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Second S-Rank (2)

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-Chiiiik[1]

Against the super fancy[2] marbling, the chuck flap tail[3] made a delicious sound as it was lowered onto the grill. Next to it, Korean beef tripe was puffed up and sizzling with fat.

The world was definitely worth living in.

It would be great to have a bottle of soju or beer but it wasnt right for this situation.

You can drink alcohol.

Hm?

Your face looks like you really want to drink. Ive seen drunk people everyday so you dont have to worry.

Was my face too obvious or could she read minds?

I cant get drunk when we have to talk about the contract. And the person in front of me is a formidable opponent. Im afraid Ill get robbed if I get drunk, so I cant.

Rather than me being formidable, isnt it that ahjussi[4] is too soft?

Bak Yerim smiled delightedly. It seemed like her grumbling mood had loosened.

To make it easy to talk, we deliberately went into a room so there werent other customers nearby. In the first place, the time was a little awkward so there werent a lot of customers at all.

Kim Sunghan refused the proposal to each together, and after carefully looking around the inside of the restaurant, he went outside, saying he would wait there. I should just give up on making that person an S-Rank. We werent getting close at all.

Anyways, did you really know my parents?

Bak Yerim asked, picking up a piece of meat.

If we didnt know each other, how would I have been able find you right away. We didnt know each other well, but I was once indebted to them when I was young.

When you were young?

Yeah. I lost my parents early too. Trying to survive while taking care of my young dongsaeng was difficult.

I was running myself ragged trying to sell the story. But this was something emotionally moving for Koreans tragic circumstances of losing parents early in life and having no one to turn to, etcetera. Even with just sympathy votes from losing your parents, you could become the president.

Back then, your parents gave us a little help. That was already around 10 years ago so you probably dont remember.

Of course, I didnt remember either. Pouring a cup of cider, instead of alcohol, I continued speaking.

Before Awakening, I was busy with just surviving so I didnt have time to think about looking. I had an S-Rank Awakened Person as a dongsaeng but until recently our relationship wasnt good.

Really? Now that I think of it, I dont think Ive ever heard about Haeyeon Guild Leaders family.

We made up a few days ago. I Awakened, and got a useful skill, and made up with my dongsaeng. With things settling down, I remembered past things. Its a little selfish, right?

What do you mean selfish. Just look at my uncle! There are a lot of people who repay good with evil, so remembering even a while later is better at least.

Bak Yerim said, puffing out her cheeks. The inside of those cheeks was full with well-stuffed meat-ssam[5]. She eats well.

Hey, thats chili.

I like spicy things.

Saying that, she even dipped raw garlic[6] in ssamjang[7] and ate it. Just how many pieces of garlic did she put in her ssam. If it wasnt cooked, I would get heartburn, so I couldnt eat it.

So I asked around and found you. At first, I was just going to ask if you needed help with anything, but your Awakening aptitude was really outstanding.

Euaeeuuh.

Speak after you swallow.

Did that bastard uncle starve his niece or something.

Then all I have to do now is sign the contract with ahjussi?

Yeah. Awakening can be right away or might take a few days according to the situation. It wont take long.

Itd be good if its right away. When I get home, itll be a huge fuss.

About half is luck but Ill try.

How do I say the keyword. Should I speak more about parents?

First, I took out a contract from my inventory. Bak Yerims eyes became round at seeing parchment appearing out of the air.

Thats the inventory, right? This is actually my first time seeing it.

Youll also get one soon. You can only put in dungeon-related things, but its convenient.

You couldnt put in normal things. You could only put things from a dungeon or things only made up of byproducts from dungeons into the inventory.

There are 3 conditions for the contract. Dont talk about my skill to others. Taking on being my guard for a year from now on. Contracting with Haeyeon Guild.

Ahjussis guard?

Yeah. Im only an F-Rank so I need someone to protect me. So while I was looking for a suitable person, I saw you.

Hey[8], but still, to get protection from a 15-year-old. Arent you embarrassed?

