S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 99

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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 99. Survival Initiation (2)
A woman with long, lustrous black hair streaming behind her came sprinting straight into Chae Mujin’s arms with a violent collision.
It was none other than Cheon Ihwa, the Queen.
The problem was the time and place.
Surrounded by countless Arc Management employees, Chae Mujin’s parents, and even the rankers of the Bastard Guild—all of them staring with wide, disbelieving eyes.
While everyone stood frozen with expressions that screamed ‘What in the world is happening?’, it was Lee Minji who snapped to attention first, dashing over and yanking Cheon Ihwa away from him.
“Unnie! What are you doing embracing the company representative in broad daylight like this!”
“Uh, uh…?”
Only then did Cheon Ihwa regain her senses, glancing nervously around at the gathered crowd.
A major disaster committed without a second thought, driven purely by instinct. Beads of cold sweat began forming visibly on her pale forehead.
“I, I mean! I just wanted to confirm that Chae Mujin was really alive and well, so I was doing a physical check, you see! Yes, just to verify!”
“Enough with the excuses—let go of him right now!”
Lee Minji strained and pulled, but Cheon Ihwa didn’t budge. Instead, unable to hide her embarrassment, she continued rambling.
“Chae Mujin is a precious national treasure of Korea’s Hunter community! The fact that such a treasure returned safely… I just couldn’t believe it! Ahem. Yes. As you can see, he’s perfectly fine!”
She abruptly distanced herself from Chae Mujin, as if the passionate embrace moments before had been entirely professional in nature.
Chae Mujin, keen to salvage the awkward situation, drew a clear line with measured composure.
“I’ve heard that you went to considerable effort to help during my absence. I’m truly grateful.”
This was nothing more than a public thanks—not an expression of personal affection. A clean, deliberate maneuver to dispel any misunderstandings.
Yet Cheon Ihwa failed to match his rhythm gracefully.
“Then… let me buy you a meal sometime!”
Crash!
“Are you insane, unnie! You came through that broken window—why are you breaking a perfectly good one now!”
Moving at the same lightning speed as her entrance, she appeared and vanished in an instant, leaving two panes of glass destroyed in her wake.
The frenzied pink whirlwind she’d left behind descended entirely upon Chae Mujin.
“Siiigh…”
Han Seokjin let out a sigh so deep it felt like the earth itself was sinking, then fixed Chae Mujin with an accusatory stare.
“Must be nice. Here I am, stuck in the office every day, can’t even say the word ‘romance,’ but you’re out here living your best life when no one’s looking.”
Kang Yuri chimed in smugly, resting her hand on Han Seokjin’s shoulder.
“Exactly. You said you had zero intention of dating for the foreseeable future, drawing a hard line. But look at you, secretly cracking sunflower seeds while preaching propriety!”
“Master, indeed! How on earth did you charm that proud Queen! Did the Chairman already approve you as his son-in-law! Is that it!”
It was Kim Yeoul alone who came to Chae Mujin’s rescue from this crossfire of mockery.
“Uh, Manager? That ‘Eunmyo’ person you brought back from the Land of Oblivion? She’s just woken up, they say.”
The woman who had been unconscious all this time had finally regained consciousness.
Chae Mujin shot Kim Yeoul a look of profound gratitude—as if to say she alone understood.
“Everyone, stop spinning ridiculous fantasies and get back to work. I’m busy.”
In truth, Cheon Ihwa’s sudden outburst was a complex and troubling matter for Chae Mujin as well.
He didn’t want to further entangle his emotions in this chaos, so he changed the subject.
Of course, this wasn’t merely an excuse to dodge his colleagues’ teasing.
Eunmyo was an invaluable piece in his future plans.
Perhaps the final puzzle of the 1st Generation.
Chae Mujin quieted the racing of his heart and carefully opened the door to the fifth-floor lounge where Eunmyo had been resting.
* * *
Eunmyo sat neatly on the sofa, having removed her Helmet and Suit of her own volition.
She regarded Chae Mujin’s entrance with an expressionless gaze.
And soon, seeing no trace of hostility or suspicion in his eyes, she felt a quiet glimmer of hope.
“Do you remember who I am? Or… do you speak Korean?”
“I do.”
Her voice suited Korean better than Japanese. Measured, yet commanding.
“Do you remember me?”
“No.”
“Then do you remember who you are?”
“Nothing beyond the fact that I was a Hunter…”
“For someone who’s lost their entire memory, you’re remarkably composed.”
“I was taught that even if you fall into the depths of hell, you must never lose your reason.”
“Who taught you that?”
“…I don’t remember that.”
After their brief exchange, Chae Mujin clicked his tongue inwardly. Whether to call this fortunate or not.
Remarkably, it seemed only the core memories of ‘New Japan’ and the ‘Rabbit Team’ had been cleanly excised.
“I’m Chae Mujin. I’m the representative of Arc Management.”
“What exactly is my situation?”
Her intellect hadn’t deteriorated with her memory loss, so she naturally demanded an explanation.
Chae Mujin knew the truth in its entirety. Who she was, how she’d been abandoned in that grotesque hellscape, why she had to erase her own memory.
