I'm a C-Class, but All the S-Classes Are Obsessed with Me - Chapter 21

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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 21
Sunday afternoon.
The Commercial District Near Academy was packed with weekend crowds.
Hye-rin and I pushed through them into a narrow alley. The savory aroma of food drifted from a modest restaurant—the sort of place you’d wonder who even came to—and already filled the street.
“How did you find a place like this? It’s totally off the beaten path.”
A small bell chimed as Hye-rin asked. When I first came here myself, I’d thought the exact same thing, so I couldn’t help but smile a little.
I approached an empty table and took in the modest interior. There weren’t many customers today either. The few people seated around the space looked like regulars who’d been coming for years.
The Korean Side-Dish Restaurant, tucked away in a corner with peeling paint on its sign.
It was easy to walk past without noticing, but the food was absolutely exceptional.
“I just came here with someone once, that’s all.”
I answered casually as I settled into an empty chair.
There was no need to mention that Baek Seon-woo had brought me here.
Besides, I was a Korean food purist through and through, so I loved this homey atmosphere more than anywhere else.
[ The Guardian of Taewon nods approvingly, remarking that it’s very Korean—even enemies get fed properly, and that’s something to be proud of. ]
See, the Guardian really must have had a past life.
That day I resolved to become a regular here in the shortest time possible, but the timing never worked out until now, when I finally brought Hye-rin.
After we ordered, Hye-rin’s gaze soon drifted somewhere, her eyes lighting up.
“Oh, I think our food’s ready.”
Following her gaze, an elderly woman in an apron approached carrying a tray.
I recognized her instantly from my last visit.
She was the owner of this small restaurant. Her warm face and soft white hair reminded me of someone’s grandmother—the sort of gentle presence that made you feel at home. That’s why Seon-woo came here so often, he’d once mentioned.
“You’re back again, miss.”
The grandmother set several dishes on the table, acknowledging me with familiarity.
I looked up, mildly surprised.
I hadn’t expected her to remember me from just one previous visit. It was a small, touching moment—this was how people became regulars, I supposed.
“Hello.”
My flat greeting earned me a warm smile and direct eye contact from the grandmother.
“What about the young man?”
Though her question was brief, I understood immediately who she meant. Part of me worried about Hye-rin’s reaction, but she seemed too absorbed in the generous spread before her to catch the exchange.
“He couldn’t make it today. He said he was busy.”
“Oh, what a shame.”
I managed an awkward smile, and the grandmother gave my back a gentle pat or two with a soft hand.
It seemed to mean I should eat now.
My gaze naturally shifted to the table.
An omelet studded with diced vegetables, glossy strips of seasoned radish, and the ever-essential sweet-and-tangy stir-fried sausage with vegetables.
There were other side dishes too—the kind you’d expect from homemade Korean cooking—though only a couple differed from my last visit.
But there was one problem.
“Grandmother.”
“Do you want more side dishes?”
“It’s just—we only ordered two servings, but…”
Steam rose gently from the grilled fish on the plate.
Yet for two servings, there should be only two fillets, and somehow a third lay on top of them—which seemed odd.
Wondering if the order had been entered wrong, I checked the receipt, but the quantity next to each item was exactly as specified.
“Don’t worry. The third one’s on the house.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You’re friends with Seon-woo, aren’t you?”
I should feel grateful, and I did, but something about this situation made me uneasy—as if it were working against me somehow.
“Thank you so much.”
“Eat plenty, and if you need more, just ask.”
In any case, this wasn’t an emotion I needed right now.
I was about to thank her again, but she’d already moved on to another table to take their order before heading back to the kitchen.
I watched her go briefly, then picked up my chopsticks and turned toward the table—only to meet Hye-rin’s pointed stare. It was clear she’d missed our earlier exchange, but caught every word this time.
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking who I think you’re thinking of.”
“Who?”
“Baek Seon-woo.”
……
“I really hope it’s just a coincidence.”
Her tone had taken on a sharp edge. Sensing the tension, I simply curved my lips into a smile, then tore off a large piece of fish and laid it over Hye-rin’s rice.
“Eat. It’ll get cold.”
I took a big spoonful of my own rice and began chewing steadily, grabbing side dishes as I went—but Hye-rin’s expression never shifted.
‘Why does she look so anxious?’
She merely stared at me with narrowed eyes…….
“I’m against it.”
After dropping that bombshell, she finally picked up her spoon.
Because of her words, what I’d been chewing suddenly caught in my throat. In the end, I gulped down a large mouthful of water just to force it down.
“Ha……, what do you mean by that?”
“You know there’s talk about the two of them, right?”
Of course I did.
From the start, it felt like a predetermined outcome, which is why I’d been trying to keep Baek Seon-woo at arm’s length……. But as if he knew nothing of such rumors, he showed no concern and approached me multiple times a day.
And it’s still happening now.
