Chapter 108
Chapter 108
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Equipment Shopping (2)
The next day.
I headed out to meet Han So-ra.
She was leaning against her car, waiting for me, her face hidden behind sunglasses and a mask.
It was a pristine white sedan, the complete opposite of Choi Da-eun's.
As I approached Han So-ra, I let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"This kind of thing is usually where the guy picks up the girl, but the optics here are kinda weird."
"Who cares about that? It's the modern era..."
Han So-ra offered a casual reassurance as she flung open the passenger door.
"A woman can escort too, you know."
"Haha..."
"I mean, I dragged Hunter Sun-woo out here when you should've been resting all day. Let me do this much at least. Hop in."
I slid into the passenger seat like I was being sucked in.
Han So-ra giggled at how readily I got in without protest.
Thud-.
She even closed the door for me before walking around to the driver's seat.
An escort from an S-Rank Hunter...
I've made it, Park Sun-woo.
If this were my 'Avatar' state, I'd have creamed my pants already.
It was that absurd of a situation.
Han So-ra settled into the driver's seat.
She immediately took off her sunglasses and mask, then buckled her seatbelt.
"The day has finally come when I can repay Hunter Sun-woo's kindness."
"...Nah, you've already paid it back. This is going overboard now."
Even if it was just saving her one and only family member, this level of treatment felt way too generous.
I was more than satisfied just having become someone she could contact—acquaintances like that.
'How many guys in Korea are on my level?'
Aside from drunk midnight texts like 'You up?' or 'Miss you,' pretty much anything seemed possible.
Not that I've tried!
Not dating, but not just friends either—an ambiguous relationship.
Lee Hae-wan would lose his mind and jump around if he heard.
I might be the one and only male friend of Han So-ra in all of Korea.
Han So-ra started the car.
"Even if you say it's enough or feel burdened, I can't help it. Compared to what you did saving A-ra, this is still..."
The car tires rolled smoothly forward.
I wasn't much into cars, so I had no idea what model it was, but as an S-Rank Hunter's ride, I figured it was some top-tier luxury import from around the world.
"I want to do more for you. So if there's anything you need, just say it. I'll help however I can."
"...Thank you. I'll gratefully accept for now. Even if I refuse, it seems like you'd force it on me anyway, So-ra."
"Exactly. Hunter Sun-woo has no choice in the matter."
Refusing a gift took power too.
A D-Rank Hunter couldn't refuse an S-Rank's sleeve-tug.
"I usually hate S-Rank Hunters who strut around lording their status. But if you try refusing my gift... I'll have to pull rank as an S-Rank then."
"The power of an S-Rank sounds pretty scary."
"Right? So just take it."
The car merged onto the road.
Han So-ra was taking me to the 'Hunter Market'.
A market selling gear for Hunters.
The special thing about the 'Hunter Market' was its location inside the 'Tower'.
Being within the 'Tower' naturally exempted it from outside tax laws.
Of course, the 'Hunter Market' had one rule akin to national law.
Sell only gear and items made in the 'Tower'.
That was the 'Hunter Market's sole rule.
'There are ways to buy outside, but...'
Gear leaking out of the 'Tower' was basically all junk.
More precisely, stuff only B-Rank or lower Hunters would use.
A-Ranks and above mostly got their gear from the 'Hunter Market'.
"Hunter Sun-woo, have you ever been to the 'Hunter Market' before?"
"...No, first time."
Lately, the word 'first' felt weirdly provocative.
Like just saying it made me shy for no reason.
"I'll show you around. Not just anyone can get in, you know."
Hunters adapted to society.
But that didn't mean they accepted full control.
A-Rank and S-Rank Hunters had already transcended humanity.
Outdated laws and morals couldn't contain them.
The 'Hunter Market' was where Hunters indulged in minor rebellion.
The bare minimum deviance.
A declaration that their gear was free from any interference.
Politicians who weren't Hunters had to heed them.
