Chapter 06
Not only the building, but part of the road was blocked off by a control line.
Surrounding it, I could see a large crowd of onlookers.
“What are they all gathered here to see?”
Through the gaps in the crowd, I could see workers clearing away debris.
“Is this where the monster appeared?”
“Yeah. They say it was a Yeti!”
“A Yeti?!”
“Yeah. Would you be able to walk around if you were scared?”
“Right. And what about that convenience store owner?”
“The Association will probably compensate him?”
“Still, the damage must be huge, right?”
“Probably.”
The crowd murmured.
The convenience store owner, who was clearing debris alongside the workers,
spotted me in the crowd and approached.
*-Ddubeok. Ddubeok.*
As he drew closer,
the murmuring crowd fell silent and began to slip away.
*’Geez. They were all gossiping a moment ago, but they run away when he comes over.’*
“Min-woo. Why are you here?”
“I was just curious about how things were going.”
At my words, the owner gave an awkward little smile and said.
“Well, the Association is helping out, but… I don’t know.”
“You’ll be able to restore it soon.”
“Yeah. You’re sure you’re okay, right?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“Good. That’s all that matters.”
“Boss? What will you do about this?”
“I should get back to it. I’ll contact you later.”
“Okay. Take care.”
And so the owner headed back to the building.
*’Tsk. He’s a good person, it’s a shame.’*
He was the one who always made sure I didn’t go hungry while working,
always packing me food and snacks.
Seeing him from behind as he managed the situation,
I felt a pang of pity and regret in my chest.
*’I should buy him a meal sometime.’*
Pushing aside the bitter feeling, I was about to turn around when
I heard a voice in the distance.
“Hyung-nim!”
At the booming voice, Cheonhwi, who was inside my padding, unzipped it and poked his head out.
*-Jiik.*
[That voice belongs to the pathetic one, too.]
Choi Jin-ho came running in, waddling.
*’How is he younger than me…’*
He looked at least ten years older than me.
He seemed to be balding,
his thin hair making him look even older.
And despite his massive frame, he was running on short legs,
sweating in the middle of winter.
*’All I can do is sigh.’*
“Huff. Hah. Hyung-nim. You… huff… came early… huff.”
[If that one runs a little more, he’ll be meeting the King of Hell.]
“Don’t talk, just breathe.”
For the Association to believe a guy like this had dealt with a Yeti…
Truly amazing.
Catching his breath, Choi Jin-ho wiped his sweat and said.
“Phew… Hyung-nim, you came out fast.”
“Yeah. Let’s go to that café over there and talk.”
“Yes.”
So I headed with Choi Jin-ho to the café in the next building.
*-Ttalang.*
“Ah-ah. What about you?”
“I’ll have a strawberry smoothie with lots of whipped cream. Hyung-nim, can I get a cake too?”
With a face that wouldn’t look out of place ordering herbal tea,
he ordered a strawberry smoothie.
I unconsciously shook my head slightly.
“Get whatever you want. You’re paying for it anyway.”
“I am? Weren’t you going to treat me?”
“Why would I?”
“…Understood. I’ll have a tiramisu too.”
“That will be 22,000 won.”
Choi Jin-ho glanced at me and then held out his card.
“Here you go.”
*’What are you glaring at me for?’*
Ignoring him, I found a seat and sat down.
Soon after, Choi Jin-ho, having paid, came over and sat down.
*-Peok.*
*-Kkiiik.*
The chair creaked under his weight,
but there was nothing I could do about it.
“Did you bring it?”
“Yes. Here you go.”
Choi Jin-ho held out a small shopping bag.
Inside was an envelope and some magic stones.
*’The envelope looks thinner than I thought?’*
Curious, I began to check the money inside.
Seeing this, even Cheonhwi seemed interested.
He immediately asked.
[So, how much is in there? Is it enough to lift this curse?]
Did he think I’d get that much from taking down just one D-class Yeti?
It was enough for the basic capital to make potions.
*’1 million won?!’*
“Hey! Are you sure you brought everything?”
“Of course! Hyung-nim! Would I dare touch your money?”
“Are you sure? You didn’t pocket any of it?”
“I’m telling you the truth! Do you want to see the deposit details?”
“Yeah. Show me.”
