Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: I've Come to Make a Contract
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After we headed out, our first stop was the Hero Association headquarters.
It was a kind of public institution that handled all sorts of administrative tasks for heroes.
That said, it wasn't your average facility—the amounts of money and the sheer scale involved were staggering.
After all, it was the organization managing and supporting active heroes.
'...I never thought I'd have a reason to come here.'
This was a place only for awakeners and association staff.
I'd only ever handled weapons at best, so I'd never had any business here.
But today, not only had I come in openly, the eyes of everyone around us were focused squarely on us.
"Whoa, what's up with that woman? Is she association staff?"
"Dude, can't you tell? That's a Demon Sword."
"Then the guy next to her must be her contractor? Damn, whatever his rank, his life's made."
The Hero Association didn't assign grades to people like in novels or comics.
There had been attempts once, but they were banned over discrimination concerns.
Of course, they just didn't use numbers—skill levels and pay were still very much differentiated.
It was like the difference between a local lawyer and one at a massive firm.
Anyway, the "rank" people were talking about here meant Kalia's rank as a Demon Sword.
'Even in the association full of awakeners, just knowing she's a Demon Sword draws this much attention. If her rank got out, it'd be total chaos.'
Of course, if this were before, I wouldn't have reacted much differently.
Demon Swords and their contractors were objects of envy, plain and simple.
Money, power, and if you got lucky, even a top-tier beauty.
"Hoo, why's everyone staring like that?"
Especially if that Demon Sword was a bombshell with a figure like hers—no need to say more.
Even without the Demon Sword part, that face, those breasts, that ass—they drew eyes inevitably.
Men tried not to look obvious, but women outright gawked and marveled.
'Even another woman can't help but admire that body.'
And Kalia's rank was S-rank, no less.
It wouldn't be strange if her mere existence sparked massive buzz.
Of course, for me—the guy who had to fuck her—it wasn't entirely welcome.
Still, basking in all that envious staring didn't feel half bad.
It was like being a famous model or celebrity for real.
'...Might as well show off a bit since we're out.'
It'd probably help with her training, too.
I stretched out my arm and naturally wrapped it around Kalia's waist.
In that position, I gave her smooth thigh a light squeeze.
"Nhut... Wh-what the hell are you doing?"
"Just felt like touching you."
"Hoo, you pervert."
Kalia shot me a glare but let me keep touching.
Guess after all the bold stuff before, this didn't faze her much anymore.
'The reactions around us are even more intense, though.'
They weren't staring outright, but I could feel the eyes gathering.
Glimpses flicking over Kalia's face, breasts, ass.
Laden with envy, locking onto the thigh I was kneading freely.
No doubt about it—this body could make a guy jerk off just looking at her right now.
'So this is alpha male life. Not bad at all.'
Of course, this was just the beginning.
I headed straight for the counter.
"Excuse me, we're here to register with the association."
"Pardon? Oh, you're here for registration, not a report?"
The staffer at the counter glanced at Kalia beside me.
She seemed surprised an awakener with a Demon Sword would come for registration.
"Actually, after I awakened, I met a Demon Sword. We're both new to this, so we figured we should register."
"Ah! I-I see! So she's an unregistered Demon Sword?"
"Yes, that's right."
"P-please wait just a moment!"
The female staffer shot up and dashed off somewhere.
She seemed overly rushed, but I got it on some level.
When the other party's a Demon Sword, no staffer could stay calm.
She came back quick, bowing deeply with an apologetic look for the wait.
"Thank you for waiting! For registration, we'll need to run a comprehensive exam. Would you mind cooperating? Ah, we can do it right away!"
"Uh... Don't awakener exams usually have long wait times?"
"Contractors accompanied by Demon Swords get absolute priority under our facilities and rules."
Sure enough, another perk of having a Demon Sword.
Made sense—these rare Demon Swords, unregistered no less, were something the association wanted to snag by any means.
Demon Swords had no nationality by default.
Talent drain to places like the US or China happened all the time.
Not that I had time to go abroad.
"Then let's get it done now."
"Yes, thank you!"
We were escorted straight to the exam room.
After basic physicals and fitness tests, they sent us to a large open space.
This was where the real power assessment happened.
