Chapter 24
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Her Proposal (2)
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The next afternoon.
I was sipping coffee at a café in Gangnam.
At first glance, it looked like any other trendy, well-designed café.
But.
‘Let's see, over there is Jeong Mina from the Samwol Guild. And in front of her is Kim Jonghyeon of the Hounds. Were those two always close?’
The people sitting in the café were anything but ordinary civilians.
This place was called ‘Cafe Artorium.’
It was a café accessible only to A-Rank Hunters or higher, or those vouched for by one.
Thanks to that, I had the luxury of sipping my coffee while observing the private lives of Hunters I’d long been curious about.
‘So, even if they aren't from the big three guilds, A-Rank is still A-Rank. The aura they all give off is no joke.’
It wasn’t just their aura.
These people had far better manners than the riffraff Hunters with their noses in the air.
They were A-Rank Hunters who knew this world better than anyone.
Naturally, they must have known who I was.
Yet, only a few Hunters gave me a passing glance; no one stared openly or showed any particular interest.
Perhaps that was an unspoken rule of this café.
But even in a place like this.
“Well, look who it is.”
There was always some good-for-nothing who couldn’t read the room.
“Came for a cup of coffee and ended up meeting someone truly important.”
I turned my head toward the voice.
It was a man with a fierce expression, a shaved head, and a large earring in one ear.
He seemed to have just entered, as he was standing in front of the counter.
Our eyes met, and he slowly approached me.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Hong Hansol of the Bone Breakers.”
Bone Breaker.
Not one of the big three guilds, but they were quite notorious among the next tier.
More for bad reasons than good.
They’d take on just about any job as long as it paid and didn't break the law.
They were thugs, unafraid to bully members of other guilds during joint dungeon or gate expeditions.
And Hong Hansol was rumored to be one of the filthiest among them.
“The internet is going crazy about you, buddy. An E-Rank taking down an ogre, a three-rank promotion, and a perfect clear of the Garden of the Subconscious. Man, that’s so cool. The best, absolutely the best!”
“Thank you.”
I offered only a single phrase to the over-the-top Hong Hansol.
After that, I simply closed my eyes in silence and savored my coffee.
Ah, this is good.
If it weren’t for the price, this would be my go-to spot for life.
Being treated like I was invisible, Hong Hansol frowned and crossed his arms.
Then, he suddenly shoved his face right in front of mine and asked.
“But tell me, is all of that true?”
“?”
The gazes of the surrounding Hunters shifted our way.
Hong Hansol basked in their attention and continued.
“Honestly, there’s a rumor going around among Hunters. That this is all just a PR stunt by Pungbaek to promote their new super rookie. You know, like an under-the-table promotion. Gather all the buzz you can, then hold an official press conference to announce you’re their Hunter.”
“…”
“It’s plausible, isn’t it? Is that why you’re hiding in a place like this, drinking coffee? It’s not the right time to show your face, and you’ve got quite a few things to hide.”
Hong Hansol’s triumphant gaze was fixed on me.
I slowly set down my coffee cup.
Then I looked at him and nodded.
“I see.”
“What? I… see?”
“I suppose one could think that way.”
Hong Hansol’s jaw dropped. After a moment, he asked.
“Is that all?”
“What more should I do?”
“Shouldn’t you be clearing up these suspicions?”
“Why should I?”
“Looks like you didn’t get the message.”
Hong Hansol gritted his teeth.
My bewildered expression seemed to have seriously ticked him off.
“Word is out that everything you’ve done is fabricated, all hype. So shouldn’t you prove your abilities properly? Instead of sitting here sipping coffee you don’t deserve.”
“Why do I have to prove my abilities?”
“What?”
“I have no intention of proving myself for the sake of showing off to someone. So you can just think whatever you like. If you think it’s all hype, think that. If you believe what I’ve done is a lie, then judge it as such.”
Not everyone can think the same way.
And I had no intention of doing something pointless just to unify their thoughts.
Especially not thoughts born from personal envy and jealousy.
Therefore, there was no reason to engage in a draining emotional battle.
“Wh-What the…”
“So, think as you please. I’m just going to finish my coffee and leave.”
With that, I picked up my coffee cup again.
Immediately, the way people looked at me changed.
Most of the Hunters showed goodwill and interest.
“This bastard, does he know who I am…”
Hong Hansol’s gaze was filled with clear hostility.
Perhaps this was the situation he had been aiming for.
From the very beginning, his eyes were full of envy and jealousy.
But just before Hong Hansol could raise his fist.
“Was I too late?”
Right on cue, the ‘sponsor’ who had invited me to this café appeared.
Her arrival left everyone in the café unable to hide their surprise.
Hong Hansol was no exception.
Receiving the astonished gazes of everyone present, I spoke to the newcomer.
