Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Favor (1)
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I've officially started dating Yu-ra noona.
She's been famous ever since her S-Rank Hunter days, and now that she's become an EX-Rank Hunter, her fame has skyrocketed even further.
She's left Korea behind and become a global celebrity.
Naturally, internet articles about Yu-ra noona were inevitable.
[World's First EX-Rank Hunter Choi Yu-ra in Dating Scandal with Civilian]
[The Man Who Captured the Heart of the Woman Who Conquered Even EX-Rank Gates?]
[Choi Yu-ra Confesses to Civilian A.]
I was worried my identity might get exposed, but fortunately, that didn't happen.
Even in my past life, when celebrities dated civilians, the civilian's identity rarely got fully revealed.
At most, they'd disclose their job or age, and that was it.
'But I don't even have that.'
It might be because it happened at an internal Millennium Guild party.
Everyone knew each other, and while they knew about me, they didn't know the details.
Unless noona revealed my identity herself, nothing beyond "civilian" would come out.
"I don't mind people finding out I'm dating noona, but..."
If word got out, the cafe would get even busier.
Which meant more hassle for me, so it was better this way.
More than that, I wasn't some attention-seeker, and I hated unnecessary scrutiny. The world was full of malicious people, so there'd definitely be those badmouthing me.
"But you've finally started dating, huh."
Even as official lovers, not much had changed.
I still went to work at the cafe, and noona was still swamped with her schedule.
Her achievements were unprecedented in human history, so being busy was unavoidable.
[Today's guest, Hunter Choi Yu-ra!]
[Hello, I'm Choi Yu-ra, a hunter with the Millennium Guild.]
At least she was showing up on all sorts of programs, so I had fun watching her on TV. It kept the loneliness at bay.
'But why is she suddenly appearing on programs?'
Famous hunters often showed up on TV shows.
High-rank Awakeners were celebrities and stars in their own right, practically like idols.
But Yu-ra noona had always been known for focusing solely on her hunter work, ignoring everything else.
Had there been some change of heart?
"Well, maybe her colleagues are pushing her into it."
Maybe her guildmates were egging her on.
Those folks had teased her like total bros even after she became EX-Rank.
In modern terms, not "bro" but "bosom buddies" or something?
"But thinking about it now, they really crossed the line."
They'd even said stuff like "make me your second wife" or "third wife."
In my past life's standards for men, that would've ended the friendship and started a fistfight. But noona hadn't reacted much.
"Is that kind of talk no big deal to women in this era?"
Or maybe...
A sudden thought hit me, so I searched it online.
I couldn't believe the shocking custom I found.
"Polygamy is actually legal and practiced?"
I'd thought it was a dead law that had just been created but never enforced.
But the search proved otherwise.
[I have a guy I like. He seems into me too, but his principal wife hates me. Any way to win her over?]
[My principal wife finally acknowledged me! I'm just a third wife, but I'm happy lol]
[Had a huge fight with the principal wife today. It was my date day, but that bitch hogged my husband and wouldn't let go. Not the first time either. Who does she think she is, some official...?]
Surprisingly, lots of people were actually using polygamy.
'Is this for real?'
I knew how intense men's libidos were in this era.
Before I got Hypnosis, mine had been extremely low.
From puberty through my early twenties, my sex drive was like a shriveled pepper—barely there.
'So why polygamy?'
Polygamy.
Harem in English, right?
No man would want that unless their libido was even hornier than past-life teenage boys.
I headed to the ultimate knowledge hub for more details.
"Namu Wiki."
The immortal site still thriving after a century.
This place would have the info I needed.
One search, and I realized how much of a frog in a well I'd been.
[Initially dismissed as a toothless law, but women are actually welcoming it.]
[Here, "women" refers not to civilian women, but to vulnerable Awakeners like hunters and heroes exposed to industrial accidents.]
[In case of their death in potential disasters, having someone to protect their husband reduces stress from constant danger.]
[Top-tier Awakeners have stronger protective instincts and maternal urges toward men, so it's especially common in upper echelons.]
[The first wife is usually called the principal wife, followed by second, third, etc.]
[Seconds and beyond typically need the principal wife's permission even if the man is interested, though not always.]
I had no idea.
I'd studied monsters and gates obsessively to become a hunter, but ignored social stuff. I was clueless about the world.
'Does Yu-ra noona feel the same?'
That's why she brushed off her colleagues' jokes.
It was playful teasing based on social custom, totally forgivable.
But the key question: did noona want polygamy with me, like what I'd just learned?
'Noona's a high-rank Awakener, but...'
Back when she was S-Rank, I'd have nodded.
But now she was an unprecedented EX-Rank powerhouse.
No new gates beyond EX-Rank, no guildmates trolling— she faced no mortal danger.
Would she really want polygamy with me?
"I'll ask her directly next time we meet."
Better than agonizing alone.
If I was asking because I liked another woman, it'd be trashy this early in dating.
But it was tied to high-rank Awakener customs, so no guilt.
"Even if she wants it, I don't have anyone in mind anyway."
My standards were sky-high after Yu-ra noona—like Baekdu Mountain.
Who else could satisfy my eyes?
But maybe because I kept thinking of her?
I started my new hobby.
"Heh, so much praise for noona."
Lately, my hobby was searching communities for Yu-ra noona.
Nothing beat seeing my person get love.
