NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 49
49.
Another day, as usual. Kang Seo-jin woke up on her queen-sized bed.
In a skyscraper in South Korea.
A residence equipped with top-notch facilities. It was so luxurious it could be called a palace.
Kang Seo-jin scratched her head and checked the wall clock.
“…Huh, I woke up early today. For some reason.”
It was digital, so it was easy to read.
Around 3 AM.
Since the sun hadn’t risen yet, the view beyond the glass window was pitch black.
Going back to sleep felt awkward.
If she fell asleep at this hour, that day would come back to her.
The moment she sank into the water. The chilling sight of water filling her lungs. She didn’t want to see that nightmare.
“Hum hum hum.”
Thinking that singing might lift her spirits, she hummed a tune.
But there were no signs of light.
She tidied up her bed, embracing her gloom.
The crumpled bedsheet took a lot of time. Partly because of its size, but also because she used this vast space all by herself.
She started her day by brewing an espresso with the coffee machine.
She neatly styled her hair, ate breakfast, and prepared to go out.
The princess of Gangcheon.
Authority was her sword and shield. Without a perfect appearance, she would be nothing but a delinquent. Especially since she was about to start her successor training.
– “Miss, are you awake?”
Kang Seo-jin took a sip of espresso from her mug.
Team Leader Kim Chu-jin.
A call from Kim, the secretary. He was a loyal subordinate assigned by Chairman Kang Cheo-kyung.
“You don’t sound well today. Are you okay?”
– “I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to sleep well lately.”
“My apologies.”
– “No, no! There’s no need to apologize, Miss! If a loyal servant ignores their master, what kind of world would that be?!”
His tone was different today. Maybe because it was early morning, but he had been working day and night for three days to handle Kang Seo-jin’s request.
Kang Seo-jin didn’t ask further.
It would only irritate her. She knew why he had been working so hard.
A few days ago, she had rebelled for the first time.
“Please help me find one person. Mother.”
“A person? Who are you talking about?”
Chairman Kang Cheo-kyung was an extremely intimidating figure.
Gray hair. A witch-like appearance. The chairman, who had been reading the newspaper, glared at her sharply.
“How much help would that person be to our Gangcheon?”
“……”
“You must not be swayed by personal feelings.”
She couldn’t back down here. With that thought, she rebelled.
“Ahhh! Mother, mother!! That person is my other half! My other half!!”
“Take her away.”
The conclusion was failure.
It was the first time she had seen her mother so furious.
She returned home, enduring the loud scolding, just like her older sisters had done.
Kang Seo-jin sighed.
She had sent people privately to continue the search, but there were no results today either. How many years had it been?
The possibility of finding him was fading. But she couldn’t give up. She always held onto the thought that he was her other half, her eternal light.
Could he be an angel? If he was, she was willing to follow him to heaven.
“What’s on the agenda today?”
– “Yes, from 9 AM to 12 PM, there’s a contract with Seongpung Armory for the weapons business. After 12 PM, there’s an observation of the Hunter Association’s practical exam.”
“Am I observing it directly?”
– “No, it’s a meeting with other guilds regarding talent development policies.”
He was a capable assistant who had risen to the position of aide and escort.
She changed into neat clothes and took the elevator. Being short, she couldn’t reach the button. A burly escort waiting in the lobby pressed it for her.
Time flew by, as always.
She successfully closed a 20 billion won contract and spent time building ‘friendships’ with heirs of various companies.
Seongpung was headquartered north of the Han River.
To get to the association, the car had to cross a bridge.
The bridge.
Every time she crossed the bridge, that day came back to her. Kang Seo-jin stared out the window at the Han River.
“Team Leader Kim.”
“Ah, yes, Miss!”
“Have you found that person?”
She asked the same question every day.
“No. We’ve checked all the relevant personnel records, but we couldn’t find him. We need further review for more specific personal data. I’m sorry, Miss.”
“It’s fine. He’ll show up someday.”
Kang Seo-jin remembered that day.
A dark night.
Kang Seo-jin prayed for death on the bridge.
Even though she was wearing a middle school uniform, it hung loosely on her.
