How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 87
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 87】
I blinked blankly. Hide the fact of my re-awakening? But why on earth?
“May I ask the reason?”
“The world fears what is new.”
A bitter undertone colored Lee Hyun-woo’s voice. His gaze drifted toward some distant point in space, as though he were tracing memories long buried and desperately forgotten.
“When I first awakened as an S-Rank Hunter, I was merely sixteen years old. I had no proper guardian, and I’d even lost my memories.”
He continued matter-of-factly.
“Some celebrated the birth of an S-Rank Hunter, but most did not. ‘It must be a system error,’ ‘There’s no way a mere child could be S-Rank’—all manner of accusations flew about.”
Undisguised exhaustion flickered across Lee Hyun-woo’s face.
“They conducted re-measurements dozens of times. They forced me into dangerous dungeons to prove my abilities. Those who envied me, those who coveted my power, politicians scheming to exploit me for gain….”
He paused, his eyes finding mine. In that gaze lay profound concern and an instinct to protect.
“Even I, an S-Rank Hunter, endured all that. If Ha-neul, the world’s only SS-Rank Hunter, were revealed to the world… the chaos would be unimaginable. They would descend like vultures, desperate to exploit Ha-neul’s power.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Just hearing it made my head throb. The moment my awakening became public knowledge, this peaceful life would shatter completely.
“I’m not suggesting we hide it forever. It’s just….”
“Until I fully understand my abilities and am prepared to handle them, I’d like a little more time, wouldn’t you agree?”
At my words, Lee Hyun-woo smiled gently and nodded.
“Precisely. You needn’t worry about the Shop. I have an A-Rank item that conceals magical power.”
He withdrew a jeweled necklace from his inventory and handed it to me. An item that hides magical power—exactly what I needed.
“Thank you. I’ll keep it secret for now, as you suggest. I detest unnecessary complications anyway.”
I’d only just reopened the Shop; I had no desire to become the subject of gossip before I was ready. I fastened the necklace around my neck, studying him.
“By the way, there’s something I’ve been curious about….”
Ever since awakening as SS-Rank, one question had nagged at me. I smiled playfully at Lee Hyun-woo.
“Do you think I could possibly defeat you?”
“…Pardon?”
“No, not fight! Just as a simple comparison! My rank is higher than yours, after all. I’m SS-Rank.”
Still seated on the sofa, I threw a few practice punches into the air.
“My body feels lighter, my strength greater. Surely at this level I could overpower an S-Rank Hunter?”
Lee Hyun-woo burst into laughter at my jest.
“Well, a higher rank doesn’t necessarily mean greater combat power. In your case, Ha-neul, I sense less overwhelming destructive force and more….”
He paused deliberately, then gently enclosed my fist in his hand. His large, sturdy palm enveloped my small fist completely, radiating a warmth both rough and comforting that spread through me instantly.
“A stronger aura of creation and transformation. I suspect you’ve awakened not as a combat-type Hunter, but rather as a special or crafting-type.”
“Ah, I—I see. That makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, I doubt I could suddenly shatter a boulder with my bare hands! Ha!”
Sensing the atmosphere growing oddly charged, I deflected with a clumsy joke and carefully withdrew my hand. My palm tingled strangely, as though it had been burned.
“…First, I should verify exactly what my abilities are! Give me a moment.”
I reached into empty space and pulled open the System window I’d been neglecting. Notifications cascaded down as though they’d been waiting. Clearly, quite the commotion had occurred while I was unconscious.
*(Congratulations) SS-Rank Awakening Complete*
So our F-Rank Master was actually a dark horse all along? Everyone who doubted our Master deserves it. Bonus. Whee~ (⋆ˋ⑉̈ˊ)൭൭⁼³₌₃
Surprise Gift:
-Employee Recruitment Vouchers (x3)
-New Menu Unlock Vouchers (x3)
-Shop Upgrade
-SS-Rank Request Resolution Capability
-1,000 Points
The System was congratulating my re-awakening with emojis it didn’t normally use. It seemed bothered by how I’d been dismissed as F-Rank all this time.
