CHAPTER 60: NO PAIN, NO GAIN

WONHEE almost forgot that she had a private helicopter conveniently parked in her private heliport on the rooftop of Bobae Tower– the name of the luxurious apartment building where she lived.

It was possible because Wonhee owned the entire tower. To be precise, she inherited that building from her father– who was also Semi’s father.

[Anyway...]

She only remembered that she had a private helicopter when she saw Ahyeon.

[A Hunter’s license gives them the right to drive any vehicle, especially during emergencies. But Ahyeon doesn’t abuse his right as a Hunter. He passed all the necessary exams to get a license to drive different vehicles– be it on air, water, or land.]

And now, Ahyeon was currently flying the private helicopter.

[We’ll get to our destination faster this way since the roads are always busy during an emergency.]

Since the private helicopter was a VIP Helicopter known for its luxury interiors and low noise signatures, Wonhee and Yool sat comfortably in their high-end seats. The noise levels were reduced in the cabin thanks to the electro-chromic windows (windows with two layers of glass), so they didn’t have to wear noise-reduction headseats during the helicopter ride.

Hence, the two of them were able to talk comfortably.

"I do have my private plane back in my previous world, but it’s not as luxurious as this one," Yool said while looking around the cabin of the six-seater VIP Helicopter. "But I didn’t own a private heliport and a rooftop helipad on the luxury apartment that I owned."

Pfft.

Wonhee, who was busy texting her older siblings, smiled while shaking her head. "What are you saying, Yool-ah?"

"This experience just reminded me of the vast difference between a new money dude like me and an old money like you."

"The concept of new money and old money doesn’t exist in Korea."

"Yeah, but both of your families have always been rich. Yeon Soobin even came from the bloodline of a former king. While Jang Semi’s family has always been rich. In my book, that’s called being an old money."

She just smiled again. "Do you miss your life as a successful idol?"

"Nah," Yool said, leaning against the seat. "I started "working" when I was only eight years old, and only stopped when I was scouted by an agency. Then I had to work harder as a trainee at twelve years old. After my successful debut when I was eighteen years old, I didn’t stop working for ten years until I became the top idol of my generation."

Oho?

This was the first time that Yool said something related to his real age.

"Should I call you ’Oppa?’" Wonhee teased her friend. "Based on what you said just now, you’re at least twenty-eight years old before you got here. Has it been five years since you were transmigrated? So, if we calculate your age..."

"I like being in my mid-twenties," Yool said defensively. "I never got to enjoy my youth since all I did back in my previous world was to work." He paused for a moment, then he looked at her awkwardly. "Uhm, do you feel awkward with me now that you know I’m in my thirties already? Is it weird that I wanted to be friends with you and Ahyeon?"

"You were never inappropriate towards me and Ahyeon," she said without missing a heartbeat. "You’re good, Yool Oppa."

He rolled her eyes at her teasing. "Just address me as usual."

She just laughed, then she flinched when her phone rang. Hence, she immediately turned it off.

"Did you just turn your phone off when your siblings are calling you?"

"I already informed them that I’m going to stop Hunter Graham’s berserk," Wonhee explained. "Soobin Oppa and Semi Unnie will just stop me from doing my job, so I don’t wanna answer their call."

"Ohh. Someone is in their rebellious phase."

She just laughed it off.

Then she stopped when her Status Window popped up.

EMERGENCY!

Hunter Han Graham is on the verge of turning into an X-Class Hunter! The System will now send Chu Wonhee to Hunter Han Graham’s location directly in 10... 9...

"Wony-ah!" Yool yelled her name in a panic. "You’re turning transparent!"

Right?

8... 7...

"The System is sending me to Hunter Graham directly!" Wonhee explained urgently. "Yool-ah, when you and Ahyeonnie land in my hotel’s helipad, Geon Oppa will greet you there. Do everything to stop Geon Oppa from going to Hunter Graham!"

6... 5... 4...

Yool’s eyes widened in shock. "You own Sarang-hee Hotel?!"

Oh.

That was his takeaway from everything that she said...?

Wonhee couldn’t help but laugh softly. "See you later, Yool-ah."

3... 2...

"Be careful, Wony-ah!" Yool said in a panic. "If it gets too dangerous, run away!"

1!

And then Wonhee suddenly vanished.