Even a 10-year-old is stronger than me if their stats rank is higher, so Im not embarrassed.

Getting all the way here, how would I suddenly be embarrassed. Simply replying, I took out a pen. This pen and the ink inside were all made from dungeon byproducts. I had spread out the contract and was writing down the conditions when Bak Yerim stretched out her neck and peeked at it.

If you violate the contract, for 1 year all stats 20% drop? The penalty is just this? Even if you break it, it doesnt seem like a big problem.

20% drop means that the dungeon you can clear is one rank lower. The difference in the amount of money you make is huge.

But you can still rest for one year.

Thats true. But this is a Hunter Association certified contract. If you break a contract, your credit rating will drop to the ground. Depending on the degree, your Hunter license can be suspended too.

That was why if it wasnt a backdoor deal, a Hunter Association certified contract was a lot better than an illegal contract with a strong penalty.

I thought Awakened Person contracts had horrible penalties.

Those exist too. Theyre illegal though.

Only Awakened People have stats so does the effect still work even if we contract now?

It doesnt matter. This has a curse skill applied to it and Unawakened people also get skill effects so your physical ability will probably drop 20%?

A curse, you say, thats scary.

I wrote down all my conditions and signed it. Bak Yerim, who was watching me, quickly held out her hand for the pen.

I just have to write down my name, right?

When she took the pen and contract and was about to sign her name at once,

Huh?

I quickly took the contract back. Bak Yerim stared at me as if asking why I did that.

Kids are definitely kids.

Huh, why?

Sulking, she asked in a sharp voice. I shook the contract in front of her eyes.

You should properly check it over before you sign.

But theres no problem with it.

No problem, she says.

You left out your conditions.

Huh, youre right.

Bak Yerim mumbled blankly. Right now, the contract one-sidedly contained only my demands. Maybe because she was embarrassed, her face became a little red.

Its possible to forget sometimes!

Of course, its possible to forget. But being vague and using that kind of excuse doesnt affect the contract. Thats what it means to become an Awakened Person, a Hunter. You can get rights like an adults, but you also have to bear responsibility like an adult.

I took back the pen and added conditions related to Bak Yerims Awakening and support.

And, usually these contracts are adjusted. I already found out youre going to become an Awakened Person with a high rank. A prediction of an Awakening rank B or higher. This is extremely advantageous information for you. Wherever you go, youll get good treatment and if you happen to be A or higher, its a free pass to the 3 big guilds.

I spoke, pointing to the contracting with Haeyeon Guild condition with the tip of the pen.

But instead of negotiating the contract conditions, and signing it saying that youll go into the guild, isnt that a stupid thing to do? Being taken by my saying Ill Awaken you right away and accepting this condition is too disadvantageous to you.

I drew a line through the contract with Haeyeon Guild condition, and revised it to preferentially contract according to conditions contract conditions are more than Hunter industry average.

There. This should be a fair contract, more or less.

Bak Yerim must have been sulky or surprised; she stared at me with a confused expression. After a speechless moment, she opened her mouth.

So what do you want me to do.

Was she angry?

It might have sounded like nagging to you, but what I mean is youre still at an age where you need an adults help. After you Awaken, therell be a lot of people trying to approach you. Even as a B-Rank, a dungeon lower by 2 levels is D-Rank, and if you clear them 10 times unharmed, you can even go into a B-Rank dungeon.

An orphaned middle schooler with a yearly income of several billions of won. How easy would it be to take advantage. Not to mention, Bak Yerim was S-Rank. If it became known, not to mention within the country, itd cause a stir in foreign countries as well.

Among them, theyll be a lot of guys wholl approach you acting like a nice person like me, and try to take advantage of you. Just like how you almost got taken in, youll be easily fooled.

Bak Yerims gaze couldnt meet the contract. Her expression was still stiff, but rather than being angry, her face looked as if she was lost in thought.

But I hate my uncle.

Alright, I know. I wont even