TSOT#1 Chapter 4
by Ren“…Hunter Seo Joo-ah.”
The owner of the hospital room was Hunter Seo Joo-ah, who was asleep, but with Kwon Eun-young’s body.
“I’m sorry, for using your body without permission, Hunter Seo Joo-ah.”
Joo-ah raised her hand, pulling the blanket up to cover Eun-young’s neck.
She couldn’t let the treatment be discontinued, even if it meant she couldn’t break the contract with the Constellation.
After all, another person was currently inhabiting Eun-young’s body.
“I’ll try to convince my parents somehow. Since they listened to other Hunters last year, I’m sure it’ll work this time too.”
Having her treatment stopped would do her no good, either.
It would mean she could never return to her own body.
Would her parents still love her as they used to, seeing her as Kwon Eun-young even in Seo Joo-ah’s body?
It would probably be difficult.
Even she couldn’t adjust to this.
The Constellation had said that this state, where they each inhabited the other’s body, was actually beneficial, as it stimulated each other’s immune systems, helping them regain consciousness sooner.
If she had been in her original body, it would have been much harder to wake up.
The same was true for Seo Joo-ah.
Though she hadn’t woken up yet, she would likely rise soon.
Until then, she had to endure.
Once Seo Joo-ah woke up, they could return to their original bodies, and only then would it be time to deal with the Administrator.
Joo-ah, who had been gazing at the sleeping Eun-young, turned her heavy body around.
After only two steps, the hospital room door opened, and a familiar face entered.
“Who are you?”
Joo-ah’s eyes widened in surprise.
It was none other than Chae-rin, her red hair neatly tied back in a bun.
Holding a water bottle, she placed it on the table, then looked at Joo-ah curiously.
“You’re someone I haven’t seen before… Do you know Eun-young?”
Chae-rin tilted her head as she asked.
Joo-ah struggled to answer.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
Just a few days ago, Chae-rin had been in a coma. She’d only been barely breathing with her eyes tightly shut.
Joo-ah had heard the news about her awakening, but it still didn’t feel real.
The fight on the 999th floor was still vivid in her mind. Facing an opponent far beyond their capabilities had been a crushing experience. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
Joo-ah bit her lip, taking a moment to steady her breathing.
Finally, it felt real. Seeing Chae-rin standing before her, she finally believed she was alive.
That past battle had left her teammates with scars that would never fade.
It had been the worst possible outcome, so despairing it felt like there could be nothing worse.
“Um, are you okay…?”
Chae-rin asked in a cautious voice.
Joo-ah had been silently bowing her head without saying a word.
“I once received help from Hunter Kwon Eun-young. When I was being chased by a monster.”
Joo-ah forced herself to speak, and Chae-rin nodded, seemingly unconcerned.
It wasn’t unusual for Hunters to rescue people from monsters that had escaped the tower, so it wasn’t a far-fetched claim.
Given Joo-ah’s stats, it wasn’t unreasonable for her to have needed another Hunter’s help.
Chae-rin accepted it without much suspicion.
“Is that so? So, you came all the way here just to say thank you?”
“Yes, I wanted to thank her, but I hadn’t had the chance.”
Joo-ah hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“Recently, there’s been talk among people that Hunter Kwon Eun-young’s treatment might be discontinued.”
“Oh… People already know about that.”
Chae-rin’s expression darkened. Seeing her expression, Joo-ah also couldn’t hide her unease.
Joo-ah asked more specifically.
“Did Hunter Kwon Eun-young’s parents actually say they would stop her treatment?”
In response, Chae-rin looked over at the sleeping Eun-young.
“No, Eun-young’s parents decided to wait and see for now.”
Chae-rin sat down by Eun-young’s bedside, smoothing the blanket as she continued.
“It’s only been three years. Stopping all treatment after just three years doesn’t make sense… I woke up after being asleep for years, just like Eun-young. How can we not hold onto hope?”
