Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Terms and Conditions
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I just smiled lightly at Kim Kang-woo's question, avoiding a direct answer.
When I sidestepped the question, the quick-witted Kim Kang-woo waved his hand, telling me not to worry about it.
“So, other than finding the oasis and killing the Sandworm, was there anything else out of the ordinary?”
“Not really.”
Normally, after clearing a dungeon, there would be a mountain of work to do, like writing reports, but Kim Kang-woo was handling most of it for me.
Kim Kang-woo not only managed simple dungeon reports but also arranged for the dungeons themselves.
People like Kim Kang-woo were called Dungeon Supporters.
Most Dungeon Supporters were non-Awakened, but on rare occasions, some Hunters also took on the role.
Kim Kang-woo, standing before me, was a prime example.
He was an unusual case, having Awakened at twenty, declared his retirement after five years, and become a Dungeon Supporter.
He was currently working as the youngest supporter in Park Si-woo’s protocol office.
A regular B-rank Hunter would never have been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Park Si-woo, so in a way, this was a promotion.
‘Why did I quit being a Hunter? You really don't pull any punches. Well, it's nothing special. You know how people quit their jobs when they can see their future laid out plain and simple? Not everyone can be like Representative Park. I knew I'd never get past B-rank.’
Kim Kang-woo was frighteningly objective about himself.
‘Do all people with ‘woo’ in their names have similar personalities?’
Or maybe working under Park Si-woo had made his personality similar to his boss's.
Kim Kang-woo snapped his fingers lightly.
“Okay, I’ll take care of the report.”
Dozens of holographic pages appeared in front of Kim Kang-woo.
The god Kim Kang-woo served was one related to information.
The skill he was using, Eidetic Memory, allowed him to display what he had seen and remembered as a hologram before his eyes.
Imagination was crucial, as there were no limits to its form.
It seems you really can't judge a person by their appearance.
Kim Kang-woo scanned through my reports and records.
“All that’s left is clearing a B-rank dungeon with five people or fewer… Naturally, you’ll choose the Ogre’s…”
“The Troll’s Forest.”
“Right, the Troll’s… wait, what?”
Kim Kang-woo was startled by my words.
Most people choose the ‘Ogre’s Cave’ for their B-rank Hunter promotion test.
Not only were there many strategy guides available, but it was also considered the easiest among B-rank dungeons for five people or fewer.
While the supply of these dungeons wasn't abundant, it wouldn't be hard to secure one with Park Si-woo’s support.
“Representative Park did say to accommodate whatever you wanted to do, but… why a troll dungeon?”
The criteria for a B-rank Hunter included clearing a B-minus or higher rank dungeon with five people or fewer.
The Ogre’s Cave was nominally B-rank, but its actual difficulty was closer to C-plus.
“I just need to clear any dungeon that’s B-minus or higher, right?”
Nowhere in the B-rank Hunter qualification regulations did it state that one *had* to clear a B-minus dungeon.
“The troll dungeon is one of the tougher B-rank dungeons. The party limit is ten people, too. And on top of that, there’s a ridiculously low supply of them.”
Kim Kang-woo couldn't understand why I was taking the hard way when an easier path was available.
“While I’m in the dungeon, I’ll collect some troll’s blood.”
Kim Kang-woo frowned at my response, which made it clear my mind was already set on the Troll’s Forest.
Troll’s blood was the main ingredient for health potions.
To be precise, it wasn’t troll’s blood but their spinal fluid. Calling it spinal fluid sounded a bit off, so ‘blood’ just stuck.
Strictly speaking, potions made from troll’s blood were considered intermediate-grade.
It was a topical ointment, not something you drank, and it had no effect on internal injuries like organ damage or other fatal wounds.
Still, it wasn't bad for emergencies, so among Hunters, it was more commonly called ‘Fucidin’ than a potion, and demand remained steady.
In any case, it always sold, so there were even dedicated farming teams that specialized in running the Troll’s Forest.
“I’ll report this to the Representative. He told me to let you do as you please within reason, but I don’t think this qualifies as ‘within reason.’”
“Do what you want.”
“Knowing you, you’re not going to back down. So give me a proper reason. That way, I’ll have something plausible to say when I try to convince the Representative. You’re not really just trying to make some Fucidin, are you?”
“I want to test my limits. I’ve just decided that the Troll’s Forest is the most suitable dungeon for that.”
I was growing much faster than I had anticipated.
I had reached a point where C-rank dungeons were no challenge.
At this rate, aiming to become an A-rank Hunter in a few months was entirely feasible.
The Cockatrice Farm I was about to enter wasn’t just a simple A-rank dungeon.
It was a dungeon with many complexities, so I needed to know what I was capable of and what my limitations were before going in.
Kim Kang-woo understood what I was saying.
To be precise, it seemed he was trying to understand.
Kim Kang-woo picked up his phone.
“Five minutes.”
“Alright, I’ll go take a shower in the meantime.”
I got up and went into the shower room in the back.
When I finished my quick shower and came out, the living room had been tidied up.
Kim Kang-woo was sitting at the high-end marble table with only a laptop on it.
I walked over, drying my hair with a towel.
“What did he say?”
“He said the guild has a dungeon they can give you. But there are two conditions.”
I sat down across from Kim Kang-woo and listened to the two conditions Park Si-woo had set.
Troll’s blood was profitable.
There was no way a major guild wouldn't get involved in such a lucrative business.
Most of the troll-specialist teams belonged to major guilds.
Not only was it hard for regular Hunters to find an available dungeon, but the competition to enter a Troll’s Forest was also fierce.
