Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: 【Preparation】
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S-Rank Magic Stones were in high demand, so just having one was a good thing.
‘S-Rank Magic Stones are something I need too.’
Tch. I smacked my lips inwardly while staring intently at the Magic Stone in Yoo A-han’s hand, then soon lost interest.
“Han Ji-eon Hunter, you can keep any items you collect.”
The moment I heard that, my face lit up, and I energetically rummaged through the debris to gather items. I roughly knew their locations, so I excitedly picked up just the ones I needed.
“What about me?”
“Yoo A-han Hunter, please bring anything you find right away.”
Yoo A-han simply smiled brightly without a word.
By the time we finished, it was already late at night. The Association staff who had been on overnight duty took away the illegal Hunters they had restrained.
It was even later by the time I got home, so I carefully opened the door and stepped inside. Waiting for me was Dad, lying on the sofa watching TV.
“…You’re still up?”
“I was waiting to see you come in before sleeping.”
“Just go to sleep.”
I washed up thoroughly and was about to head to my room when, just as I reached for the door, Dad spoke up again.
“Ji-eon.”
“Yeah?”
“Is everything okay with what you’re doing?”
“…Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Click. The TV turned off as Dad got up from his seat and went into his room.
I had never seen that expression on Dad’s face as he entered his room. No, I didn’t want to see Dad’s current expression. I didn’t want to see that face full of worry and sadness.
I turned around without a word and quietly entered my own room. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. No, I didn’t want to say anything.
At the very least, I didn’t want to lie to my parents.
♧♣♧
After that, I kept repeating the cycle of raiding Dungeons, resting, and raiding again. Anyone watching might think I was desperate to become an official S-Rank as quickly as possible, but in truth, I had a different goal.
And after some time passed, I finally achieved that goal.
‘Giant Hornet Jaw.’
I had obtained the last item I needed. Starting with the Giant Hornet Jaw, I laid out the rest of the items on the floor.
The apple-shaped S-Rank Magic Stone from the black-and-white Dungeon. The Thorn Ball from the rat nest. The life absorption item I found while searching the building after rescuing Yoo A-han Hunter. And various other items from Dungeons. All of them were preparations for the event that would happen next.
‘The rest I can buy there.’
The Thorn Ball didn’t have much effect, but better to have it than not.
I put the items back into my inventory and headed outside. After a long journey of taking the subway, then the bus, and repeating, I finally arrived at what was officially a secret shopping district in name only.
“Just in case.”
I pulled the hood of my hoodie low over my head and put on the prepared mask and round glasses.
I opened the door of what looked like a shabby department store and approached the stopped escalator leading underground. I could see other people walking down the escalator. I followed the motionless escalator down silently, without making a sound. And then.
“Special discount today!”
Thanks to the yellow glowing lights, the market came into view, looking just like a night market.
This was a market where technicians with ambiguous ranks and unclear job prospects gathered to do business. It had once been reported as an illegal market and nearly shut down, but protests from low-rank Pattern Activation users who were pouring in made it legally managed. However, since guilds and regular shopping districts also sold items, it was a place for those truly seeking cheap deals—only those in the know came here.
The reason I came here was simple. There was a blacksmith who had settled here despite being S-Rank, instead of going somewhere better.
‘Above all, it’s perfect for secret commissions.’
I passed by various street stalls. Stalls selling unnecessarily flashy recovery potions, armor that looked like it would draw every Monster’s attention, 5-second invisibility cloaks, and other dubious items. As I turned the corner after passing those, better-looking items started appearing one by one.
I bought the necessary items from a stall in the corner, then finally reached the real back corner—an abandoned restroom that no one used anymore.
“Are you there?”
I knocked on the firmly shut door. If someone saw me knocking on a restroom with no foot traffic, they’d probably laugh, but this was someone’s stall too. Known only to a very select few now.
Creak— The rusty door barely opened, and someone came out.
“Who might you be…? This isn’t a stall.”
The man, who looked like he’d been holed up at home for days, spoke in a timid, creeping voice. Even seeing him like that, I didn’t falter and said,
“Rusty Apple.”
“What? An old customer? Why didn’t you say so earlier, damn…”
Whoosh. His timid demeanor instantly switched to that of a delinquent.
“What’re you doing? Get in quick.”
At his words, I closed the rusty restroom door and stepped inside.
“What’s your deal? Thug? Smuggler? Mafia?”
“Ordinary person.”
“Bullshit. No ordinary person would know about me.”
Thanks to that, you almost got sold to China. And because of that, you became famous in the world. I happened to get close back then and learned the passphrase “Rusty Apple,” and it’s been helpful to this day.
