Chapter 16….
In the original story, Kang Ilyeon was used by Choi Woojin the entire time, making only the items he wanted and selling them to him.
He didn’t have many complaints because he was under mild mental control from being addicted to dungeon byproducts—but also because…
“I’ll let you make anything you want. Oh? You need a Flame Dragon’s eyeball? Was that in the Ural Mountain dungeon…?”
…Choi Woojin could get him any insane material he wanted.
Kang Ilyeon basically had the same psycho tendencies as Kang Woryeon—he was a crazy engineer who had to create whatever he wanted, or he’d go nuts.
But—
“I want you to make things more hunters can use. Not dangerous, expensive items for a small group of elites. Ordinary weapons—strong, durable, good quality.”
That’s the original story.
I looked at the Kang Ilyeon in front of me.
Sunken eyes, tubes in his nose, hands, and stomach.
He’d lost a lot of weight from the sudden detox.
All the injuries on his body were photographed by investigators, and they would be used against the school chairman in court.
For now, Kang Ilyeon would be placed under state-managed protection in a care facility.
…Maybe hunters get special accommodations?
The raw reality that never felt real when I only read the story was stabbing into my skin now.
He was nineteen.
“…Mom… Dad…”
The same age I was when I lost my parents.
The same age I thought my life was over because I had to quit the sport that was my entire world.
I awakened, so I could never be a national athlete again.
I wasn’t as good as awakened athletes, but I couldn’t compete among ordinary people either.
My value—
disappeared.
That’s what I believed.
“I’m a genius. And you want me to make boring items for ordinary hunters? Then I… become useless.”
Fear flickered in Kang Ilyeon’s eyes.
I gave him a faint smile.
When I smiled, he frowned.
“You know you keep falling onto my bed, right?”
“Oh—right, sorry.”
Only then did I realize that my body was melting again and I stood upright.
…And immediately wanted to sink back to the floor.
But I endured.
Yuji, you’re not a slime…! You’re a human being!
“But… do you have to be useful?”
“What?”
“Well… do people really have to be useful? Humans aren’t items. I mean, I know saying that won’t magically erase your anxiety. But realistically, what else can we do?”
“…!”
Did I hit the mark?
His expression froze.
“The chairman’s going to get arrested. Illegal item trafficking, child abuse—there’s no saving him. Then you’ll be left with nowhere to go, so instead…”
I pointed at myself.
“Work with me. Don’t you want to wear the same school uniform as Woryeon? I’ll transfer both of you to my school.”
School.
At the word, Kang Ilyeon’s eyes widened.
“Y-You’ll… send me to school too?”
Send you to school?
…It did feel a bit like exploiting a child abuse victim, so it was complicated—but I nodded.
Because I already knew which school.
‘That guy’ will throw a fit but… oh well.
“If… if I can really go to school with Woryeon…”
Then suddenly, Kang Ilyeon bloomed like a flower.
A nineteen-year-old boy’s smile I had never seen before.
I reached out my hand—to shake—and he looked at my melting hand with sparkling eyes.
“Wait, so this is… a skill? Can I cut off some flesh and study it?”
…Absolutely not.
For a second I wondered if I should just send him to a correctional facility.
I forced myself calm and took a paper from my pocket.
“Fine. Then I’ll put in the initial investment, and we work together. Until I recover the investment, profit split is 50/50.”
A contract.
“And one special clause…”
“…?”
“That weird guy you saw that day. Earrings, sunglasses—”
That lunatic.
Choi Woojin.
“When he orders something, you must custom-make it. No excuses.”
Even if he looked crazy, he was a hero in this world.
And there would come a day when Choi Woojin desperately needed Kang Ilyeon’s weapons.
I thought he’d question it, or doubt me—but surprisingly…
“Okay.”
…?
That was too easy.
“A-And don’t come near my bed!! I mean it!”
If I let my body relax, I really did start oozing.
“NOOO! Don’t come near meeeee!”
Heh.
* *
Today’s dinner is samgyetang. Sexy food~
Did you hear we’re getting a transfer student in our class? Hey class prez, know anything?
Guys look. That principal from Jungmun High got arrested. Didn’t his son have a school violence scandal in middle school? So satisfying LOL
The class group chat was, as usual, overflowing with useless words.
Especially now—right before morning assembly, when students were about to turn off their phones—the group chat was most active.
Among the messages, a link popped up.
A boy wearing a navy school uniform and tie picked up his textbook, then clicked the link.
His name was Lee Yugyeom.
Square glasses, thin build.
He rarely showed expression.
But when he saw the video of the chairman’s son getting dragged away in handcuffs, even he felt a bit pleased.
Because that kid—Jang Hojin—had been tormenting students since middle school.
Calling him “human” was too generous.
At least that’s how Lee Yugyeom saw him.
Yugyeom was the school’s top student under special protection, so even Jang Hojin didn’t dare touch him.
There were multiple students who had to transfer schools because of Jang Hojin.
So for once, Yugyeom was about to write something in the chat—but he stopped.
Because of the messages just below.
Yo when he was throwing a tantrum, did you see that female investigator who twisted his wrist?
Female investigator…?
There was one?
The video had been short, so he didn’t notice.
Isn’t she that famous “Taekwondo Girl”?
I think so lol but why “Girl”? If she’s in the Hunter Investigation Unit, she’s Taekwondo Woman.
Her face looked super young tho. And short.
Taekwondo… girl?
Who’s that? I don’t know her.
Someone immediately dropped a video link.
The title:
mark
A female investigator kicks a terrorist unconscious! Leaked CCTV from Investigation Unit!
Investigation Unit. Taekwondo.
Two words combined—and Yugyeom’s mind went blank.
He clicked the video fast.
The CCTV opened.
A small woman’s back.
A man wearing a helmet rushed at her.
Captions at the bottom:
Terrorist is D-rank. Woman is F-rank.
Obviously, everyone expected her to get overpowered.
But her foot struck the helmet in a clean arc.
Her toes spun 360 degrees, light and precise—like a movie.
Even without sound, it was clear:
Unless it was a skill—
This was…
FYI she’s an F-rank with no skill.
…physically impossible.
F-rank beats a D-rank terrorist barehanded but only got a commendation lol. Typical Investigation Unit.
Views were at 1 million—no, 1.4 million.
Considering it was reupload, the popularity was insane.
Comments over ten thousand:
mark – Comments
-Is the Investigation Unit insane? Promote her immediately.
-Heard she used to be national Taekwondo athlete. My senior told me she was headed for the Asian Games.
└Then why’d she quit?
└Because you get kicked off the national team the moment you awaken.
└Ugh what a waste.
-So even an F-rank can do this if they used to be a top athlete? This vid is supposedly 0.5x speed. Maybe ranking standards are garbage?
└Nah. She’s just an irregular.
-I always thought Investigation Unit was useless tax-burners but people like her should get 3x salary. Going barehanded at a D-rank takes insane courage.
As soon as he read them, Yugyeom shot up from his desk.
“Hey—class president, where are you going? Morning assembly is—”
The teacher at the door tried to speak, but Yugyeom blurted:
“Sorry! I’m not feeling well!”
He bit his lip and stepped into the hallway—ignoring the pair of eyes staring at him from behind the teacher.
He couldn’t help it.
Because the woman in the video was—
“Lee Yuji!”
His older sister.
Who had only started working in the Investigation Unit last week.
And she already caused a spectacle.
