S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 42

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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 42. Don’t Laugh, or I’ll Grow Fond (2)
Ninety percent of the twenty-eight-page contract concerned what benefits could be enjoyed.
Administrative proxy benefits from Arc Management, priority buff privileges from Hunter Chae Mujin.
The most important part was on the final page.
―In exchange for actively cooperating to help contract holder Kim Yeoul achieve her dreams, the following rules must be observed.
① Grow with the goal of reaching S-rank Hunter status.
② Upon achieving S-rank, payment shall be made to Chae Mujin.
③ The contents specified in this contract may not be disclosed to others, nor may they be recorded.
Chae Mujin had asked O Seongtae beforehand whether skills could be brought along as contract conditions.
“Pardon? Ha, of course not. No matter how much a Soul Contract is invoked, the system cannot be touched.”
For that reason, I deliberately used the vague word “payment.”
This way, when I seized their skills as requisition, it would function as payment.
Kim Yeoul skimmed through the front pages of the contract quickly, but lingered long over the final page.
“As you can feel, this is a contract made with a skill. It carries binding constraints that must be obeyed. But if either party doesn’t agree, the contract won’t be established. So if there’s anything you’re curious about or don’t understand, I’d like you to speak freely without reservation.”
“What exactly is this payment I’m supposed to provide?”
“I wrote it vaguely because I didn’t want to tell you.”
“I’ve already incurred a great debt to you, Manager. Getting certified as a Public Certified Hunter, treating my sister…….”
The way her voice trailed off made it clear she had more to say.
Though Yeoul showed backbone in the dungeon, in formal settings she still seemed unaccustomed to voicing her own thoughts.
“You can speak. That’s what I set this up for.”
“…I want more.”
“Tell me what comes to mind. I’ll understand perfectly.”
“I want a large mansion in a quiet but inhabited place. I’d live there with my sister. Every morning, I’d eat toast slathered thick with butter and jam, play without worry to my heart’s content, and then at evening, I’d say how truly joyful today was, and how I’m looking forward to tomorrow, before falling asleep like that.”
I quickly took notes with a wireless keyboard I’d prepared beforehand.
Yeoul seemed to have wandered into flights of imagination, paying no mind to my typing as she continued.
“Sometimes I want to take trips to the city. And the ocean, too. If it’s possible, I’d like to travel abroad, though that might be difficult, right? But I still want to. I’m curious about those open-air hot springs in Japan, and I want to see the center of the world. How mysterious must it be?”
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“And I hope that the misfortune my sister and I experienced, other children won’t have to suffer through. I want to help parents struggling with hardship, and if things don’t improve, maybe create a shelter to protect the children? A place where they can come anytime and leave anytime.”
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“…A world without bad people would be difficult, but at least I hate a world where bad people walk the streets openly. I wish they’d feel afraid. If doing bad things means receiving punishment, I wish they’d live decently, even if forced to.”
After speaking ceaselessly, Yeoul fell silent for a moment, then came back to herself.
Her face flushed rapidly. Head bowed low, she spoke in a voice smaller than a mosquito’s.
“Those dreams are too far-fetched, aren’t they? And I want so much. I’m sorry, Manager…….”
“No, it’s not. I think I need to add one more thing—no, two more.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll let you live without ever worrying about money. And I’ll protect you so that no one can hurt you.”
“…….”
“But to make those dreams of yours come true, you absolutely must become S-rank.”
“You said it before too. That I have the talent to reach S-rank. Do you genuinely believe I can become S-rank, Manager?”
“Yeoul, I’ll be just as honest as you are.”
I forced her lowered head up, meeting her eyes directly.
“I never intended to develop anyone who couldn’t become S-rank in the first place.”
“……!”
“To achieve your dreams, you must become S-rank. And I can make those dreams real.”
Kim Yeoul tried to imagine it. If the strongest hunter in South Korea, the head of the Chunmu Sect Hunter Association, said something like that, would one believe it?
Absolutely. Though Kim Yeoul didn’t know much about S-rank, she knew that despite hundreds of A-rank hunters, there wasn’t a single S-rank.
But Chae Mujin… how many times had she witnessed him calmly solving problems in any situation or adversity?
And his buffs—what of them? A Fireball that even goblins struggled to kill with a single strike dealt damage to a level-200 Yeti.
He’d given B-rank Equipment freely too. True, it was a loan, so he could ask for it back, but it was free nonetheless.
The one thing that nagged at her was, of course, the payment.
‘In exchange for achieving my dreams, what of mine does he want?’
Apart from life, money, and honor, what could she possibly have that he’d want?
‘Could it be my sister?’
As her older brother, resistance rose at first, but quickly faded. She could entrust her sister to the Manager.
She knew her sister hadn’t said it, but harbored an unrequited love.
‘But could that really count as payment?’
If anything, this end would be the one to beg, to bow in gratitude.
‘I don’t understand.’
He wouldn’t say even when she asked, and the not knowing threatened to drive her mad.
But one thing was certain—she’d give anything but her life.
The Manager had more than enough right, more than deserved it.
