"So are you saying that being able to clear the S-rank gate was partly due to luck? Don't you think that's too much of an exaggeration?"
"It's true. If it had been a boss battle, defense, or offense type, it would have been impossible. It was only clearable because it was a concept type."
Melanie frowned as soon as she heard the nonsense that came on TV.
"I'd like to ask why, if possible?"
"It's not a difficult explanation. For concept types, if the clear conditions are revealed, the difficulty drops dramatically."
This was true.
Concept types were ambiguous in many ways compared to other gate difficulties.
First, the level of monsters that appear is A to B rank.
In other words, it had the characteristic of suddenly dropping in difficulty once the clear conditions were revealed.
'Actually, the principle is to clear concept types with a small elite force.'
It was correct, but it was impossible not to be annoyed.
They didn't mention things like there being no casualties, or how it was a wonderful gate clear through various collaborations, but talked about luck first.
It sounded like saying anyone could clear it if they just had luck.
The TV host also seemed to think that statement was very dangerous, as he was sweating nervously.
However, the hunter who didn't notice that atmosphere continued speaking.
"Cadet Baek Taeyang... was it? From the department store monster incident before, and this incident too... it's undeniable that he's capable. But you can't deny the element of luck either. Just look at what happened this time. No matter how you look at it, it's clearly a skill. It's a skill obtained after ranking 1st in contributions. But how is everyone's reaction so uniformly positive... This is the same as driving an armed tank on the streets!"
This wasn't wrong either.
'But it's not appropriate for the current situation.'
There was nothing incorrect in what the hunter guest said.
The problem was that it wasn't appropriate for the situation.
The morning TV show "Strong and Powerful Morning! HOT Rookies!" was a program that analyzed rising superstars.
It was a very popular program that analyzed and investigated rising rookie awakened ones.
The biggest characteristic was that they invited related celebrities when investigating the rookie awakened ones.
"Are you saying Cadet Baek Taeyang is dangerous? I can't just let that slide. Besides, hasn't it already been decided that riding summoned mounts is fine as long as traffic laws are followed? I don't understand why you're trying to make this an issue again."
If you had to pick the most famous person related to Baek Taeyang, this person would never be left out.
It was Chairman Choi Youngnam of "Nest", one of the top three multi-purpose corporations in Korea.
'The rumors that he's completely on Baek Taeyang's side were true.'
There were also rumors that he was using him for the company's image, but looking at his current attitude, that was all false.
The sincerity was evident in the person openly frowning and glaring at the hunter.
"Wow, it's spring outside but it feels like summer in here, so hot. Hunter Lee Hyotae has pointed out the dangers, while Chairman Choi Youngnam seems to highly value the stability shown by the rookie's actions so far. I think these are all valid points that can be made, given that the rookie has inevitably been involved in several major incidents recently."
The host quickly wrapped up the conversation before the atmosphere could get too heated.
In Lee Hyotae's case, he was full of hostility towards Baek Taeyang, and the reason was quickly revealed.
He was the hunter picked as the catalyst for Baek Taeyang's awakening.
Though no video footage remains, as Baek Taeyang rose, that incident was brought back into the spotlight.
He bore the dishonor of being a '5th rank hunter beaten by a non-awakened', and had appeared on the TV show to try to restore his honor.
'He didn't even break even.'
He had probably planned to appeal that 'I'm an unfair victim' while tearing down Baek Taeyang's violent tendencies and actions.
But all of that was thwarted by Chairman Choi Youngnam's appearance.
It was almost unfair to pit a 5th rank hunter who bounced between D-F rank dungeons and gates against the chairman of a global conglomerate.
"How is the recruitment of Kim Minsu going?"
"Miss, Cadet Kim Minsu hasn't shown any particular intention yet. It seems likely he'll side with Miss So Yumin."
It was a TV show she watched to see if there was any information to be gleaned about Baek Taeyang.
But besides some basic information, nothing was revealed, so the conversation kept flowing towards predicting his future actions.
Seeing there was nothing more to watch, Melanie turned off the TV and finished preparing to leave.
