Holy B-Class Life

#086

… This is S-class?

While curses came in many varieties, this was the most threatening curse I’d ever seen. Despite not being life-threatening, it instilled extreme caution, befitting an S-class item.

Yoon Pa-ran sighed and stared blankly at the two items. Then, a new status window appeared.

*Set equippable

―When wearing the set, ‘All item effects’ increase by 400% compared to the wearer’s base stats

―When wearing the set, generates a special skill (permanent/random)

―When wearing the set, generates equipment-exclusive skill (temporary/random)

“… Wow.”

The effect was eye-popping enough to make him forget about the curse from earlier. Such powerful set effects were one reason why set items traded at high prices.

Moreover, the good thing about this item was that just by equipping it, you could permanently acquire a skill. Getting a skill just by wearing it, if you could endure the curse. If this became known, it would be valuable enough to put its owner in danger.

Suddenly, the clothes he was holding felt too heavy. As his gaze wandered uneasily, it landed again on the list of curses placed next to the set item’s advantages.

*Set curse list

―When equipped, produces an effect identical to consuming a powerful aphrodisiac.

―(Unlocked upon set item discovery)

―50% chance of developing a tendency to convert pain into pleasure.

―The above curses are determined anew each time the item is equipped.

―Once equipped, only those of S-rank can remove it.

“…”

Seeing it laid out like this, the item’s value seemed to plummet inevitably. An agonizing garment that you couldn’t even take off yourself due to its rank. Moreover, he had a strong feeling that the remaining undisclosed curse wouldn’t be any saner.

As a result, Yoon Pa-ran’s expression gradually became awkward. He was dumbfounded by why such curses were attached rather than something life-threatening that he could at least prepare for.

“How about it? It’s perfect for Hunter Yoon Pa-ran, right?”

Judging that he had read most of it, Dan Joo-hyuk whispered in a voice tinged with amusement.

Unfortunately, since the buff applied to water attribute skills, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t help feeling regretful. However, he cleanly put those thoughts aside. This wasn’t his item.

No matter what, he didn’t want to become a pervert who felt pleasure from being hit.

“No.”

With that thought, a rather firm answer flowed out compared to his regret.

However, Dan Joo-hyuk smiled even more deeply and said,

“Well, I don’t think there’ll be an owner other than you, Mr. Yoon Pa-ran.”

“Why? I can’t use it anyway because of the curse.”

No matter how much he insisted, it was unavoidable. The cost to unlock the curse would be excessive. And he couldn’t wear crazy underwear that he’d never be able to take off without someone else’s help.

Yoon Pa-ran shuddered as he looked at the underwear, not even knowing how to put it on. Just as he was about to put down what he was holding, Dan Joo-hyuk covered his hand with his own.

“Try holding the item while thinking about grasping that skill.”

“Huh?”

“Quickly.”

At the sudden words, Yoon Pa-ran reflexively used the [Sacred Energy] skill. It felt strange to use his power for a non-attack purpose.

Surprisingly, the item glowed white, following the light of [Sacred Energy].

Eventually, a new status window appeared before his eyes.

The Guardian’s Will has detected [Sacred Energy S]!

“Uh…?”

*[Sacred Energy S] Special Privilege Notification

―When wearing only two pieces of the set, curse immunity for [Sacred Energy] skill users.

―When wearing only two pieces of the set, ‘All item effects’ changed to 200% increase compared to the wearer’s base stats.

―When wearing two or more pieces of the set, skill generation effect maintained.

“Can you see it?”

“Huh? Uh…”

Feeling dazed, Yoon Pa-ran kept reading the status window. His eyes were strangely fixed on the words “curse immunity,” unable to look away.

“There’s a curse immunity option, right? While researching on the plane ride here, I noticed that appearing.”

“Uh…”

Although the set item effect had decreased, it was still a godsend. It meant he could aim for a threefold increase in ability without worrying about being trapped in strange underwear prison.

That level of power, even if not S-class, would be among the top A-class hunters.

“That special status window seems to only appear to those who can use this power.”

“Really?”

That meant it was an option that only the two of them could know about, unless there was someone else who could use [Sacred Energy].

Yoon Pa-ran kept swallowing dry saliva. Extremely tense, he took a deep breath.