“You’re a little late, Guild Leader Sanarae.”
“Yes, but it seems some trouble has started?”
Sanarae’s languid eyes turned to Hong Hansol.
“Who was it again? Sorry if we’ve met before. My memory isn't the best, so I can't remember every single person.”
“…Tsk.”
It seemed that even Hong Hansol had to tuck his tail between his legs in front of one of the big three guild leaders.
He glared at me one last time before disappearing toward the counter.
Sanarae sat down in front of me as if nothing had happened.
She offered a calm smile.
“Sorry about that. Made you deal with some unnecessary riffraff.”
“It’s fine. More importantly, were you working all night?”
“Oh, can you tell? I even fixed my makeup on the way here.”
Sanarae said, pulling out a small mirror from her suit jacket.
I just shrugged.
Whether Sanarae pulled an all-nighter or not, her beauty shone all the same.
When I didn’t answer, she smiled faintly.
Then she gestured to the coffee in front of me.
“Is the coffee to your liking?”
“My mouth likes it, but my wallet doesn't.”
“That’s a funny joke.”
It’s not a joke.
I’m serious.
Sure, I had the luxury of seeing Hunters I’d only seen in magazines or on TV right before my eyes.
But still, 50,000 won for a single Americano?
To me, who used to think Starbucks’ 5,000 won coffee was too expensive and opted for convenience store coffee instead, it was an absurd price.
“Think of it as a seating fee. The land prices here are quite high, you know. Plus, since only A-Rank Hunters and above can visit, there aren’t many customers.”
Even so, it still didn’t make sense.
Listen here, Ms. Sanarae.
You might not know this, but 50,000 won is enough to buy ten bowls of gukbap.
You’re missing out on the opportunity to have ten filling meals for a single cup of coffee.
Of course, I swallowed these thoughts.
I had no intention of debating the exchange value of gukbap versus coffee with Sanarae here.
It was time to get to the main point.
“You said you would introduce me to a craftsman.”
This was the reason I had been here since early this morning.
It was the offer Sanarae had made over the phone last night.
I had accepted it without much hesitation.
“That’s right. I’m very pleased. I didn’t expect you to accept my offer so readily, Hanul.”
“I can’t let a valuable byproduct go to waste just by being stubborn. Besides, you, the guild leader, clearly stated you would introduce me ‘without any conditions.’”
“I did. This is a gesture of goodwill. A sort of lobbying effort to get on a super rookie’s good side, shall we say?”
Obviously, lobbying and goodwill are different things.
I smiled faintly and said.
“Let’s be clear about one thing. As I said yesterday, I have no intention of joining any guild. For now.”
“The key phrase to note here is one thing. For now.”
The corners of Sanarae’s lips curled up slightly.
“It means that while it’s not happening right away, there’s plenty of room for your mind to change in the future. In that case, my job is to add a weight to the scales. To make sure the balance tips to one side.”
“…”
I neither confirmed nor denied it.
“And the weight I’m placing this time will be much heavier than Pungbaek’s.”
I agreed with that statement.
There was a word that either represented or belittled the Sanarae Guild.
‘Item-reliant.’
It was common knowledge that the individual abilities of the Sanarae Guild’s Hunters were inferior to even some mid-sized guilds.
But what had elevated them to be one of the formidable big three guilds was…
The overwhelming power of the woman before me, the guild leader and 3rd-ranked Hunter, the Shadow Snake Sanarae.
And the high-quality items that compensated for the Hunters’ abilities.
-Sanarae is all about its guild leader and its gear.
That was the assessment circulating among ordinary people and Hunters who were envious of the big three guilds.
In any case, the important thing was this.
Sanarae was being supplied with high-quality items.
No information about the craftsman providing these items had ever been revealed.
There were only endless streams of unsubstantiated rumors.
“I’m looking forward to it. Everyone is curious about the craftsman contracted with the Sanarae Guild.”
“A lot of people wanted to know. Especially the reporters who would stop at nothing, or the petty, jealous Hunters.”
Sanarae smiled faintly.
I knew what came next without her having to say it.
Even now, there was zero information about Sanarae’s craftsman.
“You can look forward to it. This is one of the most valuable cards I can show you.”
With those words, Sanarae stood up from her seat.
* * *
The place she brought me to was a street crowded with ironworks and old restaurants.
The sound of grinders, the hammering of steel, and the crimson sunset created a tranquil scene.
As we walked through a narrow alley, Sanarae spoke.
“The craftsman we’re contracted with works here.”
“Mullae-dong… I’m a little surprised.”
Mullae-dong had been quite famous even before the Great Cataclysm.
As ironworks began to disappear and old restaurants were rediscovered, it gained a reputation as a hip place.
After the Great Cataclysm, the ironworks were repurposed as workshops for item crafting, and the neighborhood returned to its original character.
