Chapter 26

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: Delivering into the Dungeon

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"Ah, my name is Lee Seo-ro. I'm an item appraiser and mage who's somewhat known in the hunter world. As a side gig, I can do a bit of alchemy."

'Whoa!'

At Lee Seo-ro's words, Chae-ryeon finally remembered.

'That's the guy I vaguely recall seeing while flipping through the famous ranker list!'

Real name: Lee Seo-ro. Awakening rank: S. His well-known moniker as a hunter was Piercing Gaze.

He hated having his photo taken, so his face didn't circulate much online, but it was said to be an unforgettable face, earning him a reputation as a stunning beauty.

Lee Seo-ro was famous not just for his skill as a mage, but for two unique traits: awakening with dual classes from the start, and being a genius investor who had amassed a colossal fortune.

He was openly called a one-man corporate hunter for good reason.

Of course, his post-awakening appearance being inhumanly striking played a part too.

'Somewhat known? That's an understatement...!'

A massive bigshot had rolled right into Chae-ryeon's booth, vines and all.

'B-But...'

Why on earth would someone like that come to my shop?

Chae-ryeon nearly fainted, but she barely clung to her senses.

It was because crowds of customers had flooded in to buy the sandworm meat dumplings that Lee Seo-ro was devouring so happily, cheeks puffed out.

It all started with one female hunter's visit.

She watched him sit there, dipping the dumplings in soy sauce with a blissful expression, then turned to Chae-ryeon with a determined look.

"Um, those meat dumplings that Lee Seo-ro's eating. Can I buy some too?"

"Ah... Sorry, but those aren't for sale. I made them as samples to promote the sandworm meat I hunted."

'...Will she still buy even after I say that?'

Everyone else had turned up their noses just a bit ago.

But contrary to Chae-ryeon's worries, this customer pointed straight at the displayed sandworm meat without hesitation.

"In that case, how much for that sandworm meat? I want to buy some."

"Me too!"

"If Lee Seo-ro picked that monster meat, it has to be delicious!"

"Me! I want some too!"

"How much? What's the price?"

"How much is it?"

"What? Even a foreign hunter showed up?"

The female hunter who boldly entered Chae-ryeon's booth was followed by hesitant onlookers pouring in like fish on a string.

'Wh-Wh-What?!'

...Was this even possible?

More people crammed into the flustered Chae-ryeon's booth.

"Why's it so crowded here? Some event?"

"Lee Seo-ro's in this booth, scarfing down monster meat dumplings like they're the best thing ever!"

"No way, for real? Then that monster meat must be some super-valuable elixir, right?"

"No idea. But if Lee Seo-ro chose it, it has to be something special. I'm lining up to buy first!"

"Hey, me too!"

"Let's go!"

Word spread like wildfire—a thousand miles without wings—and soon everyone was buzzing about spotting Lee Seo-ro.

Chae-ryeon's booth turned into a sea of people desperate to buy meat.

'Wh-What in the world...?'

Dazed by the complete one-eighty in reactions, Chae-ryeon still handled the customers with pro merchant poise.

"Baby sandworm meat is 2,000 gold. Still okay with that? I guarantee the taste and nutrition. It's the ultimate nourishing monster meat—tasty and hearty. You won't regret it."

"If Lee Seo-ro chose it, of course. No more talk—give me one pack. No, two!"

"Yes. That's 4,000 gold total, sir."

"Here!"

Not a single soul complained about the price. Most were scrambling to buy more.

"Damn, three packs for me!"

"Then four for me!"

They bid like it was an auction, snapping up quantities competitively, and Chae-ryeon sold the monster meat like hotcakes.

Her pockets grew fatter by the minute.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

'I-I swear I can hear the money piling up...!'

At this point, whatever Lee Seo-ro's motives for helping didn't matter anymore.

Chae-ryeon wasn't about to pass up a chance at a total sell-out legend!

Heh heh.

"Customers~ Please line up in order and wait your turn~"

Buzzing with excitement, Chae-ryeon gleefully sold off the baby sandworm meat.

Manager Sol-chan, who had popped back to the portable shop at his boss's request for more sample dumplings, gaped at the sudden influx of customers.

"B-Boss... I mean, ma'am. What the heck is going on...?"

He nearly dropped the plate, but Lee Seo-ro darted over and snatched it mid-air.

"Almost dropped it."

"Th-Thank you..."

As if it were nothing, Lee Seo-ro flashed a grin and sauntered back to his seat to resume savoring his dumplings.

The stunned Sol-chan shot Chae-ryeon a look demanding an explanation.

'Boss! Did the world turn upside down while I was steaming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dumplings...?'

'No, nothing like that! It just kinda worked out!'

All because of that Lee Seo-ro guy parked in our booth, leisurely enjoying his sandworm meat dumplings!

Catching her drift, Sol-chan nodded.

"I don't get what's happening, but...! I'll do my best to support you, er, ma'am!"

Sol-chan jumped behind the counter with Chae-ryeon, selling baby sandworm meat hand over fist.

As he'd claimed, with accounting as his major, Sol-chan calmly handled the nonstop orders—no calculator needed. He quoted prices, punched them into the POS, and wrapped up transactions flawlessly.

His packing skills were just as slick.

"Yes, that's eight packs of baby sandworm meat, correct?"

Flashing a business smile, he packed and bagged without even looking, his hands a blur like watching a magic trick.

'He's seriously awesome.'

The manager title wasn't for show—Sol-chan handled customers like a pro.

Some hunters tried ridiculous excuses to haggle wildly, though...

"Hey, it's too pricey. Can't you knock a little off?"

"You're already killing it—service discount shouldn't be hard, right?"

"Cut 1,000 gold maybe? What if we get sick from monster meat and end up in the hospital? You'd be in trouble too."

Whenever those customer-slash-scammers showed up, Sol-chan shut them down with deadpan finesse.

"Other customers already bought at the fair minimum of 2,000 gold each. Oh, and stock's running low—some even offered premiums. If it's too expensive, I guess we can't sell to you."

"N-No, I didn't mean I can't buy..."

"Plus, this is the monster meat that 'that' Lee Seo-ro over there is enjoying. Are you saying you doubt his judgment? Shall I pass that along to him in the back?"

"No! Just give it to me!"

"Yes. Total's 20,000 gold. Need a receipt?"

'Is it because his true form's a raccoon dog...?'

Like he had a hundred foxes up his sleeve, Sol-chan crushed the scammers effortlessly. It was impressive.

Chae-ryeon gave him a mental thumbs-up.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The money alerts chimed cheerfully in Chae-ryeon's ears, lagging like a broken record until the system itself chimed in.

'Trust me, my foot...'

You still haven't forgotten how I stopped your balance patch last time, huh...?

Chae-ryeon rolled her eyes, but the system basked proudly in the booming monster meat sales, oblivious.