I'm a C-Class, but All the S-Classes Are Obsessed with Me - Chapter 22

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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 22
The concealment was sloppier than I’d expected, the movements crude, yet there was no room for distraction even in this brief exchange.
Drawing a weapon in the Downtown Street, no less—surrounded by ordinary people—was madness itself.
Clang!
The moment I barely deflected my opponent’s dagger, an unfamiliar yet crisp energy suddenly surged through me, wrapping around my entire body. With it came a strange lightness to my movements.
I caught the flow out of the corner of my eye—Hyerin stood there, both hands clasped tightly, her face drained of color.
“Watch out!”
At her cry, I lurched forward at the waist, easily dodging the Hunter who’d launched a surprise attack from behind.
‘That’s not like her.’
As I grew accustomed to Hyerin’s energy, its duration felt oddly irregular.
It seemed strange to dismiss it as simple lack of field experience. But Hyerin wasn’t my concern right now. I had to deal with the threat in front of me first.
The moment I tore my eyes away from Hyerin and faced forward, I saw my opponent suddenly cease his attacks and stand motionless.
‘This is… unsettling.’
It was as though he were planning something entirely different.
Uncertain when or how he might strike, I kept my gaze fixed on him, never loosening my guard. He stared back at me just as intently, then slowly tilted his head to one side.
Simultaneously, his lips parted into a smile—a low, quiet sound at first, then growing louder and louder as he laughed.
Then, as if none of it had happened, his mouth went rigid, and the whites of his eyes filled with blood vessels as he continued to stare at me with obsessive intensity.
“I’ve been searching for you all this time.”
His words came with a ring of absolute certainty, yet his appearance was that of a lifeless doll.
The flush that had reddened his face moments before had drained away, leaving him ashen.
I studied him with such care that my eyes grew wet, afraid to miss even the smallest shift.
That’s when I noticed the knuckles of the hand gripping the dagger began to protrude.
“You killed him that day—so why did you pin it on me?”
“What?”
My indifferent response seemed to irritate him. He roared and rushed at me again.
The distance between us vanished in an instant.
As the blades collided, the mana wrapped around each edge scattered like sparks.
Face to face once more, I met his gaze—but those eyes were vacant, utterly hollow, as though looking through me rather than at me.
We held our positions for a moment, neither of us yielding as the pressure between us intensified.
Then a scene flashed across my mind.
‘…No.’
This looks exactly like that time.
The Hunter before me now had the same gaze as Seo Do-hyuk that day.
The Guardian of Taewon remarked with a bored expression that perhaps it was time to stop dragging this out, noting that the real concern wasn’t the Awakener currently locked in combat.
Only then did I understand the subtly discordant air.
I’d assumed it was nothing but a coincidence…
‘This is Illusion Magic.’
And it’s spreading quite extensively at that.
The moment my mind settled on this realization, my body reacted. As my opponent raised his dagger once more, I sidestepped left, dipped my torso, and swept my right leg toward him. I caught his ankle with force, upending his balance.
He gasped.
In an instant, he lost his footing and tumbled forward helplessly.
I quickly secured my weapon and, seizing the opening, delivered a sharp hand-strike to the back of his neck. A dull thud echoed as his body went limp against the pavement.
Now that I had a clearer picture, there was no need to waste any more time.
“Hhh…”
I exhaled long and hard, then turned my body toward Hyerin.
She stood with her head bowed, her fists clenched so tightly that the tremor was unmistakable. When I drew near and gripped her shoulder, she startled. Her face—slick with cold sweat—came into view.
“Can you make it on your own, Hyerin?”
At my question, she looked up at me with vacant eyes. The unknown Illusion Magic was clearly still affecting her sensitive nerves.
“You… you need to come with me.”
“You look worse off than I do right now.”
Even entranced by the Illusion Magic, Hyerin was watching out for me. Setting aside my gratitude, I spoke firmly, gripped both her shoulders, and turned her around. Then I pushed her back with force.
It was cruel, but having her here would only be a liability.
I couldn’t move freely if I was worried about her.
“Get your head on straight and go request support from your instructor.”
“The Hunters Association—”
“The Academy is the only place that can help right now.”
The Hunters Association had probably already received a report, but the only ones who could help immediately was the Academy.
“You need to hurry.”
My firm tone made her bite her lip once, then nod weakly before she stumbled away into the distance.
I watched her figure shrink to a dot, then without hesitation, I turned on my heel.
The Guardian of Taewon regards the low-grade weapon clutched in the contractor’s hand with obvious displeasure, remarking that since things have come to this, they might as well relieve some stress.
Stress? Do I look like I have any of that?
The Guardian points out that the act of pretending isn’t fooling anyone, adding that lies don’t work on a constellation.
Instead of answering, I unsummoned the sword I’d been holding.
Watching the violet light scatter into empty air, I simply dismissed the system window that appeared in quick succession, brimming with displeasure.
After that, I continued sprinting forward while scanning my surroundings urgently.
‘If there’s anything at all… oh.’
That one’s perfect.
An umbrella, clearly abandoned near a utility pole, caught my eye.
I made straight for it and checked its condition. The ribs were bent and rust had set in, but for now it seemed like it could be quite useful.
