guys doing? You seem to be the new Hunters who just joined.”

“Well, that trainee was being disrespectful, so we were just teaching her a lesson.”

“Her?”

I furrowed my brows and took a step forward, causing her to flinch and avert her eyes.

“Ah, no, she was just being rude. That’s all.”

“Si-ho, was that true?”

When I turned to Si-ho, she shook her head vigorously.

“Si-ho, I was just at the training center to train. They came and told me to leave because they needed to train, so I said no.”

“Right, according to Si-ho, it seems you were the ones being rude.”

I glared at her with a displeased expression.

“……What are your names?”

“Why should I tell you!”

She shouted at me and then ran out of the training center.

The others followed, and Yoo Woo-jung turned to me.

She looked like she wanted to chase them, but I shook my head.

“Si-ho, has this happened before?”

At my question, Si-ho blinked and then awkwardly averted her eyes.

Her reaction suggested that this wasn’t the first time.

“It’s a chronic issue among Hunters.”

Yoo Woo-jung chimed in as if giving advice.

“Hunters have a strong competitive streak. Power struggles between Hunters are common. It’s pretty much the same everywhere.”

She spoke as if it were no big deal.

Then, she took a step closer and whispered in my ear.

“The problem is, it doesn’t concern the two of us.”

Si-ho and Yoo Woo-jung are S-class Hunters.

In Si-ho’s case, though it hasn’t been announced, power struggles like this are child’s play to her.

“The real problem is Ji-eun.”

Ji-eun is a potential A-class but currently a B-class Hunter.

Moreover, she’s still a trainee, not an official Hunter.

The humiliation she’s endured, knowingly or unknowingly, must have been significant.

Yet, she hasn’t told me, partly because she doesn’t want to worry me and partly because she knows it’s a chronic issue in the Hunter world.

“And if she stays with us, Ji-eun will only find it harder.”

“……Because Ji-eun won’t be able to keep up?”

“She’s about to debut as a Hunter. Once she’s in the public eye, do you think she’ll be able to shine between the two of us? Even excluding my fake identity.”

Since Si-ho already knows her true identity, Yoo Woo-jung spoke openly.

If Ji-eun stays on our team, she’ll inevitably be compared to Si-ho, who’s the same age.

Even though Si-ho is currently registered as an A-class, she’ll be promoted to S-class the moment she’s re-evaluated.

Ji-eun is human too.

Keeping Ji-eun by Si-ho’s side won’t lead to a good outcome.

“Especially since that girl likes you, Ha-chan.”

Yoo Woo-jung glanced at Si-ho as she said this.

A girl who likes the same person but is overshadowed by a more talented peer.

Hearing that, I recalled Ji-eun consulting with Yoo Woo-jung not long ago.

“……Am I being too greedy?”

This is my first team.

A team I’m responsible for.

And that team is on the verge of falling apart because of me.

Si-ho and I locked eyes.

I’ve accepted Ayu and Seolhyang.

And besides them, I’ve been seriously considering Si-ho’s feelings too.

That’s why I might have neglected Ji-eun even more.

“……I’ll talk to Ji-eun properly.”

It seems the time has come to address the conversation I’ve been putting off.

“Are you going to tell her to leave the team outright?”

Yoo Woo-jung suddenly asked.

“No, I wasn’t thinking of that.”

“But honestly, I don’t see any other solution. The difference in skill is obvious.”

I bit my lip.

Even if there’s an S-class and a potential A-class, Ji-eun is still a B-class.

The gap is clear.

“If we form a new team……”

“That’s not necessarily a proper solution either.”

As she said, it would only hurt Ji-eun more.

Seeing that I couldn’t come up with a clear answer, Yoo Woo-jung gave a faint smile.

“So, I have one idea.”

“You have a solution?”

When I turned to her, Yoo Woo-jung twirled her hair with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Originally, it was something I planned to do to lure Ji-eun for Alters’ sake.”

Was that what she was advising Ji-eun about last time?

“But now I’m not really involved with Alters anymore, right? They’re busy fighting among themselves, and I’ve decided to stay with you, Ha-chan.”

“So, what’s the point?”

“There’s a way to make Ji-eun stronger that perfectly suits her abilities.”

Our eyes met.

She didn’t seem to be joking.

“She’s a Bonding Ability user, right? She’s bonded with animals on YouTube.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s related to that. There’s someone in Alters with a similar ability who became stronger using the same method.”

Was Yoo Woo-jung unexpectedly useful?

As I looked at her with surprise, Yoo Woo-jung made a slightly annoyed expression.

“You’re thinking something very rude right now.”

“I was just thinking you’re more useful than I expected.”

“You’re really too much!”

“Just kidding. So, what’s this method?”

When I asked, she tapped her fingertips together and then clasped her hands.

“I’ll teach her and help her. But in return, can you grant me one wish?”

“No.”

At that moment, Si-ho answered instead of me.

Si-ho, who had been quietly listening, stepped in front of me and glared at Yoo Woo-jung.

Somehow, Si-ho, who used to not care about Yoo Woo-jung at all, had started to genuinely see her as a rival.

Si-ho must have realized that Yoo Woo-jung was seriously trying to get close to me.

“Oh my, Si-ho, Ha-chan should answer. Why are you answering for him?”

“The Manager said no too.”

When did I say that?

I’m not sure, but that’s how it seems.

Yoo Woo-jung, who had been staring at Si-ho, soon smirked.

“What’s your relationship with Ha-chan that you’re interfering?”

“Si-ho is the Manager’s girlfriend!”

“What, you’re dating a minor?”

Yoo Woo-jung looked at me in shock, and I was equally startled.

“No, Si-ho and I aren’t like that!”

I could get in trouble for that.

Even though she’s close to becoming an adult, Si-ho is still a minor.

At that moment, Si-ho suddenly looked up at me.

When our eyes met, I flinched, and Si-ho stared at me suspiciously.

“Si-ho ‘and I’?”

Her eyes grew sharper, and one of her cheeks puffed up.

She’s already talked to Ayu and Seolhyang.

Even though she’s a minor, it’s hard to believe she’s in that position, but knowing how much Si-ho likes me, I had nothing to say.

“Manager?”

“So, what do you want in return for helping Ji-eun?”

I tried to defuse the situation by asking Yoo Woo-jung.

Si-ho’s cheek puffed up even more, but there was nothing I could do.