An unspoken agreement formed.
Hunters wouldn't cause trouble first, and in return, no meddling inside the 'Tower'.
This pact originated in America.
No nation could break it.
Korea left 'Hunter Market' users alone too.
They had to.
To retain Hunters, welfare systems for them were essential.
Even if behind in everything else, they couldn't skimp on that.
Nations had a duty to prevent talent drain.
Hunter strength equaled national power, which equaled stability.
In an unstable world, stability was paramount.
The path for Korea to join advanced nations.
We parked in the lot and entered the portal.
The 'Hunter Market' was on the 15th floor.
F-Rank or even E-Rank Hunters who couldn't clear the 10th wouldn't know what it looked like.
The 15th floor's backdrop was an unfinished abandoned building.
A 32-story ruin starting from the rooftop.
Clear to the 1st floor, and you'd earn access to the 16th.
"I noticed this clearing the 15th floor, but there's a reason it's so populated."
"Yeah, the 'Hunter Market's on B1, so foot traffic's higher than other floors. The 15th is practically nonexistent."
I followed Han So-ra down to the 1st floor.
Inside the abandoned building, an incomplete elevator shaft led to a ladder down to the basement.
This was how Hunters accessed the 'Hunter Market'.
"The entire B1 is the market. Gear made from rare materials, low-drop items—it's not an exaggeration to say they sell almost everything."
I jumped down casually.
Even an F-Rank could handle a one-story drop easily.
The ladder was basically decorative.
A dim corridor, with someone standing guard.
"Wait."
A burly black man with impressive muscles blocked Han So-ra.
I wasn't short, but he towered a head above me.
"......"
Han So-ra pulled out her Hunter license.
Not Korean law, but international standard.
Her rank read A, not S.
The black man, who had been scowling as he scrutinized the license, relaxed his expression.
He welcomed us and stepped aside.
'...Even a Hunter like Han So-ra is just A-Rank on a global scale.'
International law ranked Hunters from A to F.
S was off the charts.
Reserved for the utterly ridiculous among Hunters.
'Korea's S-Ranks seem a bit off-kilter, but global S-Ranks? No clue.'
That distant.
Hunters whose mere existence neared calamity.
Superhumans who made even America tremble—that was an S-Rank Hunter.
"So many people."
The 'Hunter Market' buzzed with Hunters.
With folks from around the world, crowds were inevitable.
"Shall we look at gear you need first, Hunter Sun-woo?"
Han So-ra scanned me up and down.
Gear I needed: a shield first and foremost.
Better the shield, the more 'Shield Proficiency' would shine.
The 'Hunter Market' vibe felt closer to a black market than a supermarket or department store.
Stalls haphazardly set up in empty spots...
Given the location, the dark, humid air was unavoidable.
But it didn't feel dangerous.
Everyone here was ID-verified.
If anything, the safest spot worldwide.
I browsed around.
Shields in various shapes on display.
Shields being ideal for tanks, there were plenty overall.
"How about this one?"
Han So-ra pointed to a shield.
Not for dedicated tanks, but fitting for a sub-tanker balancing offense and defense: a round shield.
“Need a shield?”
I had no idea what he said.
data-start="131" data-end="134">Sounded like something along the lines of “Need a shield?”, I figured.
“A shield forged from moonlight stone. You can only find it on floors above 35. It’s very sturdy—and beautiful.”
"So-ra, any idea what he's saying?"
Sounded Chinese, but I couldn't make it out.
So I asked Han So-ra.
She smiled brightly and replied.
"He's asking if you need a shield. Says it's made with moonstone only found on floors 35 and up. Check the info."
"Hm..."
I placed my hand on the shield and pulled up its details.
[Shield with Added Moonstone Essence] ─ Shield mixed with moonstone powder. ─ Moonstone content 0.02% "It's Chinese-made."
"Is it? Let's keep looking then."
I set the shield down and turned away.
Gear, items—so much to see.