Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Way to Quell the Controversy
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In South Korea, before Lee Soo-ah 's article dropped today, if you asked who the hottest hunter was, nine out of ten trend-savvy people would name Im Hyeji.
- South Korea's first double SSS-rank hunter.
- The next-generation saintess.
- Young, pretty, kind, and talented to boot.
- It was so satisfying watching her crush that smug Oom Oosu bitch.
Stories about Im Hyeji—from her Resurrection on Mars to her bold victory (or whatever you call it) over Oom Oosu in that S-rank dungeon, awakening even more powers—were endless.
It was like how people constantly bring up that one guy who won the lottery jackpot twice in a row, whenever the topic comes up in everyday chit-chat.
The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
My life is this pathetic, not even hitting fifth prize, yet I shell out 5,000 won every week for lotto tickets.
Meanwhile, some rich bastard who's already loaded wins the jackpot twice.
No, even that's underselling it.
A double SSS-rank is more like hitting the jackpot five or six times in a row.
I might've sighed in relief if she'd suddenly gained some random close-combat SSS-rank skill alongside Resurrection.
But with envy turning to outright admiration in a flash, interest in Im Hyeji was bound to skyrocket.
- Wonder who's gonna snag her.
- With skills like that, even a woman like Oom Oosu lives it up with hot guys... Im Hyeji's basically untouchable now.
- Probably some chaebol heir or corporate bigwig.
- Really? A double SSS?
In this day and age, hunters outshine celebrities in fame.
Im Hyeji, contracted as an SS-rank with Semi Guild, was already picky about her ads, and her name recognition was climbing fast.
So in that hype, with her followers surging past 4 million after the saintess reveal—daily gains skyrocketing—it was only natural that people were obsessively tracking her every move.
Especially when another double SSS-rank hunter, Lee Soo-ah , popped up linked to her, and those status messages changed right in the photo. It was enough to explode interest.
📰 Breaking News
Title: That guy Kang Jik seems kinda suspicious, right?
💬 Comments
— Anonymous
Double SSS-rank Im Hyeji hunter is with Semi Guild. Heard from a guildmate there—her porter's this guy Kang Jik. He's the older brother of Kang Hana, who just became an S-rank hunter. And that same Kang Jik is the one in the scandal with singer/actress-now-double-SSS-rank-hunter Lee Soo-ah . Connecting just the facts here, no bullshit. Smells fishy, right?
— Anonymous
Why's Kang Hana in this?
— Anonymous
Lee Sua → follows Kang Jik → Kang Jik follows Lee Soo-ah , Im Hyeji, Kang Hana → Im Hyeji follows Kang Jik. That's the SNS breadcrumb trail burning up, yeah?
— Anonymous
Kang Hana's Kang Jik's little sister, right? So she follows him too. Just family stuff.
— Anonymous
Yeah, who knows why. Point is, Lee Soo-ah and Im Hyeji are connected to him. Both sent him hearts or called him pet names.
Bits of info started piling up one by one.
Put it all together, and yeah, it's suspicious enough to warrant doubt.
Especially since all three women—Im Hyeji, Lee Soo-ah , and Kang Hana—had awakened SSS-rank skills, extra-awakened, or were about to.
📰 Breaking News
Title: Did Kang Jik fuck Lee Soo-ah ?
— Anonymous
That's not the point, you idiots.
— Anonymous
Lee Sua = Awakens to double SSS-rank / Im Hyeji = Double extra-awakens to double SSS-rank hunter / Kang Hana = Reawakens SS-rank skill to become S-rank hunter.
— Anonymous
And right now, both Lee Soo-ah and Im Hyeji follow only Kang Jik on SNS. Unless he's got a hypnosis app or some shit, why would they follow a nobody like him? Obvious—he awakened all of them.
Sharp posts digging into the truth were popping up too.
Honestly, imagine it once, and that's the only explanation that fits.
It's the most logical way to make sense of things right now.
Anything else, and even I'd say the situation's hard for outsiders to swallow.
Of course, it's not exactly common sense.
— Anonymous
What bullshit lol. A guy who can turn regular folks into double SSS-ranks posts "She's my wife" on SNS to pull aggro? I'd hide that shit forever and operate in the shadows.
Over a decade of data on hunter awakenings had built up "common knowledge."
Extra-awakenings for hunters are as rare and random as first awakenings for normals.
No contradictions in ten years, no outliers in millions of samples. So even if linking the three women's extra-awakenings to me is the most convincing explanation...
The world still runs on common sense for most people.
— Anonymous
Still science vs. mind games bullshit. Hunters are science now, idiots. Millions, tens of millions of data points established. What awakening ability lol.
"They're really going at it."
Part of me felt proud, though.
Lee Sua and Im Hyeji fueled 80% of the fire, but Hunter Gallery burning for nearly two days off my bait? As a guy who pulls every trick for concept posts, my shoulders couldn't help but puff up.
That said...
No need to jump in and douse flames burning too hot.
"What're you gonna do?"
To Kang Hana's question, I put on a serious face and reached for her head.
"Let's have sex."
"...Huh?"
Come to think of it, no time to worry about gossip.
Kang Hana's SSS-rank skill was due any day now with the birth.
I'd given her a morning sickness shot once, but concerts and crap made me forget.
"...Wasn't it guaranteed SSS-rank anyway?"
Kang Hana asked, dodging a bit.
She lusted after power no less than the other two, but this reaction? Probably 'cause she foresaw the mess if she got dragged in.
Scandals with Im Hyeji or Lee Soo-ah ? Whatever. Strangers.
Sure, their looks made it an unacceptable mismatch, but no legal issues or moral obligations.
But Kang Hana was different.
Genetically strangers or not, legally family—any link would hurt her and the whole family.
So she instinctively wanted distance.
Not the best call, though.
"That's a pretty dumb thought."
"...What is?"
"Sex or no sex won't change if the skill comes. It's guaranteed SSS with double EXP bonus—skipping it pointless. Worried about getting caught? Hide the extra-awakening fact. You're leveling fast for birth anyway—why assume exposure first?"
"..."
Kang Hana went quiet at my occasional spot-on logic.
I stroked her head to comfort her.
"Worst case, the 20 million nationwide incest fans'll cheer us on. Especially the guys—they'd rather I took a sister like you than some other dude."
"You crazy bastard!!"
I grabbed her pillow-swinging arm and pinned her down.
Then, dropping the teasing, I explained my real plan.
"Sua's resting awhile, so she goes dark. Hyeji skips dungeons during recontract, same deal. Not like we committed crimes—following a normie won't rage forever."
"..."
Not the crispest fix, but from years in communities, I knew.
Bait burns hot and fast.
Future Hyeji/Sua rumors would mention me, sure. That's it.
No national apologies needed. Just whispers about me and Sua, me and Hyeji.
What're we? Whatever.
No reason to get pissy.
We're way past whispers—pregnant, even.
That's why we can strut bolder.
"...You think?"
Boldness fixes most things.
Like convincing Kang Hana now.
Or her shaking at double EXP while pinned, eager to power up.
For my worried little sister, I pulled her close, pheromones calming her mind as I ground against her.
I advised her to enjoy it.
"So follow me too. Unfollow everyone else."
"You... crazy... Mmph!!"
What's done is done.
Layer brainrot on brainrot, and the truth fades.