***

WONHEE gasped when she found herself in the middle of what looked like sea of fire.

Everything around her was burning– buildings, cars, and even monsters.

Yes, she could see monster carcasses around her. And she didn’t only see them– she almost threw up because of the smell of burning flesh. It was something that she only experienced briefly during the Outbreak.

Fear started to overwhelm her.

But, fortunately, her Fear Resistance was activated.

Hence, she instantly calmed down.

Her stomach still felt funny, though.

[Let’s focus on the task...]

"Graham-ssi," Wonhee whispered to remind herself why she was there. "I need to find Graham-ssi..."

She trailed off when she saw her target.

Graham was literally on fire.

The Hunter was engulfed in red flames, but the flames were obviously not burning him. Instead, the red flames around his body burned the three wolf-like monsters biting his arms and legs.

Almost instantly, the monsters burned to ashes.

[If I didn’t have the Fear Resistance

skill, I would have fainted from shock...]

In fact, even with the Fear Resistance activated, Wonhee’s steps as she approached Graham carefully were a bit hesitant. It was as if she was dragging her body.

"A Guide?"

Wonhee gasped when, in just the blink of an eye, Graham was already standing in front of her– towering over her while looking down at her with glowing red eyes.

Oh.

Red eyes.

[Just like Yejun’s eyes before my Guiding...]

Wonhee flinched when Graham suddenly grabbed her by the arm.

CRACK.

That was the sound of Wonhee’s arm breaking.

She had to bite her lower lip so hard to stop herself from crying.

"You’re not Ahn Kisoo, so why..."

Wonhee was shocked when Graham suddenly threw her to the ground.

But he could tell that it was out of shock.

After all, Graham looked like he was burned when he touched Wonhee’s arm.

"Your touch..." Graham suddenly trailed off, then he shut his eyes tight while covering his ears with his hands. "Shut up!"

The red flame burning Graham’s body suddenly grew bigger.

And the Hunter kept yelling "shut up!" again and again.

[Graham-ssi must be hearing the Static...]

Wonhee gulped hard, ignoring the pain of her broken arm because she realized the gravity of the situation. "Graham-ssi..."

For some reason, she felt compelled to guide Graham who was obviously in pain.

Hence, she reached out her hand to her– completely forgetting the fact that her arm was broken.

She cried out in pain this time.

And in the middle of her suffering, her Status Window suddenly popped up.

To unlock Chu Wonhee’s I Must Be Protected At All Costs Skill, 100% of physical pain must be achieved first!

Current Pain Level: 70%

Oh.

Wonhee probably got the 70% of the pain from her arm breaking, and when Graham threw her to the ground.

[30% more...]

She didn’t like pain.

But if the System showed her that skill, then it must be a skill that she needed at that very moment.

Hmm.

[Hunter Graham’s flame... it must hurt, right?]

Wonhee looked at the small piece of debris burning at the tip of her foot...

... and then she immediately grabbed it with her good hand.

The scream that came out of Wonhee’s mouth appeared to be louder than Graham’s Static because the Hunter suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her in disbelief.

100% of pain achieved!

Chu Wonhee’s I Must Be Protected At All Costs now activated!

The members of the Big 4 are now being summoned!

***

[IS HISTORY repeating itself, or someone is forcing it to happen again?]

Hwang Frost, that naïve child.

He would often raid dungeons alone under APA’s orders because he didn’t want to put the Winter Guild in danger.

But what did it cost him?

Hwang Frost lost his mind.

APA knew that that boy didn’t have a proper Guide, and yet they kept pushing him to his limits.

And now the damned government was doing the same to Graham.

"They’ve attacked the kids first," Song Moonho said to himself, then he looked up when his Status Window suddenly popped up. This time, he couldn’t help but laugh. "You want me to save Chu Wonhee after that child punished me?"

***

SEMI clutched her chest when she felt like someone was squeezing her heart painfully.

This impending sense of doom...

[Our Hee-ya...!]

Her Status Window suddenly popped up.

Semi then let out a gasp. "Our Hee-ya is in danger?!"

***

YEJUN opened his eyes.

His glowing red eyes, to be precise.

He could feel it in every fiber of his being even without his Status Window telling him about what happened.

"Who the hell hurt my Wonhee?"

***

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