The Weed Worth One Hundred Million Won
“…Why is this showing up here?”
[FOR SALE] Hell King's Farm Weed — 100,000,000 won
Ji-hoon stared at the screen, scrolling back to it again and again.
Weeds.
They were definitely weeds.
So abundant back in Hell that you couldn't take a step without crushing them underfoot.
“…….”
Ji-hoon slowly lifted his head.
“Poppi.”
[Yes, Master.]
“Our farm back there… it had a lot of weeds, right?”
A brief silence.
[You told us it was a bother to pull them, so half the field turned into nothing but weeds, Master. Whatever we did pull is stacked to the rafters in the storage shed.]
Ji-hoon clutched his head in both hands.
“Ah.”
You absolute moron!
“If I'd known, I should've at least harvested some…!”
Why on earth had he assumed something worthless in Hell would be worthless on Earth too?
[Master, what troubles you so?]
“Poppi… this thing. It is the Hell weed, right?”
Please say no. Please.
Poppi examined the photo on the screen, then let out a scornful little snort.
[That is the trash weed of Hell—not even fit for snail feed. Why on earth would humans pay money for such a thing?]
“…….”
Yep. That was the weed.
“…And we have how much of it back at the farm?”
[Hard to say.]
“Over a thousand at least, right?”
[If you mean sacks, then yes, at least that many.]
“…….”
A thousand sacks.
Not a thousand weeds. A thousand sacks.
“Son of a—!?”
“H-hyung? What's wrong? Are you okay?”
Oh, crap.
He'd spewed profanity right in front of Woo-jae. Ahem. As the older brother, he needed to keep some dignity.
“Nothing, it's nothing. There's just… more on the market than I expected, hahaha.”
“Right? This weed's expensive because it's a reinforcement potion ingredient. Veteran A-rank hunters buy it all the time.”
“…Where do people even farm it?”
“B-rank gates and up. Sometimes the monsters are carrying it around. That's why it's so rare.”
Of course it's rare.
No monster in Hell went around toting that weed.
While Ji-hoon seethed on the inside, Poppi gave him a wink.
[Fear not, Master! The ones who come from the Hell Farm shall bring it for you!]
“You think they'd carry sacks of garbage weed here? We don't even know if they'd arrive with their sanity intact.”
Mmmrrr.
Poppi's beak drooped into a sulk.
“Besides, it won't be easy for them to get here in the first place.”
For one, a gate would have to open.
A gate leading to the Hell Farm, at that.
Ji-hoon scratched his jaw.
“Let's just… confirm one thing first.”
“What?”
Woo-jae tilted his head.
“That this stuff actually sells.”
“Obviously.”
Woo-jae swiped through a few more posts, and another listing appeared.
[BUYING] Hell King's Farm Weed ×10 — 95,000,000 won each
“Look at this. People are practically begging for it.”
“…….”
Ji-hoon quietly tilted his head back and gazed at the sky.
Then he muttered:
“I really am an idiot.”
“Oh, it just sold.”
Chime—
While someone walked away with one hundred million won,
Ji-hoon could only swallow tears of blood on the inside.
Baek Kang-hyun was already on-site at the new gate.
“Alright, everyone, let's get ready. Sir, over there—only registered hunters can enter… huh? B-Baek Kang-hyun? The h-hunter?”
Oh Tae-sik recognized him immediately and gulped hard.
“Good day, everyone.”
“I'm, I'm a fan. Could I get a photo later, maybe…?”
“Hahaha, let's clear the gate first, shall we?”
Baek Kang-hyun flashed Oh Tae-sik an easy smile, then turned a careful eye on the gate itself.
“…”
Nothing unusual.
If anything, the surrounding mana was too clean—enough to feel faintly off.
Could there be another mutation like that?
An F-rank gate that had turned out to be S-rank. Worried it might happen again, he'd come to investigate in person.
“Oh? We meet again!”
Just then, Oh Tae-sik greeted someone cheerfully behind Baek Kang-hyun.
It was Ji-hoon, Poppi cradled in his arms.
“Hello, sir…”
“Running into an extraordinary hunter again, hahaha.”
“Extraordinary? You're the diligent one, hyung. Back at it already…”
Sigh… I've lost my mind… sigh…
“You look like the ground's about to swallow you. Did you get dumped?”
“…Just assume my stock investments went under.”
“Whoa… that's a heavy loss, all right….”
Oh Tae-sik clicked his tongue in sympathy.
“I need to make money too, y'know. I'm only C-rank, but I worked up the courage to come. My kids haven't even graduated yet.”
Let's both do our best.
“Sure…”
Then the older man's gaze drifted to Poppi in his puppy outfit, and he lowered his voice.
“Uh… is that the monster from before?”
“Yes. It doesn't bite, and it won't hurt you, so don't worry.”
Oh Tae-sik peered at Poppi from every angle with undisguised fascination. Poppi, annoyed by the scrutiny, glared back at him with a scowl.
[What does that human want?]
“He's a good man who's helping me out. Don't be hostile.”
“Whoa! It talks, too! Like I said—extraordinary hunter.”
“And, um…”
“Hm?”
“I'd prefer it if you kept it a secret that I'm keeping this one…”
“Ah, say no more. Of course.”
Oh Tae-sik zipped his lips and nodded solemnly.
Just then, the supervising hunter clapped his hands to gather the hunters' attention.
“Alright, since today's gate is C-rank, we'll be splitting into teams—one for harvesting byproducts from the carcasses, one for magic stones. First, I'll take volunteers for the byproduct team.”
The moment the supervisor finished speaking, most of the hunters—Oh Tae-sik included—shot their hands up.
“It pays way better. Fifty thousand won per carcass. Magic stones fetch thirty.”
Quite the gap.
