After Episode (2)
Jeonghyeon and Philip moved from the safe zone into the heart of the city.
This Seoul still retained the features of a modern metropolis for now, but in five years, it would begin incorporating Afraksas-style artifacts, gradually losing its mechanical urban look. Within ten years, it would fully transform into something straight out of Afraksas.
It was so bad that awakeners even suffered from a condition called urban nostalgia syndrome.
"Nice."
Jeonghyeon, who had lost so much of his humanity amid countless battles and mounting losses that he was one of the worst cases of urban nostalgia syndrome, found even just walking the city streets and breathing in car exhaust to be a form of healing.
"This smog-filled, soulless Seoul? Nah, give me the nature-friendly fields any day!"
"You'll get it soon enough. Enjoy it while it lasts."
Philip couldn't help but wonder about Jeonghyeon, who tossed out boomer complaints without a second thought.
"By the way, how old are you?"
"Twenty."
"...Seven years younger than me, and yet... um..."
"Boomer-ish?"
"No! Well... yeah, kinda boomer vibes."
"Kukuk. Jealous? Just drop the formalities then."
"Can I?"
"If you wanna get beat."
"Figured as much! Age is just a number!"
Chatting nonsense like that, Jeonghyeon and Philip headed down one alley in the city center.
The alley looked like any typical Seoul backstreet at first, but the deeper they went, the rougher the atmosphere grew.
Tattooed guys clutching steel pipes and puffing cigarettes at first stared them down piercingly. Then came people openly butchering monster corpses. Further in, acrid smoke thickened until they could barely see a foot ahead.
"Korea has places like this...?"
"Yeah. Maybe the ones who adapted to the gates faster than anyone."
Right then, a man blocked Jeonghyeon's path.
"Business?"
"Here to sell mana stones."
"..."
The man eyed Jeonghyeon and Philip alternately, then knocked on the wall.
"A-2 zone, two sellers!"
He stuck out his hand toward Jeonghyeon.
"Entry fee."
"Philip. Got cash?"
"Pardon? Well, yeah, but..."
"Give him a million won."
"A million?!"
"Do it."
A common misconception was underestimating black market gatekeepers.
The reality was the opposite.
Gatekeepers sized up sellers' attitudes and finances in an instant. If you seemed worthless, off to the low-grade market. If promising, straight to the good stuff.
All based on the gatekeeper's judgment.
So there was no downside to impressing them.
Especially in these early days—a million won could score big results. A few years later, even tens of millions might just get you dumped in low-grade.
"Here."
Philip pulled out his phone and transferred a million won to the small terminal in the gatekeeper's hand.
"I like your attitude."
The gatekeeper knocked the wall again.
"Route change. C-7 zone!"
Then he led the way.
"Follow me."
"Thanks."
***
The black market inside was cleaner than expected. Far from Philip's imaginings of organ trades and apocalypse survivors with spikes jutting from their shoulders—it was neater than outside.
Suits were common, and it felt like a vast underground mall with high ceilings flung wide open.
"This is the high-grade market. Low-grade's just like you pictured."
"Whoa. Reading minds now?"
"It's all over your face, kid. Learn to hide it."
Jeonghyeon shook his head. Wonder how far I can go with a guy like this.
"Here we are. Buyers are that way—handle it. Next time, ask for Riverduck."
The man gave his name curtly and headed back to the entrance.
"Good sign. Made a friend."
"Oh ho. My merit, right?"
"...Yeah, kid."
Jeonghyeon, here to sell mana stones, bypassed every stall and headed straight to the back.
"Where to?"
"Said I had someone to meet."
Jeonghyeon went to the shabbiest stall in the deepest corner.
"We're looking for the Wakin sisters. The older one."
"Oh... What do they do?"
"Blacksmiths. Skills rivaling dwarves. We need to recruit her first."
"Why?"
"...Always prying. Her status is about to skyrocket. Gotta make a good impression early."
In his past life, Jeonghyeon had gone astray once and suffered under the Wakin sisters until his bitter end. Well, every hunter except one guild had.
In the alley's deepest nook sat a woman, squatting against the wall, fast asleep.
"Hello. Greet her too."
"Ah, hello."
She cracked her eyes open slightly.
Her physique rivaled Philip's—massively muscled. Even asleep, her physical prowess was obvious.
"What? Here to sell mana stones?"
"Yes. Looking for Ms. Wakin."
"Show the goods. Not interested? Scram."
"Sure."
But Jeonghyeon didn't touch his inventory—just stood there.
"No goods? Beat it. No pre-contracts."
"We... said we're looking for Ms. Wakin?"
"That's what I'm saying—I am Wakin..."
