Episode 8: Hunter Association (2)
The money on the gift card was a whopping one billion.
Wow, I said I needed money, and they just tossed a billion at me. Is this even allowed? Won't I have to pay gift tax? Are S-class items exempt from gift tax too?
Feeling dazed, I pulled out the card and walked into the shopping mall.
The Hunter Shopping Mall occupied floors 3 through 6 of the Hunter Association building. You could purchase C-class and lower items on the 3rd and 4th floors, B-class items on the 5th, and A-class items on the 6th. Items from S-class onwards were sold only through auctions.
With plenty of money, I headed straight up to the 6th floor.
There were hardly any customers on the 6th floor. Instead, neatly dressed employees stood in rows spaced at regular intervals, maintaining a posture as straight as mannequins.
“Where are the contracts for S-class items?” I asked the female employee standing closest to me.
She responded with a picture-perfect, kind smile.
“I will guide you right away, sir. Would you like to come this way?”
The employee led me to a reception room surrounded by glass walls. Looking around, I noticed such rooms scattered here and there.
As I sat on the sofa, another female employee offered me a drink.
“Coffee, please.”
“Do you have a favorite type of bean?”
“Just Maxx would be fine…”
But the atmosphere suggested there wouldn’t be any instant coffee.
“Uh, I’ll have orange juice.”
Surely they wouldn’t ask for the orange variety.
Fortunately, the employee only asked if I wanted ice, squeezed a fresh orange right away, and served it in an expensive-looking glass.
It’s delicious.
It must be an expensive orange, right?
While I was sipping the juice, a man who appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties entered and bowed 90 degrees to me.
“I am Ki Yun-seo, the manager for the 6th floor of Hunter Shopping Mall.”
Even though the contract would likely be on the cheaper side for a 6th-floor item, the manager came in person.
Is this service a bit excessive?
The manager sat down opposite me with a sophisticated smile.
“It is rare for someone to look for an S-class contract, so you will have to wait about ten minutes. I have sent an employee down to the warehouse immediately, so please bear with me.”
“Ah, yes. It’s alright.”
I nodded.
After all, it was likely that few people would buy an S-class contract. Except for one, every S-class in our country was a Guild Leader.
Being scheduled to contract with such an S-class meant that I was either of a similar rank or deeply connected to them.
That must be why the person in charge rushed out barefoot to bow and scrape.
Not long after, an employee came over carrying a luxurious leather box.
“We currently hold five types of S-class contracts in our shop. The most popular one is the stat reduction type contract.”
The employee took a parchment contract out of the box, spread it out on the table, and said, “This contract contains the S-class curse skill of the S-class Hunter Clown Doll Manuela Schusler. If the conditions are violated, your overall stats will drop by 20% for one year. It is a powerful contract that cannot be escaped unless you use an SS-class curse nullification skill or item. Practically speaking, no one but the Saintess can break it. The contract is valid for up to 10 years.”
Wait, then does that mean I won’t face any penalties even if I break the contract?
My curse resistance was a whopping L-class. An S-rank curse wouldn't even tickle me.
The thought I could actually put this to good use crossed my mind for a moment, but I immediately dismissed it.
Not only would I never be the target of such a contract, but a 20% drop in F-rank stats wouldn't make much difference.
I might use it if it were an illegal contract where I had to stake my life, rather than an Association-certified contract that only reduced stats or skills. But I had no intention of going that far.
“We also have Skill Grade Down and Sealing Contracts. However, since they are limited to one skill of S-rank or lower, they are less effective against opponents with SS-rank skills. The Permanent Stat Reduction Contract is highly effective, but opposing hunters won't readily accept it.”
I suppose even if they intended to keep the contract, it would feel unsettling.
I bought one 1-year Stat Reduction Contract and one 1-month Skill Sealing Contract.
Fifty million won vanished in an instant.
Yet, 950 million won still remained.
What a shameless little brother of mine.
Though, since it was money I received, I would spend it gratefully.
“Please show me some equipment that increases Magic Power. Something I can wear regularly, with an Essence increase rather than a Ratio increase.”
Although equipment with a Ratio increase was much more valuable, it was useless to me.
My Magic Power was a mere 2. A +5 piece of equipment that wasn't even C-grade was far better than the +50% gear that top-rankers around the world would go crazy over.
Soon, high-end velvet-wrapped cases were placed on the table.
“These are all pieces of equipment with appraisal certificates from Park Ji-yeon, an A-grade appraiser affiliated with the Korean Hunter Association,” the person in charge said as they opened the case lids one by one.
While one could usually determine the performance of an item immediately upon equipping it, there were occasional cases where sellers tricked customers by claiming it was magic or a curse.
That was why expensive equipment came with these certificates attached.
“This is the Red Lumerus Ring. It is an A-grade accessory that increases the Magic Power stat by 30.”
Since Magic Power was a difficult stat to level up, even a mere 30 increase made it an A-grade piece of equipment.
