How to Seduce S-Class Hunters with Bungeoppang - Chapter 88
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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 88】
Clenching my fists in frustration at the unexpected failure, I noticed the reason I’d overlooked displayed beneath my hands.
Oh no! The Blessing’s Touch (SS) skill failed to apply!
Reason: Effect duplication impossible
“The effect is already duplicated?”
I stared blankly at the System window flashing in crimson. But I hadn’t added any skills to the cream-filled pastry yet?
‘Could it be… because of the special effect?’
Now that I thought about it, the cream-filled pastry had a special effect synthesized into it—’Drowsy Dreams’—which reduced fatigue by fifty percent. The very effect that had saved Lia from her terrible insomnia. I stroked my chin with a serious expression.
‘It seems I can’t layer new skills onto food that already has synthesized effects.’
If that was the case, there was only one solution. Among all the dishes I’d created, there was only one that had no special effect attached whatsoever. The founding hero of our Shop—the red bean pastry.
I hadn’t deliberately avoided synthesizing a special effect into the red bean pastry. Even when I collected materials from the Gate and obtained special effects, synthesis with the red bean pastry kept failing. I’d thought it was a System error.
‘It wasn’t an error after all!’
Perhaps the System hadn’t anticipated that I would re-awaken as SS-Rank and obtain the Blessing’s Touch skill? My eyes gleamed as I turned to Ha-nyang.
“Ha-nyang! Was I right? Is that how it works?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
I swept up the bewildered Ha-nyang in my arms and spun around the Kitchen in circles. Finally, our red bean pastry would gain an incredible effect too!
“T-the world is spinning…”
I set the dizzy Ha-nyang down on the Dining Table, then gave Lee Hyun-woo a thumbs up.
“I think I’ve figured out the method. Hunter, please wait just a moment!”
“Huh? What do you—”
Instead of answering, I dashed to the pastry mold. I poured batter into the properly preheated mold, then generously added red bean filling studded with grains, and—
Sizzle.
A fragrant aroma spread through the air in moments. My heart raced.
Just as the red bean pastry neared completion, I carefully applied the Blessing’s Touch (SS) skill over it.
Whoosh!
Golden particles cascaded from my fingertips, settling over the pastry. And finally, the welcome notification appeared.
Perfect success! Blessed SS-Rank Red Bean Pastry has been completed!
“Wow…”
An exclamation escaped me. The red bean pastry with the skill applied looked somehow different from what I knew. The lustrous sheen flowing across its surface gleamed with an ethereal radiance, as if real molten gold had been brushed upon it.
“The pastry shines like a jewel!”
Even Ha-nyang swallowed hard in admiration. I placed the pastry on a plate and set it on the Dining Table.
“Hunter, would you like to try it?”
He examined the pastry and let out a small exclamation.
“This is truly a ‘golden pastry.'”
“The skill I just obtained changed its appearance to this golden hue. But I’m worried whether it will have an effect on you, Hunter…”
My food had worked on other Hunters, but it had repeatedly failed to show effects on Lee Hyun-woo. I couldn’t help but worry.
‘Please, please… let it work!’
Lee Hyun-woo, seeing my tense expression, carefully picked up the steaming pastry. Then he took a bite.
Crunch.
Silence fell. I held my breath, watching only his mouth. Then his movements, which had been working, suddenly stopped.
“…!”
Lee Hyun-woo carefully lifted his gaze to meet mine, his voice emerging hesitant and uncertain.
“…I can taste it.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
He held my eyes and slowly nodded in affirmation.
“That’s not all. The ringing in my ears and the headaches have completely vanished. So this is what mana collision nullification truly means….”
He gazed at the fish-shaped pastry in his hand with an expression of disbelief, then offered a somewhat hollow smile.
“Now I understand why other Hunters shed tears after eating your food.”
“…Could it be that you were moved as well, Hunter?”
My teasing remark drew a smile from him.
“Had I been just a few years younger, I might have wept openly.”
Unfortunately, his eyes remained perfectly dry. I had so wanted to see him cry tears of gratitude for being freed from the side effects!
‘Still, I’m relieved the skill worked.’
Watching him bite into his third fish-shaped pastry, as though rediscovering taste for the first time in ages, my lips curved upward naturally. Yet one question lingered in the back of my mind.
‘But… his memories haven’t returned, have they?’
The moment I realized my skill could eliminate the side effects afflicting Hunters, I harbored one particular hope: that Lee Hyun-woo’s memories might also be restored. After all, memory loss was itself a form of side effect.
However, his expression as he ate showed none of the telltale signs of someone whose lost memories had suddenly resurfaced.
“…Is there perhaps nothing else? No old memories returning?”
“Memories, you say?”
Lee Hyun-woo fell silent in thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
“Beyond regaining my sense of taste, there have been no other notable changes.”
“Ah… I see. I had hoped your memories would return as well.”
As disappointment crossed my face, he gently rubbed the back of my hand with his calloused palm.
“It’s alright, Ha-neul. Simply being able to taste again is a miracle for me. My memories will return in time, slowly but surely.”
He spoke with such genuine warmth, as though this alone was sufficient. Here he was, the one who hadn’t recovered his memories, yet somehow I was the one being comforted.
‘He really is kind, isn’t he.’
I offered a bittersweet smile and nodded. Still, I wanted so badly to help him recover his memories….
Then, suddenly, the SS-Rank Awakening Commemoration reward list I’d seen earlier flashed through my mind. It had definitely mentioned ‘SS-Rank Quest Resolution Capability’, hadn’t it?
‘Why did I suddenly remember the quests!’
Without hesitation, I checked the Quest Board. Ignoring the countless delivery requests, I scrolled downward until I finally found the quest I was seeking.
Please restore the dormant memories of an S-Rank Hunter.
-Requester: Lee Hyun-woo
-Completion Condition: Consume blessed food for 30 consecutive days (1/30)
-Reward: Complete memory restoration
“That’s it!!!”
I leaped to my feet and cried out, causing Lee Hyun-woo to reflexively assume a defensive stance.
“What’s wrong!?”
“I found it! The way to restore your memories, Hunter!”
“…A way to recover my memories?”
Trembling with excitement, I flailed my limbs and rapidly unleashed everything the Quest Board had revealed.
“It’s not something that works from just eating it once! If you consistently consume taiyaki blessed with sacred power for 30 days, the mana collision will completely disappear and all your memories will return!”
I knew there had to be a way! I couldn’t help but bounce on my feet with joy. Ha-nyang shook his head at me as if I were some peculiar creature, but I couldn’t contain my excitement.
“After just 30 days, your memories will be completely restored, Hunter! Isn’t that wonderful?”
Everything was resolved now. I naturally assumed Lee Hyun-woo would leap with joy as well, so I turned to look at him. But then,
“…Lee Hyun-woo?”
His expression was strange. Rather than delighted, his complexion had darkened as if he’d just received a death sentence.
“You said 30 days.”
He murmured quietly.
“Does that mean all my memories will return after that?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lee Hyun-woo nodded as if he understood. Yet an inexplicable unease still lingered across his face.
“…Aren’t you happy? You’ll finally be able to recover the memories you’ve wanted so desperately.”
At my question, Lee Hyun-woo pressed his lips firmly shut. He gazed quietly at the taiyaki resting on the table, then rose from his seat without another word before I could say anything more.
“I’ve suddenly grown tired. I apologize, but I’ll retire for now.”
It was the first time Lee Hyun-woo had left me and excused himself. I stood frozen, my gaze lingering blankly on the direction where he had disappeared.
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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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