At my firm reply, Choi Jin-ho’s eyes wavered.
“Hyung-nim! We have trust between us, this is too harsh!”
“Trust? What trust is there between us?”
At my words, Choi Jin-ho held out his smartphone with a look like he was about to cry.
[Depositor: Hunter Association]
[Deposit Amount: 1,000,000 Won]
“…You’re right.”
“See?”
*’He looks like he’d skim some off the top…’*
I never thought he’d actually bring it all.
At that moment, the vibrating bell rang.
*-Deureureuk.*
“Go get the drinks.”
“Yes…”
With a sullen look, Choi Jin-ho went to get the drinks.
[Why so quiet? Answer this Venerable One’s question at once!]
“It’s 1 million won. That’s barely enough for material costs.”
[What?! I was suspicious because you were making such a fuss. As expected, those piddling beasts don’t earn much.]
“Right. It really doesn’t earn much.”
At that moment, Choi Jin-ho brought the drinks and set them down in front of me.
“Hyung-nim. Here you go.”
“Yeah.”
“What were you muttering about?”
“That’s none of your business. But why is the bounty so small?”
“It’s the Association, isn’t it? They give big bounties to high-ranked Hunters. Would they give much to low-ranked Hunters like us?”
I had no choice but to agree with Choi Jin-ho’s words.
That’s just how the Association was.
*’No. That’s just how the whole world is.’*
Of course, the Association was particularly bad,
but that’s just the way of the world. Who could I blame?
*’Enough with the useless thoughts.’*
I took a sip of coffee and pulled out the magic stones from the shopping bag.
They were about half the size again larger than the grade 9 magic stones.
*’The price was about ten times more, wasn’t it?’*
As I fiddled with the magic stones, Choi Jin-ho asked.
“Is there something wrong with the magic stones?”
“No. Just thinking.”
*’What should I do with these?’*
I could sell them to the Association right away, but they wouldn’t fetch much.
*’I might need them later. I’ll just keep them.’*
*-Deureureuk.*
“You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. It’s not like we’re buddies, you and I.”
“Yes. Go ahead, Hyung-nim.”
As I headed outside,
I faintly heard Choi Jin-ho muttering to himself.
“Aish! ‘Hyung-nim’ my ass! He didn’t even pay for the coffee and left!”
*’What? ‘Just the coffee’? Do you know how expensive that one drink was?!’*
“Aish! I really picked the wrong person to mess with.”
*’Picked the wrong person? You. We’ll meet again soon. You old-looking 22-year-old.’*
And so, I left the café, mentally recording Choi Jin-ho’s muttering.
—
*-Kkiiik.*
As the door opened, the smell of mildew hit my nose.
*’Why does it feel warmer outside?’*
*-Jiik.*
*-Poljjak.*
Cheonhwi landed on the floor.
*-Tadadak.*
He immediately headed for the blanket and grumbled.
“You fool. The floor is freezing. Hurry and get some firewood.”
Listening to Cheonhwi’s grumbling, I set down the luggage I was carrying.
“Winter is naturally cold. And isn’t it enough that your spot is warm? Do you really need to heat the whole floor?”
“Aish. To think I have to live with such a miser. This Venerable One is deeply worried about his future.”
“Just bear with it a little. I spent all the money I had buying potion ingredients.”
“Do as you please. What more can I say to a miserly slave to wealth?”
Despite his dignified tone,
he was curled up in a small, adorable ball on the electric blanket.
*’If I said he was cute here, he’d go crazy…’*
Finishing that thought, I began to organize my luggage.
*-Tudeok. Tuk.*
Various herbs, grade 9 magic stones, and even bottles to hold the finished potions.
I had spent all my money, not just the bounty, to buy them.
“Shall we begin?”
Material costs that were only half of what others would pay.
But if the profits were the same…
What a beautiful way to make money.
The only headache was having to refine this large amount of magic stones one by one.
“Refine!”
Magic emanating from my hand began to seep into the magic stones.
As I focused my mind and continued refining,
I heard Cheonhwi’s voice.
“Tsk. Tsk. Look at him, every bit the miser. Look at what he’s doing. I go through the trouble of piercing his ley line, and he just sits there doing that.”
—
*-Ddubeok. Ddubeok.*
Early morning.
