Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Part-time Job (3)
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"Hello, Chang-sik hyung."
I greeted Kim Chang-sik, who had approached me first with a friendly wave.
"Call me Chang-sik noona. Real fierce. Grit. Teeth. Our boooy~☆."
"Ugh, please don't do the accent."
"Hehe, anyway, what about those kids over there?"
After our casual exchange, Kim Chang-sik pointed to Cynthia and Yoo Harin standing behind me.
"They're my sex sl……."
"Sex sl?"
"No, close friends. Haha."
Was it because I'd drained too much energy from them in the car?
Damn, I almost let my inner thoughts slip out without a filter.
"This is Cynthia, and this is Yoo Harin. Students from Stella Academy like me. Both in the Hunter class."
Fortunately, I smoothly changed the subject and introduced the two women to Chang-sik hyung, the safest guy in this world.
"I'm Cynthia."
"Yoo Harin."
They greeted him one by one.
"You look familiar. Did I see you at the party before? Anyway, nice to meet you. Call me Chang-sik unnie."
As Korea's S-rank Hunter with his distinct fame, he introduced himself good-naturedly.
"Ah, y-yes!"
"Got it... Unnie……."
Overwhelmed by his presence, Cynthia and Yoo Harin replied reluctantly with awkward faces.
"Uwahu, such cute kids. Unlike our boy☆, they're honest, which I like."
The two women's faces paled slightly right after.
"Ahem. Don't tease my friends too much, hyung."
I cleared my throat pointedly and drew his gaze to me, rescuing them from their discomfort.
"Oh my. Are you jealous of those two? Boooy~☆?"
"No way."
"If our boy☆ wants, I could shift my attention to you~?"
"We're not doing family stuff like this."
"Family?"
"Lunar Guild is like a family guild. So Chang-sik hyung is practically family now."
"I'm not even a formal guild member. And isn't that rich coming from the boy☆ who sold out that family~?"
"Truth is, I'm not a formal member either. It's like someone else's family to me."
We chuckled as Kim Chang-sik and I looked toward Jeong Il-hoon stationed near the gate entrance.
He was already staring our way.
More precisely, he seemed utterly captivated by Cynthia and Yoo Harin's looks, smacking his lips slyly with lecherous eyes.
Smooth.
Noticing his gaze, Kim Chang-sik suddenly grinned wickedly, pulling his lips into a long smirk.
Flinch.
Under Kim Chang-sik's subtle pressure, Jeong Il-hoon startled like he'd been shocked, his whole body jerking as he hastily turned away.
'Oh ho.'
I pointed at him and asked Kim Chang-sik.
"Looks like that guy's aware of you, hyung."
Kim Chang-sik flashed a chilling smile.
"Our Il-hoon boy☆ got a taste of my charm~."
"Really? But for someone who's tasted it, he seems undertrained."
"It's only his fourth time seeing me, after all."
"Four times is surprising. I figured you'd one-shot clear him."
"I'm the type who savors tasty things. He's better than he looks~."
"I see."
"Still, probably ends today. Once he sees my awesome self, he'll be totally hooked."
Straight translation: after witnessing his brutal monster-slaying, he'd be gripped by utter terror.
"Speaking of which, should I go give him a light attitude adjustment? Daring to eye other girls while leaving me here~."
He flicked his tongue out and back in, then strode toward Jeong Il-hoon.
"See you later, Woojin boy☆. And the cute koneko-chans☆ too."
He left his signature cringe toward the three of us.
Cynthia and Yoo Harin looked utterly baffled, like they'd encountered a new world.
It felt like a storm had just passed. Yoo Harin, dazed, let out a hollow laugh.
"Putting everything else aside, why English for guys and Japanese for girls...?"
Oh, that's what bugged her most?
I shrugged wordlessly at Yoo Harin, who was staring at me.
And right then.
"That's just my style, koneko-chan~☆."
Kim Chang-sik's sharp ears caught Yoo Harin's quiet mutter about his inconsistency and replied from afar.
"Ah, heuugh……."
Startled, Yoo Harin hid behind my back with a faint whimper.
"He's unique, right? But not a bad guy, so don't be on guard."
I reassured Yoo Harin and Cynthia alike.
"D-don't be on guard?"
"That Chang-sik guy's groping that dude's butt over there, Woojin-ah……?"
But Yoo Harin and Cynthia, unable to relax, spoke with the most awkward expressions.
"Yeah. So just ignore it. No big deal."
As I soothed them again, Yoo Harin snapped to attention and asked.
