Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Pricey One-Piece Mace
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"Hahaha, I figured you'd be back soon. And Manager Cha's here with you too."
Doil greeted Jeong-hyeon and Ye-rin with a hearty laugh.
Surprisingly, Jeong-hyeon couldn't help but be impressed by Ye-rin's reputation.
Park Cheol-yong, who seemed like he'd barely acknowledge anyone, was fawning over her, and even Doil was welcoming her warmly. It revealed a different side to her.
Of course, someone of Ye-rin's caliber was an exceptional hunter, so it wasn't that strange upon reflection.
'But how did he know I'd come back so soon? Did he guess I'd break the mace too?'
Was it because he'd been dealing with unpredictable people like Jin-uk and Ye-rin since that last hunt?
Jeong-hyeon found himself harboring needless suspicions.
"Have you been well, sir? I'm still using the gauntlets you made me last time."
Meanwhile, Ye-rin bowed politely to Doil.
'That guy gets his gear made here too?'
It made sense—people at the top naturally gravitated toward each other.
From that greeting, Jeong-hyeon gleaned one piece of information.
Gauntlets meant Ye-rin was a hand-to-hand fighter who didn't use weapons, relying on her traits.
It was hard to imagine those slender fists crushing massive monsters.
After exchanging greetings with Doil, Ye-rin shot Jeong-hyeon a glance and continued.
"I thought it was unusual when I heard Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon was visiting a forge, but I didn't expect it to be your workshop, sir. He's quite the character indeed."
"What? Haha, if even you say so, Manager Cha, then he must really be one to watch."
The two appraised Jeong-hyeon as they pleased.
Yujeong, displeased by the scene in the workshop, shot them sharp glares from the corner.
'What's so special about that guy that even Manager Ye-rin is here... I don't like it.'
The fiery memory from a month ago was still fresh, so Yujeong remembered Jeong-hyeon clearly.
Of course, it wasn't a fond memory.
Feeling her murderous glare, Jeong-hyeon instinctively shrank back.
How could a civilian non-hunter have such a fierce aura?
The atmosphere was thoroughly uncomfortable for him.
In a situation like this, there was no choice but to get straight to the point.
"Sir, my old mace broke, so I came to buy a main weapon."
"Oh dear, the mace broke? I heard you borrowed it from Cheol-yong, but it still gave out. I'll give him a talking-to."
"Ah, you don't have to go that far..."
His words said otherwise, but Jeong-hyeon's lips twitched, and his eyes wavered.
Anyone could tell he wanted Doil to chew him out instead.
Seeing this, Doil chuckled and led Jeong-hyeon inside like before.
"Come on in. Would Manager Cha like to browse as well?"
"Ah, may I? My greaves are starting to wear out."
"Of course."
'This is awkward...'
Jeong-hyeon didn't appreciate Ye-rin jumping at Doil's offer so readily.
It wasn't just discomfort—it was mostly embarrassment.
How pathetic would his low-rank gear look to a top-tier A-Rank hunter?
A memory surfaced in Jeong-hyeon's mind just then.
Would someone like Manager Cha know about it?
"Don't you shop at online stores, Manager?"
"Online?"
"You know, the gear at the top of those sites for people like you. The ones with 'price on request.' I figured you'd use those."
Ye-rin tilted her head in confusion for a moment before exclaiming, "Ah!"
"Those are plastered with forge and sponsor logos. Who'd use something so tacky?"
"Ah, yeah..."
His guess was right—'price on request' meant discounted gear via advertising fees.
"Besides, the handmade gear from sir here has so much more feel to it."
"Feel?"
"Yeah, feel. Or... thrill, maybe?"
"..."
Jeong-hyeon had no idea what she meant, but his instincts screamed he'd regret digging deeper, so he clamped his mouth shut.
"Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, pick something out here like last time... Manager Cha, please come this way."
"Once he's done, we'll go together. I'd like to give you a tour too."
"Ah, in that case, sure."
Ye-rin clearly intended to torment Jeong-hyeon.
How did she always pick exactly what he hated most?
Jeong-hyeon waved his hands.
"You can just browse casually..."
"Sure, browse casually."
Ye-rin lightly tossed his words back, shutting him down.
Doil watched the two with amused eyes, unlikely to help.
Jeong-hyeon sighed in resignation and began examining the weapons.
"Hmm..."
Once he focused, he tuned out his surroundings.
Even low-rank gear in Doil's forge came in a wide variety.
From rarely used throwing weapons and whips to popular swords.
'Stick with the mace again? Or switch to a standard sword now?'
Truth be told, blunt weapons lost their overwhelming edge as levels rose.
Their attacks were limited to impacts.
Swords and spears offered thrusts, slashes, deflections—far more versatility.
Sure, high-rank Blunt Technique hunters shone, as the saying went: rank is king. But that rarity factored into their fame.
Still, Jeong-hyeon hesitated because...
