Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Catching Hidden Cockroaches
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The dungeon had been cleared cleanly.
Whether it was the collaborative performance between Lee Sua and Han Semi, or the coordination with Semi Guild's SS-rank ranged hunter to prepare for times when Lee Sua wasn't available, Han Semi's abilities had synced up perfectly, earning her overwhelming acclaim within the guild, at the very least.
"Guild Master is seriously insane."
"Honestly, at this level, I think she deserves to be bumped up to SSS-rank."
"Amazing..."
Even to my eyes, her firepower was on that level.
Frankly, just reading the skill description made it clear this was the real deal, and seeing it in action lived up to the hype... The only drawback was mana consumption, but if that got resolved, becoming an SSS-rank hunter seemed like only a matter of time.
The problem was that the road to get there was quite a detour thanks to the deformity.
Well, taking it slow and steady wouldn't make us late anyway.
For Han Semi, it might even be more beneficial if the breast milk came out gradually.
"Everyone, good work out there."
This dungeon had been plenty meaningful and rewarding.
It gave Han Semi time to get used to her skills, let Lee Sua rack up more real combat experience, and unexpectedly, it smoothed over relations with Hong Si-jun and Gyu Yeon-su, who had joined us.
I had no idea what Gyu Yeon-su had said to Hong Si-jun, but seeing him alternate between grateful looks, suspicious stares, and death glares... it made me realize that after getting closer, he was definitely different from the stiff, stoic guy I'd first met.
"Phew. With just one big hurdle left, I feel a bit more at ease."
Of course, the real big hurdle was still clearing the SS-rank dungeon safely.
Honestly, with this level of firepower and the skills of the Semi Guild members, it should be doable without a hitch.
Just look at the SS-rank dungeon Hanlim Guild had recently cleared—they went in with two SSS-rank hunters and similar forces. Excluding variables like assassin monsters, we had more than enough to pull it off.
Plus, we didn't even need to fear assassin-type monsters on our side.
Unless it was an SSS-rank monster whose stealth couldn't be detected, that is.
For now, we headed home to rest.
Hong Si-jun called out to me.
His serious expression had me on edge as I followed him to a quiet spot, where he bowed deeply at the waist.
"Thank you."
"...So you heard."
I let out a sigh of relief upon seeing he hadn't drawn his greatsword first.
When Gyu Yeon-su relayed exactly what she'd told Han Semi to him, I'd realized just how dangerous my words—"I'll impregnate your wife"—really were. It hit me like a mirror therapy shock.
How could she convey it so straightforwardly and simply?
From the listener's perspective, it blanks out the brain for a moment, but the words pin down the facts without any fluff.
Fortunately, it seemed like the follow-up explanation had gone well enough.
"As expected... So it's possible without getting pregnant."
"......Wait, no. Bro, did you drop out of middle school?"
...Maybe it hadn't gone that well.
Well, Hong Si-jun wasn't entirely wrong.
Breaking it down to the end result:
- Gyu Yeon-su awakened her stats without getting pregnant.
- But that was possible through the mana juice from Han Semi's SS-rank magic stone, via a convoluted chain of explanations... that somehow made it work.
- So yeah, stat awakening without pregnancy is possible.
Of course, he wasn't shamelessly asking for more or anything.
It just seemed like a thank-you.
"I'll sell everything I own to get an SS-rank magic stone. Please wait for me."
"If you do, I won't say no."
I shelved any thoughts of exploiting him further for other things for now.
One step at a time.
Watching Hong Si-jun head off with Gyu Yeon-su, we returned home too.
On the way, I checked the Hunter Gallery, and there was talk about Lee Sua's YouTube.
"Whoa, congrats on 1 million, Sua unnie!"
"Thanks. It's all thanks to Kang Jik."
"Since my influence made her quit the entertainment industry for YouTube, it's not wrong."
While we were in the dungeon, one video she'd uploaded had shot her subscribers past 1 million—now over 2 million—and the comments were... self-explanatory.
[Title: Seen Lee Sua's YouTube?]
That guy Kang Jik is seriously enviable, fuck... Just the back-and-forth with a girl like that would make pre-cum leak...
