Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Breathing Alone Gives 500 Million a Month
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I looked at the guild scouts and association staff locked in a heated argument.
‘They’re not saying anything about compensating for the measurement device?’
Good.
But that didn’t mean I had any intention of joining a guild.
Whether it was 10 billion or 100 billion. All those offers looked like cheese sitting in a trap to me.
“Everyone, can you listen to me now?”
As I spoke quietly, the measurement room—which had been like a raucous auction house—fell silent in an instant.
They were waiting for my winning bid declaration.
I turned to the Union Guild scout and asked.
“You said basic salary of 100 million dollars, right?”
At my words, the Koreans slumped their shoulders.
Korea could pay an S-Rank Hunter around 100 million dollars too, but if a bidding war kicked off, it was obvious they couldn’t compete with Union.
How do you beat the world’s reserve currency powerhouse?
“Y-yes! If you want, we’ll wire half as an advance right away!”
“Then what are the conditions? Gate raids?”
“Haha, of course! A talent like you on the battlefield? Even S-Rank Gates would be a stroll in the park! Just join raids once a month or so, and show up for national disaster emergencies—no more demands after that.”
Once a month.
Considering how much an S-Rank like Yoo Na-yeon hustled in Korea, it was a pretty generous deal.
As expected from the land of plenty—they thought big.
But even so, I slowly shook my head.
“I refuse.”
“Pardon...? Not enough money? We can add incentives...”
“It’s not about the money. It’s efficiency.”
I scanned the room and spoke clearly, word by word.
I needed to make my stance crystal clear to everyone here to avoid future headaches.
“Raids mean fighting monsters, right? Monsters have teeth, poison, and magic.”
“Well, yeah, but hunters naturally...”
“It hurts if they hit you. Worst case, you die.”
The scouts’ faces went blank.
I ran my finger across my throat in a slicing motion.
Then rolled my eyes back, mimicking a trip to heaven.
Should’ve gone into acting instead of delivery?
“Say you pocket 100 million dollars, then get stung by poison in a dungeon the next day and die. Who spends that cash? Not me—I can’t use it in the afterlife.”
“......”
“Risk versus investment? Way too high. Betting your life is the world’s most inefficient hustle. I don’t play those odds.”
Silence.
Probably the most unprecedented rejection reason in S-Rank Hunter history—not just Korea, the whole world.
But what could they do?
My guts weren’t spilling out like theirs.
Not that I was a coward or anything.
‘Dying means no spending the money—pure inefficiency.’ Textbook capitalist logic.
“H-ha! But with your power, monsters couldn’t even touch you...!”
“Even monkeys fall from trees. I could trip over my own feet, or run into an enemy that seals my strength. Variables? Uncontrollable. But delivery jobs?”
I grinned.
“Follow traffic rules, and it’s 99.9% survival. Guaranteed pay. Now that’s the real god-tier life, right?”
The scouts were at a loss for words.
Seemed utterly incomprehensible by their standards.
Most hunters got arrogant the moment power hit—made sense.
My mindset? Pure, unadulterated everyman.
That chasm sat between us.
That was when it happened.
“Then, doesn’t it just mean doing safe jobs?”
A clear, bell-like voice rang out from the measurement room entrance.
Every gaze snapped to the door.
The door opened, and a woman in a white dress stepped in slowly.
Her porcelain skin seemed to glow, and her smile made flowers feel like they’d bloom around her.
Sanctuary Guild’s vice-guild master and Korea’s national Saintess, Han Yoo-jung.
“......Han Yoo-jung?”
Yoo Na-yeon beside me scowled.
Han Yoo-jung ignored everyone else, fixing her eyes solely on me as she walked straight over.
“Hello, my knight.”
She bowed gracefully before me.
Worlds apart from this morning when I’d saved her.
Back then, with mana suppression cuffs on, she’d been a pitiful weakling.
But now? Everyone eyed her warily.
Like facing a predator. Gulping hard.
‘Right, she’s an S-Rank Hunter too.’
Looking at Han Yoo-jung just reinforced why I’d sworn off dungeons.
Careless or conned—didn’t matter. An S-Rank had nearly fallen to petty villains just this morning.
Even I couldn’t promise 100% survival inside one.
“Ah, hi. But... something wrong with the delivery?”
“Hehe. Not the delivery. First, this.”
Han Yoo-jung pulled a checkbook from her bosom and scribbled boldly with a pen.
Then held it out.
“Here—the measurement device fee.”
“......Pardon?”
“One’s worth about 10 billion, right? I’ll cover it.”
