🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 12
Even while nervously watching their reactions, Morae spoke clearly about what she thought.
Was it precisely because there was no kind of compulsion that she had been able to tame Gyeon Su-ho?
Maybe she’s using her ability in a way similar to a healing type…
It felt like he’d found a clue, but in truth nothing had been solved. It was impossible to use an offensive-type ability the same way as a healing one.
In the end, all they had confirmed was that only Kang Morae could do it.
That also meant Kang Morae could become Gyeon Su-ho’s weakness. If they could somehow get hold of her, then controlling Gyeon Su-ho would be possible too.
Though we’d have to recruit her first…
If they asked “that” Gyeon Su-ho to be tamed, wouldn’t she just run away? Suppressing a sigh, Shin Ji-yul took off his glasses.
“Senior Min, could you leave us for a moment?”
“Understood, Team Leader.”
As Senior Min stepped out, Morae’s eyes widened.
Seeing how tense she looked, Shin Ji-yul softened his stiff expression.
“You’ve probably heard the rumors that Hunter Gyeon Su-ho’s rampage index has been unstable lately.”
“I’ve heard, but… people said it was fake news. Isn’t it?”
Since there was always the chance anything leaked to the outside, they couldn’t recklessly reveal the truth before she was recruited.
“It is fake news, but it’s true that Hunter Gyeon Su-ho doesn’t respond well to stabilizers.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that happens more with higher-rank hunters. But… why are you telling me this?”
“Because we discovered another way to lower an awakened person’s rampage index.”
“Really? That’s great!”
“That method is your taming ability, Hunter Kang Morae.”
“Oh, my taming… huh?”
“I’ll be blunt. We’d like you to tame Hunter Gyeon Su-ho.”
“…….”
Was she dreaming?
Her mind went completely blank, and she couldn’t properly process Shin Ji-yul’s words.
Whether he noticed her dazed state or not, Shin Ji-yul calmly continued.
“To tame him, you’ll most likely need to move around with Hunter Gyeon Su-ho. You’ll also be getting a lot of media attention. It’s not much compared to the burden, but we promise the highest-level salary and benefits.”
The blood drained from Morae’s face. Anyone could see she looked terrified. Shin Ji-yul clicked his tongue lightly inside his mouth.
“Mm… because there’s so much public interest in him, only the bad sides tend to be known. But Hunter Kang Morae, Hunter Gyeon Su-ho isn’t as horrible a person as people think.”
In truth, Gyeon Su-ho was actually worse than what the world knew.
It felt like tricking an innocent kid and throwing her into a monster’s mouth, but there was no choice.
Just as Shin Ji-yul swallowed his guilt, Morae shot up from her seat.
“I—I’m sorry! I have to refuse.”
“I completely understand. You can take your time and think—”
“No, even if I think about it, my answer will be the same. I… I just can’t do it. I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Hunter Kang Morae…”
“I think the test is done. Can I go now?”
Morae peeled the pad off her forehead. Her eyes were brimming, and it looked like she’d burst into tears if he tried to stop her.
Did she really hate Gyeon Su-ho that much? Well, of course she would.
Who would willingly want to tame someone with such a vicious personality? It was pretty much the same as saying, “Go die slowly.”
“Wait, Hunter Kang Morae. I’ll handle it.”
He gently lowered her trembling hand and removed the device for her.
Morae pulled her cap low, bowed quickly, and bolted out of the examination room.
Left alone, Shin Ji-yul rubbed his dry face with both hands. Gyeon Su-ho’s voice echoed in his head.
“If you fail again this time, I’ll do it myself.”
“…Great. We’re in trouble.”
Morae slumped onto the floor as soon as she reached the rooftop room. Song-i grabbed cold barley tea from the fridge and sat beside her.
“Morae, let me just ask… did your rank drop?”
“Drop from what? I’m already E-rank.”
“Then what’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Song-i poured her a full glass. Morae downed it in one go and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.
