TSOT#1 Chapter 14

 

The Special Awakener Association hosted an event to celebrate the new recruits joining the training center.

 

As Joo-ah entered the banquet hall, she saw many Hunters already seated.

It had been a while since she attended such an event.

 

While regular Hunters were required to participate in these events, elite squads had the option to attend or not. Back then, Joo-ah thought such events were a waste of time and chose to focus solely on training.

 

She turned her head, looking for her teammates. Being part of the upper group, they were likely seated in the front, making it hard to spot them from the back.

 

Just as she was about to head toward her teammates, someone blocked her way.

 

“Joo-ah, hey!”

 

The person greeting her with sudden familiarity was none other than Boram, the one who had previously ruined Joo-ah’s flowerpot.

 

Joo-ah gazed at her indifferently before speaking.

 

“Hello, Boram.”

 

Her voice sounded as if she were addressing an old friend, causing Boram to smirk disdainfully.

 

“My, my. It seems you’ve grown quite confident since joining the training center. Is this the power of being matched with an high-tier group?”

 

Boram’s mocking tone was met with a faint smile from Joo-ah.

 

“Glad you noticed.”

 

At that, Boram’s amused expression quickly vanished.

 

“Really? Then let me take a look at your teammates. I’m dying to see just how pathetic they must be to have accepted someone like you.”

 

Boram grabbed Joo-ah’s arm forcefully, drawing attention from other Hunters nearby. Her rough gestures left Joo-ah momentarily unable to resist.

 

As Boram dragged her along, Joo-ah was just about to shake off her hand when a voice interrupted.

 

“And who gave you permission to drag our little E-Rank around like that?”

 

Yoo Chan-hee appeared, slinging an arm around Joo-ah’s shoulder, his mocking tone aimed directly at Boram. This sudden intervention brought Joo-ah to a halt.

 

Boram turned her head sharply, her face flushing bright red. The reason? Likely the sight of Chan-hee’s striking appearance.

 

Though she would never admit it, Chan-hee’s good looks—his pale skin, neatly combed black hair, mischievous eyes, and sharp smile—were undeniably magnetic. His tall stature and well-built physique, honed through training, were a bonus.

 

His tailored uniform looked as if it were made for him, fitting perfectly.

 

“Do you two… know each other?” Boram asked, releasing her grip on Joo-ah’s arm and smoothing her hair nervously.

 

“Just acquaintances? Hardly,” Chan-hee said, pulling Joo-ah closer with a sly smile.

 

“Joo-ah and I are quite close.”

 

As Chan-hee spoke teasingly, Joo-ah, unaffected by the atmosphere, cut in bluntly.

 

“He’s a teammate from the group I’ve been assigned to.”

 

Boram’s initial shock gave way to understanding. She nodded, then touched Chan-hee’s system window to check his rank, letting out a small gasp.

 

“Such a high-ranking Hunter… What a shame you’ve been made her sacrificial lamb.”

 

Boram, who had earlier ridiculed Joo-ah’s teammates, now pitied Chan-hee as a victim of her.

 

Chan-hee chuckled at her dramatic remark.

 

“Sacrificial lamb?”

 

“Yes, considering that someone as low-ranked as Seo Joo-ah has never been assigned to an upper group before. Surely, you must know she’s E-Rank, right? And that she only made it here thanks to her father, the congressman?”

 

At her words, Chan-hee let out a low laugh.

 

“And if I do?”

 

Boram widened her eyes, feigning exaggerated surprise.

 

“You knew? And you’re still being so kind to her?”

 

Chan-hee turned to Joo-ah, who stood silently beside him. Their eyes met briefly before he smirked.

 

“It is irritating,” he admitted.

 

Then, looking back at Boram, his tone grew colder.

 

“But not as irritating as people who mess with my teammates.”

 

The chill in his voice made Boram flinch, stepping back slightly.

 

“I-I only said it because I’m worried her team might suffer because of her.”

 

“And why do you care if we suffer because of our E-Rank? Do I know you?” Chan-hee asked, mimicking her tone.

 

“N-no, but…”

 

“Then do you even know her?”

 

“W-well, we’re academy classmates!” Boram stammered.

 

“And?”

 

Chan-hee frowned and turned to Joo-ah.

 

“You’re not friends with her, right?”

 

It wasn’t even a real question. After all, someone so eager to disparage another’s rank couldn’t possibly be a friend.

 

“No,” Joo-ah replied plainly.

 

Satisfied, Chan-hee ignored Boram and began walking away with Joo-ah.

 

“We shouldn’t waste time on irrelevant people. Our team is over there.”

 

Still holding her shoulder, Chan-hee steered Joo-ah toward their team’s table, drawing curious murmurs from onlookers. Boram, visibly flustered, stomped off in another direction.

 

As they neared the table, Joo-ah shook off Chan-hee’s arm.

 

“Wow. This is how you repay someone for helping you?” Chan-hee said, feigning offense.

 

Joo-ah turned to him with a blank expression.

 

“I don’t like owing people,” she replied.

 

She added bluntly, “Honestly, I could’ve handled that on my own.”

 

“…”

 

“And what you did to me yesterday in training was far more dangerous than what just happened.”

 

Referring to his earlier prank during training, Joo-ah’s words left Chan-hee smiling awkwardly without a retort.

 

Leaving him behind, Joo-ah walked toward the table where her teammates sat.

 

“Coming together now, are we?” Choi Yeon-joo remarked as Joo-ah sat down.

 

“We ran into each other,” Joo-ah replied casually.

 

Chan-hee, who arrived moments later, sat down with a strange look directed at Joo-ah.

 

Meanwhile, Shin Jae-rim glanced at them briefly before turning his attention to the entrance of the banquet hall.

 

Important figures from the Special Awakener Association, including Yoo Tae-jun, entered the hall. At once, all the Hunters took their seats.

 

As the lights dimmed and silence filled the room, Tae-jun walked into the podium, testing the microphone before addressing the crowd.

 

“Greetings, Hunters, the future of our nation. I am Yoo Tae-jun, Chief Director of the Special Awakener Association.”

 

He introduced himself with a title that carried more weight than the usual “President.”

 

“Today’s event is for the new Hunters who have joined the training center. I hope this serves as an opportunity to bond with your newly formed teams.”

 

As he scanned the room, his gaze landed on Joo-ah, seated at the far-left table.

 

“May you rise as exceptional Hunters for the glory of our nation,” he concluded, leaving the podium.

 

Joo-ah stared impassively at the spot where Tae-jun had stood, wondering when his expectations of her would finally fade, and she could be reassigned to a proper team.

 

Soon, luxurious dishes were served, drawing cheers from the crowd.

 

“Please enjoy the meal and create fond memories with your comrades,” an official announced.

 

A large screen lit up behind him.

 

“We’ve prepared a video showcasing the remarkable achievements of outstanding Hunters. Please enjoy it while you dine.”

 

Joo-ah eyed the lobster on her plate with mild anticipation—it had been a long time since she’d had such fine food.

 

Meanwhile, Chan-hee watched her with disinterest as she began eating.

 

Moments later, the video began playing on the screen. As Joo-ah sipped her drink and glanced up, her expression froze.

 

The featured Hunter, hailed for their extraordinary accomplishments in front of the crowd, was none other than Kwon Eun-young—her former self.