A Day for Spending Money
I talked a big game about putting a full kit together, but where am I even supposed to buy this stuff?
First I have to hit the bank and get the money into an account. Hmm...
Should I ask Byeolbaembaem again? I already know she's going to tell me to use the black market, same as last time, but I don't care. What I'm after is her list of recommended spots.
It's 10 p.m.
Should I message her?
...I climbed today, and I sold magic stones too. Maybe I should just rest.
Byeolbaembaem might be doing something else. I'll take it easy and ask tomorrow.
Uwaaaaah...
The moment I throw myself onto the bed, every scrap of stacked-up exhaustion hits me at once. Accumulated fatigue and the softness of the mattress melt together. In short: if I close my eyes, I'm gone.
Before I let them shut, I murmur under my breath.
"Status window..."
The window packs itself with text. There's a lot. Level 5, 15 stat points, and the skills... holy crap, that's a pile.
The average level for an A-rank hunter was around 22, I think? The criteria for assigning hunter ranks were insanely complicated, as I recall. So many points for level, so many for traits, so many for skills.
At my current level, would I even make C-rank? Then again, unlike regular hunters, I get three points per level-up.
I should set aside a day and actually study the hunter ecosystem properly.
While I'm lost in thought staring at the window, my trait catches my eye.
The first time I saw it, I thought, what kind of trait is this supposed to be? I've felt it every step of the way, though — it's actually incredible. That microscopic x that used to be the size of an ant's asshole has gotten pretty big, too.
Nice.
Real nice.
Wahahaha...!
I'm sleepy.
My eyes snap open.
I feel amazing. What time is it?
9 a.m.
Lately I don't seem to dream at all. Not the nightmares that used to hound me endlessly, not even a worthless nonsense dream. Not that it matters much.
I get out of bed without thinking and head for the bathroom. Standing at the sink, part of me is reflected in the mirror — my hair, and some of my upper body.
I stare at the reflection. Looking at it like this...
My hair is a complete mess.
Straight hair with a faint blue sheen. It hasn't been a real problem so far, but I have a feeling it's going to cause a disaster someday. Should I cut it? A bob? Couldn't I just snip it off with scissors?
I go back to the room and rummage through the drawers. I find a pair of completely rusted scissors, take them, and head back to the bathroom.
Holding these... reminds me of the old days. Back in the service, I cut a squadmate's hair once. After that, not a single person ever let me near their head again.
Let's not.
But going to a salon still feels a bit much... damn it.
One thought fills my entire brain.
I could just tie it up.
I grab a handful of hair at the back. An ear that had been hidden under it appears.
Oh... that's actually pretty clean?
It's sloppy, but this looks way better. Wait — do I even have a hair tie at home?
I search for a long time. Not a hair tie. Not even a rubber band.
Alright. I can't put this off any longer. The time has come. It's not just hair ties — I have a mountain of things to buy.
Let's go!!
I turn on my phone and send Byeolbaembaem a note. I want to buy some gear — what's the best way to do it?
Her reply is as fast as ever.
Oh... I see.
Looking at Byeolbaembaem, I'm reminded of a certain wiki.
Ahem... anyway. Good intel.
If you've played any RPGs, this ranking system is pretty much impossible not to know.
Tae-ji-ham. I liked him a lot.
Khhh...
Bless you, Byeol-Changseop. Thank you.
Without Byeolbaembaem, I'd have been poking around every filthy corner of this city, getting stabbed in the back, tasting the bitterness of life, going ah... this hunter life is dogshit.
Thank you! Overwhelmingly thank you!
I owe you five hundred favors.
This ID is something else, too. Maybe because they have to pull aggro? Everyone names themselves to stand out.
Let's contact them right away.
Look at that response time. Tae-ji too — these people have insane reaction speed. They'd have made great pro gamers.
I check the address. Near where Tae-ji was. I message that I'll arrive within two hours, and they reply that they understand.
No point dragging this out. I move immediately.
First I stop by the bank.
I've got cash in my bag, but if I'm going to function in the economy, I need it in an account. Deposit the money, and while I'm at it, open a new bankbook.
Honestly I'm a little nervous, but whatever — I've got an ID, right?
I take a number and wait. My turn comes quickly.
"Number 64?!"
"Hello. How can I help you today?"
She could've gone with Hey kid, what brings you here? but she's treating me strictly by the book.
"I'd like to open an account and make a deposit..."
Why am I shrinking into myself?
"Hmm...?"
Yeah, she's confused.
