S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 76

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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 76. Good Medicine Tastes Bitter (4)
Choi Gangim was dreaming.
Three years ago, on the day he was dying at the hands of a skeletal soldier. It was the sweet taste of Peach-scented Elixir poured into his mouth that kept his consciousness from scattering in the haze of blood loss.
And now, hovering at death’s threshold once more, perfectly mirrored.
Again, someone forced an unidentified liquid into his mouth. But this time it was different.
A bitterness so severe it numbed his tongue.
His whole body convulsed as if scalded by boiling water, and his muddled mind snapped awake in an instant.
“That wakes you right up, doesn’t it?”
A familiar voice followed. Looking around, he realized this wasn’t the guild office.
Inside the car he’d ridden in. Chae Mujin sat in the driver’s seat.
From the angle, Choi Gangim understood he was lying in the back seat.
He tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy as water-logged cotton—he could barely lift his head.
The first thing he saw was blood on Chae Mujin’s clothes.
He couldn’t ask if he was all right, so he reached out his hand instead. Chae Mujin pressed a Medicine Bottle into it.
“It’s not my blood. Take more medicine. Those guys dumped sedatives in like they were making instant coffee, so one bottle won’t fully counteract it.”
The bitterness lingering in his mouth was medicine—an antidote to neutralize the sedatives.
Like a puppy refusing its medicine, Choi Gangim hesitated.
Chae Mujin sighed as if he’d no choice, opened the console box, and pulled out a candy.
“Medicine is bitter, isn’t it? The more good it does your body, the worse it tastes.”
Choi Gangim wasn’t a child. He was a sturdy twenty-five-year-old who’d completed his mandatory military service.
But once the candy was in his hand, he found the courage to swallow the bitter medicine.
He squeezed his eyes shut and gulped it down. Though he’d tasted it before, it was still unbearably bitter—his facial muscles contracted inward.
‘As bitter as being betrayed by Han Tae-woo, the guild master.’
When he popped the Purple Candy into his mouth, a flashback passed through him.
During the final trial of the Lotto Dungeon, facing off against four hunters.
Their rations had run out, and they had no idea when the altar’s barrier would open.
To survive, they would have had to eat anything—clothing, shoes, anything at all.
But if even that didn’t settle the matter, what then would they have to eat?
Was it right to die with dignity, starving like a human being? Or to become a demon to survive?
Just as his mind was crumbling, Chae Mujin appeared.
‘When he first said he was coming to recruit me, I thought he was suspicious. Turns out he wasn’t.’
He offered food first. Even though he knew food was more precious than gold down here.
After that, he gave crucial help in obtaining the treasure, and even an unexpected Boss Raid.
Without him, could I have remained whole—both body and mind?
‘Mujin has done nothing but give to me.’
By now, he wouldn’t hesitate to fight an entire guild for an idiot like himself.
He forced his heavy body upright. It was only that—just sitting up—but sweat poured from his entire frame with the effort.
Mujin didn’t help him. He simply watched.
With his own strength, he straightened his spine and bowed deeply to express his gratitude.
But this gesture alone couldn’t convey the fullness of what he felt.
He slowly opened his mouth. A curse allowed him to speak only twenty characters until death, but at this moment, he felt it absolutely necessary to say something.
Mujin spoke as if he’d read his mind.
“You don’t have to understand everything from words.”
“……?”
“Even if you don’t say ‘thank you’ out loud, I can see it in your face. So save your words for moments when you absolutely have to speak.”
“…….”
“Of course, you can use the Memo Pad as much as you like.”
He handed over a Memo Pad and pen as if he’d prepared them beforehand.
But he didn’t want to write thanks on it. What he felt now couldn’t possibly be captured in writing.
“Ah, and don’t worry—I’ve already handled Han Tae-woo and the guild.”
Did he kill them all? Choi Gangim’s eyes widened in alarm, and Mujin waved his hand.
“I didn’t kill them. Sent them all to the hospital, though.”
Relief washed over him as he pressed a hand to his chest. Maybe it was the tension releasing—his stomach made an embarrassing growl.
“……!”
Mujin chuckled softly.
“Hunters do what they do to eat in the end. Let’s get you some food first.”
* * *
Bubble-bubble.
Choi Gangim stared blankly down at the Budae-jjigae.
It was abundant. Fresh vegetables of all kinds and an assortment of meats danced in the rising bubbles.
