Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Second Item
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What Woojin held in his hand was an utterly ordinary towel.
Sangjin let out a triumphant yell at the sight of it.
"Oh...! That's good stuff?"
But Woojin cocked his head slightly.
"Isn't it a bit too ordinary?"
"That's exactly why it's perfect. Bro, how many towels do you use at home in a day?"
Sangjin had always been the one handling the household chores.
Woojin was always out earning money.
"Hmm... Two for washing up morning and night? Sometimes one more for drying my hair."
"Exactly. Towels get used every single day. And here's the most important part."
Sangjin spoke with a grave expression.
"Towels have legs."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Think about it. You buy ten, and after three months, seven are left. After six months, five. No one knows where they go. Academic consensus is that socks and towels vanish by magic."
Woojin wanted to argue, but it somehow rang true.
"In other words, high repurchase rate. Plus, towels can transform."
"Transform?"
"They've got a final evolution called 'rag.'"
No one buys rags separately. Old towels naturally become rags—that's the rule.
"Supply chain's solid too. Huge market for return gifts, easy custom orders, and fancy packaging makes 'em perfect presents."
The logic was airtight. All that remained was performance testing.
Woojin checked the towel's status window.
Without hesitation, Woojin triggered Enhancement.
"Let's see what it does."
The brothers headed to the bathroom.
They filled the sink with water and dunked in the +3 towel.
That's when it happened.
Slurrrp—
As Woojin lifted the towel, the water in the basin vanished in an instant.
It was like a massive sponge devouring every drop.
Sangjin muttered blankly.
"...This is insane."
Towels weren't typical enhancement targets among household items, so he'd never dreamed of performance like this.
"No, does this even make physical sense? Where'd all that water go?"
Woojin hefted the towel, which felt heavy in his grip.
"Right here. This thing's freaking heavy. It's slurped up all the water."
Sangjin touched the towel.
"But the surface feels dry. Looks like it could absorb more."
"Yeah, seems like there's room left."
"Wring it out."
Sploooosh—
Woojin twisted the towel, unleashing a waterfall of absorbed water into the sink.
A few shakes later, and it was fluffy dry again, as if it had never been wet.
"Whoa... Amazing."
"Totally nuts."
Sangjin proposed excitedly.
"Bro, field test time. I'll go shower."
Sangjin stripped right there and hopped into the shower.
Five minutes later.
Men's showers don't take long.
"Bro! Towel!"
Woojin handed over the towel, and Sangjin rubbed it over his wet hair.
Swoosh—
One single pass.
Dripping strands dried—or rather, the moisture vanished—in a flash. No hairdryer needed.
And that wasn't all.
Just brushing it over his body wiped away every trace of water, leaving his skin perfectly dry and fluffy.
"Whoa... One of these, and long-haired girls could be done in a minute flat?"
"Right? And it stays dry. No damp feeling at all."
It seemed like the perfect item, but Sangjin pointed out a sharp issue.
"Bro, there's a problem. +3 might be overkill."
"Why?"
"Laundry time. What if it sucks up all the water in the washer? Clothes might not rinse properly."
Woojin slapped his knee.
"...You're right. It could absorb the rinse water too, leaving detergent residue?"
"We need the optimal enhancement level. Dial it to +1 or +2, and add a note on the detail page: 'During laundry, set water level one step higher.'"
"Nice, college boy."
"And the name... How about 'Goblin Towel'? Ties into the Goblin Chopsticks."
"Love it. Rolls right off the tongue."
And so, Woosang Shop's second product was decided.
At the same time.
Ailin was glued to a satellite phone in her private jet. Her interlocutor was Yoo Jihyun.
—So, you're planning to crush us with cash?
"I'm just using what I have. If you feel cheated, cough up more money."
—Don't kid yourself. This is Korea.
"What?"
—Does the landlord know Benedict? Or Ilseong, Mirae, and our DH Group?
Ailin's brows furrowed.
"...Go on."
—To the average Korean everyman, Benedict's just some foreign rich guy. But if our chairman, Yoo Daeho, moves directly?
Ailin bit her lip.
Yoo Jihyun was right.
'Home turf advantage, huh...'
On Korean soil, DH Group's influence was absolute.
Throwing money around would just scare them off.
Ailin switched tactics swiftly.
"Fine. I admit it. You're advantaged in Korea."
—Then back off.
"Can't do that. So here's a proposal."
—...Shoot.
"We cohabitate."
—...What? With who? Woojin?
"Is blurting dumb shit a Korean trait? You make me repeat everything. Cohabitation—you and me, the two of us."
—Huh???
Ailin smirked at Yoo Jihyun's dumbfounded voice.