With a box in hand and a small, cotton-ball-like cat sitting on it,
I entered the Association building amidst the bustling crowd.
“When does it start?”
“Please wait a little longer.”
“Ah. Where’s the ticket machine?”
“Over there.”
“Where’s the Hunter re-evaluation?”
Unlike my previous visit,
the Association was noisy.
[The dawn has barely broken, yet why are so many gathered here in such commotion?]
“Yeah. There are a lot of people here this early.”
[This Venerable One will rest, so you handle it yourself.]
Even though he couldn’t do it himself,
he still told me to do it.
But what could I do?
He was my benefactor, so I had to put up with this much.
“Okay. Sleep well.”
I took a number ticket and sat on a chair to wait.
I rubbed my drooping eyelids and checked my number.
[19]
Even though the counter wasn’t open yet,
nearly twenty people were already here.
*’My hands feel numb…’*
I’d refined so many magic stones
that my hands didn’t feel like my own anymore.
I closed my eyes lightly and waited for my turn.
*-Ddingdong.*
“Number 19, please come to counter 4.”
The faint call sound.
I must have dozed off.
My neck felt stiff, and my whole body felt heavy like a waterlogged sponge.
I hurriedly came to my senses and stood up.
“Yes.”
I grabbed the box and Cheonhwi, who was still asleep, and headed to the counter.
“Hello. How may I help you?”
“I’d like to sell some potions.”
“There is an appraisal fee for selling potions. Is that alright?”
“Yes.”
“Please place them on the counter.”
Following the employee’s instructions, I placed the box on the counter.
The employee’s eyes widened as they looked at it and asked.
“Is this cat perhaps…?”
“Ah! I’m sorry.”
I lifted Cheonhwi, who was sleeping on the box, and said.
[How dare you disturb this Venerable One’s deep sleep?!]
“It’s just a cat. Not a pet.”
“Ah. Okay.”
“I want to sell all the potions in the box.”
The employee opened the box at my words and began to check.
“Heeek! That’s quite a lot of potions!”
“Ah. Yes.”
The visibly surprised employee looked me over with curiosity.
“It will take some time to appraise them all. Please wait a moment.”
The employee immediately began appraising the potions with the appraisal device.
*-Ddiring. Ddiring.*
After a long while,
the appraisal finished, and the employee spoke while looking at the documents.
“All 30 bottles have been appraised as grade 5 recovery potions.”
“Yes.”
“The selling price for each potion is 80,000 won, with an appraisal fee of 10,000 won each, totaling 2.1 million won. Please sign the sales documents here.”
*-Sasak.*
“Would you like it all in cash? Or should I transfer it to your account?”
“Just give me cash. I need it for something right away.”
“Okay. Just a moment.”
*-Ttarararak!*
The sound of the counting machine rang briefly,
and then a stack of bills was placed on the counter.
“Here is 2.1 million won.”
“Thank you.”
I tucked Cheonhwi in my arms, took the money, and left the counter and the Association.
[How much did you earn?]
“After subtracting the material costs, I earned about 1 million won.”
[What?! You only earned that much? And in which lifetime are you going to break this Venerable One’s curse at this rate?!]
Only that much.
I had earned 1 million won in a single day.
*’In two days, I’d make a month’s salary from the convenience store.’*
Of course, compared to my goal, it was a small amount.
“Then you should have helped me.”
[What?! You dare tell this Venerable One to work?!]
“Someone who slept while I worked all night said I only earned this much. Isn’t that the case?”
[Kyaaak! You!]
Cheonhwi bristled all over and hissed.
At this sight, passersby looked over.
“Wow. So cute.”
“Maybe I should get a cat too?”
People’s reactions were completely opposite to the serious Cheonhwi.
This was the reason I put up with Cheonhwi.
*’Yeah. This is why people go crazy for cats.’*
[You. You seem quite amused, don’t you?]
As Cheonhwi’s telepathy echoed in my head,
goosebumps rose all over my body.
*’Ah… He’s angry. This is going to be a problem.’*
“Cheonhwi-nim? You must be cold. I’ll take you home right away.”
It was time for my finely honed social skills to shine.
That way, I’d survive.
[Are you truly satisfied with such paltry sums of money?]
His words stopped my footsteps heading home in their tracks.
