Chapter 114: The Man Who Strikes with a Shield
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: The Man Who Strikes with a Shield
In the Brazilian favelas, the strong take what belongs to others.
In the favelas, where law and order had long since collapsed due to drug trafficking and dimensional gates, might was right.
And that was true even for women.
The more beautiful a woman was, the more she could win over a strong man and wield power in his name.
This was the world of Yu U-jeong, who would one day conquer the favelas and be known as the Gutter Empress.
Before she awakened as a hunter, Yu U-jeong had only one way to survive there.
She actively used her advantage as a beautiful woman.
Her appearance, a mix of her mother’s East Asian blood, gave her a mysterious aura that was even more effective in Brazil.
Men were weak to women.
Especially to a woman they had just met.
And so, she climbed her way up by actively making countless men her own.
In the process, she developed a bad habit.
A habit that grew worse the more capable or beautiful the women around her target were.
‘Ah, there’s that itch again.’
The thrill of conquering a man to prove her superiority over those pretty or capable women was always euphoric.
Having grown up in a world where survival depended on being embraced by a powerful man, she had developed this twisted disposition.
And now, looking at Ha-chan, that old habit was about to surface.
Ha Si-ho, a spatial ability user of absurd power, presumed to have stopped a massive, high-speed dimensional gate.
Yoon Ji-eun, still a fledgling, but one who scored quite high in the looks department.
What would happen if she showed the two of them a scene of her and Ha-chan dating?
Just imagining it sent a tingling thrill through her stomach.
‘Besides, I have a feeling. The moment I get my hands on Kang Ha-chan, Ha Si-ho will come rolling in right along with him.’
After turning Ha-chan into a fool who only had eyes for her, she could probably coax Ha Si-ho over to her side as well.
‘Breaking up groups is my specialty.’
Yu U-jeong did not belong to a group.
To be precise, even if she was in one, she didn’t trust anyone.
She had lived her life on a tightrope, knowing that the moment a man abandoned her, it was all over.
Having lived such a life, she might treat people like fools, but there was no way she would ever trust anyone.
Men were fools who fell for her.
Women were fools to be trampled by her.
And Yu U-jeong found those who acted all high and mighty about being a “team” the most ridiculous of all.
All she had to do was seduce the leader, and the team would invariably fall apart in an instant.
That was why, even after becoming an S-rank hunter, she trusted neither groups nor people.
To her, even Alterz was just a place to be because it seemed the most useful; she felt no particular attachment to it.
So she hid her identity and worked primarily from the shadows.
Revealing herself would only make it harder to leave the group.
In her eyes, the current “team” of Kang Ha-chan, Ha Si-ho, and Yoon Ji-eun only fanned the flames of her ambition.
‘Plus, he gives off the vibe that he’s never done it before.’
Yu U-jeong smiled with her eyes as she watched Ha-chan speak.
He might have experience and training as a hunter, but in that area, he was a complete amateur.
The snake within her began to flick its tongue.
There was a realm of adults that those two little kids could never enter.
And that was the field where Yu U-jeong was most confident.
‘He looks delicious.’
Her mouth began to water.
From the looks of it, he was the type to go weak for a woman he’d just saved the moment she showed interest.
In that case, all she had to do was act shy, get close, and then push forward with an aggressive advance. It would be over.
That was why she had prepared the encounter with Beom.
But the man from Beom had bowed his head to Ha-chan, calling him “hyung-nim.”
‘Honestly, I was surprised when he said he knew someone from Beom.’
Beom was a hunter group active in the overseas criminal underworld.
Alterz had always kept an eye on them, and their recent arrival in Korea had caused an uproar within the organization.
Everyone was wondering what on earth was in Korea to draw them all there.
And Kang Ha-chan knew them.
Her interest was piqued even further.
A capable man was her absolute favorite.
I want him.
I want him!
Her desire to possess him began to burn.
But there was one thing she didn't know.
That someone who had been through hell and back, someone with an unerring eye for people, was right by his side.
“Hey, that crazy bitch is a honey trap.”
And that he had just told Ha-chan that very fact.
*
A honey trap.
Hearing Baeksan’s words, I stared blankly at Yu U-jeong.
“A-Are you okay? Just a moment ago…”
As I returned after dealing with the men from Beom, she shot up from her seat and looked at me with concern.
“Yes, don’t worry. It all worked out. He’s the younger brother of an acquaintance.”
It had worked out well.
We had finished discussing how to deal with Alterz from now on.
Now, the problem in front of me was her.
I decided to strike first before Alterz tried to stir up any trouble.
“I’m so sorry. Because of me…”
She feigned weakness, her body trembling as if in fear.
“The men from Beom were so intimidating, I couldn’t refuse…”
As her slender frame trembled, she reached out to grab the collar of my shirt.
I took a step back.
Her hand, having lost its target, flailed in the air. Her teary eyes met mine.
For a brief moment, a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes.
It was a look that said, Why did you just dodge that?
I smiled at her.