Kim Yeoul took a deep breath. She usually had a quiet voice and often stammered, but at this moment she didn’t want to.
“I will do it.”
“Wait a moment. I’ll bring the revised contract.”
I instructed O Seongtae, who had been waiting in the next room, to revise the contract.
Once revised, Kim Yeoul signed, and the Soul Contract turned to golden dust that seeped into both Chae Mujin and Kim Yeoul’s bodies.
Both had sworn by “truth” to absolutely fulfill their promises.
“Manager.”
“Hmm?”
“I wish you’d wanted my soul.”
“Why your soul?”
“Because compared to what you’ve done for me, what I can give feels so little. Ha.”
Kim Yeoul smiled brightly and innocently, like a fool. Chae Mujin’s lips curved up, then suddenly turned serious.
“Don’t laugh, or I’ll grow fond.”
* * *
Lee Minji received the same contract. But unlike Kim Yeoul, she had no need to explain her dreams.
Directly defeating Bahamut. Lee Minji already swore she’d give anything for that alone.
But she stumbled on one phrase.
“This part about doing your best to become S-rank. It’s a bit vague, isn’t it?”
“What’s vague about it?”
“What if I don’t become S-rank even after defeating Bahamut?”
“Then you keep trying harder.”
“Ah, that’s a bit much.”
“You want to retire after taking down Bahamut?”
“Well, yeah? I’d have to work like crazy to kill Bahamut, and the thought of doing that again after makes me lazy, honestly.”
Lee Minji coolly hid her true intentions. Her resolve to die when Bahamut dies.
Once she finished avenging her family, she wanted to return to them. That was what Lee Minji wanted.
So no matter what Chae Mujin asked as a condition for defeating Bahamut, she could give it all.
She’d be dying anyway. Body, money, honor—none of it mattered.
But if she couldn’t die even after defeating Bahamut, that would be a problem.
Chae Mujin was in a bind too.
‘In theory, if she defeats Bahamut and takes his heart, Lee Minji becomes S-rank. But I can’t say it’s definite.’
Where in this world does 100% certainty exist? Especially when it comes to becoming S-rank.
What if it takes time to absorb rather than becoming S-rank the instant she eats the heart?
What I know is ‘eat the heart first,’ but I don’t know what happens after.
“Then how about three years? After defeating Bahamut, just three more years of hunter work.”
“When are we defeating Bahamut?”
“Within seven years.”
Though really I’ll do it within three.
“Seven years… add three more to that and it’s ten. Huh? You’re cursing me out right now, aren’t you? These ten years. Like this!”
“…Minji. I’m serious right now.”
“Ha-eep~ I’m serious too.”
“Is that something to say while laughing? Don’t laugh.”
“Why are you controlling my laughter too?”
“If you laugh, I’ll grow fond.”
“I don’t like it. Add smile control as a forbidden item in the contract.”
Lee Minji stood with arms crossed, waiting to see if I really meant it. Only after Chae Mujin actually added it did she uncross her arms.
“Three years is too long. Let’s make it one year.”
“Two years.”
“You said that if sincerity is lacking, the contract won’t be established. I’ve already decided in my heart it’s one year. I don’t want to add even a single hour more.”
One year was really quite the concession on her part. But Chae Mujin didn’t know that and deliberated.
‘One year is ambiguous though…….’
But looking at Lee Minji’s face, the determination not to do more than one year came through loud and clear.
‘Well, Minji is twenty. If she works as a hunter for ten years, she’d be thirty. She wouldn’t want to spend her entire twenties on hunting.’
Once I did the math, I understood why she’d insisted on just one additional year.
Seven years plus one more makes eight, and adding that to her age gives twenty-eight. That meant she’d get about two years to enjoy her twenties.
‘Should I say three years, or accept one year?’
After deliberation, I decided.
“Fine. One year it is. If you don’t become S-rank by one year after defeating Bahamut, I give up too.”
Even if she doesn’t reach S-rank, she’d likely reach A-rank. Then I wouldn’t lose by requisitioning the skills she’s gained by then.
I held out a pen for her to sign, when Lee Minji suddenly grabbed her stomach and started laughing.
“Ahahaha, ahahaha!”
“Why are you laughing like that?”
“No, I just think it’s so funny when other people hear this. We’re talking like we’re definitely going to be able to defeat Bahamut.”
“You think it’s impossible?”
“Honestly, I did at first. I was thinking ‘This guy’s got some nerve.’ But after experiencing that insane buff against the Yeti, I thought ‘Maybe we could actually grab Bahamut by the collar and shake him.'”
“Then that’s good.”
“But to other people, we’d look like complete idiots, right? That’s what’s funny. Ahahaha!”
“Sign and keep laughing.”
“Ah, wait. I can’t breathe. Phew, phew.”
Fanning herself as she tried to compose herself, Lee Minji desperately held back her laughter as she signed.
Chae Mujin had been slightly worried the contract might fail, but the contract turned to dust without burning and was absorbed—worry for nothing.
The contract with Lee Minji was established.
“From now on, please take good care of me, old man.”
“Yeah, I’ll count on you too.”
