Chapter 101: I’ll Have to Eat the Meal Later. (Yoo Su-jin Illustration Added)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: I’ll Have to Eat the Meal Later. (Yoo Su-jin Illustration Added)
"You want me to enter the Hunter Tournament? Can a cadet even participate in one?"
"You and Cadet Kim Min-su are special, so it's more than possible. If you're willing, we'll give you all the support you need."
"But why so suddenly?"
Inside the counseling office.
I couldn't help but be flustered by Jang Du-cheol's abrupt suggestion.
He should at least give someone returning from vacation time to adjust before jumping straight into tournament participation.
Besides, what benefit was there for a cadet to enter a Hunter Tournament in the first place?
"Lately, there have been many cases where hunters are hiking up their commission fees. I want to give them a bit of a wake-up call."
Victory Academy's plan was this:
Kim Min-su and I—cadets, yet possessing hunter-level skills—would target the current state of the hunters.
Naturally, there would be a reaction, and the Hunter Tournament was chosen as the place to prove the point.
They wanted to use the hunters defeated by cadets as an example to send a message: 'Get your act together,' or something like that.
"Will that actually work? I don't think it'll be that simple..."
Normally, I would have just nodded and moved on, but this didn't seem right.
A cadet provokes hunters, enters a tournament, places in the rankings, and creates tension?
That was something that would rarely happen in reality.
Perhaps sensing this reaction, Jang Du-cheol nodded and spoke.
"Actually, that's just a secondary goal. The real reason is something else. Have you ever heard of 'Skill Hunters'?"
"Skill Hunters?"
"I suppose you haven't. To put it simply, there has been an increasing number of cases recently where hunters are having their sub-skills stolen."
I knew it.
I thought it was strange for him to suddenly talk about 'bringing tension to a lax hunter society.'
I suspected there was another motive, but the scale was considerable.
"We noticed that the hunters having their sub-skills stolen are primarily late-blooming Awakened."
Sub-skills being stolen, and the victims are mostly late-blooming Awakened?
There was only one possibility.
'Is it Noble?'
The strange sense of elitism I felt when I went to that party not long ago was now taking a concrete shape.
From preventing late-blooming Awakened from even joining their parties to the very meaning of the name 'Noble' itself.
It might be an overreach, but the pieces fit together too perfectly.
"So, after investigating further... we concluded that Noble is suspicious. That place where they still do the crazy shit of dividing sides among fellow Awakened."
There was a strong sense of loathing in Jang Du-cheol's voice.
In a situation where everyone should be joining forces, it was hard to look kindly upon hunters who divided people and coveted what belonged to others.
"Furthermore, it seems there's a very close connection to the fact that the hunters who have been raising their commission fees lately have grown stronger without any particular catalyst."
"What does us entering the Hunter Tournament have to do with that?"
This was the conclusion:
The Skill Hunters were related to Noble, and the connection to the hunters demanding high fees becoming stronger made sense.
But for two cadets to suddenly enter a tournament to create tension? Connecting those two points felt like a stretch.
'No, wait.'
At that moment, a possibility flashed through my mind.
"Is Noble participating in the Hunter Tournament?"
Jang Du-cheol nodded as soon as he heard my words.
"Yes. Those bastards from Noble have always participated in the Hunter Tournament, Gladire. They haven't missed it even once."
Jang Du-cheol began pulling several sheets of paper containing hunters' identification information from his coat.
At the top of the pages, the word 'Noble' was written in red letters, looking like a brand of sorts.
"These are the guys scheduled to participate in this Gladire... They're trash who have already indirectly proven they're part of Noble in various interviews. They've also hiked up their commission fees recently."
"Now I understand a bit... But even if I go, why Min-su?"
"Min-su... is one of the most symbolic figures to Noble. It seems they view him as a sort of new leader. Even if Min-su doesn't want it."
"Heh... I guess being the Hero really is something."
Many more words were exchanged with Jang Du-cheol after that, but to summarize simply:
At a time when everyone should be cooperating due to the surge in Gates and Dungeons, hunters seeking personal gain by raising commission fees had increased.
Most of these hunters were innate Awakened, and the reason for their sudden strength was unclear.
Additionally, it was judged that there was a connection between the late-blooming Awakened being weakened by Skill Hunter crimes and the aforementioned cases.
So, I, the rising star of the late-blooming Awakened, and Kim Min-su, the next-generation leader handpicked by Noble, would pretend to provoke the hunters while actually targeting 'Noble.'
After announcing our participation in Gladire, we would wait for Noble to approach us and then apprehend them all at once.
'Since I'm the rising star of the late-blooming Awakened, Noble will try to eliminate me... and since Min-su is the next-generation leader, they'll try to recruit him...'
