S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 101

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

Episode 101. As You Sow, So Shall You Reap (2)
「Artifact—Yeongyeol Sinjeong」
The very essence of life and death had crystallized into perfect harmony.
•???
•???
•???
What startled me was that there were no options displayed at all.
Every elixir I’d consumed before had a straightforward effect—boosting all stats evenly.
But this Yeongyeol Sinjeong was different. It wasn’t even designated as an “item,” and its effect wasn’t intuitive at all.
The fear of not knowing what would happen upon consumption, mingled with anticipation, made my heart race.
“Don’t you yourself know what effect it has, sir?”
Kang In-yong smiled at my question—a mischievous grin, like a rascal’s.
“I know. I’m the world’s greatest elixir master, after all.”
“Then tell me. I should know before I consume it, shouldn’t I?”
“Hehehehe, there are no harmful effects, so feel free to take it without worry.”
“…Let’s move on for now, then.”
I’d already made my plans, so I opened the next black wooden box.
Unlike the white box that had held nine vials, this one contained only a single elixir.
‘It doesn’t look like poison at all.’
Poison is typically symbolized by green or purple.
But this poison gleamed in a clear, transparent gold.
“If anything, this looks more like a Mythic-Grade Elixir.”
Kang In-yong didn’t answer, only smiled—and the pride radiating from him was palpable.
‘Poison, huh.’
I don’t favor poison. I have the knowledge to defend against it, but I’ve barely—no, never—used it.
‘It just doesn’t appeal to me.’
It wasn’t a matter of cowardice. It was simply a matter of taste.
‘Still, I need to check the options.’
Even if I meant to sell it later, I needed to know the options to get a fair price.
And the poison’s options were….
「Artifact—Talhon Jiro」
A poison that kills not the body, but the soul.
A simple description. Just one line.
But understanding what it meant, my thoughts froze.
Poison generally doesn’t work on the strong. They’re protected against it, and even when struck, they’re only slightly weakened.
Even the likes of the Premier Swordmaster or the Association Chairman possess Poison Immunity and are completely unaffected by toxins.
But this poison, Talhon Jiro, kills the soul, not the body.
Which means…
“You could kill the Premier Swordmaster or the Hunter Association Chairman with it.”
Kang In-yong spoke my inner thoughts aloud, leaning close like a demon and whispering in my ear.
“Talhon Jiro is odorless and colorless. You could slip it into their tea while they’re driving, or vaporize it as powder. Or should I coat a weapon with it? A mere touch to the skin would finish them off.”
“…Why would I kill the Association Chairman?”
“Hypothetically speaking. If such a day were to come. Hehehehe.”
Click.
I closed the black box.
This must never be sold.
I placed all the elixirs in the Shadow Bag and steadied my breathing.
“You’ve truly done your very best, sir.”
“She’s the savior of my granddaughter’s life, after all.”
Kang In-yong walked toward the gate and opened it, extending his arm outside.
“Since our business is finished, would you mind leaving now? I’d like to spend time alone with my granddaughter.”
It was a polite yet firm request to see me out.
I understood his desire to reconnect with his granddaughter after decades—to do so without uninvited guests.
But my business wasn’t finished yet.
I walked toward the exit, then shut the gate again and turned back.
“I understand. Let’s end the personal matters here and move on to business.”
“I don’t think we’re the sort to discuss business.”
His tone grew increasingly harsh. I could tell just how eager he was to see me gone.
Before entering Daesugyeong, I would have lost heart.
But now, I answered him flatly.
“Don’t you think your granddaughter would feel the same?”
At my subtle words, Kang In-yong’s face twisted.
I might have chosen my words poorly….
But if I backed off now, I’d lose the upper hand.
I seized control of the atmosphere and spoke.
* * *
“Kang Chae-ah is not fully recovered.”
“Are you testing me? Her physical condition is….”
“Isn’t it rather naive to think everything is over now?”
“……?!”
“Surely you don’t believe that decades of curse vanished completely in a single day?”
Kang In-yong seized my collar and roared.
“Damn it, you!”
I didn’t respond, only gestured downward with my eyes. When he looked down, he saw the gun barrel pressed against his abdomen.
“I know you have a fiery temperament. But that doesn’t mean you act without thought.”
“…….”
“I don’t yield to violence. So please let go. This shirt—my mother bought it for me.”
