Chapter 244 - Chapter 244 (2/2)

"...."

For a while there, Chief wordlessly scanned the data I brought along before raising his head.

"So, what you're saying is that we need to do something as the Association and stop Mister Seong Jin-Woo acting as a Hunter, is that it?"

"Yes sir, that's correct."

Because he'd definitely die in the end if he continued to act as a Hunter.

"Fella, I hope you're aware of this Hunter's backstory while telling me all this."

I nodded my head.

His mother was currently admitted to the intensive care unit. I knew that she'd not survive for another day without the aid of the life-support machines.

And I also knew that he worked for the Association in order to receive financial support for the hospital fees.

"But, sir. Patients struck with the Eternal Sleep Disorder will never wake up. Surely, we can't let a living person march to his grave for the sake of a dead person, don't you agree?"

Even now, countless people were dying because of the illness, the Eternal Sleep Disorder.

It was indeed a regretful thing, but we just couldn't continue to drive him into death traps over and over again for his mother's life. We needed to save him, at the least.

Even though Chief did his best to dissuade me and change my mind, I didn't back down from my decision.

In the end, Chief had to nod his head.

"Alright, fine."

My expression brightened quickly, only for the Chief to add a stipulation first.

"Except that you will personally be responsible for changing Hunter Seong Jin-Woo's mind. If he willingly decides to stop, then we shall do so."

I had already made up my mind about that. Indeed, I've never even entertained the idea of forcibly kicking him away without his consent, to begin with.

Even though I was facing perhaps the most difficult hurdle...

"I understand."

....I still nodded head at the Chief, my expression full of determination.

***

Seriously now, have I ever been so committed to something to this degree in my life before? I was preparing so much data that I ended up asking myself that question.

This wasn't to make a grand announcement in front of higher-ups nor to pass a difficult examination. No, it was just to persuade one single Hunter named Seong Jin-Woo.

'He's twenty-three years old... he's younger than me by six years.'

Thanks to my meticulous preparation, I felt reasonably confident of my chances today. Well, I had in possession plenty of evidence and records of him driving himself towards the jaws of death, more than enough to chide him for his reckless actions.

I was planning to go through each and every one of these records to argue my case why he should stop being a Hunter. I was even prepared to lecture him that one needed to value one's life as much as one valued the life of his mother.

Clink.

The door of this cafe opened and a face that I only saw through the file photos stepped into the establishment. When I saw him in person, though, I froze up solid on the spot.

He scanned the cafe's interior before spotting me. He cautiously settled down on the seat opposite mine.

"H-hello, there."

He greeted me first. I couldn't say a single thing I've been preparing in my head, though.

***

"It's not as if we haven't tried to do the same thing."

Chief pushed forward a shot glass filled with soju and I swallowed it one go, my expression scrounging up afterwards.

Whether it was because of the bitter taste of the booze, or maybe my heart felt heavy, I didn't know why my expression refused to loosen up.

"Even then…. Sir, still, this isn't right, you know? That was just wrong, sir. He's a young kid, only 23 years old, so his eyes shouldn't look like that."

I honestly thought that, at the very least, Hunter Seong Jin-Woo would show up to the meeting place with an expression filled with unfounded confidence, believing that he'd always survive no matter what, or with a look of a scared person searching for someone, anyone, to help stop him.

And I felt confident of persuading him regardless of where his mental state was in.

However, Seong Jin-Woo was different. He seemed to have completely acknowledged the predicament he was stuck in.

There was this thin smile on his face implying that, although he was shivering away in fear, he somehow barely managed to overcome it.

So, how could I push someone's back towards a corner, to the precipice of a cliff, when that person had barely managed to overcome his fear?

I just couldn't do that.

And also, I came to realise that I shouldn't bad-mouth my superior officers just because they failed to do something that I, too, had failed to do.

Chief didn't say anything while filling up the shot glass, but then he quietly asked me a question.

"Fella. Why did you join the Hunter's Association?"

"I...."

That moment when I began thinking about helping Hunters out for the first time – my head dropped a little and recalled the events of that fateful day.

"When I was young, I saw a certain news broadcast, sir. It was about a Hunter who ended up being trapped inside a Gate while trying to save his comrades from getting stuck like him."

I recalled seeing the grounds of a theme park, a place where people were supposed to smile and have a good time, now filled with Hunters soaked in blood from head to toe as they lay there helplessly while moaning in pain.

Back then, I became really curious.

- Those folks saved other people while bleeding heavily like that, but who is saving them now?

My parents couldn't answer my question, and that was when I made up mind. If no one could help them, then I shall be the one to do so.

I shall do everything in my power to make sure that Hunters don't get injured or die.

"But now, even I became the same as the rest, sir."

I failed to become that source of support, strength, to Hunter Seong Jin-Woo who was facing a deadly crisis in his life.

There was nothing I could do for him.

I scolded my uselessness with such thoughts. Meanwhile, Chief studied me for a moment or two before putting down his shot glass.

"What if you still have something you can do?"

"Pardon me?"

I raised my head up.

Chief reached into his bag and pulled out a file containing information on a high-ranking Awakened. He then placed it before me.

"You see, there are people who Awakened as a high rank but due to not being interested in monetary gains, they chose not to become Hunters."

"....??"

"How about helping the Hunters affiliated with the Association by persuading these folks to join us?"

My mind snapped awake from that and I looked down at the file.

"Rank B Healer Hunter Yi Ju-Hui...."

An upper-rank Healer!

If someone like her joined the Association, then surely, she'd be able to save people from dying or suffering from heavy injuries. Even a weak Hunter should be able to fight to his heart's content without being worried about his safety.

For a moment there, Hunter Seong Jin-Woo's face I saw earlier brushed past my mind. My eyes were sparkling brightly, causing the Chief to gently chuckle and speak up.

"So, how about it? Are you interested?"

I stopped staring at the file and nodded my head energetically.

"Yes, sir. I am!!"

< Chapter 244 > Fin.