Chapter 122
Chapter 122
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Rising in the Ranks: Guild
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Surging Status, Guild
Ding!
[The hot item heating up the world right now, right? Molrangtori has started selling to the general public.]
Ding!
Even scrolling up through the channels.
[Yes! Today, we're going to take a closer look at this Molrangtori ourselves.]
Ding!
Or down.
[While some experts have expressed concerns about potential misuse, most people believe the Molrangtori will have a positive impact across society...]
Talk of the Molrangtori was everywhere.
The general public was already obsessed with the Awakener industry.
And now, they could buy an item with the Inventory ability?
I'd be dying to know more too, pacing around in excitement.
The reporters had nailed that demand perfectly.
'Handing out a few samples was the right call.'
Me, who preemptively passed Molrangtori to the major broadcasters—praise thyself.
Sure, the younger generation doesn't watch the news these days, but still, it's news.
No media has that kind of reach.
Having them hype up Molrangtori on their own? Pure bliss.
Ding!
[This is footage from the first day of sales just yesterday. Experts estimate nearly 50,000 people crowded the scene.]
The offline sales had been a smashing success, at least.
Original stock was 3,000 units, but we'd pulled in an extra 10,000 as a stopgap.
Stock that was meant for the weekend sale, prepped in advance—
'Still think that was the right move.'
Better to satisfy as many people as possible.
Showing up on day one meant they were that eager for Molrangmol.
Naturally, all 13,000 Molrangtori sold out.
Plus 500 Molrangtex and 100 custom Molrangtail orders.
Even the Molrangmol merch we'd stocked just in case—wiped clean.
[Total Sales: 16,451,000,000 won]
164 billion won in revenue in a single day.
Pure profit would be a bit over half that, but that's what made it meaningful.
Swipe, swipe.
I flipped through the screen to the December calendar.
The month I'd first logged real profits via the accounting app Jina made for me.
Back then, monthly net profit totaled around 11 billion.
In just a few months, I'd matched that in a single day.
Unstoppable momentum.
Propulsion surpassing any rocket piercing the cosmos.
Who could possibly halt Molrangmol's rise!
[I've heard Molrangmol's membership numbers are skyrocketing too. Any exact figures?]
[Yes. Nearly 150,000 people signed up in March alone. That's excluding foreign customers—factoring them in, it's probably at least 250,000.]
Tsk tsk. Wrong.
Exactly 300,000 had joined the Molrangmol family in March.
Affiliate card issuances hit 130,000!
Just the annual fees would net 2.7 billion a year.
[Incredible numbers?]
[Indeed. Quite unprecedented. But most experts see this as just the beginning. Membership will climb even steeper ahead.]
[Can we compare with hard numbers?]
[Yes. Molrangmol currently boasts 500,000 members. That's seventh among domestic companies, and...]
Seventh.
A nice ring to it, but still far too low.
Goal: absolute number one.
Surpass Sinwol Guild's 10 million—the top spot among all companies and guilds.
Then top Hunter Gallery's 20 million, the domestic leader.
And to do that, one thing was non-negotiable.
"Let's go."
Ding!
All geared up to head out, I switched off the TV.
Sprawling April. Spring in full bloom.
The flower frost had faded, cherry blossoms blanketing the outdoors.
My outfit had lightened up accordingly.
For the record, I was wearing a skirt.
...Couldn't be helped.
Meeting an important person—had to look my best.
Absolutely not by choice.
Just the CEO wanting to make a good impression.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Though the cute skirt did suit me perfectly.
Something about warm tones, Hayoung had said.
Anyway.
"Kids, let's go."
Nyaaang!
At my call, Kami—who'd been playing with Molrang—slipped smoothly into my shadow.
Only after confirming they'd vanished—
Whirr!
Seolbaek-i transformed into a white baseball cap.
Fully accustomed to turning into objects now.
At first, it was awkward, but after making her practice, she'd adapted.
Now I could bring Seolbaek-i along too.
Safety issues? Completely resolved.
Basically infinite camouflage.
Perfect bodyguard too.
Creak!
With the disguise active, I finally slipped out of the rooftop room.
"Already using your abilities?"
Hayoung, waiting in the car, let out a hollow laugh.
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat dramatically, and—
"Pfft...!"
Hayoung stifled a laugh, got out, and opened the passenger door for me.
Even bowing at the waist.
I settled into the plush new luxury sedan, my dedicated ride. Seats were heavenly.
Owners usually take the back, of course.
'But then I'd be bored.'
I preferred shotgun, chatting away.
Hayoung was basically my closest confidante.
Saw her daily.
She tagged along for photoshoots, events, everything.
Practically my manager.
Now that we had plenty of artisans, maybe make her my official secretary?
"So, President. Where to?"
Grinning mischievously, Hayoung asked.
She kept playing along, so why dodge?
It was fun.
"Alright, Hunter Association it is. Drive safe."
"Got it! No worries!"
Screech!
"......"
"Haha... First time driving a stately sedan like this..."
Hm.
Maybe hire a proper driver after all.
**
Seoul, Hunter Association building.
Still jaw-dropping, even after all this time.
Whirr!
Inside, a faint airport-like scent tickled my nose.
Oddly uplifting.
I sniffed it unconsciously for a moment, then headed for the elevators.
'Come to think of it, first time actually coming in here.'
Last visit was just certifying as S-rank at the side counter building.
Ding!
Stepping into the elevator, a subtle tension crept up.
Not fear, exactly.
This was the public elevator, after all.
Just... overwhelming grandeur.
The sheer scale made me wonder if I even belonged.
Still, it shot straight up to the top floor.
Hunter Association HQ's penthouse.
Home to Korea's de facto number two.
Ding!
[Doors opening.]
Stepping out, a long hallway greeted me.
One door at the end.
Nothing else. Just that.
I walked toward it slowly.
Click-clack!
My heels echoed out of rhythm.
Low ones, but still unfamiliar.
Good thing the disguise hid my awkward gait from everyone.
Finally reaching the door.
[Hunter Association President Office]
Deep breath—
Knock knock!
As polite as possible.
"Come in."
Permission granted, I eased the door open and entered.
"Long time no see. Or... first time proper, maybe?"
Hunter Association President Lee Hyun-ah welcomed me with a warm smile.
She knew I was Han Saebyeok, after all.
Terrifying woman.
No wonder she intimidated me.
Probably the only person on Earth who could.
Even though I essentially commanded the FHA.
"Ah, hello. Nice to... see you."
Standing before her always shrank me somehow.
"Have a seat. Tea? What kind?"
"Ah... No thanks. Let's get straight to business."
My throat was parched for something sweet, sure.
But clearing the agenda came first.
One thing I'd learned as CEO:
Time was worth more than money.
No time for needless tea breaks.
Not like Hyun-ah and I were close or anything. Though... I'd like to be.
Her head pats were top-tier.
Unmatched tenderness I'd never known.
"Alright. Something about guilds, right?"
"Yes. That's right."
"We've been looking into it from our side too, actually. Wanted to propose it ourselves soon."
"So that means..."
"Yes. As of today, Molrangmol is officially recognized as a guild. In terms of scale... one of the Big Six someday? Looking forward to working with you, Guild Master."