Post-EX-Rank, antis were rare; everyone praised her.
[Man, I wanna be an EX-Rank Awakener too.]
[Choi Yu-ra worked her ass off. Kept grinding after S-Rank. Maybe transcendence takes that level of effort.]
[Transcendence ain't for just anyone lol. Only someone like Choi Yu-ra could do it.]
Made me prouder than her.
But as they say, haters gonna hate—even if Jesus returned.
Even Yu-ra noona, with her history-making feats, couldn't escape human malice.
[Choi Yu-ra worked hard? Lol what a joke. She's just sucking on her natural talent. Yeah, impressive. Grateful even. But not worth this hype.]
[Fr, agree with above. Thanks for clearing gates, but she gets paid, right? That's it? No need to grovel. Bet she makes more in a month than my yearly salary.]
[Heard why Choi Yu-ra won't reveal her BF details: he's a minor lol. Everyone's hushing it cuz she's a hero ㅋㅋ]
Damn, that pisses me off.
Still assholes like this.
Any way to get revenge?
"Oh, she could do it!"
(Former) Go Jin-yo, Lee Seo-yeon.
With her software manipulation skills, she could crush malicious comments!
"I don't have her number, but I know where she works, so contacting her's easy!"
At the last party, I'd exchanged numbers with the Millennium Guild master.
Bit awkward for something trivial, but...
"A wife's support is her husband's duty!"
Embarrassment? Forgotten long ago!
[Hi, Guild Master. It's Yoo Jun-hyuk...]
A shred of conscience made me text instead of call.
Soon, a reply came.
[Can't give personal info, but I heard you found Lee Seo-yeon. Special exception this once.]
Good people have principles.
Guild Master had principles. Relieved.
I called the number right away.
"Hello? Is this Lee Seo-yeon?"
-Uh, y-yeah! It is! How did you get my number, Jun-hyuk...
"Asked the Guild Master for a favor. You free now?"
Of course she was.
It was the weekend.
But guilting a company worker on their day off? My conscience stung hard.
-Yes! Totally! Should I head out now?
"No, nothing like that. Just a favor. If you're okay..."
Today, I'd ditch my conscience.
"I'll text you a community link. Can you handle the hate comments about Yu-ra noona there?"
Boom! I made you a new person, so this favor's fair between us, right?!
Even I thought that was scummy.
＊＊＊
"Argh... Shouldn't have gotten my hopes up."
Lee Seo-yeon flopped onto her bed and rolled around.
Her heart had raced when Yoo Jun-hyuk called out of the blue, but it crashed when she realized it was just work.
"Does he really feel nothing for me?"
And the favor? Managing hate on Choi Yu-ra, of the precious few!
She'd witnessed Choi Yu-ra's public confession and his acceptance live. This was a crushing defeat.
[Gyeonggi An-yang's Lee A-young! Can't pay rent, getting chewed out by landlord, but got time for hate? Get a job!]
[Director! Why post hate here? Kids stressing you out? Vent healthy. Dropping your academy address first.]
[You're the one dating a minor, not Choi Yu-ra. Already did time for minor molestation—why the hypocrisy? Guess shit looks like shit to shit eyes. Think she's like you?]
Of course, she'd handled his request.
Doxxed them with replies, and hate vanished instantly.
Hate thrived on anonymity; unmasked in reality, no hater stood a chance against her—EX-Rank Awakener against trolls.
"Haa..."
But wielding that power didn't heal her aching heart.
"Lost the principal wife spot. I wanted to match rings too."
Only husband and principal wife could commission a pair.
Not law, but custom among rank-loving "women."
Infuriating for Lee Seo-yeon.
"Rings the issue? Might not even get second wife."
If he'd liked her, would one call end it?
He'd have asked over dinner at a restaurant, right?
He hadn't just dumped the request, though.
[Thanks for the help. If you ever need a favor, hit me up anytime. Give and take! Whatever I can do, I will.]
A twinge of guilt for stealing her weekend prompted the promise.
But one favor? What good?
'He won't do a date.'
At best, free coffee.
Immersed in defeat, her delusions raced negatively, dragging her soaked-in-frustration body outside.
"Time for booze..."
Not wine—convenience store beers were the real fix.
Shuffling in slippers down the street, but misfortune piles on, right?
"Fuck!"
She scraped dog shit stuck to her slipper sole on the pavement, fuming.
'Nothing goes right!'
Mid-scrape on the sidewalk blocks, a limousine passing by stopped beside her.
Tinted window rolled down. Backseat figure looked shocked, addressing her.
"Seo-yeon?"
Crisp white uniform.
Anyone would recognize it: Korea's #7 guild, Alice Guild.
But the uniform wasn't the point.
"!?"
"It's you! Long time no see!"
Woman with pale green hair in the uniform.
Elegant, pure vibe—like a chaebol heiress.
And she was.
"You doing well? You look good."
The perpetrator who'd scarred Lee Seo-yeon with endless trauma.
The mastermind puppeteering other students from the shadows, escaping punishment unscathed.
"Huh? Why the reaction? Don't recognize me? Haha! Been a while, yeah."
Misfortune.
"It's me! Shin Jeong-hwa!"
Had arrived.
"We were classmates, right? Don't remember?"
In the worst way.
"We had fun together. I thought we were friends, but maybe not?"