With this one ring, I certainly wouldn't run out of Mana.
It’s ridiculously flashy.
The red gem embedded in the silver ring was the size of a quail egg. It was even framed with gems that looked like diamonds.
How am I supposed to wear this?
“This is the Auris Hall Bracelet. As expected, it is an A-grade accessory that increases Magic Power by 27.”
Following the bracelet woven with blue beads the size of a walnut, a dazzlingly sparkling sapphire necklace and a leather ribbon hair tie were thrust in front of me in succession.
Why is everything in such a state?
“As you know, the gender ratio of high-level hunters is more than double that of men, so simple accessories tend to sell out quickly.”
The person in charge made an excuse after seeing my crumpled expression.
Even so, this was too much. Besides, rings and bracelets were embarrassing to wear regardless of gender.
“This is the Black Fairy Earring. It is an A-grade accessory that increases Magic Power by 29. This is the last A-grade Magic Essence increasing item; other items are only C-grade or lower.”
Not even B-grade, but C-grade?
I stared at the Black Fairy Earring, deep in thought.
It was a simple earring consisting of nothing but a single black gem as small as a grain of rice.
I didn't like having to pierce my ears, but at this level, they probably wouldn't be very noticeable.
“What is the increase for Grade C?” I asked, just in case.
“There are increases ranging from 5 to 6.”
This wouldn’t do. The difference was too big. It needed to total over 10 to be usable.
In the end, I bought the Black Fairy Earrings.
The price was 230 million won. It was cheap for Grade A Magic Power-increasing equipment.
To think a price in the hundreds of millions is considered cheap—the world of high-level hunters is truly a different world.
Still, my heart fluttered slightly at the thought of making an unplanned overspend.
I didn’t need to pierce my ears; they equipped automatically when I held them against my earlobes.
With this, my Magic Power had now exceeded 30.
Besides that, I also bought gloves that increased HP and Strength, and a belt that increased Agility.
[Awakened Han Yujin]
Titles: Dragon Slayer (L), Perfect Guardian (L)
Level: 1
Stats:
HP: 6 (+51)
Strength: 4 (+20)
Agility: 5 (+16)
Spirit: 4
Magic: 2 (+29)
Equipment:
Black Fairy Earrings (A)
Manticore Leather Gloves (A)
Light Cloth Belt (B)
Skills:
Spirit Up (E): Target's Spirit +5% (Instant effect, cannot stack with similar or identical skills), Duration: 30 min
Agility Up (E): Target's Agility +5% (Instant effect, cannot stack with similar or identical skills), Duration: 30 min
Average stats at level 1, excluding Magic. That's Grade C.
It was an imbalance in HP concentration, but to see it jump three levels at once... Money really was good.
Of course, the grade would drop sharply as the level went up. That was why equipment that increased percentages was much more popular.
Even though I splurged on two more pieces of equipment, I still had nearly 500 million left.
I thought I could spend lavishly as soon as I got money, but surprisingly, it wasn't running out quickly.
Can't I use this gift card outside of this area?
I bought a set of 20 Low-Grade Mana Potions and a set of Life Potions as well.
And...
I should buy a weapon and armor while I'm at it.
With solid equipment, I should be able to clear at least the lower-tier F-rank dungeons.
My conscience pricked at the thought of spending my younger sibling's money recklessly, but my stats needed to hold up so I could help with their guild work.
It's all necessary.
Besides, since the Haeyeon Guild was mainly composed of High-Level Hunters, there would likely be almost no Essence-increasing equipment suitable for me. These were items I had to buy anyway.
“Please show me some dungeon equipment focused on Essence increase.”
Perhaps because there were so many varieties, a catalog was opened this time instead of the actual items.
There were various weapons, but only a few I could use.
Before my regression, I mainly used a spear. My basic combat style was simple: buffing from behind and thrusting with the spear.
I managed to capture and kill Rauchitas thanks to the combat skills Yuhyeon passed down to me, along with a fragment of his memories.
After much deliberation, I purchased a pair of daggers, a short spear, and light armor.
Since I couldn't wear these items regularly, I immediately put them all into my inventory.
The armor was fine, but if I got caught wandering around with dungeon weapons, I would face fines and penalty points.
If penalty points accumulated beyond a certain level, my Hunter license would be suspended, and in habitual cases, it could even be revoked.
Have I bought everything, pretty much? I don't have much money left... Ah, that.
There was something perfect for me.
“Do you have any items with poison mist or similar effects? Curses are fine too.”
Something that sprayed poison all around or caused blindness.
Since I could completely nullify them, I should use them if push came to shove.
At my words, the employee brought out a double-protected black orb.
“This is Black Poison Invincibility, wielded by S-Rank Hunter Venom King Run Ruihan. If you do not possess a poison resistance skill or item of A-Rank or higher, death occurs within 10 seconds of inhalation and incapacitation occurs within 5 seconds, depending on your poison resistance grade. It has an effective radius of 5 meters; using it outside of a dungeon will result in immediate restraint and may result in execution.”
