The Giving Association
The Hunter Management Bureau Director's mind had completely snapped.
The cause was a message from the EX-rank blacksmith who had, by now, become famous the world over.
"I'd given up on even staying in contact after she went silent for so long."
He'd figured she would reach out first when she needed something.
"What on earth is this supposed to mean..."
It wasn't even a stickup, and she was demanding money without so much as a hello.
Was she really just asking for cash with no ulterior motive whatsoever?
"No. A message this blunt can't be that simple."
She was clearly testing how far the Association was willing to go.
"If the support we offer domestically falls short of her expectations, she'll jump to an overseas guild. That's the warning she's packing in."
In that case, he had no choice but to steel himself and find out.
"A lot...?"
She hadn't even named a figure. Did she want a blank check?
The unexpected reply left the Director momentarily speechless. The other party clearly wanted a great deal from the Association. They would have to sit down face-to-face and negotiate.
A reply arrived not long after he sent the message. An extremely rude one-word answer.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Of course, what the Director felt wasn't anger so much as anxiety.
"Bring her here immediately. Treat her like royalty."
"Yes, sir."
Having ordered his subordinates to escort her with the utmost courtesy, the Director sank deep into his chair.
We absolutely cannot let her be stolen by another country.
Thanks to that one person, Korea — which had been weak in the Tower business — had become the best in the world. China, America, Japan... they were all already after her. The fact that she was still in Korea meant she'd probably ignored every last one of their messages.
For someone like that to reach out first was a gift from heaven. He could not let this opportunity slip away.
"We have things we want from her, too..."
Looking over the hastily assembled negotiation proposal, the Director could only pray that at least one of the terms would go through.
Why does this guy never understand a word I say?
He said he'd give me unconditional support!!
"He could've just sent the money."
True to the Director's word about escorting us with the utmost courtesy, a black limousine was waiting. It was my first time going out in a while, aside from trips to the Tower — and the first time my kin had ever left the house.
"Never have I beheld a building so tall!"
"This humble one shall guard the seat beside the Princess."
Mitsu and Corneline claimed the seats on either side of me, while Unddung sat alone in the passenger seat, looking forlorn.
"Why am I the only one sitting by myself..."
"Because thou art a lowly goblin!"
"......"
As the limousine pulled away, the scenery outside the window rushed past.
"Princess, what manner of conveyance is this?"
"It's called a car."
"How marvelous! Even the paltry technology of mere mortals is rather impressive!"
Corneline pressed herself so close to the glass that her breath fogged it over as she gawked at the world outside.
"...You're going to leave a face print. Back up a little."
"Ahem. Very well."
She did pull away from the window at my words — only to glue herself right back to it a few minutes later. Unddung, sitting alone in the passenger seat, couldn't even press his face to the glass. He just sat there, reading the room.
"Unddung, you're not curious?"
He was staring straight ahead and nothing else, even though everyone else was glued to the windows in fascination.
"...I'm fine, Master."
Yeah. Better leave him alone.
Mitsu, who'd been watching the scenery, seemed to realize something important and turned to me.
"Princess, where are we going?"
"We're going to shake them down for money."
At my words, Mitsu started fidgeting with her katana. She'd clearly misunderstood something.
"This humble one shall cut down all who stand in the Princess's way."
"No, we're not fighting. We're talking it out!"
"Lest anything unforeseen occur, this humble one shall stand guard at your side."
"...Fine, whatever."
There was no talking her out of it, so I let it go.
After about thirty minutes of driving, the limousine stopped in front of a massive building.
HUNTER MANAGEMENT BUREAU OF KOREA
The enormous plaque mounted on the front entrance caught my eye. As we stepped out, several people in suits bowed their heads.
"As expected, they worship the greatness of this Lord Angel. Ohohoho!"
"They are paying their respects to the Princess, not to you."
"Guhk."
Mitsu delivered a knuckle to the head of Corneline, who was drowning in self-adoration, then turned.
"This way, Princess."
Mitsu naturally took the lead, and we followed her inside in order. Shown into a reception room, we took our seats at a large round table.
"Welcome, Kim Ha-neul."
The Director shot up from his seat and extended his hand first. His voice was calm, but I could see his fingertips trembling ever so slightly.
I'm definitely the one with the upper hand here.
Should I really drive that point home? I gave a look, and Mitsu shook his hand in my place.
"I shall receive this on the Princess's behalf."
