WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 18: Head of Human Resources (3)

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“I'm sorry, but I'm comfortable as I am now.”

I had decided to live quietly on the back of a giant lizard.

...Though I had gotten myself involved in quite a lot for someone saying that. Still, it would be a waste to let such a precious skill rot away unused. Anyway, I was going to keep my head down and live quietly and comfortably.

“Please reconsider.”

Seok Simyeong refused to give up.

“Soon, anyone will be able to attempt Awakening easily. The Hunter Association predicts that the number of Awakened in this country will surpass five million within a year, and that more than two-thirds of the population will be Awakened within three years. At a time like this, would it not be regrettable for you not to make use of your abilities, Mr. Han Yujin?”

Regrettable, my ass. Listening to him, anyone would think I was some legendary scout.

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but what happened with Miss Park Yerim was purely a coincidence. The odds of such luck happening again are close to nonexistent.”

That was what I said, but if I wanted to, I could probably find more people with S-Class potential and give them optimized Awakening.

But I wouldn't. This was enough already, wasn't it? Yerim alone was troublesome enough. I'd just get Yu Myeongu an SS-Class skill and put them in the guild, then call it a day.

“Of course, I do not expect you to bring us another S-Class Awakened. That would go beyond being excessive and become outright greed. No, you do not even need to scout new Awakened.”

“...Then what?”

Seok Simyeong answered, his eyes sparkling in a way that didn't suit him.

“With that outstanding insight and analytical ability, you could work with us to create a new system for the Hunter world...”

“I can't!”

What was this old man talking about? Insight and analysis, my ass! I didn't have anything like that to spare, even if I wanted to waste it on someone else! I cheated. I looked at the answer sheet from the future.

“Mr. Han Yujin!”

“I won't, I can't. I don't have that kind of ability! I couldn't even get into college. I got through high school with a GED.”

Please give up out of pity for my pathetic academic background.

“Education is not important!”

...I nearly cursed out loud. Go look at a job site. There were tons of places that filtered out everyone without a college degree. If you'd never been in a position where you couldn't even submit an application, keep your mouth shut.

“Anyway, I can't do it, I won't do it, and I really don't know how to do that sort of thing. Even if you cut off my wrist, I won't stamp that contract.”

I was just going to use my skills now and then, raise pets, and coast off my amazing younger brother.

When I covered my ears and insisted that it was absolutely impossible, Seok Simyeong finally seemed to give up.

“Very well. Then let us sign you as an ordinary guild member rather than as part of Human Resources.”

“Can't I just remain half-affiliated like I am now? I have no intention of joining a raid team or setting foot in a dungeon managed by Haeyeon.”

“Guaranteeing and training you for a Hunter license is a short-term matter, so that is fine. However, you must sign a contract to enter the employee dormitory. You will be moving into housing intended for high-rank Hunters, not just any place. Even if you are the guildmaster's family, your affiliation must be made clear.”

Seok Simyeong explained calmly, all traces of his earlier excitement gone.

Right, I had to stay near Yerim, so I couldn't move into the ordinary employee dormitory. Yoohyun's place was official guild housing, so there was nothing strange about his brother living there with him.

“Understood. But if possible, I would like to sign on as a regular employee rather than a guild member.”

“You mean you will not accept support as a Hunter?”

“Yes. I'll receive the training, but after that, I don't intend to work as a Hunter.”

The only places I could enter were low-rank dungeons anyway. I could pay to enter those myself. And thanks to Yoohyun, I already had more than enough equipment.

Rather than raise mounts as an affiliated guild member, I planned to make separate contracts with Haeyeon Guild for each case. That way, I could raise them when I felt like it and relax when I felt like it.

Freelancing really was the best.

“It is possible, but the terms will be lower. At present, you have no intention of doing anything other than acting as Miss Park Yerim's guardian, correct?”

“Yes, if that is possible.”

“To be frank, your education and work history do not meet Haeyeon Guild's qualifications for open recruitment.”

...He had just said education didn't matter. The situation changed, and so did his words.

“Of course, discovering an S-Class Awakened and successfully signing her is more than enough to qualify you for employment. The issue is what comes after. It may be fine for the first month or two, but if you do no work and only collect a salary, people will eventually talk. Strictly speaking, acting as Miss Park Yerim's guardian is not guild work.”

So that was the issue. It didn't matter to me. A little gossip was nothing. I had already been publicly ridiculed by the whole country once. Hardly anyone had received more hateful comments than I had.

...Thinking about it made me a little depressed.

“That's fine. Just pay me minimum wage.”

It wasn't like I needed much of a salary. Even if I failed to apply the Keyword to Peace, I still had stocks. I remembered the name of the pharmaceutical company that developed a hair-loss treatment, and companies whose stock prices would rise thanks to the stream of S-Class Awakened appearing after the Awakening Centers opened.

I could invest my severance pay and savings in stocks, so as long as my salary covered living expenses, that was enough. What was the minimum wage right now? Around eight thousand won?

“Minimum wage. Since you will not be commuting, it is difficult to know how we should arrange that.”

