Chapter 219
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Her Wish
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"I'm thinking of retiring."
Han Minguk looked up from his coffee at Kang Chaeyoung's words. He wasn't so shocked that he spat it out, though. He'd come out casually at her invitation to catch up after so long, but now it felt like he'd heard something monumental.
'Kang Chaeyoung... retiring?'
He was surprised, but when he thought about it, it wasn't entirely out of left field.
Even with her ripe, alluring looks, her age made retirement a reasonable decision. Plus, considering when she'd awakened her mana, she'd spent most of her life on the front lines battling darkness monsters.
Heroes who awakened their mana typically retired in their mid-thirties to early forties, dedicating their lives to the war against the darkness monsters.
To outsiders, it might sound absurd for someone that young to retire amid humanity's crisis, but among heroes, it was often framed as a matter of duty versus personal happiness. Of course, some stayed active in the front lines well into old age.
'One thing's for sure: high-level dungeons rated 【A-5】 or above rarely have older heroes on their raid teams.'
There were heroes like Kang Chaeyoung nearing retirement, but none who'd passed that milestone. Their aging bodies and dulled judgment often dragged the team down instead.
Unless they had exceptional talent, most heroes hitting retirement age either dropped to Working Girl status while tackling high difficulties or shifted to 【B】-level strategy teams after recognizing their limits.
In any case, Kang Chaeyoung seemed to have chosen personal happiness over the hero's dilemma of duty. Sure enough, she continued.
"I've been fighting darkness monsters for nearly thirty years since awakening my mana. I don't know the exact count, but I've probably taken down tens of thousands of named ones alone."
"It could easily be double that."
"That's how I earned the title of Korea's number one ranker and strongest dealer. Anyway, lately I've been feeling worn out. And you know, during long tries, my body doesn't always move the way I want anymore?"
She held up her hand as she spoke. It looked like a smooth, pretty hand on the surface, but Minguk knew it hid countless scars.
"Truth is, I'm a bit regretful. I wanted to resolve the Daegu issue before retiring."
"Ah..."
The Void Lands born from the dungeon break.
She wanted to collapse all the dungeons tainted by the void and restore Daegu to its original state. But Korea had plenty of high-difficulty dungeons beyond Daegu.
And Korea's hero forces, including Memoria Clan, had their limits.
"Anyway, it wasn't a snap decision. I agonized over it a lot. I hit my limit during the Chinese dungeon break cleanup. And I got this uneasy feeling that I'd end up as a Working Girl if I kept going."
"Hey, I could fix that for you."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Ahh..."
Minguk pouted at her low sigh in response to his cheeky remark.
I'd healed Working Girls like Shiranu Mai and Celes of the Imperial Guard, yet she didn't believe him. Maybe she'd forgotten his vigorous prowess since it had been a while.
"Still, coming from you, it sounds plausible."
Kang Chaeyoung grinned. Any other guy saying it would've sounded insane, but the one before her was a special hero. Minguk took a sip of his coffee as he watched her for a moment, then asked.
"Anyway, assuming you retire, does Memoria Clan know? If Kang Chaeyoung retires, it'll be chaos, no doubt."
"Only the raid leader knows. Not the clan master. She'll probably oppose it, citing weakened national defenses and public anxiety. The government and Hero Association will send people too, I bet."
"The press will run negative stories. Your name carries weight."
"I don't care. I've done my part."
Her tone was firm. She meant it. Minguk respected her choice. She had every right to it.
'But if Kang Chaeyoung retires...'
Korea’s government, Hero Association, and Memoria Clan would lose their minds. She was old enough to consider retirement, but still held the top spot as Korea's dealer ranker.
Would national monster defense plummet? Hard to say. Raids against darkness monsters weren't a solo dealer gig.
A top dealer made tries easier, sure, but Minguk believed this world hinged more on raid tactics and the raid leader's command than individual skill.
"So, what do you think?"
As he pondered her post-retirement life, she turned the question back. No other answer came to mind.
"It's your choice, right? I'm for it. No reason to oppose."
"Really?"
Her eyes widened at his immediate reply, blinking at him. He wondered if his response was that unexpected.