"Kim Chang-sik... that's the guy, right? Woo-chin, how do you know a big shot like him? And from the talk, you're not just acquaintances."
My unexpected connections seemed to shock her.
"Met him at the JS Murim Hotel breakfast buffet a while back. And 'not just acquaintances' sounds off. Don't use modifiers like that for Chang-sik hyung, at least."
"Ah, uh. Yeah. Got it."
As we bantered idly, the Lunar Guild leader and his wife approached.
"You're here, Woojin-ah."
An Ji-ho opened with a warm smile.
"Feeling better lately? Oh, and long time no see, Sia. Right?"
Lee Soo-jung, already acquainted with Sia, asked after her.
I exchanged greetings and introduced the two women anew.
"Yoo Harin and Cynthia. Both A-rank Awakeners, so they'll be a huge help this raid."
"Seriously, Woojin, you keep helping us out. The info you provided this time too."
"No biggie. What do you think, Ji-ho hyung? Can we clear this raid smoothly? Personnel's tripled from before."
"We scraped together everyone, even friends of friends. Success depends on how it plays out."
"By the way, you're keeping my secret safe, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. No one except the originals knows about you."
I nodded at the confirmation.
"Anyway, if we fail here, Hwaryong Guild jumps in immediately."
"We have to succeed, then."
"They're probably grinding their teeth right now. Losing a gate they thought was theirs."
There's an old saying: blood runs true.
Choi Si-hyeok's father, Hwaryong Guild leader Choi Jong-yoon, was no saint—every bit the trash his son was.
Countless trollings in tower and gate raids had caused incalculable human losses.
'Better to nip bad buds early.'
I planned to shake Hwaryong Guild hard with this gate clear.
'That'll pressure Choi Si-hyeok plenty too.'
Already snatched several of their gates via Lunar Guild.
Monster hunts, towers, and gates were prime revenue for hunter guilds—unavoidable hits.
Especially for giants like Hwaryong; prolonged downtime was fatal.
Elite hunters armed with pricey gear and artifacts burned cash just breathing.
High base salaries, sky-high maintenance—gas guzzlers.
"If we nail this one, Hwaryong might need massive layoffs. Absorb them, Ji-ho hyung, and Lunar Guild leaps a couple levels. I'll pick the prime talents for you."
An Ji-ho let out a dry laugh at my explanation.
"Didn't expect you to think that far ahead, Woojin."
Lee Soo-jung reacted the same.
"How many more times you gonna shock us?"
Early members Uncle Cheol-woo and Yun-gi hyung chimed in from the side.
"Haha, at this point, why not make Woojin guild leader?"
"Right? Gotta step up, Ji-ho hyung."
The last one, Jeong Il-hoon...
"Fuck off, you gay bastard!"
"Ho? Didn't I tell you? No one's called me that and lived~."
Jeong Il-hoon had no bandwidth for us.
Poor guy.
Should've kept his heart pure instead of leering at others' girls.
"G-get lost! Stay away! I said stay away!"
"Noona's mad now. Il-hoon booooy~☆."
Setting aside the irredeemable Jeong Il-hoon, our fully prepped team entered the A-rank gate.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An A-rank gate manifesting in a random mountain valley in Gyeonggi Province.
It was an open-type dungeon.
Lunar Guild hunters steadily raided based on Kang Woojin's intel, swiftly breaking through the forest zone.
Kwaaaang!
Roars erupted amid monster shrieks everywhere.
"Kraaaah!"
"Kaaak!"
The raid progressed smoothly.
Thanks to the early scout map.
The dozen hunters bypassed low-monster areas, heading straight for the boss.
The dungeon boss.
Killing it weakened all internal monsters dramatically.
Lost its dominance, mana drained, physical stats dropped.
Could thin mobs first then boss, but Lunar couldn't muster massive expeditions yet.
Hwaruruk!
Thus, leader An Ji-ho opted for boss-first and yelled at frontline tanks.
"Fall back! Big one's incoming!"
At his signal, rear hunters unleashed magic.
Kwagwagwang!
Yoo Harin marveled at their seamless teamwork.
"Amazing……."
Cynthia, light on combat experience, nodded vigorously.
"This is real hunter fighting……."
Kang Woojin silently observed.
Cynthia and Yoo Harin chatted on either side.
"Harin, you seen stuff like this?"
"Hmm, observed my guild's small expeditions."
"So not zero combat experience?"
"Not really. Just observed."
"I see."
"Weirdly, this feels easier than that B-rank back then. Like playing with a strategy guide?"