'Gotta show some solid skill here.'
My treatment going forward would hinge on this evaluation.
Sure, just having a new Demon Sword guaranteed good perks.
But more was better—money and power would be huge for my plans.
-Then we'll begin the test. If it gets too tough or you feel it's too much, just raise your hand and say so.
The moment the voice finished, mannequins popped out.
Knocking them down must be the test.
Classic, but reliable.
"Kalia, mind turning into your sword form?"
At my suggestion, Kalia narrowed her eyes at me.
Then she nodded like she had no choice.
"...Fine. You forced it, but you're still my contractor for now."
A more compliant reaction than expected.
This was where the affection boost really showed.
The old Kalia would've shot down the idea flat.
'I could've used command authority if needed, but it'd be a waste here.'
Light poured from Kalia's body, transforming her into a sword in my hand.
Her clothes, bra, and panties tumbled to the floor, still warm from her body—slightly erotic.
'No magical girl auto-clothes feature like in manga, huh.'
Either way, a white sword now rested in my grip.
Incredibly light and sharp for its size.
And I could feel Kalia's mana coursing through me, her user.
This was the power of an S-rank Demon Sword.
Even before swinging, I knew it was something else.
'No wonder once you use a Demon Sword, regular ones feel off-limits.'
In this state, it felt like I could do anything.
I swung the sword—Kalia—with controlled strength.
Her attribute was light, specialized for offense.
-Kwaaaaang!
Each swing unleashed beams of light, sweeping away the targets.
Honestly, it was almost disappointingly easy.
Keeping it up, the test ended without a hitch.
"...Is that it?"
-Y-yes! Great job! You've cleared the final stage!
I could hear the shock in the voice alone.
Staff here had seen plenty of awakeners and Demon Swords.
Yet this result still floored them.
'Nah, they've seen so much they know exactly how impressive this is.'
Final stage, huh... Kalia really was that strong.
And here I was, fucking that woman senseless at home, groping her ass and tits on the street.
Suddenly hit me—I was doing some wild shit.
'Well, with all the Demon Swords I gotta fuck ahead, this is just the start.'
After that, they ran more detailed tests.
Checking mana output, her light attribute, and various other factors.
And as expected, the result came back S-rank.
"C-congratulations! The exam results are S-rank! I-I'm seeing one in person for the first time."
"Thanks."
Now Kalia was officially certified as an S-rank Demon Sword.
More than just a rank—it locked in top-tier treatment in the industry from here on.
Sure, I'd have to handle some stuff per my plans.
But no getting ignored or screwed over anywhere.
"And could we keep this result under wraps for now?"
"Ah, yes. Understood. We promise no media leaks without permission."
Only then did I nod and step out.
But we didn't head straight home.
Instead, we sat in the association lounge for a bit.
"...What're you doing? Aren't we done here?"
"Nah, if anything, this is just the beginning."
Kalia eyed me oddly, but I waited.
And soon enough, a man approached.
"Excuse me, are you Si-hyun?"
"Yes. And you are? Which guild?"
My confident tone threw him off for a second.
But he recovered quick, grinning as he handed over a business card.
"Looks like you already knew. You're the real deal. From Descent Guild. The guild master wants to meet you personally."
"I see."
I played it cool, but inside, I was cheering.
Worried another guild might beat them to it.
But the one I wanted made the first move.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
We rode the man's limo to a massive building.
I left Kalia in the lounge and headed alone to the top-floor president's office.
'Even for a big guild, straight to the president's office? Wild.'
Technically the guild master's office, but they called it that for convenience.
And it wasn't wrong, either.
Major guilds wielded corporate-level wealth and influence.
Hell, factoring in gates, dungeons, and their role as direct national combat power made them even more vital.
Heroes supplied resources straight to big corps' operations, after all.
"Hoo."
Everything up to here had gone perfectly per plan.
I felt the tension as I knocked.
"Come in."
A clear voice rang out like she'd been waiting.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
And there, a beautiful woman awaited me.
"Nice to meet you, Si-hyun. I'm Sign, guild master of Descent Guild."
This woman's name was Sign.
Guild master of Descent Guild—one of Korea's biggest—and an A+ rank Demon Sword.
My second target.