Chapter 18
Korean Hunter Association
While the Hunter Community and Academy anonymous bulletin board were heating up over the Black God Church incident, Association Vice President Jeong Na-yoon felt something was off about this case.
"Something's strange. It's just a practice dungeon, but the Demonic Power concentration was this intense. Even if that weirdo Kim Seung-joon leaked it, no human should be able to withstand it."
"Huh? Didn't those girls handle it?"
Clearly Hunter Kim Bbeom-mi and Hanseong Academy first-year students Reina and Han Soo-ji who went into that dungeon were perfectly fine.
"According to Soo-ji and Reina, they barely managed to fight back while nearly dying, then Yoo Eun-ha fought alone."
"Maybe Eun-ha is more talented than we thought?"
After all, isn't she that crazy student who scored 9999 against the wooden doll on day one?
Indeed, she's not just Jin-seok's sister - she's even more talented than him, with every Guild already eyeing her.
There are even rumors that Villain organizations are trying to recruit her, which says it all.
"Archers or mages above B-rank like Reina or Kim Bbeom-mi might be able to take down Kim Seung-joon from range, but Eun-ha is a close combat type. She had no choice but to directly take the Demonic Power. Yet she somehow pressured the mutant at speeds active Hunters couldn't even see."
In terms of pure speed, she's already surpassed Jin-seok, not even counting strength.
That point bothered the Vice President.
"Didn't they say she collapsed after fighting? Could be from the Demonic Power?"
"Soo-ji claims it was nicotine withdrawal, while Reina says it was from overusing her abilities. She's too young to be such a heavy smoker that nicotine withdrawal would make her collapse, so it's probably the latter - which proves she wasn't affected enough by the Demonic Power to prevent her from spamming abilities."
Originally, Demonic Power interferes with people's magic circuits, disrupting their unique abilities and skill usage.
The longer one is exposed to Demonic Power, the more their magic circuits become corrupted until they eventually awaken as a mutant.
So what exactly are you trying to say?
"Come to think of it. What's your point here?"
"The Demonic Power detected in that dungeon was at a concentration that even A-rank Hunters could barely withstand. No matter how talented she is, she shouldn't have S-rank level capabilities at that young age, and if she did, she wouldn't have collapsed."
Vice President Jeong Na-yoon's words made Association President Choi Cheol-sik's face turn pale.
Though she's beating around the bush, her implication is clear.
"So you're suggesting Jin-seok's sister Eun-ha might be a mutant?"
"Not necessarily, but I think it wouldn't hurt to have skilled Hunters from the Association or Guilds monitor her as a precaution. There's also the possibility of retaliation from the Black God Church. Hunter Jin-seok would understand."
"Jin-seok would be pretty pissed if he heard the truth."
Choi Cheol-sik sighed.
Of all people, Jin-seok's sister had to come under suspicion of being a mutant. But they can't just let it slide when there are quite a few suspicious points suggesting she might be one.
In that case, they could at least dispatch some Hunters under the pretext of protecting her from Black God Church retaliation.
"What about Kim Seung-joon's family?"
"His mother is in a vegetative state from his attack that morning, and his sister Kim Ji-seon, who works at the Association office, says it's better this way that the troublemaker who worried their parents became a mutant and died. Apparently she'd been covering all of Seung-joon's tuition because of their mother."
Kim Seung-joon was from an ordinary family. And it's not like he had exceptional Hunter abilities either. Of course, having to enter Hunter Academy through regular admission meant the tuition wasn't cheap.
It's understandable, given her brother who she poured money into joined the Black God Church and became a mutant.
"That's somewhat fortunate. Well, make sure to send them appropriate condolence money."
"Yes sir."
Even if he was a mutant, a son and brother died. It was only natural for the Association to provide compensation.
Of course, Eun-ha would receive an even larger sum as reward money.
* * *
I ended up not asking the protagonist anything.
This world has twisted too far from the original. I was afraid I'd get answers I didn't want if I asked.
Surely not.
There's no way the protagonist could have regressed. At least, that's not how the original story went.
Even after being discharged, my doubts remained unresolved.
But what could I do even if I found out?
"It must just be a coincidence."
Maybe I'll read a book.
Come to think of it, the previous Eun-ha must have been a bookworm since the bookshelf is packed full.
I wonder what kind of novels are in there.
Curiosity got the better of me.
I pulled one out to read - it's about mythology.
European mythology and Iranian-originated religions from the Persian region.
"What the hell is this? Was the original Eun-ha this interested in religion and mythology?"
Atropos? Nyarlathotep? What are these? Why did she study such boring things?
Evil Dragon Azhi Dahaka?
What is this? No, let's not read it. My head hurts. I don't need to read such profound stuff.
It's hard enough just living my life, what use is knowing what the previous Eun-ha knew?