The Guardian remarks that the contractor discarded the low-grade weapon they had carefully selected just for that, then turns away and sits in the corner.
‘No, that’s not what I meant…’
Come on, you know my situation perfectly well, so why sulk like that? If you keep it up, I won’t answer you ever again.
The Guardian’s shoulders twitch, then shuffles quietly back to their place and shoots the contractor a sideways look.
After placating and soothing the Guardian, my view soon opened up and a wide plaza came into sight.
On a normal day, this would have been a space where citizens sat on benches for brief moments of rest. But now it was absolute chaos.
‘This is insane.’
Whatever had been thrown around had turned the street into a hellscape, and the surrounding shops all had their entrances firmly shut.
Through those glass windows, I could see several people holding mobile phones.
“What nerve showing your face around here after running off with your father’s surgery money? And you call yourself human? Huh?!”
“If it weren’t for you, my arm wouldn’t be ruined like this. Nobody’ll even hire me now!”
The cause was likely the Hunters tangled together, exchanging blows with each other. Or perhaps the people spewing curses while swinging fists into empty air, or smashing benches with weapons while howling.
The Guardian remarks that even in a wartime situation, individually knocking people unconscious to mediate would be inefficient.
Certainly, the Guardian was right—it was impossible to deal with all those people.
Even if it were possible, being noticed at all in a place like this would lead to nothing but catastrophe. So what I needed was something fast and decisive—one decisive blow.
‘I need to take down the ringleader first.’
The Illusionist who’s reduced so many Hunters to this state.
If I just take down that one Illusionist, all the illusions should lift at once.
I moved carefully, picking my way between the people.
‘I wish I were an assassin right now.’
Concealment would have been optimal in a situation like this.
The Guardian laments that true concealment would be suppressing through raw power—something they can’t demonstrate in this situation.
Leaving regrets about the profession, I continued scanning my surroundings as I moved forward—when it happened.
“Hwee!”
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
My head turned on instinct, and with a sharp whistling sound, something tore through the air past my ear.
It was a strike laden with genuine killing intent.
Feeling the sting across my cheek, a curse slipped unbidden from my lips.
“I didn’t… no, I didn’t do it…”
What are you talking about? You’re doing it right now.
The man’s voice cut through clearly as my senses sharpened in an instant.
Unable to do anything about it because of the illusion, I let out a short click of my tongue.
When I simply stared without saying a word, he shouted something and drew his bow again.
There was no aiming—just arrows flying wild and indiscriminate.
‘It’s far weaker than Baek Seon-woo’s momentum.’
But ranged attacks were still troublesome.
Though I suppose it was some consolation that the man’s hands were trembling violently. At this rate, a stray shot could draw blood if I wasn’t lucky.
“Don’t… don’t come closer!”
“…”
“You traitor…!”
At the man’s vicious cry, half-delirious with panic, I bit my lower lip and crouched down.
Giving distance to a ranged dealer was as good as asking to be killed. And with his eyes rolling like that, firing wildly, there was no way to predict where the arrows would go.
‘This is maddening.’
Of all the dealers, why’d it have to be a ranged one?
Arrows flew toward me in succession, embedding themselves in the ground and sending up debris.
“Ugh…!”
As I dodged, my direction naturally shifted, and I threw myself sideways as if my feet had tangled.
It was fortunate that a bench—one that was at least still intact—caught my eye.
‘Hah.’
Even exhaling a sigh had to be done carefully.
I crouched low and peered through the gap in the bench’s backrest, tracking the man’s movements. Between the tangle of bodies still struggling around us, he was drawing his bowstring taut toward empty air.
‘I need to get closer.’
Ding!
[ The Guardian of Taewon clicks their tongue in frustration, helpfully noting that archers are completely useless when enemies close in on them. ]
I know that already, so don’t suddenly offer advice at moments like this. Not when you won’t take responsibility if I miss because of it.
I used the umbrella in my hand like a cane and rose slowly. Then, checking the attention of those around me, I kept my upper body bent as I edged forward incrementally, narrowing the distance.
“Damn it, I told you not to come!”
Just then, sensing something, the man’s gaze suddenly whipped away from me.
‘Huh… what’s going on?’
For the first time, his timing had become my advantage.
At the sound of a tin can rolling in the sharp wind that swept through, the man startled violently and turned his bow toward it.
With both body and gaze completely turned away, his back was now undefended—a critical opening.
Without hesitation, I pushed off from the ground. The distance closed in an instant, yet he still stared stubbornly at the wrong place.
I adjusted my grip on the umbrella, shortening it.
My target: the point where the arrow sat nocked on the string.
There would only be one chance.
I lifted the umbrella and held my breath.
C-Rank, yet all S-Rank Hunters obsess over me
Episode 22
Author
| Seo Yoo-yeon
Published
| March 6, 2026
Publisher
| Talesyx Co., Ltd.
Illustration
| Chogeuk
Title Design
| Mallang Kongtteok
Website
| https://talesyx.com/
Email
| [email protected]
© Seo Yoo-yeon, 2026
This publication is issued by Talesyx under contract with the copyright holder and is a work protected by copyright law. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution in any form or by any means without written permission from Talesyx is prohibited.
UCI
| G720:N+A277-20260212008.0022
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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