S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - 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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Episode 22. There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (3)
The Noble Body and Absolute Zero were skills Chae Mujin already knew about.
「Characteristic—Noble Body (S)」
• All status abnormalities below A-Rank are nullified.
• All environmental damage of 1,000 or less is ignored.
• Upon leveling up, gain +10 to both Health and Mana stats.
• When taking damage, Mana is consumed instead of Life. This effect persists until all Mana is depleted.
• When Life is lost, Health is used to rapidly recover Life.
• Natural Health regeneration, Mana regeneration +600%
「Skill—Absolute Zero (S)」
• Decreases the temperature of a designated area.
But Frost-White Shadow Form was something he’d never heard of. In fact, he’d never seen a skill with an “Engraving” attached to it before.
“Gyeoul. You’re probably sensing it vaguely already, but you’ve become an Awakener. Try saying ‘Status Window’ to yourself?”
“I did.”
“Tell me what Job Class and Skills you obtained, along with their effects. By the way, since Characteristics are essentially passive skills, when I say ‘Skills,’ I’m referring to Characteristics included in that term.”
“My Job Class is… Snow Maiden. And my Skills are…….”
Kim Gyeoul calmly reported everything as instructed—that she’d obtained two S-Rank Skills, and also about the Engraving Characteristic called Frost-White Shadow Form.
「Job Class—Snow Maiden」
Unique Passive Effect—Eternal Winter
• Decreases the temperature within a 1m radius. This effect is maintained up to -10 degrees. (All values increase by 0.1 per level.)
• Cold Attribute Skills consume only half their Mana cost.
• Life and Mana regeneration increase the lower the surrounding temperature.
• Immune to Cold Damage.
• Takes eight times damage from Fire Damage.
• Unique Domain Deployment—Ten-Thousand Year Snowfield
She explained everything. Except for one thing: Frost-White Shadow Form.
Kim Gyeoul hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head.
“Um, there’s nothing written for it.”
“That can’t be right. Look again more carefully.”
“…I’m sorry. There really is no description.”
Kim Yeoul believed with absolute certainty that her younger sister wouldn’t lie, and Lee Minji accepted it as such.
But Chae Mujin knew she was lying.
‘She’s not even good at lying.’
Still, he didn’t press her, because the expression of not wanting to reveal it was equally clear.
And that wasn’t because she distrusted the people here.
“Alright. If you ever see it again, make sure to tell me. If it feels burdensome, tell Yeoul.”
“…Okay.”
“But now, what about Gyeoul? A Hidden Job with two S-Rank Skills? This isn’t a dream, is it? That’s completely incredible!”
Lee Minji, unable to contain herself any longer, began to grow excited.
“You’ll skip Certified Hunter status, and S-Rank Guilds will be fighting over you! Congratulations, Gyeoul. Your whole life just got way easier!”
“No, I… I’m not…….”
“What do you mean no! You definitely… Oomph!”
Chae Mujin shoved bread into Lee Minji’s mouth and stood up from his seat.
“This isn’t the time to talk about S-Rank Skills. Doesn’t anyone else feel cold?”
“Now that you mention it…….”
“Yeah, come to think of it, it is cold? Is it because we’re underground?”
“Gyeoul just told you herself. The Snow Maiden effect makes the surroundings cold. It’s probably not an ability she can turn on and off as she pleases.”
“Then isn’t that a curse?”
The word curse darkened the expressions of the two siblings. Minji flinched back, bracing for another flick, but none came.
“It’s not a curse, but you definitely can’t keep living here. Let’s go.”
“What about the food we bought?”
“We’ll leave it. Grab whatever you want to eat right now.”
“What a waste…….”
“It’s just unmanned convenience store stuff anyway—minimum shelf life of a hundred years. If you’re that concerned, we can come back for it later.”
“I should grab some Jelly Candy.”
As Minji pocketed a few pieces of Jelly Candy and snacks, Yeoul, who’d been watching cautiously, also grabbed a snack.
“Gyeoul. You should take something you want to eat too.”
“No, I’m good. I’ll… eat later.”
And so they all got into the car with a snack in hand. By then, dusk was falling.
* * *
On the way back up to Seoul, the anticipated problem occurred.
The temperature drop caused by the Snow Maiden effect began to be felt.
Kim Gyeoul was frightened. Afraid that other people might be hurt because of her.
That fear became the trigger, and it was just as the temperature began to plummet even more rapidly.
With one hand on the wheel, Chae Mujin firmly grasped the hand of the girl in the passenger seat.
