S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 49

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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 49. The Eve of the Storm (2)
Lee Minji rushed over at Chae Mujin’s call and was startled.
First, she was shocked when Chae Mujin suddenly appeared before her; second, she was shocked by his dirt-covered state.
“You said you were going on a blind date, but you’ve been to a construction site?”
“The people from the blind date clung to me quite a lot.”
Erk… Did you wrestle on the dirt?”
“I didn’t do it because I wanted to. That’s why I called you. I barely escaped. Let’s go quickly.”
“What about today’s lesson?”
“It’s gotten too late. Let’s do it tomorrow.”
“Does time matter for going to a Dungeon?”
If it’s a lesson to grow stronger, there’s nowhere to go but a Dungeon. Wasn’t that how it was for Kim Yeoul too?
“We’re not going to a Dungeon, so time matters.”
“Goodness, then at least give me a hint about what we’re doing.”
“If it’s something I should tell you, I’ll let you know on my own. If I don’t tell you, it’s for a good reason.”
“Didn’t I end up learning the Great Strength Chaos that way?”
“…That was more like a natural disaster. I’m being careful to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
“I was joking— you’re taking it too seriously.”
“I’m not joking. All of your safety is my responsibility.”
“…Even if you act like that, I’m not moved at all.”
When they arrived home, Lee Minji wondered if today was a day off. But Chae Mujin, after changing clothes, said:
“Let’s just go Level Up normally today.”
“But you said you’d postpone the lesson until tomorrow.”
“Right. Since I postponed it to tomorrow, we have time, don’t we? We should Level Up while we have the time.”
“Huh…?”
When Chae Mujin said he was postponing the lesson to tomorrow, Lee Minji had assumed he was a leisurely sort of person.
But when he suggested going straight to a Dungeon without even washing, she felt her skin crawl.
“Sir, you’re not the type who refuses to wash no matter how tired you are, are you?”
“Of course I wash before bed. Even if I collapse, I wash first.”
Lee Minji thought he was joking.
Or rather, she wanted to believe he was.
* * *
Just as Hunter Bureau Director Im Hyerin had predicted, Chae Mujin’s existence could no longer be hidden.
But the direction it took was unexpected.
―Light’s Write: Who is Chae Mujin?
―lilli1llli: 3 A-rank Achievements in a month. Is that even possible? I think it’s rigged.
―Wolsera_1shot: Classic government misdirection. They’re trying to bury the failed Gwanggyo New City recapture operation.
―Rocksc_Glass: The Dungeon Drop interview showed him too calm? Seems like a hired actor pre-arranged by the government.
Rather, because he had accumulated too many remarkable achievements in too short a time, the prevailing opinion was that it was fabricated—that he was a government-planted Hunter meant to distract the public.
The fuel for this opinion came particularly from Chae Mujin’s information registered on the Hunter Net.
―standard51: Chae Mujin is a Supporter? If you’re going to rig it, at least do it properly. How does a Supporter participate in Boss Raids and show activity in Dungeon Drops?
―Light’s Write: Maybe he hid his class?
―Wolsera_1shot: Apparently someone saw Chae Mujin use Buff at the Licensed Hunter exam venue. But they said his Buff was way superior to other Supporters’ Buffs?
―ruby_bg9iz: If he uses Buff, then he’s definitely a Supporter, but his achievements are obviously all rigged. The Hunter Bureau clearly worked together on this.
This wasn’t a propaganda campaign planned by Cheon Mujong or Im Hyerin. It was purely that the citizens didn’t believe in Chae Mujin’s existence.
“There’s no need to specifically correct that it’s not fake. What’s the Guilds’ reaction?”
At Cheon Mujong’s question, his attendant answered immediately.
“They’re skeptical, but most aren’t inclined to intervene. Whether the rumors are true or false, they seem concerned about his connection with you, Chairman.”
“So I’m not dead yet, it seems. They’re all watching this old man carefully.”
“Chairman. The Hunter Bureau Director is here.”
“Hmm, she’s quick on the uptake. Coming officially to confirm the rumors.”
Im Hyerin came to meet the Chairman specifically wearing her title as Hunter Bureau Director.
This was an action that planted the conviction: “These two are meeting to coordinate their response regarding Chae Mujin, who’s been the subject of rumors.”
“Good work. You can go.”
Once the attendant was dismissed, the Hunter Bureau Director entered. Black garments and black hat. The austere figure of the Hunter Bureau Director as the world knew her.
Swoosh!
But the figure revealed after removing her equipment was that of a frail girl.
“Mujong. You used me again?”
“Not this again. I’m tired of hearing it.”
“I’m more tired of it. How many times now have you hidden your true intentions and used me?”
“As I always say, I’ve never deceived you. I was worried about our Ihwa, so I asked you to meet Chae Mujin. What makes you think I had ulterior motives?”