Seok Simyeong smiled. He wasn't planning not to pay me at all, was he?

“How about fifty million a year, on the condition that you assist Human Resources when requested? No more than ten hours a week.”

“...Just let me use the company cafeteria.”

Forget it. I didn't want the money. Just let me eat there.

Working ten hours a week for fifty million a year was practically free money, but I didn't want to set foot in Human Resources while that old man was there. He would probably strip me of every last secret in no time.

“If you insist, I have no choice.”

Seok Simyeong nodded with a bitter smile.

“As you wish, we will provide only room and board.”

...That was really it? Just room and board? Didn't people normally add a little more at times like this? He cut me off cleanly without even leaving a scrap. Just as expected, that old man had a nasty personality beneath that pleasant appearance.

“If you ever develop a passion for work, please contact me anytime.”

“...Sure.”

Instead of people whispering that I was a nepotism hire, I would probably get nothing but pitying looks. Yerim, standing beside me, was already looking at me like I was the most pitiful person alive.

“Don't worry, mister. I'm rich now.”

“I have enough money for myself too.”

Though I needed to save it to buy stocks.

Ah, but this was seriously too much. I had handed them an S-Class Awakened, and all I got was room and board? I discreetly glanced at Seok Simyeong as he organized the documents.

“Isn't there some kind of incentive for successfully signing Miss Park Yerim?”

“Since it occurred before your employment, there naturally is not. Ah, would you like us to add incentive terms?”

...Being told there was none because it happened before I was hired made me feel cheated. Should I have gotten something for myself when Yerim signed? I had focused too much on taking care of the kid.

Still, I had one person left.

“Please add an incentive term for successfully signing an S-Class Awakened, or an A-Class Awakened comparable to an S-Class like the Saint.”

Yu Myeongu. With an SS-Class production skill, they would be treated as near S-Class like the Saint, even if they couldn't enter S-Class dungeons.

I had originally planned to bring them in for free, but now I would get something in return out of sheer resentment.

At my words, Seok Simyeong took out a pen with a relaxed smile.

“We can add whatever you wish. Please name the amount or reward you want.”

I was about to ask for a clean one hundred billion, but stopped. Once enough time passed, I would never lack money anyway. So rather than money...

“Do you know that I'm raising a Flame-Horned Lion cub?”

“Yes, the guildmaster told me.”

“Well, the little guy is really cute. It follows me well, too. So I would like one monster cub of a similar rank to a Flame-Horned Lion, or three cubs one rank lower. On the condition that Haeyeon Guild covers the taming and rearing costs.”

“Monster cubs?”

For once, Seok Simyeong looked surprised. It was understandable. I had chosen pets instead of money or items.

But unlike Peace, which belonged to Yoohyun and was raised with his money, the monster I received as an incentive would be entirely mine.

A monster of the same rank as a Flame-Horned Lion would let me raid B-Class dungeons with it alone, so it could not compare to a little money.

And if the Keyword application failed, well, I would have one more pet. Since I wasn't paying to raise it, I had nothing to lose. Once regulations on raising monsters were eased later, maybe I could even go on TV. It would probably be popular.

“...It is not an impossible condition, but it is unusual. Do you have some other purpose?”

Seok Simyeong tilted his head, looking utterly baffled.

“Does it look like I do?”

“It would be normal if you did... but I have no idea. I will add the condition for now. However, high-rank monster cubs are difficult to capture and rarely appear at auction, so it may take time to provide them.”

“S-Class Awakened do not appear that often either, haha.”

Of course, I planned to make Yu Myeongu the holder of an SS-Class production skill within two months. If I used My Kid about three times, they should gain the skill, right?

With my own employment finally settled, I stood up at last. I hoped I wouldn't have to see this old man for a while.

“Then I look forward to seeing you often.”

What was he talking about? I was going to avoid even looking in the direction of Human Resources.

...He wasn't going to come looking for me, was he?

Outside, I looked through the inheritance documents for Yerim's parents that Seok Simyeong had given me. They had sold a fifty-pyeong apartment, land, and even a commercial building, claiming they were too difficult to manage.

After taking that much, they hadn't even bought the kid sneakers? Their consciences must have hair growing in two or three dense layers.

“Are you really not going to sue?”

At my question, Yerim nodded without much interest.

“I don't want to stay tied up with them for long. Didn't you say my base salary alone will be over ten billion a year?”

That was true. Considering what lay ahead, it would be better to let the leeches have enough and cut them loose. If they kept trying to contact her and went on TV throwing fits while tearfully pleading their case, it would become troublesome.

“Then let's stop by Legal Affairs to pick up some things we need and go see them right away. It's still morning. I wonder if the restaurant is open yet.”

“On Sundays, they open at one in the afternoon, so they will probably be home.”

Yerim gave me the address. They lived in a nice neighborhood. Considering how much they had taken, that figured. Their shop, however, was modest to the point of being shabby.

Had they already blown through the inheritance? If so, it would be even easier to find leverage against them.

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