It was the day she was diagnosed with a growth disorder. With a haggard face, she looked down from the railing at the river below.
How did my sisters endure this? I don’t know. Doing this makes you less of a person.
Her expression twisted.
The successor position required extreme mental strength.
Strong, thorough, and mercilessly wielding power was the only way to preserve the throne.
Mental pressure came constantly. Pushed to the extreme, she fought back with all her might. That was the management philosophy that brought Gangcheon this far. It was too much for a young girl barely in middle school.
Underwater schemes.
Backroom old-timers’ checks.
Political targeting.
Her young body couldn’t handle the excessive stress and broke down.
She could no longer grow.
There are many ways to subdue the weak. The most certain method is height and appearance. If you look fierce and imposing, you won’t have to fight.
Because instinctive fear is imprinted. She wasn’t like that.
Just a young, frail appearance. People were baffled by her childish look. Her parents whispered, people’s interest grew, and they laughed. Could a little runt like her represent the mighty Gangcheon family?
“Uh, uh, stop!”
She steadied her mind.
There was no reason to live anymore. Her family treated her like a machine, and her friends cut ties.
They weren’t even friends. She was the one paying for the friendship. Just to have someone to hang out with. Even that was cut off, and she was blocked in seconds.
“Hey, hey, hey!!!”
A man came running from afar, barefoot. He was wearing a university jumper.
Korea University.
A prestigious university alongside Seoul National University.
On his chest was written “Hunter Department.”
An Awakened One, perhaps. Subduing someone like her would be a piece of cake. An Awakened One in South Korea, how pitiful, she thought.
Kang Seo-jin stood on the railing, staring at the man.
‘He’s handsome.’
For the first time, she felt attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Why? Kang Seo-jin didn’t know. You shouldn’t judge people by their looks, but then what should you judge them by?
It was strange.
Was it because she was cornered? Or was she trying to use someone else to relieve her stress? Either way, it didn’t matter.
Kang Seo-jin took a deep breath and approached the man.
“Can you listen to me for a bit?”
“Uh, sure. Come down first.”
Kang Seo-jin poured out her worries to the man as if confessing. The man listened silently, offering some advice and even getting angry on her behalf, fully supporting her.
She was on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by all the stress.
Of course, she didn’t reveal everything.
He would surely be shocked and leave, like everyone else. Or he might smile awkwardly and try to take advantage of her.
Her relationships had always been like that, and they would continue to be. No, there would be no more. She had given up everything.
Pouring out her heart felt relieving. Now she had no regrets in this world.
“Thank you.”
Just as Kang Seo-jin was about to get up.
“Uh, uh, uh.”
The man hugged her tightly.
“It’s okay. Everything will be fine. You must have been struggling with those worries.”
Squeeze.
The burden was overwhelming. It was the first time she felt such a burden. Relying on someone was familiar, but being hugged by a man! And a stranger at that.
She tried to push him away but ended up hitting the railing.
“Uh, uh, uh.”
The railing creaked—it collapsed. She had forgotten it was old and could give way at any moment.
“Uh.”
Whoosh—
The sound of cutting through the air lasted only a few seconds.
Splash!
The sound of water, and her vision sank. Water filled her lungs. She thought she would die so meaninglessly. But something else fell into the water.
It was the man who had listened to her. He swam towards her and saved her. The surreal scene left her speechless.
“Be, be careful next time.”
The man, who had called 119, left. Kang Seo-jin had been searching for him ever since.
Her savior, her prince on a white horse. The one who gave her a vision of hope. She had been searching for him diligently, wanting to repay him, but she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of him.
“These are the candidates for this exam, Miss.”
Secretary Kim took out a tablet from the driver’s seat.
It was an electronic list. The people taking the practical exam today. She scrolled down indifferently. Down and down.
Then she stopped.
In front of one person.
“Who is this?”
His background was ordinary. Completely ordinary. Just another Awakened One common in South Korea.
But the photo was the problem. It was him. His face was more angular, even more handsome. Perfect.
Kang Seo-jin had always wanted a fairy tale-like story. Maybe because her life was so bleak, she needed an escape.
‘Lee Seong-han.’
This was the perfect story.