<Episode 122>
Trainer Choi Ganggeon, whom I was seeing again after a long time, greeted me with trapezius muscles that seemed to have risen even higher than before.
“Fuha! I may be a trainer dedicated to Hunters, but this is my first time teaching an SS-rank Awakened. I’m actually a bit nervous.”
He said that, but his eyes shone fiercely like a beast’s. His face full of anticipation, he clapped his hands together and shouted.
“Alright! Shall we begin training?”
I tied my hair tightly and nodded energetically. It had been a while since I’d trained, but I felt more excitement than worry. After all, I was now a bona fide SS-rank Awakened. I believed I wouldn’t end up gasping for air from physical exhaustion anymore.
‘Ha, what if the old training routine has become too easy and boring? Still, Teacher prepared all this for me, so I should at least pretend to struggle and sweat a little.’
But that arrogant misconception didn’t even last thirty minutes.
“Huff, huff! Teacher… I seriously feel like my heart’s about to leap out of my mouth!”
As I sprawled on the floor, panting heavily, Teacher Choi looked down at me and said,
“Due to the structure of the human body, the heart cannot leap out that easily. Now, stop exaggerating and let’s do one more set!”
“Please spare meee…”
After somehow enduring an hour of hellish training, I collapsed to the floor, drenched in sweat from head to toe.
Even if my rank had risen to SS, a production-type Hunter’s terrible stamina didn’t turn into steel overnight.
After drinking some water with trembling hands, I carefully asked,
“Don’t tell me we’re doing shooting practice right away too?”
“That was the plan originally, but… let’s strengthen your fundamentals first before we begin!”
After thanking him sincerely, I staggered out of the training room.
“I’ll see you again at this time tomorrow!”
“…Nweee…”
And so, peaceful days accompanied by muscle aches passed by.
In the mornings, I trained my body with Teacher Choi Ganggeon. In the afternoons, I visited all the stores, from Branch 1 to Jeongdameun Restaurant, checking on their status.
Today, after finishing my morning training, I’d come to Branch 1 to help out. Recently, I’d been so focused on Jeongdameun Restaurant that I’d barely paid any attention to Branch 1.
Dasom, who was drinking water in the corner, choked when she saw me appear unexpectedly.
“C-cough! Boss? What brings you here?”
“I thought I’d come help with the store for once. Is that okay?”
“Ah, of course! I was just wondering when you’d come. Good timing!”
Smiling brightly, Dasom immediately spread the news throughout the shop.
After exchanging brief greetings with Manager Jukyung, Taehun, and Ari, I put on an apron and got to work.
‘Hmm, there are definitely a lot of reservations for the new menu.’
The glutinous rice donuts that boosted jumping ability were especially popular. Not only were they delicious, but they were also convenient to eat inside Gates, and their effects were proven, leading to word-of-mouth spreading rapidly.
And so, I spent the entire day in the kitchen frying donuts nonstop.
“Phew, good work, everyone!”
“Great job, see you tomorrow!”
After finishing the closing cleanup and preparing to leave, Dasom, who had been watching me nervously the whole time, approached hesitantly.
“Um, Boss. My friend is a huge fan of yours. Would it be okay if you took a picture with her on your way home?”
With her hands clasped together, she looked at me pleadingly.
It wasn’t a difficult request.
“Of course. But where is your friend?”
“She already got off work and is driving here! She’ll be here soon.”
After sending the other employees home, I stayed behind in the empty shop chatting with Dasom while waiting.
“How is working here?”
“It’s more fun than I expected. I like meeting all kinds of customers too.”
What started as simple work-related questions gradually became more serious.
“Do you have any dreams you want to achieve, Dasom?”
“Of course! My dream is… to eat everything I love to my heart’s content.”
“Come on, that’s it? That’s so modest. What do you like?”
“Hehe, well…”
At that moment, the sharp vibration of a phone came from Dasom’s apron pocket.
The caller ID said “Suhee.”
“Oh, just a moment! My friend must be here!”
Dasom answered cheerfully.
