S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 58

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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 58. Trusting Chae Mujin, Trusting Cheon Ihwa (2)
Cheon Ihwa said nothing after the greeting. She merely extended her hand slightly.
Whoosh!
The application forms she had given to Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji were engulfed in blue flames.
Sammaejinhwa. A technique that even among martial artists skilled in manipulating qi, only a true genius could replicate.
“W-we should be going.”
The three experts fled tactfully, but Lim Dojun met Cheon Ihwa’s gaze with sharp intensity instead.
Cheon Ihwa spoke first.
“So you’re the martial artist who joined the Crack Response Division—the promising one, I hear?”
“And what brings the esteemed Empress to this place?”
Empress.
That was the title Cheon Ihwa had earned after single-handedly defeating five Boss Monsters in just a month.
“You took something of mine, so I came to collect it.”
Her hands settled gently on the shoulders of Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji.
“Even if you’re connected to the Association Chair—”
Lim Dojun’s words died before they could continue. Cheon Ihwa had simply disallowed them.
“I’ll give you credit for not kneeling before my presence. So why don’t you stop talking and disappear?”
“…I’ll report this matter to my superiors.”
“You have my permission.”
Flick.
With nothing more than a gesture of her pinky finger, Lim Dojun was pushed backward as if by an invisible force and was gone.
Cheon Ihwa immediately turned to Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji with a smile.
“Let’s leave this dreary hotel and talk at our place. I have a car waiting outside.”
“That won’t work, I’m afraid.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re treating us like tools right now. That man at least had the courtesy of basic respect.”
“So you’re mad because I said you were mine? I thought you’d like that.”
“She might be fine with it, but I’m not.”
“Really?”
Kim Yeoul couldn’t meet Cheon Ihwa’s eyes, but she said what needed saying.
“…We’re grateful for your help, but we weren’t planning to join the Crack Response Division anyway.”
“Ah… oh!”
Cheon Ihwa paused briefly, then lightly rapped her own head as if chiding herself.
“What’s wrong with me? I developed some sense of closeness on my own and assumed you two already knew everything. I’m truly sorry.”
She bowed her head slightly to show her remorse, then spoke to Minji.
“Who do you think I am?”
“An insanely powerful public Hunter?”
When it became Kim Yeoul’s turn, she rolled her eyes around and deliberated for quite a while.
“The Chair’s… daughter?”
“It’s not wrong, but it does leave a bad taste. Still, I don’t want to be called a public Hunter, nor do I want to be known as the Association Chair’s daughter. Let me introduce myself again.”
The moment she finished speaking, the entire atmosphere shifted completely. This was not a display of ostentation.
With nothing but her bare presence, Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji felt the back of their necks stiffen, and even breathing became difficult.
‘She’s strong, she’s strong—I’d heard the rumors, but is she actually a monster?’
‘If the Association Chair was an endless ocean, then the Empress is like an endless wall.’
If they fought her here, there was no confidence in victory. Could they even resist?
The pressure from Cheon Ihwa’s very existence made breathing itself a struggle.
When she moved her hand, all attention fixed upon it.
In her hand was a mask—one she’d produced from nowhere. A traditional Korean mask, also called a “tal.”
Cheon Ihwa, now wearing the Gaksital, finally opened her mouth.
“Leader of the covert organization Amhaengeoasa, Gaksital. That’s my new identity.”
* * *
Covert organization, Amhaengeoasa.
Cheon Ihwa spoke while wearing the Gaksital.
“Amhaengeoasa doesn’t move bound by laws. Neither the President nor the Hunter Association can control us. We exist solely for the security and justice of this nation.”
“……”
Both Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji remained silent. Cheon Ihwa interpreted this as a request for further explanation and continued.
“Our government, the Hunter Association—they’re all doing their best for the country. But due to endless procedures, conflicting opinions, and political factors, they’re stagnating and becoming obsolete. Amhaengeoasa is different. We need no one’s approval, no one’s consideration. If it must be done, it is done. That’s what Amhaengeoasa is.”
At that moment, Lee Minji raised her hand.
“What exactly will we be doing?”
