Chapter 12: The Side Effects of an S-Rank Buff

<Constellation, the King in a Suit wishes to connect.>

‘A Constellation? How did I not think of this! I could just make use of one of those Constellations clinging to me and begging for a contract.’

Baek Eun-hoo accepted the connection request immediately.

Mindful of Joo Ji-chan standing right in front of him, he sent a telepathic message without speaking aloud.

–Constellation, have you been well?

At Baek Eun-hoo’s sly, insinuating tone, the Constellation responded with a motion.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit is embarrassed.>
<Constellation, the King in a Suit asks what you need.>

Honestly, they really are easy.

–As you can see, I need teleportation. Can you help?

<Constellation, the King in a Suit offers it on the condition of a contract.>

A contract, when I’m busy as hell? Constellations really are a pain.

Baek Eun-hoo was barely holding up a barrier to block Joo Ji-chan’s attacks, and even that was reaching its limit.

Joo Ji-chan lifted one leg, clearly about to shatter the barrier.

The sole of his foot filled Baek Eun-hoo’s vision.

Still, no matter how urgent things were, he couldn’t recklessly enter a contract.

–I’ll think about the contract.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit sponsors 1 coin.>

<Due to the coin’s effect, Baek Eun-hoo’s body is transported to his home.
Transfer time: 20 seconds, 19 seconds, 18 seconds…>

The slow crawl of time made him increasingly impatient.

The barrier he’d struggled to form was on the verge of breaking under Joo Ji-chan’s assault.

At the exact moment Joo Ji-chan unleashed his final blow, Baek Eun-hoo’s body vanished.

“What? Where did he go this time?”

Joo Ji-chan blinked at the empty space where Baek Eun-hoo had been.

The barrier lay shattered, yet the man who should have been inside was nowhere to be seen.

Once he confirmed that his target was gone, his chest began heaving violently.

Heat surged up from his toes, threatening to engulf his entire body.

It was a physiological reaction eerily similar to when he had first awakened.

Unable to contain the boiling power, Joo Ji-chan dropped into a seated position and stared down at his body, writhing with desire.

“Damn it! f*cking awakening side effects.”

Joo Ji-chan, the undisputed number one among fire-type Awakeners, possessed both righteous character and blazing combat power.

Yet he suffered from a severe awakening side effect, an uncontrollable sexual drive.

After suddenly kissing that pretty-looking guy, his body was now no different from a beast in heat.

“Haa… haa…”

He exhaled deeply.

He sang the national anthem.

He slapped his own cheeks.

He smashed marble until it crumbled to dust.

No matter what he did, the heat refused to subside.

This was all because of that suspicious bastard, Seong Ju-an.

****

“Just wait till I get my hands on you. You’ll pay for this properly!”

Having been transported home, Baek Eun-hoo panted as he wiped cold sweat from his sleeve.

Despite not having taken a direct hit, his entire body ached as if he’d been beaten senseless.

This was the first time since awakening that he’d fled like this, and from another Awakener, not a monster.

If that bastard hadn’t buffed Joo Ji-chan, he could’ve blown him away with ease.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

Where on earth had that so-called Creator of Sacrifice gone?

If he’d just managed to contract with that Constellation, he wouldn’t have suffered today’s humiliation.

As Baek Eun-hoo ground his teeth and massaged his shoulder, the Constellation he’d almost forgotten sent another motion.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit smiles shyly.>

Baek Eun-hoo ignored it outright.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit places a hand on your shoulder.>

“Where do you think you’re touching?”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit looks flustered.>
<Constellation, the King in a Suit asks if you aren’t already under contract.>

A contract?

What a joke.

Baek Eun-hoo snorted.

“As far as I know, we haven’t signed anything yet.”

The status window went completely silent, as if the Constellation had been struck dumb.

If only it would give up here, but that was wishful thinking.

That broke Constellation never missed a chance to beg for a contract.

Until now, Baek Eun-hoo had pretended to be a decent guy, thinking there was no benefit in antagonizing Constellations.

But now that a coin-rich Creator of Sacrifice and an S-rank buffer had appeared, there was no reason to keep up the act.

Why would he abandon the Creator of Sacrifice just because this Constellation had tossed him a single coin?

For Baek Eun-hoo, who would do anything to achieve his ambitions, changing his stance was easier than flipping his hand.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit grows anxious.>
<Constellation, the King in a Suit asks if you’ve changed your mind.>

Baek Eun-hoo replied firmly.