“They knew everything.”
“Knew what?”
“That I can tame people now. And that taming can lower rampage levels.”
“What?! How?!”
“I don’t know…”
This time Song-i gulped down her tea, then slammed the glass onto the table and glared at her device.
“Did those guys hack my device and steal your data?”
“Song-i, are you a conspiracy theorist now?”
Ever since dungeons appeared, conspiracy theories exploded. One of them claimed the government distributed devices so they could monitor awakened people.
For hyper-realist Song-i to believe one… Morae stared at her, and Song-i’s cheeks reddened.
“I didn’t believe it before! But this makes no sense!”
“True…”
How had the Bureau figured out her ability changed? Even their request for retesting seemed suspicious now.
“So you got scared? Because it feels like they know everything about you?”
“No…”
After fiddling with her empty cup for a while, Morae finally spoke.
“They asked me to tame Gyeon Su-ho. Apparently stabilizers don’t work well on him.”
“…Ah.”
Song-i immediately understood and fell silent.
Honestly, she’d expected this possibility the moment she realized Morae’s taming could replace stabilizers.
The higher the rank, the less effective stabilizers become. Of course the Bureau would covet Morae’s ability.
That’s why I told her to keep it secret…
Morae had childhood trauma and struggled in group environments.
If she joined the Bureau, they’d only squeeze her dry. That softhearted girl could never protect herself.
So Song-i had planned to privately connect Morae one-on-one with high-rank hunters. That way Morae could work comfortably and still earn good money.
All ruined now.
If stabilizers barely worked on Gyeon Su-ho, the Bureau must be desperate.
They wouldn’t back off just because Morae said no. They’d keep trying to recruit her somehow.
Why does it have to be Gyeon Su-ho…
Song-i clicked her tongue.
If it were anyone else—anyone less famous—she might have at least considered it.
“You refused, right?”
“Yeah… how could I do it…”
Morae gave a weak smile.
Of course, if her power could help him, she wanted to help.
No one wanted Gyeon Su-ho to be happy more than she did. There wasn’t even anything to think about.
But staying by his side meant the world’s attention would be fixed on her.
People would dig into who she was and what happened in her past. Just thinking about it filled her with terror.
“It’s you, right? You’re that lunatic’s daughter.”
“Child of a murderer! My dad died, so why are you still alive?”
“Die! You should die too!”
Her vision spun, and the feeling of her throat tightening overwhelmed her. The signs of an attack.
That was why she had fled the examination room—she couldn’t bear showing that side to anyone.
Morae clenched her clothes tightly. Her knuckles turned white, and Song-i wrapped her hand firmly around Morae’s.
“Morae, you know this, right? You did nothing wrong.”
“…Yeah.”
“If anyone talks crap to you, bring them to me. I’ll tear them apart. I’ll win.”
Song-i’s calm voice flowed gently.
Color slowly returned to Morae’s pale face. When she finally calmed down, Song-i cupped her cheeks.
“Feel a bit better?”
“Yeah…”
“If the Bureau contacts you again, refuse.”
“…Do you think something will happen to Gyeon Su-ho?”
“Worry about yourself. If his penalty level were really dangerous, something would’ve already happened. They just want to use you instead of stabilizers.”
Morae still looked uneasy. She must really worry about him. Song-i soothed her softly.
“You’re not the only tamer in this country. Others will handle it.”
“…Right. And they’re all higher rank than me anyway.”
Thinking that people far stronger than she was would help him eased the lingering weight inside her.
Feeling lighter, Morae smiled.
“What should we eat for dinner?”
“I’ve been craving bulgogi.”
“Then we need to go to the market.”
“So we go. Meat, lettuce… do we still have beer?”
“Maybe two cans left?”
“Then we need more. Let’s go.”
Soon after, their cheerful footsteps echoed down the rooftop stairs.
As they stepped outside, the sun was slowly sinking above their heads.
