Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Chaebol Heiress
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23 -
The Mane Wolf glaring at her lunged forward.
Pa-at!
Han So-young stood still even as the Mane Wolf leaped at her.
Kyaeng!
The Mane Wolf soaring through the air slammed into an invisible wall and bounced back.
Barrier.
She was a tank who had awakened to barrier abilities.
'A masochistic tank, huh.'
Si-woo flashed a satisfied smile.
After spending two straight days entangled with her, he was at the point where just seeing her ass made him hard. She was growing more beautiful by the day since awakening.
Her C-cup breasts had gradually swelled, now surpassing D-cup. Even her black hair had taken on a faint blue sheen.
"Si-woo! Did you see that?"
Si-woo smiled back at the beaming Han So-young who turned around. Abilities tied to defense were generally highly rated.
In his eyes, it was a good power too.
"Yeah. It's a great ability that can be used for offense depending on how you wield it. Congrats."
It was a versatile skill that became both offense and defense by placing barriers in enemy attack paths or evasion routes.
Si-woo pondered for a moment before asking,
"By any chance, can you make footholds in midair?"
"Hmm... Give me a sec. Let me try."
She created a foothold and stepped onto it, only to clutch her head and drop right back down.
"Ugh... My head hurts. It works for a bit, but the mana drain is too much."
"Mana?"
The Mixed Origin Qi Art was perfect for recharging mana.
As Si-woo approached, Han So-young flinched in surprise.
"W-Wait! That's too dangerous. I-I won't do it in rifts anymore. Go away."
"Tch..."
"Ugh... You're such a perv. You pervert."
Si-woo couldn't help but chuckle. It was even funnier coming from a masochistic tank's mouth.
Si-woo said to Han So-young,
"Find some talent who could join our clan."
"Someone desperate, right?"
"Yeah. Someone with debts... or a strong reason to awaken. Makes recruiting easier."
"Mm... Got it. I'll look into it."
As she nodded, Si-woo hesitated briefly before adding what mattered most.
"And... she has to be pretty."
"What?"
Han So-young wondered if her ears were working right. But he had to say it. It was too late to turn back now.
Si-woo had already become the type who couldn't be satisfied with just one woman.
Han So-young trembled with anger, fury flickering in her eyes.
"N-No way...! You, you...!"
Averting her gaze slightly, Si-woo said,
"Ahem... So-young, your awakening was thanks to my ability too. With that woman, through sex—"
"You crazy bastard!"
Han So-young shrieked.
It took a full day to soothe her sulking self.
He treated her to a fancy dinner at a nice hotel and pounded her all day long.
Slap!
"Heut!"
As Si-woo thrust his hips, he said,
"Please. We have to use my ability, right?"
"Ha-at, y-you bad... jerk...!"
Si-woo wrapped his finger in Mixed Origin Qi. Time to punish her with pleasure.
Han So-young panicked. Having awakened, she could sense that energy now.
It was a terrifying force that erased all thought the moment it touched her.
"O-Okay! Okay, so heut! Why, aaang!!"
Si-woo licked her ear and whispered,
"Thanks. Here's a gift."
With that, he shifted the Mixed Origin Qi's property to pure ecstasy.
"Haaaang!"
She was still a bit upset. Her anger hadn't fully subsided. She shot Si-woo a pouty glare.
"You bad guy."
Si-woo gently stroked her ass. Seeing her grudgingly accept, he figured her mood would lift soon enough.
Grumbling, she said,
"...To start a clan, you need a clan house. What about the office?"
She handled the clan registration without complaint, but some things required her specific abilities.
A clan house was one of them.
Si-woo thought for a moment, then stood up.
"I'll go make some money."
"Huh? To a rift?"
"Nah. Got something to sell."
Running a clan needed startup capital.
He pondered what to sell. Among Karma-purchasable items, he weighed the most efficient ones and decided to take a slight risk.
Might as well aim big for that office space.
Standing before the massive building, Si-woo was quietly impressed.
He'd picked a mid-sized company president as his target, but the structure was bigger than expected.
'Holy Flame Group's subsidiary, Jang family... Yeah, chaebol material.'
He mulled it over, but the risk was acceptable. Within calculations.
SH Smith, a Holy Flame Group subsidiary.
They made and sold weapons. Famous for cost-performance, popular with low-rank hunters.
He'd wrangled a meeting with the president.
Using his jump from F to C-rank in a week as bait.
Knock. Knock.
After waiting about five minutes in the reception room, a knock sounded.
The door opened, and a suited man entered, bowing his head.
He held the door and stepped aside.
Click-clack, click-clack.