“Did you think he’d be staying in some secret location?”
“Wouldn’t most people think that?”
I never imagined he would be blended in so naturally.
Besides, if a Hunter like Sanarae were to walk around here, there's no way she wouldn't be recognized.
Even if she rarely appeared at official events, almost everyone knew her face.
“Oh, by the way, I look different to other people.”
As if reading my thoughts, Sanarae said it in a passing tone.
It was so natural, like saying ‘this restaurant is a great find,’ that I almost nodded without thinking.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m using an illusion. I’ve just shown you another one of my cards.”
For a moment, I had a strong urge to put on my glasses and check Sanarae’s status window.
But I quickly regained my senses.
She was one of Korea’s top S-Rank Hunters.
There was no way she wouldn’t recognize a mana-infused item.
“Oh my, Seonyeong, you’re here? Running errands for the guild again today?”
And indeed, the people we met on the street all called her ‘Seonyeong.’
“Yes! Have you been well, sir?”
“Of course. We should have soju and pork belly again sometime! Madam Jeong and Mr. Yu from the workshop over there are dying to see you!”
“We should. Let’s set a time soon!”
I stared at Sanarae as she replied so affably.
Honestly, I was surprised.
It was so different from her public image.
And from the image she had shown me.
“They may seem gruff on the outside, but they’re all good people.”
Sanarae said as she continued walking.
“The person I’m about to introduce you to is the same. You know how people who work with iron have a pure and kind side to them.”
*I don’t think she means that kind of iron.*
The mood was suddenly broken, but I had no time to point it out.
Suddenly.
‘Hyunja?’
*Fwoosh!*
Hyunja, who had been right beside me, suddenly popped into my field of vision.
Fortunately, it was invisible, so no one else could see it.
Still, I was startled by the large eye appearing before me and stopped walking.
‘What is it?’
-…
The Beholder stared at me without a word.
Then, for a moment, my vision widened, showing the alley we had just passed through like a street view.
‘Ah.’
I immediately understood why Hyunja had stopped me.
“Is something wrong?”
My vision returned to normal.
Sanarae was looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“It’s nothing.”
Now wasn’t the right time.
I shrugged with a smile.
She smiled back, then stopped walking and pointed ahead.
“We’re here.”
The place she had stopped at was the most dilapidated of all the ironworks.
The building, constructed with makeshift steel plates, was steeped in the scent of time.
We entered the interior, where darkness and the smell of iron lingered.
Then, Sanarae spoke up.
“I’m here.”
“You’re late.”
A gruff voice emerged from the darkness.
The corners of Sanarae’s mouth curled up.
“It’s been a while, but you’re so cold.”
“Quiet. What, did you expect me to fawn over you? You, who always brings me impossible orders every time you visit.”
With that, a man with a bushy beard emerged from a corner of the ironworks.
His face was covered in soot, as if he had been in the middle of crafting something.
But despite his grimy appearance, his eyes shone brightly.
“So this is the fellow?”
He said, looking at me.
“Hello, I’m Kim Hanul.”
“No need for names. Just call me Sancheon. It’s the name of my workshop.”
Sancheon gestured with his eyes.
Understanding his meaning, I took the Bloodflow Stone from my dimensional pouch.
The blacksmith took the Bloodflow Stone and began to inspect it from all angles.
“This is top-grade.”
“Is it that good? Better than the one we brought in from Los Angeles last time?”
“Yes, this one is flawless. Extracting a Bloodflow Stone is by no means easy, and I’ve never seen one this perfect.”
I fiddled with the brown beads strung together on my bracelet.
Thank you, Odolph.
You were the greatest ogre archmage in history.
“Sign here.”
Suddenly, Sancheon pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his overalls and held it out.
“What is this?”
“You’ll know when you read it.”
I unfolded the paper and read it.
It was an ordinary contract for commissioning an item.
However, the paper the contract was written on was not ordinary at all.
“Excuse me, isn’t this a Mana Sealing Contract?”
The faint blue glow shimmering on the letters was proof.
A Mana Sealing Contract.
An item that bound the contractors with mana, inflicting a penalty if the contract was not fulfilled.
This was one of the highest-grade Mana Sealing Contracts.
“When entrusting an item like this, it’s only natural to use a contract of this level.”
Even if you say it so coolly.
“It says here that if the contract is not fulfilled, the party at fault will ‘die by immolation.’”
“Don’t you worry, there’s no way you’ll be the one burning to death. If I fail to process the Bloodflow Stone, or if I truly lose my mind and run off with it, then I’m the one who burns.”
Was all this really necessary?
Sancheon continued speaking as he signed the contract.
“A Bloodflow Stone of this quality requires a craftsman to put his life on the line to forge it. That’s just the way it is.”