WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈
Chapter 195: Director (5)
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“Two hours? Weren’t we the ones asking for their cooperation? Is that really all right?”
“That depends on the dungeon’s value. Why do you need a Japanese dungeon? I’d like to know in advance.”
“Not why I need a dungeon, but why I need one in Japan. Don’t try to slyly pry information out of me first.”
“We can’t negotiate without knowing anything.”
He had a point, but what nonsense. I stopped walking abruptly. As if he had simply forgotten. Wasn’t he doing this on purpose? Creating an urgent situation so I couldn’t respond properly.
“Then let’s finish discussing this properly before we go.”
“Weren’t you the one complaining about making them wait?”
“Two hours, three hours, what’s the difference? If you want to raise your share beyond the current ratio, please explain your investment and contribution to this negotiation in detail. I’ll only give you a larger share if it’s worth it.”
Seong Hyeonje turned toward me. I really didn’t like facing him while standing. Even without any difference in rank, he was someone who could make a person shrink back. Fear Resistance kept me fine now, but thinking of the day I could no longer rely on it reminded me how far I still had to go.
“First, I should emphasize that formally transferring dungeon rights to an individual from another country is unprecedented.”
“It has only been a little over three years, so of course it’s unprecedented. High-value dungeons are probably already being traded on the black market in countries with unstable systems. Even Korea has uncovered illegal dungeons. It must be worse overseas. Illegal dungeon trades aside, official transactions will begin before long.”
I said it as though he should not exaggerate something that was merely happening a little early. In reality, international dungeon deals would become common in two or three years. As their numbers increased, they became too difficult to manage, and ordinary dungeons were sometimes handed over for next to nothing.
“Japan isn’t an unstable country.”
“It isn’t exactly stable either. Hunters have gained far too much power for a developed nation.”
“Even so, beginning negotiations was difficult. More than anything, wanting a specific dungeon would naturally invite suspicion about the reason, so it took considerable effort in many ways.”
He then explained in detail the work that had gone into bringing things to the point of sitting at the negotiating table. Listening to him, it did seem that a great deal of care had gone into it.
Of course, it had been his subordinates rather than Seong Hyeonje himself.
“Managing it afterward won’t be easy either. Once they learn the dungeon’s true value, they’ll certainly try to reclaim it.”
“It could be an ordinary enough dungeon that Japan won’t care about.”
“I needn’t say things that can be left unsaid.”
Ah, yes. You mean I would never go to the trouble of obtaining an ordinary dungeon. Thank you for having faith in my eye for value.
“Now it’s Han Yujin’s turn.”
“Sixty-forty. Naturally, our side gets sixty, on the condition that you take complete and flawless responsibility for future management.”
“Even though Sesung will shoulder all the actual work? I would accept that ratio if it were reversed.”
“First of all, this dungeon is for me. It appeared at my request.”
More precisely, it had been scheduled to appear anyway, and I had only brought it forward. But Seong Hyeonje didn’t know that.
“You could say it is effectively mine. And what can be obtained in that dungeon is material for stamina potions.”
“Stamina potions.”
“To put it simply, they’re fatigue recovery agents. They’re potions that can restore someone to peak condition even after a short rest. One of the risks of prolonged dungeon raids is the consumption of physical strength and mental strength. It’s hard to rest comfortably inside a dungeon.”
You had to push through monsters scattered everywhere. Sometimes, after becoming exhausted clearing ordinary monsters, you had to face the strongest boss monster. Even high-grade Hunters could not help feeling fatigue after a series of long battles. Even if they rested while someone stood watch, truly refreshing sleep was impossible given the circumstances.
The situation was worse for mid-grade and lower-grade Hunters. Dungeons were relatively shorter, but they also tired more quickly and recovered more slowly than high-grade Hunters. Even if they settled down to rest inside a dungeon, they were often too overwhelmed by anxiety to benefit from it. New low-grade Hunters especially would only look around nervously before getting right back up. Even with experience, unlike high-grade Hunters, it could be difficult for them to shake off their unease.