“Just wait. I’ll make you apologize with your own mouth for deceiving me all this time.”
“But something is strange.”
“What now?”
Cheon Mujong held out his phone to her.
“He hasn’t contacted me. Chae Mujin, I mean.”
“What’s strange about that…? Hmm…?”
Now that she thought about it, Im Hyerin found it odd too. She and Chae Mujin had had an argument—or rather, something close to one.
From Chae Mujin’s perspective, it would be normal to voice his frustration to Cheon Mujong, who had arranged the meeting.
“Maybe he’s holding back. He is with the Association, after all.”
“If he were so meek, I wouldn’t have taken notice of him.”
“Then what significant reason could there be? I don’t see one.”
“That’s what makes it strange. Even if he didn’t openly express dissatisfaction, you’d think he’d at least ask who I am. Or tell me how the blind date went. But look at this. Not even a text.”
“Hearing that… it’s irritating. Was I really so unattractive? No way. Anyone would say I’m attractive.”
“Perhaps he already knows.”
“Knows what?”
“That you’re the Hunter Bureau Director.”
For a moment, the air froze.
Smack!
Im Hyerin struck Cheon Mujong’s forearm and burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha! Are you stupid? My real identity isn’t even known to the President. Only you and Ihwa know. Are you saying this little guy Chae Mujin figured it out?”
“If he knows your identity, it makes sense. It explains why he doesn’t bother contacting me. He knows, so he’s not curious; he knows, so he doesn’t want to be entangled.”
As Cheon Mujong spoke with unusual seriousness, Im Hyerin answered with equal gravity.
“Mujong. You really are getting old. When was your last comprehensive checkup? Or did you use Acceleration recently?”
“…It’s possible such a thing could have occurred, haha.”
“Sure, sure. I’ve heard the saying too—if a monkey could type infinitely, eventually it could write a novel.”
At that moment, Cheon Mujong suddenly stood up and looked out the window at the sky.
“Why suddenly the sky?”
Im Hyerin followed and stood beside him, looking at the sky, but there was nothing particularly worth seeing.
“I felt like someone was watching us.”
“What?”
This time, Im Hyerin also looked seriously around her surroundings, extending her senses to their maximum.
She searched with precision and care across a radius of one kilometer, thorough enough not to miss a single ant, but found no suspicious movement.
“There’s nothing.”
“It was only for an instant. And not from the ground—from the sky.”
“That makes no sense. If someone were watching us from the sky, we’d definitely notice.”
“…I really should get that checkup.”
Even Cheon Mujong found his own thought absurd.
‘To think I mistook the moon for watching me.’
This was even more ridiculous than Chae Mujin knowing Im Hyerin’s identity.
The moon wasn’t a living thing; it was a satellite.
Deciding he’d become confused from worrying too much about personal matters, Cheon Mujong shifted the conversation to public business.
“Now that you’re here, I have a proposal for you.”
“As the Chairman?”
“Indeed, Director.”
“If it’s an official statement, then I must adopt an official posture.”
Im Hyerin put on her black garments and black hat again, returning to the Hunter Bureau Director.
Cheon Mujong got straight to the point.
“Magic Girl’s psychosis is worsening by the day. I’m not sure how much longer she can hold on.”
The Magic Girl—a Lord-tier Boss Monster struck a thousand times. She was undoubtedly a monster, yet she took the form of a cute human girl. She even had a fan base.
A self-proclaimed “Guardian of Justice,” the Magic Girl truly fought monsters and protected people, but what interested her was solely humans.
In other words, she was indifferent to surrounding infrastructure. She destroyed roads and buildings without restraint.
Whenever she appeared, the monsters were certainly dealt with, but the surroundings were left in ruins.
“How serious is it?”
Im Hyerin, appearing as the Grim Reaper, spoke in a gravelly male voice rather than a woman’s.
“Communication has become impossible. I can speak to her, but she either gives nonsensical answers or ignores me completely.”
“Is she attacking people?”
“Not yet, but I can’t guarantee it won’t happen.”
“Do you want her eliminated?”
“It’s necessary.”
The Magic Girl had fought for South Korea for nearly three years. The government had provided various conveniences and allowed her to operate, but—
If she reverted to being a monster rather than a person, there was no choice but to kill her without mercy.
“We should eliminate her while she still retains her sanity. The casualties will be fewer.”
“Why should we risk ourselves fighting the Magic Girl? We don’t need to do that.”
“Are you suggesting we send the Magic Girl to another country?”
Using aircraft or ships would inevitably draw attention. But by land…?
And there was only one country she could be transported to by land.
“You’re thinking of sending the Magic Girl to North Korea.”
“Indeed. We can also settle the old score from last time.”
Seven months ago, North Korea had used civilians as bait to lure a Lord-tier Boss Monster into South Korea.