“We’ll be eliminating problems. Whether they’re monsters…”
Cheon Ihwa stopped mid-sentence and removed her mask. The expression revealed was serene.
“Or people.”
This time, Kim Yeoul raised her hand.
“Um, why us…?”
“To be honest, I only thought of you two as candidates. I believed you needed five years, maybe even ten, of observation. But you’ve proven otherwise.”
You placed first and second at the consolidated training, outperforming fierce competitors, and returned safely from a dungeon drop.
Afterward, the two of you successfully raided the Boss Monster Yorick together. Two people who hadn’t even broken Level 100.
By this standard alone, you were talents coveted by every department. The only reason no one had made an offer until now was due to Cheon Ihwa’s influence.
But today, you became known to the world once more as the primary contributors to sealing a Crack.
Now there was neither reason nor time to wait any longer. Cheon Ihwa had decided—your talent and strength were already proven.
“Of course, I’m not just appealing to your sense of justice. If you join Amhaengeoasa, I promise you three things.”
Cheon Ihwa extended three fingers, then folded them one by one as she explained the benefits.
“You’ll each receive a set of Legend-tier Equipment immediately, and you’ll be regularly supplied with Youth Elixir, Elixirs, and Talismans without any reservation.”
“Second, you’ll be issued residency rights in Yeouido. That includes your family and friends as well.”
“And finally, I’ll grant you one wish—anything you desire. If it’s within our power, we won’t quibble over it.”
Though the two lacked social experience and knowledge, they understood just how extraordinary the benefits Cheon Ihwa was offering were.
Even unique-tier equipment alone showed the power of equipment.
Legend-tier equipment, used well, could let a Level 1 Hunter kill a Level 100 Hunter.
Youth Elixir was a treasure that granted growth merely by consumption; Elixirs could regenerate all wounds, diseases, and even severed limbs. Talismans too—while rumors swirled, they were said to influence fortune and misfortune.
All treasures money couldn’t buy.
Moreover, Yeouido was fortified and designated as Korea’s safest haven—home to senior officials, the President, and Hunters of A-rank and above.
Lee Minji and Kim Yeoul both swallowed hard at the final benefit, even more than the previous two.
Lee Minji asked immediately.
“Could you even take down Bahamut?”
“Bahamut… It would be difficult right now, but not impossible. Very much possible.”
Cheon Ihwa turned, expecting Kim Yeoul would have a question too, but she was wrong.
After waiting a moment, Cheon Ihwa spoke first.
“Don’t you have any questions, Yeoul?”
“…Is concurrent work possible?”
“You mean Chae Mujin’s Management Company? Unfortunately, Amhaengeoasa is a secret organization. Working as part of Management wouldn’t be advisable.”
“But the Manager said it would be fine.”
“Fine? What do you mean?”
“He said that regardless of which organization we join, we can still receive Management benefits, so we should feel free to sign up without burden.”
“…Did you mention Amhaengeoasa?”
It was impossible, but Cheon Ihwa asked just in case.
“No, we didn’t.”
“I see… Well, if it had been some other organization, that would’ve been acceptable. But not Amhaengeoasa. Concurrent work with Management is impossible. Still, don’t worry too much. I’ll have Chae Mujin join Amhaengeoasa as well.”
This wasn’t simply a lie meant to placate them.
Cheon Ihwa had already decided to seek out Chae Mujin immediately after recruiting the two.
She knew he was preparing to launch Management, but she was certain that with her direct persuasion and knowledge of the tremendous benefits, he would have no reason to refuse.
“I don’t think the Manager will be joining Amhaengeoasa. So I’m sorry, but we must decline.”
Kim Yeoul spoke as if she’d read Cheon Ihwa’s true intentions, and Lee Minji added her voice.
“Amhaengeoasa does sound impressive. But working hidden behind a mask doesn’t suit me. I’m sorry, unnie.”
Ding-ding.
Her Bell Bracelet chimed loudly.
“Wait, you two aren’t deciding too hastily? I know you met Chae Mujin back at the test site, but it’s only been about two months. The privileges of Amhaengeoasa are far more than you—”
“Aside from the connection, you know how capable our manager is, don’t you? He’s impressive.”
