* * *
As we descended deeper underground, rows of cells that looked more like a prison came into view.
They were already packed with people, and judging by the oppressive atmosphere, they seemed to be traitors who’d been rounded up.
Some lay face down, looking like mummies—practically dead.
Human waste and unidentifiable filth were scattered everywhere, and the stench was unbearable.
I couldn’t even keep my face straight.
“Bit of a difference in treatment, don’t you think?”
The moment I stepped into the cell at the far end, I seized the opportunity—while Lee Donghyuk was distracted—and grabbed the pouch of drugs hidden in my inner pocket.
This might be my last chance to escape.
“Ugh.”
I tried to toss it at him, but he caught my wrist in an instant.
If this stuff was strong enough to affect an S-class, it had to be potent—yet I didn’t even get the chance to use it.
Damn NuMenstone.
Way too slow to activate. In the end, the half-burst pouch hit the ground with a thud.
Lee Donghyuk lazily kicked it aside, flashed the contract one more time, then carefully folded it and tucked it into his inner pocket.
“Good try, but too bad. If you change your mind, let me know anytime.”
With that, the beating began.
Slaps were just the beginning—he raised his foot and kicked my stomach over and over.
My spirit beast, Chirpy, stirred inside me, clearly struggling to hold back, but I clutched my stomach, pretending to collapse, and stopped him.
In a closed space like this, he absolutely couldn’t reveal himself.
No matter how strong an S-class spirit was, there’d be no escape—he’d just get caught.
“Huff…”
Though he held back because I was Awakened, for a normal person, this would’ve already broken me.
It felt like I’d been clubbed with a blunt weapon.
My insides were churning, and I couldn’t help coughing up blood while writhing on the filthy floor.
“They’re offering you special treatment, and yet you resist. Is it pride? Or you just don’t like the contract terms?”
“…What would you know?”
My eyes were so swollen I could barely see, but I roughly turned toward where I thought Lee Donghyuk stood.
Pride or contract terms would’ve been preferable.
“I can’t live here.”
Literally, I couldn’t survive in a place like this.
To stay alive, I needed to keep moving toward my goal.
That wasn’t possible here—my will didn’t matter.
More than anything, this place offered no life worth living.
“If the bug takes you over, contract or whatever—it’s all useless. They’ll feed you just enough to keep you from starving and drain your magic every day until you’re dry. Bugs don’t need special treatment.”
“……”
“You’ll be grateful just to lick up scraps left by others. That’s exactly what I intend to make you do.”
Lee Donghyuk patted my head like a dog and let out a quiet chuckle.
I couldn’t tell if he was trying to scare me or if he genuinely found this situation amusing.
Either way, it was equally disgusting.
“You’ll live like that—too afraid to even lift your head, licking my shoes.”
“Go easy, will you?”
I didn’t back down and smirked, which earned me a punch to the face.
I must’ve taken a clean hit—everything went black, and when I came to, the pain hit me all at once.
I groaned, unable to stop myself.
Several of my ribs were definitely broken—every movement made something inside shift painfully.
It hurts so much…
For the first time, the thought crossed my mind: ‘If this keeps up, I might actually die.’
I briefly considered calling on Chirpy for help, but that would mean exposing him—and even then, his power wasn’t built to last.
They still needed me alive.
They wouldn’t kill me—not yet.
They’d just keep beating me until I said I’d sign.
Then, a rough hand grabbed my chin and forced my mouth open.
Before I could resist, a cold liquid was poured down my throat.
I couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt around my stomach.
The previously broken bones had been mended.
They must’ve used a potion—not a high-quality one, though.
One hit and I’d probably break again.
“Shall we start over?”
That line made me let out a laugh, despite myself.
Wasn’t he being a bit too transparent?
“What, scared of failure?”
“What?”
“It’s just 30%.”
These guys were terrified that even the 70% might fail—so terrified, they were bending over backward to keep me intact.
If I broke, everything would fall apart, so they were walking on eggshells.
Honestly, the guy who bet on the 30%—Seo Inho—seemed braver.
“And you expect to lead a rebellion with that kind of cowardice?”
Just pathetic.
Lucky for me, I wouldn’t be facing the bugs just yet, but I couldn’t help feeling amused.
I must’ve struck a nerve—Lee Donghyuk’s jaw clenched tight.
“You can take a beating better than I thought.”
His expression didn’t change, but veins bulged on his forehead, betraying his emotions.
Maybe I should’ve just shut up.
A little late for regrets now.
A shadow loomed over me as Lee Donghyuk approached, his figure engulfed in darkness.
He bent down and grabbed my ankle.
“I heard you don’t need limbs to use your powers.”
Before I could even register the creeping fear, a sharp crack echoed—and my ankle broke.
Just a flick of his wrist, and it snapped like a brittle chopstick.
“AAAH!!”
A scream tore from my throat as searing pain rushed in.
But Lee Donghyuk didn’t care.
He climbed on top of me as I thrashed and pinned one of my wrists.
