Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Chaebol Daughter (2)
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Sparring ground.
Choi Si-woo and Han So-young pointed their wooden swords at each other.
She took a small breath, her blue hair fluttering as she swung her wooden sword down.
Si-woo's arm rose but hesitated. He felt resistance from a small barrier that had formed on his elbow.
It was Han So-young's barrier.
The barrier shattered after only holding for a moment, but that much resistance was enough time for his throat to be slit.
But the gap in their skills was too vast. Si-woo blocked her sword and marveled.
"Not bad?"
"Ah... It broke right away..."
Seeing her a bit downcast, Si-woo shook his head.
"If you were evenly matched, it wouldn't be easy to break. Let's go again."
Crack! Crack!
The wooden swords clashed, echoing sharply through the air.
Si-woo exchanged blows with her, genuinely impressed. Even in this simple exchange, the barriers popping up were no joke.
Barriers formed along his attack paths, blocking strikes aimed at her. Even when he landed a hit by chance, the barrier on her skin was tough and hard to shatter.
With key paths restricted, her straightforward attacks felt razor-sharp.
She thrust her wooden sword forward.
Si-woo stepped back, only for a barrier to form behind him.
Expecting the hit, he gathered internal energy in his chest to brace for the impact.
The wooden sword tapped his chest. But she, the one who had landed the strike, clutched her head.
"Ugh... My head."
"What's wrong?"
Han So-young pressed her forehead and explained.
"Mana shortage. The farther the barrier is from my body, the more mana it drains. Durability drops too."
Si-woo nodded. He had sensed the instability in the barrier behind him as well.
But to handle her ability this well just days after awakening was impressive. Her mana reserves weren't even that high to begin with, which made it all the more remarkable.
"A few days in, and you're already this good? You'd be tough to beat at your level."
Si-woo felt proud knowing he'd recruited her wisely.
She had real talent.
The sparring ended, and Si-woo arrived at the café.
He sat down and closed his eyes. There was still a bit of time before the appointment. To check on Gal Sang-in's energy, he turned his focus inward.
Analyzing the energy from the Low-Grade Mana Core, he was surprised by its potency.
'Acceleration... It's a bit different from my Quick attribute?'
He tested it by expending a portion, noting the differences.
Gal Sang-in's superpower, strictly speaking, altered the flow of time itself.
Si-woo's Mixed Origin Qi Quick attribute simply accelerated the body. The effects were similar, but the principles were worlds apart.
'Not just speeding up... It's manipulating the flow of time...'
While analyzing Gal Sang-in's 'Acceleration' ability, Si-woo realized two ways to use it.
First, blend it into his Mixed Origin Qi to enhance the Quick attribute. It might even infuse Acceleration traits into the Mixed Origin Qi itself.
Second, consume it directly.
For a short burst, it could rival a first-rate master's speed, he estimated.
'Hmm...'
He decided to analyze it slowly and deal with it later. Leaving it alone would let it gradually merge with his Mixed Origin Qi anyway.
That might be the most perfect way to assimilate it.
The sound of footsteps approaching made Si-woo open his eyes. There was the cute secretary who had guided him last time when he visited Jang Ye-hwa.
Si-woo stood and offered a handshake. Seeing a familiar face made him even happier.
"You've arrived? You're Lee Na-yeon, right?"
The adorable girl, about 150cm tall, grasped his hand and smiled innocently.
"Yes, hello."
"...That's suspicious."
The secretary chief finished his report, bowing his head while sneaking a glance at Jang Ye-hwa. He had a hobby of peeking at her when she crossed her legs in thought.
Her eyes closed, fingers tapping, Jang Ye-hwa finally spoke.
"Hmmm... Got it. I'm heading home, so you can go."
Swallowing his regret, the secretary chief left. Jang Ye-hwa pondered.
A hunter who awakened just three days ago...
Her eyes gleamed. While investigating Si-woo in detail, she'd learned about the female hunter by his side.
A porter until recently, awakened three days ago.
Excitement bubbled up unbidden.
Even on the way home, her thoughts were consumed by Si-woo.
"Ha... Is it real?"
Her heart raced uncontrollably. She'd sent the rookie secretary long ago, but no contact since.
Three or four hours, she'd heard, but half excitement, half worry.
Even after arriving home, time dragged unbearably.
'Maybe watch some drama...?'
She slumped seductively onto the sofa and turned on the TV.
A popular drama was airing.
The heroine, dumped by her fiancé for her looks and suffering, awakens into a stunning beauty and seeks revenge.
Freckles vanished, leaving milky baby skin. Her flat chest ballooned out, stirring instant jealousy.