"Then, even after I retire, I can stay with Cartel, right?"
"...Huh?"
Minguk stared at her in disbelief.
Some men did leech off heroes' earnings, then dump them at retirement. It had made headlines as a social issue.
But he wasn't that scum. Plus, he felt some responsibility toward her. He'd stolen her from her boyfriend, after all. And she was gorgeous.
"Of course."
She sighed in relief at his answer. It struck him as odd, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, what do you plan to do after retiring?"
"I'll stick around Memoria Clan for now. Legendary heroes like me often become instructors for juniors upon retirement. Maybe help out with low-difficulty revival teams."
"Not a bad gig. You've got plenty saved up anyway..."
"Sixteen buildings in Seoul are in my name. How about it? Wanna marry your noona?"
She playfully dangled her car keys on the table. Her ride was a hypercar worth millions.
"Whoa..."
Building owner, not just landlord. Monthly rent alone could sustain him forever. Tempting, if it were his old world. But here, he could become one himself if he wanted.
"Watch your words. I'm not marrying into your family—you're coming to me."
He had his own savings, poured into revival stones. Money was raid loot, especially from 【A-5】 high-end dungeons—priceless spoils.
"Shall we go ring shopping then?"
"Sounds good."
He nodded earnestly to her subtle probe. No joke.
'Maybe get a dozen or so?'
Matching rings with Cartel's women didn't sound bad. Swap them daily, focus on the wearer. Like a Middle Eastern royal's life.
"Ah... for real?"
Kang Chaeyoung looked touched by his casual assurance. She fidgeted with her fingers for a while.
"What's up?"
"Tch, actually... I want something more than a ring."
Growing impatient, Minguk pressed, and she cautiously spoke.
"More than a ring?"
He tilted his head. Nothing came to mind. Surely not asking to tackle Daegu's dungeon break together.
"You know I had a fiancé?"
"...Yeah."
He stared awkwardly as her ex came up out of nowhere.
He'd stolen her during Vietnam's dungeon break. Then played hands-off. Both key raid heroes, busy with China, Vietnam breaks, and GGW growth.
He felt a twinge of guilt. But she continued without lingering regret.
"As you know, I wanted marriage for a happy family. And at the center of that... was a child."
"...A child?"
"Yeah. What every woman in the world wants most."
Her unexpected words hit him like a hammer.
Right—Korea's birth rate here was a mere 0.3. Shockingly high, given the war's gender imbalance. Society was striving hard to maintain it.
'Back home, it was 0.49 worldwide...'
No war there, yet plummeting, wrecked by ethnic Koreans and refugees. This world's government must be bending over backward for women to raise kids.
"So, about that..."
She glanced nervously, opening up carefully.
He could guess. Maybe this was the real point of meeting.
'A baby, huh.'
A woman craving his child felt surreal. Oddly, no strong aversion.
He'd been with many women, creampied countless times, yet none pregnant.
Thanks to...
《If Master Minguk desires, impregnating that woman is possible. I highly recommend it.》
Ppuu appeared, trembling.
That guy could make his sperm sterile anytime. Or fertile.
'And if we hook up...'
With his stamina, pregnancy seemed likely. He'd fill her plenty.
"You'd hate that, right?"
"Huh...?"
Her tentative gaze softened him. Single in his old world, baby daddy here...
"I'll raise it with everything I've got. Yeah? More precious than my life."
Sensing his hesitation, she pleaded desperately. Then—
《M-Master Minguk! I think I can give you a quest!》
Qoo♡ materialized with a message. What were these guys thinking?
A quest popped up. Objective: impregnate Kang Chaeyoung. Reward: Chaos Shop upgrade. Tempting, but...
She was Cartel—practically his woman—begging. No way he'd disappoint. If GGW raid-bound, maybe hesitation. But retiring, wealthy hero? Done deciding, Minguk stood abruptly.
"I-Impregnation isn't easy, I know. But if you'd try sometimes... Ah!"
Her eyes shook wildly at his sudden move. She thought she'd upset him mentioning kids.
To her, Minguk said,
"Come with me for now."
Pregnancy? TBD. But he'd fill her ten times at least.