“……!”
The warmth transmitted through his hand. It didn’t remain in her palm alone but gently wrapped around her entire body in an instant.
“Gyeoul. How old are you?”
“S-seventeen.”
“I apologize in advance—I’m not good at flattery. You won’t be able to live like an ordinary student.”
“Ha, well, that was already the case before, wasn’t it? If it wasn’t for you…….”
“Forget the ‘teacher’ stuff. You can call me ‘mister’ like Minji does, if you’re comfortable.”
“I don’t think ‘mister’ fits. Could I… could I call you ‘oppa’?”
At the shy question, Minji, sitting in the back, muttered.
“You’d have to eat ketchup with soup noodles together before that sound stops coming out.”
“Ignore her. Call me whatever feels natural.”
“Then I’ll call you… Mujin oppa…….”
“Anyway, Gyeoul. The phenomenon of making your surroundings cold will continue to happen, whether you intend it or not. I’ve seen many such cases.”
“I see…….”
“But don’t worry. You can control it. Just like now.”
Of course, simply holding hands hadn’t made the Eternal Winter effect disappear.
Chae Mujin was merely guiding his Clear Mirror Water Internal Energy into Kim Gyeoul’s body to stabilize it.
“Once you learn the control method, you’ll be able to weaken the Eternal Winter effect. Of course, it won’t be easy and will be mentally draining. But it means you can avoid making your surroundings cold whenever you choose.”
“Ah……!”
“So don’t worry about daily life. An ordinary life will be difficult, but a special one is possible.”
“Haha. What does that even mean?”
“Gyeoul. Do you want to become a Hunter?”
It was a weighty question, but because Chae Mujin asked it lightly, Kim Gyeoul was able to answer comfortably.
“I’m not sure.”
“Don’t.”
At that, Minji poked her head forward in protest.
“What are you talking about? She has two S-Rank Skills. Gyeoul not becoming a Hunter would be a loss to the nation!”
Bang!
“Ow! Next time I’m not going to let you hit me!”
Chae Mujin put Minji on his “no-feeding list” and continued speaking to Gyeoul.
“Becoming a Hunter will be extremely difficult. It’s irreversible. Even if it’s hard, you can’t rest, and even if you want to quit, you can’t.”
“…But I have two S-Rank Skills?”
“Two or three, it doesn’t matter. You’re still young.”
Minji, who’d been supportive of Gyeoul becoming a Hunter, added a comment.
“Sir, don’t you know Awakeners are treated as adults starting from age sixteen?”
“That’s a completely different matter. Gyeoul was sick for a very long time. She’s a child who never got to experience a proper daily life. A world that tells such a child to become a Hunter now that she’s healthy—that world is wrong.”
Crunch.
Without realizing it, Chae Mujin’s hand tightened, and he spoke once more.
“I won’t allow a child to step into the cruel world of Hunters, no matter who says it’s necessary.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but the resolve it carried was heavier and greater than anything in this world.
Though his grip hurt, Kim Gyeoul smiled as if nothing was wrong and answered.
“So you’re saying I should become an adult first before becoming a Hunter?”
“Even if you become an adult, unless you can control Eternal Winter, daily life will be impossible, let alone being a Hunter. So for now, let’s focus only on learning the control method.”
“I’ll do as you say, Mujin oppa. But I’m curious about something too.”
“What?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
In the rearview mirror, Chae Mujin’s and Kim Yeoul’s eyes met.
“So that Yeoul will work harder.”
“……?”
“You’ll hear the details from Yeoul later.”
After that, they didn’t discuss anything heavy.
As they talked about what they wanted to eat and places they wanted to visit—light, pleasant conversation—they soon arrived at their destination.
―Two Eating Three Dead Not Knowing Potato Soup Restaurant
Lee Minji tapped Gyeoul’s arm as if she’d expected this.
“Look at this. There are two beautiful girls here, and we’re eating at a place like this?”
Chae Mujin had already entered the restaurant and taken a seat. It was late evening, so there were no other customers.
“Welcome.”
A middle-aged man who appeared to be an employee gave a casual greeting with his mouth, eyes still on the baseball broadcast.
Once all four had settled, Chae Mujin raised his hand and spoke.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes yes, I’ll get four portions of potato soup for you.”
“Come over here for a moment.”
“Geez, I’m watching baseball…….”
The grumbling middle-aged man came over, looking at Chae Mujin and his group with an expression asking what on earth they wanted.
“Everyone, say hello.”