In their official statement, they claimed the civilians fled accidentally and happened to cross into the South—that it was absolutely not intentional—but
North Korean HUMINT revealed it was deliberate, not accidental, and they had been itching for revenge ever since.
“The scenario is complete. We only need authorization.”
“Authorization? Oh, the President?”
“He fears North Korean retaliation.”
“Ha! When things go wrong, he has to take responsibility, so he’s being cautious.”
“Indeed. He seems to have forgotten whose power made him President.”
“Why do they all start developing a sense of self around the fifth year? Finding a successor is annoying enough as it is.”
“In any case, now that you know, go convince him for us.”
“What about Chae Mujin?”
As the Hunter Bureau Director mentioned Chae Mujin, Cheon Mujong responded as the Chairman.
“Chae Mujin isn’t even a Licensed Hunter; he’s a Solo Hunter. What can we do with him? We should focus on controlling foreign scouts.”
“For now, rumors obscure Chae Mujin’s true value, but that’s only a matter of time. Before his stature grows further, I believe we need to educate him.”
“Haha, Director. Have you forgotten why the Hunter Association was created?”
As the Chairman rose from his seat, a tremendous force pressed down on the Hunter Bureau Director.
“The Association was founded to prevent the state from oppressing Hunters’ freedom.”
“…Does that freedom allow the country we love to perish?”
“That’s a serious misunderstanding. I oppose it precisely because I think of this country. The moment Hunters become tools, I assure you this nation will fall even faster.”
“Hmph. That’s just hindsight. China succeeded.”
“China had already… never mind. There’s no need to explain. That’s not a matter for discussion.”
The Hunter Bureau Director rose from her seat as well. As she opened the door to leave, she left behind a meaningful statement.
“Publicly, we agreed not to interfere.”
* * *
Six in the morning.
Lee Minji was still in dreamland.
Click.
The fluorescent light turned on, but Lee Minji didn’t wake.
Swoosh!
As her blanket was pulled away, she trembled and waved her hands, searching for the vanished blanket. No matter how far she stretched her arms, she couldn’t grab it.
“Ugh……”
Finally, she opened her eyes in annoyance and met Chae Mujin’s gaze.
“Oh, it’s a dream.”
Behind Chae Mujin, the sun hadn’t risen yet. It was just beginning to brighten, so why would he be standing before her, clean and dressed?
“Minji. Wash up and come out. We only have thirty minutes left.”
“Even in my dreams you’re like this. I hate it. I’m sleeping more.”
“I already told you.”
Splash!
“Kyaaaa!”
Suddenly drenched in lukewarm water, Lee Minji’s mind snapped awake.
“Are you insane?!”
“Yes.”
“…What time is it now? And why are you just barging into someone else’s house? And a woman’s house at that!”
“It’s 6:02 now, and it’s in the contract—you agreed in advance.”
“Sir. We were hunting until midnight yesterday. When we got home it was one in the morning.”
“Five hours is plenty of sleep.”
“We slept for two hours. I watched video feeds until four.”
“That’s fine. The fatigue you feel is a habit from when you were human. Hunters need only two or three hours of sleep.”
Chae Mujin left the house first and got into the waiting car.
In the car, Chae Mujin didn’t sit idle. He ate his breakfast—Chicken Breast and Soy Milk that he’d brought.
Just as he was finishing, Lee Minji got into the back seat.
“What are you eating?”
“You should eat too.”
“Ooh~ …Ah……”
Seeing the identical Chicken Breast and Soy Milk pack, Lee Minji’s expression instantly crumpled.
Regardless, the car departed, and Lee Minji finished hers in no time, then opened her mouth immediately.
“Now will you tell me where we’re going and what we’re doing?”
“Boss Monsters have grades, don’t they? Among them, what tier is Bahamut?”
“Tier 1 is Named-tier, Tier 2 is Lord-tier, Tier 3 is Apocalypse-tier. Bahamut is Lord-tier.”
“Right. Our goal is a Lord-tier Boss Monster. So first, we need to be able to defeat a Named-tier Boss Monster, shouldn’t we?”
“…Surely you’re not saying we’re going to fight a Named-tier Boss Monster right now?”
Given that Chae Mujin seemed capable of such madness, Lee Minji swallowed hard.
Didn’t Kim Yeoul take down a Boss Monster on her first lesson? Admittedly, not even a Named-tier one, but a regular Boss Monster.
“Why? Scared?”
“Of course I’m scared! Don’t even joke like that. I haven’t even hit level 100 yet!”
“Hm? Not joking.”
“Right, stop and just tell me where we’re really going.”
“Now you understand why I didn’t tell you earlier?”
“What?”
“I said we’re going to fight a Named-tier Boss Monster.”
“Stop joking!”
“I’m not joking.”
Trembling Lee Minji’s eyes and composed Chae Mujin’s eyes met through the rearview mirror.
“Prepare yourself to fight the Magic Girl.”

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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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