Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: S-Rank Hunter Seong Ji-yoon (3)
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“Of course that's possible. But why are you only using mana hearts as materials?”
“Huh? I'm not using them as materials.”
“Pardon?”
Seong Ji-yoon's expression turned peculiar. She was smiling, but her eyes made it clear she couldn't grasp the situation. I could see my own puzzled face reflected in them.
She pursed her lips for a moment before asking me again.
“Then… what do you plan to use them for?”
Why ask something so obvious? I tilted my head and replied.
“To eat them?”
“……”
“……”
Silence filled the car.
Seong Ji-yoon's face froze into something unreadable, while Yu So-jeong stayed quiet and pretended not to look our way. But the rearview mirror showed a faint, amused smile on her face.
A smile like she'd won something.
It seemed Seong Ji-yoon had never eaten a mana heart before. Otherwise, she wouldn't have such a bizarre reaction to my words.
In that case, as a senior in fine dining, it was only right to explain properly.
“Hmm… Mana hearts from wyverns taste like hard candy, while drake ones are like chocolate or ice cream—but the drake ones are bigger… Ah! White drake ones are like soda-flavored ice cream…!”
“I… I see.”
After my enthusiastic rant, Seong Ji-yoon finally nodded. Her expression was ambiguous, like she'd half-accepted it, half not.
“Understood. I'll give you all the mana hearts I have.”
“Yay!”
The moment the deal was struck, my eyes locked onto the bag clipped beside Seong Ji-yoon. Inside were three drake hearts.
“Th-then those drake hearts right there first…!”
My snacks were in there. The ones I'd planned to buy with my own money—but now I was getting them practically for free.
“Here you go.”
Three gems emerged. Deep green like a forest, dark brown like the earth, and a gleaming blue.
Gulp.
Saliva pooled in my mouth. My brain felt like it was melting. Holding onto my senses was a struggle.
Which flavor first? The refreshing green one? The sweet-looking brown? Or maybe the tangy blue?
The hearts from the Earth Drake, Forest Drake, and Blue Drake each gleamed in their own seductive colors, tempting me.
Slurp.
I sucked back the drool and reached for a gem. I picked the Earth Drake.
After that embarrassing dungeon mishap, the thick, sticky flavor of the Earth Drake felt just right.
Lick, lick.
I began carefully licking the gem. Gently at first, like an exploration. Foreplay before truly savoring the taste. Even that alone sent flavors swirling through my mind.
Lick, lick. Thick caramel sweetness. So intense it made the tip of my tongue tingle.
“No, that's…”
Smack, smack.
A rich sweetness flooded my mouth. I was starting to lose control. Sucking alone wasn't satisfying my hunger anymore.
I picked up the saliva-slick gem, checked how much was left, and opened my mouth wide.
“Nom~”
“Wait, biting it like that will chip your—”
Crunch!
Like a puppy tearing into meat, I chomped down hard on the heart with my side teeth.
Crunch, crunch—
The shattered pieces melted away in my mouth like sugar.
Come to think of it, didn't Seong Ji-yoon just yell something?
“What'd you say, Seong Ji-yoon?”
“…No, nothing.”
Seong Ji-yoon just stared at me with a dazed, entranced look. Since she wasn't saying anything, it must not have been important.
After licking and nibbling the remaining half from every angle, the gem had shrunk to the size of a large candy.
I wished mana hearts lasted as long as hard candy—they melt way too fast.
I was rolling the final piece around in my mouth when the car turned onto a familiar road.
Seong Ji-yoon peered out the window and murmured softly.
“This place…?”
Yu So-jeong asked.
“Is something on your mind, Hunter Seong Ji-yoon?”
Seong Ji-yoon looked mildly surprised as she replied to Yu So-jeong.
“It's familiar.”
“Fawmiwiar pwace?”
Seong Ji-yoon gave a faint smile at my question.
“Yes. It's the building right next to my apartment.”
“Whoa, really? Then we'll get to see you all the time!”
The moment those words left my mouth, Yu So-jeong's expression crumpled ever so slightly.
“Hunter Seong Ji-yoon. Should we head there, then?”
“No. You can drop me off in front of Miss Ida-yoon's place. It's not far.”
A few minutes later, the car pulled up right in front of our house.
“Wheee!”
I flung open the door and hopped out. Seong Ji-yoon emerged from the other side.
I waved cheerfully at her as she stepped out of the car.
“Bye-bye! Oh, right! When can I get those mana hearts?”