"...Ah. Yes."
Not a bad reaction.
"So, how much support are we talking?"
"Allow me to present the support package our Association has prepared."
"Make it quick. I'm busy."
I wasn't actually busy, but this was the kind of moment you had to play it that way. The Director, now visibly anxious, spoke with a sheen of cold sweat.
"Our Association is prepared to provide as much funding as you desire, Kim Ha-neul."
See, we could've just done this the easy way. Why'd we have to meet in person?
"However, there are a few conditions..."
"Conditions?"
Unconditional support, he said. What's this about, Director?
"The first message you sent said unconditional support."
I must have gotten angry without realizing it, because I slipped into casual speech.
"Th-that's..."
"Do I look like the one who's desperate here?"
Honestly, I'd be a little sad if this fell through, but I wasn't about to show it. The Association looked a lot more desperate than I did.
"National budgets aren't something we can just throw around..."
"I'll hear you out. But if I don't like it, I'm walking."
Better to ease up a little than keep hammering him.
"Th-thank you."
The Director hurriedly continued.
"First: we would like you to provide full-scale enhancement for ten hunters of our choosing, divided into two teams."
"Hmm."
I made a dissatisfied sound, and the Director's voice shrank a little.
"Second: we would like you to remain in the country rather than going overseas."
"......"
This one... I couldn't speak any foreign languages anyway, so I hadn't even considered going abroad.
"Third: the donation of one S-rank magic stone..."
"Ha?"
You dare touch my enhancement materials? That's crossing a line.
I looked ready to storm out of my seat at any second, and he must have panicked.
"W-wait!"
The Director shot up from his chair, waving his hands frantically.
"I'll cancel the magic stone! We'll pretend I never said it!"
"......"
I pretended to consider whether I'd sit back down, and the Director's face went ashen.
Is this why people get addicted to throwing their weight around? I could get hooked on this.
"P-please, I beg you. We were too hasty on our end."
"Princess, seeing him plead so earnestly... perhaps you might show a measure of mercy?"
Mitsu chimed in casually, arms folded.
"Hmmm."
I sat back down on the sofa and stared at the Director.
"Fine. But I'll be the one setting the terms."
Having recovered my composure, I switched back to polite speech. This was that thrilling cheeky-polite register, wasn't it?
"Y-yes! Anything!"
"First: I am absolutely not giving you a magic stone."
"......"
"I'm not hearing an answer."
"Yes! Understood."
"Second: I will provide full-scale enhancement support for hunters."
The Director's face brightened at my words.
Listen to the whole sentence, pal. That's how Korean works.
"But not the people you pick. The people I want."
"Th-that's..."
"If you don't like it, we can end it here."
"N-no! We'll do it that way!"
The Director hurriedly waved his hands and changed his tune.
"And the hunters I select will belong to my guild."
"Your... guild?"
The Director's expression grew complicated.
"And third."
I paused a beat and watched his reaction. He looked terrified of whatever condition I'd drop next.
Time to toss him a carrot.
"The overseas offers were better, but I've got a soft spot for this place, so I'll do you a special favor and stay in the country."
The real reason was that I couldn't speak a word of any foreign language, but whatever.
"I'll be establishing my guild domestically, too, of course."
"......!"
The Director's eyes went wide. For a moment he couldn't speak at all. Then, looking overwhelmed with gratitude, he shot up from his seat.
"Th-thank you! Thank you so much!"
His voice trembled slightly as he bowed at a full ninety degrees.
Is it really something to be that happy about...
I tilted my head and added one last thing.
"Oh, and one more."
"Yes!"
"I'll take care of the guild building myself, so just send the money."
"...Excuse me?"
"Don't bother preparing land or a building or anything. I don't need any of that."
I had the Mirror World, after all. My kin were all camped out in my room anyway. I could just convert one of their rooms into a guild building.
"Understood. We'll provide funding only."
And with that, the negotiation with the Association was over. I'd secured financial support, and the Association had secured a promise that an EX-rank would remain in Korea.
A negotiation where everyone walked away happy!
There's nobody as nice as me, I swear.
As I was basking in my own self-satisfaction, the Director carefully opened his mouth.
"For budget allocation purposes, we'd be grateful if you could at least give us a rough figure."
I'd need to pay salaries for the blacksmith kids I was going to hire, and to exclusively contract some decent hunters for the guild, I'd need roughly...
"Pardon?"
A whole lot, actually.