A woman in a tight suit that suited her perfectly approached in high heels.
Her short skirt bared more than half her thighs, yet it looked classy, not vulgar.
Her poised demeanor made her seem like a refined career woman.
She smiled brightly and said,
"Nice to meet you, Si-woo. I'm Jang Ye-hwa."
As they shook hands, Si-woo was impressed.
'So soft.'
Her smooth palm lifted his spirits instantly.
"Nice to meet you. Choi Si-woo."
"Shall we sit?"
Si-woo sat, and she followed suit.
Jang Ye-hwa slowly crossed her legs. The sound of her stockings sliding drew his eyes as her thigh climbed over the other.
The sheer-clad thigh on full display was temptingly taut—hard not to stare outright.
Her red lips parted.
"So, shall we verify you're really C-rank first?"
Si-woo lightly stirred the air with his palm. Interest lit her eyes as she watched.
"Hmm... F to C in a week... Impressive. Not even a high-rank awakening... Care to share the secret?"
Si-woo nodded shamelessly.
"Before that, I need a secrecy guarantee."
"Fine. Manager Kim?"
The handsome secretary standing aside stiffened. He hesitated before speaking.
"Miss..."
"What? Afraid Si-woo might harm me?"
Si-woo eyed the necklace on her nape. Clearly no ordinary jewelry.
'Artifact, huh.'
The secretary sighed softly and left.
Si-woo unfurled a mana contract. Recognizing it, Jang Ye-hwa frowned slightly.
"A mana contract? You don't trust me?"
Her haughty eyes softened pleadingly for a split second, but Si-woo replied flatly,
"First time meeting. Of course we need a contract."
She feigned a hurt expression.
"Oh dear... It saddens me that you don't trust me...?"
Si-woo just smiled calmly, so she let out a small laugh.
"Hmm... But do I have reason to heed your words so closely?"
Si-woo shrugged.
"No harm in it, right? Without secrecy, I'll just chat idly and leave. Though with a beauty like you, Ye-hwa, I'd enjoy that."
Jang Ye-hwa felt a fresh thrill. It had been ages since someone spoke to her so indifferently.
She nodded slightly, and Si-woo activated the mana contract.
"Do you promise to keep secret the conversation and any future deals?"
After a brief pause, she nodded.
"Good. Now, tell me."
Si-woo said brazenly,
"Truth is, my growth secret's just my talent."
"..."
Her smile held, but her eyes chilled gradually.
Then Si-woo continued,
"Anyway, wanna buy an awakening scroll?"
"Awakening... scroll?"
Her brow furrowed ever so slightly.
"Exactly. I'll awaken one non-awakened person. Oh, has to be female. And 35 or under."
From his street observations, awakening got tough past 35.
Might need multiple Awakening Aids.
The age limit didn't really matter. She was in her thirties anyway. This deal targeted her from the start.
A woman with everything wouldn't pass up eternal youth and beauty.
"...Why female?"
"Trade secret. Don't ask."
Her frowning face broke into a smile.
She laughed in disbelief, finding his boldness refreshing.
"Hmm... Intriguing, but how can I trust you?"
Scammers promising awakenings were a dime a dozen.
"Hm..."
Si-woo paused, then said,
"Let's discuss terms first."
"...Fine. Go ahead."
She crossed her arms, cleavage forming a deep valley.
Si-woo pressed on.
"I need a building."
A clan house in a good spot.
Jang Ye-hwa nodded at his words. Pricey, but doable if legit.
"Cheap if real. But trust is key, no?"
Si-woo grimaced slightly, then conceded,
"Send one as a test then. I'll awaken her first. Make it two total. But payment doubles."
"Pardon...?"
Si-woo continued nonchalantly.
"Contract of course. No awakening, no pay. No loss for you."
"So... Anyone I send awakens? Payment after?"
"Yes."
After pondering, she smiled prettily. Ties with a talented hunter? No downside.
"Deal. I'll send someone soon."
One building and 500 million won. Final price.
Jang Ye-hwa thought of a suitable candidate: her new secretary.
A cute bob-cut girl whose big chest stood out on her petite frame.
Her resume: orphan, no family, 0.01% awakening chance—total normie.
Perfect guinea pig. If she worked, Jang Ye-hwa herself would too.
"Whatever. Succeeds, great. Fails... a little punishment."
She casually instructed her secretary chief.
"That new secretary who started? Send her to my office."
"...Yes."
The chief's voice dripped doubt, but no need to explain.
Truth be told, she barely believed it herself. Yet her heart fluttered oddly.
Crossing her legs, Jang Ye-hwa murmured,
"Hmm... Why am I looking forward to this?"