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[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 43: Jealousy (1)
Pop!
With a satisfying sound, the cork of the potion bottle shot off. Kwon Hanul raised the glass bottle filled with a sky-blue liquid and downed it without hesitation.
“Ahh.”
A refreshing sensation spread through his entire body, and the lingering headache vanished completely.
Joo Hayun handed him another potion with a worried look.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I think I’m going to live now.”
Kwon Hanul stood up from the ground. With his mental strength fully restored, he no longer felt any fatigue.
“What on earth happened in there?”
“I strained my already not-so-great brain trying to take down a Mud Troll. I guess it backfired.”
He spoke playfully, but Joo Hayun’s expression didn’t relax in the slightest—in fact, it grew colder.
“Kwon Hanul.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t mind if you keep things from me. But don’t do anything reckless. Promise me that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Not wanting to upset her further, Kwon Hanul replied quickly.
At that moment, the Dungeon Gate opened, and Kwon Jiseok burst out.
Without even glancing anywhere else, he ran straight to Kwon Hanul.
“Hey! What the hell did you do?!”
As if that wasn’t enough, he grabbed Hanul by the shoulders and shook him furiously.
“When I went in, all the Mud Trolls were dead! What did you do? Spill it—now!”
Joo Hayun looked at Kwon Hanul in shock.
Receiving both their intense gazes, Kwon Hanul replied nonchalantly, “You’re not seriously asking me to share such valuable information for free, are you?”
Kwon Jiseok flinched. As Hanul implied, demanding a dungeon strategy like that was simply bad manners.
“Come on, we’re family! Same clan and everything! Isn’t that worth sharing?”
“Even among family, some secrets are better left untold.”
Kwon Jiseok looked even more desperate. But Hanul had no intention of sharing.
He’d already decided to play dumb to conceal the existence of Bloodline of Vassal, his hidden ability.
“Well then, at least give me a hint...”
Jiseok’s plea was cut short. The Dungeon Gate opened again, and Catalina Blaga and Ruyn Aspadam stepped out.
“Little Dragon!”
The moment she emerged, Catalina beamed and ran over.
“You’re amazing! How did you manage to find and take down that many Mud Trolls?”
Kwon Hanul frowned slightly. This reaction wasn’t what he had expected at all.
“Catalina Blaga, no offense, but if things keep going this way, I’ll win the bet.”
“Well, of course you will. You’re more skilled.”
She replied as if it were obvious. Hanul wondered if his point had been understood correctly.
“White soil can always be obtained again. But talent like yours, Little Dragon? That’s one in a million. Especially...”
Catalina glanced over at Ruyn Aspadam.
“If you have the talent to beat someone with S-rank stats using only A-rank stats, well—that’s beyond rare.”
Ruyn’s face contorted even more.
“Catalina, I—”
“Ruyn, not now. I’m still talking with Little Dragon.”
Catalina cut Ruyn off coldly, without a trace of hesitation.
Ruyn clenched his fists in silence.
“What trick did you use? Is there some special tactic that works against Mud Trolls?”
“That’s a secret.”
“So cold.”
Catalina put on a mock-hurt expression. Beside her, Kwon Jiseok clutched his chest as if in pain.
Kwon Hanul shot Jiseok a sharp look as if to say, Don’t even think about doing anything stupid.
“Well, it’s fine. I can guess anyway.”
Guess?
Hanul looked puzzled. Suddenly, Catalina clapped her hands.
“Let’s summarize, shall we? The number of Mud Trolls Little Dragon killed was more than double what Ruyn managed!”
It was a landslide victory for Kwon Hanul.
But the bet wasn’t over yet.
“Neither of you has taken down the boss monster. So let’s continue the bet tomorrow. Sound good?”
Hanul had no objections to Catalina’s suggestion.
That’s what they originally agreed to—there was no reason to complain.
However, the disrespect he’d received from Ruyn Aspadam couldn’t just be ignored.
“I don’t mind.”
Hanul stared directly at Ruyn.
“I’m just worried that he’s going to have a rough day tomorrow.”
Ruyn gritted his teeth.
“Greenhorn. Don’t get cocky. You only know who’s better when it’s all said and done.”
“I just don’t expect much from you, that’s all.”
“What did you say?!”
Ruyn stormed forward, enraged. At that moment, Catalina spoke with an icy tone.
“Ruyn. Stop embarrassing yourself.”
“...Understood.”
“Little Dragon, I get what you’re trying to say. But we’ve already made a promise, haven’t we?”
Hanul nodded, indicating his agreement.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave. Let’s regroup tomorrow at 10 a.m. Oh, and one more thing...”
Hanul looked at her curiously.
At that moment, Catalina’s eyes glinted, her pupils turning crimson.
By the time he realized it, it was too late.
A wave of dizziness overwhelmed Hanul. The floor and ceiling spun wildly.
“How about joining me for dinner?”