The most appetizing part was the tofu. The tofu trembled like pudding, already soaked in seasoning, and saliva filled his mouth.
Clink.
While Choi Gangim’s gaze was fixed on the stew, Chae Mujin ladled some onto a plate and spoke.
“Would you like some alcohol?”
He shook his head.
“I don’t drink unless it’s a special occasion either.”
Chae Mujin filled a glass with water instead and offered it.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
Ding.
After downing the water in one gulp, the two ate in steady silence.
Halfway through, Chae Mujin brought over Ramen.
“I’ll add just two portions. I’m getting pretty full.”
But then Choi Gangim suddenly sat up and brought over one more serving of noodles.
After he’d finished three helpings’ worth of Budae-jjigae Ramen down to the last bit, Choi Gangim leaned back against his chair and patted his belly with the satisfied face of someone who’d survived.
“There’s a Cafe right next door. Shall we go?”
As he stood to leave, Chae Mujin’s phone rang. Since it was set to only ring for important calls, he asked Choi Gangim’s permission before answering.
―Hello, do you remember us?
“Yes, Moon Dong-hoon. I was actually waiting for your call.”
―I’m here too, boss!
The callers were Moon Dong-hoon and Spider, who had fought during the final trial of the Lotto Dungeon and later joined the Boss Raid together.
The negotiation had fallen through and they’d ended up fighting, but Chae Mujin didn’t consider them enemies because of it.
Fighting when neither side could back down was simply an everyday occurrence in the hunter world.
In the end, they’d combined their strength for the boss battle, and afterward they’d drawn attention from others to repay their debt—they were decent people.
“To get straight to the point, would you two consider working as Contract Hunters for Arc Management?”
Chae Mujin had asked it casually, but their answer came quick and full of energy.
―Yes! What an honor!
―I’ll come running right now!
“I haven’t even told you the contract terms yet.”
―We looked you up to find out who the boss was. We only just realized how incredible you are.
―Just from what you showed us in the raid, we’re certain you’re no ordinary person!
They’d looked into Chae Mujin. A simple internet search revealed his achievements and reputation were beyond measure.
Moreover, Arc Management, which he ran, had officially not yet signed anyone.
That meant they’d be the first, wouldn’t they? There was absolutely no reason to turn down such an honor.
Chae Mujin spoke coolly to their excitement.
“Then please come in for an interview at the company.”
―An interview?
“Yes, an interview. You didn’t think you could just join without one, did you? We’re not that loose of an operation.”
This wasn’t the response they’d been expecting. They’d thought Chae Mujin would say something like, ‘Your lives just took a turn for the better. Just trust me and follow me.’
But his thoroughly practical answer to take an interview first deflated their excitement rapidly.
―Oh…….
“We’ll see you at the company.”
Chae Mujin was planning to divide the hunters under his Management into two categories.
First, Exclusive Hunters aiming for S-Rank, like Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji.
Though he couldn’t reveal it to them or the public, his goal was to confiscate their Awakening Abilities and Divine Powers through a Collection process.
And then hunters like Moon Dong-hoon and Spider—not the type to reach S-Rank, but serviceable enough.
He planned to classify them as Contract Hunters and manage them more loosely than the Exclusive Hunters.
‘Contract Hunters aren’t being recruited specifically for skills, so I don’t need to pay them as much attention.’
After hanging up, Chae Mujin spoke to Choi Gangim.
“Let’s go. That’s done.”
When they arrived at the Cafe, Chae Mujin ordered a Double Chocolate Latte and gestured for Choi Gangim to choose something.
Choi Gangim casually ordered his usual Jujube Tea, then paused self-consciously.
When he’d been part of Truffle Guild, he’d ordered Jujube Tea before and heard this:
‘Jujube Tea? What, are you a grandfather?’
‘Want me to get you some ginseng candy too? Hehehehe.’
But Chae Mujin said nothing and his expression didn’t change at all.
The two went to a secluded spot. Chae Mujin laid out some documents on the table and spoke.
“This is Arc Management’s Contract. If anything’s unclear or you have any questions, please tell me.”
He naturally gave Choi Gangim the Exclusive Hunter contract. The one with special clauses that Yeoul and Minji had also seen.
―On the condition that the Contractor, Choi Gangim, actively receive support in achieving his desired dream, the following rules must be observed:
① Work toward the goal of becoming an S-Rank Hunter.
