Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: S-Rank Hunter Seong Ji-yoon (2)
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The moment I firmly pressed the button floating in mid-air, a dazzling golden light erupted from the fragments of the spear Seong Ji-yoon was holding.
"This is...!"
An exclamation burst from Seong Ji-yoon's lips.
Paaaat!
Within the intensifying light, the spear shaft and blade began reassembling. The scattered blade pieces floated up one by one, finding their proper places, while the broken shaft connected into a single, long form.
And then, the scales transformed into a golden liquid filled in the gaps. Like golden craftsmanship, the light extended roots outward.
Finally, a new spear took shape within the golden glow.
The mana infusion, which had lasted nearly ten seconds, came to an end.
As the light faded, what rested on Seong Ji-yoon's arm was a spear that looked entirely different.
"Phew. Think this'll do?"
Seong Ji-yoon didn't seem to hear me at all. Her eyes were wide as she stared intently at the spear.
'What's wrong?'
Did the item grade come out bad? No way, right?
Feeling a twinge of unease, I checked the item's description.
[Reborn Divine Punishment (S)] [Weakened: Incomplete]
From the moment of destruction, an immortal vow bloomed. The fallen god's spear has been imbued with draconic authority. The blade perpetually radiates divinity, inflicting additional damage on all types of attacks.
Dignity: Instills fear in all beings with less mana than the user. Fear intensity scales with mana disparity. Greatly increases resistance to fear effects.
Immortal Vow: Inject mana to repair the spear's damage.
[Unavailable] Divine Explosion: Inject mana to unleash a powerful burst of divine mana from the spear tip.
"Ah..."
After checking the item's info, I couldn't help but make a sour face.
'It's incomplete!'
The weapon that should have been properly repaired remained unfinished. One of its options was even marked as unavailable.
An incomplete weapon would have at least one grade lower performance, and finishing it would require additional materials.
Seong Ji-yoon couldn't tear her eyes away from it either, clearly dissatisfied.
'Should I have added the drake heart too?'
No, that wasn't it. My instincts as the creator told me this spear needed a different material—one even more fitting.
I didn't know why, but adding more dragon-related stuff might have erased its original traits entirely. The five scales seemed to be the perfect balance point between the spear's divinity and draconic power.
...Definitely not because I wanted to hog the mana heart. This was purely to craft the best possible item.
"The spear really..."
But the problem was that I'd failed to keep my promise to Seong Ji-yoon. I'd said I'd repair her spear, but handed her an unfinished version—one I might have been able to fully fix.
I felt so guilty I wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere.
"Um, hey! We should head out now, right? Boss is down, so the exit should be open? Where's the exit?"
Fearful she might snap at me, I cut in quickly.
She probably wouldn't chew out a kid, but that didn't calm my nerves.
Did my desperate cry work?
Wuuung!
A blue gate appeared just a few meters ahead, like magic. The dungeon exit gate.
"Whoa! There it is!"
"Wait─"
Like an innocent kid, I raised my voice and dashed straight into the gate.
Wuuung─
My vision submerged in blue light once more, then blinding sunlight brought me back to the real world.
"Uwah?!"
I nearly tumbled over but flailed my wings and arms just in time to stay upright. Looking up, the scene before me was completely different from before.
Yellow police lines holding back civilians, Association staff measuring and predicting the gate's status, and black-suited awakeners.
'Those movers from earlier...?'
Before I could look around fully, Seong Ji-yoon emerged behind me.
Soon, the black-suited men rushed toward us in unison.
Rumble...
Seong Ji-yoon stepped forward calmly and spoke.
"It's fine. Just a B-rank─"
But she couldn't finish.
One of the black-suited men rushed past her straight to me.
"Are you alright, Miss Lee Da-yoon?!"
"...Huh?"
The staff ignored the S-Rank Hunter and swarmed me, freezing my brain for a moment.
All these people here for me? Not one sparing a glance for Seong Ji-yoon?
Absurd, I turned—and saw Seong Ji-yoon wearing the exact same expression.
'This is my chance!'
Before she could grill me about the spear, my identity, or demand payment, I had to bolt—now!
"You're not hurt, are you?!"
"Ah, no. I'm totally fine. More than that, I just wanna go home..."
Before I finished, a black sedan slid to a stop behind the staff.
Ssshh...
The driver's window rolled down silently, revealing a familiar expressionless face.
"Get in."
My savior, Yoo So-jeong, had arrived.
I hurried past the suits to the car, and one staffer opened the back door for me.
"Well then...!"
Just as he moved to close it,
"Hold on."
Seong Ji-yoon called out to the staffer.
"I have business too. Miss Lee Da-yoon, mind if I ride along?"
'Eek.'
Yoo So-jeong silently stared at Seong Ji-yoon for a moment, some wordless exchange passing between them. Then she asked me.
"Miss Lee Da-yoon. What would you like to do?"
What could I say? How do you turn down an S-Rank Hunter treated like Korea's savior?
With no choice, I sighed inwardly and replied.
"...Let's go together."
Seong Ji-yoon smiled and slid naturally into the seat beside me.
Click.
The door shut, and the car pulled away smoothly, but the air inside was thick with awkwardness. Yoo So-jeong kept glancing via the rearview, Seong Ji-yoon stared only at me, and I kept my eyes glued out the window.
My brain's negativity spiral kicked in, filling my head with grim thoughts. If I didn't answer right, she'd kidnap me, expose my powers, and I'd spend my days plucked for scales as a weapon-making slave.
Then, a low voice came from beside me.
"Miss Lee Da-yoon."
"Y-Yes?!"
I jolted half out of my seat in reply. Seong Ji-yoon gazed at me with an inscrutable expression.
She gently took my hand in both of hers. Warmth seeped through.
"First, I want to say thank you. Truly."
"...Pardon?"
"For turning my broken spear into something even better. Whatever reward you want, it's yours."
"Huh?"
Her words were the last thing I'd expected.
I knew her spear wasn't S-grade originally, but was the top hunter's spear really performing worse than an "incomplete" item?
Or just polite flattery? But she offered rewards...
"My original spear was A+-grade. It had a 'divinity' attribute for great performance, but repairs were tricky. The one you fixed can now be repaired directly with mana—while keeping its original traits. No artisan in the world could achieve that."
My shoulders lifted proudly. I'd known my abilities were good, but direct praise from an S-Rank Hunter hit different.
"Ehehe..."
Blushing, I scratched the back of my head with one hand and gave an awkward grin. The warmth from her grip tingled up my arm to my neck.
Shaking off the fuzzy feeling from the praise, I focused on the conversation.
"And next, I want to apologize."
"Huh? Apologize for what?"
Her sudden apology widened my eyes. She pulled a familiar golden locket from her chest.
"Truth is, I've been searching for the item's creator because of this locket. I didn't know it was you, but now it's clear. I pulled every string I had to find you."
"So... you investigated me?"
"Yes. Exactly."
My heart sank.
Had she figured it out? That I was a 25-year-old unemployed guy pretending to be a kid?
And that I'd let her pat my head while acting like one??
Seong Ji-yoon continued with a relieved expression.
"I'm telling you all this because I want a friendly relationship with you. You can go public if you want, or make any demands."
My mind raced.
For starters... the scale-plucking slave future seemed off the table. She was sincerely sorry, even bowing her head to me.
Then... this wasn't a crisis—it was an opportunity!
I mentally tapped my calculator. A promise of "anything you want." A blank check. A signed contract.
So, what to ask? What to request?
The answer was obvious.
"...Just one thing, and I'll forgive everything."
"What is it? I'll do my absolute best, no matter what."
"Hand over all your mana hearts!"