The Struggles of the #1 Rank - Chapter 25

Joo-ah hurried toward a certain place early in the morning.

 

Before long, the familiar hospital entrance came into view. Dozens of police cars and numerous reporters had gathered outside.

 

“How did Hunter Kwon Eun-young go missing? Has there been any progress in the investigation?”

 

In response to the reporter’s question, the police officer blocking the hospital entrance spoke in a firm tone.

 

“We’re still investigating. However, aside from the fact that all the CCTV cameras have been damaged, we haven’t found any significant evidence, so the investigation is taking longer than expected. Please refrain from making premature judgments or spreading speculation.”

 

After quietly watching them, Joo-ah hurried inside the hospital. She passed through the familiar lobby and stepped into an elevator.

 

As she watched the floor numbers rise, her face grew increasingly anxious.

 

【The Anonymous Constellation is furious, demanding to know what kind of crazy bastard took its big sister’s original body.】

 

Even after seeing the status window appear in midair, Joo-ah couldn’t say anything. She felt uneasy. Her heart was pounding violently.

 

Since dawn, the dormitory had been noisy with the sounds of police cars coming and going.

 

The reason was the news that Kwon Eun-young, who had been lying in the hospital’s intensive care unit for three years, had suddenly disappeared.

 

It was an utterly unexpected incident.

 

Some people speculated that Kwon Eun-young had awakened from her coma. However, since all the CCTV cameras inside the hospital had been smashed, investigators suspected that someone had deliberately committed the crime.

 

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Joo-ah headed straight for the hospital room where her own body had been sleeping.

 

However, it seemed impossible to enter the room.

 

“No one is allowed inside right now.”

 

The police officer guarding the door blocked her way. Joo-ah looked up at him before taking out her membership card proving her affiliation with the Special Awakener Association and holding it out.

 

“I’ve met Hunter Kwon Eun-young before. I heard about the incident and came because I was worried.”

 

The officer glanced at the membership card in her hand and replied in a firm tone.

 

“Only Hunter Kwon Eun-young’s family and team members are allowed inside right now.”

 

“Can’t I just take a quick look inside? I only want to confirm whether Hunter Kwon Eun-young really has disappeared.”

 

As Joo-ah tried to find a way inside, the officer repeatedly stopped her.

 

She knew there was no valid reason for her to enter the room, but she couldn’t stop trying.

 

She couldn’t believe it without seeing it with her own eyes.

 

How could her own body, which had been lying in the same place for three years, have suddenly disappeared?

 

“You’re making this difficult.”

 

At the officer’s stern voice, Joo-ah finally gave up helplessly.

 

With a hollow expression, she stared at the firmly closed door. A long, rectangular window on one side of the door offered a view into the hospital room.

 

Joo-ah’s eyes widened.

 

She could see Eun-young’s mother and father talking to each other.

 

Joo-ah’s expression filled with longing.

 

But that feeling didn’t last long.

 

“…Why?”

 

She had been gazing sadly at her parents, but now she muttered in a hollow voice,

 

“Why do they look so… unaffected?”

 

Her parents’ expressions were emotionless. They chatted in the dry atmosphere, then yawned as if they were bored.

 

Joo-ah shook her head in disbelief.

 

She had naturally assumed they would be crying in grief. Their only child had vanished without a trace, and she thought their hearts must be breaking.

 

But right now, they looked terribly indifferent.

 

Joo-ah stepped backward with a despairing expression. She bumped into someone standing behind her, and before she could turn around, a voice spoke.

 

“You’re the person who came to visit Eun-young before, aren’t you?”

 

It was Chae-rin, who had gently caught Joo-ah by the shoulder to keep her from falling.

 

Joo-ah turned to face her and managed a difficult nod.

 

“It’s nice to see you again.”

 

Chae-rin smiled as she spoke, but Joo-ah couldn’t say anything. She could only look at Chae-rin, searching her eyes for some clue about Eun-young’s whereabouts.

 

After quietly looking down at her, Chae-rin glanced at the hospital room door before gesturing toward the opposite corridor.

 

“If you have a moment, would you like to talk at the café?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

At Joo-ah’s quiet reply, Chae-rin turned around first.

 

Joo-ah watched her walk away slowly, then gazed blankly at the firmly closed hospital room door.

 

Through the glass, she could still see her parents, their faces indifferent.

 

Joo-ah clenched both hands into fists, then followed Chae-rin.

 

Chae-rin led her to a small café in the hospital lobby.

 

She ordered two drinks at the counter, and they took a seat by the window. Before long, two iced Americanos, with ice cubes floating on top, were placed on the table.

 

“Now that I think about it, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves yet.”

 

Chae-rin continued with a bright smile.

 

“I’m Min Chae-rin. I’m with the Special Awakener Association, and Eun-young and I worked on the same team.”

 

As Joo-ah listened to Chae-rin introduce herself, a bitter smile slipped onto her lips.

 

It was painful to stand in front of an old friend and pretend she knew nothing about her.