“But if they use stamina potions, they can recover a considerable amount of accumulated fatigue while maximizing the effects of rest. A light nap of one or two hours will have the same effect as over eight hours of deep sleep in comfortable surroundings with soft bedding.”
Using stamina potions did not mean you could skip sleep altogether. Rest was absolutely necessary. Experiments had shown that, using high-concentration stamina potions, an F-Class Hunter could remain in normal condition for a maximum of one week without resting. After a week without rest, the potion stopped working and their condition rapidly deteriorated.
They recommended taking at least one or two hours of rest per day and living as normally as possible outside the dungeon.
“Depending on the ingredient concentration, they can also act as stimulants, regardless of Poison Resistance. Their effects are also far superior to ordinary ones. Since they improve concentration in battle, they will become indispensable just before fighting boss monsters. Along with the other two potions, they will become the third potion always kept in an inventory.”
The more I talked, the more I felt like I was hawking medicine. Was it because I’d received too many spam calls?
“Most importantly, we can monopolize them for at least the next six months to a year. There’s no need to explain at length the profit to be gained from monopolizing a useful Hunter consumable.”
Another dungeon containing stamina potion materials would not appear for about a year and a half. Even if dungeon appearances accelerated, it would take at least six months.
“Strictly speaking, it isn’t a monopoly.”
“That depends on how you handle it. We only need to come to a simple arrangement with Haeyeon Guild. It’ll be a near-monopoly.”
I met Seong Hyeonje’s eyes as if to ask what he thought. Once the truth about the stamina potion came out, Japan would surely go wild. Sesung would have to keep them in check, so I had specially raised their share by another ten percentage points, to forty percent.
“Furthermore, being able to make a dungeon appear means the opposite is possible as well. Don’t think of taking it from me.”
The dungeon Noah and Riette had cleared out of season had also been deleted by those unfilial bastards. Therefore, it should be possible with the stamina potion material dungeon too.
“It is only possible because I am here. I acknowledge that you have put in considerable work, but I refuse excessive greed.”
With that, I took out the contract document. It was a Hunter Association-certified contract, a set of two copies that could be divided between us.
“Honestly, even thirty percent should look tempting to you. The effort of claiming it is negligible beside that.”
Seong Hyeonje held out his hand.
“It’ll likely be quite troublesome, since more than one or two pests will swarm around it.”
“If no bugs swarm it, it’s merely a poisonous fruit that looks pretty on the outside.”
He accepted the contract and took out a pen. After skimming through it, he smiled faintly. Without a word, he signed it and handed one copy back to me.
“As Han Yujin said, even if I pressed for thirty percent or less, it would still be too valuable to give up easily. Yet the contract had been written with forty percent from the beginning. Did our last phone call intimidate you?”
“I was doing you a favor. You’re a partner I’ll be working with for a long time.”
Honestly, I had been intimidated. Still, it was true that Seong Hyeonje as a partner was worth conceding ten percent to.
When I looked up at him as though asking whether he had a complaint, he gave a quiet laugh. Was he finding me ridiculous?
“By the way, there’s no way Japan sent a non-Awakened person, and it isn’t an S-Class Hunter, is it? Manager Song has already worked plenty of overtime, so we shouldn’t give him more work.”
No matter how impressive the Sesung Guildmaster was, an S-Class Hunter would not endure being ignored for two hours.
“They are A-Class.”
“That’s some relief. Still, please be careful. Manager Song hasn’t even been answering calls since somebody’s birthday party.”
“Not answering calls?”
Seong Hyeonje started walking, then stopped again.
“Yes. He must be very busy. I heard foreign A-Class Hunters caused some trouble too.”
“That can’t be.”
“What do you mean, it can’t be? Manager Song being busy is hardly new. Though about half the cause is probably a certain Mr. Seong.”
“Since that day, is it?”
Seong Hyeonje thought for a moment, then slowly raised the corners of his lips.
“Director Song Taewon can be rather cute sometimes.”
...Manager Song, run. I don’t know why, but running seems like the best course of action.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but stop.”
“The more I look at it, the more it seems that Yujin cares quite a bit about Director Song Taewon.”
“It’s because I possess an ordinary conscience. In any case, please leave the exhausted man alone.”
