Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Trillion-Won Agreement
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I’d anticipated it and even rehearsed plenty, but reality always surpasses imagination.
Maybe because my stats were high, my senses had sharpened too—the stares directed at me were bad enough, but I could hear every damn murmur, grating on my nerves.
“Golden Demon Knight! No, Yoo Seongwon-ssi! How are you feeling right now?”
“We couldn’t pinpoint exactly when you awakened… When did it happen, and why haven’t you been working with the Association or as a Hunter until now?”
“What kind of constellation do you serve?”
“What’s your relationship with Baekya Guild Master Shin Somi?”
I’d come just to sign a contract, and their over-the-top welcome was making my irritation boil over despite my gratitude.
Were these reporters hoping I’d answer, or just trying to provoke me for a scandal? If they weren’t behind the safe line, I might’ve grabbed one and turned him into a lab specimen.
“Hey, you bastard! Do you know how much property I lost because of you?”
“Save my brother who worked for Seoul Guild!”
“No to the Golden Demon Knight’s Association contract!”
And in one corner, victims of the Shin Gangnam incident waved placards, protesting not just me but the Association and government too.
Volume wasn’t everything, but did these people think I wouldn’t harm them? Or had they lost all fear? It was baffling.
Didn’t it occur to them I might ditch the contract and go full vigilante? My frustration was piling up.
‘Should I just flip out?’
“Even with the helmet, your expression’s plain as day. Come on, calm down.”
“You’re just in time—any later, and who knows what I’d have done. They’re testing my patience from all sides. I’m already tense enough since this is all new to me.”
“Good thing I came down first. I’ll guide you.”
At least Baek Gayeon-ssi stepping in as my escort kept me from pulling Titan’s Stake right there.
I’d never received so much as a certificate growing up, so facing crowds felt alien… The reporters’ gazes, the noisy people—it was hell holding my mentality together.
“Th-thank you for coming. Um… Is it okay to call you Yoo Seongwon-ssi?”
“You’ve all dug into my identity already~ Call me whatever. Golden Demon Knight works too.”
“Ah, yes. Th-then please follow me.”
I exchanged awkward greetings with the Association staff and headed inside the building toward the conference room.
The room was in the basement with no windows—we took the elevator deep down, and unease started creeping in.
What, were they building a secret base?
“Robots in the basement or something? Why go this deep?”
“W-well, um…”
“It’s for security. With camera tech, magic, curses, possession links—they’re after every word and detail of our talks down here. No choice.”
Her explanation clicked instantly.
Anything public-facing wouldn’t matter, but…
This contract was me pushing hard terms they’d accepted, so keeping it from leaking made sense.
A trillion-won-per-job Hunter? The fallout would be massive, and guild backlash inevitable—I got it, so I dropped the questions.
“Come in.”
‘Ugh… Place reeks of old-timer vibes.’
After the elevator’s deepest stop and a short hallway, the conference room held a crowd.
Aside from the Association Chairman I recognized from Academia visits, all faces were new—high-ups, all exuding that boomer stench.
‘Exactly the types I despise. Who’d like them?’
“So… Yoo Seongwon, right? Sit anyway.”
“No need. Just one signature on the papers, then I’m out. Standing’s fine. Let’s proceed.”
“It’s not that simple—we’ve got confirmations. Better to sit…”
BAM!
I summoned Titan’s Stake and smashed the chair in front of me—that was my reply.
They might think I was petty over sitting, but to make these fossils listen, I had to dominate from the jump.
No chairs left now—they couldn’t nag anymore.
“F-fine. Stand or sit, your call.”
The Chairman mediated awkwardly, letting me do as I pleased.
Boomers got it through actions, not words.
Felt a bit rough, but I needed them knowing I wasn’t here out of fondness—good move.
“But before signing, a few questions.”
“Why?”
“We’re handing trillion-won jobs to a Hunter… We’ve got the right to ask, yeah? Show some service spirit.”
“Service is the giver’s call. Anyway, hand over the contract. I’ll sign and bounce.”
Cold? Maybe, but it suited me perfectly—advantageous too.
The more resentment I built, the less they’d think of hiring me for a trillion in a pinch.
And honestly, no desire to cozy up to these fossils.
“Sheesh, too much. Don’t you think you’re overdoing it? Lucky young punk awakens and thinks only of cash, not the world! You even know what the world’s like now?”
Mid-standoff with the Chairman, another bald boomer shot up, pointing and sermonizing.
What? Was this guy offering his life? Beyond insane. Did he think I’d tolerate this just ‘cause I was here to contract?
“First off, who are you?”
“I’m Hunter Association Operations Director Park Beomcheol. How can you be so selfish? Awakened by constellation grace or whatever—use it for the world…”
Expected it, but not this fast.
Straight out of Guild Master Shin Somi’s prediction—not a millimeter off. Almost laughed.
“Did you say that to Blue Dragon or Seoul Guild?”
“They follow Association rules while pursuing their goals. But your greed—don’t you see it’s excessive? Must you go this far? An SS-rank Hunter gets plenty of respect already—why act like this?”
“You know everything, so why play dumb? That’s how you succeed. Blue Dragon did it, Seoul did it, pre-Awakeners did it—humanity’s done it forever.”
Shocked faces, like they’d heard forbidden words.
Bickering wasn’t my hobby, but I had to spell it out now.
Better than later misconceptions sparking repeats.
“Blue Dragon and Seoul follow rules? Sure on the surface—but you know what they pull behind? Nah, you pretend not to. Monopolizing Hunters, every dirty trick, even hiring Scavengers—ever punished them?”
Did this fossil think I was clueless about the world?
Thirty-two years: Association shelters, military, Academia—I knew the rot well.
How cruel this world was, harsher than nature’s survival-of-the-fittest in ways.
“Anyway, I just wanna live normally, so spare me the newbie or light-novel-fan bait. Hand over the contract. I’ll check and sign.”
“…You’re all the same.”
“Smart, that’s all. Nice guys finish last here. Exhibit A right beside you.”
I pointed at Baek Gayeon-ssi; their mouths shut tight.
Right—only someone like her earned the right to that sermon.
Not these loudmouth fossils who never walked the talk.
The watching Chairman saw it settle, then ordered staff.
“Bring it.”
“Huh?”
Not a paper—a metal slab slid toward me.
Flustered, I glanced at Baek Gayeon-ssi; sharp as ever, she covered.
“For top-tier contracts like this, adamantium slabs. Paper or digital? Too easy to lose or fake in this era… Only S-rank Strength or higher can engrave with the special pen—low forgery risk, solid verification.”
“Ah, got it.”
Up close, the terms were engraved; beside me, a solid gold-plated metal pen, no ink needed.
So, sign by engraving.
Heavy too—normies or even most Hunters couldn’t steal it. Secure.
“Hmm… Terms look good, no tampering.”
“We’d pay dearly if we did—you saw. One personal question? Okay?”
“If I can answer.”
“Say we give you a trillion for a job. What for?”
Never thought about it…
I’d thrown out the number assuming no one’d pay. No plans for the cash.
Wait—did they actually plan to?
Chills down my spine, but couldn’t say I’d scribbled it bored. Improv time.
“Just~ for good causes.”
“I see.”
What? It passed casually, but felt off.
Anyway, contract matched ours—no issues. I engraved my signature, handed it back.
Stashed my copy in inventory, shook Chairman’s hand—contract done. Back to elevator.
‘Overthinking. Yeah, a trillion. Not pocket change. They’d rally guilds first. Just probing my emotions.’
Erasing his face from mind, I left Association HQ, free to Hunt as planned.