Poison resistance skills and items were extremely rare, even at A-Rank, and at this point, S-Rank didn't exist at all.
So, even just having an A-Rank skill would be enough to take down most opponents.
That was, assuming there was no healer nearby.
“Is there no one with a wider effective radius?”
If it were around 100 meters instead of 5, I thought I could clear even a C-Rank dungeon alone with gear and skills, provided there were only melee monsters.
But from B-Rank onwards, it was swarming with monsters that could cover 100 meters in under three seconds, so that was impossible.
“Among the items currently on sale, this Black Poison Mist has the widest effective radius relative to its effect. Poison mist tends to have a narrow effective radius because it thins out as it spreads. The farther away you are from your opponent, the longer the time to death becomes, or the lower the poison grade drops. In the case of the Black Poison Mist, against F-grade monsters, it kills within 10 seconds and incapacitates within 3 seconds within a maximum range of 50 meters.”
Three seconds at 50 meters.
I suppose I could clear an F-grade dungeon.
Though I'd face a challenger.
“Most random-target wide-area curses have weak effects. Due to the nature of curses, they differ significantly from contracts that require conditions and direct signatures from the target. There are types where you can increase the effect by offering a sacrifice, though.”
“Forget about that.”
I intended to use this in an emergency. Who had the time to go around catching and offering a sacrifice?
In the end, I emptied my remaining funds to buy just three Black Poison Mist potions and stood up.
I took a step out through the glass door the employee opened for me.
“Rank F Hunter Han Yujin, who registered as an Awakened today, is being sought by Rank A Hunter Kim Seonghan. Please visit or contact the Missing Persons Protection Center immediately upon hearing this broadcast.”
An announcement looking for me blared out.
Fuck.
That bastard Kim Seonghan—I could overlook him using an announcement, but why the Missing Persons Protection Center?
He could have just told me to come to the main gate.
Muttering curses under my breath, I hurried toward the center, afraid a second announcement might play.
That bastard Kim Seonghan stood in front of the center like a gangster on a debt collection mission.
Parents looking for their children were going to get scared and turn back.
“Where have you been?” he said, frowning.
His expression and deep voice made it obvious he was furious, as if he were about to punch me at any moment.
If I hadn't resisted fear, I would have automatically screamed, “Please spare me.”
“To buy a contract. Didn't I tell you?”
“I didn't.”
“I forgot. I apologize.”
Kim Seong-han's face turned even more menacing at my half-hearted apology.
Hmm, surely he wouldn't swing that clenched fist, would he?
He was the older brother of the Guild Leader he served. He should not forget that.
“Do you have other business?”
What should I do?
It was still a long way from sunset, so should I head to Myeongdong Station to look for Park Yerim? Or should I go home first?
That bastard Yuhyeon said he'd make me move out. Surely he hadn't packed his things already.
“Please come to my house. The address is—”
“There’s nothing there, even if you go.”
Seriously?! They were just moving out without the landlord present!
“Where did you move all the stuff? To the Haeyeon Guild staff quarters?”
“They probably moved to a spare room in the Guild Leader’s quarters.”
I refused to live with a slightly deranged younger brother, though.
To think I was being dragged back home by the scruff of the neck by that younger brother—not even my parents—after living happily on my own.
Yuhyeon, let’s at least be half as distant as we were before the regression. Okay?
He should at least give me some time to adjust. It was just too sudden after eight years.
“…Then let’s head back to the guild for now. I’ll need to sort through my things.”
As I walked toward the elevator connecting to the parking lot to get in my car, people’s stares pierced my face.
Then came the whispering.
“Is that guy an F-class following an A-class?”
“What’s their relationship?”
“Kim Seong-han even went so far as to search for him on the broadcast. There’s definitely something going on.”
“Didn’t you say it was a Missing Persons Protection Center earlier? Missing at that age?”
Don’t laugh there!
Did they gather a bunch of gossipy humans instead of Awakened ones? You guys talked so much it was disgusting!
That damn F-class, F-class—it was enough to make my ears hurt.
Are you guys S-class or something?
With my Magic Power increased, I scanned the people around me.
As expected, F-class was everywhere my eyes landed.
Then again, since guilds recruited you immediately even if you were just C-class, they wouldn’t be idly loitering around here.
Guilds with some reputation accepted members starting from C-class. From B-class onwards, you got treated properly wherever you went, and they were desperate to recruit even just one more A-class member.
This one’s an F, that one’s an F, you’re an F… huh?
That man who just passed by!
[Awakener – Yoo Myung-woo Current Stat Grade: F Awakenable Stat Grade: F Optimized Initial Skills: Master of the Golden Forge (SS) — Acquisition Failed Sharpen Blade (A) — Acquisition Failed]
Master of the Golden Forge?!