Kang In-yong slowly stepped back. I straightened my crumpled shirt and holstered the gun.
“I didn’t intentionally leave the curse incomplete. That’s what it seemed like, but that’s not it.”
“Not intentional? But you laughed like some kind of fool when you said it.”
“I was laughing to reassure you. Anyway, Kang Chae-ah has recovered completely, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be further issues.”
“…So what do you want me to do?”
“Come to Arc Management.”
I drew a breath and produced my smartphone, showing him the Arc Management building and its surroundings on the screen.
“You can stay at the Arc Management headquarters if you’d like, or we can build you a house if you prefer. We’ll provide a workshop and storage—everything you need.”
“Ha! You were a Cheonmu Sect disciple, weren’t you? Setting the stage to recruit me like some cunning operator.”
“You can’t keep living in this remote mountain. Your granddaughter is nearly recovered, after all.”
“That’s true. But why should I join a startup? The Hunter Association Director and the Association Chairman would welcome me with open arms.”
To put it simply: Arc Management was like a small business, the Hunter Association Director was a government-sanctioned position, and the Association Chairman was like a major corporation.
A master craftsman of the highest caliber wouldn’t join a small business without compelling reason.
There was only one thing that might give Kang In-yong pause—using Kang Chae-ah as leverage for his cooperation.
It wasn’t a kind method. But I’d never thought of myself as a good person.
If anything, I leaned toward the wicked. So using Kang Chae-ah posed no moral barrier.
Of course, I didn’t intend to use only Kang Chae-ah.
“From a hiring perspective, I have no counter-argument. But if we’re talking partnership, ours would be more beneficial.”
Not blackmail leveraging Kang Chae-ah, but an unexpected attack using the novel concept of partnership.
Caught off-guard, Kang In-yong couldn’t immediately formulate a response.
I didn’t give him time to think. I drove my own perspective directly into his blank mind.
“The world’s greatest elixir master working under someone else is nonsensical. Build your own brand. The government and the Association will oppose it—because they want to own you. I don’t seek ownership. Instead, I’ll invest.”
“Invest……?”
“Yes. So the Poison Spirit Wizard needs not listen to anyone. You can do whatever you wish. You can make elixirs as before, or make poisons. Arc Management will support everything.”
“Not listen to anyone…….”
As Kang In-yong considered, he realized Chae Mujin was right. He was the world’s greatest elixir master, yet he’d always made elixirs under someone’s orders.
There were elixirs he’d wanted to create. And truthfully, he wanted to make poisons even more than elixirs.
But this society frowned upon poison, calling it the symbol of the weak or villains.
Yet Chae Mujin was offering to support all of it—not as employment, but as investment.
“Investment, not employment…….”
Chae Mujin gave him time to imagine. Self-realization struck deeper than others’ explanations.
Then, Chae Mujin deployed his finishing move.
“Without interference from anyone, you can pursue your desires. And if anything happens to Kang Chae-ah, Arc Management and I will absolutely help.”
“Hmm…….”
“Of course, don’t misunderstand. We’re not doing all this for free. It’s partnership. We invest in the Poison Spirit Wizard’s brand, and in exchange, we get first purchase rights on everything you create.”
“So you’re not just taking elixirs—you’ll pay for them?”
“Of course. Investment and purchase are separate matters.”
Kang In-yong nodded vigorously, clearly pleased.
“Furthermore, if you resume Hunter work, you’ll need our management’s support. We’ll handle everything—from minor details to major affairs—perfectly.”
“Ohhhhh……!”
By my assessment, I’d satisfied ninety-eight percent of him. But Kang In-yong was greedy; I could see he wanted the remaining two percent filled.
‘Sigh, this is a loss for me too. But thinking of the future…….’
Han Seok-jin, the accounting team lead, would raise hell if he knew, but I had no choice. I made an exceptional offer.
“Normally, every Hunter in our management signs a contract at a seven-to-three split. But the Poison Spirit Wizard is talent recognized by the world, so…….”
I covered my mouth with my hand so others wouldn’t hear and whispered to his ear.
“An eight-to-two split.”
“Eight to two……!”
“Absolutely don’t mention this to anyone else. All the Bastard Guild members signed seven-to-three contracts.”
“Bastard?”
“The guild led by Choi Bun-gae, the Thunder Duke.”