Yoo Harin eyed Lunar hunters, adding.
"Their skills are great too. Individually below big guild elites, but teamwork's perfect."
No wonder Lunar's rep soared lately.
"Sia, you've trained at the Bureau and Academy, so you have an eye."
Yoo Harin admired anew.
Heard they were backups via Woojin, but truly no need to step up.
"As Harin said. Hunters rarely hit 100% in real fights."
Suddenly, Kang Woojin spoke.
"Unknown environments, traps. Plus human factors—psych and physical."
Tension, pre-fight fear, off days.
"So you're saying they're at 100%, Woojin?"
Cynthia nodded admiringly, picking up his explanation.
But slight error in her judgment.
"Nah, 120%."
Grinning, Kang Woojin pointed at Lunar hunters.
"Chang-sik hyung's tanking perfect. Easy divide and conquer. Org play, strategy, tactics—all top-notch."
As per original work.
Kim Chang-sik's overwhelming skill needed no words; An Ji-ho's command gave wings to the rest despite personal power gaps.
"Ah, got it. But what's Kim Chang-sik's ability? You know, Woojin?"
Cynthia followed up.
"Not all, but one yes."
Kang Woojin answered flatly; now Yoo Harin asked.
"One? What? S-rank fame aside, freelance like him—info's scarce."
"As far as I know, generates toxins internally."
"Toxins?"
"Hence the women-repelling, body-fluid-proof strong-man preference lore. Or circumstances, I hear."
Right on cue, Kim Chang-sik swung his kukri flashily.
Shiiik!
Licking the blade, he coated venom via blood drop, slashing a wolf-like beast monster.
"Hey. Harin, your boyfriend's passing by."
Kang Woojin deadpanned at the mangled corpse, showing unique personality.
"Boyfriend my ass?! Fuck, don't treat people like monsters!"
"Looks similar."
"Beastman is half-human form! Not mindless full beasts!"
Yoo Harin stomped, asserting identity.
"Yeah yeah, my bad. Misspeaking."
"You really―!"
"Don't get excited, koneko-chan☆."
"Eek, fuck!"
"Cute koneko-chan☆."
"Uwaaak! Stop! Don't call me that!"
"Ah, wolves are canines, correction. Don't be mad, our pre. cious. ko-inu-chan~☆."
Bored with nothing to do, Kang Woojin winked, mimicking Kim Chang-sik to tease Yoo Harin endlessly.
"You damn dog! Don't make me puke! Seriously! You're dead?!"
Her great reactions made teasing fun.
"You two get along so well……."
Cynthia pouted jealously at them, poking Yoo Harin's mood.
"Where's 'get along' in this?!"
Kang Woojin soothed(?) the pair as usual.
"Hey hey. Cut it out, both."
And deftly led them.
"They're moving. Us too."
No tasks for the trio really.
At best, mop up stragglers or haul mana crystals post-clear.
No benefit splitting; raid unfinished—stay alert.
Kwaaaang!
New fight soon started.
The greenhorns indirectly farmed exp watching veteran hunters.
"Hoo……."
But briefly.
"This area's cleared-ish."
Catching breath, An Ji-ho checked the group midway.
"Boss territory from here. Rest, check gear."
His command followed, Lee Soo-jung called Cynthia.
"Help me out, Sia?"
To heal wounded hunters big and small.
Smooth raid, but zero casualties impossible.
"Sure, Soo-jung unnie."
Cynthia, superior healer, amply restored guildies' wounds.
And.
"Let's move."
Led by rallying An Ji-ho, all dozen hunters entered boss zone.
"Heh."
Jeong Il-hoon, frozen like nails in feet, giggled madly from rear guard.
"Uhihihi."
Kang Woojin and the women, rear support, glanced back.
"Fuck!"
Then Jeong Il-hoon stopped laughing, yelled.
"I! Like! Women!"
Declaring, he abruptly launched fist-sized crystal orb skyward.
Puuung!
Flame-burst mana inside: a lure grenade.
"I! Am not! Gay!"
Using pricey artifact, he glared at frontliners, muttering.
"Got it?! You fucking bastards!"
Mass footsteps followed.
Kugugugu!
Heavy tremors: monster horde stampede.
Literal pincer: boss ahead, retreat cut, hunters' sturdy faces drained pale.
"I-Il-hoon! Why?!"
"Ji-ho! Not the time!"
Chaos; all baffled by sudden Jeong Il-hoon antics.
Amid them, Kang Woojin dry-laughed, muttering.
"This... totally fucked."