“I already had my staff handle it from the car. Would it be okay if I stopped by your place sometime later?”
“Sure! We've got something super cool at home—I'll make sure to show you!”
Seong Ji-yoon smiled and waved back. Yu So-jeong quickly parked and hurried after me.
“Miss Ida-yoon. I couldn't say anything with the hunter there, but both the Management Bureau and I were quite worried.”
“…Really?”
I'd just watched her fight like it was TV from inside.
“Yes. You're a precious asset to me and to the nation.”
True, if I hadn't been with Seong Ji-yoon, things might have gotten dangerous. I should make some useful gear for myself when I have time. At least enough to handle risky situations.
“So, if there was anything scary or anxiety-inducing about being inside, feel free to tell me everything. The Bureau has the resources to help you.”
Scary parts, huh…
“Hmm, nothing really felt scary. Seong Ji-yoon's Korea's top hunter, after all! It was actually super exciting to watch up close.”
“I… see?”
“Yeah. Her fighting was awesome, and when her mana sparkled… she moved so fast I could barely track her with my eyes. She half-exploded the guardians! Didn't take a single hit and took down the boss in like tens of seconds!”
Even thinking back on it now, Seong Ji-yoon's battle was incredible. Too bad I couldn't record it on my phone—afraid the monsters would notice.
Someday, once I become an adult dragon, I'll be able to fight that cool too, right?
I bet I'll be able to transform into a dragon and breathe fire. Cast flashy spells like a mage, too.
Just imagining it made my chest swell with excitement. The ultimate dragon that overwhelms even S-rank hunters. Yeah, that's the stuff.
“Hee hee…”
Lost in my daydream, I giggled to myself as we stepped into the elevator.
“Miss Ida-yoon.”
“Eek?!”
I whipped around in surprise. Yu So-jeong was staring right at me.
“A high percentage of people experience trauma after getting caught in a dungeon—it's not unusual. Would you consider speaking with expert Jang Hee-yoon for a bit?”
“Nah, I'm good. Thanks to Seong Ji-yoon, I'm totally fine. I just wanna crash ASAP.”
“…I see.”
The second we opened the front door, I kicked off my shoes.
Naturally, I headed straight for the room with my lair.
The fluffy pile of blankets beckoned. If I buried myself in them, all the fatigue from that sudden dungeon raid would melt away in seconds.
Just as I was about to slip into the lair, Yu So-jeong grabbed me.
“You went out today and hit a dungeon too. You should wash up first.”
“Ehhh… too annoying right now…”
Washing itself is nice, but drying my tail fur and wings afterward is such a hassle.
Especially the tail fur—it takes forever with the blow dryer to get it all fluffy again, and my arms don't reach well.
“This is your precious, handmade lair. We can't let outside dust dirty it, can we?”
“Ugh…”
Her words hit right on target. Yeah, I can't sully my magnificent lair.
“I'll dry your tail for you. Go wash up first.”
“Fiiiine…”
In the end, I shuffled off toward the bathroom.
“Haaah…”
I dragged my languid body out of the steamy bathroom. I roughly dried off with a big towel, then used another towel and the blow dryer on my hair. Baths always feel so good.
But this refreshing feeling always comes with a tedious chore afterward.
Drying my sopping wings and tail fur. The wings shake off most of the water with a few flaps, but the straight fur up top on my tail is thick like hair and soaks it up like a sponge.
When I got to the living room, Yu So-jeong was already waiting with the blow dryer and a large towel at the ready.
“I'll help you.”
“Yesss. Thanks.”
I nodded obediently. Better than struggling solo—get it done quick and flop into the lair.
That's when a brilliant idea hit me.
“Miss So-jeong! Hold on!”
I hurried into the lair room and dove inside, sticking just my tail out the back.
“Miss Ida-yoon?”
“Dry it now!”
Perfect plan: lounge in my glorious lair while getting the tail dried too.
Yu So-jeong went quiet for a second, but soon I felt her kneel beside my tail.
Whirrr—
Warm air blasted forth, accompanied by gentle hands delicately grooming the wet fur.
The expert brushing and dryer breeze felt heavenly. Just like getting a shampoo at the salon.
“Yawwwn…”
As drowsiness tugged at my eyelids, Yu So-jeong's calm voice spoke up.
“Miss Ida-yoon. I have some news for you.”
“Mmm…?”
“The sale of the S-rank greatsword 'Lava's Fury' that you entrusted to the Management Bureau has been completed.”