Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Searching for the Prince
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Some delivery guy's work clothes are trendy now?
It was a ridiculous situation, even if it was just a temporary fad.
Well, these days, S-Rank Hunters seemed to have as much influence as celebrities.
Maybe all eyes would be on me for a little while.
"Whatever. It has nothing to do with me."
I scrolled down like it was no big deal.
Whether the world was looking for me or not, all I cared about was money hitting my account.
That was when it happened.
Ding-dong—ding-dong—
The front door intercom rang.
A delivery? I hadn't ordered anything.
I grudgingly checked the intercom screen.
The screen was filled with a woman with black hair whipping around as she fumed.
Yoo Na-yeon.
The one who'd fed me the Awakening Elixir yesterday—and the Witch of Fire, ranked 7th in Korea.
"Hey. Lee Sang-hyuk. I know you're in there. Open the damn door while I'm asking nicely."
"……."
"I can hear your heartbeat! Did you forget I'm an S-Rank mage?"
Oh, right.
She was a hunter bitch.
I let out a deep sigh and opened the door with the most annoyed expression I could muster.
"What."
"What? You're seriously asking 'what'?!"
The moment the door opened, Yoo Na-yeon barged right in.
My tiny studio apartment was instantly filled with her overwhelming presence.
This must be what a real working adult looked like.
Unlike me in my sloppy tracksuit, she was dressed to the nines.
Designer blouse, tight skirt. Had she come from an interview or something?
"Sang-hyuk, you don't even watch NewTube news?"
"I did."
"And that's your reaction?! The whole world's looking for you! They're going nuts over who the hell 'Blue Vest' is!"
"Blue Vest... What kind of naming sense is that?"
Yoo Na-yeon pounded her chest in frustration at my response.
I pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and took a swig, replying indifferently.
"It's fine. From what I saw on the broadcast, only the back of my head was shown."
"You're too careless. Don't you have anything good that could come from people spotting you? If you knew how many stalkers are on my tail right now, you'd freak out too."
"And you fed that stuff to someone like me knowing that?"
"It's a miracle tonic! I'd cause a scene even if I just gave it to you!"
Yoo Na-yeon smacked my chest with loud thwacks.
It didn't hurt.
Apparently, my physical durability had been enhanced to match my EX-Rank ability too—her mage punches felt like a granddaughter's massage.
"...But Sang-hyuk, you were all about efficiency before. Now you're browsing internet broadcasts? You went to help Han Yoo-jung, didn't you?"
"Nah, where would I find the time for that? The delivery address just happened to be there."
I shrugged.
She could glare all she wanted—it was all true.
"Some gangsters were blocking the door, so I flicked their foreheads and finished the delivery. You saw the broadcast, right?"
"...Hmm."
Yoo Na-yeon, who'd been serious the whole time, suddenly let out a hollow laugh for some reason.
"Yeah... that's you, alright. A woman takes a backseat to delivery fees."
"Obviously. Rocket Fresh pays 1,500 won per package."
"You know hunters can make 10 billion a day sometimes?"
Yoo Na-yeon flopped onto my bed like it was hers.
That girl had no caution... her panties were showing.
I pretended not to notice and turned on the TV.
"Sang-hyuk, I'm serious. Join our guild. You know Phoenix, right? Top guild in the country."
"No thanks."
"Without hearing the terms? Signing bonus of 100 billion. Hell, I'll get you 500 billion if you want. Our guild master flipped out watching the video and told me to bring a blank check."
What.
So she came here to recruit me?
'Why am I disappointed again... Hmm...'
Anyway, 500 billion for a signing bonus.
That was big money, for sure.
Enough to change ten people's lives easily.
My efficiency-obsessed brain ran the numbers for a moment.
But it quickly stamped it 'rejected.'
"500 billion sounds good, but you'd have to go into dungeons."
"Duh? That's what the money's for. Where else would a hunter go if not dungeons?"
"See? That's the problem."
I shook my head seriously.
"Hey, there are monsters in dungeons. What if you fight them and die?"
"...What?"
"No matter how fast I am, one mistake and bam—I'm dead. I'm not invincible."
Yoo Na-yeon stared at me with a dumbfounded look.
"You're... the guy who one-shot a Red Ogre yesterday... saying that?"
"That thing was slow as hell. Dungeons are full of monsters. What about poison or traps?"
I mimed slitting my throat.
"Think about it. Earn 500 billion, then die in a dungeon the next day. What's the point of money in the bank then?"
"That's..."
"The most inefficient thing in the world is risking your life. ROI goes to negative 100%. I'd rather stick to safe deliveries."
Yoo Na-yeon stared at me blankly.