② Upon achieving S-Rank, payment of compensation shall be made to Chae Mujin.
③ The contents stated in this contract may not be disclosed to others, nor may they be recorded.
Of everything else, Choi Gangim was certainly going to ask about this clause.
Chae Mujin waited for Choi Gangim to review the contract. He’d drunk about half his chocolate latte.
Swish.
Choi Gangim held out the Memo Pad.
―I will accept the contract.
Chae Mujin stared at the note. It was far too short. Wondering if he’d written more on the back, he flipped it, but there was nothing.
“You have no questions?”
―No. I’ve read through the entire contract and I understand it.
This couldn’t possibly be so simple, Chae Mujin thought, and he pointed directly at the ‘special clause.’
“You really have no questions about this part?”
―There is one thing that bothers me.
Then that’s how it should be, Chae Mujin felt relieved.
―I don’t know what my dream is.
“…….”
Choi Gangim’s concern took a different path than what Chae Mujin had expected.
“Not the part about working toward S-Rank, and not the part about compensation upon achieving S-Rank?”
―No. Both of those are possible.
“You know how difficult it is to become S-Rank. I don’t need to explain that. But I’m sure you realize what kind of compensation I might ask for.”
―Whatever you ask of me, Mujin, you have the right to receive.
Since the person in question spoke so matter-of-factly, Chae Mujin didn’t press the issue further.
But the matter of not knowing his dream—that had to be clarified. Because Choi Gangim’s dream needed to be fulfilled for confiscating his skills as “compensation” to have no complications.
“You need to tell me, even if it’s a dream you can’t tell anyone else.”
Choi Gangim smiled awkwardly and shook his head.
―No. I really have no dream. I’ve just been living as things came, and honestly, the word dream itself feels strange to me.
“If dream feels strange, what about a wish?”
―I’m not sure about that either.
A dream and a wish should be something every person has. It was common sense, but this man didn’t respond to common sense.
Yet Chae Mujin didn’t think Choi Gangim was a strange person.
Instead, he thought of him as someone special and offered a simpler analogy.
“Dream or wish—the nature is the same. What kind of future do you want? If Choi Gangim could walk into any future right now, which future would you choose?”
Choi Gangim held the pen for a long time, thinking, then wrote:
―Any future is fine.
“No. That’s not a future that exists.”
Choi Gangim’s expression showed he didn’t understand. Chae Mujin spoke firmly.
“A future without a destination cannot exist. It’s the same as walking without a goal. You might reach somewhere, as you say, but you’d never know if it’s where you actually wanted to be.”
The hand holding the pen began to tremble. He had lived his whole life swept along by his circumstances.
He’d thought that was natural, but it wasn’t.
A life where he could choose. Realizing this for the first time, Choi Gangim couldn’t find his bearings.
―What futures do other people pursue? What dreams do they have?
“Someone else’s dream can never become my dream. That’s why it’s someone else’s.”
Tap.
Choi Gangim released the pen, his strength draining away.
Chae Mujin had come to a realization too.
‘I was only trying to help achieve a dream. I assumed everyone naturally had one.’
But that wasn’t true. Not everyone had a dream.
Some people were still searching for theirs.
“May I borrow your pen?”
Chae Mujin picked up the pen Choi Gangim had dropped and brought the contract back to himself, modifying the wording.
―On the condition that the Contractor, Choi Gangim, actively receive support in finding and achieving his desired dream, the following rules must be observed:
When Choi Gangim saw the revised language, his eyes widened.
Chae Mujin handed back the pen and spoke.
“There’s a saying that life isn’t the process of achieving a dream, but the process of finding one. So it’s not strange to have no dream. Let’s search for yours, starting now.”
Chae Mujin extended his hand to shake, saying:
“I and Arc Management will help you find your dream.”
Choi Gangim’s eyes fixed on Chae Mujin’s outstretched hand. He seemed to be deliberating whether to take it.
Suddenly, he grasped it.
He shook hands with Chae Mujin.
But Chae Mujin was mistaken about something. Choi Gangim hadn’t been deliberating whether to shake the hand.
His lips, which had always been tightly sealed, slowly opened. Before Chae Mujin could stop him, he spoke.
“Thank you.”
The first words from Choi Gangim, who could only speak twenty characters in his lifetime, were heard by Chae Mujin.

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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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