Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: As Payment, Sex with Him!
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The holy land of Hunter gear in South Korea.
The Yongsan Hunter Shopping District was bustling as always today.
"How much budget did you come with?"
I couldn't help but tense up at the special pricing tactics unique to the Hunter Shopping District, which I'd only seen online before. They say even if your eyes are wide open, they'll slice off your nose—this place's sales tactics were downright ruthless.
They sold E-Rank gear to D- or C-Rank Hunters as if it were D- or C-Rank quality, and at inflated prices to boot. That was the Yongsan Hunter Shopping District for you.
I'd only heard about it online; this was my first time coming in person.
"Whoa..."
"I heard a lot of people get scammed here... We gonna be okay?"
Park A-young and Cha Yu-rin were overwhelmed by the sight of shops lined up solely for Hunter gear, their voices mixing awe and anxiety.
"This way."
Lee Ji-hyun and Baek Hwa led us skillfully to one particular store. It was Ilshin Hunter Gear Shop, boasting the largest building in the entire Yongsan Hunter Shopping District.
I let out a gasp of admiration at the department store-sized Hunter gear shop. Stepping inside, I saw a floor laid with pristine marble and Hunters milling about everywhere.
"So, are you buying or not? Sigh... Sir, you won't find this price anywhere else, I swear."
Even in this sleek-looking store, the way they handled customers was no different from the stalls outside—it was just another shop in the Yongsan Hunter District.
"Young Lady. You've arrived."
As we looked around, the department store president himself—the manager of this place—came out to greet Lee Ji-hyun personally. Seeing this, her claim of being the real power behind Ilshin Group finally felt real.
"Let's head up right away."
"Everyone, follow me. It's too crowded down here."
Following the president's guidance, we entered a restricted area off-limits to non-staff, where an elevator awaited.
Beep-!
The elevator doors slid open with a chime as she tapped her keycard.
"Where are we going?"
"The VVIP room. We'll check the catalog there."
VVIP room...
I'd heard about it before. Real VVIPs didn't wander the floors like common shoppers.
They just sat in the comfy lounges provided by the store, sipping drinks, pointing at items in the catalog, and staff would fetch them.
Me, in a VVIP room...!!
The top floor we reached via elevator was littered with gear that looked top-tier at a glance.
Following the president, we entered a massive room—more like a small auditorium than a room.
Inside were plush, luxurious leather sofas and various Hunter measurement devices.
"Please relax here comfortably."
After showing us in and leaving, Lee Ji-hyun cleared her throat and spoke up.
"Ahem... So, I've been thinking since yesterday. You've all decided to help me out now, right? So... even though we're friends, I'm still your superior. When other people are around, could you call me Young Lady? I know it's only been a short time since we agreed to be friends, so saying this might feel weird. But I need to show charisma to the people who follow me... Oh! When it's just us, you can be casual like always."
Lee Ji-hyun watched our reactions curiously. Baek Hwa always called her Young Lady anyway, but Park A-young, Cha Yu-rin, and I didn't.
That was why her eyes trembled as she cautiously gauged our responses.
"Sure, whatever. Young Lady."
"Hmm... Guess no choice."
"Honestly, it felt a bit off getting paid while being casual anyway."
As she said, now that we'd firmly chosen her side, it was only right to show her respect.
It wouldn't matter to us, but bantering casually or calling her by name in front of her followers would undermine her authority.
No one would fail to understand that, so the rest of the team nodded along with me right away.
"Here's the catalog. Any drinks you'd like?"
"Americano."
"Iced chocolate."
"Me too, iced chocolate."
"Grapefruit ade."
"Do you have hot milk?"
With that settled—we'd call her Young Lady again going forward—the president returned briefly, handed out tablets, and asked about drinks.
After noting our orders and bowing out, he left.
"First time seeing a Hunter gear catalog, right?"
"Yes!"
"I'll explain."
Park A-young answered energetically, and Baek Hwa picked up her tablet to start explaining.
