F-Rank Secretly Becomes Stronger - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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61

 

An indoor smoking cafe with a duplex structure.

 

Perhaps because it was a weekday, there weren’t many people inside, but everyone present had taken out cigarettes and was smoking, filling the air with smoke.

 

Normally, Jung Juhyeok, being a non-smoker, wouldn’t have come to a place like this, but he had no choice since the meeting location happened to be set here.

 

‘Of all places to set a meeting, why did it have to be somewhere like this.’

 

If his clothes absorbed the cigarette smell, it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings with Mother and become bothersome.

 

As he let out a deep sigh and waited for a moment, before long he could hear footsteps echoing in the quiet cafe.

 

At the sound of the trudging footsteps, he glanced toward the staircase and met eyes with a familiar face.

 

Her face was still pale as ever, and dark circles under her eyes were visible even from a distance.

 

“You came early?”

 

“If I’d known it was this kind of place, I would have come late.”

 

“I invited you to my personal favorite cafe.”

 

Jia sat down and immediately took out a cigarette to put between her lips.

 

She lit the cigarette and exhaled the smoke toward the closed window.

 

Silence passed between them.

 

After just a few seconds, she leaned back against the chair as if tired.

 

With the cigarette between her small lips, she took a moderate drag, then exhaled the smoke again.

 

Only after repeating this several times was the silence finally broken.

 

“So, why did you want to see me.”

 

She asked with a self-mocking laugh without even waiting for an answer.

 

“Don’t tell me it’s a date proposal? Are losers your type?”

 

“Women who smoke aren’t my type.”

 

“Then what business do you have calling this busy person out.”

 

Was she a busy person?

 

From what he heard over the phone, it seemed like she was just lounging around nearby.

 

Well, regardless of whether she was busy now or always unemployed and rolling around on the sofa, it wasn’t his concern.

 

Jung Juhyeok got straight to the point without needing to add any flowery language.

 

“Mephisto.”

 

The reason he came to find her.

 

It wasn’t to smell that cigarette smoke, and it certainly wasn’t to go on a date with her.

 

“I called you because I want to meet Mephisto.”

 

A human who might be able to contact Mephisto.

 

Since Seong Jia had made a contract with Mephisto, he thought she might be able to contact her, so he called for help like this…

 

“…Hey.”

 

Looking at her expression, it seemed like getting her cooperation wouldn’t be very easy.

 

“That’s classified. Very important classified information.”

 

The cigarette ash was burning down.

 

It looked like it would fall somewhere if she didn’t flick it off right away, but she didn’t seem to care about it.

 

“Just the fact that you know about it is already a really big problem.”

 

“Why is it a problem.”

 

“Because important information was leaked to a guy who isn’t even a company staff member.”

 

She flicked off the white part of the cigarette ash that had been dangling precariously and asked.

 

“Tell me, where did you hear it.”

 

“The library.”

 

“…What do you mean—”

 

Her words trailed off.

 

She fell quiet for a moment, then soon irritably sucked on her cigarette and muttered to herself.

 

“Would it kill them to give me a heads up…”

 

Saying that while crossing her arms.

 

He stubbed out the cigarette butt that had burned down to the filter in the ashtray.

 

“She’s asking why you came looking for her.”

 

“Mephisto?”

 

“Yeah, staying connected to her for too long gives me a headache, so speak quickly.”

 

Mephisto connected immediately after he mentioned her name.

 

As expected, coming to find Seong Jia was the right answer.

 

Juhyeok told her the reason he had come all this way, just as she wanted.

 

“I need something I can negotiate with Garisto.”

 

“That’s what he says.”

 

Seong Jia speaking to someone invisible.

 

Thinking she was probably talking to Mephisto, he waited for an answer, and it came back shortly after.

 

“She’s asking why you’re looking for something like that.”

 

“I made a contract. To rescue someone that guy captured.”

 

This answer should probably be enough.

 

This time too, he explained the situation while leaving out the story about the artifact.

 

Then Jia immediately answered.

 

“She’s asking what kind of nobody you made a contract with that she hasn’t heard anything about it… And she’s whining about why you made one with another demon when you absolutely refuse to make a contract with her no matter what.”

 

“It’s a short-term contract. I’ve done them with you often too.”

 

“Bets and contracts are completely different, she says she’s sulking.”

 

“Hah…”

 

A being that had lived dozens of times longer than him was talking about sulking, so he could only sigh.

 

Knowing it was probably just word games anyway, he returned to the main topic and asked.

 

“So, I need something I can negotiate with Garisto. Do you know where there is one?”

 

“….”

 

The cafe became quiet.

 

Slowly waiting for Mephisto’s answer, her lips finally parted with difficulty.

 

“Hana has one, but she says it’s precious to her so she doesn’t want to give it.”

 

“Give it.”

 

“Really shameless.”

 

Jung Juhyeok coming out with an attitude far bolder than expected.

 

Even Jia, who had been quietly relaying messages, couldn’t help but be amazed.

 

There weren’t many humans who would act so shamelessly toward a great demon like Mephisto, so such a reaction was natural.

 

“You know it’s not empty words, it’s equivalent exchange.”

 

“This one’s a bit expensive, so she can’t give it as easily as last time.”

 

“Eating the Dream Herb doesn’t seem like it was an easy thing either.”

 

“…You, you ate the Dream Herb?”

 

Again, it was Jia who spoke, not Mephisto.