"Both. Here for the Wakin sisters."
The woman scanned Jeonghyeon up and down, then reluctantly beckoned.
"...Follow."
She stood and led him through an inner door.
Inside: cutting-edge scientific gear everywhere.
"Sis. Customers looking for us."
From amid the machines poked a much shorter, livelier face than her sister's.
"Who?! Delivery?!"
"Nah, mana stones."
"Handle that yourself."
"They know us. Let's hear 'em out."
The older sister Wakin was so petite she hopped lightly off her long stool.
Facing the two Wakin sisters, Jeonghyeon grinned and introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jeonghyeon, exclusive porter for Hunter Philip. This is Philip."
"N-Nice to meet you!"
As Jeonghyeon offered a handshake, older sister Wakin shook it warmly, while younger sister Wakin crossed her arms and snorted.
"Hmph."
"Haha, anyway, here with a proposal."
Philip's instinctive respect—using honorifics for the first time—told him these women were something special.
"I'll be your patron."
***
"Who do you think we are? Think we're hurting for anything?"
Younger sister Wakin shoved Jeonghyeon roughly. Unlike flustered Philip, Jeonghyeon just smiled and waved it off.
"Not at all. I already know what you're researching."
"...?"
A picture's worth a thousand words. Jeonghyeon pulled draco mana stones from his inventory and laid them out.
"Sell or use the low-grade ones however to cover black market fees. You're losing spots 'cause high-quality trades don't hit minimum revenue, right? And the top-grade ones..."
Jeonghyeon grinned.
"Use 'em for your mana stone weapons research."
Philip barely stifled a gasp.
Mana stones were potent energy sources, embraced as alternatives. Hunters earned by selling to the state for "national development." The black market was just selling to individuals—purpose irrelevant.
But fusing mana stones directly into weapons for greater power? Philip couldn't have dreamed it.
She can make Epic Weapons...!
Grinding mana stones into weapons to evolve them into Epic Weapons.
Philip didn't know the details, but he knew Jeonghyeon was plotting something huge.
"...What makes us trust you?"
Younger sister Wakin grilled him, but her tone softened curiously.
"I'll show you an Epic Weapon. Philip."
Philip drew Soul of the Mountain from his inventory.
It looked like a basic low-grade mace, but the Wakin sisters saw its worth instantly, letting out hollow laughs.
"Thought Epic Weapons were just fantasy... A real one."
"Yeah. Got one too."
Jeonghyeon revealed Blood Dissector.
Silent till now, older sister Wakin's eyes sparkled as she finally spoke.
"Deal. Sell all your mana stones to us from now on. Cheat us? You're dead."
"Perfect."
Her innocent face spouting death threats, and Jeonghyeon grinning in agreement—baffling to Philip.
"What do you want in return?"
Older sister Wakin snatched Soul of the Mountain and Blood Dissector, inspecting them intently without looking up.
"Exclusive supply of developed mana stone weapons. That's it."
Younger sister Wakin burst into booming laughter—mocking or impressed, unclear.
"Puhahaha!"
She clapped Jeonghyeon's shoulder, eyes fierce.
"Got guts, huh? Yeah, takes that to be our client."
Older sister Wakin handed the weapons back.
"Don't care how you knew, but leaks mean death... You get it? How mana stone weapons come about."
"Yep. Pour in tons of stones and effort, maybe get one if lucky. That's mana stone weapons, right?"
"Love it. Leave the stones. Bring more as you get 'em. With Epic Weapons, the Tower should be no issue?"
Jeonghyeon nodded.
"Heading there right now anyway."
"Bring back materials and stones from there. You porter types who snag this quality know the drill."
"Of course."
"Good. Scram. Thanks for the rest—pizza for dinner tonight."
"Sis's word is law. Now beat it."
Jeonghyeon and Philip bowed without argument and left the black market.
"Phew! Thought we were goners!"
Clear of the zone, Jeonghyeon wiped sweat and sighed deeply.
Philip slumped against the wall, tension draining.
"What do you even know?! What was that talk?!"
Jeonghyeon just giggled instead of explaining.
"Know what you just scored?"
"?"
"Humanity's one-and-only top blacksmiths are ours now. Long as we supply mana stones on time...!"
Jeonghyeon trailed off, his Demon King's Eye blazing with fervor.
Wait for me, Malekith...!
The Demon King only cared about Jeonghyeon's growth; quests lacked specifics. Clearly overlooking variables like this.
Variables Jeonghyeon could prepare across two lives.
Securing the Wakin sisters filled a key blind spot the Demon King wouldn't see.
Thinking that, Jeonghyeon strode off.
"Where now?!"
"Didn't hear? Time to climb the Tower."