Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Black Market (1)
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"I looked into clubs for you."
I was running with Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul, just like yesterday.
During the run, Park So-yul mentioned that she'd gathered info on clubs.
"Clubs?"
"Yeah. To start one, you have to rent a club room no matter what. And the rooms cost between 100 and 500 points per month."
I'd already heard this from Lee Seojun, but out of respect for her effort, I reacted like it was news to me.
"What's the difference based on points?"
"Room size. 100 points gets you 4 pyeong. 200 gets 8 pyeong. Like that."
She said they went up to 500, so probably 12, 16, and 20 pyeong respectively.
I figured there was no need for a big club room, so I mentioned the cheapest option.
"If we're renting, 100 points it is."
"Isn't a 4-pyeong room too small?"
"We're just gonna eat there anyway."
No need to waste space on a spot just for meals.
"Besides, I have no intention of spending points on a club."
"Points? Why not?"
"The whole point of the club is to eat the food I make. You think I'm gonna rent a room on top of cooking for you?"
This wasn't exactly volunteering on steroids.
Of course, if Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul stuck with me as teammates long-term, I'd happily spend the points...
'But it's too soon for that.'
Telling two people I barely knew my situation and asking them to join me? Unlikely to get a good response.
It might even make them wary and push us further apart. I decided it was too early and kept running.
"......"
Separately from that, Park So-yul shot me a dissatisfied look.
It was like she was saying I was being too harsh to someone who'd offered to cooperate.
"But if you make the club, I'll join."
"Obviously."
As I said before, the reason for starting a club was to eat the food I summon without anyone noticing.
And that only works if I'm there, so Park So-yul naturally agreed to join and turned to Cheon Seo-yun.
"Cheon Seo-yun. How many points do you have?"
"None."
Cheon Seo-yun answered without a second thought.
Park So-yul stared at her, probably thinking it was a lie.
'But Cheon Seo-yun doesn't seem like the type to lie.'
I asked about her points.
"Where'd you spend them?"
"Virtual training room and personal practice room."
So she'd saved points by mooching meals off me, then spent them on training facilities.
'In a way, she's perfect for the Hero Officer Academy.'
Meanwhile, Park So-yul was racking her brain, probably thinking of ways to earn points.
But for her to scrape together points, she'd have no choice but to keep eating my food and save up bit by bit.
'Gonna take her a while.'
Anyway, we ate at the mountaintop like always, then I used Warlord's Weapon for an easy trip back.
【F-Rank (Lv10) Star Tracking】
【Using this allows you to acquire the F-Rank skill 'Star Tracking'.】
Back at the dorm, I pulled out the skill stone I'd gotten as payment for healing yesterday and checked it.
This was separate from the reward for beating up Seo Do-kyung, Seo Ji-ho's dad, and then healing him—it was still just F-Rank.
"Lv10, but F-Rank."
-Ranks can be raised, so no big deal.
"True. Anyway, explain Star Tracking again."
I'd heard about it yesterday, but only briefly.
When I asked for details, Lee Seojun explained step by step without hesitation.
-It's a skill that creates a mana orb called a [Star]. The more mana you put in, the brighter, warmer, and stronger it gets.
"Like a torch?"
-Better than a torch in some ways. As a mana construct, it won't go out in wind or rain. And you can use it to attack.
Lee Seojun also covered its utility.
-Great as a substitute for a campfire when camping in gates.
"What about for attacks?"
-Depends on how much mana you put in the [Star]. There's a limit, of course... but it'll still pack 3-5 times the punch of similar-rank spells.
3-5 times stronger? Fitting for a Lv10 skill, I thought.
-And like the name says, it's 'Tracking'. Once you create the mana orb and hit a target even once, it marks them. Then you can shoot it straight at the mark.
"Guided missile, huh."
-More than that. It'll chase them to the other side of the planet.
It sounded decent, but not quite worth learning right away.
-Finally, as the rank goes up, you can put more mana in and make more stars.
"If I max it to EX-Rank and pump it full of mana for days?"
-Probably nuclear-blast levels of power.
The damage potential was solid enough.
But I decided to hold off on learning it.
'Might fill up all my slots with multi-casting skills.'
While I was thinking, Lee Seojun asked about it.
-Not gonna learn it?
"Even if I did, it'd be a problem. If I use this, what would Seo Ji-ho think?"
-Who cares? He wouldn't even dream it's Star Tracking.
"Gotta learn multi-casting first to perfect Absolute Clone."
To reiterate, my goal in this world was Absolute Clone.
A Lv10 skill stone was impressive, but not enough to change that.
-Makes sense. You don't really need to obsess over Lv10 stones anyway.
I nodded and pondered what to do in the morning.
'No classes till afternoon.'
Just elemental magic in the afternoon.
I could lounge in the dorm till lunch, but it didn't appeal.
'Might as well practice magic like usual.'
And send one of my other bodies to check out the black market.
"Lee Seojun. Taking a body to the black market. Head there."
-Black market? Got it.
I space-warped the warehouse body as Lee Seojun nodded readily.
"Kim Young-ho. Heading to the black market."
I activated the warehouse body and immediately called Kim Young-ho, telling him we were going.
"Yes, sir. Right away."
He hopped in his car without a moment's delay.
"Oh, boss. If it's not too rude, could I ask about your future plans?"
"Plans?"
"The artifact sales you ordered before ended in failure."
Artifacts? I recalled how over half the organization couldn't sell a single one before getting robbed.
Even I couldn't think of what to do with guys that useless.
"True. We need something to keep those idiots fed."
They were worthless, but bound by [Contract], so I'd find a use for them.
'But what?'
Considering their skills, options were extremely limited.
Even for me, nothing came to mind right away. I sighed lightly.
"Nothing jumps out. Maybe start a potion business."
I remembered Lee Seojun saying regular potions went for 30 million won, and high-end ones over 100 million.
At the mention, Kim Young-ho nodded like it was a great idea.
"Excellent. Instead of door-to-door like before, how about registering as a proper business?"
"Not a bad idea."
The issue was I'd have to make the potions myself.
And that made it feel like they were getting easy money.
'Gotta make them work for it.'
By the time I finished thinking, we'd arrived. Kim Young-ho parked somewhere.
Stepping out, it looked like a normal bustling market with tons of people.
"This the black market?"
"Just camouflage. It functions as a regular market too."
Then he explained how to enter.
"Head straight through the market to the back alleys. That's the black market. I'll lead."
Inside, it was like any market—food, goods, civilians buying what they needed.
"This way."
We entered a narrow alley he pointed out and walked awhile until another market appeared.
"Here's the black market."
"Pretty quiet."
The outer market had been noisy with crowds; here, it was subdued despite the people.
"Figures for a black market."
Sure enough, as we entered, I felt plenty of eyes on us, watchful but silent. Probably just observing for now.
"Fun fact: Hero Association folks come here often. It's tacitly allowed."
Kim Young-ho whispered to avoid ears and led me to a building.
A large three-story structure that stood out amid the black market. He opened an inner door.
"Right this way."
I nodded and stepped in, taking in the scene.
A woman with long ash-gray hair sat across a huge table, surrounded by piles of food.
Behind her and the food stood three stunning women on each side.
'Kim Young-ho must've tipped her off.'
Impossible otherwise.
Lee Seojun chimed in, recognizing her.
-Song Bi-yeon, huh.
Hearing the name, the ash-gray-haired woman smiled brightly and introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Song Bi-yeon."