She looked like a hero who'd just heard, "Adventures hurt too much against slimes, so no thanks."
"...Wow."
A moment later, she rubbed her forehead and let out another hollow laugh.
"So you. The world's biggest scaredy-cat gets strong and..."
"Call me a risk management expert, not a scaredy-cat?"
"Fine, fine. Got it. You value your life too much to be a hunter?"
"Bingo."
Yoo Na-yeon shook her head, but she seemed oddly relieved.
She must've been worried deep down about me heading into dangerous dungeons.
"Anyway! You don't want to join the guild? Fine, at least register with the Association. Unregistered awakeners using powers is illegal."
"Too much hassle."
"Do it or go to jail. Pay fines."
"Fines?"
I hated losing money.
And jail meant zero income from work.
That was unacceptable.
I shot to my feet.
"Let's go. Get me registered."
"Now? Dude, your outfit..."
"What, we're not going to some fancy dining spot. Why fuss over clothes? Start the car already."
"...Am I your chauffeur?!"
Grumbling aside, Yoo Na-yeon grabbed her handbag and stood.
The smile tugging at her lips gave away that she was thrilled to be heading out with me after so long.
Neither of us had anyone else to watch movies with.
At the same time.
Hunter Association headquarters in Korea.
The analysis room was buzzing with tension.
"Team leader! Video analysis results are in!"
One analyst shakily handed over a tablet.
The footage from Han Yoo-jung's penthouse that morning played back at 0.1x speed.
"This... possible?"
The camera couldn't track the Blue Vest man's movements at all.
Would a high-speed camera have caught him?
"This the original? Not edited?"
"Original, sir."
In the split second the terrorists pulled their triggers, he'd already struck five vital points and was casually brushing dust off the delivery box.
"Max speed unmeasurable. Estimated... Mach 20 or higher."
"Mach 20...?"
Analysis Team Leader Kwak Cheol-soo rubbed his face dryly.
The world's No. 1, America's 'Zeus,' hit Mach 10 in lightning form.
A mere delivery guy at Mach 20?
"Identity confirmed?"
"Yes. Since it's awakener-related, we got cooperation easily."
The analyst pulled up a screen.
Under a proof photo of an awkward-smiling young man were three letters of his name and his job.
[Lee Sang-hyuk]
"Lee Sang-hyuk... Lee Sang-hyuk..."
"He really was just a delivery guy."
Silence fell over the analysis room.
Everyone had thought it was a gimmick or disguise.
But a regular delivery boy had become the world's strongest overnight.
A lottery win for him—and for Korea.
"Track his location now. Report to the Association President and mobilize the full scout team!"
"Team leader!"
"What!? Problem?"
"Sanctuary Guild, Phoenix Guild, even America's Union Guild are moving... Info's leaked. Every spy network in Seoul is hunting 'Blue Vest'!"
The world was vast with plenty of people, but awakeners were rare.
Especially S-Ranks... Any country would kill for them.
Meanwhile, in the Sanctuary Guild vice-guild master's office.
Saintess Han Yoo-jung huddled on the sofa, clutching her cheek.
A massive screen before her looped the delivery man's exploits.
"……."
Han Yoo-jung was Korea's top supporter.
Looks, wealth, ability—she'd never lacked for men. They were just nuisances.
Pushy chaebol heirs, clingy rankers.
They all wanted her body or powers.
But that man was different.
[Delivery's here. Sign please.]
That dry voice.
Whether she was kidnapped and terrified, or her clothes torn exposing her shoulder.
He cared only for the package and the signature.
"How could he look at me and..."
Han Yoo-jung prided herself on her beauty.
Natural and well-maintained.
No man could resist a glance.
But he hadn't leered for even a second. Didn't seem to think she was pretty at all.
[Hurry up and sign, you bitch.]
Just shot her a glare like he wanted to say that.
"This treatment... first time."
Han Yoo-jung's heart began to race.
Was it humiliation? Curiosity?
Or...
Her trembling hand caressed the figure box on the table.
The fragile-sticker box he'd carried like it was precious.
"Lee Sang-hyuk..."
She'd already gotten his name from guild intel.
A strange light gleamed in her eyes.
Most called it possessiveness.
"My lifesaver. My knight."
Knock knock.
Her secretary entered cautiously.
"Vice-guild master, time for your stream. Viewers are worried."
"Ah, the stream."
Han Yoo-jung switched expressions instantly.
Donning the pitiful, pure mask her fans adored.
"Right. Turn it on. And... today's title is this."
"Pardon? What...?"
"[Searching for the Prince Who Saved Me.]"
Han Yoo-jung smiled seductively.