Episode 9

The Second S-Class Member (1) is the ninth episode of The S-Ranks That I Raised webtoon.

Han Yoojin tries to make a contract with Bak Yerim, but is interrupted by her uncle.

Summary
Han Yoojin and Bak Yerim happily dig in to a big meal at a restaurant that Yerim has led them to; she notes that her uncle's restaurant's food isn't nearly as good. Moving on, Yerim asks why Yoojin has sought her out, rebuffing him when he tries to skirt around the question with vague answers. He lies that he was acquainted with her parents and wanted to repay their past kindness by helping her. He apologizes for turning up so late in life, but Yerim says it's fine, given that people exist who would backstab their own family. Yoojin continues with his explanation, telling Yerim that he used his skill and found that she has great potential as an Awakened person. He offers to sponsor her and get her into Haeyeon Guild; in order to convince her, he exaggeratedly draws a contract from his inventory, answering her excited questions about where he was storing it and what it's made of.

The terms Yoojin listed in the contract are that Yerim joins Haeyeon Guild, keeps Yoojin's skill a secret, and acts as his bodyguard. After some bickering, Yerim learns that Awakening would grant her an adult's rights and immediately agrees to sign the contract. However, Yoojin stops her, pointing out worriedly that she hasn't written down her own conditions and telling her she needs a guardian to avoid getting potentially exploited by unfair contracts and situations like this one. Upset, Yerim snaps that her guardian is the very person exploiting her, so it doesn't much matter if she signs an unfair contract anyway.

Before Yoojin can question her further, Yerim's uncle bursts into the restaurant, shouting for her. Furious, he storms over to their table and grabs Yerim, ready to drag her away. Yoojin gets between them and forces her uncle to back up, using the strength granted to him by his items. As he fends the other man off, he notices Yerim's suddenly withdrawn, downcast attitude, and realizes what she meant by her earlier remarks. Yerim frantically lists off the various ways in which her uncle has stolen her inheritance and mistreated her; other patrons of the restaurant who overhear her are stunned, noting that his actions should classify as abuse. Yerim's uncle is enraged by their comments and slaps Yoojin away, advancing towards Yerim; however, both of them freeze in shock when Yoojin takes the hit unexpectedly hard, falling to the ground.

Characters

 * Han Yoojin
 * Bak Yerim
 * Bak Sungtae (unnamed)

Objects

 * Contract designed for use on S-ranks
 * Manticore's Leather Gloves

Locations

 * Unnamed restaurant

Novel & webtoon differences

 * In the novel, Bak Sungtae does not confront Yoojin and Yerim at the restaurant, and they are able to peacefully sign a contract and Awaken Yerim. Instead, after her Awakening and registration at Haeyeon Guild, Yoojin seeks Bak Sungtae out himself and makes him promise to leave Yerim alone. The entire reveal of his mistreatment of Yerim occurs in relative privacy, rather than in public areas.