Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The D-Cup Who's Obsessed with Me (12)
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To cut to the chase, I passed the C-rank Hunter promotion exam without a hitch.
It was trickier than I'd expected, but for someone like me who'd already left D-rank in the dust, it wasn't much of a challenge.
That rare special dungeon they say hardly ever shows up? Piece of cake thanks to Observation.
The one-on-one duel with the instructor? A mere C-rank Hunter's attacks couldn't pierce my fully developed Heal.
The other Hunters were griping about it being the toughest exam in history, but I couldn't relate at all.
I breezed through with the top score of all time.
"Ugh... F-rank Hunter last month, and now already C-rank?!"
Ever since awakening Heroine NTR, everything had been going my way.
You really never know what life's gonna throw at you.
Me, a total shut-in NEET rotting in my room, getting flooded with recruitment offers like this?
I never could've imagined it.
But here's the thing.
What do I do about this?
I have zero interest in joining a guild.
Somehow they got my personal number and won't stop calling. Sure, it was exciting at first,
but now it's just straight-up annoying.
It's not like I hate guilds or anything.
Joining one means comrades, easy access to info, tons of perks.
But is it right for me to join one right now? Answer: no.
With Heroine NTR, I can grow freely. I'm an irregular existence.
My growth speed will outpace other Hunters from the get-go, and I'll keep stacking skills they could never dream of.
Affiliating myself in this state? Bad idea.
People will suspect I'm hiding something, and that'll turn into jealousy and envy that'll hound me.
Why join a guild and invite that? Hell no.
For me, the downsides outweigh the upsides.
Anyway, enough of that!
Today, I'm kicking back. Ten straight days of grinding calls for at least one day off.
Hyun-ah's place for a little promotion party.
I'd usually drag her drunk ass home, but today we're drinking there from the jump.
For the record, I didn't bring it up. She invited me. Said it's payback, and she'll cook.
Won't top my chef-level skills, but food made by a girl? I'm hyped.
-Ding-dong!-
"Door's open! Come on in!"
Man, she's gotta be more careful. This defenseless?
Of course, it means she trusts me that much, so it feels nice, but treating me like a little brother now worries me.
What if some creep takes advantage and... ugh.
Sigh. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on her.
"Pardon the intrusion~"
"Pfft! What's with that? Yeah, pardon away~"
Ooh... First time seeing her in an apron.
Damn, the destructive power never fails. No worries about spills on the floor with that chest.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers..."
"Woo!"
-Clink!-
Empty soju bottles piled up one by one as Hyun-ah's voice got louder and louder.
This is making me uneasy... Hope she doesn't go full blackout like usual.
"Now spill on the duel!"
"Sigh... This is the third time, you know?"
"Ehehe... But it's fun every time!"
"...Fair enough. Even I think it was insane. So here's what happened..."
Thankfully, no bitter stories this time around kept the vibe light.
Bf fights, him cheating—god, those were rough nights!
Today was all about my exploits, so it was relaxing.
Truth be told, no day in my life shone like today, so I kinda wanted to brag...
Hyun-ah kept begging for more details whether she got it or not, letting me boast to my heart's content.
"Whoa! Uncle, you're the best!"
"R-Right? Even I think so..."
"Bragging like that without even flinching? Impressive!"
"......"
Drunk making her brutally honest, huh.
"Pfft! What's that face? Heehee. Kidding, kidding. Here, eat this and cheer up."
"Don't pass it off as a failure just 'cause the timing's right."
"Failure? Call it a bold experiment..."
Sadly, her cooking fell short of expectations. Figured a veteran solo dweller like her had basics down—nope.
I whipped up new dishes; mine vanished in seconds while hers still squatted on the table.
"...So when are you gonna tell me...?"
"Huh? Tell you what?"
"What do you mean! You said... if you pass the exam, you'd have something to say..."
"Oh, that?"
"Yeah, that!"
Oh yeah, that slipped my mind. Wasn't forgetting—just planned to space it out a few days. But if she's this insistent, might as well spill now.
For her sake, and mine. The words I wanted to say to Hyun-ah were...
Ever since he showed up at her place, Lee Hyun-ah had been on edge.
His words from that day kept nagging at her.
'If I pass this promotion exam, I have something to tell you.'
'It's really important—for you and for me.'
She had no clue what he'd say with that straight face.
But she had a few guesses.
'No way... he wants to date me? Did I finally pull it off?'
But slim chance.
He'd stonewalled her boldest advances.
No way he'd flip now and ask her out.
It was her dream scenario, but the least realistic.
'Or... we're done? Can't keep teaming up anymore...?'
This felt likely.
For ten days, she'd just been bumming rides. He'd surged ahead, solo-clearing D-rank dungeons without her help despite being a healer.
No reason for a fresh C-rank like him to keep hunting with her.
Her nightmare, but the most probable.
Admitting it hurt too much.
He was her sole lifeline as a loner.
Too precious now to let go.
She couldn't lose him like this.
Today was her last shot.
Whatever his decision, she'd twist it into what she wanted.
That's why she dragged him over, dressed bolder than usual, even cooked for once.
But...
She failed.
He was the same as ever. Nothing changed between them.
She laughed, but it stung.
Fun, but agonizing.
Happy, but hopeless.
'Guess... this is it.'
Tears welled, but she held them back.
She wanted him to remember her smiling.
So with her brightest face, she asked.
"...So when are you gonna tell me...?"
"Huh? Tell you what?"
"What do you mean! You said... if you pass the exam, you'd have something to say..."
"Oh, that?"
"Yeah, that!"
His casual tone pissed her off.
What could it be that he dropped it so lightly? No idea.
But his vibe made it seem kinda mundane.
Sudden hope sparked.
'Duh, he depends on me so much! Yeah, probably just messing around.'
Made total sense.
Tension melted. She chuckled wryly.
Felt dumb for stressing this long.
'Silly me, worrying for nothing! He sucks too—teasing a girl's heart?'
Peeved, but overall thrilled.
Not the worst case? Pure bliss.
Hated him a bit, but liked him more.
She could take whatever he said now.
Grinning ear to ear as she waited, he tossed it out like no big deal.
"Hyun-ah, quit being a Hunter."