 

She stopped relaying the conversation and showed an expression of disbelief at what she was hearing.

 

Jung Juhyeok ignored such a reaction and continued speaking.

 

“Anyway, it’s fine if it’s not easy, so tell me. As long as it’s not a contract, I’ll accommodate as much as possible.”

 

“….”

 

This time too, the answer takes quite a while.

 

Or maybe she’s a bit late because she was quite shocked by the story about eating the Dream Herb.

 

In any case, an answer finally came back only after quite a long time had passed.

 

“She’s asking if you’ll really fulfill all the conditions she sets.”

 

“I’ll have to hear them and judge.”

 

“She was too disappointed last time, so this time she thinks something more stimulating will be needed.”

 

“What is this stimulating thing?”

 

A question thrown out with the hope that she would stop beating around the bush and speak clearly.

 

Seong Jia continued to quietly wait for an answer, then suddenly frowned and turned red.

 

“I won’t do it.”

 

“What?”

 

“You, just give up on that Garisto thing or whatever.”

 

Seong Jia abruptly tried to get up from her seat.

 

At her sudden unexpected behavior, Jung Juhyeok grabbed her arm to stop her.

 

“Since I can’t give up, just tell me.”

 

“I’m telling you to give up? I said I don’t want to.”

 

“Why don’t you want to.”

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

“What kind of…”

 

Jung Juhyeok was left speechless by her sudden tantrum.

 

She too seemed to think that what she was saying didn’t make sense to herself, so she slowly opened her mouth.

 

“Stay with me.”

 

“Stay with you?”

 

“Yes, me and you.”

 

Her face turned bright red.

 

Even her ears turned completely red, making her look like a ripe apple.

 

With that face, she continued speaking while embarrassed and stuttering.

 

“Stay with me for one week without going more than 10 meters away from each other.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s the condition Mephisto proposed.”

 

What Mephisto wanted in exchange for giving the items to negotiate with Garisto.

 

It was for Jung Juhyeok and Jia to spend a week together without being more than 10 meters apart.

 

He thought it would be monster loot or at best another ridiculous trivial bet.

 

He was left a bit dumbfounded by the completely unexpected content.

 

‘Why?’

 

Was she trying to film some trendy reality show or something.

 

Questions filled his head, but he pushed aside such useless thoughts and looked at it from Mephisto’s perspective.

 

‘Why would Mephisto push for such a condition?’

 

He deliberated carefully, wondering if there might be another trap.

 

Could something so important emerge in just one week that it would be worth trading for her precious item?

 

What is important to Mephisto in the first place?

 

He reflected on their past wagers.

 

The temptation wager he had with her.

 

The Dream Herb he ate as a wager for her amusement.

 

The past story of Hyeonho Candy she told him to see him struggle with conflict.

 

Conflict.

 

Right, Mephisto always wanted to see him struggling with conflict.

 

So is that why she wants to put Seong Jia and himself together for a whole week?

 

‘Put a man and woman together to make them grow close somehow, creating confusion in future decisions.’

 

A situation that anyone could see Mephisto would love.

 

Looking at it this way, he understood a bit why she set such a condition.

 

It wasn’t an incorrect judgment either.

 

If they stayed together for a whole week, he would probably grow quite fond of her.

 

Perhaps new emotions that didn’t exist before might emerge.

 

If that happened, he would face great conflict between the Association and Hyeonho Candy in the future.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

Right now, Jung Juhyeok’s life was at stake.

 

The contract he made with the demon he met in the Training Room.

 

‘I will do my best to rescue him.’

 

If he could do it but failed to obtain items suitable for negotiating with Garisto simply because of embarrassment, and consequently failed to rescue him, it would be no different from not fulfilling the contract.

 

“What did you say?”

 

“I said I accept the conditions.”

 

Jung Juhyeok’s serious expression.

 

Jia immediately realized from his appearance that this wasn’t a bad joke and began stammering again.

 

“Y-you perverted bastard…”

 

“Don’t worry, I won’t touch your body.”

 

“How can I trust that!”

 

Gone was that chic expression from when they first met, replaced by her constant hissing and fuming.

 

Jung Juhyeok continued to hold her arm and maintain eye contact regardless.

 

“I can’t back down here.”

 

“I don’t care, I won’t do—”

 

Her words trailed off unfinished.

 

Shortly after, she shouted toward the empty air.

 

“Hey! You’re going to use that now?”

 

“….”

 

“This isn’t right… this isn’t right…!”

 

Whatever it was, it seemed like an affectionate conversation she was having with Mephisto.

 

Jia looked incredulous as her face, which seemed like it couldn’t get any redder, turned an even deeper shade of red.

 

“Can’t we just use it somewhere else? Huh?”

 

Now she was trying to compromise, speaking to Mephisto in a coaxing tone.

 

The few people around began to stare, finding it curious that she kept muttering to herself.

 

‘…Should I pretend not to know her for a bit.’

 

With this much attention focused on them, it was getting a bit embarrassing.

 

He casually pretended not to notice and let go of her arm, sitting down in his seat. She chattered with Mephisto for quite a while before eventually plopping down in her seat with a thud.

 

“…Hey.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

She looked extremely tired somehow.

 

She always looked tired because of her dark circles, but after just a few minutes of conversation with Mephisto, that fatigue seemed to have doubled.

 

As he quietly watched her like that, their eyes met for a moment before she quickly turned her head away and spoke.

 

“You… if you do anything weird, I’ll really kill you…”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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