She tossed the check to the association staff like pocket change.
The staff caught it with trembling hands. Real deal—10 billion.
Han Yoo-jung turned back to me with a bright smile.
“A steal compared to my life’s worth. Debt cleared?”
“Wow, thank you. As expected of the Saintess.”
I let out a genuine sigh of relief.
It hadn’t really been an atmosphere demanding payback, but you never knew.
Who’s to say they wouldn’t pitch a fit over not hiring me?
“Now, business time. Join Sanctuary Guild. Dungeons? No need. No dangerous work.”
Huh?
This was tempting.
My ears perked up on instinct.
“So... what would I do?”
“Just... be my knight. Or secretary.”
“......”
“Manage my schedule, some counseling, occasional meal dates? Top industry pay.”
No way. Paid just to hang around?
Such a gig existed?
Rental boyfriend vibes.
This was pure honey pot!
“Those terms sound fan—”
“Hey!!!”
As I started to nod yes, Yoo Na-yeon barged in.
She yanked my arm, putting distance between me and Han Yoo-jung.
“Han Yoo-jung. What kinda drugs are you peddling to my friend?”
Yoo Na-yeon glared daggers at Han Yoo-jung.
Han Yoo-jung fired back with a relaxed smile.
“Oh my, Hunter Yoo Na-yeon. Drugs? Legit scout offer. Tailor-made for Lee Sang-hyuk’s needs.”
“Bull. Think I don’t know you? Parading him as arm candy till you’re bored, then dump?”
“Hmm. Whatever do you mean...”
Yoo Na-yeon’s face was dead serious—like a big sister shielding a gullible country boy from a scammer.
Arm candy then toss.
Was the Saintess that ruthless?
“He’s talking with me first. Don’t crash without manners?”
Yoo Na-yeon planted herself in front of me, growling.
But Han Yoo-jung held her ground.
“Lover no, just friends, right?”
“What?”
“Not close enough to gatecrash business.”
Han Yoo-jung’s brutal facts made Yoo Na-yeon’s eyebrow twitch.
“Hey... let’s settle this here. I’ll show a healer what happens mouthing off to a dealer.”
“Bring it. Been needing a stress vent lately.”
The two flared their mana, yelling challenges to the training room.
This was Korea’s rank 7 versus rank 10?
B-boobs heaving.
S-Rank Hunters really were just super-strong kids. Rumor confirmed.
I’d come for a simple hunter registration. What inefficient chaos was this?
As I plotted a solo escape, salvation arrived.
“Stoooop!!!”
A booming roar from a burly middle-aged man quelled the room.
Korea Hunter Association President, Song Jin-woo.
His intervention made Yoo Na-yeon and Han Yoo-jung flinch, pulling back their auras.
President Song Jin-woo eyed the trashed measurement room, shattered gear, and electric tension, then pinched his forehead.
“This a flea market? Everyone—dignity!”
S-Rank Hunter No. 3.
The impenetrable Song Jin-woo turned to me.
An extraordinary aura hit.
Different from the two S-Ranks I’d met.
He approached slowly and bowed politely.
“Nice to meet you, Lee Sang-hyuk. Sorry for the ruckus.”
The room buzzed at the president’s greeting.
“Heard your stance loud and clear. No dangers, dungeons inefficient... spot on?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Then, association special offer incoming.”
Association President Song Jin-woo addressed the scouts around him.
“We’ll appoint Lee Sang-hyuk as an association Honorary Hunter.”
“Honorary Hunter?”
“Zero duties. Keep Korean citizenship, and if another guild calls, just loop me in first.”
As long as foreigners don’t snag him.
But the key bit was missing.
“And the perks?”
“Base 500 million monthly. Full insurances. Civil servant pension. Association welfare card—50 million annual free spend. Oh, delivery or rental boyfriend side hustles? Go wild.”
......What?
500 million a month just for breathing? Welfare card on top?
Risk zero. Paycheck 500 mil monthly + extras.
“Sign on, get a manager. Anything you need, just ask.”
“Housing support by any chance...”
“That goes without saying.”
I couldn’t hide my grin, gripping the president’s hand tight.
“Please take care of me going forward.”
My words prompted the president to bellow at the room.
“As heard: Blue Vest joins the association now! Spread his pics or name sneaky-like? Full legal hammer drops.”
The president flashed me a small smile.
“Heh. No fool would torch bridges with Sang-hyuk over that.”
His massive frame felt rock-solid reliable.
This was why everyone chased the ultimate backing.