Episode 42
The reason Han Chasu had refused psychological counseling was, of course, that he had nothing to say. What was he even supposed to say there in the first place?
"The truth is, I've possessed the villain in a novel. I've been running around frantically trying not to die, but nothing's going right. Could you please persuade the protagonists for me, Doctor?"
It was preposterous.
And his request to change hospital rooms had also been for an extremely obvious reason.
The only people who would enjoy having their every move completely exposed to someone were exhibitionists. Being averse to having one's private life exposed was only natural for an ordinary person.
But it didn't apply to Jeong Iheun, who harbored a deep misunderstanding full of affection toward Han Chasu.
And so, with a forlorn face, Jeong Iheun said the following before leaving.
"I'll tell the Center Director to change your room. It won't take long."
What a soft guy.
Han Chasu stared at Jeong Iheun with fresh eyes. To think he'd tuck his tail immediately just because he'd said one word about quitting. Compared to other S-ranks, he was excessively docile.
At the end of the day, wasn't he just someone who had coincidentally saved his younger brother? They could have just parted ways after slipping him some money, yet here he was acting this desperately.
Seeing his sullen face, even the conscience Han Chasu hadn't known he possessed seemed to prick him slightly.
But it couldn't be helped. Aside from that, didn't he currently have no means whatsoever to oppose Jeong Iheun?
'I'm already struggling as it is, so please let this slide.' It wasn't as if he was tormenting him with malicious intent like the original Han Chasu. Wasn't this much within acceptable bounds?
As he was quietly following that train of thought, the medical team returned.
"Hunter Han Chasu!"
"We've returned with a humidifier... Wait."
Excited gazes, like young predators who had succeeded in their hunt, converged on one spot.
"Team Leader, I think I'm seeing things."
"No, Sujin. Just go out and call the Center Director."
"I'm sure I told you that Hunter Han Chasu needs stability, Guild Master Cheonryeong!"
The medical staff rushed in clamoring and pulled Jeong Iheun far away. Perhaps thanks to the intoxication of victory from their hunt, they felt much bolder than before.
"Are you alright, Hunter Han Chasu?"
Pinned down by three medical staff members and forced to lie on the bed, Han Chasu quietly nodded. Because if he shook his head, it felt like Jeong Iheun would be hunted down.
The medical staff were so swaggering that they were difficult to go against.
"You seem to have a bit of a fever. This is why I said you shouldn't overdo it."
Someone measured his temperature and clicked their tongue. Immediately, he heard sounds of blame directed at Jeong Iheun from behind. He could feel Jeong Iheun looking at him with a surprised face.
"I'm sorry."
Han Chasu quietly shrugged his shoulders. Jeong Iheun's gaze fell to the floor, and the medical staff snorted.
He did seem a bit pitiful, but it was his fault for barging in as he pleased. Jeong Iheun trudged toward the door. The medical staff followed behind him. Perhaps worried he would rush back in, they surrounded Jeong Iheun completely in a single file line.
The Awakened Management Bureau really does hire some strange people, he thought.
"Mr. Han Chasu."
"?"
"Can't I have just one last hug?"
"Hunter Jeong Iheun!"
The medical staff's response was not excessive in the slightest. Han Chasu shook his head fiercely and pulled the blanket over himself.
It was because he was afraid that if he kept watching Jeong Iheun act like that, he would receive a mental shock and faint again.
And so, Jeong Iheun was pushed out and disappeared, and the situation seemed to be settling down for the moment.
"Hunter Han Chasu, did an emergency situation occur while we were away?"
That is, until the medical staff discovered a recovery potion rolling on the floor.
"Hunter Han Chasu."
I don't know anything about that.
Han Chasu did his utmost to maintain composure and shook his head, but it was no use.
"...Deputy Yu, contact the development lab and request they prepare the healing device for activation. Make it ready for use immediately after the examination."
Damn it!
Han Chasu groaned silently. The nightmare at Yu Baek Hospital came to mind.
They'd draw blood here, then say they need to draw it again over there. They'd take an X-ray and say this isn't enough, they need a CT. No, you can't properly examine Awakened with those. Then what do we do? I don't know either... and so on and so forth.
'I have to do all those useless things again.'
Dark storm clouds cast a shadow over Han Chasu's face. If possible, he wanted to turn back time and pretend to hug Jeong Iheun while crushing his ribs.
***
"You are not tearing people's arms off, Hunter Baekdam."
"......."
"No matter how hard you glare, what can't be done, can't be done. Now, raise both hands and hand over the criminals."
Behind the detention center building where fire suppression was in full swing, Gi Taeyeon discovered Baekdam openly trying to torture the criminals.
To be precise, masked hunters bound tightly with golden ropes. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he discovered Baekdam trying to twist off the arm of the one who appeared to be the leader among them.