Kang-woo folded his fingers one by one as he spoke.
“First, all troll’s blood belongs to the guild. Second, you must enter with Jeong Cho-ah. P.S. If you need Fucidin, just ask.”
“I get the first one, but why the second?”
“It’s a matter of time.”
The A-rank dungeon expedition was next Sunday.
A B-rank dungeon clear is usually expected to take about a week.
“That’s for a proper team. You’re going solo.”
“I can get out within a week, you know.”
Kim Kang-woo shrugged lightly.
As expected, my lack of experience was the problem.
Since I had no record of clearing a B-rank dungeon solo, no matter how much I claimed I could do it, there was no evidence to back it up.
“Is there any room for negotiation?”
“Not really. You know our Representative’s style. Besides, if you don’t take this dungeon, it’ll take at least a week to find the next Troll’s Forest.”
A week from now, I’d already be in the Cockatrice Farm. What use would a dungeon be then?
There was never a choice to begin with.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Tomorrow at 3 PM, the dungeon in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. After this, I’m on vacation for a month.”
“Where to?”
“Mauritius. I’ve already booked a resort.”
“That must be expensive.”
Before dungeons appeared, vacation spots were places you could go anytime with a decent amount of money, but now, a single trip to a resort costs a fortune.
This was because of dungeons appearing in resort areas and monsters crossing over from neighboring countries with poor security.
Most resorts hired international mercenaries, so the cost wasn't cheap.
Kim Kang-woo puffed out his chest and said boastfully.
“Of course I’m going—it’s not my money. You think I’d be crazy enough to go there on my own dime?”
“So I’m not the only one leeching off Park Si-woo.”
“It’s not like he’ll even notice. And compared to you, I’m just a mosquito. Barely a blip.”
To put it mildly, Park Si-woo’s achievements were quite remarkable.
Other countries typically had god-centric guild models.
Let’s say I serve a particular god.
But more than half of that god’s followers are European Hunters.
In this case, you’d either have to give up your life as a Korean Hunter and transfer to a European guild, or just live a mediocre Hunter life in Korea.
If it’s a well-known god, you might receive decent treatment, but otherwise, you’d be in a really awkward position.
Even if you joined a Korean guild, if that guild had a mainstream god, Hunters who weren't part of the majority would inevitably face disadvantages.
The disgruntled minorities would band together, and in response, the Hunters serving the mainstream gods would grow warier, strengthening their own bonds and creating a vicious cycle.
‘And Park Si-woo was the one who solved that.’
The first principle of the Aria Guild was ‘guild over god’.
While it was true that there were factions within the guild dedicated to specific gods, as long as Park Si-woo was in charge, they could never become the mainstream.
As a result, the Aria Guild now boasted the largest number of Hunters in Korea and had risen to a position where it could compete with the Raon Guild for a spot in the TOP 4.
Considering most gods wanted to flaunt their influence, this was a truly unique case.
Furthermore, Park Si-woo’s god was strangely favorable towards me.
‘I just can't figure it out.’
I quietly got up from the sofa and went into the bedroom.
Having not slept a wink in the dungeon, I fell asleep almost instantly.
* * *
The next morning.
Kim Kang-woo, who had been living here for the past month, packed up all his things.
He already seemed excited at the thought of his vacation.
Kim Kang-woo pointed downstairs.
“I’m heading down for breakfast. Want to come?”
“Sounds good to me.”
After a quick wash and a change of clothes, I went down to the breakfast restaurant with Kim Kang-woo.
Kim Kang-woo was looking around, searching for someone.
Seeing Jeong Cho-ah sitting alone by the window, I quickly realized who he was looking for.
Kim Kang-woo and I approached Jeong Cho-ah’s table.
“Good morning.”
Cho-ah yawned and chewed on the salad in her mouth.
Soft classical music flowed through the restaurant.
Cho-ah stood up, saying she was going to get more food.
“If there’s anything you’d like, I can…”
“It’s fine.”
As Kim Kang-woo rose from his seat, Jeong Cho-ah turned her back and walked to the food station herself.
An embarrassed Kim Kang-woo sat back down.
“Hyung, what’s the deal with that woman?”
I took the opportunity while Cho-ah was away to ask Kim Kang-woo about her.
Between Kim Kang-woo’s behavior and everything else, I was well aware that Jeong Cho-ah was treated differently from a normal guild Hunter.
“Code Zero.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the secretarial office’s code name for Jeong Cho-ah. Representative Park lets her do whatever she wants. I’ve seen her a few times, but this is the first time I’ve ever sat down to eat with her.”
Kim Kang-woo actually seemed more surprised that I knew who Jeong Cho-ah was.
“They say she’s been around since Representative Park was running his previous guild. There are a lot of rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Let’s be honest, she’s cute, right? Some people say she’s his girlfriend, others say they’ve already registered their marriage and are just waiting for the right time for the wedding. There are all sorts of stories.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“Hey, you don’t get it! For someone like the Representative, age doesn’t really matter… Ahem.”
Startled by Jeong Cho-ah, who had approached without a sound, Kim Kang-woo quickly shot up from his seat.
Kang-woo glanced nervously at Cho-ah, then made an excuse about getting food and fled the table.
As I drank my water, my eyes met Cho-ah’s.
“We’re leaving right after we eat.”
I think she heard our whole conversation.
I couldn’t tell if she didn’t care, or was just pretending not to.
I’ve met all sorts of people, but she was one of the most peculiar.
* * *
After breakfast, Jeong Cho-ah and I headed for Yeongjong Island in Incheon.
“The car! Slow down! Please!!”