Buy This Thing?
I couldn't hold back the surging excitement and blurted it out.
"You really want me to buy this?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Nice to meet you. Haha."
I barely calmed my racing heart and flashed an awkward smile at him, waving my hand up and down.
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too. I've heard so much about you. They say you took down an SS-rank monster all by yourself. Even in our guild, that's the hottest topic right now. A two-headed ogre? Sounds insane just thinking about it."
He let out an exclamation of pure awe, his face innocent as a kid asking a friend what Disneyland was like.
"Hahaha, that's exaggerated. Professor Kim Yo-han had already blown off one head, so it was a bit easier for me."
...I'd coordinated that story somewhat with Professor Kim Yo-han. We agreed it was the least annoying way to handle things.
People in power need to believe new chess pieces will move according to their will—that puts their minds at ease. But if they suspect that piece might replace them someday, they'll pull every trick to crush it first.
Letting them lower their guard was the best way for me to climb to a point where they couldn't touch me anymore.
Thump.
Right then, my newly evolved Dragon Heart let out a satisfying pulse.
The L-rank passive skill Dragon Heart didn't beat constantly like a mana heart—instead, it throbbed powerfully now and then. And each time, the mana spreading through my body was on another level compared to before. It felt like real-time growth.
Makes you wonder if "getting stronger just by breathing" means exactly this.
'Happy to meet a Water Dragon's Blessing skill holder?'
Ever since meeting Hunter Kang Mir, its activity had spiked compared to yesterday.
'Well, same dragon roots—maybe they just vibe well.'
That thought made his L-rank Water Dragon's Blessing skill even more tempting.
Not that I could kill him and absorb it.
I gently released his hand with a bright smile. "Let's get along great."
"Of course. I'd love that."
He mirrored my smile perfectly.
Seemed I wasn't the only one feeling the affinity.
"Come on, no standing around—let's head inside and chat."
"Ah, was I being rude? Seeing you two in person got me too excited. Right this way."
A man who looked like Hwarang Guild staff laughed as he spoke. Kang Mir realized he'd held us too long in the lobby and gave an awkward smile before guiding us in.
I didn't know it then, but that guy was Kang Ji-wook, the guild's director of general affairs.
Most huge guild directors strut around with egos, but he was different.
"He's a civilian, that's why."
"Ah, so that's why he had no presence."
"Kid uses it as a weapon."
"I see."
I nodded at Professor Park Cheol-gyu's tsundere explanation as we headed inside.
True to its fame as Korea's largest hotel, the banquet hall at Korea Hotel could easily hold hundreds. It was already buzzing with people.
"Hey? That's Hunter Park Cheol-gyu."
"And behind him—Kang Min-ho?"
Reporters spotted us and scrambled for cameras, shutters clicking wildly.
It crossed my mind that assigning Kang Mir to escort us was deliberate—to highlight our presence.
More precisely, to spotlight me.
'Why pump me up this much before it even starts?'
First thought: Plant a good image of Hwarang Guild to recruit me.
'But something feels off.'
Intuition said that wasn't it.
I endured the nonstop flash barrage and climbed the podium. There sat guild officials, including the team leader of Hwarang Guild's Team 1, who was heading this dungeon raid.
One empty seat stood out, with a nameplate: Kwon Do-gyun, Hwarang Guild Master.
'Kwon Do-gyun...'
I dredged up past memories, recalling the guild master's face from afar.
Seemed he was still the same.
'Ambitious bastard, as I remember.'
He'd recruited Kim Hee-yeon—who was now a professor at Magic Officer Academy—and used her skills to grow the guild into a world-class powerhouse.
Back then, media outlets kissed his ass daily with puff pieces. No need to memorize; the constant coverage burned it all into my brain.
'One thing's sure: He pushed Kang Mir hard.'
Kang Mir became the guild's poster boy and ace, skyrocketing to a top S-rank domestically and globally.
Until that demon bastard one-shotted him.
'Come to think of it, that demon said he was a decent snack while devouring him.'
Something to replenish the presence he'd burned crossing dimensions.
A spark flashed in my mind.
'No way—was it because of that L-rank skill?'
Back then, I'd never even heard of L-rank skills. But if the owner hid it? Totally plausible.
And that skill impressed even that overwhelming demon enough to call it "not bad."
Meaning, the more L-rank skills I collected, the higher the odds that demon would show up to eat me.
'So that's how I'd run into him.'
The path was closer than expected.
I smiled lightly, clenching and unclenching my trembling fist.
Just thinking about facing him made my body shake uncontrollably.
Back then, I felt nothing. But now at S-rank, I could vaguely grasp how monstrous that demon was.
Everyone around me suddenly stood.
'Huh?'
Their gazes turned to Hwarang Guild Master Kwon Do-gyun approaching the podium.
A man in a clearly designer suit, waving casually at reporters. His innate arrogance oozed out naturally, just like I remembered.
He shook hands with everyone on stage.
"Long time no see, Professor Park Cheol-gyu."
"Has it? Feels like the Fire Dragon's Nest raid was recent."
Professor Park replied with his usual prickly attitude.
"Hahaha, is that so? You helped us big time then. Boosted Hwarang Guild and the government's rep."
"Oh, did it?"
"Counting on you again. It's basically these two promising rookies' debut."
"This. Time. I'll. Watch. Closely."
