S-Rank is My Side Character - Chapter 18

“Hello. I am Kang Sujin, the guild master of Seongjeong. Congratulations on your final acceptance. You’ve worked hard until now.”

“You’ve worked hard too, Guild Master. I heard you personally observed and hired me. It must have been difficult to see with the naked eye.”

“No, it was fine. I watched through media, so there was no particular danger.”

On the top floor of Seongjeong, in the guild master’s office. Rude, who had just received his final acceptance notice, was sitting on the reception room sofa, fiddling with a teacup.

The aroma of black tea that an errand boy had just brought filled the room. Even to Binnari, who had only ever brewed tea with tea bags, it was a sophisticated scent.

As Rude sipped the tea, the guild master picked up a document. Now that the hiring was confirmed, it was time for negotiations.

And she glanced, with the corner of her eye, at Rude sitting across from her. The man dressed all in black, whom she had only seen on screen, was sitting on the sofa with an indifferent expression, poking at the orange in the teacup with a fork.

‘He really is a monster.’

Looking at Rude like that, Kang Sujin turned her eyes back to the document. It was a deliberate act to avoid making eye contact. There was a huge difference between seeing him on screen and seeing him in person.

Even Ihyeon felt like a different class. This was a level above that.

As soon as Rude entered, all the power in the room seemed to flee from him. Even Kang Sujin felt sweat running down her back as she faced him.

No matter if he was ranked World No. 1, Seongjeong was a guild of holiness, and Rude was the embodiment of evil. It was an evil spiritual power that overwhelmed even the holy power abundant in the guild.

The guild master, who hadn’t noticed the even more monstrous element that Rude’s appearance itself was an avatar, inwardly swallowed a sigh. Then, placing the paper on the table, she spoke.

“I’ve carefully read the conditions you proposed, Rude. First, a one-year contract position instead of a full-time employee. Not to try to learn more about your information than what you’ve disclosed. Media control is essential… And all the other various conditions are feasible.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Rude was just fiddling with the teacup without even looking at Kang Sujin. Despite being accepted into Seongjeong, he showed no signs of joy. Kang Sujin cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Seongjeong, along with Baekya, is the first guild established in Korea. For 20 years, centered around my younger brother and his wife, we’ve united to protect people. Seongjeong is Korea’s sturdy shield that never abandons order, no matter what happens.”

“And?”

Rude spoke with an attitude that suggested he really had no interest in Seongjeong. Sujin tensed up again and pulled out a file from her breast pocket. Now it was the second round.

“And this is our contract. It’s considered the best conditions in the industry, so please read it carefully.”

Despite appearances, Seongjeong was one of the top 4 guilds. They were earning money through legitimate means and providing the best welfare, work-life balance, and salary in the industry.

But how could that monster be satisfied with this contract!

He had monopolized all the gates from night to dawn in southern Gyeonggi-do, and didn’t even sell boss monster items.

Moreover, he was ranked first, not just domestically but worldwide! It wasn’t possible to offer compensation just slightly higher than other hunters to such a person.

If they did, it would damage the pride of both Rude and Seongjeong.

“As a guild that has been operating at the highest level for 20 years, we can proudly say that we’ve operated more transparently than anyone else for the sake of hunters.”

Rude opened his eyes slightly and opened the file to look at the contract contents. Kang Sujin smiled, hiding her tension.

‘Please be satisfied with this. If you demand more outrageous conditions here, the guild’s existence could be in danger.’

And Rude…

‘Wow, is this for real? How many zeros are there now? They’re going to give me this much? Are they crazy?’

Just the signing bonus alone far exceeded several times the annual salary Binnari received from her convenience store part-time job. Rude kept staring at the contract. It was because the conditions were much better than expected.

[The Lord of Chaos laughs uproariously, saying our Binnari’s life has hit the jackpot.]

‘Damn… I should have joined a guild earlier…’

Instead of pretending to be a strength-concealing loner… I should have just lived a normal social life… Should have gotten a job… Selling low-grade items bit by bit on my own… Working part-time at a convenience store… Getting cursed at for not having connections…

“Haha… Hu… Huhaha… Ha…”

Feeling pathetic about all his struggles so far, Rude let out a hollow laugh and touched his forehead. The guild master of Seongjeong flinched.

“Are you not satisfied?”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just funny…”

Oh, mommy. I guess he’s still not satisfied after all. Sujin, who had severely misunderstood Rude’s attitude, inwardly broke out in a cold sweat. But she couldn’t back down here!

“I’m sorry we couldn’t meet your expectations… But you’ll have a hard time getting this much from other guilds too.”

“Ah, no. No, it’s fine. Let’s sign the contract.”

Rude waved his hand, looking at Kang Sujin with a seemingly pleased attitude, having regained his composure. Kang Sujin opened her eyes wide at the unexpected response.

He’s agreeing so easily? That Rude? The one rumored to be an illegitimate child of a chaebol family, and said to stay in different 5-star hotel suites every day?

The guild master, unaware of the truth that Rude’s main character had been living by working part-time at a convenience store and selling low-grade items, hid her joy.

“Then I’ll stamp it.”

Rude took out a seal from his inventory. Kang Sujin’s expression changed indescribably.

“Is… is that a seal?”

“Is this not acceptable? I don’t have a seal at home.”

