Chapter 14: You Took the Birth Control Pill, Right?

As soon as I saw her lying there, a news headline flashed through my mind.

['Retired Former S-Class Hunter A, accidentally kills A-Class Hunter B during sparring...']

Even to me, it sounded like a perfect title for a front-page scoop.

How shocked would my parents be if they saw that? They might collapse.

"N-Noona!"

Even though they bickered so much, blood is thicker than water. Kang Tae-woo ran toward his sister in panic.

But before he could reach her, Si-hyun’s hand twitched, and soon she pushed herself off the ground and stood up.

"...Did I just get hit?"

"Technically, you got thrown."

"Anyway. Whoa, I'm dizzy."

Fortunately, she seemed perfectly fine.

Even though I didn't use my full power...

Usually, in my experience, taking a direct hit like that would leave someone unable to think straight, requiring a stretcher. It naturally occurred to me that Kang Si-hyun was sturdier than I thought.

"Is this the attack power of an S-Class Hunter?"

"I told you, I quit being a Hunter..."

"That was totally awesome! How can I become that strong, huh?"

Seeing the look in Kang Si-hyun's eyes, I involuntarily took a step back.

Is this really the woman I just beat up?

No matter how strong a Hunter she is (setting aside whether I'm still a Hunter), is it normal to respect the person who just thrashed you like that?

"W-Well..."

"Yeah?"

"I don't know either."

Watching the two of us...

I heard Tae-woo mutter, "Two idiots..." before the sound of him getting hit by his sister's attack and flying away reached my ears.

"Seriously, don't be like that. Can't you teach me even a tip on how to get that strong? Hmm?"

"I really don't know. To begin with, Un... Unnie and I have different types of abilities."

I lifted my wrist and showed her the Mana Control Bracelet given to retired Hunters.

I turned on the bracelet's control function to show Si-hyun directly that it was working properly.

Originally, this bracelet was designed to draw out a Hunter's mana to add a beautiful white glow to its design, but...

"Is this broken?"

"If you don't believe me, try wearing it yourself."

When I took off the bracelet and handed it to Si-hyun, she put it on.

She immediately exclaimed, "Th-This eats up a huge amount of mana!" looking shocked.

The beautifully glowing white design of the bracelet was a bonus.

"My ability is fundamentally different from what the world calls 'Awakened.' Hunters use mana to implement their abilities, but I am someone who possesses pure superpower (psychokinesis) itself."

"Is that possible?"

"The example is living and breathing right in front of you. Although scientists haven't figured out the principle either."

Well, if there is a connection...

It's probably related to that world, but it's better not to mention that. I haven't even told Jin-wook or my family about it.

"I see."

"Anyway, it was fun hanging out with you today. Can we play together again next time?"

I thought for a moment at her words.

Together again...

"Well, if you're okay with it, Unnie."

"Great! Then it's a promise to meet again!"

"Yes."

"Now, my foolish brother. Make sure to escort my little sister home comfortably."

Kang Tae-woo looked at his sister with a bewildered expression and protested, "Excuse me, I am your biological sibling."

Of course, the problem was that it didn't seem to work at all.

"Haa, seriously. I don't know why someone who's a Guild Master acts like that."

Kang Tae-woo sighed as he closed the windows and started the car.

He seemed to think Si-hyun had caused me a lot of trouble, showing signs of being sorry.

"I'm fine. It was actually kind of fun."

"...Even watching her play dead earlier?"

"She probably didn't intend to. Usually, if hit like that, even a B-Class Hunter wouldn't be able to stay conscious."

The technique I just used on her involved gathering everything I was holding into one spot and launching it at a speed fast enough to create a sonic boom and shockwaves.

Simply put, I compressed everything I held with telekinesis and fired it as fast as possible.

If a normal person got hit, their body might tear apart mid-flight.

"B-Class Hunter...? Have you used that technique on a person before?"

"Even now, it happens, but in the past, there were even more Awakened criminals than there are now..."

"Ah."

"I think I went out to arrest them about twice at the Association's request. They were ability users that normal police or the mid-rank Hunters in the Association back then couldn't handle. Names were... Cheon Su-yeon and Dan Yu-chan, I think."

As I recalled the past, I heard Kang Tae-woo gasp in shock beside me. "What? That Cheon Su-yeon and Dan Yu-chan?"

"You mean... the Murder Demon Cheon Su-yeon and the Mad Bomber Dan Yu-chan from three years ago?"

"Yeah, looking at the timeline, that sounds right..."

"What on earth have you been doing?"

"I don't know either. I wasn't in my right mind back then."

But seeing that I was reluctant to mention more, saying I wasn't in my right mind, Kang Tae-woo nodded and didn't ask further.

Currently, using abilities on people is strictly prohibited unless you are part of a surveillance team directly selected by the police under the Association's cooperation.

"I can't say much other than that it was due to the Association's request."

I said that and turned my gaze out the window.

I felt a bit awkward sensing Kang Tae-woo's reaction to the sudden heavy topic change.

Checking the location, it seemed we still had another hour to go.

[ Wait for me~ If we end up meeting~ ] (Ringingtone)

As if waiting for that moment, my phone rang with perfect (terrible) timing.

I took out my phone to see who it was. It was Jin-wook.

"Yeah, Jin-wook-ah."

[ Hey, where are you? ]

"Me?"