 

“I’m Seo Joo-ah. As you already know, I’m with the Special Awakener Association too.”

 

She was already wearing her Hunter uniform, so her identity was practically on full display.

 

Chae-rin nodded, then spoke as if she had remembered something.

 

“Did you know that a picture of Hunter Seo Joo-ah was posted on the Community for All yesterday?”

 

“What?”

 

Joo-ah furrowed her brow and looked at her as if asking what she meant.

 

Chae-rin gave a light shrug and continued.

 

“It wasn’t anything important. It seems an ordinary person spotted the Chairman and followed him, then happened to see Hunter Seo Joo-ah.”

 

Posts about Tae-jun appeared on the community regularly, largely because of his exceptionally handsome appearance.

 

Chae-rin slowly stirred her Americano with the straw in her glass before asking in a matter-of-fact tone,

 

“You came because you heard Eun-young suddenly disappeared, right?”

 

Her tone made it clear that she already knew why Joo-ah had been lingering outside Eun-young’s room.

 

Joo-ah looked at Chae-rin quietly before asking cautiously,

 

“Is it true that Hunter Kwon Eun-young has disappeared?”

 

Chae-rin lifted her eyes from her drink and met Joo-ah’s desperate gaze.

 

“It’s true. Eun-young, who had been lying in the intensive care unit all this time, has vanished without a trace.”

 

The truth Joo-ah had desperately hoped wasn’t real came from Chae-rin’s own lips.

 

Joo-ah let out a hollow sigh and stared into the air.

 

What on earth has happened to my body…?

 

After falling silent for a moment, Joo-ah weakly met Chae-rin’s eyes.

 

“Do you… have any idea what might have happened?”

 

She asked because Chae-rin was the person who had spent the most time by Eun-young’s side.

 

However, Chae-rin didn’t answer immediately. She simply stared at Joo-ah, looking as though she were carefully considering something.

 

Tilting her head slightly, Chae-rin spoke in a calm voice.

 

“I have an idea, but I don’t intend to tell Hunter Seo Joo-ah about it.”

 

That was understandable.

 

After all, Chae-rin and Joo-ah had only met twice.

 

From Chae-rin’s perspective, there was no way to know what kind of influence Joo-ah had on Eun-young.

 

Joo-ah lowered her head and bit her lower lip. Her hands resting on the table trembled slightly.

 

It was frustrating.

 

Even though it was her own body, she had no idea where it was or what might have happened to it.

 

Chae-rin spoke calmly.

 

“However, if my guess is correct, Eun-young is probably safe.”

 

At her words, Joo-ah raised her head again and met Chae-rin’s eyes.

 

“I brought you here separately because I wanted to tell you that. Your expression looked so terrible when you were standing outside the hospital room earlier.”

 

Chae-rin shifted her gaze to the side as if recalling something. Then she muttered with a hint of disbelief in her expression.

 

“Perhaps this was done by the person who cares about Eun-young the most. It’s hard to believe, but it’s possible.”

 

Joo-ah’s dark brown eyes widened slightly.

 

Somehow, she had a feeling she knew exactly who Chae-rin was talking about.

 

Joo-ah headed to the Special Awakener Association with her teammates. They were going to meet Tae-jun.

 

Ordinarily, Hunters of their rank would have difficulty meeting the Chairman, but things were different for higher-ranked groups.

 

“What brings you here at such a busy time?”

 

Tae-jun asked indifferently. His desk was covered with printed news articles, most of them about the missing Hunter Kwon Eun-young.

 

“We’ve come to request that Hunter Seo Joo-ah be reassigned to another team.”

 

At Jae-rim’s calm voice, Tae-jun’s expression twisted slightly as he glanced over his desk.

 

“You want Hunter Seo Joo-ah’s team assignment changed?”

 

His voice was low and restrained, but Jae-rim answered without hesitation.

 

“Yes, Chairman. Hunter Seo Joo-ah is D-rank and isn’t suited to working with our team. If we continue climbing the Tower in this state, we’ll be unable to focus on fighting because we’ll have to protect Hunter Seo Joo-ah. Meanwhile, she’ll face increasingly dangerous situations with every floor she climbs.”

 

Tae-jun folded his arms and listened quietly. Then he turned to look at Yeon-joo and Chan-hee.

 

“Do the other team members feel the same way?”

 

Chan-hee nodded without the slightest hesitation. Yeon-joo glanced at Joo-ah beside her before speaking cautiously.

 

“I think it would be safer for everyone if Hunter Seo Joo-ah were transferred to a team better suited to her rank.”

 

This time, Tae-jun’s gaze shifted to Joo-ah.

 

“What do you think, Miss Seo Joo-ah?”

 

Joo-ah had kept her eyes lowered ever since entering the Chairman’s office. Now, she slowly raised her head. Everyone was looking at her.

 

She met Tae-jun’s emotionless gaze and spoke after a brief pause.

 

“I agree with them.”