Chapter 13

< Second S-Rank (2) >

*Hiss*

The marbled beef, as beautiful as a blooming flower, landed on the grill with a satisfying sound. Next to it, the beef tripe sizzled, its oil-rich layers puffing up.

Life is good, indeed.

I wish I could have a glass of soju or beer, but that might not be a good idea in this situation.

“You can drink if you want.”

“...What?”

“You look like you really want to. I’ve seen drunk people enough times, so don’t worry about it.”

...Is my expression that obvious, or can he read my mind?

“I can’t get drunk in a situation where we’re exchanging contracts. Besides, the person sitting across from me isn’t exactly easy to handle. I’m afraid I’ll be completely taken advantage of if I get drunk.”

“It’s not that I’m not easy to handle, but that you’re too easy to handle, isn’t it?”

Park Yerim smiled, her gloomy mood completely lifted.

I came into the room to make conversation, so there were no other customers nearby. There weren’t many customers to begin with, as the time was in between meal hours.

Kim Sung-han declined my offer to eat together, looked around the restaurant, and then left, saying he would wait outside. I might just give up on making this guy an S-rank. He’s just not getting any closer.

“Really, are our parents acquaintances?”

Park Yerim asked, picking up a piece of meat.

“If they weren’t, how would I have found you? I’m not that close to them, but they helped me when I was young.”

“When you were young?”

“Yeah. I lost my parents at a young age. I struggled a lot to raise my younger brother and make ends meet.”

I’m wearing my story thin, but it’s the most effective way to appeal to the Korean sense of sympathy. Losing your parents and being in a pitiful situation—people will do anything for you, even the president.

“At that time, your parents gave me some help, though it was small. It was about ten years ago, so you wouldn’t remember.”

Of course, I don’t remember either. I poured some soda into a glass instead of alcohol and continued.

“I was too busy surviving before I awakened, so I never thought to look them up. I have an S-rank awakened younger brother, but we didn’t get along well until recently.”

“Really? I don’t think I’ve ever heard about the leader of the Hae-yeon Guild’s family.”

“We reconciled a few days ago. He awakened, got some useful skills, and we made up. Life got better, and then I started thinking about the past. Maybe I’m a bit selfish, huh?”

“That’s not selfish. Look at my uncle! There are plenty of people who repay kindness with enmity, so it’s something to appreciate that you remember it, even if it’s late.”

Park Yerim puffed out her cheeks. They were soon filled with a well-wrapped meat wrap. She eats well.

“Hey, that’s spicy.”

“I can handle spicy food.”

She even dipped raw garlic into the sauce. How many cloves of garlic are in that wrap? I can’t eat it raw; it makes me feel sick.

“So, I started looking for you. At first, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could help with, but your potential as an awakened is outstanding.”

“Mmmph.”

“Swallow and then speak.”

Did this uncle starve his niece or something?

“So, now all I have to do is sign a contract with you?”

“Yeah. Awakening can happen immediately or take a few days, but it won’t take long.”

“It would be nice if it happened right away. My family will go crazy when I get home.”

“It’s partly luck, but let’s try our best.”

How do I bring up the keywords? Should I talk more about her parents?

I took out the contract from my inventory. Park Yerim’s eyes widened at the parchment that appeared in mid-air.

“Is that an inventory? I’ve never seen one in real life.”

“You’ll have one soon. You can only put dungeon-related items in it, but it’s convenient.”

You can’t put ordinary items in. Only items that come from dungeons or are made using dungeon materials can go in the inventory.

“There are three conditions for the contract. You must not tell others about my skills. You will guard me for the next year. You will sign a contract with the Hae-yeon Guild.”

“Guard you?”

“Yeah. I’m only F-rank, so I need someone to protect me. I was looking for a suitable person using my skills when I noticed you.”

“Come on, even if you’re only fifteen, isn’t it embarrassing to be protected by someone?”

“Even a ten-year-old can be stronger than me if their stats are high enough, so it’s not embarrassing.”

What’s embarrassing now? I shrugged and took out a pen. The ink is also made from dungeon materials. I wrote down the conditions on the contract while Park Yerim leaned in to look.

“A 20% decrease in all stats for a year if the contract is broken? Is that all? It doesn’t seem like much of a penalty.”

“A 20% decrease can lower the dungeon level you can clear by one grade. The difference in earnings is huge.”

“But you can just take a year off, right?”

“That’s true. But this is a Hunter Association guaranteed contract. If you break it, your credit score will hit rock bottom. Depending on the severity, your Hunter license might be suspended.”