'I don't have Swordsmanship or Blunt Technique skills. What I'm used to works best at my level.'
He was still at a stage where blunt weapons shone.
For a while, he'd hunt weaker foes like orcs and goblins.
Blunt weapons remained devastating against them.
As he pondered, his eyes drifted to the corner, spotting one upright weapon.
"Huh?"
It was a mace about twice as long as his old one.
The original suited one-handed swings; this could handle two-handed or one-handed as needed.
Less a support healer's sidearm, more a dedicated blunt specialist's main weapon.
Testing the grip, it fit perfectly—superior from the start.
'It'd be great at this length, but...'
The real hook caught Jeong-hyeon's eye.
"Is this mace made of marium too?"
"Yes. Solid piece, through and through."
"Ooh..."
No wonder it gleamed pale purple from head to haft, seamless.
Unlike Cheol-yong's rentals, the handle wouldn't snap easily.
'And if I can enchant it too... gulp.'
Swallowing hard as he inspected it, Jeong-hyeon reluctantly set it back.
Doil asked, surprised.
"Is there something wrong with it?"
"No, it's perfect. But I doubt I can afford this level."
Think about it.
A dagger with minimal metal cost seven million per set.
A solid-piece mace like this?
His finances had improved, but asking the price still terrified him.
Doil chuckled at Jeong-hyeon's response.
"Hahaha, how much did you have in mind?"
"Well... around ten million?"
"I'll give you a special deal. Leather strap for back-carrying, on the house."
"Whoa, sir, what do you get out of that?"
Ye-rin, eyes wide after listening, blurted it out.
"Heh heh, it's just gathering dust. Can't pass up selling to a promising hunter."
"Wow, what a steal. Total steal. Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, what are you waiting for? Wallet out!"
Doil and Ye-rin made a tantalizing duo.
The master craftsman 'Supreme Doil,' who looked extraordinary, paired with 'A-Rank Level 5 Ye-rin'—pure sales magic.
Yet seeing Jeong-hyeon still waver, Ye-rin drove the nail in.
"It's so cool-looking. Solid piece. Marium from the mine. Enchantable. Discounted. Freebies too?"
"Okay, fine! I'll take it. I'll take it!"
Truth be told, he'd already decided, but big spends begged for one final nudge.
That did it—Jeong-hyeon threw up his hands in surrender.
"Yujeong! Can you wrap this up for me?"
Doil beamed and handed the mace to Yujeong.
Still scowling, she blinked in surprise at Jeong-hyeon upon seeing it.
'You, buying something like this?'
Her unspoken doubt hit hard, so he smiled awkwardly and looked away.
As if seizing the moment, Doil dropped the bomb.
"Fifteen million."
"...?"
Did he hear wrong?
His budget was ten million, and this was the 'deal'?
Fifteen...?
Since when was fifteen million cheaper than ten?
"Uh... fifteen million won? I didn't mishear, right?"
Jeong-hyeon's question oozed disbelief.
Doil confirmed without flinching.
"You heard right."
"Ugh..."
"Wow, such a bargain. I want one now."
Ye-rin's infuriating add-on sealed it.
Jeong-hyeon finally realized.
'They teamed up to scam a newbie hunter!'
He'd lived by 'never let your guard down,' saving his life multiple times.
But now, utter defeat.
What could he do?
The mace was already out of his hands, getting wrapped by Yujeong.
'Y-yeah, I can earn fifteen million back with this mace! Pay it off!'
Tearing up, he rationalized it away.
The quality matched Doil's reputation—worth every won.
Without Ye-rin's twenty-million bounty, he'd have ditched pride and canceled, self-respect be damned.
Otherwise, no living expenses meant starving on hunts.
"Heh heh, wise choice."
"Sir, can you look at my gear now?"
"Of course. This way."
"Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, what are you doing? Come see some high-rank gear."
'I'm going to spite them!'
The pair strolled off like nothing happened.
Jeong-hyeon swallowed his rage and followed a step behind.
Might as well recoup losses with the show.
But...
"Whoa."
The otherworldly sight left Jeong-hyeon dizzy.
"Greaves, right? Something like leidrun ore, like last time?"
"Yes. Oh, and line the inside with Dafuran orc leather. That grips so nicely."
"Excellent choice."
'What... what are they even saying?'
He knew the materials were new terms, and the familiar words were Korean, but it was gibberish.
Leidrun was among the rarest ores from all mine gates.
'And leidrun has innate lightning properties—no enchantment needed.'
Ultra-premium, impossible to buy even with money.
Dafuran orcs?
Jeong-hyeon, with years in workshops, knew them as 'orcs of legend.'
Their leather: plush yet tough, top-tier popularity.
But they only appeared in Swedish mountain gates—insane rarity.
Greaves from those two?
'No, wait—does this sir handle both?'
"Hunter Jeong-hyeon? Hunter Jeong-hyeon? Hey!"
The dazzling scene overwhelmed Jeong-hyeon, and he fainted.