Don't come to Academy for a while, okay? I've already told everyone.
I don't know what Si-woo told them, but Reina and Soo-ji kept sending messages.
All of them completely spammed with overly affectionate messages.
I don't deserve love as someone not from this world. So I deleted all the messages showing affection.
"So in the end, we don't know when the event will happen?"
Kim Seung-joon's mutation marks the beginning of the real story.
That's when Si-woo starts getting stronger at the Academy.
No way I became weak just from taking down one mutant. That Si-woo guy worries too much.
"Come to think of it, the outside atmosphere feels strangely different too."
I'm not some clueless idiot.
I haven't left the house since being discharged.
Basically reduced to being a complete shut-in.
Something's been watching me from outside since the day I was discharged.
Could be the Black God Church seeking revenge for killing their follower, or someone from the Association.
"Forced school break isn't bad though."
What will happen to Si-woo? For me to survive, he needs to properly fulfill his duties as the protagonist.
No, why should I listen to that bastard?
Logically, there's no reason I have to stay home.
The fact they're not raiding the house means those presences are definitely people sent by the Association to protect me.
If anything, shouldn't I be the one monitoring Si-woo?
Right. I simply have an obligation to watch how the original story unfolds as a third party. So I need to go to Academy.
Who the fuck does he think he is treating me like an invalid and stopping me from going to Academy?
"Getting pissed off all of a sudden?"
I changed into my carelessly tossed Academy uniform and left the house.
* * *
Around when morning classes were ending. I boldly arrived at Academy just before being late.
I casually scanned the students in Class 1-A.
Since my story had spread quite widely, the students' attention focused on me.
Among them were gazes of goodwill and fondness, some still creepy stares, and quite a few wary looks too.
"Huh? Weren't you not supposed to come today?"
"Oh, hey class rep."
A short-haired girl wearing glasses greeted me.
She's just an extra whose name I can't be bothered to remember, but she had a face fitting for the class representative position.
"Will you be okay? You must have been pretty shocked."
"I'm fine."
Kim Seung-joon was going to die anyway.
Isn't it better that I killed him before the Black God Church could retrieve their Core?
Rather, I should proudly establish my name as Class 1-A's hero.
"Eun-ha, you okay?"
"Must have been rough?"
The students' reactions are split between two extremes.
One side sees me as a hero who defeated a mutant. The other sees me as a ruthless woman who killed a fellow student, even if he was a mutant.
The latter probably stems more from inferiority over my achievement, but still, the fact that I killed a fellow student as Yoo Eun-ha probably bothers them a bit.
The former tends to be more 2nd and 3rd years.
The 1st years are mostly newbies who don't yet have the resolve to become Hunters or understand the Black God Church's existence and what kind of world this is, but the 2nd and 3rd years are somewhat prepared and know about the Black God Church well, so they're actually envious of my achievement in eliminating a mutant.
"Oh, and Eun-ha. Are you interested in joining any clubs?"
That was the class rep's question as she followed me around.
"Not opposed to it."
Club activities are the essence of school life youth, right?
Of course I want to try it at least once.
I never got to when I was young either.
"You can make a new one if you get 5 members, or join an existing club."
"We can make our own?"
"Well, there's more than enough club budget since the Hunter Association provides it."
Still, joining an existing one might not be bad.
Looking at the club list, there's swordsmanship and magic research clubs, magic gear research club, movie appreciation club, gaming club and various others.
"So streaming is popular even in this era."
Internet broadcasting club.
Not just worldwide known gaming or mukbang or chatting broadcasts, but broadcasts for Hunters.
Of course it would be, since this is a Hunter Academy streaming club.
This seems interesting? I bet they broadcast while running dungeons and stuff.
"This could be fun."
"Streaming? Surprisingly you're into this kind of thing."
I'm not particularly into streaming itself.
No, I watched some gaming streams at first, but keenly felt it was a waste of time.
"Is this club popular?"
"Well, it's apparently on the verge of shutting down. You know, because of the Black God Church. There are rumors about them appearing in dungeons, so now they can only stream from Guild dungeons, but they can't afford the personnel costs."
"Ah, the Black God Church."
Those bastards are never any help.
Then maybe it's better not to do anything after all. Wait?
Hold on, internet broadcasting club. The club president here is Lee Yoo-jeong.
Lee Yoo-jeong is one of protagonist Choi Si-woo's heroines.
In the original, Si-woo joined the streaming club under the pretext of entering dungeons and formed a connection with Yoo-jeong.
They start falling in love while bravely exploring dungeons together despite the Black God Church's threats, trusting only in the Divine Sword
Their relationship develops to the point where they even do that kind of thing.
Especially rolling around in the club room...
"...that fucking bastard."
I'm jealous of his dick.
* * *