Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Seeding (1)
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Memories you want to share become cherished recollections. Those you don't become secrets. And those forcibly dragged into the light become stains.
I was putting everything I had into keeping my stains hidden.
"Let me be clear, Mr. Park Jungwoo. We need your power."
The woman in front of me bowed her head. Through the fringe of hair that slipped forward, the deep cleft of her ample bosom peeked out teasingly.
"And... the Dangsan Clan is prepared to offer anything—anything—to secure your cooperation."
The hand resting demurely on her skirt suit inched upward. As she hooked a finger into her blouse and tugged, her soft, generous breasts asserted their presence, threatening to spill free at any moment.
It wasn't hard to guess what she meant by "anything." Her body was clearly on the table—and likely the bodies of nameless others as well.
It was no offer I could casually accept. If I did, the secret I was desperately hiding would come out in no time. Whether she sensed my turmoil or not, her glossy lips curved into a soft smile.
"So please, I'm begging you. Think it over just one more time."
She bowed again, deep enough to show the crown of her head. For a scout from Dangsan—the top clan in hunter powerhouse South Korea, one of the world's top five—it was an excessively humble posture.
Truth be told, if not for my unique circumstances, it would have been me bowing. This polite demeanor could flip in an instant.
He felt his mouth go dry and cottony with tension.
If she finds out, I'm done for.
"I'm sorry, but I have no plans to join a clan right now."
"What's the reason? Have you already signed with another clan? How much are they offering? We'll double it—no, triple it, or more."
He thought to himself: If my secret gets out, that desperate attitude will vanish in a heartbeat. Things that come too easily aren't handled with care.
"It's not that, but... I'm not cut out for Dangsan."
"Talent can be developed as much as needed."
"Pardon? Developed? What do you mean by...?"
"Yes?"
In normal circumstances, her words would have been unmistakably innocent. But with his mind fixated on that topic, his thoughts veered straight into the gutter. He strained to keep his expression neutral, fighting not to give anything away.
It was only natural. If the activation condition of his skill ever came to light, the brilliant star hunter Park Jungwoo wouldn't be waiting for him. Instead, it'd be a life as a stud horse, secretly stashed away in Dangsan's underground.
"Anyway, I have no intention of joining Dangsan. I'm sorry."
"...Understood. Then we'll come back to see you again soon."
She gave a light bow, her eyes and face devoid of emotion. Her refusal to give up weighed heavily on Park Jungwoo's chest.
Only after the sharp click of high heels faded beyond the reception room door did the tension drain from his body.
"Haa..."
Sinking halfway into the sofa, he let out an unconscious sigh. He blinked rapidly twice, and a translucent interface—visible only to him—materialized before his eyes.
Unique skill: Seeding. Yeah, that was the problem.
A hunter's life hinged on their unique skill—and his was a whopping S-rank. Like hitting the autobahn in stat terms, or riding a space shuttle if you thought in vehicles.
But the look in his eyes as he stared at it was anything but joyful.
It wasn't even a double-edged sword. More like a blade with no hilt. You could tell just by looking that grabbing it would shred your palm.
The clock rewinds one hour.
Park Jungwoo had decided on his future career at seventeen. The mandatory Awakener Exam before high school entrance. After successfully summoning his status window there, even though Awakeners weren't required to become hunters, his dream never wavered.
He'd always admired hunters. Not just because it was the most glamorous job since the Millennium Shock of 2000.
A job where you could do anything with your own hands, earn massive rewards through effort. Where a penniless nobody could make a name for themselves. One that turned you into a picture-perfect beauty or hunk the stronger you got, with constant TV appearances to boot.
He craved recognition. So he dreamed of becoming a hunter.
He balanced school with training. He devoured every scrap of hunter-related info. Day by day, he endured, dreaming of the glorious stats and skills that would one day grace his otherwise bare status window.
Today was the day he became an adult. The day his unique skill and full status window unlocked.
"Whoa, this is that place..."
The Hunter Management Bureau building in Seoul's Songpa-gu. He stood in its deepest chamber: the Verification Room.
The space, about the size of two elevators, held little furniture. Maybe the plush padded walls stood out. At the center was a stone pedestal, topped only by a transparent plate engraved with the Bureau's emblem.
Where countless hunter legends began. Identical to the photo on the official site. He snorted excitedly, trying to calm himself.
"Pick that up, and my life's set."
What letter would it be? Average D? C or B if lucky... He didn't even dare hope for A. Just not F or E. Those would make hunter life a nightmare.
Idly, he pulled out his phone for a selfie. Not the manliest face, with unkempt brown hair from lack of care lately.
Others might call it cute. Maybe the malnutrition stunted his growth—his height hadn't budged in years.
He smoothed his hair, checked his eyes for gunk. Like prepping for a ritual bath, he tidied his appearance first.
"Hoo, hoo..."
He clutched the 50,000-won "Grand Luck" amulet he'd splurged on for this day. He stamped his feet in place, unable to step forward.
"Please, please...!"
Dashing to the pedestal, he extended his left hand. The card-sized plate grew hot at his touch. Lacking the courage to look, he squeezed his eyes shut and muttered rapid-fire.
"Please C or higher, anything but F or D, please, please...!"
The rough vibration at his fingertips gradually faded.
He recalled countless hunter memoirs. Clichés like "The A engraved on the plate marked the start of my legend."
He cracked one eye open. The slit widened slowly. Soon his eyes were saucer-wide, fixed unblinking on the plate.
"Wha... what the...?"
An alien letter "S" glowed on the plate in his hand.
S-rank unique skill. Owning one was as good as half a top-ranker's title. A grade so rare, three per generation was considered plenty.
He pinched his cheek. It hurt. Not a dream. He learned then that overwhelming emotion could choke out tears.
Setting the plate down, he blinked frantically. A new line appeared on his familiar status window. His gaping mouth twitched nonstop.
"Nice... this is solid..."
The stats passed muster. Even more so considering future growth.
Heck, with an S-rank skill, who cared about base stats?
"Seeding...!"
The name of his lifelong partner. He focused on those two words. His heart pounded wildly. What kind of skill? Offensive? Passive? Maybe the ultra-rare summon type.
Didn't matter. S-rank meant no duds.
A horizontal, translucent window overlaid his status.
"Let's see..."
Seeding (Active/S)
Boosts all of the target's stats by two ranks for one week. (Cap: SSS)
Simultaneous targets: ∞
"..."
They said shock so profound leaves you speechless. That was Park Jungwoo right then, jaw slack as he stared at the text.
The highest recorded hunter stat was S.
One who'd maxed Strength S could pulverize an apartment building to rubble with bare hands in ten minutes. And this boosted that by two ranks—across all stats?
"Jackpot..."
It wouldn't help him fight directly, but support skills shone brighter at higher ranks. Neutral buffs like this were especially rare.
No target limit, and a full week? Unreal.
His chest ached so fiercely he could barely breathe. A rose-tinted future unfolded: the world's top buffer. Korea's pride, hunter Park Jungwoo! He could almost hear the cheers.
Bouncing with joy, he noticed the scroll had continued. Right, activation conditions. No big deal. S-rank—had to be easy!
The user's semen must make contact with the target's skin or internal mucous membranes.
(Note: Target consent not required.)
Park Jungwoo froze.