“I know he’s unprecedented as a supporter—I experienced it firsthand during that dungeon drop. But he’s still just a supporter. Whereas I’m destined to become Korea’s Greatest Swordsman. I have the backing of the government and the Hunter Association. How could Chae Mujin even compare?”
The ease and composure she’d shown upon first arriving had faded.
In their place remained only someone boasting about how great she was, how much she possessed.
Kim Yeoul suddenly found Cheon Ihwa pitiful and revealed the honest thoughts she’d been holding back.
“I do think you’re far greater than Manager Chae, Empress.”
“Then why—”
“You don’t seem happy.”
“Hap…py?”
“I closed my eyes and imagined it. A future with you. A future with Manager Chae.”
Kim Yeoul said no more after that, her lips sealed, but her meaning was unmistakable.
A future with Cheon Ihwa wouldn’t bring happiness. So we won’t join you.
This time, Lee Minji added her voice to drive the final wedge.
“It’s true the Manager is weaker than you and lacks backing. But I think that won’t last long.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said our connection was only two months old. But for me, those two months weren’t ‘only.’ It seems you’ve investigated quite thoroughly, so I’ll give you some advice despite your blindness to the facts.”
Creak.
Lee Minji stood up, her expression brimming with certainty.
“Forget Amhaengeoasa. You should join our Management Company instead. Later on, even you’ll be lining up.”
“W-we’ll be leaving now. We’re sorry! We’re so sorry!”
Realizing her final remark had been too much, Kim Yeoul hurried Lee Minji out of the hotel.
* * *
The long yet brief procedures for founding the Hunter Management Company had finally concluded.
Chae Mujin looked up at the building before his eyes. Five stories above ground, two below.
It wasn’t newly constructed, but rather an acquisition and renovation of an existing structure.
Though located in the Outskirts rather than the city center, he found this preferable.
“Now it really feels like we’re beginning.”
He traced his fingers across the nameplate fixed solidly to the company entrance.
―Representative Director: Chae Mujin
―Vice Representative Directors: Chae Manho, Chae Yuhwa
Just then, the elevator doors opened and two people emerged.
“Oh my, Director! You’ve arrived!”
“Vice Directors, thank you for all your hard work.”
His father Chae Manho and mother Chae Yuhwa. Chae Mujin embraced them both and whispered.
“Thank you for everything. You’ll continue to work hard for me, yes?”
“You’re the one who needs to work harder.”
“We’ve spent all our retirement funds, so you better make good on this, Mujin.”
Chae Manho patted his back affectionately.
“Go up to the second-floor office. You’ve passed it a few times before, but you should properly greet the employees before the grand opening.”
“You’ve prepared a grand opening?”
“Of course we did. This is a revolutionary management company unlike anything that’s existed before. We’ve already distributed business cards to all the Hunters. Put it online too.”
“You’re truly the Vice Director.”
“Now hurry back. The staff will have their necks craned waiting for you.”
Arriving at the second-floor office door, Chae Mujin drew one breath to steady himself.
“Why am I so nervous?”
The presence he sensed from inside wasn’t overwhelming in number. And there were faces he knew.
Yet thinking that he would now face them not as Hunter Chae Mujin but as Director Chae Mujin made nerves inevitable.
“It’s my first time as a director anyway… I’ll learn by making mistakes.”
With trembling hands, he opened the door, and a scent rushed in—the clean smell of a new space, mixed with the fragrances of several people. The sensation of stepping into a new world washed over him intensely.
“Good afternoon.”
Five distinctive individuals awaited Chae Mujin in the office.
Each one radiated an uncommon appearance and powerful presence.
“It seems only crazy people gathered here.”
Though one might expect them to be nervous at their director’s entrance, they simply responded with “So what?” expressions or ignored him altogether.
Approaching them with open arms, Chae Mujin introduced himself.
“Welcome, everyone. I’m Chae Mujin, the director of this crazy place.”
At his introduction, something shifted in the eyes of the staff.

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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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