Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: How the Rank 1 Hero Saves the World
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Grabbing the wheel of the convertible, Lee Woo-yeon lifted his sunglasses slightly and winked at me.
It was a weekday morning, so thankfully there weren't many people in front of the hotel entrance. Still, the doorman clearly recognized him—his expression cracked a little.
Lee Woo-yeon had to know he was being watched, but he added a line anyway.
"Honey, did I keep you waiting long?"
Tch. I clicked my tongue and deactivated the mask on my face. Honestly, I'd half-hoped it wouldn't work on him.
"If you don't want that car flying with you in it, shut your mouth."
He even went full set, grinning as he mimed zipping his lips.
Goosebumps prickled my arms.
If we ever raid a dungeon together again, I'd make sure to spectate the boss monster smacking him around.
I buckled into the passenger seat, and Lee Woo-yeon asked with obvious delight.
"So that's your secret to keeping your face from the public?"
"Yeah, it was a reward from that last dungeon raid."
"Ah, got it. Makes sense—on the drive over, I couldn't place you at first."
"But you figured it out eventually."
"Déjà vu. Even before seeing your sword when we first entered the dungeon, I had this feeling. Like your face wouldn't register, but I knew who you were anyway."
So the item really stops him from recognizing my face, but dungeon familiarity let him guess.
That means if I really tried to fool him with it, he might not recognize me.
Hm. Not bad.
While I mulled over the item, Lee Woo-yeon closed the roof and started the car. The roaring exhaust made me grimace, and he looked a bit crestfallen.
"You don't like it that much? Isn't it pretty?"
"Who said otherwise? If you like it, that's all that matters."
Of course, if it were my money, no way.
For someone who hates standing out, his car taste is something else.
"So we just head to the address you sent? When's the housewarming?"
"Housewarming? It'll take a full day just to clean and buy the basics. Plus, we're raiding dungeons starting the day after tomorrow."
Lee Woo-yeon let out a low whistle.
"You're quick. It's only been two days since discharge."
"What does that matter? As long as I'm in top condition now."
"True, you look way healthier than last time. Prettier today too... Ow, unclench your fist. My bad. So which dungeon are we hitting first?"
"Just a test run... The one at Seoul Station. A-rank, I think?"
The list of raidable dungeons Choi Min-hyuk emailed surprised me at first. Mostly A- and B-ranks.
I'd figured the Rank 1 would get S-ranks right away.
But he explained Seoul's S-ranks were handled by Korea's biggest guilds and the government together—no need for me yet.
That's how I picked an A-rank with low hunter interest and shaky saturation levels.
"Wait. You're not saying you're soloing it, right?"
Why not? Solo without a fixed party probably factored into lowering the dungeon's difficulty rating for me.
I shrugged indifferently.
"The details made it seem doable."
"Feasibility aside, it's inefficient. It's a four A-rank hunter party job. Why send you alone?"
Lee Woo-yeon drummed his fingers rhythmically on the wheel, lost in thought.
"This bugs me. Why waste manpower there? Join my raid schedule instead? I could shuffle my team..."
His reaction was fiercer than expected.
I'd thought he'd just ask why bother and move on—I overlooked his efficiency obsession.
He looked ready to grill Choi Min-hyuk, so I added,
"I picked it. Starting low since my condition's off."
Half-true.
Adapting to my stats means clearing dungeons of appropriate difficulty. S-rank isn't impossible, but it'd strain me.
Plus, stabilization ends with a new quest—skipping long high-rank raids.
"If it's your call, fine..."
Lee Woo-yeon still seemed unsatisfied.
"Waste of a strategic asset on some A-rank."
From his view, maybe.
S-ranks treasure every experienced, similar-stat hunter.
But he's overrating me compared to my real power.
Mostly because I used Cloak Honoring the Hero right in front of him. He doesn't know it's only 10 minutes.
So yeah, I seem like the ultimate weapon.
"But you said you'd be busy for a while? And here you are days later."
"I am busy, but I came because you called. Wouldn't have otherwise."
"So if you weren't busy, you'd have come uninvited?"
"Exactly. You wouldn't know since it didn't hit the news, but I've been swamped. Yeouido incident yesterday too."
Huh? Familiar story.
Right, Ilsan Lake Park's dungeon break lacked manpower because of Yeouido trouble.
"What happened in Yeouido?"
"Oh, guilds clashed. Common over raid order."
He didn't elaborate, but I get the picture. Korea runs like Tartarus—no different.
Dungeons mean fighting over rewards.