"Hahaha, reliable as ever. Excuse me."
Polite Kwon Do-gyun brushed past the ever-sarcastic Professor Park.
Guild staff faces darkened—clearly, Park was picking a fight.
Yet Kwon stayed courteous. His gritted-teeth promise to "watch closely" hinted at some Fire Dragon's Nest drama.
Passing him, Kwon lit up at me.
"Oh, Min-ho! Heard you shone in Uijeongbu."
"Nah, just lucky."
I shook his offered hand, playing my role: humble rookie clueless about the world.
"Hahaha, luck's part of skill, right? Show us some brilliance again."
He pumped our clasped hands vigorously and gestured ahead.
Cameras exploded on cue. He struck poses like a pro, subtly directing me too.
Out of the corner of my eye, Professor Park stood nearby, face sour as ever.
'Easy read on Park—guess this guy's a real piece of shit too.'
I plastered on a matching grin and posed anyway.
A few of these for an L-rank skill? I'd do hundreds.
The press conference kicked off properly.
Two main goals: Hwarang Guild—Korea's top guild—tackling their second SS-rank raid, and promoting next-gen ace Kang Mir.
They'd hastily added hype for rising star me.
It wrapped with reporters' request: me and Kang Mir side-by-side posing.
A full Hwarang show, by Hwarang, for Hwarang.
'Well, damn.'
The payoff matched the spectacle.
Back home, Hwarang messaged the deposit. Logging in, I saw more than expected.
Publicly, Professor Park and I were support for their raid. Fair they pay us.
Certified Hunter Association contract: 10 billion advance, 90 billion more on success. Plus, all items I snag are mine.
Looks generous—until you die. Then zilch.
S-rank hunter death rate: 73%. SS-rank uncharted but worse.
Classic high risk, high reward. Risk being your life.
My hunter account also got the Twin Head Ogre corpse payout simultaneously.
'How much is all this?'
Total: 330.3 billion won and 32,140,000.
Back as C-rank, post-tax guild salary was just over 3 billion. This was over ten times that in one go.
3 billion was solid vs. normies, but gear drained it fast. Hunter life ain't cheap.
Hwarang's 10 billion advance left the rest from the ogre.
Some pharma clone company bought it at auction, I heard.
Post-60% tax, sale price neared 1 trillion. Fucking government.
'Perfect timing—stock up on weapons and armor before the dungeon.'
"Hey, enough sleeping. Get up. Shopping time."
"Huh? Wha—sudden shopping?"
"You gonna let your bro head into an SS-rank empty-handed? Least buy me a dagger."
"Holy shit, flea liver extortion."
"Flea your size? Worth the liver."
"Greedy bastard."
He grumbled but threw on clothes.
I hopped into his junker and headed to Yongsan's biggest hunter mall.
Awakener-exclusive, prices started at tens of millions.
Basic C-rank dagger: 10 million. Nuff said.
"Welcome, honored guest."
The model-pretty clerk greeted us. I beelined top floor.
"Yo, that's premium—A-rank and up. I can't afford that."
Lee Jae-wook eyed me pressing the top button, pupils shaking in panic.
"Relax. Who said buy from there? Even big flea like you won't dent my wallet. Got it?"
"..."
Realizing he'd jumped the gun, he turned beet-red teddy bear.
I smirked at his averted, flushed face.
"Do good as pack mule, might snag you an A-rank on the way out."
"Whoa! For real?"
His huge eyes bulged.
I thumped his thick chest. "So hustle. Yeah?"
"Loyalty sworn, bro! Your word is law!"
He saluted goofily at attention.
A-rank items started at billions. But his early skill had paid off big, so no biggie.
Ding.
Doors opened. Waiting clerk smiled. "Welcome. Seeking anything specific?"
"Hm, weapons tough enough for S-rank mana. Sword preferred, but open to others."
The clerk's smile sharpened—those were ultra-rare, sky-high here.
"S-rank, you say?"
"Yes."
"Ahem. This way, please."
He sized me up, cleared throat, led on.
Civilians spotting S-ranks? Laughable.
I chuckled, following.
"This way."
Past heavy security doors, into a lavish back room.
Thump.
My Dragon Heart stirred instantly.
'What?'
Thump.
It felt like it was urging me deeper.
"Weapons from here to the back. Armor or others? Just say."
"Thanks."
"Happy shopping."
Lee Jae-wook exhaled, awed as the clerk left. "Dude, what is all this? Insane! That's an A-rank standard shield—super pricey. Whoa, double-headed axe? Self-repair too!"
I ignored his oohs and aahs, heading deeper.
Thump.
The Dragon Heart kept insisting: go in.
'What's the big deal?'
In the dimmest corner of the weapon display: a black lump that looked like a half-assed club or sword—crude as hell.
Thump!
'This thing?'
I felt the stronger pulse and, mesmerized, picked up the black lump.
Heavier than expected—low-rankers couldn't lift it.
Useless as-is, but I had cheater skill Information Viewing.
Confirmed in Lycan's Nest: it worked on items too.
'Information Viewing.'
Item details appeared before my eyes.
Grade: ???
Effect: Absolutely Indestructible
Note: Can be forged with Dragon's Breath
'What the hell is this?'
Buy this?
I muttered in disbelief, and the Dragon Heart throbbed affirmatively.