[ Yeah. I thought you'd be gaming in your room, why aren't you home? ]

"Ah~ I went to Kang Tae-woo's guild and I'm on my way home now."

A momentary silence followed on the other end of the line.

Um, should I not have said that?

[ That bastard's guild? ]

"Yep. Since I returned my Hunter License now, he can't ask me to join the guild anymore."

[ Why did you even go there? You always complained about him asking you to join. ]

"Just cause. The Guild Master there wanted to see me once, and since I had free time anyway, I just went."

Well, it's not like I can't say it.

But at that moment, Jin-wook asked something as if checking just in case.

[ What about your pill? ]

"Pill?"

[ That... You took the birth control pill, right? Hunters are supposed to take one every 6 hours for two days. ]

The moment Jin-wook dropped the bomb.

I felt a flinch from the side and turned my head slightly. Kang Tae-woo was looking at me with eyes asking, 'What does that mean?'

Shit. Why are cell phones so good these days?

Why is the soundproofing in cars so good these days?

"Hey, why are you asking that now?"

[ If you don't take it, do you want both of us to be fucked? ]

"No, you crazy bastard! I'm in Kang Tae-woo's car going home right now!"

In a fit of rage, I shouted, and Jin-wook paused momentarily.

But soon after, Jin-wook's voice came back, scolding me instead. [ No, why are you telling me that NOW? ]

He only shut up after I cursed him out, saying he was the one who asked first before I could say anything.

However, spilled water cannot be gathered again.

I couldn't do anything about the stinging gaze I felt from the side.

"You... with that Senior... perhaps..."

"It's not that, so shut up. Haa... Hey. I'll call you back later."

I hung up the phone, feeling a headache coming on.

No, that bastard should have asked that at home.

Shit, why is his personality so uptight like a Confucian scholar? Checking on that without considering my situation just because it's 'time'?

"Did you hear everything?"

"Uh... Well..."

"Ha. Hey, don't misunderstand and listen carefully. We aren't dating or anything. We just got drunk and caused an accident when we were both out of our minds, so don't get any weird ideas."

"...I'll pretend I didn't hear it."

Shit, Jung Jin-wook, that bastard is booked for 100 head-banging sessions when I get home.

It's already annoying enough that I have to take birth control pills; why do I have to explain this too?

"Haa."

I sighed softly, took a bottle of water and a pill from my bag, tossed it into my mouth, and forced it down.

Since I got caught anyway, and it's time, I might as well take it.

My body cycle is still jumping around, so if I get pregnant, it would really be a big problem.

"Since you're adults... that can happen..."

...Yeah, thanks.

"Fine, shit! We did it! We did it fuuucking intensely! Okay?!"

"N-No, I didn't mean it like that..."

"So please just be quiet. I seriously feel like breaking this car door and running away right now."

In the end, coming back with Kang Tae-woo, I couldn't exchange a single proper word with him.

The annoying obstacle called "Guild Recruitment" had disappeared.

So it was supposed to be the first opportunity to become friends with a good guy like Kang Tae-woo...

But I blew it thanks to Jin-wook's unintentional trolling.

Plus, despite being only twenty, the fact that I lost my virginity was exposed, so now I'm probably stamped with the image of a loose woman.

"Oh, welcome back."

Getting off at the apartment main gate and walking in, Jin-wook greeted me cautiously.

But I glared at him slightly and walked past him without answering.

Flustered by my reaction, Jin-wook called my name. "Eun-ha-ya."

"What."

"Th-That... I was wrong."

"..."

If I kick his shin wrong right now, it'll break, right?

Honestly, I wanted to kick him in the shins (joint).

But getting into the house was the priority, so regardless of what Jung Jin-wook was blabbering from behind, I just walked on and got into the elevator.

Ding-dong~

Entering the house, I took off my coat, stripped off my knit sweater and pants, and dispersed the telekinesis residing in my body.

Then, wearing only my underwear as if to show off on purpose, I went out to the living room. Jin-wook looked at me and spoke in a flustered tone.

"E-E-Excuse me, Eun-ha?"

"Hey, Jung Jin-wook."

"Yeah."

"Do I look like a man or a woman to you right now? Why."

"..."

"Why? Can't tell? Do you need to touch my chest to know? Should I take off my bra too?"

As I reached behind my back, Jin-wook hurriedly waved his hands.

"N-No, I see you as a woman."

"Right, fuck."

Saying that, I hit Jin-wook's arm with my pure female muscle strength.

Then I hit him on the chest with the other hand and said:

"I know too. No matter how much I act like a man, I am a woman right now. But did you really have to ask that when you knew I was outside?"

"S-Sorry..."

"You should be really glad the person who heard that was Kang Tae-woo. Fuck, if it wasn't him, I'd be rumored at school as a slut who flirts with seniors, gets them drunk, and spreads her legs."

"I-I'm really sorry."

"Bad bastard, thoughtless bastard..."

Usually, he was a guy who was considerate and thought about me well, so I could have just let it slide.

But maybe because I thought the first button of my new life was buttoned wrong, I suddenly felt choked up.

Before I knew it, tears were falling from my eyes.

Seeing my tears, Jin-wook was flustered, but he held me tight in his arms so I would stop crying.

"I returned my Hunter License because I wanted to live a normal life now. Huh? So please, help me out. You're the only person I can ask this of, Jin-wook-ah. You know that."

"I-I'm really sorry."

"Huk, huhuk..."