‘The System is actually quite endearing when you look at it this way.’
I chuckled softly and checked the reward list. Perhaps because of the SS-Rank awakening, the rewards were unusually lavish. From staff recruitment rights to points—it felt like the System had given me everything it could.
‘But did my stats change at all?’
After closing the notification window, I thoroughly examined my stat sheet. Basic attributes like strength and agility had increased slightly, but it felt ordinary for SS-Rank. Just as Lee Hyun-woo had said, it didn’t seem to be a combat-type awakening.
‘Surely it’s not just SS-Rank in name with nothing actually changed?’
My body trembled at the ominous thought, but then an unfamiliar entry caught my eye in the skill tab.
[Possessed Skills]
-Steel Vitality (A)
-Talent Detection (C)
-*NEW* Blessed Touch (SS)
The “Steel Vitality” skill that had naturally increased from B-Rank to A-Rank, and the “Talent Detection” skill I’d been using handily whenever hiring staff. Below those, a completely new skill had appeared.
‘And it’s an SS-Rank skill at that?’
With trembling anticipation, I tapped on Skill Information.
Blessed Touch (SS)
Your touch grants special blessings to food (targets).
-Effect: Mana Collision Negation
*Duration: 720 hours
After reading the description, I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Mana collision… negation?’
It was a term I’d never heard before. Mana collision? Was that specialized terminology used among Hunters? And applying this effect to food?
While I stared seriously at the System window, Lee Hyun-woo asked me.
“Is something wrong? Is there something different from what you expected?”
“Ah, I acquired a new skill, but the description seems strange. It says it negates mana collision….”
In that moment, Lee Hyun-woo’s eyes wavered with an indefinable emotion.
“Did you just say mana collision?”
“Yes. Do you know what that is?”
He paused for a moment before answering in a low, subdued voice.
“It refers to a phenomenon where the mana circuits within a Hunter’s body become tangled during awakening or when using excessive mana. It’s commonly called ‘awakening side effects.'”
Lightning seemed to strike through my mind. The reason Hunters couldn’t taste food after awakening, why they couldn’t fall asleep easily. The incurable disease of Hunters that modern medicine could never cure—awakening side effects.
‘Could it be….’
My heart pounded violently against my eardrums.
‘I can cure that?’
I stared blankly at Lee Hyun-woo. He met my gaze and slowly nodded. The moment I read the trust in his eyes, I couldn’t stay still.
“We can’t waste time! I need to try this right now!”
The food I’d made so far had given Hunters the ability to taste, but that was only a temporary effect without lasting power.
‘But if I apply this newly acquired skill, they’ll be able to taste for about a month, right? And the side effects disappear too?’
I rushed into the Kitchen in a panic. What should I make first? After deliberating, I decided to prepare cream-filled fish cakes—the kind that gently lull one to sleep. Fortunately, I had all the necessary molds and ingredients in my Inventory.
‘Lee Hyun-woo mentioned he barely gets any sleep.’
Adding a special effect on top would be the perfect finishing touch. My heart fluttered as I carefully oiled the mold and poured in the batter. Lee Hyun-woo watched my bustling movements with keen interest from beside me.
“Now that I think about it, Ha-neul awakened as an SS-Rank Hunter, yet you don’t seem to have any side effects. Is that correct?”
I paused mid-cooking and opened my eyes wide. Really? I felt no pain anywhere! At Lee Hyun-woo’s words, Ha-nyang beside me snorted and shook her head.
“You mustn’t compare the human I chose to ordinary humans!”
“So you truly aren’t an ordinary cat after all.”
Ha-nyang puffed up with pride at Lee Hyun-woo’s admiration and nodded contentedly. I watched the exchange and let out a soft chuckle.
The cream-filled fish cakes were nearly complete. I exercised patience, waiting until the surface turned a perfect golden brown before carefully removing them.
‘Perfect! Now if I just apply the skill….’
In that instant, a crimson-glowing System window materialized before my eyes.
Failed! The Blessing of the Hand (SS) skill application has failed!
Failed? Are you seriously messing with me right now?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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