* * *
“…Uh…”
My mind was hazy.
It felt like I had just been consumed by an intense, burning desire, but… I couldn’t remember anything.
I was definitely sitting in a wheelchair—so why am I standing now?
Taehwan’s face had gone pale, probably because he always worries too much and overreacts to the smallest things I do.
But even beyond that, the whole atmosphere felt off.
The silence around me was eerie.
Everyone in the cafeteria was staring at me.
Dozens of eyes, watching warily.
The kind of sharp, predatory eyes you’d expect from seasoned hunters.
You could physically feel that this was a gathering place for high-ranking combat-type awakened individuals—Hunters.
“Ah…”
“Let’s go.”
Taehwan, looking completely out of it, forcefully put me back in the wheelchair and took off running.
He didn’t even wait for the elevator.
He flung open the emergency exit door, lifted the wheelchair with me still in it, and practically flew down the stairs at breakneck speed, straight out of the building.
Rumble rumble rumble—
Was he even heading somewhere specific?
I just let my body follow, jostling in the wheelchair at this ridiculous speed, when my wristwatch started to vibrate.
[Call: Han Jihye]
A call? This tiny little watch has way more functions than it looks like.
I’d heard it was an advanced piece of tech developed by the Bureau—despite being a bit outdated—and it really did seem legit.
“…Huh?”
But wait—how the hell do I answer this thing?
What button do I press?
While I was fumbling with it, pressing everything I could, Taehwan came to a stop in some secluded, shadowy corner.
He turned around and came toward me.
He crouched down to meet my eyes, and his face was completely drained of color.
With a long sigh, he finally opened his mouth.
“Jung Jehee.”
“…Yeah?”
“This might sound crazy, but I have to ask—those monsters… the ones found dead at the hospital… did you do that?”
“Oh, those? Some of them, I guess? It’s all kind of fuzzy—like a dream—but I did take down a few with my ability.”
“…”
Taehwan’s face froze.
I wanted to ask why he looked like that, and why we had to flee the cafeteria like it was life or death.
But someone else spoke first.
— Jung Jehee, we’d like to hear more about that last conversation. Please come up to the 8th floor.
Han Jihye’s voice. I must’ve accidentally hit the call button while messing with the watch.
The moment her voice came through, Taehwan’s face twisted like he’d been possessed by a demon.
I hate using the word “demon” to describe Taehwan, but there was no better way to put it.
“Damn it. Of all times… fuck!”
“Taehwan! What’s wrong?!”
He yanked at my wrist, trying to tear off the watch.
Destroying a piece of equipment distributed by the Bureau for communication?
That’s considered a serious crime in Korea, where Hunters and Awakened are strictly regulated.
I grabbed his wrist, panicked.
“Why are you doing this?! Stop it!”
— Im Taehwan. If you damage Jung Jehee’s watch, you will be immediately arrested. Even as the Director’s son, you are not exempt.
Han Jihye’s voice was cold.
But her warning didn’t slow Taehwan down for even a second.
So I kicked him in the shin with everything I had.
“I told you to stop!”
“Ghh…”
Only after taking a hit did Taehwan finally let go.
I quickly checked the watch.
The strap looked a little frayed, but it wasn’t broken.
The call was still connected, and everything seemed to be working.
I let out a breath of relief and put some distance between us.
“Yes, Han Jihye. What would you like to know?”
— Jung Jehee. Are you saying you used your awakened ability to kill the monsters during the incident?
“Um… Is that a problem?”
Maybe it was because of Taehwan’s panicked reaction, but Han Jihye’s voice seemed even colder than before.
Is there some rule that says unregistered Hunters aren’t allowed to kill monsters?
But if I hadn’t, I’d be dead…
— The number of monsters found dead on the floor where you were discovered by the ‘Gray Coat Hunter’ was five in total—all confirmed to be B-rank or higher. One of the monsters found in the isolation room was even an A-rank.
“…Huh.”
Wait, they were that high-level?
An A-rank would be considered a boss-tier monster, depending on the dungeon.
