Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Job Change Plan
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Han Min-ah's mention of Cha Yu-ri's name—and even Hye-eun being in the same party—left me momentarily stunned, my mind going blank.
I'd thought that up until now, when selecting targets for point acquisition, I'd been gathering people with no prior connections to each other as much as possible.
Even if I chalked up Han Min-ah, who I'd been close with since school days, being in the same party as Kang Hye-eun as unavoidable, having Cha Yu-ri in the same party too was something I hadn't anticipated.
"So the wind mage you mentioned, your close friend... she's..."
"Of course it's Yu-ri unnie."
"Haha..."
...Right, Cha Yu-ri was definitely a 5th-circle wind mage who could use contraception spells.
'What do I do about this.'
If I mishandled this, not only Kang Hye-eun, but Cha Yu-ri and Han Min-ah might end up with our relationships completely shattered.
Of course, I'd clearly told Kang Hye-eun that I wasn't her boyfriend, and I hadn't exchanged any formal confessions with Cha Yu-ri either, so they had no right to interfere with me seeing other women.
But having two—no, three, counting Han Min-ah—women I'd been intimate with in the same party was still incredibly risky.
"Min-ah, is the party just the three of you?"
"No? There's also Ji-hee unnie, a fighter. So four in total."
"...Ji-hee unnie?"
"Ji, Hee, Un, Nie. Cheon, Ji, Hee."
...I nearly had a heart attack. Why does she have to have a name so similar to Do Si-hee? It's confusing.
If she were in the same party too, I really might've lost my mind.
Come to think of it, Do Si-hee was clearly with the foundation, so why would she join a company party anyway?
Still, to calm my startled heart, I resumed stroking Han Min-ah's tail, which I'd paused while talking, to settle my nerves.
Rubbing that soft fur ball really did ease my mind.
-Rub, rub.
"What? Don't tell me, hngh, Ji-hee unnie too...?"
"Just got confused because the name's similar to someone I know."
"...Hahng, r-really?"
Of course, that "someone I know" was more than just a casual acquaintance.
-Stroke, stroke.
"Lately, Yu-ri unnie seemed really interested in guys, but I never imagined you, Sung Tae-kyung, were the cause, huaaah...!"
Kang Hye-eun, Cha Yu-ri, and now Han Min-ah.
Even if unintentional, I'd already been intimate with three members of the same party, creating a time bomb that could explode at any moment.
Han Min-ah, who already knew the truth, was one thing, but the instant Kang Hye-eun or Cha Yu-ri learned there were two more "sisters-in-arms" in the party, conflict was inevitable, big or small.
It might've even been better if I'd been in the party from the start, serving as the public outlet for everyone's lust while being a member...
"Ah."
My clouded mind cleared in an instant, and one idea to turn this crisis into an opportunity flashed into my head.
"Hey, Han Min-ah."
"Hngg, w-what...?"
"Could you write me a recommendation letter?"
"Recommendation... letter?"
As if she never expected "recommendation letter" to come up, her insides clenched around me in surprise.
"W-what kind?"
"A job transfer recommendation, obviously."
"Job transfer...? You're trying to join the company?"
"Yeah."
"What kind of nonsense is that..."
She muttered in disbelief, clearly not grasping what I meant.
"You want to work as a clerk or receptionist? The company handles hiring for those on their own. My recommendation wouldn't mean anything."
"What are you talking about? A hunter recommendation is obviously for joining as a hunter."
"That's ridiculous."
"Why? Can't I?"
"Technically not impossible, but... based on the last time I saw your skills, Sung Tae-kyung, you'd barely pass the entrance exam?"
The last time she saw me was probably before my awakening, so her reaction was only natural.
"If you'd stuck with that sword you loved so much instead of giving up, you might've made D-rank. But honestly, you know if that was your full potential, joining the company would've been impossible."
"But I've already got my hunter license from the guild. And I've got some real combat experience now."
"The guild takes anyone who fills out the form, male or female, as apprentices. A license from there is worthless to the company. Unless it's C-rank or higher."
Surprisingly, I was already a C-rank hunter.
I considered pulling out my license and revealing my awakening, but remembering the name on it was an alias, I held off.
"So if I get C-rank from the guild, you'll write the recommendation?"
"C-rank's decent for a guy, but still iffy for a recommendation... The guild hands out ranks more loosely than companies or foundations, so, um..."
"Just say it. Will you or won't you?"
"Hng, w-wait...! Let me think, don't touch me suddenly...!"
As she hesitated without committing, I kneaded her breasts to coax out her answer. Finally, she spat it out reluctantly.
"B, B-rank! If you hit B-rank by guild standards, I'll write it!"