"Then what about Baek Taeyang?"
"Given that there's been no contact at all with Chairman Choi Youngnam, it seems he's unaffiliated."
"Then I should try approaching him. Please go directly to Baek Taeyang."
"Yes, understood."
The global awakened weapons manufacturing company 'Kaiban' was always thirsty for rookie models.
Because rookie models are cheap, and if they happen to take off, the return is huge.
It was Kaiban's tradition to use the most promising cadet from each country as a model.
So naturally, the model candidate recently chosen by Kaiban's chairman was Kim Minsu.
Though his looks and personality weren't certain, the keyword [Hero] was too attractive.
But because So Yumin was always with him, they couldn't openly recruit him.
"If he takes the bus, it should take at least 30 minutes... He should be coming out soon, Miss."
"Good, let's wait."
A big fish named Baek Taeyang had appeared.
Kaiban's chairman hadn't told Melanie about this.
How could he use his own daughter as a business tool?
'I'll try it myself.'
Melanie already knew her father's intentions.
He was a father who never scolded her even when the company almost collapsed due to her unskilled use of abilities.
If she couldn't actively seize even small opportunities like this, she would have no face to show.
'I don't plan on doing anything from the start.'
It was a simple matter of just becoming acquainted.
Since they had cleared a gate together, there shouldn't be any difficulty in communicating.
Of course, she hadn't been able to watch the situation to the end because she had fainted.
"Miss, Cadet Baek Taeyang is coming out."
Melanie was overflowing with confidence.
Though she didn't say it outright because it felt like gilding the lily, she knew she was beautiful.
Even Kim Minsu had stuttered when he first met her.
Not just Kim Minsu, but all men were like that.
It was an inevitable phenomenon for cadets receiving character education, as they had little experience with the opposite sex.
Though Baek Taeyang hadn't gone through that process, she thought he'd be the same.
'All men are the same anyway.'
They were bound to fall for a pretty woman coming on to them.
Just then, Baek Taeyang came out of the dormitory building.
As she was about to approach naturally in the limousine.
"Rocinante."
"Huh?"
Baek Taeyang summoned Rocinante very naturally.
Even if he didn't say anything, to summon it so naturally?
She couldn't even react as he mounted Rocinante without hesitation and instantly accelerated.
"Follow him right now!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
It was so fast even the driver was surprised.
'But he's still following all the rules even at that speed.'
It felt like watching a Busan taxi driver she'd only heard rumors about.
It wasn't illegal, but he was dancing on the edge.
Moreover, when there were more cars around, he suddenly rode the motorcycle like a gentle lamb.
"We'll have to cause a fender bender to talk to him."
At this rate, all of Melanie's plans might go up in smoke.
She had planned to have him ride in the limo and chat while slowly driving, but he was going too fast.
"Then I'll make contact when he turns left."
"Alright."
The driver's situational judgment was quick and accurate.
His experience showed in boldly cutting in when Baek Taeyang turned left to make him stop.
Pulling over to the shoulder afterwards was perfect.
"I'll take it from here."
Finally, Melanie checked her face one last time.
Clear sapphire-like eyes and elegant blonde hair in a bun.
Perfect.
"You, get in my car right now."
When she spoke while lowering the window, Baek Taeyang was speechless.
Well, he must be surprised seeing such a beautiful Western face for the first time.
"Don't just stand there dumbfounded, deactivate your skill and get in quickly."
Melanie was really confident.
Though she had no dating experience, she thought she could make any man fall for her.
That's what she thought.
++++++++++++++++++++++
'Is she crazy or what.'
Where does this confident attitude come from when she almost caused a big accident?
Judging by her expression, she had intentionally induced a fender bender.
Telling me to deactivate my skill and get in, she must have wanted to create a place for conversation.
"Um... Miss Meliny."
"It's Melanie."
"Ah, I'm sorry. Miss Melanie... We may not be strangers, but we're not close either. Isn't this too rude?"
Getting close to Melanie would be very troublesome.
