Damn Hunter Life 9

Even after meeting the troublemaker who was dragging down their successor’s status, Hae Mi-jun showed no signs of disgust or even disappointment like Ja Hyeong-woo.

“I’m sorry if I disturbed you. It’s just, I wanted to tell you that you were cool in that video! Just because of that…”

His clear voice trembled nervously.

I didn’t even need to recall the personality of the ‘pig’ successor I knew from the original work.

From the face of the person in front of me, I could tell he was sincere.

“Um, and! I actually saw it. The 25 Stage feedback video from a while ago! Gang-hyeon hyung— no, G-Gang-hyeon-nim watching it.”

I didn’t know who had caught me doing that.

I was the one who got caught, but Hae Mi-jun’s face turned red as if he was the one who got caught.

Or he was probably worried about whether I’d get angry, whether he had made me feel bad.

I stared blankly at the little kid who was just fidgeting with his hands. Then Hae Mi-jun’s face became even redder.

“Hae Mi-jun.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Should we go somewhere to talk?”

I was planning to meet you once anyway.

We moved locations to have a proper conversation. Hae Mi-jun followed along well, seemingly without any wariness.

‘I’m not in a position to go to a cafe or anything, so let’s just make do.’

Behind the gym building. I found a blind spot where [Public] wouldn’t appear.

I secretly lifted the front of my mourning clothes and whispered inside.

“Squeaky. Keep watch to see if anyone’s eavesdropping.”

Squeaky cursed something from inside my clothes, but I pretended not to hear and played dumb.

“Ah, I have no strength in my body, so if I get startled by someone eavesdropping, I might die of a heart attack. Then what would I tell Ja Hyeong-woo?”

{…}

I turned around pretending nothing happened, and Hae Mi-jun was staring at me with wide eyes.

“What are you staring at?”

“Huh? Oh, s-sorry.”

“I look a bit rough from exercising.”

“No, that’s not it!”

Hae Mi-jun turned red and waved his hands frantically.

Ah, I should have gotten angry here to maintain my image, but the kid was too pure so I held back.

“Why were you looking for me?”

Another mistake. I spoke too gently. It’s too much for dealing with a seventeen-year-old guy.

But looking at the face in front of me, I couldn’t help but do so…

Hae Mi-jun was clearly the one who came looking for me saying he had business, but he was floundering like a little kid dragged away by a delinquent. His fingers started fidgeting with the hem of his clothes again.

‘Whatever I say here, I’ll become the trash.’

A feeling crept up that I’d become the bad guy even though I hadn’t done anything.

Not just me, but anyone who had seen even a little of Hae Mi-jun’s story in the original work would feel the same way.

That’s the kind of person he is. Hae Mi-jun.

Just imagining cursing at this bastard and that bastard like I do to Ja Hyeong-woo for motivation feels like committing a sin.

“I was curious… I was curious. It was the first time I saw you watching feedback videos, and you came out to exercise today too. So…”

“So?”

“I wondered if you had changed your mind…”

“Changed my mind about quitting the human trash lifestyle?”

“Ah, no—”

Hae Mi-jun turned bright red and shook his head vigorously. What do you mean no?

Well, it seems kind of fun to tease him.

After a moment of silence, Hae Mi-jun cautiously opened his tightly shut eyes.

And his mouth fell slightly open.

‘Is it because the troublemaker has a less vicious expression than expected?’

I failed to act according to my existing image this time too, but I don’t particularly regret it. I had a good idea.

Hae Mi-jun at this point in time is a loner left out among the successors, just like me.

‘It might be worth taking a risk here.’

“Enough about me… I’m more curious about you. Hae Mi-jun.”

Hae Mi-jun’s eyes widened.

I crossed my arms and tilted my head down to glare at Hae Mi-jun.

So that Hae Mi-jun would feel intimidated by my gaze.

So that each of my words would work more effectively.

“I know you also don’t use the successor training ground and go to the regular gym instead.”

But Hae Mi-jun’s situation is different from mine. The successors didn’t kick Hae Mi-jun out.

Hae Mi-jun chooses not to go there himself.

“Do you know what the students say about you? A guy consumed by inferiority complex. A guy who makes himself an outcast out of jealousy toward his hyungs and noonas.”

Hae Mi-jun’s eyes wavered. The gentle aura around his mouth disappeared.

I pressed him further.

“They say your power is even more pathetic than regular hunters’ despite being a successor. All the students in Hunter School know this. They whisper behind you every time you pass by. How useless the pig successor is. They say they’d rather be successors themselves. You’re not unaware that you’re hearing such things, right? But you persistently go to the regular gym while being ridiculed? What’s the reason for that?”

Hae Mi-jun bows his head. I quietly looked down at his trembling hands.

“Hm? What’s the reason?”

Drop, Hae Mi-jun’s tears fell at my feet.

Since Hae Mi-jun doesn’t have the courage to open his tightly shut mouth and confront me, he has no choice but to keep listening to whatever I say.

“Don’t want to say? Then should I tell you what I think?”

I let out a quiet sigh.