No matter how they approached, the structure was set so they would have to come to us first.
"This isn't an order, so you can refuse if it's too much of a burden."
"Can I ask one question?"
"What is it?"
"Does Min-su know about this operation?"
"Cadet Kim Min-su has only been encouraged to participate in Gladire so far."
"Then is there a possibility that Kim Min-su will find out about this operation later?"
"None."
"Then I'll do it."
Now that it was clear there were no trolls involved, there was no reason to hesitate.
'Noble, huh...'
I had a feeling we would be clashing many times in the future.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A field of flowers spread out before my eyes, enough to easily put the sky gardens of luxury housing complexes to shame.
There were tunnels made of flowers, swinging chairs, and a large fountain in the center continuously spraying water.
'This isn't a rooftop; it's a garden.'
Unlike the scenery, the academy rooftop was unusually quiet and deserted.
Su-jin was demurely spreading out a picnic mat, waiting for me.
"Tae-yang!"
"Ah, Noona, have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just got here too."
It was lunch break after finishing all the talk with Jang Du-cheol about the Gladire tournament.
Just as I was wondering what to eat, Su-jin contacted me saying she had packed a lunch.
"It's my first time making one, so I don't know if it'll be to your taste..."
Su-jin spoke as she shyly held out the lunch box.
At a glance, the size of the lunch box looked like it was meant for a big eater.
As usual, I sat right next to Su-jin and opened the lid.
There was rice that looked like three servings, three meat side dishes, two types of seasoned vegetables, and even soup.
Calling it a lunch box was an understatement; it had the visual of a high-end traditional Korean meal.
"I saw you eating so well last time... You can leave some if it's too much... I prepared a lot just in case."
"Wow, you didn't have to go this far... Thank you so much, Noona."
"No, it's... well... it's like practice for when we go on our Wonderland date later... hehe..."
Ah, right.
The Wonderland date with Su-jin.
Since setting the date, so many hectic things had happened—from the Chunhyangjeon Gate to the Noble party—that I had forgotten.
The Gladire schedule had even been added while I was distracted.
'This is troublesome.'
Suddenly, I didn't want to participate in Gladire.
I didn't even have enough time to play with girls, yet I had to trade blows with hunters I didn't even know.
I don't know where Su-jin learned it, but she had poked a straw into a soda can and placed it on top of her chest, sipping from it.
As she did, she looked at me with a subtle smile in her eyes; it was powerful enough to create sexual desire where there was none.
"...If you're busy, we can postpone the date."
"Huh?"
"No, well... your expression looked a bit like that..."
"It's not like that, Noona. Why would I postpone it? Don't even say that as a joke."
"Hehe, really? Sorry, sorry."
Su-jin naturally linked her arm with mine as she said that.
Since her breasts were on the larger side, my arm fit snugly between them.
Relieved by my words, her expression softened as she picked up a side dish with her chopsticks.
"Tae-yang... can I... feed you?"
"Of course."
"Ah~"
"Ah~"
Munch, munch.
I felt it during our last meal too, but the seasoning was definitely a bit bland.
It would have been better with a little more salt.
Of course, I had no intention of being picky, so I let out an exclamation of admiration as soon as I took a bite.
"Noona, this is seriously delicious."
"Really? Is the... seasoning not too weird or anything?"
"It's perfect. It's exactly how I like it."
"Am I bride material?"
An unexpected question found a gap and struck right at my solar plexus.
A question where the answer would greatly affect our future relationship!
It was a fierce attack for someone like me, destined to maintain a Harem Pure Love.
Su-jin was gradually revealing her possessive desires, just like when she left the hickey last time.
I thought I should be somewhat prepared, but I didn't expect her to be this sharp.
There wasn't a single easy woman.
"What about me?"
"Huh?"
"Am I groom material?"
"Ah... well..."
Against such a question, I had no choice but to counterattack with another question.
'A catfight is bound to happen eventually.'
Since this was a world created by Chubby Ahn, a catfight was practically predestined the moment I started a harem.
The problem was how to minimize the damage.
If I ran my mouth saying things about 'bride material' or whatever, I might not be able to handle the aftermath.
The most ideal way to survive a catfight was to watch from a step behind.
In this situation where Su-jin was stammering, unable to answer my counter-question properly.
I naturally slid my hand toward the inside of her thigh.
"Ah... ah...! Tae-yang, we're... on the academy rooftop..."
That's why I'm doing this.
Doing it outdoors is the real deal.
"You trust me, right, Noona?"
"Yes... I trust you..."
Su-jin's legs, which had been pressed tightly together, slowly parted.
'I should make it so she can't even think about these kinds of conversations.'
I'll have to eat the meal later.