The man muttered as he hopped over to the opposite side of the desk by the door. Tilting my head slightly at his words, I replied,
“Guess I’m not an ordinary person then.”
“Whatever… So why’re you here?”
I glanced around. It looked less like a restroom and more like someone’s room, with hammers, tools, and metal furniture lined up on one side.
“I need you to combine some items.”
“Show me the items first.”
At that, I neatly arranged the items on the desk.
“Whoa…”
Blacksmith. A job that could craft or combine items, something you’d see in any game. High-rank Blacksmiths even had the ability to instantly read item information. And the high-rank Blacksmith in question was none other than the man before me.
“What are you?”
“Ordinary person, I said.”
“Take off the mask. With stuff like that, you look like some flying-around big shot.”
“I heard they guarantee secrets here.”
“Tch…”
The Blacksmith, who had been fiddling with the items, clicked his tongue, pulled his hands away, and grabbed a notebook from the corner.
“So, what do you want?”
“I need an item that can unleash all these items’ effects at once.”
“…What?”
“Perfectly.”
“…Without missing a single one?”
I smiled with my eyes and nodded.
“…Are you insane?”
“You can do it, right?”
The Blacksmith clutched his head and groaned softly. Then he slowly looked up and asked,
“…What’s the pay?”
I raised my index and middle fingers.
“200 million? Too low.”
“Not money.”
“What, A-Rank Magic Stone? That’s even lower.”
“No. S-Rank.”
“What?”
S-Rank Magic Stone. Its value fluctuated every time, a rare item that only dropped in S-Rank Dungeons. Even then, it was hit or miss.
Moreover, with S-Rank Gates being so few and only breakable by S-Rank Hunters, S-Rank Magic Stones had naturally become items only S-Rank Hunters could possess—they were practically mythical. And here I was, offering two of them. Generous, right?
“…”
The Blacksmith let out a groan and fell deep into thought. Offering two S-Rank Magic Stones, which fetched whatever price at any auction, was a chance to become rich overnight.
Once he finished thinking, the Blacksmith carefully looked at me, raised his index finger, and said,
“…One more.”
“Sure.”
“What? For real?”
“Yeah. Unless you want to get caught for not reporting your Pattern Activation.”
“…What?”
The Blacksmith’s face twisted as if to say, “How did you know?” He was stunned for a moment before snapping out of it and urgently opening his mouth.
“Fine! Two!”
“One.”
“What?!”
“Too late.”
“I’m not doing it! Scam!”
“Then I guess I can report you?”
“Argh!”
The Blacksmith before me had once answered, when I asked why he insisted on secret customers back then, that it was cool. He was still obsessed with that flashy image. So now was the perfect time to blackmail him with the unreported Pattern Activation.
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
“Thanks. Take the S-Rank Magic Stone there.”
“You from the start…”
I grinned. I only had one S-Rank Magic Stone on me anyway.
“…What the hell are you? Chinese mafia executive or something?”
“Nope.”
“Fine, my bad. You look too scrawny to be a mafia exec anyway.”
“Scrawny…”
I’d never heard that before. Everyone always said I looked frail whenever they saw me.
“How long?”
“Two weeks.”
“Fine.”
“…Three weeks.”
“Two weeks.”
“…Fine.”
The Blacksmith let out a soul-crushing sigh and muttered something under his breath. I faintly heard “another customer” or something, but it wasn’t my business, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.
Once the talk was done, the Blacksmith gestured for me to leave quickly. As I opened the door to go, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten and turned back to him.
“Oh, right. One-time use is fine.”
“What? Hey! Why say that now—!”
“See you.”
Thud. A barrage of curses came from beyond the closing door. I ignored it and headed back out.
The items I gave the Blacksmith were materials for creating something that dealt massive damage while simultaneously applying strong restraints. If anyone asked why I commissioned a one-time use despite the good stuff, the answer was simple: one-time use meant even greater effects.
With my business done, I took off the stuffy mask, hummed through my nose, and was heading away from the stalls toward the escalator when.
“…”
A familiar build and appearance. He had his hat pulled low, and with a face-obscuring item making his features blurry, but it was crystal clear to me. I knew recognition-lowering items had less effect on people with close ties, but I hadn’t expected to realize it here, like this, so soon.
“You son of a—
I clamped my mouth shut before I could yell and bolted up the escalator. Without looking back, I hopped up the unmoving steps like I was flying. And at the same time, I screamed internally.
‘Why is Han Ji-un here!’
The moment I burst out of the building, I glanced back—thankfully, it seemed he hadn’t spotted me, as my brother didn’t follow. I let out a huge breath, turned my head forward again, and muttered,
“That scared me…”
Grateful that I hadn’t been caught, I hurried home. All preparations were complete now.