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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Start of Proper Education (1)
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Beep-beep-beep. Beep-beep-beep.
Cha Su-ho, who had fallen into a deep sleep for the first time in ages, was forced to pry his eyes open to the ear-piercing alarm.
"Where's that coming from... Huh?"
Involuntarily lifting a hand to rub his eyes, Cha Su-ho realized the source of the noise was the watch strapped to his wrist. Gi-uk's name was displayed on the screen.
[Min Gi-uk Secretary]
When Cha Su-ho tapped the screen, Gi-uk's voice emanated from the watch.
-Hello, Helper Cha Su-ho. We've received word that your Hunter matching test has been scheduled. I realize it's sudden, but it's an urgent matter, so please bear with us.
"It's fine. Where do I need to go?"
-Please come out of the Helper lounge, and I'll escort you.
"Ah, yes. Understood."
No sooner had the call ended than Cha Su-ho hopped out of bed and headed outside. Sure enough, the hallway was dead silent, and there wasn't a soul—or even an ant—in the common area.
Once or twice a month.
Recalling Gi-uk's words about how busy everyone was, Cha Su-ho smacked his lips in disappointment.
"So much for getting chummy."
As an F-grade, he'd figured blending in with the other Helpers was a lost cause this time too. With that thought, Cha Su-ho stepped out of the Helper lounge.
"Helper Cha Su-ho."
Gi-uk, who had been waiting, offered a greeting.
"We'll be heading to the same place where you took your Helper test last time. Chief Examiner Trevor will be conducting the matching test personally."
"Chief Examiner Trevor?"
"Yes. Please follow me."
The destination was a familiar one. It was the very spot he'd visited just days ago for his Helper evaluation.
A woman in a white gown approached the moment Cha Su-ho arrived, as if she'd been waiting.
"Hello, Helper Cha Su-ho. How are you feeling today?"
Cha Su-ho answered the woman, who asked with a bright smile.
"I'm good."
"Then please have a seat and wait just a moment. We'll call you as soon as we're ready."
Where the woman indicated, a plush recliner awaited alongside an assortment of refreshments.
A-grade Helpers got preferential treatment right from the Hunter matching test. Regular Helpers were typically herded en masse into a single room to check compatibility with Hunters, then handed icy result sheets by the examiners.
There were no courteous pleas from examiners or dedicated doctors to wait patiently, no dedicated lounge provided either.
Cha Su-ho's expression shifted subtly at the markedly different reception.
It made sense, really. A-grades were exceedingly rare—valuable assets in their own right. Intellectually, he got it. But a lingering bitterness still tugged at his heart.
"Helper Cha Su-ho?"
The woman called out again to the spaced-out Cha Su-ho.
"Yes, got it."
"If you need anything while you're waiting, just say the word."
The woman bowed politely and departed.
"I'll come fetch you once the Hunter matching is complete. And for dinner tonight?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
Cha Su-ho blinked in surprise. Was I supposed to pick my own meals? He shot Gi-uk a clueless look.
"Whatever you'd like. Breakfast, lunch, dinner—if you have a preferred menu, let me know ahead of time, and I'll have it prepared. Otherwise, we'll follow the meal plan from your assigned nutritionist and chef."
They'd make whatever he wanted? And there was a dedicated nutritionist and chef?
Back as an F-grade Helper, a cold packed lunch had been the height of luxury. Aside from the rare occasions when Team Leader Kang dragged them to a barbecue joint for drinks. Even then, it was sidelong glares and F-grade jabs while he ate.
The realization that he could now eat whatever he craved, freely and comfortably, lit up Cha Su-ho's face.
"In that case, for today...! Spicy stir-fried pork... three servings possible?"
Gi-uk paused briefly at the modest request but nodded.
"Yes, we'll prepare it."
"Thank you!"
How long had it been since he'd last savored spicy pork stir-fry? As excitement bubbled up, the hitherto silent Jin Seong-hyeok finally spoke.
'Spicy pork isn't what's important right now.'
His slightly subdued tone carried weight.
'Look. Hunters right in front of you. Two S-grades, at that.'
Cha Su-ho snapped his head up.
It was true. Two men in Hunter gear stood there, sizing him up and down with sour expressions.
Just as an uneasy Cha Su-ho opened his mouth to address Jin Seong-hyeok, the latter beat him to it.
'Those bastards are infamous for working Helpers to the bone.'
'Working Helpers?'
Jin Seong-hyeok replied to Cha Su-ho's query with nonchalance.
'Yeah.'
'How, exactly?'
'Hear it, and you won't wanna match with them. Still curious?'
Cha Su-ho burned with curiosity over what torment warranted such a warning from Jin Seong-hyeok.
'Gotta steel myself since it's happening anyway.'
Jin Seong-hyeok let out a brief sigh before continuing.
'Fair enough—you should know beforehand.'
Tension coiled in Cha Su-ho's gut. He swallowed hard and tuned in.
'Some S-grades are bottom-tier trash, and those two are poster boys. Every new Helper match means they put 'em through an initiation rite.'
Helper initiation rite?
