Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: I've Decided on You!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, there she is. Sis!"
A woman entering the cafe.
Her hair in a rough ponytail, glasses on, she looked extremely displeased at being dragged out on the weekend.
The woman glanced around the cafe interior before spotting Ga-eun and heading our way.
Her identity: a lawyer from Ga-eun's company.
Since discussing it at home would draw too much attention, we'd come to the cafe to hammer out detailed countermeasures. Ga-eun had contacted the lawyer during that process.
She'd been scowling fiercely right up until entering the cafe, but the moment she spotted me sitting at the table, her expression melted away.
"Not dragging me out on the weekend for work, but to provide some employee welfare? If it's something like this, I'm all in."
"Meeeep."
The lawyer scooped me up, hugged me tight to her chest, and claimed my seat. Then she began mercilessly kneading my cheeks.
"Aww, so soft and squishy~ Hehehe, what is this cuteness! Our Ga-eun brought a healing gift for her sis!"
"Th-that huuurts."
I was utterly exhausted and couldn't dodge her ruthless hands.
I grabbed at her hand to pull it away, but the size difference was too much—I could barely cling to one index finger.
When I latched onto her finger, she seemed delighted instead.
"Sis, stop groping Su-hyeon and take a look at this."
Ga-eun snatched me from the lawyer's arms and slid the contract over.
The lawyer pouted regretfully but quickly adjusted her glasses and zeroed in on the document.
Switching to work mode took her all of a second.
"...She's like a whole different person."
"Don't let the looks fool you—she's damn good at her job."
I rubbed my stinging cheek and muttered. Ga-eun piped up from behind me.
My cheek reeked of olive-scented hand cream.
"Hmm, huh? Hmmm."
The lawyer concentrated hard, furrowing her brow every which way as she waved the contract in one hand.
"What the hell is this? Who pulled this idiotic stunt? Chan-seong? Chang-hoon? Who are these clowns?"
"Sis, so what's the verdict?"
"Verdict? This is just a scrap of toilet paper."
At "toilet paper," Chan-seong's face lit up, only to darken again at her follow-up.
"...I wanted to say that, but it's more unreasonable and rigid than it looks. Once signed, completely voiding the contract itself is tough."
"Even a total newbie like me can see it's bullshit. This holds water?"
"Exactly—you never sign anything without thinking. But it's not impossible."
"What is it...?"
"Omg, fuck—you scared the shit out of me!"
Clink-
A deep voice suddenly rumbled from the side, making the lawyer jump out of her skin.
Thankfully, she didn't knock over the table's cups.
Embarrassed by the stares, she quickly composed herself.
Calming her pounding chest, the lawyer pressed on.
"Thought you were a damn pillar there. Ahem... Anyway. Void it by attacking from outside the contract's content. You, big guy."
The only one here who even looked male was Chan-seong.
"M-me?"
"Yeah, big guy. Wait—22...?"
"Yes. Twenty-two this year."
"...Not Korean age?"
"No."
This baby face is nine years younger than me...?
The lawyer looked a bit shell-shocked but shook it off and got back to business.
"O... Wait, so you were still high-school age when you signed this?"
"I'd dropped out and was working, so not a student anymore. But age-wise, yeah."
"Dad passed then, Mom sick and not around. Legal guardian?"
"The... Guild Master..."
"This guy?"
"Yes."
"A minor signing solo? Void. But guardian listed? If that guardian inked an unfair deal, it infringes the kid's rights—voidable."
"Sis, so it's void?"
Ga-eun's face brightened.
"Hold up. But look—the contract predates your Awakener registration? Non-Awakener joining a guild? What the...?"
"Things were crazy back then... They said they'd handle registration once I joined."
The lawyer tsked.
"If they knew you had healing powers when they contracted, that's rights infringement—a desperate grab for a talent too good for their shitty guild. Voidable. But date-wise, pre-registration as a normie? Penalty aside, not that unfair."
"...Like that..."
"Debt before the write-off? Principal."
"150 million."
"Guild loan? Private lender? Rate?"
"Compound 20%."
"373.24 million..."
It had shrunk a ton, for sure.
Still huge, but way better than that absurd 2.5 billion.
At least a sliver of hope.
"Tch, right at the legal max. These assholes are usually illegal usury—missed opportunity. Anyway, void the contract and repay the debt straight-up. Best shot."
Despair hung heavy; silence blanketed the table.
"Sis, but voiding's a pain, right? No workaround?"
Ga-eun asked gingerly.
"Well... Legally, yeah, fully voiding it is a bitch."
The lawyer stayed lost in thought.
"But like I said, leverage the signing circumstances."
"Circumstances...?"
"乙 a minor, guild master—guardian—knew the shitty situation and still signed an unfair deal. Court fodder. Other clauses fine? Penalty's off the rails. Minor + context = coercion vibe. Challenge guardian creds from there. Long, brutal fight."
And it'd cost a fortune.
"So nothing immediate?"
"Voiding ain't simple. But ways exist. Hell, a solid one."
"Which?"
Her eyes sharpened behind the glasses.
"Make him confess."
We piled straight into the lawyer's car and headed for Pitbull Guild's office.
Back seat felt cramped at first, but I was tiny—worked out fine.
Except for Chan-seong's neck twisted awkwardly.
"You okay...?"
"Yeah. No issue."
Ga-eun from the passenger seat.
"But think he'll just confess?"
"Hell no. Just poke gently, bait a slip-up. Inconsistencies kill trust."
Plan: chat up Guild Master Ha Chang-hoon, expose holes, void the contract.
Chan-seong's D-rank healer now—court'd likely say he can repay, bankruptcy iffy. Later problem.