“People keep saying it’s flirtation or whatever, but the way I see it, he’s just being deliberately annoying in some kind of intellectual game. You know how scary those types are when they’re always grinning like that.”
“I’ll give you that.”
Without thinking, I nodded along with Hye-rin’s words.
Honestly, it’s something I’ve felt consistently from the orientation day until now.
Hye-rin continued speaking as she picked at the fish meat instead of the rice.
“Even if he’s unpleasant, Cha Yu-hyeon is far better than him.”
For once, his name left her lips in a positive light. Still, my impression of him remained something I couldn’t quite define.
‘Well, only the three of us know about that anyway.’
The day the first mock training was organized into teams of three.
The glimpses of him I’d caught inside the Dungeon afterward still lingered vividly in my mind.
Perhaps even more than with Seo Do-hyeok.
I was sitting with chopsticks held between my lips when my thoughts suddenly froze at the sight before me.
“……Hye-rin.”
“Yeah?”
Of the three grilled cutlassfish that had been on the table, two had vanished.
She’d been quietly complaining about Baek Seon-woo the whole time, yet she’d still managed to polish off the complimentary side dishes he’d provided.
“It’s nice to see you eating well.”
“You should eat faster too. Or I’ll take everything.”
I laughed softly and brought my chopsticks to the last remaining fish.
Right. As long as she eats well, that’s what matters. That’s why I brought her here in the first place.
Oddly enough, it felt very peaceful.
Spending days at the Academy with training and assignments wasn’t so bad, but of course, this ordinary everyday life was so much better.
Soon our conversation grew sparse, and we focused on eating for a while.
Whether it was because there was only one fish left or because I was eating too aggressively, the dish of side vegetables was soon empty except for crumbs.
“Thank you for the meal.”
After settling the bill, we stepped toward the restaurant entrance and bowed politely to the elderly owner. Pleased by our courtesy, she smiled warmly and gave us a small wave.
“Please come by anytime. It’d be even better if you came with young Seon-woo.”
“Yes, we will.”
I answered with a forced smile.
Fortunately, it seemed genuine enough, and her expression softened pleasantly.
We then moved toward the main street and headed for the new café with a nice atmosphere that Hye-rin had found beforehand.
“We don’t even need a reservation……, oh!”
Just then, someone roughly bumped into Hye-rin’s shoulder as she walked while looking at her phone. I immediately glanced back, but the man didn’t stop to apologize—he just muttered something under his breath and ran off.
“What kind of person does that—”
“Aaahhh!”
At the sharp scream, I reflexively turned my head back again.
This time, a woman in high heels was running toward us from the direction we’d been heading.
As the distance closed, I could see her face had gone pale.
“Over there—”
“Let go of it!”
How could she have such strength…… wait, no.
I reached out and gently grabbed the woman’s shoulder, but she shook me off without hesitation. I shook out my hand, and at that moment, I heard Hye-rin’s clear voice. She, too, seemed to sense something odd about the commotion and couldn’t look away from it.
“Sister, is something happening over there?”
Ding!
[ The Guardian of Taewon, sensing an unusual disturbance, hurries over while holding a tray full of desserts. ]
Now it wasn’t just one or two people—crowds were passing us in the opposite direction at a rapid pace.
Just as I was about to take a step, Hye-rin grabbed my arm and pulled me along. The force on my arm made it impossible for me to move recklessly.
“Something feels off.”
“Then we should go check it out.”
“Us?”
I had no response to her flat question.
I understood well enough what lay behind those words without needing to press her further.
“How did I even get in here…….”
Hye-rin trailed off, her gaze dropping. At the same moment, the hand gripping my arm began to tremble faintly.
I found myself caught in deliberation—whether to simply report this and leave, or stay and assess the situation on her end.
“Hye-rin, then―.”
“……No, I didn’t.”
Just then, an unfamiliar voice cut in.
It didn’t come from in front of me.
“I didn’t kill anyone, you bastard!”
The moment I spun around, a man with hollow eyes came rushing at me, a weapon clutched in one hand.
I shoved Hye-rin hard to the side and threw my left arm up over my head, barely blocking the sudden assault.
[ The Guardian of Taewon regards the condition of the opposing Awakened One with a puzzled gaze. ]
Insane—what the hell? This guy’s pupils are completely shot.
‘So now I’m fighting some Hunter I’ve never met in the middle of the street…….’
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the both of us got dragged in by the Hunter Association.
C-Rank, Yet All S-Ranks Are Obsessed With Me
Episode 21
Author
| Seo Yu-yeon
Publication Date
| March 6, 2026
Publisher
| Talesyx Corporation
Illustrations
| Chogeuk
Title Design
| Mallang Kongtteok
Website
| https://talesyx.com/
Email
| [email protected]
© Seo Yu-yeon, 2026
This publication is issued by Talesyx in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and as a work protected under copyright law, it may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of Talesyx.
UCI
| G720:N+A277-20260212008.0021
List Price
: 100 won

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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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