But was it right to tell her the full, cruel story of that betrayal right now?
There are no kind lies. Chae Mujin lied purely for himself, without excuse.
“You were originally a Hunter under New Japan. I was in the process of recruiting you for our company when you were caught in a terrible accident—and as a result of the aftereffects, you lost your memory.”
“Is that what happened.”
Eunmyo nodded without question, quite calmly, then gazed down at her empty palms and asked:
“What is my name?”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t remember my own name. If you were going to recruit me, you’d surely know it.”
“…Of course I do.”
This girl had never had a name to begin with. She was merely a part belonging to the ‘Rabbit Team,’ referred to only by the codename ‘Rabbit’—much as common soldiers are called by their rank rather than a proper name.
But Chae Mujin had no intention of saddling this girl again with that indifferent, cruel designation that had driven her into hell.
“Eunmyo. Your name is Eunmyo.”
“Eunmyo…”
Though her expression had remained emotionless throughout, her lips moved softly, tasting the new name given to her, before a faint smile bloomed.
“I like it very much.”
It was a beautiful smile, but Chae Mujin couldn’t fully savor it. A system window had materialized before his eyes.
[Collection target has been updated.]
Collection target: Eunmyo
Gratitude Meter: 0 → 953,555
[Collection List]
Traits:
‣Spatial Evasion (S)—1,000,000 [Collection Impossible]
‣Large Caliber Enthusiast (A)—100,000 [Collection Possible]
‣Hundred Martial Arts (A)—100,000 [Collection Possible]
‣Unyielding Adaptability (B)—30,000 [Collection Possible]
Skills:
‣Attribute Bullet (Unique)—10,000,000 [Collection Impossible]
‣Healing Bullet (A)—100,000 [Collection Possible]
He’d expected it to be a jackpot, but never imagined a spec this unrealistic.
An S-rank trait, three A-ranks, and the lowest ranking B-rank.
Her absolute accuracy and lethal capability in the Land of Oblivion had frankly been on a level where comparison with the current 1st Generation was almost embarrassing.
‘If I had to compare weight classes, she’d be on par with Yakshas, if not above.’
It made no sense. What possible justification did New Japan have for throwing away a national strategic-weapon-class talent like a disposable commodity into that grotesque wasteland?
Chae Mujin touched the small bottle in his pocket.
「Artifact—Waters of Lethe」
•You can erase desired memories.
•When consumed warm, lost memories resurface.
The miraculous liquid brought from the Land of Oblivion that could both erase and restore memory.
The supply wasn’t abundant. Only five bottles.
One of them would inevitably be needed for Eunmyo at a critical moment.
‘It’s too soon to burden a child who’s only just lost her memory with cruel truths.’
Knowing the truth doesn’t save everyone. The truth itself has its proper timing.
Chae Mujin moved slowly toward Eunmyo’s side.
“How’s your physical condition?”
“A bit sore, but no issues with operational readiness.”
“What do you want to do going forward? According to the original contract, you should be joining us as an exclusive Hunter, but you’ve lost all memory of that process. Do you want to restart the contract from a clean slate, or… would you prefer to return to your homeland, New Japan, right away?”
Had she answered that she wanted to return to New Japan, Chae Mujin planned to give her the Waters of Lethe before departure.
But Eunmyo shook her head without a moment’s hesitation.
“Even without my memory, it feels right. I’ll join the Management Company.”
Whether it was the instinctive awareness that Chae Mujin had saved her, or a scar etched on her soul that her homeland had betrayed her—something had spoken.
‘Or maybe she’s just naturally trusting.’
Though she’d fallen into his lap like a vine heavy with fruit, Chae Mujin couldn’t help but feel a chill of guilt creep up his spine.
At that moment, when Eunmyo reached down to retrieve the clunky Helmet and Suit from the floor, Chae Mujin hastily stopped her.
“You shouldn’t wear that.”
“Understood.”
“…Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“Because if you’ve forbidden it, there must surely be a valid reason.”
“That’s true, but… why do you keep calling me ‘Commander’? If you want to use a title, I’m technically the ‘Representative.'”
“The title ‘Commander’ feels far more natural and fitting to me than ‘Representative.’ Is it displeasing?”
“No, call me whatever feels right.”
Until she was betrayed and discarded by her former commander, that title had been her faith—an absolute position.
So it was only natural that she unconsciously invested that weight into Chae Mujin now.
“Your equipment belongs to New Japan anyway, so there are too many complications with using it in Korea.”
“I understand.”
“I’m not confiscating it. I’ve kept it safe, and if you ever decide to return to New Japan, I’ll give it back to you then.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Even with her memory volatile, the crisp, measured demeanor of a special forces operative had been burned into her very bones.
“What will my first assignment be?”
Driven by the instincts of a soldier, she looked ready to charge into the field immediately.
Chae Mujin had no intention of sanding down Eunmyo’s sharp edges. In fact, it was easier to manage her if he matched her rhythm skillfully.
“Eunmyo. You’re making a crucial mistake right now. You haven’t formally signed a contract with us yet. Our company has a rigorous Entry Test.”