"Does that even make sense? Oh my, oh my! Look at that!"
Soon, she kicked away her clinging ex-fiancé and indulged in steamy skinship with a younger guy.
"Oh my! Oh my... Eww, so gross..."
It was too stimulating for a spinster like her.
Friends had gaslit her: "You're so haughty. You treat men like roadside stones." And so she'd hit 30 as a spinster.
Now, she glued her eyes to the screen. Too provocative to look away.
The drama ended before she knew it.
The heroine, not content with the younger guy, eyed the newlywed husband next door.
Their eyes met as the ending theme played.
"Haa..."
Swallowing hard, Jang Ye-hwa felt parched.
'Maybe a glass of wine...'
She poured a glass from the wine bar in the corner.
Sipping elegantly alone, she scrolled her smartphone.
Browsing news, Jang Ye-hwa frowned.
[XX Steel Heir Causes Another Scandal.]
- At a certain club, the notorious playboy of XX Steel... Mr. K
Company name censored, initials used, but she knew exactly who.
"Dad wants me to set up with trash like that? Ugh, so annoying."
If SH Smith hadn't succeeded, she'd have been forced into marriage with that guy per her father's wishes.
Gulp, gulp.
Downing wine in frustration, her phone rang.
Riiiing— Riiiing—
"Haa... Who's calling this late...?"
Irritated by the caller, she cleared her throat.
"Ahem..."
It was someone important.
Click.
She spoke in a soft tone.
"Yes, this is Jang Ye-hwa."
A gruff male voice responded, rough like a laborer's.
- Chairman Jang. This is Lee Young-chul.
Lee Young-chul.
Head of a top forge.
Not just any forge—a massive smithy with dozens of elite artisans, countable on one hand.
They produced high-end gear from rift byproducts.
Jang Ye-hwa's SH Smith dominated mid-to-low tiers.
But it had weaknesses. Top hunters didn't use SH Smith products.
They cared about performance, not cost-performance.
To shore up SH Smith's high-end gap, multiple projects were underway.
Lee Young-chul was one she'd courted heavily.
"Oh, of course I know you. It's been ages since we spoke directly."
Her friendly tone left Lee Young-chul silent for a moment.
He hesitated, then spoke.
- Haa... I've been agonizing all day whether to say this. But I decided to.
Jang Ye-hwa's brow furrowed slightly. Was he rejecting the offer...?
"Oh? What did you want to say...?"
His voice boomed from the smartphone.
- My daughter... She got a job at your company. I didn't know, so you probably didn't either.
Jang Ye-hwa's mind raced.
'Lee? Which new hire was surnamed Lee?'
She couldn't know every new employee's name. But unease crept in.
Sweat beaded on her neck.
"Oh my. I see. I'll look after her well! Wh-what's her name...?"
- Her name's Lee Na-yeon. Heard she got hired as a secretary... Don't go easy—train her till she cries.
As Jang Ye-hwa's mouth slowly gaped, his voice continued.
- In return... Straight talk. Just keep her out of danger. This industry has too many reckless bastards.
"Th-these days, that's not—"
- Pfft! I make weapons for a living—think I don't know? That's why I'm calling. Anyway, can I count on you?
Her face pale, but voice steady.
"O-of course... Hehe. I'd never assign a secretary dangerous work? Never! Absolutely safe!"
A satisfied grunt from the phone.
"Then I'll trust you and hang up. I'll visit with gifts next time."
"Yes, please do. Good night~"
With trembling hands, Jang Ye-hwa searched her contacts.
[Hunter Choi Si-woo]
She fired off texts.
- Si-woo?
- Si-woo, call me ASAP if you see this.
- Si-woo!!
...
No reply.
Not even a minute passed, but she couldn't wait. Biting her nails, she called.
'Pick up. Pick up.'
♬♬~
The ringtone felt torturously slow. Even the principal's lectures weren't this bad.
Click.
'Ah!'
A curt, annoyed voice from the phone.
- ...Hello?
But she had no time for that.
Jang Ye-hwa blurted urgently.
"Si-woo? My secretary hasn't gone yet, right? Something came up. I'll send someone else."
- ...
Silence made her heart sink.
"Si-woo?"
A flat voice replied.
- What now? It's already started.
"Ahh...!"
Tears pricked her eyes. One last hope remained. Desperately, she asked.
"It-it's not dangerous, right?"
Si-woo replied matter-of-factly.
- Of course not dangerous. Absolutely safe.
His confidence eased her a bit. Color returned to her face, hands stopped shaking.
"I'll trust you."
A little relieved, Jang Ye-hwa hung up.
'But... Why do I still feel so uneasy?'