S-Rank is My Side Character - Chapter 8
Hmm, hmm…
After pondering for a long time despite the continuous message windows, Nari placed the still blank contract on the table.
If the Greek and Roman myth-based constellations had the “Oath on the River Styx,” the archangels had the Sacred Fire Oath.
An oath sworn on one’s divinity. If one breaks it, they immediately fall into hell for the sin of blasphemy against faith.
“Th-this is something even my constellation doesn’t easily approve. But it came with a seal attached. Please believe me! I’m really sincere!”
Kang Ihyeon clasped his hands together and looked up with teary eyes, as if begging to be believed. Nari, weak to handsome men crying, flinched for a moment.
‘At this rate… it might really be okay…’
As Nari pondered, an indirect message from the Lord of Chaos descended.
[Do as you wish, the Lord of Chaos looks at you saying he’ll handle it if anything goes wrong.]And Nari felt the gaze of the Lord of Chaos. Unlike other constellations, they were very far, truly distant beings, but Nari could feel it.
[The Lord of Chaos looks down at you saying he’s here because of you.]A playful existence that sometimes teases her, but always watches her back. After contemplating for a while, Nari glanced at Kang Ihyeon and said,
“…I’m the boss here.”
“That’s fine. Then your condition is not to reveal Rude’s identity, right?”
Nari nodded. Kang Ihyeon wrote the content on the contract with a golden pen. Nari stared intently at Kang Ihyeon as he wrote.
Golden hair, lake-like eyes, broad shoulders, kind eyes, and a handsome face. Even his personality was good. He must be exceptional for those Four Great Angels to have chosen him as their sole avatar.
‘I-I feel a bit sorry…’
He had forgiven all of Nari’s verbal abuse and attempted murder so far, and even proposed the Sacred Fire Oath first. It was as if a halo was shining behind him.
‘A-as expected of a brother church… Maybe this person could take over our manager’s favorite position…’
[The Lord of Chaos laughs, telling you to snap out of it.]“Ah, but… I’d like to make a suggestion from my side too. Is that okay?”
“Wh-what is it? Tell me.”
Normally, Nari would have said NO. Absolutely not. Whatever the condition, absolutely not. Do only as I say. But she wasn’t so conscienceless as to treat a sufficiently good person with a bad attitude.
Nari, knowing what she had done wrong, looked at Kang Ihyeon with quite a docile attitude. Kang Ihyeon hesitated a little before finally speaking.
“Since I’ll keep your secret… In return…”
He closed his eyes tight. He was almost like the male lead in a pure love manga confessing to his first love.
“Please join our guild, the Holy Order!”
“Rejected, absolutely not.”
Kang Ihyeon’s eyebrows drooped.
A good person, my foot! He’s just one of those ordinary hunters trying to recruit me into his guild!
With that thought, Nari’s expression rapidly hardened. There was nothing more to see.
“I don’t want to. It’s the Holy Order, isn’t it? Do you know how much I hate the Holy Order?”
“Y-you hate it?! Why…? O-our guild is good! We ensure work-life balance! We pay well too! We don’t interfere with personal lives, and our guild master is nice, and… w-we have pride too…”
“Anyway, I hate it. I really hate the Holy Order, you know? I guess I’ll just have to kill you after all.”
Nari took out the black scissors from her inventory again. This wouldn’t do. Kang Ihyeon pulled out his last resort.
“Y-you don’t have money, right?!”
Thump. Nari stopped her action and looked at Kang Ihyeon. Her expression showed he had hit the nail on the head.
It was just a guess, but it seems he was right! Kang Ihyeon clenched his fists and continued speaking.
“You haven’t sold any high-grade dungeon items until now, right?”
“How did you…”
“I-is it because you’d be exposed as Rude if you sold them?”
Rude had a bad reputation for hoarding items alone. Was that the only problem? Rude never sold high-grade items on the market.
Everyone had various speculations about the reason. Some said Rude was looking for items from specific boss monsters, others said he displayed the items at home.
But Kang Ihyeon, who had seen Rude’s true form, thought he understood.
‘You can’t sell high-grade items because the name on the documents is different!’
Don’t underestimate the National Tax Service of Korea. The National Tax Service knows everything people do. They just turn a blind eye.
The transactions between hunters were strictly managed by the state to the extent that Nari couldn’t freely sell items.
Especially for high-grade items, the National Tax Service received reports on which guild sold and bought what, or if it was a private transaction, how much money went into whose account. As expected of the Korean National Tax Service, they were really thorough about taxes.
The government was desperate to know Rude’s identity, so if items from gates that Rude had cleared appeared on the market, there was a high possibility that the government would trace back the seller.
If one belonged to a guild, they could buy and sell under the guild’s name, and taxes would be handled by the guild’s management, but in Rude’s case, there was no guild. Due to government tracking, even the black market couldn’t be Rude’s sales outlet.
“S-so what…!”
“If you join our Holy Order, you can sell items under the guild’s name!”
“…!”
Nari’s eyes wavered. That’s right, she was coming around a lot. Kang Ihyeon pressed on with his persuasion.
“Then… you can legally dispose of dungeon items without revealing your identity!”
Nari’s heart was wavering. The boss monster items piled up in her inventory flashed before her eyes.