"For real?"
"O-of course, I'll verify your skills myself in a public dungeon! You might've leveled up with help from others!"
"Got it. That's fair."
The key was her firm commitment to write the recommendation.
Unlike transferring from one guild to another, guild hunters switching to a company faced a messy process without proper structure.
In the worst cases, even B-rank guild hunters started as D-rank at companies. That's where recommendations from current company hunters came in—they let you transfer while keeping your rank.
Especially in a slow-promotion company, starting at D-rank meant 2-3 years minimum to reach A-rank.
That was far too slow.
Kang Hye-eun was A-rank, Cha Yu-ri was A-rank.
And Han Min-ah, in their party, surely had at least A or B-rank.
For me, aiming to join Kang Hye-eun's party next, Han Min-ah's recommendation was crucial.
...Come to think of it, I almost forgot something important.
"Min-ah, just to be sure."
"Ungh, w-what...?"
"The thing about me sleeping around to manage hunters' lust... try not to..."
"Tell Hye-eun or Yu-ri unnie? Is that what you're asking?"
"Yeah, please."
"...Fine, for now."
I'd figured she'd refuse since it was a heavy secret, but her quick nod caught me off guard.
"Really?"
"Well, I did wrong by you first. Let's call it even on secrets and keep quiet for now. You'll speak up when you're ready.
Yu-ri unnie did come back noticeably refreshed. Whether that's really from sleeping with you, Sung Tae-kyung, I don't know yet."
"Thanks, Min-ah."
Thanks to my understanding friend, I'd bought time to safely defuse the bomb.
"But only until the end of the year."
"So on January 1st next year at midnight, I confess to everyone?"
"...Not that precisely, but if we keep this weird setup going into next year, I'll tell them myself when the chance comes. It's for Hye-eun and Yu-ri unnie's sake. And yours too."
Her "for the last day" bit was hard to parse, but basically, she wouldn't let Hye-eun or Cha Yu-ri get dragged along blindly.
Either man up and declare myself a player, or cut ties one by one and pretend nothing happened.
Within half a year, pick one.
"Got it. I'll handle it, don't worry."
"I'm sure you will. That's what worries me most right now..."
To comfort her bitter tone, I stroked her tail one last time while finishing our talk.
"Remember that hunter who couldn't perform because of pent-up lust?"
"Yeah. Still not fully buying it."
"I told you that's why I sleep with various hunters."
"Yeah. Still can't wrap my head around it."
"And now you're one of them, Han Min-ah."
"...Huh?"
"Next heat cycle, call me. Don't suffer alone."
"..."
She grew quieter the longer I talked.
"No, asking you to help with my heat ends today."
She stated her refusal flatly, in a serious tone.
"Why? Was the sex with me that bad?"
"Of course it was good... Ah, no. Anyway, this is it."
"Why?"
"...I don't deserve to be by your side."
Unable to comprehend, I repeated her words back.
"You don't deserve to be by my side? What does that mean?"
"Back in school, I just watched while the girls bullied you, did nothing... What right do I have to shamelessly share love with you...?"
"Just not doing anything was more than enough thanks. Among beastkin awakeners, you're probably the only one who graduated without touching me."
"Sure, but still it's sorry to Hye-eun... And if we're splitting hairs, Jin-ah and Sun-ah didn't do anything weird to you either..."
By her logic, Kang Hye-eun hadn't done much either during school.
Even if busy with outside activities and unaware of my bullying, Han Min-ah had no reason to downplay herself compared to Hye-eun.
Plus, once Hye-eun started attending regularly, the sexual harassment stopped cold.
She probably still didn't know about my rough high school days.
Sticking it out till graduation was my choice; blaming Han Min-ah for the bullying was nonsense.
Anyway, whether we had more sex was my call, not hers.
Guilt, shame, whatever—helping someone suffer in silence with bottled-up lust was prime Hunter Lust Manager territory.
"Enough. Call next time."
"I said no!"
"Huh? I just meant friend check-ins."
"...You say confusing stuff like that!"
"Then message more often. I thought you ghosted me overnight, leaving me as the only one thinking we were friends. Or maybe I'd unknowingly done something wrong."
"Sorry... Even if we were breaking up, I should've explained properly..."
Apologetic, with her heart meter refilled to 40, I considered moving inside her again when she suddenly bolted up, urging me out of bed.
"Hey, hey! Sung Tae-kyung!"
"Whoa, what?"
"G-get dressed, now! Hurry!"
"What's the sudden panic?"
"M-my sisters are getting home from school! They're already near the house!"
"Jin-ah and Sun-ah?"
"Yeah! Hurry!"
...Yeah, getting caught like this would be awkward.