"We both live in that house, marking Kim Woojin 24/7. Benedict's power, DH's local clout, and our personal combat strength. No one touches him then. Right?"
—I-It makes sense, but... you're a guy...
That remark made a vein bulge on Ailin's forehead.
"Damn it, let me make this crystal clear right now! I was born a woman, am a woman now, and sexually attracted to men! I have zero interest in your jiggling fat sacks!"
—F-Fat sacks?! That's too harsh!
Yoo Jihyun recoiled, but had no counterargument.
To protect Woojin—and keep Ailin from going solo—this was best.
Wasn't there a saying like that?
Keep friends close, enemies closer.
—...Sigh. Fine. I'll handle the purchase at a fair price.
"Heh, do that. But joint ownership. Don't dream of using landlord rights to boot me."
—I wouldn't pull something so childish!
Beep—
The call ended.
Thus, the bizarre cohabitation of two world-class top hunters was sealed.
Police station public service desk.
Park Seonghoon, timid head of household with two daughters, was venting passionately before the officer.
"I'm telling you, it's real! These shady black-suited guys came and offered 15 billion for my house!"
"Ah, yes, yes. Sir, please calm down. Been drinking during the day by any chance?"
The cop treated Park Seonghoon like a typical drunk.
"No, officer, think about it! Who buys a 500-million apartment for 15 billion? Drugs or bodies—something's up! Search the place! What if my family's in danger?!"
That's when it happened.
The station door opened, and two men in crisp suits entered—Kim the secretary and the Benedict family representative.
"Eek! How'd they follow me here!?"
Park Seonghoon paled and hid behind the cop.
"Th-Those are the guys! They're here! They must've come to crush me!"
The officer eyed the men curiously.
"What brings you here?"
Kim the secretary flashed a friendly smile and handed over his card.
"Thank you for your service. I'm Kim Cheolsu from DH Group's secretariat. Here to clear up a misunderstanding with Mr. Park."
"DH Group?"
But suspicious Park Seonghoon, father of two daughters, cried out.
"Wh-What if it's fake? Just a business card! Could be forged!"
However...
ID checks confirmed it was legit.
The cop's attitude turned polite.
"My apologies. You really are with DH Group."
"No, no. Better safe than sorry, right?"
Cleared of suspicion(?), Kim bowed politely to Park.
"Sir, you must've been shocked. Our young lady fell in love with the house and insists on buying it. Nothing dangerous, I assure you."
"Th-Then... they weren't gonna kill me...?"
"Haha, of course not. Who'd do something so scary?"
Kim slid over a new contract.
"Sir, 2 billion."
"......Pardon?"
"15 billion was auction fever gone wild. Realistically, four times market value at 2 billion. Fair compensation, no?"
Park stared blankly at the contract.
It wasn't a dream. No gangsters or drug lords.
Just rich chaebols who wanted the house enough to cause this fuss.
And for it, 2 billion rolled in—near lottery jackpot money.
Only then did greedy Park Seonghoon, father of two, realize he couldn't let this slip.
"S-Selling! I'll sell right now! We'll move out today!"
That day, his life turned around.
2 billion.
Chump change to chaebols, but enough to transform an ordinary hardworking man's life.
"Hahaha! Officers! Dinner's on me tonight! Chinese place—order everything! The expensive stuff!"
"For real!?"
Park Seonghoon's family departed Woojin's next door amid cheers.
Mid-test of the towel enhancement by Woojin and Sangjin, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong—
"Who's that?"
Sangjin checked the intercom pad. A unfamiliar middle-aged man stood there.
Sharp eyes, ramrod posture.
Behind him, familiar face: Officer Jo Ayoung fidgeting awkwardly.
"Huh? Isn't that our double agent? Government type?"
Woojin opened the door.
"Hello."
"Yes, hello. Who might you be?"
"Sorry for the sudden visit. Director of the Superhuman Affairs Bureau, Ability Management Agency—Jeong Seonghwan."
Jeong Seonghwan.
The real power managing all hunters and ability users in Korea.
He'd come in person.
"Here to see Kim Woojin. Got a moment?"
Jeong was confident.
With him here personally, refusal was impossible.
National call, preferential treatment, patriotism appeal. Plenty of cards ready.
Sure to recruit Kim Woojin for the government...
Then Woojin's indifferent voice cut in.
"No. No time now. Or ever. Goodbye."
Slam—
The front door shut without a second's hesitation.
"......???"
Jeong stared blankly at the closed door, then stammered at Jo Ayoung.
"Wh-What just happened...? Officer Jo Ayoung? Did the door really just close?"
Jo Ayoung mumbled awkwardly.
"Um... Director. I did warn you. He's not an easy one..."