“T-That name…” The lady stuttered. Jaehwang then instantly got up from his seat and just walked away.
“..Huh?” The woman then got up and went after him. ‘He’s so cool. Where is he going?!’
His face was hidden but that made him cooler compared to everyone else. She followed him and at the moment they reached the corner of the building, he disappeared right before her eyes. She tried to look around but she wasn’t able to find him.
—Isn’t it great being famous?
—It’s tiresome.
Jaehwang used his [Tiger Hunter] skill to hide and to avoid the others that could sense him, he went to the rooftop and tried to relax.
-Finally…
Jaehwang said as he took a deep breath and leaned back onto the ground. After all of that attention, he needed to take some time for himself in a place where it’s peaceful and quiet.
-Doesn’t the sky look so clear today?
-Yes, it looks amazing.
He followed the advice that Rumi gave him to try to get to know the other hunters but it didn’t seem to work out well.
“There’s a raid starting at 12:00 AM up to 1:00 PM. I hope that you all could join the others for lunch and also, the raid squad’s lodging has already been scheduled for its assigned members…” Announced by a voice coming through a big speaker from the center of the building. Soon after the announcement, all of the hunters had gathered into a certain restaurant.
Jaehwang couldn’t think about eating and just enjoyed the scenery with his head facing down or maybe he just had an upset stomach after eating.
Someone saw him lying on top of the building and she said, “Ah… Yes. Right, this way. Yes. the place will be open until next month. Yes. I’m sorry.”
“…”
—What?
—Shhh, I’m trying to listen…
Jaehwang said as he eavesdropped on their conversations from inside the building.
“Okay, mom. Are you doing well? Are you eating? Don’t hurt yourself okay? Just think about getting better.”
He listened to the conversation and it sounded like someone’s mother was in the hospital.
—It must be hard.
—I know and it seems that her leg was injured.
From the sound of it, it seemed to be a girl. Maybe she was 17? Or maybe 15 from the looks of her height. She wore a prosthetic leg and after her phone call, the girl took a deep breath and walked into the restaurant.
“Sigh…” Jaehwang watched as she walked away out of his sight.
—You’re interested in her?
—Yes.
—Why?
—Because, she reminds me of me from a couple of years ago.
Their situations weren’t the same but seeing her made him think of himself when his face became ruined after that car accident. Although she struggled a little to walk, she seemed quite confident.
***
“We will form your team composition in the squad headquarters. I’ll explain what happens next when everyone’s in order.”
“Group A!”
“Group C!” Said one of the leaders standing on a podium in the room. He wore his military uniform as he called the others that belonged in his group.
“Hi!” Jaehwang said as he tried his best to look nice. There was one guy and one girl wearing the same colored uniform on their team.
“Hi, I’m Yun Jeongsu. nice to meet you.” Jeongsu wore a power suit and he looked strong. He introduced himself and shook Jaehwang’s hand.
“My name is Jeon Jaehwang.”
“My name is Nami.”
“I’m Geunsu.”
“And my name is Yuna.”
They were all part of the same clan besides Jaehwang. Although that wasn’t a problem, they were lucky that they were familiar with each other and other than Jeongsu, their team was made up of girls.
Jaehwang then smelled a strong scent of perfume and wondered how much perfume could someone possibly wear. Three of the girls were standing together and maybe that was the reason behind that.
The guy then walked up to them and with an angry tone, he said, “You three are not helping the squad at all!”
“Is it possible if we could just work alone?!” One of the girls said but the guy then rudely shouted,
“Look at this! How will you be able to get anything done with a leg like that!?”
Jaehwang then instantly turned around to see what was going on and he saw the girl that he watched earlier. She clearly looked upset by what he had just said.
“It is the boss’ right to divide the responsibility of the monster hunting tasks.”
The squad composition couldn’t be changed. Moving their teammates were still possible but there won’t be enough if someone were to go in alone. It wasn’t as simple as just adding a new person to help them hunt, it would take a lot more to recruit a new one.
Jaehwang then went to him and said, “Well, maybe with all that needs to be done, there could be room for at least one more person… Right?”
“What do you mean?” He asked as a reply to his suggestion.
“It’s going to be difficult, I think that we should get all of the people that we could just to be safe.”
“Hm…” After a moment of thought, the boss decided to agree.
“Great,” Jaehwang said in relief.
“Are you sure you can handle this?” The leader asked Jaehwang and the girl.
He looked at the girl’s artificial leg with pity. With a situation like that, hunting could be dangerous. It was very common for a hunter to risk their life for a mission and although they had a healer, healing could be impossible depending on the situation.
Handicapped hunters would usually end up retiring. Even when they retire, they would still have their skills and they could live the rest of their life easily just like any other person would despite their disabilities.
Jaehwang then raised his hand.
“What is it?” The leader asked.
“I don’t like this squad, I want to switch to a different one,” Jaehwang said. His squad members then looked at him in shock.
“Huh…”
“We didn’t know you felt that way…” Jeongsu said.
“Sorry. I just don’t think we’ll work well together. That’s all. No hard feelings, right?” Jaehwang replied casually.
“I know what’s going on…” Nami said.
“Huh?” Jeongsu asked. Jaehwang then said,
“What’s the number one rule of being a hunter?”
“Save one’s life…” One of them answered. That was one of the first rule that all hunters learned.
‘Save one’s life.’
Years ago, a thousand hunters risked their lives to save 50 people from a monster invasion. Only 10 hunters made it out alive in the end, but their sacrifice was greatly recognized. They were proud.
“Are you guys trying to dishonor that rule right now?” Jaehwang looked around and saw the others agreeing with his words.
Somehow things were going great. They couldn’t possibly say something back on something that could brand them as someone who’s dishonorable.
“Listen here! Do you think you’re that smart?! So are you going to be our sacrifice?!”
“Y-Yes! Those old fashioned rules are not a problem! Is it a problem that I want to switch squads because I feel that the hunters on my team aren’t skilled enough?!” Everyone then looked over at his squad members. His members then looked at him and said,
“Not skilled enough?” One of the girls asked.
“That’s right! all of you are lacking!” Jaehwang replied.
“Ha…”
“Who are you to have such an attitude towards me?”
Whooshh
Jaehwang was then surrounded by a clear light made with energy and all of the other hunters in the room watched in shock and awe. He just stood there, completely calm and in silence as those things floated around him and surrounded his squad members.
“W-What’s going on…” The leader asked.
“Don’t be so annoying,” Jaehwang said and then he noticed someone standing in front of him. It was a girl. She was a lot shorter than him, she almost looked like a small child.
She reached out her hand towards him and asked, “Do you want to team up?”
“Huh?” He was confused as to why she would want to team up together with him. “You’re changing teams?” Jaehwang asked in a bit of an annoyed tone but the girl continued to reach her hand out as she shook her head to say yes.
“Would it be okay even if there are just two people on a squad?” Jaehwang asked their leader.
The leader then quickly looked through a few of the papers he was holding and replied, “Looks like it would be fine. But, do you two really think it would be a good idea?…”
“Let’s do it.”
“Awesome.”
Jaehwang and the girl then shook hands.
A Complicated Situation 2, The end.