“I had a good talk with the people from Beom. We agreed that we would scout you, Ms. Yu U-jeong. What do you think?”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief. I really liked your team, Mr. Ha-chan. And I like Ji-eun and Si-ho, too.”
“I’m glad to hear you like them.”
With that, I quickly moved to finalize the contract.
As she was signing, her leg suddenly brushed against my left one from under the table.
When our eyes met, she blushed beet red and lowered her head as if it had been an accident.
When her leg reached out once more, I kicked it away.
“Kyah?!”
“Ah, are you okay?”
“Why… why did you kick my leg…”
“I was stretching out a cramp and it just happened. I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”
Then why do you keep playing games with your leg?
“Ugh, I’m fine. I was just startled.”
She rubbed her leg, then fumbled with the pen she was using to sign the tablet, dropping it.
The pen rolled toward me, and our eyes met.
Should I kick her again if she crawls over?
As I was thinking that, she gave me a troubled smile.
“Mr. Ha-chan, the pen rolled under your foot. Could you please pick it up for me?”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
I bent down and picked up the pen.
When I turned my head, I saw the outline of her black underwear between her slightly parted legs.
This one got me.
I straightened up, unimpressed, and she flinched as if she’d just realized, quickly pressing her skirt down.
As she glanced at me furtively, I held the pen out to her.
Yu U-jeong tried to envelop my hand while pretending to take the pen, but I pulled my hand back.
Instead, I placed the pen on the table in front of her with a soft click.
My eyes met Yu U-jeong’s once again.
Her expression clearly said, What is happening right now?
After that, it was a battle of spear and shield.
Perhaps because I’d struck her with my shield a few times, Yu U-jeong’s expression grew more and more dumbfounded, but I paid it no mind.
After we finished the contract and sorted out the schedule, I left the cafe.
Ji-eun was already hugging Si-ho from behind, chattering away, when Yu U-jeong came out and stood beside me.
“Those two seem to be very close.”
“They’re the same age.”
They did seem to have a rivalry over me, but despite that, Ji-eun and Si-ho were quite close.
Ji-eun still had almost no friends at school because of her work, and Si-ho’s prickly attitude meant her social circle wasn’t very wide either.
Seeing them together was so nice it made me feel proud.
Probably because I was one of their guardians.
“Compared to them, I’m probably too much of an unni, aren’t I? Oh dear. Hehe.”
Covering her mouth and laughing like a sophisticated young lady, she soon glanced at me and smiled with her eyes.
“Mr. Ha-chan, do you have any plans after this?”
“I’ll be heading back to the company.”
“Then would you like to get a drink after work? There’s something I’d like to ask, and I want to get as close to you as I am with Ji-eun and Si-ho.”
“Ah, I think I’ll be working late today.”
“Really? Then what about tomorrow?”
“I’ll probably work late tomorrow, too.”
“Huh? W-what about the weekend?”
This woman was something else.
Baeksan hadn’t called her a honey trap for nothing. No matter how many times I brandished my shield, she kept thrusting her spear.
No, at this point, it seemed like a matter of pride.
My repeated rejections had clearly taken a toll on her face, which looked much more strained than before.
Her pride must have been wounded.
With her looks, most men would have been captivated after just a few of her moves.
“…Do you hate me, Mr. Ha-chan? I just want to get to know you better.”
She asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
I could tell this was an act, too, but I sensed it was time to ease up a bit.
“Ms. Yu U-jeong.”
“Yeees.”
“I think you are a very charming woman.”
“Huh?”
She blinked her large eyes.
“But you are a hunter, and I am your manager. Making personal plans like that will lead to personal feelings getting involved.”
Bad feelings, that is.
“So I would like to avoid those kinds of arrangements. I apologize for being indirect.”
She stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“So you’re saying if we make plans, personal feelings might develop?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Bad feelings are still feelings, after all.
“I’ll be honest.”
Suddenly, she declared her intention to be frank.
She lowered her head, her face completely flushed as if in embarrassment.
“When you resolved the situation with Beom earlier, I developed a crush on you. I’d like to get to know you better, Mr. Ha-chan. Can’t we have personal feelings?”
“No, we can’t.”
Yu U-jeong looked shocked, as if she never expected to be rejected so flatly.
“W-What? Why not?!”
Time to use my ultimate move.
“Because I like men.”
Her face completely froze at the one-two punch.
It worked perfectly.
“For the record, I have a boyfriend. It’ll be three years soon.”
I struck one last time with my shield.
“Th-Then, a g-girlfriend…”
Is this the same pattern as at the academy?
“My boyfriend cross-dresses for me, too.”
Even I thought it sounded messed up as I said it.
But Yu U-jeong couldn’t say a word, her mouth just hung open.
I smiled like a madman.
“Well then, let’s call it a day. I’ll see you at the company tomorrow.”
Yu U-jeong remained frozen in place, unable to move.
I left her there and made a swift exit.
“Crazy bastard.”
Baeksan’s mutter echoed quietly.