For real, you can feel the chill confidence in that guy's speech.
How is he so chill around Lee Sua?
Are they actually dating?
No way he'd be that relaxed if he was just a guy friend.
Maybe her real brother? Otherwise, how does he have that vibe?
Her real brother acting like that is even grosser.
Fuuuuck, I can't handle the end where they go see the cat. You bastard...!
YouTube comments were at least moderated, so they were the milder ones, but Hunter Gallery was in absolute chaos.
A smile crept onto my face.
I'd wondered if this kind of reaction would pop up when we filmed it, but YouTube videos really deliver that dopamine hit—great responses and fun to watch.
Provided the stars of the video could handle the reactions without their mental health shattering.
"Oppa, you okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Sigh. Attention whore?"
"You scream attention whore."
"Wanna make a cameo? In a school uniform?"
"Hey!!"
Reminding her of Kang Hana's iconic twin-tailed uniform look made her screech and swing a fist, but I dodged it easily.
Next up was the SS-rank dungeon. With a little over a week left, we decided to skip other requests and use the time for personal prep.
"Gear up what you need to. SS-rank is seriously dangerous, so come fully prepared."
I dropped off Im Hyeji and Lee Sua at their places, reminding them as guild master.
With their hunter experience, they'd handle it, and Lee Sua was already carrying a wand, so no worries there. But gear—artifacts—were as crucial as skills.
They amplified skills, replenished mana, and offered all sorts of support, so most hunters obsessed more over artifact prices than magic stones.
"Sua unnie and Hyeji too—their gear seems a bit lacking for their ranks. I don't really need top stuff myself."
As we got home, Kang Hana pointed out a constructive issue.
They'd spent gear money on magic stones to upgrade personal power, which wasn't a bad investment, but artifacts that backed and boosted that power were equally vital.
"So what, should I buy it for them?"
"...Nah, not that."
It was like a club for victims without perpetrators.
The magic stones had gone to the women, birthing great abilities and skills, so blaming me didn't hold water.
If anything, I was the sucker absorbing all the stones skill-less and penniless, chasing P.
If they'd sold them, they'd be living large in a Han River-view penthouse worth billions, sipping coffee on the terrace nightly while shitposting on Hunter Gallery.
"Anyway, point is, oppa. Stealing gear from dungeons won't be easy, right?"
"...Are you insane? Getting caught with stolen gear is instant game over."
"...I know. But we're high-rank hunters now. Couldn't we just say we got A- or B-rank stuff among ourselves...?"
"Who the hell's sister are you...?"
"...Don't say creepy shit like that."
In this reckless situation, Kang Hana's insight was spot on.
Her personality sucked, but she was realistic. Despite no blood ties, years together made her feel like real family—we shared that vibe.
I'd known since she briefed me on stealing stones from Mars with Precision Search, but she nailed the key adjustments for critical moments too.
"Aw, what."
Patting her head proudly, she hissed like a cat.
Then I shoved the leather knuckle part into her mouth.
"Eup. Ptui. What? ...A-rank gear artifact? Where'd you get this, oppa...? Don't tell me...?"
"Great idea. Heh. No money? Just loot gear."
"...Fuck. Did I seriously think the same as you?"
"Hmm. No. You were a beat slow."
"...This'll fetch a pretty penny."
"Pocket change compared to what we do for Semi Guild. Shame it's not mana-type. Why no tank in the party?"
Even for low dungeons among ourselves, safety meant picking way below our level because our party comp was trash.
If I learned Ember, we could melt up to B-rank with firepower, but monsters swarming turns it into a brutal time attack—no answers.
Melt the monsters.
Or they reach us.
Until one or the other, three SSS-rank hunters scrambling in a B-rank? Ridiculous.
Can't just grab any tank either.
Hong Si-jun and Gyu Yeon-su came to mind.
But bringing them? No way.
"Wish a tank would drop from the sky. Impregnate 'em tasty and turn 'em into a sturdy tank."
"...Is that something to say in front of me?"
"Got any pretty, refined girls like Hyeji?"
"Out!!"
Dodging the flying pillow with my now A-rank reflexes, I retreated to my room.