Office door opens: rough-faced man greets Chan-seong warmly.
Shorter than Chan-seong, but his vibe screamed danger.
"Big bro."
"Oh! If it ain't our Chan-seong. D-rank now, huh?"
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
Something felt off as I listened.
'Heard the inspection was just yesterday.'
Way too on-the-nose.
Super suspicious.
"I got ways. Gotta track my guild's star talent, right? Others are trash—had me worried. Now one less headache."
Chang-hoon flashed a sleazy grin, sauntering close to clap Chan-seong's shoulder. Awkward as hell.
"But these folks...?"
"Bro, first—got something to say."
"Huh?"
"I'm quitting the guild."
His face iced over. Eyes like they could slice flesh.
"Sudden much?"
"Yes."
"Yes my ass, you punk. Guild's hurting—you know that, and you pull this backstab?"
"Sorry."
"Sorry don't cut it, asshole. Think I'll let you?"
"What's yours to let?"
"What?"
Lawyer jumped in.
"Pitbull Guild Master Ha Chang-hoon? Attorney Lee Da-hye. Here about your contract with Chan-seong."
She stepped up; he glared down coldly.
But her poise held—he plastered on a fake smile.
"Huh? Contract? Beats me."
"Cut the act. Unfair terms with a minor? Factor in his situation and your 'guardian' role—not a normal signing. Intentional or not."
Chang-hoon shrugged like the victim.
"Unfair? His mom's terminal, loans denied—I even lent his dad cash. After she passed, hooked him up with a job."
"Guardians prioritize the minor's interests, duty to protect rights. Guardian inks unfair deal infringing those? Legal nightmare. Self-appointed? Your job—focus on that insane penalty."
'Ooh...'
Thought she was airhead—badass holding ground against that scary bastard.
'What we do?'
'Just watch.'
Ga-eun and I had zilch to contribute. Pure audience. Popcorn?
"Dropout delivery scum—fed him, no interest, raised him up. Rank jumps, knows guild's fucked, bails? Ungrateful much?"
"Irrelevant to signing time."
No dice with lawyer—he wheeled on Chan-seong.
"You dodging penalty? Fine—repay full debt then. Bail, and you gonna? Can't even cover Dad's."
"I'll repay. However long."
"Normal debt, not penalty? Totally doable. Better for you too? Cling to him, doubt you profit past interest."
Chang-hoon couldn't hold back, growling louder. Mood turning vicious.
"Shut your bullshit, lawyer. Think I give a fuck? Bail guild—no mom meds money. What then?"
My cue!
"I cured her illness."
Chang-hoon whipped toward the voice, gaze dropping to spot me.
"Kid—what?"
"I... cured the illness."
Eye contact nuked my guts.
Still, owned it.
Ga-eun helpfully blocked his view with her leg.
"...Cured magic poisoning?"
He muttered, incredulous.
This rush. Villain rattled. Game? Instant teabag.
I stifled giggles behind Ga-eun when Chan-seong probed.
"You knew Mom had magic poisoning?"
"...Huh?"
"Never mentioned it."
All eyes suspicious.
"Pfft, figured as much! Hunter life's no joke. C-rank, guild master!"
Lame scramble—doubts stuck.
"...."
Office air froze solid. Nasty conclusion hit me.
"You..."
"Flower."
Lawyer gearing up—I beat her.
"Flower you gifted Chan-seong's dad. Where from?"
"...Kid, random flower? Why gift a dude flowers."
"When Mom was healthy. Where'd it come from?"
Heart hammering.
Villain or not—how could someone...
"...Oh, that? Collab swag—random net order."
"Magic-spewing flower?"
"...."
"Told me 'from a friend'."
"...Misremembered, I guess."
Ga-eun clocked it, quizzed Chan-seong.
"Chan-seong, how'd Dad die?"
"Byproduct haul gone wrong—accident..."
"What accident? Which guild?"
"Pitbull turf... Work scarce; only gig they offered."
They'd bullied day-labor corpse-haulers and haulers in their turf.
Low-tier guild, but plenty intimidating for them.
Isolated the family, poisoned Mom via magic flower.
Forced Dad into shady loans, faked accident to kill.
...Why? For an E-rank healer? Too far-fetched.
"Explain."
"...."
"...Gonna need cops—"
Lawyer reached for phone—Chan-seong yanked her back.
Shwick-
"Kyaa!"
Blood sprayed wild.
Chan-seong's arm gashed deep—instant.
Not log-thick, it'd be gone.
"Haa, fuck. Why so nosy, you roaches?"
Chang-hoon dropped the mask.
Didn't peg him for this psycho...!
Spooked, clutched Ga-eun's pant leg.
"You...!"
Ga-eun shrieked, horrified.
"Healer anyway—no limbs needed. Poison-cure kid.... Ooh, higher-ups perk up now? Girls cute—skip shipping the chicks?"
Wiped his face one-handed, grinning monstrous.
"Y-your arm...!"
"I'm good. Retreat first."
Lawyer in his arms—poise gone, full panic.
Makes sense: near-death, arm nearly hacked—normies freak.
My heart's exploding too.
"Oho! D-rank heals visible now? Heh... Stalled like trash—gonna offload ya."
"Human trafficking too?"
"Nosy? Be good, find out!"
Pure-white sword-qi erupted from Chang-hoon's skin. Ga-eun snatched my nape, bolted.
"G-Ga-eun..."
"Fine. Catch an opening..."
Not that—gestured down.
What I pulled from my pocket:
"...Crime buzzer?"
"Nope."
Summoner.
For my followers.