S-Rank Treatment for an E-Rank Nobody
"Welcome, Hunter. Thank you for gracing our DH Department Store."
I was stunned by the sight that unfolded as the elevator doors opened on the top floor of the fifteen-story department store. A middle-aged woman dressed in elegant attire, exuding luxury at first glance, greeted us with her hands neatly clasped. And like the staff member who had guided us from the entrance, about a dozen impeccably uniformed employees lined up on either side, bowing in unison.
"Welcome!!"
What the hell is this?
I'd sensed something off when the staff member entered the elevator and pressed the top-floor button, but I never imagined a scene like this. And who could blame me? I was here to buy E-rank gear. Normally, I'd head to the underground market, but at Kim Seol-bi's insistence, I'd ended up at the department store. Buying E-rank equipment in a place like this was an outrageous waste of money.
"Hello."
Kim Seol-bi returned the greeting casually, as if this kind of reception was par for the course wherever she went. She didn't seem surprised or burdened in the slightest.
I'd been continuously amazed since leaving the house. To think the woman who'd shown up unannounced at my place was such an extraordinary figure. I'd known intellectually that S-rank hunters were a big deal, but seeing the treatment firsthand made me understand why they were truly beings above the clouds.
"What brings you here today?"
Though there was no name tag or introduction, I figured the middle-aged woman before us was the store manager—or maybe even the owner.
"We're here to buy some gear."
Kim Seol-bi stated the obvious. What else would anyone come to a department store specializing in hunter equipment for?
"Are you looking for gear for yourself?"
The manager asked with a bright smile. A place like this surely stocked S-rank gear, and selling even one piece would net a huge profit—hence her eager expression.
"No. Gear for him."
Kim Seol-bi replied, still with her arm linked through mine, glancing my way. I felt a bit embarrassed. What kind of reaction would they have if they learned we weren't here for S-rank gear, but E-rank?
"Ah, I see..."
The manager showed a flicker of disappointment but quickly brightened her face again.
"If I may ask, what rank are you?"
"E-rank..."
I felt like crawling into a hole. Even the manager couldn't hide her surprise. But she was on another level from the rude young clerk at the Hunter Management Office. She composed herself in 0.5 seconds and smiled warmly.
"I see. Allow me to guide you personally. Would that be alright?"
"Yes, thank you."
I wanted to say it wasn't necessary—I felt burdened enough—but Kim Seol-bi answered first. A department store manager personally escorting us to buy E-rank gear? I had to push aside my common sense to cope.
The manager led us somewhere unexpected. A spacious room with plush sofas, evoking the lounge of a luxury hotel. I hadn't imagined a space like this inside a department store.
She invited us to sit on what looked like outrageously expensive sofas and asked, "Have you eaten? If not, we can prepare something for you."
"Hmm..."
Kim Seol-bi pondered briefly before turning to me. "Sung-gi, how about we eat here? Shopping will take time anyway, and we haven't had anything yet."
As she said, we hadn't even had breakfast. We'd been swept up in things—stopping by the Hunter Management Office, then straight here under the pretense of gear shopping. If this dragged on, we'd get hungry for sure. Now that she mentioned it, my stomach was rumbling.
"Sure, why not?"
At my response, the manager turned to the staff. One of the rigidly standing employees darted forward and presented a menu. Who'd expect something like this in a department store? The elegant listings made it feel like we were in a high-end restaurant, especially in this room.
"Pick whatever you like, Sung-gi."
The menu had all sorts of dishes, but none I recognized. And no prices listed—that made me uneasy. Everything was unfamiliar territory for me.
"Anything's fine for me. You choose, Seol-bi."
"Alright."
Kim Seol-bi scanned the menu and chatted with the manager—where the meat was sourced, what wines they had. Was this really a department store? Once the order was placed, a tablecloth was laid on our table, along with plates, spoons, and even knives for cutting meat.
"It'll take about twenty minutes to prepare the meal. Would you like to see the items now, or after eating?"
"Bring them now."
At Kim Seol-bi's word, a waiting staff member arrived with a bag. He opened it to reveal familiar hunter gear—but somehow different in feel.
"This is basic male E-rank hunter gear. A collaboration between an Italian designer and an American equipment specialist, released just two weeks ago. This is the only one we have in stock."
What? Italian designer? American specialist? I thought Korea held its own in gear crafting—did we really need something from them? Just hearing the description screamed sky-high price. And only one in the entire department store? That meant limited production and few buyers.
Of course, hunters D-rank and below rarely shopped here, so no one would buy something this pricey and luxurious anyway.
"Hmm... not bad. What do you think, Sung-gi?"
"Looks good..."
Of course it did. It was luxury gear personally presented by the store manager—the only question was the price.
"What are the output and class specs?"
"Base 200 percent, doubling as you adapt. Minimal class restrictions, but optimal for melee dealers."
"That won't do."
Kim Seol-bi said after hearing the explanation. "Sung-gi's specialized in mental abilities, so melee dealer gear isn't ideal. Right?"
She asked me. Me, specialized in mental abilities? Like a ranged buffer? Well, even an S-rank like Kim Seol-bi was gaining experience from my power, so it fit. I had zero melee combat skills. This first piece clearly wasn't for me.
"Understood."
The manager promptly dismissed the staff with the bag and brought in another. The gear in that one was equally dazzling—another collab with a luxury brand designer and foreign artisan, no doubt.
We browsed a few more sets like that as appetizers arrived.
Am I really doing this?
This was nothing like the gear shopping I'd imagined.
# I was glad we'd taken Kim Seol-bi's suggestion to eat in the department store. The shopping dragged on quite a bit. All told—meal and selecting gear—it took a good three hours.
I mostly just sat there while Kim Seol-bi critiqued the items and asked my opinion. In the end, I got a suit, a sword-and-shield set, and a pair of bracelets specialized for mental-type hunters.
Of course, my stomach churned the whole time. Everything looked insanely expensive. Way beyond my savings, let alone my card limit.
By the time I voiced my worries, Kim Seol-bi had already pulled out her card and paid.
"Wait, hold on! Why are you paying, Seol-bi?"
"It's fine. Everyone starts out broke when they first become hunters. I did too—started in debt. Think of it as a gift from me. You've helped me a lot too."
"Still..."
How could starting in debt as an S-rank compare to an E-rank like me buying gear way above my station? Bluntly, even ten years grinding dungeons wouldn't cover this. The gear would wear out first.
"It's okay, Sung-gi."
Kim Seol-bi made a face like she'd pout if I refused, so I couldn't push back.
"Thank you."
I had no idea how to repay this—or if I even could. But my heart wasn't entirely uneasy because what she said was true. I was helping her. An S-rank hunter who'd barely grown before was improving after meeting me.
"We've eaten, so shall we head to the dungeon now?"
Kim Seol-bi said to me.
"Now?"
"Yeah. You need to quit your job anyway. Might as well raid that dungeon while we're at it."