"I'll just borrow it for a moment and return it, so don't worry too much."
Baekdam smiled brightly and pulled his hand back. A scream burst from the man lying face-down on the ground.
But the man's scream couldn't reach the sky and fell flat to the ground with a thud. It was because of the barrier Baekdam had erected.
"After all, the Bureau didn't do anything. They left everything to the healer and just ran around noisily until things were settled, so don't you think it's funny they're pretending to work hard now?"
"Hah."
Gi Taeyeon looked dumbfounded.
Why were the Crisis Management Office employees mobilized for fire suppression rather than subduing criminals? It was all because of the man before his eyes.
"Was it a healer from some other country who lashed a whip first telling others not to approach?"
"I suppose so, whatever."
Baekdam smiled refreshingly and stomped his foot down with a loud thud.
"Aaaack!"
With a crisp cracking sound, the body of the one lying behind Baekdam went limp.
"Oops, my foot slipped."
Humming as he spoke, Baekdam kicked the unconscious man a few times.
"Ribs are easy to lightly reattach, so don't worry."
With a few kicks, the man's bones knitted back together. Not only that, but he woke up instantly from his unconscious state.
"H-heaaack!"
Perhaps because the shock before losing consciousness had been great. The one whose ribs had broken couldn't come to his senses for a while even after waking up. The one who had screamed in pain and rolled around here and there finally managed to faint only after bashing his own head against the floor.
"Their tolerance is lower than I thought. I figured they'd be able to endure a bit since they openly raided a detention center..."
At this rate, they might die of shock before he could even tear their limbs off. A low muttering voice swept through the alley on the wind.
"......."
"...
Hiccup."
And the criminals were on the verge of fainting.
To think it was biological torture administered by the nation's only S-rank healer. Seeing them trembling with wet lower bodies, Gi Taeyeon let out a sigh.
"Let's move them first."
"I don't want to."
"Wouldn't you like to try slitting a throat rather than just limbs?"
"...
Are you serious?"
At Baekdam's wavering gaze, Gi Taeyeon snapped his fingers. Bingo. The man smirked and opened his mouth.
"The virtual reality training system newly developed by the development lab is quite remarkable, you see. They say if you adjust the synchronization rate to maximum, it feels like real pain."
Light flickered and vanished over the light brown pupils. A cruel hue resembling anticipation or desire. Gi Taeyeon saw it and continued nonchalantly.
"I'll let you play with them to your heart's content until your anger subsides, so cooperate with us here, Hunter Baekdam."
"......."
Baekdam was silent for a moment. He seemed conflicted.
'I need to push him.'
Gi Taeyeon decided to touch upon what he presumed was the source of Baekdam's anger.
"It would be difficult to torture and interrogate them all by yourself, wouldn't it, Hunter Baekdam?"
Baekdam, who had awakened at a young age, was a man who had raids down to a science. And this time, they had even touched his younger brother.
'I'd heard Baekseon is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.'
Everyone knew that Baekdam cherished his younger brother dearly. The reason he was acting so unlike himself was likely because of that.
"We need to know who is behind this for the Awakened Management Bureau to move officially. Please cooperate so that we can help you."
"Ha... If Chief Gi says it like that, it can't be helped."
In the end, Baekdam took a step back. Of course, true to his dirty temper befitting an S-rank, he didn't back down meekly.
"But I have one condition."
"What is it?"
"Can only I do this training thing?"
"Is there someone else you'd like to do it with?"
"I wasn't the only one who was attacked. I'd like to do it together with my younger brothers."
Gi Taeyeon let out a hollow laugh.
'They said his love for his younger brother was extreme, but he wants to torture people together?'
Well, it didn't matter. As long as the criminals were properly handed over to them.
"Do as you please."
And Gi Taeyeon, who had taken custody of the criminals and was heading to another detention center, belatedly realized something.
The fact that Baekdam had said 'younger brothers,' not younger brother.
'Did Baekdam have another younger brother besides Baekseon?'
But it was too late to ask now. Baekdam had already left to find another gift for his younger brothers the moment he heard the answer.
Gi Taeyeon set aside his unease and returned to the Bureau headquarters. His purpose was to give a final report and check on Han Chasu.
But it seemed Han Chasu hadn't been sitting still all this time.
"Chief, what are you doing instead of going in?"
"Sigh...."
Standing in front of the door of the newly changed hospital room, Gi Taeyeon let out a deep sigh. Then he crossed the hospital room in one stride and kicked the bathroom door.
With a loud bang, thick steam poured out.
"Ha, Hunter Han Chasu!"
Han Chasu was discovered collapsed in the bathtub with a pale face.※ The rights to this work belong to the copyright holder. Copying, reproducing, modifying, or distributing this work may result in criminal punishment and civil liability.(42)