Honestly, I was so focused on the agony in my ankle that I barely noticed at first.
“You’re right-handed, aren’t you? You’ll need to sign the contract somehow. Should I start cutting off the fingers on your left hand?”
His hand, which had been rubbing the inside of my wrist, slowly slid up and began gently stroking my palm.
Maybe it was the calluses, but the rough texture of my skin reminded me of tree bark.
“For a guy, your skin’s damn pale. Hands like these have never seen a day of real work.”
“Ugh!”
His touch, once soft, suddenly tightened—and one by one, my fingers bent backward in directions they were never meant to go.
I kept screaming until my voice gave out, my head drooping to the side in exhaustion.
Just like that, my throat was ruined, and I couldn’t make a sound anymore.
As my mind blurred from the pain, I clutched the trembling Chirpyin my arms—my little companion, scared and shivering.
I tried to reassure him, gently patting his back, but the trembling wouldn’t stop.
“Stop…”
“Oh? So now you’re finally ready to sign?”
Only after all five fingers were broken did the contract finally appear in front of my eyes, fluttering mockingly.
For a moment, I almost nodded instinctively—but I clenched my teeth and looked away instead.
A soft sigh brushed past my ear.
“No choice then, Girae.”
Was he going to break my wrist next?
But that thought was interrupted as Lee Donghyuk pulled out a jackknife—the same one I’d seen before.
Before I could fully register what was happening, he cut off one of my fingers.
I froze, stunned by the blood spurting out, then thrashed in agony as the unbearable pain set in.
The fact that I’d lost a finger didn’t even sink in at first—it was the pain that overwhelmed everything.
And it wasn’t over.
He gripped my wrist again, clearly preparing to slice off my middle finger next.
The madness in his eyes was undeniable.
So this is what they meant when they said he wasn’t “just any Hunter.”
I used to think that referred to physical strength—but now I finally understood what it really meant.
And just as I was about to lose a second finger, unable to resist at all—
Chirp!
From inside my sleeve, Chirpy suddenly leapt out and clung tightly to the back of my hand.
A small barrier formed instantly, and with a sharp ting, the jackknife shattered on impact.
He’d finally stepped in, unable to just sit back and watch.
His tiny body began to glow softly, and in a flash, the barrier—once small enough to only cover my hand—expanded and enveloped my entire body.
Lee Donghyuk’s expression hardened, clearly thrown off by the sudden development—but honestly, I was just as stunned.
Because I knew Chirpy’s barrier only lasted one hour at most.
“Inho!”
A desperate voice echoed through the small snack shop, which had sat in eerie silence for some time.
Who knows how long I’d been unconscious—the store, once brightly lit, was now blanketed in darkness.
I wished it was just a nightmare.
But the bloody stains on the floor and the shattered remains of a phone made it clear: this was all real.
Seo Inho’s father, covered in blood himself, didn’t care about his own injuries.
He frantically looked around, searching only for his son.
“In… Inho…”
He kept repeating the name like a broken parrot, then suddenly jumped and reached for the store phone.
This was no time to freeze up.
“Police… ambulance…”
But even as he fidgeted, hands trembling, he couldn’t bring himself to dial.
Tears streamed down his face as he realized it—neither the police nor paramedics would be of any use in a situation like this.
Even if he reported it, could they save his son?
Probably not.
Out of time, Seo Inho’s father stumbled out of the store.
His destination?
The Cha Sung Guild.
He had no one else to turn to—Cha Rui, an S-class Hunter he had once shared a birthday meal with, was his only faint connection.
The man had even apologized to him once, hadn’t he?
If Cha Rui wouldn’t help, he was prepared to beg on his knees until he did.
“Sir, you can’t be here.”
But things didn’t go as planned.
He didn’t even make it past the lobby.
Had he underestimated how hard this would be?
He clung to the staff’s pant leg, but the employees didn’t budge.
They looked at him like he was crazy and tried to drag him out.
“I need to speak with Hunter Cha Rui!”
“I told you, he’s not someone you can meet just because you want to. You’re injured—you should go to a hospital.”
Eventually, pushed all the way to the entrance, he sobbed and pleaded—but it was no use.
Just as he was about to be thrown out, something—or rather, someone—caught his eye.
He hadn’t been sure Cha Rui was even here, but there it was—red hair in the distance.
“Hunter Cha Rui!!”
The staff member clearly hadn’t expected this either, freezing when he saw Cha Rui approaching.
Up until now, he’d been gentle only because the man was elderly—but once Cha Rui was in view, he grew forceful, yanking the old man aside.
“S-Sorry. I’ll get rid of him right away—”
“Our Inho…”
But that forceful action stopped the moment Cha Rui raised a hand.
The employee, sensing something serious, quickly bowed and backed off.
Cha Rui’s expression had shifted—now grim and terrifying.
When the guild master wore that face, everyone knew to back off—no questions asked.
* * *
Cha Rui to the rescue!!!!!