Makes me wonder what he got from the last one.
I glanced at his profile as he drove.
Showing mine first feels awkward asking for his.
He's friendly now, but Rank 1 and 2 don't usually get along.
Decision made.
'Don't ask.'
No need to poke curiosity. I won't lose a fight, but avoid hassle.
Chatting idly after, the convertible reached our destination sooner than expected.
Past rush hour? Or others dodging his car? Anyway, fast.
Near Gongdeok Station, an apartment.
Using Choi Min-hyuk's password, we entered... to a decently clean space.
Two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, two baths, utility room. Spacious balcony too.
Bigger than expected.
As I looked around, Lee Woo-yeon followed, scanning and grumbling.
"Book move-in cleaning first. Same-day service exists. But seriously, nothing here. Furniture alone will take forever."
Our impressions differed wildly.
I'm thrilled. No bills but management fees.
"Get a sleeping bag for now, clean gradually. Buy a broom at least... Why the face?"
Lee Woo-yeon gaped like he'd seen art—soul leaving his body. First time seeing that.
"K-K-Kang Ye-na! Did you live in the Stone Age? What kind of talk is that!"
Overpowered by his intensity, I got dragged to a big mart for cleaning supplies, then washers and dryers, then furniture stores.
By the time move-in cleaning finished amid his "essentials" shopping spree, I was wiped.
"S-Stop. This enough, right? Rest later..."
More exhausting than dungeon raids. He got peppier; even dragged my limp self at the end.
I dumped furniture picking on him—he loved it.
"That's the new model. Energy efficiency top-grade. Stock available? Great. AC this one."
"Sure, whatever... Wait, winter now, and AC already?"
"What? Best to do it all at once. Your type drags feet—summer hits, you buy late, out of stock till fall."
Such specific foresight.
But he nailed it, so I mumbled,
"Fall delivery's fine..."
"Your quality of life tanks. Don't underestimate Korean summers. And listen."
He clenched a fist overhead.
"Why grind dungeons? To live well! No skimping!"
I never thought that. I have other goals... Head spinning, he shoved a catalog.
"Not done. Snap to it. Sofa, table next. Wardrobe... Hang rack first. Bed and mattress now—stock, upgrade later."
My mistake: not knowing he loves shopping.
Should've asked Lee Seon hunter for a ride. Mistake approaching Lee Woo-yeon.
Paid with settlement from Wraith's Staff and Wraith's Crown I'd entrusted him.
He showed the invoice: combined ~2.4 billion won.
Bragged it beat Hunter Store prices—auctioned under his name between guilds.
High-end gear fetches best from right buyers. Same as Tartarus.
2.4 billion... Hard to grasp.
Big money, sure. But I'm the seller; might need gear later—not huge.
Plus potions in bulk.
At least basics covered while in Korea.
Pure relief. No need repeating starving days.
Hours later, furniture arrived piecemeal.
Watching him vacuum the living room post-setup, night had fallen long ago.
Dinner: his insisted jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
I bought, owing him.
At the table, chopsticks flying, he beamed triumphantly.
"You'll mull gratitude tonight falling asleep."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks."
Mostly because the jjajangmyeon was delicious.
How'd I forget this? Stuff myself now.
Tangsuyuk sauce debate turned spat, but I lacked sword-drawing energy—fizzled quick.
"Gonna head out~ Lock windows before bed, change password. Got it?"
Exhausted, I waved from the sofa as he left.
Door clicked shut.
Ah, tiring.
I lay blankly, blinking.
Day flew weirdly.
Not weird—bought everything. How much spent? ~2.4B to 2.3B asset.
"Hahaha..."
Totally derailed plans.
Called him to kill time till new quest. Wasted it instead.
Yet... didn't feel bad.
Last non-survival/dungeon time with someone?
Long enough not to recall quick.
That's why I followed instead of refusing.
Yeah.
I think... I enjoyed this time.
"What do you want?"
Lucas's words flashed. Post-Option kill, sure it was end, asked me.
What'd I say?
Not exact, but probably... nothing special, just time with you all.
Ilias dragging shopping-hating Alicia, Ariadne glued advising buys, picky Lucas rejecting till fights.
Annoying just thinking.
Missing it kills me—annoying.
Finally, I sat up. Leisure time enough.
Wasting more irks.
- System stabilization complete.
- Player 'Wandering Pilgrim' affiliation fully changed. External interference blocked.
- New quest available. View quest? Y/N
System gave choice, but N never mine.
Never wanted that.
I selected without hesitation.