Her voice held a faint trace of resentment and desperation.
It was resentment toward Eun-young’s parents, who had grown weary too soon, and desperation for her friend, who might leave for death’s threshold at any moment.
Joo-ah bit her lower lip, looking down.
It seemed that Eun-young’s treatment had indeed almost been discontinued, but Chae-rin’s persuasion had extended it a bit longer.
Her heart felt heavy.
Then, a blue status window appeared in front of her.
【……Verifying Violations!……】
【This process may take some time.】
【Verification Complete!】
【No violations found.】
Joo-ah read the words floating in midair with a blank expression before briefly bidding farewell to Chae-rin and leaving the hospital room.
As she briskly walked down the hallway, another system message popped up.
【The Anonymous Constellation nervously explains that they had no choice but to check for violations due to how unstable their contractor’s mental state appeared.】
Without a reply, Joo-ah stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.
【The Anonymous Constellation cautiously notes that it seems their contractor is very upset with them.】
Shortly after, the elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened.
Joo-ah moved through the crowd of people as she exited the hospital. A refreshing breeze brushed against her skin.
Standing still for a moment, Joo-ah looked up at the sky, letting out a faint smile.
“Yeah, thanks for checking. Without you, I might have ended up telling Chae-rin everything.”
That was why she had quickly left the hospital room.
She was afraid that she might reveal her identity to Chae-rin.
That she might lose control over the wave of emotions and end up breaking her contract with the Constellation.
Joo-ah looked ahead with a neutral expression and began to walk.
It was lunchtime, and the streets were crowded with people out to eat.
A Hunter’s lifestyle varied drastically based on their rank and tower achievements.
Everything from the dining options to the dormitories and even the monthly support payments was subject to strict hierarchy.
That was why Hunters pushed themselves to rise in rank as quickly as possible and to climb even a single floor higher in the towers.
Many believed that if they reached the highest floor of the six towers, the 999th floor, they would find a heavenly paradise beyond anything they had ever experienced.
Initially, when a gate opened, the association would assign a team to climb the tower, but there were plenty of teams that volunteered to climb as well.
Of course, not all returned alive.
Joo-ah’s steps came to a halt as a loud emergency alert rang out on her phone.
【Emergency Alert】
Date: XX/XX at 12:32 PM. A gate has opened on the 321st floor of the Fourth Tower. Residents nearby, please evacuate promptly, and if you encounter a monster, wait in a safe location until a Hunter arrives.
National Safety Administration
◇ Gate Response Guidelines
- Avoid going outside.
- Seek assistance from a Hunter.
- Evacuate to a safe place, etc.
This is a no-reply message.
Joo-ah glanced down at the emergency watch on her wrist to check for any calls.
【…Calling a Hunter…】
Fortunately, her team wasn’t being summoned.
Since it was lunchtime, there were many people outside. Nearby Hunters were evacuating civilians, trying not to cause a panic.
Soon, the summoned Hunters rushed toward the tower, with a few voluntary teams following.
Joo-ah looked around to see if any monsters had appeared nearby.
“Please, save me!”
Suddenly, the voice of a child reached her from a nearby alley.
Joo-ah quickly moved toward the alley, where she saw a child cornered and being attacked by a monster.
Her body reacted instinctively.
Joo-ah rushed toward the monster, kicking it in the abdomen and rescuing the child.
Swiftly pulling a taser from her inventory, she aimed it at the monster.
Taking advantage of the brief moment the monster was down, the child escaped to safety.
The monster shook its head violently, trying to regain its senses, and locked eyes with Joo-ah.
Its body was covered in black fur, its face was spiked like a porcupine, and it was larger than a human with four beast-like limbs.
A fierce, animalistic growl echoed through the narrow alley as it prepared to lunge.
Joo-ah looked at the monster with a stoic expression before pulling the trigger.
Bang—
A sharp gunshot pierced her eardrums, and the monster’s scream echoed through the still air.