“An Entry Test…”
“So you’re not going to flunk out—don’t worry about that. And we won’t be conducting it immediately either.”
“I’m ready whenever.”
“Maybe so. But you lost your memory yesterday and only woke up today. Have you ever even been to Korea before?”
“Not that I remember.”
“Whether you’ve forgotten or never came, it doesn’t matter. I’m giving you time to adapt. Exactly one week. After that, we’ll run the test.”
The week’s reprieve wasn’t merely about showing Eunmyo kindness. Though unspoken, how she behaved during that week would itself be part of the test.
Kim Yeoul, Lee Minji, and Choi Gang-im all had pasts. Those pasts had shaped who they are now.
But Chae Mujin doesn’t know Eunmyo’s past. She’s lost it herself, so he can’t even ask.
Yet that’s alright. You can judge by the present, not the past. You don’t need long.
One week would be enough.
‘So, who should I assign to watch her?’
Yoon Haesol was sleep-deprived and out of it from all-nighters, and Kim Minwoo had caused a firearms accident—both were out. Three candidates remained.
First: Han Seokjin, the sharp-witted accounting team leader.
‘Rejected. If I leave her with Han Seokjin, she’ll learn exactly how to cut corners and slack off.’
That left two people.
Jin Seoyeon, the legal team chief, and Kang Yuri, the public relations director.
‘If she ends up under Director Jin Seoyeon… she’s already so regimented as a soldier, she’d become unbearably rigid and dogmatic.’
In the end, there was only one answer.
The moment Chae Mujin picked up his phone to call Kang Yuri, the door flew open—she must have been lingering downstairs—in less than a minute.
“Oh my! Representative, who is this gorgeous young lady?”
Yuri approached Eunmyo warmly, completely unaware of her terrifying specs, but stiffened at Chae Mujin’s introduction that followed.
“An S-rank Hunter talent and a potential 1st Generation member.”
“…A girl who looks this frail? She doesn’t even seem like an adult.”
“She’s older than Minji. Twenty-three. And Hunters shouldn’t be judged by appearance alone.”
Those thin forearms looked incapable of handling anything heavier than a light pistol, let alone the recoil of a heavy rifle.
But if she was an elite special operative protecting an entire nation, the odds were essentially 100% that she’d undergone Enhanced Human augmentation surgery.
‘Korea has the procedure now—why wouldn’t Japan?’
Right now she looked as docile as a lamb, but if her killing instinct ever went berserk, how many people in this company could actually restrain her?
Of course, he had no intention of leaving the completely non-combatant Kang Yuri alone to care for Eunmyo 24/7.
‘Since there’s no security team yet, I’ll have the 1st Generation members take rotating shifts nearby.’
Three people meant two days each, with the final day for him to spend with her directly—perfect.
It was a spontaneous decision, but it looked good.
Besides, Choi Gang-im had only just been added to the 1st Generation and had been awkward around Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji. He couldn’t repeat that mistake.
“Director Yuri. There’s an urgent task that needs your immediate priority.”
Chae Mujin quickly briefed her on asking her to be Eunmyo’s mentor for Korean cultural adaptation over the week, along with the plan for the 1st Generation members to rotate in as guards.
“No way! Can I film a vlog of me touring Seoul with her and upload it to NewTube?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not! Her visuals and vibe are perfect for viral content! One vlog episode and the fanbase would explode. You know how important recognition is these days in the Hunter community, right?”
“If you plaster attention all over a girl who just arrived from Japan, how is she supposed to adapt?”
“Fine, fine. What about later on?”
“We’ll see when we get there.”
The real reason Chae Mujin was drawing such a hard line was his concern about the New Japan government recognizing Eunmyo’s face and showing up in Korea to retrieve her.
“Make sure she wears a mask whenever she goes out.”
Of course, he understood that an overwhelmingly talented S-rank couldn’t be hidden in the shadows forever. But there was no point in attracting unnecessary attention early and ending up with a bothersome swarm of complications.
“See you later, then.”
Chae Mujin gave a light wave of farewell, and Eunmyo responded with a crisp, sharp salute.
“Yes, Commander. I’ll see you in one week.”
Hearing that unflinching, almost blindly devoted response, Chae Mujin felt both reassured and, somehow, melancholy.
‘Let me go get some fresh air and clear my head.’
His mind was on the verge of overload from dealing with reporters and acquaintances all morning, then planning Eunmyo’s recruitment.
The moment Chae Mujin was sprawled out in the first-floor café, about to replenish his sugar intake—
Thump, thump, thump!
Someone was pounding at the glass front door with their fist so violently that the quiet lobby echoed with the violent assault.
“Chae Mujin! I know you’re in there!”
A booming, distinctive shout—loud enough to shake the entire building awake. There was no mistaking who it was.
Kang Inyong—Korea’s greatest healer, the A-rank Hunter with the fearsome moniker of the Poison Spirit Sorcerer.
He had secluded himself, severing all ties with the outside world to cure his granddaughter’s illness.
“If you’ve come back alive, then you’d better go save our poor Chae-ah right now!”
The news of Chae Mujin’s return alone had been enough to shatter decades of seclusion, sending him barreling down the mountain in a frenzy.

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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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