I reached out my hand to shake, and Lee Minji stared at it intently.
“What’s this hand?”
“A handshake. What else?”
“Ugh, I don’t like it. I’m not doing it.”
“I washed my hands.”
“Hmm~ I still don’t like it.”
Lee Minji stood first and stuck out her tongue, then said.
“I don’t want to grow fond of you either, old man.”
* * *
Usually after experiencing Dungeon Aftermath, one suffers severe psychological aftereffects. The dungeon itself becomes frightening, or acute Mana Addiction sets in.
But Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji, having received Chae Mujin’s perfect care, were overflowing with enthusiasm instead.
“Old man. The Hunter Bureau contacted me—I got assigned to Seoul. That’s because I scored 90 on the residential training, right?”
“Did I say you did well back then?”
“I don’t know? So where’s my gift?”
“Wait a bit, I’m preparing something big. But why did you come alone? Where’s Yeoul?”
“She went to eat with Gyeoul.”
“I thought she wasn’t eating since she slept in.”
Lee Minji and Chae Mujin had woken early and eaten together, so it couldn’t be helped.
“By the way, what do Public Certified Hunters usually do? Do we patrol like police?”
“With CCTV everywhere, why would we patrol? Public Certified Hunters work by hunting diligently, then rushing out immediately if citizens are in danger or monsters appear.”
“Can’t other hunters do that too?”
“They could, but they don’t bother. It’s someone else’s problem to them.”
“Wow, so heartless.”
“Better to be criticized than dead.”
“So what do we do now? You said you’d provide consulting. We’re definitely contracted now, so show us what you can do.”
Seeing her eager expression, Chae Mujin felt his own motivation surge.
“First you need to adapt to my buffs.”
“Adapt to buffs? When we took down the Yeti, I was fine.”
“That’s because I gave you buffs in one-second intervals, so you didn’t feel the backlash.”
“Buffs have backlash?”
“Rather than explain, I’ll show you directly. I just raised your attack speed by 1,000.”
“When?”
“My buffs are quick. Now drink the water on the table.”
Splat.
“Huh?”
Lee Minji, reaching for the water cup, ended up just swatting it away instead.
“Attack speed isn’t applied to attacks alone. In the dungeon, I only buffed you right before you attacked, so you didn’t notice. But it applies to all your actions.”
Lee Minji’s jaw dropped.
She’d thought the power Chae Mujin possessed was just enormous buffs. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
“You calculated all that in real-time and buffed accordingly?”
“Do I seem impressive now?”
“You’re a monster. A real monster.”
“Movement speed is the same. I just raised yours by 1,000. Walk over there.”
“I know better now. I won’t slip up.”
Lee Minji stepped carefully. Really deliberately, slowly trying to move at a crawl—
The instant her foot touched the ground, she nearly flew a meter forward and crashed into a wall.
Crash!
“Phew, phew. Almost hit my forehead.”
Fortunately, she’d blocked it with her arm before impact.
“I’ll control it in real-time as much as I can, but I can’t always be there. You need to adapt to my buffs too.”
“Hold on. Can’t always be there—what do you mean?”
“I can’t run Arc Management with just you two, can I?”
“Ah, I see.”
“It’s not just attack and movement speed. Power and defense buffs work the same way. Power buffs degrade weapon durability quickly. If your fists and feet are your weapons, your body will degrade fast.”
“What about defense? That’s always good if it’s high, right?”
“Think of it like a wall. The higher your defense, the thicker the wall becomes, but it doesn’t necessarily get stronger.”
“Ah! I totally understand now.”
“Your expression says otherwise.”
“I said I understand! Probably?”
“I don’t trust your words.”
Chae Mujin opened the front door and gestured for her to leave.
“You’re kicking me out just like this?”
“Full buff 500, six hours. I’ve texted you the dungeon location, so find it and go.”
“You’re abandoning me right after hiring?”
“Why would I stand around watching you adapt? Hurry back. Once you’re back, we’ll do one-on-one coaching.”
“Ugh, I’ve been tricked!”
Lee Minji, frustrated, grabbed a ton of the Snacks Chae Mujin had left out and left.
“The beginning will be rough.”
Just moving to the dungeon while buffed would be a trial.
Whether by taxi or subway.
Still, there was no real worry. She had two years of solo hunting experience and the dungeon was safe.
‘It’ll be more a battle with herself than against monsters.’
After Chae Mujin finished washing up and preparing to leave, Kim Yeoul and Kim Gyeoul arrived together, as if on cue.
“Hello.”
Kim Gyeoul bowed politely. Chae Mujin checked her wrist. Cool to the touch. This was proof she was operating Myeonggyeong Jisoo skillfully.
“You’re doing well. No problems?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. I’m borrowing Yeoul for a bit.”
“…Yes.”
“Yeoul, let’s go.”
Lee Minji, the Melee DPS, needed buff adaptation above all, but Kim Yeoul, the Ranged DPS, needed something even more important.
And that absolutely required my coaching.
“Where to?”
“Where hunters go—there’s only one place.”
Chae Mujin grabbed his jacket and linked arms with her.
“The Dungeon.”

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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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