“Changed my mind? That’s a bit hurtful. I never once intended to sign a contract with you.”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit protests that you agreed to a contract.>

Baek Eun-hoo smiled with his eyes narrowed, then abruptly hardened his expression.

“You want to contract with me?”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit nods vigorously.>

“Well then, what should I do? I’m rather greedy, you see…”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit asks what you want.>

“One hundred million coins.”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit jumps up and down in anger.>

Without changing his expression, Baek Eun-hoo added,

“My ideal Constellation is one generous enough to spend over a thousand coins without holding a contract hostage.”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit asks if you’re talking about the Creator of Sacrifice.>

Baek Eun-hoo nodded as if it were obvious.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit says the Creator of Sacrifice is no longer a Constellation.>

No longer a Constellation?

That couldn’t be right.

That Constellation was lying. Since awakening and entering full-fledged Hunter activity, Baek Eun-hoo had never once heard of a Constellation reverting back to an Awakener.

Having made his judgment, Baek Eun-hoo smiled coldly.

“You should lie a little more convincingly. A former Constellation suddenly not being a Constellation anymore? Didn’t expect you to be this underhanded.”

<Constellation, the King in a Suit is frustrated.>
<Constellation, the King in a Suit warns that you’ll regret this attitude.>

Though he was convinced the Constellation was bluffing, Baek Eun-hoo couldn’t completely ignore its words.

If they were true, then contracting with the Creator of Sacrifice would be impossible.

That would be a serious problem.

Pretending to think it over, Baek Eun-hoo shamelessly baited the Constellation.

“Then explain what happened in detail. If it sounds believable, I might consider a contract.”

Even if the Creator of Sacrifice truly didn’t exist anymore, he had no intention of contracting with the King in a Suit.

Still, to gather information, bait was necessary.

If he could learn something about the Creator of Sacrifice through this Constellation, he’d gain an edge over other Awakeners salivating over them.

<Constellation, the King in a Suit says it’s a secret of the world and can’t be revealed.>
<Constellation, the King in a Suit threatens that if you keep this up, you won’t be safe either.>

Hearing that only solidified Baek Eun-hoo’s conviction.

This Constellation was bluffing.

The poorer a Constellation was, the harder it would be to form parties with high-ranking Awakeners.

There was no way it would deliberately harm one of the few S-rank Awakeners, especially someone it had been drooling over.

Clicking his tongue, Baek Eun-hoo terminated the connection.

He knew Constellations never spoke about matters designated as “secrets of the world.”

Continuing the conversation would only waste time.

Still… was that guy with Mo Jun-young now?

At first, what bothered him most was the fact that the Creator of Sacrifice had been taken away.

Now, what worried him more was that buff.

“An S–rank buffer…”

What if someone other than him secured such a buffer first?

“Absolutely not.”

Baek Eun-hoo opened his inventory and took out potions one by one.

As he drank potions to restore stamina and heal his injuries, he steeled his resolve.

He would either find the Creator of Sacrifice and contract with them, or turn Seong Ju-an into his personal, exclusive buffer.

Ambition burned fiercely in Baek Eun-hoo’s eyes.

****

At that same moment, Seong Ju-an was being carried by Mo Jun-young as they raced down an unfamiliar road.

The Handshake skill’s duration was one hour.

At this speed, they’d leave the area entirely…

Mo Jun-young ran on and on, as if he’d forgotten how to stop.

It looked like he was intoxicated by the thrill of using a skill for the first time.

A side effect?

If so, he needed to stop him…

Awakening side effects varied widely.

Some were extremely unusual, but most manifested as indulgence, addiction, or obsessive behavior.

Even Mo Jun-young, who despised Awakeners and hated being one himself, seemed to be suffering from such a side effect.

Feeling pity for him, yet simultaneously thinking of how to use it, Seong Ju-an spoke.

“Mr. Mo Jun-young.”

As if he’d sold his soul to running, Mo Jun-young didn’t respond.

So Ju-an raised his voice.

“Mr. Mo Jun-young!”

“…Why are you calling me?”

“Pull yourself together. Are you trying to prove you’re an Awakener by going crazy over a buff?”

Screeeeech.

Mo Jun-young dragged his feet against the ground as he slowed down.

Dust billowed upward, making Ju-an cough.

“What did you just say?”

“I asked if you’re showing off awakening side effects just because you’re an Awakener.”

“Honestly… don’t say something so horrible.”

“Then get a grip. You were so blinded by the movement speed skill that you didn’t even know where you were running. Where exactly are we going?”