“This works out well. There are two items. This tunic and the underwear.”

Looking at the curse list, the set seemed to consist of three pieces total. He didn’t know what the remaining equipment would be, but at least it probably wasn’t more underwear. If he could get two pieces, he would have preferred it to be the top and something else.

Anyway, this meant he could use this item too. He didn’t know why Dan Joo-hyuk was willing to hand it over to him, but an inevitable greed grew.

Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes shook wildly. When he looked at the underwear in his hand, he flinched, but when he saw the enticingly glittering status window, his expression went blank again.

Watching Yoon Pa-ran from the side, Dan Joo-hyuk soon approached stealthily again.

Then he whispered softly in his ear.

“Try putting it on.”

The moment he heard those words, Yoon Pa-ran snapped back to his senses.

Why was he just going along with examining the item?

“I won’t wear it.”

He quickly put the item down gently on the sofa. Not satisfied with just that, he deliberately stepped back a couple of paces as if cutting ties.

Dan Joo-hyuk was looking at him as if very puzzled. However, Yoon Pa-ran wasn’t fooled by that innocent gaze.

“What are you thinking?”

“What were you thinking to be so wary?”

He crossed his arms and tilted his head, smiling leisurely. Observing his relaxed demeanor, Yoon Pa-ran narrowed his eyes.

The premise was wrong from the start. Even if Dan Joo-hyuk had obtained the item because of the status window related to him, was there any reason to give it to him?

He must have been momentarily entranced by the S-class item. Trying hard to take his eyes off the item, Yoon Pa-ran asked seriously.

“Why are you acting like you’ll give this to me so easily?”

“Ah.”

Dan Joo-hyuk finally let out a strange exclamation. He slightly covered his mouth with his large hand.

That demeanor was somehow odd. The attitude as if he hadn’t thought of it was frustrating. There was no way the meticulous Dan Joo-hyuk would be like that.

He tried to gauge his intentions inwardly, but nothing particularly stood out. Then Dan Joo-hyuk finally dropped the awkward act and revealed his true colors.

“There’s something I want in return, you know?”

“Ugh…”

The laughter in that voice was a bit irritating. Honestly, Yoon Pa-ran couldn’t even begin to estimate what he should give in return for an item of this caliber.

It was priceless in terms of money. And he didn’t have anything of equivalent value to exchange it for.

What could Dan Joo-hyuk need?

“There is something I need right now.”

“W-What is it?”

Tense, Yoon Pa-ran swallowed dryly. His feelings were complicated, half hoping he could provide it, half hoping he could give up entirely.

As he waited quietly for the answer, Dan Joo-hyuk bent down to pick up the item and slowly approached. Coming right up to his face, he slightly lowered his head to meet his eyes.

Somehow, he couldn’t avoid that deep gaze.

“If you want to use this item, you’ll have to remain under contract with me like you are now.”

“…”

It was a much simpler condition than he expected. Yoon Pa-ran, who thought he would demand something grand, looked at Dan Joo-hyuk with a puzzled expression.

Perhaps reading that question, Dan Joo-hyuk smiled broadly and added an explanation.

“I don’t think this kind of thing will happen just once.”

“Huh?”

“This item wasn’t the only thing I got from this gate. It was in the news too, wasn’t it? That I obtained an SS-class item.”

“…”

“That’s true, and so I’m saying I’ll invest. Because you’ll continue to be interesting in the future.”

So the rumors were true.

The items that came out of the Russian gate were far more amazing than Yoon Pa-ran had imagined.

“Do you understand?”

Enough to nod involuntarily at Dan Joo-hyuk’s words.

Well, of course. There was no way he would give him such a good item without any benefit. If he had obtained an SS-class item in exchange for getting this, it was enough to have expectations for the future. Even he was coveting this S-class item right now.

Incidentally, it also meant that the skill-sharing contract with him would be extended indefinitely. Dan Joo-hyuk showed great interest in [Sacred Energy], trying to charge it as soon as he arrived. It would be a good method in many ways.

“Here.”

Although he finally understood the intention, Yoon Pa-ran’s eyes shook violently again.

Seeing the net-like piece of cloth in his hand reminded him of what he had forgotten.

“Put it on quickly.”

More than Dan Joo-hyuk’s real intentions, there was a more fundamental problem.