That’s why, unless it’s a backroom deal, a Hunter Association guaranteed contract is much better than an illegal contract with harsh penalties.

“I thought awakened contracts had some terrifying penalties.”

“There are, but they’re illegal.”

“Stats are something only awakened have. Will this contract have an effect now?”

“It doesn’t matter. This is a curse skill, and non-awakened can also be affected, so your physical abilities will decrease by 20%.”

“A curse? That’s a bit creepy.”

I finished writing the conditions and signed it. Park Yerim, who had been watching, quickly asked for the pen.

“Just my name, right?”

She took the pen and contract and was about to sign when,

“Huh?”

I snatched the contract away. Park Yerim looked at me, confused.

“You’re still a kid.”

“What do you mean?”

She asked in a sharp, irritated voice. I waved the contract in front of her.

“You need to check everything before signing.”

“There’s no problem.”

There’s no problem?

“Your conditions are missing.”

“...Oh, really?”

Park Yerim muttered, dazed. The contract only contained my one-sided demands. Her face turned a bit red, embarrassed.

“You could have forgotten!”

“Of course, you could have forgotten. But that kind of excuse doesn’t work in front of a contract. Being an awakened, a Hunter, means you have the rights of an adult, but you also have the obligations of an adult.”

I took back the pen and added conditions for Park Yerim’s awakening and sponsorship.

“Also, such contracts are usually negotiated. I’ve already told you that you have the potential to be a high-level awakened. Expected awakening grade B or higher. This is very favorable information for you. You’ll be treated well wherever you go, and if you reach A or higher, you’ll have a free pass to the top three guilds.”

I pointed to the condition about signing with the Hae-yeon Guild.

“But signing without negotiating the conditions and agreeing to join a guild is just foolish. It’s too disadvantageous to accept just because someone promises to awaken you immediately.”

I drew a line and modified the condition to prioritize signing with the Hae-yeon Guild, with terms above the average in the Hunter industry.

“Now, this should be a fair contract.”

Park Yerim looked at me with a confused expression, unsure if she was angry or surprised. She finally spoke.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

Is she angry?

“This might sound like nagging, but it means you still need an adult’s help. Once you awaken, many people will approach you. If you reach B-rank, you can clear a D-rank dungeon ten times and then enter a B-rank dungeon.”

A middle school orphan with an annual income of tens of billions. What a tempting description. And Park Yerim is S-rank. If it’s revealed, it will cause a stir not just in Korea but internationally.

“Some of them will pretend to be good people like me and try to take advantage of you. You’ll be easily deceived, just like you were just now.”

“...”

Park Yerim’s gaze was fixed on the contract. Her expression was serious, but more contemplative than angry.

“But I don’t like my uncle.”

“I know. I wouldn’t recommend him as a guardian either. It would be a miracle if he doesn’t run off with your money.”

“He’ll definitely run off with it.”

The tension eased a bit when she started bad-mouthing her uncle.

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to take on that role.”

“...Isn’t that what a sponsor does?”

“It’s different. A simple sponsor can’t interfere with a Hunter’s transactions. But a guardian can invalidate a disadvantageous contract made by a minor Hunter. Usually, parents take on this role.”

A Hunter’s blood relatives can’t automatically become guardians. The Hunter must designate someone specifically.

“So... you want to take on the role of my parents?”

I pretended to be embarrassed and cleared my throat. It was a bit awkward, even if it was before the regression.

“P-parents?”

“Y-yeah... Of course, we don’t fit well, and I have many shortcomings.”

“...Why are you doing this? You said it was just a small favor to our parents.”

“I’ve been through tough times too.”

It was partly a lie and partly the truth.

“Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. If I had a strong support system back then... Well, I don’t look very strong, but...”

“You seem strong enough.”

“Really?”

“...Do I need to say it again?”

She didn’t want to say it twice. I was wrong to push it.

“Anyway, I understand.”

Park Yerim rubbed her cheek with her palm, blushing.

“Um, please take care of me...?”

“Sure, I will. So...”

I should have had a drink. I regretted it, but there was no choice. I had to speak soberly. It was also more natural to be awkward.

“I said I’d take on the role of your parents, but of course, I’m far from perfect. But, in the spirit of your parents’ love for you, not exactly, but... Yerim, I love you?”

“Ew! What is that? It’s completely weird!”

Park Yerim’s face turned red, and she shivered, rubbing her arms. My face was probably red too. It’s so hard to say nonsense sober.

But if she reacts like that...

[Non-awakened ‘Park Yerim’ has been moved by the keywords!]

It worked.

< Second S-Rank (2) > End

ⓒ Geunseo

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