"Did your parents not come with you? Or do you have a student ID, a family relation certificate, something like that?"
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"I'm an adult."
The teller's eyes go wide as a deer's. Then her pupils start shaking like crazy.
I frantically dig through my pockets for my ID. Where is it... where is it!
Here.
I hold up the ID and shout.
Everyone in the bank is looking at us.
Aaaaaaaaah!! Deokbae, you did NOT need to yell that!
My face feels like it's going scarlet. No — it's already scarlet, isn't it.
"Pardon...? Pardon? Ah, could I see that ID?!"
"Here..."
"Right... mind if I run a quick check?!"
"Yes, yes!"
The teller stands up and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
I'm sorry. I was panicking too.
Phew...
The Tower really is something. The ID checks out normally. On paper, I am Kim Deokbae, a twenty-year-old woman living in the Republic of Korea.
I have no idea what my body's biological age actually is, but administratively, I'm a twenty-year-old Korean citizen with a government-issued ID.
When I open my briefcase and show her the wad of cash, the teller nearly faints... but somehow we get the account opened and all the money deposited.
Phishing scam? Running an errand for her parents? Dwarfism? All kinds of theories must have been cycling through that teller's head.
Miss... no, unnie? Anyway, you worked hard.
Let's go! Time to actually buy some gear!
I take a taxi for about forty minutes. The same secluded alley I came to yesterday.
Past Golden Pig Trading, then deeper into the alley.
This should be it. I go into the building and head downstairs.
Knock knock.
"It's Ieung-Ieung."
The door flies open.
"Come in! ...Huh? A kid?"
A shapely woman with a red ponytail is looking at me and calling me a kid.
"I contacted you through Kilogram."
"Ah?! The full armor set?!"
"Yes."
"Come in, come in. Hahaha!"
She's talking down to me?
The interior looks just like Golden Pig Trading. An underground exchange straight out of a movie.
"So what's the hunter-nim's rank? What gear do you mainly use? How should I kit you out?"
Is she talking casual because I look young?!
Fine. I'll match her.
"I mainly use guns. I don't need a single piece of flashy junk, so prioritize performance. Mobility and convenience first."
The room goes dead quiet. Then the redhead bursts out laughing.
"Hahahaha! A lot more gutsy than I expected, this one?"
"This one?! I'm a customer, you know?!"
"I mean I like you."
An arm lands on my shoulder.
"I'm Choi Joo-hyun. Just call me Joo-hyun unnie. I don't usually let people use that, but I like this little sis."
How am I supposed to react to that? It's not that I hate it — I genuinely have no idea!
Stay calm. Overthinking this is how you lose. Keep it simple.
"Okay."
"Alright, alright. What's your name?"
"...That's a little hard to tell you."
"Oh, more seasoned than you look. Fair enough — no need to volunteer your hunter info. I'll keep calling you Ieung."
"Okay."
"Why'd you suddenly go formal? Just keep talking casual."
"I will once I'm comfortable."
"Suit yourself. So you mainly handle guns, and you want gear that covers convenience and mobility?"
"Yes. You can think of my hunter rank as C-rank."
"Huh... you look so young, and you're already C-rank? That's impressive."
"Right? Hahaha!"
My completely unprompted answer seems to short-circuit Choi Joo-hyun's brain for a second.
"Yeah! You are impressive, you little shit! The more I look at you, the more I like you?! Normally people go 'oh no... I'm not that good' and play humble, you know?"
"Playing humble doesn't drop anything useful. If someone's actually recognizing me, I ought to know how to show off."
The old me could never have pulled off this kind of shamelessness. But it comes out as naturally as breathing. Though... my heart is pounding.
"Khhh... you pass!"
"Wooo!"
I have no idea what I just passed, but good is good.
"Looking at you, you've obviously got the money. It's normally fifteen million won, but just give me ten million."
"Come on, you were going to sell it for ten million from the start, weren't you?"
"Caught me."
"Hahaha!"
"Wahahaha!"
So in the end she agrees to take nine million. I'd heard hunter gear was expensive, but this is ridiculously expensive.
"It usually takes a while to get the goods in, but I've got something good on hand. What do you say? Take it now, or wait?"
No need to think.
"I'll take it now."
"Figured you would."
After a little while, clothes are laid out in front of me.
"You like it? You like it, right?! Just looking at it, I can tell it'll look amazing on you?"
I pick up the clothes and take a peek.
Eh...?
Haa?
Haa???
I'm supposed to walk around wearing this?!