“……?”
The group blinked. Why would he suddenly ask them to greet an unfriendly middle-aged employee?
“He’s my father.”
Pfft!
Lee Minji spit out the water she’d been drinking.
* * *
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“No, no! The mister suddenly said something weird, so I got startled!”
The two siblings from either side wiped the water that had sprayed on his face with tissue. He didn’t particularly object.
It was quite wet, after all.
“Minji. Don’t sit across from me anymore. Move seats right now.”
“Are you being spiteful…….”
“Want to see what real spitefulness looks like?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll move.”
After having Minji switch seats with Yeoul, he turned to his father and said.
“These girls… are younger sisters I made friends with during the test?”
“Hello? I’m Lee Minji, but please call me Minji for short.”
As Minji greeted him cheerfully first, Father pointed to the wall on the right.
―Welcome, Lee Minji
“Hehehehe! I should’ve come earlier!”
Next came the turn of the two siblings.
“Hello…. I’m Kim Yeoul.”
“I’m Kim Gyeoul…….”
Their voices were so quiet in tandem that even I, sitting right beside them, could barely hear, but Father nodded.
“Welcome. I’m Chae Mujin’s father.”
Then he returned to his seat and began watching baseball again.
Truly, he’s my father, but he’s so cool.
Then again, from Father’s perspective, I’m back after only three days, so there’s nothing exciting about it.
‘That I couldn’t meet him for decades, eventually died, went back in time, and met him again… that’s something only I know.’
With a serious expression, I rubbed my father’s shoulders as he watched baseball.
“When are you going to drink that Championship Alcohol sitting on the shelf? It’ll spoil.”
“Hanwha will definitely win the championship this year. Their form is coming together.”
“They won’t win even after ten years.”
“If you’re going to curse me, get out. Get lost.”
It’s because I’ve experienced the future?
Keeping that to myself, I headed toward the kitchen. It’s a clean, well-organized kitchen.
The moment I entered, heat rushed toward me, and suddenly a tray blocked my vision.
“Take the side dishes.”
It was Mother. She must have been watching from the kitchen, so she held out a tray full of side dishes.
Normally, I would have taken the tray and left, but today I decided to act differently.
I set the tray down elsewhere and pulled Mother into an embrace.
“What’s wrong?”
“There was something.”
“You’ve had a hard time.”
Pat, pat, pat.
Without asking for details, Mother simply patted my back, and I fully savored that touch.
Yes, this is enough.
“Mom. Skip work tonight and talk with me for a bit.”
“Our son seems to have changed completely.”
“People change when they die and come back to life.”
“Do you have cancer?”
“It’s about a business.”
“I’d prefer cancer.”
After finishing that pointless conversation, I ate with the girls.
An evening meal in a safe, comfortable space with no danger and no tension.
Just as everyone was happily focused on their meal, Yeoul suddenly lowered her head.
“Sob, sob…….”
“Hey, Minji. It’s not because you stole her Cola. Get her a new one right away.”
“If you want to drink, just say so. Why are you crying?”
“Sniff, it’s not because of the Cola, I’m sorry.”
Then Kim Yeoul abruptly stood and left the restaurant. Chae Mujin got up as well.
“I’ll go.”
Yeoul hadn’t gone far. She was sitting in a chair outside the restaurant.
Not knowing why she was crying, I simply sat beside her.
“Yeoul.”
“Sniff, yes.”
“It’s loud, so go cry over there.”
“…….”
“I was joking. Sit.”
“…I’m not sure if I deserve this.”
“Deserve to eat potato soup? You can get that for fifteen thousand won.”
“Even if I’m this happy, even if I’m this lucky, I don’t know if I should be. I haven’t lived well, I’m actually evil…….”
“Damn it. What kind of thinking is that? People are born to be happy from the start. And luck? What luck are you talking about? Me treating your sister? How is that luck?”
I pressed a cold can of Cola into her hand, the one I’d brought on the way out.
“Your sister could survive because you held onto hope so tightly. Not everyone can do that, you know? Hope isn’t something you can see with your eyes. Is it easy to hold onto and cling to something you can’t even see? So take pride in it. I saved your sister, but it was your hope that seized that opportunity. Remember that.”
I stood up. I pressed a tissue into her hand as well.
“No matter how despairing things get, don’t lose hope. It will save you. Just like it did today.”
Before going back into the restaurant, I turned around once more.
“And you don’t need to thank me so much.”
This time I spoke with all the warmth stripped from my voice.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

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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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