'Days after the rite, their assigned Helpers bail. Every A- and B-grade Helper out there has survived those two's hazing. Even a B-grade subbing in for an A-grade shortage got crippled for life from it.'
What kind of rite left someone limping forever? Cha Su-ho's face grew grave.
'Evil Zone.'
'Evil Zone?'
'You know it?'
'Obviously. Covered it in training.'
There were three monster origin points: Evil Zone, Dead Zone, and Last Zone. Given their endless spawning, overflows spilled into the outside world once numbers swelled—so Hunters had to purge them periodically.
Of those, the Evil Zone was one origin feared even by A-grade Hunters—a place only S-grades and above could enter.
'That's their rite venue. Drag a fresh Helper in, let monsters chase 'em down. Panicked Helper sobs for mercy, flees in terror, nearly monster chow—rescue at the brink. Rinse and repeat for half a day.'
Fury surged. Treating a Helper who'd come to aid them like that? Cha Su-ho glared daggers at the pair lounging casually, teeth grinding.
'Psycho fucks... right?'
'Calling 'em psychos is too generous—they're human garbage.'
'Government and Association just let it slide?!'
'On paper, it's "field training" to prevent Helper desertions. And they're S-grades, so authorities look the other way.'
S- and SS-grade Hunters were hailed worldwide. Their unmatched power made them a privileged elite.
Like any elite class, the wealthy buried scandals with cash, the mighty with muscle—and they did the same.
Jin Seong-hyeok, utterly jaded with life, was the exception.
'...Lots of 'em like that? Among S- and SS-grades?'
'Enough. They all think they're hot shit.'
Cha Su-ho wondered if Jin Seong-hyeok shared that mindset.
'What about you, then?'
A beat of silence passed before Jin Seong-hyeok's parched reply.
'Couldn't care less.'
Couldn't care less?
'Died inside every day—no bandwidth for anything else.'
Cha Su-ho froze. He'd long itched to ask: an SSS-grade with it all, why the daily death wish? Cleaning right up to rampage edge explained mental strain, but suicide? Seemed insufficient. Was there more?
'Genuinely curious, Jin Seong-hyeok...'
"Hey."
Cha Su-ho cut off mid-thought, gaze drifting upward slowly.
"You the Helper who jumped from F-grade to A-grade?"
An arrogant Hunter jutted his chin; beside him, another smirked with hands jammed in pockets. Cha Su-ho scanned the name tags on their Hunter suits.
'Kim Hak-jun, Tao.'
The man in the Kim Hak-jun-tagged suit twisted his face—then snatched Cha Su-ho's hair in a flash.
"Ugh."
"Answer when spoken to, punk. Who the hell does a Helper think he is?"
Head wrenched back by the grip, Cha Su-ho's eyes turned razor-sharp.
"Let go."
"What?"
"I said, let go."
Kim Hak-jun barked a hollow laugh and released the hair.
"This guy's a riot."
"Right? Wonder how he'll hold up in the field."
Tao grinned wolfishly and extended a hand for a shake.
"Hope the matching test pans out. I like the cut of you."
But Cha Su-ho just glared—no handshake forthcoming. Tao withdrew his hand. Instead, he murmured just loud enough for Cha Su-ho.
"Punks like you always piss yourselves out there, bawling for mommy."
Kim Hak-jun guffawed.
"Ease up, you're scaring him already. What if he bolts before assignment?"
"Let him bolt."
As they cackled to each other, Cha Su-ho spoke with pitying disdain.
"I'm not running."
The Hunters' faces hardened instantly.
"What'd you say?"
"I said I'm not running."
Their eyes twitched faintly as they stared at Cha Su-ho—fists balled, eyes bulging. A mere Helper sassing them? Unprecedented.
The air thickened toward violence when Trevor made his entrance.
"Commencing Hunter matching test. Hunter Kim Hak-jun, Hunter Tao—take your seats."
The duo shot Cha Su-ho one last glare before slumping into the prepared chairs. No sooner had they sat than dedicated doctors and examiners began attaching sensors across their bodies.
Likely to monitor pre- and post-Clean vitals.
"Helper Cha Su-ho."
Cha Su-ho turned toward Trevor's voice.
"Clean Hunter Kim Hak-jun first."
He hated touching the filthy body, but no choice. With a brief sigh, Cha Su-ho rolled up his sleeves.
Standing behind Kim Hak-jun, a savage urge to crack his nape surged—but he tamped it down, pressing his palm to the man's back.
A rush like blood pooling in his palm hit instantly, mind sharpening. Palm alone, and he sensed the man's condition crystal-clear.
Blockages, flows. Clotted power pulsing. Cha Su-ho focused—and the mass erupted, purifying in a blink.
His first true Clean. Leagues beyond F-grade dabbling.
"Hah?"
Cha Su-ho wasn't alone in feeling it. Kim Hak-jun had endured countless A-grade Cleans, but nothing this potent.
"...No way."
Kim's dedicated doctor muttered at the readout.
"...Matching rate..."
The nearby examiner finished for the speechless doctor.
"99%."
Fuck.
Cha Su-ho squeezed his eyes shut in abject defeat.