When it came to Song Taewon, my conscience was already a hedgehog. It was covered in prickles. Would restorative tonics work on an S-Class Hunter too? Something good for his health... except the law stood in the way. Why did Manager Song have to be Manager Song? Stamina potions couldn’t help being expensive, either.
“You said Japan suspects the reason we want the dungeon?”
I said it while checking the time on my phone. I wanted to check it with a wristwatch too.
“They believe you are after it to capture monsters for mounts.”
“For mounts? Are there any decent monsters there?”
“I heard their abilities are ordinary, but there is a high proportion of young.”
Young monsters had been seen frequently among the ordinary monsters. During the dungeon raid, a total of seven young monsters had been found. Most of the ordinary monsters were B-Class or lower, but A-Class ones appeared occasionally, so there was a possibility that the young could grow into A-Class monsters.
“They are monsters with a form similar to cattle, so they consider it a good dungeon for obtaining multiple young standard mounts for high-grade dungeons.”
They would be unsuitable as combat mounts accompanying S-Class Hunters. But they would be fine as mounts for team members ranked A-Class or below. Even A-Class monsters were difficult to obtain as young, so a place where several appeared would certainly tempt people.
Of course, without me, it would lose all value. That was why it probably had not drawn attention before my regression.
“They’re giving us a reason, so I appreciate that much. What are their terms?”
“An exchange for the slime dungeon. They seem to think it is worth that much.”
“Without me, it is just an ordinary dungeon. I had intended to use the slime dungeon as bait, but now I feel offended.”
The stamina potion material dungeon was more valuable than the slime dungeon, but I still did not like it. Even so, I had to obtain it.
“Hmm, should I show a side unlike my public image, as the Sesung Guildmaster’s partner? Would you be disappointed if I acted too weak?”
“As I have said, I do not intend to pressure you to change overnight. More importantly, even if Han Yujin showed a changed side right now, the world would not readily accept it. Your public image is firmly established.”
My public image was that of an innocent and fragile victim. It had been useful in many ways. Unless I suddenly gained S-Class stats, it would be difficult to change it all at once, just as Seong Hyeonje said.
“Then I’ll use it once more.”
I should use it while I could.
“And, partner.”
I raised my eyes and spoke as firmly as possible.
“The Japanese dungeon matter is something undertaken through mutual cooperation, yet you did not provide a report on the process, nor even inform me that the Japanese representative had arrived. Is that not deeply discourteous? Please ensure that nothing like this happens again.”
Really, we were partners. Only being informed afterward was unacceptable.
“I have been discourteous. I’ll remember that, Partner.”
I could not tell whether that smiling face was mocking me or simply his usual expression.
“Shall we go, Director Han?”
“We’ve made them wait long enough. Let us hurry, Sesung Guildmaster.”
I nodded and started walking beside him. That position still felt terribly awkward.
Two hours and forty-one minutes. That was how long it took from the time they were shown into the meeting room until the closed door opened.
Nakajima, Japan’s A-Class Hunter, looked at the two people entering with an unfriendly gaze. However, they rose from their seat with a calm expression and proper manners. The fellow Hunter seated beside them did the same.
They had been made to wait a long time, but their counterpart was an S-Class Hunter. Since rank took priority over nationality, lowering their heads was not difficult.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sesung Guildmaster.”
“I have kept you waiting.”
A low voice rang out. Thanks to translation items, communication posed no problem. Seong Hyeonje expressed neither regret nor apology beyond those words. It was rude, but the two Hunters accepted it with practiced ease.
“This is Director Han Yujin of the Mount Rearing Facility. You have heard of him, I assume.”
At Seong Hyeonje’s words, Nakajima raised their head. Beside a man well over 190 centimeters tall with an equally impressive build stood a young man who looked small by comparison. Han Yujin was actually above average height, but the person beside him was the problem.
His stats were even F-Class. In other words, to an A-Class Hunter, he was an exceedingly easy target.
“Of course, I have heard of him.”
With a broad smile, Nakajima looked at Han Yujin, who stood quietly between the two without daring to insert himself into their conversation.
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