But as she listened to the voice on the other end, her face turned white as wax.
“W-what…? No, Suhee!”
“Dasom, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“B-Boss, what do we do? My friend… she got into a c-car accident!”
Taking care of the half-dazed Dasom, we quickly caught a taxi and headed toward a road near the Management Bureau where the accident had supposedly happened.
“…Oh no.”
The scene was more horrific than I’d expected.
A passenger car had crashed head-on into a utility pole and come to a stop. Gray smoke rose from the mangled hood.
“Suhee! Kim Suhee!”
The moment she got out of the taxi, Dasom ran over and pounded on the passenger-side window.
Inside, a young woman was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious.
I rushed to the other side and pulled the driver’s door handle, but it wouldn’t budge.
‘What do I do? I need to call an ambulance first–’
Just as I reached for my phone, an unpleasant sense of discomfort crawled down my spine.
‘Wait. Dasom definitely answered a phone call from her friend. But the friend inside the car looks like she lost consciousness the moment the accident happened.’
Then who made the call?
And after such a major accident, why was it so eerily quiet around us?
Not even an ant seemed to be passing by.
“Dasom. Something’s wrong. Get behind me for now…”
I turned around with a hardened expression.
But my words never finished.
“…Dasom?”
The woman who’d been desperately pounding on the window moments ago was now staring at me expressionlessly, as though observing me.
“Come to think of it, Boss. I told you earlier, didn’t I? My dream is to eat everything I love.”
“Why bring that up now…?”
“I’ve finally gotten what I love. Thanks to you.”
What?
Because of me?
Before I could process those strange words, I sensed someone behind me.
“D-driver?”
It was the taxi driver who had brought us here.
Before I could retreat, he rushed over and restrained my arms, firmly covering my mouth.
“Mmph!”
I struggled desperately, but he seemed to be an Awakened too. His iron grip wouldn’t loosen.
“Hey, what are you doing? Stop dawdling and hurry up!”
“Ugh, alright. Just hold her properly.”
Sighing irritably, Dasom pulled out a heavy black metal bracelet.
‘That’s… the mana suppressor Park Jaemin wore?’
Realizing what was happening, I struggled frantically.
Looking down at me coldly, Dasom whispered,
“I’m sorry, Boss. But if you keep doing this… you’ll make things difficult for me too.”
Click.
The mana suppressors locked around my wrists.
Instantly, the mana flowing through my body drained away like the tide, and my vision spun.
“Wow, this works even on an SS-rank?”
“I told you, they’re specially made for criminals. Anyway, clean up the scene properly. Don’t leave any traces.”
“Don’t worry. I already disabled every CCTV camera leading here.”
Through my hazy vision, I saw Dasom extending her hand toward the man.
“What about what you promised? Aren’t you giving it to me now?”
“After we send this woman off. Someone will come pick you up soon, so wait a little.”
“Make sure it’s generous. Making those snacks I’ve never cared for in my life was exhausting.”
‘Something she was promised? Is someone coming for her? What exactly is going on…?’
I tried desperately to cling to consciousness, but it was futile.
Soon, an ordinary cargo truck slid to a stop in front of us.
“Hmm, right on time.”
Checking his watch, the man hoisted me onto his shoulder and walked over.
Then he tossed me into the dark cargo compartment like luggage.
“Ah!”
My shoulder slammed painfully against the hard steel floor.
Bang!
The rear doors shut mercilessly and locked.
Outside, the man pounded on the cargo door.
“You can leave now!”
The truck started moving smoothly and silently.
In the pitch-black darkness and vibrations, I struggled to sit up.
But even breathing was difficult with the suppressors.
‘Where are they taking me? Since when had Dasom been planning all this?’
My thoughts wouldn’t work.
I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly opened them again.
As my vision gradually adjusted to the darkness, I saw someone sitting in the corner.
“…Park Jaemin?”
As if delighted that I’d recognized him, Park Jaemin’s hollow eyes lit up.
Then he staggered toward me.
“Long time no see, huh?”
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