Her words echoed in his head, scrambling his thoughts. His mind went blank, and it felt as if his body was melting—like being submerged in sweet, sticky honey.
This was the second time he had been exposed to Bloodline of Vassal, Catalina Blaga’s power.
He’d experienced it before, but its terrifying influence hadn’t diminished at all.
However—
<The True Bloodline of Vassal ignores lower-tier powers.>
Kwon Hanul’s mind immediately snapped back to normal.
“No, thank you.”
When Kwon Hanul rejected her, Catalina Blaga looked momentarily stunned.
But then, she quietly smiled and said in a soft voice, “Just as I thought.”
“You expected this?”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, since you said no, I guess there’s no helping it.”
With that, Catalina Blaga turned away without protest. As she walked off, she waved at Kwon Hanul.
“See you later, then.”
See you later?
Kwon Hanul raised an eyebrow in confusion. But before he could ask, Catalina disappeared with Ruyn Aspadam.
“Ahhh…”
Kwon Jiseok sighed in disappointment. Kwon Hanul held back from snapping at him.
Not just Kwon Jiseok—everyone else from the bloodline and staff were staring at Catalina’s retreating figure.
“...Sigh”
In contrast, Kwon Hanul let out a deep breath of relief. Only after she left did he feel like he could finally relax.
Catalina Blaga truly was a giant among giants. Even without invoking her Bloodline of Vassal, just being in her presence was exhausting.
“Hayun, did you arrange a place to stay?”
“I booked the royal suite at the hotel.”
“As expected, thorough as always. Let’s head back, then.”
Kwon Hanul got up and dusted off his pants. Joo Hayun began packing their belongings.
Watching them, Kwon Jiseok protested, “Hey, hey, you’re not seriously leaving me here while you go rest, right?”
“You’re the one in charge of the dungeon, aren’t you? Who knows what might happen—you should stay on standby.”
“Well, yeah, but you’re clearing the dungeon too…”
“I’ll be off, then.”
Kwon Hanul casually brushed him off and walked away.
He climbed into the waiting car.
The moment he sat down, fatigue hit him like a wave. Overusing the Bloodline of Vassal, and the unexpected encounter with Catalina Blaga—it was overwhelming.
What the hell is Catalina Blaga up to?
She claimed it was coincidence, but there’s no way that was true.
She clearly had investigated him beforehand and came looking.
‘Is she trying to recruit me?’
But if that were the case, her attitude felt too lukewarm—uncharacteristic for someone known as the Human Collector.
‘What’s more suspicious is how she treated Ruyn Aspadam.’
She kept comparing him with Ruyn, and subtly kept chipping away at Ruyn’s pride.
What’s her goal?
Just then, Kwon Hanul’s stomach growled. He looked out the window and made a decision.
‘Let’s eat first. Then rest.’
But that resolve was never fulfilled.
The moment he entered the hotel restaurant for a meal, he was met with a face he didn’t exactly welcome.
“Oh my, we meet again.”
Catalina Blaga was smiling brightly and waving.
“…”
Kwon Hanul was too dumbfounded to even feel angry.
Meanwhile, Catalina Blaga continued waving with her ever-cheerful expression.
“I wanted to spend time alone with you, Little Dragon. So I rented out the entire restaurant today.”
She gestured to the seat across from her, inviting him to sit.
Kwon Hanul stood frozen for a moment, then slumped into the chair.
“Oh my, you’re actually listening to me this time.”
“If I had it my way, I’d have just walked out.”
He glared at her and continued, “But I’m curious. Why are you being so persistent?”
“Why does a woman chase after a man? Isn’t it obvious? I’m interested in you.”
“…Hah.”
Kwon Hanul laughed in disbelief.
Interest from Catalina Blaga, the Human Collector? He’d rather she cursed him instead.
“I’m not interested in you. At all.”
He cut her off firmly. Ruyn Aspadam’s eyes immediately flared with murderous intent.
“Really?”
“Yes. So let’s not waste each other’s time. If you keep this up, it won’t end well for the Blaga family either.”
At that warning, Ruyn Aspadam bristled behind her.
But before he could act, Catalina raised her hand and stopped him.
“When two people like each other, what problem could that cause for the families?”
“That logic only applies to ordinary people. And I just told you—I have no interest in you.”
“Hearing that twice… Even I’m a little hurt now.”
Catalina dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Kwon Hanul knew it was an act, but still felt a flicker of discomfort.
Just for a moment.
“Feelings between a man and woman can grow slowly. Talking, dining together… or even sharing the night.”
There was something suggestive in the way her hand rested on the table.
Without him noticing, Catalina Blaga was lightly tracing her finger over the back of his hand.
Kwon Hanul pulled his hand back and spoke sharply.
“Get to the point.”
“How about we join forces?”
Kwon Hanul stared, suspicious.
Catalina’s eyes twinkled as she added, “I’ll be your sponsor, help you expand your influence within the Hyukcheon Family.”
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[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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