"The Hunter gear we're getting is handmade. Tap the main material here, and it shows what gear can be made. Then pick your gear, and... the creator screen pops up, where..."
I started fiddling with the tablet before Baek Hwa even finished. Thanks to all my gaming experience, I was already familiar with systems like this—no need for her explanation.
Orc fangs, basilisk bones, goblin leather... Dozens of materials listed.
Standard-issue gear was just plain iron swords. Mine was no different right now.
So I had some agonizing choices to make.
What materials to use...
"By the way, it doesn't matter for me and Baek Hwa, but you guys have a 100 million won limit for purchases. Not to save money... but if your Hunter rank is low and you get gear above your level, it might have usage restrictions."
Lee Ji-hyun warned us. Hunter gear did have limits, just like she said.
An F-Rank Hunter couldn't wield S-Rank gear.
Most gear was designed for use by Hunters one rank below its own rating.
That meant it was heavier or required more mana.
Blindly going for high-rank gear beyond your means would leave you unable to use it properly in a gate—and worse, a liability.
Choosing Hunter gear required caution.
'Orc fangs for the sword, basilisk bones for armor... That should work.'
My role in the party was tanking up front alongside Baek Hwa. I didn't need max damage output—just something durable that wouldn't snap. Orc fangs were cheap yet tough, perfect for a sword.
For armor protecting my upper and lower body, I went pricey with basilisk bones. As materials from a C-Rank monster, they boasted exceptional defense.
'Damn, that's expensive.'
Orc fangs topped out at a few hundred thousand won, but basilisk bones cost a whopping ten million.
Kim Hye-ri, Kim Min-ji, Kim Da-young, Lee Ji-hoon, Kim Kwan-yu, Kim Min-sik, Mr. Kim...
Next up: picking the creator for these materials.
So many options—what a variety.
'200 billion just for crafting?'
Clicking an S-Rank creator showed a base fee of 200 billion. Add my materials and options, and it piled on more. Even random extra options could jack up the price further if they rolled good.
Like game items where options dictated value—the price tags made my head spin.
It made sense, though. High-rank creators infused fixed effects, and even identical materials yielded better durability from them.
Plus, only three S-Rank creators were listed.
Some gear only they could make, so it was inevitable.
I skipped the S-Ranks and jumped to B-Rank.
'Still hundreds of millions.'
B-Ranks were pricey too, so I smacked my lips and moved on. Only around C-Rank creators did I find ones fitting within the 100 million limit.
Swish...
That's when Baek Hwa sidled up to me, unnoticed.
"You little shit... You weren't even listening to me?"
She sounded exasperated, seeing me picking creators.
What...? Seemed like I'd missed something important in her explanation.
"Basilisk bones and orc fangs? Are you kidding?! You think you can buy those materials within 100 million and use them?! Young Lady just said she already booked a creator!"
Baek Hwa exploded in anger.
"Baek Hwa, calm down. A-jun must've misheard. I'll explain again. We already called S-Rank creator Lee Hye-ryeong. We just pick materials and gear type."
Lee Ji-hyun soothed her while re-explaining to me.
Truly befitting the guild master I'd serve—such magnanimity.
In contrast...
"No, Young Lady. You need to scold him now. Teach him a harsh lesson so he never brushes off explanations again!"
My pussy slave Baek Hwa kept venting dissatisfaction to Lee Ji-hyun over whatever bugged her.
But it was my fault for not listening properly, so I understood her frustration. Imagine if this were a real op brief in combat...
I'd have to stop half-assing explanations.
"Sorry~ Did I keep you waiting?"
As I picked materials again, a woman entered our VIP room. Brown hair tied back, brown coat over a crop top and denim pants—she strode in confidently, her love handles jiggling with each step between the exposed midriff and waistband.
"This is S-Rank creator Hunter Lee Hye-ryeong, who collaborates with us."
"Hi? I'm Lee Hye-ryeong."
Was it the pride of being an S-Rank creator?
She scanned the room with one hand on her hip, then pointed straight at me.
"Then, as payment for making the gear, I have to have sex with that guy."
"...??"
What...?