Hooh, Rude was pressing the carefully carved seal into the ink pad. No matter how you look at it, it’s a beautiful orange root vegetable, a carrot. And a very plump one at that.

Completely unable to imagine that he would bring a seal made from a carrot, Kang Sujin responded in bewilderment. It was also because Rude was too confident…

“Ah, no… It’s not that it’s unacceptable… But… Wouldn’t a regular seal be better…? This might not stamp well… We can stamp again with a proper seal later.”

“It’s fine. I carved it neatly.”

“Ah, ah. Then, instead of stamping it directly, why don’t you try stamping it here as a test!”

Feeling uneasy, Kang Sujin brought a piece of scrap paper, and Rude readily stamped it to check. Kang Sujin held her breath as she saw the stamped shape.

‘He really carved it well… What a waste of talent…’

Rude In. A perfect circular shape as if drawn with a compass, in beautiful Gungsuh font. The size is perfect too. It’s comparable to regular seals sold in the market.

[The Lord of Chaos teases you, saying the guild master seems to be looking at you strangely.]

‘Shut up! I had no choice!’

There was no choice. They set the mock battle for the very next day after receiving the email, and if he passed the battle, the employment contract would be made immediately, so they asked him to bring a seal.

But there was no seal at home… The nearby seal carving shops were already closed, and ordering online would take about 3 days, so he had to make a non-existent seal within 10 hours…

[The Lord of Chaos claps, saying that while others prepare diligently for mock battles when job hunting, our Binnari diligently carved a carrot seal!]

It was the result of destroying all the hard vegetables at home – potatoes, carrots, radishes… It’s the ultimate technique that maximizes Binnari’s greatest skill, extremely delicate spiritual power control.

‘I probably won’t be able to do this again.’

Squish, after stamping the inked seal on the contract, Rude dusted off his hands and put the carrot back in his inventory.

“So, will I be acting together with Hunter Kang Ihyeon when I join Seongjeong?”

“Seongjeong doesn’t assign partners separately. If you agree with Hunter Kang Ihyeon’s current partner, you can act together.”

“I see.”

Rude just looked down, his thoughts unclear.

Sujin pondered for a moment. Originally, she had planned to explain their systematic training process at this point.

She was going to tell Rude about Seongjeong’s greatness, that they believed his words about being inspired by Ihyeon and hired him, and that based on what they saw in the mock battle, they expect great potential for growth – the kind of inspiring speech a school principal might give.

‘But it feels like I don’t need to do that.’

Ihyeon was right, the Rude you see on the internet and the Rude you see in person are different. She had felt it since the interview, but now that she had seen the actual battle and met him face to face…

‘He seems like the type who will grow well on his own even if left alone, so why hasn’t someone like this ever evolved their characteristics until now…’

Kang Sujin set aside the question that had occurred to her. She had been planning to prepare new internal training for Rude, but she soon let go of that idea too.

This person will do well on his own. Too much interference would be poison for someone like this.

So, she decided to be satisfied with just expressing gratitude.

“Your answer during the interview, and the performance you showed in the mock battle, were impressive.”

“What? Wh-wh-what…?”

Worried that his avatar identity might have been discovered, Rude looked at Kang Sujin with a slightly guilty expression. Seeing Rude’s expression, as if he had been caught doing something wrong, Sujin smiled faintly.

“Hunter Kang Ihyeon has been criticized a lot by his partners because of his personality. Even when we tried to correct it, it didn’t work well. He would say, ‘This is more efficient, what’s the problem?'”

“…Strong ones tend to make others’ blood boil more.”

As if tired of it, Rude clicked his tongue once. Somehow, that attitude made her think that Rude might have seen a lot of such people around him. As Kang Sujin stared at him, Rude suddenly added.

“Well, I don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

The media image seems to have been greatly exaggerated. Sujin could see that he was actually an ordinary and calm person.

Just moderately kind, moderately selfish, moderately friendly… Above all, despite his cold impression, judging by his attitude towards Ihyeon, he seems to have deep emotions. He also seems quite tough.

He could have let it slide, since he recovers quickly anyway, Ihyeon’s bad habit of trying to save his companions regardless of what happens to himself. But he pointed it out anyway.

He said it ‘makes his blood boil’, so it seems he finds it hard to watch others work while wearing themselves down. Maybe he’s just the type who can’t stand by and watch others suffer.

I don’t know what circumstances there were, but he seems to have deep emotions too.

“Rude. Thank you once again for applying to Seongjeong.”

Having thought that far, Kang Sujin extended her hand as if to shake hands. Rude stared at her blankly. Kang Sujin smiled at him.

“At Seongjeong, we’re all family. Now that you’ve joined, you’re part of our family too.”

“I don’t believe in things like family bonds.”

Kang Sujin laughed at Rude’s sharp words. Under the soft charisma of the elder, Rude hesitated before extending his hand. Kang Sujin grasped his hand firmly and spoke.

“Then let me say it differently. We will support you to the end so that you won’t regret choosing the profession of ‘hunter’. Seongjeong is always on your side.”

Hearing those words, Rude looked down at their clasped hands. He’s no longer alone. It’s not solo play anymore. Now Seongjeong is behind him. It’s ‘together’.

“I look forward to working with you for the next year.”

“…Yes, me too.”

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!