'Then she won't be able to connect with Kim Minsu.'
The goal was to snatch her away right before things were finalized with Kim Minsu.
But what if I conquered her before things even started? The quest itself wouldn't progress.
I can't just spread a harem to ruin Kim Minsu's pure love.
'Seducing a girl like this is really no big deal.'
She seems to be acting like this relying on her looks, but she's barking up the wrong tree.
These are actions that would only work on a virgin like Kim Minsu.
'I've slept with your lower-grade versions a lot in Itaewon.'
She was similar to the girls wandering around like Pokémon NPCs on Halloween.
Memories of easily heading to motels after exchanging a few words and having a few drinks at bars resurface.
Not much conversation was needed. We were just spreading our legs after seeing each other's faces anyway.
"I'm sorry, but let me get straight to the point. Baek..."
Ding!
"Ah, excuse me for interrupting. I got a text..."
[Yu Sujin]
>Taeyang, I'm sorry I didn't see your text yesterday when I tried to reply ㅠ...
>I thought you wouldn't contact me because of such a big incident...
>Are you okay? The news articles were really big so I was very worried.
>We had a dungeon tour yesterday too ㅠㅠ... Anyway, I'm really sorry for not replying
>You're not mad, right? Hm? ㅠㅠ...?
>(Emoticon of a small puppy wagging its tail and holding an 'I'm sorry' sign)
Many people misunderstand that 'an alpha male's life is always full of first contacts'.
This was half right and half wrong.
Because it's most effective to always contact first in the beginning.
You need to make them think 'This man is interested in me' and properly open their heart.
After that, even if you don't contact often, they remember the initial interest and naturally contact you first.
'Of course, I'm not playing around with Sujin.'
It was just a habit.
There was no reason to use the bad habits from Earth on pure Sujin.
She was the first woman I had a relationship with after coming here, so I wanted to treat her preciously.
[Yu Sujin]
>Okay! Okay! I'll definitely reply right away.
>(Emoticon of a puppy making a heart with its tail)
A smile automatically forms at the corners of my mouth at the cute emoticon.
After smiling more deeply than usual, I immediately changed to a serious expression when looking at Melanie.
It was a method of creating distance by making a clear temperature difference.
Something like, you're not someone who makes me smile.
"Yes, so what did you want to say straightforwardly?"
"Our Kaiban company would like to make you a model offer."
A model, huh. I did get a contact from Chairman Choi Youngnam once.
I refused then because I didn't know anything about the world.
'Wait, this could actually be an opportunity.'
Melanie and Kim Minsu had some connection in the novel's setting.
To skip that and make a model offer directly to me? That's impossible.
'They must have offered to Kim Minsu first and got rejected, so they came to me.'
I could guess the reason.
Yumin was there too, and since he's a sucker protagonist, he'd need various triggers.
This meant that with just a trigger, I could immediately connect Melanie and Kim Minsu.
"Didn't you contact Kim Minsu first?"
"What? How did you..."
"I'd like to talk about the details in the car, if that's okay?"
"Y-yes! Please come in."
For a virgin to dare try to control me, she was too arrogant.
After reverse summoning Rocinante, I waited for the limo door to open.
'I'll become a thorough object of comparison.'
She would inevitably compare when meeting Kim Minsu right after meeting me.
I just needed to make her think of me even at the moment she tries to make Kim Minsu a model.
When she keeps feeling regretful and the thought that Kim Minsu isn't enough dominates her mind!
'That's when I'll intervene.'
The distance to the S-rank gate takes about 20 minutes when driving slowly.
Handling one virgin in 20 minutes? That's nothing.
'I'm helping your love life, Minsu.'
Since I was the one helping with the harem, naturally I should be the one to cause its downfall too.
Look at the young lady panicking as soon as the flow of conversation turns this way.
She's just wearing a mask of haughtiness, no different from a country girl who just came to the big city.
'Even a rich young lady is no match for a real man.'
She didn't know.
What kind of being the man trying to sit next to her was.
You never know until it happens to you.
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