Thinking back… maybe it makes sense.
The isolation room door was pretty thick.
That monster slammed into it and didn’t even look hurt before it charged straight at me.
That’s gotta mean it was built like a tank.
Its body was huge too—big enough to block the door completely.
‘But… didn’t it die a little too easily?’
I remember the exact moment its neck and body were separated.
It happened with such ease it didn’t even feel real.
Now I get why Han Jihye sounded so alarmed.
Being able to kill something like that meant my ability had serious killing power.
— We’ll need to reschedule the remaining tests. For now, please return to the building immediately.
“Yes, understood.”
I responded calmly, but my heart was already pounding.
Anticipation surged up and flooded my mind with light.
At this rate… I might get a high rank.
Maybe—just maybe—I could dream again of becoming a hero.
My lips trembled with barely suppressed excitement.
I always said I’d be happy just helping others, but deep down, I’d always wanted to be the one to fight monsters head-on.
“Taehwan, hey—what if I really did awaken some insane power? What if it’s, like, combat-type A-rank or something… huh?”
I meant it half-joking, half-hoping.
But before I could finish the thought, I saw Taehwan’s face—and my words caught in my throat.
His face was deathly dark, his eyes bloodshot and wide with horror.
He looked like a man staring down a disaster—like he’d just witnessed the worst possible outcome unfold before his very eyes.
As soon as we returned to the Bureau, Han Jihye was already waiting.
Without delay, she fastened something onto my wrists.
Clack.
Cold metal wrapped around both wrists.
It was a strange feeling.
The cuffs didn’t feel uncomfortable or tight—almost like they were designed to minimize that.
But still… it felt like handcuffs.
Even if there wasn’t a chain connecting them.
To make things worse, they weren’t even that heavy, but I could feel the energy draining from my body, like they were sapping my strength just by being there.
“I understand it’s uncomfortable, but please wear them until we’ve verified the safety and classification of your ability, Jung Jehee.”
“Ugh… What are these things?”
“These are restraints designed to seal your abilities. Please keep them on even while washing or sleeping.”
“Okay. I will.”
So they’re ability-sealing restraints.
That explains why I felt like my energy was being drained.
Good thing I was already in a wheelchair—if I hadn’t been, I might’ve collapsed from losing strength in my legs.
Still, it didn’t feel all that bad.
Other than physically recovering, I hadn’t really felt like I’d awakened yet, but now it felt real.
To think I’m actually wearing something like this, something that only awakened individuals usually wear!
Though… it seemed Taehwan had a different opinion.
“Are you serious? This isn’t even the standard type—it’s an enhanced restraint! Why are you going this far with him?”
“It’s a necessary safety measure. As soon as we confirm it’s safe, we’ll remove them. Please don’t worry. We’ll proceed with the remaining tests as quickly as possible.”
“What kind of crap is that? This is way too much. Normally, people only wear one standard restraint—why are you putting enhanced ones on both of Jehee’s hands? You do realize the effects aren’t additive—they multiply. That’s way too much strain on the body, and you know it!”
Ah… Taehwan’s acting really unlike himself today.
Actually, ever since the cafeteria, he’s been off.
The usual Taehwan wouldn’t be this emotional.
He knows better than anyone that losing your cool only gives others a chance to pick at your weak spots.
Logic and pointed arguments were always his specialty—he could easily corner someone with reason alone.
So why’s he like this? He’s unusually tense today.
“Taehwan… I… uh…”
I tried to reach out to stop him, to say I was okay—but I froze in shock.
‘My arm… it won’t move…’
Just a moment ago, it just felt like my body was going limp, like a wet rag.
But now… the strength is draining more and more.
It’s like I’ve got steel bars strapped across my entire body.
Even now, I can feel the life being sucked out of me.
Taehwan was right.
It is hard on the body… a lot harder than I thought.
I can feel now—clear as day—why he’s this furious.
He’s genuinely worried about me.
In the end, trying to calm him down only made things worse.
* * *