How frustrating had the past years been, unable to dispose of them for fear of government tracking, only selling items from low-grade monsters. No matter how many she took down, it didn’t turn into money.
But if she joined the Holy Order, she could legally… H-how much would all this be worth…
[The Lord of Chaos laughs, saying our Nari indeed accepts negotiations for money.]The head of Shin Binnari, a monster born of capitalism who started running an alter ego for money, began to spin rapidly and then… stopped.
“Ah, but… Why are you asking me to join? You don’t even know who I am.”
Nari, who had been swayed by the clutches of capitalism, finally came to her senses.
This won’t do, Shin Binnari! Were you such an easy woman? Shouldn’t you have the utmost dignity, dignity!
“Huh? No, that’s… Of course you’re strong, and, and I really like you! I’m a really long-time fan! A-and our guild master is desperately looking for Rude! He says he wants to work together…”
“Then rejected. I don’t like it. You want me to wear an avatar all day to work with you? That’s troublesome.”
“Ah, c-couldn’t you just make the avatar appear with magic?”
“What? No! This is hard! Rude is like an idol from another world!”
“Another world… Huh? What did you say?”
“Ah, well… Anyway, it’s troublesome and I don’t like it. If that’s the reason, then no. I’ll just live like this.”
Nari looked at Kang Ihyeon with eyes that seemed to say, ‘What are you doing? Hurry up and write the contract.’ I-I can’t lose here!
Kang Ihyeon steeled his resolve. He wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away. He would fulfill that dream of working together with Rude!
“A-and… If you join our Holy Order, you can solve many things!”
“What, selling dungeon items?”
“N-not just that… Like conflicts between hunters…”
“I’m the strongest, so why bother.”
Nari scratched her ear with an uninterested attitude. Th-this isn’t it. Kang Ihyeon quickly pulled out another card.
“H-holiday gifts and such…”
“That’s a bit tempting, but… It’s just ham gift sets, right? Our manager gives those too.”
“No! Much better things than that…”
Nari yawned. This failed too! He must quickly find what Rude wants. Kang Ihyeon racked his brains. Being one of the top 4 guilds, there must be something Rude would like!
“We can also… control the media…!”
“…Media?”
Nari turned to look at Ihyeon. Ihyeon’s eyes blinked at the different attitude from just a moment ago. Th-this is it. This is it! I’ve found Rude’s weak point!
“Yes! Our guild has a PR department. They manage posts and internet news and such. Since we’re public figures… We tend to clean up accidents involving hunters too…”
“H-hmm… That does sound… good…”
Nari put her hand on her chin and pondered seriously. Rude was popular, but she also had many anti-fans. Due to her nature, Nari never responded to rumors about herself, so she was weak against political maneuvering.
Moreover, since Rude started operating in southern Gyeonggi Province, housing prices there had skyrocketed.
Rude’s area of appearance was southern Gyeonggi Province. Activity time was from 10 PM to 6 AM. There was speculation that Rude’s constellation was an evil god, so she only appeared at night, but it was just because her convenience store part-time job ended then.
Anyway, Rude had been responsible for the nights of Gyeonggi Province for 6 years. This meant that the rest time of Gyeonggi Province hunters was guaranteed for a certain period.
So many hunters flocked to Gyeonggi Province for work-life balance. As hunters gathered, people followed.
That’s how housing prices in southern Gyeonggi Province skyrocketed.
As people’s resentment grew, it became quite troublesome from a political standpoint. Originally, when there was an internal enemy, creating an external problem would solve it.
Therefore, the government decided to manipulate public opinion negatively and blame a new hunter as the cause.
A secretive hunter who wasn’t affiliated with any guild, presented false documents, and had unknown origins was a perfect target to attack. Especially if that target didn’t react to rumors at all.
That’s how Rude was pointed out as the number one contributor to the rise in housing prices in southern Gyeonggi Province.
Think it’s no big deal to be criticized online? You’ll think differently once you experience it.
Moreover, it was organized criticism centered on the upper echelons and malicious image-making. No matter how great a hunter was, there was no defense against political maneuvering and keyboard warriors.
Like a boiling pot, posts defending and criticizing Rude crossed over. People tend to demand more when given one thing.
Some even said that Rude should patrol dungeons not just in Gyeonggi Province but throughout Korea, and that it was the duty of the number one ranked hunter.
In the end, only after a video was uploaded to a video site of Nari appearing as Rude and declaring in a dungeon that she would completely disappear if people kept blaming her did people start defending Rude and turn their criticism towards the National Assembly.
The period of criticism due to housing prices was short but stressful. Nari still vividly remembered that time.
“If… Rude joins our Holy Order… Rude will also receive less unnecessary checks…”
Thinking rationally, joining the Holy Order seemed like a good way to maintain peace. However…
“I don’t want to.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t want to means I don’t want to. Can’t be helped.”
“W-why…?”
She didn’t want to. Just, just didn’t want to. Because Rude’s character would be ruined if she joined the Holy Order? Because it would seem like she’s now watching out for a large guild while pretending to be noble? Because she’d be criticized for being greedy for money?
No. It wasn’t that either. It was just…
‘Nari, mom’s going out. Don’t worry, our Nari. I’ll definitely save the Earth and come back, so wait for me!’
She just didn’t want to.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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