With this breath, I clear away the torrent of criticism I’d been pouring on him.

I reached out and placed my hand on top of Hae Mi-jun’s head.

“Because you, Hae Mi-jun, are driving yourself into hell.”

At that, Hae Mi-jun slowly raised his head.

His large eyes, filled with tears, stared at me as if he’d heard something completely unexpected.

The second healer of the Twelve Zodiac, overshadowed by Ja Hyeong-woo.

Hae Mi-jun was different from Ja Hyeong-woo, who was born a genius. Despite being the same successor and awakened individual as Ja Hyeong-woo, Hae Mi-jun couldn’t do everything that Ja Hyeong-woo could do naturally.

Sorry, but the word “loser” fits perfectly.

The original Gang-hyeon despaired in a similar situation and gave up, relying on alcohol.

But Hae Mi-jun…

‘I can say with certainty that he was the most virtuous and strong character among the supporting characters in the original work.’

He’s only seventeen years old, and moreover, he doesn’t receive comfort or attention from other successors.

The only one who could be his mentor, Ja Hyeong-woo, is essentially neglecting Hae Mi-jun due to his busy schedule.

The fact that the Korean people don’t openly criticize him because they can see he’s making an effort can’t package up Hae Mi-jun’s few months.

“Is that thing even a successor?”

“Gwon-yeong, it would be better if you were the successor.”

Even while hearing unpleasant words, Hae Mi-jun continued using the public gym, censoring and driving himself.

‘Right. I don’t deserve to be a successor.’

‘I deserve to hear such words.’

‘I need to hear harsh words. That’s how I’ll come to my senses.’

Because he always walked with his head down, Hae Mi-jun was completely marked as a pushover even by regular hunters.

“Shouldn’t he just die and have a new successor chosen?”

“Hey hey, that’s a bit too harsh.”

Even as the level of their snickering remarks meant for him to hear escalated, Hae Mi-jun had tolerated all that criticism.

Because even he thought it was all because of him.

Because he was someone who deserved to hear such things.

This time, the sigh that came from my mouth was genuinely deflating.

Facing Hae Mi-jun’s tears flowing down his cheeks directly, I was deeply moved as well.

“Hae Mi-jun, come out of hell. Cherish yourself.”

As I poured out words from my heart, I found myself unconsciously gripping Hae Mi-jun’s shoulders tightly and looking into his eyes.

“You’re too precious to hear such words. You’re not someone who deserves that.”

This is the early part of the original work. If I don’t intervene, it will take until the middle part for Hae Mi-jun to overcome his self-esteem issues.

Right, if I leave it like this, Hae Mi-jun will gnaw at himself for another whole season.

‘That’s why there was actually a dark turn foreshadowing for Hae Mi-jun in the work. It wasn’t resolved by the mid-to-late parts I read.’

Then here, let’s guess the reason why Hae Mi-jun wanted to meet me, Gang-hyeon.

The surface reason would be that he was curious about me suddenly showing a different side, and came despite the risk of getting beaten up by the troublemaker Gang-hyeon.

But on the other hand, since another incompetent successor seemed to be making some effort, didn’t he feel sympathy for a fellow sufferer?

He needed someone who understood, right?

“Hueong…”

Tears spilled past his lips.

Hae Mi-jun buried his face in my shoulder as if collapsing. I staggered for a moment then barely managed to stand firm.

My clothes became damp with his flowing tears.

‘I didn’t intend to go this far…’

An unfamiliar feeling. I was about to put my hand on Hae Mi-jun’s heaving back but stopped, waiting in an awkward position. Until Hae Mi-jun came to his senses and looked up with his tear-and-snot-covered face in surprise.

“Hic, s-sorry, hic! Sob.”

“Cry it all out before you talk.”

Hae Mi-jun seemed more worried about my clothes than his own face, not knowing what to do. That sight made me feel more embarrassed, and an atmosphere-breaking comment came out.

“Didn’t I smell like sweat?”

“You smell good though… Hup!”

Was that something he said without thinking? Hae Mi-jun covered his mouth and looked at me carefully.

“Look at you being flattering.”

Anyway, now that the crying stopped, I can finally say what I really came for.

“Hae Mi-jun, would you believe me if I said I could help improve your abilities?”

Hae Mi-jun looked even more surprised than before.

I have a method in mind. Even though in principle, different attributes can’t teach each other.

‘I’ve decided to thoroughly exploit the water attribute familiar I accidentally obtained, right?’

There wasn’t just one dangerous gate in the original work. In this situation, it’s nerve-wracking to only focus on that bastard Ja Hyeong-woo.

‘Originally, the foundation of all conquests is the healer’s healing skills.’

Let me try raising a relief pitcher, a relief healer with my own hands.

“You’re probably wondering inside how someone who can’t even awaken could do anything. It’s hard to explain, but I’d like you to trust me for now. I won’t disappoint you.”

“I believe you.”

His clearly sparkling eyes captured me.

I was a bit flustered by the trust toward me that quickly settled in those eyes.

“Even though I’m not the same attribute?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Just because.”