“Ah, then I know of it. Remarkable—even they’re on a seven-to-three contract…….”
The Hunters in the Bastard Guild, where Choi Bun-gae served as guild master, were all A-Rank and among the finest Hunters alive.
That even they signed at seven-to-three while he alone got eight-to-two was enough to satisfy his ego completely.
Ding!
A notification sounded in my ear that Kang In-yong had reached one hundred percent satisfaction.
Of course, it was auditory hallucination—but my instinct was never wrong.
Whoosh.
He extended his hand. Unlike before, this wasn’t threatening. It was slow, and it carried goodwill.
Since ancient times, a handshake has signified the sealing of a deal.
Just as Chae Mujin was about to grasp it and shake—
Whoosh.
Kang In-yong withdrew his hand again.
Chae Mujin looked into his eyes.
“My Chae-ah gets eight-to-two as well, right?”
“…You’re relentless. Hah!”
Two people on an eight-to-two contract. It was no easy decision.
An A-Rank Hunter easily earns ten billion won. A ten-percent difference meant a difference of one billion won.
‘Does Kang Chae-ah even have the potential for an eight-to-two contract?’
Of course, I knew the skills she possessed were remarkable.
But remarkable skills didn’t guarantee everyone would become an A-Rank Hunter and flourish.
‘Whatever else, there must be fairness in contract ratios. If Choi Bun-gae is at seven-to-three, a rookie Hunter getting eight-to-two makes no sense.’
I’d made my decision but didn’t reveal my full thoughts.
“An eight-to-two ratio is excessive for Kang Chae-ah. Instead, let’s do this: if Kang Chae-ah reaches A-Rank later, we’ll recognize her potential and raise it to eight-to-two then.”
“…….”
Kang In-yong stroked his chin in thought, but soon nodded, understanding.
I grasped his extended hand firmly.
“Contract sealed.”
“I look forward to working with you, Chae Mujin.”
“Will you be moving right away?”
“There’s much to prepare. When I need extra hands…….”
“I’ll assign a dedicated manager. Tell them what you need, and they’ll bring it all.”
“Good. The moon is lovely tonight. Do you drink? My master left behind a hundred-year-old Snake Liquor—excellent for men.”
Kang In-yong tapped my shoulder with a subtle signal. I firmly shook my head.
“I can’t drink tonight.”
“Why?”
“I only drink on days when I’m in a bad mood.”
“Hahahaha! This guy!”
Bang-bang!
He slapped my back heartily, laughing. I laughed in kind and handed him my card.
“My contact information. If any problems arise before you move near the company, call me. I’ll rush over.”
“Rush over? On a night like this?”
Just thirty minutes ago, Kang In-yong had told me to leave, yet now he seemed reluctant to see me go so soon.
“I need to get back to the company and tell everyone the good news. That way, you can enjoy the benefits starting tomorrow.”
“I see. Then I can’t hold you back. Hahahaha!”
As we both laughed and prepared to part—
Pit-pat, pit-pat.
A woman walked toward us, bathed in moonlight.
It was Kang Chae-ah.
Seeing her, a single word came to mind.
‘Pae-wol Suhwa. Like the reincarnation of Diao Chan herself.’
Diao Chan, the most beautiful woman in the Records of the Three Kingdoms. If she were reborn in the modern era, I imagined she’d possess beauty like this—pristine yet mysterious.
Yet Chae Mujin felt no flutter in his heart.
‘She’s just a child.’
Her appearance might be mature, but she’d been unconscious for five years. That meant her mind was still that of a child.
Besides, beautiful women surrounded Chae Mujin constantly, so he didn’t lack experience being moved by beauty.
“You’re leaving already?”
Kang Chae-ah spoke, opening her mouth.
Her voice carried the power to melt hearts.
Kang In-yong took his granddaughter’s shoulder and spoke.
“Chae-ah, the night is cold. Go inside.”
“But….”
Kang Chae-ah hesitated, wringing her hands.
Kang In-yong spoke with worried eyes.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
“Not that, but… Mujin….”
Kang In-yong turned to look at Chae Mujin, and I too waited to hear what she’d say.
Kang Chae-ah spoke like a tragic heroine.
“You took something precious from me.”
“……!”
Crunch!
I was seized by the collar once again.
So flustered was I that the words meant for my mind tumbled from my lips.
“I-it’s true, but… it’s not!”

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