Ji-hoon nodded along.
“What about you? Going to pick up magic stones?”
“Ah…”
The truth was, Ji-hoon had come here for a different reason.
A message from Baek Kang-hyun.
They'd agreed to be notified whenever a high-rank gate appeared. And if the mana was off, there was a real chance the gate's rank was higher than it looked.
That was why he'd come—but still.
I guess I have to actually work while I'm here…
Ji-hoon picked up a shovel. That was when it happened.
“Good day.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
It was Baek Kang-hyun. Ji-hoon accepted the greeting with a perfunctory nod.
“So. What exactly is 'off'?”
“Well…”
Baek Kang-hyun glanced around the area.
“On the surface, there's nothing wrong at all.”
“…Pardon?”
“Which is exactly what's wrong. It's too clean.”
Ji-hoon narrowed his eyes. And then—
[Sniff, sniff.]
“Poppi? What is it?”
[I smell mana. Extremely thick mana, at that.]
Poppi's gaze dropped to the ground.
“This magic stone?”
Golden Milestone (S)
Just as before, a golden haze began to rise gently from the ground. Ji-hoon immediately dug up a fist-sized magic stone, and when he handed it over, Poppi swallowed it without a moment's hesitation.
And then—
[Urgh… it tastes foul… but strength is surging through me!]
“What? Seriously?”
[Yes. I wish to rampage this very instant.]
“Absolutely not.”
Ji-hoon cut him off flat.
“Cause a scene here and I'm leaving you behind for real.”
[…….]
Chastened, Poppi shut his beak. Watching the exchange, Baek Kang-hyun murmured quietly to himself.
“…A monster that eats magic stones.”
“Not a monster.”
Ji-hoon cut him off.
“He's family.”
A moment of silence.
Baek Kang-hyun looked Ji-hoon dead in the eye.
“…Family.”
“Yes.”
[Master… to be counted among your kin—]
“Quiet, you.”
Poppi covered his own beak.
Baek Kang-hyun gave a short laugh.
“How intriguing.”
He took a single step closer.
“Hunter Lee Ji-hoon.”
“Yes.”
“Hunters have existed for only ten years now.”
“…That's right.”
“People believe things have stabilized.”
Baek Kang-hyun's gaze shifted to the gate.
“I don't believe that.”
His voice carried on, quiet and even.
“There are still too many variables.”
His eyes returned to Ji-hoon.
“And one of them is you.”
“Why me?”
“Because of that monster… no—that family of yours.”
Poppi growled low in his throat.
[I do not care for this human.]
“So let me make you an offer.”
Ji-hoon's brow furrowed.
“Going forward, whenever a gate shows signs of anomalous behavior like this one, I'd like you to operate alongside us.”
“…….”
Ji-hoon gave it some thought. It wasn't a bad offer, not by a long shot. He'd gain access to information, and his odds of finding the Hell Farm brood would go up considerably.
“Ah, and if you're thinking this is some form of surveillance—it is absolutely not.”
“Why should I believe that?”
You already tailed me here as it is.
“Had you come alone, the Five Great Guilds' hunters would have hounded you without mercy. Our role is to clear away exactly those kinds of flies for you.”
He wasn't wrong. Ji-hoon hadn't crossed paths with a single member of the Five Great Guilds since entering this C-rank gate.
“In exchange, any information you happen to possess, I'd ask you to share with the Bureau first.”
“I don't know anything.”
“Yes, I know. And I know you must be deeply confused, as well.”
Was Baek Kang-hyun being sincere?
“And what does the Bureau get out of it?”
“First claim on managing top-rank gates. And—”
The man's hand clasped Ji-hoon's own.
“And… a bond with you, Hunter Lee Ji-hoon.”
Haah.
Ji-hoon scratched his head.
“…Well, it's not a bad deal.”
From his perspective, having the Bureau owe him a favor worked out nicely too.
“Wonderful! Then…”
“But there's one condition.”
Baek Kang-hyun's eyes narrowed.
“I'm listening.”
Ji-hoon gave Poppi a single stroke.
“If anyone lays a hand on these guys—our cooperation ends there.”
“Of course.”
The answer came without a heartbeat's hesitation.
“Hunter Baek Kang-hyun—or rather, Branch Chief.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever heard the saying that you're someone who trusts his own gut?”
“You've hit the mark! I do tend to rely heavily on my own judgment…”
“Well then, you'd better be careful with that gut of yours when it comes to playing politics.”
Only a nice guy like me puts up with it.
At Ji-hoon's muttered jab, Baek Kang-hyun's face broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you, Hunter!”
The path was set.
“For now—let's find the Hell Farm crew.”
[Yes, Master!]
Following the trail of the Golden Milestone skill, Ji-hoon walked and kept an ear out for any other unusual presence.
Meanwhile, at the Awakening Management Bureau's Seoul Central Branch—
WHAM—!
“Where the hell is Baek Kang-hyun!”
The man shouting was middle-aged, with white streaks beginning to fleck his hair.
“The Branch Chief is currently conducting a gate inspection, sir.”
Baek Kang-hyun's secretary answered in his stead.
CRUNCH—
The middle-aged man's fist clenched hard enough to crush steel.
“An S-rank gate has appeared, so tell him to get back here now.”
“I'm sorry—S-rank, sir? We've received no such report…”
“I was the first on-site reporter, so of course not! Contact Baek Kang-hyun immediately!”
“Y-yes, sir, Commissioner. And the location?”
“Pyeonggyun-dong, Pyeonggyun-gu.”
Pyeonggyun-dong, Pyeonggyun-gu. Seoul, South Korea.
And of all places—
“An S-rank gate with unstable mana. Shut down every ordinary gate in the area and evacuate the civilians!”
It was barely a few blocks away.